Category Archives: Save Money

5 Reasons To Install New Gas Lines In Your House

Gas plumbers in Washington DC offer a wide range of gas line services to residential and commercial clients in the city. These plumbers undergo rigorous training in the gas plumbing industry. They start at the apprenticeship level before proceeding to the journeyman level and finally graduating as master gas fitters. Some of the most common gas plumbing services include new gas line installations, gas leak detection and repair, retrofitting old buildings with gas lines, new gas appliance connection and reconnection, gas appliance repair and maintenance, and many more. Many people use both gas and electricity to power their houses and commercial buildings in DC. Gas-powered appliances use either natural gas or propane. One thing that you should always remember about gas as a fuel is that it’s highly flammable. Therefore it’s very important to observe various safety measures when using gas at home. New gas line installations are very common in DC. Here are a few reasons why you might have a master gas fitter install new gas lines in your house in Washington DC.

To Connect A New House

If you are building a new house, you have to include the installation of an energy source in the construction process. Your house will require a source of power for the various devices that require energy to operate. This means that you have to decide the best power source to connect to your new house. You can start by connecting to the electrical grid and wiring the whole house to tap into this power source. You can also contact a gas supply company in order to access the main gas supply line in your locality. If you decide to use gas as the main or supplementary energy source in your house, you should request professional DC gas line services for a proper connection. New gas lines will be installed in various rooms in the new house where you require gas. This is one of the main reasons for installing new gas lines at home.

To Shift From Electricity

Some people use only one type of fuel in their homes. Electricity is still the most popular fuel in the United States. But many people are now shifting towards natural gas and propane because they are cheaper. Gas costs far much less than electricity. It also heats up much faster than electricity. You can retrofit your house with new gas lines in order to supplement electrical energy with gas in your home.

To Add New Gas Appliances

dc-water-heatersIf you wish to add new gas-powered appliances in your house, such as a new gas water heater, you will need to install new gas lines to supply the new appliances with the fuel. This is not always necessary because you can still tap into the existing gas lines. But if you have many new additional gas appliances, new gas lines must be installed in your home.

To Replace Old Worn-Out Gas Pipes

If you already have gas lines in your house, you are advised to inspect them regularly to ensure that they are in excellent condition. If some of these old gas lines get damaged maybe due to corrosion or cracked seals, you have to replace them with new gas pipes.

To Connect New Rooms And Structures

If you have expanded your house with new rooms or structures and you wish to supply them with gas, then you will need to install new gas lines in these new places.

Advantages Of Installing Low-Flow Fixtures

Many homeowners are now installing high efficiency plumbing appliances and fixtures to help conserve water and energy at home. High efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances are specially designed to save water and power. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues ratings to all high efficiency products that are designed to save water and energy. EPA issues the WaterSense rating to all high efficiency water-saving fixtures and appliances. These are usually low-flow plumbing fixtures that consume up to 60% less water than ordinary fixtures. EPA also issues an Energy Star rating to all plumbing appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters that are designed to save energy. You should always ensure that you buy these EPA rated high efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances to reduce your monthly water and energy bill. By upgrading to these high efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances, you will play an important role in conserving water and energy. You will also be assured that the product is of very high quality and will hence last for a very long time. Today we are going to look at the advantages of installing high efficiency low-flow plumbing fixtures like faucets, toilets, showerheads, urinals, and even sprinkler systems.

Save Water

The main advantage of installing low-flow plumbing fixtures is to save water. As mentioned above, low-flow fixtures can use 60% less water than standard plumbing fixtures. This means that you will be reducing the amount of water consumed in your home by more than half. One of the things that you should prioritize when doing bathroom remodeling in DC is to upgrade to high efficiency low-flow fixtures. You should make sure that all the plumbing fixtures you install in your home are WaterSense rated. Water is a very important natural resource. Water is also a limited resource. As such, we all have a personal responsibility to conserve water. And one of the most effective ways of conserving water is by reducing the amount we consume at home. High efficiency low-flow fixtures will help you save a lot of water at home. Make sure you buy WaterSense rated low-flow faucets, showerheads, urinals, and toilets. Your outdoor sprinkler system should also be low-flow and WaterSense rated.DC drain service

High Efficiency & Functionality

The other important benefit of installing high efficiency low-flow fixtures is efficiency. These EPA rated low-flow fixtures are very efficient or functional. Despite using very little water, these plumbing fixtures are highly efficient. This means that you will still get the right amount of water from your low-flow faucets and showerheads. Some of these low-flow faucets are touchless or hands-free. This minimizes the amount of water wasted when the tap is being turned on and off. Even the low-flow toilets and urinals are highly efficient. They still dispose of human waste efficiently while conserving a lot of water. Your high efficiency low-flow sprinkler system will still water your lawn or garden efficiently while still conserving water. Any questions that you may have can be answered by your local plumber.

High Quality

Before issuing the WaterSense rating or the Energy Star rating to high efficiency products, EPA considers the quality of such products. The products must have a long warranty. It must also be highly functional. It’s not just a matter of conserving water and energy; the product must also be of very high quality. You will get high quality and very durable products that are also low-flow. This means that you will get real value for your money when you buy low-flow plumbing fixtures.

Water Saving Tips For The Cold Season

The warm spring and summer seasons are very much behind us and we are now going to experience cold weather for many months to come. The cold season is not all that bad. It allows families to come together and to spend more time indoors. This means that there is lots of cooking and cleaning because everyone is always at home. This translates into huge water and energy consumption at home. But as we move from fall to winter, there are several water and energy saving tactics that you can implement to trim your water and energy bill. When it comes to energy conservation at home, you have to institute strict rules about power usage. All electrical or gas appliances that are not in use should be switched off. There should be no lights in any unoccupied room. You should by now have upgraded to Energy Star certified plumbing appliances to ensure maximum energy savings. And all those incandescent bulbs should be replaced with LED bulbs. After putting all these energy saving measures in action, you can now turn to the water. You can use the following water saving tips to lower your water bill during this cold season.

Install Low-Flow Fixtures

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends WaterSense certified plumbing fixtures. EPA awards WaterSense certification to low-flow plumbing fixtures, such as bathroom faucets, showerheads, toilets, urinals, pre-rinse spray valves, irrigation controllers, and spray sprinkler bodies. These low-flow fixtures consume at least 20% less water than the standard models. Installing these water-efficient plumbing fixtures will trim your water bill by a huge margin.

Install An Instantaneous Water Heater

You can save a lot of water and energy if you install a tankless water heater or an instant water heating system. These instantaneous water heaters heat water on demand. They do not have a reservoir tank for storing the heated water, which means that they do not suffer standby heat loss. Instantaneous water heaters save water because you do not have to wait for the water to heat and hence leave the shower running for some time. Tankless water heaters require less maintenance, which means that your DC water heater repair bill will also be reduced.

Avoid Frozen Pipes

DC frosted pipeThe cold season poses a serious problem to your water supply pipes. The water in these pipes can get frozen during the extremely cold weather. This problem can also affect your drainage and sewer lines. But the highest risk is on the water supply pipes. You should leave your thermostat on during the cold season to avoid frozen pipes. You should also insulate the outdoor pipes to keep them from freezing. Frozen pipes get clogged and they can easily burst leading to massive water loss in your home.

Timely Repairs

All plumbing problems should be fixed immediately. Any leak in your pipes or fixtures should be fixed immediately to avoid unnecessary water loss. You can try various DIY remedies before calling a professional plumber to fix a leak.

Tips For Lowering Your Hot Water Bill During The Cold Season

The hot water heater becomes super essential during the cold season. This is because we really need that hot water during these chilly months. And now that the warm spring and summer months are behind us, it’s time to think about that water heater. It’s quite normal to use hot water for bathing and cleaning during the warm seasons. But you can always opt for a cold shower on a hot summer day. The fall and winter seasons are quite chilly and hence you have no choice but to power up that water heater so that you can enjoy a hot bath or shower. This means that the hot water bill increases significantly during the cold fall and winter months. But there are several measures that you can implement to lower your hot water bill during the cold seasons. Use the following tips to reduce your hot water bill this fall and during the upcoming winter season.

DC plumbing company

Insulate The Tank

The most effective way of lowering your hot water bill is by insulating the tank in your hot water heater. Bearing in mind the fact that the hot water heater is one of the biggest consumers of energy at home, you should do everything you can to reduce its energy intake. If you won a conventional storage water heater, then you know that it has a reservoir or tank for holding the heated water. The bad news is that this tank is susceptible to standby heat loss. In other words, the heated water loses some of its heat when sitting in the tank. In order to minimize this energy loss, you should insulate your tank thoroughly. You can insulate the tank in your water heater without consulting a professional plumber. You just need to follow the instructions in the insulation materiel and everything will be fine.

Shorter Showers

You should consider reducing the number of showers that you take to reduce your water and energy bills. You should also start taking shorter showers top reduce the amount of water used and the energy consumed by your water heater. And while we are still talking about saving water, you should avoid those long baths. Go for shorter showers instead.

Set A Low Temperature

You can save the amount of energy consumed by your hot water heater during the warm and cold seasons by adjusting the temperature to a lower setting. The Department of Energy recommends that you set your water heater at 120 degrees. This temperature is adequate to heat the water sufficiently. It also prevents unnecessary energy consumption and prevents scalding when you shower.

Upgrade To A High Efficiency Model

If you own an old standard tank water heater, then you should consider upgrading to a new high efficiency model. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives Energy Star certification to high efficiency products like water heaters. These high efficiency models consume a fraction of the energy consumed by older highly inefficient models. You can consult a professional DC water heater plumber regarding an upgrade or replacement of your old water heater. He will offer you various options to choose from in order to achieve maximum energy savings.

6 Reasons Why You Should Install Plastic Pipes In Your Plumbing System

Pipes are some of the most important parts of a plumbing system. We rely on water supply pipes for all our fresh water needs. Drainage and sewer pipes are responsible for the disposal of all liquid waste from the house. As such, you should only install high quality pipes in your plumbing system. Pipes are made from many different types of material. Some older pipes were made of clay and ceramic. As the plumbing industry evolved, lead pipes were introduced. These have been banned because they can cause lead poisoning. Steel pipes are some of the most popular metallic pipes in the market today. But they have one major problem; corrosion. Copper pipes are currently the most popular metallic pipes in the plumbing industry. But copper pipes are quite expensive. Plastic seems to be the best material for manufacturing plumbing pipes today. But not all types of plastic pipes are perfect. Cross-linked polyethylene or PEX tubing is the most recommendable type of plastic for plumbing. Here are six reasons why you should consider installing PEX pipes and upgrading your plumbing system.

No Corrosion

Plastic does not corrode or rust with time. Corrosion is one of the main reasons why steel pipes are not so popular in the plumbing industry. Corrosion eats away the steel pipe causing leaks and also undermining the quality of water carried in these steel pipes. One of the most amazing things about plastic is that it doesn’t corrode.

Flexibility

PEX pipes are very flexible and are hence very easy to install. You can install PEX pipes anywhere with minimal hassle. This means that plastic pipes are versatile when it comes to installation. Some plastic pipes like PVC do not carry hot water. But stronger materials like CPVC and PEX can handle hot water.

Cheaper Than Metallic Pipes

Plastic is far much cheaper than metal. Plastic pipes are hence several times cheaper than metallic pipes. Comparing the price of PEX plumbing pipes with copper plumbing pipes, PEX pipes are up to 30% cheaper. As you can see, plastic offers a cheaper alternative to metal. Installing PEX pipes in your plumbing system will save you a fortune when purchasing the materials.

Lower Risk Of Frozen Pipes

Plastic plumbing pipes are not as susceptible to freezing as metallic pipes. This is due to the fact that plastic does not retain as much cold as metal. You can easily test this theory by leaving a plastic spoon and a metallic one outdoors during the cold season. The metal spoon will be far colder than the plastic one. When it comes to the plumbing system, plastic pipes lower the risk of bursting during the cold season. This does not mean that your plastic pipes will not freeze if left un-insulated. It only means that the risk is greatly reduced.

Minimal Risk Of Leaks

Unlike other types of plastic and even metal, PEX plastic does not have a problem with pinhole leaks. The material is tough and strong and it doesn’t crack or puncture easily. This means that installing PEX pipes in your plumbing system will minimize the occurrence of leaks significantly.DC Plumber kitchen drain

Durable

As any professional plumber who specializes in DC drain services will tell you, plastic is very durable. As we have already stated, plastic does not corrode. PEX plastic is very strong and lasts for a very long time.

How To Choose A New Hot Water Heater

Nowadays there are so many models and brands of hot water heaters that the average customer requires some guidelines for choosing the right water heater for his home. We have water heaters of many different functional designs and fuel types. Basically, there are three main types of hot water heaters in the market today based on their functional design. We have the most popular water heater in the United States called the conventional storage or standard tank water heater. The conventional storage water heater comes with a reservoir or storage tank for holding the heated water for later consumption. We also have the tankless water heater also called the demand-type, on-demand, or instantaneous water heater. As you can tell from the names, the tankless water heater has no reservoir or storage tank for holding heated water but rather heats water ion demand after being switched on. And lastly we have the hybrid heat pump water heater. The hybrid heat pump water heater uses a reverse refrigeration technique to absorb heat energy from the environment to heat water. It’s called a hybrid model because it usually features an additional fuel source to supplement the environmental heat during the cold season. Just like conventional storage water heaters, hybrid heat pump water heaters have storage tanks. You should always consider the following factors when choosing a new hot water heater for your home or workplace, and talk it over with your local plumber for his expert advice for your specific situation.

 

Consider The Efficiency

Out of the three hot water heater models, the hybrid heat pump water heater is considered to be the most efficient because it does not necessarily require any fuel to heat water. The tankless water heater comes in second because it does not loose heat in stored hot water. The conventional storage water heater is the most inefficient model because it loses a lot of heat energy in the stored hot water. It is very important that you consider the efficiency of a water heater to avoid huge energy bills. The water heater accounts for almost 20% of your home energy bill, which means the more inefficient it is, the higher your energy bills. The efficiency factor also factors in the cost of the water heater. Generally the tankless water heater is more expensive to buy and install, but it ends up being the most economical option because of its low energy bills and because it’s easier and cheaper to maintain and it lasts longer than all the other models.

water-heater-dc

Consider The Installation Space

The tankless water heater has no reservoir or storage tank and hence takes up about a fifth of the total space used by a conventional storage or a hybrid heat pump water heater. This means that if you have limited space for installing your hot water heater, then the tankless model is the best. Before you buy a new hot water heater, you should consult a reliable DC water heater plumber for advice regarding the versatility of installation based on the available installation space.

 

Consider The Fuel Type

And last but not least, you should always consider the fuel type of the water heater. Most water heaters use gas or electricity but there are also some hybrid models that combine two or more fuels. We also have modern solar water heaters that use sunlight. You should always consider the availability, affordability, and efficiency of the fuel type of any water heater before purchase.

Useful Plumbing Hints and Tips For Homeowners

Most homeowners remember their plumbing system when there is a plumbing emergency. We usually take our bathrooms, sinks, water supply pipes, water heaters, and other plumbing appliances and fixtures for granted until there is a serious malfunction in the system. That is when we remember to call out local plumbers for a DC clog service or a DC water heater service. This should not be the case at all. You should be well acquainted with your home plumbing system and you should always take good care of all your home plumbing installations, fixtures, and appliances. Many homeowners could use a few tips and hints for maintaining an excellent home plumbing system. This article contains valuable advice on how to care and maintain the health of your home plumbing system.

bathroom remodeling in DC

Turn Off All Water And Power When Not In Use

You should never have a tap running when the water is not being used. You should always make sure that all faucets and showers are turned off before you leave the house or go to bed. Sometimes there are water shortages and you might find your taps running dry because of water rationing by the municipal utility. You should make sure that you turn all these taps and showers off before the water comes back. And in order to conserve energy, you should switch off all electric or gas powered plumbing appliances when not in use. Make sure that all lights are turned off when there is none in the room. And in order to ensure plumbing safety, you should turn off all power when you have a relevant plumbing emergency.

Install A High Quality Home Plumbing System

The most effective way of ensuring that your plumbing system is always in tiptop condition is top install a high quality system in the first place. This means that you should install high quality plumbing fixtures and appliances and use high quality plumbing materials. You want to make sure that every single component in your plumbing system is in excellent condition. This necessitates careful sourcing of all your plumbing pipes, faucets, sinks, showers, bathtubs, water heaters, sump pumps etc.

Know Your Home Plumbing System

There is no way you can maintain your plumbing system in excellent condition if you do not know it. You should know all the components and areas of your home plumbing system. Start by identifying the critical areas of your home plumbing system. These include the water meters, water shutoff valves and electrical breaker boxes, the water heater, the septic tank, and the water supply and drainage pipe network.

Hire Qualified Plumbers

You should always hire qualified, competent, and reliable plumbers for all your home plumbing projects. Make sure that your plumber has fulfilled the requisite academic and technical training and that he has all the proper licenses, insurance and bonding as required by law. Also ensure that you sign favorable plumbing contracts for all your home plumbing projects.

Observe Plumbing Care And Maintenance Best Practices

And last but not least, you should always observe the proper plumbing care and maintenance practices. This means that you should inspect your home plumbing system regularly. You should also hire a professional plumber to inspect your home plumbing system from time to time. You should also implement timely repairs in case there is any plumbing problem in our home.

How To Save On Water Heater Repair Bills

Water heaters are some of the most important plumbing installations in any home. They are used to heat water and supply it for all your cleaning and washing needs. Like all other household appliances, water heaters are bound to break down and malfunction from time to time. This is especially so if the water heater is old. If you have an old water heater, then you might be incurring some heavy repair bills on a regular basis. Malfunctioning water heaters can cause a lot of problems. Firstly, these faulty water heaters compromise the supply of hot water in the house. They might not supply enough hot water or the water might not be sufficiently hot when it is supplied. Secondly, these old water heaters can be corroded and hence supply rusty water in the house. Another sign of a faulty water heater is leakage. You might find that your water heater is leaking, which will cost you lots of money when paying for the wasted water. Insulation problems are also present in old water heaters that have low thermal resistance. If you are suffering from any of these problems, then you have to call a professional plumber to repair or replace your water heater. You can save on these repair charges by doing the following.

Install A High Quality Water Heater

You can solve these problems before they even occur by preventing them. And how do you do that? Install a high quality water heater. When it comes to water heaters, there are three main types, namely conventional storage water heaters, tankless water heaters, and hybrid heat pump water heaters. Each of these water heater types has its own pros and cons. But regardless of the type of water heater that you install in your home, your major concern should always be quality. You should select highly rated water heaters with all the marks of quality. You can tell the quality of any water heater by checking its warranty guarantee. Buy a water heater that offers a long warranty guarantee to avoid frequent breakages and costly repairs.

Ensure Timely Repairs

You can also save on water heater repair bills by ensuring timely repairs. The moment you detect or suspect any problem in your home water heater, you should immediately call your local plumber for a timely fix. Whether it’s a leak or a hot water output problem, just call your local plumber for an immediate and viable solution.

Regular Inspection And Proper Maintenance

Professional plumbers offer water heater inspection and maintenance services. Like every other plumbing installation in your home, you water heater should be inspected regularly by a professional plumber. Actually you should also inspect the water heating unit on your own. But you should also schedule routine inspections with your local plumber. The plumber will also implement various maintenance measures on your water heater. You should abide by all the recommendations offered by the water heater inspector after the inception.

Hire Competent Water Heater Plumbers

You should never use unqualified plumbers for any home plumbing task. There are professional plumbers who specialize in water heater services. These plumbers usually advertise many services, including DC sewer inspection services, drain cleaning services, leak detection and repair services, installation of sump pumps and other plumbing appliances and fixtures, and many more. Make sure that water heater services are listed in these services catalog and that the plumber is qualified and licensed to practice in Washington DC.

Water Saving Tips For Homeowners

Unquestionable fact: Water is the essence of life. Sad fact: Many people die every day because they can’t access clean water for drinking and for other household uses. Frightening fact: We continue to waste water despite the fact that water is a limited resource. It has already been established that well over 3 million people die annually or more than 350 lives are lost daily due to poor sanitation and water-related preventable diseases in the world. In order to curb this killer problem, the United Nations launched the “Water for Life” initiative from 2005 to 2015 in what it called the International Decade for Action to solve water related issues throughout the world. The initiative was supported by quality plumbers and other affected professionals and it was quite a success. One of the main objectives of such initiatives is to educate the public regarding these pertinent issues. In water related issues, the public needs to know the importance of conserving water. You can save a lot of money by adopting the following water conservation tactics.

 

Turn Off Faucets And Showers After Use

You should never leave a tap running after use. Make sure that all faucets and showers are turned off after use to avoid water wastage. You should also avoid the habit of brushing your teeth with the tap running. Use a glass to fetch water for brushing you teeth instead of wasting water with a running tap. If you wish to drink cold water, fill a glass or a jug with water and put it in your fridge. This means that you will not leave the tap running for some minutes before you fetch sufficiently cold water to quench your thirst.

DC water conditioning

 

Fix Dripping Faucets, Showerheads, And Other Plumbing Fixtures And Appliances

You should make a point of fixing all dripping faucets and showerheads and any other leaking pipes, fixtures and appliances. Most people assume that slow dripping facets are not a major plumbing concern. What they don’t know is that a faucet that drips one drop of water per second can waste over 2,000 gallons of water in the course one year. You should also have any other leaking plumbing appliances and fixtures fixed, such as your home water heater. If you have an old leaking home water heater, then you should request for professional DC water heater repair services to have your unit fixed or replaced to avoid water loss.

 

Full Load Cleaning

You should always run full loads in your dishwashers and washing machines. Make sure that you load your clothes washer to the maximum capacity to save water. You should do the same with your dishwasher. Put all the dirty dishes that can fit in your dishwasher at once to avoid repeat cleanings that require more water.

 

Conservative Gardening

We use a lot of water in our gardening activities. Every time you turn on that garden hose to water you lawn, you will be using quite a massive amount of water. You can save lots of water by implementing several water saving gardening tips. Firstly, you should pick the right times to water your garden. Water your garden early in the morning and late in the evening to avoid water loss due to evaporation. You should also consider watering your plants with a watering can instead of a garden hose to save water. You should also plant water-wise plants in your garden to save water.

 

Bathroom Remodeling Tips For Success

Remodeling or fixing up your bathroom can be a pricey, lengthy, and overwhelming process if you don’t have any experience in this particular area.  Whether you are doing it all yourself or hiring a professional, you will want to develop a realistic plan from the beginning to map out everything in order from goals to specifics materials that will be needed.  Sometimes, hiring a professional such as a designer may seem like an unnecessary expenditure but if the job is larger than average then you can actually save time and money in the long run with their efficiency and methods.  You can also trust that the final result will be exactly the way you want it with excellent quality and attention to detail.  Check out some more tips below for bathroom remodeling and renovations.

 

DC plumber upgrade

 

Try To Stick With Original Plumbing Placement

 

One very important aspect to understand in the planning process and development stage is to avoid moving the utilities like the toilet and bathtub location.  Moving these will cost a lot more and be a much more complex process to demolish walls and change pipes that lead to the fixtures.  This will tack on a lot of extra time to the entire project as well.  Always keep the plumbing fixtures where they already are, if possible, to save yourself a ton of extra time and money.

 

Saving Money On A “New Look” Toilet

 

A common mistake that many people make is replacing the entire toilet when trying to give the bathroom a new look or style.  Instead of buying a brand new toilet and paying to have it professionally installed on top of that, you can always just get a new toilet seat and lid to serve the purpose as a new look or theme of whatever you are striving for.  Luckily, you can browse from many different styles, sizes, colors, and designs to best fit your needs and interests.  If you do change the whole toilet, consider a new, low-flow one to save water.

 

Let There Be Light

 

One of the most common upgrades that people wish to tackle when remodeling their bathroom is adding more and better quality lighting.  This is an excellent way to drastically change the visibility and the feel of the bathroom in a hurry.  Fortunately, it can all be done in an affordable manner as well so you don’t have to break the bank on this one.  Home improvement and specific lighting stores can offer great deals on exactly what you are looking for.  You could also always take it a step further and investigate the possibility of installing a skylight for natural light.  The lighting is an excellent and fast method of bathroom improvement and overall, any or all of these tips listed will surely help you achieve a newer look with more efficiency for less money.

 

Form a plan, seek professional advice, and take things one step at a time so you can get the most out your bathroom remodeling experience.  For any other questions or assistance, contact an expert that offers bathroom remodeling in DC.