Category Archives: Hot Water Heaters

Ken Jewell – HVAC Expert & Master Plumber

Being in the home services industry, we get called to homes for a wide variety of problems from heating and cooling issues to plumbing problems. Over the years, we’ve seen some common problems that could have been avoided with just a little preventive maintenance. Here are a few of the problems we see often in the wintertime. Hopefully, these reminders will keep you from having to make a service call.

Problem – Frozen Pipes

Prevention – Remove hoses from outside spigots

One of the most common problems when temperatures dip below freezing is frozen pipes. Occasionally, a home may have a pipe on an outside wall that is more exposed to the temperatures because it is in an unheated area of the home. Usually, insulating these pipes solves the problem. But the most common frozen pipe problem is caused when homeowners forget to unhook their hoses from outside spigots. The hose holds water in the pipe and when it freezes, it expands and causes the hose and many times the pipe to split. When it’s frozen, the water doesn’t flow so you may not notice a leak. But as soon as it thaws, you will have a mess on your hands. Don’t allow this to happen to you. If you’re not sure about your hoses, check them now before it’s too late.

Problem – Water Heater Shutdown

Prevention – Check Outside Vents

Occasionally, we a call from a frantic homeowner whose water heater has stopped working. Sometimes it’s a bad water heater, but many times it’s a much simpler solution – a bird or squirrel has taken up residence in the exhaust pipe. We’ve seen squirrels use them to store nuts and we’ve even encountered a bee hive built inside the vent. So check your vents every month or so to make sure they are clear of all debris and furry friends.

Problem – Furnace Shutdown

Prevention – Check outside Vents/Change Filter

We’ve also seen similar vent problems with furnace vents. Your furnace will shut down completely when the vent is blocked. But besides the vent being blocked, your furnace can also shut down when the filter is too dirty. Most homeowners are shocked that something so simple can cause their entire system to stop working. So make sure you change your filter every month and keep outside vents clear of snow and debris.

Problem – Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Prevention – Test and check batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

This may not be a problem we see often, and it certainly doesn’t happen only in the winter, but fires and carbon monoxide poisoning have such serious consequences, we felt they were worth mentioning anyway. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors save countless lives. But if they aren’t working, they are of no help in emergency situations. Check your detectors every month to make sure they are working properly and have fresh batteries.

If you experience any of the aforementioned problems, check the most likely causes before calling us. It may save you the cost of a service call. But, of course, call us if you have any doubts or problems that can’t be solved simply. We’re here for you with our Home Comfort Experts 24-hour service seven days a week.

Ken Jewell

HCE Master Plumber

Everyone is trying to be greener and more environmentally responsible these days. That’s definitely a good thing for our earth and future generations. The plumbing industry is no exception. If you’re not familiar with some of the following plumbing products, this post will help you discover and hopefully install some of these items in your home:

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters are becoming very popular. Instead of keeping a large amount of water heated and ready for use at all times, the tankless models heat water on demand. Probably the biggest advantage is that you never run out of hot water. And because the device isn’t keeping water warm 24 hours a day, tankless water heaters are much more energy efficient. In addition, tankless water heaters send less CO2 into the atmosphere and result in less landfill usage because they are smaller in size (a little larger than a briefcase).

Low Flow Toilets

Take, for example, low flow toilets. Traditional toilets use six gallons of water per flush (GPF). In the mid 1990s, water conservation laws made it mandatory that toilets use 1.6 (GPF). While the first models were water efficient, their performance lacked a little. Sometimes the amount of water wasn’t enough to clean the bowl. Manufacturers made improvements in the design and today’s low flow or high efficiency toilets work great and conserve water. There’s even a dual-flush design that allows you to choose one flush for liquids and a different flush for solid waste.

Water Conserving Faucets & Showerheads

These are some of the bigger items that are making it easier to be environmentally responsible, but there are smaller items as well. Water saving faucets and showerheads conserve water without sacrificing flow. Touchless faucets are becoming popular for home use as well, and not only do they conserve water, but they turn off automatically when not in use so there is no way kids can accidentally leave the faucet running when they leave the bathroom.

When purchasing plumbing products for your home, look for the WaterSense label. WaterSense products are backed by independent third party certification and meet the EPA’s specifications for water efficiency and performance. These high efficiency products provide the same performance and quality you’ve come to expect, but with the added benefit of water savings. So, when you use WaterSense labeled products, you can be sure you’ll be saving water without sacrificing function. All of these green products not only save water, but ultimately save homeowners on energy and water bills to boot. It’s definitely getting easier to be green! Call Home Comfort Experts and ask us about our green plumbing products when you need plumbing repairs, replacement or installation in Fort Wayne, South Bend, Laporte or anywhere in between. Together we can save the world.

Looking for an easy and inexpensive way to lower your home energy costs? Try insulating your hot water heater.

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Have you ever thought about how much it costs to keep your home’s water heated? Even if your house sits empty most of the day, your storage water heater is still using energy. It burns energy while you’re sleeping, too, and while you’re away on vacation.

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Are tankless water heaters really all that great? To find out, let’s first look at how tankless units work. When the hot water tap is turned on, cold water is pumped into the heating unit, where an electric element or gas burner quickly heats the water.

The fact is, homeowners here in northern Indiana and southwest Wisconsin can reduce their water heating bills substantially with tankless water heaters. These units provide savings with the “on demand” feature – water is heated only when needed. Traditional storage heaters use standby energy to keep a stored supply of water hot, which wastes energy and makes your utility bills higher than they need to be. (more…)

When it comes to water heaters, the worst way to replace one is to wait until your current unit goes out completely. No one likes to make a decision about an expensive piece of equipment in an emergency situation. It’s much better to do the necessary research in advance so you can consider your needs as well as the ramifications of different types of water heaters. (more…)

Heating water in your home when it’s not needed can add up to higher energy costs. The traditional, tank-style hot water heater heats up water and then keeps it warm in the until you need it. Tankless water heaters are far more efficient because they only use energy to heat water while you are using it. (more…)