We hear about noisy plumbing pipes all the time. With all the moaning and even banging of some plumbing systems, it can sometimes seem like your house is haunted! While there is no such thing as a completely silent heating or plumbing system, a lot can be done to try and minimize the noise.
Here are the main causes of plumbing system noise in the Phoenix area:
Faulty Faucets or Valves
If you turn on a valve or faucet and hear a "klunk" followed by a restricted flow of water from the faucet or valve, you may have a washer or some packing material that has broken off and is actually trapped behind the faucet or valve opening. To fix this type of problem, the water main is usually shut down and the faucet or valve has to be opened up, cleaned out and rebuilt.
Loose pipes:
A very common cause of banging noises is loose pipes that dangle from ceilings or walls. Get some good insulated pipe clips and anchor the pipes to joists or studs safely without stressing the lines. A pipe that's well supported with insulating clips or hangers should be a quieter pipe.
High water pressure:
This is by far the No. 1 reason for noisy water pipes, or water hammer as the noise often is called. Normal home water pressure is usually in the 40- to 70-psi range. Any home with a water pressure of 80 psi or higher needs to have a plumber install a pressure reducer valve on the water main. They also may need water hammer arrestors installed as well. Between the two types of controls, most pipe banging noises can be controlled.
Rainforest Plumbing & Air technicians are trained and qualified to help you with any noisy pipe problems. Just give them a call at 602-ASK-RAIN
Happy Holidays to Everyone!
The holidays are a truly magical time of year when we all get to share in our own unique traditions and spend time with friends and family. There's nothing quite like this
time of year and it's hard to believe there can be a downside to this
special season. But the truth is, crime rises during the holidays,
especially for those who travel and leave their home vulnerable to would
be thieves.
Here are some precautions to take so your home doesn't become a target for these holiday bandits while you're away from home!
1) MAIL - It's a good idea to either have a trusted neighbor retrieve your mail each day, or go to the post office and see if they can hold your mail until you return.
2) PERCEPTION - Make sure NOT to do anything drastically different around your home before you leave. Leave it looking like it usually does. Maybe leave a light or two on. Some people even leave a talk-radio station on in the house to create the perception someone is still home.
3) SHHHH - Keep your vacation plans quiet, especially on social media sites. Criminals use these sites like a catalog, just looking for an opportunity to strike.
4) A TRUSTED FRIEND - One of the best ways to keep your home and property safe while your away is to lean on a trusted friend to either stay there as a house-sitter, or make frequent visits to check on everything while you're away.
5) HIDDEN KEYS - If you have hidden keys around your property for emergencies. Make sure to change the location often and it's a good idea to retrieve them and keep inside if you're going to be away for a few days.
6) ENERGY - This has nothing to do with thieves or burglars, but you can protect your wallet while you're away by adjusting the thermostats to save energy :)
7) SECURITY SIGNS - Make sure to advertise your security system prominently. Most security companies provide both yard signs and window stickers for their customers. If you don't have these, get some! Even if you don't have a security system, get some stickers to give the illusion that you do.
8) VALUABLES - It's recommended to keep valuables like jewelry, cash, etc. in a safe. if you don't have a safe or lock-box, make sure to take extra precautions by hiding these items in a part of the house that an intruder would never be able to find.
9) ALARM COMPANY - most security system providers recommend you call and alert them when you plan to leave. This way, ANY out of the ordinary activity around your property is an immediate red-flag, this allows them to respond quickly.
We hope this simple checklist helps you take the necessary precautions to keep your property safe when you are away. This information provided by Rainforest Plumbing & Air
Here are some precautions to take so your home doesn't become a target for these holiday bandits while you're away from home!
1) MAIL - It's a good idea to either have a trusted neighbor retrieve your mail each day, or go to the post office and see if they can hold your mail until you return.
2) PERCEPTION - Make sure NOT to do anything drastically different around your home before you leave. Leave it looking like it usually does. Maybe leave a light or two on. Some people even leave a talk-radio station on in the house to create the perception someone is still home.
3) SHHHH - Keep your vacation plans quiet, especially on social media sites. Criminals use these sites like a catalog, just looking for an opportunity to strike.
4) A TRUSTED FRIEND - One of the best ways to keep your home and property safe while your away is to lean on a trusted friend to either stay there as a house-sitter, or make frequent visits to check on everything while you're away.
5) HIDDEN KEYS - If you have hidden keys around your property for emergencies. Make sure to change the location often and it's a good idea to retrieve them and keep inside if you're going to be away for a few days.
6) ENERGY - This has nothing to do with thieves or burglars, but you can protect your wallet while you're away by adjusting the thermostats to save energy :)
7) SECURITY SIGNS - Make sure to advertise your security system prominently. Most security companies provide both yard signs and window stickers for their customers. If you don't have these, get some! Even if you don't have a security system, get some stickers to give the illusion that you do.
8) VALUABLES - It's recommended to keep valuables like jewelry, cash, etc. in a safe. if you don't have a safe or lock-box, make sure to take extra precautions by hiding these items in a part of the house that an intruder would never be able to find.
9) ALARM COMPANY - most security system providers recommend you call and alert them when you plan to leave. This way, ANY out of the ordinary activity around your property is an immediate red-flag, this allows them to respond quickly.
We hope this simple checklist helps you take the necessary precautions to keep your property safe when you are away. This information provided by Rainforest Plumbing & Air
Prevent Plumbing Pipes From Freezing and Breaking.
In the Phoenix Arizona area one would think we don't have to worry about freezing pipes, but this is far from the truth. In fact, because we live in such a warm area, we tend not to worry enough about frozen pipes. This is why a hard freeze can sneak up on you and wreak havok on your plumbing and your budget! Depending on where a pipe break occurs, the damage caused by flooding can be extensive and may even require demolition and reconstruction of certain parts of your home or business.
Here a a few ways to prevent pipes from breaking to to freezing temperatures.
1) Cover all exposed exterior pipes and hose bibs with insulating material, here are a few suggestions:
- Wrap pipes and faucets with commercial foam pipe insulation material available at Lowes or home Depot.
- Wrap with bath towels (not recommended in freezing rain conditions)
- Cover exposed pipes and plumbing with cardboard boxes
2) Open cabinets where plumbing is in exterior walls to allow warm air to circulate inside the cabinets.
3) Run your heater more than normal, a little saving on energy is not worth the risk of freezing pipes.
4) Be aware of where all of your plumbing pipes are. Many pipe breaks occur in attics where homeowners didn't even realize they had pipes.
5) Pool equipment is especially exposed. You should cover equipment as you would your plants to prevent freezing. It is also recommended to leave equipment running during freezing night time temperatures.
6) Be aware of the predicted night time temperate for your area. Watch the news or check a reliable weather source on your smart phone so you know when to take precautions.
We hope this information helps you take the necessary measures to prevent pipe freezing and protect your property. If for any reason you experience a broken pipe of any kind, Rainforest Plumbing & Air has 24-7 Emergency services available. Just give them a call at 602-253-9376
Here a a few ways to prevent pipes from breaking to to freezing temperatures.
1) Cover all exposed exterior pipes and hose bibs with insulating material, here are a few suggestions:
- Wrap pipes and faucets with commercial foam pipe insulation material available at Lowes or home Depot.
- Wrap with bath towels (not recommended in freezing rain conditions)
- Cover exposed pipes and plumbing with cardboard boxes
2) Open cabinets where plumbing is in exterior walls to allow warm air to circulate inside the cabinets.
3) Run your heater more than normal, a little saving on energy is not worth the risk of freezing pipes.
4) Be aware of where all of your plumbing pipes are. Many pipe breaks occur in attics where homeowners didn't even realize they had pipes.
5) Pool equipment is especially exposed. You should cover equipment as you would your plants to prevent freezing. It is also recommended to leave equipment running during freezing night time temperatures.
6) Be aware of the predicted night time temperate for your area. Watch the news or check a reliable weather source on your smart phone so you know when to take precautions.
We hope this information helps you take the necessary measures to prevent pipe freezing and protect your property. If for any reason you experience a broken pipe of any kind, Rainforest Plumbing & Air has 24-7 Emergency services available. Just give them a call at 602-253-9376
5-Point Summer Energy Savings Tips
It’s no secret that air conditioning expenses here in Arizona make up a huge part of our monthly budget during the summer. It is amazing the difference you can make by making sure to stay on top of these simple rules:
- Programmable Thermostat – If you don’t have one, get one! It is amazing the difference you can make in energy consumption with a fine-tuned program running your temperature control.
- Temperature Control Timing - Make sure your system is not cooling down your space too much while you’re not at home. Going to be gone for a few days?... don’t be afraid to turn it completely off except during the extremely hot months of summer, then just adjust up to 95. Also, a couple of degrees can make a world of difference. You might be surprised at the savings when you change the thermostat to 79 instead of 77.
- Air Filters - Keep air filters clean so your system doesn’t have to work so hard. Dirty filters are the number one cause of excessive system wear and ice build-up problems. Not only will clean filters reduce your energy bills… they will also reduce service and repair expenses.
- Sufficient Insulation – Make sure your property is properly insulated and there are no gaps or holes around doors and windows that allow air to escape. Fix any issues immediately!
- Strategic Shade – Shade can help a ton on the unit itself as well as the home. Window shade material and strategically placed trees and shrubs can really help reduce cooling expenses, especially on West-facing exposures.
FIVE WAYS FOR YOU TO REDUCE COOLING EXPENSES THIS SUMMER…
There are many tips and tricks for reducing energy consumption and saving money each month. It’s one thing to try and conserve energy and reduce utility bills for a resident in a rental property. But how does that apply to you as a property manager or landlord?
I was having lunch with a friend the other day and overheard a conversation where one person was lamenting their broken air conditioning unit problem to their friend. They were obviously “put out” that their AC unit failed just as soon as the temperatures here in Phoenix started to rise. The friend asked, “ouch, I wonder how much that’s going to cost you?” The person immediately exclaimed, “Hey, it’s not my problem… it’s on the landlord… that’s why I love renting, I don’t have to worry about any of this stuff. Not even the pool!”
It’s important to understand that most renters simply do not care about your expensive equipment and fixtures, they simply see the world in terms of fixed monthly expenses. When it comes to heating and cooling, property managers and landlords need to save money too. Here are a few tips that can help you reduce costly heating and cooling system related expenses:
- Make sure to have a qualified heating and cooling professional perform an annual system tune-up BEFORE the temperatures really start to climb. A qualified technician can make sure your system is clean and ready to go for the summer. This preventative maintenance will extend the life of your equipment and prevent “emergency” service calls.
- Create a relationship with a trusted heating and cooling company. Using the same company for all your heating and cooling repair and/or installation needs is much more efficient. Once a technician knows your system and has a history of past service and maintenance records, they will spend less time diagnosing your problems and less time means less money.
- Put protocols in place to MAKE SURE that filters are getting changed on a regular basis, even if it means going into each unit and replacing the filters yourself. This is not only important to extend the life of your equipment by nearly double, but it will always reduce service calls as well. Dirty filters are the number one cause of ice problems and excessive strain on motors. *note: visiting each unit periodically to replace air filters is also a good way to monitor the way residents are treating your property.
- Keep accurate records of maintenance performed on each heating and air conditioning unit under your management. This will help you take advantage of warranties and make better decisions when faced with the “repair or replace” scenarios. This is another great reason to use the same service provider consistently as they will also maintain necessary records for warranty issues etc.
- When it makes more sense to upgrade or replace a failing unit, make sure to get the highest efficiency rating you can afford in a new air conditioning unit. Sure, this helps your residents too. But a unit that is more efficient, runs less and lasts longer. So high efficiency equipment is a win-win for you and your residents!
I also recommend sending each of your residents a list of things they can do to reduce their cooling energy expenses. Anything a resident does to reduce their expenses will always reduce repair and maintenance expenses for you too! Click here for a great 5-Point summer energy saving tips to pass on to your residents.
-Ike Tippetts, Rainforest Plumbing & Air
Keller Williams approved plumber...
Rainforest Plumbing & Air is a Preferred Vendor of Keller Williams Integrity First Realty.
Rainforest Plumbing & Air has been recognized time and again for its outstanding work in the commercial services industry. In fact, it's likely that you've seen our trucks around town, working at all kinds of restaurants, hotels, offices, and multi-housing properties. As a result, we have a wealth of insider knowledge that we want to pass along to you!
AC Froze Up? Now What?
AC Freezing Up | Air Conditioner Repairs | Clogged AC Drains
AZ, Phoenix, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Peoria, Arizona
There are a number of reasons that can cause your AC unit to freeze up. Air conditioners require unrestricted airflow to keep the area around the cold coil at temperatures above freezing. Warm air recirculated from the home through the return is what keeps the the operating temperature up and prevents the coils from freezing. Without it, condensation builds and AC coils freeze. Dirty air filters and/or closed air registers can impede airflow, it’s a good idea check air filters regularly and make sure the registers have smooth air flow. A freeze-up can also be caused by low refrigerant levels and/or improper fan operation. Low refrigerant levels can actually make the coils run too cold, and a faulty fan prevents air from moving at necessary volumes.
Clogged AC drains and faulty thermostats are also common causes of a freeze ups. In the cooling process, an AC unit collects water condensation in a pan below the unit that drains outside. Sometimes when coils freeze, it causes a blockage of the drain hole in the condensate pan. This can really get messy if your pan overflows and starts flooding into the room or garage. Running an air conditioner with frozen coils can also lead to extensive damage of the AC compressor. This is the most expensive part of an AC unit, and it’s not a repair or replacement expense that anyone is usually prepared for. If your AC isn't running properly and you suspect it may be frozen, it’s probably best to call a certified HVAC technician.
HVAC Repairs - Air Conditioning Unit
Rainforest Plumbing and Air specializes in service and repair for Arizona Mulithousing Communities and commercial properties. We fix all types of HVAC problems for businesses and residents, including AC freeze-ups. We know that the summers in the Phoenix Arizona area can be quite warm… so we respond quickly on any HVAC service call. As a matter of fact, our customers can call us any time day, night or weekend for 24/7 emergency service. As soon as we receive your call, we will quickly dispatch a service technician. Your indoor comfort and air quality is our top concern. Our technicians are both factory trained and certified as well as CrimShield "Crime-Free" certified. Our state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment ensures that you'll be back up and enjoying cool air in no time!
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