Water Heating Energy Savings Tips

March 14th, 2012 Posted in Tankless Hot Water
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According to EPA estimates, up to 25% of the energy used in the typical home is spent on water heating.  You can save money on your energy bills by implementing a few water heating strategies.

Reducing your hot water usage not only saves money on water heating but also on your water bills.  Fix any leaking water fixtures such as sink, tub, and shower faucets as soon as you notice them.  Low flow showerheads are easy for your plumber to install and can save as much as half the hot water used in a typical shower.

Installing a water heater insulation blanket can reduce standby heat loss by up to 45%, especially on older poorly insulated water heaters.  These insulation blankets are readily available at your local home improvement center.  Installation on an electric water heater is something most homeowners can do, but if you have a gas water heater you should have the insulation blanket installed by a professional.

If you have an electric water heater, you may be able to save money by installing a timer that turns your water heater off at night and during the day while you are away from home.  Timers can be especially effective if your utility company charges more for electricity used during peak demand periods.  You can set the timer so that the water heater is turned off during these peak usage periods and heats water during low demand periods when electricity is less expensive.

Finally, when it comes time to replace your water heater, consider installing a tankless water heater and be sure to look for a water heater with the ENERGY STAR label.  You will save energy throughout the service life of the water heater.

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Heat Pump Water Heaters

March 14th, 2012 Posted in Water Heaters
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Many homeowners prefer gas water heaters because they have historically been less expensive to operate.  However, when prices for natural gas rise, the operating cost advantage of a gas water heater decreases and there are some disadvantages to gas water heaters.  Because they use gas, there is always the possibility of a gas leak and since they have an open flame, there is a risk of fire or carbon monoxide formation.  Finally, in some areas gas supply lines are not available and electric water heating is the only option.

If you would prefer to heat water using electricity but are concerned about the cost of electricity for water heating, there are energy efficient electric water heating options available such as a heat pump water heater.

Heat pumps are an increasingly popular way to heat and cool a home, but only recently have water heater heat pumps become widely available.  Heat pumps work by moving heat rather than creating it and are accordingly very efficient.  A heat pump water heater absorbs heat from the surrounding air and uses it to heat the water in a storage tank.

In order to operate effectively, a heat pump water heater must be installed in a location that stays warmer than 40 degrees.  This can be inside a heated space in the home or in an unheated area such as a basement or garage of a home located where temperatures rarely fall below 40 degrees.  In addition, there must be at least 1,000 cubic feet of air space around the water heater which can make indoor installations problematic.  They are equipped with a backup electric heating element in the event the ambient air temperature drops too far.

If it’s time for a new water heater installation, talk to your plumber about whether a heat pump water heater is a good option for your home.

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Garbage Disposal Maintenance

March 14th, 2012 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Most garbage disposals are robust kitchen appliances that work for years with little or no maintenance. However, a jammed, clogged, or otherwise malfunctioning garbage disposal can mean calling your plumber for garbage disposal repairs.  There are  a few things you can do to keep your garbage disposal working great and avoid that expensive repair call.

First, you should always run cold water down the drain into the disposal while the unit is grinding and for five to ten seconds after you turn it off.  Running water helps flush the ground material down the drain and through the drain lines.

Cold water is better than hot water because it will help fats and oils congeal so they can be flushed away.  Hot water will cause fats and oils to liquefy and they can end up lining the walls of your drain line which will eventually lead to a clog.

Avoid putting high fiber waste material like corn husks or celery stalks down the disposal.  These can clog even a heavy duty waste disposal.  Don’t overwork a light duty disposal by putting bones down it or running it continuously for more than a few minutes.  Small disposals are not designed to handle these types of loads.

Never put glass, metal, plastic, or any other non-food material down the disposal.  Not only can it be dangerous, but these materials will jam or completely ruin the disposal.  Finally, you can help rid the disposal of food deposits and odors by grinding egg shells or small amounts of ice.  Your disposal will work better, smell cleaner, and last longer.

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Flushing Your Water Heater

March 14th, 2012 Posted in Water Heaters
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Water heaters typically need very little maintenance to provide good service year after year.  Until it quits working or starts leaking, most homeowners don’t give much thought to their water heaters.  However, regularly flushing your water heater can extend its life and improve its water heating efficiency.

Over time, dirt, rust, scale and other debris settles to the bottom of your water heater and creates a sediment layer.  This sediment layer makes your heating element work hard to heat the water in your hot water storage tank.  It also takes up some volume inside the tank and if the sediment layer gets deep enough, it can cause a noticeable reduction in the amount of hot water available for use by you and your family.  In addition, bacteria can grow in the sediment layer and cause your hot water to be smelly.

Flushing your water heater involves draining the water out of the tank through the drain valve, refilling the tank, and repeating the process until all of the sediment has been flushed from the water heater.  The process requires turning off the gas and electricity to the water heater, disconnecting and reconnecting the inlet line, and opening and closing the inlet water valve.  Once the storage tank has been flushed, everything has to be re-connected, the tank filled, and the electricity and gas turned back on.

Unless you are very comfortable handling the job yourself, flushing your water heater is best done by your local plumber.  They are the experts in water heater repairs and maintenance.

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Finding a Great Plumber

March 13th, 2012 Posted in Choosing a Reputable Plumber
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Whether you have a plumbing emergency like a stopped up sewer line, need routine plumbing service such as installation of a new water heater, or need an Orlando plumber for a major plumbing job like a whole house pipe replacement, you want a professional plumber you can rely on to get the job done right.  With the internet and the phone book flooded with advertisements for plumbers, how can you make the right decision on which plumber to handle the job?

A great way to start the process of finding a good plumber in Orlando is to ask your friends, neighbors, and co-workers for recommendations of plumbers they have used in the past and been satisfied with the work and the service they received.  Eliminate any of these that you cannot confirm have a permanent business office and telephone number.  Your friend’s cousin may be a great plumber, but if he’s working part time out of his van he may not be around to handle any warranty work if something goes wrong down the road.   You are better off with a plumbing contractor that has been in business for years and has a business location and telephone number.

Next, make sure the plumber is licensed, bonded, and insured.  Licensing is no guarantee of competence, but it’s a sign that the plumber is a professional who plans on being in business for awhile.  Liability and workman’s compensation insurance protect the customer against liability for accidents or injury on the job.

Finally, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any unresolved complaints about your plumbing contractor. If there are no complaints, then you should be in good shape.  Even if there have been complaints, it’s not necessarily the end of the world.  Any service company like a plumber can be expected to have a few disgruntled customers if they have been in business for years, so one or two complaints that were fully resolved are not a big deal.  On the other hand, if the plumber has a lot of unresolved complaints about your plumber, that’s a good reason to try a different plumbing contractor.

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The Importance of Insurance

March 13th, 2012 Posted in Choosing a Reputable Plumber
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Whether you need an Orlando plumber to tackle a big job like a whole house repiping to replace your old polybutylene piping or a small problem like a clogged sink drain, you should make sure your plumbing contractor is fully insured in the event of a problem.

A reputable, professional plumber will have both liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance and will be happy to provide you with proof of insurance.  Both types of insurance protect the homeowner from liability in the event of an accident that causes damage to property or an injury.

Liability insurance is critical for any contractor, and plumbers are no exception.  Liability insurance pays for damage caused by the plumber while working on your home.  For example, if the plumber accidently sets your house on fire while sweating copper pipe, the contractor’s liability insurance will pay for the damage.

The damage would probably also be covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy, but you would be responsible for your deductible and also have to deal with the hassle that goes along with filing the claim.

Workers compensation insurance covers injuries to the plumber while working at your home.  Without workers compensation insurance, you could be on the hook for these injuries!  Again, your homeowners insurance would probably kick in and cover it, but you should not have to resort to your homeowners insurance to cover a worker’s injury when a reputable plumber would carry their own insurance.

A contractor should have their own liability insurance and workers compensation insurance so don’t let them get away with depending on your homeowner’s insurance.  If the plumber is willing to cut corners on insurance, where else might they be cutting costs?  You should also be concerned about the workmanship and any warranty provided by a plumber that cannot or will not carry their own insurance.  Save yourself some trouble and make sure your plumbing contractor is fully insured before they begin work.

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Sink Replacement

March 2nd, 2012 Posted in Kitchen Sinks
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Is your kitchen or bathroom in need of a sink repair or replacement?  This is one of those jobs that looks easier than it is.  Repairing or replacing a sink involves removing the old fixtures and the drain line, then separating the sink from the counter top.

Installing the new sink involves securing the sink in the opening, installing new faucets and fixtures, hooking up the water supply lines, lining up and installing the drain lines, hooking up the drain valve if it has one, and possibly installing the garbage disposal on a kitchen sink.  Then you have to hope none of the water lines or drains leak.

Let a professional plumber handle your sink replacement project. They are the experts in sink repairs and installation.  They have the experience and know-how to get the job done quickly and efficiently.  Your plumber will also be able to help you decide whether you are better off repairing the old sink or replacing it with a new sink.

If I you have a porcelain or enamel sink that still gets the job done well, but it looks old or outdated, it may just need resurfacing. Your plumber can help you find a resurfacing professional that specializes in enamel or porcelain finishes. Have your plumber install an updated faucet and fixtures to get the look of a new sink at a fraction of the cost.

Sometimes a full sink replacement is your better option. Your plumber can help you choose from a variety of sinks and help you find one that looks great and fits your budget.

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Fixing a Leaky Faucet

March 2nd, 2012 Posted in Faucet Repairs
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Is your kitchen sink faucet linking? If you have an older style compression type faucet, you may be able to fix it on your own by replacing the washer. Compression faucets are common in the kitchen. Often times, the rubber washer deteriorates or becomes hardened with age. Replacing a damaged washer often returns a leaky faucet to operating like new.  So before you call a plumber, here’s how to try to fix it yourself.

Before starting on the faucet repair, make sure you turn off the water supply to the faucet.  There is usually a shutoff valve under the kitchen sink or you can turn off the water supply to the entire house.  Be sure to turn the faucet on to bleed off the excess water pressure.

Remove the faucet handle by unscrewing the retaining screw.  Now, remove the valve stem using a wrench or deep socket.  Once you have removed the valve stem, you will be able to see the washer attached to the stem by a screw.  Remove the screw, replace the old washer with a new one and reassemble the faucet.

If your faucet is still leaking after you’ve replaced the washer, then you may have a more serious problem such as a damaged valve seat.  At this point, it’s probably time call a plumber to get a professional opinion.  Your plumber will be able to find the cause of the leak and help you decide whether you are better off fixing the original faucet or replacing it with new faucet.

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Kitchen Remodeling Done Right

March 2nd, 2012 Posted in Remodeling
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An outdated or poorly laid out kitchen can really cramp your culinary style. While it’s one of the more expensive rooms to remodel in a home, it’s well worth the investment. Doing the work yourself might save you money up front, but think carefully before going this route; a remodeled kitchen that’s just as unappealing or impractical as the original, isn’t much of a bargain in the long run when you list your property for sale. Getting help from a professional kitchen remodeling plumber will ensure that the job gets done right the first time.

Whether you enlist a professional or not, your starting point should be some solid inspiration. Save pages of decorating magazines that appeal to you, then revisit them over the next few weeks and see which continue to do so and which do not. You may be impatient to get started, but tossing a picture is less expensive than tossing that tile you thought you loved but grew tired of following installation! Photos also communicate your vision to a kitchen remodeling professional more effectively than explaining simply with words.

No matter how good your kitchen looks, if it doesn’t function well, you’ll grow to hate it. The three primary areas of activity, the stove, the sink, and the refrigerator, should be positioned within a few steps of one another and shouldn’t have any furniture, cabinetry, or other impediments between them. A professional can be extremely helpful when designing a good layout, especially in small or oddly shaped kitchens.

Don’t choose cabinetry, flooring, countertops, or other materials based solely on their appearance; thoroughly research their durability and care requirements as well. Because professional remodelers work with kitchens every day, they are an excellent source for guidance on this subject. They can also offer tips for adequate storage, a must-have in every well-designed kitchen, and newer materials or fixtures with which you may not be familiar.

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Hydro Jetting For Tough Clogs

March 2nd, 2012 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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If your sinks, toilets, and drain lines keep backing up and snaking the drain does not seem to fix the problem, you may need high pressure hydro-jetting.  For homes, apartments, offices and restaurants, high pressure hydro jetting is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of sludge, grease and debris trapped in your sewer and drain lines.

Whether it’s in the kitchen or your sewer line, drains become clogged over time. Debris settles in, creating sludge which is hard to remove. If tree roots have infiltrated your drain lines or sewer lines, sludge and other debris will collect on the roots and form a clog.

An electric cable machine or a drain snake can provide temporary relief by punching through the clog, but chances the problem hasn’t been fixed. The clog will begin re-forming almost immediately and the drain will need to be cleared again.  High pressure hydro jetting will the entire clog and the debris and it will be much less likely that the clog will re-form

Hydro jetting uses highly pressurized water sprayed through special nozzles to blast through the clog and wash away the clog and debris.  Hydro jetting also cuts through and removes most tree roots.  The high pressure water scours the inside of the sewer line or drain pipe and removes grease, sludge, and other debris.  The inside of the pipe is left clean and clear of foreign material.  When used by an experienced plumbing professional, hydro-jetting is a safe, effective way to clear tough clogs.

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