Home improvement tips, ideas from City Plumbing, Heating & Electric Inc.
FYI:
• Leaking toilets are the most common cause of high water bills. You can sometimes identify any potential water problems you may have by looking at your water bill. By comparing monthly usage figures, you may get tipped off to a small leak before it becomes a big problem. Major unexplained fluctuations in your water bill are often a sign of water leaks.
• You should never pour fats or cooking oils down drains. They solidify in pipes; instead, wipe grease from pots with paper towels and throw in the trash.
• Avoid putting stringy, fibrous or starchy waste in the garbage disposal. Poultry skins, celery, fruit and potato peels, for example, cannot be sufficiently broken down. You should always make sure the disposal and water is running when you put food into it. Don’t wait until it’s full to turn it on. We offer a drain maintenance product called BioSmart. It is environmentally friendly and your pipes will love it! Call for more details.
• If you are hosting weekend guests, it’s a good idea to wait 10 minutes between showers so slow drains have time to do their job.
• Never flush cotton balls, swabs, hair or facial scrub pads down a toilet. They don’t dissolve and will cause clogs.
• Your washing machine was probably delivered with rubber water supply hoses. Rubber water hoses will weaken over time with constant water pressure. Water damage from faulty washing machine hoses is one of the most common claims made to insurance companies.
• You should have your plumbing inspected once a year and have your water pressure checked to help prevent annoying and expensive plumbing disasters. Consider joining our Premier City Partners program.
• Annual testing of backflow devices known as RPZAs begins in the spring for yard sprinkler systems. This device protects our water systems from being contaminated by yard chemicals and is mandated federally, statewide and locally. Call us for details on neighborhood rates.
• All HVAC equipment manufacturers recommend that your equipment be serviced at least annually to maintain its peak efficiency. Having your gas furnace checked each winter could keep carbon monoxide from coming into your home. Maintaining your unit is not only good for your unit and heating bills, but for you and your family’s health, as well. Ask about our HVAC Maintenance Agreements.
• Regularly changing your filters is the best thing you can possibly do for your own heating and cooling system.
• Carbon monoxide alarms are a household must! Your entire family should learn the symptoms, as well as the steps, to take in a carbon monoxide emergency.
To save money on electricity:
• Turn off unnecessary lights and use natural light; change out bulbs to LED, which last longer.
• If you have electric heat, lower your thermostat by 2 degrees to save up to 5 percent; lowering it 5 degrees could save 10 percent.
• Skip the heat-dry setting for your dishwasher.
• Use the microwave, crock pot or toaster oven instead of the regular oven.
• Unplug unused electronics — standby power can account for 10 percent of an average household’s annual electricity use.
These are only a few of the tips and ideas we offer. You will find more information about tankless water heaters, bathroom remodels and other repairs on our website at www.cityplumbingandeletric.com. We encourage you to contact us at cityplumbing@sbcglobal.net or call us at 501-623-3325 or 501-922-3325 for setting appointments or questions you may have. Also, like us on our Facebook page.