Category: Blog

Water is one of the building blocks of life, and we naturally prioritize a clean, healthy water supply in our homes. This can be harder to accomplish if you’re drinking from an unfiltered water tap, and while some look to solutions like water coolers or individual bottles purchased regularly, these are costly and potentially wasteful alternatives.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we’re here to tell you about another option that’s part of our plumbing contractor services: Reverse osmosis water filtration, which can easily be applied to every tap in your home. This system uses pressure and a porous membrane to remove major contaminants from your water supply, allowing what you and your family drink to be clean and healthy. Here are some details on all the various contaminants that can be removed by these filters, and why this is important.

Removing Pathogens

Mechanical filters like reverse osmosis systems remove several different layers of particles, and one such layer is harmful pathogens that may risk your health. There are two primary pathogens that can be found in unfiltered water:

• Cryptosporidium: A chlorine-resistant parasite, cryptosporidium is resistant to other forms of filtration due to this resistance. It can only be filtered with mechanical systems and small filters.
• Giardia Intestinalis: This is a parasite in water that’s been contaminated by animal feces. These parasites often last in water for months, causing a related illness known as Giardiasis. Giardiasis commonly leads to weeks of uncomfortable diarrhea.

Removing Sediment

In addition, reverse osmosis filters remove various forms of sediment you often find in tap water. This may include basic dirt, but could also include particles like clay, silt and various others.

And while this kind of sediment usually isn’t present in large enough amounts to actually risk your health like pathogens do, that doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Sediment is known to produce poor taste in water, to the point that it’s barely drinkable in some cases. A basic reverse osmosis filter, however, will have no issue removing all of this sediment and returning you water to a fresh taste.

Filtering Lead

And finally, reverse osmosis systems can pull out lead from your drinking water. Lead is often present in the pipes of older homes that have not been upgraded in many years – lead may actually break off during decomposition and enter the water directly. In other cases, it can be found in the water of homes that draw their supply from a well.

Regardless, a basic filter will do the trick for you here. It will remove all quantities of potentially toxic lead before they ever reach your drinking taps.

For more on what a reverse osmosis filter removes from your water and why this is important, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, contact the pros at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

Whether the signs have been building for months that you need a new water heater or you’ve suddenly experienced an ice cold shower and discovered a faulty system, the pros at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical are here to help you find a water heater replacement. We offer a range of water heater systems, including modern tankless systems, and our team has seen every home situation and knows the optimal system for you.

When you go about choosing a new model for your home, there will be a few important factors to consider. Let’s go over each of the most vital areas:

Unit Format

In today’s day and age, you have several options at your disposal when it comes to the type of water heater unit you choose for your home:

• Conventional: Generally called a storage tank unit, this is the water heater format that’s most common and that you’re likely used to seeing. It’s made up of a large tank that’s well-insulated, storing water that’s been heated until you turn on an appliance that requires it in the home.
• Heat pump: Also called a hybrid unit, a heat pump pulls air in from the ground or even the air in the room to heat water. Heat pumps move heat through electricity – they do not create their own heat.
• Tankless heater: This modern option doesn’t store any water at all. Instead, it boasts high-quality heating coils that can almost instantly heat up water on-demand. Many homeowners find tankless water heaters both more convenient and better for their utility savings.

Size and Capacity

There are several elements of home comfort where size is very important, including AC units and heaters, and water heaters are no exception. Too small a system, particularly a conventional tank, may not provide enough hot water for the occupants of many homes. Too large a system, on the other hand, could waste major amounts of water and raise energy bills significantly.

When you meet with our professionals to determine the right heater, they’ll show you that this isn’t only directly about size. It’s also about the capacity of the heater, which may vary based on a few other factors as well.

Efficiency and UEF

One such factor is the efficiency of the heater, which is very important for an appliance that uses nearly a quarter of your home’s energy. A recent measure put forth by the Department of Energy known as Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) is what you should be tracking here – simply put, the higher the UEF, the more efficient the unit. Higher-UEF systems will generally cost more, but many homeowners find they recoup these funds quite quickly in terms of lowered energy costs in the future.

Warranty Considerations

Always remember to check on a warranty. You never know when something might go wrong with a water heater, and it’s best to know you’re covered if possible.

For more on choosing a new water heater, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

When it comes to the HVAC system in any home or business building, smells are a common consideration. We often get some of the earliest signs of issues in the heating or cooling system through smells that aren’t what we’re used to, and these can also be signals of poor air quality or other HVAC issues throughout the year.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, our heating and air conditioning pros can help you with any strange odors in your home or building. One common smell that’s often found in Utah homes during the fall, winter and any other cool periods: A burning smell coming from the furnace. What does this smell signal? Is it always necessarily a bad thing? Let’s go over all the basics you need to know here, including when you should call our pros.

What Burning Smells Mean

In many cases, particularly if you’ve just installed a furnace or are just turning it on for the first time in a little while, burning smells coming from this area are entirely normal. This kind of thing is common, and is actually one of the most frequent questions we get from our clients during the winter. Over time, most people who have lived in a home for a few years get used to that general smell, which is just part of the components of the furnace getting going in most cases.

Causes

When the furnace isn’t in use, whether it’s for months at a time or even just hours, dust and other buildups can accumulate on their components – things like heat exchangers, registers and even air ducts throughout your home.

And when the furnace is turned on after this, this buildup is shot into the air and begins to be circulated. In nearly all cases, the dusty or burning smell you experience is due to this buildup.

Persisting Smell Issues

In most cases, this smell will last just a couple hours or even less. This is especially true when the furnace hasn’t been off for too long, such as just a day or two. In cases where it’s been unused for several days or months, you can give it several days for the smell to dissipate.

However, if the smell continues to persist after this point, or if the burning odor seems more significant or different than it has been in the past, you could have another issue. Go through standard filter changing and other furnace tactics, but if these do nothing, call our pros right away to get them on the scene and investigating the issue before it worsens.

For more on the causes and actions you should take with a burning smell coming from the furnace, or to learn about any of our heating, cooling or plumbing services, speak to the pros at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

For many homeowners with families, cutting energy costs is no easy task. Households with several different people using up various forms of energy will naturally be tougher to regulate than those with just one or two occupants, and making big changes here often requires involving the whole family’s commitment.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we’re always on hand when it comes to energy use, whether it’s in electrical areas, HVAC considerations or plumbing fixtures. Here are some tips we can offer to parents and families on smartly involving the entire unit in saving energy.

Talk About It

Your first step here should be having a conversation or group of conversations that helps educate your entire family about energy consumption, costs and the areas they can help in. Talk to them about simple basics like unplugging and turning off appliances that aren’t in use, supplementing heating or cooling with fans, or even taking shorter showers to save on water and energy use.

In addition, take the time to explain to everyone, especially children, just why this is important. Help them understand that not only are they helping save their parents some money, they’re also benefitting the environment and others around the planet.

Scheduling and Coordination

Once everyone understands why saving energy is important, take some time to consider basic scheduling. Figure out the primary times when the home will be empty, for instance – these are opportunities to lower the thermostat during winter and save a bit on heating costs.

One piece of HVAC technology that’s vital for this area: A programmable thermostat, or perhaps even a modern smart thermostat option. These allow you to program a schedule for your heating and cooling needs – instead of having to manually lower the thermostat if you’re the last one out of the home, the system will do this for you based on your common home and away times. Smart thermostats can even be trained to detect when you are or aren’t home.

Savings Motivation

One great way to get the whole family to buy into energy savings is to use the money saved on something exciting. Tell your kids that if they reach a certain threshold of water savings for a given month, for instance, the whole family will use that money on a trip to everyone’s favorite ice cream shop. These kinds of incentives can help for families with children.

Energy Savings Days

Another format some families use is the energy savings day – some do it weekly, others monthly. This is a designated day where the entire family makes a big effort to save energy at home, including limiting screen time, water usage and other electronics.

For more on how to involve the entire family in saving energy, or to learn about any of our HVAC or plumbing services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

Recently, on January 10^th to be specific, we celebrated National Cut Your Energy Costs Day around the nation. This day encourages everyone to look for ways to reduce energy costs, benefitting both the environment and your monthly energy bill.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we took part in this celebration and are proud to support this theme throughout the year. Our electric and other HVAC services include pros who will always have an eye out for ways you can conserve a little energy without sacrificing comfort. In honor of the recent holiday, let’s go over a few broad themes here.

Light Bulbs

Because of their higher up front cost, some people avoid LED light bulbs in favor of traditional, cheaper options. And while this might save you a few dollars at checkout, it will cost you down the line – LED bulbs come with a much longer lifespan than traditional ones, and they’re also known to save energy. Using one of these bulbs can save you over $500 per bulb on energy costs during the lifespan of the bulb. If you haven’t already made this switch, consider it soon.

Unplug Appliances

Another big way to save energy in your home is to simply unplug various appliances that use energy even when they aren’t specifically in use. You may not realize how many of your electronical appliances fall into this category – many TVs, computers and various kinds of power cords will stay on what’s called “standby” power even when they’re turned into the off position.

To avoid this, unplug instead of just powering down. You can use a power strip with switches to flip on and off based on what you need – this helps many people stay organized here. You can save a few hundred dollars every year just through this simple method.

Insulate Water Tank

Most hot water heaters still use the tank format, and particularly if your home contains an older model, look at the insulation quality present. For starters, check the R-value (how high the quality of insulation is) – anything above 24 is okay, but anything under this number might need a little help. Insulation can reduce heat loss from the water heater by nearly 50 percent, saving you a huge number on water heating costs.

In addition, check to see if any current insulation – even at the proper R-value – is worn down or otherwise damaged. If so, consider replacing it.

Repair Leaks

You may not think much of a dripping or leaking faucet – it’s just a few drops here and there, after all, so what could it really cost? Well, a lot, it turns out. A leaking faucet can lose you hundreds or even thousands of gallons a year – this calculator can give you a basic idea. If you notice these issues, work on repairing them sooner rather than later.

For more on how to celebrate National Cut Your Energy Costs day, or to learn about any of our HVAC or plumbing services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

The world of plumbing is a curious one in the way it blends professional expertise and basic, standard home or business owner skills. There are certain parts of your home or building’s plumbing that you’ll have to often deal with yourself, such as a clogged toilet, but then there are others that require professional expertise and may risk your safety and your plumbing system’s effectiveness if you attempt to work on them.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we can help in both these areas as part of our plumbing services. Not only can we help you with the tasks that are clearly outside your knowledge level, we can also help you assess basic issues where you aren’t sure what the appropriate response should be. As a basic guide, here are a few plumbing issues you might be able to resolve on your own if you’re handy enough – plus a few others you should never attempt, and should always leave to us.

Common DIY Areas

• Dripping faucet: In most cases, a faucet that drips here and there means that the washer in the faucet needs to be replaced. All you have to do is turn off the water to the faucet, unscrew the handle, and look at both the washer and O-ring to see if either is worn down. If so, replace it and put the faucet back together. If your drip continues, you may have broken plumbing that requires our attention.
• Clogged drain: Rather than chemical drain cleaners, we recommend using baking soda, salt and hot water to unclog a drain. If this doesn’t work, you may need our pros for stronger drain clearing services.
• Running toilet: If water keeps flowing into the bowl even after flushing is done, it’s likely an issue with the lever on your toilet. Remove the tank lid and find the chain, which has probably detached from the lever and sunk. Simply reattach it and you should be good to go.
• Shower head leaking: Most shower head flow issues are due to limescale buildup, which can be removed using a descaling solution.

Leave it to the Pros

By contrast, here are some areas you should not attempt to fix yourself unless you’re a certified plumber:

• Sump pump failure: The sump pump can fail during large rain or snow storms, and this can lead to floods in the basement and major water damage. Sump pumps are one part of our standard plumbing inspections.
• Water heater issues: Water heaters may leak, make strange sounds, or emit foul odors that are both health and safety hazards. They should always be handled by the pros.
• Clogged sewer line: If your sewer line clogs, it could impact your entire home’s plumbing.
• Pipes bursting: Major temperature changes may burst pipes, causing thousands of gallons of water to leak. Immediately turn off your main water valve if you discover a burst pipe, but call our pros after this and do not attempt anything else.

For more on DIY versus issues you should leave to the pros, or to learn about any of our plumbing services, speak to the pros at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

Your family’s health and comfort are important, and malfunctioning HVAC equipment creates stress and disrupts life at home, work, and school. Before you run into a serious emergency and expense, create a maintenance plan for your home. A bit of planned prevention can reduce a great deal of anxiety in the future.

We recommend performing these five tasks to avoid nasty surprises and keep your home heated and cooled without interruption.

Check Your Hot Water Heater

Check your hot water heater regularly to ensure it’s functioning properly. You can do a visual inspection yourself. Look for leaks and strange noises, especially while water is cycling through the heater. If you notice an abrupt change in how quickly you run out of hot water in the shower, that’s another warning sign.

Examine Heating Units

Always test your heating system in late summer, before you need to use the heat. That way, if it’s malfunctioning, you’ll know before temperatures drop. Calling for scheduled HVAC help ahead of time is usually less expensive than an emergency visit, and you can work with your Utah-based HVAC service to schedule service at a time convenient for you.

Heating systems can cause some serious problems (and fire hazards) if they malfunction. If possible, it’s best to have a professional perform an inspection yearly.

Maintain Air Conditioning Units

Air conditioning units malfunction with age. They also have filters you should change each year, if not more regularly (as needed). Keep on top of those filter changes to save money on your electric bill, as an improperly functioning unit can require more energy. Test your unit seasonally in the spring—before you actually need to use it.

Do you have an air conditioner problem? If you smell freon for more than a few minutes after activating the unit or if it doesn’t seem to cool at all, it’s time to call in a professional to look at the unit. At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air, & Electric, we also service central air systems.

Air Quality Check and Vent Cleaning

What’s the air quality like in your home? Unless you have a specialized air filter, you may have dust particles floating around. If you haven’t had air ducts cleaned in some time, you’re likely going to run into more allergy problems as well. Ducts contain debris, dust, dust mites, and the dust mite feces many people are allergic to.

We can perform an air quality check for you—plus, we can clean your ducts.

You should schedule duct cleanings once or twice per year. If you have pets, we strongly recommend the twice yearly maintenance.

Inspect and Clean Your Drains

When was the last time you cleaned your drains? Even the clearest drains contain active build up of bacteria and mildew—just the kind of stuff you really don’t want swimming around with you when you take a bath.

If you notice standing water while you’re showering, greasy spots in the water near the drain, or your name brand drain cleaning product isn’t clearing your drains, it’s time to call a professional.

Don’t forget to check kitchen and bathroom sinks as well as any utility sinks and floor drains you may have in your home.

Get an Action Plan with Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric

We’re here to ensure the safety or your family and the function of your home’s HVAC equipment. Save money by scheduling annual inspections and avoid unnecessary emergency repairs. Contact us today to get started.

Hiring a skilled and reputable electrical contractor requires knowledge about how to navigate the marketplace. Stories of scams and unfinished electrical jobs are real, but with some knowledge, you can find a contractor who will get the job done right the first time.

1: Quality Electricians Are Licensed, Bonded, and Insured

Responsible business owners, especially contractors, should have these things—and they should brag about it. This protects homeowners and business owners like you in the event of a mishap (or mishandling of money).
Licensed: This means that the business has a legitimate business license. For electricians, the license should be local.
Bonded: Bonded businesses have surety payments in place for additional protection.
Insured: The business should have appropriate business insurance and should be willing to furnish the information.

2: Reputable Electricians Have References

Have you ever asked a business for a reference? It’s common practice—and no one should make you feel bad about it. If they do, that’s a major red flag. Established electricians have a roster of long-time clients who would be happy to recommend them, especially in the construction industry. Ask for the list and follow up with those names.

Additionally, you can follow up with your local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau (BBB) to check on an electrical contractor’s reputation.

3: Credible Electricians Have Positive Reviews Online

Have you done your research? The most reputable Utah electricians have reviews online. This is something that happens naturally over time, but it’s also generally permissible for the electricians to request honest reviews from their customers. Additionally, they should have accurate online listings which include business hours, phone numbers, and addresses.

4: Trustworthy Electricians Have Lots of Local Business in Utah

Unless you’re working with a major, nationally known chain, your electrician should have an established local presence. Some scammers just set up shop somewhere, take money, and never complete contracts before moving on to another scam job. You can avoid that by finding an electrician that’s participated in the community, perhaps by sponsoring a little league team or participating in Chamber of Commerce activities.

5: Professional Electricians Provide Friendly Phone Service

When there’s a problem and you call an electrician, worried about the safety or integrity of your home or business, you should receive attention from an empathetic and concerned individual on the other end. This is just basic customer service, but

6: Reputable Electricians Have Professional Websites

Does your prospective Utah electrical contractor have a website? A legitimate small business should spend up to 30% of their profits on marketing, and that includes a web presence. Especially when it comes to emergency contractor services, having a website is crucial. People usually search on their phones, as well, for things like ‘electrician near me’ or ‘electrician in Utah.’ A current site should be mobile-friendly and navigable—and it shouldn’t look like something published in 1995.

Need a Trustworthy Electrical Contractor in Utah? Jump Into Action!

If you require a reputable electrical contractor in the Salt Lake City area, give us a call at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air, & Electric. We meet the above criteria, and we’re ready to provide you with an estimate and quality customer service. Give us a call.

The arrival of spring got us thinking about your air ducts — not because they sound just like ducks, though we have been seeing a lot of those lately. No, we are thinking about your ducts because Spring is the perfect time to perform your bi-annual duct cleaning in Salt Lake.

Your ducts circulate the air in your home, meaning the air inside them is the same as the air you breathe in your living space. Unfortunately, when the ducts are dirty, they circulate the dust, as well.

As your premier plumbing, heating, and cooling providers, the team at Action Plumbing wants your family to breathe only clean and healthy air. Here are just a few benefits of a duct cleaning for your Salt Lake home:

Cleaner Living Space

Have you noticed dust on recently cleaned surfaces? The culprit is most likely dirty air ducts. The dust will circulate and infiltrate recently cleaned areas. For this reason, you should have your ducts frequently cleaned. In fact, clean air ducts will help reduce the amount of dust in your home, so you won’t need to dust as often. We call that a win!

Allergen and Irritant Reduction

Allergies, especially seasonal ones, are a growing issue for Salt Lake residences, and surprisingly, the air inside your home can contain more contaminants than the air outside. As a result, your sneezing and itchy eyes can be made worse as the allergens circulate your home.

If you or a family member are sensitive to allergens, be sure to perform your spring duct cleaning to eliminate harmful contaminants such as:

• Pet Dander
• Bacteria
• Mold Spores and Mildew
• Pollen

Improved Air Flow & Energy Savings

The build-up of dust and other airborne particulates in your ducts can reduce the air flow in your home, decreasing the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Consequently, your furnace and A/C will need to work harder to regulate the temperature of your home.

On the other hand, a clean system will be more cost-effective, leading to lower heating and cooling bills.

Eliminate Foul Smells

Have you noticed unpleasant odors in your home that just won’t go away? Again, you can blame dirty ducts. Each time your heating and cooling system operates, odors from cleaning, cooking, painting, and even your pets will enter the system and continue to circulate throughout your home. Remove these smells once and for all with a thorough duct cleaning.

For questions regarding the benefits of duct cleaning, or to schedule the service for your home in Salt Lake, contact the experts at Action Plumbing by calling (801) 316-8086. Our certified technicians will quickly clean your ducts, ensuring a living space that is more efficient as well as odor and allergy free.

We have let you in on the benefits of a preseason A/C tune-up in days past, but we thought — given the season — you may need a refresher.

In Salt Lake City, the time between winter and summer is short. You only have a short window to shut down your heating system and prepare your cooling system for the season. We suggest getting your system ready early, so you can beat the crowds and avoid breakdowns midseason.

Here are a few more benefits of a preseason A/C tune-up:

1. Cut Your Cooling Costs
When summer is in full bloom, Salt Lake City can get down-right hot. While your A/C can usually handle cooling your home, it can get expensive if the unit isn’t efficient. During your preseason air conditioning tune-up, your technician will optimize your system. That way your home can stay cool for less.

2. Lower Risk of Break Down
Have you ever had your A/C go out mid-summer? You would probably remember because you were likely sweltering from the heat! With a preseason air conditioning tune-up, you don’t have to worry about breakdowns because your technician will ensure that your unit is capable of running all summer long — even on the hottest days.

3. Fewer Future Repairs
When your unit loses efficiency, it is more likely to break down or need expensive repairs. After a tune-up, the repairs you do require will be less severe or nonexistent because issues like part failure and air flow malfunctions would have been addressed during your preseason A/C tune-up.

4. Reliable System for Longer
If you want to prevent replacing your unit, you should have it serviced each season. By keeping the system in tip-top shape each year, you will increase its lifespan by a few years.

5. Better Air Quality
Your air conditioner hasn’t operated since last summer, so when you start it up for the season, it is typically full of dust, allergens, or other debris. While inspecting your air conditioner, your technician will clean it, so your family isn’t inhaling dirty air.

To schedule your preseason A/C tune-up, or to speak to one of our expert technicians on how you can benefit from regular maintenance to your air conditioner, call us at (801) 833-3333.