Dependable Steps for Going Green

Earth Day will be celebrated worldwide on April 22nd. Earth Day stands to spread awareness on the importance of environmental protection, and the steps individuals can take in their daily lives to move towards a healthy and sustainable existence.

Protecting the Earth starts at home. So why not start by protecting the most precious resource this Earth provides – water?

There are countless steps that residents in a household can take to decrease their overall water usage throughout their daily lives while maintaining a healthy and happy quality of life.

Some dependable and proven techniques for going green and reducing water consumption include:

Install Eco-Friendly Plumbing Fixtures

Modern day plumbing fixtures and technologies have been developed to help individuals and families limit the amount of water that they use without directly affecting their habits and routines. Examples of some eco-friendly plumbing fixtures include:

• Low-flush toilets
• Faucet Aerators
• Automatic/timed faucets
• Dual-flush toilets
• Low-flow showerheads

Get Rid of Water Bottles and Invest in a Water Filtration System

Water bottles are a huge pollutant in America, where people purchase more bottled water than anywhere else in the world, with over two million tons sitting in landfills today.

Water filtration systems work to remove impurities from a home’s water supply, such as dirt, clay, silt, and other sediment. This filtration process can be installed throughout an entire home, and provide families with healthy drinking water straight from the tap.

Invest in Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand water heaters, are able to heat water in a much more energy-efficient way than traditional water heater tanks.

The process works by having water from pipes heated in the tankless water heater using electrical elements or gas burners that heat as hot water is necessary.

Traditional water heating units must continually be filled and heated, creating an inefficient energy cycle.

If you live in a house where large appliances, such as dishwashers or laundry machines, must be used simultaneously, consider installing tankless water heaters at more than one hot water output to ensure that you have a sufficient flow of hot water, continuously.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Along with ensuring that your home’s plumbing system is as eco-friendly as possible, there are habits that can be cultivated to reduce your family's overall carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is a measurement of environmental impact, measured in units of carbon.

For example, washing clothes in cold water can save a family up to 500 pounds of carbon emissions each year.

Another method of reducing your carbon footprint is to ensure that your furnace is working efficiently, by performing regular maintenance and replacing filters a couple of times a year.

World Water Day Is Important for Many Reasons

World Water day will be celebrated on March 22nd, 2017. This day focuses attention on our planet’s freshwater supply and its importance.

Working to spread knowledge of how humans can best sustainably manage and protect this vital resource while dealing with the surge of urbanization and diverse lifestyle changes, is the main goal of this day. With the increase in urbanization, comes an increase in the amount of water used daily.

The Water Crisis

Our freshwater resources are becoming more and scarcer, from the increased waste and use of water that sustains the North American lifestyle. This depletion is known as the water crisis and can be contributed to several factors, including:

Environmental Crisis: When water is polluted or consumed in large amounts, aquatic ecosystems pay the ultimate price. These ecosystems are delicate, and cannot be regulated once disturbed, causing the extent of pollution to increase steadily.
Increased Water Consumption: The consumption of water for irrigation purposes, agriculture, domestic households, industrial production processes, etc. compile much of water used daily. This increased consumption, along with wasteful agricultural practices, is quickly depleting the planet’s freshwater supply.

Water Conservation

Water is being wasted more now than at any other time in Earth’s history. Scientists and activists are attempting to spread these key methods towards reducing the overall consumption of water and how to protect this natural resource:

• The overall reduction in water usage and waste, preserving existing resources.
• Developing safe methods of hazardous waste disposal, such as human and animal waste, and chemicals.
• Improving the management of water usage by conducting beneficial decisions on how and how much humans use water.

The production of factory farm raised meat, and our reliance on water-heavy crops such as corn, wheat, and rice makes up a large percentage of the freshwater used.

The Importance of Water Efficiency at Home

In recent years, plumbing technology has developed to embrace the importance of conserving the freshwater supply on this planet. These water-efficient devices are affordable investments that assist individuals in limiting the amount of water used in daily life:

• Dual-flush toilets. Equipped with two flushing levers or buttons to flush varying levels of water, dual-flush toilets use up to 67% less water than conventional toilets.
• Automatic (timed) faucets.
• Low-flow showerheads (also known as energy-efficient showerheads).
• Garden hose nozzles.
• Low-flush toilets.
• Faucet aerators. Aerators can break up straight water flow into smaller particles while delivering the same effectiveness using less water.

In South Windsor, CT and surrounding areas, the experts at Water Heater Medic can assist you in the successful installation of water-saving plumbing technology. Call (860) 896-3342 to schedule a professional consultation.

Common Plumbing Myths It’s a Good Idea to Know

Your home plumbing units are designed to operate a certain way. And only by following the latest guidance from trusted plumbers can you ensure your home equipment is performing to peak capacity. There are numerous misconceptions in the plumbing industry, and it’s important that you’re able to separate fact from fiction if you want to avoid costly plumbing problems in the future. To help guide you in this process, we’re highlighting several plumbing myths in this latest post.

Plungers Can Resolve Any Clog

While your household plungers can be used to resolve a toilet paper clog and other small issues, there are clogging problems that cannot be fixed with a plunger. If you have a chemical clog related to oil in the system or a stubborn paper clog, you might have to turn to professional plumbers to resolve the issue.

Plumbers can use equipment that allows them to see into the drain to remove the clog effectively. This can help you save several hours trying to fix the clog alone.

Water Heaters Cannot Explode

While it’s rare, there have been cases where a water heater has exploded, seriously injuring those inside the home. Water heaters are designed to operate at high temperature levels, but heaters that are not maintained effectively can sometimes exceed the standard levels and overheat.

This can lead to a large explosion that destroys property and injures those inside the home. To mitigate water heater issues, it’s important to flush the system regularly and work with a trusted plumbing company to ensure that the system is maintained according to the highest of industry safety standards.

A Leaking Faucet Isn’t a Big Problem

While you might think that the slow drip of a faucet doesn’t have a large impact on your home, you’d be wrong. The impact of a leaking faucet can be significant. For example, studies show that a leaking faucet can cost the homeowner hundreds of dollars more per year in plumbing costs. In addition, a leaking faucet that goes on for too long can end up damaging the structure of your home.

Creatures Cannot Make Their Way Up Your Pipes

It sounds like urban legend, but animals such as rats and mice have found their way into homes across the country through the toilet. They can clamber through pipes and climb walls to enter homes and then make their way inside your plumbing system.

Call a local plumber as quickly as possible if you hear a scratching sound coming from the area of your pipes or toilet.

Our team of experts at Water Heater Medic in South Windsor, CT plumbers are on-call around the clock to address home plumbing issues. To learn more about our services, call us now at (860) 896-3342.

Ways to Heat Up your Valentine's Day

Love should be spread to every corner of your world on Valentine’s Day. That includes your house. You should use the holiday to remind you to give your home some TLC. Follow these three tips to give your home some love this Valentine’s Day.

1. Show Your Unit Some TLC

Valentine’s Day is a great time to perform some routine maintenance on your furnace. Give your furnace a once over or better yet hire a professional to give it a thorough inspection. At the minimum, you should change the filter and install a high-quality HEPA filter replacement to improve the air quality inside your home. You should also think about getting your ducts cleaned as part of your annual furnace maintenance routine. The air ducts will build up lots of dust over time that negatively impacts your health if it is not removed.

2. Give Your Furnace a Break

Although spring will soon be upon us and we will get to go outdoors, you can get a jump on the fun by bringing outdoor-style heating to your living space. Get your chimney inspected so that you can enjoy beautiful gatherings around your family hearth. Annual chimney cleanings are essential to prevent the buildup of creosote, which can start a deadly fire in a heartbeat.

You should think about taking the party outside with outdoor heating options. A bonfire is guaranteed to make for a fun-filled night with friends and family. You can always go less primal by using a fire pit or an outdoor heater as well. The point is that you can always take the party to the great outdoors if you are willing to harness the power of outdoor heating.

3. Love Is in the Air

It doesn’t matter how great your heating and cooling system is if your home is not properly insulated. Use this time to take a look at the insulation in your home. Check to see if there are areas where additional insulation would lower your heating and cooling costs.

You also need to use this time to think about everyday ways you can lower your energy use. For example, you need to be careful to keep doors and windows in your home fully closed in order not to waste climate-controlled air. You also need to think about the temperature settings you have set up on your HVAC system. Think about whether you can stand it a few degrees warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter in order to shrink your home’s carbon footprint and lower your energy bills.

If you want professional help getting your home’s heating and cooling needs squared away this Valentine’s Day, turn to Water Heater Medic in Vernon, CT. When you contact Water Heater Medic at (860) 896-3342, we will take care to give your home the love it deserves. We will work with you to create a mixture of indoor and outdoor heating solutions to make your home a paradise.

What’s in a Tank Size?

Picture life without your water heater. Tasks and chores such as doing the dishes or washing laundry take forever because you need to boil water to get a proper clean.

Showers are out of the question, and baths take an extra long amount of time because you must boil water and then wait for that short time period where it comes down to a bearable temperature. In short, your water heater is a vital part of your home.

And as such, you should be operating a water heater that is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of your household. Here are some tips about choosing the best water heater for your home:

Determining the Best Tank Size

Many people think that water heaters come in a one-size-fits-all option. This is not true. Water heaters are sized based on the maximum and minimum needs in the home. When it comes to sizing a water heater, it’s not best to go big or go home.

If you choose a water heater that is too big, you’ll be wasting money on heating water that is not needed, while if you choose a water heater that is too small, you’ll consistently run out of hot water at inconvenient times.

The best way to determine what size water heater you need is to go by the First Hour Rating, or, FHR. This figure stands for the amount of hot water needed at the busiest time of the day in your home. The FHR of the water heater is typically located on the label.

To calculate your own FHR number, multiply the number of bedrooms in the home plus one by 12. This will give you an accurate idea of what size water heater to get.

What Sizes are Available?

Water heater manufacturers know there are many different types of families and households out there that need unique and personalized equipment to safely and efficiently heat their water. This means that the market is full of options, from 45-55 gallon tanks to 100-gallon tanks.

Homeowners can even choose the energy source used to heat their water heater from solar power to electricity and gas.

Some homeowners choose to even forgo the water tank and invest in a tankless unit, which connects directly to the plumbing. Depending on the size of your home and how many people are living there, you can easily find a tank size that is right for you.

How to Go About Installing a Water Heater?

Many plumbing projects are perfectly safe to DIY. Unclogging a toilet or changing the washer on a dripping faucet are all things that individuals with minimal experience can handle.

Installing a new water is not one of those things. If you are replacing a water heater or installing a water heater in your new home, it’s always best to call a professional.

A trained eye will be able to help choose the right water heater for your home and install it without incident. Additionally, an expert will know the proper settings to make sure the new water heater is working safely and efficiently in your home.

For more information on professional water heater services in South Windsor, CT, call 860-896-3342. Schedule an appointment with Water Heater Medic today for fast and effective water heater repair and installation services.

Home Cleaning Checklist for the New Year

The New Year is an opportunity for a fresh start, and what better way to get a fresh start than to establish a quick but efficient way to clean your house.

Sticking to a schedule for things that you do on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can help motivate you to keep your house looking like you spent hours cleaning it when it really only took a small fraction of your day. Use this basic cleaning schedule as a guideline to get and keep your home in order.

What to Clean Daily

Spend about 30 minutes a day doing the chores that need to be done around your home. These basic tasks might seem simple, but make a world of difference in how your home looks and feels.

• Wash dishes at least once a day. If you can’t find the time to wash them all, at least make an effort to scrape excess food off and rinse them so the food doesn’t stick. Alternatively, throw a load in the dishwasher once a day.
• Tidy up. Tidying up helps control clutter. Walk through your house one room at a time and put things that are out of place back where they belong. Do a room or two and then take a break.
• Wipe off countertops to clean crumbs and spills

What to Clean Weekly

Some tasks do not necessarily need to be done every single day. Instead pick a day of the week where you will tackle these tasks. Which include: 

• Empty the trash in bedrooms, bathrooms, and the kitchen
• Dust furniture and wiping down cobwebs
• Clean mirrors and windows
• Wipe down appliances in the kitchen, cleaning out the microwave and empty the crumb tray in your toaster
• Mop the floor
• Spray down and scrub the toilet, sink, and tub in the bathroom

What to Clean the First of Each Month

Monthly tasks are important and easy to forget. Don’t fall behind. Try to do these tasks at least once a month for optimal cleanliness.

• Move furniture and vacuum or sweep under it
• Clean outside windows
• Disinfect and deodorize garbage cans
• Run vinegar through your appliances to clean them
• Dust your blinds, shades and lighting fixtures

Keeping your home clean is a great start to the year. Contact Water Heater Medic, located in Vernon, CT at (860) 896-3342  for assistance with getting your home in order.

Setting New Year's Resolutions

With the year dwindling to a close, many people are engaging in self-reflection. They are thinking about all of the things they have accomplished and what more they could have done.

Many will reflect on issues relating to self-control, such as weight loss or kicking an old habit, like smoking. However, New Year's resolutions could extend even beyond struggles such as this. For example, they could even extend to saving money by finding solutions to your high bill payments. These 5 tips will help with setting your New Year's resolutions, now all you have to do is stick to it!

Make a List of Goals You Want to Achieve in 2017

Reflect for a moment on the changes you would like to occur in your everyday life. A high bill payment is not usually on the list of New Year's resolutions. But high bills will impact your overall stress and happiness. As you are creating your list, think of electricity and water usage and how they could be reduced through making conscious decisions in your home. There is power in making a list. It will make your resolutions real.
Once you have an idea of the changes you would like to occur, make a list of goals.

Categorize Them by Time and Importance

Once you have your list, categorize your goals by time and importance. Some of your goals may not be pressing, but that does not mean that you should push them aside. Rank them by the amount of time they will take to achieve and when it would be appropriate to begin each one.

Set REALISTIC Goals that are not too Easy to Achieve

By tackling harder tasks first, it will give you the confidence you need to tackle smaller tasks. Set realistic goals, but be sure they are challenging, so everything after is a cinch!
An unrealistic resolution will leave you with a feeling of futility. But a goal that is too easy might yield the same result. Strike a proper balance.

Keep the List Where You Will See It Daily

Ensure that you have a constant reminder of your goals. Perhaps you could hang a whiteboard in your living room or on the refrigerator. It will help remind you of your commitment to yourself and encourage you to stick to the list.

Refer to the List Weekly to Check Off Goals

Have you reduced your energy consumption? Exercised more frequently? Deposited more into your savings account? Check it off the list. If you make a habit of referring to the list, you will not forget about it. Remember to revisit the list weekly, to find out if you've been naughty or nice.

For help sticking to your household money saving goals, contact Water Heater Medic in Connecticut at (860) 896-3342 for more information about our maintenance plans and energy efficient products.

5 Maintenance Tips to Get My Water Heater Ready for Colder Temperatures in Fall & Winter

Winter is coming, is your water heater ready? One of the most important steps in order to prepare your home for the colder temperatures in fall and winter is investing some time and money into water heater maintenance.

Here are our five top maintenance tips for getting your water heater ready for fall and winter:

Tip 1: Check the Pressure Relief Valve

The pressure relief valve will prevent the water heater from combusting or breaking down in extreme situations. Different water heater manufacturers recommend testing the valve at different intervals, but to be safe, we recommend testing it every fall to make sure it’s working properly.

The best way to test the valve involves gently pulling up on it and ensuring that hot water is expelled from the discharge tube. If this happens, the valve is functioning and you’re good to go.

Tip 2: Inspect the Condition of the Anode Rod

Anode rods are often referred to as sacrificial rods. These are a vital component to any water heater because they prevent the tank from rusting. Anode rods are made from magnesium or aluminum with a steel core.

The anode rod reacts with the water and begins to corrode in order to protect the small amount of exposed metal in the water tank.

If your anode rod is completely corroded, you will need to replace it ASAP to ensure your tank does not rust and require an expensive replacement.

Tip 3: Flush the Tank

Emptying your water tank and cleaning it on an annual basis in the fall will help clean out sediment that settles at the bottom of the tank. Water tanks with excess sediment will corrode more quickly and require replacement sooner than a tank that has been emptied and cleaned on a regular basis.

Tip 4: Adjust the Temperature

During the winter, outside temperatures drop. This causes your water temperature to also drop. Because of this, keeping your water heater set at the normal temperature might not be enough to heat the water and send it through your pipes while maintaining a comfortable temperature.

By increasing the temperature of your water heater by about 5-10 degrees, you will be able to enjoy hot water even on the coldest day of the year.

Tip 5: Insulate Your Pipes and Water Tank

If you are expecting extreme cold, we also recommend insulating your pipes and water heater. Insulating the pipes will block their exposure to cold air and prevent them from freezing and bursting. Insulating the water tank will help conserve heat, making it easier on your water heater and saving money on your energy bill.

For more help with preparing your water heater, call the Vernon, CT water heater experts at Water Heater Medic at (860) 896-3342 today.

Preparing Your Home for the Thanksgiving Holiday

Getting your home ready for the Thanksgiving Day holiday can become stressful, but breaking the tasks down into steps and using a calendar to keep track of all of the errands and activities can make it simpler.

A cool autumn day is the perfect time to begin some housecleaning chores such as shampooing the carpets and upholstered furniture. Some may also wish for the exterior of their home to look perfect. This is why you should start by going outside and removing decayed lawn debris such as tree branches or leaves.

1: Make Do-It-Yourself Decorations

If you are looking for an easy do-it-yourself decoration to place next to each of your guests’ Thanksgiving dinner plate, then buy a few cases of glass canning jars.

Here are the supplies you will need to decorate your Thanksgiving table:

• Glass canning jars
• Rustic twine
• Glue
• Foam brush
• Potting soil
• Flowering autumn plants

You can smear glue on the outside of each canning jar before wrapping the twine around it from the bottom to the top. After the glue dries, fill the canning jar halfway with potting soil before adding a beautiful flowering plant such as a chrysanthemum, zinnia, or whatever plant you choose from your local flower shop. Your guests will love taking one of these do-it-yourself decorations home as a party favor.

2: Pick Out Fresh Pumpkins at a Pumpkin Patch

The shriveling pumpkins that we still have from Halloween are tossed into the trash, and now is a great time to plan a family trip to the local pumpkin patch to get new decorations for your home’s porch and dining room table.

In addition to pumpkins, there are often small gourds in a variety of colors that are great for placing on your living room’s fireplace mantel and end tables.

It’s always a good idea to pick extra pumpkins to have puree for making delicious pumpkin pies, muffins and bread. You can also look for recipes to roast the pumpkin seeds.

3: Inspect and Clean Kitchen Appliances Thoroughly

A week before Thanksgiving Day, begin to inspect and clean your kitchen’s appliances to make sure that they are ready to roast a turkey and other dishes along with storing the leftovers. In addition to sanitizing the refrigerator, stove and microwave, verify that your kitchen's oven is working optimally to cook Thanksgiving dishes and that your home's water heater has received proper maintenance.

If you notice your home is having hot water issues; then contact Water Heater Medic in Connecticut, at this number: (860) 896-3342.

Be Prepared for National Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes is a growing problem in the United States. Obesity is a major factor in the onset of Type 2 diabetes. With many people having unhealthy eating habits and a lack of exercise, diagnosed cases will continue to grow. The great news is that this trend is reversible. It all comes down to committing to a healthy lifestyle.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, when a targeted campaign will deliver information about diabetes prevention as well as ways in which to manage diabetes if you live with it currently.

Start With Your Circle

Making positive changes to manage diabetes is not a one-day event. It’s about making a series of changes to your lifestyle and habits that require a lifetime commitment. You can’t do it alone either- and you don’t have to. There is support all around you.

Join a support group in your community to connect with others who are going through the same thing you are. Invite your spouse to cook and eat healthy meals with you (you can even seek out healthy recipes together).

Make sure to have good medical support and always write down any questions you have before your visits so that you get the most out of your medical appointments.

Everyday Management Tips

Knowledge is power, which is why you need to know as much as you can about food and healthy eating choices. You need to commit to a balanced diet; which includes leafy greens, lean protein, and complex carbohydrates.

You also need to commit to checking your blood sugar often. If you let it go too low or too high, you are putting yourself in a dangerous position. Make exercise part of your daily routine, even if it is just a walk around the block. Every little bit counts.

Minimize Complications

Unfortunately, when you have diabetes, your risk for a host of health complications increases.
Diabetes affects your cardiovascular system, in particular, so reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke by doing a few things. Don’t smoke and limit alcohol intake.

Engage in at least 30 minutes of cardio-based activity a day. Eat a diet low in salt and avoid processed foods. Monitor your blood pressure.

World Diabetes Day- November 14

Raise awareness all month long, but check your calendars for November 14, when the entire world will be talking about diabetes management and prevention. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 5 million people die annually from this disease. Healthy eating and exercise can change that.

Let us focus on your water heater problems so that you can focus on taking care of your health. Call Water Heater Medic today at (860) 896-3342.