We all want our plumbing to perform the way it should. With all our pipes tucked away under the sink or in the walls, it’s hard not to take your plumbing system for granted. It isn’t until something breaks that we start to take notice. Unlike an automobile where most owners know how to get the most out of their vehicles, the average homeowner has never educated themselves on how to get the best out of their plumbing system. We tune up our cars, change the oil, and buy fuel to get the best performance out of them. Never once did we ever think, “How can I extend the life of my plumbing? How can my plumbing perform better? How can I prevent a plumbing disaster?”.
Insulate Your Pipes and Improve Your Plumbing
Insulating your pipes will not only save water as well as energy, but it also makes good sense. Insulating your pipes means less time waiting for hot water to heat up. It’s also an easy do-it-yourselfer project. Furthermore, if you’re remodeling, as of January 1, 2017, California Plumbing Code requires domestic hot water pipes to be insulated. California has taken water efficiency standards to a whole new level.
Hot water pipes in your home must meet the following standards:
- The pipes coming from your water heaters storage tank, whether hot or cold, must be insulated.
- All hot water pipes that are 3/4 inch or larger must be insulated.
- The pipes leading from the heating source on your water heater storage tank must be covered.
- The heating source between the hot water pipes and kitchen fixtures must be insulated.
At Big B’s Plumbing, we can assist you with your energy efficiency improvements. Educating our customers on the latest energy standards is a big part of what we do.
Install Leak Detectors
Want to prevent a disaster? If your pipes, toilets or faucets are leaking, do you want to know quickly? What if you have a slab leak, don’t you want to know ASAP? You can bulletproof your home from any kind of leak by installing a leak detection device. Leak detectors are one of the latest innovations.
Here are a few options for Leak Detectors:
Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Water Leak & Freeze Detector
- Works with Alexa
- Built-in alarm
- Detects temperature changes
Phyn Plus Smart Water Assistant
- Monitors water use
- Can shut off your water
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT
Flo by Moen
- Shutoff Valve
- Wi-Fi
- Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, Control4
- Will cover insurance deductible (with subscription)
When a leak occurs, a homeowner receives a notification on their smartphone. Some systems have the ability to shut off your water wherever you are. We recommend Flo by Moen but do your research as well.
Install A Water Filtration System
For many homeowners, they already know how hard water can wreak havoc on our plumbing system, especially here in California. It’s usually magnesium, calcium, and lime. Over time they are capable of building up layer after layer of deposits until you begin to lose water pressure. Hard water can also shorten the life cycle of some appliances. While there is no definitive evidence that hard water will harm humans, there is evidence that there are other chemicals in our water that are harmful. A water filtration system will keep your plumbing system performing top-notch. It will also extend the life of your appliances. Additionally, your family will love it because it will provide excellent drinking water as well as mineral-free water for bathing. At Big B’s Plumbing, we offer financing for 12 months, the same as cash or five years, at 6.99% – get the details.
