Fall Plumbing Tips

During the fall season, there are a few routine plumbing maintenance tasks that need to be completed in order to ensure that your home’s plumbing system is prepared for the colder weather. A plumbing professional will be more than happy to do these tasks for you so you don’t have to do them yourself.

Winterize Your Outdoor Faucets

The first thing that you should do come fall is winterize your outdoor faucets. Cover the spigots and make sure there are no leaks. It’s also important to drain and store outdoor hoses. Do not leave any water in your hoses. If that leftover water freezes, it will expand and can damage or break the hose.

Water Heater Maintenance

Water heater maintenance is also essential during the fall season. Your water heater should be drained and flushed each autumn. This is important because the process prevents sediment from accumulating in the water heater. Sediment build up can cause the water heater to run slowly or to break down. Hot water is especially important during the cold winter months.

Conventional Water Heaters

There are three types of water heaters. A qualified plumbing professional should be able to repair or replace your water heater regardless of which type you have. The different types of water heaters include: conventional storage water heaters, tank less water heaters, and heat pump water heaters. Conventional storage water heaters have a storage tank that stores water for in-home use. These water heaters are the most common type and run on electricity, natural gas, propane, or fuel oil. Storage water heaters are not as efficient as other types because they lose heat and have limitations that prevent energy efficiency. Conventional water heaters are also more expensive than other types because they require stored water and must be constantly refilled.

Tankless Water Heaters

On the other hand, tank less water heaters do not store hot water. They provide it on demand. They are more energy efficient than conventional water heaters. However the flow-rate of a tank less water heater is limited, so you may need to install more than one to satisfy the hot water needs in your entire home. Tank less water heaters are more expensive to install than conventional ones but they also last longer and cost less to run.

Heat Pumps

Heat pump water heaters do not produce their own heat. They use electricity to absorb heat from the environment. The absorbed heat is then dumped into a water tank and heated using a process of reverse refrigeration. Even though heat pump water heaters have the highest purchase price and installation costs, they are also the most energy efficient type.

How To Find A Qualified Plumber

It can be a challenge to find a qualified plumber. But it can be done quickly and efficiently using the internet. For instance, if you’re in Leander, simply type plumber in Leander into your preferred search engine. After that you’ll be well on the right track toward finding the right plumber for you.