Posts Tagged ‘air conditioning’

Sprinklers

Friday, February 26th, 2010

My whole life I’ve had to move around the sprinkler all around my yard, and sometimes it is just the last thing on my list to do, but if I forget then I start getting those ugly yellow patches in my yard. I finally got a sprinkler system installed and I love not having to worry about it anymore. If you are thinking about installing a sprinkler system here are a few tips to help you out.

First, you want to find out if there are any regulations in your community or neighborhood about the pipe size or backflow prevention. If you hire someone to put in the sprinklers for you they will already know all the regulations for your area.

You also need to know about your utility pipes or electrical wires that you have running about your yard. It would be horrible to hit one of these and have no light in your home for a couple days. If you hire someone they will find out and plan ways around these things.

Another thing that you have to know before you start is about your water pressure. You need to understand if it is too high or too low. If it is too low or too high you will have to solve that before you put in your sprinkler system.

Locate your home water source and begin there. You’ll have to next plan out your system that you want throughout your yard.

After everything is all planned out and you have drawn out all your plans, including dimensions, start digging. You’ll need to know exactly where you will be digging your trenches around your yard. Remember to be careful to avoid any utility lines.

Next, pick out the risers, sprinkler heads, and pipes that you prefer. Before you glue anything, make sure that you have placed everything laying perfectly flat in your trenches.

If you choose to do this yourself you will have to measure everything exactly as well as cut your pipes. To get the best cut use only PVC ratcheting cutters.

It’s important to have a trustworthy plumber to take care of your plumbing needs and air conditioning, and heating

Sprinkler Systems Part 2

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

After you have cut your pipe perfectly and laid it down in the trenches, (trenches should be no deeper than 8 inches deep) you will want to double check all of your pipes to make sure that they are the proper length.

Set up all of your riser that you have chosen. Remember not to glue anything yet. Put everything together to make sure that if you did glue it, it would fit perfectly. Now is the time to double check all of your plans you drew up as well as if you may be missing anything.

You might have some grass in your front yard that has cement separating the sections of grass that you don’t want your sprinkler to miss. If this is the case, dig out where you want it on the separate section of grass. Then, place tap on the end of the pipe that will go through to the other side, and push it over so that it comes out on the other section.

Next, you’ll want to go back to you water supply, and using a t-connection, attach it.

You also want to set up your manifold and major switches, including the emergency shut off valve.

Next, it is time to glue everything in place. You need to use pipe glue. Be careful about which pipe you buy that it specifically says PVC glue on it. When you glue in the pipes make sure that you use enough glue, you don’t want to make sure the pipes are sealed and secure.

Now, you want to give your new system a go. Using your controllers, or any other system you have set up, turn on your water and watch to see if you have any leaks or any other problems. You want to make sure everything works now before you can move to your next step.

With your system working and everything set up properly you can finally bury the pipes. Pack the dirt around your risers and make sure that they will stay in place. Always remember that if you find any major problems plumbers will be able to help.

It’s important to have a trustworthy plumber to take care of your plumbing needs and air conditioning, and heating

COMMERCIAL PLUMBING ADVICE

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

If you are starting a new company or maybe just fixing up and renovating your office or restaurant, you might be tempting to do everything yourself to save a couple dollars. The only problem with this is that when it comes to your business, you need everything working properly. You can’t afford to make any mistakes or spend any extra money to fix something that should have been done right the first time.

For your commercial plumbing needs find a professional plumber that will be able to help you best by making sure that your business both looks and feels professional.

With all the paper work you will already by handling you might not want to add on more by doing plumbing by yourself. Many commercial buildings will already have plumbing, but if you are remolding and need to change anything you will need to check out the requirements that your state or city has laid out for you.

It can be really convenient to have a professional plumber on hand who can do the job the right way the first time. So, while you are working on your new business, they will make sure that all of the city requirements will be met and that your company will be up and ready to go when you are.

If you are thinking about starting a restaurant you will already have a lot on your plate and you’ll need a professional to be able to set up all of your restaurant equipment. Some plumbing companies will also be able to provide you with top of the line quality restaurant equipment, so, they can help you pick out exactly what you will need.

Maybe your office is all laid out well but your company bathroom needs a makeover. You’ll want to find plumbers that have experience and will be able to help you pick out new fixtures, toilets, and sinks.

There is a huge difference between a plumber you find online and a commercial plumber. Some companies focus on both home and office needs. You want to find a specific commercial plumber to make sure that they understand the requirements and restrictions when it comes to commercial property and buildings.

Another great idea to find a perfect commercial plumber is to make sure that you ask for references. Find out which companies that they have worked for and make sure that there work is up nothing but great.

It’s important to have a trustworthy plumber to take care of your plumbing needs and air conditioning, and heating

High Pressure Jetting

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Recently I heard some acquaintances talk about their clogged pipes needing high pressure jetting. I looked into pressure jetting and found out some interesting things that are important to know if you are thinking about it or have been told that you need it.

Plumbers haven’t always had the ease of using an auger, these are the instruments that plumbers will stick into the pipes to clean them out. They used to have to take it apart and even dig it up. Augers do a wonderful job at pipe cleaning, but what do you do when they can’t hand the job?

If there is a lot of soot and grease buildup it can become very strong. Even working on it for a while an auger still might not work.

You might not think that these types of clogs happen in residential areas. In fact, most people think that they can’t get this strong and that this is only typical in a restaurant. But these types of clogs are fairly common in every day homes, and jetting is the only real solution.

You have to love all of the developments that science and inventors have been able to do to make our lives easier. Because of these developments, most plumbers now are able to own a high pressure jetting system.

Because of the price reduction for plumbers, this seeps down and makes it an easy and affordable solution to any household or commercial clogging that you might be facing.

If you need high pressure jetting in your home or business, don’t rent and try to use a jetting system yourself. The best thing is to allow the professionals to work it. This way you can ensure that the problem will be taken care of.

Because of the results, jetting should never have to be done in your home more than once a year. If you think you have a clog that it just not coming out even with an auger, call a local plumber and ask if they offer high pressure jetting.

It’s important to have a trustworthy plumber to take care of your plumbing needs and air conditioning, and heating

FIREPLACE TIPS

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

The warm summer is coming to a close and we’ll be preparing for winter soon enough. As you begin to prepare, start thinking about some other great heating options you might enjoy, like a new fireplace. These are not only beautiful but a great way to pass those cold months by.

For those of you who are preparing to add a fireplace in your home, or maybe who are just toying with the idea, here are a few steps or things to think about.

The first thing that you have to do when thinking about getting a fireplace is picking out the perfect room in your home. I love having ours in the family room so that we can gather around it at night. It’s always smart to add it to a room that tends to be used more than the others.

The next thing to think about when adding a fireplace is to think about the size. Once you have the room this should be an easy decision. You also have to think about if you want a gas fireplace or a real one.

I’m more of a fan of the gas fireplace. If you get a gas there are different ways to actually start up your fireplace. Some can be made to be as easy as flipping a switch, others you have to turn on the gas and then manually light it yourself.

You also need to know the differences between a vent gas fireplace and a ventless one. A ventless fireplace can be placed anywhere in your home, it doesn’t have to have a chimney. A vented fireplace is typically placed under the chimney to provide a vent.

If you want the look without paying a whole lot of money, usually the ventless fireplace is less expensive.

The above are just some basic choices that you have as you choose the perfect fireplace for your home. Look through and educate yourself with the help of a professional to find out what is right for you.

It’s important to have a trustworthy plumber to take care of your plumbing needs and air conditioning, and heating

Keep Your Air Conditioner Healthy

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

The appliance that most of us appreciate the most during hot summer months is our air conditioner. Anyone who has lived without an air conditioner during the summer can appreciate the beauty of cold air pumped automatically into your home. According to the United State Department of Energy, two-third of all homes in the United States have some type of air conditioner. There are a few basic issues that air conditioners can tend to have. We seem to get frustrated easily when our units break down, but the following are the most basic components that can help you prevent issues.

Sensor Problems

Most AC have a thermostat sensor that measures the temperature of the air in the room. The thermostat is usually set at a certain temperature by the homeowner. When the room temperature rises higher than the set level, the air conditioner kicks on. One common problem with air conditioners happens when the sensor malfunctions. A malfunctioning sensor means that the thermostat isn’t reading the room’s temperature correctly or is just not working at all.

Poor Maintenance

The best way to keep an air conditioning unit functioning properly is to have it maintained regularly by a heating and air conditioning professional. If filters or air conditioning coils become dirty, the unit won’t function properly which may cause further problems.

Refrigerant Leaks

Another common problem with ac is a refrigerant leak. Low refrigerant means that your unit leaks or that it was undercharged during installation. If you think either of these might be the problem, it is best to call in a trained technician to fix it.

Take your time in looking for the right contractor to fix your issue. You will find with the recession that there are plenty of contractors out there that want to make some money and do the job for very little. If you get on the internet and search for air conditioning contractors, that will give you a good list. If you use a lead generator site like servicemagic, be prepared to pay of the lead fee in the long run. Not worth it if you ask me.

Want to find out more about Phoenix Air Conditioning, then visit Esso’s site on how to choose the best Phoenix construction contractor for your needs.

DISPOSALS 101

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

Here are just a few things that you can do to avoid a clog or help maintain your disposal. We all understand how frustrating it can be with something goes wrong with it.

Avoid coffee grounds, banana peels, eggshells, and potato peels if you want to help prevent a clog from developing in our disposal. Because we can form clogs a lot quicker and easier than we think, it is best to avoid these things.

I’ve grown up hearing my whole life that one of the best things to do is to put eggshells down the disposal. They might help a little to sharpen the blades but they can cause major problems with clogging your pipes.

If you want to help prevent clogs or blocks in your disposal or pipes refrain from putting the above mentioned items in your sink all together. The last thing you want it to have a clog in your pipes.

Avoiding clogs is a lot more convenient than having to deal with them. If you really want to avoid clogs make sure that you never run your disposal without sufficient water. Your food wont be able to go down the pipes by themselves, it needs the water.

There are great ways that you can help clean and maintain your disposal. By throwing in ice cubes or lemon peel pieces, you can help maintain your disposal.

If you find that you have a clog there are some simple things you can do if you feel comfortable doing them yourself. First, disconnect and remove the drain trap. When it is removed check for any clogs that you can see.

Wit an auger, you might be able to reach some clogs that seem a little too far for anything else. If you can’t see anything give your plumber a call so he can come in and work his magic.

It’s important to have a trustworthy plumber to take care of your plumbing needs and air conditioning, and heating

Unclogging Your Bathroom Sink On Your Own

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Bathroom sinks tend to clog often. This seems to be especially true because of the amount of hair that falls down inside it. Below are some tips you can follow to help you unclog your bathroom sink.

Plungers can do a good job with fixing minor clog problems. Plungers are a good place to start, since it won’t require you to take your sink apart. Simply add some water to the basin of the sink, and plunge.

The best plunger to use on a sink is a force cup plunger. Plunge the sink at least four or five times before checking to see if the sink bowl has drained. If that solves the problem, run hot water from the faucet for a few minutes to be sure the problem is fixed.

If the sink is still clogged you will need to dismantle the sink trap. You will be dismantling the p-trap. A p-trap is the pipe that dips low and then curves.

Use a pipe wrench to dismantle the p-trap. The best way to take it out is to unscrew the nuts on the side. Have a bucket handy to catch all the slime that will fall out.

After the trap is taken off, your next step will be to clean out the trap. The trap will be full of grime and slush that never got a chance to go through the pipe. Clean the inside of the p-trap with a cleaning brush and clean out all the large pieces that could possibly be a clog hazard.

If you reattach the trap and the problem is not solved, the clog is likely further down the piping. You should use a snake, then, to unclog the sink. Use a sink snake or a drill snake that are less than 25 feet.

Run the snake downwards more than once to be sure the clog has been dislodged. You can rent snake equipment from a lot of plumbing companies. If the snake doesn’t do the job, repeat the process or call a professional plumber.

It’s important to have a trustworthy plumber to take care of your plumbing needs and air conditioning, and heating

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Waking up in the freezing morning can be dreadful, but what is worse is when you go to turn on a warm shower to find no water coming out. Temperatures during the winter months can cause frozen pipes. If you would like to avoid frozen pipes, here are some suggestions.

1. Insulate your pipes. Remember that insulation is meant to retain the heat that is already in the pipe. It won’t be adding heat. Rubber insulation is less expensive than fiberglass, and is easier to work with. However, it does not work well with heat tape because it doesn’t provide any vapor barrier. Fiberglass insulation can irritate your eyes, skin, and lungs but in the wintertime it proves to be a better insulator. If you have exposed pipes under your home you can try using insulation “tubing”. It is easy to work with, and provides good insulation for colder climates. Don’t forget to keep pipe insulation tape nearby to use on areas that are harder to fit.

2. If you know of a room that tends to get colder air than the rest of your home, try using windshield washer fluid down the sinks. Pour a cup full of windshield washer fluid into the shower drains or sink, and let it sit there through out the night. This will create an anti-freeze effect so that your pipes won’t freeze during the night before you can run water through the pipes.

3. Open the cabinet doors underneath your sinks. This allows warm air from the room to circulate around the pipes. Focus on the bathrooms and kitchen cabinet doors.

4. If you are a “snow bird” who leave their homes for a length of time during the wintertime you could also purchase a freeze alarm, or an alarm that monitors the temperature of your home. These alarms can be programmed to alert you or a neighbor if the temperature drops below where it needs to. They can also be handy for those who are vacationing and don’t want to worry about coming home to busted pipes.

5. Once you are done using outside hoses turn off the water supply valve to the outside tap. Be sure that you drain all the standing water from the pipe so it doesn’t freeze in there and keep the tap open. Once the weather turns warm again you can close the outside tap and turn back on the water supply valve.

It’s important to have a trustworthy plumber to take care of your plumbing needs and air conditioning, and heating

Top 5 Useful Tools for De-clogging Drains

Monday, February 8th, 2010

There can be little warning when a toilet or drain gets clogged. Sometimes this can happen due to poor plumbing, but most times the clog can be fixed with some useful plumbing tools. Here is a list of our top 5 most useful tools to use to de-clog your drains.

1. Plunger: A plunger is a very handy tool to have when there is a clogged sink, toilet, or drain. They can dislodge smaller clogs and problems, and you don’t have to worry about dismantling your pipe or traps to try it out. It is the first tool you should try when de-clogging your drain.

2. Snake: Also known as an auger, a snake is used to spiral down your pipes to push against the clog and dislodge it. It is made of a coiled spiral cable, and is a more advanced plumbing tool. It uses a crank handle to move the snake down the pipe, though professional snakes are usually connected to a drill to spin the cable down.

3. Toilet snake: A toilet snake is very similar to a regular snake, but it is used specifically for fixing toilet clogs. They are more rigid than the other snakes, and they only have a short cable. It also is fitted with a rubber sleeve so the snake won’t hurt the porcelain of your bowl as it is cranked.

4. Sewer tape: The name of this tool may be a bit misleading. It actually is not tape, but a flat, metal band with a hook on the end of it. The hook is used to dislodge the clog.

5. Drain Cleaner: A drain cleaner is a very popular tool used by many people when they find a clogged sink. Liquid drain cleaners use chemicals to unclog the drain. They are very useful because buildup in pipes can make it hard for water to drain, and back up. The drain cleaners have chemicals that dissolve everything on its way down the pipe. Grease and hair are a common problem with building up and getting stuck in the pipes. Drain cleaners almost always contain a combination of chemicals in it to dissolve hair and grease, and many other possible grime.

Don’t try to mix drain cleaners, as some chemicals are not meant to be mixed. Remember to use safety practices when using chemicals to de-clog your pipes. If one of your drain cleaners doesn’t solve the problem, don’t try to fix it by pouring another drain cleaner down the sink. Try another method, or call a professional plumber to solve the problem.

It’s important to have a trustworthy plumber to take care of your plumbing needs and air conditioning, and heating