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

The Critical Benefits of an In-Line Sewer Camera Inspection

The Critical Benefits of an In-Line Sewer Camera Inspection

  • Plumbing
sewer camera inspection

Today’s technology has changed the home sewer inspection process tremendously. In many cases a full sewer line excavation is not necessary. Where there is intrusion and line repair needed, it’s now possible to isolate the problem or to repair it from the inside instead of a full excavation and new line installation. Much of this advancement has come about because of in-line plumbing camera technology.

In-line sewer video cameras offer multiple benefits for the trained technician. These include determination the nature of a line blockage (roots, line separations, artificial material blockages, material flow problems), integrity inspection of the sewer line, and extent of the damage to be repaired or replaced. Cameras also help plumbers prepare with the right equipment when salvaging an existing like with industrial equipment such as high pressure jet cleaning tools. The wrong tool could damage the pipe, but a camera will confirm the condition and proper pressure approach every time.

On the other hand, not using a camera can be extremely costly for a homeowner. For example, a misjudgment of the line problem could end up in charges for a far more extensive line repair that turns out not be necessary, including excavation. In addition, there could be problems with estimating the exactly location of the issue as well, which could make the problem worse and bigger repair. Again, accuracy in knowledge is a win-win for everyone involved.  

The main features of an in-line sewer camera are primarily based around the camera apparatus itself, the data feed cable which comes in the form of an insulated and sealed fiber optic cable for heavy duty applications, the LED lighting mechanism on the end of the camera to illuminate the details filmed, and the video monitor above ground which allows the technician to see the progress in real-time as well as record the findings for review and analysis.

Camera Head and Assembly

If there is a critical part in the entire in-line sewer camera system, it’s the camera head. This is the most expensive component in the setup and the part that captures the critical information. It is also extremely sensitive and easy to damage. An untrained technician or someone new to the job can do a lot of damage very quickly forcing the camera apparatus through a line and, in essence, making the camera head a luxury battering ram to a blockage. Not only does that ruin the whole purpose of the effort, it can also damage any information capture as well. While these industrial cameras are specifically designed and built for their environments, repeat use of jamming the camera through resistance simply destroys it over time. That’s why the best technicians use a very light approach, working slowly and methodically. It saves the equipment and produces crystal clear images with easy to analyze recordings of what’s going on inside the line.

Cabling

Attached to the Camera rear is the fiber optic cabling, shielded in an industrial sheath wrapping so that the materials and moisture in a sewer line don’t damage the fiber itself. It’s also designed for easy cleaning so that the equipment be sanitized after the fact before packaging again for transport. This type of cabling doesn’t do well with extreme bending or folding. Instead, it is wound on a large wheel assembly for protected storage when not in use. The fiber optics allow for significant data transfer from the camera to the monitor, allowing for high detail with a closed circuit system. The cabling and camera are sent through the line with a push rod that gives the technician control and the ability to propel the camera through the line at distance.

LED Lighting

Attached to the top of the camera apparatus is a sealed LED lighting unit that provides a tight concentration of illumination. While it’s not going to light up a neighborhood, the LED unit provides more than enough light for the camera to pick up detail and show in clarity and even color what’s going on in front of it. With good practice, the lighting and image gives the technician enough information to see what’s happening as he sends the unit through, how to navigate issues, and when the line cannot be traveled any further.

The Monitor

Finally, the monitor is the display that the technician watches and records with as the camera inside the line does its job. Directly connected to the fiber optics cabling, the monitor will display in detail and real time what is happening in front of the unit in the line as well the time stamp. Some advanced units can also display various sensor data such a temperature and humidity as well, which is why this kind of equipment is also used by archaeologists and law enforcement/public safety for similar confined space visual examination.

As discussed above, modern plumbing technology is now light years from where it was only two decades ago. And in-line pipe inspections allow far better repair performance as well as saving consumers thousands of dollars from unnecessary repairs. In comparison to how things used to be done, it would be foolhardy to attempt any sewer line repair today without a camera inspection first.

Call MillTown today and get your sewer camera inspection!

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sewer camera inspection

By Milltown Plumbing

Why Water Heaters Matter in Chelmsford

Why Water Heaters Matter in Chelmsford

  • Plumbing
water heaters

There’s a lot that goes into home maintenance, especially in Chelmsford homes. And in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s very easy to overlook the common water heater as an important asset to your home. An improperly functioning water heater can seriously damage your home’s comfort and even its structural integrity. The easiest way to keep something to the forefront of your mind is to remind yourself why they’re important in the first place. 

Comfort:

You need hot water. Just a simple fact of modern living. Temperature controlled water is an expected comfort of a modern Chelmsford home. From hot showers to warm soap to washing your hands, to even physically heating your home in some aspects, hot water does it all. So when you’re out of hot water, you need a professional there to fix it as soon as possible to get your home on track. And at Milltown, we have professionals in spades. 

Water Quality:

High school science class taught us all that heat kills dangerous microscopic organisms living in water. You can understand why hot water is important to not just your comfort, but your health as well. “But we already have a heater,” you may claim, which is itself a good thing. But is it current? 

The average lifespan for a water heater is around ten years, with some room for variance based on use, make and model, and maintenance. When a water heater goes, it affects your overall water quality. If you ever notice orange or otherwise rust-shaded water coming from the tap or showerhead, it may not be the city feeding you dirty water. Old and outdated water heaters often are responsible for impure water being filtered into the home. 

Ecologically Friendly:

Keeping the earth clean and free from pollution is something we can all agree is a good idea. That’s why most modern water heaters are designed with Mother Nature in mind. Designed with replaceable and totally recyclable components, these high-productivity heaters cause less air pollution, produce fewer greenhouse gasses, and are generally better for the environment than older models. Replacing your older heater with a new, eco-friendly model can help you do your part in keeping our world clean and sustainable for years to come. 

Call MillTown today and get water heaters service this Spring!

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By Milltown Plumbing