Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Apr 21, 2010
April 22 is Earth Day! Helpful Tips to Conserve Energy at Home.
Tomorrow is Earth Day which is a good time to take a close look at the way you and your family use our planet’s resources. Rather than a one-day effort, though, Earth Day should be just the first day of a life-long commitment to using the Earth’s natural resources more wisely and more sparingly. Environmentalists warn that energy consumption and water consumption are two of the biggest challenges we face as stewards of our planet. There are many things – some big, some small -- that you and your family can do to help conserve energy and water resources all year round. Some things are simple and you can do yourself. Bigger projects may require a little help from your trusted Lorain County plumbing, heating and cooling expert.
Here’s a list of conservation measures to get you started:
- A 5-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons of water. Save water by turning off the faucet while you suds up, turning it back on to rinse off.
- Water flows from faucets at a rate of 2 gallons per minute. Cut water use by turning the water off while brushing your teeth and saving.
- Install aerators in faucets and a low-flow shower head to decrease water flow. When combined with not letting the faucet run, you can decrease water usage by 50%.
- 1 drip a second from a faucet uses approximately 2700 gals of water a year. Fix leaking faucets and toilets
- Run the dishwasher only when it’s full.
- Hold off on the laundry until you have a full load.
- Park your car on the lawn when you wash it and you’ll water the lawn at the same time.
- Have your Lorain County cooling, heating and plumbing expert install energy efficient appliances. An energy efficient furnace, air conditioner and hot water heater will save you money on every bill and help protect the planet at the same time.
"Green" your home on Earth day by replacing energy-guzzling appliances with energy-efficient appliances. Schedule a Free estimate on all energy-efficient installation projects.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jan 21, 2010
Prevent Frozen Water Pipes
Frozen pipes can create serious problems for Lorain County homeowners during extended cold spells. When water freezes it expands. Trapped inside a water pipe, water has nowhere to go. As frozen water continues expanding, ever-increasing pressure -- more than 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch -- builds up inside water pipes. Eventually, the force of the pressure ruptures the pipe.
When a water pipe ruptures, there’s nothing left to hold back the flow of water into your home from the main water line out in the street. Your water meter will start spinning as hundreds of gallons of water per hour start flowing into your house. Not only will the water do thousands of dollars of damage to your home and possessions, you’ll be stuck with a whopping water bill!
There are several things you can do to help prevent frozen water pipes:
- If you’re traveling, it’s OK to lower the thermostat, just don’t lower it below about 50 degrees in Lorain County. Arrange for a neighbor to check on your home, particularly if the mercury dips or the power goes out.
- Pipes along outside walls are more apt to freeze. One of the biggest culprits in frozen pipe disasters is forgetting to disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets and neglecting to turn off water to those exterior faucets.
- Automatic sprinkler systems should be purged of water every fall using compressed air and the water lines shut down for the winter.
Despite precautions, extended cold weather can cause indoor water lines to freeze. Run faucets daily to promote water flow. If flow stops, turn off water into the house at the water main to minimize potential damage. Call a licensed Lorain County plumber immediately. An experienced plumber can locate and unthaw frozen pipes before they burst and damage your home.