Heavy rainfall can be more than a damper on your weekend plans. It can also cause plumbing problems. These are some tips on how to spot damage to your plumbing from a heavy rain and some ways to prevent it. Cracked Pipes When it rains a large amount in a short time, it causes increased pressure in your pipes. This can cause them to crack. Heavy rainfall can also soften the ground around underground pipes. This can cause them to shift, which leads to them bursting. If you notice dirt in your tap water or it’s a dark color, you probably have a cracked or burst pipe. You should turn off the main water valve to prevent further problems and then call a plumber. can help you with cracked and burst pipes. We’ve been providing plumbing services to homeowners in the area since 1991. Sewage Backup This is one of the worst problems that can result from heavy rainfall. If you have a septic tank, heavy rain can saturate the drain field. The tank can’t output water to it, so wastewater flows back through the pipes into your home. If you think this will occur or has happened, call a...
Whether you realize it or not, the location of your thermostat has a direct impact on your household climate. Thermostats work by measuring the temperature around them and then sending instructions to your HVAC system to heat or cool the home accordingly. So, if your thermostat isn’t getting accurate information, it can easily lead to your heating and cooling appliances running either too often or not often enough. How to Find a Good Spot for Your Thermostat Ultimately, the best places to put your thermostat are spots that can provide an accurate representation of your home’s temperature. First and foremost, you should always put your thermostat on an interior wall. You should also measure any potential spot’s distance from the floor and ensure that it’s between 50 and 62 inches. If you place the thermostat higher or lower than that, it will regularly be getting readings that are too hot or too cold, respectively. One good option is to put the thermostat somewhere near the center of your home. Usually, the middle of a house won’t experience too many temperature fluctuations and should be close to the home’s average indoor climate. Alternatively, you could set up your thermostat in the...
Slab leaks happen when there’s a leakage of plumbing pipes in and under the concrete slab foundation. They can damage your home, so it’s advisable to watch out for telltale signs and call for professional help. It’s time to hire slab leak detection services if you notice any of the following signs. Reduction in Water Pressure Less water is likely to run through your pipes when you have a slab leak because water escapes out of leaky pipes. You might notice less water pressure when you have slab leaks in your home. It could be a slab leak if there’s a reduction in water pressure when you aren’t using other fixtures simultaneously. An Increase in Your Water Bill When your slab has leaks, water runs 24/7, meaning more water goes into waste. A sudden and unexplained spike in your water bill could indicate a slab leak. You need slab leak detection experts if you can’t find leaks within your house. Wet or Damaged Flooring Unfortunately, severe slab leaks can damage the flooring above. Watch out for darkened appearance or unexplained damp spots on your carpet. For hardwood and laminate flooring, be on the lookout for warped appearance to know if...
Opening the window is not always enough to clean the air indoors. To remove everything from airborne allergens to toxic fumes, it’s recommended to use a household appliance. There are devices made for specific types of air quality problems. The technicians at will help you learn more about air purifiers and dehumidifiers. Air Purifiers Indoor air quality is at least twice as unclean as outdoor air. An air purifier is used to remove odors, toxins and airborne particles that circulate in indoor spaces. The constant smell of smoke or mold and the presence of dust are reasons to install a purifier. A device can remove more than 99% of all airborne particles that enter a room. Dehumidifiers High humidity is a high concentration of water vapor in the air. A dehumidifier is a household appliance that removes excess moisture from the air. It’s designed to reduce humidity levels to make the air clear and breathable. While an air purifier is designed to make the air cleaner and healthier, a dehumidifier is designed to make the air more breathable and comfortable. It also prevents the growth of mold and mildew that could spread throughout the air. Like a purifier, it also...
If you want to improve your financial situation, have a more comfortable home and minimize your hassle, taking better care of your heater is a fantastic place to start. The time and effort you put into maintaining your heating system has a direct correlation with how well it performs, and the start of a new year is a perfect time to start creating the right habits. Keeping Up With Maintenance If you want your heater to operate as close to peak efficiency and effectiveness as possible, you should schedule professional heating tune-ups on a yearly basis. These maintenance visits are relatively inexpensive, and staying on top of them can bring all of these positives to your household: Lower energy bills Better heating Better air quality Fewer repair bills Longer heater lifespan Cleaning Your Ducts and Vents When your heater is called upon to circulate warm air through your home, it’s crucial that the pathway it uses is clear and clean. If your air ducts and vents are dirty or clogged, it’s bad for your heater’s health, your indoor air quality and your monthly utility bills. You can clean your vents on your own, and you should do it once a...
Your home cannot be complete without a handy toolbox that you can count on for your repair needs, and when you own a home, you’ll ultimately encounter plumbing problems. Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or a newbie, having the right tools will help you do preventive maintenance on your plumbing system. Learning how to use them can give you the confidence boost you need to fix any minor plumbing issues that come your way. Here are a few plumbing tools all homeowners must have. Plunger A plunger is an essential plumbing tool you should have at your disposal. Plungers come in two types: flange plunger and cup plunger. The flange plunger works best for toilets as it has a rubber seal specifically designed to form a vacuum that effectively dislodges troublesome clogs. On the other hand, a cup plunger works best for unclogging sinks and bathtubs. You will always need both flange and cup plungers around your home to fix minor blockages. Drain Snake A drain snake is a flexible auger that helps dislodge troublesome clogs that the average plunger can’t handle. This tool will help you clear debris such as hair, food scraps and soap scum without causing damage...
High energy bills and damage to a house are top concerns when the coldest months of the year arrive. If you prepare your home at the end of the fall, you can reduce the likelihood of these problems while giving yourself peace of mind. Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors It’s ideal to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors once a month. If it’s been a while since you last checked, it’s one of the tasks you’ll want to complete as winter approaches. House fires and carbon monoxide poisoning happen more often in the winter because people are inside of their homes more. Many people like using fireplaces or candles to set a cozy atmosphere as well. The batteries in your detectors need to be changed once or twice a year. Some people schedule their battery changes for daylight savings time as an easy way to remember. Clean the Gutters Built-up debris in your gutter increases the chance of ice dams and other damage to your home. You don’t want snow and ice piling up on top of debris in your gutters. Another problem with leaves, branches, and other debris in the gutters is that they can cause...
Buying a new furnace costs a significant amount of money, so it’s only natural for you to want to do everything in your power to make your investment work for you. Properly caring for your furnace from the beginning ensures that it has a long lifespan and you have a comfortably heated home. Read on to find out how you can get the best results possible from your new furnace. 1. Shop Smart It’s important to purchase a furnace that’s designed to give you the results you want. Be certain that your new furnace is the proper size for your home. If you think you need help with this, contacting your local HVAC experts will steer you in the right direction. 2. Check Your HVAC System The quality of the heat in your home depends upon your entire HVAC system, not just your furnace. Have an HVAC technician come and inspect the entire system for damage and aging components. There may be small tweaks you can make, like installing a programmable thermostat, that can help you get the most out of your furnace. 3. Do Your Part Though most maintenance work should be left to professionals, you can perform small...
A sump pump is an inconspicuous essential. Often discretely installed in low-lying areas of homes, this equipment is typically out of sight and out of mind. However, when problems like basement flooding occur, it also reliably saves the day. If you’ve got a sump pump in your Aitkin home, keeping it well-maintained is absolutely critical. Following are three solid reasons why. 1. Your Sump Pump Is an Important Investment Like many Minnesota homeowners, you’ve likely paid a fair amount of cash for your sump pump, and to have it properly installed. Keeping it clean and debris-free is important for both ensuring continued operation and for staving unnecessary problems off. Routine maintenance for your sump pump is always far more cost-effective than letting it wear down. With regular inspections and cleaning, you can avoid countless repair issues and the high costs of either fixing them or replacing the entire unit. 2. Enjoy Peace of Mind Think back to your life before you had a sump pump in your home. Nothing was likely more nerve-wracking and stress-inducing than heavy rain or massive amounts of snow-melt. With a high-functioning sump in, you don’t have to worry about wet floors, wet baseboards, mold, mildew,...
It can be frustrating when your AC system is running but not producing cool air. There are a number of reasons this occurs. Some of the cooling issues you can solve, but for others, you need the help of an experienced technician. Thermostat Set to “ON” Check your thermostat to see if the fan is set to “ON” or “AUTO.” When it’s set to “AUTO,” the fan will run regardless of whether or not the air conditioner is running. Set it to “ON,” so the fan only comes on when the air conditioner does. Dirty Filter A dirty filter impedes airflow through your air conditioning system. Your AC system can’t operate as it should and may even shut down after becoming overheated. You should check the filter monthly and replace it when you notice it’s dirty. Obstructed Condenser Your outdoor AC unit houses a large condenser. If the condenser becomes jammed, it may operate but not be able to extract enough heat energy from your home. Debris that can jam the condenser includes grass clipping, leaves, and dirt. Open your outdoor AC unit and gently hose the condenser down. Broken Condenser Fan Motor A broken condenser fan motor will cause...
