Once again, we have exceded the average rainfall totals this May in the Central Indiana area.  In turn, your sump pump is probably working overtime.  Is it keeping up with the amount or water that is coming?  Every time a storm knocks the power out to you home are you hoping it will come on as quick as possible so your basement doesn’t flood?  Have B&W Plumbing and Heating install piece of mind with a Combonation Sump Pump system.

The new PHCC Pro Series, “Pair of Pumps” combination systems, couples an energy efficient primary sump pump and battery backup sump pump into one compact system. The primary pump operates off AC power. If the power is interrupted, or more water is coming into the sump than the AC pump can handle, the backup sump pump will begin pumping automatically.

The combination systems also contain unique monitoring features that warns the homeowner if the power goes out, battery fluid is low, backup pump was activated, or if the battery is discharged, defective, or battery terminals need cleaning. In addition the PS-C33 pump controller can send an alarm signal to a home security system or auto dialer.

Features:

• Energy efficient permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor
• Continuous duty rated
• Dual float switches on primary and backup pumps
• Automatically switches to battery power when AC fails
• Backup pump will assist primary pump if excessive amounts of water are entering the sump
• Detects irregularities, sounds an alarm, and pinpoints problems and solutions on control panel
• Maintains and recharges battery automatically
• Alarm can be silenced during a power outage
• Output terminals for connection to a security system or auto-dialer (PS-C33 only)
• Can accommodate two (2) B2200 batteries for 16 hours of continuous pumping (PS-C33 only)
• 3-year warranty
• Water cooled (no oil to leak)

Call 317-243-3581 and have your Combination Sump Pump System installed today.

So you have a leaky faucet or toilet and you tell yourself you will have it taken care of later.  Leaking fixtures sends your water and your money down the drain.  It is much better to have the leak repaired rather than let it continue to waste your money.

From the EPA website:

•  

  The Facts on Leaks:

  • Leaks can account for, on average, 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year, which is enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.
  • The amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1 trillion gallons per year. That’s equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined.
  • Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.
  • Common types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. All are easily correctable.
  • Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.
  • Keep your home leak-free by repairing dripping faucets, toilet valves, and showerheads. In most cases, fixture replacement parts don’t require a major investment and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers.
  • The vast majority of leaks can be eliminated after retrofitting a household with new WaterSense labeled fixtures and other high-efficiency appliances.

   

  Leak Detection:

  • A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It’s likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
  • Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
  • One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak. Make sure to flush immediately after this experiment to avoid staining the tank.

   

  Faucets and Showerheads:

  • A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. A home with WaterSense labeled toilets could use that water to flush for six months!
  • Leaky faucets can be reduced by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary. If you are replacing a faucet, look for the WaterSense label.
  • A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. That’s enough water to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher.
  • Most leaky showerheads can be fixed by ensuring a tight connection using pipe tape and a wrench.

   

  Toilets:

  • If your toilet is running constantly, you could be wasting 200 gallons of water or more every day.
  • If your toilet is leaking, the cause is most often an old, faulty toilet flapper. Over time, this inexpensive rubber part decays, or minerals build up on it. It’s usually best to replace the whole rubber flapper—a relatively easy, inexpensive do-it-yourself project that pays for itself in no time.
  • If you do need to replace the entire toilet, look for a WaterSense labeled model. If a family of four replaces its older, inefficient toilets with new WaterSense labeled ones, it could save more than 16,000 gallons per year. Retrofitting the house could save the family approximately $2,000 in water and wastewater bills over the lifetime of the toilets.

   

  Outdoors:

  • An irrigation system should be checked each spring before use to make sure it was not damaged by frost or freezing.
  • An irrigation system with pressure set at 60 pounds per square inch that has a leak 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.

   

   

For more information on water leaks, visit the EPA’s website:  http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/fixleak.html

Call B&W Plumbing and Heating at 317-243-3581 and have your leak taken care of today!

Will your sump pumps be ready for the rain?

Here are a couple of tips to help you make sure that your pump is operating properly. 

Check your float switch.  The float should rise and fall freely as your sump pit fills and empties.  Make sure that it does not get hung up on along the pit wall or discharge pipe.  Another thing to check is that the sump pit is free from debris.  Since most sump pits are open and they are on the floor, it is not uncommon for debris to fall or be accidentally kicked into the pit.  If you have two sump pumps controlled by an alternator, confirm that both pumps are operating.

Another thing to consider, if you haven’t already, is installing a battery back up sump pump.  You will have the piece of mind knowing that if your power goes out during a heavy rain storm, the ground water will still be carried away.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please give us a call at (317)243-3581 or if you would like, you can submit your questions online by clicking on the following link:  http://bplusw.com/expert.html

Just a short note of appreciation for the great installation job on the above water heater.  Your team was on time and implemented a well thought out  installation plan to perfection.

Thanks again!

Mike

Indianapolis, IN

I have had many experiences with plumbers and I found that the visit today from Ray was far and away the most professional.  Because of his customer service and plumbing know how I feel confident about using B&W plumbing again. 

Donna K., Indianapolis, Indiana

I want to thank B&W for sending Ray out to service my water heater. Ray was on-time, fast, courteous, clean, and obviously knowledgeable about water heater repair.

Brad R., Indianapolis, Indiana

B&W Plumbing and Heating is pleased to announce that we are including a 6 Year Labor Warranty on all residential water heaters installed by B&W starting January 14, 2010.  Most manufacturers include a standard 6 Year Part and Tank Warranty and in the past B&W included a 2 Year Labor Warranty.  That meant that if a part or tank failed during Years 3 and 6 in your warranty, the part was covered, but the customer was still responsible for the labor. For Example, if in year 4 if the water heater leaked, the water heater was replaced under the 6 Year Tank Warranty, but the customer still had to pay for a plumber to install the replacement.

Now, with the new 6 Year B&W Labor Warranty, if you buy a water heater from B&W today and the tank fails 5 years from now, we will come in and replace the water heater at no cost to you.  You will be covered under the manufacturers 6 Year Part/Tank Warranty and B&W’s 6 Year Labor Warranty.

Residential Customers Only.

If you have any questions, call us at (317) 243-3581.

With the recent snow melt and heavy thunderstorms in Indianapolis/Central Indiana, the ground has become saturated and many of you may have noticed that your sump pumps are running non-stop.  Here are a couple of tips to help you make sure that your pump is operating properly. 

Check your float switch.  The float should rise and fall freely as your sump pit fills and empties.  Make sure that it does not get hung up on along the pit wall or discharge pipe.  Another thing to check is that the sump pit is free from debris.  Since most sump pits are open and they are on the floor, it is not uncommon for debris to fall or be accidentally kicked into the pit.  If you have two sump pumps controlled by an alternator, confirm that both pumps are operating.

Another thing to consider, if you haven’t already, is installing a battery back up sump pump.  You will have the piece of mind knowing that if your power goes out during a heavy rain storm, the ground water will still be carried away.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please give us a call at (317)243-3581 or if you would like, you can submit your questions online by clicking on the following link:  http://www.bplusw.com/ContactUs.html

With no immediate warm-up in the near future, here are a couple of tips to help protect your home from frozen water lines.

*Disconnect all hoses from your outside faucets.

*If you have a water heater in your garage, keep your garage door closed and make sure it closes completely when you come and go.

*Seal any air leak with foam insulation.

*If your kitchen sink is along an outside wall, open the cabinets to let in the warm air. BE SURE to remove anything unsafe that children or pets can get into.

*Slightly open the kitchen valve to let the smallest stream of water run overnight.

Also, know where the main shut-off is to your water in case you have to turn your water off in case of emergency.

What is your High Score?

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/quiz/game.html