Posts Tagged ‘Lonetree’

Lonetree Plumbing Tip: What Is a Whole House Water Filter System?

Monday, July 23rd, 2012

When you think of water filters, you may imagine a faucet attachment or a pitcher with a filter installed. But there is an easier and more convenient way to provide filtered water to all areas of your Lonetree house, and that is a whole house water filter system. These units are becoming more and more popular as people begin to realize that it is not just the water you drink that needs to be filtered. In fact, there are many reasons that you may want to filter the water you shower and wash your clothes in as well.

Impurities in your water can affect you and your family even if you do not drink it. And that is why whole house water filtration systems remove contaminants from your water before it even comes near any of the faucets in your home. These types of systems are attached to the main water source for your home and can treat the water as it comes in and before it is distributed elsewhere.

These are generally simple systems, which makes them relatively inexpensive to install and maintain. Of course, your filter will need to be changed on a regular basis and that is an ongoing expense. But most of these filters are designed to filter between 10,000 and 100,000 gallons of water. While each filter will come with a recommendation for how often it needs to be replaced, it is important to remember that you may need to replace yours sooner rather than later depending on the amount of contaminants in your water supply.

You can also get different types of filters depending on the kinds of contaminants you are most concerned with removing from your indoor water. For instance, some water filters are better for removing bacteria and viruses, while others will do a better job of eliminating things like iron or other specific types of minerals and chemicals.

There are many good whole house water filtration systems out there, but finding the right one for your home can be tricky. For that reason, it is a good idea to consult with a professional Lonetree plumber like Bell Plumbing & Heating Company who can help you determine which product is right for your home.

Denver Plumbing Tip: Water and Energy Saving Tips

Monday, July 16th, 2012

The cost of the heat, air conditioning and water supply to your Denver home continues to rise – it’s no wonder you want to cut your bills so much. Here are a few simple energy and water saving tips to make your life easier.

  • Patching Leaks – Two of the biggest wasters of water are dripping faucets and leaky pipes. The amount of water wasted by a single drip every second could provide for multiple baths per year – it adds up fast. Not only are leaky faucets and pipes easy to fix; they tend to develop into bigger problems as time passes.
  • Drains and Flushing – If you put a piece of toilet paper in the toilet used to clean an eye or wipe the counter, don’t flush. It’s a waste of water. If you notice some extra toothpaste in the sink, don’t rinse yet. You can always use the water from brushing your teeth or washing your face to clean it out. Multi-task and minimize how much water goes down the drain to save water.
  • Fully Loaded – A partially filled washing machine or dish washer is a huge waster of water. Fill it up and wait to run the device until it’s at the brim – the same amount of water is used no matter how much is in the device.
  • Insulate Pipes – Hot water pipes without insulation waste a tremendous volume of energy every year. The cost of running a hot water tank continuously every day can be quite expensive,
  • even with insulation. Consider the cost without it to keep the water warm as it passes to your fixtures.
  • Lower Water Flow – Don’t crank your faucets up to the max just to get a glass of water or to check for hot water. It’s a waste of energy and it’s often unnecessary, especially when waiting for water to hit the right temperature.

If you’re interested in getting the most out of your home’s water supply, there are hundreds of little ways to save water that will add up over time. These are just some of the easiest ways to get started. For more tips on how to upgrade your Denver plumbing, give Bell Plumbing & Heating Company a call today!

Plumbing Tips in Case of Emergencies for Denver Residents

Monday, May 7th, 2012

What should a Denver resident do if they wake up one morning and their ceiling was leaking faster than the Niagara Falls? Unless they’re a professional plumber, they will probably run around unprepared not knowing what to do. Since a plumber can take a few hours to get to their home to resolve the problem, here are some things to do in case of an emergency.

Know Your Valves

Every home is going to have an emergency shut off valve for its main water line. It’s best to know where this valve is. In case of a major leak, the shut off valve can shut off the water coming directly into your home. With some valves, you’ll need a wrench to forcefully shut it off. If yours does need a wrench, keep a wrench near the valve in case of an emergency. Note that all valves will have to be turned clockwise to turn it off.

Besides the main shut off valve, also make sure that the valves to the appliances, sinks and faucets are shut off. These valves can be found directly behind or directly underneath each item. As a preventative measure, shut these valves off once a year to keep them in a working condition.

Have an Emergency Kit

Plumbing maintenance can’t be done without the appropriate tools. Always have the appropriate tools laying around so that a leak can be fixed as soon as possible. In a plumber’s emergency tool kit, be sure that you have the following tools:

- A five-gallon bucket to catch the water.

- Heavy-duty rags to clean up a water mess.

- An adjustable wrench.

- Screwdriver and Allen keys.

- Forced cup plunger.

- Sealing tape such as Teflon tape that can help seal leaks.

- Blind caps that help seal the valves if one breaks.

Breaks or Cracks

A common problem that many people come across when it comes to a plumbing emergency are cracks in the plumbing. If you can get to the interior plumbing work, try to spot the exact crack or leak in the plumbing. This can often be relatively easy to spot since this is where the water will build up.

If you have the supplies noted on the list above, take some Teflon tape and wrap the pipe to stop the leak. If you don’t have access to Teflon tape, consider using duct tape in meantime. Keep in mind that this shouldn’t be used a permanent solution, but just a temporary one until the professionals arrive.

Clogs

While not a major emergency, clogs can often happen in a toilet or a bathtub. If a clog happens, a plunger can get the job done 99 percent of the time. By applying force with the plunger, it can often help remove the clog.

If the clog happened in the bathtub, remove the chrome cap so that you can have access to the entire drain. Note that if the clog continues to happen, there may be a problem with the interior plumbing work, and it’s best to call in a plumber to have them look at the issue. They can often place an interior camera through the pipes to spot the blockage.

These are all great tips in order to prevent a major disaster in your home. Always make sure that you have a plumber’s number handy just in case of a worst case scenario. Now that you know how to be prepared for an emergency, the water damage shouldn’t get out of control.  For more tips or to schedule plumbing maintenance please call Bell Plumbing & Heating.

Author’s Bio
Jeff has been blogging since 2007 & contributing on many websites since that time. He is also a consultant and content contributor for New York condos community.