Plumbing Tips
Types of water heaters
- Fuel type, availability and cost. The fuel type or energy source you use for water heating will not only affect the water heater’s annual operation costs but also its size and energy efficiency. See below for more on selecting fuel types.
- Size. To provide your household with enough hot water and to maximize efficiency, you need a properly sized water heater. Visit the pages on different types of water heaters (linked above) for more on sizing.
- Energy efficiency. To maximize your energy and cost savings, you want to know how energy efficient a water heater is before you purchase it. Visit the pages on different types of water heaters (linked above) for more on estimating energy efficiency.
- Costs. Before you purchase a water heater, it’s also a good idea to estimate its annual operating costs and compare those costs with other less or more energy-efficient models. Visit the pages on different Fuel Types, Availability and Costs for Water Heating When selecting a new water heater, it’s important to consider what fuel type or energy source you will use, including its availability and cost. The fuel used by a water heating system will not only affect annual operation costs but also the water heater’s size and energy efficiency. Exploring Water Heater Options by Fuel Type and its availability in your area may narrow your water heater choices. The following is a list of water heater options by fuel or energy source:
◦ Electricity Widely available in the United States to fuel conventional storage, tankless or demand-type, and heat pump water heaters. It also can be used with combination water and space heating systems, which include tankless coil and indirect water heaters.
◦ Fuel oil Available in some areas of the United States to fuel conventional storage water heaters, and indirect combination water and space heating systems.
◦ Natural gas Available in many areas of the United States to fuel conventional storage and demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters, as well as combination water and space heating systems, which include tankless coil and indirect water heaters.
◦ Propane Available in many areas of the United States to fuel conventional storage and demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters, as well as indirect combination water and space heating systems.
Solar energy Available throughout the United States — most abundantly in the Southwest — for solar water heaters. Comparing Fuel Costs and Water Heater Types If you have more than one fuel type available in your area, it’s a good idea to compare fuel costs, especially if you’re building a new home. Even if you’re replacing a water heater, you may find that you’ll save more money in the long run if you use a different fuel or energy source. Contact your utility for current fuel costs or rates. The type of water heater you choose will also affect your water heating costs. One type of water heater may use a fuel type more efficiently than another type of water heater. For example, an electric heat pump water heater typically is more energy efficient than an electric conventional storage water heater. Also, an electric heat pump water heater might have lower energy costs because of its higher efficiency than a gas-fired conventional storage water heater, even though local natural gas costs might be lower than the electricity rates.
Clogged Drains
If you have clogged drains or slow drains in Myrtle Beach it could be due to the age or the pitch of the pipe to your home or sewer line. Slow drains could be caused by a number of different reasons. One of the most common reasons for slow drains in your tubs, showers or lavatories could be the buildup of soap, toothpaste, shaving crème and hair or hair products. Over time they will build up on the walls of the pipes and drain lines and cause a slow running drain.
In your kitchen with slow drains it could be caused by a buildup of grease from normal day to day cleaning of your pots, pans and cooking utensils or by a faulty disposal that is old and worn out. Grinders in the garbage disposal that is not properly grinding the food going down the drain line which makes the food you are grinding bigger, heavier and harder for the water you are running to properly flush these articles through the lines. Over time this will cause a drain blockage.
If you have gurgling in your toilets and tubs when you are taking a shower or flushing the toilet, this could be caused by either blocked vents that go out your roof which helps your drains get proper ventilation or this could be the indication of blocked waste lines under your home or your main sewer line going from your house to the street or your septic tank could be blocked or have an obstruction causing your lines to back up.
All of the problems that we have spoken about can be as easy as cleaning out the hair and built up residue in your tub or shower strainer and your lavatory pop-ups can be easily pulled out and cleaned. Or getting on your roof and checking your vents by running a garden hose down your vents on the roof and washing any debris like leaves that may be causing a blockage. Or you may need to use a drain cable to clear any blockages that may be causing your slow or blocked drains. Or in some cases, it may take a more complex measure and your lines may need to be replaced.
If you are unsure about any of these issues please contact us at Adams & Son Plumbing, Heating & Air at 843-903-6060.
Stop the Clog
* Do you have frequent sewer line backups?
* Do you call the plumber more than twice a month?
* Do roots grow in your sewer line?
You could be a victim of “The Clog.”
Cooking fat, oil and grease (FOG) is a leading cause of sewer pipe clogs. FOGs cool and congeal on the inner walls of sewer lines and on tree roots that grow in them, much like arterial sclerosis in our bodies. The resulting clog restricts sewage flow, which can cause a “stroke” of disaster, backing up in your home or property, or even in the street. In fact, kitchen grease is a leading cause of sewer spills in most cities.
To prevent clogging follow this simple Recipe for Fat-Free Sewers:
1. Keep cooking fats, oils and grease out of drains.
2. Scrape plates and cookware and pour out all fats/grease into a container and place in the trash.
3. Use a plastic liner in the trash to prevent leaks.
If you suffer from clogs, call a reputable plumber. Many plumbers have attended partnering workshops with local municipalities to learn the latest in sewage spill prevention regulations and best management practices.
If you prefer to remove the clog yourself, remember to use a snake. Don’t use caustic drain cleaners or copper-based root killers. Copper is toxic to aquatic life. And never use combustible solvents such as gasoline.
