Tustin Plumbers Tips

Hot Water Heater Settings

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:00:44 +0000

Setting the temperature for your home water heater is important. That can be as easy as turning a dial. But what setting should you use? Several factors are important to consider. There are risk factors to be considered. You must decide what is best for yourself and your family.

A major consideration is energy consumption, and the savings in power bills you gain by turning down the water heater. You can save as much as four percent on power use for each ten degrees you lower the water temperature. Using that estimate, lowering the water heater temperature from a high 150 degrees Fahrenheit to the EPA recommended 120 degrees F could save as much as twelve percent in energy use. That could be a considerable savings on your power bill, over time.

To evaluate your water heater needs, call on your local plumbing service. A qualified expert can advise you on your settings and recommend an ideal new water heater if that time has come.

* Image courtesy of DOE

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Highly-Efficient Air Conditioner

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:24:43 +0000

Should you consider buying a modern energy-efficient air conditioner? There are two very good reasons why you should. A high-efficiency AC will save you money over time. And remember, in our age of depleted fuel reserves and stress on the environment, energy saving is important. There will be some cost upfront for the purchase of a modern highly efficient air conditioner, but the savings over the life of the unit will justify the expense.

When considering the purchase of a new AC, one thing to consider is time. Roughly speaking, if your air conditioner is ten or more years old, it is a prime candidate for replacement with one of the new high-efficiency models. Not only have the years of operation taken their toll on the older unit, but the modern models are far superior in efficiency. The new one, properly installed and maintained, will likely provide ten to twenty years of high efficiency cooling. It will be well worth the money to have your local AC expert install a modern highly efficient air conditioner for your home.

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Do You Care How Your AC Works?

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:20:58 +0000

How many homeowners care how an air conditioner works? Most do not know or care, just as long as it blows cold air on demand. If it fails to cool, we promptly call the repair technician. But if we do care how an air conditioner works, a little understanding of the parts and processes involved will be required.

The compressor is first in line. It compresses the refrigerant, raising its temperature in the process. Then comes the condenser, where the refrigerant gives up some of its heat. From the condenser the refrigerant, now cooled considerably, passes through an expansion valve. The next step is the evaporator coil, where heat is removed from the air, which was the goal in the first place. There is also a reduction of humidity, which causes a feeling of being cooler, as well as the drop in temperature we were all looking for.

If understanding the system brings some comfort, well enough. But it the AC fails, you will not be comfortable for long. That is the time to call someone with real knowledge of the system and the tools to cure the problem. Your local professional air conditioning specialist will come to your home, find and fix the problem, and get the cool flowing again.

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Surviving a Heat Wave:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:23:02 +0000

What can you do if the AC fails right in the middle of a heat wave? Be careful, for extreme heat is dangerous, especially to the most sensitive groups like the elderly and those with health issues. Do remember to check up on those with issues and people living alone. It is best to keep activity down, dress in cool light clothing, and drink plenty of water while waiting for the air conditioning to come back on. Considering that summer is hot and that heat is expected to get worse, we should all be careful to maintain our AC systems well, and to keep in close touch with our local HVAC professionals.

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Plumbing Problems In New Home:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:39:04 +0000

If you have just bought a new home in a nice area, that means you are immune from the plumbing problems that may afflict those living in older homes. That is true, right? Wrong, actually, though it may seem that should be the case. New homes have problems too. Inspection and tests before the home goes on the market may not be enough to reveal problems that will result in plumbing system failures when the family begins to live in the home.

Before you buy, or as soon as possible after you buy, it would be best to consult your local plumbing expert. That highly qualified plumber can advise you as to any potential problems, and also help you with any upgrades and improvements you may be considering.

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Troubleshoot your AC issues:

JoeThePlumber — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:29:59 +0000

Has your AC let you down, just when it is most needed? If you find yourself facing an air conditioning problem, here are some quick fixes to try before calling the service people out to fix your AC.

Perform the simple tasks first. Check and replace the filters. Clean around the ventilation systems and intakes. Be sure the thermostat is set properly and that the batteries in an electronic thermostat are fresh and strong. Then, if your home troubleshooting has not got you back to cool and calm conditions, it is time to call on your local fully qualified air-conditioning maintenance professionals.

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Plumbing Pipe History:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:25:13 +0000

The history of plumbing reveals the use of clay, cast-iron, and copper as pipe materials. The order of usage was not exactly that, and many other materials were used as well. Many of the early civilizations, including the Romans, had some pretty fancy systems for bringing water into their cities and their homes. But plumbing was not really needed for carrying water away, they seem to have thought. An open trench leading down to the river served well enough for sewage and waste water.

As cities became larger, it became obvious that the open sewers were a problem. The open sewer system was a source of disease as well as discomfort. But those open sewers along the streets did give us the custom of men walking on the street side, when walking with a lady, to avoid the lady having her fine garments fouled with the contents of the gutter.

In the USA in the early days we had little or no plumbing at all. Washington, D.C. installed a sewer system of concrete pipes, lined with clay tiles or bricks, in 1885. Since then we’ve improved, and now have a fine selection of modern materials, though we also do still use clay, cast-iron, and copper. Your local plumbing expert can help you choose, when you prepare for your next plumbing project, whether one of those historical pipe types or a new synthetic is best for you.

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How to Choose A Plumber:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:54:29 +0000

What are the signs of a good plumbing service? To a degree, that depends on why you need a plumber. However, there are some standard plumbing shopping tips, that will help you find a real highly-qualified and dependable professional.

The plumber you choose should have a well-established business with a good local reputation. Ask for references. The opinions of your friends and family count as well. A professional plumbing contractor may also have a website that outlines their services and makes contacting them easy.

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Remember to Maintain Your AC:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:16:11 +0000

Think the subject of maintaining air conditioners sounds as if it does not apply to you? Think again. If you care about operation or replacement costs, air conditioner maintenance is an important matter. Even if you don’t care to do the maintenance yourself, someone will need to. Maintaining an air conditioner properly helps with electric bills and makes the ac unit last longer.

After clearing up around the outside housing, cleaning the coils and possibly applying the fin comb, there are some things you can do inside your home to maintain your cooling system. Number one is the cleaning or replacement of the filters. Clean reusable filters, or replace if torn or damaged. Replace disposable filters on a regular schedule. This is the easiest way to save money and increase the life of your air conditioner.

Beyond home maintenance, it is good to call in a professional for a checkup once or twice a year. The qualified AC technician can detect problems before they cause a failure, and recommend any improvements needed to keep your air conditioner functioning properly.

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Maintenance for home Water Softener Systems:

JoeThePlumber — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:37:42 +0000

If you have hard water, you should have a water softener. A water softener will be good both for your own well-being and your pipes, appliances, and fixtures. Your personal cleaning products will work better, and your fixtures will be protected from hard water build-up.

Someone is going to have to maintain the system, however. While some less-expensive models require frequent service and maintenance, automatic systems do much of their own cleaning. The brine tank must be inspected for salt build up. Salt level must be checked and refreshed. For ultimate convenience and guaranteed efficient functioning of your water softener system, consider having a water treatment system professional install and maintain a system that is ideal for your home.

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