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Heating Questions
Q: How can I ensure that my HVAC system is safe for operation?
A: Have your system checked annually for proper operation to ensure
the unit is safe. In some cases, tiny cracks in the heat exchanger
may occur. Carbon monoxide can escape if your furnace is burning
inefficiently or incompletely, and can cause serious health problems
and/or death to anyone inside the building.
Q: I see an arrow on the filter to my furnace – how do I properly
position it?
A: Always point the arrow in the same direction as the air flow. In
most cases, it will point toward the furnace, and should fit between
the return air vent and the furnace. Having a filter screens out
dust and other impurities before the air is warmed in your furnace
and then distributed through the duct system.
Q: How often should you have furnace cleaned?
A: We recommend an annual cleaning. Cleaning your furnace means that
it will operate more efficiently, which means you get more for your
hard earned money. Most importantly, having your system cleaned once
a year is an assurance that your unit is safe for operation. A
safety check is extremely important to determine any cracks in the
heat exchanger, or defective/damaged parts that may cause carbon
monoxide leaks.
Q: How often should I replace my disposable filter(s)?
A: We recommend replacing filters every 6-8 weeks. When your filter
is dirty, it diminishes the efficiency and/or can cause damage to
the unit. Dirty filters are the #1 cause for malfunctions.
Q: How do I know when my Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector needs to
be replaced?
A: Most plug-in detectors have a 10 years lifespan, but some are
less than 5 years. A CO monitor is not something you can just plug
in and forget. It will eventually lose its sensory capabilities and
will need to be replaced. If you are in doubt of its capability, it
is a better and a safer choice to replace it. You can test your
detector using a CO test kit available at many retailers.
Q: What is an A.F.U.E. (Animal Fuel Utilization Efficiency)
rating, what does it mean?
A: This rating tells you how efficiently the furnace converts fuel
(gas, oil or propane) into heat. An A.F.U.E. of 80% means that 80%
of the fuel is used to heat your home; the other 20% is basically is
going up the chimney.
A higher efficiency furnace means two things: lower monthly costs
and better comfort levels.
If your unit is at least 10-15 years old, with an estimated A.F.U.E.
of around 60%, replacing your existing unit with a higher efficiency
system could save you up to 40% on heating bills. Replacing an
inefficient unit pays for itself through lower utility bills.
Air Conditioning Questions
Q: I have heard you should cover the outdoor air conditioning
unit during the winter months. Is this true?
A; It is not absolutely necessary. Covering the top with a piece of
wood so debris can't get in will protect against damage. A cover
will protect the finish and may guard against rodents settling there
for the winter. But remember to remove the cover before the start up
of your spring operation!
Q: Is it wise to turn off power to my air conditioning unit
during the winter months?
A: Yes, turn it off by the disconnect in your panel box, or at the
outside unit. Turn the power back on in the spring at least 24 hours
before turning on the cooling equipment.
Q: What is S.E.E.R ?
A: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is
the standard measurement of air conditioning efficiency established
by the U.S. Department of Energy. A higher S.E.E.R. rating will
translate into better energy efficiency and in turn means lower
cooling bills.
Q: Why is having a Maintenance Service/Contract important?
A: This contract assures that you are getting the necessary safety
checks every year! You don't have to remember the last time you had
your unit checked. It is automatically scheduled for you at a
convenient time. It provides you with peace of mind, and Maintenance
Customers are given special discounts.
Water Heater &
Plumbing Questions
Q: How do I
determine the size of the water heater I should buy?
A: Most people purchase a water
heater by the size of the storage tank, but a better method is to
estimate how much hot water you will use during peak hours of
usage. This estimate is referred to as first-hour rating (FHR) on
the Energy Guide label posted on new water heaters.
Typical use is:
-
Showering 3
gallons/minute
-
Bathing
15-25 gallons per bath
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Shaving 1-3
gallons
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Washing
hands 1/2-2 gallons
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Washing
dishes 4-6 gallons
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Running
dishwasher 5-20 gallons
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Running
clothes washer 25-40 gallons
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Cleaning
house 5-12 gallons
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Food
preparation 1-6 gallons
Q: Why is there a relief valve on the water heater?
A: This valve is the safety device that opens in case of high
pressure or temperature.
Q: My toilet seems to fill every 10 minutes. What’s wrong?
A: When a toilet flushes on its own, the flush valve is probably not
seating properly and water is leaking into the bowl. This leakage
can be as simple as the lift chain being tangled. If it is the
valve, the flapper needs to be addressed. Scale deposits can form on
the seat, and if this happens, it can be cleaned with steel wool or
#500 abrasive paper. The valve seat needs to be cleaned as well. If
there are still leaks, the seat or the flapper is damaged and you
will need to replace it.
Q: Why can’t
I get hot water from my electric water heater?
A: The high-temperature cutoff may have been tripped, which requires
someone to press the reset. If this procedure does not work, then
you probably have a faulty heating element or thermostat that
usually can be replaced.
Q: Why can’t
I get enough hot water from my electric water heater?
A: The temperature control may be set too low. If setting the
temperature higher does not solve the problem, then you may have a
faulty heating element or thermostat that must be replaced.
Q: Why is the
water from my electric hot water tank too hot?
A: The thermostat may be set too high, or it can be faulty. The
problem could also be a grounded heating element.
Q: Why am I
not getting hot water from my gas water heater?
A: The pilot light might be out, or you may have a faulty
thermostat.
Q: What is
the purpose of an aerator on a faucet?
A: An aerator diffuses the water to prevent splashing.
Q: There is
water seeping from around the base of my toilet. What will solve
this problem?
A: The wax gasket is probably worn out and needs replacing. The
toilet must be removed and a new wax ring installed. While you have
the toilet off, you should replace the
bolts. Another
problem could be that there is a crack in your toilet bowl.
Q: How can I
test to see if water is leaking from the tank into the bowl?
A: After you flush the toilet, let it refill. Now put a few drops of
food coloring into the tank. If the
color appears in
the bowl after a few minutes, there is a leak.
Q: Why does
the water in my toilet runs constantly?
A: If the refill valve is leaking, the tank overfills, and the
excess water runs into the overflow pipe
and into the
bowl.
Q: What can I
do to keep my outdoor faucets from freezing?
A: You can install a frost-free lawn faucet that is angled down to
drain. For existing faucets, you can use an insulating cover.
Q: What can be done about condensation dripping from the water
line in my basement?
A: Wrap
or encase the pipes with pipe insulation.
Garbage Disposal
- Info and Maintenance
Q:
What is the correct size garbage disposal?
A: If you are replacing the existing disposer and are
satisfied with the performance, purchase the same size. If not, then
determine the size by your usage. For example, 1/3 horsepower will
handle limited use once a day. A standard 1/2 horsepower will
normally handle general use. Heavy duty 1/2 horsepower units and
larger are designed for large volumes of garbage.
Hints:
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Feed the disposal a little at a time. Take care to keep
utensils, foreign objects, and your hands out of the drain.
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Deodorize
the disposal. Cut a lemon in half and drop the fruit and a
handful of baking soda into the disposal. Turn on the cold water
faucet and then the disposal. The unit will clean itself as it
grinds up the mixture.
-
Use a strong flow of cold water for at least 30 seconds after
noise of grinding has stopped
to flush all
loose particles though the drain line.
-
Do not be
afraid to grind up small bones; they help to scour the sides of
the grinding chamber!
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Corn husks
and other high fiber items shouldn't be put into the disposal -
they may clog the drain. If
you do grind up fibrous foods (celery, chard, asparagus ends,
etc.) feed only a small amount at a time with a
full flow of water. If your
drain line is long and horizontal, fibrous food, or too much
garbage at one time, will clog the line.
-
Do not put uncooked meat fats into disposer – it, too, may clog
the drain. Do not pour liquid fats through the disposer;
solidify them
in empty tin
can in the refrigerator, and dispose in the trash, not your
garbage disposer.
-
An unusual noise while disposer is operating may mean a foreign
object. Turn off disposer immediately,
and when
you’re sure the unit has stopped, retrieve the object.
-
Remember to
run the disposer each time you put food waste in it.
PEX vs. Copper Piping
PEX piping is cross-linked polyethylene pipe. The
material must go through several processes before it becomes durable
for extreme temperatures (hot or cold), ‘creep deformation’ that
happens from long term exposure to stress, and chemical attack from
acids, alkalis, etc. All of these processes make PEX an excellent
piping substance for hot and cold water systems, especially since
PEX is flexible and well adapted for temperatures, from below
freezing all the way up to two
hundred degrees
Fahrenheit.
PEX is a good plumbing material because it is flexible, and that
makes it easy for plumbers to install. PEX is also resistant to
breaks in cold weather, has fewer joints, and is easy to install so
it’s a less expensive
alternative.
Copper
piping has been around for decades. We know that this metal is
durable and flexible,
which makes it easy to install, especially compared to iron pipes.
Copper piping also provides a biostatic atmosphere making
bacteria difficult to grow inside of it - that’s an important health
consideration.
Copper also resists corrosion and is unaffected by ultraviolet rays,
so it’s best for outside applications.
PEX cannot be used outside.
However, be aware that copper can corrode if the Ph of the water is
too acidic or too basic for the pipes. Simply because copper
corrodes does not mean that the water running through it is bad for
you. Consider this - the Pacific Northwest region of the US, and of
course Canada, have some
of the best
drinking water in the world, but that very same water has a
corrosive effect on pipes.
The choice between PEX and Copper is solely yours, but keep in mind
a few of the advantages and
disadvantages of
choosing which system to install in your home or business.
Some advantages for PEX:
-
It’s
adaptable and an easy-to-use plumbing system.
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It can be
used with hot and cold water lines.
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It can also
be used with metal and PVC piping.
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PEX has
fewer fittings, making it faster to install with less chance to
leak.
-
PEX is more
burst resistant due to its flexibility to expand and contract.
-
PEX installation usually requires a shut off valve at each
supply line, making it more convenient when repairs
must be done.
-
PEX can be
used in a pressure balanced system.
-
Since it is flexible, pipes can be bent around most corners and
usually won't need a coupling or
fitting.
PEX has some disadvantages:
-
PEX cannot
be used outside.
-
PEX cannot
be recycled due to its shorter life use.
-
It provides
an impermeable membrane that can allow the possibility of
contaminating your water.
-
The pipes
may sustain damage if left outside for an extended period of
time before installation.
The advantages of copper are:
-
It’s durable
and flexible, making it easy to install.
-
It’s safer
in natural disasters. Copper pipes flex due to being slightly
elastic, so they don't snap and cause more damage from water
leaks.
-
Copper is
weather and bacteria resistant.
-
Copper
resists corrosion, more so than other metals.
-
It is
unaffected by ultraviolet rays so it can be used outside.
-
If there is
a fire, copper does not release toxic gases because it resists
burning.
-
Copper is
recyclable, making it a more sound environmental choice.
Copper piping also has disadvantages that should be considered:
-
Copper pipes
can corrode.
-
Copper has
become expensive.
-
At higher
levels of corrosion, water can have a metallic taste.
-
Copper can
also freeze and break during cold weather.
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