March 26th, 2010
A recent article posted on MSN Money gave suggestions for “Home improvement projects that pay for themselves.” While all helpful, there were a couple tips that we found especially important and thought we’d share with you.
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.
Tags: hvac, leaks, pipes, programmable thermostat, raleigh air conditioning, raleigh electrician, Raleigh heating, Raleigh plumber
Posted in Raleigh Residential Services | No Comments »
March 19th, 2010
March 15 – 21 is the EPA Water Sense program’s Fix a Leak Week! On the Progressive Plumbing & Drains Facebook page, we’ve been celebrating by posting a leak fact every day. By now, we all know that leaky faucets, showerheads, toilets and other plumbing outlets can waste tons of water and ultimately run up your water bill. Ready to fix leaks in your home or business?
Here are some resources:
The EPA WaterSense program’s leak facts and figures.
Regional Water Providers Consortium how-to videos on leak detection and repair.
Progressive Plumbing & Drains contact info – call us for quick repairs!
Tags: fix a leak week, leaks, leaky faucets, leaky toilet, Raleigh plumbing, water conservation
Posted in Progressive Plumbing Services | No Comments »
June 25th, 2009
Checking your water meter is an important way to prevent paying high water bills for leaky water lines and pipes. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to check your meter:
First up, where is it? Water meters are typically located by the curb at the front of your property, often in a direct line with the main outside faucet. They are usually housed in a concrete box set into the ground and labeled “Water.”
Now that you’ve found it, how do you read it? Look at the numbers displayed prominently either above or below the words “cubic feet.” This is your meter reading – it represents all the water that has passed through the meter since it was installed.
To understand whether your pipes are leaking, try this sometime when you’ll be out for a few hours: before you leave, turn off all appliances that use water (both inside and outside of the building). Record the meter reading. When you return, if the number has changed, you’ve got a leak. If the sweeping dial that resembles a clock hand is still moving after you’ve turned your water off, it can also signify a leak.
If you do discover a problem, call Progressive Plumbing and Piping for a free consultation.
Tags: leaks, pipes, tips, water lines
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
May 11th, 2009
From time to time folks in the Triangle area ask us about alternatives to water heaters with tanks. If your unit is leaking and has given you trouble in the past please read on for more information.
Tank type water heaters can create a huge mess if the tank ruptures. Tank type heaters are also not as efficient as the newest tankless water heaters available today. Tankless technology has been around for more than 50 years and has been used with great success as an energy and space saving tool for years overseas. A tankless unit takes up very little space and can even be installed on the outside of your home or business. These units are ultra efficient as they use no energy to keep water in a tank hot all day or all night just waiting for you to use some hot stored water. Tankless units only use energy when hot water is called for, heating the cold water instantaneously. There are numerous sizes and designs available for residential or commercial use.
Want to learn more? Read up on tankless water heaters.
Tags: leaks, water heater
Posted in Q & A | No Comments »
