Aerobic Septic System Repair Near Me

October 29, 2019 by Joyce Gregory

While aerobic systems are more sophisticated than standard systems, in order to function at their best, they still need routine maintenance.

Do’s and Don’ts to Support the Aerobic System

DO appoint a service contractor licensed to repair your septic system. All aerobic systems must be checked every 4 months according to TCEQ regulations, even if your county doesn’t require a maintenance company to perform the service (there’s a lot more to maintain your system than just adding chlorine, not to mention the health risk of getting into wastewater contact).

If your alarm turns on, don’t panic— it’s not usually an emergency. If your alarm sounds or light switches on, call your service company and through non-essential use of air.

DO employ a service contractor accredited by your system’s supplier that only replaces your system’s proprietary parts with the same proprietary parts— not parts for another assembled system.

Do not wait a few days to report the activation of the alarm.

Do not spray the irrigation sprinklers over the same region of the distribution area of the aerobic system, or there may be undue wetness/saturation.

Do not turn off the machine.

Check your chlorinator on average once a week to once a month (depending on your use of water).

Do not store chlorine in the closets of the water heater or water heaters. Keep away from electrical and gas. It is necessary to store chlorine in a cool, dry, ventilated area.

DO use ant killer to kill ants if any part of the system begins mounding.

Do not use chlorine tablets in the swimming pool for tablet chlorinators. Use only calcium hypochlorite tablets intended for wastewater treatment.

DO ensure that all parts of the system are always easily accessible (do not build over any component, use landscaping that might grow over, etc.).

DON’T encourage plumbers, landscapers, irrigation companies, etc. to install anything on their own or manage any part of the system except to apply chlorine and silence the alarm. Reparations paid by the homeowner or others usually negate the warranties of the system and make any repairs more costly.

DO be vigilant about what’s going into the process. Things that have been flushed down the commode and dumped down the drains do not vanish; the device should handle them.

Also, domestic sewage and toilet paper are treated with aerobic systems. Items that can damage your body include: improper use of garbage disposal fat, grease, and oil to wash too many fabric softener bleach cigarette butts and wipes feminine items paper towels Q-tips paint condoms, paint thinners, and varnishes drain cleaners and automatic toilet cleaners skin mixing food (meat, fruit)

DON’T permit any device or spray head positions to be altered. Change takes the program out of compliance and may result in additional costs for the property owner to bring it back into compliance.

DO pump your machine if your service provider requests it.

Each time the machine is serviced, Waco Septic Pumping specialists must take a sludge check. When you search for an Aerobic Septic System Repair Near Me, you may find the specialists will normally recommend pumping out all of the tanks when the sludge level in the aerobic system exceeds around 50% or higher or when excessive sludge builds up in the pump tank. Keep in mind the system needs to be pumped every 2-5 years by the average household.

NOT plant landscaping or spray heads around the system. Maintain the vegetation around the system mowed or trimmed and spray heads.

DO get a septic company familiar with your aerobic system make and design and understand what needs to be done to the system when it is pumped to avoid damage to the system. This allows you to better understand your system and know when and how often the system needs to be pumped to keep your system working great.

Do not view the system as a sewer for the city. The economy in water use helps prevent the process from being overwhelmed. It is also important to protect against leaky faucets, running commodes, etc. Do not do all of your laundries on the same day; water surges entering the system that overloads the system hydraulically and throws off the bacteria balance.

Hot Water Heater

October 21, 2019 by Joyce Gregory

Are you planning to replace your old hot water heater and discuss whether a regular or tankless system should be available? It’s no secret that a tankless water heater can cost 30-50 percent more than a storage model, especially if you factor in the much higher installation cost of tankless devices.

At the same time, it is claimed that tankless heaters are more convenient, more powerful, more energy-saving, and many other advantages that seem very attractive. Let’s take a closer look at whether the extra cost is really worth a tankless water heater with all its pros. To get started, let’s compare how much you would spend on a performance tankless system versus a storage version.

Storage style hot water heater starts as low as $300, average around $700-900, and high-end models cost as much as $3,000+. For high-end models, tankless (on-demand) heaters start at around $800 and go as high as $3,000. Naturally, storage water heaters cost less at the low-end, but mid-range and high-end systems cost about the same as tankless heaters.

Installation costs

You have to compensate for the difference in installation costs in addition to the price you would pay for the unit.

It turns out that the difference is enormous: for about $350-450 you can have a storage water heater mounted. The installation of a tankless heater, however, will set you back at least $1,200-2,500, as complex plumbing and electrical work is needed. However, if you need to completely retrofit your house to install a tankless water heater, you’re looking at installation costs of around $4,000-5,000.

That means you will still spend at least an extra $1,000 on installation even if you charge the same price for a tankless hot water heater as you would for a storage version.

Energy savings from a tankless hot water heater Did you know that 30% of the energy budget of an average home is spent on heating water? It causes many homeowners to search for ways to cut costs, and one alternative is to install a water heater that is more energy-efficient.

Compared to gas heaters in the form of tanks, gas heaters on demand are around 22% more energy efficient. If only 40 gallons of water or less per day were used by your family, the tankless system could be as much as 24-34 percent more energy-efficient than a traditional model.

How much is your Hot Water Heater putting back in your pocket?

Research shows that a tankless water heater’s 22 percent higher energy efficiency is equivalent to an annual savings of about $70-80.

When you find the cost difference of $1,000 estimated above, saving at a rate of $80/year would mean that only in 12.5 years can you recover the cost of the tankless heater.

By fact, research shows you’d recover that cost in about 22 years because the price difference for these heaters is typically more than $1,000 and you’ll spend more over the years on maintaining a tankless versus storage model. Keep in mind that most tankless systems have a life expectancy of about 20 years or more.

From this, you can collect that a tankless water heater will most likely end its service life BEFORE you will recover the high initial cost of saving energy.

You should note that most tankless water heaters for gas (not electric) are eligible for a state tax rebate (around $300). Test your position for the criteria and discount rates.

Electric Tankless Models

They are even less than gas-powered devices if you equate the savings from conventional vs. tankless electric models. On average, electric tankless heaters save just $44/year more than tank-style models, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Thinking Beyond Financials

Clearly, if you’re thinking purely about the dollar amount, getting a tankless hot water heater (especially if you’re on a budget) doesn’t make sound financial sense. Nevertheless, most people still buy them and enjoy them for a variety of different reasons:

longevity: a tankless water heater lasts 20 + years, while a conventional device only lasts 8-12

Longer Warranty period: most tankless models come with a 15-year warranty, while regular ones come with a 6-year warranty.

Compact design: hot water heaters without tanks give a compact design that saves energy. It allows installation in different areas of the home to be more versatile. It may even be mounted outside, in fact. In contrast, storage models are much smaller, requiring a dedicated large house room (usually the basement).

Endless, On-Demand Water: one of the biggest selling points of tankless water heaters is to have hot water when you want and whatever you want. Nonetheless, before you presume that you will always get this amount of water supply, you must carefully consider your water use and household size.

If you have a very large household and/or regularly use the shower and other facilities that concurrently need hot water, your tankless water heater may not be up to the task. You may consider installing two tankless heaters to meet the high demand depending on how much water you need, but this will obviously cost a pretty penny. Consult with Btown Plumber or your local plumber if you are interested in a hot water heater.

Water Heater Repair Santa Rosa

October 16, 2019 by Joyce Gregory

s your water heater not working? Is it leaking or not heating the water up enough? If so, you probably need an inspection of your water heater. Water heaters in our opinion are unsung heroes; without them, we would dread that cold morning shower and washing our hands and doing the dishes. But, when our water heater is functioning as it should, we rarely think about it. It is left all alone in that cold, spider-infested corner of your garage. We need to praise our water heaters because they are so important, and we need not take them for granted.

We often get a lot of questions from our customers about who can repair a water heater. If you are looking for a water heater repair Santa Rosa specialist, this Santa Rosa Plumber is the plumbing contractor of choice. We have specialized in water heater repair for over two decades and understand the ins and outs of every model water heater there is on the market. Sometimes you may not need a Santa Rosa Plumber to fix your water heater. It is quite possible the issue you are having can be easily resolved. The purpose of this article is to outline several different problems you may face with your water heater, and what problems really warrant a phone call to a plumber for water heater repair.

Is your water heater leaking from the top? There are a few reasons this may be happening. Above your water heater, there are two pipes entering the main water drum, one for cold and one for hot. It is possible one of the fittings has come loose, which would cause water to leak from the top of your water heater. Also, one of the many valves on the water heater may have failed, which would also cause your water heater to leak. If your water heater is leaking from the bottom the source may be from normal condensation, a leaking gasket, or the overflow pipe may be leaking due to excess water in the water holding main chamber. If the fittings are loose, depending upon your comfort level, this can be an easy fix and not require a call to a plumber. But, if a gasket or fitting has failed, you will want to call a Santa Rosa Water Heater Repair Specialist right away.

Is your water heater not producing enough hot water or do you not have any hot water at all? Some of the most common problems why you might not have hot water are because your water heater is not plugged in, the pilot light has gone out, a fuse has gone out, the thermostat was adjusted incorrectly, or the water heater and thermostat may have tripped power going to the unit because it got too hot. These are all easy fixes and most likely would not require a water heater repair plumber. It is also possible the heating element has gone bad and may need replacement, or the thermostat is no longer functioning appropriately. For these types of technical issues, it would be best to call a Santa Rosa plumber.

Other common problems we come across is that the water coming from the water heater is too hot or the water takes too long to reheat. The fix could be something as simple as adjusting the water heater thermostat. Or, your thermostat might be a little old and the heating elements have lost a little of their water heating capabilities. This happens to the electric water heater over time. If the latter is the case, a call to a water heater repair plumber is warranted as you will most likely need a new water heater installed.

Is your water heating making strange noises or is dirty or rust-colored water coming from your pipes? Most people do not realize that water heaters need to be maintained on an annual basis. The process is somewhat simple and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. When you do not maintain your water heater regularly, calcium deposits build up. Over time, the calcium deposits slowly degrade the inside of your water heater. The result is foul-smelling and rust-colored water, and an improperly functioning water heater. If you have let your water heater get to this point, a new water heater is in your near future. There is nothing you can do to fix this problem.

By no means is this list exhaustive. There are many other problems that may occur that were not mentioned. We also want to stress the fact that if you are uncomfortable manipulating or working on your water heater, it would be best to call a professional. Santa Rosa Plumbing Service prides itself on its ability to effectively repair water heaters. We also know when it is time to buy a new water heater. If you have any questions or would like a free consultation, give us a call at 707-229-6500. You can also visit us on the web at santarosaplumbingservice.com. Be sure to check out our water heater repair page for more information.