Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Orange County’

The Heat Exchanger: The Secret of a Furnace’s Success

Wednesday, January 7th, 2015

Furnaces have a number of components that help them to operate safely and effectively, but there are 3 key components that could be dubbed the “workhorses” of the system: the blower, the burner and the heat exchanger. While every component is necessary, should a problem develop with any of these 3, you most likely won’t have any heat, or won’t have safe, sufficient and efficient heat. Today we’re going to talk about the heat exchanger: how it works, why it’s important and how a cracked heat exchanger can be a serious problem. But remember that for any furnace repair issues you may have in Orange County, the experts from Saddleback Plumbing are always available.

What Is a Heat Exchanger?

The heat exchanger in your furnace is a medium-sized, serpentine component that sits directly above the burner. The tube of the heat exchanger is open at both ends, which allows the toxic combustion byproducts to enter at the burner level and exit through the flue, which is connected to the top of the heat exchanger. The warm air that is generated on the outside of the heat exchanger is the warm air that is blown into your home.

Why Does a Heat Exchanger Work Like This?

The heat exchanger is the component that separates the toxic byproducts from the combustion, including carbon monoxide, from the warm air; without it, these byproducts would be blown into your home along with the heat.

Why Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous?

Heat exchangers have an average lifespan similar to that of your furnace: about 15-18 years. The heat exchanger is constantly heating and cooling, which causes the metal to expand and contrast regularly throughout the winter months. After years of this action, cracks can develop in the heat exchanger. The reason this is dangerous is that a crack in the heat exchanger can allow the toxic byproducts to escape and enter your home, including carbon monoxide. Heat exchangers can’t be repaired once a crack develops, but they can be replaced.

The best way to ensure that your furnace is repaired properly is to hire a professional. The trained and certified experts at Saddleback Plumbing are available for any furnace repair in Orange County that you may have, so if you are experiencing problems with your furnace, call us today.

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The Dip Tube and Water Heater Repair

Wednesday, December 10th, 2014

A traditional water heater works under a fairly simple heat rising principle. Hot water naturally rises above denser cold water, which is why water heaters use a large tank that heats water from the bottom so that it can flow into your home from a pipe located at the top of the tank. When your water heater quits working, you may fear the worst. But oftentimes, a problem with the water heater occurs in one of the simplest components: the dip tube.

When you notice a problem with your water heater, don’t want to wait to schedule repairs. The solution may be fairly quick and easy for a technician with a trained eye, or there could be a potential leak that must be addressed as soon as possible. The skilled experts at Saddleback Plumbing can diagnose any water heater repair in Orange County with integrity and accuracy.

What Is the Dip Tube?

The dip tube is essentially just a long tube, often made out of plastic, that leads to the bottom of the tank. This portion of piping connects to the cold water supply line to bring cold water into the unit. There is either an electric heating element or a gas burner located near the bottom of your tank which heats up the water so that it can rise to the top of the tank and remain available for use throughout the day.

There are a number of problems that could go wrong with the dip tube over time. Some indications that your dip tube is in need of replacement is if you notice intermittent bursts of hot or cold water, hot water that runs out too soon, or very little hot water at all. This occurs when the dip tube either snaps in half or breaks off entirely so that cold water stays near the top of the unit. Sometimes, shards from the dip tube can even block the pipes, further compromising the state of your water heater.

Don’t let your water heating issue go on for longer than it needs to.

Contact Saddleback Plumbing as soon as you notice that you’re in need of water heater repair in Orange County. Call us today!

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Does My Water Heater Need to Be Flushed?

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014

Most people don’t think about doing maintenance on their water heaters. After all, water heaters are pretty durable and many times it seems easier to just buy and install a new water heater when yours fails. However, just as maintenance on your heating or air conditioning system can help reduce and prevent repairs to those systems, so can maintenance for your water heater. Part of maintaining your water heater involves flushing it a least once a year, and you may be surprised at how much it can help your system.

How Is a Water Heater Flushed?

A water heater is fairly simple. Your technician will turn off the power source (gas or electricity) and pull out the hose attachment at the top of the tank; this allows air to enter the tank, which makes it easier to drain. A small garden hose is attached to the nozzle at the bottom of the tank, and the nozzle is opened, allowing the tank’s water to drain out. Once the water in the tank drains, the technician will flush it with warm water to clear out sediment that may be in the bottom of the tank. If bacteria has developed, the technician may do a second flush mixing bleach with the water to kill and remove the bacteria from the inside of the tank.

Why Do a Water Heater Flush?

As mentioned above, flushing your water heater is part of maintenance. But why do it? Here are some reasons to consider:

  • Removal of sediment and minerals – all water has small amounts of sediment and minerals, but when allowed to build for a number of years, the amount that settles in the bottom of your water tank can be significant.
  • Better energy efficiency – when your hot water heater isn’t impaired by significant sediment and mineral build-up, it functions better, which can increase its energy efficiency.
  • Removal of bacteria – if you have ever experienced a sulfur smell around a water heater, you’ve experienced bacteria in a water heater. When water heaters aren’t properly maintained, bacteria can develop inside the tank and flourish; the result is a rotten-egg type of smell. Flushing the tank removes the bacteria and allows the technician to clean the tank, ensuring that upon refill, there is no more bacteria.

Flushing your water heater annually can help prevent water heater repair in Orange County. If you are interested in maintaining your water tank, call Saddleback Plumbing today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

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Reasons to Schedule Heating Maintenance for Your Furnace

Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

Homeowners have a lot to deal with. Utility bills, plumbing, insulation, and a whole host of other little things have a way of occupying all of a person’s attention. These people can’t really be blamed, then, for neglecting their regular furnace maintenance until something breaks and demands a response. This will end up costing a lot more in the long run, however. Let’s have a look at some of the reasons that you should schedule regular heating maintenance.

It Saves Money

The number one reason to schedule regular furnace maintenance is simple: it saves you money. Furnaces don’t ever suddenly break down. There is always a progression of severity, as a minor issue becomes worse and worse until it begins to hinder the furnace’s normal operation. Often, this is from unavoidable wear and tear, but even then it is better to catch the problem before it gets worse. A dirty air filter, for example, is a very cheap and easy thing to replace. Leave it for too long, however, and it can trap heat in the furnace, causing a host of other problems like a cracked heat exchanger. Such things are far more complicated and expensive to fix.

It Improves Efficiency

As a furnace gets older, it will naturally decline over time. It may have to work a bit longer to reach the desired temperature, or burn a bit more fuel than it used to. These minor things aren’t major threats to the furnace or its owners, but they do have an impact on the overall lifespan of the heating system. Regular maintenance can fine-tune your furnace, replacing aging parts that aren’t performing as well and lengthening the amount of time before you have to replace the system.

Ultimately, regular maintenance improves the health and efficiency of your furnace. There’s no reason to ignore it until a problem presents itself. It is recommended that you get your furnace checked at least once a year, to ensure a long and healthy tenure of service.

If you haven’t had your annual furnace maintenance yet, call Saddleback Plumbing. We offer professional heating maintenance service in Orange County.

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Time to Replace the Furnace: Some of the Warning Signs

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

There is a wide range of symptoms that indicate that your furnace may need repairs. There are some signs, however, that indicate something a bit more serious. If you notice any of these behaviors when you turn on your furnace, you may need to get your furnace replaced.

Short-Cycling

Short-cycling is what happens when your furnace turns on and off constantly. This will cause the system to enact safety measures, which will shut down the furnace. After a short time, the furnace will restart and the cycle will continue perpetually. There are two possible causes for this. The first is that your furnace is too large for your home. The furnace itself may operate as it was intended to do, but the increase in heat output will cause the system to lock it into short-cycling.

The second possibility is that something is preventing your furnace from venting properly. This could be a problem with the air filter, heat exchanger, or several other areas that are necessary for the furnace itself to maintain the proper temperature. This can be quite serious, and is a definite sign that you need your furnace replaced.

Repair Frequency

Needing repairs every once in a while isn’t a big deal. All heating systems will eventually have problems that need fixing. When a heating system starts needing repairs every couple of months, however, you should pay attention. Needing frequent repairs is usually a sign of extreme wear and tear on the system as a whole. This is usually caused by simple age and repeated use. If your furnace suddenly seems like it needs more and more professional attention, especially if it’s an older unit, it’s probably time to start looking for a replacement.

All unusual behavior should be checked by a professional for accurate diagnosis. If you suspect that your furnace might need replacing, don’t go out and buy a new one right away. Call an HVAC technician to confirm first.

If your furnace is acting odd, call Saddleback Plumbing. We conduct heating replacement in the Orange County area.

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Common Water Heater Repairs

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

Your water heater provides comfort and convenience at home, improving your showers, keeping laundry fresh, and helping you with many of the cleaning tasks around the house. But not all water heater repair needs will be immediately apparent. It’s important to schedule water heater maintenance every year for cleaning and adjustments and to make sure no component needs immediate replacement.

Without proper maintenance, it’s likely you’ll run into some sudden repair needs from time to time. If you call a technician because of reduced heating, loud noises, or discoloration, here are some of the problems a plumber may look for when inspecting water heaters.

  • Broken Dip Tube: The dip tube is a pipe that allows water to flow into the bottom of storage tank water heaters. A burner or electric heating element at the bottom of the tank heats up the water, which then rises to the top of the tank due to the heat rising principle. If the dip tube is cracked or broken, cold water can flow to the top of the tank, which means you may not feel any hot water at all. This part will probably need to be replaced.
  • Sediment in the Tank: Loud rumbling in the tank may indicate sediment buildup. If you have hard water, mineral deposits may build up in the tank, and could eventually block the pipes. With regular maintenance, however, your tank is flushed to keep this from occurring. If you hear a loud banging or rumbling noise from your water heater, call a professional who can flush your tank and make sure there is no further damage.
  • Rust: Many people will tell you that rust in your hot water supply is a death sentence for your water heater. However, rust-colored water may result from a corroded anode rod, which simply requires immediate replacement to prevent your tank from rusting as well. The anode rod attracts particle that cause corrosion, sacrificing itself for the good of your unit. However, it needs replacement every now and then so that it does not corrode too much to function properly.

If you have questions about water heaters in Orange County, call Saddleback Plumbing today!

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Heating Tip 1: Are Your Gas Pipes in Good Shape?

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Natural gas is a popular fuel choice for home heating and cooking. It is affordable, dependable and in large part domestically produced. It is also very safe, generally speaking. It is important that you as a property owner ensure that your gas pipes are in good, safe working condition. In order to do so there are some steps that you will need to take and some warning signs that you should keep an eye out for. Here is some information from Saddleback Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning to keep your Irvine home safe and comfortable when using natural gas.

The first step towards ensuring that your gas pipes are in good shape is to be sure that the installation process is handled only by a qualified profession. If you are having a gas piping system installed for the first time or are scheduling repiping service you need to do your research. Look at testimonials and read online reviews, as well as asking contractors for references directly. Your gas pipes are too important a component of your home plumbing system to take any chances with. Call Saddleback today to learn more about gas pipe installation or to schedule service.

If you already have a gas piping system in your home you need to know what to look for in terms of trouble. While a gas leak may not cause as obvious problems as a leak in your water lines there are plenty of indicators that will tell you your gas pipes are compromised. Because natural gas is colorless and odorless an odor is added to help you identify a leak. This is where the rotten egg smell that so many associate with natural gas comes from. Any unusual sounds from your gas equipment may also indicate a gas leak so it is important that these irregularities are assessed by a professional.

There are also buried gas lines outside that allow natural gas to be piped into your Irvine home. If you see any dirt being blown into the air around this buried pipe or notice bubbling when the ground is wet this gas line may be leaking. Keep an eye out for dead vegetation in the vicinity as well.

When properly used and with a high-quality gas piping system natural gas is a perfectly safe, convenient fuel source. If you have any concerns about the condition that your gas pipes are in call the gas piping experts at Saddleback Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning today. We can help ensure that your home is as safe as it is comfortable with our gas piping installation, maintenance, repair and replacement services.

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Why Install a Hydronic Floor Heating System in Orange County

Monday, October 1st, 2012

One of the hottest additions to Orange County home heating in recent years is the hydronic floor heating system – a combination of classic hydronic boiler technology and carefully design work that can actually have heat radiating out of the floorboards in your home. Here are a few reasons why you might consider having such a system installed and the specific benefits they offer.

First, There’s Comfort

Imagine stepping out of bed on a chilly winter morning and putting your feet down on toasty warm tiles or wood flooring. Instead of the ice cold of most flooring materials that either forces you to wear socks perpetually or put down heavy, pricey rugs, a hydronic floor heating system ensures that your home is always warm, no matter where you step.

Supplemental Heating

A radiant floor heating system offers a supplement to your standard heating system. This reduces the workload on your other heating systems and ensures that you remain comfortable even when the others are off or turned down, saving you money. You can also switch to an all hydronic system and gain a number of additional benefits.

Even, Efficient Heating Distribution

A system that consists only of hydronic floor heating ensures even heating throughout your home – no cold or hot spots. Additionally, the system will operate less often as heat radiates slowly from the water pipes, rising from the ground to provide ample, even heating all day.

A good radiant floor heating system is a good fit in many types of Orange County homes and even in some businesses. How it will fit into your current heating system, the impact it will have on your budget and where it can be best installed in your home will depend on a number of other factors, so make sure you contact a professional if you are interested in learning more about what options are available to you.

For more information regarding floor heating options for your Orange County home’s heating system, contact Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air today!

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Plumbing Tip: What Does a Drain Trap Do?

Monday, September 24th, 2012

There are many components in an Orange County home’s plumbing system but few require as much persistent homeowner attention as a drain trap. If your drain trap is clogged or you simply are interested in learning more about that U-shaped stretch of pipe beneath your sink, here is a quick overview.

The Flow of Water into the Drain

When water enters the drain in your fixture, it goes through the tailpiece and into the drain trap, then through the main drain line out of your home. It all makes perfect sense except for that little U-shaped stretch of pipe that always seems to get clogged with food, grease and hair. Why is it there if all it does is get clogged?

The answer to this question is directly related to the way in which plumbing is designed to work. Drain pipes all lead directly to a sewer line which then exits your Orange County home and goes into the sewer. That sewer line contains all of the waste and waste water from your home and as a result, a lot of decomposition takes place here, producing large volumes of sewer gas.

Sewer gas is not only unpleasant, it is unsafe, and it must therefore not be allowed to enter your home. A drain trap is used for this purpose as it will hold water as a barrier against any backflow of sewer gasses when your drain pipes are empty. Gravity ensures that there is always enough water in the trap to keep this from happening.

Maintaining Your Drain Trap

Regular flushing of the drain trap is highly recommended to prevent clogs, and if there are any fixtures in your home that you don’t often use, it is recommended that you pour enough water down the drain to keep the trap from evaporating and allowing sewer gasses to enter your home. Do these things and your system should continue to work properly moving forward.

For more information regarding your Orange County home’s plumbing, contact Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air today!

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Plumbing Tip: Why Timely Slab Leak Repairs are Important

Monday, August 20th, 2012

Slab leaks are leaks from pipes under the foundation of your home.  Therefore, to prevent damage to the foundation, it is essential that when a slab leak is found, it is repaired quickly.  Backed by years of field experience, the Orange County plumbers at Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning can detect and repair slab leaks and other plumbing issues in your home. Call us any time you suspect a slab leak.

Slab Leak Repairs Done Quickly and Done Right

Many homes that are built on concrete foundations have soft copper piping installed either along the soil underneath or within the concrete slab.  The piping runs various lengths throughout the concrete slab foundation and then out of the slab into various plumbing applications throughout the home.

It can often be hard to identify when a slab leak actually begins.  This is because the piping is laid underneath layers of flooring and then cement.  Often, by the time a slab leak is detected, it has been leaking steadily for enough time to damage the cement foundation, saturate the soil underneath, and even made its way to the flooring and or the bottom of the walls along the first floor of a building.

By the time you notice a slab leak, a timely repair is essential; otherwise, the damage will continue to spread, not only causing cosmetic issues by damaging flooring and furniture, but eventually causing issues with the stability of your foundation.

When you live in a home located on a concrete slab foundation, it is important to watch for additional signs of a slab leak, such as higher than normal water bills, and the sound of running water when the faucets are all off.  Being alert to these symptoms can mean finding a slab leak much earlier and avoiding major water damage to your home.

The professional plumbers in Orange County at Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning use state of the art technologies to pinpoint slab leaks so that every repair is performed efficiently, and with as little damage to home fixtures as possible.  If you think your home has a slab leak, let our experts help you today!

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