04/12/2019
PLUMBING and HEATING TIPS
HEATING SYSTEM
With heating costs expected to stay high, we are helping families save money by optimizing their heating systems with these important cost effective steps:
Furnace/Boiler Cleanout
A yearly cleaning of your furnace/boiler is highly recommended in order to help bring your system up to it’s peak operating efficiency. The more efficient your system is running, the lower your heating costs will be and the less often you will have to call for repairs. It is best to schedule this cleaning before the heating season starts. If there are any problems with your system, it’s better to correct them before it is freezing outside.
Change filters on heating system
Check the air filters on your heating system every month that they are in use and replace them when necessary. Most filters should be replaced every 6-8 weeks. A build up of dirt on your filter can make your system work harder, thereby wasting energy, and costing you more money on your heat and electric bill. A “clogged” filter can cause excessive wear and may even damage the unit resulting in costly repair bills.
Lower temperature on water heater to 120°
Turn down the temperature on your water heater. If you set the temperature at 120° F or below, you will save about 4% of your energy cost per 10° that you lower the thermostat. When you go on vacation use the “vacation setting” on your water heater if available.
Keep vents and registers clear
Keep all heating registers and vents throughout the house free from clutter, furniture, dirt, dust and pet hair. This will help you get the most out of your heating system.
Water Heater Flood Detector Auto Shutoff
Water heaters are under constant pressure and they rust from the inside out so you don't know there's a problem until it's too late. And when they go, they can release a huge amount of water very quickly. With a Water Heater Flood Detector Auto Shutoff, as soon as the device senses the tiniest bit of water on the floor, it will sound a loud alarm and automatically turn off the water heater and water supply minimizing the amount of damage done to your property.
Washing Machine Flood Detector Auto Shutoff
It is not uncommon for a washing machine’s drain hose to dislodge from the drainage pipe thereby causing a large quantity of water to drain directly onto the floor. The Washing Machine Flood Detector Auto Shutoff will detect even the smallest amount of water on the floor, sound an alarm and automatically turn off the washing machine and the water supply to prevent an excessive amount of water damage to your property.
A/C Tune ups
An annual air conditioner check up is the easiest way to keep your cooling system in peak condition. A properly maintained system, operating in an efficient manner can save you money on your electric utility bills by using less energy to cool your house. Early air conditioner maintenance can prevent many small problems from becoming more expensive problems later on.
Low Consumption Toilets
Have you ever thought about how much water your toilet uses each day? You could be losing gallons of water each time you flush. Replacing an old model toilet with a new low-consumption or low-flush toilet could drastically cut your home water consumption. This could mean significant savings for you for many years to come. State Plumbing Code requires that all new or replacement installations of two-piece tank-type and floor-mounted toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
For your family's safety, we always recommend carbon monoxide detectors.
