Your water heater is an important part of your home. After all, it?s the only reason you are able to take nice warm showers every day and have plenty of warm water for doing dishes and laundry. Like any other appliance in your home, the water heater is almost certainly going to break down now and again.

When this does happen, you have an important decision to make: do you fix the water heater, or replace it altogether.

If the unit is more than eight years old, having it replaced is probably the safest way to go. Once they start getting up there in years, one problem tends to lead to another. By the time you?ve made all the necessary repairs, it might just cost you as much as buying a new heater altogether.

However, if the heater is still relatively new or still has some time left on the warranty, water heater repair is probably a good way to go. The replacement parts used in the repair may still be under warranty, which means you?ll only have to pay the labor costs.

How to Know if Repair is Even an Option

While many of the working parts on today?s water heaters can be replaced, sometimes this simply will not be an option. For instance, once the storage tank goes, it is time for a new water heater. That?s because a leak in the tank itself is the result of corrosion and once the tank is compromised, there?s no way to repair it.

The best way to prolong the life of your water heater storage tank is by having the tank flushed periodically. The flushing process removes sediment that aids in the corrosion of water heater tanks.

Is Repair the Right Investment?

Another important aspect when it comes to determining whether you should spend money to repair a hot water heater is considering your energy costs. A new hot water heater might be efficient enough to pay for itself eventually, simply by using less energy. Today?s designs are far more efficient than models manufactured even a few years ago.

Modern water heaters are designed to be as efficient as possible. This is especially true when it comes to tankless water heaters. These make a much smaller footprint and conserve energy by heating water on demand. That means no energy is wasted by constantly heating a tank to a particular temperature.

Did You Inspect the Pipes?

Water heaters are connected to both hot and cold water pipes. Before you call someone to replace your whole water heater, take a look at these pipes to ensure they are not the source of the leak.

If your pipes are the culprit, the most common place to find a leak is at the elbow joints, where pipes need to be cut and sealed during installation. You may just need to reseal with a little plumber?s tape.

Conclusion

When you are in doubt about whether to repair or replace your water heater, it?s always a good idea to consult with a professional contractor who can help you make the best choice.

About the Author

Mike Donley is the owner of Donley Service Center, a full service air conditioning installation, repair and plumbing contractor in Phoenix, Arizona. He enjoys writing about issues related to the air conditioning and plumbing industries and helping consumers make informed decisions.

Next time you are in search of a great plumber, contact a plumbing professional from Best Plumbers«.

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The newspaper and mail are on hold. The dog is at the kennel. And your suitcases are almost packed. It?s summer vacation time!

But wait ? before turning on the alarm system and heading out for your much-needed time at the beach,

The experts at Mansfield Plumbing remind you to think twice before leaving your house for an extended amount of time. During the winter, it?s easy to remember to leave cabinet doors open a bit and faucets dripping slightly if you?re leaving during freezing weather. But, how do you prepare your house for a vacation exit during summer months?

?A smart tip is to turn off the main water valve at its source if you?re going to be gone for longer than a few days,? says Adriana Miller, product manager with Mansfield Plumbing. ?This prevents any water from entering your home, so you don?t risk a disaster if a washer water line or pipe bursts unexpectedly.?

Miller also recommends these :

Tip #1 ? Drain your garden hose and empty any outdoor water containers. Standing water encourages mosquitoes to breed ? something you don?t want happening at your house.

Tip #2 ? Leave the toilet seat up and open when away for an extended time. Why? Because air can then circulate in the toilet bowl, reducing the chance of built-up scum.

Tip #3 ? If you have a septic system, remember to flush your monthly septic system treatment down the toilet before leaving town.

Tip #4 ? Run your garbage disposal right before you leave to make sure the sink is clean, so there are no nasty odors to deal with when you get home.

Tip #5 ? Turn your water heater off while away to save from keeping it running when you don?t need hot water.

Bathroom Remodeling In Houston For Homeowners

Bathroom remodeling into the room you want it to be at a variety of costs. There are alternatives, however, to going out and spending money on expensive upgrades and additions. Bathroom remodeling ideas to give your bathroom that extra shine you are looking for. Create a creative accessory Many stores have creative accessories?

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We all know someone who has one of those bathrooms that everyone envies: they?re chic, modern, and shiny, and make us think we could never afford a bathroom like it.

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Bathroom aRemodeling For Your Home

With any major purchase, you should consider your motivation, how much you will spend, and the anticipated return on that investment.a When buying a car, is it out of necessity or do you just want a newer model?a Are you buying a practical, family vehicle you plan to keep for years or will you upgrade again in shorter span of time?a Any big expense requires careful consideration, and a bathroom renovation is no exception.a

Several issues influence the value received from a bathroom renovation, but the most important is your motivation. Are you remodeling for personal use, because you plan to stay in your home long-term? aThe value gained in this case is emotional rather than monetary, and your decisions must be driven by what will enhance your lifestyle.a Spend money on the items you love and appreciate, whether that is a large shower design with rainfall and massaging showerheads, or a unique freestanding tub.

Perhaps you plan to sell and hope this renovation will impact resale value, in which case your goal is a direct monetary return.a Updating your kitchen and baths may be enough to give your house an edge over other homes for sale in your area.a How much of your investment are you likely to get back in resale value?a In the local region surrounding Newtown, a mid-range bathroom remodel costs around $22-28k, while an upscale remodel costs about $58k.a According to a report compiled by Remodeling Magazine, you can expect to recoup about 55-60% of that cost in the resale value, though some sources put the figure higher.

When remodeling for resale value, here is a checklist to consider:

1.aaaaaa GET THE NUMBER RIGHT

Most homes are equipped with plenty of bathrooms, but some older homes may only have one or two bathrooms.a Prospective buyers expect to see multiple baths and recognize the upheaval and expense involved in adding new bathrooms, which may be a deal breaker.a Considering diverting your remodeling funds to adding a second bathroom before you look at updating an existing space.a This will definitely make your house more attractive on the market, and generally allows you to recoup 80% or more of the remodeling expenses.a What a great return on investment!

2.aaaaaa LOOK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS

How much you get back depends in part on the value of homes in your area, the value of your home, and the quality of your project.a Check out what is typical in your area and look at the popular features found in homes for sale.a Also, make sure you invest enough but not so much that you price yourself out of your neighborhood. Read full article here..

The Benefits Of Bathroom Remodeling

Bathroom remodels can dramatically increase the value of your home. By replacing outdated features with modern and energy efficient baths, toilets and sinks you can increase the value of your home by $2000-$3000. In addition to getting a higher return on investment, you will get the peace of mind that your house will be easier to sell.Call (713) 812-7070aus for your home service and repair needs.

For more related articles and info visitahttps://www.abacusplumbing.net/category/plumbing/

Portable toilets have undergone a considerable evolution since the inception of outhouses and other varieties of outdoor plumbing facilities. Those first outhouses were no more than permanent or semi-permanent structures placed over dugout pits, which either had to be periodically emptied, or an entirely new pit had to be dug and the structure moved along with it.

Portable Bathroom Evolution

The earliest portable toilets can be traced back to the 1940?s, on the ship building yards in Long Beach, California. One of the shipbuilders quickly recognized the growing costs and lack of productivity his team faced with every trip back to the dock to use the restroom. Rather than continue the delay in work, they decided to build temporary bathrooms right on the ships to help keep everyone satisfied. Using spare parts on the job crews built wooden cabanas outfitted with a small holding tank, and thus the first portable toilet was born.

Unfortunately, the weight of these toilets left little in terms of flexibility for construction companies and event planners. Even worse, the early wooden or metal cabanas easily absorbed odors and were hard to keep clean. Eventually these clumsy bulky structures gave way to plastic structures made of strong lightweight polymers, then the 1970?s saw the rise of the one-piece fiberglass unit.

While the fiberglass units solved the problem of flexibility, they still failed to fight off the odors and sanitary issues of their wooden and metal counterparts. By the 1980?s plastics became the prefered material for porta potties and portable restrooms. Mostly made of polyurethane, these plastic portable toilet units were by far the easiest to clean and transport. In years since, plastic has remained the preferred material for many sanitation solution providers, and special cleaning agents have been developed to have portable toilets looking and smelling better than ever before.

Common Misconceptions About the Porta John

One of the most common complaints and misconceptions about portable bathrooms is that they?re just smelly and unhygienic. This perception is largely due to commonly-held notions about the most basic portable units, which have the sanitary tank positioned directly below the toilet seat, in plain view. Luxury portable restrooms have flushing toilets, which keep all the nasty details out of sight from users.

Many people are turned off by the fact that there is no way to wash hands after a visit to the portable bathroom, giving rise to concerns for hygiene. Even some of today?s more basic units are equipped with hand sanitizer pumps mounted on the inside walls so that patrons can wash after a visit. At more refined events, like weddings, hand-washing stations can be set up right alongside the portable bathrooms so that users can wash their hands with soap, if they so desire.

Nothing could be further from the truth, especially since modern luxury portable bathrooms can provide nearly the same kind of experience that an indoor bathroom allows for. The misconception about unfitness largely stems from the fact that portable bathrooms used for huge events like concerts and fairs are nearly impossible to keep clean and sanitary due to over-use and the careless attitude of throngs of users.

This may be the most incorrect of all myths associated with portable bathrooms, since in point of fact the opposite is true, and your home bathroom is really more harmful to the environment than its portable cousin. Portable bathrooms use considerably less freshwater ? to the tune of 13 million gallons per day ? so far less resources are being consumed.

Of course, there is a cost associated with renting portable bathrooms for any kind of event where outdoor facilities will be required. But the actual solution to this is somewhat counter-intuitive, in that renting more units becomes far more cost-effective for an event organizer, because users will spend less time in long lines waiting to use the bathrooms.

When patrons at the fair or the concert are not spending so much time waiting to use the bathroom, they are free to spend more money on concessions, souvenirs, and whatever other items are for sale by event vendors.

The Truth About Portable Bathrooms

The real truth about portable bathrooms and modern bathroom trailers is that they can actually be very sanitary units, as long as they are not abused at high-volume events like concerts, where little consideration is given to hygiene by hundreds or thousands of users.

Luxury portable bathrooms are available at affordable prices, and can be as clean or cleaner than the bathroom right in your home. In fact the cleanliness of modern portable bathrooms, just like the cleanliness of your home bathroom, relies much more on the attitude of users than any inadequacy of the unit itself. Portable toilet rentals today are a much better solution than they were 10 or 20 years ago, and the myths from earlier years now have little relevance.

No matter what your sanitation needs are, you can count on the professionals at Mr. John to have you covered. Our expansive fleet of portable toilet units includes everything from basic toilet rentals to full-scale luxury portable restrooms to help you choose just the right sanitation solution for your event. Don?t let poor sanitation planning come between your event and success, get started accommodating for all your event needs and contact Mr. John today!

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Spring weather is finally here, a welcome relief for those parts of the country that have spent the last few months plagued by snow and ice. With the warm weather comes an increased dependence on air conditioners, which can use up a large amount of energy and add to your utility bills each month. There are certain steps you can take to reduce the overall electrical consumption of your houseaso you do not have to pay as much when you write out that check.

Here are a few ways you can improve your home's power use:

• Go solar: If you have the budget to renovate your house, you should look into having solar photovoltaic (PV) panels installed. Powering your home using natural light will not only reduce your utility payments, but it will cut down on the amount of carbon dioxide you release into the environment.
• Install efficient lighting: One of the most effective ways to reduce your electricity use is to replace your current light bulbs with efficient LED or CFL fixtures. These bulbs use up to 40 percent less energy than incandescent lights, which will result in immediate savings.
• Seal everything: To make sure that you are not spending money to heat or cool the outdoors, your home should be checked for any possible air leaks. Should you find a leak around your doors or windows, seal it up as soon as possible.

If you are looking to reform and upgrade how your house uses electricity, schedule an appointment with John C. Flood today. We offer a wide range of Washington, D.C. electrical services, and you can work with a DCacontractor to make the necessary adjustments to your home.

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