Here’s the column, by a writer for the East Aurora Advertiser:

In Praise of Plumbers

It’s actually true: you never do miss the water ’til the well runs dry.

We lost our water last Friday afternoon, just as the long holiday weekend was about to get underway. The clothes washer was churning, my son was watering newly seeded grass, and-boom. Just like that. No water.

Was it the well? Pump? Both? Of course I feared the worst and pictured our household without water for three weeks while we paid 10 grand for a new well to be dug.

Lucky for us, a Facebook friend recommended a wonderful local plumber, who arrived before 8 a.m. on Saturday. It took him several hours, but he gave us back the liquid of life: water.

I was so grateful for that water on Saturday after the plumbing was fixed. But if I had made a list Friday morning of the things I’m grateful for, “water” might not have occurred to me. It’s funny what you can learn after just 24 hours of living without something so precious.

Click here to read the full article (the part quoted above is near the bottom).

Annual home inspections

Having your heating, AC, plumbing and electrical systems checked once a year will help you understand minor problems before they become major repair projects. Call a professional Raleigh HVAC technician, plumber or electrician to do a thorough check on your home’s systems to make sure everything is running smoothly. If not, they will be able to make minor fixes for you before problems get out of hand and become expensive to fix.

Fix plumbing and piping leaks

Your Raleigh plumber will check for leaks as a part of your annual inspection, but there are also ways you can inspect for plumbing leaks on your own. Take a look under cabinets to make sure pipes aren’t leaking, turn valves on and off to make sure everything is working properly and keep a close eye on your water bill. If your bill is unusually high, it probably means you have a plumbing leak somewhere in your home. Have all leaks fixed immediately to make sure you don’t waste money on wasted water.

Install a programmable thermostat

Or have one of the professionals at Progressive do it for you! A programmable thermostat enables you to maintain a comfortable, reliable temperature in your home while also increasing the efficiency of your home’s heating and air conditioning system and allowing it to function properly for longer. According to the MSN Money article, installing a programmable thermostat can save you $180 a year on heating and air conditioning bills by more accurately regulating the temperature of your home.

There are lots of ways to save energy at home, but it’s best to get the facts before making a lot of changes. A home energy audit will determine where energy is being wasted in your home and what you can do to fix those problem areas.

Take a look at this article from HowStuffWorks.com to learn about DIY and professional energy audits. After you’ve determined where energy is being wasted in your home, give Progressive a call to help you fix the problems!

What can Progressive do to help you conserve energy? Our Raleigh HVAC division can replace your old heating or air conditioning system to a newer, more energy-efficient model. Our Raleigh electricians can fix energy leaks around electrical outlets, and recommend and install energy-efficient home appliances. Our Raleigh solar technicians can help you make big changes with a solar water heater or photovoltaic solar panels.

Are you ready to save money by conserving energy? Give Progressive a call today!

• Cooking the turkey and other tasty dishes creates some not-so-tasty bi-products like cooking oils and fats. Though it’s tempting, don’t pour these down the drain, where they may solidify and cause major headaches. Instead, wipe excess oils off with paper towels which can be thrown out after clean-up.
• Remember to always run the faucet (on cold) when you run the garbage disposal. Start running the faucet a few seconds before turning the disposal on, and continue running it for a few seconds after the disposal’s turned off.
• Never overload your garbage disposal, especially with fibrous food items like fruit and vegetable peels and turkey skin.
• Only run your dishwasher when it’s full (for water conservation), but don’t overload it. Overloading can cause china to break, which can clog the drain.
• Consider running the washing machine and dishwasher at off-times (like the night) to save hot water and water pressure for stay-over guests.
• Provide trash cans around the house in convenient locations so guests remember to dispose of food waste, tissues, etc. in the wastebaskets instead of in drains or toilets.
• Got some toddlers joining you for Turkey Day? Make sure they’re entertained and under supervision to avoid the (pretty common) problem of toy cars stuck in the toilet.

And, just in case you do encounter the unexpected plumbing crisis, , keep our contact info on hand. Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you found it helpful – if you need help winterizing your home, give us a call!

Toilet clogs:

Assuming you already know how to use a plunger, we’ll skip that method. Other ways to unclog a toilet incude using a wire hanger to loosen up the clog. Bend the wire so the hanger can be inserted into the drain and the hook can be used to move the clog.

Another method to unclog a toilet drain involves hot water and dish soap. Add a couple squirts of dish soap to the toilet bowl, then pour a pot of hot (but not boiling!) water in. This method puts pressure on the clog and (hopefully) loosens it up.

Sink clogs:

Unlike with toilet clogs, you can use boiling water to loosen up a sink clog — but only if you have metal pipes! Boil water in a large pot and slowly pour it down the drain. Not working? Move on to our next suggestion.

Plunge. Yes, plunge your sink drain — but not with your toilet plunger! For sink clogs, use a cup plunger (looks exactly how it sounds) which is designed for sink, tub and shower drains.

We don’t usually recommend using chemicals to unclog your drain, since they are potentially harmful to the environment.

Main drains:

While it is possible to unclog a main drain with an electrically-powered auger, it can be a frustrating job without a professional. If you suspect a main drain clog, give Progressive Plumbing a call! We’ll do the dirty work.

Traditional storage water heaters

Traditional water heaters heat and store water in a tank, usually about 40 to 50 gallons at a time. While today’s storage water heaters are much more efficient than older versions, using 10% less electricity or gas, there are still disadvantages to this common option. When the pre-heated water is used, it may take a while for the heater to replenish its tank, making you wait for your hot water.

Tankless water heaters

Unlike its traditional counterpart, a tankless water heater does not store pre-heated water. Instead, this system only springs to action when hot water is needed. Heating elements located within the pipes heat water almost instantly, pumping it out at a rate between two and five gallons per minute. Tankless heaters are more energy-efficient than storage water heaters, only using energy as needed instead of maintaining water temperature constantly.

Solar water heaters

Solar water heaters harness the sun’s energy through rooftop panels. These systems utilize a tank similar to that of traditional systems and use renewable solar energy to heat the stored water. Because it uses solar energy, a solar thermal system is the most energy-efficient water heater option available.

Need help choosing the system that’s right for you? Progressive can assist you in making the right decision and can provide you with expert installation.

1.  Solar water heaters utilize clean, renewable solar energy.

2.  Solar panels today are smaller than ever before. They look similar to a skylight and only measure from about 4′ X 6′ to 6′ X 12′.

3.  Did you know that both the federal government and North Carolina offer tax incentives for solar water heaters? Learn more HERE.

4. Our panels meet the testing standards of the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC). This means they take a licking and keep on ticking.

5. Solar water saves you money!  You can cut costs by 65 – 85% and a residential solar hot water system will usually pay for itself in 5.5 years or less.