During the past 2 weeks here in PA our sump pumps definitely got a work out!  Many calls that I’ve received over these weeks regarding sump pumps are not only questions about adding a pump, but many call were due to sump pump ‘failure’.  Failure from power outages, failure to be able to keep up with the amount of water rushing in and of course just down right mechanical failure.

If you are looking into purchasing a sump pump for the first time or replacing an existing one, here is a buyer’s guide from Home Depot so you can assess which pump is best for your needs.

If you are located in Central PA, give me a call if you are looking for someone to help you make the right decision and install your sump pump – Call 717-274-8612 or fill out the Contact Us form on our website.

If your water is hard it can clog your pipes and your soap will dissolve less easily.  Softening your water can prevent these adverse effects.  In addition, hard water can cause a high risk of lime scale deposits in your water systems.  This lime scale build-up can cause blocked pipes and lower the efficiency of hot boilers and tanks.  This can increase the cost of your water heating by as much as 15% – 20%.  Lime scale can also have damaging effects on your household appliances – washing machines, coffee makers, dishwashers, etc.

By adding a water softener, you can actually extend the life span of your household appliances as well as the pipelines.  In addition, it can improve the lifespan of solar heating systems, air conditioning and many other water-based applications.

If you think you may have hard water and would like more information, contact us to arrange for a water test and quote on a water softener to fit your needs.

Tankless water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. Because of this, they avoid the standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. This results in tankless water heaters delivering a constant supply of hot water since there’s no need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. Consequently, a tankless water heater’s output limits the flow rate.

Typically, tankless water heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2–5 gallons per minute. Gas-fired demand water heaters produce higher flow rates than electric ones. Sometimes, even the largest gas-fired models cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. Taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a tankless water heater to its limit. To overcome this problem you can install two or more tankless water heaters connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water. You could also install separate water heaters for appliances—such as a clothes washer or dishwater—that use a lot of hot water in your home.

For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, tankless water heaters can be 24%–34% more energy efficient than conventional water heaters.

Proper installation and maintenance of your demand water heater can optimize its energy efficiency. Therefore, it’s best to have a qualified plumbing contractor install your demand water heater.

We’ve had experience with these types of installations, so if you are thinking about a Tankless “Demand”  Water Heater, contact us for a free in home estimate.

Thanks,

Joel T. Gingrich

Leaky faucet (fast drip): 20–30 gallons per day
Leaky faucet (slow drip): 5–10 gallons per day

The US Government has a website with a built in calculator.
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/sc4.html

So let’s say you have 1 faucet that drips once every other second – 30 drips per minute – this would equal 2 gallons of water per day or 20 average baths per year.  Not to mention if this is a hot water leak you are also using energy to heat that dripping water!

With energy prices rising and potable water sources becoming scarcer, it is important to check all of the faucets in your home.

The majority of all faucet leaks are caused by washers which are worn, improperly installed or are the wrong size.  YOU WILL NEED:

Washers of several different sizes.

An adjustable wrench.

Screwdriver.

Turn off the main water supply to the sink you’re working on.

Loosen the packing nut located just below or inside the individual faucet handles

Remove the screw that is holding the old washer in place.

Replace the old washer with one of equal size.

Place the valve unit back into the faucet.

Tighten the packing nut and turn the water back on.

Or give us a call 717-274-8612!