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Reasons To Explore Water Filtration System Installation

The Importance of Clean Water in the Home

Access to plentiful clean water is a staple of human health and public health. When public water infrastructure fails, it can cause complete chaos for anyone who relies on the grid for their water. In modern society, most people don’t have to worry about the quality of their water. Still, as threats increase, homeowners should be aware of the shortcomings of public water treatment programs.

What Do Water Filtration Systems Do?

One of the more dangerous misconceptions people have about their drinking water is that it is clean and pure. Most people think it’s safe if it comes from the tap, but that is not necessarily the case. Municipal water treatment facilities are federally regulated to ensure they neutralize any biological threats that may be present in the water.

However, this is where the regulations stop. Most municipal water carries a high load of suspended solids that can cause problems with the plumbing, as well as chemicals and pharmaceuticals that aren’t removed during treatment.

For the purest water, homeowners should take it upon themselves to finish the water treatment process. Whole-home water filtration systems can help remove contaminants that are left after the treatment process.

Two types of filtration systems that are helpful in this regard are:

Carbon filters: Carbon filters do a good job targeting chemical contaminants found in treated water. This removes things like fertilizers, pesticides, and some heavy metals.
Reverse osmosis filters: For pure water, the only option is reverse osmosis filtration. While more expensive, this method removes nearly all impurities, including solids, heavy metals, and chemical contaminants.

Benefits of Water Filtration Systems

Water is the nutrient that people need the most besides oxygen. When people are stuck consuming water that is biologically safe but possibly laden with chemicals, it can manifest in the health of individuals in the home.

The truth is, the environment has become fairly universally contaminated with pollutants like:

Pharmaceuticals
Pesticides
Fertilizers
Microplastics
Heavy metals

The evidence shows that these can have potentially serious adverse effects on a person’s health. People can limit their exposure to environmental toxins by using the right filtration system. Not only is it healthy to drink better water, but the home plumbing will also improve.

Suspended solids tend to cause problems like silt buildup in water heaters and quickening corrosion. Both of these can cause costly damage to the plumbing system when uncontrolled. Water filtration systems may be the most cost-effective option to decrease plumbing repair bills.

When To Look Into Water Filtration Systems

Most homes could benefit from some form of water filtration. For more assurance that water filtration systems are the right choice for a home, look for signs like:

Water tastes or smells bad
Plumbing problems are common, especially when they are related to mineral scale or sediment buildup
Water is hazy or has visible suspended solids
Federal citations for local water treatment facilities
Dingy clothing or dishes after washing
Poor health among family members

About B&L Plumbing and Heating

B&L Plumbing and Heating has water filtration options for any customers. With residential and commercial plumbing installation and repair services, they can improve everyone’s water quality. Call today for water filtration services in Colorado Springs, CO.

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Reasons to Maintain the Heater This Fall

When to Call for Heating Maintenance

Temperatures are already dropping, and while it may not be cold enough yet to fire up the heater, it is time to start planning for the colder months. Luckily, now is the perfect time to schedule professional heating maintenance from local HVAC contractors. During this time of year, most homeowners aren’t using their heating or air conditioning system as much, so there are fewer repair calls. This frees them up to do preventative maintenance to help homeowners out over the winter.

Here are some of the biggest benefits of heating maintenance to inspire homeowners to be proactive.

Improve Energy Efficiency

The weather during the last month of summer and the first of fall is usually mild enough for homeowners to stop heating or cooling their homes. This grants them some reprieve from the high bills that come with climate control systems. However, as temperatures drop and the heater runs more often, bills will quickly climb to the point that they can strain monthly budgets. The best thing that homeowners can do to prevent this is to improve the energy efficiency of their heaters with fall heater maintenance.

Fall heater maintenance is a professional program that helps keep the heater running at peak efficiency. When technicians replace air filters and clean the burner, the system circulates air more effectively, and fuel burns more cleanly. Monthly bills are also reduced by lowering the amount of work that the heater does.

Say Goodbye to Emergency Repairs

Another huge liability of the heater system during the winter is the cost of repairs. Monthly energy bills are high due to the heating system, and one repair can dwarf the monthly energy cost. To keep the home warm without suffering from surprise repairs, homeowners should invest in heater maintenance.

Heaters and furnaces are complex pieces of equipment. Like any mechanical device, periodic maintenance allows it to operate more reliably. During heater maintenance, professionals inspect the unit for any impending problems and lubricate moving parts. When this service is done yearly, homeowners notice that their repair bills drop significantly, and their systems are more reliable for longer periods.

Get the Most Out of the System

The final major cost of a heater is replacing it when the time comes. Sometimes, this can come as a shock to a homeowner, especially when they see the estimates for the project. Most homeowners would rather make their current system last as long as possible to avoid sticker shock. Luckily, annual fall heater maintenance is the perfect way to accomplish this goal.

Heaters that are professionally maintained don’t have to work as hard, and they have less systemic wear and tear that spreads through the system over the years. When technicians perform maintenance yearly, the cumulative total of all these small investments adds years to the heater’s life, saving homeowners thousands of dollars.

About B&L Plumbing and Heating

B&L Plumbing and Heating repairs and maintains heating and cooling systems in homes and businesses. They offer competitive pricing, quality products and services, and peace of mind. To unleash an HVAC system’s efficiency, sign up for their membership program. Call today for heating maintenance in Colorado Springs, CO.

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Reasons to Install a Water Softener This Spring

How Do Water Softeners Work?nbsp;

A water softener is a device that is engineered specifically to treat hard water. How can water be hard? Water becomes hard when it dissolves certain minerals in its journey through the water cycle. These minerals become part of the water and are hard to remove on a municipal scale. They can, however, be removed on a smaller scale, like in a home, for a low cost. This is good news for the 85% of Americans with hard water in their homes.

Why is having soft water a good thing? Water is the basis for so much of modern society. While hard water is fine to drink, with the possible exception of having a bad taste, it can interfere with every other use for water. Water carrying a high mineral load can interfere with cleaning, ruin plumbing, and cause negative health effects. Here are three ways that installing a water softener can help every home.

Makes Cleaning Practices More Effective

Remember the adage, “Oil and water don’t mix.” This is a true statement that is easily illustrated in a grade-school classroom. The secret to getting oil and water to mix is chemicals known as soaps and detergents. These chemicals are special because they can interact with water, oils, and even dirt.

When minerals are present in water in the form of hardness, the ions interfere with water’s ability to interact with soaps and detergents. This leads to several problems:

Faded clothing
Deposited stains and soil on clothing
Spotted dishes with no luster
The dull sheen on cleaned surfaces
Soap scum buildup on bathtubs and sinks

Using soft water in the home can be more effective in sweeping away dirt. Consider installing a water softener for brighter clothing, cleaner dishes, and a cleaner home in general.

Keeps the Plumbing Safe

A second problem associated with hard water is higher plumbing bills. When water carries extra minerals around, the minerals tend to deposit themselves into piping and plumbing fixtures. This leads to unsightly scale as well as problems with water pressure. This scale can be particularly harmful in water heaters, lowering efficacy and volume. Installing a water heater can protect plumbing and restore the water heater to proper operation.

Improves the Health of Hair and Skin

One of the more annoying consequences of hard water’s diminished capacity to remove soils is its effect on health. When water can’t effectively wash away soaps and soil, the grime stays on the hair and skin, leaving a dull film that adversely affects its health and appearance. This is most evident in dry hair and skin.

Instead of letting hard water take a toll on the health and appearance of the family, why not look into water softener installation? Installing a water softener can allow the water in the home to completely wash away soap residues and grime, leaving the home healthier and cleaner.

About B&L Plumbing and Heating

B&L Plumbing and Heating has the plumbing solutions every home needs. With residential and commercial water softener services, they can help every home or business get the most from their water. Call today for a plumbing service in Colorado Springs, CO.

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Reasons to Hire a Professional Drain Cleaning Service

Put Drain Cleaning at the Top of the To-Do List

Having seasonal maintenance tasks is a great practice to ensure that all those little things that must be done periodically are remembered. Drain cleaning, for example, is a great habit to get into once a year, and there is no better time than now to stop drain clogs before they wreak havoc in a home.

When a drain starts to clog, it will start by making gurgling noises and draining slowly. Before long, the drain will stop draining, and homeowners will face the prospect of cleaning up a nasty mess. Instead of dealing with this situation or even having problems with more severe consequences, why not look into professional drain cleaning? Here are some of the benefits of drain cleaning before problems become noticeable.

Stop Clogs and Buildup

Drains are expected to handle some of the nastiest messes a collection of humans can make. Whether that includes balls of hair and soap scum in a bathtub drain or a grease-caked drain line in a restaurant sewer main, drains must handle anything. When drains are neglected for too long, they can build up a greasy scale on the pipe walls. This greasy mess slows down the wastewater flow and begins to build faster. Eventually, the flow in the pipe will stop altogether in the form of a nasty clog.

Routine drain cleaning and hydro jetting are the best ways to prevent this buildup from closing off the pipe and leading to a clog. During routine drain cleaning and hydro jetting, the buildup is removed from pipe walls, restoring flow and drastically reducing the likelihood of a clog.

Reduce the Chance of Flooding

While a clogged drain is a pain to deal with, it is trivial compared to the damage a clogged drain can do. When drains are completely clogged, wastewater has nowhere to go. If basins keep filling up with water, the water will eventually spill out and cause a flood. Floods from clogged drains often take the form of a toilet spilling waste onto a bathroom floor or a sewage backup into bathtubs. The resulting flood can cost far more to clean up, and repair than routine drain cleaning would have cost to prevent the problem in the first place.

Save on Repair Bills and Cleanup

How can a service that costs money save money instead? Easy. Hiring a plumbing service for preventative drain cleaning comes at a fixed cost dictated by the local market. When comparing this cost to the cost of hiring an emergency plumber and paying for repairs and cleanup for the resulting flood, it's easy to see why hiring a professional before things go bad is the cheaper option. Why not prevent a clogged drain's surprise costs and hassle and schedule drain cleaning this spring?nbsp;

About B&L Plumbing and Heating

B&L Plumbing and Heating is a veteran-owned, full-service plumber serving residential and commercial customers. With complete drain cleaning options and tailored plumbing solutions, they are always ready to help. Call today for a plumbing service in Colorado Springs, CO.

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The Main Reasons Why Homeowners Shouldn't Ignore Dripping Faucets

Dripping Faucets Are a Big Problem

Dripping faucets can occur anywhere in the home, from the kitchen sink to outdoor kitchens, to bathroom leaks. Not only are they annoying, but they can also cause serious damage to the home and plumbing if left unfixed.

Water from dripping faucets will also show up on homeowners’ water bills. Read on to learn more about the causes of dripping faucets, how to prevent them, and why ignoring dripping faucets isn’t a great idea for homeowners trying to save money.

Causes of Kitchen Sink Faucet Leaks

Kitchen sink faucets are larger than those found in bathrooms, as they are designed to not only wash hands, but also dishes, and be used in cooking, etc. They can have a number of different features and components, all of which can contribute to a dripping faucet.

Plumber repairing kitchen sink faucet under countertop, tools and equipment visible, addressing common plumbing issues.

Some common causes of leaks in the kitchen sink faucet are:

Problem with the O ring: O rings are small discs located in stem screws, which are used to hold the faucet handles in place. When these become broken or worn, leaks can occur.
Corroded valve seat: A valve seat is what connects the handle to the spout, and water sediment can build up there and corrode the valve seat over time. To prevent this from happening, homeowners should periodically contact a professional plumber to clean the valve seat and avoid corrosion.
Problem with washer(s): This could be a worn-out washer or a washer that wasn’t installed correctly.

A dripping faucet in a working sink should be fixed quickly to avoid additional damage and incur extra costs for homeowners.

Causes of Bathroom Leaks

Anything that can cause a leak in the kitchen sink can also cause leaks in the bathroom sink faucet. If the leak is in the bathtub, it is most likely caused by a worn-out washer. This happens frequently because the washers in these faucets are made from plastic or rubber, which degrades over time as it comes into contact with water. The washer may have also been installed incorrectly.

Showerhead leaking water, illustrating common cause of bathroom leaks related to worn-out washers or improper installation.

In addition to these common causes, a number of other things might cause bathroom leaks or leaks in kitchen sinks, like worn-out cartridges or seals, loose parts, or even water pressure. Professional installation and maintenance is the best way to avoid the hassle of a leaking faucet.

The Big Issue: An Increased Water Bill

Piggy bank wearing blue swimming goggles against a blue background, symbolizing savings and the financial impact of water bill increases due to leaks.

Dripping faucets may seem like a minor annoyance, but they waste gallons upon gallons of water each month. Per the EPA, “The average household's leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.”

Those wasted gallons will show up on the homeowner’s water bill--by some estimations, it can increase the water bill by up to 10%, wasting enough water to fill up a swimming pool. Thus, ignoring the issue is not free, and is not the best route for homeowners wanting to save money. Repairing dripping faucets is the easiest way to avoid an increased water bill, and save money in the long run.

About B&L Plumbing and Heating

B&L Plumbing and Heating is always ready to help homeowners with an emergency. Their friendly dispatchers and licensed plumbers are always available to diagnose and assess any plumbing system issues, including dripping faucets. They have been providing 24/7 service to Colorado Springs and surrounding areas since 1999.