|
Hard water is usually what comes through your tap normally. Water will flow through different types of rock and soils, absorbing minerals such as calcium and magnesium. The higher the mineral content, the harder the water will be. Usually, it is safe to drink hard water, and can even be beneficial to your health.
BUT… It can harm your hair, dry your skin out, and even thin your nails. It can strip natural oils that coat your skin and hair. Your hair may become more dry and limp. Nails can have stunted growth or discoloration too. It will leave spots and residue when the water dries up. You may see after you take a shower there is a white coating that will dry on the glass or around the spout. This is limescale buildup, and if you do not clean it regularly, it will get worse and will be harder to remove. It can even damage pipes and appliances long term. Over time it can clog the pipes with mineral buildup. Eventually, you may need to repair/replace the pipes in your home. It can also shorten the lifespan of your dish washer, laundry washer, refrigerator, or any appliance that uses water. Soft water, on the other hand, removes the high mineral content. To achieve this, you need to have a water softening system in your home. The system will trap and remove the minerals from your tap water using tiny resin beads. This will help with… Preventing limescale buildup. Because it removes the minerals, you will no longer notice the white limescale buildup anymore on surfaces. It also will prolong the life of your pipes and appliances from mineral buildup. It also will help with your soap. The soap will become more effective and will make more suds. It won’t dry out your hair or skin as much either. When you are washing your body, you may feel that the water is silky or slippery. That is a definite sign that you have soft water. Having hard water or soft water in your home will depend on your preference. If you are wanting to convert to soft water I would recommend getting a smart water softener, which allows you to sync and use your smart device to control it. We’ve even installed water softening systems in houses to only certain pipes so not all the water is soft. Our technician, Craig, will come to you and recommend the right softener for your home and get it installed fairly quickly.
0 Comments
You just came back from your lovely vacation and you pull up to your driveway just to see water coming out of your house. You quickly rush in and notice that a pipe had burst at some point and has flooded your entire house! This is one scary scenario and to make it worse, some insurances won’t pay out for water damage if you do not have the proper equipment installed.
To save you the hassle, we strongly encourage you to get a smart shut off system. One brand we recommend is the Moen Flo Shutoff Monitor System. The Flo Shutoff device is installed directly on your waterline, giving you the most precise monitoring possible. It will monitor for leaks and immediately takes action to help prevent them, while alerting you asap. Just a quick overview: Automatic Water Shut Off - It scans 24/7 and once it detects a leak, the smart water valve will automatically close to prevent further flooding. Real-Time Notifications - this state-of-the-art system will give you live updates no matter where you are via text, email, or even a phone call. You can control the system from your smartphone using the Moen Smart Water App. This will allow you to turn on and off your water remotely. MicroLeak Technology - This runs daily leak tests to proactively identify small leaks that usually go undetected. It can catch leaks as small as a drop per minute. It also has internal water sensors that monitor the water moving through your home to distinguish typical usage vs a leaking pipe. It will monitor your usual water usage and will even let you know when and where you use the most water in your home. You can also view your water usage history and learn about your water consumption by fixture type. It has different bundling packages that fit with everyone’s needs. The system will come with the Flo Shutoff device, 1-3 leak detectors, an optional battery backup for when you lose power, and the FloProtect, 3-year plan. For this system you will need internet and wifi in your home already. You may want to get wifi boosters to make sure the wifi is strong enough to reach the area where you have the device installed. We have been installing these for some time now and highly encourage everyone to have some sort of leak detection system in their home. Like I said earlier, some insurances may not cover water damage if a leak detection system was not installed. On the other hand, some insurances offer discounts if they are installed too. For more information please give us a call and we can answer your questions regarding this system, and go to your home to install one. Summer is here and this means leaving your house for an extended period of time. Here are some tips and tricks to getting your house ready for when you are gone this summer!
Most homes have them but they are usually tucked away inside a closet or in the garage somewhere. Do you even know what kind you have in your home? There are 2 types - tank vs tankless. For homes that only have electric, you most likely have a tank-style water heater. Those lucky to have natural gas or propane lined in your house may have a tankless water heater. When choosing a water heater I recommend 2 different brands.
For tankless, gas water heaters, the Navien NHW-A series is one of the best brands in this industry. They are currently the #1 manufacturer of all gas tankless water heaters in North America. It’s a great option for homeowners to save on their energy bills while enjoying faster hot water. Here are just some highlights:
For a tank-style water heater, I would recommend the Essency EXR electric water heater. This innovative, new take on the water heater is sweeping the nation. Essency is the first electric water heater that has all the advantages of a tankless heater.
Please give us a call so we can evaluate your existing water heater and see which one best suits your home. Our technician, Craig, is knowledgeable with both of these brands and can answer any of your questions you may have as well as install them for you as well! The weather is going to warm up here soon and before we know it, the temperature will be in the 100s. This is a great time to have your air conditioner serviced, making sure it is properly working. It is the worst when it is scorching outside and suddenly your AC is blowing hot air! Here are some things you want to keep up with throughout the year to keep your AC running smoothly.
1.) Regularly clean or replace your filters. Filthy filters can cause airflow restriction. Make sure to change them out every 3-6 months depending on how much you use your unit. When installing a new filter, there is a certain way to place it so watch for the arrows. 2.) Routinely check the condensate drain for any debris that can clog the pipe. You may run distilled white vinegar down the drain to clean it too. 3.) Make sure to clean the evaporator coil on the indoor unit to improve cooling efficiency. Check your thermostat to make sure it is set to the correct temperature. 4.) Don't forget to check the outdoor unit, and remove any debris that is around or on top of the unit. This can get inside the unit and cause issues. You can also check the condenser coils and spray water on them to clean them off gently. If you see any bent fin blades, try and bend them back so they do not restrict airflow. 5.) Lastly, if you notice that your air conditioner is struggling (warm air blowing, weak airflow, loud noises, unusual smells, leaks, or rising energy bills) give us a call and we can take a look at what is going on. We can also take a look and see if you have the correct size unit for your home. Trust me, I was renting a place where the unit was 3 times smaller than what it should be so our house was never able to cool down correctly. That was a nightmare! Earlier this month, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, and 10%tariffs on Chinese imports. How does this affect the construction/plumbing industry? A lot, actually.
Several things that go into building, remodeling, etc are imported into the US, from plastic pvc pipes to electrical fixtures. If these tariffs get implemented, these products will go up in price. Here are a few things from each country that would be affected. Canada: sawmill & wood products iron & steel products aluminum veneer, plywood, and engineered wood products hardware construction machinery Mexico: major & small appliances AC/heat & refrigeration products switchgear & switchboards iron & steel wiring devices energy wires & cables plate work & fabricated structural products electrical lighting hardware China: major & small appliances electric lighting AC/heat & refrigeration products saw blades & handtools hardware construction machinery wiring devices Ultimately, these could cause huge price increases for building and remodeling projects. It also could lead homeowners to postpone repairs around the house, which could potentially worsen overtime leading to urgent, costly damages. Before it could get worse, it is a good idea to schedule repairs and maintenance now, before the tariffs take full effect. Always work with reputable contractors that will provide clear pricing and alternative solutions that meet everyone's budget. Don't hesitate to call us today to schedule a visit or get a quote! I hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year so far and sticking to their New Year's resolutions! Each year trends and fads come and go. Here are some of my home trend predictions for 2025.
1.) Tile - I feel that this year, more people will want to use colorful patterned tile for their kitchen. People will move away from the boring white tile walls. They will experiment with hand-painted tile for a bold accent or even a textured, patterned subway tile to go with their paint. 2.) Say goodbye to grey kitchens! Grey kitchens have been plastered all over the country but I feel many people are moving towards color for their kitchens. Here are some of the colors I think will be on the walls and cabinets this year: terracotta, deep green, sandy beige, warm greige, and dusty pink. 3.) Flooring - Brunette flooring will be huge this year from espresso and cinnamon to dark cafe. These can range from warm medium browns to nearly black shades. Darker floors create a cozy, more intimate vibe in the home. 4.) Contrast Trim - For many years, inside trim is always white or whatever color that matches the walls. I think this will become a very popular trend this year where you choose another color to paint all your door/window/wall trim that either pops out or compliments your wall colors. It also makes it where you can still have white walls but with a bit of an accent color! What new trends do you think will emerge this year and what trends do you think will fall off? Please let us know! As always, we are always here to help make your home dreams become a reality. Just give us a call or email us and we can start the planning!! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and Hanukkah. It's that time of year again where we all think of our 2025 New Year's resolutions: our dreams, goals or whatever we want to accomplish this year. As you plan on your personal growth, go ahead and add in some things that you want to improve around your home.
Here are my 2025 Home Improvement Resolutions: 1.) Get all new appliances. I noticed when I moved into my house a few years ago, my appliances were older and would have to get replaced soon. As 4 years approach, I feel this is the year that I should start to replace them little by little. My dishwasher completely broke and will not turn on anymore so that will be the first to fix. 2.) Rip out all my carpet and replace with LVP. The carpet was never in the best condition when I moved in and after having dogs live here, it's only gotten worse. I know replacing the worn carpet with luxury vinyl planking will make my house feel much nicer as well as add to it's value. 3.) My house was built in the 1980s so it has popcorn ceilings, unfortunately. During last year, there was a strip that fell down in my laundry room. I have also noticed other areas where the popcorn is starting to detach from the wall in strips and I am sure it will also come crashing down sometime this year. 4.) I would love to paint each room a different color. My family room came with a lovely olive/baby puke green on the walls which I want to cover up with a light blue color. It always was my dream as a child to paitn every room a different color and make it fun and bright. 5.) Replace the kitchen sink faucet. My kitchen faucet has never had good pressure. I thought originally it was the house water pressure, but realized later on that it is only kitchen sink. 6.) The disposal never worked when I moved in but I did buy a new one. I just never replaced it. This year is the year I finally have it replaced so I can use the disposal again. I hope to achieve at least half of these this year. Your home improvement resolutions can be as little as replacing a faucet or as big as a remodel/addition. Whatever you feel or want to look into, please give us a call and we can talk more about your ideas and how to turn them into reality this year! From our family to yours, hope you have a wonderful and blessed New Years! We wanted to take the time to wish all of our clients a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. We are so blessed to have all of you in our lives, and we could not keep our doors open without you. Hopefully, everyone is spending the holidays with their loved ones close by. As you are hanging out with family today, look around your house and make notes of what you want to see differently for next year's Christmas or Hanukkah. Maybe a larger living room window for that picture-perfect Christmas tree look, or a large mantle to accommodate all your stockings or your menorah. Whatever you want to change in your home, we can help. Warmest Wishes, All of us at Qualtire  Happy Halloween to all our wonderful clients. Hope you have a wonderful, safe night trick r treatin' or handing out candy!  |
AuthorHi! I am the office assistant and dispatcher for Qualtire Plumbing & Construction. Working in the middle of all the hullaballoo, this blog strives to bring the information I learn on the job to you. Stay tuned for updates on what’s new in the world plumbing & construction! Archives
February 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed