Month: January 2020

This post first appeared on http://www.atozstatewideplumbing.com

Having a busted heater is a nightmare for any homeowner, especially in the middle of winter. Plus, since the cost of fixing it is typically astronomical, paying for it isn’t economical. Thankfully, you can avoid experiencing both of these by following some tips given by professionals of emergency heating repair in Pittsburgh, PA.

According to these experts, most of the major repairs they’ve done can be prevented. With a bit of mindfulness, you can avoid huge heating repair bills while staying warm during winter; the only question is, “how?”

If you’re wondering what the secret is, don’t sweat it, because this blog can help you with that. Whether you own a furnace, boiler, heat pump, or stove, here are some things you should do:

Don’t Delay Repairs

The biggest mistake most homeowners make is delaying repairs. Even if there’s something wrong with their heater, as long as it can still generate heat, people tend to ignore it, thinking it’s not a big deal.

What people don’t realize is that these problems tend to pile up. The components of a heating system are all interconnected. If a drain or fan isn’t working properly, it affects the whole unit. While your heater may look fine, continuous wear and tear is already happening inside.

Once it reaches the point where the heater stops working, only then do people call for heating repair service. But, rather than fixing some minor issues, a costly complete overhaul is usually required.

Don’t wait for your heater to break down. Call for local repair service once you notice these early signs of damage:

• Poor Air Quality: One of the most obvious signs that there’s something wrong with your heater is poor air quality. If you notice that the airflow is getting weaker and the blower’s failing to produce a warm breeze, you know it’s time to call in the experts.
• Strange Noises: Banging, grinding, screeching, and anything similar should make you suspicious. Residential HVAC systems, especially modern heaters, are designed to not produce any noises at all.
• Leaks: Puddles forming below your heater is a sign of a blocked or broken condensate drain. If left unfixed, water can seep into areas where it’s not supposed to or lead to mildew and mold growth.
• Odd Smells: Be conscious of musty odors similar to those from basements and utility closets. This scent is produced by microorganisms that thrive in warm water. If this smell is coming out of your heater, it could be a sign that there’s a leak inside the system.

Practice Proper Maintenance

If you really want to avoid repairs, this is what you should do. By practicing proper heater maintenance, not only will you prevent any problems from getting worse, but you’ll also spot them before signs show.

To ensure that your heating system is in tip-top shape, here’s a quick checklist on what you should do:

1. Clean or replace the filter
2. Test the blower motor
3. Reduce the heating load
4. Clear the household vents and the outside exhaust flue
5. Remove flammable objects around your heater
6. Clean the heating system vents and ductwork

Do this at least once a year, preferably before the cold months begin. This way, you can be confident that nothing will happen to your heater when you need it the most.

Avoid paying huge repair bills by following these tips. But, for unexpected problems, or if you notice any signs of damage, don’t hesitate to call for an emergency heating service in Pittsburgh, PA. Get in touch with Stahl Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning for help.

The post Tips for Avoiding Huge Heating Repair Bills appeared first on Stahl Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.

No one except a plumber wants to deal with a malfunctioning pipe, especially if the repair costs can reach thousands.

According to ESRI Canada, “Across Canada, sewer maintenance has become a growing priority and there has been a significant shift to rehabilitating sewer lines before they break.”

Sanitation houses only expand the pipes in your home to the main drain connected to them.

Most major installation problems usually occur on the mainline, and it is best to avoid it as much as possible. Broken sewer pipes can cause bathrooms to be flooded with gutters, broken pipes, and expensive repairs.

Cleaning and preventing blockage in your sewage system is important, after all, it costs between $2,250  on the low-end and $5,750 on the high-end to repair a sewer line, according to HomeGuide.

The central sewer system is an essential part of the home water supply. Many homeowners only think about their house waste pipes when problems arise, especially when the sewers are usually clogged.

Repairing the sewer is very important if you want to enjoy your home without installation problems. However, some homeowners have difficulty knowing when to ask for help.

Also, so many of them have their sewer problems worsen that they have to think about sewer replacement.

When Should You Repair Your Sewer?

It can be difficult to be 100% sure when to do it. The main reason is that most sewage pipes are underground. Because this isn’t immediately apparent, you might not see the problem, even if it happens at all.

Only when it appears unexpectedly at home, you realize that something much more severe is happening. If it is difficult to identify the signs of a problem, it can cause several problems.

This problem includes higher electricity bills, blocked drains, and lack of sanitation, making home life unhealthy for everyone.

Your sewage system plays an essential role in your home’s waste system, and if it doesn’t work correctly, it’s no secret. But how can you distinguish small repairs that you can fix from repairs that require the help of a professional?

As a rule, it is the best idea to schedule your sewer pipe repairs immediately if you notice any problems with your sewer pipes. You can misdiagnose the problem or accidentally make it a bigger problem.

Does Your Sewer Need a Repair? (Signs to Look Out For)

There are clear and unclear signs when identifying sewer line problems. The need to repair sewer pipes in some cases is easily identified by clogging and mold all over the house.

However, there may be other signs that are less clear, and you need to know what to look for.

1). Low Water Level

If you notice that the water level in your toilet fluctuates continuously, this can be a clear sign of damage to the sewage pipe. It’s hard to say what caused it, whether it’s a bottleneck or a leak.

For this reason, it is vital to call a licensed plumber to check it.

2). Smell

This problem is a common sign that emits an unusual odor coming from the floor, especially outside the home.

Most times, you can smell it in the bathroom or the basement. Look for other possible causes of odors and contact a plumber if you can’t find something.

3). Slow Drainage

This sign is one of the most evident signs because it affects plumbing throughout the house. If you notice that it runs slowly while showering, flushing the toilet, or even running water to the sink, this can be a sign of a big problem.

Slow drainage affects more than one room because many water supply areas are affected.

4). Cracks

If you see cracks in the foundation, wall, or even on the ceiling, this can be a sign of a big problem.

If you see a break in a wall or ceiling, you might not think it as a problem with your plumbing system, but it could happen.

A common mistake made by homeowners is to ignore new cracks in exterior tiles and believe that this is just a state-building. Please don’t assume you checked it professionally.

5). Mold

Another clear sign is when you see mold or mildew growing throughout the house. This is also sometimes ignored because homeowners blame it on other causes such as brain damage, failure of the air conditioner, or whatever. If these criminals are denied, the water pipe is the final clear suspect.

Essentially, proper cleaning and maintenance of your sewer line is important. This will eliminate mold formation of bacteria that cause unhealthy weed in your sewage system.

6). Lush Grassy Areas

If you find that your yard looks green and lush this year, it might be caused by a septic tank. Plants thrive in gutters because they are good fertilizer.

Sewer leaks can be suitable for your yard, but that’s bad news for your home and waterways.

7). Strange Noises

Your sewage pipe should not make any noise if it works well. However, if you feel a blockage in the water pipe, it means there is a blockage that is ready to absorb your wastewater.

Strange noises in your sewage line can be caused by a blockage, which is preventing wastewater water from flowing naturally.

Once you unclog the blockage, your sewage system should start functioning properly — and the noises will be gone.

8). Increased Water Bills

Your water bill continues to rise. You start watching bath time and reduce the amount of laundry, but the price keeps increasing. This can mean that you have a sewer line leak.

Unexpected water bills may be as a result of leaky faucets and fixtures. When the leakage is heavy, more water will be wasted, and you can expect a higher bill at the end of the day.

Don’t manage leaky faucets and fixtures. Why? Because studies show that about one drip per second can waste up to 17 gallons in 24 hours. Since a leaking faucet is easy to fix, make sure you do it as soon as you can.

And once that’s done, you should proceed with repairing your sewer.

9). Pest

Unfortunately, damaged main lines can also cause unwanted pests in your home. Rats and insects can easily slip through cracks and gaps in their sewage pipes and find their way to your pipes.

This pest can be very dangerous for your health. If you suspect pests in your pipeline, the plumber can do a visual inspection of your waste pipe.

Prevention of Significant Blockages in Sewage Systems

There are several reasons for blockages in large gutters. Some cannot be avoided, such as tree roots and collapsed pipes.

Other things can be monitored to prevent frequent constipation. An important preventive measure is to control what enters the drain.

Solid objects thrown in the toilet can take the sewage system and make it jam. Also, excess food and oil that cleans kitchen drains can clog a more considerable pipe.

However, If your sewer line is backed up more than once a year, it may be necessary to explore and repair problem areas or change channels. However, it is often only the case that the main sewage pipe suffocates once or twice a year.

This is especially true when large tree roots grow in gutters. The price difference between exploring or digging or repairing pipes is significant.

Most sewer line blockage can be prevented with routine maintenance and proper use of sewer.

How to Keep a Clean Sewer Line (Tips to Keep in Mind).

a). Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket — if you wash your facial tissue, napkins, diapers, and other rubbish in your bathroom, constipation will occur; a blockage you can’t imagine unclogging.

b). Use your garbage disposal intelligently — Avoid throwing away the massive amounts of things that are in your garbage disposal that can be stored in your waste disposal system.

c). Do not pour oil into the sewage system — oil and grease, although when poured, the liquid can get stuck in the water and accumulate deposits and cause constipation.

Broken sewers are not just expensive repairs. This interferes with your home installation.

If your drain is damaged anywhere, you need to repair the drain! It is best to fix it as soon as possible, not only to ensure efficient installation but also to prevent ordering flooded drains, pipes, or basements.

Conclusion

Although sewer repair and maintenance isn’t a glamorous job, we all know it’s essential to the health of both our residential and commercial properties.

Remember that whatever you flush down your drains and toilets have a significant impact on your sewer system.

That’s why ongoing preventive maintenance is recommended if you want a healthy sewer and drain system.

 

This post first appeared on https://blog.antaplumbing.com

When you need hot water in your home, you don’t want to wait. If your shower takes too long to warm up or you’re dealing with slow hot water throughout your home, there are some things you can do to fix your hot water woes!

5 Reasons You Have to Wait for Hot Water from Your Home’s Taps

1. Distance: The farther away your hot water heater is from the faucet or shower where you want hot water to flow, the longer it will take to get there.
2. A low volume restrictor: You may have a low volume restrictor installed on fixtures, like your shower, which can delay the delivery of water.
3. A failing water heater: Water heaters that are about 10 years old are at or approaching the end of their service life. That can mean they fail suddenly, or they’re simply less effective at heating water. An expert plumber from Len The Plumber can check out and repair your water heater and determine if now’s the right time for water heater replacement.
4. Sediment buildup: Sediment accumulates in your water heater when dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, settle on the bottom of the tank—precisely where the electric heating element or gas burner is located. With a crusty layer of sediment blocking heat transfer, the tank can’t produce hot water as quickly as it used to. A water heater professional from Len The Plumber can flush your water heater and clean out the sediment to help improve efficiency and performance.
5. Undersized water heater: Perhaps you installed a water heater several years ago when only two people lived in your home. If your family has grown since then, you could be demanding more from your water heater than it’s designed to handle. Upgrading to a larger unit could be the solution to your problem.

How Long Does It Take to Get Hot Water Back?

All storage water heaters have a particular recovery time. This is the amount of time it takes the tank to deliver hot water again after it has been depleted. The recovery time can vary widely depending on these factors:

• Tank size: Larger tanks take longer to recover.
• First hour rating (FHR): The higher the FHR, the less time it takes for the water heater to recover.
• Fuel type: Electric water heaters take about twice as long to reheat as gas models.
• Temperature rise: Cold incoming water takes longer to reheat than warm water.

All in all, it takes an average 80-gallon gas water heater about an hour to recover. The factors outlined here determine whether your water heater’s recovery time is longer or shorter than this.

How Can I Get Hot Water Faster?

A Hot Water Recirculation System

A hot water recirculation system can reduce the amount of water wasted while you’re waiting for it to heat up from the tap. A recirculating system:

• Moves water more quickly from the hot water heater to the desired tap
• Recirculates your used water back to the heater and keeps hot water close to the faucets
• Is activated by a timer or a thermostat

The recirculation system can be either mounted near your faucet or attached to your water heater. The version attached to your water heater includes a pump and a timer to keep the hot water circulating.

A Tankless Water Heater

A tankless water heater is another option to provide on-demand hot water continuously. Offering an endless supply of hot water, tankless water heaters don’t use tanks to contain or heat water. Instead, water passes over a heating element to instantly become hot.

The result is immediate access to hot water and a reduction of heating costs because the tank isn’t heating unused water.

In addition to whole-house tankless water heaters, there are also point-of-use tankless water heater units. These smaller units address hot water output for individual faucets and can be installed in a sink cabinet or closet. These are a good option when a water heater doesn’t have the capacity to serve the entire home.

Find out here if a tankless water heater is right for your home.

Given that water heaters can account for as much as 25% of a home’s energy use, choosing an efficient system that can also meet your water heater needs is crucial. The team at Len The Plumber can help with that to ensure you get a water heater that fits your budget and your hot water needs while providing optimal long-term value!

 

Get Help Restoring Your Home’s Hot Water Supply

The experienced team at Len The Plumber provides a full range of water heater services for both storage and tankless models powered by natural gas or electricity. Whether you need a water heater tune-up or repair, our local plumbers can get the job done. A water heater flush and other maintenance tasks will improve the performance of your water heater for years to come. We can even help you upgrade your plumbing with a water recirculation system or a new tankless water heater.

Call Len The Plumber at 800-950-4619 or contact us online to request water heater services in  MD, DC, VA, PA, or DE.

This post first appeared on https://lentheplumber.com

When buying or selling a home, people often tend to focus on functionality and aesthetics. While these are important, it can often mean that less attention is given to “what lies beneath”—namely, the plumbing.

Read More

Furnace efficiency is a hot topic these days, particularly because homeowners are looking for any and every DIY solution to problems with their heating bills. Well, you might not be able to build a new furnace from scratch but you’ll definitely be able to do a few things that help with the efficiency of your furnace system. That’s where we’re trying to help.

Increasing the efficiency of your furnace can also help you avoid furnace repair in Livingston, NJ because you’ll be making the job easier for it. Furnaces that are running inefficiently often have to consume more fuel and work harder just to provide the same amount of heat that an efficient heater would.

If you’re a DIY kind of person, these few efficiency tips cannot be overlooked in the slightest. These are your simple and effective solutions to improving the heating quality of your home.

Furnace Efficiency Tips

Honestly, we could talk for hours about ways to improve the efficiency of your heater. Since it’s what we’re passionate about, there are a ton of small changes and adjustments that can be made in order to keep your system happy and healthy. However, we’ve got to remember that the average homeowner doesn’t have the tools to make minor adjustments with the precision that a professional does. So, if you’re doing the following things and you’re still not seeing an efficiency improvement, contact our team of professionals today for some experienced handiwork.

• Unblock air vents. This is a fairly easy tip to start off. Venture around your home and try to locate all the air vent openings in your floors, walls, or ceilings. If you’re noticing that a lot of vents are obscured by furniture, artwork, or anything else in your home—you’re just making the job more difficult for your furnace. Clear your vents appropriately and allow fresh, heated air to flow through your home.
• Change your furnace’s filter. This is a given. Every 1-3 months your furnace’s air filter should be changed. The only exception to this rule is if your house has an excessive amount of pet dander and dust, in which it should be changed more frequently. Did you forget to change your filter for the past few months? Well, now is the best time to do it!
• Use sunlight and curtains. This is a tip that often goes overlooked. When it’s cold out and you’re struggling to keep your home warm, you might forget that there’s a heater outside as well. It’s called the sun! Open your curtains on windows that face the sun and you’ll have the added benefit of sunlight to keep your home warm and cozy. When the sun is out, draw your curtains again and let them keep the heat inside as well!
• Schedule furnace maintenance. Remember how we mentioned earlier that not every DIY tip will lead to an efficient furnace? Some furnaces just need professional craftsmanship to really be at peak condition. If you’re noticing that nothing is working, call a professional and schedule heater maintenance today!

For expert maintenance or repairs, give our professional team a call at MarGo Plumbing Heating Cooling Inc.

This post first appeared on https://margoplumbing.com

Unfortunately, the water that runs through our taps is quite susceptible to contaminants, and although many of these contaminants aren’t necessarily dangerous, they can have quite a big impact on overall taste and quality. Of course, then, it’s no wonder why so many homeowners choose to install water filtration systems.

Installing a water filtration system in Orlando is a great way to eliminate a number of chemicals, particulates, and biological pollutants that can make their way into your plumbing system. Interested? Keep reading to find out more!

A Water Filtration System is a Good Idea!

Installing a home water filtration system is one of the best ways to ensure that your water is clean and safe. There is always a chance that your city’s water treatment plant is unable to remove all of the contaminants from the water supply entering your home. Plus, your individual circumstances and environmental surroundings can all impact the quality of your drinking water. The only way to ensure that you’re drinking clean water is with a water filtration system.

Signs You Could Benefit From a Water Filter

There are a number of signs that suggest your home could benefit from a water filtration system. These signs include:

• Foul taste or odors: If your water begins to taste or smell funny, it could be that there are contaminants in the water supply.
• Discoloration: Your water shouldn’t be anything but clear, so if you notice that your water is discolored, it’s likely time to contact a professional.
• Particulate Matter: Any noticeable sediment or particulates found in the water supply shouldn’t be ignored.

If you notice that your water is not quite as tasty or clear as you’d like it to be, don’t hesitate to inquire about installing a water filtration system in your home!

How to Get One

If you are interested in having a water filtration system installed in your home, do not hesitate to call in a certified professional plumber for help. First and foremost, your plumber will conduct a water test to determine exactly which contaminants are troubling your plumbing system. After the test results come back, your plumber will be able to determine which water treatment system is right for you!

A Job for Professionals Only!

Installing a water treatment system is a big job, so of course, you want to make sure that it is done correctly. The best way to do that is by hiring a professional for your services. Trust us, only a professional has the tools, expertise, and training to safely and correctly install your new water treatment system, the first time around.

There may be plenty of amateurs willing to provide these services for a fairly cheap price, but remember, sometimes an attempt to save money could end up costing you much more in the long run. See, when it comes to your comfort and your budget, you don’t want to take any risks!

Schedule your plumbing services with the team at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. Proudly Serving Central Florida Since 1975. 

This post first appeared on https://www.modernpi.com

Plumbing repairs are something nobody wants to deal with. And yet, many homeowners are damaging their plumbing on a daily basis, thereby dooming themselves to eventual problems. Of course, most of them don’t realize that what they’re doing is detrimental to their plumbing—and you might be making the exact same mistakes. Keep reading to find out the common mistakes people make that damages their plumbing systems that might require emergency plumbing service in Pittsburgh, PA.

Flushing Foreign Objects

Unfortunately, toddlers aren’t the only ones who flush things that they shouldn’t. While most adults aren’t trying to send their G.I. Joes down the toilet, many do overestimate what kinds of things their toilets can handle. Ultimately, if it’s not body waste or toilet paper, it should not be put down the toilet. This means you should not be flushing any of the following:

• Paper towels
• Baby wipes
• Cleaning wipes
• Diapers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Food
• Kitty litter

Odds are that you’ve flushed more than one of these in your lifetime, and if you’re still flushing them, you should stop. While these products may have gone down the drain before, it’s only a matter of time before they block up a pipe and you encounter plumbing issues.

Overusing the Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal is another part of home plumbing that many individuals overestimate. While your garbage disposal may seem to magically eat up clogs, that doesn’t make it an infinite disposal site for food waste. In fact, there are certain foods that should never go into your garbage disposal at all, including flour, rice, fruit and vegetable peelings, bones, and potatoes.

These foods easily clog up the blender as well as the drain in your sink. Make sure these foods are tossed in the garbage can. Better yet, toss as much of your food waste in the garbage as possible. Scrape your plate into the trash before putting it in the sink to minimize the odds of a clogged pipe or broken garbage disposal.

Using Drain Cleaner

While the name might make you think drain cleaners are great for your pipes, they’re really not. Most drain cleaners do more harm than good; they can corrode your pipes, which will lead to more severe clogs down the road. The next time you get a clog, try using a drain-cleaning tool or plunger instead, and get rid of that damaging drain cleaner.

The things that you put into your drains can have a major impact on your plumbing’s life span. If you continue to abuse and misuse your plumbing, it will break down eventually, so do yourself a favor and stop making these common mistakes.

If your plumbing is giving your major troubles, you can contact Stahl Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning for emergency plumbing repair service in Pittsburgh, PA, any time of the day or night. Call 413-273-1000 for 24/7 emergency service.

The post Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Plumbing System appeared first on Stahl Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.

Staying warm indoors has been a big concern for centuries. Initially, people used wood-burning appliances like a fireplace or cast iron stove to heat their homes. With the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s and early 1800s, things gradually started to change.

While wood-burning appliances were still very popular, the advances in production methods, science, and technology were slowly paving the way for new home heating options. One of the first new options was the radiator.

Radiators circulated heated water through a series of closely wound pipes that released heat into the room. The water was then returned back to the heat source, where the water was reheated and then recirculated back into the system. Typically, in the 1800s, the heat source was wood or coal burned underneath a water tank to heat the water, similar to how tank-type water heaters work today.

Another new option was the Bunsen burner. This burner burned natural gas, propane, or oil. It was able to release heat without the risk of ash or soot. However, the burner did release various gases that were not safe to breathe, so the use of Bunsen burners for heat was rather limited. Yet, it could be safely used to heat the water for radiators.

The Introduction of Coal Furnaces

People also started using coal furnaces to heat their homes. The furnace was vented outside, much like a fireplace, to release soot and ash. The heat was directed into the home from the furnace using ductwork in the floor directly above the furnace.

Yet, forcing the heat through the ductwork was still an issue, as electricity was still not readily available. As such, the use of coal furnaces for heating homes was not that widespread and people continued to rely upon other methods to stay warm.

Enter Electricity

The advances in electricity in the late 1800s started to pave the way for more advancements in heating. In the early 1900s, the first heating elements were invented that converted electricity into heat. These heating elements would become the first electric heaters and, eventually, electric furnaces.

Another advance thanks to electricity was the invention of electric blower motors. The blower motors could be installed onto coal furnaces to force the hot air out of the ductwork and into the rooms of the home. This made it possible to not only heat lower floors but upper floors too.

By the 1940s, homes were purchasing and installing coal wall furnaces and retrofitting their homes with ductwork. The first forced-air coal furnace had been invented some 20 years earlier but had not been perfected until the mid-1920s.

Manually Operated Furnaces

Coal shortages during WWI paved the way for natural gas, propane, and oil furnaces to be invented. These early furnaces were all manually operated. This meant that someone would have to go turn the furnace on, adjust the dampers, and open and close the vents to direct heated air from the furnace into the home.

Once the home was sufficiently heated, someone would have to go turn the furnace off. With coal furnaces, the coal could be left to smolder and then be stoked, with more added to the furnace to get the fire burning again.

Thermostats Are Introduced

Furnace development changed again after the invention of the first electric thermostat in the late 1800s. However, the first thermostat was nothing like today’s thermostats. All it did was ring a bell to let someone know they needed to adjust the damper on the furnace!

Advances in thermostats also started to occur during WWI. With coal shortages, people needed a way to control when the coal burned. The first residential thermostat was a wind-up electric model that lit the coal and allowed it to burn until the clock ran down. Then it would close the damper so the coal would go out.

The first thermostats for oil furnaces helped advance the sales of oil furnaces in the 1920s. Propane and natural gas furnaces also saw advancements, thanks to new thermostats. Yet, major progress was not made until much later, as homes were not piped with natural gas or propane lines just yet.

Rural and Urban Heating Styles

By the 1950s, homes were being heated using coal, oil, propane, or natural gas. Coal, oil, and propane were all popular options in rural areas where homeowners did not have access to natural gas lines through a gas company. In cities, natural gas heating was growing in popularity because it meant homeowners no longer needed to have a storage tank for oil or propane or a storage area in the basement for coal.

Central Heating and Cooling and Higher Efficiencies

Up until the 1970s, furnaces could only heat the home. The use of central heating and cooling systems was not yet popular. Places in the south, including parts of Texas, did not even have furnaces because the weather never got cold enough to justify installing a furnace. Rather, people in warmer climates relied on wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to heat their homes.

Then, in the late 1970s after the oil crisis, the federal government started to demand that furnaces provide higher efficiency ratings as a means to help conserve oil, propane, and natural gas. This led to the invention of multi-speed electric blower motors that did not require the use of a fan belt. The motor was connected directly to the fan.

People were not too happy about the change, at first, because the new furnaces were loud and noisy. Yet, they gradually adjusted to the added noise the newer blower motors made when the furnace ran.

Around the 1970s is also when air conditioning systems started to become more popular and in demand. The increase in demand resulted in the first central heating and cooling systems to be created. These systems shared the same blower motor and ductwork, much like today’s central split systems.

Computer-Based and Digitized Systems and Other New Advances

As computer-based technologies advanced in the 1980s, they were gradually adopted for use in heating and cooling systems. By the 1990s, the first digital thermostats started to appear on the market, which helped improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems.

A new type of furnace was also invented that allowed for it to be mounted on an outside wall, using PVC pipes. This new furnace addressed the noise issue homeowners disliked. Other advances in technologies led to even more efficient furnaces and air conditions systems, including:

• Multi-Stage Functioning: Furnaces and AC systems started to offer multiple stages of functioning based on the demand. When a little amount of heat or cool air is needed, the system operates at a lower level and at a higher level when a large amount of heat or cool air is required.
• Variable-Speed Motors: To accompany multi-stage functioning, variable-speed motors were added. The speed of the motors changes based on how the system is operating to help deliver the right mix of heated or cooled air into the home while also helping reduce the appearance of cold and hot spots.
• Delayed Started Blower Motors: These blower motors do not turn on right away when the furnace or AC kicks on. Instead, they wait a short period to allow the heated or cooled air to enter the ductwork. This way, you are not hit with a blast of cold or hot air coming out of the air vents.
• Smart Thermostats: These thermostats are an improvement over the digital ones from the 1990s. They offer complete control of the heating and cooling system using your smartphone or tablet.
• Energy-Efficient Furnaces: Energy efficiency in furnaces has continued to improve and increase since the 1970s when the federal government started to demand better efficiency. A furnace from the later 1970s or early 1980s only has an efficiency of around 60 to 65% compared to 97-98% efficiency in a new furnace today!
• Ductless Heating and Cooling: Homes no longer need ducts to stay warm or cold. Ductless systems provide even greater flexibility in deciding what temperature to keep each room in the home.

As you can see, furnaces have come a long way over the past 200+ years. If you are looking to save money on your heating costs this winter, it may be time for new furnace installation in Houston from MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning.

If your furnace is more than 15 years old, it is highly recommended you consider investing in a new energy-efficient model. If it is less than 15 years old, it is still a good idea to schedule heater and furnace repair and maintenance service.

Regular maintenance ensures your furnace is operating optimally and as efficiently as it can. To schedule heating services in Houston and Katy, please feel free to call MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning at 281-994-6698 today!

Our heating and cooling experts are happy to examine your current system and offer sound advice to help you decide if now is the right time for new furnace installation in Houston.

The post How Have Furnaces Changed Over the Years? appeared first on Met Plumbing.

Do you have to take a few minutes standing in the shower to allow time for the water to heat? You wouldn’t want to imagine the day you’ll wake up and realize it’s no longer working.

Water heaters have a lifespan of 10 – 15 years before they can get replaced. Fortunately, if you’re keen enough, you can tell when it’s about to fail. Discussed are four telltale signs your heater is about to fail;

Rumbling or Popping Sounds

Strange noises as if the sound of popcorn cooking are a good indicator your heater is failing. As the hard water heats, mineral sludge accumulates at the bottom of the water tank insulating the water tank from the burner.

The popping sounds you can hear result when the mineral deposits get incredibly heated and flashes of into steam. In the process of heating the water and the sludge, the heater becomes overworked. Worse still, the slurry may stress the tank to the extent that it cracks and begins to leak. When it gets to that point, you need the services of a professional to replace the water heater.

Water around the Base of the Heater

If you spot water nearby, the leakage might be resulting from two places. First, the temperature and pressure (T&P) valve may be releasing excess steam, which then condenses into water and leaves down the pipe. That’s perfectly normal. If the water is excess, be sure to call a professional plumber.

The second possibility is a water leakage from the tank into the water heater. If the leak is around the base of the heater, that’s an indication the heater is leaking internally. Hairline cracks inside the water heater tank that come from the expansion and contraction of the water tank as it heats and cools could be the culprit.

In such a scenario, you’d need a professional, highly-trained, and licensed plumber to replace the water heater.

Cloudy, Bad Odor or Metallic Tasting Water

If you note any of these indicators, your water heater will be failing soon. They result from the build-up of excessive mineral sludge that comes from hard heating water. Your plumber can install anode rods capable of attracting the corrosive minerals in the water thereby reducing the possibility of eroding the heater lining and experiencing the foul smell.

Professional Plumbing Services for Businesses & Homes in Florida

A to Z Statewide Plumbing is among the leading plumbing companies serving businesses and homes in Florida. We’ve been in business since 1981 and do anything from replacing a faucet to re-piping entire buildings. We have licensed, insured, drug-tested, and passionate technicians who offer nothing short of exemplary plumbing services. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Experiencing problems with your water heater or any other issues? Call us 24/7 at 954-981-2133 to book our services.

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