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Frozen Pipes or No Heat We Have You Covered
Inside your home, frozen pipes can be downright dangerous! Don't take a chance and wait for the problem to fix itself.
Water expands when it freezes (and pipes don't) so a frozen pipe can lead to a broken pipe, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage.
Call Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating and avoid the mess and expense frozen pipes can cause. We'll fix it right and show you how to keep it from happening again.
Colorado winters can be harsh and we all depend on our furnace or boiler to keep us warm and comfortable. Most of us don’t give our heating system a second thought . . . until it stops working.
No heat? Call Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating. We’ll respond quickly. Our skilled technicians will arrive with all the tools, materials and experience to service, tune up, or repair your furnace/boiler. Our technicians are expertly trained and service all makes and models.
Frozen Pipes or No Heat We Have You Covered
Inside your home, frozen pipes can be downright dangerous! Don't take a chance and wait for the problem to fix itself.
Water expands when it freezes (and pipes don't) so a frozen pipe can lead to a broken pipe, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage.
Call Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating and avoid the mess and expense frozen pipes can cause. We'll fix it right and show you how to keep it from happening again.
Colorado winters can be harsh and we all depend on our furnace or boiler to keep us warm and comfortable. Most of us don’t give our heating system a second thought . . . until it stops working.
No heat? Call Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating. We’ll respond quickly. Our skilled technicians will arrive with all the tools, materials and experience to service, tune up, or repair your furnace/boiler. Our technicians are expertly trained and service all makes and models.
Preventing Frozen Pipes
Preventing Frozen Pipes: Tuesday December 28, 2010
This week we are expecting very cold weather. State Farm Insurance states that an average of a quarter-million families have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter due to water pipes that freeze.
Bursting pipes occur when frozen water causes a pressure buildup between the ice blockage and the closed faucet. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are particularly vulnerable to extreme cold. To keep water in your pipes from freezing here are some suggestions.
Before the Cold Hits:
1) Insulate Pipes: pipes that are in the crawl space or attic are most susceptible to freezing. The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.
2) Seal Leaks that allow cold air inside where pipes are located. Use caulk to keep the cold out and the heat in.
3) Disconnect garden hoses and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This will reduce the chance of freezing a pipe inside the house.
When the Cold Hits:
1) Keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes. Very important if you have any pipes on exterior walls.
2) Set the thermostat in your home no lower than 55* F.
If Your Pipes Freeze:
1) If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating.
2) If you detect that your water pipes have frozen and burst, you need to turn off the water at the main shut-off vale in the house.
(Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shut-off valve is and how to open and close it.)
3) Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame. You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with warm air from a hair dryer.
Call Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating and avoid the mess and expense frozen pipes can cause. We’ll fix it right and show you how to keep it from happening. We want you and your loved ones to stay safe this winter.
Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating Blog
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Extending the Lifespan Of Your Home Water Heater With Regular Maintenance
Written by Lindsey MorrowExtending the Lifespan Of Your Home Water Heater With Regular Maintenance
Traditional Tank-Style Water Heater Maintenance
Traditional tank-style water heaters should last for many years. However, over time sediment and rust can accumulate, reducing the operating efficiency and shortening the lifespan of your water heater.
To keep your conventional water heater working reliably and lasting longer, follow these regular maintenance steps at least once a year:- Drain the water heater tank annually to remove sediment and rust buildup. This is particularly important if you have hard water. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Ensure the opposite end of the hose is placed outside, in a sink or near a floor drain. Be careful, as the water can be extremely hot and cause burns. If you are not sure of how to flush your water heater, call Grand Lake Plumbingm. We'll advise you on the best way to drain your particular hot water heater.
- Inspect the outside of the tank for leaks and rust.
- For gas water heaters, check the exhaust flue to make ensure that air is escaping outside by striking a match near to the bell housing. The smoke should exit out the flue.
- Check the relief valve by placing a bucket underneath the extension pipe and turning the valve to the open position. Water should flow freely when the valve is opened.
- Make sure the thermostat is set to between 120 and 125 degrees Fahrenheit. We recommend not setting the water temperature above 120 degrees Fahrenheit if you have have young children.
- Always keep a pan under the water heater tank to make it easier to spot leaks.
- If you have a gas water heater, check the pilot light flame to ensure it is burning blue and steady.
Tankless Water Heater Maintenance
Tankless water heaters offer an energy saving alternative to conventional tank-style water heaters with the water only getting heated when it's needed. Because there is no storage tank to heat, you'll never run out of hot water as long as the unit is been properly sized for your hot water needs.
Like traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters need to be maintained properly to operate at peak efficiency and to realize their cost savings over conventional water heaters. So, spending some time on maintenance yourself — or calling Grand Lake Plumbing for regular maintenance — will ensure that you are taking advantage of all the benefits of your tankless water heater.
1. Check and Clean the Screen Filter
Periodically inspect and clean the filter located on the water inlet side of your tankless water heater. It's best to have a licensed plumber do this job. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, please learn the correct procedure before attempting this task. Never use chemical solutions to clean your water heater, since it will enter your drinking water. Vinegar is a safe, effective cleaner.
2. Flush the System
To prevent the a harmful buildup of lime and scale, flush your tankless water heater periodically. Grand Lake Plumbing can help you flush your water heater. As noted above, please be sure to flush it with vinegar and not chemicals that could contaminate your water supply.
Written on Friday, 06 April 2012 10:56 in Plumbing Tips Be the first to comment! Read 143 times
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