Flooding is among homeowners’ worst nightmares. The damage occurs fast – it’s often unstoppable – and water does a very good job of ruining a lot of things! It’s easy to see how carpeting, furniture, walls and wood can be damaged by water. Other items that might be in the basement – like laundry equipment, [...]

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Let’s face it: no one calls a plumber until they have to, but when you need plumbing help, you generally need assistance fast! How can you find a reputable plumber? Boston residents have a lot of plumbers to choose from, and that can make finding a good contractor even more difficult. Here are a few [...]

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Pipes have been made of many materials over the years including copper, iron, aluminum, clay, and even wood! Plastic, in the form of polyvinyl (PVC) pipe, is a relatively new addition to the mix. PVC pipe has been approved for use in both fresh and wastewater applications, and is also used in exhaust applications for [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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For the last two weeks, I’ve examined the perspective of cost and operational efficiency of tankless hot water systems. Boston homeowners may not find the savings they were looking for from tankless hot water, but there are benefits other than those you can measure in out-of-pocket terms. Tankless hot water systems are more efficient than [...]

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Last week, I started a discussion about tankless water heaters. Boston homeowners are beginning to consider tankless water heaters as a green replacement for their conventional hot water systems. In last week’s post, I covered the issue of cost, since this is one of the biggest considerations for homeowners. This week, I’ll tackle energy efficiency. [...]

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Many homeowners are looking for ways to conserve energy and reduce their “carbon footprint.” One idea that has been gaining traction is the tankless water heater. Boston homeowners who are considering the move to a tankless hot water system should consider the move carefully before they make the decision to throw out the old hot [...]

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