Steps to Avoid A Thanksgiving Plumbing Emergency…

Thnksgiving is here, bringing together family, friends and a few plumbing emergencies. A majority of Americans take part in holiday parties with 11 or more guests around Thanksgiving. These extra guests put a serious strain on your homes plumbing systems, which results in more emergency calls to plumbers.
	Big holiday meals require a busy kitchen. Too much grease and food finds its way into the kitchen drain or disposer. Holiday guests also equate to extra showers, baths and lots of extra toilet flushes. It all adds up to potential plumbing disasters. Pipes clog because of a gradual buildup of grease, hair, soap or food particles. All it takes is one major overload, like a house full of guests, to exasperate the situation and create a clogged drain. Follow these tips to avoid a plumbing disaster.

	In the kitchen:
	• Avoid pouring fats or cooking oils down the drain because liquid fats solidify in the pipes and create clogs. Wipe congealed grease from pots. • Never put hard-to-grind, stringy, fibrous waste into the garbage disposer (poultry skins, carrots, celery, pumpkin pulp or banana peels). The disposer can’t sufficiently grind these items and they will clog your sink drain.

	•		Run cold water down the drain for about 15 seconds before and after using the garbage disposer to flush waste down the main line.
	•		Turn on the disposer before adding food debris.
	•		Run the dishwasher and washing machine at night or at off times to conserve water temperature and pressure for your guests.

	In the bathroom:
	• Plan ahead, spread out showers throughout the day; wait 10 minutes between showers rather than taking one right after another. • Turn up the water heater slightly to retain hot water. To avoid scalding, do not exceed 125°F. • If shower pressure is weak, pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag, place it over the showerhead, and soak. Use a twist tie to hold it in place overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and use an old toothbrush to gently scrub off the mineral deposits to help restore water flow.

	•		Provide a trash bin in the bathroom so the toilet isn’t used as a garbage can. Never flush cotton swabs, cotton balls, hair, facial scrub pads, diapers, sanitary products or similar items down the toilet. These items will not easily dissolve and are responsible for most clogs.

Federal Tax Credit For Furnace Replacement

Depending on the size of a home, a new furnace can cost $4,000 to $5,000 or more. A federal tax credit can cover about a fourth of that cost.

To encourage use of the still pricey technology, there are federal tax credits for geothermal heating units that use ground temperature to heat and cool a home. But many homeowners don’t know there are substantial tax credits to replace a conventional furnace too.

To qualify for the federal tax credit on a gas hot air furnace, you have to have an efficiency rating of 95 percent or higher.

That federal tax credit is up to $1,500. Since it’s a tax credit, the money comes right off the amount of federal income tax you’d have to pay. If you take the new furnace plunge document every step of the process for the IRS.

Not all Energy Star appliances qualify for this tax credit, The manufacturer has to give you a certification statement, a certificate that you file not in your tax but in the papers with your tax return. What actually gets filed is a form 5695.

To learn more about the energy tax credit for a new furnace, call or visit the experts at Thornton & Grooms at 248.644.7810.

Is a tankless hot water heater right for you?

A homeowner wrote in with this question:

“What are the pros and cons of “no tank” water heaters for my residences? Thanks.”

We love tankless units. When sized and installed properly they are the perfect solution for instant hot water on demand, and not having to continuously heat a large reserve of water can significantly reduce energy costs. We also understand that each homeowner has unique needs and circumstances which we take into consideration to help you make the right decision.

There are pros and cons to consider when researching a switch to tankless water heating:

Tankless Water Heater Pros

1. Only heats water while hot water is being used. This “on demand” aspect means lower use which can equal lower utility cost.

2. Because they don’t hold a supply of water, they are typically smaller than standard heaters.

3. The supply of hot water is endless. No holding tank to empty.

4. Some tankless water heaters qualify for a federal tax credit.

Tankless Water Heater Cons

1. The initial cost and installation of a tankless unit costs more than a standard water heater, but over time you will recoup this cost in future energy savings.

2. Tankless uses a lot of power at the time they are engaged, so your gas or electric lines may require upgrading to handle the volume.

3. Some units are very strict on placement in the home; this sometimes makes it difficult to install/retrofit in an existing home.

4. Some complain that they do not meet high demand (example: shower with washing machine and dishwasher running.) You can avoid this problem by using an experienced installer who will assess your home and suggest the right size for your daily needs.

 

Tankless water heaters originated in Europe and Asia after World War 2 when on-going energy limitations and space constraints forced people to look for more efficient ways to heat their water. With the recent increases in energy costs, Americans are now interested in more efficient and cost-effective ways of heating water.

Check out this video on how a tankless water heater works

The major contrast between the old and new tankless heaters is efficiency. Most of the heat created by the old tankless heater went up the chimney, and not into the water. During that time in our nation’s history, fuel was cheap so efficiency wasn’t an issue. The new tankless heaters make use of solid-state electronics and a variety of water and gas controls which result in most of the heat going into the water and not out the vent.

The decision to install a tankless water heater is a personal choice. The initial costs are higher than traditional water heaters, but the long term savings are substantial and the convenience is rewarding.

If you are considering replacing your water heater consult a professional that can assess your needs and help you make the right decision if you decide to go tankless, they require an experienced installer to assess your specific needs and give you the right size unit properly installed. Call us at 248.644.7810 or contact us here to get expert Thornton & Grooms professional to assist you.

Tax Credits for Energy Efficient Home Improvements

The recently signed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 made some significant changes to energy efficiency tax credits*. The tax credits apply to improvements made during 2009 and 2010 for select HVAC, Windows, Doors, and Roofing projects.

Tax Incentives Increased

The maximum tax credit has been raised to $1,500 for the two years. Some improvements, such as geothermal heat pumps, are not subject to the $1,500 maximum.

More Details

For details, visit the EnergyStar website

Backflow Prevention Can Save Your Life.

Backflow Prevention Can Save Your Life.  Funny Thing is, Most People Aren’t Even Aware of the Problem.

Before talking about backflow prevention, let’s first describe the problem, and how it occurs:

Backflow is the reversal of the direction of water or sewage due to a reversal of water pressure. In either case, contamination occurs. This contamination can be limited to your home or extend to the city water supply.  And if left unchecked or not checked in time, the results can be harmful…even lethal.

Here are the typical causes of how contamination occurs:

• A break in a city water line which could then cause polluted water and other contaminants from mixing with the city water supply;
• Line flushing and fire fighting can produce the same harmful result;
• Homes with wells and ground water supplies that spill into your well water…if a well pump shuts off while the end of an attached hose is underwater – even submerged in a puddle on the ground – backflow can suck the liquid backward through the hose into the well;
• Water systems that are supplied by wells or come in contact with untreated and contaminated streams or ponds also create potential backflow hazards.

 Without proper protection, even a simple device like your water hose has the potential to poison your home’s water supply. 

 By contrast, the kind of professional backflow services we offer at Thornton & Grooms can help protect your family’s drinking water by blocking contaminants from entering your water supply, and eventually the water sources within your home.

How to Protect Your Family

 First, have your city or well water tested to see if it’s currently contaminated.  The professionals at (company name) can perform that service for you, and help determine the source of the contamination, and the best methods for giving you the security and peace of mind that comes from a steady supply of pure drinking water.

 We have a number of solutions we’d be happy to discuss with you on preventing backflow contamination from both city and well water supplies….we can even install a lawn sprinkler/irrigation system that has built-in backflow prevention. 

 Because while pesticides may be good for your lawn and help to beautify your home, they definitely are not something you want backing up into your home water supply.

No Cooling On this 1st Warm Day? Need A New A/C Follow these 7 Steps…

Its the first hot and humid day, and it’s inside your home! Can’t believe you need an air conditioner! Buying a new air conditioner is something that you may do only once or twice in your lifetime, and, based on over seventy years of selling, servicing, and installation experience, Thornton & Grooms plumbing, heating and cooling has developed a 7-step checklist that makes purchase of your new air conditioner relatively stress free and easy.

1. Choose a qualified contractor. Ask your Chamber of Commerce, friends, or family, for a referral. Look for a contractor that has been in business, is licensed and insured and has trained NATE certified technicians to install different types and brands of equipment.
2. Call your City Hall and speak with your building inspector. Air conditioning installations require permits to be filed with the city for both heating and electric, (electric is because most furnaces today require a grounded current from your panel and sometimes increasing the current size to 20 amps) and inspections by the building inspector upon completion. Check to see if there have been any problems with the contractor.
3. Set up an appointment with the contractor. Make sure the contractor comes to your home at your convenience, and you have the name of the person visiting. Check their Certificates of Insurance and State and City licenses. Find out if they have a showroom and visit it. Ask for references. Ask to visit sites where they have made an installation similar to yours.
4. Get a type written estimate. Talk to the contractor about your home, any special comfort needs, and how long you plan to stay in the home. Make sure they perform a heat gain/loss using an accurate infiltration number. This information will help the contractor propose the best air conditioner and associated equipment solutions for you. Have the contractor list exactly what is covered by the estimate-new equipment installed, old equipment removed, warranties and time frame.
5. Explore payment options. Your contractor should offer options-cash, check, Visa and MasterCard, or 100% financing with terms. Often contractors ask for a down payment to schedule the job and secure the equipment.
6. Schedule installation. Make sure it is convenient for you, confirm the time frame, and ask for the names of the installation technicians. Check identification when the technicians arrive. When they are finished, good technicians should explain to you how the system works. They should also provide literature, maintenance instructions, and phone numbers on your furnace.
7. Consider a maintenance plan. Annual maintenance of your furnace saves energy and prolongs the life of your equipment. Good contractors offer these plans and the savings in your utility bill covers the cost of the plan.

Just follow this checklist and your new air conditioning purchase should be easy. Still have questions? Want more information? Feel free to call Thornton & Grooms Plumbing, Heating and Cooling  at 1-248-430-7120, or visit our website at www.thorntonandgrooms.com. Better yet, visit our showroom, join us for a cool glass of water, and meet the people who will drive that heat from your home!

Our New Blog

Our new Thornton & Grooms blog is here!  In an effort to bring news, helpful tips, specials and much more we felt this was a great communication medium.  We will have monthly maintenance and around the home tips and also answer common customer questions and concerns.  You can also check our FAQ page for common questions our customers ask. 

With Summer right around the corner it is time to get your air conditioning ready, here are some stats that might surprise you and some great reasons to get your air conditioner checked before the heat arrrives.

80% of breakdowns can be avoided by having a comprehensive air conditioning precision tune-up such as Thornton & Grooms performs

A “freon” (refrigerant) under / overcharge of only 10% can increase operating costs by almost 20% and practically speaking, refrigerant should never have to be replaced.  If it must be added each year there is a leak which must be repaired.

Air filters should be replaced regularly depending on the type of filter, dust level in your home, pets in home and many other factors it can vary from every 30 days to as little a once every 2 years.

With a good maintenance check on your air conditioning system these issues can be addressed giving you trouble free operation through out the summer and saving you money on your utility bills.  Maintenance doesn’t cost it pays!

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