Monday, November 28, 2011

Prolong the Life of Your Water Heater Through Proper Maintenance

!±8± Prolong the Life of Your Water Heater Through Proper Maintenance

Water heaters have become a necessity today. Proper maintenance can help your water heater provide trouble free service for many years. Some basic maintenance measures are all that are required to save a bundle on water heater repair or replacement.

Signs that your heater needs to be serviced

If the water coming out of your heater has bad odor, strange color or sediments, it's a clear indication that cleaning is required. Decrease in the efficiency of heater is also a sign that it is time for maintenance check. Your water heater can cause your energy bills to soar, if not maintained properly. Anode rod is one of the most important parts of a heater. The presence of orange colored water beneath the rod is a clear signal that it needs to be replaced.

It is best not to wait for your water heater to give out rust colored water or fall to floor because of rusting before you call the plumber. Proper water heater maintenance helps you save money in a number of ways. It increases the heater's lifespan, avoids the necessity to buy a new one and ensures efficient use of energy.

Common problems and their solutions

Buildup of sediments and minerals is often the main cause of water heater problems. Sediments collected at the bottom of your water heater can be easily cleaned using a brush and garden hose. You can just scrub out the sediments and then flush them away using the hose. It is recommended to do this at least once a year. If the water in your area is hard, frequent cleaning may be required as the sediments tend to buildup faster. Simply flushing the heater with water every few months will also help you keep it clean.

Corrosion of anode rod is another common problem in old heaters. It is advisable to check the rod every few months for any signs of corrosion and replace it if required. Bacteria can cause bad odor in your water heater. This can be easily taken care of with bleach. You can add bleach, fill the tank with water and let it stay for some time to get rid of bacteria. This can be followed by routine flushing.

If your water heater provides too cold or too hot water, you may be able to solve this problem with simple adjustments in the thermostat. Leaks can cause considerable damage, it is best to take the help of a professional plumber to identify the source of the leak and fix it at the earliest.

Signs that your water heater needs to be replaced

One of the easiest ways to decide whether or not you need to replace your heater is by considering its age. The lifespan of a gas operated water heater is around 8 - 12 years, while the electric ones can offer trouble free service for up to 15 years. The lifespan of tankless is believed to be longer than that of electric heaters, but they are relatively new and age may not be the best indicated of whether or not they need to be replaced. If you notice moisture near the base of your eater, it may indicate a small leak. A plumber will be able to tell you, if the heater can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

If the heater is so rusted that it is giving out rusty water, it may be time to replace it. In spite of proper maintenance, if your heater is unable to provide the same amount of hot water as before, it may need to be replaced. You may wait for the heater to stop working completely before buying a new one, only if you don't mind taking cold showers. Decrease in efficiency is the best indicator that a water heater needs to be replaced.

Once you have made the decision, the next step is to choose a new one, which is most suitable for your needs. Today so many types of water heaters and water circulation systems are available in the market that selecting the best among them can be confusing. Your choice should be based on the amount of hot water your family needs.

If your old heater operated on gas, making a change to an electric water heater and vice versa can be expensive. Based on the place where you reside, solar water heater is another option worth considering as it is not only eco friendly, but also pays for itself in a few years time in energy saving and rebates. But you will have to make initial investment for installation. Knowing various types of water heaters and water circulation systems available in the market will help you decide which one is the most appropriate for your requirements.

Types of water heaters and water recirculation systems

Today mainly two types of water heaters are in use, conventional storage heaters and tankless heaters. Although in use since a long time, traditional storage type heaters have come a long way. Modern storage style heaters are eco friendly, more efficient and include many safety features. These heaters, if maintained properly, can serve you for many years. All you need to do is flush the heater annually and check the anode rod periodically to ensure that your storage style water heater remains in good condition.

Tankless offer many benefits including lower energy cost, lesser space requirement, longer lifespan than storage type heaters and most importantly endless hot water supply. But unless you choose a tankless of appropriate size, you may not get desired results. These heaters often need a new vent line and a dedicated gas line. It may be a good idea to install a water softener with a tankless heater. Annual de-scaling may be necessary, if water softener is not installed.

Water recirculation systems are often installed to ensure that hot water reaches even the most distant fixtures in the house easily. These are of three types: conventional, retrofit-by-pass and demand system. The traditional water recirculation systems feature an extra pipe, which enables water from far away fixtures to easily return to the heater. A pump is used to push water out of the heater and back into it through the return pipe. The pump can be equipped with thermostats and timers to bring down the running time.

In case of retrofit-by-pass, the cold water line is used as return pipe. Similar to traditional systems, pumps are used to move the water. Demand water recirculation system work is the same fashion as retrofit-by-pass system and makes use of cold water line as return line. But in this case, a wireless remote is pressed to start the pump when hot water is desired. This system works best with tankless heaters.

Regardless of the type of water heater and water circulation system you use, maintenance is essential to ensure that they provide trouble free service for many years. Some of the best plumbing service providers like In Demand Plumbing in San Francisco East Bay, California offer full service water heater maintenance plans. Such plans are cost effective and can prolong your water heater's life by five to ten years.


Prolong the Life of Your Water Heater Through Proper Maintenance

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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Keeping Your Lawn Green With The Right Watering Equipment

!±8± Keeping Your Lawn Green With The Right Watering Equipment

Keeping your lawn green can be an easy task if you have the proper watering equipment. Without the right equipment, you are only making it difficult on yourself. Everything from a basic hose to an entire sprinkler system can help you keep track of your yard and maintain green grass.

You do not want to be the person on the block with brown grass. Not only does it look unappealing, but it can lower your image on the block. But with the proper watering equipment, there will be no need to worry about this happening to you. When it comes to a watering system, you will find that there are several different kinds to choose from. The most recognized is the kind that is already built into your lawn and is run off of a timer. These are convenient because there is pretty much nothing you have to do to keep your grass green. The system will turn on and water your grass at whatever time you have set.

On the other hand, there are simple sprinkler systems that allow you to attach to your hose. When you want to water a different part of the grass, you just grab the hose and the spout and move it over. This will take more time and effort on your part, but for a smaller lawn there still is not much work at all. As for the most work, standing out with a hose and watering your grass will take the duration you opt to water your yard for. If it is a nice early evening, it can actually be enjoying sitting out and relaxing. But if you do not have the time or patience, watering your grass with a hose can be a nuisance.

Another piece of watering equipment you will want is a space saver reel for your hose. This allows you to keep your hose in an organized manner on the side of the house without it taking over the entire path. It will also make it much easier to pull out the next time you want to use it. Is it a necessity? No, but it certainly is convenient. Sticking with the hose theme, having a spray head to attach to the end of your hose can make it much easier to adjust the power when you are watering. This way you can mist the flowers or spray a little harder on your grass.

Whatever system or watering equipment you choose to go for, just make sure it is efficient enough to keep your lawn looking good. While a reel is not necessary for your hose, it can be convenient and nice to have. Although an automatic sprinkler system is not necessary, it too is convenient on you. It is up to you to decide what watering equipment you truly need. Just make sure to get enough to keep the grass green and the lawn looking good.


Keeping Your Lawn Green With The Right Watering Equipment

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Monday, November 21, 2011

Rule RainPerfect Solar Powered Rain Barrell Pump

!±8± Rule RainPerfect Solar Powered Rain Barrell Pump

Brand : Rule | Rate : | Price : $133.00
Post Date : Nov 21, 2011 20:45:15 | Usually ships in 24 hours


The RainPerfect pump and solar panel install easily and provide plenty of pressure to run water through a garden hose. The pump provides enough pressure to run most low pressure sprinklers, was a car or water just about anything around your home. A convenient solar panel captures natural energy from the sun eliminating the need for electrical power to charge the battery. This makes the RainPerfect pump ready to go anywhere, anytime and involves no additional utility cost for you.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Watering Your Garden

!±8± Watering Your Garden

It usually is best to allow the soil in your garden to partially dry out between watering your plants. If you can see your footprints in your lawn or if it lacks overall shine then it's time to water your lawn. Annuals and vegetables should be watered at the first sign of droop. Tougher plants that live several years only need watering when you see they stay droopy after it cools off in the evening.

It is important to reach down to the roots when you water, so water long enough and deeply to help moisten the whole root zone. When plants are watered deeply they build healthier, stronger root systems. To determine if you are watering deep enough to moisten the whole root zone, just dig in with a trowel after watering to check the depth of the moisture.

Of course, sometimes this can be costly or there may be drought condition. There are ways to lower water bills and maintain more moisture to your plants which include the following. Build your soil with mulch and/or compost, to hold water and prevent evaporation. Choose low water use plants which, once established, can often thrive just on rainfall. Using soaker hoses or drip irrigation on beds can save 50% or more of water usage compared to sprinklers. To water just the right amount use a timer that screws right onto the hose end. Water your lawn separately from other plantings or your vegetable garden. They each absorb water at different rates. Ever found out you are watering the pavement instead of the lawn? Make sure sprinklers are set up efficiently. When soil is dry or compacted it won't absorb water quickly. If water puddles, stop watering for a while and then restart, so the water has time to soak into the ground. Water in the early morning or evening. If you water during mid-day half the water evaporates quickly with the heat of the sun. Practicing these simple, easy steps can make every drop count.

A way of making watering easier is to get a garden hose reel. Hoses, especially the longer ones, tend to get tangled or even knotted. This is frustrating and time is wasted trying to get the kinks out in order for the water to flow through the hose. A watering reel eliminates these problems and stores the hose in a compact area ready to use whenever you need it.

There are pros and cons to automatic watering systems. They can either waste lots of water or be a fairly efficient way of watering. It is recommended that every year you should have a professional test, repair and adjust your system. And you should inspect the system while operating it once a month. Look for any leaks, or heads that are plugged or misdirected. This maintenance is important for the system to run efficiently. Install a rain shutoff device. No sense in watering when it is raining. Also, adjusting the watering schedule according to the season helps. In July and August your garden and lawn need much more water than they do in May or September.


Watering Your Garden

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