Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Lake Forest’

Is an Electric Furnace Better Than a Gas Furnace?

Friday, December 20th, 2013

Here in Lake Forest, CA, getting a furnace installation can be easily ignored. California winters are very mild, and we usually focus on air conditioners at the expense of heaters. This can be a big mistake. Our nights still get pretty cold, and with our California architecture favoring open, breezy homes, a good furnace can be your best friend. During installation, you may be asking “should I get an electric or gas furnace?”  Both systems feature their share of advantages. Which ones work best depends on your needs and the specifics of your home.

Saddleback Plumbing offers heating services to the Lake Forest community!

Gas furnaces offer a singular advantage of cheaper month-to-month costs, since natural gas is cheaper than electricity. Repairs tend to cost less as well, since gas furnaces are more common and their replacement parts don’t cost as much. Gas furnaces also take less time to warm the home than electric furnaces, which saves you even more in monthly bills. On the other hand, electric furnaces are usually less expensive to install initially, making them a smart choice if you don’t want to spend a whole lot up front.

In addition, electric furnaces tend to be a little quieter. Electric heat doesn’t depend on a fan to blow air, which means it won’t make nearly as much noise when it works. It also doesn’t generate any drafty spots or cold spots, and it doesn’t spread indoor air pollutants like pet dander and the like. Electric furnaces thus make a popular choice for residents who have allergies or who just need to maintain a higher air quality overall. Finally, because they don’t use gas, electric furnaces can be a little safer, especially as they get older.

In Lake Forest, CA, a furnace installation doesn’t need to be your only choice.  We have heating system options for our California winters, and Saddleback Plumbing can spell them all out for you. We can inspect your home and answer the question “is an electric furnace better than a gas furnace?” before planning an installation that fits your specific needs. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!

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Water Treatment Systems Are Essential Because …

Wednesday, September 4th, 2013

Water treatment systems remove minerals, chemicals and other impurities from the water in your home. This affects not only your drinking and cooking water, but the water you use to bathe and clean your clothes with. Lake Forest enjoys good quality drinking water thanks to the Upper Oso Reservoir and similar sites, but our proximity to the ocean and position in one of the largest urban areas in the country make clean water an ongoing concern. A good water treatment system is essential to maintain a healthy and happy home.

Benefits of Using a Water Treatment System

The most obvious benefit to a water treatment system is cleaner drinking water, free of chemicals and pollutants. You can see the difference such a system makes simply by making two sets of ice cubes: one with treated water and one with untreated water. You’ll likely notice how much cloudier and grayer the untreated water is, and how clear and clean the treated water is. This applies to anything you’d normally use tap water for, from boiling pasta to rinsing off fresh fruit and vegetables.

A water treatment system also improves upon your overall health and comfort levels. Bathing with untreated water may leave your skin dry and irritated, while clothes washed in untreated water may feel rougher than they would otherwise. Purified water treats your skin and clothes with more gentleness, leaving softer laundry loads and better overall health.

The same principle applies to plumbing components in your home. Scale and mineral deposits can build up in your water heater and pipe system over time. But with a water treatment system, the minerals causing those deposits are removed from your water supply. That prevents potential damage to your system and extends the life of your plumbing to boot.

If you’re considering a water treatment system, you should contact an expert who can explain the options. Saddleback Plumbing handles the installation and repair of water treatment systems in Lake Forest and throughout southern Orange County. We’ll examine your home and discuss you choices with you, then install the system with utmost concern for your complete satisfaction.

Call us today to set up an appointment.

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Drain Cleaning Do’s and Don’ts for your Lake Forest Home

Tuesday, July 9th, 2013

Do you take care of your drains? We often think of our plumbing system as giving us pressurized water throughout the various appliances, fixtures, and faucets, but the other half is equally important. Our wastewater needs somewhere to go. Drainpipes, the sewer line, and your septic tank need to be routinely maintained just like any other part of your home that you want to perform well. But drain cleaning is not something that should be undertaken by just anyone. Only a professional plumber has the training, equipment, and know-how to ensure that your drains are cleaned thoroughly and safely. Amateur, DIY plumbing is not advised. You could end up causing more harm than good.

Call Saddleback Plumbing today for excellent drain cleaning services throughout the Lake Forest CA area.

  • Do. Make sure you hire a professional plumber for drain cleaning. When you call a certified plumber, you know that you’re dealing with an experience professional who knows exactly how to approach your drain cleaning need. Whether you have a partial blockage, slow drain, or simply want to stay ahead of any problems with a preventive plumbing solution, we can help. While plungers and augers are popular tools used to dislodge clogs, nothing beats hydro-jetting. This powerful method ensures that the interior of your drainpipe is cleaned thoroughly by utilizing the blasting power of a special compressor, and the range of a 360° swivel-head nozzle.
  • Don’t. Your drains are not invincible, and you cannot expect them to last long if you are indiscriminate about what goes down them. There are numerous clog removal products available at your local grocery store, and while it is tempting to allow a harsh chemical to do the work, it is not advisable. Putting harsh chemicals down your drains can lead to serious issues with your drainpipes. Attempting to use an auger in your home can also lead to pipe damage—not all augers are alike, so make sure that you hire a pro for any drain cleaning service.

The results of our Lake Forest CA drain cleaning speak for themselves.

Call Saddleback Plumbing today to learn more about how we can improve your home’s plumbing.

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Radiant Floor Heating Maintenance Tips

Monday, November 26th, 2012

If you have recently upgraded to radiant floor heating in your Lake Forest area home, it is a good idea to know how to operate and maintain them to get the best results. This ensures that your system will continue to provide reliable and efficient heat throughout the winter. Most importantly, you want to make sure you know the best ways to maintain your system since it contains several components.

At Saddleback Heating & Plumbing, we can help you by providing expert advice and tips on heating maintenance. We also provide repairs should you have problems. First, you’ll need to recognize some common issues so that you can provide more information for the technician who will troubleshoot the problem and resolve it for you.

When having problems with a radiant heating system, the best place to start is by checking the thermostat.  Make sure you understand how the settings work and that your system has been programmed for the desired setting.

After making sure that the settings are correct, turn your thermostat up 5 degrees and wait about ten minutes and see if the heat goes up. If so, this could be an indication that your thermostat is not completely accurate and should be adjusted.  Check to see that the boiler is functioning properly and if it doesn’t work, call a technician.

Hiring a professional contractor for routine maintenance is another way to help ensure that your radiant floor system works the way it should. During these visits, the technician will tune your system, which includes checking the pipes and other elements of the actual floor heating components. Ask the technician about other ways you can help protect your radiant floor heating system.

To maintain the boiler components, first check your owner’s manual. All models will be different, and you should know how to check basic things, such as the pressure gauge and safety valves. Checking the water level and temperature are also important maintenance tasks.

Call the Lake Forest heating specialists at Saddleback if you would like more tips on how to maintain your radiant floor heating system.

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Getting the Most Out of Your Plumbing System in Lake Forest

Monday, November 19th, 2012

If the plumbing system in your home in Lake Forest is working right, you probably don’t think much about it when you flush the toilet or take a shower. But when your plumbing system breaks down, you start thinking about it quite a bit. At Saddleback Plumbing, our Lake Forest plumbers respond to a lot of calls for service in the Lake Forest area. We thought that it would be helpful for our customers if we put together a quick list of some things that will help you get the most out of your plumbing system.

Regular Maintenance

Maintenance is one of the best ways that you can protect your home and your plumbing system. Regular maintenance should always be performed by a professional plumber. A licensed plumber will have the experience and training to know exactly what to look for and how to fix any potential problems. Here are a few things that your plumber might do during maintenance.

  • Pipe inspections – Using a small video camera, plumbers can look inside your home’s plumbing system to find any problems. They can also discover clogs or blockages that are in the process of forming.
  • Leak detection – During regular maintenance, your plumber can look for small leaks or places where leaks might occur.
  • Drain cleaning – Having your drains regularly cleaned is a great way to keep your plumbing system working well consistently. With regular maintenance, you can stop blockages before they completely block your plumbing and your water wont’ drain.

Your Garbage Disposal

One area in your home that gets a lot of use is the kitchen. One great way to get the most out of your kitchen’s plumbing system is to be careful about what you let go down the sink. Here are a few things that you shouldn’t put down the garbage disposal.

  • Grease – We all love bacon. But the grease that forms from cooking it should never go down your sink. Once it gets into your plumbing system it will cool and form a sticky solid. This can trap other food and form a clog.
  • Stringy or starchy foods – Foods like celery, asparagus have strong fibers that can get wrapped around your garbage disposal or clog up your drains. Starchy foods like pasta, rice and potato skins expand when the get in water. As they expand they can clog up your drains as well.
  • Bones and fruit pits – These are hard and dense materials that your garbage disposal probably won’t be able to break apart.

If you would like to learn more about plumbing maintenance in Lake Forest, then call the expert plumbers at Saddleback. We would love to schedule a time to visit your home and look over your plumbing system. Contact us today!

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Plumbing Tip: Why Proper Drain Installation is Important

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

The drain and sewer system in your home is a very important component of residential plumbing systems. It is the one system that is responsible for removing the waste water from your home to ensure that your home environment remains sanitary. Not only does this system include the drain lines and main sewer line, but there are other components that are integral to this process.

The plumbing experts at Saddleback Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning are committed to educating our customers about their plumbing system and why it is important to have it properly installed and maintained. We’ve included a list of the main parts of the drainage system in your home and how each of these components work together to make sure that your plumbing system is effective and worry free.

Drain Lines

The drain lines in your home should be able to remove heavy volumes of waste water from your home. That’s why it is imperative that they do so without getting clogged by materials, such as paper products or food waste. While homeowners can help by being careful about what they put down the drains or flush down the toilets, the installation of the drain and sewer system also plays a role in waste management for your home.

The plumber who installs the system should take into consideration the number of bathrooms and kitchen plumbing appliances you have, the age of your pipes for additions, and other considerations that are related to the layout of your home and local plumbing codes. These calculations will help to prevent any issues with the drain system in your home.

Sump Pumps

The drainage inside your home is just as important as the outside drainage, which includes sump pumps in some areas. Sump pumps remove any groundwater that gets into the lower parts of your home, and in areas prone to flooding, this is an essential part of preventing water damage. If you decide that you need an outdoor drainage solution for problems related to heavy groundwater, we install and maintain sump pumps and can create a custom plan fitted to your situation.

Proper installation applies whether you are adding a new fixture, a full bathroom, kitchen, or whether you are simply replacing any part of your existing drain and sewer system.

Call the professional plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning for all plumbing needs in Irvine, CA!

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Lake Forest Heating FAQ: How Do Hydronic Baseboards Work?

Monday, October 15th, 2012

At Saddleback Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning, we often get questions about the benefits of hydronic baseboard heating systems in Lake Forest, and how these systems work. Here’s a basic rundown of how hydronic boiler systems work and what the benefits are with installing a baseboard distribution system.

Hydronic baseboard heating systems work in much the same way as radiant floor heating systems work. However, instead of an in-floor installation, the baseboards are installed near the floor against a wall, which provides more efficient heat than traditional radiators since the heat will rise from the baseboard to more evenly heat the entire room. They also tend to be more efficient than forced air systems, which distribute the heat through ductwork and a series of vents.

The heat source is usually a high-efficiency gas or electric boiler that heats the water going into the boiler. After the water is heated, the hot water is sent to an “air eliminator” that removes bubbles from the water, which prepares it for the expansion tank. The expansion tank helps to maintain pressure as the water is heated and expands and contracts. As the water leaves the tank, it passes through a pressure relief valve to ensure proper pressure levels. Then the water travels through a flange valve located next to the pump that is adequately sized for the entire system.

After this process, the water flows to the heated side of the distribution manifold where it is then sent to the pipes inside the baseboard covers located throughout the home. Then, any water that has been cooled by heating the home is sent back to the boiler through the cooler side of the distribution manifold. A second temperature pressure gauge is located just outside the boiler on the cold side of the manifold, and the entire system is controlled by thermostats that control the boiler and pumps to ensure that the right amount of heat is distributed throughout the system.

Hydronic baseboard heating systems are a quiet, safe, and clean way to heat your home. However, they do require routine maintenance to ensure a safe operation. Call the Lake Forest heating experts at Saddleback Plumbing if you have questions or would like to discuss our installation options.

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Incorporating Air Filters into Your Comfort Systems in Orange County

Monday, August 27th, 2012

If you desire cleaner air in your home, one easy solution is to incorporating better quality, higher rated air filters into your comfort system.  The Mission Viejo air quality specialists at Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning can help you breathe easier by installing a good air filtration system.

One of the first things you want to do is determine what types of allergens and air pollutants you are most concerned with, as each air filter will specifically target certain sized particulates in the air.  Then you must determine where those items fall along the MERV scale so that you know what MERV rating to look for when finding an air filter.

Not every air filter is alike, so once you have decided what particulates you want eradicated it is important to pay attention to the MERV rating listed on each air filter, that way you can determine which will give you the desired results you are looking for.

In addition to knowing the proper MERV rating, you will want to learn a little bit more about the types of air filters out there.  Media filers are also known as passive filters, they are the kind that sits in the ducts and as air passes through them, they capture the particles that are smaller than its membranes such as pollen, dust and animal dander.  Electronic filtration uses electricity to ionize the air as it passes through and eradicates smaller particulates such as smoke and exhaust.

Using multiple types of air filters within a home comfort system will usually provide the best results with the cleanest air.  If a media filter is used to capture larger particles, followed by an electronic filter which captures the smaller particles, then your home will have a drastic reduction in the presence of not only allergens but harmful elements that can cause illnesses such as colds.

Air filters can be placed in numerous places within your duct system; it all depends on your system’s specific design.  This can include being placed at the central air return register, at the attic air handler, at a basement air handler, or next to an electrostatic air cleaner.  Additionally, some systems have multiple air filters at varying places for different purposes such as fiberglass or pleated paper filters, washable filters, and electrostatic filters.

Speak with the air quality professionals at Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning if you are interested in learning more about how to improve the air quality in your Mission Viejo home!

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Air Conditioning Tip 9: How to Use A/C Efficiently

Monday, July 23rd, 2012

Air conditioning is a great comfort in Tustin, but it can also be a big waste and expense when used inefficiently. There are plenty of ways to waste cooled air from your Tustin air conditioner, but fortunately there are also several ways to increase efficiency. Try these, for starters:

  1. Keep filters and coils clean

Filters and coils need to be kept clean in order for an air conditioner to run optimally. Clean or change your filter once a month, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. A tech can should inspect the evaporator and condenser coils every summer, and clean them as necessary.

  1. Look at efficiency ratings

All air conditioners bear a rating that reflects their efficiency, called the seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER. The SEER rating is a measure of how much cooling capacity a unit has in relation to how much power it draws. For more energy efficiency, opt for a model with a higher SEER rating.

  1. Use the “auto” fan setting

Most thermostats have an “auto” setting that will take control of your AC for you by turning it one when the temperature is high and off again when it is sufficiently low. Make use of this setting for better cooling and energy efficiency.

  1. Program your thermostat

A programmable thermostat saves a lot of wasted cooling by keeping the house a few degrees warmer during times when no one is home.

  1. Zone your home

To get really serious about cooling efficiency, consider zoning your home. This allows for independent cooling of different parts of the house, so that no extraneous rooms are cooled unnecessarily. For example, if your family likes the bedrooms cooler at night, you can defines them as one zone so that they can be cooled more, but without wasting energy cooling the rest of the house.

  1. Get an annual inspection

A machine that is in good working order is a machine that will run efficiently. Air conditioners are no exception. Have a licensed Tustin air conditioning professional look over your whole system every year to ensure peak operation and maximum efficiency.

Any of these tips on its own will help your air conditioner’s efficiency, but for best results you should combine them. In particular, the maintenance steps go a long way toward not only improving efficiency, but also maximizing the life of your AC system. Call Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment!

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What Can You Do Yourself if Your Central AC Unit Does Not Work? When Should You Call a Lake Forest AC Professional?

Monday, June 18th, 2012

If your Lake Forest air conditioning system suddenly stops working or is not keeping your house as cool as you think it should, the chances are good that you will have to call in a professional to make the necessary repairs and get you back on track. However, there are a few things you can do on your own before you make that call to ensure that this really is something you cannot take care of on your own.

While it may seem obvious, the first thing you should check is the thermostat to make sure that it is set to a temperature that will trigger the air conditioning to come on. If your thermostat for some reason is set too high, then the air conditioner will not receive the signal to start cooling the house. This is an easy fix, of course, and you will be back up and running in no time.

If the thermostat is indeed set where it should be, the next thing to check is the air filter. Most people with central air conditioning know that they should change the filter once every month or so, but this seldom actually happens.

If it has been a while since your air filter was changed, there is a good chance that it is clogged and therefore blocking air from circulating from the air conditioner through the rest of the house. This is an easy enough fix, as all you need to do is replace the current air filter and your system should be able to pick up right where it left of. However, if the blocked air filter has also caused ice to form behind it, you may have to wait for a couple of hours until the ice has a chance to thaw.

Next, you will want to check and make sure that the air conditioning system is actually getting power. Look to see if any of the breakers are tripped or if there may have been a current interruption for any other reason that is within your power to fix. If this is the case, though, it is a good idea to turn the air conditioning system off before you attempt to restore the power.

If none of these measures are able to get your air conditioning system up and running again, you should not hesitate to call a Lake Forest air conditioning professional. Many air conditioning repairs are quite basic, but they still need to be performed by a licensed professional. Contact Saddleback Plumbing today if your air conditioner needs service!

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