If your home has hard water, you’ve probably noticed brownish stains in your sink, residue on your dishes no matter how often you wash them, and a reddish tint to your drinking water. While hard water isn’t dangerous to your health, it can seriously hurt your plumbing system if left unchecked. Since old pipes can contribute to higher hard water levels and are more likely to be damaged by hard water, it’s essential to know why an old pipe replacement can potentially reduce hard water.
Hard water refers to water with high levels of mineral content, with the common minerals being magnesium and calcium. Over time, these high levels of magnesium, iron, and calcium can cause rust in your pipes, sinks, and other areas that come into contact with the water.
When your home has hard water running through its pipes, it can cause various problems. For example, hard water can give the water that comes out of your shower and taps a reddish look. This water discoloration is due to rust build-up, which can leave brownish stains in your sinks. Additionally, high rust or iron levels in your water can cause your clothes to feel stiff after a wash and your dishwasher to leave residue on your dishes.
Besides being unsightly, hard water can damage your plumbing system over time. As hard water passes through your plumbing system, it will leave behind minerals that will build up inside your appliances, pipes, and fixtures. This mineral build-up can damage pipes, reduce your water pressure, corrode your water heater’s anode rod faster, and clog your drains.
Typically, hard water is caused by high concentrations of magnesium and calcium in a home’s water source. Homes that rely on groundwater usually have hard water since groundwater passes through soil and rock, transporting the minerals in these substances into the groundwater supply.
While groundwater is usually the cause of hard water, some old pipes can also contribute to your home’s hard water levels and harm your water’s quality. If your pipes were installed before 1975, they were likely galvanized pipes made out of steel and coated with zinc. Over time, water passing through the pipes will corrode their walls and cause deposits of iron and other minerals to separate from the pipe. These deposits will then increase your water’s hardness and make your pipes corrode faster.
When you have galvanized pipes installed before 1975, you can likely benefit from an old pipe replacement. Since older pipes are more susceptible to corrosion due to hard water and can even raise your hard water levels, an old pipe replacement can help you reduce hard water in your home. Besides lowering your hard water levels, swapping out old pipes for new, more durable ones can reduce the risk of needing a pipe repair or replacement in the future.
Though old pipe replacement services can be a helpful way to reduce hard water, they won’t eliminate it entirely, especially if your home uses groundwater as its water source. Another way you can further reduce hard water levels is to invest in water softening services.
With water-softening services, a plumber will install water-softening solutions in your home to improve your home’s water quality. With one of these solutions installed in your home, it will remove minerals like magnesium and calcium from your water to reduce your water’s hardness. By lowering your water’s hardness, water conditioning solutions help to increase your plumbing system’s lifespan and reduce the adverse effects of hard water.
We recommend talking to your local plumbers about the water quality you would like to achieve. Softening systems eliminate hard water, while professional-grade filters can help purify your water. With the right support, you could get bottle-like quality from the water at your kitchen faucet.
If you’re looking for a plumber near you in Vacaville, Fairfield, Vallejo, Benicia, or surrounding areas, turn to Peter Levi. Our certified plumbers regularly provide hard water solutions to homeowners in the area. With our plumbing services in your corner, you can replace old pipes and receive water-softening solutions. We also offer multiple coupons to ensure the services you receive from us fit your budget.
Learn more about our water line replacement and water softening services today. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, please contact us.
When an AC system is reaching the end of its life, it will struggle to cool your home, raise your energy bills, and make loud noises. An older AC system will also need more frequent repairs, meaning you’ll have to shell out more money to keep your AC running. Typically, AC systems last between 15 to 20 years. As they age, they’ll use more energy and need more repairs.
If your AC is starting to break down or is over 15 years old, it can save you money to replace your old unit with a new system.
While you might want to delay replacing your old AC due to the costs of a new unit and installation services, keeping an old unit around can cost you more money in the future. By replacing your system, you can reduce AC repair costs, properly size your unit for your home, and increase your home’s energy efficiency. Learn more about how all these factors can save you money when you invest in a new AC installation below:
As an air conditioner ages, it often stays on longer to cool your home effectively. This inefficiency increases energy usage, directly impacting your monthly energy bills. In addition, older AC units usually have a lower Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), meaning the system will consume more energy to cool a home than a system with a higher rating. All residential ACs sold in the U.S. must have a SEER rating of 13 or higher. In the state of California, the minimum SEER rating is 15.
While a SEER rating of 13 is the national requirement, air conditioning systems with higher SEER ratings can help you save money while limiting emissions. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy suggests switching from a SEER 9 AC to a SEER 14 AC could save customers around $35 a month in energy bills. By switching to one of the California-allowed SEER 15 units, you can expect even more money in savings.
When you reach out to an AC installation specialist for assistance, they can help you find the most energy-efficient model that’s right for your home. A trained specialist should be able to tell you about the best brands available, the AC’s expected increase in energy efficiency, and any other information you’d like to know. After this new AC is installed, the system’s reduced energy consumption will help you save money over time by lowering your energy bills.
Another way a new AC installation can save you money is by reducing the chance your AC will need repairs. Since your old AC will have experienced wear and tear over the years, it’s far more likely to need service than a new model. Some older models may also not be as durable as newer systems. This increased risk of needing a repair can cost you, especially if you constantly have to repair the unit or replace broken parts.
With a new model, you can lower your risk of needing repairs. Updated units tend to be more durable and won’t have experienced wear from years of use. With a fresh AC system, you won’t have to shell out cash for new repairs or replacement parts. You can also extend the life of your unit and lower the chance of needing repairs by investing in regular maintenance, such as Peter Levi’s Complete Comfort Club.
When you have an old AC system in your home, it could be improperly sized. If your air conditioner is too small for your home, it will have to run longer and harder to cool your home properly. An AC that runs longer than necessary will increase your energy bills, resulting in increased costs. An undersized AC will also break down faster and require costly repairs sooner than it should. Even oversized AC systems can cause issues, as they run for shorter cycles that stop adequate dehumidification, which can make your home’s air feel clammy.
As you look for a new HVAC system, a trained technician can inspect your home to find the proper size for your future AC unit. Besides looking at your home’s square footage, a knowledgeable technician will review your home’s interior heat gain, ceiling height, air leakage, layout, and sun exposure. By reviewing all these factors, you can select an appropriately sized AC for your home. As a result, a correctly sized AC will prevent extra costs due to excess energy usage or premature repairs.
If you’re interested in receiving the cost-saving benefits of a new AC system and looking for AC installation near you in Northern California, Peter Levi can help. Our certified HVAC technicians can help you select a new AC system meeting your needs and remove your old AC for you. Next, our team will install the system and be available if you need any AC repair or maintenance services in the future. Additionally, we offer various coupons to ensure our services meet your budget.
Learn more about our AC installation services today. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, please contact us.
When was the last time you had your A/C checked? If you can’t remember, that’s a RED FLAG! A/C systems should be checked at least annually and most manufacturers actually require it in order to stay within your system’s warranty. Not only is proper air conditioner maintenance essential to keeping your AC running efficiently, but it can also prolong its lifespan. In this blog post, we’ll explore the 4 consequences of neglecting annual air conditioner maintenance.
Neglecting proper air conditioner maintenance can lead to a number of issues with air quality in your home. Poor air quality can be caused by clogged air filters, which reduces the amount of air flow, leading to an increased level of dust, dirt, and other airborne particles that can adversely affect the environment. This can also cause a buildup of bacteria and mold, both of which can cause serious health problems. Investing in regular maintenance for your air conditioner is essential for ensuring good air quality in your home or business.
It’s easy to overlook the importance of proper air conditioner maintenance. But, neglecting it can have serious consequences on your energy bills. Without regular maintenance, your air conditioner has to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home, resulting in higher electricity bills. Your air conditioner needs to be kept clean and well lubricated to ensure that it is operating at peak efficiency. When filters get clogged, coils get dirty or evaporator fins become blocked, your air conditioner has to work harder, using more energy and costing you more money in the process. Regular maintenance ensures that your air conditioner is running at optimal efficiency, saving you money on energy costs in the long run.
Neglecting air conditioner maintenance can drastically reduce your system's lifespan. Without regular check-ups, the parts of your system can start to wear out faster than they normally would. These parts may need replacing sooner, resulting in a shorter lifespan for your AC unit. Regular maintenance also helps identify problems early on, so that you can take action before the damage becomes too severe. Don't let neglecting your AC maintenance result in an early replacement!
One of the most dangerous consequences of neglecting air conditioner maintenance is the increased chance of system breakdowns and emergencies. Without proper and regular maintenance, components can quickly become worn or malfunction, leading to unexpected breakdowns or even complete system failure. Having to repair or replace your air conditioning unit due to neglect can be an expensive and time-consuming process, costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the severity of the damage. On top of that, if you're dealing with a breakdown in the middle of a heatwave, you'll have to wait for a technician to be available before you can cool your home down again. To avoid having to deal with unexpected breakdowns and emergencies, it's important to stay on top of regular AC maintenance and inspections.
Neglecting air conditioner maintenance can have a number of serious consequences for your home. To protect yourself from these issues, ensure your AC unit is inspected, serviced, and cleaned regularly by our Peter Levi team of experts. Doing so will help improve your system's performance and efficiency while minimizing the risk of future breakdowns.
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