Commerce Plumbing Tips

Water Heater Temperature Settings

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:52:45 +0000

What is the ideal temperature setting for your water heater? Setting the temperature for your home water heater can be as easy as turning a dial. However, there are several factors to consider. In the end you must decide what is best for yourself and your family.

One factor is safety, as hot water involves the risk of scalding. Those most at risk are small children, developmentally disabled individuals, and people with serious mobility limitations. Very hot water can cause serious harm quite quickly. Water at the top of the range of home water heaters, 140 – 150 degrees F, will cause serious burns in seconds. Water at around 120 degrees will take minutes of exposure to cause burns.

To be sure you are using the best setting for safety and savings, consider calling your local plumbing professional out for an inspection and some expert advice.

* Image courtesy of DOE

Bookmark It

New High-Efficiency Air Conditioners

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:31:36 +0000

Now may be a good time to call your air conditioning expert for a quote on a new air conditioner. Why should you consider buying an energy-efficient air conditioner? There are two very good reasons. For one thing, an efficient unit will save you considerable money over time. Another consideration is that, in our age of depleted fuel reserves and stress on the environment, every bit of energy saving is important. While it does cost upfront to make the change to a modern highly efficient air conditioner, the savings in dollars over the life of the unit will justify the expense.

Bookmark It

Do You Care How Your Air Conditioner Works?

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:29:31 +0000

Do you know how an air conditioner works? Many of us do not know, and also do not care, just as long it keeps the house cool enough. If it fails, we call the repair people, after some frantic manipulation of the thermostat controls. If you care how an AC works, a little understanding of the parts and processes involved will be helpful to you.

First in line is the compressor, which compresses the refrigerant, raising both its density and its temperature. Next comes the condenser. The refrigerant, coming from the compressor heated up, now passes through the condenser’s cools, releases its heat, and becomes much cooler. It seems a little indecisive, heat up, cool down, and so forth, but we will get to the payoff in the end.

If the AC fails, a call to your local professional air conditioning service will bring out a technician to diagnose and remedy the situation. That knowledgeable specialist knows how to find the problem and provide the cure quickly.

Bookmark It

Surviving Extreme Heat Without AC:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:15:04 +0000

Oh my, the air conditioner has failed, and a heat wave is upon us. What can we do? First we should check on our family and friends, especially those with conditions that make them vulnerable to excessive heat. Then there are some things we can do to help keep cool until the repair technicians arrive.

1 – Drink water: lots of water will keep you from dehydration and even heat stroke.

2 – Dress appropriately: cool light cotton is good; spandex and synthetics are not as cooling as cotton.

3 – Stay low: in a multilevel home, the ground floor will be coolest, as heat rises.

4 – Eat lightly: heavy foods only make us warmer; best are light salads and vegetable dishes.

5 – Use fans: keep the air circulating as much as you can.

The most important step, though, is to call your local air-conditioning professional to schedule a repair visit. The expert technician will be able to restore your cooling, and advise on how to avoid AC failure in the future.

Bookmark It

Plumbing Problems In Your New Home?

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:46:43 +0000

Do you think that your new home is safe from plumbing problems? Hopefully it is. But surprisingly often new home owners experience plumbing system failures, as daily use causes problems to show that were not visible in cursory inspections during construction.

Because after the purchase is done the home owner will be the one to foot the bills for repairs , it is well for that home owner to be cautions in examining the home before buying. To help with that, the wise shopper will consider consulting a qualified plumbing service even before buying. Your local plumbing specialist can help you avoid problems, as well as assist in upgrades and improvements.

Bookmark It

Summertime AC Troubleshooting:

JoeThePlumber — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:37:26 +0000

Summer is hot. We rediscover that every year. We count on our air conditioning systems to alleviate that discomfort. But sometimes these important systems let us down just when we need them most. If you find your AC is not performing well, here are some things to check before calling the air conditioning repair people.

Have you checked out the thermostat? If it is an electronic thermostat, you need to check the batteries. Top of the line thermostats have low battery warning indicators that give a month or two of warning before failing. Replacing the batteries, generally a couple of AA’s, will cure that problem. Obviously, the thermostat should be properly set as well. Check to see that the setting is on cool, and low enough to cause the AC to kick in, before calling the AC professionals to get your cool back again.

Bookmark It

Historically Important Pipe Materials:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:16:34 +0000

The materials for pipes used in plumbing include clay, cast-iron, and copper, far back into history. The earliest material known was clay mixed with straw. Soon after that, the Egyptians had copper pipe, though it was laboriously hand made and not in common usage. In early Germany the first cast-iron pipe can be found in a castle dating to 1455.

The early Americans mostly did without plumbing completely until well into the 19th and even 20th centuries. But now we have arrived at a state of plumbing sophistication that requires a large assortment of modern materials, as well as the old favorites, clay, cast-iron, and copper.

Bookmark It

Tips For Finding a Great Plumber:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:07:00 +0000

When you need to find a plumber, what do you look for? That should depend on your plumbing needs, to be sure. But there are certain basic components to a plumber shopping list that will help you separate the amateur or part-timer from the qualified specialist.

You should seek and find a true professional. Doing your own repairs and remodeling is fine, and the advice and assistance of friends is always appreciated. But in a plumbing emergency, or when planning major remodels, a real professional plumber is required.

Bookmark It

Important AC Maintenance Tips:

JoeThePlumber — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:28:19 +0000

Are you remembering your air conditioner maintenance chores? You can save a lot of money on energy bills, and put off the time of having to replace the ac unit, just by tending to simple maintenance duties. You should change the filters regularly. It also helps to keep the area around the ac unit clean and free of obstructions. Trim trees, shrubs, or plants that may have grown too close.

As a part of your air conditioner maintenance plan, include a visit from a professional heating and air conditioner service. They can test electrical and other functions that you have not the tools or skills to do. After you have done your regular maintenance, the professionals will make sure that your air conditioner is ready to keep you cool and calm for another summer.

Bookmark It

Want a Water Softener? Consider the Maintenance:

JoeThePlumber — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:45:16 +0000

Do you have a water softener? You should, if your home water supply is in the hard category. A water softener is good both for your own well-being and to protect your pipes, appliances, and fixtures from hard water build-up. Water softeners do require someone to maintain the system. Although some less-expensive models require manual service and maintenance, many automatic systems do most of their own cleaning.

If you decide to do your own maintenance, you will need to perform this chore at least every three months, every two months is more likely, and a monthly check would do no harm. A more automatic model still needs to be checked, but will require less work from the owner. Of course, the easiest and most effective way is to hire a professional to install and maintain your water softener system.

Bookmark It