Doing Water Heaters The Right Way

Doing Water Heaters The Right Way

  • Plumbing
water heaters

A lot of people don’t think too much about their water heaters. Most people take them for granted. All they know is that the water is hot when they turn the knob the correct way. But a water heater is an expensive piece of hardware and should be upkept appropriately. And like anything, there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about maintaining your system. Here are a couple of quick pointers to do water heaters the right way.

Be Proactive

Generally good advice for life, but it also works for water heaters. Keep an active eye on your system, check up on it once a week. It won’t take terribly long, and any glaring issues will be pretty obvious upon close inspection.  This sounds like pretty obvious advice but you really are the best early detection system for problems with your water heater.

Do The Reading 

Read up on your water heater. Find out the make and model, and just do a few minutes of cursory research on Google. Knowing how many gallons it holds, it’s expected lifespan, and the recommended service frequency are super simple tidbits of information that you can find online easily. Simple, but effective. Knowing this information puts you miles ahead of 99% of homeowners as far as water heaters are concerned.

Invest in Water Heater Accessories 

There are a number of accessories you can look into to improve the effectiveness of your water heater. From tank expansions, to stands, to timers, there’s plenty of supplementary products you can invest in to make a difference in your system’s performance. With the proper accessories, your water heater can service your home and keep you even more comfortable than before. 

Have Your Water Heater Repair Tech On-Speed Dial

When you do notice a significant problem with your system, getting a professional on it ASAP is critical. Untreated water heater problems can and will escalate and end up costing way more money than if you just dealt with it to begin with. Know your local water heater provider and give them a call right away when things start going sideways. 

When you do need to call in the pros, Milltown is the go-to choice for your water heater needs. With over 20 years experience in the industry, we know it all because we’ve seen it all. Call the experts at Milltown today and see why we’re Tewksbury’s favorite provider!

Call us today to schedule your service!

By Milltown Plumbing

8 Energy Efficient Plumbing Fixtures

8 Energy Efficient Plumbing Fixtures

  • Plumbing
plumbing fixtures by MillTown

Plumbing Solutions by MillTown

Chelmsford, MA

There are several benefits of having an energy-efficient home; for the environment and your health and safety, but for your wallet, too. When it comes to energy-efficient fixtures, most people don’t think about their plumbing. But old and outdated plumbing fixtures don’t only wastewater and energy, they can end up costing you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over time.

The Pains of a Low-efficiency Plumbing System

The pains of a low-efficiency plumbing system can be many. And while they may all seem small, together they can create a giant headache for homeowners.

Higher utility bills, a larger carbon footprint, and health and safety risks are some of the main issues associated with low-efficient plumbing systems. Older appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, are not only less efficient but are made from outdated technology that can put your and your family’s health at risk.

Older toilets use much more water than newer models to do the same job and this not only wastes water, it can increase your water bill by hundreds of dollars over the life of the toilet. Likewise, new showerheads not only offer more pressure than older models, they use much less water.

Here are eight energy-efficient plumbing features that will not only save you money but reduce your carbon footprint and offer added health and safety benefits:

  1. Fix and upgrade leaky pipes and fixtures: A leaky faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day. That’s thousands of gallons and possibly hundreds of dollars literally down the drain every year. Leaky pipes and faucets are also a breeding ground for mold spores, which can have serious health implications. Plus, the water damage caused by leaky fixtures can end up costing tens of thousands of dollars to fix when left untreated.
  2. Low-flow showerheads: Low-flow showerheads have come a long way since they were first introduced more than two decades ago. Twenty years of technological advancements mean more pressure and less water. The showerheads of yesteryear used five to eight gallons of water per minute (GPM). Current standards for today’s units are 2.5 gallons per minute and low-flow showerheads use as little as 2 gallons per minute.
  3. Insulate pipes: When carrying hot water to plumbing fixtures, heat can get lost along the way. Pipe insulation helps to lower the heat loss. By doing so, you can reduce your water heater temperature to 120-degrees or lower. While paying someone to insulate the pipes in your home may not make economic sense, it’s a great option to consider during new construction or a major remodel.
  4. Low-flow faucets: Replacing your current sink faucets with low-flow faucets can save water without reducing water pressure. In fact, these new fixtures can drop water usage from 2.5 gallons per minute to 1.5 gallons per minute, saving up to 13,000 gallons of water a year for a typical household. This translates to hundreds of dollars a year in savings. Some kitchen faucets also offer built-in filtered water features that can help you cut down on your bottled water consumption.
  5. High-efficiency toilets (HET): More than 40 percent of U.S. households use older toilets that use 3.5 or more gallons per flush. Newer toilets use as little as one gallon per flush and even offer dual flushing capabilities, one of the most energy-efficient options for homeowners. Look for the Environmental Protection Agency’s “water sense” label, which shows that the toilet has been tested for maximum flushing power all while saving thousands of gallons of water a tear.
  6. Tankless water heaters: Tankless water heaters, also called on-demand water heaters, only heat water when needed. While these units can be expensive, their energy-saving capabilities outweigh the upfront cost. A typical water heater keeps 40 to 50 gallons of water hot at all times. As you can imagine, this is incredibly wasteful and inefficient.
  7. Update washer and dryer: Older washing machines have a top-loading feature in which water fills up from the bottom. Newer, front-loading machines use up to 50 percent less water. Modern dryers have more efficient heating units that can dry clothes faster, saving energy. It is also important to note that only washing full loads of laundry can save a lot of money.
  8. Regular maintenance: If you’re concerned about wasting money or energy, proper maintenance of your plumbing fixtures is important. Regular maintenance and plumbing check-ups can help you detect any small problems before they become major, and can help save money down the road.

Looking To Upgrade? Call MillTown

Milltown Plumbing is a family-owned and operated business established in 1979. Ever since the company was founded, we’ve stayed true to our commitment to the people of Northeastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire: our licensed and bonded plumbers offer honest answers to all of your plumbing questions, and we provide cost-effective, permanent solutions to keep your home healthy and safe. That commitment to your satisfaction has guided us for over 35 years of commercial and residential plumbing service, and the result is that homeowners in Northeastern Mass and Southern NH trust us more than anyone else for quality plumbing repairs and emergency service.

Call us today to schedule your service!

By Milltown Plumbing

Why You Should Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Why You Should Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

  • Air Conditioning
  • Heating
programmable thermostat by MillTown Plumbing

Thermostats are so small and yet so useful. We use them year-round as we experience the heat of blazing summers and the extremes of snowy winters in Chelmsford, MA. The thermostat does so much to keep our homes comfortable and cozy throughout the year in every season. You might have been thinking for a while about when and why to switch from a manual thermostat to a programmable one.

Although it works, a manual thermostat can be a real headache. First of all, you have to adjust it constantly throughout the day with the changes in temperature – when you wake up, leave your home, come back, or go to sleep. Trying to adjust your manual thermostat to just the right temperature throughout the day can take time away from other more important tasks. With a programmable thermostat, you have much more control over the overall temperature and how long the furnace set to that temperature. Probably most importantly, manual thermostats can cost you a lot of money due to their inefficiency.

There are a lot of great reasons why people choose to upgrade to a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat gives you complete control over your HVAC home system. People enjoy the increased comfort in their homes with ideal temperature settings throughout the day and night. Here are a few reasons why you will want to make the switch sooner rather than later.

1. Save Money on Heating Bills

For most American households, 42% of the energy bill goes to pay for heating and air conditioning. For each degree Fahrenheit that you lower the household temperature for 8 hours, you will save 1% of your energy bill. How much you save really depends on your comfort level and how eager you are to save money. You could save nothing by keeping the temperature the same, or you could save as much as 50% in one energy bill. Imagine what you could do with that extra money?

When you have a programmable thermostat, you can pre-set the temperatures for different times of the day and night. You will not spend money heating or cooling a home when no one is there.

2. Easily Adjustable with Touchscreens

With just a touch of a finger, you can set temperatures for different times of the day, see if filters need changing, or a problem that needs servicing. It’s all within your control. The digital screens that come with programmable thermostats take the guesswork out of setting heat schedules and adjusting heat zones.

3. The Power of Zoned Heating

A zoned system allows you to have different temperatures for different areas of a house. If one room of your house is less used, you can lower the temperature in that one space while keeping the other areas of the house at an ideal temperature. Another good reason to have a zoned system is to accommodate different family members’ temperature preferences. If your teenager likes their room nice and warm, while you prefer sleeping in a cooler climate, both of you can have the temperatures you want without compromising.

4. Automatic Temperature Adjustment

With a programmable thermostat, you will no longer waste time adjusting your thermostat when you come and go from home. You can set individual schedules for different times of day, on every day of the week.

If it is connected with your smartphone, you can change the temperature from anywhere at any time. If you decide to come home early from work because of a snow day, you can have the house be perfectly warm by the time you arrive. You also don’t have to worry about being responsible for lowering the thermostat right before you go to sleep if you have already programmed it to go down at night, which will save you a lot of money in the long run.

5. Access to Information

It will tell you what temperature your house is currently at in each space. You can find the programmed settings for various times of the day and night, along with a weekly or daily schedule, which can be changed with the touch of a finger. If your filter needs changing or you need HVAC servicing, you will have all the information at-a-glance. With a good programmable thermostat, you will always know what is going on with your energy usage.

Why Choose MillTown to Install Your New Thermostat?

  • Over 40 years of experience serving Northeastern MA and Southern NH
  • Prompt & Professional service
  • Upfront pricing
  • 24/7 emergency service

Call us today to schedule your service! 

By Milltown Plumbing