Sump Pumps Are A Critical Plumbing Fixture In MN Homes.
It is hard to start thinking Sump Pumps when it is just finishing snowing another 12 inches in Minnesota. But it is also a great reminder that the snow will turn in to water and the water will need to flow somewhere. This is where now is the one of the best times to start thinking sump pumps.
Most homeowners have a sump pump somewhere in the basement of their home. It is a piece of equipment not unlike the furnace in that it gets forgotten as long as it works. However, there is a lot more damage potential if it does stop working. A broken furnace will probably not destroy a sump pump but, a broken sump pump can take out a furnace.
Having a working sump pump is critical to the protection of your home. A sump pump helps prevent water coming through your walls via a tiling system around your home. The water is directed into the sump pump pit via a pipe from the outside tiles around your house. The sump pump then sends the water back out via piping out of the pit outside your house and away from your home.
It is a great idea to check the operation of your sump pump before you need it. You can do a few things to help ensure the sump pump will operate when you need it to.
- Check Sump Pump Operation – You can do this by opening the cover of the pit. Pour water into the pit to see if the pump starts up. You may need about 5 gallons to get the pump to kick in.
- Check To See If Sump Pumps Shuts Off – Sometimes over the winter the end of the pipe outside your home can get plugged or frozen. You can tell if there is a problem by whether the water disappears out of the pit and the pump shuts off. If it run continuously there might be a plug.
- Install a Battery Back Up Sump Pump – This will help keep water out of your basement even if the power goes out due to a storm. This is often when you need the sump pump most.
A working sump pump is critical in your Minnesota home. A sump pump that has been installed correctly including the plumbing or piping will help you protect your furnace, water heater and anything else you have in your basement.
Call Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air or schedule online if you have any questions regarding your home.
Toilets and Showerheads Result in Big Savings in Your MN Home!
Everybody is looking to find ways to save money. Some ways of saving money can be painful and require sacrifice and big changes in lifestyle. I personally like the changes that require minimal effects in my life other than a bigger savings account.
Water is going to be a very valuable commodity in the future. Some people say it will be even more precious than oil or gold. If this happens, the price of water will go up significantly. Learning ways to conserve water will help the pocket book now and will increase in the future.
Below is a list of great ways to save water and thus save money. Feel good while thinking about the future.
- Low Flush Toilet – Conventional toilets use 3.5 to 5 gallons each flush. The new ultra low flow toilets only use 1.2 gallons per flush. The average person uses the toilet about 4 to 5 times per day. This means a low flow toilet has the potential to save a family of four more than 14 thousand gallons a of water per year.
- Low Flow Showerhead - A standard showerhead drops 4.5 gallons of water a minute. Low Flow or Energy Efficient Showerheads only release 2.5 gallons a minute. A quality low flow showerhead can save a family of four as much as 20 thousand gallons of water a year without a reduction of rinsing ability. This will also save hot water. Between 14% and 25% of your home energy use goes to heat water.
Below are 15 more ideas that combined will help you save a lot of water.
- When doing the dishes, fill one sink with soapy water and the other with rinsing water.
- Don’t plant grass in areas that are hard to water or do not retain water like a sloping area or along sidewalks and driveways.
- Keep drinking water in a jug in the fridge so that every drop of water goes down someone and not the sink.
- Check out your bill and water meter to gauge your water use.
- Collect your leftover water for watering plants.
- Shorten your watering time. Early morning is the best time to water grass.
- Adjust the lawn mower to a higher blade setting. This will help hold water. I believe it also makes the yard look better and hides any imperfections.
- Check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks. Call your plumber if leaks are found.
- Use the water from your fish tank to water your plants when you clean it out. The water is nutritious for the plants.
- In your toilet tank, put food coloring to see if it seeps in your toilet bowl. Replace inside parts if it is leaking.
- On driveways and other walking areas on your lawn, use porous materials. I keeps water in your yard and prevents runoff.
- Bathe you pets in a dry area in your yard.
- Install new water saving appliances, like washing machines that save up to 20 gallons per load.
- Aerate your lawn by punching holes in your lawn about six inches apart. Water will reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
- Know where your master shut off is and make sure it works. It will prevent a lot of damage and water loss if your pipes leak or break.
Contact Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air if you would like help with any of your plumbing problems or suggestions on water saving devices for your home. You can reach us either online or by phone.