Tag: milltown plumbing

Frozen Pipes and How to Prevent Them

Feb 15, 2019

Frozen Pipes and How to Prevent Them

  • Plumbing
Prevent a frozen pipe with these tips

Winter is in full swing in Chelmsford, MA. Although our temperatures can be unpredictable, a cold snap of freezing weather can spell disaster for your pipes. Anytime the temperature is going to hover around 32 degrees or below, that is when the danger of a frozen pipe goes up. 

The pipes in the most danger of freezing are those in basements and attic spaces. These areas are typically less insulated than other places in your home and can freeze more easily. These spaces are also the least visible in your home, so you may not notice a frozen pipe immediately. A frozen pipe left alone can easily turn into a burst pipe. A burst pipe causes flooding damage to affected rooms and loss of water to parts of your home.

The other vulnerable spot in your home is exterior faucets and hoses. These pipes are closest to the outside of your home and at risk of freezing. Just like basements and attics, you may not notice that an exterior faucet has a frozen pipe until water damage has already begun. But how can you avoid this stressful winter plumbing issue? 

Here are some tips to prevent frozen pipes in Chelmsford:

  • Keep the Heat On: It may be tempting to turn down the thermostat when you go away, but it’s critical you ignore that instinct. If you leave your heat set too low, you expose your home to freezing pipes in more places than just a basement or attic. Keeping the heat set to 55 degrees or above is your first defense to frozen pipes. 
  • Insulate Attic/Basement: Insulating your attic and basement will help retain the heat in those areas. Any degree you can raise that internal temperature will ward off a frozen pipe emergency. Insulation will save your pipes and save you money on your heating bills, too! 
  • Insulate Your Pipes: If you add insulation to the outside of your pipes, you are decreasing the chance of a frozen pipe as well. The insulation stops the water inside the pipes from freezing and bursting. Pipe insulation also has benefits for warmer weather. When your home is air-conditioned and cool, it will help water in your pipes stay warm for a hot shower in the summer. 
  • Shut Off Outside Water: Before a serious cold snap, shut off the water to your exterior hoses and pipes. This will eliminate any chance of an exterior pipe freezing and bursting. 

 

If your pipes do freeze- don’t panic. Your trusted plumbers at Milltown Plumbing are here to help. We can assist with repairing your burst pipe or insulating them before they freeze. 

Why Choose Milltown Plumbing?

Milltown Plumbing has been the trusted service provider for the Merrimack Valley for over 35 years. We use that wealth of experience to bring the highest quality plumbing and customer service experience possible to our customers. Our certified plumbers are always clean, courteous, and respectful of your home. We leave the space better than the condition we found it and ensure your satisfaction with our services. Our goal is to provide honest answers to your questions, and cost-effective solutions for any plumbing issues you may have.

By Milltown Plumbing

Furnace Problems You May Experience Before Spring

Jan 17, 2019

Furnace Problems You May Experience Before Spring

  • Furnaces
  • Heating
Call MillTown if you are experiencing furnace problems in Chelmsford, MA

As winter settles in Chelmsford, MA, you want to think about the health of your furnace. It is important to be on the lookout for common furnace problems before they break down your heating system entirely. Here at Milltown, we have put together a list of common furnace problems you may experience before winter ends.

Faulty Pilot Lights

Along with some other mechanical parts, the pilot light could be malfunctioning and causing no heat or intermittent heat. There are two parts that tend to be the culprit for faulty pilot lights: the thermocouple and the pilot tube.

  • The thermocouple is a copper wire inside your furnace that detects the heat of your pilot light and lights the gas. It is a safety feature that ensures gas shuts off if it does not detect the pilot light. Sometimes, the thermocouple is bent out of shape or cold, causing it to mis-detect the pilot light, This can cause arbitrary pilot light outages.
  • The pilot tube can also be dirty or clogged. When the pilot tube is clogged it can stop or inhibit the pilot light’s ability to function.

Defective Blowers

If you have a demand for heat and the blower is not running, it is important to check the blower motor is functioning. A blower motor breakdown can be caused by old age, faulty bearings, loss of electrical power, or dirt accumulation. If you cannot see any visible dirt and debris blocking the motor function, then call a technician at MillTown to service the motor.

 Poor Electrical Connections

With the passing of time, the vibrations that come with a running furnace can lead to internal wires becoming loose or fraying. These wires and eventually short and cause your furnace to shut off. It can take a bit of time to find the loose wire, but replacing it will fix the issue. To prevent this, schedule regular furnace maintenance to check for damaged parts and ensure the furnace is in working order before winter settles in.

Damaged or Dirty Coils

The coil ensures that the right air supply is being sent through the furnace which heats your home. If for some reason these passages become clogged or damaged, the air flow will be restricted. Furnaces are set to run with a certain amount of air flow, and any disturbance to this level will decrease the efficiency of our furnace to generate heat.

Clogged Air Filters

As a general rule. the filter in your furnace should be replaced every 3 months in order to extend both the efficiency and life of the furnace. You should change it more frequently if there are pets in the home or someone has allergies. Dirty filters reduce the flow of air and reduce air quality in the home. A dirty air filter puts a strain on your furnace and makes it work harder. This reduces the efficiency of the unit and costs you money in the long run.

Thermostat Malfunctions

The thermostat is the device that measures the temperature in your home and alerts the furnace when to turn on. If your thermostat is not functioning properly, it can cause the furnace to turn on or off at the wrong time. It may not sense that temperature has been reached and continue to run, or it may not sense the drop in temperature letting your home become frigid. If you notice inconsistent temperatures in your home, consider having your thermostat checked by a professional.

Air Flow Problems

Most of the time, furnaces have two types of air flow. The first one is an incoming source of air. Then, there is a steady flow of air out into the home so that the heat can be evenly distributed. If either one of these airflows is restricted, the efficiency of the furnace will go down. If there are any clogs, blockages, or duct leaks, they should be dealt with quickly so as not to impact the quality of your home heat.

Air Leaks in the Household

If you have air drafts in the household, your furnace will end up working harder to compensate for the loss of heat. Aside from putting strain the furnace, it will also cost you more on your energy bills. You should go through your home and seal any drafty windows, doors, or places you feel air escaping

If you experience any problems with your furnace this winter, call MillTown. We’re ready to help you today! 

By Milltown Plumbing

Keeping Your Tankless Hot Water Heater Happy During the Holiday Season

Dec 27, 2018

Keeping Your Tankless Hot Water Heater Happy During the Holiday Season

  • Water Heating
tankless water heater services in Chelmsofrd, MA by MillTown Plumbing

Besides energy efficiency and size, there’s little difference between a tank and tankless. A tankless water heater heats water as it comes from your home’s water line, instead of heating a tank full of water. It uses a heat exchanger powered either by gas or electricity to generate said heat. Over time, however, the minerals found in hard water build up mineral deposits that wear down the water heater and can clog plumbing. It affects both types of water heaters, damaging the tank for a tank water heater, and damaging the heat exchanger for a tankless water heater.

Like any appliance, especially a water appliance, your tankless water heater needs routine maintenance in order to function effectively and last its lifespan. Although you should always schedule professional water heater maintenance from MillTown, here are a few small things that you can do on your end.

How to Keep Your Tankless Water Heater Happy

  • Give it space. Since your tankless water heater combusts fuel to generate heat, it’s important to keep any combustible items or materials at a safe distance. Keep away all papers, clothing, paints, and chemicals, it’s ideal to keep all flammable items in a separate room from the water heater.
  • Check the exhaust vent. Like any heating appliance, a tankless water heater needs proper ventilation. That’s why it’s important to keep the exhaust vent clean of any dust or debris that can restrict airflow. Not only will a dirty vent damage the tankless water heater, but it can also become a carbon monoxide hazard.
  • Watch for leaks. Leaks are a common plumbing problem, and your tankless water heater is no exception. Watch the pipes closeby for any leaks. If you spot dripping pipes or pools of water nearby, you’ll want to call a plumber immediately. A leak left untreated turns into a bigger problem, costing you more than the water wasted.
  • Keep it clean. Dust and dirt get everywhere, but it’s problematic when enough of it gets into your tankless water heater. Routinely cleaning the exterior of the tankless water heater with a lint-free cloth and mild detergent, helps to keep it clean and dust-free.
  • Keep the drain valve and water screen clear. Over time dirt and other debris can build up on the drain valve and water screen, which can disrupt the flow of hot water. Make sure to check them periodically and clean when necessary.
  • Descale your water heater. Hard water is a nuisance, but even with a water softener, mineral deposits can still build up inside your tankless water heater. That’s why it’s recommended to descale or flush your tankless water heater at least once a year to prevent too much of a scale buildup.

When You Need to Call Milltown

Problems happen despite how well-maintained your tankless water heater, and when that happens, it’s important to call a plumber right away. Damages left untreated can not only cost you higher water bills but possibly even an early replacement. The earlier you act, the better. If you are experiencing any of these problems in your Chelmsford, MA home, call MillTown for tankless water heater maintenance:

  • Warm water. One of the first red flags is if your tankless water heater no longer produces hot water. If you’re dealing with tepid water, it could be a number of issues. Your tankless water heater may simply need a temperature adjustment, or there could be too much water pressure. A plumber will be able to diagnose and effectively treat the problem.
  • Water heater turns itself off. If you’re suddenly out of hot water, don’t panic yet, the issue may just be a clogged filter. Tankless water heaters can shut off when its filter is no longer functional. Cleaning or replacing the filter should do the trick.
  • Fluctuating temperatures. If your shower quickly ranges from freezing cold to lukewarm to scalding hot, you have a serious problem. The usual culprit is a loose connection somewhere in the tankless water heater.
  • Your water appliances won’t work. Appliances like your dishwasher or washing machine require certain temperatures and water pressure to function properly. If something is wrong with your tankless water heater, however, it may fail to deliver enough heat and pressure, rendering your water appliances useless. One trick to fix this problem is to adjust the hot and cold valves until you reach the right temperature. If it doesn’t work, you’ll need to call a plumber.

If you need tankless water heater maintenance in Chelmsford, MA, call MillTown Plumbing. Our trained technicians are ready to help you today! 

 

By Milltown Plumbing