Plumbing News and Tips for Homeowners in the Raleigh NC Area, New Product Reviews, Water Heaters and Tankless water heater advice from local certified plumbers.

Tankless Water Heater

Improvements and Innovations Making Choice to go with a Tankless Water Heater an Easy One

With the Raleigh plumbing experts at Poole’s Plumbing specializing in installation, and manufacturers using the technology they are afforded for continuous innovations to the always economically sound Tankless Water Heater models, many of the question marks that consumers have had when deciding upon a new unit are slowly being erased.Tankless Water Heater

 

As discussed in a recent article published by Consumer Reports, despite the obvious upside in switching to a Tankless Water Heater, when the units were first introduced, did give customers a few reasons to debate whether or not to stick wit their conventional model water heater. However, as time has passed, many of the major producers of the Tankless Water Heater have worked to consistently improve the technology in the units, addressing the three main issues below over the course of the past seven years that make the switch to a Tankless Water Heater in many cases today a much less uncertain move.

Issue 1: Expensive and Complicated Installation Process

How it’s improved: Manufacturers have addressed the installation process issues by improving upon the design of the Tankless Water Heater and making the switch from tanked to tankless an easier process. For example, in the Noritz tankless models the input and output waterlines have been moved to the top of the unit, much like the tanked units, to make a much smoother transition on a change out. The addition of a flexible exhaust pipe and a proprietary adaptor also make connecting to ductwork far easier than the standard PVC piping.

Issue 2: Inconsistency in Temperature

How it’s improved: One of the initial worries with a Tankless Water Heater was what many refer to as the “Cold Water Sandwich,” or inconsistency in temperature. Manufacturers have for the most part completely rectified this issue, as in the case with Rinnai models, where a circulation pump has been added to guarantee that water comes out hot and stays that way for the duration of its usage. Some units have even evolved to include a buffer tank that stores a backup supply of hot water.

Issue 3: Need for Constant Maintenance

How it’s improved: A major issue many that chose the Tankless Water Heater seemed to run into initially was a need for constant maintenance to their model due to scale buildup. This could restrict water flow, decrease efficiency, and eventually damage the units. With major companies adding isolation valves to their models, the descaling process and routine maintenance has been made far easier.

Whether you need a new unit, or are just interested in the possibility of exploring whether a Tankless Water Heater is the right fit for you, the specialists at Poole’s Plumbing can bring you the knowledge and know how to help you make this decision.

Tips from the most trusted Raleigh NC Plumbers to Avoid Winter Plumbing Issues

Raleigh NC PlumbersWith the temperature in the area beginning to drop as the fall months wind down and the cold of winter approaches, the most trusted Raleigh NC Plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing have some tips that can help you to not only conserve but also to be sure to avoid issues that are somewhat common in the colder weather.

Some of the more frequent plumbing issues that come about in the winter months are running out of or having no hot water for showers, flooding, leaks, broken radiators, and frozen or cracked pipes. In this first of two parts on avoiding winter plumbing issues, you can follow the easy tips listed below by the Raleigh NC Plumbers at Poole’s, to help avoid and at minimum make these problems less likely to occur as the temperature outside drops.

Clogged Drain Prevention

There are a few ways to help avoid your drains getting clogged and thus avoid extra strain on them as the winter months bring about the possibility of freezing. The first way is to treat your tub and sink drains using a mixture that can easily be made at home on a regular basis. Use 1 cup of baking soda, mixed with 1 cup of salt, and a ¼ cup of cream of tartar. Follow this mixture by pouring two cups of boiling water in each drain. Another thing to remember in keeping drains unclogged, especially around the holidays with all the extra cooking around the house is to avoid the dumping of any oils and grease or stringy object down your drain or into the garbage disposal. Likewise, run cold water through the disposal for 15-20 second both before and after using it and always turn it on before putting any food or debris in.

Insulate your Pipes

Using foam padding sleeves or insulation tape, this is a simple way to help avoid both your hot and cold water pipes from freezing up. Using a space heater that is set at a safe distance from any exposed fixtures or pipes to keep them warm is another way to avoid them from freezing up. Also, check basement and not often used pipes throughout your home regularly for ice or frost accumulation once the temperature has hit freezing to be sure they have not started cracking.

Running Water

This one is very simple. Be sure to run water from all valves and spigots in your home regularly throughout the winter. Especially in the case of those not used so often, this can avoid the issue of them freezing up.

Unattach Outdoor Hoses

Remember to unattach garden hoses that are outdoors before the temperature drops to freezing levels. Also, be certain to drain any residual water from the outside spigots and hoses and close the shut-off valve on any pipes leading to these.

Spreading out Showers

This is somewhat self explanatory, but having at least 10-15 minutes between showers helps to maintain proper pressure and consistent hot water levels. When the temperature outside drops, you may want to increase the temperature level on your water heater as well, but never put it higher than 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

These simple tips from the Raleigh NC Plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing are ones that you can do personally in your own home to help stay away from plumbing issues and possible disaster this upcoming winter. In the follow up to this post, we will continue to discuss how to protect your pipes as the cold weather hits, in addition to the steps to take in the case that your pipes do freeze, burst, or crack this winter. To view that post, check back here to the blog section at www.poolesplumbing.com.

 

 

Visit Poole’s Plumbing at the 2015 Fall Downtown Raleigh Home Show

Gain a Fresh Perspective— Friday, September 11-Sunday, September 13, 2015 at Booth 519

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Stop by and visit the Raleigh Plumbing professionals at Poole’s Plumbing and get some helpful tips and ideas, see all the newest products, and get some fantastic deals at the “Fall Downtown Raleigh Home Show.” Find Poole’s at Booth 519, right in the center of the main showroom at Raleigh’s Biggest Home Show Event of the season.

Fall Downtown Raleigh Home Show
Friday, September 11th-Sunday, September 13th
Raleigh Convention Center
500 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh
Visit Poole’s Plumbing at Booth 519

Join the Raleigh plumbing experts from Poole’s Plumbing alongside top professionals from all fields representing local, regional, and national companies in all areas of remodeling, home improvement, outdoor, and design. For three days, come experience, compare, and purchase the latest and most innovative products and services offered for the home and garden. With professionals and experts in a variety of fields representing the top local, regional, and national companies, you won’t want to miss the Triangle area’s Biggest Home and Garden Event of the season.

Celebrity appearances will be made throughout the weekend at the Home Show, as the host of the popular PBS series, “This Old House,” Kevin O’Connor will be at the show on Friday and Saturday, and the 2015 Home and Garden Trendsetter of the year, “the Diva of DIY,” Leanne Lee, of the DIY Network, appears on all three days.
In addition to over 200 exhibitors to be on hand at this year’s Fall Home Show, there are several demonstrations and special attractions you won’t want to miss, including:

THE ULTIMATE TREE HOUSE
Certainly not the treehouse you remember from your childhood, you don’t even have to be outside to take a walk through this impressive feature designed by RB Landscaping.

DRAB TO FAB
The Go Girl Shoppe will be showing you how to turn “flea market finds” or old items found in your home from “Drab to Fab” as they are showcased both before and after the transformation.

OUTDOOR OASIS
Giving you a glimpse of the creative design that has made them one of Raleigh’s premier landscapers for over a decade, Luxury Living Scapes Inc. the “Outdoor Oasis” will be built inside the convention center in aisle 100 of the show.
GARDEN MARKET
Flowers, plants, and another unique home décor will be available in the Garden Market. You can’t miss the spectacular presentation of The Flower Pot, which will be located in the lobby of the convention center.

HERO DAY
A special thanks to “the troops,” as on Friday, September 11, all active and retired military personnel get into the show for FREE.

Website: www.raleighfallshow.com