DIY: How to fix your leaky faucet

Ben Franklin Plumbing Orlando Video about how to fix your leaky faucet. If you are having trouble with fixing your faucet feel free to call us if you are in the Orlando area and we will send out a plumbing specialist right away!

 

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Tankless Water Heaters

Your source for endless, constant hot water!

Unlike conventional water heaters the tankless system provides an “endless supply” of hot water. How many times has your current system left you “out in the cold” when too much hot water was used? With a tankless system, your supply of hot water is always at the ready, but only when needed. Long hot showers no longer mean the next person gets the cold shoulder. As a matter of fact, you could fill your swimming pool up and still not run out of hot water.

Tankless systems heat your water as needed. There is no “tank” and water is literally heated as it passes through the system…instantly. Hot water never runs out, never becomes lukewarm and never needs time to refill and reheat.

Best of all, since your tankless system turns on and off as needed, it reduces your energy and you’ll begin to see savings immediately.

If you would like to read more about Tankless water heaters click here. As always call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Orlando today and we can install a tankless system for your house!

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Preventing Clogged Drains

How to help Prevent Kitchen Drain Clogs - A clogged drain can be so frustrating; and, of course, it happens more often than we care to think about! We don’t think about it until it is already too late. Usually, kitchen sink drains clog because of a build-up of grease. The grease traps food particles, which eventually clogs the drain. Now, the bathroom drains are a different story. They are usually clogged by hair and soap. So, take some simple precautions to avoid this situation.

1.    Don’t pour grease down the kitchen sink.

2.    Don’t wash coffee grounds down the sink.

3.    Use chemical cleaners only when necessary. Some chemicals can corrode metal pipes.

4.    Clean tub and shower drain strainers that are removable.

5.    Clean pop-up stoppers in the bathroom sink and the tub regularly. Lift out sink pop-ups once a week and rinse them off.

6.    Every few months, remove the overflow plate on a tub and pull up the pop-up assembly to reach the spring or rocker arm. Remove accumulated hair and rinse thoroughly.

7.    Keep sewer pipes from the house free of tree roots.

Flush the drain-waste and vent systems when you’re on the roof cleaning out your gutters. Use your hose to run water into all of the vents.

As always if you do have a clogged drain feel free to call us at 407-712-2202 for any drains or plumbing needs in the Orlando, Fl area anytime 24/7 at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Orlando if there is any delay it’s you we pay!

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DIY: How to Unclog the bathroom tub in your home.

Ben Franklin Plumbing Orlando Video about how to unclog your tub. If you are having trouble with the clog yourself feel free to call us if you are in the Orlando area and we will send out a plumbing specialist right away!

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Home Leak Detection

How we detect the location of Hidden leaks

Leaking pipes can cost you hundreds of dollars a year in wasted water costs. If you suspect a leaking water pipe it is important that you call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Orlando because fixing a leaking water pipe should only be done by a licensed professional.

Here is how a Benjamin Franklin plumber would search for hidden water leaks:

  • The plumbing technician will isolate the leak first. He will determine if it is indoors, under the concrete slab, or outdoors. He then will determine the gallons per minute leaking, by taking water meter readings.
  • If the leak is outdoors he will use sophisticated sounding devices with probes to narrow the leak to within 1ft.
  • Dig and replace damaged pipe.
  • If the leak is indoors under the slab, the procedure is a little more involved. He will first determine if it is hot water or cold water leaking. Then using the latest technology he will use a leak detector that can pick up the slightest sound from many feet away. If the leak is very small he may hookup nitrogen to the pipes to give the leak a more specific sound. Once the leak is narrowed to an area within 1ft he will drill a small hole to verify the location of the leak.
  • Bust a hole in concrete floor and replace damaged pipe.
  • Or give option of replacing damaged pipe above the floor.

This is how all plumbing technicians should pinpoint a damaged and leaking pipe. If your plumber doesn’t incorporate these techniques consider calling Benjamin Franklin Plumbing today!

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How to Read an Energy Label

Learn how to read an Energy Guide sticker on your hot water heater and other appliances to compare products before you buy!

Although the bright yellow Energy Guide stickers have been affixed to major appliances for 30 years now, most consumers have no idea what information is on the stickers and that understanding what is on then can save them money.

Approximately 1/3 of an average household electricity bill is from heating water. Making a good choice when purchasing a hot water heater can save a substantial amount of money over the life of a hot water heater. Understanding the Energy Guide is a good way to learn what to expect from a new hot water heater.

Information on all Energy Guide labels is pretty much the same for all appliances but since water heaters is what we know best, that is what we will use as a model. All Energy Guide labels have the same 5 pieces of information:

  • Manufacturer name, model number and type of appliance. This information is directly under the word Saver on the upper right of the sticker.
  • Type of appliance. In this case a Water heater and the size 57 gallons in this case. This is directly under the word Energy. Make certain when you are comparing hot water heaters that the gallons are equal or you will have skewed results.
  • This number represents the expected annual energy use of the appliance. The number is measured in kilowatts per year (kWh/year) and the lower the number, the more energy friendly the appliance is. This information is in the box directly in the middle of the label.
  • The black bar in the middle contains important information about how this hot water heater compares to others for energy efficiency. The arrow for the most energy efficient hot water heaters will be on th far left of the bar and the least energy efficient will be on the right (like this example.
  • The dollar figure at the bottom of the sticker ($162 on our example) is an average cost per year of the product. This is a nationwide average. The numbers in Central Florida will vary. Below that is a figure the estimate is based on.

For more information on specific types of hot water heaters Click below:

Solar hot water heaters
Tankless hot water heaters
Hot water heaters

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Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Orlando Solar Sevices

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Central Florida announces Solar Services

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is adding to its solar hot water products and installation, solar pool heating systems and solar attic fans. According to Orlando Florida Ben Franklin owner Bill Heichel, this is a service our clients have been asking for. Our customer is becoming more interested in helping the environment and saving money on their energy bills. These services will provide just that! Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has had a successful track record with their solar hot water systems and these solar products are a natural extension of those products.

For more information about solar hot water systems click here

Posted in Solar Hot Water Systems |

Hot Water Heaters

The problem with traditional hot water heaters

The same basic technology has been used to heat water for over 100 years. The original tank design which is still in use today was developed in the 1890?s. Standard hot water tanks are still nearly the same technologically as they were when they first entered the market. While they have proven to be versatile and can maintain performance over a period of 8 years or more there are a couple of limitations they have not been able to overcome:

Inefficiency- Hot water heaters continually produce hot water. The problem with that is that you are consuming energy nonstop which keeps your utility bill rising. It is also producing hot water you will never use. A typical home spends 25% of its energy for hot water. The bigger the water heater the more energy you are using.

Unpredictable breakdowns and deterioration- After 5 years of use the anode rod in a hot water heater starts to deteriorate and sediment starts to build in the base of the hot water heater tank. After 10 years the anode rod is usually fully deteriorated and large amounts of sediment has calcified in the tank. At this point the system is deteriorating and operating inefficiently increasing the cost of heating water. Because the system is deteriorating from the inside out, it is difficult for even professional plumbers to know when the system will give way. When it goes it could be in the form of a slowly diminishing hot water supply or a complete shutdown of the hot water supply. It could manifest itself as a small leak or a one of large magnitude. Scalding water escaping from a water heater could also present a physical threat to your family.

Several new hot water technologies have emerged in residential hot water supply recently. 3 of them have proven themselves as viable alternatives to traditional hot water heaters. They have been tested and proven for reliability, durability and energy savings, They include:

Solar Hot Water Systems

Tankless Hot Water Heaters

Make sure whatever replacement you get for your hot water heater is Energy Star rated. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing carries the best of all of these lines. Each type of hot water system carried by Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has its own benefits and optimum conditions for use. Call us or contact us for a hot water system evaluation today!

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing services all of Orlando and its surrounding areas including Eustis and Clermont.

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Top signs it is time to get a new hot water heater

Signs it is Time to Replace a Hot Water Heater

Hot water heaters begin to deteriorate after 5 years of use. Gas water heaters last 8-12 years and electric hot water heaters last 10-15 years. Trying to get more than that out of a hot water heater could increase the risk of a system failure. That could result in having to take a cold shower in the not too distant future or something more damaging like severe water damage. A hot water heaters life can be extended by performing regular maintenance. Here are the top signs that a hot water heater needs replacing.

  • The most obvious way to tell that a hot water tank needs to be replaced is if it is leaking. If there is a pool of water around the tank or a water leak is visible.
  • If your hot water in the house is coming out rust colored. This would indicate the interior of the hot water tank is significantly deteriorated.
  • There isn’t enough hot water for showers.
  • The sacrificial anode rod doesn’t have any metal left on it.
  • Visible rust on or around the tank
  • Electric bills are higher than usual
  • Not getting as much hot water as you use to.

While these are the most typical signs that a hot water heater needs to be replaced, there may be unique circumstances that are creating the symptoms. It is best to consult a certified plumber. If your hot water tank is 10 years old or older it may not be worth the expense of fixing it.

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Garbage Disposal Tips

What you can and cannot put down your garbage disposal.

Contrary to popular belief, most foods should be able to put down your garbage disposal. This includes egg shells, eggs, meat scraps, coffee grounds, vegetables, vegetable peels, most fruits, and even bones up to 1 inch in diameter. It might surprise you that lemon, orange and limes can be put through your disposal and will even help cover odors coming from your sink drain.

The one food that you should avoid putting down your garbage disposal is fibrous foods like corn husks, asparagus, and celery. The fibers from these foods and food byproducts will wrap themselves around the rotating plates of the garbage disposal causing the plates to stop rotating and then possibly disable the motor. That could cause you to need a new garbage disposal.

It is also important to remember that it is critical that you keep cool water running when your disposal is in use. This keeps the food moving through and the rotating plates in the disposal free from friction.

For more information about garbage disposals or disposal service call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing or contact us by email.

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