Category: Blog

A top prevention theme for homeowners everywhere is leaks within the plumbing system, and one possible culprit area here is the water heater. Even the best water heaters may develop leaks over time, but luckily it’s generally pretty easy to spot and patch up these leaks without a major cost or hassle to you.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we offer a wide range of water heater repair and installation services based on your needs, including assisting you with any leaks that develop over time. Here’s a quick primer on some potential causes of leaks in the water heater, what you should do to temporarily remedy the concern, and how our team will help you permanently solve the issue.

Possible Leak Causes

Here are some of the most common causes of leaks taking place in or around the water heater:

• Corrosion: In some cases, sediment buildup that takes place over a period of years can lead to corrosion inside the water heater tank. This in turn can lead to cracking and holes in the tank. While repairs might be possible for minor such issues, large-scale corrosion concerns usually mean it’s time to replace the water heater.
• Drain valves: If your drain valves are broken, they cause water to leak from the bottom of the tank. This is a simple fix: Just replace the broken valve or valves and your system should function like new.
• Temperature or pressure valves: In other cases, temperature or pressure valves can also break and cause leaks that come from the sides of the tank, not the bottom. These also require replacement of the individual valves to remedy the issues.
• Water line connections: Over time, inlet and outlet water line connections may weaken due to basic wear-and-tear. In most situations, tightening or replacing loose lines will remedy any leaking concerns.

Temporary Steps to Take

If you notice your water heater is leaking, the first step is to call our pros and schedule service right away. After that, here are some temporary steps to take to cut off the water flow and avoid water damage risks:

• Power off: Your first step here is to turn off the power source leading to your hot water heater. This is the thermostat for a gas heater, or the breaker panel for an electric heater.
• Water shut-off: In addition, also find the water line and turn the valve to the right until it closes. This will cut off the water supply.
• Drain the tank: If you have a tank water heater, it’s vital to drain it as well. Find the drain valve near the bottom and attach a hose to it, then run the hose to a drainage area. Open the valve and remove any air vacuums by opening the hot water faucets in your home, which lets air into the tank and allows it to drain. It should take about an hour to drain your entire tank.

How We’ll Help

From here, you simply wait for our team to arrive and do the rest. We’ll locate the source of the leak and determine whether a repair or replacement is the most cost-effective move for you, plus get your approval before beginning any major work.

For more on the sources of leaks within a hot water heater, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

When considering a new heating or cooling system for your home, efficiency is naturally one of your top priorities. You want a system that will keep you and your family comfortable throughout the year without generating a massive utility bill at the end of each month.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we’ll assist you with every step of an AC or furnace installation, from selecting the optimal brand and model for your home to installing it safely and efficiently for long-term use. When it comes to understanding how efficient a new system will be, there are a few different efficiency ratings used in the heating and cooling world – let’s go over some of the most common and what they mean for your system.

AFUE

For systems that specifically use a boiler or a furnace for heating, the AFUE metric is used to represent the fuel efficiency the system uses. It tracks the amount of fuel used when the unit works, then converts that into a percentage – so if your AFUE number is 90, this means the system used 90% of the fuel for its standard purposes but lost 10% to exhaust and other runoff.

As you might have guessed, this means you want your AFUE number to be on the higher side. The best furnaces and boilers are close to 100, meaning they utilize almost all their fuel efficiently.

SEER

Short for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, the SEER rating is a well-known ratio that measures the cooling produced compared to the electricity used in an AC system. SEER ratings range from 10.9 up to 23 within standard systems. Once again, the higher the number, the more efficient the system is.

EER

This is a metric similar to SEER, but without the seasonal output variable. It’s determined by a single outside temperature and a single inside temperature, meaning it doesn’t factor seasonal changes here and is a bit more of a general metric rather than a specific one. It’s commonly used to rate window AC units or single-room air conditioning units, because the SEER rating isn’t practical for these.

HSPF

This metric stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, and is used for heat pumps primarily. It’s found by dividing the overall heat output by the total electricity used, with ratings ranging up to 10 – the closer the number is to 10, the more efficient the system is.

IEER

Finally, a rarer metric used mostly for rate-split systems is the IEER rating, which evaluates the system’s output at varying times based on specific conditions. This is valuable for split systems, which work utilizing multiple air handlers and in different condition ranges.

For more on the various efficiency ratings you might see when selecting a new heating or cooling system, or to learn about any of our HVAC or plumbing services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

For those with water filters installed in their homes, the benefits are vast and significant. From improved taste and removal of impurities to limited maintenance needs and related cost savings, there are several great reasons to consider water filtration within your home.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we’re proud to offer reverse osmosis water filter installation to provide quality filtration services to your entire home. Reverse osmosis is a technology that removes water contaminants using a porous membrane and pressure, and it’s been proven effective at removing several specific risk materials to achieve better taste and water quality – what are some of these impurities that are removed, and why are they a risk to you if they are left in water? Here’s a quick primer.

Sediment

Unfortunately, most standard tap water found in homes will contain some level of sediment, which is a broad term referring to dirt, clay, silt and other debris formats. It’s important to note that sediment generally isn’t a health risk in the amounts that it’s found in.

However, if you’ve found that the water in your home has a poor taste that makes it undesirable to drink, the culprit is often this same sediment. But if you have a water filtration system, sediment will be one of the simplest contaminants to remove, making your water taste and even smell better for every drinker in the home.

Lead

Lead, on the other hand, is a very dangerous and possibly even toxic material when it comes to human health, particularly if it’s found in a water supply. There are two common ways for lead to enter your drinking water:

• Old pipes begin to rust and decompose, causing small pieces to break off and bring their attached lead into the water system. Luckily, reverse osmosis systems can filter out any such lead in your water.
• Well water: If your home gets its water from a well source, it’s possible there’s a concentration of lead here as well. If you use such a system, have our plumbers test your well water at least once a year for lead and other contaminants.

Pathogens

Finally, our filtration systems will remove not only the above, but also a few harmful pathogens. These include:

• Giardia Intestinalis: This is a parasite that’s found in water, usually as a result of contamination from animal feces. It can stay in water for months, and will cause a condition called Giardiasis, which leads to severe and prolonged diarrhea.
• Cryptosporidium: Similar to Giardia, but also resistant to chlorine that’s sometimes used for purification. This parasite requires more significant filtration like reverse osmosis.

For more on how reverse osmosis filtration systems and the kinds of contaminants they remove from your water, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

Are you in the process of building a new home for yourself and your family, or looking to replace an aging heating system in your current home? There are a few viable options available to you here, and one you shouldn’t gloss over is the boiler heating system.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we proudly offer boiler installation services in addition to our numerous other plumbing, heating and air services. We’ll both assess older boilers for their quality and install new ones when needed. What are some of the potential benefits associated with boiler heating systems compared to others? Here are some basics to consider.

Cost and Energy Savings

While some people instantly look elsewhere when they see that boiler installations come at a higher upfront cost than furnaces, it’s important to look a little deeper here before making a decision. Cost of a heating system should be considered over the life of the system, not just its initial cost – and from this perspective, boilers look a lot more attractive.

Simply put, it tends to cost less to operate a boiler over a period of time than a furnace. Boilers utilize hot water within pipes to create their heat rather than transferring air, and this is considered a more efficient method of heating that will save both energy and money. Over the course of several years, many find they save hundreds or even thousands in accumulated heating costs.

Heat Distribution

Some forced air systems, particularly older ones or those that have not been well-maintained, may have issues with heat distribution. Many of us have experienced this before: Heat collects at the top of the room first, taking a while to spread out to the entire space.

Boiler systems, on the other hand, heat areas evenly. They produce radiant heat based on their water source heat that moves evenly through any room.

Durability and Limited Maintenance Needs

Boilers also require fewer moving parts and components than furnaces or heat pumps, meaning they don’t require as much maintenance to operate on a regular basis. In turn, they also tend to last longer over a larger sample of time – heat pumps have 10-15-year lifespans and furnaces are generally closer to 15-20, but many boiler systems last 30 years or more with nothing but limited yearly upkeep.

To take us back to our initial point about cost, this is the full picture you need to evaluate. While you might indeed pay less now for a different heating system, a boiler is likely to be your most efficient option over the entire life of the system.

For more on the possible benefits of installing a boiler heating system in your home, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

Those who have significant allergies often see them peak during the spring season, but many also are affected by these during fall and even year-round. The impact of allergies can be exacerbated during colder months as well, based on the cooler temperatures and the way they negatively impact immune function in many people.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we offer a wide range of HVAC and air conditioning service that will, among other things, keep the occupants in your home protected from significant allergen risks in the air. For those particularly concerned about fall allergy symptoms, let’s go over a few common risks and how proper HVAC maintenance limits or even completely eliminates them within your home.

Common Allergy Risks

While there are many possible allergy risks throughout the year, one that’s particularly notable during the fall season is ragweed. Able to travel hundreds of miles on the back of wind, ragweed can show up virtually anywhere and is often a major cause of allergy symptoms. It can lead to everything from eye irritation to significant hacking and lung concerns.

In addition, while mold is a risk for both allergies and other physical symptoms no matter when it shows up, its growth is a bit more common during the fall. As the temperatures drop, clouds of humidity become more common and damper than usual – conditions that are ideal for mold to grow, in other words. Combine this with leaves stacking up on the property, trapping in moisture, and the potential for mold is highest at this time of year.

HVAC Maintenance and Allergy Prevention

Luckily, there are several things that can be done within the HVAC system to prepare for these fall risks and ensure they aren’t making their way inside. Some general themes:

• HVAC cleaning: Just taking a little time to clean dust and any dirt off your outdoor AC unit can go a long way toward limiting any allergen particles from getting inside the system.
• Home and duct cleaning: In addition to the AC unit itself, do what you can to keep indoor and outdoor areas free of debris like leaves or dirt, which can promote allergen growth. In addition, if anyone in the home is struggling with allergy issues despite your efforts, speak to our pros about a professional duct cleaning to remove dust that might be causing these issues.
• Filters: In many cases, the simplest reason for increased allergy symptoms in the home is air filters that have not been changed recently enough, causing them to accumulate dust and do a poor job of filtering allergens out of your air. Filters should be changed often throughout the year.

Additional Air Quality Items

If someone in your home is particular susceptible to allergies, you might consider an additional line of defense in the form of various indoor air quality products, such as purifiers. These are meant to cycle air in a particular room or area and catch all possible allergens.

For more on how to stay protected from allergies during the fall or any other part of the year, or to learn about any of our HVAC or plumbing services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we’re proud to offer a comprehensive range of both plumbing services and HVAC coverage. With fall in full swing and leading us into winter before long, we’re on hand to assist with both autumn plumbing preparation and fall furnace tune-ups, repairs and other needs as you transition between seasons.

Whether you leave them to our professional technicians or choose to take on a few of the simpler parts of fall HVAC upkeep yourself, there are several important areas to consider as you move toward the colder part of the year. Let’s look at several areas we’ll help you address during this season.

End-of-Summer Air Conditioner Maintenance

To begin with, the fall season is a transitional one where you can attend to both the AC unit that’s finishing up its peak season and the furnace that’s headed into its own. Many homeowners choose to have air conditioner inspection and maintenance done during the fall, especially if they were unable to do so during the spring season. This is a good time of year to check on everything from basic AC connections to air flow concerns and any leaks or other damage.

In addition, we recommend taking a look at the entire area around the outdoor AC unit, not just the unit itself. Clear out any significant debris or plants that have built up during summer, as these can be both shelter for invading pests and a fire hazard in certain situations.

Thermostat Adjustment

As the temperatures get cooler, at some point you’ll have to consider adjusting the settings on your thermostat if you have a programmable or smart thermostat option in the home. There will be a few weeks or even a month or two where this is a bit of a transition as well, when temperatures are in between summer and winter extremes.

Air Filters

Especially if you haven’t done it in a few months, now is a great time to change out the filter or filters in your HVAC system. These are responsible for maintaining air quality throughout the home, keeping it free of allergens and other contaminants that might be present. They should be changed several times per year at minimum.

Professional Inspection

Finally, for a comprehensive preparation for the upcoming winter, call our team about a professional furnace inspection and tune-up service. We’ll look at the entire system, from the furnace itself to ductwork, connections and even insulation, to ensure you and your family will be warm and comfortable throughout the cold season without running up a high utility bill.

For more on how to prepare your HVAC system for winter, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

If you’ve noticed a major spike in your home’s water bill compared to where it was in recent months or a year ago at this time, one of the first culprits to consider is a potential leak somewhere in the home. Even a single plumbing leak might be wasting more water than you would have expected, possibly even enough to significantly raise your bill – and also create other issues that you might not be noticing.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our plumbing services include a wide array of techniques for identifying and repairing water leaks anywhere in your system. In this two-part blog, we’ll first dig into the numbers behind what leaks can do to your water bill, then go over some basic DIY steps you can take to determine if you have a leak in your home. Finally, we’ll look at some of the common leak sources you could be dealing with and what can be done about each of them.

Basic Leak and Water Usage Facts

Each person in the US uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water on a given day, per the US Geological Survey. But as data from American Water Works Company showcases, this amount can rise sharply when leaks are present in the home. The average homeowner can save around 10 percent on their water bill simply by locating and fixing leaks in their system, a potentially massive savings that adds up over the course of the year.

So how do you detect a leak in your system and locate it? Here are some steps to follow:

Water Meter Location and First Steps

First, locate the water meter found in every home. The most common location is in the basement near your water heater, or sometimes near the main water shut-off valve.

One you’ve located the water meter, mark its location. From here, ensure there’s no water being used in any faucet in the home before you begin. Now, look at the water meter and see if the red dial on it is moving – if so, this means water is running somewhere. If it’s not due to any faucet being turned on, this must mean it’s a leak.

Checking Toilets

If you have a moving dial that signals a leak, the next step is to go to each toilet in the home individually and use the shut-off valve on the back of the element to turn the water off. After each time doing this, go back to the water meter and see if it’s still moving. If it stops after a specific toilet, there’s your leak source.

Checking Faucets and Hose Bibs

If the meter keeps moving after each toilet shut-off, perform the same process on all faucets and hose bibs in your home as well. They could be the source if it isn’t a toilet.

Overnight Reading

Finally, if none of your toilets, faucets or hose bibs is the source of the issue, take a final reading from the meter at the end of the night when you’ve finished using water in the home. Then, check the meter again in the morning. If the number is higher, you still have a leak and should contact our plumbers to help locate it.

For more on detecting and identifying plumbing leaks in your home, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

With September now in swing, Utah homeowners can see the outlines of fall making its way into town. And as those who have lived here for years are well aware, the fall period often doesn’t last long before it gives way to winter, meaning it’s important to prepare the home in a few vital areas, namely plumbing, before the freeze hits.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help. Our various plumbing services, from water heater repair or replacement to drain cleaning, water filtration and many others, will help prepare you for the upcoming winter as needed, with expert plumbers on hand who can spot any issues that might be problematic once the temperatures drop. Here are several areas we recommend taking a close look at this time of year, including several where our team is happy to assist you.

Hoses and Outside Faucets

One of the primary areas to ensure you’ve got covered is protecting any water source that could risk freezing during the winter, and outside hoses and faucets are a good example. If any water is left in such hoses, it can freeze and expand, damaging the hoses themselves as well as faucets and connecting pipes.

Ensure all water is removed from these areas and these hoses are turned off. Make sure there are no drips or leaks in these areas – our pros can assist with basic repairs if there are. If your home has interior shut-off valves that lead to these outdoor faucets, close them and drain all water from these lines.

Insulation and Sealing

Another anti-freezing technique to consider, both in exterior areas and throughout the home, is insulation. Cover all outdoor faucets with an insulation kit, the kind you can buy at any home improvement store. In addition, consider insulating your pipes in unheated areas of the home where freezing within the pipes might be a concern.

Down similar lines, seal off any leaks around your doors or windows. This will stop cold air from making its way into the home.

Water Heater Maintenance

The water heater will do a lot of work during the upcoming winter, so it’s good to prepare it. Flush it out and remove any sediment buildup – our team can help if you require it. We’ll also assist you with testing the water heater’s pressure release valve, plus replacing it if it’s gone faulty since last winter. Finally, ensure the temperature is set right around 120 degrees Fahrenheit for the best performance.

Gutters and Downspouts

Ensure your outdoor gutters and downspouts are cleared and clean in preparation for winter drainage. This kind of drainage is vital due to water freezing risks, which can pose a danger if water is draining improperly and remaining on or near the structure.

For more on how to prepare your home’s plumbing for the upcoming winter, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

Whether it’s through quality heating repair during the cold months, air conditioner installation and maintenance during the summer or any area in between, the team at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical is here to help you and your family stay comfortable in your home throughout the year. Modern technology allows for better control over temperature and air quality than ever before, and we’ll allow you to experience this in full without running up a high utility bill.

Given this capability, many of our clients ask us a simple question: What is the optimal temperature for my home? The answer may depend on a few things, including your own comfort thresholds. Here are some general temperature ranges based on a few different themes or life situations you may relate to.

Day-to-Day Life

To combine daily comfort with general energy and money savings, the general recommendation for thermostat setting in the home is between 68 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit (we’ll use Fahrenheit for the remainder of this post). Where you sit within this range largely depends on where you and others in your home are comfortable.

If you’re the type who requires colder temperatures to be comfortable, there are some other resources available to you to help stay cooler without running up a big bill. Use ceiling fans, for instance, to keep air flowing. Also consider using curtains and other shade formats to block the sun’s natural light during peak hours.

Babies and Infants

If you have a new child in the home, the temperature range is generally a bit lower. Babies do best between roughly 65 and 74 degrees – if you’re concerned about their temperature, feel their ears or chest to see if they’re too hot or cold, then adjust from there.

Pet Owners

If you’re a dog or cat owner, the most common household pets, you don’t have to deviate much or at all from your day-to-day temperature plan. These animals tend to do just fine within that 68 to 78 range, and even a wider one in many cases.

If you happen to have rarer pets like fish or amphibians, on the other hand, do some research on their proper temperature. If they require hotter temperatures, consider a heat lamp for their enclosure.

Sleep Range

The National Sleep Foundation generally recommends that humans sleep with the temperature between 60 and 67 degrees. This is because body temperature drops during sleep, so a slight drop in temperature can help you fall and stay asleep.

Vacation or Trips

When you leave the home unoccupied for any significant period of time, you can set the thermostat to much more extreme ranges to save money. During the summer, the thermostat can stay as high as 85 to 88 degrees, or even off completely in many homes. During winter, keep temperatures between 50 and 55 degrees while leaving town – this will save you money, but also won’t allow for any water to freeze within your pipes and cause problems.

For more on the ideal temperature ranges for various situations, or to learn about any of our heating and air or pluming services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

In part one of this two-part blog, we discussed some of the risks of unaddressed leaks in your home’s plumbing system, plus how you can identify these. Homeowners are often shocked at the money they can save by simply repairing such leaks in a timely manner, and that’s without considering the benefits of avoiding water damage or other possible concerns.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our plumbers are happy to assist you with identifying, locating and dealing with any leaks that pop up within your system. What are some of the common areas where these leaks may originate from? Here’s a look at a few potential sources.

Toilet Flappers or Overflow

All toilets have what’s called a flapper, a large rubber plug at the bottom behind the bowl meant to assist with basic flushing – but one that is often the source of leaks. In many cases this is obvious just based on noise: A steady tripping sound coming from the toilet almost always means the flapper is the cause. To be sure, use a toilet dye pill or a small quantity of food coloring dropped into the tank, then wait about 30 minutes to see if the color makes its way into the bowl on its own. If so, the flapper is the leak cause.

Another possible toilet issue is when water in the tank is leaking over top of the overflow pipe. This usually means a device called the ballcock valve needs to be adjusted, something our plumbers are happy to help with if you’re unsure of how to do it.

Outdoor Concerns

In other cases, leaks stem from outdoor hose bibs or faucets. This is often due to freezing temperatures that expand water and cause issues, though it could also be because of leaking sprinklers or related concerns. If you notice soft or wet spots on your lawn, for instance, this often means either your sprinkler or a water service line is leaking and will require repair.

Sinks and Washers

Faucets dripping may also be the culprit here, a simpler issue that you can usually identify pretty easily. In many cases, this is due to a washer that either doesn’t fit or has worn down over time. Simple replacements here usually do the trick.

Hot Water Tank

If none of these other areas are the source of your leak, check the hot water tank likely located in your basement. If water is dripping down the side of the tank, this often means the pressure valve isn’t working and requires repair.

Other Home Appliances

A few other home appliance areas that might leak if they’re defective or being used incorrectly:

• Ice machine
• Washing machine
• Dishwasher

Check each of these to ensure their connections and components are working properly.

For more on the possible sources of leaks in your home, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.