Quality Service Contractors - Plumbing|Heating|Cooling|Electrical

Follow these tips to use energy more efficiently and better control your heating costs.

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NEW - Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday
NEW - Water Saving Tips
NEW - Energy Saving Tips
NEW - Septic Systems

Prevent Winter Water Disasters | Carbon Monoxide | Six Steps for Electrical Safety
Tune up | Turn down | Humidify | Insulate | Seal air leaks | Water Heating | Prevent Frozen Pipes

Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday

Never pour fats or cooking oils down drains. They solidify and choke drains. Wipe grease from pots with paper towels, then throw away the towels.
Don't put poultry skins, celery, fruit or potato peels down the garbage disposal.
Run cold water for 15 seconds before and after using the disposal to flush waste to the main sewer.
Run the disposal when you put food debris into it. Don't wait until it's full to turn it on.
Wait 10 minutes between showers. Give drains time to do their job.
Provide a trash bin in bathrooms so toilets aren't used as garbage cans.
Never flush swabs, cotton balls, hair or facial scrub pads down a toilet.
Use a fast-dissolving toilet tissue.
If your drains are slow now, treat them before the holidays.

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Prevent Winter Water Disasters
There are several measures that can be taken to prevent winter water disasters in your home. Below, we describe a few of the basics.

Locate and mark the main water cutoff valve for your home. This cutoff valve is usually found near where the water line comes into your house. Damage from running water can be minimized if you turn off this valve quickly.
Make sure the water line to outside faucets is turned off and the lines are drained.
Consider wrapping or insulating your water pipes, especially those pipes near outside walls, under the house, or in the attic. Insulation supplies are available at your local home improvement/hardware store.
Eliminate drafts. Check around the home for areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas and take measures to prevent the flow of cold air in these areas. Look in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated. A hot water supply line can freeze just as a cold water supply line can freeze if water is not running through the pipe and the water temperature becomes cold.

If your water pipes do freeze, never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch. Contact your local licensed and insured QSC member or plumbing professional.

What do I do if my water meter freezes? If you suspect you have a frozen water meter, call your local water company for help.

If your heating system breaks down or is off for a I prolonged period of time, take steps to protect yourself - and your home. Call a qualified, licensed natural gas contractor for repair or replacement. Make sure to protect your home's water pipes from freezing, and consider staying with relatives or friends to avoid exposure to cold while repairs are being made.
Know the warning signs of hypothermia, a condition I brought on by prolonged exposure to cold - whether - inside or outside. The body temperature becomes abnormally low - 95 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Symptoms can include shivering; stiffness or numbness in the arms or legs; cold, pale patches of pink-purple or blue-gray skin; or mental changes such as confusion or the inability to focus.
Seek medical attention immediately.
Never use your stovetop or oven for heating. Continuous burning could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning and fire hazards.
Change the furnace filter at least once a month during the winter for safety and energy efficiency.

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Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas created when fossil fuels are not burned completely. Causes of CO-related incidents can include blocked furnace/boiler vents and chimneys or improperly adjusted or inadequately maintained appliances.

Warning signs of CO in your home can include stuffy, stale air; condensation on windows; back drafts from a fireplace, furnace or water- heating chimney; yellow burner flames (except from natural gas fireplaces or logs); or burner flames or pilot lights that flutter or keep going out. Soot - or lingering pungent odors around appliances are other warning signs.

If you notice any of these, turn off the equipment immediately and introduce fresh air to the building. Call a qualified, licensed natural gas contractor to inspect the equipment as soon as possible.

Physical symptoms of CO poisoning can include dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headaches, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, stinging eyes and fainting. If you experience these symptoms and suspect CO, seek fresh air by leaving the building immediately. Call 911 from a neighbor's house.

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Six Steps for Electrical Safety
Home electrical problems account for fires, deaths, injuries and property damage every year. Many of these fires are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords.

All circuits in the bathroom need to be equipped with GFI protection. GFI stands for Ground Fault Interrupter. These circuits will turn the power off in a fraction of a second in the event of a short. This will help to keep you and your loved ones from being injured in the event of an electrical short circuit.

Electrical fires can occur when equipment is driven beyond capacity, when accumulated oil and dirt overheat a motor, or when sparks ignite scraps, dirt, dust or flammable liquid.

These fires are different than other kinds. Throwing water on one can cause you to be electrocuted.

In the event of an electrical fire:

Never try to douse it with water. Use a chemical fire extinguisher instead.
If the fire cannot be put out safely, leave the house and take everyone with you.
Go to the breaker box and turn off the main power to the house.
Call 911 or the local fire department.

To help prevent electrical fires:

Replace worn, damaged or old appliance cords. Check tools for signs of wear. Replace frayed or cracked cords. Replace any tool that causes even a small electrical shock or if it overheats, shorts-out or gives off smoke or sparks.

Never overload electrical extension cords or wall sockets. Replace light switches that are hot to the touch. If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never remove the third prong or force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.

And remember to practice a home escape plan with your family.

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Tune up
Maintaining an efficient heating system is a sound strategy for conserving energy and cutting costs during the day to block out the sun.

Have your heating system professionally serviced once a year.
Have your chimney flue, space heaters, water heater and fireplace checked.
Clean or replace your heating system filter every month during the heating season. A dirty or clogged filter forces your furnace and fan to work harder, which costs you more. You'll be warmer for less money, and breathe easier, if you clean or replace your furnace filter often.
Your furnace or boiler needs air to work properly (and efficiently). Make sure it is unobstructed.

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Turn down
It's as simple as a sweater! Dress in layers to keep yourself warmer while keeping the thermostat down.

Set your thermostat to 70 degrees, or lower, during the day. Lower the temperature at night, or when you are not at home. It takes less energy to warm up a cool house than to maintain a warm temperature all day and night.
For every 1° F you set your thermostat back, you can save one to three percent on your annual heating costs.
Install an automatic setback thermostat that you can program to turn the temperature up and down at pre-set times.

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Humidify
Humid air feels warmer than dry air. Increasing the humidity of your home also helps you resist winter colds and moisturizes dry skin.

Keep house plants. Plants clean the air and add moisture to it at the same time.
Put trays of water on top of radiators. Leave the bathroom door open after a shower, so the warm steamy air circulates through the house.

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Insulate

Insulate your attic, walls, ceilings and floors to prevent heat loss.
Let the sun shine: open drapes during the day to capture warmth and close them at night to prevent heat loss through windows.
Heavy drapes or quilted shades make great winter window coverings. If they cover an area larger than the window itself, they are also adding insulation value to your walls.

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Seal air leaks
Keep drafts out! A small leak around a door or window can be equivalent to removing a brick from the side of your house and letting the wind blow through.

Invest in a caulking gun - it costs less than ten dollars. Seal gaps around doors and windows, your foundation, and places where pipes pass through the walls.
Replace any broken panes on storm doors and windows.
"Fake" a double pane window: create an inexpensive "second pane" by covering the inside with tight fitting plastic sheeting.
Remove window air conditioning units to reduce drafts ... or cover the inside and outside of the unit with plastic.
Move furniture to warmer spots in the room to avoid cold drafts.

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Water Heating
Warm water can be costing you more than you think. A typical household spends 14 percent of their energy bill, or about $200 a year on hot water.

To save on both water heating and water, install a low-flow showerhead. It can cut water use as much as 50 percent.
Keep showers under 5 minutes. Turn off the water to soap up.
Attach low-flow aerators to kitchen and bathroom faucets. The faucet will flow stronger while using much less water. For a family of four, this can save thousands of gallons of water a year.
Wrap the hot water pipes coming out of your water heater with insulation.
Set the thermostat to 120°F or less for normal use - saving money, energy and even skin (by eliminating scalds).
If the side of your water heater feels warm near the top, install an insulation blanket. Make sure to use the appropriate type blanket for your water heater, whether it's electric, gas or oil. Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions carefully.

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Water Saving Tips
There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.

Avoid using the toilet for a wastebasket. Every flush you can eliminate can save between two and seven gallons of water.
Leaks waste water. Add several drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. If it's leaking, the coloring will appear in the toilet without flushing.
If you don't have a low flow toilet, use plastic bottles filled with water and pebbles to displace water in the tank. Don't obstruct float and don't use bricks.
Don't let the water run while you brush your teeth or shave. Turn the faucet on briefly to rinse. An electric razor saves the most.
Keep showers under 5 minutes. Turn off the water to soap up.
Filling the tub uses about 50 gallons of water. Try bathing in just 10 gallons. Plug the tub when you shower; how full does the tub get?
Match washer's load selector to your load size. Try to wash only full loads. Minimize detergent use. Save energy by using cold water to wash.
Buying a new washing machine? Choose wisely. Find the ones that conserves water and energy and has a suds saver attachment.
Speed cleaning food by using a vegetable brush. Spray water in short bursts. Faucet aerators cut consumption.
Use a rubber spatula to scrape dishes clean to limit pre-rinse. Let really dirty pans or dishes soak to speed washing.
Limit dishwasher use to full loads. Minimize detergent use. Prepare food with an eye to reducing dishwashing.
Choose a car wash that recycles water. At home, use a shut-off nozzle and wash your car in small sections. Direct runoff to water landscaping.
Replacing an old shower head can save up to 7.5 gallons of water per minute without sacrificing full spray action at low or high water pressures.
When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
Evaporative coolers require a seasonal maintenance checkup. For more efficient cooling, check your evaporative cooler annually.
Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1000 gallons a month.
Avoid planting turf in areas that are hard to water such as steep inclines and isolated strips along sidewalks and driveways.
Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead and save gallons every time.
Plant during the spring or fall when the watering requirements are lower.
Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you not the drain.
Check your water meter and bill to track your water usage.
Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.
Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.
If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, then replace it with a water-efficient showerhead.
Collect the water you use for rinsing produce and reuse it to water houseplants.
Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption every time you water.
We're more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks.
Periodically check your pool for leaks if you have an automatic refilling device.
Only water your lawn when needed. You can tell this by simply walking across your lawn. If you leave footprints, it's time to water.
When you shop for a new appliance, consider one offering cycle and load size adjustments. They are more water and energy-efficient than older appliances.
Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You'll save up to 1000 gallons a month.
Install low-volume toilets.
Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades root systems and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.
When you clean your fish tank, use the water you've drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.
Use the sprinkler for larger areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix, and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.
Plug the bathtub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
Use porous materials for walkways and patios to keep water in your yard and prevent wasteful runoff.
Direct downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs and trees, or collect and use for your garden.
Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.
Water your summer lawns once every three days and your winter lawn once every five days.
Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering.
Don't use running water to thaw food.
Choose a water-efficient drip irrigation system for trees, shrubs and flowers. Watering at the roots is very effective, be careful not to over water.
Contact a qualified contractor to fix that leaky faucet. It's simple, inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a week.
Reduce the amount of grass in your yard by planting shrubs, and ground cover with rock and granite mulching.
When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
Teach your children to turn the faucets off tightly after each use.
Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the heads in good shape.
Before you lather up, install a low-flow showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save your family more than 500 gallons a week.
Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
Don't water your lawn on windy days. After all, sidewalks and driveways don't need water.
Water your plants deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscapes.
Make sure you know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save gallons of water and damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.
When watering grass on steep slopes, use a soaker hose to prevent wasteful runoff.
Group plants with the same watering needs together to get the most out of your watering time.
Remember to weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light, and water.
While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
Avoid installing ornamental water features and fountains that spray water into the air. Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation.
Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
Don't buy recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That's 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
Buy a rain gauge to track how much rain or irrigation your yard receives. Check with your local water agency to see how much rain is needed to skip an irrigation cycle.
Encourage your school system and local government to help develop and promote a water conservation ethic among children and adults.
Teach your family how to shut off your automatic watering systems. Turn sprinklers off if the system is malfunctioning or when a storm is approaching.
Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden with a hose.
Make sure your toilet flapper doesn't stick open after flushing.
Make sure there are aerators on all of your faucets.
Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for year-round landscape color and save up to 550 gallons each year.
Install an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up. This will also reduce heating costs for your household.
Use a grease pencil to mark the water level of your pool at the skimmer. Check the mark 24 hours later. Your pool should lose no more than 1/4 inch each day.
Cut back on rinsing if your dishwasher is new. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
Use a screwdriver as a soil probe to test soil moisture. If it goes in easily, don't water. Proper lawn watering can save thousands of gallons of water annually.
Avoid overseeding your lawn with winter grass. Once established, ryegrass needs water every three to five days, whereas dormant Bermuda grass needs water only once a month.
Do one thing each day that will save water. Even if savings are small, every drop counts.
When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
Make sure your swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
Bathe your young children together.
Landscape with Xeriscape trees, plants and groundcovers. Call your local conservation office for more information about these water thrifty plants.
Winterize outdoor spigots when temps dip to 20 degrees F to prevent pipes from bursting or freezing.
Insulate hot water pipes so you don't have to run as much water to get hot water to the faucet.
Wash your car on the grass. This will water your lawn at the same time.
Drop that tissue in the trash instead of flushing it and save gallons every time.
If you have an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain to a flowerbed, tree, or your lawn.
Make suggestions to your employer to save water (and dollars) at work.
Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and other uses.
Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while you wash your car and save more than 100 gallons.
Encourage your friends and neighbors to be part of a water-conscious community.
If your toilet was installed prior to 1980, place a toilet dam or bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to cut down on the amount of water used for each flush. Be sure these devices do not interfere with operating parts.
Install water softening systems only when necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum number of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness.
Wash clothes only when you have a full load and save up to 600 gallons each month.
Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on top of the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
Pick-up the phone and report significant water losses from broken pipes, open hydrants and errant sprinklers to the property owner or your water management district.
Bermuda grasses are dormant (brown) in the winter and will only require water once every three to four weeks or less if it rains.
Start a compost pile. Using compost when you plant adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
Use sprinklers that throw big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops of water and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.
Listen for dripping faucets and toilets that flush themselves. Fixing a leak can save 500 gallons each month.
More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Be sure only to water plants when necessary.
Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
Adjust your watering schedule to the season. Water your summer lawn every third day and your winter lawn every fifth day.
Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition your hair and you can save more than 50 gallons a week.
Bathe your pets outdoors in an area in need of water.
Choose new water-saving appliances, like washing machines that save up to 20 gallons per load.
Water only as rapidly as the soil can absorb the water.
Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six inches apart so water will reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary.
Place an empty tuna can on your lawn to catch and measure the water output of your sprinklers. For lawn watering advice, contact your local conservation office.
Turn off the water while you shave and you can save more than 100 gallons a week.
When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
To save water and time, consider washing your face or brushing your teeth while in the shower.
While staying in a hotel or even at home, consider reusing your towels.
When backwashing your pool, consider using the water on your landscaping.
For hanging baskets, planters and pots, place ice cubes under the moss or dirt to give your plants a cool drink of water and help eliminate water overflow.
Throw trimmings and peelings from fruits and vegetables into your yard compost to prevent from using the garbage disposal.
When you have ice left in your cup from a take-out restaurant, don't throw it in the trash, dump it on a plant.
Have your plumber re-route your gray water to trees and gardens rather than letting it run into the sewer line. Check with your city codes, and if it isn't allowed in your area, start a movement to get that changed.
Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants.
When you are washing your hands, don't let the water run while you lather.

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Energy Saving Tips

Limit the loss of expensive heated air to the outside. Use fans sparingly. In just one hour, these fans can blow away a house full of warm air.
Keep fireplace dampers tightly closed until you prepare to light a fire. An open damper in a 48-inch square fireplace can let as much as 8% of our heat escape out the chimney.
Lower your thermostat to about 65 degrees F during the day and 60 degrees F at night. For each degree you turn down your thermostat, you'll save 3% on heating bills.
When using the fireplace, open dampers in the bottom of the firebox if provided, or open the closet window about 1 inch and close the doors leading into the room. This allows more air for the fire without reducing heat loss.
Make a draft detector by clipping a piece of tissue paper to a coat hanger. Hold the coat hanger in front of a suspected crack; any movement indicates a leak in need of caulking or weather stripping.
Avoid heating unused areas by closing off unoccupied rooms and shutting off heat vents. (Does not apply if you have a heat pump)
Learn about R values before you buy your insulation materials. These numbers indicate resistance of an insulation material to winter heat loss or summer heat gain.
Consider installing storm windows and doors. Storm windows can be both energy efficient and convenient. Good windows can result in cost savings of as much as 15% a year.
Consider the advantages of a clock thermostat for your heating system. The clock thermostat will turn the heat down automatically at a regular hour before you retire and turn it up again before you wake.
Close windows and doors during hot days and open them at night.
Close drapes and shades during hot days.
Reduce use of oven, incandescent lights and appliances that generate heat.
To stay cool, use ceiling fans to cool individual rooms.
To stay cool, consider installing a whole house fan in the attic.
Get a timer for air conditioners so they can be off all day and turned on before you get home.
Time for a new color? Use light colors when painting the house and trim.
Stay cool by planting shade trees on the sunny side of the house.

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Septic Systems
Failed septic systems can allow untreated sewage to seep into wells, groundwater, and surface waterbodies - where you get your drinking water and swim. Failed septic systems also contaminate our lakes, pollute water supplies, and create offensive odors. Have your septic tank inspected and pumped regularly by a licensed septic tank contractor every 3 to 5 years. Pumping your septic tank is the most important thing you can do to protect your septic system. If the buildup of solids in the tank gets too high and solids move into the drainfield, your drainfield will clog and strain your system, causing your drainfield to fail. Then you will have to replace the whole drainfield.

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Prevent Frozen Pipes
Burst pipes are bad news for your home and everything it contains. Both metal and plastic water pipes can burst if the water within them freezes. Before the onset of cold weather, the American Red Cross and plumbing industry professionals recommend the following:

Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer's or installer's directions.
Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.
Determine where water supply lines are located - especially in unheated areas. Basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets are likely examples.
Insulate both hot and cold water supply lines in unheated areas. A hot water supply line can freeze just as a cold water supply line can freeze if the water is not running through the pipe and the water temperature in the pipe is cold.
If the side of your water heater feels warm near the top, install an insulation blanket. Make sure to use the appropriate type blanket for your water heater, whether it's electric, gas or oil. Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions carefully.

Take Preventive Action

If there are water supply lines in the garage, keep the garage door closed.
Allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing by opening kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
When the weather is very cold outside, let cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes.
If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55°F.
If the side of your water heater feels warm near the top, install an insulation blanket. Make sure to use the appropriate type blanket for your water heater, whether it's electric, gas or oil. Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions carefully.

To Thaw Frozen Pipes
If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Locate the suspected frozen area of the water pipe. Likely places include pipes running against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.

Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt more ice in the pipe.
Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, and electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

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