Category: Blog

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the signs that you’re a savvy plumbing homeowner. Maintaining home plumbing is a careful balance between homeowners and their trusted plumbers, and having the proper baseline level of knowledge as a homeowner will save you time, money and hassle alike.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re proud to assist homeowners to whatever level needed to retain this balance, with services ranging from basic plumbing repairs to drain cleaning, sewer line cleaning, water filtration and numerous others. There are several plumbing areas for homeowners to ensure they at least have a basic working knowledge in – today’s part two of our series will go over a few additional themes that signal you’re up to speed as a homeowner.

Clean Sump Pump

Virtually all modern homes have what’s known as a sump pump, or a submersible device that sits at the lowest point of your home – generally in the basement or a crawl space. The sump pump is present for one primary purpose: Preventing flooding risks.

During heavy rain or snow, the soil around your home will become saturated with water. The sump pump turns on when this saturation reaches a certain point, removing water from the pit area and draining it into a nearby storm drain to prevent flooding. As a homeowner, you should know where your sump pump is and how to clean it, both of which are very simple tasks.

Pipe and Fixture Age and Condition

Another quality a savvy plumbing homeowner will possess is general knowledge of the age and condition of important plumbing fixtures and pipes in the home. Fixtures like water heaters, faucets and toilets are all good to have an eye on here, allowing you to handle their basic maintenance and repair needs more easily – including any occasions where you need to call our plumbers for issues above your skill level.

Emergency Tools

One more vital area to ensure you’re up to speed on here is the presence of proper emergency plumbing tools in the home. All homes should have basic cup and flange plungers, for starters, plus pipe wrenches, a snake or auger for drains, and a hacksaw. It’s likely you won’t use most of these items often or even at all, but you do not want to be caught in a situation where you need them and don’t have them.

Plumber Connection

Finally, no matter how savvy or skilled you are as a homeowner in plumbing areas, it’s an absolute must to maintain a relationship with a reputable local plumber like ours. There will be times where your skills are simply too limited for certain specific jobs, and attempting to perform them on your own will risk not only your safety, but also the quality of your home’s plumbing.

For more on areas that signal a homeowner’s adequate level of plumbing knowledge, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

As any quality plumber will tell you, home plumbing maintenance is an area that requires a balance between homeowner and plumber. While there are certain plumbing repairs or installations only certified plumbers should ever be performing, there are also several minor plumbing areas many homeowners can easily perform, plus some themes in the middle of the road here.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our plumbers are proud to help numerous homeowners ride this fence properly. We’re happy to provide numerous plumbing services, from drain cleaning to various areas of plumbing repair or installation, but will also provide expertise and basic tips for DIY homeowners who want to handle certain acceptable areas. As a homeowner, there are several plumbing areas to keep an eye on within this realm – this two-part blog series will go over several themes that indicate a homeowner who has the right level of plumbing know-how and is able to keep their plumbing in good shape moving forward.

Main Shut-Off Valve Awareness

First and foremost, all homeowners – regardless of your DIY inclinations or handiness – need to know the location of their main water shut-off valve. Generally located in the basement or outside, and often near the electrical or utility box, this main shut-off valve is the only place where you can shut off the entire home’s water supply in one move.

In cases of potential emergency or water damage, this valve is vital. It allows you to stop water flow and minimize the damage as quickly as possible – but if you don’t know where it is, that extra time spent finding it could cause extreme additional damage.

Hidden Leak Detection

Savvy homeowners will know that one of the top causes of increasing water bills in a given month is the potential presence of hidden leaks in plumbing. In addition, you may be aware of certain plumbing pipes or areas that have experienced leaks in the past, or are particularly susceptible based on their material – this knowledge serves as a shorthand, allowing you to detect these leaks before they become major issues. In turn, you’ll be able to patch the issue or call our plumbers for assistance before your bill spikes too heavily.

Garbage Disposal Usage

Another telltale sign of a savvy plumbing homeowner: All home occupants are aware of proper garbage disposal usage and do not deviate from it. This means never putting fatty waste or grease down the garbage disposal, plus avoiding items like rice, coffee grounds and various other fibrous materials that might glom up the garbage disposal and create issues.

For more on themes that showcase strong plumbing knowledge from homeowners, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on recommended thermostat settings in the home. The thermostat helps run the HVAC system while defining its efficiency, and setting it in the proper ways can go a long way toward saving you money while keeping yourself and your family comfortable throughout the year.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help with numerous thermostat areas as part of our air conditioning maintenance, central air installations or any of our other reliable HVAC services. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll go over a few additional thermostat basics to keep in mind in terms of settings while home and away, plus how you can help out your thermostat – and finally, some information on modern thermostat options all homeowners should be considering.

Home Versus Out

In part one of our series, we went over general thermostat temperature setting ranges for both the summer and winter periods of the year. One major factor that impacts these settings, however: Whether or not anyone is home.

When no one is in the house, there’s no need for the thermostat or HVAC system to be working as hard as they normally do. While you will generally have the thermostat set between 76 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit during summer, as we discussed in part one, you can raise this by at least 7-10 degrees while no one is home for at least a couple hours. This will save you huge amounts on cooling costs; the same goes for the winter period, only in the other direction.

Helping the Thermostat

In addition to the proper settings for your thermostat depending on who is home, there are several methods you can take to assist the thermostat and HVAC system in cooling or warming the home. As it’s currently summer, here are several such tips within the realm of helping the system cool the home (several of these themes can be reversed during winter):

• Use window treatments like blinds or shades that block sun and prevent heat from entering.
• Replace old weatherstripping, caulking or other materials blocking any air gaps in door and window areas, stopping air from escaping.
• Limit use of appliances like stoves or ovens that generate heat to non-peak heating hours (early mornings and later in the evening).
• Install and utilize ceiling fans to assist with cooling.
• Replace older cooling equipment with newer, more efficient models.

Value of a Programmable Thermostat

Finally, we wanted to spend a moment here on the programmable thermostat. Those home versus out temperature themes we went over above are so much easier to achieve when you can program the thermostat in advance – if you know you’ll be at work during a given time range each weekday, for instance, you can program these hours into the thermostat and it will change your heating or cooling automatically. There are even smart thermostat options that can be controlled using smartphones and offer numerous intuitive services. Both these options will save you enormous sums over time in the way they help limit energy use while keeping you comfortable.

For more on thermostat settings and related factors, or to learn about any of our HVAC or plumbing services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

When it comes to a number of HVAC areas within your home throughout the year, few elements are as important as the thermostat. Responsible for reading temperature and controlling air flow throughout the home, the thermostat plays a major role in everything from basic home comfort to energy efficiency and your HVAC costs each month.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, thermostats receive plenty of attention during our standard HVAC maintenance and installation programs. From basic air conditioning tune-ups to full-on central air installation or related themes, we’ll keep the thermostat top-of-mind and ensure you’re familiar with all its settings and proper operation tips. In this two-part blog series, we’ll go over a variety of thermostat factors and recommended settings to keep your home not only comfortable, but also free of rising energy costs or other hassles.

Warmer Weather Temperatures

First and foremost, let’s go over some basic temperature settings to consider for your thermostat. We’ll start with the warmer periods of the year, such as the hot Utah summer we’re taking part in right now.

Generally speaking, we recommend homeowners set their thermostats between 76 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer depending on personal preference. This may vary somewhat if you have special temperature needs, such as a child or an infant who has a more specific temperature range.

Cooler Weather Temperatures

During fall and winter, on the other hand, the HVAC needs in your home will change from cooling to heating. During this period, the recommended thermostat setting is a bit lower, particularly while sleeping – you can get the thermostat as low as 70 degrees or even below this during these periods. Again, however, this may vary based on specific temperature needs from individuals in the home.

Considering Humidity

One other important factor here to consider is humidity, which refers to water vapor in the air that often makes it feel thicker and hotter. The outdoor temperature may be at a given point, for instance, but high humidity could add several degrees to how hot it feels just due to this water vapor.

Now, humidity is less of a concern in a place like Utah than many others, as it’s a very dry place without too much such water vapor. However, this can also mean your humidity level gets too low, risking dry air and uncomfortable living. If your humidity levels are outside the 30-50% range they should be in, speak to our team about how your thermostat plays a role here and how you might be able to utilize the AC to assist with humidity control.

For more on proper thermostat settings and related factors, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on separating plumbing fact from fiction. A major part of basic home plumbing care among homeowners is understanding a few simple facts about their system, and also knowing which tips they’ve heard from friends or the internet are true and which might be harmful to their plumbing.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help. Our plumbing services range from sewer line repair to water filtration, water softeners and various emergency plumbing services, plus numerous areas of expertise we’ve assisted homeowners with through the years. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll list a few other common plumbing statements and evaluate whether they’re true or false.

Bleach Use in Toilets is Okay, But Requires Care

FACT.

One common format some homeowners use to clean toilets is the bleach tablet, which is often sold at many home improvement stores. As many are aware, however, bleach can be harmful to porcelain and other surfaces in large enough quantities – does this mean you should avoid such tablets?

No, as long as you’re taking the proper care. Specifically, do not let bleach tablets soak into your toilet bowl for more than 10 minutes. It must be flushed before this period to prevent any future damage, and can be used consistently if you stick to this schedule. If you let bleach sink in for longer periods of time, however, you risk ruining parts of your toilet within six months or even less.

A Faulty Water Heater Will Explode

FICTION.

While older and worn-down water heaters may have some issues, we’re not quite sure where this explosion myth came from. Rather, certain rare water heater types may rupture after enough strain – but this rupturing will cause a crack in the tank, not an explosion of any kind. Modern tanks, on the other hand, have built-in relief valves that remove any danger of pressure buildup or explosion risk. While an improperly-maintained water heater may lead to several issues, from sediment collection to poor efficiency, explosion is not one of these risks.

Small Pests May Attempt to Invade Plumbing Pipes

FACT.

Homes have pipes that run from the sewer system to the roof or parts of the drainage system, and without proper attention these could serve as entry locations for small pests like mice or rats. This is highly uncommon, however, and can be easily prevented by installing basic screens that don’t block water from escaping, but do stop critters from entering the system through these areas.

For more on separating truth from myths within your plumbing system, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

There are a few factors that are important for all homeowners when it comes to maintaining their plumbing, and perhaps the single most important is basic information. Home plumbing is a balance between DIY attention from the homeowner and maintenance and other services from plumbers, and carrying out simple areas within the latter realm is far easier for homeowners if they understand a few basics about their system and general plumbing.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to provide a limitless range of plumbing services, from drain cleaning to toilet repair, water filtration themes and many areas of plumbing repair. One basic area when it comes to understanding your home’s plumbing: Separating plumbing fact from fiction, as a number of misconceptions have become part of popular culture when it comes to these areas over the years. This two-part blog series will go over a number of common statements you’ll be liable to hear about when it comes to plumbing, plus whether they’re true or false and what they mean for your at-home plumbing care.

Liquid Drain Cleaner Unclogs the Sink Reliably

FICTION.

Sadly, liquid drain cleaner is one of the top sources of misconception within the plumbing world. While it may have occasional benefits for certain minor clogs in some drain areas, it will do more damage than harm in many other cases.

One such case is various sink drains, which generally become clogged due to mixtures of hair, skin, hygiene products and related items. Liquid drain cleaner, however, is not meant to dissolve solids like these, and likely will not do the job entirely. In addition, overusing drain cleaners of this format often wears down pipes based on active ingredients in the cleaner.

Leaky Plumbing Has Incredibly High Costs

FACT.

Some homeowners don’t concern themselves much with basic plumbing leaks, figuring they’re not a big deal. This couldn’t be further from the truth, however – billions of gallons of water are wasted per year by leaks, per the EPA, and a slow leak of just three drops per minute will still leak over 150 gallons per year. Even minor leaks should be checked and remedied immediately.

“Flushable” Wipes Are Fine in the Toilet

FICTION.

This topic has exploded during recent COVID-19 outbreak periods and resulting toilet paper shortages, but the answer remains the same: “Flushable” wipes are generally improperly marketed and should not be flushed down toilet drains despite their name. They do not break down as quickly as toilet paper, making them heavy risks for clogs and buildups in the drain and sewer system. Only human waste and actual approved toilet paper should be flushed down toilet drains.

For more on separating plumbing fact from fiction, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over the connection between certain air conditioner issues and your home’s thermostat. While some of these issues may not necessarily appear to be originating with your thermostat, a few sneaky concerns may lead to problems you had not expected in terms of cooling capacity and strain on your system.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re happy to provide comprehensive air conditioner repair and maintenance services that include any and all concerns taking place regarding your thermostat. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll go over several additional thermostat concerns that may lead to AC issues, plus how to deal with them in simple and easy ways.

Dirt or Buildups

Thermostats are not immune to buildups of dirt or grime, particularly within their interior components that work to not only gauge temperature, but also transmit information to the rest of the HVAC system using wiring. Luckily, these can be pretty easily cleaned and removed in most thermostat models.

Older models generally just require removal of the cover and dusting inside it. For contacts, use a piece of paper that moves between them to remove grime. For newer thermostats, consult ownership manuals or contact our team for cleaning information.

Installation Concerns

Particularly in cases where untrained homeowners attempted a thermostat installation without the assistance of HVAC professionals, there may be significant concerns. One of the key areas that often lacks here is wiring – most homeowners simply are not qualified to safely and properly connect and tighten wires in the right areas, and can cause damage and electrical issues throughout the home.

If you do not have HVAC training, do not attempt to repair or replace a thermostat on your own. Call our team for assistance.

Leveling Issues

A related installation issue, but one that may also take place over time in older homes even if installation was solid, is a thermostat that isn’t level. Older thermostats in particular, especially those made with mercury bulbs, require a level state to function properly. If you’re noticing issues and none of our other entries seem to be the source, check this area as well.

Programing Problems

Finally, modern programmable thermostats are fantastic innovations that allow homeowners far more control and comfort for their HVAC programs – but they’re not immune to potential concerns after many years of operation, just like other computerized systems. They may have been improperly programmed at some point, or could be experiencing wear in wiring or other component areas. This is an area where our HVAC professionals will be happy to investigate the issues and get to the bottom of things for you.

For more on thermostat issues and how they impact your AC, or to learn about any of our HVAC or plumbing services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

When it comes to the underlying causes of various potential air conditioning issues in your home this summer, one culprit often escapes the proper level of investigation: The thermostat. This item, which serves as the “brain” of your HVAC system, is not impervious to malfunctions or other issues – but in many cases, the problems that result from it seem like they might come from another source, making it more difficult to get to the bottom of things and make the proper repairs.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re happy to provide a wide array of AC tune-ups, maintenance and related services, including for issues that may quietly trace back to issues with your thermostat. In this two-part blog series, we’ll begin by going over a few of the most common such issues and their thermostat-centric roots, then look at many of the underlying issues with your thermostat that could be causing such problems.

Common Thermostat-Related Issues

Here are some of the possible AC issues that, while they may have other causes and may often be attributed to other culprits, may trace back to problems with your thermostat:

• Short cycling: When the AC shuts off and turns on in rapid succession, far too quickly to provide adequate cooling without heavily straining the air compressor. This raises your bills and shortens your system’s lifespan.
• Uneven cooling: Issues of calibration or connection can lead to issues with ACs distributing cooling evenly throughout a home.
• Blower fan: If blower fans either won’t start or run constantly without ever stopping, no matter, how you adjust the thermostat, this is likely a wiring issue that traces back to the thermostat.

Our subsequent sections will dig into some of the underlying thermostat issues that may lead to the above issues.

Thermostat Age

Like many other products, older thermostats that may have worn down will have a greater variety of issues than newer ones. In addition, older manual thermostats are by far the least amenable to quality modern cooling – they limit your ability to program in temperatures based on time and location, for instance, plus often simply don’t work as well. Strongly consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat.

Battery Needs

One of the simplest thermostat issues for models that use them: Batteries. Such thermostats will give a basic low power warning when they’re losing battery power, and it should be very easy to pop open the cover and install new ones.

Home Positioning

A sneaky thermostat issue that some homeowners don’t consider is the placement of the component itself. If the thermostat sits in direct sunlight, for instance, it will often think the room is much hotter than it actually is, and will provide far too much cooling. If it sits right near a cooling vent, on the other hand, it will assume the temperature is lower than reality and will not cool adequately.

For more on common thermostat issues and how they impact your air conditioner, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basic tips for homeowners looking to limit the strain on their plumbing system during the summer. The summer is often the toughest period for a given home’s plumbing system due to increased needs for water and usage of various plumbing fixtures, but you might be surprised how much you can alleviate this stress with some extremely basic tactics.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re proud to offer a wide array of residential plumbing services, from standard plumbing maintenance like summer upkeep to larger areas like trenchless sewer line repair and many others. In today’s part two, we’ll go over a few additional themes to keep an eye on, whether on your own or with the assistance of our handy plumbers for any areas you’re not comfortable managing.

Care While Gardening

The summer is the most popular season of the year for gardening for some relatively apparent reasons, but it just requires some very basic care for those who want to be sure they do not impact their plumbing system in any way. This is especially true for anyone who plans to do significant digging, whether for the purposes of planting, landscaping or something else.

Why is this a concern? Well, because sewer, gas and possibly other utility lines are placed under lawns in residential areas. If you accidentally dig into these, you could be looking at incredibly expensive repairs, not to mention hazards. If you have any significant digging plans, you should find out where your utility lines are before you plant – particularly the sewer line, which can lead to major leakage and related issues if it’s dug into.

Water Heater Temperature

Another theme the summer is generally a common time of year for: Vacations and trips, whether we’re talking cross-country adventures, weekend camping trips with the family or any other variety. One handy plumbing tip for whenever you take such excursions is to turn your water heater temperature down much lower than usual – this will not only limit strain on the system and give it a break for a few days, but will also save you money on your power bill at the end of the month for heating services that you won’t need while out of the house.

Connections and Leaks

Finally, particularly for homes with kids out of school for the summer, appliances like dishwashers and washing machines will see heavy work this time of year. Periodically, be sure to check basic connections and hookups to ensure there are no leaks or other issues forming, concerns that may lead to major water loss and an increase in your monthly bill.

For more on tactics to alleviate strain on your plumbing system this summer, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.

We’re fully into the Utah summer, often one of the heaviest periods of the year for a given home’s plumbing system. Between greater water usage in areas like sprinklers and more time spent at home by children who would be in school during other portions of the year, plumbing systems are often at their greatest strain during the summer – but there are simple ways you can limit this burden on them as a homeowner.

At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re proud to offer a wide range of plumbing maintenance services to all our clients, ranging from major installations and other significant jobs down to basic upkeep areas like summer maintenance. In this two-part blog series, we’ll go over several themes homeowners should consider, either on their own or with the assistance of our plumbers, to help limit the stress on your plumbing and maintain an optimal system this summer.

Sprinkler Themes

For starters, take some time evaluating your sprinkler system if this was not already done during the spring portion of the year. Many sprinkler heads and other components can be damaged or thrown out of alignment during the long Utah winter, and this in turn can lead to wasted water, rust or improper pooling of water.

Depending on the issues you find – and there may be none – you might need some assistance from our team for certain repairs. Do not attempt major sprinkler repairs you are not trained for, as this will risk not only your safety, but also the quality of the sprinkler line and system.

Drain Concerns

One area that we’ll mention here, but that isn’t specific to the summer whatsoever: Drain maintenance. Some homeowners are under the mistaken impression that their various drains, whether toilets or sinks, are ideal for flushing down a variety of items – hygiene products (besides toilet paper), grease, large food particles and many others.

Simply put, this is incorrect. Drains should only have proper liquids and approved sanitary products, such as toilet paper, put down them. Putting other items in the drain risks major clogs and expensive remedies.

Kids and Summer Vacation

One related area that’s summer-specific: Kids are home for much longer periods, as there’s no school running. Kids should be aware of all of the areas we just went over above, plus a few others: Things like running the fan in the bathroom to prevent mold formation, limiting water usage and other basic themes. Parents should be prepared for the potential reality that this particular summer might last longer from a kids and school perspective than most based on the pandemic still present in our society, and plan to ensure children know their way around basic home plumbing fixtures.

For more on summer themes to limit strain on your plumbing system, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.