Water Heaters

Football’s on TV, leaves are falling from the trees, the weather is crisper, days shorter. What should you do when it’s halftime? We say, be productive (during at least one of the games) and get your plumbing plan ready for winter. The average person can complete the following fall plumbing fundamentals in the time it takes your team to get back on the field. And you would score some points with your significant other for not failing to plan. Because if you fail to plan, your pipes might fail you this winter. Turn off your outdoor sprinkler system and drain the lines. The mess and cost to replace burst sprinkler lines is outrageous. Please take the time to turn off your system and drain. Otherwise, you might be in for a nasty surprise of burst pipes, leaking water, and a ruined lawn. Insulate your exposed pipes. We’re not in Alaska, but it gets cold enough here for your exposed pipes to burst at just the wrong time. Take a little time and do it now. Seriously. Schedule an inspection of your water heater unless you like cold showers in the dead of winter. Imagine: It’s December 24. It’s cold outside [...]

The water heater may be the most overworked and under-appreciated piece of mechanical equipment in a house. We usually assume it's doing its job as it should and leave it alone, unless it starts to makes weird and scary noises. To help you avoid a potentially dangerous and expensive plumbing crisis, we're looking at four frightening sounds your water heater can make and what they mean. Popping Sounds One of the most common sounds a water heater can make is popping. When that happens, it's usually an indication that your water heater has an excess of mineral deposits and sediment at the bottom. This is especially problematic in areas that have hard water. Mineral deposits (mainly lime and calcium), sand, and any debris that might travel through the water supply can stick to the bottom of your water heater. Eventually, the buildup of gunk at the bottom may trap water beneath the sediment. Think of a pot of water you have on the stove. If you're not paying attention, and if the heat is too high, the water will boil, and it will continue to boil until it flows over the sides of the pot. In the case of your [...]