Lubbock HVAC, Plumbing, and Energy Management Blog

Tankless Water Heater

 

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding tank less water heaters the last 5 years, some people like them and some don't.  I am here to give you the pros and cons about owning a tank less water heater.

I personally own a tank less water heater and have had one for the last 3 years.  It is very similar to a gas heater to heat your home with.  It has a heat exchanger on the inside and only runs when you need it.  One of the main reasons I got a tank less water heater is so I would not have to worry about running out of hot water!  In the master bathroom, the shower has two shower heads, one for me and one for my wife.  In the winter I like to run both showers at the same time and I like to take a longer shower.  I have yet to run out of hot water and I love it!  The last reason I like a tank less water heater is that it can be maintained.  I can clean the heat exchanger with vinegar every 6 months to combat Lubbock's hard water.  With a tank water heater you cannot do this.

There are cons to having a tank less water heater and the main issue is Lubbock's hard water. If the heater is not serviced after 6 months I start to notice a difference in the volume of water because of the sediment.  All of the aerators for the faucets have to be flushed out and the heater cleaned with vinegar.  After this has been done, the volume of water increases back to normal but having to maintain it every 6 months gets old.  

Overall, I like my water heater but it needs a lot of attention.  If you own a tank less water heater or have a comment, please send me your thoughts.  I would love to hear someone else's point of view.  

 

Water Heater Replacement Tips

Water heater replacement is something that Sinclair Heating Cooling and Plumbing specializes in!  If you have a water heater in your home or place of business you know that it is a matter of time until you will need to replace it.  If you have a tank water heater, I wanted to give some tips on what to look for but also what to expect if you have Sinclair plumbers change-out your water heater.

If your water heater tank is in a closet inside your home, business, or garage always check the copper lines going into the tank.  If you see corrosion or water sitting on top of the inlets, this is a sign of a leak!  Also, check the bottom of your water heater monthly (especially if it is old) for rust, corrosion, or dripping water.  This tip is especially important because the bottom of the tank could bust open and leak up 75 gallons of water, depending on the size of your tank.  Not good!  All of these problems would usually lead to your water heater needing to be replaced.

After you call or schedule Sinclair to replace your water heater, we would get approval from you to do the work.  Then our plumbers would start to drain the water heater so they can remove it.  After most of the water has been drained the plumbers would remove the old water heater and bring in the new one.  Before setting the new tank, the plumber will set an aluminum drain pan in order to keep water from leaking.  After setting the drain pan the new water heater is lifted-up and set into place.  A new water shut-off valve is set on the copper supply lines and everything for the supply lines is welded together.  Water is added to the tank and after it is full, electricity is hooked up or gas.  The plumber would then turn the unit on and set the temperature at your preferred setting.  It takes a couple of hours for water to heat-up to the set temperature.

I hope that these tips have helped you to be able to spot a leak and know what to expect when you have Sinclair come out and replace your water heater.  By the way, I am working on a Tankless Water-heater blog that will posted soon.  Any questions or comments?

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Get $20 off your next service repair!  Hurry, coupon expires July 30, 2010!

 

Plumbing Tips From Beth Sinclair: Kitchen sinks

If you are building a new home or remodeling your kitchen, there are some decisions that you need to make very carefully. Several of them involve big investments and some that you will live with for a long time. Some big decisions you are going to have to make about your kitchen sink is what kind of sink you should purchase and what type of faucet will fit with the sink. Here are a few ideas on this subject that I would like to share with you, from my experience.

When Tom and I were building our home, I had an important decision to make about a sink for the kitchen, and that was whether to get a cast iron or stainless steel sink. I thought that I should get stainless steel because my other appliances are stainless. I got the stainless steel sink for that one reason and that was a BIG mistake. I am constantly wiping it down to get rid of hard water spots! If you live in Lubbock you know what I am talking about with the hard water.  Also, the sink never looks “polished” and it looks like I just finished using it and didn’t clean up after myself.  Using Lemi-shine helps but overall I wish I would have chosen the cast-iron sink instead.  With a cast iron sink, a good swipe of Comet makes it look like new! Even with Lubbock's hard water, a cast iron sink seems to be a better choice.   The other important tip to consider is the depth.  7" is too shallow (lots of splash) for a kitchen sink, try 9" at least, double bowl.  You want the sink to be deep enough so when you wash big pots and pans you will have room.

The last tip includes the type of faucet you should buy.  Daniel (my son) wrote an article about choosing the right faucet back in May, check it out.

Remember: DO YOUR RESEARCH and ask your friends! Think before you buy!  Any comments or questions?

 

Helpful Air Conditioning and Plumbing Links

Having and educated customer base is one of my goals in writing blogs.  I have put together some helpful air conditioning and plumbing links that will help you to be educated about your air conditioning system and plumbing equipment.  All you have to do is click on the highlighted links and read the articles by other bloggers. 

 

Troubleshooting Air Conditioners
by HVAC Maintenance & Supplies

Before you call a air conditioning service repair man to check your air conditioner that’s not cooling you may want to check some of these possible causes. First and most obvious is to be sure your systems air filter is not restricted.

Air Conditioners:  Some Cool Facts To Know
by AirCon 365

Air conditioning is one of the most important inventions for mankind. These units work towards providing the best of cooling during summers.

Tankless Water Heaters-Common Questions 
by Anaheim Plumbers

One of the common questions that we're asked all the time is if tankless water heaters are really a good value.  So here are some answers to questions that we have been asked.

Troubleshooting a Tank Type Water Heater 
by Bob Formisano

Unlike tankless water heaters, standard type gas and electric water heaters use an insulated storage tank. The construction or anatomy of a gas tank type water heater is explained in the tutorial Anatomy of the Gas Water Heater.

 

I hope that these articles help you to become more familiar about the plumbing and air conditioning systems in your home.  Please feel free to send questions or comments.

 

Lubbock Plumbers: How To Choose A Kitchen Faucet

 

 

When you are looking to buy a new kitchen faucet or any faucet for that matter, it can be overwhelming.  There are a lot of different kitchen faucets to choose from, there are different brands, some brands are cheaper than others, etc....  I have 5 tips that will help you decide on a faucet that is right for you.  

1.  Sink compatibility:

This is the first tip for a reason!  Choose a fixture that is compatible with the mounting-hole pattern of your sink, which can be anywhere from one to four holes.  Remember, will the faucet reach the sink?

2.  Neck Design:

A high-arcing spout gives clearance for filling or rinsing tall pots. There is a caveat to this type of faucet:  A high-curved neck with a shallow sink creates excessive splashing, so keep that in mind.

3.  Spout Style:

On many of the new models the faucet head has a built-in pull-out sprayer hose to reach every corner of the sink and counter. 

4.  Handles:

One-piece faucets with single-lever handles are the most popular, two-handled
"bridge" faucets in both traditional and modern styles are trendy.

5.  Finish:

Most models are durable and scratch-resistant.  Nickel, copper, pewter, bronze, gold, black and white are options, but chrome and stainless steel are the biggest sellers.  Try matching the faucet finish to your appliances and cabinet pulls.

 

I hope that these tips help.  The last thing that I will say is that Lubbock has very hard water and this reduces the life of your faucet significantly if you do not have some kind of filtration system on your house.  If you want our Lubbock plumbers to come out and help you decide on a faucet, go to our website and schedule an estimate today!

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Were these tips helpful?

 

 

Home Plumbing Tips From Beth Sinclair

 

Here are the latest plumbing tips from Beth Sinclair:

 

I bought lunch for our office-staff today and I learned something new about kitchen drains. We were having spaghetti, lasagna, and salad. The salad dressing that came with the meal had too much oil in the dressing so I poured the oil down the drain. Did you know that pouring grease down your drain is a BIG plumbing no-no? Well, I at least knew that much, but this is what I learned. If you should ever pour grease down a disposal, run COLD water with it.  Cold water will coagulate the grease and flush it away. Hot water on grease only coats the sides of the pipes!

My son has written about this product before but we have a drain cleaning product called Bio-clean. This is a biodegradable and chemical free way to treat your drains and keep them clear. Tom and I use this product at home and our office on a regular basis. It is one of the better products out there, if you are looking for a good drain cleaning product that works.  If you want more information about Bio-clean, read this article or ask a question and we will get you an answer ASAP. Again, I am reminded that I am never too old to learn something new!!

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Lubbock Plumbing Repair Service

 

 

Did you know that Sinclair had been working on residential plumbing and installation for 10 years in Lubbock and the surrounding areas? Our plumbing department won Best in the West 2009 last year!  We are proud of that accomplishment and we want you to know that we work hard to make our customers happy. Back in 2000 Sinclair bought Bob's plumbing and have built on that foundation ever since. 

We can service just about any plumbing issues that you might have because our plumbers are some of the best in the business.  They can handle anything from slab leaks, to re-piping your home, and clogged toilets.  If you need an estimate or if you need something repaired, schedule a call today.  You can have piece of mind knowing that you have the best in the plumbing business on their way to fix your problem!

Get $20 off of your next service repair!

 

 

 

Lubbock Air Conditioning & Plumbing Coupon

 

Would you like to receive $20 off of your next service repair?  You can by filling out the short form on the Coupon page!  After the form is filled out and you have selected "Get Coupon", you will be redirected to a .pdf file that has the coupon on it.  Print out the coupon and present it to the service technician on your next service repair.  You can only use this one time for plumbing or an air conditioning repair, so make sure you use it wisely because this offer ends May 28, 2010.  Read coupon for more details. 

This discount is similar to what our Comfort Customers receive every time a repair is needed.  I wrote about this in a recent article but again I would not be doing my job if I did not warn you before it gets too hot!  Having a technician check your A/C system before it gets too hot can save you a lot of money.  For example:  If your air conditioner is running low on refrigerant, your compressor can lock-up.  "What does that mean?"  It means you could be getting a price for a new system or condensing unit and coil!  You can prevent this by having your system looked at before the outside unit comes on.  Our technician will see this problem and be able to fix it on-site.  Plus, you get a discount on the repairs that were done to the system.  This is just one example of the benefits of having a Comfort Customer Agreement.  If you want more details on our Comfort Customer Agreements, please fill out a short form so you can be contacted.

 

Safe Drain Cleaning Product: Bio-Clean

 

 

Do you have a smelly or clogged up drain that needs attention?  Sinclair plumbing offers a product that is just right for the job.  Not only does is help clean drains, it also cleans:

• Septic systems
• Garbage disposal odors
• Grease Traps
• Sewage ejector sumps
• Outdoor privies and vaults
• RV & boat holding tanks
• Cat litter pans
• Grease Traps

Bio-Clean is a product that will help solve your drain problems.  It is a blend of bacteria and enzymes.  The bacteria are natural, not genetically-engineered. 

 

"How does it work?" from The Bio-Clean Story

In Nature all animal and vegetable matter, from insects to mighty oaks, is broken down and recycled into plant food by enzymes and bacteria. Bio-Clean uses this same principle to biodegrade animal and vegetable waste in pipes.

Like all living things, bacteria must eat to survive. Fortunately certain types of bacteria will use for food the grease, hair, soap film and all the organic waste that tend to clog peoples drains.

Enzymes act like short order cooks. They prepare food for bacteria by breaking large molecules down into a size the bacteria can "swallow". Each enzyme works on one specific type of molecule. For example, the protease enzyme only works on protein. Lipase works only on fats.

The bacteria are dormant while in the jar. When mixed with water they come to life in about 30 minutes. In the meantime the enzymes are breaking down the waste. They are very fast. In fact, they work on contact. When the bacteria revive they are hungry. Each one eats its weight of waste every minute - and they never sleep! As a result of eating and growing they start to multiply through cell division. Their number will double every 30 minutes under favorable conditions.

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I use this product myself and I love it!  I have a shower drain in my master bathroom that has had some problems in the past and I use Bio-Clean when it needs to be cleaned or unclogged.  It is not hard to use and you don't have to wear a HAZ-Mat suit to use it :-)  You mix the proper dosage with water and poor it into the drain you need help with.  Let it sit over night and that's it!  There are some occasions were you might have to treat the drain more than once.  If you are interested in purchasing Bio-Clean please contact Sinclair by filling out a short form and we will contact you to make the purchase.  One can of Bio-clean is only $43.25!  If you have any questions or comments please let me know.  

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Sinclair Residential Plumbing Tips: How do I clean my shower head?

 

 

CUSTOMER QUESTION:  The water doesn’t flow well from my kitchen sink and shower heads. What can I do to get more water flow?

If you live in Lubbock, Texas you know how hard our water is.  I have 2 shower heads in my shower that are almost 2 years old and I have already had to clean them 3 times!  I said to myself, "If I am having this problem, so would everyone else that lives in and around Lubbock." 

I suggest that you remove the aerator from the sink faucet and soak it in white vinegar for several hours. You will be able to see the hard water particles release from it. The length of time depends on how much blockage has occurred. You might, in addition, use an old toothbrush to loosen the particles.

Instead of removing the shower head to soak it, a really good way to clean it is to put the vinegar in a plastic sandwich bag, slip it over the shower head, and secure it with string or a small wire. Soaking it overnight will open the holes for smoother air flow. Again, an old toothbrush comes in handy here too.

Do you have more helpful tips with cleaning faucets or other plumbing fixtures? Do you have an air conditioning or plumbing question you want answered? 

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