Below is an image of a heating system project we recently completed in Concord, MA. Call (978) 486-0904 for all of your heating system repair, replacement & installation needs!
Water Heater Replacement in Acton, MA
Plumbing Tip – Winterize Outdoor Faucets This Fall
With the winter weather comes potential home issues none of us would like to face. Now’s the time to winterize your outdoor faucets; before the first hard freeze of the winter.
Down to about 28 degrees, there’s generally enough latent heat in the water inside pipes to resist freezing. Below that mark, ice can begin to form inside supply lines, including those that feed outdoor faucets. Freezing at an outdoor faucet may actually cause a rupture upstream in the water line indoors, releasing hundreds of gallons of water into your walls or flooding the basement. Knowing how to winterize outdoor faucets can not only protect your outdoor fixtures but also your home’s interior.
How to Winterize Outdoor Faucets
- Store garden hoses – Remove garden hoses connected to faucets and drain them of residual water. Store hoses in a dry area until the spring.
- Find the shut-off valves – Determine the location of all outdoor faucets and locate the corresponding indoor shut-off valves for each. They will typically be located near the ceiling of the basement close to where the supply line leads outdoors to the faucet. In newer homes, faucet shut-off valves may be located immediately next to the main water shutoff and are clearly labeled. In most cases, they’re lever-style valves instead of rotating knobs.
- Drain the lines – When a hard freeze threatens, turn off the water to each faucet at its individual shut-off valve, then go outside and open the faucet. Return to the shut-off valve indoors and hold a bucket under it as you unscrew the small bleeder cap incorporated into the faucet. Residual water will drain out of the line into the bucket. Once the line is drained, replace the bleeder cap and go outside and close the faucet.
If your home isn’t fitted with faucet shut-off valves, you have two options. A professional plumber can retrofit special “frost free” faucets with long stems that position the valve inside the conditioned zone of the home instead of outdoors. Alternatively, faucet insulation kits commercially available at hardware and home centers can be installed for temporary protection.
For information on professional plumbing services including steps to winterize outdoor faucets, contact us online or call us at (978) 486-0904.
Important Tip – Have Your Heating System Checked Before Winter
Getting your home’s heating system professionally serviced every year will keep it running smoothly and help keep heating costs under control.
Ideally, have your system tuned up in the fall so it’s in top shape for the start of the heating season.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” can be a good rule—but not when it comes to your heating system. Even if it’s humming along just fine, having a technician take it apart once a year to clean the lines and filters and give it a thorough inspection is absolutely essential.
Regular servicing reduces the risk of breakdowns and prolongs the unit’s life. Plus, it saves you money: For every year of maintenance you skip, energy bills jump 5% to 10% because of reduced efficiency.
Call us at (978) 486-0904 or contact us online right now to schedule your appointment. Your heating system and energy bills will thank you!
We proudly service Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire including:
Littleton, Acton, Bolton, Concord, Westford, Chelmsford, Groton, Ayer, Harvard, Boxborough, Stow, Maynard, Carlisle, Sudbury, Hudson, Wayland, Lincoln, Newton, Brookline, Wellesley, Weston, Needham, Dover, & Sherborn.
Water Heater Installation in Wellesley, MA
Below is a picture of a direct vent water heater that we just installed in a Wellesley, MA home. Call (978) 486-0904 for all of your water heater repair and water heater replacement needs!
Wellesley, MA Custom Plumbing Buildout
Below is a picture of a Wellesley, MA home that we are doing a custom plumbing buildout for that will feature 6-12 bathrooms.
High Efficiency Heating System Install in Newton, MA
Is your HVAC system inefficient? Below are 2 pictures from a recent high efficiency heating system installation in Newton, MA. Campbell Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning proudly services Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire including Littleton, Acton, Bolton, Concord, Westford, Chelmsford, Groton, Ayer, Harvard, Boxborough, Stow, Maynard, Carlisle, Sudbury, Hudson, Wayland, Lincoln, Newton, Brookline, Wellesley, Weston, Needham, Dover, & Sherborn. Call us at (978) 486-0904 for all of your plumbing & HVAC needs!
Preventing Frozen Pipes
What’s worse than a major home maintenance disaster? How about several major home maintenance disasters at once? For the quarter-million families who have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter because of frozen water pipes, frigid nights can very quickly turn to ongoing, inconvenient, extremely expensive ordeals.
In cold and warmer climates alike, pipes freeze for a combination of three central reasons: quick drops in temperature, poor insulation, and thermostats set too low. Both plastic and copper pipes can burst when they freeze, and recovering from frozen pipes is not as simple as calling a plumber. A 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons of water a day, causing flooding, serious structural damage, and the immediate potential for mold.
In the United States, frozen pipes cause a huge amount of damage each year; unlike natural disasters, this disaster is largely preventable. By taking a few simple precautions, you can help save yourself the mess, money, and aggravation frozen pipes cause.
Your Best Bet: Don’t Let It Happen
There are a number of preventative steps you can take to keep your pipes from freezing. Here are a few simple tips:
Before The Cold
Remember the three central causes of frozen pipes? Quick drops in temperature, poor insulation, and thermostats set too low. You can prepare by protecting your home during the warmer months. Here’s how:
- Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic, even if you live in a climate where freezing is uncommon. Exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember: The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.
- Heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and only for the use intended (exterior or interior). Closely follow all manufacturers’ installation and operation instructions.
- Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes, and use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.
- Before winter hits, disconnect garden hoses and, if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.
When The Mercury Drops
Even if you’ve taken the right preventative steps, extreme weather conditions can still harm your pipes. Here are a few more steps you can take:
- A trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.
- Keep your thermostat set at the same temperature during both day and night. You might be in the habit of turning down the heat when you’re asleep, but further drops in the temperature – more common overnight – could catch you off guard and freeze your pipes.
- Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.
If the temperature drops and you think your pipes are in danger, call us at (978) 486-0904 for an inspection and service.
Time for an AC Tuneup!
It’s that time of year when you should have your air conditioning system checked and tuned up for the upcoming season.
A tune-up, also called preventative maintenance, should be performed annually on your AC system, making it operate more efficiently. It’s also a safety check which will detect any defective or damaged parts. An annual tune-up is recommended to keep your system running smoothly and efficiently. Call Campbell Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule your checkup!
Campbell Plumbing, Heating & Air | (978) 486-0904
Looking to make you home or business more energy efficient? Call Campbell Plumbing, Heating & Air for all of your plumbing and HVAC needs in MA & southern NH:
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