Basement Flooding Can Cause Big Boiler Problems

If floodwaters make contact with your boiler, furnace or water heater, you’ll want to have these appliances replaced. Even if the unit isn’t completely submerged, replacement is warranted because water, dirt and condensation associated with flooding can accumulate in valves, gauges and controls for these devices. In addition, exposure to water can promote or accelerate the accumulation of rust and compromise the integrity of the equipment.

Do not attempt to restart a boiler or furnace that has been flooded or even partially submerged. Instead, contact a licensed HVAC contractor for an inspection. The contractor can identify the components that must be replaced, or will advise you on a complete system replacement.

Here’s something else to think about: a “manmade flood” – such as what might happen when a pipe bursts or a hot water tank gives out – can also cause significant damage. Generally, a home water heater holds 40-50 gallons of water, and tanks are often situated near furnaces or boilers. That volume of water is not enough to completely flood the basement, but it may cause significant damage to a nearby furnace or boiler.

To avoid this kind of problem, have your water tank inspected periodically for signs of rust or aging. Maintain the sacrificial anode on your hot water tank by changing it out according to manufacturer recommendations and inspect the check valve on the tank regularly. If your hot water tank sits in close proximity to your furnace, consider having it moved to a location that offers better protection to your furnace or boiler.

As a final step, verify that your homeowners’ insurance covers both “dirty” and “clean” flooding. Dirty floods are those created by natural events like rainstorms and snowmelts, where water seeps or pours into the foundation from outside. Broken or open pipes and damaged hot water tanks cause most clean flooding. You may require special additional homeowners insurance to cover both hazards, and to ensure that your HVAC equipment is completely protected against this kind of loss.

As always, if you have any issues with flooding, or with your boiler, furnace or water heater, please give Boston Standard Plumbing & Heating a call at (617) 288-2911. We offer around-the-clock service and complete furnace and boiler service in Boston. Don’t forget to friend Boston Standard Plumbing on Facebook!

Photo Credit: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, via Flickr

Finding A Reputable Plumber

1. Do your homework. Look for plumbers, heating and cooling contractors, and general handyman services before you need them. You can use referral services like Angie’s List to find recommended Boston plumbers. Check references, verify the business’ standing with the Better Business Bureau and verify that any prospective contractors are licensed and insured. When the pressure is off, call for information about pricing, after-hours services, and regular maintenance services that you might be interested in.

2. Figure out what you’re most likely to need. You may have immediate needs for maintenance, replacement or repair on your major systems, or you may not know exactly what services you may need from plumbing, heating or cooling professionals. Once you’ve found a contractor you might want to work with, invite the contractor to your home for a system inspection. The contractor can give you a better idea of the age and condition of your plumbing, heating and cooling systems.

3. Shop around and ask questions about the contractor’s on-call services, hourly rates, dispatch times, staff credentials and more. When you call the contractor after hours, do you speak with the contractor or do you get routed to an answering service? Does the contractor offer any package services or service plans that can help reduce your costs, especially in an emergency?

The best approach is to make decisions about contractors when you have no immediate or urgent need for services. That way, you can take the time to review a contractor’s credentials, reviews from other customers, and ask friends and neighbors for their input. You can also take time to think about what you need (or might need) and make your choices accordingly.

Boston Standard Plumbing & Heating is a proud member of Angie’s List, and was voted the Best of Boston 2010 for heating and cooling services. We offer a wide range of plumbing, heating and cooling services in Boston. Call us at (617) 288-2911 for a consultation on all of your heating, cooling and plumbing needs. Friend Boston Standard Plumbing on Facebook and learn why we’re one of the best in Boston!

Photo Credit: Chris Violette, via Flickr

Copper in Boston Plumbing Still A Target Of Thieves

Last month, two men were arrested in New Hampshire in connection with the theft of copper from National Grid in North Andover in two separate incidents. Police estimate that the National Grid copper was worth more than $30,000. Later in the month, National Grid also reported the theft of about $6,000 worth of copper from a power plant in Whitman.

Copper theft isn’t limited to commercial properties, though. Last month, a New Hampshire man was arrested after attempting to steal copper plumbing from a home for sale in Manchester. In that theft, the combined damage total from the copper theft and leaking water was estimated at $3,000.

Scrap copper is worth about $2.50-$3.00 per pound, and the cost of copper is rising slightly. That puts homeowners with copper plumbing at an increased risk of copper theft. Exposed copper connections on central air conditioning units are also becoming a favorite target of thieves.
What can you do to protect yourself? We recommend that you sheathe any exposed (outdoor) copper pipe with flexible conduit to shield the copper from view. That’s not going to stop a determined thief, but out-of-sight, out-of-mind sometimes works.

Empty residential buildings are at the greatest risk of theft. Removing copper does take a bit of time, so thieves will be looking for opportunities to work undisturbed. Motion alarms, burglar alarms and observant neighbors may deter some thieves, but few things will dissuade a determined thief from getting in.

One approach to consider when a home is empty is turning off the water at the main and draining the plumbing system. That won’t prevent copper theft, but it can prevent resulting water damage to your unoccupied home. Maintain your insurance coverage on the structure, and your loss will be limited to the value of your deductible.

Draining the plumbing in an empty home isn’t a bad strategy, even if copper theft isn’t on your mind. When your pipes are empty and the water is turned off, you avoid pipe damage that might occur during an extended power loss. If you know you’ll be gone for an extended period of time and you would like help draining your plumbing or your boiler, contact Boston Standard Plumbing & Heating at (617) 288-2911. We’ll be happy to drain your pipes and winterize your boiler. Upon your return, we’ll repressurize the systems, and bleed residual air from radiators and plumbing lines.

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PVC Outgassing: What's The Fuss?

Billions of pounds of PVC are made each year and home construction, repair and remodeling materials often contain PVC. A debate has arisen over the safety of PVC in homes, and that’s causing some people to rethink their use of PVC-containing materials.

A phenomenon known as “outgassing” is at the center of the concern over the use of PVC-containing materials. Outgassing refers to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from products that contain PVC. VOCs can be released from the PVC into the air or water and have been implicated in “sick building syndrome,” and other indoor air quality issues. Further, VOCs can be found in water that’s been carried through PVC pipe.

When heating is involved, the use of PVC requires some special considerations. High efficiency furnaces are designed to vent directly to the outdoors. They also take in fresh air from outside the home, rather than recirculating semi-heated air already inside. PVC is used in heating applications mainly because it’s inexpensive. It’s also able to stand up to the stress of repeated heating-cooling cycles.

The furnace exhaust, which contains the noxious by-products of combustion, is hot. (After all, it’s just come out of the furnace, right?) Heat tends to accelerate the release of VOCs, so when PVC is used as part of the furnace exhaust system, the amount of VOCs released into the outside air (and the inside air around the exhaust pipe) tend to increase.

Some homeowners who are concerned about PVC outgassing and its long-term health effects have begun looking for alternatives to PVC for their furnace exhaust ports. When a substitute for PVC is sought, we generally recommend stainless steel. Stainless steel is certainly more expensive than PVC but it’s inert so it won’t interact with the environment around it. It also tolerates the repeated heating-cooling cycles and moisture from the outside air (and dampness in basements) very well. Since stainless steel is durable, it will also generally last the lifetime of the furnace.

If you have a high-efficiency furnace and are concerned about PVC outgassing, or would like to look at alternatives to PVC for other applications (like plumbing), please give us a call at Boston Standard Plumbing & Heating at (617) 288-2911 for a consultation. We’ll be happy to suggest alternative plumbing, heating and cooling materials.

Photo Credit: Matteo Bagnoli, via Flickr

Dry Wells Can Help Flooding in Boston

On natural land, rainwater is reabsorbed into the ground where it is filtered through the soil and eventually returned to the underground water reservoirs. In the city, buildings and driveways, roads and other structures cover much of the surface and interrupt the natural recharging process that would otherwise keep the water table at a relatively constant height.

To accommodate the loss of natural land, cities like Boston have extensive storm sewer systems that aggregate storm run-off and discharge it back to rivers, lakes and reservoirs. While it’s good to get water off the streets, storm drains don’t provide an ideal solution. By redirecting water to lakes and rivers, the water levels in rivers and lakes tend to rise, sometimes beyond what the waterway would normally hold. At the same time, storm sewers reduce the water table in urbanized areas.

Reduction of the local water table has been particularly bad for areas like the Back Bay, which was constructed on landfill. Untreated wood pilings that support buildings in this area and were supposed to be submerged under water are now exposed because the water table has fallen. This exposure has made the pilings more susceptible to decay and has compromised the stability of these buildings.

Each permanent structure in the city reduces the amount of land that is available to reabsorb rainwater, and places additional strain on the remaining natural land. Municipalities and homeowners alike are now looking for ways to recharge the local water table by returning storm water runoff to the ground in highly urbanized areas.

One way to accomplish this is through the use of a dry well. Dry wells have been used in Boston for a long time to help reduce storm water flooding. A dry well is a special structure that is designed to collect run-off and return it to the ground, primarily through infiltration.

A dry well consists of a pit that is filled with gravel or other coarse material. Runoff from building roofs is directed into the dry well where the water is returned to the surrounding soil through perforated pipes. Dry wells are designed to distribute any overflow that might occur following a significant storm or melt. Dry wells can be custom-engineered on site or can be made from pre-fabricated components that can safely discharge 25 gallons or more of water at one time.

A dry well must be constructed deep enough to avoid freezing in the winter, but not so deep that it sits below the local water table and ends up acting as a groundwater reservoir instead. Dry wells are constructed completely underground so they do not significantly alter the visible landscape of a property. Properly maintained dry wells can last between 30 and 100 years!

The location and construction of dry wells is exceptionally important because an improperly constructed dry well can cause damage to foundations or flooding in areas adjacent to the dry well. Certain areas are not good for dry well construction, including land where clay and other non-porous soils are prevalent.

If you would like more information about installing a dry well for your home, or you have a dry well that is in need of maintenance or rebuilding, please contact Boston Standard Plumbing & Heating at (617) 288-2911 to schedule a consultation.

In the right circumstances, dry wells in Boston can make a significant difference in the long-term health, well-being and value of your home. They can also help preserve the local water table and provide an ideal solution for controlling rainwater runoff.

Photo Credit: Tim Jarrett, via Flickr