Make Your Home More Energy and Conservation Efficient.
Be a Leak Seeker.
- Leaks
Unseen or unfixed, they can drip hundreds, even thousands, of gallons of water wastefully down the drain. A little detective work several times a year can catch these water thieves in the act and put them out of circulation.
- Faucets
Most leaks result from worn out washers in household faucets and showerheads. These faucets, as well as seldom-used taps in the basement or storage rooms, should be checked periodically. Faucet leaks are usually caused by worn washers or "O" rings (for washerless faucets). Repairing faucet leaks is easy. All you have to do is turn off the water supply line to that faucet, replace the washer, and turn the line back on again. Any good do-it-yourself book will offer advice on this simple task. If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, have the work done by someone who knows how to do the job.
- Toilets
The toilet is one of the most common water wasters but its leaks tend to be less noticeable than faucet leaks. To determine if your toilet is leaking, look at the toilet bowl after the tank has stopped filing. If the water is still running into the cowl, or if water can be heard running, your toilet is leaking.
- Most toilet leaks occur at the overflow pipe or at the plunger ball inside the tank. To locate a toilet leak, take the tank lid off and flush. The water level should come up to about ½ inch or so below the overflow pipe. Adjust the float level control screw, if necessary, so the valve shuts off the water at that level. If the valve itself is leaking, you may need a plumber to fix it.
- Although water may not be seen or heard running, your toilet may have a silent leak. To test for a silent leak, drop a little food coloring into the tank. DO NOT FLUSH. Wait for about 10 minutes. If the food coloring appears in the toilet bowl, your toilet has a silent leak. It is probably located in or around the plunger ball or flapper valve at the bottom of the tank. These leaks are also easy to fix with parts from your hardware or home store.
- Outside Taps
Check the outside taps for leaking water, particularly during the summer sprinkling season. A hose mistakenly left dribbling away in the grass or garden can waste thousands of gallons of water over the course of a summer. Remember to close outside faucets tightly every time you shut off the water!
Temperature
Cozy and warm, gentle heat in winter and cool, refreshing air on hot summer days are the fundamentals for creating a more comfortable environment. However, temperature is only one of the ways to provide comfort from your heating and cooling system.
Humidity and Filtration
Today’s homeowners are realizing that keeping a home comfortable is about more than just temperature control. Moisture has a big result on how warm or cool air feels at the same temperature. In the sweltering heat of July, air conditioners and heat pumps remove humidity from the air so you don't have to adjust the thermostat to stay comfortable. Controlling the moisture can make 78 degrees feel comfortable on those humid 90 degree summer days. On cold winter days, systems with humidifiers can add moisture to make 68 degrees feel warm and cozy. That extra moisture reduces static electricity and helps keep your skin and sinuses from getting too dry. The quality of the air you breath is too important an issue to ignore! Electronic air cleaners can help your system also filter dust and pollen to help you breathe easier.
Convenience and Consistency
There is a full line of electronic thermostats to provide optimum comfort for all types of homes. Attractive designs, large, easy-to-read numbers, backlit displays and simple programming are just some of the features. Many of today's systems have programmable thermostats that save energy while you're away and bring room air to your preferred temperature just before you get home. To keep rooms at a steady, even temperature, variable speed and two-stage systems also help eliminate the big temperature swings between too warm and too cool that were common in older systems.
Betty's Plumbing, Heating,
Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration
Newport News, VA 23606
757-873-0600 or 757-229-9566
service@bettysplumbing.com
sales@bettysplumbing.com
lnk