Whittier Plumbing Tips

Setting Your Water Heater

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:19:34 +0000

What temperature setting have you chosen for your home water heater? Setting the temperature for your home water heater can be as easy as turning a dial. How do you choose what setting to use? There are several important factors to consider. As is so often the case, choices must be made. You must decide what is best for yourself and your family.

Health is an important factor to consider when deciding on a setting for your water heater. The water temperature that is safest for at-risk groups as far as direct contact with skin is not ideal for disinfection and disease organism control. Most modern dishwashers have a preheating system, so the water used to wash dishes is at 140 degrees, adequate for cleaning and sanitizing dishes. Older models, however, may lack this feature. It is important to know this when choosing your water heater setting. For a complete inspection and advice on your water heater needs, call your local plumbing professional.

* Image courtesy of DOE

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Highly-Efficient AC

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:17:29 +0000

Is now a good time to consider buying an energy-efficient air conditioner? Indeed it is. For one thing, an efficient unit will save you considerable money over time. In addition to the savings in money, in our age of depleted fuel reserves and stress on the environment, it is important to conserve our natural resources whenever possible. While there is some cost upfront to make the change to a modern highly efficient air conditioner, the savings in dollars over the life of the unit will offset the initial expense. The benefit to the environment in energy savings is priceless.

When considering your AC options, you should understand the numbers and terms related to cooling efficiency applied to the unit. You will see cooling capacity in Btu, and ratings expressed as SEER, or EER. It is important to have a basic understanding of these terms. Btu stands for British thermal unit, and indicates the cooling output of the AC. SEER and EER are related, but are not quite the same. EER stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio, and compares the cooling output of a unit to the input in energy required to operate it. SEER, on the other hand, stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and sets the standard for a normal year of operation for the unit in a certain location.

Your local air conditioning expert will fully understand these terms and their application in your area. Give that highly-qualified professional a call to start saving your wallet and our planet at the same time

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Do You Care How an AC Works?

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:13:59 +0000

Probably most of us do not care how an air conditioner works, just as long as cool air flows through the room when we turn it on. If the expected cool air does not flow, we try to fix it ourselves, or at least fiddle with the dials and adjustments, and then call the repair technician to make a house call.

You may wish to know a few air conditioning terms and be aware of the components that are involved. The basic bits are: compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator coil, along with assorted tubing and fans. There is a thermostat to control the conditions inside your own personal refrigerated box. These work together to remove heat from the space and bring cool comfort to the inhabitants. When they cease to work, it is time to call your local air-conditioning professional. They have the tools and technical knowledge to restore your AC to full function.

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Surviving a Heat Wave Without Air-Conditioning:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:29:21 +0000

When faced with a heat wave, most of us just stay inside and enjoy the air conditioning. But what do you do if the air conditioner breaks down just at the worst time, during the worst heat wave in years? Please be careful and take the situation seriously, for excessive heat is dangerous, especially to the vulnerable old, young, and seriously ill. Do remember to check on those at risk. Fortunately there are some steps you can take to help your family and friends survive.

Years ago, before most people had air conditioning, we used fans with a pan of water in front of them, to circulate cool air in the room. You can do that too, but be careful to keep the electric cord away from the water. Using a fan, a couple of buckets of water, and some burlap, you can assemble a simple evaporative cooler that will help keep you comfortable. The best cure of all, though, is to call the AC repair company near you, and get help to return your air conditioning to full function.

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Have Plumbing Problems In Your New Home?

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:47:01 +0000

You may be surprised to discover that you can have plumbing problems, even in a new home. How, is this possible? Even in new plumbing, mistakes can be made by the installers. Planning problems in design may reveal themselves as plumbing failures latter on. Less than top-quality materials may be used, to save money. And of course accidents happen, even with good intentions. Your wonderful new home may conceal problems in the walls and under the floors. These flaws are likely to reveal themselves at the most inconvenient of moments. When you are considering the purchase of a new home, or new-to-you home, you may wish to consult a qualified plumbing specialist, to be sure this important system is going to serve you well.

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Help For AC Troubles:

JoeThePlumber — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:24:11 +0000

Hot summer is the worst time to find out your air conditioner is not working properly. If that does happen, here are some quick checks and fixes you may try before calling in the professionals. First, think the situation over. Maybe you can recall something you did or did not do. Think about the symptoms indicating malfunction. This may help you in your troubleshooting of the temperature problem. Have you replaced the AC filter recently? Are you sure you set the thermostat properly? Are there any other air flow problems? Are you sure that there is clear air space around the important parts of your AC? These are things you should check before calling the air conditioning experts.

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Plumbing Pipe Materials in History:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:56:45 +0000

In plumbing history we see the use of clay pipe, cast iron pipe, a copper pipe. In a strict historical progression, that is not quite the order of things, and that list leaves out several important materials. But the clay to cast to copper will work if a frequency of usage model is favored.

Around 4,500 years B.C. we find the first usage of clay pipe in plumbing. Copper was not far behind though. Those old Egyptians had copper pipes soon after the earliest clay pipes are known, as early as 4,000 B.C., though these were intensively hand made and not for everyone. The use of cast iron for cannon is verified long before the use of cast iron for pipes. Cast-iron pipe was used in a castle in Germany in 1455. So really, the history of these three materials for plumbing would be this: clay, closely followed by copper, and after a span of a thousand years or more, cast iron.

Of course, if you are planning a new bathroom or kitchen, the history of these things may not matter so much as the choice of which will work best for you. Fortunately, your local plumbing professional will know how to use all these and many modern materials as well.

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The Search for a Great Plumber:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:47:53 +0000

What items should be on your plumber shopping list? It depends on what you need a plumber for, of course. But there are a few standard requirements that you should always include in your plumber shopping list.

When you contact a plumbing company, you should always be treated with courtesy and respect. You should get clear explanations of services offered and believable solutions to your plumbing problems. Estimates should be complete and understandable. Warranties and guaranties should be available.These are some of the signs of a true plumbing professional.

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How to maintain your air conditioner:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:09:29 +0000

Do you remember to do your regular air conditioner maintenance? If you care how much it costs to operate or even replace the AC unit, you should. If you do not do the maintenance yourself, make sure someone does. Good air conditioner maintenance practices can assure efficient operation and long life for the air conditioner unit.

You can do a lot of the maintenance yourself. Beyond cleanup and replacing the filters, you may want to give the fins some attention. You can find a fin comb online or at your local ac supply store. Use the fin comb to straighten the soft aluminum fins and improve air conditioner function. But please be careful. The fins can be sharp and may cause some considerable knuckle damage if caution is not used. After you have done what you can do, it is time to call in the air conditioner pros for a regular AC checkup and maintenance visit.

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Maintain Your Water Softener System:

JoeThePlumber — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:20:46 +0000

If your home is supplied with hard water, you need a water softener. Not only will your personal care be easier, more pleasant, and more effective, your appliances, pipes, and fixtures will be safe from mineral deposits and damage. As great as it is to have soft water, the maintenance required is a matter for thought. Lower priced systems require frequent checks, cleaning, and maintenance. While automatic systems do some of their own cleaning, they still must be checked and the salt supply renewed. You will need to check the resin bed on any system. Although the resin bed should last for years, it must be checked for buildup of iron, growth of algae, or visible bacterial build up. For the ultimate in ease of use and maximum function, consider having a professional water treatment service in to install and maintain your home water softener system .

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