Jan
26
Water is life. Without water, you cannot physically live. Without water, you cannot cook, bathe, clean your home, or wash the laundry.
Supplying enough water to meet the needs of billions of people is difficult. It is even more difficult when water is wasted. You can help by finding ways to reduce the amount of water in your own home.
The average American household wastes 40,000 gallons of water a year. Much of this waste is created by inefficient appliances and outdated fixtures. By simply replacing these appliances and fixtures with water-saving devices, you can stop half of this waste. By stopping the waste of water, you not only save money, but you also preserve water supplies for the future. Read more
Jan
20
Preventing the Hot Water Shock
Filed Under Plumbing Help | Leave a Comment
Imagine being in the middle of a perfectly warm shower. The temperature is just right and you are in a relaxing environment to end a stressful day. Suddenly your perfect moment is interrupted by a blast of cold water or extremely scalding hot water. This is what is known as hot water shock and it can be prevented. By knowing just a few tips and tricks, you can prevent the hot water shock from happening to you or anyone else in your home.
1. Buy and install a pressure-balancing shower valve. This valve is designed to keep pressure flowing at the same level – regardless of a change in pressure in other areas of the pipes. In other words, if a toilet is flushed during a shower the water pressure will change. This change will normally cause the hot water shock. With a pressure-balancing shower valve, the pressure is regulated and the shower is not interrupted.
2. Have a plumber perform an evaluation on the pipes in your home. Make sure that there are no areas where water pressure may change dramatically. Have the plumber check for blockages and for possible issues that can be fixed to prevent hot water shock issues later. Read more
Jan
19
Plumbing repairs can be a difficult, timely and messy process. No one wants to add to the stress of the situation by choosing the wrong plumber for the job. Since you don’t have a handy plumber in your speed dial, how do you go about finding the right plumber the first time?
Get organized – Before you call a plumber, have a list of all the repairs you need. You don’t want to slow the process (and potentially raise the price) by needing the plumber to come out multiple times for estimates.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions – Don’t assume the first plumber you call or that comes to visit your home is the right person for the job. Take some time to ask a few questions and get to know the plumber you are considering. Read more
Jan
13
On these cold winter mornings, nothing feels better than standing underneath a stream of hot water before you get ready for the day.
Now imagine coming home in the evenings and finding the perfect way to take away the stresses of the day. Push a button in your shower stall, sit back on the bench, and melt into the soothing cloud of mist. Twenty minutes later your ready for a relaxed evening at home, far away from the stresses of the day.
While it may seem like something you can only find at your local spa or health club, in reality its closer than you think. Many homeowners today are opting to bring the feeling of the spa home to their own showers. Read more
Jan
12
Everyone is looking for ways to reduce their home energy budget in today’s economy. While small things, like replacing old lightbulbs, can amount to a huge savings over the course of a year; finding large, one time changes may make more sense. So many people naturally turn to the one thing they use every day: water. And when it comes to your home’s water, heating it impacts about thirty percent of an average home’s energy use.
However, one of the top options being brought to the table for a “quick fix” may not be as efficient as many believe. Tankless water heaters are an option that should be explored with care.
Most tankless heaters are a bit more costly up front than their holding tank counterparts. Add in that most models will need an electrical outlet, upgraded gas pipes and also special ventilation systems. This can often make installation costs a bit more prohibitive than people think. Read more
Jan
6
10 Things That Will Ruin Your Plumbing
Filed Under Plumbing Tips | 1 Comment
No one wants to face expensive but avoidable plumbing repairs. For those of us who aren’t plumbers, here are a few things to watch out for.
Putting grease down the sink -Please don’t put grease down the drain. Even with hot water and soap, grease can build up over time causing problems with your pipes.
Using your sink as a trash can – Even if you have a garbage disposal, that does not give you a free pass to dump everything and anything down the drain. Food chunks in the kitchen or hair and fingernails in the bathroom serve as the start of a terrible clog.
Using the toilet as a trash can – The toilet has its given role, the trash can has another. Do not confuse the two.
Using too much Drain-O – Using drain cleaner too often or on the wrong type of clog could lead to erosion of your pipes or just a really nasty clog for the plumber to clean out. Read more
Jan
5
Should My Hot Water Heater Tank Be Running All The Time?
Filed Under Hot Water Heaters | Leave a Comment
You are very familiar with the sounds of your home, the drone of the refrigerator, the hum of the heater, the buzz of the lights. These are the little white noises that comprise our day. One of these familiar sounds is the occasional sound of the water heater running. But what happens when this sound never stops? Is it OK for the water heater tank to be running all the time?
In most instances, the answer to our last question is no. If your water heater is constantly running, there is probably a problem. Here are a few potential problems you could be having and a few steps you could take before calling the plumber.
You might have a leak – A leak would be a constant drain on the hot water supply within the tank. To make up for the loss of hot water, your tank would need to run more frequently to keep the same level of hot water as before. If your water heater is constantly running the first thing you should do is check the unit and the pipes immediately around it for leaks. Read more
Dec
30
Having a gas leak in your home can be a frightening experience, especially if you do not know what procedures to follow. Home emergencies can end badly when people are not ready for the unexpected. This is why families are encouraged to have their own fire drills at home – to make sure everyone, especially children, know exactly what to do in the event of a fire.
A gas leak is an emergency; but if you are prepared and know what to do when a leak occurs, there is no need to panic.
The good news is that it is fairly easy to know when you have a gas leak. Instead of spending each day in fear, remember that gas has a “rotten egg” odor. This is added to the gas to help make it easy to notice. If you ever smell that stinking odor, you know that you have a potential problem. There are also gas detectors, much like smoke detectors, that will alert you if you have a gas leak. Read more
Dec
29
In this day and age of “living green”, here are many things to think about as you update your home. From new toilets to xeriscaping your yard, every little bit of saving helps.
Because water is a precious commodity, lowering the amount you use every day is a step in the right direction. And with multiple people in your family who all love to spend time in a warm shower, it can be a way to quickly see the savings pile up. By improving the efficiency of your shower, you can have more comfortable showers, as well as save a bit on your utility bills. The following tips will help you increase the efficiency of your shower.
The easiest way to make your shower more efficient is to install an energy-efficient showerhead. These showerheads have a slower flow rate. They use less water per minute, yet are powerful enough that most people do not notice a difference in water pressure. Install an energy-efficient showerhead and you may notice a difference on your next water bill. Read more
Dec
23
7 Easy Green New Years Resolutions
Filed Under Green Plumbing | Leave a Comment
New Years Even is just around the corner. Have you made your New Years resolutions yet?
While everyone makes the standard resolutions – diet, exercise more, get organized – maybe its time to make simple resolutions you can keep. And one’s that will make a difference in the world around you too.
1. Use energy only where you need it
How many times have you walked out of a room and left the lights on or the TV going? If you’re going to be in the kitchen cooking, and won’t be returning for an hour or more, why not turn everything off? Not only will you make a difference in energy consumption, your electricity bill will be lower as well.
2. Shut off the water
Its easy to turn on the shower to warm up while you continue to do chores around the house. Instead, get ready and monitor the temperature. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the water warms, and will be able to reduce your water consumption too. Read more
Blogroll
- Quality 1st Plumbing website - Quality 1st Plumbing website
- Troubleshooter - Tom Martino – The Trouble Shooter
- WaterSense