How can I prevent my water pipes from bursting during the severe cold weather months we have here?

Make sure all outside spigots have the garden hose disconnected. Make sure all vents are covered on crawl space to allow for no draft. All plumbing on outside walls should be protected by leaving faucets dripping and by leaving cabinet doors open for room temperature ventilation.

Our water bill appears to be unusually higher than normal. What could be causing this?

First check your toilets. Put a few drops of red food coloring into your toilet tank. If you see that your bowl has the same color, then your toilet could be wasting hundreds of gallons of water down the drain. You could need a repair to your toilet.

When do you recommend replacing our toilets to a more updated
model?

After many years of use, scale and lime deposits build up in toilet bowls. This slows the flushing action of the toilet which results in poor performance and increases the possibility of toilet stoppages. We suggest you have a professional plumber purchase a recommended model from their plumbing supply company. We recommend Kohler and TOTO products. These are grade "A" toilets which should give you years of pleasurable use.

THE FOLLOWING FAQ'S REFER TO TANKLESS WATER HEATERS...

How exactly does a tankless water heater work?

When the hot water tap is turned on, the water enters the heater. A flow sensor detects the water flow and the computer automatically ignites the burner. The water circulates through the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger instantly heats the water at the designated temperature (this takes approximately six seconds). When the hot water tap is turned off, the unit shuts down automatically. This process may vary with different types of tankless water heaters.

How do you size a tankless water heater?

To size a tankless water heater, always look for its maximum flow rate at gallon per minute, not gallons per hour. You always have to think of a situation where the demand is at the peak flow capacity, either simultaneous use of showers for home or simultaneous use of faucets and different appliances for commercial applications. With any doubts, you can contact the manufacturer directly to choose the right model for your application. The main determining factor is the flow rate of the household fixtures and the number of fixtures.

What is the life expectancy of the unit?

Life expectancy of the unit is calculated to be 15-20 years, although the number can be increased if the unit is used in conjunction with a pre-filter or a water softener.