An inexpensive way to discover a leak is to have a flood alarm.  A flood alarm is a very easy to install.  As a matter of fact anyone can install one.  It is easier than a smoke detector,  just put a battery in one and place it on the floor.  If your water heater, sump pump, ac unit or water softener are located in an area of your home where you don’t necessarily have to frequent.  You may want to place one in that space.  This device will let out a siren type sound when water hits the bottom of it’s contacts.  That way you know something is wrong before it causes major damage.

This debate comes down to initial installation cost in most case’s.  Let’s face it when the cost of replacing a 10 to 20 year old water heater is going to be in some case’s twice as much, the decision is swift.   “I’ll stay with my regular water heater that for the most I forgot what it looked like till it leaked”.  As far as efficiency goes hands down the tankless option wins.   It only heats the water as it is in demand.  But how much does it save you on a daily basis?   Is it enough to warrant the investment?   You also have maintenance to perform semi annually or annually depending on the quality of your water.   A water softener is highly recommended with a tankless system.   Granted I like soft water and feel everyone should have one, but selling a tankless system is hard enough.  Tell someone they also should spend a bit more coin on a softener is a bit of a task.   In my opinion new construction homes should go with a tankless.  That is if they are gas or propane,  electric systems should stay tank, but should be hybrid type.

I run into this a lot.  A situation that when a person has an older water heater they turn the control or element up.  Doing this just increase’s the temperature and will not increase the amount of hot water.  You will have increased the likely hood of scalding someone.  When a water heater is older in upwards of 8 years or so I would say.  In most cases it is collecting sediment.  This will cause it to be not as efficient, and choke your amount of hot water some.  I like to say a water heater has a life up to 10-12 years on average.  It is a good idea to replace at this time.

Let’s face it more of us shower than bathe.  I’m noticing a trend in remodeling, many of our recent projects have been removal of an existing bath tub and installing a shower only set up.  I personally like this idea and am thinking of doing it in my own home.   The only down side is if you have small children that need a tub bath,  if your home has more than one bathroom than as long as you have a tub in the home this is not a problem.   Keep in mind also that if you do change the tub to a shower and want to sell is this going to effect the sale of my home in the future?  Probably  only if you have a one bath home.  So go a head and make your life ore comfortable.

Winter months bring winterizing projects that are completed in the fall, but other chores need to be done to prevent other problems all winter long.  Keeping snow cleared from exhaust outlet pipes for water and house heating equipment, along with dryer vents. This will provide good venting and safety.   Also keep your discharge from your sump pump clear.   Make sure that when you shovel snow you address these areas also.   Giving your down spouts and sump pump discharge pipes a clear path for water to get away from your home can keep your basement dry.   Also can keep your sump pump from running to often which can shorten it’s life significantly.

Almost can say the rage is comfort height toilets.  Once labeled ADA compliant now manufacturer’s call them “comfort height”.  That’s mostly because people really like the two inch higher seat height now available in many models.  It is a much more comfortable seat height in my opinion.  On many occasion’s I install one of these models in one bathroom and am asked back to put them in the rest of the bathrooms.  If you are a taller person or suffering from bad knees or back they are probably for you.

Keeping your drains running smoothly and not stopping up.  You most likely notice when a drain is getting slow, your tub/shower is ankle deep by the end of a use.  Your brushing your teeth or shaving and the water isn’t going down as rapidly.  These are signs the drain is becoming partially blocked.  Often you may act by pouring chemicals into the drain  like draino.  Before you do this because it is not good for your pipes and can also leave you with an awful odor.  Try just simply filling your sink and letting it drain.  You can also assist this with a force cup or sink plunger.  These methods work as good or better and cost and consequences are nil.

Holidays and your plumbing system.  In many case’s your plumbing is taxed around the holidays.  You have guest and some may even have family that stay with them using guest bathrooms.  Make it a habit to use these fixtures through out the year so when they are called upon they work properly for your company.  Unused plumbing can be cranky and get broken just as over used plumbing can.

Is there an alternative to the battery powered back up sump pump system?  Yes there is, a battery system is a good way to insure you don’t get caught with out a working sump pump in the event of your primary pump failing.  Your primary sump pump can fail for several reason’s.  It can be old and just ware out, your electricity can go out, debri can get sucked up into the inlet.  These are all good reason’s to have a back up system in place.  A water powered back up is the perfect alternative to a battery type in some case’s.  These unit’s require no real maintenance and are there as long as you have city water pressure available.  The problem I see with battery back up’s is the unit is not maintained properly and when you need it it is not there for you.  Either the battery is dead or the charging mechanism is unplugged.   With the water powered back up water starts to flow when the float is activated by the primary pump failing and starts to siphon out the water from the pit, it’s that simple.