Tag: water

Don’t Forget About Maintaining the Water Heater!

Avoid a Loss of Hot Water During the Cold Months

Hot water makes life more comfortable and can help keep household members healthy and clean. Water heaters are an appliance that feeds many other fixtures and appliances that are used daily in the house, but it is often forgotten about until something goes wrong. But, this method of care can be detrimental to the household’s comfort and a homeowner’s wallet. This post will discuss how to care for a water heater, including the importance of water heater maintenance and when water heater repair is needed. 

Why Does a Hot Water Heater Need Maintenance? 

save money A water heater, even a tankless water heater, needs maintenance to function correctly and efficiently.  Not only does it improve the overall function of the water heater, but it also provides the following benefits:

  • Prevents Problems: Regular water heater maintenance will ensure the unit functions well and can help homeowners avoid the risk of issues and repairs.
  • Energy Efficiency: Maintenance will also keep the water heater working efficiently. If maintenance is neglected, the water heater can become inefficient and require more energy to function. 
  • Saves Money: A water heater that works more efficiently due to maintenance will have lower energy costs than an inefficient one. Also, preventing problems with maintenance will eliminate repair costs to fix those problems. 
  • Longer Life: A typical storage water heater lasts around 10 years, and a tankless water heater can last 20, but routine maintenance can ensure homeowners get a longer lifespan out of their water heaters and reduce the risk of an early replacement.  

A Typical Water Heater Maintenance Visit

water heater Homeowners should have their water heaters maintained on an annual basis. During a water heater maintenance visit, a plumber can inspect the system to look for any problems that need to be addressed and perform tasks to prevent issues from occurring. Some of these maintenance tasks include: 

  • Draining and flushing the water heater to remove sediment in the tank
  • Replacing the anode rod when necessary so it continues to protect the water heater from corrosion
  • Test the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it’s safe 
  • Check the water heater for problems, such as leaks and corrosion

Indicators of Water Heater Trouble

While routine maintenance does prevent many issues, there are occasions when a water heater will need professional attention. If a homeowner notices any of the following signs, they may need water heater repair or maintenance:

  • Loud sounds like banging, popping, hissing, etc
  • Changes in water temperature or a loss of hot water
  • Recovery time for hot water is longer than usual
  • A leak in the water heating system
  • The water looks discolored or cloudy
  • The water has a strange smell

About RiverView Mechanical

RiverView Mechanical is a plumbing, heating, and air conditioning company serving Hallam and the surrounding areas. They offer fair and honest pricing, the latest technology, and on-time services. Call them today for water heater services in Hallam, PA. 

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Get Refreshment During the Summer With Tasty Water Straight From the Tap

Reasons to Install a Water Filter in Every Home 

When seeking refreshment on a hot summer day, the only answer is tasty, clean water or a refreshing summer drink like lemonade and iced tea. However, using water from the tap may be avoided because of its taste or smell. Luckily, these are excellent reasons to explore water filtration options for home water purification. Here are some reasons to install a whole-house water filter and its benefits.  

Improved Taste of the Water 

water One of the biggest complaints about municipal water supplies is the taste. In a perfect world, water doesn’t have too much of a taste. However, with the addition of treatment chemicals and variations in geology, some water can absorb ions that contribute to bad or off-tasting and smelling water. 

Water filtration systems like reverse osmosis filters work hard to remove excess minerals and contaminants that can compromise the taste and smell of tap water. With a water filter in the home, family members can enjoy clean water that tastes crisp and delicious, improving the taste of drinks and food made with water, such as coffee, tea, lemonade, broths, etc. 

Reduces Harmful Pollutants 

Treated water is mostly treated for biological agents that are public health issues, but pollutants and contaminants can remain in drinking water in sufficient enough amounts to cause health issues. Installing a whole-house water filtration system is a way to obtain cleaner water, and there are many types that each focus on removing different contaminants, so which one a home needs could depend on what is in the tap water. 

Adding a water filter to the home can remove pollutants like: 

  • Heavy metals
  • Chemicals
  • VOCs
  • Dissolved solids

Instead of taking the chance on water that was treated once, get the extra treatment that every home needs to maximize the health of every individual in the home. 

Saves Money 

save The first thing most people do when they want to combat dehydration without dealing with unfiltered tap water is buy bottled water. Plastic water bottles can be expensive, and the cost can add up quickly, especially with how many are consumed daily. This money is largely wasted because clean water with a water filtration system is much cheaper.  

Water filtration systems have associated upfront costs for installation, but throughout their lifespan, they are very beneficial for the household budget. Instead of spending money on bottled water, get quality water right from the kitchen sink. Not only can homeowners save significantly with a water filtration system, but they will also reduce their contribution to the number of plastic water bottles that end up in landfills and oceans. 

About RiverView Mechanical

RiverView Mechanical is a local woman-owned plumbing, heating, and air conditioning business serving Hallam, PA, and the surrounding areas. They provide honest pricing, on-time services, and the latest technology. Call them today for water filtration system installation in Hallam, PA.

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3 Money-Saving Tips for Summertime Water Bills

Spend Less Money This Summer on Water 

Summertime means homeowners will be looking at an increase in their water bills. Between the additional showers needed to wash up after outdoor adventures, the amount of water consumed to stay hydrated, and the usage of water as homeowners tend to their gardens and lawns, homeowners can see the cost of their utility bill rise during the hotter months. However, there are some ways that homeowners can conserve water to mitigate these higher costs.

Purchase and Install a Water-Saving Device 

shower Homeowners should consider a plumbing upgrade if they’re looking to lower their water usage, as many water-saving devices are available today. For example, many low-flow showerheads use less water while maintaining water pressure, and water-saving toilets use around 20% less water per year using a two-flush system. 

More devices can also help homeowners save on water, like the ECO Shower Drop, which measures the water a homeowner uses when showering and notifies them when it’s time to get out. Similarly, a device called Water Pebble also measures the amount of water used when a shower. This device sits at the plughole of the shower or bathtub and will light up in an amber color when it has reached half of the acceptable amount of water.

Don’t Waste too Much Water on the Lawn

lawn When taking care of the lawn, homeowners can waste a lot of water by not knowing the appropriate measures to tend to their yard. Watering the lawn is best done in the early morning, before sunrise. This will ensure that there will be less water evaporation since it will still be cool outside. Less water evaporation means more water for the plants per watering, which means less water will need to be used to keep them fed. 

Also, homeowners that live in certain areas can anticipate wetter conditions and plan accordingly. These wet conditions can allow homeowners to skip watering their lawn and garden, as the summer rain will be enough to give the plants the nutrients they need. With rain, homeowners can avoid turning on the hose or sprinkler and thus save money on their water bills. 

Additional Steps to Limiting Water Usage

Aside from installing water-saving devices and limiting how much water is used in the garden, there are some additional ways homeowners can limit their water usage. These ways include checking for and repairing leaks, taking shorter showers, discontinuing water usage while brushing teeth and shaving, and using the dishwasher and washing machine for full loads. 

Also, homeowners can save water by not letting the faucet run idly when hand-washing dishes. These water conservation methods will help homeowners fight against wasting water and high water bills.

About RiverView Mechanical 

RiverView Mechanical is a locally-owned and operated company committed to providing the residents of Hellam, PA, and the surrounding areas with high-quality repairs at fair, honest prices. They offer straightforward pricing, emergency service, and the latest technology. Call them today for plumbing services in Hellam, PA.

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