Plumbing

April 14, 2017 by Aireforce1

Prepare Your Pocatello Plumbing For Spring Checklist

It’s April and spring cleaning time! While you’re preparing for the spring and summer weather, don’t forget about your plumbing. The weather in Pocatello, ID, can be brutal during the winter months and the snow and freezing cold temperatures can do a lot of damage to pipes & hoses. For your convenience, we have put together a spring plumbing checklist for you. No need to worry about surprise costly repairs to your plumbing system this summer. With this checklist, anything that needs attention will be found and you’ll be ready beforehand.

Let’s start outside:

Sprinkler System – The sprinkler system is an obvious plumbing system that is going to need attention. Look for leaks and cracks. The cold weather is hard on outdoor pipes and you want to make sure yours are going to be reliable for the upcoming seasons.

Garden Hoses – Garden hoses split easily when they freeze. Check all hoses for damage and loose connections. It might seem like a waste of money to have to buy new hoses over small cracks or splits, but it will save money on your water bill in the long run. Also, remove any insulation that was placed over faucet covers or anywhere else for protection. Inspect those pieces of equipment as well.

Gutters & Drains – Don’t overlook your gutters and drains. Clogged drains can cause a lot of damage if left untouched. Crowded gutters can, too. Take one extra step with your spring cleaning and make sure both are cleaned out and working well.

Next, we’ll peek inside the house.

The best thing to do when inspecting a home for plumbing issues is to call a professional. The professionals at Barlows Air Force One are always happy to look around and alert you of anything that could be a potential problem. If you’re not ready to call a professional, follow this list:

Dishwasher and Washing Machine – How are both running? Have you noticed any leaks? Are they both draining correctly? Dishwashers often get clogged holes in the drain and the sprayer arm so be sure to attend to those. Washing machines might need to be balanced and have the hoses inspected for any damage.

Water Heater – Water heaters should be drained and flushed annually so springtime is a perfect time to do that. If you don’t know how to do it, consult a professional so they can help you. Don’t forget to check the temperature while you’re at it!

Leaks – Look for leaks everywhere! Make this a routine thing, not just a part of spring cleaning. Basements and attics should be checked. Research a little about water damaged ceilings, walls, and floors. This could help you find any leaky pipes that need to be repaired and save you from a much bigger and expensive problem in the future.

If you aren’t certain about something that looks like it could be a potential problem, call a professional. Barlows Aire Force One in Pocatello, ID, has a lot of helpful information and educated people that can resolve problems quickly.

October 11, 2016 by Aireforce1

Utility Bills: Saving Money this Winter

October is here and for many of us in Pocatello that means colder temperatures, snow covered yards, frosty windows, and riskier driving conditions. The colder temperatures of winter also have an effect on our utility bills. Paying attention to certain aspects of our home systems, like our household plumbing, can help us save money during these chilly months. More specifically, you can find a good amount of savings when you pay attention to your water heater. The expert plumbers at Barlows Aire Force One have compiled a list of tips and tricks on how you can cut back on your utility bill this winter by paying more attention to your hot water consumption.

Savings You Can Find in Your Household Plumbing

According to energy.gov, our hot water heaters typically count for the second largest expenditure of the average American’s utility or energy bill, following closely behind heat and air conditioning. Keep your utility or energy bill under control this winter by following these suggestions:

Lower Temperatures

This tip applies to all year long. The Federal Department of Energy recommends that we keep our thermostats on our water heaters set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower temperatures not only keep your utility bills under control, they can prevent scalding. When your water is heated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit it can cause scalding in just five seconds. Fact: Did you know that scalds are the number one burn injury in children under four years of age?

Take Shorter Showers

When the temperatures outside our homes drop to below freezing, it can be tempting to spend more time soaking up the extra hot water from our showers. The water coming out of the faucet can travel through your household plumbing at an average of two gallons a minute. Spending more time in the shower equals more money spent on heating that extra water. Keep your shower short and bundle up in warm clothing and soft blankets for comfort instead. If you want to take comfort in hot water drink hot chocolate or hot tea to warm you up.

Insulate Your Water Heater

Consider insulating the tank of your water heater to help it preserve its warmth. Insulating the tank will help prevent the water from cooling down. When your water heater starts to cool down it is forced to do twice the work, spending twice the money. Keeping your water heater insulated can be particularly important if it is located in the basement or another area of your home that doesn’t get a lot of heat. Make sure that you follow manufacturer instructions when insulating your hot water heater. You don’t want to accidentally cover up the burner or the thermostat.

Get a Replacement

If your hot water heater is acting up or having issues running, you might want to invest in a new hot water heater. It can be more cost-effective to purchase a new one than spend twice, or three times that amount over the winter months because of insufficient heating. You can even invest in a hot water heater that is energy sufficient, costing you less to run over time due to the increased efficiency.

If your hot water heater is acting up contact the plumbers at Barlows Aire Force One in Pocatello. Our Pocatello plumbers can help you save time and money by inspecting your hot water heater. We can also help you with any plumbing issues such as broken pipes, overflowing toilet, and heating system issues this winter.

June 29, 2016 by Aireforce1

Plumbing Planning: Summer Vacation

Its summer and it’s the perfect time to plan that family vacation that you have been dreaming about for months now! While planning your trip outside of Pocatello you probably have a to-do list of tasks that need to be done to prepare your home for your absence. Stopping the mail and reprograming the thermostat aren’t the only things you should be doing to prepare your home. You should also focus on your household plumbing system.

Avoid a Plumbing Disaster

If one of the pipes in your kitchen sprung a leak you would turn off your water and call a Pocatello plumber, right? What happens if you aren’t around to spot the water leak when it happens? The water will continue to flow, creating a water damage disaster. No one wants to return home from a pleasant vacation to find their home is a watery mess.

While the odds of your plumbing system springing a leak are slim, the stakes are high and the solution is simple. Whenever you plan on leaving your Pocatello home for extended periods of time during the summer, you can buy yourself some insurance by simply shutting off the main water supply to your home.

In most homes, the main shutoff valve to your water supply is located next to the water meter. The main shutoff can be a knob that can be turned by hand or a valve that requires a wrench to turn. If you are unable to find your shutoff valve, you can contact a Pocatello plumber for help. Even if you aren’t leaving your home for an extended period of time it is a good idea to know where your water shutoff valve is in the case of an emergency. Knowing where this valve is and how to shut it off can help you save your home from suffering from thousands of dollars’ worth of water damage.

If you have an automatic sprinkler system or irrigation system, this will also be shut down if you close your main water supply valve. To keep your lawn from drying up or your garden from dying you may want to use other shutoff valves to reduce the risk of flooding your home while keeping water flowing to your lawn and garden. If you are not sure where other water valves are located, a licensed plumber can help.

Save Water and Energy

There is an added bonus to any summer vacation that you may not have thought about. Leaving your home unoccupied for an extended amount of time can save you money! When you don’t use your household lights, appliances, and electronics for an extended period of time you will see a big difference in your power bill, and you may also see a difference in your water bill while you’re letting fancy restaurants do the dishes and taking long showers in hotels.

A few more adjustments will help you save even more. If you have an automatic ice maker in your freezer, shutting it off before you leave will help you save a little extra water. Shutting down your water softening system will also help conserve energy and water softening salt.

The largest saving potential comes from your hot water heater. The water heater consumes more energy than most of your other home appliances, but if there is no one home to take hot showers or do the dishes, there is no need to keep it running. If you shut off your main water supply and water leaks or siphons out of the water heater tank by any means, the heating element could burn out if it continues to heat an empty tank.

The simplest way to turn off your water heater for vacation is to turn it off at the main breaker switch. Some modern water heaters come with a “vacation” setting on the heat control dial.

If you need help preparing your plumbing system for a vacation be sure to schedule an appointment with a trusted Pocatello plumber right away!