MISHAWAKA/FORT WAYNE/PLYMOUTH IN; ST. JOSEPH/NILES, MI — Area water departments have been sending letters to residents about higher-than-normal lead levels in drinking water. What is a homeowner to do if they receive one of these notices?

You can wait for your local government to take care of it, or you can take matters into your own hands and purchase a professional-grade, reverse osmosis water quality system.

Does your home have aging water pipes? Are you on a city water system were there are frequent floods?

According to Kumar Menon, Fort Wayne City Utilities Director, lower quality metal was used in the water industry from the 1930s to the 1970s. In fact, one study showed eight of 70 homes tested in that area were above action level lead conditions for the second year in a row.

These sub-standard pipes are being replaced in Fort Wayne over the next 20 years.

But can you afford to wait 20 years for your family to have clean drinking water?

Imagine having perfectly clean, delicious and healthy, mineral-enriched water at your tap whenever you needed it for cooking, drinking and more.

Unlike big box store water filters that you have to refill, a RevitaLife RO system is permanent and limitless; it hooks right into your home’s water supply, and supplies healthy RO water to drinking faucets, refrigerators and ice makers.

A professional-grade RO system uses four separate chambers to take all impurities out of your water and then a fifth chamber to add back the minerals that make water healthy and tasty.

Additionally, stormwater run off can contain oil and gas discharges or chemicals from farming such as herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. Byproducts of the industrial process can leach radioactive contaminates (which can be naturally occurring, or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities) into your drinking water.

Perhaps you’ve seen reports about pharmaceuticals and illegal drugs showing up in water supplies? That can be filtered out.

If you have children or residents in your home who are immunocompromised, they are at greater risk for some microbial pathogens that can be found in some water. Thankfully, these pathogens can be filtered out with an RO system.

If you don’t like the taste or smell of your tap water and find yourself buying cases of bottled water every week, not only are you spending lots of money, but the plastic in the bottles are causing our landfills to fill up and are non-biodegradable pollutants in our environment.

Again, an RO system will keep you from ever having to buy bottled water again.

A reputable Plumbing/HVAC company will offer a number of water quality solutions for large and small homes, starting with a thorough inspection, water test, discussion with a licensed plumber about your family’s needs and more to develop the best solution to keep you in home comfort every day, all day.

            If you have any other questions about how RO systems can help keep your family healthy and safe, please contact us at callhomecomfort.com

 

 

Remember Home Comfort Experts is YOUR source for cooling, air quality and plumbing news! We can help!

Home Comfort Experts is a plumbing, heating and cooling company serving residential homes throughout Northern Indiana and Southwest, Michigan. It is locally owned and operated and emphasizes employee training of nearly 200 additional hours each year. All technicians are drug and background tested and expected to perform at above-standard levels, leaving homes clean and customers informed. Additionally, Home Comfort Experts offers financing to make the purchase of an efficient system affordable for the families we serve.

An Annual Plumbing Inspection and Checklist for Your Home 

It is that time of year again. The days are ticking away. Do you have your home inspection checklist complete for this year? When you want peace of mind knowing your house is in tip-top shape for the next twelve months, then Home Comfort Experts has a solution. Our preventative maintenance program includes member perks that can save you tons of money.

What plumbing services maintenance should homeowners do inside the house each year?

• Check all plumbing lines to and from the water heater for leaks.
• Check the the p-traps underneath all your sinks.
• Check the water heater temperature – it should be 120 degrees Fahrenheit for safety and to ensure your water heater lasts.
• Inspect your shower head and bathtub faucets for rust, hard water buildup, and leaks.
• Check your washing machines and dishwasher hoses for leaks, corrosion, and mineral deposits.
• Turn the garbage disposal on to see if it operates smoothly and quietly.
• Check sewage drains and make sure they are working properly.
• Inspect the toilet for leaks, moisture buildup and inefficient operation.

Outdoor areas to check for damage before calling a plumber:

Your gutters and downspouts can flood your drains if they do not remove water effectively. When you have clogs, it can allow water to pool in one area or another. This water can seep into the walls or the foundation, and it can cause mold growth because the water is stagnant.

Why is it important to have an annual plumbing inspection?

1. Money savings on toilet repairs and drain cleaning services.

Did you know that over 10 percent of houses in the United States have plumbing issues causing a loss of nearly 100 gallons of water a day? Is your home one of these houses? Unless you perform regular plumbing checks or have an annual plumbing inspection, you may not realize the money you could be saving.

2. Avoid the messy work and save the hassle with a yearly checkup.

Using an expert means that you do not have to do the dirty work of climbing under the house or in crawlspaces to check all the connections. When the plumber finds small problems, you can choose whether you want to complete the repair now or later. For big problems, you will be happy that an expert is capable of handling water heater installations and replacing sump pumps. Fixing clogged drains and toilet issues is another thing most homeowners are happy to hand over to the expert after an annual plumbing inspection. When you do not want or do not know how to flush your water heater, our plumbing inspectors at Home Comfort Experts perform this task as a part of our annual maintenance program, the Comfort Club.

Tips for maintaining your plumbing between visits.

• Routinely look for leaks, corrosion, or damage.
• Investigate any mold or mildew smells.
• Insulate outdoor plumbing like pipes that run under the house.
• Remember that the seals in your pipes will wear out over time – if you are lucky enough to avoid these issues for several years, then be wary of potential problems and be vigilant with your plumbing checks.

Why Home Comfort Experts is the Best Choice in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan:

Annual service and quality checks from Home Comfort Experts gives you peace of mind knowing that when something breaks, you have an expert who can handle the job. You can read some of our nearly 9,000 reviews online to see what you can expect when our licensed and certified plumbers visit your home for inspection or repair. We provide a one-year guarantee on all of our repairs. Plus, we will never fix anything you do not agree to before we start working. With our high ratings on Google and the Better Business Bureau, you know you are getting a quality inspection and repair from a local leader.

Plumbing services you can count on

Most of the plumbers at Home Comfort Experts have decades of experience working on numerous plumbing systems and equipment. Our company has been helping homeowners in this area since 2006 with heating, air conditioning, toilet repairs, water heater replacements and drain cleaning. Our plumbing services are not like other plumbing companies. Where a different plumber in our Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan service areas might clean out the clog or get the drain to work, Home Comfort Experts plumbers take the time to clean the line thoroughly and completely to ensure you do not have the same issue in a couple of years.

Items we replace

• Water heaters
• Boilers
• Sewage pipes
• Toilets and garbage disposals
• Sump pumps
• Water softeners
• Entire home plumbing system replacement

24-hour plumber in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan when you need plumbing help the most

Do you want the peace of mind knowing you have a reliable plumber on call for disasters like broken pipes and backed up sewage drains? What do you do when you cannot afford the upfront cost of replacing a sump pump? Home Comfort Experts plumbing provides assurance that we will help no matter what time of day or night you call. Plumbing emergencies do not wait for the holidays to pass before happening, so our experts are always on call to help you when you need us the most. We also have financing for large ticket items that can take a chunk out of your bank account.It can cost more than $1,000 to replace a water heater. Preventing you from paying this cost all at once is a huge help when you are on a budget.

The Home Comfort Experts Comfort Club Service Agreement Program

Because we have decades of experience working on all models and brands of equipment, our plumbers have the skills to fix or install any plumbing product. One of our most popular services is our Comfort Club. This service agreement provides members many perks that Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan residents can depend on to save money and offer assurances when things go haywire. This service plan helps you prevent major disasters like no hot water in the middle of winter when the entire family is home for the holidays.

Perks of the Comfort Club

• Can ask for the same plumber in your service area (Mishawaka/South Bend, Fort Wayne, Plymouth and Michigan) each time you call.
• No added cost for weekend calls for Comfort Club members.
• No overtime fees for Comfort Club members.
• Additional discounts on parts and services such as toilet repair and drain cleaning.
• 100 percent satisfaction for service guarantee.
• Trusted and thoroughly vetted plumbers with years of local experience.
• Efficiently running systems using less energy and saving you money.

When you call Home Comfort Experts for your plumbing services and needs, we value your time and property. We find the source of the problem and use our skills and training to provide the correct fix so that you have no further issues. Our preventative maintenance plan helps you save money on repair and installation costs while making sure your plumbing runs smoothly to save you money in the long run. Our technicians have many common replacement parts on the truck too because we stock these items to ensure you do not have to wait for a part to come in on back order.

Your sink, toilet, or bathtub is clogged. Is the problem at the trap, the main line, or somewhere in between? The plumbers on our drain remediation team have the tools to quickly analyze your situation and get your drain open and flowing. Our plumbers can diagnose and solve your “drain pain” quickly and professionally.

Diagnosing an Impending Clogged Drain

The best way to handle drain clogs is to avoid them altogether through our annual plumbing inspections, during which our plumbers diagnose issues with your pipes that will lead to clogs and solve them before clogs can form. If you join our Comfort Club, we’ll contact you once a year for your pre-paid annual plumbing inspection.

Unfortunately, there are not many warning signs of impending clogs, but if you experience any of these signs, you should call in our drain remediation team right away:

• Slow Drains: If your sink, bath, or shower is draining slower than usual, it's often the initial indicator of a plumbing issue, like a leak, debris buildup, or more.
• Odors from Drains: When your floor drain keeps backing up, it means there’s a buildup of waste. These need to be removed before there is extensive damage.
• Water Rings Near Floor Drains: Fluid backup from a floor drain might create water rings that subside slowly. If you spot these rings, even if the fluid has receded, it's a sign of drainage trouble.

How to Open a Clogged Drain

You can treat slow drains with hot water, baking soda and vinegar, or pour salt down your drain at night, hopefully keeping clogs at bay; just never use chemical drain openers, and never pour boiling water down PVC pipes.

There are only two basic ways to open fully clogged drains: plungers and snakes. Occasionally, a homeowner can successfully open drains themselves using these tools, but it often takes a professional plumber to remove drain covers, stoppers, traps, and clean-outs in order to access the clog and remove it.

Plungers and Evacuators

For a plunger to be effective, it needs to create a tight seal with the sink, tub, or toilet. This seal is crucial for building enough suction to dislodge a clog from the pipe walls. To gauge the plunger's success, there should be standing water. If you see the water level going down, it indicates progress.

Keep in mind that not all plungers are the same; if a dollar store plunger isn't doing the job, consider investing in a higher-quality version from a home supply store. Professional plumbers often use high-suction evacuators, or outside drain plungers, which can be even more effective than traditional plungers.

Augers and Snakes

There are many types of augers and drain snakes. For bathroom sink and tub clogs, a flexible plastic stick with prongs to grab debris can be effective. For bigger jobs like a clogged toilet, a drain snake can be used. These devices come with hand cranks or motors and work by swirling a flexible metal cable around in your pipes until the clog breaks up.

The pipework beneath sinks, showers, and bathtubs can be very intricate, and it is possible to damage the components using augers or snakes, especially in older homes. Even toilets can be damaged by the use of drain snakes. It is best to have a professional plumber snake your drains rather than risk expensive plumbing repairs.

What Happens During a Drain Remediation Visit?

Our experts utilize various clogged drain remedies based on the clog's location. This may involve removing a drain cover and cleaning the cap, p-trap, or sink stopper pop-up mechanism.

For less severe clogs, a high-suction evacuator or auger is used to dislodge and open the drain. Subsequently, hot water is employed to ensure smooth drainage. In the case of major drain pipes, a camera is utilized to assess system integrity.

After successfully opening the drain and restoring water flow, our experts reinstall the hardware to its original state, ensuring everything functions seamlessly.

How to Avoid a Clogged Drain

There are a variety of different drains around your house that need to be kept open so they work properly. Some are easier to maintain than others. Always make conscious decisions about what you put down your drains.

Be Cautious of What You Throw Down The Garbage Disposal

Grease, soap, and food waste can take their toll on kitchen drains, clogging them over time. Garbage disposals do not prevent clogs, and they can become clogged or jammed themselves with improper usage.

Never put grease down a drain. Even if you have a garbage disposal, use it only for tiny bits of food that cannot be gathered and thrown away in a waste can. Always have cold water running when you turn on your garbage disposer. This keeps oils hard and moving through your pipes instead of coagulating them.

Put Strainers on Shower and Tub Drains

Hair is the biggest danger with shower and tub drains, so make sure there is a shower drain strainer in your bathroom. Regularly remove the hair that builds up on the strainer. Even if you have no hair or little hair, strainers will stop small items like soap pieces, shampoo caps, or jewelry from slipping down the drain.

Don’t Flush Objects Down the Toilet

There are only two items that should be placed in a toilet: toilet paper and human waste. Clogged toilets are often the result of flushing the following:

• Facial Tissue
• Cat Litter
• Feminine Products
• Baby Wipes or ‘Flushable’ Wipes

Protect Bathroom Sink Drains

Clogs in bathroom sinks can result from toothpaste, soap, hair, styling products, and other grime. Bathroom sinks with drain stoppers do not accommodate strainers, so extra care must be taken to keep clogging substances out of these drains.

Run water the entire time you are brushing your teeth. Consider spitting into a tissue instead of the sink, and use paper towels to wipe styling products and hair from your hands before you rinse them off.

Lastly, if you feel the need to vomit, use the toilet, not the sink.

Keep Debris Out of Floor Drains

Floor drains capture soap from cleaning products and laundry detergent that can build up scale over time. They are also susceptible to receiving any kind of dirt, debris, or trash that finds its way to the floor, which can clog them up quickly. Never sweep anything into a floor drain other than water.

Get Your Sewer Drain Snaked Regularly

If water backs up in your floor drains or toilet after using large amounts of water, it probably means your sewer pipe is clogged. These are the pipes that run from your house to either the city sewer or to your septic tank.

Sewer drains are at risk of being clogged by the same items that clog your interior pipes. But an additional risk to sewer drains is plant roots that seek an easy way to water sources through your sewer pipe. Trees and bushes in your landscaping can clog sewer drains quickly, depending upon the growing season, so professional drain snaking of outside drains is recommended to keep roots from taking over.

Also, pay attention to where your sewer pipes are buried; driving over them or parking on them can cause them to collapse and require them to be replaced.

Get your septic tank inspected regularly. Opening up your sewer drain will do you no good if your septic tank is not operating properly. If you have a septic tank, make sure that the motor is running correctly, the laterals are in good shape, and the drain pipe is open all the way to the drainage area on your property. Septic tanks on a routine inspection plan with a qualified septic tank specialist should run properly for years with no major issues.

Install a Water Softener

Hard water is a big contributor to clogged pipes. Minerals in the water from our public water sources build up in pipes over time, and it is difficult to get rid of this scale once it is deposited. There are many types of water softeners; the tanks that require bags of salt are just one of the many options. Some filters can be placed easily and affordably on your main water intake, which will lengthen the life of your plumbing significantly.

Get an Annual Plumbing Inspection

We cannot stress enough how much an annual plumbing inspection can save you money. Professional plumbers will assess the condition of your:

• Pipes
• Faucets
• Toilets
• Water Heater
• Water Softener
• Water Filtration System
• Sump Pump
• Exterior Hydrants
• Hoses
• Washing Machine
• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator

Opening Drains vs. Cleaning Drains

There are two solutions to getting rid of clogs: opening drains and cleaning drains. Our drain cleaning plumbers are fully equipped to provide both drain opening and drain cleaning services.

Opening drains is a fast and affordable solution that most homeowners choose, but it may not be the best long-term solution. Opening drains remove all the clogs from a drain, so water can pass freely through your plumbing.

When drain clogs are a more constant problem, we sometimes recommend a full drain cleaning. Cleaning drains involves removing all sediment from the walls of the pipes instead of just opening them. Though cleaning a drain is more time-consuming than opening a drain, it generally keeps your drains running smoothly for a longer period of time.

Call Us Any Time of the Day or Night

At Home Comfort Experts, we are here to help you with any and all plumbing issues. That’s why we’re available 24/7 for emergency plumbing services. Reach out to us if you need drain plumbers in Northern Indiana or Southwest Michigan. Contact us today at (574) 205-0606 to schedule an appointment with our plumbing experts.

Sump pumps are lifesavers especially in the spring when thunderstorms cause torrential downpours in a short amount of time. Even in the worst of storms, sump pumps keep the water outside where it belongs. So, if you have a sump pump, you may be feeling pretty smug about your chances in the face of a spring storm, but if you’re missing key components, it may be a false sense of security. The team at Home Comfort Experts is here to tell you why.

How a Sump Pump Works

A sump pump consists of a pit in your lower level that is located below the floor’s surface. Inside the pit, a pump automatically turns on when the water level in the pit reaches a certain height.

The excess water is pumped through a pipe to the outside of your home where it drains away from your foundation. The sump pump is designed to signal the motor to pump the water out of the pit and turn off when the water level stops rising. So, no muss, no fuss, you don’t have to do anything, right?

Wrong. That’s mistake number one.

What Causes Sump Pump Failure?

• Failure to Check the Sump Pump

  A sump pump is a machine, and like all other machines, it is subject to mechanical failure. Smart homeowners perform a sump pump test once a month or so to make sure all is working properly. It’s a simple process: Just get a five-gallon bucket, fill it with water and dump it into your sump pit. If the pump kicks on, everything is fine. If not, you’d better call for sump pump repairs.

• Power Outages

  Ironically, during thunderstorms, when you need your sump pump the most, it often fails. That’s because thunderstorms can knock out the electricity to your home and your sump pump depends on that electricity to function. Without electricity, you have no sump pump.

• Lack of Battery-Backup Sump Pump

  A battery-backup sump pump is the answer to keeping your sump pump working when the electricity goes out. Battery-backup sump pumps are ready to help in just such an instance. If the electricity goes out, the battery-powered backup pump will automatically start up when the pit fills with water, just as your pump would normally. An electric charger keeps the battery-backup pump fully charged so it'll be ready at any time.

Related Read: The One Thing You Need for Your Home - a Battery-Backup Sump Pump

Don’t make these mistakes if you want your basement to stay dry. Water damage can be a huge hassle and extremely expensive. Make sure you have a sump pump, make sure it is in working order (especially in the spring), and make sure you have a battery backup sump pump in case of power outage.

If you need a sump pump installed or a battery-backup sump pump installed, give us a call and one of our Home Comfort Experts will be happy to help.

As fall rapidly approaches, the heavy thunderstorms that accompany it are not far behind. That means your home needs to be prepared for possible flooding. One thing your home must have this season is a battery backup sump pump. Here’s why:

Avoid a Soggy Basement

Your sump pump runs on electricity. If a strong thunderstorm rolls through, knocking out power, your sump pump can fail. This can lead to a flooded basement, which could end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars to repair. Home Comfort Experts Heating, Cooling & Plumbing can help you avoid this by simply installing a battery backup sump pump.

Know When You Have a Problem Immediately

Besides the fact that it can save you from a catastrophe if your power goes out, a battery backup sump pump can also warn you when there’s a problem. It is designed to start working when your main sump pump stops, or work together with your sump pump when the volume of water is extremely heavy. But one of it’s other awesome features is that it can signal an alarm if there are any problems with the battery, connections, or a clogged pump.

Other ways to safeguard yourself from a flooded basement also include:

• Double-check the sump pump’s valve operation by pouring water into the sump pit, and make sure it’s actually pumped outside.
• Make sure your gutters and downspouts are free of debris.
• Check the slope of your lot. Your home may have settled and the land may need to be re-graded to slope away from your home’s foundation.

Call Home Comfort Experts to install a batteryback up sump pump in your home today.

With summer coming to an end and the kids heading back to school, it is time to get your home back in gear. In order to do just that, Home Comfort Experts is giving homeowners a few homework assignments.

Assignment #1: Make Adjustments to Your Programmable Thermostat

 

Your family’s schedule has probably changed now that school is back in session. With kids in school most of the day and sports practices or other evening activities, making changes to your programmable thermostat that reflect your new schedule will help with energy savings. For more tips on programming your thermostat, check out our blog post Best Programmable Thermostat Tips to Drive Energy Savings.

Assignment #2: Change the Air Filter
At Home Comfort Experts, we recommend changing your home’s air filter each month. Doing so will not only help with and increasing efficiency but also with keeping your air cleaner. If you have already done this task, cross it off your homework list! Don’t forget to sign up for Home Comfort’s FilterMinder service that sends you a reminder to change your filter.

Assignment #3: Check Your Sump Pump Drain
Homework assignment number three is to check your sump pump drain. Make sure that it is working effectively and that nothing is blocking this passage as to avoid a plumbing problem. It would also be helpful to check on your battery backup sump pump. You can flip your breaker off to trigger the battery backup sump pump and test that it is in working condition.

Now you have the homework necessary to get your home back in gear! For more information about heating and cooling maintenance, give Home Comfort Experts a call today.

During the summer, it’s normal for areas around Indiana and Michigan to see a fair share of intense rainfalls, which can lead to potential flooding. Are you looking for a reliable way to protect your home during these rain storms? Consider installing a sump pump with a battery backup.

A sump pump with a battery backup serves as a reliable defense against water damage, providing an extra layer of security when you need it the most. Homeowners frequently encounter situations where they realize the importance of having a battery backup sump pump.

In the worst of cases, you’ll lose power during a storm. That’s why having a non-electric sump pump is beneficial if your home is at risk of flooding. Take the time to learn about why you should have a plumbing professional install a battery backup sump pump in your home.

Why Should You Install a Non-Electric Sump Pump Backup?

While a regular sump pump is beneficial in and of itself, if your home loses power during a thunderstorm, your device may stop working, risking a flood. While it’s never a mistake to install a sump pump, speaking to a technician who can recommend the right unit for your home’s needs is crucial.

Here are three scenarios that homeowners may experience if they don’t have a battery backup sump pump in their homes.

Scenario 1: Your Home’s Main Sump Pump Fails

Sump pumps play a crucial role in areas prone to frequent flooding–usually your home’s basement. Their primary function is to combat dampness, especially in regions where the water table consistently surpasses the foundation level. However, when your sump pump starts malfunctioning and fails to perform its duty, the consequences can be severe.

That's where a battery backup steps in as your home's safety net. Without a backup, your basement becomes vulnerable to flooding, posing not only a threat to your belongings but also risking structural damage to your home. With a battery backup, your appliance will continue removing excess water from your home, even if there are electrical issues.

Scenario 2: No Battery Backup Sump Pump During a Power Outage

When the heavy rains fall and the lightning strikes, your home may be vulnerable to losing power. Without electricity, situations like this require the use of a battery backup sump pump.

Similar to a whole home generator, the battery backup sump pump kicks into action when the main power source is unavailable. This ensures continuous water removal from the sump pit, safeguarding your basement from potential water damage.

Investing in a battery backup sump pump is a smart move for any homeowner, adding an extra layer of protection against unexpected power outages and keeping your basement dry even in the face of severe weather conditions.

Scenario 3: Your Main Pump’s Water Flow Capacity Is Surpassed

When there is a high amount of water in your sump pump’s basin, there are times when it can struggle to keep up with the incoming water, leading to potential overflow. This situation can occur during heavy rainstorms or if there's a sudden surge in water flow.

In instances where the primary sump pump is overwhelmed, a battery backup sump pump kicks in, providing an additional layer of protection and removing the water. No matter how overwhelmed the sump pump is, the battery-operated device will assist in removing water from your home.

When you need a reliable sump pump without electricity, a battery-operated device is here to help. Combat the storm season in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan by reaching out to our plumbing professionals at Home Comfort Experts. We’ll inspect how vulnerable your house is to flooding and help you find a reliable sump pump to protect your home.

Contact us today by calling us at (574) 205-0606 and scheduling an appointment with our team of experts.