Church Services

Tankless Water Heaters in Houston

noemail@churchservices.com — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:00:00 GMT

More and more Houston residents have an interest in the Tankless water heaters. Sounds like a great idea to have a continuous supply of hot water doesn't it? Why are these tankless water heaters a hot topic of discussion? Homeowners are installing tankless water heaters for three main reasons.

The number one reason is having a source of continuous hot water. No more running out of hot water for a long shower or a glorious bath in an oversized tub, or doing numerous loads of laundry.

The second reason is that these heaters are energy efficient. Water is heated only when you need it. A conventional water heater continues to heat and re-heat your water when you're not home or not using it.

The third reason is the compact size. A tankless water heater is about one third the size of a conventional water heater. It can save quite a bit of space and can be mounted on an interior or exterior wall.

10-Apr-08 11:00 AM

Mineral Deposit Buildup on Showerheads

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 19:00:00 GMT

Have you ever noticed a white substance that has built up around the area where water comes out of your faucets or showerhead and is restricting the water flow? What are some things you can do to clear this up?

Before you go and just replace the faucets or their aerators, or replace a shower head, try to remove these mineral deposits yourself. Take off (usually unscrew) the aerators from your faucets and soak them in vinegar overnight. This should help dissolve the deposits and open up your faucet water flow.

Regarding your showerheads, you can take a plastic bag and into it pour about one (1) cup of vinegar. Then place the bag over the showerhead and use a twist tie to hold it in place overnight, if possible. In the morning, remove the bag and take an old toothbrush to gently scrub off the deposits. You can also remove the shower head and place it in a bowl of vinegar, enough to cover the head. This should make a good difference in improving your water flow.

24-Dec-07 1:00 PM

Running Out of Hot Water?

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 18:00:00 GMT

Ready for a nice long shower with lots of hot water? You are starting to warm up and relax in the shower and then the water starts to get cooler. You adjust the faucet handles and you realize that you only have the hot water on, and it still is cool! This five minute shower is not exactly what you had planned on.

Why does the hot water heater run out of hot water so quickly? If the dishwasher and the washing machine have been going full blast, then give yourself a little water heater ‘recovery’ time. If your water heater is only 30 gallons, next time you replace it go for a larger tank such as 40 gallons or more. Sometimes the temperature setting is too low and should be turned up. Or maybe someone else in your family has just taken a one hour shower and tried to make the bathroom into a steam room.

Or, perhaps other possibilities are present. One problem can be the dip tube in the water heater has deteriorated. The dip tube, in case you don’t know what this is, carries your incoming cold water to the bottom of the heater tank. This allows for the hot water to be drawn from the top of the tank—remember heat rises! If the dip tube breaks or has stopped functioning properly, it allows cold water to mix with the hot water at the top, thus cooling it off and ruining your plans for a nice long shower. This problem can occur in both electric and gas water heaters.

Another factor can occur if you have an electric unit. The lower tank heating element or thermostat may not be operating properly and only heating the upper half of the tank. This issue should only be evaluated by a qualified technician.

24-Dec-07 12:00 PM

Odor in Garbage Disposal

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 18:00:00 GMT

There is an odor coming from your garbage disposal and it becomes bothersome. Usually this odor is caused by a buildup of miscellaneous food debris that gets lodged in the disposal. What are some things you can do?

One thing you can do is place some ice cubes and orange or lemon peels in the disposal and run for about 30 seconds along with some cold water. After that, squirt a little bit of laundry detergent into the disposal while it is still running. Then turn off the disposal and run some more cold water for another 30 seconds to rinse away the debris. This should help with the smells!

24-Dec-07 12:00 PM

Rumbling Noise from Water Heater

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:00:00 GMT

My water heater sometimes sounds like it has a bad case of indigestion, often rumbling or making a popping noise. Why does this occur? Typically when you water heater has sediment build up in the bottom of the tank this will cause the rumbling clatter.

Water gets trapped in the sediment, starts to boil and then pops out thus making noise. When you hear the rumbling noise this indicates that your heater is not operating as efficiently as it should be. You or your plumber can attempt to drain the water heater an allow some of the sediment to flow out.

If your water heater is quite old and if it has not been regularly drained, much of the sediment will be too large to flush out through the drain hole at the bottom. If you can not get rid of the noise, you should probably consider replacing your old water heater with a new one.

Newer water heater models have a feature that helps prevent sediment build up and typically are much more efficient. A good rule of thumb is to flush out and drain your water heater once every six (6) months.

24-Dec-07 9:00 AM

Whistling Noise from Plumbing System

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:00:00 GMT

Toilets are part of the essential bathroom layout and every so often they cause us annoyance. Sometimes we hear a high pitched noise or maybe a faint whistling noise that seems to be connected to our plumbing system. The noise comes and goes at various times but is hard to pin point as to source.

What is the cause of this noise? Our good old toilet may be the reason. This noise is often caused by a leaking fill valve or ball cock in the toilet. You can locate the leaking valve by going to each of your toilets and remove the lid from each. Adjust the fill valve until you hear the high pitched or whistling noise stopping and that will identify which toilet is causing the noise.

Once you identified the toilet troublemaker, go ahead and replace the fill valve or install a repair kit. Your plumbing company can easily do this for you if you do not want to bother with this investigation.

24-Dec-07 8:00 AM

I Need to Replace a Toilet

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:00:00 GMT

You need or want to replace one or more of your toilets in your home. You may have heard from a neighbor, friend or even in read in the newspaper that the ‘newer toilets’ do not flush properly or don’t flush the same as what you are used to. You may have even heard that you have to flush them multiple times and keep a plunger close by. What’s up with this you say? What is recommended?

When the federal government first issued their directive that all new toilets must not use more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush, this presented a challenge for some of the toilet manufacturers. After a few trials and errors, major manufacturers have made significant strides in improving their products for the market. It is recommended that you purchase a toilet that is made by a major manufacturer. A few of these companies are American Standard, Toto, or Kohler.

The new toilets do not handle a large amount of paper and waste at the same time. Flushing twice is not a bad idea to keep from having back up issues. Another option is to buy a pressure assisted toilet. These units will flush practically anything however they make quite a bit of noise and can be costly when you need repairs or service.

24-Dec-07 8:00 AM

Higher Water Bills but no Leaking Faucets

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 13:00:00 GMT

No one likes to open their water bill and do a double take at the higher than usual amount. It does happen and then we wonder how can that be? Common culprits are leaking faucets and leaking sprinkler systems. But what if these offenders are not the cause?

Don’t overlook the toilets. First check the water level in the tank and make sure that it is not higher than the overflow tube. The overflow tube is commonly in or around the middle of the tank and is about ¾” in diameter. Most overflow tubes will have a small refill hose attached.

When the water level is above the top of the overflow, you are loosing water (sometimes quietly) over the top. Go ahead and adjust the fill valve/ballcock so the water level remains one inch (1”) below the tube. Some tanks have a water level mark stamped in the side of the tank.

After you have adjusted the water level, put a few drops of food coloring into the tank and wait ten to fifteen minutes. Then check the water in the toilet bowl and if you see color it means you probably should change your flapper or the tank ball in the tank because you are constantly seeping water 24 hours a day.

If you do not want to go through these steps with all your toilets, you can give a call to your favorite plumbing company.

24-Dec-07 7:00 AM

Water Pipes Making Noise

noemail@churchservices.com — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:15:00 GMT

If you hear noise when you turn the water off at your faucet and it makes a hammering noise, this is commonly called a 'water hammer'. Water pipes contain air chambers that hold 'air' to cushion the shock when the pressurized flowing water is shut off. If these chambers get filled with water, they will loose their effectiveness. Here are some steps that you can try on your own to mitigate the noise issues. Try turning off your water at the main shut off valve; open all the faucets to drain the system and drain out the water; then close the facets and turn on the water at the main shut off valve. This should help reduce the hammering sound.

13-Dec-07 4:15 PM

Preventing Kitchen Drain Clogs

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:00:00 GMT

Most homeowners have experienced a clogged drain and remarkably this clog occurs right before a big dinner party or when family has come to visit. This is very commom but also frustrating. The reason kitchen sinks clog up the most is because of grease that builds up like Cholesterol, so do not pour grease in the sink. Pour your grease into an empty can and stick it in the refrigerator until it hardens and then throw it away.

Also, do not put carrot peelings and potato peelings in the disposal. This is a recipe for a future clogged drain! If your sewer drain lines are old they may have spots or breaks that collect debris and these peelings will gather at these spots and before you know it your dinner party is inconvenienced because the kitchen sink is all backed up.

Don't wash coffee grounds down the sink either. Throw them away like you should with the peelings.

13-Dec-07 4:00 PM

Controlling Dust Mites

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:45:00 GMT

What is a dust mite?

They are microscopic creatures that love to grow in dark and humid environments such as blankets, bedding, carpets, stuffed animals, draperies.

Keep dust mites under control?

Install clean air filter systems with your air conditioning system to trap particles.
Use air conditioning or humidifiers to keep humidity below 50%
Wash your bed linens in HOT water at least every two weeks
The more tile, wood flooring and linoleum you have on your floors, the less mites you will have.
Dust and vacuum furniture at least once per week.

22-Oct-07 12:45 PM

Why change air filters in your HVAC system?

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:00:00 GMT

A dirty filter will not stop all allergens and dust but tends to allow them to blow around your house
Saves you time in dusting furniture all the time
Loaded air filters will force your air handler to work harder and shorten its life
Save time and money by changing your filters at least once every month

22-Oct-07 12:00 PM

Why get an Electrical Inspection?

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:00:00 GMT

An inspection can head off problems before they become major issues.
Loose connections at the breaker panel box can cause wires to overheat which can cause the breaker to trip or worse.
Often there are three wire plugs on a two wire system, causing a grounding problem or safety concern.
Loose connections at plug receptacles or light switches can overheat.
If you have lights that dim or power fluctuations, there is a reason that needs checked out
Identify dangerous outlets by water sources that do not have ground fault protection.
Loose light bulbs may overheat.
Wattage of your light bulbs should never exceed the recommendations for your light fixture.

22-Oct-07 12:00 PM

Water Heaters in the Garage

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:00:00 GMT

City Code on Water Heaters installed in garages require that the heater be placed on a platform. Why? To prevent pilot lights from igniting gasoline fumes.

22-Oct-07 12:00 PM

Water Usage Facts

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:00:00 GMT

A family of four, that each shower for 5 minutes a day, use 700 gallons of water a week
This equates to a 3 year supply of drinking water for one person.
Reduce that amount in half by using low pressure flow showerheads and faucets.

22-Oct-07 12:00 PM

Don’t throw away those wine bottle corks

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:00:00 GMT

Slice a cork horizontally and attach to the foot of a wobbly chair or table to steady it
Place several whole corks in the bottom of plant pots to help with drainage
Use corks to hold safety pins, thumb tacks or sewing needles

17-Sep-07 5:00 PM

Get going in the morning!

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:00:00 GMT

If you turn on the TV it can usually end up being a distraction. Turn on loud music and get your body moving!!
Have your clothes picked out the night before so you don't waste time trying to make a decision while groggy.
Have easy to fix or easy to heat up breakfast items staged the night before so you don't put off eating something.
Be sure your car or truck has plenty of gas in the evening. Getting gas in the morning is too hectic and crowded.
Place reminder notes by the front door.
Charge your cell phone each evening so you are good to go for the day.

17-Sep-07 5:00 PM

Reduce Stress Levels

Mon, 21 May 2007 20:00:00 GMT

Throw out or give away items in your home or office that are no longer useful to you. Don't be a pack rat.

Fix things around the home that need repaired. If they are broken, throw them out or replace with new.
Keep up with your bills and letters and junk mail. Don't let them pile up.
Decorations should include live plants.
Keep lighting tame and don't spend a lot of time in bright and glaring lights.
Pursue a hobby or rejuvenate an old one

21-May-07 3:00 PM