Category: Land & Property

Start the New Year With a New Water Heater!

wooden block spelled sign

Say Goodbye To Old Water Heaters If They Show These Signs

Over the years, water heaters have proven to be an indispensable home appliance. This is especially evident during the winter, when temperatures drop drastically. Water heaters can be prone to wear and tear and damage due to prolonged use. As a result, homeowners need to conduct routine checks on their water heating appliances to identify problems in advance. In this article, plumbing experts share a few signs that indicate that a water heater may need to be replaced immediately. 

The Water Heater Has Outlived Its Shelf-Life

Water heaters have an average life span of about 10 to 15 years. However, this depends on several factors, such as the exact type of water heater and the quality of maintenance the water heater has received. Routine maintenance should resolve most complications. However, in extreme cases, it may be necessary to replace the entire unit. Homeowners are advised to contact a professional plumbing service if their water heaters are between 10 to 15 years old or have started malfunctioning. 

Some common signals include:

  • Rising energy costs
  • Fluctuating water temperatures
  • Low water pressure
  • Less hot water capacity

There's Rust in the Water Heater

One of the signs of a damaged water heater is the presence of rusty hot water. It is important to determine the source to find out the exact reason for the rust-colored water. For example, suppose rust is still visible after turning on the cold water. In that case, the problem could be larger than initially thought, such as a burst pipe, usually located outside the building. On the other hand, rust-colored hot water is usually due to a home's water heating appliance. 

colored water

One of the most common reasons for rust-colored water is the corrosion of galvanized iron wires. These wires are present in the water heater and can corrode with time, consequently releasing rusty water. Another source of rusty-colored water is the presence of mineral build-up in the water heater. 

Flushing the home water heater system can fix mineral build-up. Flushing also has the additional benefit of removing sediments present in the storage tank and even prolongs the water heater's life.

The Tank Is Leaking

plumber

Because the tank is part of the water heater, it is usually insulated. Leaking tanks are difficult to identify since they are not easily detectable from the outside, further stressing the importance of routine maintenance and checks. Wear and tear, caused by age, is usually the most common reason for this problem. It is almost always advisable for leaking water heaters to hire a professional plumber to replace the entire unit. 

About Carmine's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

Carmine's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning have over 30 years of experience serving the Danbury, CT area with a wide range of services from plumbing to HVAC. The company offers unmatched speed and accuracy when responding to HVAC problems thanks to its team of professionals who are always available for water heater service!

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Professional Tips About Emergency Heater Repair Services

Emergency Tips

Prepare for Heater Repair Emergencies

No matter how prepared a homeowner might be, no one is ever ready when an emergency strikes. It is possible to have safety procedures mapped out and to go through the motions to prevent a crisis from ever happening in the first place. But when an emergency does occur, it's almost promised to knock homeowners for a loop. It doesn't matter what kind of emergency it is either. 

Take a home's heating system, for example. Some circumstances can lead to homeowners needing emergency heater repair services. Like anything else in life, homeowners need to know how to handle a heater emergency when they encounter one. 

For those interested in learning more about handling a heater emergency and how to prevent emergencies in the future, continue reading below. 

How To Know if the Heater Needs Emergency Services

It isn't often that the heater requires immediate attention, but it's crucial to act fast when it does. Homeowners need to have a plan in place, and most importantly, one that involves having a trusted technician nearby for when emergencies occur. 

Some common signs of heater emergency are: 

  • Dust accumulation causing the furnace to break down 
  • The furnace is making loud noises
  • The area around the furnace is burnt black 
  • The house smells like smoke
  • Compromised integrity due to old age

Any one of these problems could occur at any moment, especially during the holidays, because the furnace has to work overdrive. Homeowners have to understand that their furnace is working just as hard as them during holiday dinner, if not harder. 

How To Prepare Before the Technician Arrives

It might come as a surprise, but there are a few things that every homeowner is supposed to do to prepare for the technician to arrive. It typically isn't a huge deal if they aren't done, but it helps make the job go smoother.

hvac technician

Below is a small list of things to prepare for a professional furnace inspection: 

  • Remove all debris surrounding the unit
  • Make sure all pets are put away
  • The homeowner needs to prepare to be there the entire time
  • Expenses should always be talked about before the work is done

The holiday season is upon us, whether we are ready or not. It is time to get that heater checked and prepared for the months ahead. 

Tips To Prevent Emergencies in the Future

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There are different things homeowners can do to decrease the number of emergency heater expenses. Of course, the occasional emergency is still bound to happen, but local professionals can get there when it does. 

Here are a few ways to prevent heater emergencies: 

  • Give the system a break, especially during holiday dinner
  • Program the thermostat
  • Watch for warning signs 
  • Regular maintenance 

In the end, it is always best to get maintenance done regularly to ensure the furnace runs properly. When done properly, routine maintenance helps strengthen the overall durability of the machine. 

About Carmine's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning 

Perhaps the worst time to suffer from a heater emergency is during the winter on a weekend night. However, when homeowners call Carmine's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, they can trust that the problem will be fixed promptly and efficiently with their emergency heater repair services. Call today to schedule heater repair in Danbury, CT!

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Keeping Your Gutter Clear of Leaves During the Fall

wooden blocks spelled TIPS

Helpful Tips To Help Keep Gutters Flowing During the Fall Season

Clogged gutters aren’t typically thought of as plumbing problems, but the successful draining of water away from a home is in everyone’s best interest. While a plumber wouldn’t usually be called to clean gutters, the damage that clogged gutters can do is similar to what can happen when plumbing systems fail. Water can back up and flood into walls and ceilings or even sit up against a home’s foundation and cause damage. 

By following these simple plumbing tips from local plumbing contractors, homeowners can avoid the costly damage that clogged gutters can cause. 

Professional Gutter Cleaning

cleaning

Many homeowners may be tempted to clean their gutters themselves, at least until they try it. Cleaning gutters often involves hanging from ladders and walking along roof edges with a water hose or leaf blower. This simple task can be frightening and dangerous for a homeowner to try and tackle. Then, they will still have to deal with discarding all of the debris that comes out of the gutters. This task is risky and can easily eat up a whole day of a precious weekend. 

Because of the risks and special tools involved, many homeowners opt to hire professional gutter cleaners. Professional gutter cleaning services can handle this job far quicker and more thoroughly than a typical homeowner. Not only are professionals better equipped, but they can also perform the job safer. Professionals can also make repairs or point out trouble spots that may cause trouble later on. 

Tree Trimming To Reduce Debris During the Windy Months

One of the best tips to prevent clogged gutters and keep a property safe is to have trees trimmed. The main cause of clogged gutters are leaves, twigs, and nuts that fall onto a roof and fall into the gutters. Having a landscaper trim limbs away from the home will prevent debris from filling in gutters. 

protecting

An added bonus of having trees trimmed is that they will look better and probably be healthier than before. Keeping trees away from the house will also prevent root damage to foundations, driveways, sidewalks, and plumbing. 

Installing Gutter Guards

Every homeowner knows, cleaning gutters isn’t a fun job. A typical DIYer will spend at least a weekend per season cleaning gutters. Sometimes more than that. Even if a homeowner hires a professional gutter cleaning company, the bills can add up. One of the best things a homeowner can do to prevent gutter clogs is to install gutter guards. 

Gutter guards come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate any form of guttering. Most can be installed by amateurs or professionals with minimal or no tools. Different styles may work differently, but the principle is the same. Gutter guards keep foreign material out and allow water to flow away from the home. Installing them can save time and money by preventing the need for cleaning gutters. 

About Carmine’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

When it comes to plumbing, homeowners in Danbury trust Carmine’s Plumbing, Heating & Air. Their commitment to long-lasting results and quality workmanship set them above the rest. From emergency plumbing to drain cleaning, Carmine’s Plumbing, Heating & Air ready to solve any plumbing problem. 

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Heaters That Haunt the Night

Listening Closely

Heed the Ghastly Noises Coming From the Furnace

Groaning, banging, and kooky clanging are sounds everyone expects to hear at a Halloween party, but they definitely shouldn't be coming from a furnace. A furnace should run quietly, with the occasional sound coming as it turns on to heat the home. Strange noises coming from the furnace should be investigated before any big problems come up. 

Scary Scraping or Ghostly Grinding

If the sound of scraping nails comes from the furnace, there's likely a problem with the blower wheel. The blower wheel plays the important role of moving high volumes of heated air through the ducting system that warms the home. 

Any grinding or scraping coming from the furnace warrants an immediate call to a furnace technician, as the noises indicate a situation that creates high wear and tear on the heating system and possible failure of air movement. There are several reasons a blower wheel may be caused by a loose or broken blower wheel. A furnace technician will tighten any loose fixtures and verify if further repairs are needed. 

Batty Banging

holding a gavel

Pay attention to banging sounds coming from the furnace. Banging can occur when the furnace kicks on and points to a couple of different problems in either the ductwork or furnace burners.

The expansion of ductwork may very well cause banging. As a general rule, ducting shouldn't need to expand to handle the heating of a home. If banging sounds are coming from the ductwork, the ducting may be undersized and need replacement, ducts may need to be braced with more support, vents may be closed and need opening, or the air filter may be dirty. 

If it takes a few minutes for the furnace to respond to demands for heat, only to give off a loud pop or bang when it kicks on, there's a chance that the furnace burners are dirty or that there are issues with the furnace's combustion process. Too much gas may cause a small explosion in the system, and dirty burners force the furnace to work harder to ignite, resulting in a forceful bang as the burner lights. 

Banging coming from the furnace should never be ignored, as combustion problems in a furnace can be dangerous to the home's safety. A trained HVAC professional will identify the sound's source and determine the best solution for it.

Spooky Screeching 

If the furnace kicks on with an ear-splitting squeal that could scare even a bat, it's time to call in a professional. Screeching furnaces are a hallmark of various furnace problems occurring with the blower. 

holding a microphone

Screeching usually indicates that the blower shaft's bearings are wearing down. Over time, the lubrication protecting the bearings wear down, creating more friction that can cause the squealing sounds. Out of balance blower wheels or a misaligned or stretched blower belt can also cause hair-raising screeching. Addressing screeching right away will preserve the furnace's integrity and prevent additional wear from failing parts. 

No one wants to spend their night haunted by heater noises. Taking note of any strange sounds and reaching out to an HVAC specialist to remedy the problem is the first step to getting a peaceful night of sleep this Halloween season. 

About Carmine's Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning

The staff at Carmine's Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning know that plumbing and heating problems can happen at any time, and are on call 24/7 to take care of their customers' furnace emergencies. Their timely, efficient, and affordable services have made them a household name in Danbury, CT for many years.

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Indoor Air Quality 101

Fresh Indoor Air

What Homeowners Should Know About Their Air Quality 

Indoor air quality can directly influence short term and long term health. For example, if homeowners are exposed to pollutants, they may immediately experience a headache, asthma symptoms, or irritation to eyes, nose, or throat. Usually, if they leave the affected area, their symptoms should be alleviated pretty quickly. 

On the other hand, long term effects can reoccur and severely impair quality of life. Usually, these long term effects come from repeated exposure, and reactions tend to be of a higher severity such as heart disease, cancer, or respiratory diseases. 

In this article, experts will share helpful information on how to improve indoor air quality.

What Exactly Is Air Quality?

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According to the EPA, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) “refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants” (epa.gov). This is especially important to pay attention to when living in a city or an environment with many pollutants. 

However, this is a concern for all households as several everyday appliances or activities produce potential air pollutants. 

Some common indoor air pollutants are:

  • Fuel-burning combustion
  • Tobacco products
  • Building materials and furnishings such as asbestos or chemicals in new carpets or furnishings
  • Household cleaners
  • Excess moisture
  • Outdoor sources

All things considered, it is very important to maintain healthy and pollutant-free environments indoors. 

How Can Homeowners Improve Their Air Quality 

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One of the main sources of bad air quality indoors is poor ventilation. There are several ways to improve this by altering small things around the home. For example, keeping up to date on changing AC filters or checking the air ducts.

Household upkeep and maintenance are big contributors to air pollution. Routinely cleaning rugs and carpets can help to improve air quality. Day to day activities, such as cooking, contribute to air pollution. Make sure to use cooking vents, especially if homeowners have a gas stove. 

Air Purifiers & UV Air Sanitizers

white air purifier

If all of the above solutions don’t work, there are a few more. 

  • Air purifiers work very well at removing impurities from the air. They mainly take care of pollutants such as dust, smoke, and pollen, but are not very good at removing gaseous pollutants. There are many different air purifiers on the market ranging in price, size, and efficiency.
  • UV Air Sanitizers utilize UV-C light and aim to kill germs, mold, mildew, and sometimes even bacteria and viruses. A potential drawback of this purifying method is that UV-C is potentially harmful to live organisms. This is why it can kill germs, but precautions need to be taken to reduce harm. 

Deciding whether an air purifier or an air sanitizer is best for your home can be done by consulting with an HVAC professional you can trust, like the ones at Carmine's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.

About Carmine’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

Carmine’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning has been providing dependable plumbing and air services in Danbury, CT, and the surrounding for over 30 years. They provide the fastest service and offer 24/7 emergency service, flat-rate pricing, and an A+ BBB rating!

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