Blog

Ultra Violet Lights

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:25:13 GMT

Homeowners are faced with overwhelming amounts of health information regarding our houses, schools and businesses as environments that may have poor indoor air quality. Health information suggests that many diseases, cold viruses, allergies, and asthma in small children are due to microorganisms & bacteria residing in homes. Media reports suggest increased absenteeism directly related to illnesses triggered by poor indoor air quality. Attention in recent years has been focused on pesticides in our foods and water filters to insure safe drinking water.

A good filter system in your HVAC system that captures dirt, dust and pollen is important, but is it enough? A UV Light System uses high-output germicidal light to reduce or eliminate allergens, pollens, airborne mold, bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores, and other contaminates from the air in your home or business.

The light fixture is professionally installed in the air return of the heating and air conditioning system. By treating the air which passes through your HVAC system with ultraviolet light, you effectively eliminate airborne contaminants and allergens that may be linked to a variety of illnesses

UV light has been used in hospitals for decades to sterilize surgical instruments, water, and the air in operating room; any place a concern for clean air exists - and now this exceptional technology is available to you, the homeowner.

Possible benefits of a UV Light system may include:

Reduce nasal congestion

Reduce irritability

Increase personal energy

Reduce fatigue and depression

Reduce frequent headaches

Reduce allergy symptoms

Relieve constant snoring

We here at Art Plumbing and AC are committed to Whole Home Comfort and for a limited time anyone purchasing a new AC system for their home will receive a UV lights system at no additional charge. Please visit www.artplumbingandac.com for more details or call us at 1-888-TELL-ART

How to Hire a Contractor

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:48:00 GMT

We are pleased to offer you our best tips on hiring a service professional

Ask to see the contractor's state-issued license and write down the number. Then call 850.487.1395 or visit www.myfloridalicense.com
to verify that the license is current and active.

If you live outside of the state of Florida, check with your local building official about certification guidelines.
Ask for references. Licensed contractors should be happy to provide you with names and contact information for recent customers.

Get written estimates from several contactors that include all costs and a completion date. Beware of contractors that promise to be the fastest and the cheapest, this may result in poor quality or unfinished work.
Get a written description of the work being done, including a schedule and the material that will be used.

Check that the contractors you hire are fully insured. Ask for a firm completion date, including clean-up. Ask for a warranty agreement that guarantees the work for a specified period of time and provides for necessary repairs.

The time you take to hire the right contractor will pay for itself in safe, reliable repairs and peace of mind. For more information on hiring a licensed contractor and to check that your contractor is licensed,
visit www.myfloridalicense.com

Hard Water Treatment

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:12:14 GMT

I would like to start off today discussing the impact of hard water on you plumbing fixtures. First off what is hard water? Hard water is water that has high mineral content (in contrast with soft water). Hard water minerals primarily consist of calcium, and magnesium, metal cations, and sometimes other dissolved compounds such as bicarbonates and sulfates. Hard water is not harmful to your health in most cases; actually, if you look on store shelves you will find several varieties of “mineral” water. It is common knowledge that your body needs calcium and magnesium. While these things are good for you, they are extremely bad for all the items in your home that have water pass thru them. The reason is very simple; the minerals stick to the inside of your plumbing, dishwasher, hot water heater and washing machine. This effect is magnified when the water is heated. Hard water also decreases the ability of soaps and detergents to lather. Have you ever noticed a white “scum” building up on the shower head or any of your fixtures? This is the effect of hard water. While you can see it on fixtures, the effects that you can’t see are the ones doing the most damage. The hot water heater is the hardest hit by hard water (no pun intended), as the minerals attach to the elements of the heater, and build up in the bottom of the tank thus greatly reducing the efficiency of the unit, and may result in higher utility bills. Up until now, the only way to combat the problems caused by hard water was a traditional water softener. A water softener works on the principle of ion exchange in which ions of the hardness minerals (mainly calcium and magnesium ions) are exchanged for sodium or potassium ions, effectively reducing the concentration of hardness minerals to tolerable levels. We at Art Plumbing are proud to introduce a no maintenance simple way to combat the problem of hard water. The Easy Water way!!! EasyWater is the innovative FREIJE water treatment technology that began in commercial applications and is now available for residential use. EasyWater uses electronic frequencies to physically change the shape and charge of the minerals in water, which prevents scale build-up. EasyWater does not remove the minerals; it simply changes the molecular structure of the calcium and magnesium making it impossible for the minerals to stick to the fixtures. EasyWater is much more affordable option than the typical water softener. For an in depth look at the EasyWater system, please visit www.easywater.com When you decide that the Easy Water Way is the right choice for your home, visit www.artplumbinganac.com to schedule your installation.

Whole House Water Shutdown

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:40:59 GMT

There are some basic things that every homeowner should know and be aware of. The first and most important question is do you know where the water shut off valve is for your whole house? If you don’t know you need to find out now!!

Things happen, valves start to leak, lines fail, pipes break and faucets leak. Knowing where the shut off valve in your home is can save you thousands of dollars in damages. It is even more important to know where that valve is if you live in a condo. Think about what it is going to cost you if you flood the seven floors below you. As simple as it sounds, knowing how to shut the water off in your home could save you from bankruptcy.

How about fire extinguishers? Do you have one? Do you know where it is? Do you know if it will work in the event of an emergency? If you ask those three questions to 70% of America, you will get no, no, & no. So again God forbid, but what if a fire breaks out in your kitchen? Fire extinguishers like anything else in your home require regular maintenance. Most countries in the world require regular fire extinguisher maintenance by a competent person to operate safely and effectively, as part of fire safety legislation. Lack of maintenance can lead to an extinguisher not discharging when required, or rupturing when pressurized. Deaths have occurred, even in recent times, from corroded extinguishers exploding. For peace of mind, check the tag on the extinguisher in your home to find out when the last time it was checked out. Know where it is and know how to use it.

If you do need help locating the whole home water shut off, please visit www.artplumbingandac.com to schedule one of our highly skilled technicians to visit your home.

AC 101

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:43:40 GMT

We all know that the summers here in sunny South Florida can be brutal. Average median temperatures in the summer months runs in the low nineties, factor in the humidity and most summer days feel like it is over 100 degrees. We get calls almost every day that the AC system in my home is not keeping the house cool. Sometimes there is a problem with the system, but often times we find the system to be fully functional. So why is my AC not keeping up?? There are several reasons that can cause your house not to be at the comfort level you desire. Let’s start with a basic AC lesson, an air conditioning system installed correctly and working properly can only cool the home 25 degrees below what the outside temperature is. That means if it feels like 103 out, at best in ideal conditions, your home would be at 78 degrees. Notice I said ideal conditions. There are many factors that can take away from those ideal conditions. The most important place to start is the levels of insulation that are present in your attic or crawl space. In South Florida, the building code only requires an R-19 valve to pass an inspection. The Department of Energy recommends insulations levels in our region are between R-30 and R-49. You can follow this link http://www.ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html to have the Department of Energy help you figure out the recommend R value for your home. Bottom line, if you do not have the proper insulation in your home, your AC system will never keep up. Do you have high hat lights in your home? This is one of the most overlooked areas that allow cool to escape your living space. Most builders just cut a hole in the drywall and stick the lights up there. I have seen as much a quarter inch gap around the outside of the lights. The builders just cover up the gap with the trim. If you have twenty high hats in the house that are not sealed properly, it is the equivalent of cutting a one foot square hole in the ceiling leading to your attic. We here at Art Plumbing and AC have several solutions to these and other comfort problems you may have around your home. Contact us today and ask about our Whole Home Comfort Evaluation. www.artplumbingandac.com or call 1-888-TELL-ART

Should I insulate my home?

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:07:10 GMT

In a word YES!!!

Insulation is the most effective way to improve the energy efficiency of a home. Insulation of the building envelope helps keep heat in during the winter, and releases heat out during summer to improve comfort and save energy.

Insulating a home can save 45–55% of heating and cooling energy.

The term ‘insulation’ refers to materials which provide substantial resistance to heat flow. When these materials are installed in the ceiling, walls, and floors of a building, heat flow into and out of the building is reduced, and the need for heating and cooling is minimized.

Insulation should always be coupled with appropriate shading of windows and adequate ventilation in summer. Without shading, heat entering the home through the windows could be trapped inside by the insulation and cause discomfort.

All insulation materials are rated for their performance in restricting heat transfer. This is expressed as the R value, also known as thermal resistance or resistivity. The R value is a guide to its performance as an insulator—the higher the R value, the greater the insulating effect. Products which have the same R value will provide exactly the same insulating effect as each other, provided they are correctly installed.

On the average, an investment in insulation of your home will pay for itself in 5-7 years.

For more information on the benefits of insulation and ways to save money on your utility bills, please visit us at www.artpluumbingandac.com

Garbage Disposals

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:00:10 GMT

Here are a few tips that can prolong the life of your garbage disposal, and a few things to avoid. First and foremost remember that not everything can go down the disposal. Fibrous foods such as celery, onion skins, shellfish, and corn husks are things to typically avoid. The disposal will not grind these items up enough to allow them to wash down the drains. If you try to put these types of items down the disposal you are going to have long term problems with the drainage of the kitchen lines and this can lead to back-ups. You should also avoid large amounts of fat and grease. You should run cold water before, during and after you put any items down the disposal. Don’t forget to run the unit every time that you put any waste in it to avoid long term corrosion issues. If you notice a smell coming from the disposal, try some citrus peels, or a commercial disposal cleaner. There are several types of disposal on the market ranging from high end stainless steel anti-jam models, down to the basic economy model. You should take into consideration how many people are in the home, the planned usage of the disposal and the warranties. As always you can get us to help at www.artplumbingandac.com or call us at 954-752-1282

Freon Leaks?

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:35:51 GMT

The air conditioning system in your home is a completely sealed unit. The only way that your system could be low on Freon is due to tampering or a leak in the system. If you have a leak, you must address the situation, they will not go away on there own. Leaks in the system can cause your unit to operate less efficiently by using much more electricity, even if the system is only a couple of ounces low on Freon. Leaks in the system will shorten the life of your compressor as well. The motor operates at higher temperatures, causing it to run harder. Let’s not forget that service calls can be expensive, and if you opt to only recharge a system without making the needed repairs, you are definitely wasting your hard earned cash. There are three basic ways to detect a leak in your system, they are:

1. Electronic Leak Search

2. The injection of an ultra violet solution

3. Nitrogen pressure boost in conjunction with an electronic leak search

The cost for the various methods will vary depending on what is involved. After the leak is located, your HVAC professional will make the needed repair, pressure test the system and re-charge it to the proper refrigerant levels. Under the Clean Air Act of 1990, Section 608, leaks must be found and repaired when a unit leaks at a rate that would release 15 % or more of the charge over the course of a year. The EPA does have federal authorization to access fines of up to $32,500.00 per day for non repaired leaks. OUCH!!! Remember, your HVAC system has hundreds of joints and connection that can develop a leak. If you have a leaking system that is over eight years old, it is not worth the investment of making a costly repair, especially with all the current tax credits, rebates and incentives available for the purchase of a new system. As always, if we can be of any assistance, please contact us @ www.artplumbingandac.com

Drain Back-ups

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:20:43 GMT

As with everything in your home you must do regular maintenance on your drains. Lack of maintenance is the leading cause of those annoying clogs and back-ups. Grease is the leading cause of clogs, and if you stop and think about it every soap product in the world is oil based. Over time, the grease sticks to the sides of the pipes and acts like glue. The longer this continues the worse the condition of your pipes gets.

DO NOT use an over the counter drain cleaner such as Drano or Liquid Plumber. The caustic nature of these products will make your pipes deteriorate quicker than they should, especially in older homes with cast iron piping. In some rare cases these products can also pose a potential health risk. If you would have any type of acid in the drain system, mixing a commercial drain cleaner with acid could create cyanide gas, which we know is extremely bad if not deadly to you.

We here at Art Plumbing recommend a product called Bio-Clean, it is an economical and affordable solution. Bio-Clean is a blend of bacteria and enzymes. The bacteria are natural, not genetically engineered. The enzyme concentration is the most powerful on the market. Each can of Bio-Clean contains about 100 treatments. You can use Bio-Clean in any sewer or drain pipe. Mention that you read this blog on your next service call and receive $5.00 off your can of Bio-Clean. As always you can reach us by clicking on www.artplumbingandac.com

J-loads

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:40:17 GMT

What the heck are Manuel J Load calculations anyway? A simple answer is it is a series of calculations to determine the correct size cooling system for your home. There are many factors that come into play when conducting these calculations. You must take into consideration number of people in the home, number of windows and doors, roof type and materials, as well as the direction each side of the house faces. When sizing a heating and cooling system for a home, rule of thumb measurements can yield an improperly sized system. Yes, you've probably heard it all before, but a poorly sized HVAC system can lead to an uncomfortable living environment and higher bills for the homeowner, to name a few of the problems

The popular method of calculating heating and cooling loads is to use ACCA, Manual J-compliant load calculation software. The old method of buying a Manual J book and sizing by hand is rarely used these days due to all the great software available. As I am sure you have read, to qualify for the Cash for Clunkers AC program, your HVAC professional must conduct Manuel J Loads. As always for assistance with these matters contact us @ www.artplumbingandac.com

Emergancy Shut off Valves

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:21:34 GMT

Every fixture in your home that has water going to should have an emergency shut off valve in the event of a leak or the need to replace the fixture. Typically, each water closet (toilet), faucet, water heater, ice maker, bidet or any other water fixture will be equipped with one of these valves. There are multiple types of these valves, so the ones in your home may not look exactly as depicted. In my ongoing crusade to promote home maintenance, these valves also need to be inspected annually. To close the valve you should turn it to the right, and excessive force should not be required.

After you have closed the valve, flush the toilet, turn on the faucet etc and you should not get any water. If it is a toilet application the water closet will not refill. If water is coming out of the fixture, or the toilet is refilling you need to contact your friendly neighborhood plumber and have these valves replaced immediately. You should also inspect the valves themselves for moisture, or drips while they are closed. Again time to replace them if water is present on the valves. Lastly, re-open the valves, and re-inspect them for leaks or moisture.

Doing this simple process in your home can really save you a ton of money in the event of a water emergency. The process also keeps the valves from freezing up. As always, if you do need to change out your valves contact us at www.artplumbingandac.com Have a great weekend all!

Air Duct Leakage?

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:39:20 GMT

A blower door is a diagnostic tool designed to measure the air tightness of buildings to help locate air leakage areas. A blower door consists of a calibrated fan for measuring an airflow rate, and a pressure-sensing device to measure the air pressure created by the fan. The combination of pressure and fan-flow measurements is used to determine the building’s air tightness. The air tightness of a building is useful knowledge when trying to increase energy conservation, decrease indoor air pollution, or control building pressures.

A basic blower-door system includes three components: a calibrated fan, a door-panel system, and a device to measure fan flow and building pressure. The blower-door fan is temporarily sealed into an exterior doorway using the door-panel system. The fan is used to blow air out of the building, which creates a negative air pressure difference between inside and outside. This pressure difference forces air through all holes and penetrations in the building enclosure. The tighter the building (e.g. fewer holes), the less air is needed from the blower door fan to create a change in building pressure.

There are several places that are typical culprits for air leakage. The first and biggest offender is generally high hat lighting. The typical builder just cuts a hole in the drywall and inserts the light. Often, there will be anywhere up to a quarter inch gap around the light that can be hidden by the lights trim ring. The supply grills for you AC system are often sealed improperly. The other major places you will find leakage is in your duct system itself. Over time, the connections that sealed your duct work together break down and need to be re-sealed.

As always, for assistance with these matters, contact us @ www.artplumbingandac.com

Water Heaters

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:37:47 GMT

Everyone thinks that the hot water heater in your home is a simple piece of equipment, often ignoring the hidden dangers that they can pose. An improperly installed water heater is literally a bomb waiting to cause an explosion in your home. At the top or on the side of the heater there is a pressure relief valve (see picture below). This valve is designed to open in the event that the thermostat or control valve in the heater malfunctions. If either of these fails, the elements many continue to heater the water past the usual 125-130 degree range. As the temperature of the water increases, so does the volume. The water pressure in a typical home system is somewhere between 40-60 PSI. Are you getting the picture, temperature increases, volume increases, pressure increases and BOOM!! Even in the event that the heater would not explode, you could have a “super-heated” water phenomenon on your hands. When water is heated past the 212 degree mark (boiling) it becomes “super-heated”. Turn on a faucet with super-heated water; it is going to vaporize instantly, very probably causing some very nasty steam burns. By now, you now that everything in your home requires some form of maintenance. You should annually open the pressure relief valve to ensure proper function. Water should then come out the drain line at the bottom of the heater. When the valve is closed; no more water should come out, if it does, even a small amount, have the valve replaced as soon as possible. If you are uncomfortable doing this yourself contact your local plumbing professional to have this maintenance done, along with a hot water heater flush to remove any sludge build up that may have occurred over the year.

Programable Thermostat

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:11:44 GMT

Is a programmable thermostat really worth the extra expense? In a word, yes. The average household in America spends over $2000.00 a year on the internal comfort of the home. Installing a programmable thermostat can save you $100-$200 dollars a year. It makes the thermostat an investment that pays for itself in 2-3 years.

The first tip to ensure the maximum savings on your new thermostat is to make sure that it is installed on an interior wall, away from any windows or doors that would allow the thermostat to be exposed to direct sunlight. Also make sure that the thermostat is not getting direct air blown on it from the ductwork. As always I recommend consulting your HVAC professional to ensure a correct and proper installation, for the maximum efficiency.

www.energystar.gov recommends these six tips for the settings on your new thermostat.

1. Keep the temperature set at its energy savings set-points for long periods of time (at least eight hours), for example, during the day, when no one is at home, and through the night, after bedtime.

2. All thermostats let you temporarily make an area warmer or cooler, without erasing the pre-set programming. This override is cancelled automatically at the next program period. You use more energy (and end up paying more on energy bills) if you consistently “hold” or over-ride the pre-programmed settings.

3. Units typically have 2 types of hold features: (a) hold/permanent/vacation; (b) temporary. Avoid using the hold/permanent/vacation feature to manage day to day temperature settings. “Hold” or “vacation” features are best when you're planning to be away for an extended period. Set this feature at a constant, efficient temperature (i.e. several degrees warmer temperature in summer, several degrees cooler during winter), when going away for the weekend or on vacation. You'll waste energy and money if you leave the “hold” feature at the comfort setting while you're away.

4. Cranking your unit up to 90 degrees or down to 40 degrees, for example, will not heat or cool your house any faster. Most thermostats, including ENERGY STAR qualified units, begin to hear or cool at a set time, to reach setpoint temperatures sometime thereafter. Units with adaptive (smart/intelligent) recovery features are an exception to this rule — Adaptive recovery units are constantly calculating the amount of time required to heat or cool the house, so that it reaches that temperature when the homeowner programmed it. By “examining” the performance of the past few days the thermostat can keep track of the seasons. In this way, your house is always at the comfort levels when occupied, but saving the most energy when unoccupied.

5. Many homes use just one thermostat to control the whole house. If your home has multiple heating or cooling zones, you'll need a programmed setback thermostat for each zone to maximize comfort, convenience and energy savings throughout the house.

6. If your programmable thermostat runs on batteries, don't forget to change the batteries each year. Some units will indicate when batteries must be changed.

As always if you have any questions contact us by clicking here, www.artplumbingandac.com

Water Treatment

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:21:52 GMT

What Water Filtration and Softening Removes:

AESTHETIC SUBSTANCES - Mostly harmless contaminants such as chlorine, sulphur, iron and manganese that cause taste, color, staining and odor problems.

SEDIMENT - Solid particles that settle out over a period of time.

HARDNESS - A common water quality problem caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium (limestone) in water. Hard water causes scaling of pipes and hot water heaters, plumbing fixtures, etc. It makes cleaning and laundering more difficult.

LEAD - Commonly used in plumbing installation material until the late 1980's. U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) standards have since set limits on the amount of lead that may be used in solder materials. Lead has been found to occur in drinking water primarily due to leaching. Lead exposure has been linked to learning deficiencies in children and, at higher levels, has been associated with hypertension in adults.

ORGANIC CHEMICALS - A group of chemicals commonly referred to as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). There are over 80 VOCs regulated by the SDWA. Typical VOCs include benzene, trichloethylene, and chlordane. High levels of exposure to VOCs have been linked to a variety of cancers and organ damage.

TRIHALOMETHANES (THMs) - THMs are the first organic chemicals regulated by the SDWA. THMs are a byproduct of the chlorine disinfection process. THMs are formed when chlorine reacts with other organic compounds in water. THMs are known carcinogens and have been linked to bladder cancer.

MICROBIOLOGICAL PATHOGENS - Waterborne organisms that are known to cause disease in humans. Common waterborne pathogens include fecal coliform, dysentery, cholera, hepatitis and microbial cysts such as Crytosporidium and Giardia Lamblia.

CHLORINE TASTES AND ODORS - To ensure micro-biological safety, Municipal Water Utilities employ chlorine and/or chlorine plus ammonia. These substances can leave a chlorine 'pool like' taste and odor to drinking water.

RADIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES - Radium and its related cousins may be found in groundwater supplies. They are known cancer causing substances in humans. Radium exposure is through drinking and cooking while radon exposure is normally through inhalation. They are both regulated by the SDWA.

ASBESTOS - A construction material commonly used in insulation, building materials, or certain types of water piping. Asbestos is regulated by the SDWA. However, it has been linked to lung and bladder cancer in humans.