Happy Earth Day!

Today marks the 45^th anniversary of the worldwide event known as Earth Day! The Earth Day theme this year, chosen by Earth Day Network, is It’s Our Turn to Lead. We shouldn’t wait for the rest of the world to change before we do. Let’s take the initiative and show everyone that we can take the world in a new direction, one small change at a time.

Implementing just one green tip from this energy efficiency infographic will save you both energy and money this year. Don’t delay, go green today!

Home Energy Efficiency INFOGRAPHIC

Call Boulden Brothers for expert plumbing and electrical services including leak detection, pipe repair, low-flow plumbing, appliance replacement, GFCI installation, rewiring, fixture replacement, and more.

For more green tips and tricks around the home, Meet Dan, The Answer Man in our new series of videos answering commonly asked questions in easy-to-understand language.

Celebrate Earth Day by making addressing some of these green tips in our energy efficiency infographic!  No matter what type of home service you need, Boulden Brothers has you covered! We have the customer service team and expert technicians available to tackle any installation, maintenance, or repair job.

If you have any further questions on how to create a green, energy-efficient home, talk to the licensed, trained technicians at Boulden Brothers.

Visit us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ or give us a call at (302) 368-3848 for more green tips. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.

Boulden Brothers works hard to earn your trust. That’s why we’re picky about who wears our uniform. That’s also why we provide 24-hour service because you can’t pick when an emergency will happen. Now, Boulden Brothers is doing even more to be worthy of your trust: meet Dan, The Boulden Brothers Answer Man. We’ve put together a series of videos to answer commonly asked questions in easy-to-understand language. Our goal: help you understand what to expect when you schedule service from Boulden Brothers.

Here’s one example of our new videos. See more in our answer man video library. Have a question you’d like Dan to answer? Send it us right here.

https://boulden-brothers.wistia.com/medias/ldxjpyv4wr?embedType=seo&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=960

With Earth Day on Wednesday, it seems that everyone is looking for ways to “green” their home. To ease you into the idea of creating an eco-friendly, green home, we are going to start off slow. This post is all about how to create a more efficient and comfortable kitchen.

5 Green Kitchen Tips & Tricks

1. DISHWASHER

• Only run your dishwasher when it is completely full.
• Your dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand. Most energy-efficient models can clean your dishes without you having to pre-rinse or wash them first. Simply scrape off any food and leave it to your dishwasher to do the rest.

2. RECYCLE

• Composting is a great way to create free fertilizer for your plants and minimizes your consumer waste.
• Keep bags in your car so you can save on paper and plastic when running errands.
• In Newark, Delaware there is no need to sort your recyclables, but you should always double check with your city.
  Acceptable Items
  • Glass (clear, green and brown)
  • Plastic Bottles (narrow neck bottles only)
  • Metals (steel and aluminum)
  • Paper (newspapers, magazines, phone books and junk mail)
  • And More
• Use cloth towels and rags instead of paper towels to save money and paper.
• Use reusable water bottles instead of buying bottled water.

3. COOKING

• Instead of using your oven for small meals, consider switching to toaster ovens, microwaves, slow cookers, or a smaller convection oven. You can use up to 30% less energy. It also reduces the amount of heat, meaning less of a need for air conditioning.
• Match the amount of heat on your stove top to the smallest pot or pan that can accomplish the goal.
• To avoid “vampire power” – energy that is lost when items are plugged in – make sure to unplug things when they’re not in use. Unplug as many devices as you can before going on a trip!

4. REFRIGERATOR

• We all do it, but try not to browse the refrigerator for too long. Keeping the door open for extended amounts of time wastes a lot of energy.
• Ensure that the door can fully close by examining the rubber seal. Take your hand and feel around the rubber seal for air leaks. If you notice your refrigerator leaking air, see about getting it sealed or repaired immediately.
• Many homeowners have multiple fridges. See if you really need the extra fridge and how much energy you may be wasting here. You may not need that extra fridge space, but if you do, make sure to get an energy-efficient model that is the appropriate size.
• If you do end up replacing your refrigerator, make sure the new one has the official Energy Star federal designation, which means that it meets high standards for energy efficiency.

5. LIGHTING

• Swap out your light bulbs with Energy Star Certified Light Bulbs.
• You will use 70-90% less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs.
• You will also cut cut cooling costs, since energy-efficient light bulbs produce 70-90% less heat.

For another green kitchen tip, you should always have a properly functioning plumbing and electrical system. The average home loses more than 10,000 gallons of water a year on undetected plumbing leaks (epa.gov).

Call Boulden Brothers for expert plumbing and electrical services including leak detection, pipe repair, low-flow plumbing, appliance replacement, GFCI installation, rewiring, fixture replacement, and more.

Celebrate Earth Day by making addressing some of these green kitchen tips!  No matter what type of plumbing services you need, Boulden Brothers is the best choice in the Wilmington & Dover, DE area. We know kitchens and have the skilled plumbers on staff to tackle any installation, maintenance, or repair job.

If you have any further questions on how to create a green kitchen, talk to the licensed, trained technicians at Boulden Brothers.

Visit us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ or give us a call at (302) 368-3848 for more green kitchen tips and other ways to create an energy-efficient home. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.

Are you guilty of using the toilet as a trashcan?

We all use the toilet every day. And not just for human waste. In our experience, people use the toilet as a trash disposal. You couldn’t imagine the things that we have cleared out of toilets; from cell phones and credit cards to children’s toys and crumpled up paper, we’ve seen it all.

We know, it is tempting to flush nearly anything down the toilet. It’s like a black hole; just dump, flush, and it’s gone – out of sight out of mind. To do this, however, is to risk damaging septic tanks and city wastewater treatment centers, as well as causing toxic environmental pollution and the embarrassment that comes with your plumber finding the cause of the problem. People don’t think about this until one day they have a huge clog or septic tank problem and have to spend lots of money to fix it.

Via: simpsonswiki

What NOT to Flush Down the Toilet

To help you save embarrassment, thousands of dollars in expensive plumbing repairs, and avoid polluting the environment, pay attention to this list of things that you must never, EVER, flush down the toilet:

1. Feminine Products

Tampons and other feminine hygiene products are not supposed to be flushed down the toilet.

2. Cooking Grease/Food

Grease should never be poured down any drain, period. It may look like a liquid that can easily be dumped down a drain, but when it cools, it will congeal and clog up your pipes. Collect your grease in a glass jar and throw it in the trash, or save the grease and reuse it, especially bacon grease…mmmm.

3. Baby Wipes/Wet Wipes/Cleaning Pads

These “adult baby wipes” are becoming increasingly popular nowadays. They are also increasingly causing clogs and backups in sewage pipes across the country. Although some of these brands might say they are flushable on the box, there are groups that are revising the guidelines, so soon all wet wipes will have a noticeable DO NOT FLUSH symbol on the packaging. If you must use these, throw them away in the trash can. Keep one close to the toilet. Flushing wet wipes can easily turn into an expensive mistake when you have to call a plumber to snake your toilet.

4. Dental Floss

Floss is not biodegradable and can cause serious clogs and environmental damage.

5. Q-tips/Cotton Balls

You might think that cotton will break down, since some toilet paper is made from cotton linen (Cottonelle/Cottonsoft), but they don’t! They will clump together, causing stoppages at bends in the pipes.

6. Diapers

Just because there is human waste inside does not mean that they are OK to flush. Diapers are made to expand in water. In the unlikely case you actually get the diaper to flush, it will likely get caught in the U-bend of the pipe.

7. Pills

You may think it is a good idea to put pills out of harm’s way, but you are probably doing more harm than good by flushing them. They have toxic effects on groundwater supplies and wildlife. There are many community-based “take back you meds programs.” On September 27th, the DEA will be heading a “National Take-Back Day.” There will be many collection sites throughout Delaware on this day. Locations can be found here.

8. Paper Towels/Tissues

If you really want to save money and help the environment, you will use washable cloths and rags, but if you have to use paper towels, throw them in the trash, not the toilet. Tissues and paper towels are not made to dissolve like toilet paper; throw them in the trash.

9. Cigarette Butts

What a waste of water! Each flush uses up to three gallons. They look gross floating in the water and they are full of toxic chemicals that end up going straight into the groundwater supply. If you have to smoke, throw the butts away properly.

 

What does that leave? Not much! Human excrement and regular toilet paper are the only things you should flush down your toilet.

 

Even the very thick and plush toilet paper can sometimes be very hard to break down. A courtesy flush is sometimes necessary to avoid clogging the drain. We love Charmin Ultra too, but be conservative with your toilet paper use.

Don’t think that you are saving water or money by stuffing as much waste into the toilet before you actually flush. Having a plumber drive to your house to fix an expensive repair is much worse, for your wallet and the environment. Single-ply toilet, 100% recycled paper, is best.

Despite all the precautions you take, you may still experience plumbing problems. Things just happen sometimes.

In the unfortunate case of a plumbing problem, pick up the phone and call the experts at Boulden Brothers Home Services at (302) 368-3848.

We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.

Visit us on our website, Facebook, and Twitter for more useful information and advice for maintaining a safe and efficient home.

Don’t get caught in hot water this April after the new water heater regulations go into effect. As you may or may not know, the Obama administration released new energy efficient regulations and standards in order to “cut carbon pollution by nearly 300 million metric tons through 2030 — equivalent to taking more than 60 million cars off the road for one year — and will save homes and businesses more than $10 billion on their energy bills.”

U.S. Department of Energy New Water Heater Regulations

The new water heater regulations go into effect April 16, 2015, which means that you only have a few more weeks left to make an important decision regarding your existing water heater.

Basically, the new water heater regulations will require changes for both manufacturers and installers of hot water heater systems. As a homeowner, this means that you will be footing the bill for the extra expenses.

The U.S. DOE regulations require the biggest changes for large water heaters, so if you have a tankless, solar, or small water heater, these regulations won’t affect you as much. The larger gas and electric water heaters (greater than 55 gallons) will need to improve their energy efficiency by about 47% and 30%, respectively.

Source: mechanical-hub.com

The U.S. DOE claims that “the percent of households benefitting ranges from 59 percent to 90 percent.” While you will probably benefit from the savings over the lifetime of the the new water heater regulations for gas and electric water heaters, it won’t be by much. The savings never go over $97 dollars and in some cases can go as low as -$244.

Although we are not arguing against stricter energy efficiency requirements, it’s important to remind consumers of their different options and inform them of the higher upfront costs of a water heater maintenance, repair, or installation after the new water heater regulations on April 16th.

Read on for our recommendation!

Why You Should Replace Your Water Heater Now

Although the new changes will make your water heating (about 20% of your home’s total utility expense) more energy efficient, the upfront costs are significant.

“Manufacturer prices are expected to increase from the current average cost to the dealer/ distributor of $157 to a range of $187– 292…”

That increased price will end up landing on your bill. Not only will the manufacturer price increase, but the stricter installation requirements, which may require new vent piping, will rise significantly as well.

We recommend that you check your water heater right now if you don’t know how old it is. There should be manufacturer and installation information right on the tank itself. If your water heater is older than 10 years old or you’ve been thinking about replacing it soon, we recommend replacing it now!

It’s sort of like whether you want $100 now or 27¢ every day for a year. If you are like most people, you will want the $100 today. And with Boulden Brother’s energy efficient gas, electric, hybrid, solar, and tankless water heaters, you will probably save more replacing your water heater now than waiting until after April 16th.

Also, if your existing water heater is in a tight space, you might need to find a different place to put the new energy efficient water heater since the added insulation makes the unit significantly larger.

More Information On Water Heaters

• Tankless Water Heaters vs. Traditional Ones
• Traditional vs. Solar Water Heaters: A Buyer’s Guide
  
• Water Heater Types and Sizes

Call Boulden Brothers today if you have any questions about the new water heater regulations or wish to replace your existing water heater. There’s not much time left!

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Boulden Brothers knows how important to have a reliable and energy efficient hot water heater. If you want to save on water heater replacement or installation costs or have any questions about the new government regulations that go into effect this April, pick up the phone and call the home experts at Boulden Brothers – (302) 368-3848.

With our indirect solar water heater systems, you will never have to worry about fluctuating fuel prices or freezing water pipes again.

For more important home and utility information, stay in touch with us through Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed!

This week, March 16-22, is Fix A Leak Week 2015. Started by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to raise awareness about household plumbing leaks and their negative impact on both the environment and your wallet.

As you can see from the infographic above, the average home could discretely be losing thousands of gallons of water every year.

According to the EPA:

• The average household’s leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, or the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry.
• Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons annually nationwide. That’s equal to the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes.
• Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.
• Common types of leaks found in the home include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. All are easily correctable.
• Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.
• Keep your home leak-free by repairing dripping faucets, toilet flappers, and showerheads. In most cases, fixture replacement parts don’t require a major investment.

The EPA is right! You can spend about 10-30 minutes going around your home fixing leaks, such as worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, loose aerators, and other leaking plumbing fixtures.

Before you begin to seal your plumbing leaks, it’s a good idea to know if you even have them. Obvious signs, such as water and drips are clear enough, but you may have other leaks that you don’t even know about. To can detect leaks in your home by doing a simple test involving your water meter.

How to Read Your Water Meter to Detect Leaks

Step 1: Find your water meter!

There are several places that your water meter could be hiding, you water meter will most likely be located in an underground box near the front curb of your home

Once you have found your water meter, you can pry the lid off with a long, strong screwdriver. Stand back because their might be some disturbed creatures trying to escape. If there are spiderwebs or other bugs, use your screwdriver to break them up. use a rag to clean off the water meter numbers and dials.

Source: prettyhandygirl

Step 2: Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances in the home.

Make sure that when you are reading your water meter for leaks that no water is flowing anywhere in or around your home. Double-check sprinklers, irrigation systems, washers, and ice-makers.

Step 3: Know how to read your water meter.

Source: horizonutilities

Your water meter is fairly easy to read. The three main components are your low flow indicator (looks like a star, triangle, or gear), sweep hand (usually a long red hand), and odometer (spinning numbers).  One complete rotation of the the sweep hand measures 10 gallons or cubic feet of water used. Once you know what each component of your water meter does, you can begin the leak detection test.

Step 4: Observe the water meter readings

After triple-checking that no water is being used in or around your home, observe the sweep hand – if it is moving, you have a leak. Next, inspect the low flow indicator – if it is moving, you have a leak.

The low flow, or leak, indicator moves slowly for small leaks and faster for larger ones. Very small leaks may not be picked up by your water meter. If you think you have a leak, but your leak indicator and sweep hand are not moving, write down the odometer reading and come back to your water meter in about 30 minutes to re-record the odometer reading. If the difference between the two readings is greater than zero, you have a small leak to take care of.

If you are having trouble locating your water meter or finding and fixing your leaks, don’t hesitate to give the plumbing experts at Boulden Brothers a call. We are experts in leak detection and plumbing repairs and replacements. A live support team is available 24/7 for whatever problem you have – (302) 368-3848.

If you have a running or leaking toilet, read:

How to Fix a Leaking Toilet

For more tips on finding and fixing leaks in your home, this is the best resource we found: SmartHomeWaterGuide.org

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It can be a huge inconvenience when a leak springs. No matter what type of plumbing services you need, Boulden Brothers is the best choice in the Wilmington & Dover, DE area. We know bathrooms and have the skilled plumbers on staff to tackle any installation, maintenance, or repair job.

If you have any further questions on how to detect and fix leaks in your home, talk to the licensed, trained technicians at Boulden Brothers.

Visit us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ or give us a call at (302) 368-3848 for more information on maintaining a Green, energy-efficient home. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.

Fixing a running or leaking toilet is a pain in the you-know-what, but we all have to do it at some point or other. A running toilet is sort of like a bad comedian; it just doesn’t know when to stop. Whether it’s running sporadically or constantly leaks into the bowl, your toilet is wasting a lot of water and is more than likely keeping you up at night. Depending upon the size of your leak, you can lose between 7 and 500 gallons of water a day from a leaking toilet. That means that a standard leaking toilet will cost you on average about $70 a month, or $840 a year.

In most cases, it is possible to fix a running toilet without needing the expertise of a licensed technician. However, before tackling such a task, it’s important to do your research.

Before diving in, first turn off your water (silver knob located on the wall behind your toilet) and then cover the basics. Get to know your toilet. In order to figure out which part of your toilet is leaking, it’s important to know what and where each component is. You may be wondering if the water in your tanks is dirty. Well, it’s not! The water in your tank is clean, so it’s perfectly all right to adjust parts without having to wear protective gloves.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com

A. Toilet flush lever

B. Rubber flapper blocking the tank water from descending into the bowl. It is connected to the toilet flush lever above.

C. Pump that refills the tank after it empties.

D. Ball float that raises and lowers with the water level to tell the pump when to go and stop.

E. The overflow tube, which sets the high water level in the tank.

So now that you know where each part is located, it’s time to figure out where exactly the problem is.

How to Fix a Leaking Toilet

1. Turn off the water – Turn off the water to your toilet by tightening the little silver knob behind the toilet, next to the wall.

2. Open the lid to the tank and flush – Watch as the water goes down the toilet valve at the bottom of the tank. Hopefully you can see the problem right away, whether it is an object getting in the way of the flapper closing or the toilet chain getting stuck or caught on something.

3. Check the fill valve – Having an inadequate amount of water in your tank will cause the toilet to run. Also, check your fill valve to see if it is on all the way. If it is not on all the way, turn it and your tank should begin filling up to the water line.

4. Test the flapper – Use a stick or your finger to push down on the flapper. Listen for the water to stop running. If the water doesn’t stop, then you have a flapper that hasn’t been sealed properly. We recommend replacing it.

5. Adjust/Replace the ball float – If your ball float is in bad shape or waterlogged, you will need to replace it.

If your ball float is in working order, pull the float up to see if the water stops running. If this stops the flow, adjust its level so that the tank will stop filling once the water is roughly an inch below the top of the overflow tube.

If the float happens to be around the valve post, try pinching the metal clip and move the float down on the wire.

If the float is a ball on an arm, locate the small screws on top of the valve and turn them. Tighten the screw with your screwdriver to lower the ball float and vice versa.

6. Adjust/Replace the toilet fill valve

To remove the old valve, flush the toilet and using a sponge, soak up the remaining water from the tank. Then, disconnect the water supply line, unscrew the fill valve locknut and take out the old fill valve.

To install the new fill valve, follow the manufacture’s instructions and tighten the locknut a half past hand tight. In order to connect the fill tube, attach one end of the new fill tube to the valve nipple. Attach the other end to the enclosed angle adapter. Fasten the angle adapter onto the overflow pipe.

If you cannot locate the source of your leaking toilet problem or have run in to more serious troubles, don’t hesitate to give Boulden Brothers a call. Whether you need a replacement part or an entirely new toilet, we can will take no shortcuts to ensure that everything is running smoothly again.

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It can be a huge inconvenience when something in your bathroom plumbing goes wrong. No matter what type of plumbing services you need, Boulden Brothers is the right choice if you are located in the greater Wilmington & Dover, DE area. We know bathrooms and have the skilled plumbers on staff to tackle any installation, maintenance or repair job.

If you have any further questions on how to fix or prevent a leaking toilet, talk to the licensed, trained technicians at Boulden Brothers.

Visit us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ or give us a call at (302) 368-3848 for more information on maintaining a Green home. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.

With all the rain and precipitation this week, you might be wondering how to prevent flooding in your home and basement. Luckily, there are many things you can do to prevent issues like flooding, mold development, and pest infestation.

Flooding and water damage can cost you a lot of money, weaken your home’s foundation, and undermine the value of your home. Learn how to inspect your home for vulnerable spots and keep all that moisture from seeping into your home before it is too late and they start calling you Shrek because you live in a swamp.

It is fairly simple to prevent flooding and keep water out of your basement. You don’t have to create a moat or any significant foundation repairs or construction. It’s all about diverting water from your home’s foundation and sealing points of entry.

How to Prevent Flooding:

1. Check your basement for leaks and cracks. Go around the inside of your basement and check for leaks and cracks. There may already be water leakage stains on the walls or near windows. It shouldn’t be too hard to find the areas in your basement that leak water. For cracks smaller than a 1/4 inch, use weatherproof caulk. For any leaks or cracks larger than 1/4 inch, use expandable foam spray. If you have any extra expandable foam spray left over, you may want to check out ThisOldHouse’s list of 10 Uses for Foam Spray.
   • If you find a leak that requires more than a caulking job, contact a professional right away to get it fixed.
   • Check your windows for rotting wood or disintegration near the frame. You may want to invest in a more waterproof material like aluminum or vinyl to prevent flooding through your windows.
   • While you are down there, look for signs of mold. Here is a good how-to Check for Mold.
2. Check your foundation for leaks and cracks. This time, you’ll want to step outside and do an inspection of your foundation’s perimeter. Same as above, for cracks smaller than 1/4 inch, use weatherproof caulk; for those larger, use expandable foam spray. For most small cracks and leaks, a good caulking job will fix the problem; however, other repairs will require the work of a professional. Watch this video for sealing exterior leaks around your home:
   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm0Pn7RhwP4
3. Inspect your downspouts and gutters for proper water diversion. It is important to make sure the water moves away from your foundation when it comes down from your downspout. You want the water to be released at least 4 feet away from your home.
   • You can purchase flexible extensions, a splash block, or a folding extender (just remember to put it back down before it rains). This is essential for preventing flooding and reducing foundation damage.
4. Inspect and clean gutters and downspouts. Before and after the fall season, you should inspect and clean your gutters to prevent any leaves or other debris from blocking the flow of water. Also check for leaks in your downspouts and gutters.
   • The blocked up and leaking water can run down your home’s siding, causing damage and ultimately entering your basement/foundation. You may need to do some repairs or replace your gutter and downspout system entirely.
5. Check your sump pump. If you don’t know what a sump pump is, a sump pump is a device that pumps out any water that has accumulated in your basement. The pump directs the water into a subsidiary drain that travels away and downhill from your home to prevent flooding.
   • If you have a sump pump, check it every six months and make sure it has access to power. If you don’t have a sump pump, consider investing in one to prevent basement flooding.

BONUS TIP: buy and use a dehumidifier in your basement or any other area that sees moisture. The dehumidifier will help reduce moisture and prevent mold.

Stay off the roads if possible this week. And while you are at home, check your home for vulnerable leakage spots. Hopefully, these home flooding prevention tips will keep you and your home dry all year long. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call the experts at Boulden Brothers.

Boulden Brothers provides full sump pump installation and repair services in the Wilmington & Dover metropolitan area. Whether we did your initial sump pump installation or not, we have the skills and equipment to work on all makes and models of sump pumps. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of sump pumps or you need someone to take over the care of your current unit, call us today.

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If you have any further questions on how to prevent flooding in your home, talk to the licensed, trained technicians at Boulden Brothers.

Visit us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ or give us a call at (302) 368-3848 for more information on maintaining a safe and efficient home. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.

In our past post, we talked about some of the damage that hard water can cause on a home’s plumbing fixtures. Besides damaging fixtures, there are some negative impacts that untreated water can have on people. The main concern from a health perspective is the cumulative impact that chlorine will have on the body over a long term.

https://boulden-brothers.wistia.com/medias/boiky7miv4?embedType=seo&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640

Just like chlorine has a gradual impact on plumbing, its effects on the body are not acute and instead result from prolonged exposure. For the first time, the federal government has recently spoken about the risks of high levels of chlorine in the water. When we visit homes as part of our plumbing checkup, we flush the water heater, check the anode, and test the quality of the water. This test sometimes indicates that a home’s water supply has more chlorine in it than a swimming pool.

The municipal water supply usually has high chlorine content because the quality of water is taken into consideration along with the age of the pipes. The older the pipes, the more likely it will be preferable to increase the level of chlorine for safety reasons. While chlorine is an effective way to kill microorganisms in the water, it’s best that it is removed once it reaches the home.

It’s very straightforward for homeowners to effectively deal with the chlorine in their water supply. Boulden Brothers can install a carbon filter, which is maintenance-free and useful for many years. The benefit of using a whole house system as opposed to buying a small filter that attaches to the faucet is the availability of great quality water throughout every water-using appliance in the house. The shower, tub, dishwasher, washing machine, and sinks will all have access to high quality water.

People often choose to drink bottled water because they dislike the taste of chlorine. A more cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution is to install a household carbon filter. Cooking with this clean, high quality water will make an immediately noticeable difference in the taste of food. Carbon filtration is a tried and true technology that has been around for quite a while. It has repeatedly demonstrated its effectiveness at removing adulterants from the water supply.

If homeowners think that they need a bacteria test in their water, it’s necessary to send a sample to a qualified laboratory for testing. The University of Delaware is one of several places that we can refer people. Once a laboratory test indicates that there is bacteria in the water, we have solutions for that at Boulden Brothers. We can install UV systems to kill any microorganisms in the water, and we can also provide chlorination systems as well. The first step is to get the water tested by an appropriate facility.

If you would like to learn more about installing a carbon filtering system in your home to remove chlorination, give us a call today.

With hundreds of cities reporting record low temperatures and many others still recovering from extreme amounts of snow, furnaces around the country are working harder than ever to provide much needed warmth to homes and families. This means that if your heating equipment is aging or hasn’t undergone regular maintenance, you could be at risk of your furnace breaking down when you need it most.

When something we take for granted  suddenly breaks down, like our electric, plumbing, or HVAC systems, it can be difficult to know how to fix it. Well, that’s why we have trained professional technicians! There are, however, many easy furnace troubleshooting steps that a homeowner can take to prevent and fix common furnace problems.

Here are some furnace troubleshooting tips to help prevent your furnace from breaking down and avoid the hassle and expense of a service visit:

Furnace Troubleshooting Tips

• The first place to look is your furnace’s air filter. Dirty filters are one of the most common and preventable maintenance problems in home furnaces. Leaving them unchanged for two months or more can cause a loss of inefficiency in the unit’s operation, leaving you with less heat, poor air quality, and could potentially stop your furnace from running entirely. Many modern, high-efficiency furnaces are sensitive to this problem and will shut themselves down before bigger issues occur, so if you can’t remember the last time you changed your filters now is a great time to get into the habit. Fortunately it’s a simple task for almost any homeowner. Some filters are meant to be cleaned with a hose, but most air filters are treated with a dust-catching oil which cannot be reused after washing. Follow the manufacturer instructions.
• Next, check your thermostat. Make sure your thermostat is set to “Heat.” The switch can sometimes be accidentally switched to a different setting. Many assumed furnace troubles can be rectified with some thermostat troubleshooting. Dirt and other debris, for example, can build up inside of the thermostat’s housing and cause problems in older electromechanical models that use a physical coil of expanding and contracting metal to tell your furnace when it’s time to kick on. Corrosion and loose wiring within the thermostat housing can also keep it from closing the circuit. Do not remove the thermostat housing to investigate inside without first cutting its power. This is a good time to check if your thermostat has power to begin with. Check to see if your thermostat uses batteries, as they may need to be replaced. If not, you can interrupt power to your thermostat at your home’s fuse or breaker panel, which brings us to our next step.
• If you’re sure your filter is clean, your thermostat is set and working normally but your furnace still doesn’t produce any heat it’s time to find your home’s breaker panel: your furnace may have drawn too much power and thrown its breaker switch. Even if your breaker box is poorly labeled, you can tell if any breaker switches have been thrown by looking for the one that’s out of place compared to all the others. To reset the breaker move the odd switch back to its proper position. If that doesn’t work, try switching it off completely and then back on.

Even if these furnace troubleshooting steps haven’t brought your heat back you’ve ruled out some of the simplest and most common problems. Keep investigating and you should hopefully be able to determine if you need to call for an HVAC technician or are facing an issue you can fix yourself. For more troubleshooting tips, check out this list of 9 Easy Tasks You Can Perform Yourself.

Good luck with your DIY furnace troubleshooting and if all else fails, the friendly professionals at Boulden Brothers would be more than happy to help. Give us a call at  (302) 368-3848.

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If you have any further questions on how to maintain your HVAC system, talk to the licensed, trained technicians at Boulden Brothers.

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