Tank-Style Water Heater Maintenance

A conventional tank-style water heater will typically last for 8-10 years. However, without routine maintenance sediment and rust can accumulate, shortening the life of the water heater while also wasting energy. To keep your water heater in good condition for the long run, ABC recommends following these water heater maintenance steps at least once a year.

1. Drain out the water heater tank to remove sediment. This is particularly important if you have hard water in your home. Attach a hose to the drain valve located at the bottom of the tank. Before opening the drain valve  ensure the opposite end of the hose is outside or near a floor drain. Be careful, as the water may be very hot. If you're not sure how to flush your water heater, call ABC. An experienced plumber can advise you on the best way to drain your water heater tank.
2. Check for water leaks, pinholes rusting around the exterior of the water heater.
3. For natural gas water heaters, inspect the flue to ensure exhaust fumes are venting outside by striking a match next to the flue housing. The smoke should drift out through the exhaust flue.
4. Test the relief valve by putting a bucket beneath the drain pipe and opening the valve. Water should flow freely when the valve is opened.
5. Ensure that the thermostat is set to between 120 and 125 degrees. It should not be set above 125 degrees. We recommend keeping your water heater below 115 degrees  if you have have young children.
6. Keeping a pan underneath the water heater will make it easier to detect any leaks.
7. If you have a gas water heater, check the pilot light to make sure it is burning blue and steady.

Tankless Water Heater Maintenance

Tankless water heaters are becoming a popular choice for homeowners looking for a more efficient alternative to traditional water heaters. Because water is only heated when it's needed, it uses much less energy. And with no storage tank, it never runs out of hot water as long as the unit it the proper size for the home's hot water needs.

Like traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters require regular maintenance to ensure that they last as long as possible. Spending some time on maintenance yourself, or calling ABC for routine maintenance, will ensure that you are taking advantage of all the cost saving benefits available from your tankless water heater. In addition, most manufacturers require this maintenance as a condition of the unit's warranty.

1. Inspect and Clean the Screen Filter

Following the manufacturer's recommended schedule and procedures, inspect and clean the filter located on the water inlet side the tankless water heater. We recommend having a qualified plumber do this job. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, it's important to learn the proper procedure before attempting this maintenance. Do not use chemicals to clean your tankless water heater, since they will enter your drinking water. Vinegar is a safe, effective cleaner.

2. Flush the System

To prevent the a harmful buildup of lime and scale, flush your tankless water heater periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations. As noted above, please be sure to flush it with vinegar and not chemicals that could contaminate your water supply.

With the arrival of cold weather in the Chicago area comes the inevitable rise in home heating bills. ABC has come up with some easy ways to save energy this winter and keep that heating and electric bill in check.

Check For Peak Utility Hours

Your local electric utility may have peak hours when rates are higher as well as hours when they are be lower.  If so, change when you use major appliances like dishwashers, washing machines and hot water.  You may be getting charged extra for electricity at certain times of day and not even know it.

Zone Your Home

Instead of using your home's central heating system and furnace all day long, opt for room heaters that you can use to heat just one room at a time.  This works great if you spend most of your day in a home office or for night time when your're only in the bedroom.

Switch To Energy Star Appliances

By choosing to replace your older appliances with Energy Star rated appliances you can become 15 to 30% more energy efficient. Energy Star rated appliances will also increase your home’s market value considerably.

Let The Sunshine In

On sunny days keep your blinds open all day long so your home can soak in the free heat of the sun.  Close them again at night to keep heat from escaping.

Install Energy Efficient Curtains

Putting up energy efficient curtains to seal in heat can make a very big difference in the amount of energy you use for heating your home.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

You'll never forget to turn down the heat when you leave for work or go to sleep.

Change Your Furnace Filters Regularly

As furnace filters get dirty your furnace has to work harder to push air through, meaning more energy is consumed.  Change your furnace filter once a month to help your furnace – and your family – breath easier.

Turn Your Hot Water Heater Temperature Down

Many water heaters are set to 140 degrees but most homeowners can easily turn their water heater down to 120 degrees and not even notice the difference.

Seal Off Your Chimney If Its Not Being Used

If your chimney is just for show, than make sure to seal it up.  Otherwise it's a large hole taking the heat right out of your home.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

Change your ceiling fans to the reverse setting to circulate the hot air back down to where you want it.

Close off unused rooms. If you aren’t spending time in them, seal them off for the winter and reduce the volume of air that you're heating.

The causes of low water pressure are many, from simple fixes to more complex water supply problem. The following are some helpful tips to diagnose and fix some of the most common causes of reduced water flow.

Check Your Faucet Aerators

Mineral deposits and debris can cause faucet aerators to become dirty over time, eventually restricting the flow of water.  By routinely removing and cleaning your faucet aerator screens you can keep the water flowing freely. White vinegar can be used to dissolve the mineral deposits on faucets and shower heads. Simply submerge them overnight.

Check Your Shower Head

You can find inexpensive, high-pressure shower heads at your local hardware store, and that could be all it takes to make your shower flow better. If your shower head has a low-flow fixture in place, try swapping it out with a regular shower head fixture to increase the flow of water.

Check the Water Supply Valves

If someone in your home has turned off and then turned on a water supply valve in your home recently, it may not have been returned to the fully opened position.

Advanced Solutions For Low Water Pressure

If you've checked the techniques above to increase your home's water pressure with little success, ABC can help with more problematic water pressure problems.

One solution is a home water pressure booster. A water pressure booster is simply a water pump that works with your home's existing water supply to increase water pressure.

ABC can also help find more serious causes of low water pressure problems. If you have a water pipe that is leaking, it will affect the water pressure in your house significantly (while raising your water bill). Try turning off the water supply both inside and outside your home, then check your water meter. Check the water meter once more a couple hours later to determine if the water usage has increased. If so, you probably have a leak that needs to be located and repaired.

Another option is to increase the size of the main pipe supplying water to your house. See if you can determine what type of water pipes you have in the home and running to your water meter. Pipe size is an important factor in the amount of water pressure you'll get in your home. The larger the pipes, the more the water pressure, so you may want to consider increasing the size of the main pipe servicing your house.

Sealing your home's attic, outer walls, doors, windows, and floors is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and your family's comfort. With careful attention to drafts and under insulated area of your home, can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs by sealing and insulating.

Follow These Three Energy Saving Improvements:

• Seal air leaks throughout the home to stop drafts
• Add insulation to block heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer
• Choose an ENERGY STAR® qualified furnace, water heater and air conditioner

Some air leaks are easy to find because they can be felt — like those around windows and doors. But holes hidden in your attic, crawlspace, and basement are often a bigger source of energy loss. Sealing these leaks with caulk, expanding spray foam, or weather strip will have a significant impact on your family's comfort and reduce your utility bills.

Will Sealing My Home Affect Indoor Air Quality?

There is often a concern about sealing a house too tightly; however, this is very unlikely in most older homes in the Chicago area. Some fresh air is needed for good indoor air quality and there are specifications that set the minimum amount of fresh air needed for a house.

To be safe, after any home insulating and sealing project, have an ABC home comfort specialist check to make sure that your home's combustion appliances (gas- or oil-fired furnace, water heater, and dryer) are venting properly.

Choosing the Right Insulation For Your Home

Insulation will keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. There are several common types of insulation — fiberglass (in both batt and blown forms), cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam. Reflective insulation (or radiant barrier) is another insulating product which can help save energy.

When correctly installed with air sealing, each type of insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during the hottest and coldest times of the year.

Insulation performance is measured by R-value — its ability to resist heat flow. Higher R-values mean more insulating power. Different R-values are recommended for walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces, depending on your area of the country. Insulation works best when air is not moving through or around it. So it is very important to seal air leaks before installing insulation to ensure that you get the best performance from the insulation.

To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is usually in the attic. A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your uncovered attic floor. If your insulation is level with or below the attic floor joists, you probably need to add more insulation. The recommended insulation level for most attics is R-38 (or about 12–15 inches, depending on the insulation type).

Seal Air Ducts

In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, air ducts distribute heated and cooled air throughout the house. In a typical house, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. The result is higher utility bills and an uncomfortable home, no matter how the thermostat is set.

Because some ducts are concealed in walls and between floors, repairing them can be difficult. However, exposed ducts in attics, basements, crawlspaces, and garages can be repaired by sealing the leaks with duct sealant. In addition, insulating ducts that run through spaces that get hot in summer or cold in winter – like attics, garages, or crawlspaces – can save energy.

Choose ENERGY STAR® Heating & Air Conditioning Systems

If you are replacing your furnace and air conditioning equipment,ABC will installs your new system according to ENERGY STAR quality installation guidelines. This includes a thorough inspection of your duct system, including proper sealing and balancing of ductwork, to help ensure that your new system delivers the most comfort and efficiency.

Keep Your Family Safe and Comfortable with a Whole House Generator

Power outages are occurring more frequently than ever and lasting longer with more harmful effects. Whole house generators are becoming a popular way for Chicago area homeowners to keep their homes safe and comfortable during prolonged periods without power.

Today's backup generators are quieter, more reliable and offer the  convenience of auto start and practically infinite run time. When the power goes out  a standby generator goes on - automatically - protecting you and your home 24/7. With a standby generator your family can maintain everyday necessities like heating, cooling, refrigeration and lighting.

Whole House or Portable Generator?

A portable generator needs to be rolled out from the storage, filled with fuel or hooked up to a fuel line, manually started, and connected to your loads. By contrast, a permanent standby generator starts automatically because it is already connected to both the house wiring and the fuel source. It can sense a power outage, isolate your electrical wiring or designated emergency circuits from the grid, and start powering your home immediately.

Whole house standby generators offer power levels higher than portables - their rating ranges anywhere from 5 kilowatt up into hundreds of kW. This makes them the best choice for long-term power outages. While the initial cost is higher than a portable generator, a whole house generator will increase the value of your home.

When power is restored, a portable generator will need to be switched off manually. A whole house generator will connect you back to the utility lines and will turn itself off automatically. You don't even have to be home to switch it over.

What to Look For When Choosing a Whole House Generator For Your Home

Aside from wattage, consider the duration of time you may need emergency power, fuel availability, safety and convenience of use.

By selecting which appliances and lighting you want to maintain during a power outage, you can calculate the power requirements of the designated circuits and select a generator that can maintain the proper wattage for your application.

Most residential generators can run on both natural gas and LP (propane). Your installer will do a simple field adjustment to convert the unit to your available fuel source.
A whole house generator will be permanently installed in a location that provides easy access to your home's electric and fuel supply and that minimizes the risk of exhaust fumes entering the home.

Have backup power generator questions?  The experts at ABC Plumbing, Heating Cooling & Electric can help you select the best whole house generator solution to fit your family's needs and budget.

Energy Savers Series : Tip 4 Cooling

There are a variety of changes you can make to improve the energy efficiency of your home's cooling system, from simple maintenance to system replacement. Some of these you can do on your own; for others, you may need to hire an HVAC contractor.

Here are some areas where you can make improvements to increase the energy efficiency and lifespan of your heating and cooling equipment.

Have an Annual Air Conditioner Tune-Up

Having an annual air conditioner tune-up will keep your cooling system running at peak efficiency while also identifying any malfunctions that can cause costly breakdowns during peak use. You'll have the peace of mind knowing your air conditioner is operating safely and efficiently all summer long.

Change Your Air Filter

This simply act makes a big difference. Changing your air filter frequently will not only keep the air in your home cleaner, it will extend the life of your HVAC system by making it run more efficiently and under less load. If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months.

Keep Your Air Ducts Properly Sealed

Forced-air heating and cooling systems rely on ducts to efficiently distribute air throughout the home. Unfortunately, we often see that homes are losing an average of 20% of the air that moves through the duct system due to holes and poorly attached ducts. This leads to higher utility bills and a forced air system that just can keep the temperature comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set.

Sealing leaks and insulating ducts will not only make your heating and cooling equipment more efficiently it will reduce the risk of CO poisoning.  Leaky ductwork in your heating and cooling system can cause “backdrafting” where exhaust gases from water heaters, gas dryers and other appliances are drawn back into the living space, rather than expelled to the outdoors. Sealing leaks can minimize this risk. A qualified HVAC contractor can evaluate your home's air delivery system and make necessary improvements.

Clean Your Air Ducts

Over time, your home's air ducts will accumulate dust and debris. This will not only make the air your family breathes less healthy, it can also reduce the efficiency of your furnace and air conditioner. A professional duct cleaning will remove this debris, allowing your HVAC system, and your family, to breathe easier.

Install a Ceiling Fan

Installing a ceiling fan will not only help your home feel cooler, allowing you to run your AC less frequently, but will help your air conditioner do its job by circulating the cool air to the warmer areas of your home. Newer ceiling fans are highly efficient and include conveniences like a remote control with speed selector.

Upgrade to an ENERGY STAR Air Conditioner

If you are planning to replace your current air conditioner, there are a variety of cooling systems that you can choose from, and many are ENERGY STAR® qualified units specifically designed for energy efficiency. When making your choice, you should take into account your current system and the size of your home.

While replacing your current cooling system will cost more than the maintenance options listed above, depending on the age of your current system, lower long-term energy bills can make up the difference―saving you money in the long run.

Learn more about ENERGY STAR at: http://www.energystar.gov/

Energy Savers Series : Tip 3 Water Heaters

Water heating can take a lot of energy, accounting for 14% to 25% of the total energy consumed in your home. Even taking small steps can mean significant energy and cost savings.

Lower Your Water Heater Temperature

To see if this tip will be effective, first measure the temperature of your hot water at the farthest faucet from your water heater. To ensure your family's safety and comfort, the water temperature should be between 115 and 120 degrees F. If it is above this range, try adjusting the temperature of your water heater down. Consult your water heater documentation or manufacturer if you have any questions about adjusting the thermostat temperature on your water heater.

Put a Blanket On

Wrapping your hot water heater tank in an insulated “blanket” will reduce energy loss and make heating more efficient. Hot water heater blankets are inexpensive, and you can usually install them yourself.

Always follow the manufacturers' safety instructions before wrapping your water heater tank. Wrap the tank thoroughly, being careful not to cover the thermostat. On gas models, avoid covering the water heater’s top, bottom, thermostat, and burner compartment.

Insulating the first 6 feet of the hot and cold water pipes can also reduce the heating effort of your water heater.

Lower the Flow

Low-flow plumbing fixtures will help to improve performance and reduce waste. Low-flow shower heads can be an entirely new shower head, or a short, inline fixture that screws between the pipe and an existing shower head.

Treat your water

Reducing chlorine and other chemicals in water will reduce calcium and mineral build-up in the bottom of the water heater.  Mineral build-up reduces efficiency by up to 50% and also can cut the life of the water heater in half.   By treating the water you will also improve the efficiency of delivery and reduce damage to faucets, piping and clothes.

Wash Clothes In Cold Water

90% of the energy used in washing clothing is from heating the water. Most laundry detergent manufacturers sell detergents made to clean for cold water.    

Upgrade to an ENERGY STAR Tankless Water Heater

When it's time to replace your old, inefficient water heater, switching from a conventional water heater to an ENERGY STAR qualified  tank-less water heater can be a smart move, potentially cutting your water heating costs by 60% and the new tank-less water heater will last 2-3 times as long as your old heater.  Tank-less water heaters also provided unlimited amounts of hot water.

Not only will you save on water heating costs, many ENERGY STAR rated appliances qualify for state energy efficiency tax rebates saving you money on the initial cost of a new water heater.

Learn more about ENERGY STAR at: http://www.energystar.gov/

If you’re a typical Chicago area homeowner, you spend about $2,000 each year on energy bills—and more than half of that amount goes to heating and cooling your home. It makes sense to look carefully at your home's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to see whether there are changes you could make to reduce your energy bill and improve your comfort.

Automatic Energy Savings

One of the easiest ways to increase the efficiency of your furnace and air conditioner is to use a programmable thermostat. You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back around 10°–15° for eight hours a day. A programmable thermostat makes it easy to set this up automatically, so that your home heating or cooling system uses less energy while you are sleeping or not at home. You could save nearly $200 annually with an optimally programmed thermostat.

But doesn't reheating my house use more energy?

A common misconception is the belief that turning your thermostat down at night in the winter will end up using more energy because you'll have to heat the house back up in the morning.
Not true! The reality is you are "losing" less heat to the environment when you don't keep your home as warm and thus have to spend less money heating your home...especially when you are sleeping, you won't even notice the difference!

Other Advantages to Programmable Thermostats

• Can automatically monitor and adjust your humidity levels
• Can tell you the temperature outside
• Can be larger and backlit for ease of reading
• Can automatically cycle the air in the home to create even temperatures throughout.

Welcome to ABC's new series of tips to help you save energy and money. To get started with the series we'll be talking about energy audits.

What is an Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a series of tests designed to help to identify where your home is leaking energy and how well your heating & cooling system are working.  When performing an energy audit our heating experts will ask you some comfort questions about your home, perform a heat loss calculation, inspect and measure the homes duct work system.  By performing an accurate energy audit, we can help determine the right heating and cooling equipment for your home, how to maximize your homes energy efficiency and help even out the temperatures in your home.

According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), energy star, and consumer reports, a good heating and air contractor should perform these tests on your home before replacing your heating and cooling system.  In fact, the EPA notes “be leery” of any contract not willing to perform an accurate heat loss calculation on your home.

How do I get an energy audit for my home and what does it cost?

There are companies in the Chicago Illinois area that you can hire to perform an energy audit. The cost of an energy audit will depend on the company but we include them as complementary service when you request a quote to replace your heating and cooling equipment.

Can I do an energy audit myself?

Some Chicago are homeowners choose to do their own home energy audit.  From our experience it is very difficult to perform these tests on your own.  The software to perform an accurate test can be very expensive and tools aren’t readily available.  However, there are free basic versions available that can be used to double check your contractors work.

For information on do-it-yourself home energy audits, visit the The Home Energy Saver. The Home Energy Saver will help you compute your home's energy use with online based on methods developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. By changing features on a model home, users can estimate how much energy and money can be saved and how much pollution prevented by implementing energy-efficiency improvements. All end uses (home heating, cooling, major appliances, lighting, and miscellaneous uses) are included. A detailed description of underlaying calculation methodsand data is provided in a special report.

I've had an Energy Audit, what's next?

Once you know where your home is losing energy there are many techniques you can use to prevent energy loss and save money. The rest of our Energy Savers Series will be a collection of tips and techniques that expert energy auditors use to help homeowners save energy and money.

Next up, saving energy with Programmable Thermostats

Illinois energy efficiency incentives are available to help you keep your home's air conditioner running efficiently

Last month we talked about the impact of your air conditioning tune up (Part I), this month we will focus on the local impact of energy savings.

Two years ago, the State of Illinois commissioned the Smart Ideas program to help Illinois become one of the “greenest” states.  

Smart Ideas is a cooperative program between the state of Illinois, Comed and local heating & cooling contractors, to improve the value Chicago homeowner receive from their electric energy dollars.    

What does this mean for me?

Last week we talked about saving over $32 per month on your energy bills by having your air conditioning tune up.  The Smart Ideas program is a champion of this idea.  By educating homeowners on the importance of testing, cleaning & repairing a home's air conditioning systems – the Smart Ideas program, saves money, and just as important, reduces the energy use demands from Illinois residence.   

How does it work?

The program is easy.  Just contact a participating Smart Ideas contractor to tune up your air conditioning system.  The participating dealer will arrive at your home with a special tool to measure the performance of you air conditioning system.  After measuring your systems performance, they will perform a tune up on your air conditioning system.  Finally, the heating & cooling expert will re-measure your ac systems performance to determine your annual electrical savings.  

For more information about the Smart Ideas program call Erik at 847-419-1000.