Deciding on who to hire for your plumbing and heating needs has always been an important decision. There are questions like:
- Is the plumber or HVAC company licensed?
- Is the contractor certified and trained?
- Is the residential plumbing and heating contractor insured?
- Will the contractor do it correctly?
The above questions were always important. However, a new and possibly even more important question has now become relevant. Is the Plumbing and Heating Contractor EPA Certified for Lead?
Effective April 2010, the EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in home, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work prevent lead contamination.
Plumbing repairs commonly require the opening of the wall to get at a water leak. Effective April 2010, the EPA requires this work to be done by a certified lead-safe contractor. The paint on the wall will need to be tested for presence of lead. Proper care will need to be taken to eliminate the possibility of the lead being released into the home.
HVAC replacements that involve duct replacement behind walls or hot water systems that require replacement of frozen or broken water lines will be affected by this new law.
Bottom line is that it is more important than ever to do your homework and hire the correct contractor to keep you and your home safe. Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air is EPA Certified for working with repairs and remodeling homes with potential lead paint.
Furnace or Air Conditioner looking to retire?
By · CommentsMost heating and cooling systems are designed to last between 12-15 years. Here’s some advice on how to stretch that out a bit, and what to look for in a new system.
Your heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system makes up 50-60% of your annual energy bill. With an average life expectancy of about 12-15 years, you of course want to do everything you can to keep it running as efficiently and for as long as possible.
The best ways to extend the life of your system is to buy the right system in the first place, and then have it properly maintained on a regular basis. On its own, an annual cleaning and inspection can delay a system’s inevitable demise by a number of years while helping minimize your monthly energy costs.
But let’s say the time has come for a new system. Here’s what to look for:
- HVAC Equipment Selection – More than anything, you want a system that earns high marks in efficiency. When shopping for a furnace or a/c, for example, there are two efficiency ratings to consider: Seasonal Efficiency Ration (SEER), which indicates cooling efficiency, and the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF), which indicates heating efficiency. On both ratings, the higher the number the more efficient the system.
- Sizing – With any kind of furnace or cooling system, bigger is not always better. In fact, the exact opposite can often be true. Over sized systems tend to “short cycle” which, in turn, shortens the life of your compressor and leads to excessive moisture buildup. Conversely, undersized systems run continuously on mild days and struggle to lower the temperature during the dog days of summer. You can avoid all that by performing a heat loss/gain calculation to pinpoint the type and size of the system you really need. Qualified HVAC contractors will be able to do this calculation for you. Do not buy a new system without having this done for you.
- Warranties – The industry standard is 20 years for a compressor and heat exchanger. HVAC companies are now making 10 yr parts a common practice. Labor warranties range from 1 yr to 10 years depending on the extended warranty you purchase. This is were it is important to hire a heating and cooling contractor that has been in business many years and will be in business many years from now. It is always easier to get warranty from the company who sold you the equipment.
- Quality Installation - Just like anything else, your new HVAC system will perform only as well and efficiently as it’s installed. Make sure you hire a licensed and qualified company.
There is a lot to consider when you are in an HVAC system purchasing mode. Make sure it is the right decision by hiring a licensed contractor. Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air is there for you when you need your questions answered regarding your new HVAC system or if you would like to keep your current system running.
Today’s Leak….Tomorrow’s Flood?
By · CommentsLeaky plumbing fixtures and pipes can be much more than a nuisance, if not dealt with swiftly and thoroughly, you could be facing major water related damage.
Leaky faucets and shower heads? Piece o’ cake, right? After all, you can see them, hear them and, very often, fix them yourself before the constant dripping drives you plumb crazy, that is.
But what about those leaks that aren’t so easy to spot? Water leaks can happen anywhere in your home. Here are some of the more common occurrences, and the probable cause behind each.
- Refrigerator Icemake line – If you have a built-in icemaker, you have a built-in potential floor messer! In fact, the wet spots you see on the floor might indicate a crimped icemaker line, and if it’s crimped, it’s just waiting to burst. Also, anytime you move your refrigerator to clean behind it or for any reason at all, check for water. If you find any, remember this: the smaller the water accumulation, the more damaging the problem can be. Slow, steady leaks can eventually rot your wood floor, while big, messy leaks are easier to detect and solve before serious damage ensues.
- Toilets – Ever seen those hanging bowl deodorants? Well, don’t buy them. They’re prone to slipping and lodging deep in your plumbing system, and can block the line outright or give grease and other debris something to cling to. Also, certain chlorine tablets cleaners may corrode internal components, and before you know it, you got a major hard to get at leak. With toilets, here another truism: the water you don’t see is the water that can hurt you. Small leaks can head straight to your sub-flooring and, over time, rot the wood. If you see a grayish stain in the vinyl flooring around your toilet that won’t come out, give your local plumber a call because it probably means you have a below the surface leak.
- Water Heater – The telltale sign? Once again, wet spots on the floor. Probable cause? Internal rust or overfull drain pan. Fact is most water heaters are designed to last a maximum of 15 years. So check yours often, and make sure there’s a floor drain beneath it. Also, new water heaters include a relief valve that is attached to a pipe running down the side of the water heater. This may leak water due to high pressure. Call a licensed plumber if you see this as it could be a sign of a dangerous situation with your water heater.
One final bit of advice. Every now and then, turn off all faucets and water using appliances, and don’t flush your toilets for at least one hour. Next, record the water meter reading. If the flow indicator is spinning or the meter reading changes while no water is being used, there’s an excellent chance a water leak is lurking somewhere within your home.
Ultimately, the best way to fix a leak is to find it before damage strikes! The best way to accomplish that is with a house-wide plumbing inspection. To schedule an inspection or if you have concerns, contact Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air either online or by phone.
“Old reliable” churns away in your basement or utility room day after day, month after month, year after year like a farm mule in days of yore. Except this one doesn’t eat as much – nor do you have those ugly, malodorous piles laying all around the place!
Except every once in awhile, like a cantankerous old mule, the modern water heater doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do. That’s when you call a plumbing contractor saying “no hot water.”
This is the top reason why people call a plumbing or heating contractor, accourding to a survey taken a few years ago by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Information Bureau in Chicago. A related problem, a leaking water heater, came in at number 5 of the top 10.
Looking over the list, I can’t help but shake my head at all the waste of time and money these emergency service calls represent. Most people don’t pay much attention to their household “mule team” – the mechanical systems that provide so much comfort and convenience in our modern lives. We take for granted our water heaters, toilets, faucets, furnaces and air conditioners, until they stop working. Then comes the panicked call to the service company, and a repair job that always ends up costing more than we expect.
Regular care and maintenance can forestall most of these breakdowns at a fraction of the cost of repairs. Have your plumbing, heating and air conditioning inspected cleaned and checked at least once a year. Progressive service companies offer service agreements in which they automatically come out to take care of these things for a modest annual fee.
Homeowners also should consider replacing ancient water heaters, toilets, furnaces, boiler and other appliances with new high-efficiency or water-saving models. Most of us are in the habit of squeezing out every last day of service out of such equipment. Yet any unit more than 12-15 years old probably can pay for itself within a few years through reduced energy or water usage.
Here are the rest of the top 10 household repairs identified by the PHCIB.
#2 – Clogged drains. Many of these calls could be avoided by taking greater care in what you put down drains – especially the kitchen sink drain, the most used and most clogged drain int he house. I also recommend regular treatment with Bio-Clean, a biological drain cleaner sold only though plumbing contractors. I wrote about this marvelous bug in my previous blog.
#3 – Dripping faucets. This is an annoyance that most homeowners have to deal with from time to time as the washers in the faucets wear out with use. You can extend the life of your faucet washers by not turning them off with too much force. You may also consider replacing your older faucets with those that feature washerless cartridges instead of rubber washers. Since the valve mechanism is contained in one cartridge, these faucets are easier to repair and replace. In addition, cartridges are generally more durable and do not leak because they do not deteriorate with friction or age as washers do.
#4 – Leaking pipes. In extreme cases, these can cause expensive damage to floors and belonging. To stop a small leak from turning into a big one, take a look at your pipes periodically to check for rust or white lime deposits that may indicate a leak is starting.
#5 – Leaking water heaters. Most often when you have a leaker, it’s time to get rid of the water heater. Usually leaks indicate rusting through at the bottom of the storage tank, for which there is no good repair. By the time this happens, the water heater is usually so old you’d benefit from replacing it with a more energy-efficient model.
#6 – No heat. When your furnace or boiler stops operating, it can make for a long, cold winter night. An ounce of prevention here is worth a ton of cure. It’s important to make sure your heating system is functioning properly before the first cold snap hits. Have a competent contractor do a thorough examination and cleaning in late summer or early fall every year.
#7-8 – Running & Leaking toilets. This in not only an annoyance, but a waste of water and money. Leaky toilets can cost you upwards of $100 a year on your water bills. If you hear a low humming noise, or if the toilet continues to run into the bowl after the toilet is flushed, it indicates that some part of the mechanism is out of order. Sometimes a little jiggling of the ballcock or flush valve mechanism solves the problem with no cost. Otherwise you may need to replace the entire mechanism.
#9 – New faucet installation. Many homeowners replace faucets not only when they break down, but for decorative reasons as well. This is the ninth most common reason for a service call, according to the PHCIB. A few people buy a faucet from a home center and then call a plumbing company to do the install. This is okay, but be aware that in doing so, the plumbing company will only warrant the install, not the faucet itself.
#10 – Garbage disposal jammed or broken. This can be a messy headache for homeowners. Here are several tips to keep your unit in good working order. First, always run cold water when grinding to move the waste all the way down the drain lines. Fats and grease congeal and harden in cold water and can be flushed through the system. Hot water should not be used because it can dissolve fats and grease, which may then accumulate in the drain line.
Do not use your garbage disposal to grind clam or oyster shells, corn husks or other material with a high fiber content. Never put glass, plastic or metal non-food materials through a disposer. This includes bottle caps, tin covers or aluminum foil, which are some of the items service technicians commonly find in clogged or broken garbage disposals.
Maintenance is easy. Grinding small bones and egg shells actually helps clean the disposer by scraping away stubborn deposits or citric acid and pulp. Grinding a little ice is another way to clean deposits and get rid of odors. For the most part, disposers are self-cleaning.
If you have questions or would like assistance with any of the repairs above call Minneapolis St Paul Plumbing Heating Air or you can schedule your request online.
Drains Need Cleaning? Let A Bug Do It!
By · CommentsEverybody is talking about Green Technology and how it can be used in the home. One of the best things to happen in the plumbing field in recent times happens to be about as green as you can get. The development of biological drain cleaners as an alternative to dangerous and ecologically harmful chemicals. These biological products work via bacteria that consume organic waste.
There are various products of this nature on the market. The best one in my opinion is Bio-Clean, which is sold only by plumbing contractors. While the exact formula is a secret, Bio-Clean is a composite of bacteria, enzymes and additives, all coming from natural sources. These natural ingredients come in a powder that remains dormant in a protective container until you apply the right amount of water and pour the solution into waste matter. The bacteria come to life and start searching for what we consider waste material. Once fed they start to multiply.
The Bio-Clean bugs eat their way through the filth of drain lines, septic tanks, cesspools, RV holding tanks and grease traps without harming pipes, containers or any other inorganic material. It works for order control in cat litter boxes as well as toilets and urinals.
Since the bugs attack only organic waste, Bio-Clean is completely safe and commonly used in hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants and other places subject to stringent health inspections. If you mix it with water and leave it in an open container, nothing will happen, until you drop some nasty stuff into the mixture. You do not need to worry about spills or using it around children or animals. Bio-Clean only attacks dead organic tissue.
HOW DOES IT WORK
The common drain cleaning product in stores is a mixture of caustic chemicals that like acid burns and dissolves the product that it is poured onto. There are a couple of problems with this process. The first is that the product relies on gravity to work. You pour it down the drain that is clogged. The product will sit on top of the clog until it eats a hole in the clog. Then all the cleaner goes through the hole and stops working. The problem is that the hold may be very small and thus will become clogged again very soon. The second problem is that a hole could be made in the pipe from the drain cleaner resulting in a plumbing service call.
Bio-Clean bacteria spread out along the entire inner surface of the pipe wall, eating waste away from the floor, sides and ceiling alike. Depending on the size and type of blockage, it usually takes 3 to 14 days for the the bugs to consume all accumulated waste inside household drain pipes. When finished, those drain lines will be almost as clean as the day they were installed.
For initial treatment it is recommended to apply for 5 consecutive days a mixture of about 1 level tablespoon of Bio-Clean powder for each inch of pipe diameter, mixed with 1 pint per tablespoon of lukewarm water. Afterwards, a single treatment about once a month is usually sufficient for maintenance.
NOT A MAGIC CURE ALL
Bio-Clean is best used before your lines are completely clogged. This is because it takes a few days to work. How much can you eat in a day? An initial drain cleaning with tools may be necessary to open the line for use. You might also experience a clogged drain due to the gunk from the upper floor drains coming loose and getting clogged in the lower drains.
Think of your drains like a messy or cluttered room. There is a lot of work to get it cleaned. However, regular maintenance or cleaning will prevent the room from getting messy or cluttered. Drains are the same way. Regular use of Bio-Clean can ensure you do not need to call for a professional drain cleaning.
Minneapolis St Paul Plumbing Heating and Air stocks all of our trucks with Bio-Clean for the consumer. Ask your plumber if they have it with them.
No Heat? It Could be Your Radiators.
By · Comments
Radiator Key for Bleeding Hot Water System
Many calls that we receive around this time of the year for no heat have nothing to do with the boiler or hot water heat system unit. The cause is as simple as a case of the burps!
To encourage your heating system to work at optimum efficiency it is important to bleed your radiators on a regular basis. I know the thought of bleeding seems like you bring on the leaches. It is actually quite easy to do and does not involve blood. All you need is a radiator key and a small bowl.
If the heat in your home isn’t circulating well or the bottom portion of your radiator is warm, while the top portion is cold, there may be air trapped inside your radiator. When air gets trapped inside a radiator, it reduces the radiators ability to heat. Air in one radiator can effect the performance of the whole system.
Identify the radiators that are warm and which ones are cold. You will want to shut off your boiler before you bleed radiators so it is important to identify the warm from the cold radiators. You will want to start with the highest radiators in your home. This will be the radiators on the top floor of your home.
To bleed a radiator, you will need to have a bleed key like the one at the top of the page handy. Locate the radiator bleed valve which is typically positioned at the the top of a radiator near the end. Once you have the small bowl under the radiator valve, insert the key into the bleed valve and turn it counterclockwise. Do not turn too fast or too much. Turn until you get air or water coming out the valve.
As you turn the key, you will hear a hissing sound if there is air in the radiator. Hearing this means you are being successful in getting the air out of the radiator. Turn the key clockwise to close the valve once you have water coming out of the valve. Repeat these steps until all your radiators have been bled.
Go to your boiler once you have bled all the air out of the system. You may need to add water to the system if you bled a lot of air out. Make sure your system is up to pressure before you turn it back on. Adding water may result in the need to preform the bleeding process again since air is always introduced when you put water into the system.
Having the air bled out of your radiators is one of the steps in a clean and tune that a qualified contractor completes on your boiler. Contact Minneapolis St Paul Plumbing Heating Air if you have questions or would like to set up a Clean and Tune on your boiler.
Looking For a New Furnace? Avoid the Crazy Season!
By · CommentsI opened my mail tonight and realized the season is upon us. No, not fall. It is the “I Must Be Crazy Season”. Also known as “I made so much money I just need to get rid of inventory” season and “I am looking for 12 lucky homeowners” season.
Fall is an interesting time for HVAC contractors. It is too cool to sell air conditioners and too warm to sell furnaces and boilers. It is the calm before the storm. Salesmen and installers are sitting around waiting for a call and overhead is not being paid for. Conditions like this lead HVAC companies to come up with “Crazy” ideas to get the customer to call.
Maybe you get the same letters that I do from crazy and desperate HVAC company owners or General Managers stating the following:
- I must be crazy to give you this deal
- I am giving away furnaces to 12 lucky homeowners.
- Test drive a new furnace for a year.
- I have made so much money that now I just need to sell my left over inventory.
- We will clean your furnace for $89 or $79 or less.
As General Manager for a HVAC company that has been in business since 1918, I know that these deals are too good to be true. I get a good laugh but, I also get mad at the deception. As we all know, there is no free lunch and there is always a catch.
What is really happening?
The advertising gimmicks listed above are not the rantings of a lunatic. These are carefully crafted advertising campaigns developed by large advertising companies for HVAC companies that sign up with the right associations. Questionable ethics but, not questionable sanity.
The key for any contractor is to get in the home. Whether it is offering a furnace cleaning at below cost or implying that the customer is going to receive a free furnace or deeply discounted furnace, it is all about getting in the home. Contractors know it is a law of averages. They know that there is a certain percentage of furnaces that will have a cracked heat exchanger or is getting old. Contractors also know that there is very little chance that you will qualify for the free furnace or the heavily discounted furnace.
How is the homeowner affected?
The question is. Who pays for the free or discounted service or equipment? You do! HVAC contractors are not really crazy and are very smart people. At least the ones that have bee in business over 10 years. I know the company that I get the mailing from states they have been in business for over 60 years. You don’t do that by giving away furnaces. The overall price of services or equipment will be higher to pay for the discounts. If you don’t get the free furnace then you are likely paying more for the furnace you purchase. The idea for discounted furnace cleaning is also to get service work which will be at a higher price.
What to do during the crazy season?
Below are some tips to make it through this season:
- Check what the regular price for a furnace cleaning is and ask why there is such a discount now. Check to see if they are offering the same service.
- Consider using a HVAC company that does not discount the service. They are less likely to be there just to sell you something.
- Get mulitiple bids which includes non crazy contractors. Price may very well be less.
- Throw away the letters.
One final thought. If the HVAC contractor that sends out the letters is truly as crazy as he says, should he be installing your furnace or boiler?
Breaking news….”The internet is the place to look up what you need”!!
I know, I am a little late to break this news. Consumers and businesses have been using the internet for years to search articles, research product and services like plumbing and heating and buy stuff. The information that you can get from the internet is both amazing and scary. Kind of takes the fun out of just giving and answer to a kid and figuring that he won’t find out the real answer.
Companies including service companies like Minneapolis St Paul Plumbing Heating Air spend and increasing amount of the marketing budget with online advertising. The statements below give an example of the type of money that is being spent by businesses.
Worldwide spending on internet advertising will total $65.2 billion in 2008, or nearly 10% of all ad spend across all media, and grow 15-20% a year to reach $106.6 billion in 2011, or 13.6% of total ad spend, according to IDC’s Digital Marketplace Model and Forecast.
The United States will lead the world in both total advertising spending and online ad spending throughout the forecast period, with expenditures in 2011of more than $265 billion and $45 billion, respectively, IDC projects (via BtoB).
As with all new solutions, new problems.
While the internet makes it easier for consumers to find the information or service they need. It also makes it easier for unscrupulous people and companies to confuse the homeowner.
During the days of print advertising such as newspapers and yellow pages, companies could not copy the identity of a company without a threat of lawsuit. Logo’s, names and overall coporate identity was protected and rarely infringed on. This was especially true in the plumbing and heating service business.
In today’s internet world, pretending to be somebody else to get the homeowner to contact you is getting increasingly popular. There are at least 3 companies using the name Minneapolis Plumbing online to try to get the homeowner to call them instead of us. I also know of a couple of companies using the St Paul Plumbing name online to accomplish the same.
I am told that it is not illegal to do what they are doing due to not being able to trademark or servicemark a city as part of your name. However, the ethics of it are very questionable. Homeowners can become very confused as to what service company they are working with until it is too late.
What is a homeowner to do?
Below are suggestions to make sure you get the service company you want coming into your home.
- Ask the person on the phone if they are the service company you called.
- Look at the truck and see if the name of the company you called is on it.
- Look at the uniform to see if the company is identified.
- Ask the company what name they would be under with the BBB.
Extra dilagence on your part will insure that you get the plumbing, heating and cooling company showing up at your door that you thought you were getting.
Minneapolis St Paul Plumbing Heating Air proudly displays our name for homeowners to identify the leader in home services.
Searching for a new home is both an exciting time and a nerve wrecking time. The emotions go from highs to lows sometimes within seconds. Below are some tips to help prevent your high from becoming a low after you move into your new home.
- Hire a home inspector to look over the home. Some cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul require a Truth- in- Sale of Housing inspection to be done by a city inspector.
- Have the furnace, boiler or heating system inspected by a licensed HVAC contractor. An Existing Fuel Burning Equipment Safety Test Report, also know as an ORSAT test, is required in St. Paul and Minneapolis along with some other cities. A licensed HVAC contractor will know what this test is. The person selling the home should have this done and provide you with the results. If they have not, you should request one done. The ORSAT report will let you know if the furnace or boiler is running in a safe manner.
- Have a licensed HVAC contractor inspect the Central Air Conditioner if there is one. A system over 10 years old will not be SEER 13, which is the standard for new installations. A/C’s over 10 years will start having problems with the compressor, leaking and the evaporator coil.
- The plumbing piping should be inspected as best as possible. The plumbing pipes are not always easy to see due to being behind the walls. Try to look at any pipes that are exposed. These are usually in the basement of the home. Copper pipes are preferred over galvanized piping. Galvanized piping can clog in horizontal piping runs. This is due to reaction of the pipes with water. Many homes have the pipes replaced, also know as having a rewater project done, due to low water pressure.
- Plumbing fixtures should be checked for age and performance. Toilets need to be checked to see if they flush and don’t keep running. You will also want to check for signs of leaking down by the floor. This means a seal has been broken and water leaking between the floors. Check faucets for flow and leaking around the base of the faucet. While not considered a fixture, check the water heater to make sure that it works and not leaking. Water heaters over 12 years old are due to be replaced.
- Not to be forgotten is the outside faucet or spigot. Leaking is a symptom of a faucet that froze in the winter. Make sure you can turn the handle and that it will close completely. While this may appear to be an easy fix if broken, new city codes require backflow preventers to be installed on new outside faucets. You will also want to see if there is easy access to the faucet from inside the house and if there is a shut off valve for the pipe to the outside faucet.
EYES WIDE OPEN
While none of the above are deal breakers if they are not major problems. It is wise to be aware of them to understand if you are getting a good deal and if you will be opening the pocket book for repairs as soon as you move into the house. It is always better to “Know and Decide” instead of “Decide and not Know”.
Minneapolis St Paul Plumbing Heating Air can help you with all your home inspection needs and repairs. You can reach us online or call us at 651-789-0628.
I printed a letter from ServiceRoundTable earlier in July about the dangers of hiring Moonlighting Plumbers and unlicensed plumbers. Unfortunately a homeowner in St Louis Park now has first hand knowledge of the dangers of hiring an unlicensed plumber.
A Star Tribune story and video tells of the problems a St Louis Park homowner had when she hired an unlicensed plumber for a plumbing leak in her home. The story mentioned a problem about hiring unlicensed contractors that was not mentioned in my previous post. The plumber took the money from the insurance company and did not complete the job.
It is very important that you contact licensed contractors for any plumbing, heating or cooling work that you have done in your home. Concider your home a living breathing organism. The plumbing is the life blood of your home. The furnace is the heart of the home. You would not have an unlicensed doctor work on you or anybody in your family. Why would you have an unlicensed contractor work on what protects, heats and provides overall cofort for your family?
St Paul Plumbing and Heating is your licensed contractor for plumbing, heating and air service and installations. Contact us via email, website or phone for any of your home needs.