Silt And Sediment Can Cause Plumbing Problems
August 25th, 2011 · DIY Blog · DIY Plumbing · Water Heaters
The Boston Water and Sewer Commission periodically does work on the water infrastructure. Local water main replacements and repairs can leave homeowners without water for a period of time, but they can also introduce silt and sediment into residential Boston plumbing once service is restored. Larger silt and sediment particles can collect in hot water [...]
Test The Pressure Relief Valve On Your Water Heater
August 18th, 2011 · DIY Blog · DIY Plumbing · Tips and Tricks · Water Heaters
Last week, I gave you a procedure to use for draining your hot water tank. You should perform water heater maintenance annually to ensure that it operates safely and efficiently, and does not accumulate sediment that can cause your water tank to fail prematurely. As part of your annual water heater maintenance routine, you can [...]
How To Drain Your Water Heater
August 12th, 2011 · DIY Blog · DIY Plumbing · Tips and Tricks · Water Heaters
Water heaters can give you years of trouble-free service, but a little water heater maintenance can help extend the life of your tank beyond its minimum rated service period. Many water tanks suffer from lack of maintenance, which can deteriorate the tank and cause it to fail prematurely. To help keep your hot water tank [...]
Last week, I talked about air conditioner efficiency in terms of window air conditioners. In some situations, window air conditioners will work just fine. For some homeowners in Boston, central air conditioning is the preferred solution because it cools the entire house, instead of a single room or selected rooms. As a brief refresher, the [...]
In Boston, air conditioning is needed only for a few months during the year, so homeowners may wonder whether central air conditioning is really needed? Will window units suffice? How much will central air conditioning cost to install, maintain and operate? One big part of the answer is efficiency. Highly efficient central air conditioners may [...]
It’s hard to think about flooding during the driest part of a Boston summer, but this is actually a great time to protect your home against water damage. Water damage from flooding can occur with little warning, and can be the result of severe storms or plumbing problems within your home. Regardless of the water [...]
Homeowners around the country may have been surprised to learn that new HCFC-22 air conditioners – that is, new air conditioning units that run on R-22 refrigerant – are no longer sold in the US. The change, which took effect on January 1, 2010, is part of the global effort to reduce harmful hydrochlorofluorocarbons emitted [...]
Sewer Lateral Financial Assistance Program May Fix Boston Sewer Problems
July 7th, 2011 · DIY Blog · DIY Plumbing
If you own a home in Boston, sewer problems can do more than make a mess. They can also be expensive to fix! There is a program you should know about that may help relieve the cost of fixing problems that arise with your lateral sewer connection. The lateral sewer connection is the pipe that [...]
Toilet Troubles: Curing Common Toilet Problems
June 16th, 2011 · DIY Blog · DIY Plumbing · Tips and Tricks · Toilets
Toilets give years of dependable and often maintenance-free service, so when problems arise, some homeowners don’t know what to do. Mechanically speaking, toilets are pretty simple devices, which is why they don’t often develop serious problems. Here are a few common toilet problems Boston homeowners may encounter, and what you can do to solve them. [...]
Insulating Boston Plumbing Can Save You Money
June 9th, 2011 · DIY Blog · DIY Plumbing · Water Heaters
If you’re looking for an easy way to save money and improve the performance of your Boston plumbing system, consider insulating your pipes. Insulation is highly cost-effective, easy-to-do and can help your hot water stay hotter and your cold water stay colder. Insulting your pipes also doesn’t take any special equipment or tools and the [...]