The Gargoyle in the Garage

Want to see something really scary?  With Halloween waiting in the wings I thought you might like to hear a true story of things that go bump in the night.  Because lurking in the depths of your home, hidden either in your garage or buried in a closet is a gargoyle that is scaly, it’s ugly, it breathes fire and it’s hungry.  In fact it can devour as much as a quarter of the energy it takes to run your home month in and month out.  Before you start searching for the number of the Ghost Busters allow me to clarify the situation by pointing out that I am talking about your home’s water heater.

I realize that most people do not live in fear of their water heater.  But maybe they should.  If left to its own devices any traditional water heater that is at least ten years old can eat you out of house and home, since hard water deposits called scale makes these units progressively less energy efficient as time goes on. 

1.      The average water heater consumes up to 25% of the power that the typical homeowner pays for month in and month out.

2.      Since this contraption is literally out of sight and out of mind, it isn’t unusual for most people to ignore the thing until they wake up to find an inch or so of water on the floor due to the fact that their heater gave up the ghost.

3.      The average life of a water heater is thirteen years.  After that, contaminants in the water tend to collect around the heating element, making the heater even less energy efficient. 

4.      Speaking of energy efficiency, today there are a number of alternatives to the traditional water heater.  These alternatives take up less space and/or use up far less energy.  (More on that later.)

If you want your water heater to last longer and work more efficiently I highly recommend that you flush the system once per year.  To accomplish this you will need to first turn off the power to the heater by flipping off the circuit breaker.  If your heater is gas fired, turn the thermostat to the “pilot” setting. Then turn off the water coming into the unit and connect a hose to the drain located toward the bottom of the unit.  Do NOT open the valve yet.  If you do you run the risk of creating a vacuum in the system. 

To prevent that from happening you need to turn on one of the hot water faucets on a nearby sink or tub.  Now you can open the tap on the water heater to drain the hot water from the system.  Just be sure that your kids or pets do not get too close to the far end of the hose, since the water that will come streaming out if it will be piping hot.  Your plants will also not appreciate a hot shower either, so my advice is to lead the hose down the driveway to the curb.

Once the heater empties you want to leave the drain open while turning the supply line back on.  This will help clear some of the crud that has built up on the bottom of the tank over the years.  Once the water runs clear from the hose only then should you close the drain.  (Also, don’t forget to turn off the hot water running in the kitchen sink.)  Give the tank a few minutes to fill before turning back on the electricity or the gas.  It’s possible to do damage to the heater if you turn on the power with the tank empty.

Last but not least, once the water heater has had a chance to heat the water in the tank you need to test the pressure relief valve.  This is the safety device located at the top of the tank that is designed to prevent the pressure inside the tank from building to dangerous levels.  If this device proves faulty you will want to have it replaced by a plumber.

While flushing the heater is one way to keep this beast at bay, it is not the only way to save money when it comes to energy efficiency.  When it comes time to replace your existing water heater you might want to consider either a tankless or a hybrid system.  These units not only more energy efficient but they can save space as well.

Tankless systems are the ultimate in power efficiency since they make hot water on demand…as much as you want.  Unlike traditional water heaters that expend the majority of their power consumption on maintaining the temperature of water stored inside the tank, tankless heaters only operate when you turn on the tap.  Another couple of advantages of a tankless system are that you never run out of hot water.  This is especially useful if you have a large family or when the overnight guests come for a visit.  They also take up less than a third of the space of a traditional water heater.  Some can even be installed outside, which is the ultimate space saver.  The downside is that tankless heaters tend to be a bit pricier than traditional units.  If you take the long term approach and factor in the energy saved, these systems will ultimately pay for themselves.  However, tankless isn’t the only way to go.

Hybrid heaters are available that straddle the fence between traditional and tankless heaters.  Like tankless systems, hybrids are a bit pricier than traditional water heaters.  These units won’t save space, bring a bit taller than traditional units they replace, since the heat pump is mounted on top. However, they are much more efficient since they contain a heat pump that draws in heat from the air to help heat the water. When Consumer Reports tested hybrid heaters they determined that the average family would save around $320 per year.  This is a plus, since hybrid water heaters cost about $1000 more than traditional units.

Whether you decide to opt for a more energy efficient unit than the one currently in your home or you decide to bite the bullet by doing flushing your system for another year or so, the bottom line is that with a little foresight you never need be menaced by the Gargoyle in the Garage ever again.

Bill Aldridge is one of the Doctor’s or Plumbology at Aldridge & Sons Plumbing.  For more helpful plumbing hints and step-by-step videos, visit http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com and http://waterheatersjacksonvillefl.com/

The Last Costume You Want to See on Halloween

By Bill Aldridge

You can’t help but smile as the neighborhood tykes parade around in this season’s costumes.  But there is one costume you can do without this holiday season and that’s the guy who comes to your door dressed as a plumber.  Be it Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas, the holidays bring with them a veritable cornucopia of holiday dishes that have been passed down from generation to generation.  The problem with many holiday cooks is that they also try to pass down the remnants of these dishes through the garbage disposal, which is where they guy in the plumber costume usually makes an appearance.  Below I have created a list of holiday no-no’s that are designed to keep you from making your local plumber

The Perils of Pumpkin

Believe it or not, more than a billion pounds of pumpkin are produced every year in the US, many to be made into jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin pies galore.  While these tasty treats are designed to brighten up the holidays, one thing that won’t is paying the plumber overtime to unstop your drain during the holidays.  The problem with pumpkin pulp is that it is a gooey mess that once down the drain will quickly harden into a mass that is a chore for even a seasoned professional to clear.  And don’t think that flushing it down the toilet is a better solution.  All that will do is make sure the clog gets lodged deep down the drain.  The only solution to the perils of pumpkin is to make like Lucy and Linus, by scooping out the pulp onto newspaper and then bagging it to take out with the trash.  (You didn’t say you were gonna kill it!”)

Don’t be a Turkey this Thanksgiving

The reason that most plumbers never get to sit down to a Thanksgiving dinner is due to the fact that they are invariably called out to unstop drains year in and year out.  In fact, Thanksgiving is the busiest of all holiday seasons for plumbing professionals.  Why?  Simply because it is a foregone conclusion that any number of holiday guests and/or chefs are going to

The Ghost of Christmas Dinner Past

Being home for the holidays also means preparing Christmas dinner for family and friends.  It can also mean that clearing the dishes can easily wind up overwhelming your garbage disposal resulting in a call to yours truly.  If you don’t want to add another mouth to feed during the holidays, here are some things you need to beware:

*   Fat is not your friend – While gravy helps make the turkey go down better in people, when it comes to plumbing the opposite is generally the case.  Anything containing fat, such as gravy boats, plates and serving platters need to be wiped clean with a paper towel before being washed in the sink.  Even then you want to use plenty of hot water before, during and after doing the holiday dishes.  That’s because any fat left in the pipes can quickly congeal into a blockage that requires a snake to clear.  One of the remedial steps is to fill your sink with hot water and a few drops of  liquid detergent, then pull the stopper to flush out the pipes after the dishes are done.

* Don’t give your disposal indigestion – While the modern garbage disposal is a wonderful invention, it was never designed to eat everything.  While most people know to avoid putting bones, gristle or other hard to grind substances into the disposal, they may not be aware that these devices also do not like to be fed a diet of celery, poultry skins, potato and onion peels, all of which can be hard to break down.  Disposals also need an occasional deep cleaning in order to eliminate odor.  (Below is a video that shows you how to eliminate “Stinky Disposal Syndrome” from your home.)

* Is stuffing going to stuff your pipes? – As a rule anything that is pulpy, such as stuffing, pumpkin flesh and squash can form a paste that can quickly gum up the works.  Just like pancake batter (another substance you should never pour down the drain), once past the disposal, these substances can quickly swell up and clog any drain.  Again, the solution is not to put these substances into the disposal.

* The extended family can also prove to be a strain on your plumbing.  While you can’t exactly read relatives the riot act, you can make sure that in their effort to help you clear the holiday dishes that they don’t inadvertently break any of the rules set above.  (That is if you can get them to help with the dishes.)

Bill Aldridge is one of the Doctor’s of Plumbology at Aldridge and Sons Plumbing, a residential and commercial plumbing contractor located in Jacksonville, Florida.  For more information and helpful how-to videos visit their site at http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com

Is it Time to Buff Up Your Bathroom?

By Billy Aldridge

While other parts of the home may take precedence over the bathroom when it comes to scheduling a redo, buffing the bathroom is one way to add value and creature comfort to your home.  Particularly if your home is twenty or more years old, updating fixtures, appliances and toilets can not only beautify your home, but it can also pay for itself in water and energy savings. 

Say Tata to the Toilet

Sorry to say it, but if your toilet was built before 1990, then it can be one of the costliest appliances in your home when it comes to water consumption.  Back in the 50’s it was common for toilets to use as much as 7 gallons per flush.  By the 80’s the norm was closer to 4 gallons.  Today’s high efficiency toilets can use less than a gallon and a half per flush and help homeowners save as much as 16,000 gallons of water annually.

High Efficiency Toilets (HETs) should be able to flush using at least 20% less water than is mandated by law and should not need to be flushed more than once to do their job. They should require minimal cleaning with environmentally unfriendly detergents. They should flush quietly. They should be user friendly and comfortable. And they should be available in a wide variety of design styles that fit with the existing (or future) bathroom décor. These are the guiding principles that drive our design of high-performance, High Efficiency TOTO Toilets.

Water You Waiting For?

Old bathrooms also have old pipes, many of which can be affected by hard water which causes scale which leads to decreased water pressure.  If you turn on the shower and receive no more than a trickle, this is due to scale.  Scale not only reduces water flow, but it can also cause back pressure that can lead to a sudden failure in pipes, many of which are located behind the wall.  If you notice a water stain that can’t be traced to its source, it’s time to call in a plumber before that drip, drip turns into a torrent that can cost you far more than having a few pipes replaced.

Another energy demon is the traditional water heater, which is not only affected by the same scale buildup as your pipes, but this scale clings to the heating coils which in turn reduce their efficiency resulting in higher power bills.  Speaking of power bills, traditional water heaters can gobble up as much as 25% of your total monthly electric consumption.  Today there are far more energy and space efficient heaters including tankless and hybrid systems.

Bathroom Tech

Another reason to consider giving the B-Room a makeover has to do with the fact that there are so many high tech additions now available to make tub time much more enjoyable.  There are all kinds of accoutrements to consider from whirlpool tubs and walk-in tubs to singing showerheads and TVs built directly into the mirror.

High Tech Walk-in Tubs include Hydrotherapy Air jet Systems and Waterjet Massage Systems available from Tub King that are designed for people with mobility concerns, but are great for anyone who want to enjoy the benefits of a whirlpool bath. http://www.tubking.com/walk_in_tubs.html

There is a singing showerhead called the Moxie by Kohler that can be programmed through your Bluetooth. Since water and electricity don’t mix, the unit is wireless and rechargeable.  http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Moxie%22-Showerhead-+-Wireless-Speaker/content/CNT16200089.htm

Relaxing in the tub takes on a whole new meaning when you can watch a movie while you soak.  Called Mirrorvue Mirror Television, this product can be installed as a vanity mirror or directly in the bath enclosure.  If you’re worried about this tub TV steaming up, the folks at Evervue guarantee the screen to be fog free. So you will receive a crystal clear picture no matter how hot you like your water. http://www.evervuetv.com/mv.html

Other than aesthetics and energy savings, remaking the bathroom can also add real value to your home.  While a typical bathroom remodel can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000, the average cost that is recouped when you sell your home is 60% or more.  When you factor in the added enjoyment your family will get from an upgraded bathroom, buffing up your bathroom might be worth looking into in the near future.

Billy Aldridge is one of the Doctors of Plumbology at Aldridge and Sons Plumbing located in Jacksonville, Florida.  For more helpful hints and how-to videos visit their site at http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com