Tankless Water Heaters vs. Tank: Which is More Energy Efficient? | Aspinwall Plumbing & Heating

June 4, 2021

Tankless Water Heaters vs. Tank: Which is More Energy Efficient? Because your water heater can last a decade (or longer), it’s important to keep energy efficiency in mind when you’re planning for water heater replacement. That’s because the average American family spends more than $2,000 each year on energy bills, according to ENERGY STAR®. About 13% of that bill, or around $260, goes toward water heating. There are two types of water heaters, tankless and tank. Let’s review the differences between the two so you can make the best decision for your home and budget. Tankless Water Heaters As the name suggests, a tankless water heater doesn’t have a tank. It heats water on demand, which makes it much more energy efficient than a tank water heater that constantly heats large quantities of water. The style of on-demand water heater we install is a tankless gas water heater.  If you install a certified gas model, ENERGY STAR says it can save you up to 9 percent on energy costs when compared to a conventional gas tankless water heater. 5 Benefits of a Tankless Water Heater Here are a few

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What to Do About Frozen Pipes

March 9, 2021

If you turn on a faucet and water only trickles out, it’s likely you have a frozen pipe. You can try to thaw a frozen pipe, but ideally, you’ll want to prevent them from freezing in the first place. Prevent Frozen Pipes From the Start If you have water supply pipes in your garage, leave the garage doors open so they stay warmer. Open kitchen and cabinet doors so warm air circulates in them. When it’s freezing, open a cold-water tap, so water keeps moving through the pipes. It only needs to be a trickle. You shouldn’t allow your home to get any colder than 55 degrees. While it raises your energy bills a bit, consider keeping the nighttime temperature of your home the same as its daytime temperature when it’s freezing outside. It will cost less than calling a plumber to fix a burst pipe. Aspinwall Baystate of Quincy, MA, can help you with frozen and burst pipes. Our experienced plumbers can handle any plumbing task with effectiveness and efficiency. Thaw Frozen Pipes: Here’s How If you suspect you have a frozen pipe, keep a faucet open. This will

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What Are The Most Common Plumbing Problems?

February 5, 2021

The typical homeowner may encounter a broad spectrum of plumbing problems while trying to maintain their property. Of course, some are more common than others, and some are easier for homeowners to repair by themselves. Others require the knowledge and skill of a professional plumber. Dripping Faucet Almost everyone has experience with a dripping faucet. Besides being irritating, a dripping faucet costs you money on your water bill. The most common reason a faucet drips is that the internal washer has worn out or become dislodged. You can fix this yourself with some basic tools and plumbing skills. Clogged Bath or Shower Drain This is another incredibly common plumbing problem. Soap and hair collect in the drain, eventually causing a blockage to develop. First, try pouring vinegar and baking soda down the drain. If that doesn’t work, use a plunger. Before you resort to harsh chemicals, you might be better off calling in a professional. You can buy a drain guard to prevent this problem in the future. Clogged Toilet It’s usually a mixture of human waste and toilet paper that causes a toilet to clog. You can often clear the blockage with a

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Do Gas Fireplaces Need Maintenance?

January 5, 2021

Many homes today come with gas fireplaces. People rarely think about them until something goes wrong. However, they need regular maintenance. Just like a gas furnace, they need to be checked by a professional once a year. Prevents Carbon Monoxide The most important reason to have your gas fireplace receive maintenance is safety. They produce carbon monoxide, which is supposed to vent out of your home. If something goes wrong, it could leak into your home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that poses a serious health risk. Aspinwall Baystate is an HVAC company in Quincy, MA, that performs gas fireplace maintenance. We’ve been helping people in the greater Quincy area for more than 50 years. Problems That Can Occur Incomplete combustion is one of the most common gas fireplace problems. This occurs when there isn’t a sufficient draft to provide enough air for substantial combustion. The result is carbon monoxide, which can leak out into your living area. Another common problem is condensation. This occurs when there’s not enough draft combined with low temperatures. Condensation is very acidic, which means it can do substantial damage. It will eat

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Annual Gas Furnace Maintenance: A Good Idea?

December 3, 2020

You want your gas furnace to run quietly and efficiently during the winter, but this can’t really happen without annual maintenance. Below are some good reasons for requesting professional heating maintenance the next time autumn rolls around. Keeping Your Warranty Valid Chances are that your furnace comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. Most warranties come with a disclaimer that they won’t cover any damage that has resulted from neglect of your system. The last thing that you want is to face a costly repair with a warranty that’s void. Avoiding Unnecessary Repairs Let’s think, though, about the kind of things a tune-up covers. It all starts with the inspection, where technicians check for problems like: Loose electrical wiring Out-of-balance parts Dirty burner assemblies Clogged air filters Carbon monoxide leaks It should go without saying that many of these issues, if left unaddressed, can be harmful. Old or loose wiring is a fire hazard. Dirty components hinder airflow, raise the risk for overheating and cause the furnace to blow out more lukewarm air than anything else.

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Tips for Avoiding Plumbing Problems This Winter

November 16, 2020

During the winter season, pipes that are exposed to cold temperatures are at a higher risk of cracking or shattering. If water is present in a broken or damaged pipe it could spill freely into your basement or other parts of your home. Therefore, it is important to take action now to prevent pipe issues during the cold season. Use Fiberglass or Foam to Insulate the Pipes Pipes that are insulated tend to stay warmer than those that are not encased in a foam or fiberglass sleeve. Therefore, the water that flows through them is less likely to freeze and expand, which is the leading cause of pipe damage. The folks at Aspinwall Plumbing in Quincy, MA, may be able to insulate your home’s pipes or take other steps to prevent them from cracking or fracturing. Add Insulation to Your Home’s Basement or Attic Insulating a basement or attic may help to regulate its temperature throughout the late fall and winter months. Generally speaking, pipes located in these parts of the home are most likely to freeze because they tend to be exposed to consistently cold temperatures. You might also want to put a space heater

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What Causes Furnace Leaks?

October 20, 2020

As we approach the cold winter season, you will need to fire up your furnace more often to warm your house. Nothing can be as frustrating as having a major furnace problem in the dead of winter. One of the likely challenges you may encounter with your furnace is leaking water. A furnace leaking water will stall the entire HVAC system, thereby prompting you to call the experts for comprehensive repairs. Here are some of the probable reasons why your furnace may be leaking. Excessive Condensation As the furnace is cooling down, condensation may accumulate on the colder parts. These tiny water droplets will then drop to the bottom of the furnace. Over time, the water will collect in tiny pools, giving you an impression of a leaking furnace. When your furnace is leaking because of condensation, chances are that the condensation tube designed to remove the moisture is clogged or has malfunctioned. The Humidifier The built-in humidifier that is connected to the plumbing in your home could also be the culprit, leading to leakage from your furnace. When the humidifier pipe is clogged as a result of debris in the pipework, it can cause water

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Should You Cover Your Air Conditioner After Summer?

September 20, 2020

Once you’re done using your air conditioner for the year, it may be tempting to put a cover on it. The outdoor condenser unit seems vulnerable to weather, after all. Should you put a cover on it? In the Fall While you may think you need a cover on your air conditioner in the winter, it’s only in the fall it’s a good idea. Your outside AC unit can withstand rain and snow. However, it’s not able to keep out seeds, nuts and leaves. You should cover your unit in the fall when plant matter gets blown out of trees and can collect inside the unit. This will help it last longer and operate more efficiently. The cover should only be on top of the air conditioner unit, not down its sides. Rain and Snow Trying to protect your unit from rain and snow is not a reason to cover it in the winter. It doesn’t need to be protected from rain, snow and freezing temperatures as it’s designed for those conditions. A cover won’t eliminate moisture, because even with a cover, moisture will collect in your air conditioner over the winter months. Further, a cover

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How To Prevent Cold Spots in Your Home

August 16, 2020

Upon looking at a temperature map of the United States, you may see many different zones with different temperatures. People know not to travel when the temperature gets too hot or too cold somewhere. What happens when your temperature is uneven in your home? It would be best if you addressed this to maximize uniform comfort. Here are some insights on dealing with cold spots in the house: Adding New Ducts Issues with airflow might be the root cause of the cold spots. If the home doesn’t receive enough airflow, maybe a new duct and accompanying vent could help the cause. Adding a new duct and vent might not be as involved as you may think. Repairing Current Ducts The ducts in a home might be out of sight, but this doesn’t mean they are “okay.” Damage to the ducts might happen for all kinds of reasons. Once the damage occurs, it could throw off airflow. Now, cold or hot spots develop in the home. Having someone check out and repair the ducts can help with this. Switch the Air Filter Air filters become quite dirty over time. The filter might even collect a

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How Often do you Need Air Quality Inspections?

July 16, 2020

Testing the quality of the air in your Quincy home is a crucial step to help to keep you and your family safe and healthy. Given the importance of this task, the natural question that follows is, “How often should I have my home’s air quality tested?” To help you understand when and why to have your house’s air tested, we at Aspinwall Baystate offer this basic guide to different circumstances when air quality testing makes sense. On a Regular Basis To maintain a good sense of your property’s indoor air quality, you should have an air quality test completed at least once a year. This ensures that there are no unexpected air quality issues that linger for an unacceptably long period of time. You can have Aspinwall Baystate perform this testing when they’re already at your house for either your summer or winter HVAC checkup. If you really want to be safe, you can have your air quality tested twice a year, especially if the previous test revealed concerning results. When You Make Changes If your air quality is good during normal tests, that doesn’t mean it will stay that way. If you make changes

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