Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Archive for August, 2013

3 Water Saving Plumbing Upgrades

Friday, August 30th, 2013

Water prices seem to be going up every year and when you live in Southern California you know how precious our water supply is. Every homeowner is looking for ways to conserve water and we here at Saddleback Plumbing wanted to offer 3 plumbing upgrades that could help you do that. Give us a call today if you have any questions or if you’d like to learn more about our plumbing services in Tustin.

Plumbing Upgrades in Tustin to Save Water

Check out some of our water save plumbing upgrades that could help you reduce the amount of water that you use in your home.

  • Low-flow toilets – Many of us remember when the low-flow mandate went into effect in the 90’s. Manufacturers adjusted their toilets flush capacity but made no design changes which led to poor flush performance. However, new low-flow models of toilets have been redesigned to perform well even while using less water which could help you greatly reduce the amount of water that you use in your home.
  • Low flow fixtures – According to the EPA, your showerheads account for up to 20% of the total water usage in your home. Typical showerheads distribute 4.5 gallons/minute. If you were to replace that with a low-flow, 2.5 gallon/minute model you might be able to save around 20,000 gallons of water each year.
  • Faucet aerators – Another good way to reduce the amount of water that you use is with a faucet aerator. These devices break up the flow of water with air so that water still comes out but it is mixed with air. The EPA estimates that aerators could reduce the amount of water used at your faucets by up to 60%.
  • Change your habits – Finally, another way to reduce the amount of water that you use at your home is to make small changes to your behavior. For example, instead of watering your yard during the middle of the day, do it in the evening, morning or on cool days so that it reduces the amount of water that gets evaporated by the hot sun. You can also make sure to only run your dishwasher or laundry when they are completely full in order to maximize the water usage.

If you need any services for your plumbing in Tustin just give us a call here at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc.

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How a New Water Heater Can Improve Your Home

Friday, August 23rd, 2013

It’s no secret that your water heater is one of the most used appliances in your home. From showering and laundry to many other tasks, your water heater gets a ton of use every single day. Here at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. we have many years of experience offering Laguna Hills water heater installation services and we often see homeowners that wait until the very last second to replace their water heater. However, there are huge potential benefits to replacing your air conditioning system. Read on below and then give us a call if you have any questions.

Benefits of Laguna Hills Water Heater Installation

Keep these benefits in mind when you start to think about getting Laguna Hills water heater installation services.

  • More efficiency – Even if your water heater is only a few years old, the new models of water heaters have achieved incredible efficiency standards. Your water heater likely comprises a large portion of your monthly energy usage. By upgrading to a new high-efficiency system you could greatly improve the efficiency of your home.
  • More hot water – If you aren’t getting enough hot water in your home then upgrading to a new system could solve that issue. No one wants to run out of hot water half-way through their shower. Consider upgrading your water heater so that you can increase the comfort of your home.
  • Fewer repairs – If you’re hanging onto your old water heater even though it keeps breaking down, you may be able to avoid those repairs by replacing your system. New water heaters tend to operate very consistently and replacing yours could reduce the calls that you have to make for repair.

Give us a call here at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. if you need any Laguna Hills water heater installation services. We will make sure that your new water heater matches your home’s need for hot water and that it fits in your budget.

Call us today to talk with one of our experts about any services that you need.

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3 Things to Think About During Your Air Conditioning Installation

Thursday, August 22nd, 2013

Getting a new air conditioning system is an exciting but stressful time. This is a big decision and one that you have to live with for many years. If something goes wrong with the installation process the consequences can impact your home’s comfort and efficiency for a long time. Here at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. we offer a full range of San Juan Capistrano air conditioning installation services and we wanted to help our customers get the best possible installation that they can. Here is a quick explanation of 3 things that you should consider during your AC installation process.

San Juan Capistrano Air Conditioning Installation Tip: 3 Things to Remember

Take a look below at the top 3 things you should think about during your AC installation project.

  • The size of your new AC – One common mistake that we see homeowners make is that they run out and just buy the biggest system that they can thinking that it will provide them with more cooling. However, the opposite is usually what happens. If your AC is too large it will turn on and off again which is something that we call “short cycling”. This will cause hot and cold spots throughout your home, inefficient operation and it could increase the need for repair. Make sure that you work with a professional contractor that will perform the necessary calculations that will determine exactly what size system you need.
  • Type of air conditioner –Before you just go get the exact same type of air conditioner that you had before you may want to think about other types of systems. There are some other types of systems that offer homeowner some pretty impressive benefits. Ductless mini split air conditioners often are more efficient because of their lack of ducts and they also provide zone control as well.
  • Regular maintenance – Once your air conditioning system is installed, don’t forget to schedule regular maintenance visits for it. This is one of the best things that you can do for the life and performance of your system. Getting regular maintenance for your system could increase efficiency, reduce repair and also extend the life of your system.,

If you need San Juan Capistrano air conditioning installation services, just call us here at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc.

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Here Are Your Laguna Hills Air Conditioning Installation Options

Monday, August 19th, 2013

Choosing a new air conditioning system for installation in your home is rarely as simple as it sounds. Not only must you find a good contractor to handle the job, but you must also familiarize yourself with the many air conditioning installation options available on the market today. Why not kill two birds with one stone and contact the Laguna Hills air conditioning installation professionals at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc.? We have a great selection of air conditioning systems for you to choose from, and we have the years of training and experience necessary to ensure that you get the best performance possible from that system. Call now to discuss your air conditioning installation options.

Split central air conditioners are still the most common residential air conditioning option. They feature an outdoor condensing unit, which houses the noisiest parts of the system so that you do not have to listen to them inside. The indoor components of the system utilize a ducted forced air distribution system in order to circulate cooled air throughout your home. This allows for very even, comfortable cooling, provided that the air conditioning installation is completed by a qualified professional.

Another great option is a heat pump. Heat pumps also use air ducts in order to distribute air throughout your home. Unlike traditional air conditioning systems, though, they do not depend upon the consumption of fuel in order to cool the air distributed. Instead, they utilize the heat transfer process to move heat from one area to another. This allows your heat pump to cool down your home with greater efficiency than ever before.

If your home cannot accommodate bulky air ducts, don’t worry. We also offer great ductless mini split systems for installation throughout the area. No air ducts are required with this type of air conditioning system, as the outdoor components are connected to the indoor ones by a simple conduit containing refrigerant and power lines. The wall mounted blowers used cool rooms directly, so there is no opportunity for energy loss.

When you are ready to schedule an air conditioning installation in Laguna Hills, contact the professional technicians at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. We can answer whatever questions you may have to ensure that you get the best AC for your unique needs. Call now to learn more.

 

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How Does Drain Cleaning Work?

Friday, August 16th, 2013

Most people don’t give much thought to their drains until they stop working well. If your drains are clogged or starting to slow down, then you’ve likely had to call for Ladera Ranch drain cleaning services. But how does drain cleaning actually work? What kind of tools will your plumber use to clean out any obstructions in your drains? Here at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. we wanted to help our customers understand exactly what goes on during drain cleaning services. Read on below to learn more.

Ladera Ranch Drain Cleaning: How it Works

When your plumber arrives, the first thing that they will do is try to determine the source of the clog. One of the best tools that our plumbers have at their disposal is video camera pipe inspection equipment. This type of tool allows our plumbers to get an up-close and personal look at the inside of your home’s plumbing system. The video camera is very small and it is attached to a long wire that our plumbers will feed down in your drains. The image is displayed for plumber on a screen. This allows them to find out exactly where any clogs or blockages are so that they can accurately target their cleaning efforts.

When it comes to the actual cleaning, your plumber may use a couple of different tools. One of the most common and oldest methods is with an auger, also called a snake. It is a long metal wire that can be sent down your drains and then twisted to break up any clogs that might be there.

Another terrific tool is a water jet or scour jet. This equipment creates a high pressure stream of water that can be used to safely break up and clogs in your pipes. This system is highly valuable because it doesn’t damage your pipes and it also is very effective.

If your drains are starting to slow down it almost always means that a clog is not far behind.

Make sure that you call immediately for Ladera Ranch drain cleaning services from Saddleback Plumbing, Inc.

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How Sediment and Scale Create the Need for Water Heater Repair

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Whether your water heater is brand new or 10 years old, you need to make sure that it performs well at all times. After all, you depend heavily on hot water every day to enjoy hot showers, and to keep your dishware and laundry spotless  – a professional Irvine water heater repair technician at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. could see to this. But we often take major appliances like our water heater for granted; that is, until something goes wrong with their operation. Having your water heater professionally installed is the first, important step to ensuring years of excellent hot water in your home, but it’s not enough to secure the ongoing performance and efficiency of your water heater. In order to ensure that you continue to get the hot water you need, you need to have your water heater routinely maintained by a professional plumber. In today’s post, we’d like to look at how sediment and scale can negatively impact your water heater.

Call Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. today for comprehensive water heater repair services in Irvine.

Don’t Let Lack of Maintenance Ruin Your Water Heater!

If you have a tank water heater, then over time sediment can build up on the bottom of the tank, right where the heat exchanger is. When sand, dirt, and other particle begin to accumulate here, it can actually disrupt the water heating process. It can even lead to system damage because it forces the entire system to overheat. Similarly, the mineral deposits left behind by hard water as it passes through your water heater’s tank can also leave behind accumulations of scale. These also block the water heating process. The most common indication of a sediment or scale problem with your water heater is a rumbling or boiling sound. This means that the entire system is overheating.

This is especially problematic considering the risk of scalding hot water temperatures that can circulate throughout your home. When these materials buildup, it can override the ability of your thermostat to control the temperature, and pose a threat to you and your family, especially younger children. The best way to prevent such issues is to have your water heater periodically flushed.

Call Saddlbeback Plumbing, Inc. if your need water heater repair services in Irvine because of sediment or scale buildup. We can also complete routine maintenance.

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Ways of Improving Your Rancho Santa Margarita Kitchen Plumbing

Monday, August 12th, 2013

Your kitchen is one of the most used and important rooms in your home. Whether you’re cooking or cleaning your kitchen’s plumbing system gets a ton of use as well. Homeowners are always looking for ways to improve their comfort and we often get asked about what ways people can improve the functioning of their kitchen’s plumbing. We thought it would be good to put together a few things that you can do to improve the operation of your kitchen plumbing.

Give us a call here at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. if you need Rancho Santa Margarita kitchen plumbing or if you have any questions for our expert plumbers.

Rancho Santa Margarita Kitchen Plumbing Upgrades

Here are some of the things that homeowners can do to keep their kitchen plumbing system working well.

  • Get regular cleaning – Probably one of the best ways that you can keep your plumbing system working well is to get it regularly inspected and maintained. Usually, kitchen plumbing issues like clogs and leaks develop slowly over time. Getting regular maintenance visits will allow your plumber to find those problems and fix them before they actually turn into full-blown repairs.
  • Get professional installation – Another important thing for homeowners to do is to make sure that their plumbing system gets installed by a professional plumber. Poor installation is one of the most common causes of plumbing issues that we see. If you’re remodeling your kitchen or building a new kitchen make sure that you get the plumbing system installed by a trained plumber.
  • Protect your plumbing – Many people assume that because their kitchen’s drain has a garbage disposal that they can put whatever they want down it. However, this is usually not the case. Things like melted fat, fruit pits, animals bones, starchy foods and stringy foods (celery) shouldn’t be put down your garbage disposal as they can cause issues in your drain.

Whenever you need any kind of Rancho Santa Margarita kitchen plumbing installation, repair or maintenance the experts at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. are here to help.

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Water Heater Repair vs. Replacement in Laguna Hills

Sunday, August 11th, 2013

How does your water heater sound these days? Do you find that your showers go cold? Out of the major plumbed appliances within your home, the water heater plays a major role in keeping your home comfortable and convenient. But considering how much wear and tear it endures on a daily basis, it’s hardly surprising that it needs regular professional service. The professional installation of a water heater allows you to take full advantage of its capabilities, but it must be routinely maintained to achieve consistent performance. That said, there may come a time when repairs are inevitable and you may need to make a decision between repair and replacement. In today’s post, we’d like to look at this issue in greater detail.

Give us a call today for all of your Laguna Hills water heater repair service needs.

Do You Need A Water Heater Repair or Replacement?

  • Repair. There are numerous things that can go wrong with your water heater. If you hear a rumbling or boiling sound, that could indicate a buildup of scale or sediment. This often involves a fairly straightforward flush. Alternatively, you may find that your water heater is unresponsive to your calls for hot water. This could be related to a thermostat problem, which is also something that can be repaired.
  • Replace. There are two major reasons to replace your water heater. The first is not necessarily the type of repair, but the frequency of repairs. There may come a point when the quantity of repairs becomes too much. It may make more financial sense in the long-term to replace your water heater rather than continue repairs. The second reason is old age. Your water heater will not last forever, and rather than waiting for it to break down at an inopportune moment, it may make more sense to take control of your hot water supply with a new water heater. Today’s water heaters are much more energy efficient than their predecessors, and you may be able to save substantial amounts of energy with a new appliance.

The line between water heater repair and replacement is fine.

Before determining what course of action is right for your home, call a Laguna Hills water heater repair technician at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc.

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