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I'm sure you have all noticed around town that the Snow Birds have migrated back for the winter. As this might get stressful for everyone else, let’s take a step back, breathe, and focus on preventative measures for your home.
One thing that comes to mind is making sure your home has a pressure reducing valve. A pressure reducing valve (PRV) regulates high incoming water pressure to a lower, constant downstream pressure. This will protect your plumbing, appliances and water fixtures from damages such as burst pipes, flooding, leaks, and pipe banging. The PRV will also maintain a stable and consistent water pressure to your home even if the county water’s pressure fluctuates. So how does a PRV work? It has an inlet where the high pressure water enters and an outlet where the lower pressure water exits. A spring and diaphragm are the core components. The spring provides a force, and the diaphragm responds to the downstream pressure. When the downstream pressure rises, it pushes against the diaphragm. This will partially close the valve to reduce the flow and lower the pressure. Then, when the downstream pressure drops, the spring pushes the diaphragm to open the valve. This allows more flow to maintain the set pressure. You can adjust the desired pressure on the PRV, usually using a screw on the top of the valve. How do I know if I need a PRV? It is always the safest to install a PRV on your home’s incoming water pipe, but especially, if the incoming water pressure exceeds 80 PSI. This high of pressure can damage the water fixtures, appliances and pipes. We can check the water pressure using a pressure gauge, and confirm if a valve is needed. Some counties may require a PRV to be installed on new or remodeled homes as well. PRVs are typically located on the main water supply line just after the water meter or where the water enters the house. It could be found on an interior wall, in the basement or crawlspace, and even underground. You can identify it as a bell-shaped component with an adjustment screw on the top. We highly recommend installing one if your home does not already have one. It will prolong the lifespan of your water pipes and appliances. By regulating the pressure, it can also save money on your water bill. High water pressure exerts more water per minute. Please give us a call and we will come out and assess your home, test the pressure and install one the same day!
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Wishing you all a safe and wonderful Halloween! If you are carving pumpkins, please throw the guts and seeds in the garbage and not down your sink or toilet. The amount may cause the pipes to clog and back up your home. That would definitely be scary!  I hope everyone is having a great fall so far. As we approach the holidays where we are cooking the entire day and using a bunch of electricity, it got me thinking...what kind of wiring was used for my house? Do I have enough power to safely run everything? What do I need to do? Here are a few tips to think about when it comes to the electrical side of your home.
Rewire the House - You may need to have your house rewired due to age, damage or wire type. If your home is over 50 years old, it might be a good idea to have it rewired to make sure the wiring is updated to handle the modern electrical components. Sometimes there might be damage due to an accident or from animals that will require the wire to be replaced. The type of wire could have an impact too. I used to live in an old house that had aluminum wiring, so we made the choice to have it rewired. We didn't want to run the risk of having it cause a fire. Increase Circuit Breakers to Panel - Your current electrical panel may only be able to handle so much power for your home. If you are adding new appliances or adding more electrical outlets, you may need to add more breakers to accommodate the extra power needed. This would help balance the electricity and not overload it and cause a fire or damage to your appliances. Upgrade Electrical Meter - Lastly, you may want to have your electrical meter changed. Today, there are many advanced meters that are "smart" meters. They can effectively read your meter correctly and in real time. Some even have an app you can access and see what is going on. I had my meter changed out a few years ago because my old meter was the original and was not accurately reading how much usage I was using. One month my electric bill was over $600 and it was just myself. I reached out to the electrical company and they came out and advised that my meter was not working correctly. They quickly changed it out but I still had to pay the super high bill. Now my meter is accurately keeping track and I can log in and see the numbers myself. I would advise to call us to check out your electrical wiring and components so you do not run the risk of electrocuting yourself or causing a fire. We can come out and do a thorough check of your electrical panel, outlets and meter for you. Just give us a call! Pumpkin spiced things have arrived which means Fall is here. This is a gentle reminder that if you are wanting to have a picture-perfect home for the holidays, now is the time to get started. Rip out that outdated carpet and install new luxury vinyl plank flooring, or remove all the old built-in cabinets with that laminate countertop and replace with fresh new cabinets with granite tops. We can make your dream home into a reality. Now, home projects can take 3-8 weeks depending on what you are wanting to have done. We might have to special order things which can prolong the time period as well. Doing it now gives us time to get it all done right before the festivities begin. Annette has a wonderful talent for finding the right fixture or slab to fit your vision in your price range. Make sure to call us today to get your vision started!
Bidets have been around for many centuries starting in France and became popular throughout Europe, and then in the 1800s, Asia started using bidets. It wasn’t until the 1980s when Japan introduced its first electronic bidet.
Just recently Americans have started using bidet toilets in their homes; the most popular brand being Toto. Toto has 2 different bidet versions, Washlet and Washlet+. These styles do need to be plugged into an outlet close by in order to operate. There are non-electric brands out there with limited restrictions. You would not be able to change the water temperature, which I can assure you, no one likes to rinse off with cold water. With the Toto Washlet & Washlet+ you gain access to more features. The wand will automatically open and close for when you need it, there is a rear cleanse and front cleanse feature, and the wand is self-cleaning too! Other features include heated seat, warm air dryer, premist option, and a deodorizer. You can choose to have a remote or a panel on the side of the toilet that you can press. I prefer a remote so you don’t have to look to the side each time you need to change the settings, but if you’re the type to always lose remotes, then the side panel may be best for you. So what is the difference between Washlet & Washlet+? Washlet is just the bidet seat that can fit most American standard toilets. It comes in either round or elongated seat versions. You will still need an electrical outlet near the toilet so it can be plugged in. Washlet+ is the complete toilet and bidet seat. It comes in a variety of models ranging from 2-piece toilets to 1-piece, as well as an exposed base vs a skirted base. Options also include round or elongated seat, regular height or elevated, and remote or side panel to control the bidet features. Many people are starting to convert to the bidet to feel better and cleaner when using the restroom. If you are not quite sure which model or version is right for you, please call Qualtire Plumbing & Construction and we can consult with you and answer all your questions. We can come to your home and install an outlet near the toilet if you do not already have one as well. 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. 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! |
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
June 2026
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