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The Pros and Cons of Hydro-Jetting

Hydro-jetting (high-pressure water jetting) services are fast, affordable, and do a wonderful job clearing drain and sewer lines of clogs and obstructions. However, just like with any other type of plumbing service, hydro-jetting is not without its pros and cons. Let’s talk about what hydro-jetting is and the pros and cons of the service in a little more detail.

What is Hydro-Jetting?

Hydro-jetting (high-pressure water jetting) cleans out drain and sewer lines from clogs and obstructions using pressurized water. Plumbers often perform hydro-jetting procedures during drain cleaning jobs and before they do any sewer repair or replacement.

To more easily understand hydro-jetting, we can compare it to pressure washing. Both tools use water under high pressure to clean messes and clear debris. However, hydro-jetting machines utilize water that is under much, much greater pressure than the pressure washers that you can rent/purchase at your local hardware store.

The Pros of Hydro-Jetting (High-Pressure Water Jetting)

The pros of hydro-jetting services include:

  • Hydro-jetting clears stubborn clogs with just water.
  • Hydro-jetting can be done to both commercial and residential drain lines.
  • It can also cut through tree roots that have invaded your sewer line.
  • Hydro-jetting is environmentally safe and green.
  • High-pressure water jetting services will clear the entire drain line rather than just a small section of it (rooter services will only clear an opening as large as the diameter of the rooter augur)

The Cons of Hydro-Jetting

The cons of hydro-jetting services include:

  • Hydro-jetting can be less effective at removing extra serious drain obstructions than rooter or auger drain cleaning services.
  • Hydro-jetting can be too much for older and weaker pipelines to handle
  • It can’t help clear drain lines that have been obstructed by serious damage like a bellied line.

Contact Us for Hydro-Jetting Services Today!

If you think that hydro-jetting services will solve your drainage or sewer problems, then you’ve come to the right place! Here at Brothers Plumbing Heating Air & Electric, we pride ourselves on being the go-to company for hydro-jetting services in the area! So, what are you waiting for? Contact us to schedule high-pressure water jetting services today!

Which Water Heater Works Best For You?

The Brothers can help you decide which water heater works best for you.

Do You Need A New Water Heater?

Chances are you never think about your water heater, that is, until you find the icy water of Antarctica pouring out of your shower head. We’ve all been enjoying a nice, warm, relaxing shower when bam, our water heater runs out of the good stuff. The only thing left to do is suffer through the icy embrace of tap water, right?

No!

If your water heater is no longer keeping up with the demand of your household, then it’s time to find one that will. The only problem is, where do you start looking for a new water heater? The world of water heaters can be exceedingly complicated for what is essentially a metal tank with a fire that heats it.

No to worry! The expert plumbers of Brothers Plumbing, Heating, & Electric are here to guide you through the nonsense and help you find the water heater that best fits your needs.

With proper care and maintenance, new water heaters can deliver reliable service for a decade or more, which means that once you have your new one, you’ll be set for years to come.

How Much Water Do You Need?

When choosing a new water heater, the first thing to consider is its capacity for producing hot water. If you’re only heating water for a single person, yourself, then you may actually be better off using nothing but the sun’s glorious rays to warm your bathwater(no, seriously). However, families of 6 or more will need a water heater that can provide copious amounts of on-demand hot water.

To that end, before selecting a water heater, you will need to determine the amount of hot water your family uses. You can do this by taking the total number of people living in your residence and add 1 to that number. Then take that sum and multiply it by 12. The result is the first-hour rating or the amount of hot water in gallons that a water heater should be able to make during the first hour that a faucet is open.

A tankless(or on-demand) water heater is rated based on the gallons per minute (GPM) that flow from a single faucet. Determine the number of hot water faucets that typically operate simultaneously in your household, and multiply this number by three, the average GPM flow rate of a tap. The result is the heating capacity rating of a tankless unit.

With these few pieces of advice in mind, you should always be able to tell if a water heater can meet the needs of your household.

Which Water Heater Is Best For You

There are several kinds of water heaters. There are conventional heaters, tankless ones, solar ones, heaters that repurpose your home’s heat to warm water, and even some that draw heat from elsewhere to do their job(more on that later). No matter how they do it, all heaters still only have one job, they take water and heat is so that you can soak in a bubble bath without catching hypothermia.

Unless you’re in a unique situation, chances are you will either want to install a conventional or tankless water heater. The former uses fire or an electric coil to heat a massive water tank. The latter does the same, except it does it without the tank. Conventional or traditional water heaters come with a large tank that stores heated water, which requires ample space. Gas models also need additional space for air to circulate around the burner unit. Overall, these models are fairly reliable until they inevitably run out of water. Plus, the operating costs of one are much higher than a tankless one.

If you do not have the space to install a traditional model with the correct size storage tank, your best bet is a tankless water heater. This appliance requires less space because it does not store water. Tankless heaters warm water only when a hot water faucet is open. Although more expensive than standard water heaters, tankless units are more energy efficient as they do not continually heat and reheat water in a storage tank.

What Energy Source is Most Convenient?

Whether you select a water heater with a storage tank or a tankless unit, you will have to decide what energy source it will use to heat the water. Both water heaters can run on electricity, propane, or natural gas. Still, some may be able to run on more, ahem, exotic energy sources.

Solar water heaters, for example, circulate water through pipes that are warmed by the sun before returning it into your home. On the other hand, certain heat pump models can use the constant heat of geothermal energy to heat your water!

Unfortunately, these more eco-friendly(and much cooler) power sources are only available to a select few people. The rest of us have can only pick from what is available to us as public utilities.

Have The Brothers Replace Your Old Water Heater

Once you know how much water you use, which water heater best serves your need, and whether or not you can run yours on volcano power, it’s time to choose a heater. If you’re still unsure which make and model is best for you, call Brothers Plumbing, Heating, & Electricat (303) 468-2294, and get the best advice from the professionals.

For excellent water heater service in Southern California, we recommend General Service Plumbing. They are known for being trusted and reliable Whittier tankless water heater repair experts and we are proud to help direct you to only the best services!

Cost Effective Ways To Cool Your Home This Summer

Cost-effective ways to cool your home this summer banner image featuring a fan and happy kid
Summer is here! With the season comes much warmer days and a likely increase in how much you use your home air conditioning system. However, using your AC isn’t always the most cost-effective way to cool your home. To help you keep yout utility bill low, the cooling experts here at Brothers Plumbing Heating Air & Electric compiled a quick list of a few of the more cost-effective ways to cool your home.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at some easy, affordable, and effective ways you can cool your home this summer!

Learn When To Open Your Windows And When To Leave Them Closed

One of the first things most people do when it gets a little too warm inside is go to the window and throw it as wide open as it’ll go. Unfortunately, that’s not always the best course of action. Sometimes opening your window gives you a nice cool breeze, but other times, all you’re doing is inviting hot air inside. That begs the question: when should you open your windows, and when should you leave them closed?

Well, the easiest way to tell if you should open your windows or leave them closed is to see if it’s hotter outside than it is inside your home. If it’s warmer out, then leave your windows closed. If it’s colder outside, then go ahead and open them to your heart’s content.

Furthermore, keep those blinds and curtains closed if the sun is out! Doing so will help keep the heat out, even if it does make things a little more dreary throughout your home.

Circulate The Air To Help Keep Things Cool

If it’s too hot to open a window or two, then you can help keep your home cool this summer by turning on some fans. Circulating air with fans is a great, simple way to help keep your home cool. It also helps prevent any single room from getting too stuffy. When trying to set up the optimum air circulation system for your home, keep cross-breezes in mind. The goal is to move air from one side of your home to the other with as few obstacles in the way as possible.

Additionally, moving air almost always cools you off, even if it’s the same temperature as your home. It can help wick heat away from your skin. To get a little boost to your self-cooling power, lightly wet your hair or spray a little water on your exposed skin. By adding water to the fan equation, you’re effectively turning your home into a self-contained evaporative air cooler! Sounds cool, right? (pun definitely intended!)

Try Freezing Your Sheets, Clothing, And Anything Else You Can Fit In Your Freezer (Even Your Underwear)!

If you’ve got room in your freezer, then another great way to keep your home (and yourself) cool this summer is to toss your sheets (and any other linens or clothing you like) in there! There’s almost nothing better than getting into a nearly frozen pair of shorts and a set of sheets on a hot summer’s night! Talk about refreshing!

To further increase their cooling power, you can swap out any synthetic or silk sheets and clothing for cotton varieties. Cotton sheets and clothing (especially those of lighter colors) do not retain as much of your body heat, therefore keeping you much cooler overall.

Contact Brothers Plumbing Heating Air & Electric For Air Conditioning Service Or Installation

The best thing you can do to help keep your home cool this summer is to contact us. We offer air conditioner start-up, repair, maintenance, replacement, or installation services. Home air conditioning is, by far, the most effective way to maintain a cool, comfortable home during the summer months. Moreover, getting and using AC doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg! If you’d like to learn more about how our HVAC professionals can help you with any of your AC needs, then feel free to give us a call at (303) 468-2294 or contact us online. We’re open and always standing by to lend you a helping hand!

And, from the team here at Brothers, have a safe, fun, and cool summer!

What’s Involved In Professional AC Maintenance Services?

What's Involved In Brothers' Professional AC Maintenance Services

Sometimes, Amateur Home Maintenance Simply Isn’t Enough

We all know that we should maintain all of our appliances. Still, we rarely find the time or motivation to do it ourselves. Should we pay someone to do the maintenance for us? Well, that feels like cheating. Most of us would rather have our AC break down than pay for someone else to do work we could have done ourselves.

But, can we do the job as well as the pros?

It turns out we can’t.

The average person can, at most, take care of simple maintenance procedures that will keep our AC chugging along. However, it takes a real professional to get our systems back into prime condition. Thankfully the team at Brother’s Plumbing are the kind of people you need for all your AC maintenance needs.

You Can Perform The Basic Maintenance Your AC Needs

Let’s face it, some of us can barely operate the toaster, let alone a precision machine like an air conditioner. The most an inexperienced consumer should ever perform on their air conditioner is basic preventative maintenance. Depending on your level of comfort, this may include:

  • Combing The Vent Fins
  • Replacing the Air Filter
  • Cleaning The Evaporator Coil
  • Cleaning the Condensate Drain

Maintenance of this level should be relatively easy to handle and will only help improve regular performance. If your AC is suffering from any serious problems, only a professional will be able to diagnose your unit.

Professionals Ca Handle The Difficult And Often Dangerous Jobs You Can’t

If you find that your AC seems to be struggling to keep up with your demands despite being well maintained, you should look into calling an expert. A professional technician is perfectly capable of performing any of the regular maintenance you’ve missed as well as the more technical work that it needs. In addition to basic maintenance procedures, your service technician should, at the very least:

  • Calibrate Your Thermostat
  • Inspect The Unit’s Electrical Contacts
  • Lubricate Parts In Good Condition and Replace Worn Ones
  • Cycle The System On And Off
  • Recharge The Refrigerant And Fix Any Leaks

These few inspections are generally enough to keep your AC working and avoid costly breakdowns. However, most service technicians will perform a full 20-point inspection of your AC that should include:

  • Test Capacitors
  • Calibrate the Thermostat
  • Lubricate the Bearing
  • Examine Safety Devices
  • Clean the Indoor Coil
  • Examine the Fan’s Blade
  • Flush the Condensate Drain
  • Clean the Air Purifier
  • Examine the Ducts
  • Check the Condenser Coil
  • Clean the Condenser Coil
  • Examine the Service Valves
  • Test For Burnt Contacts
  • Check For Exposed Wiring
  • Examine Electrical Wiring Connections
  • Examine the Operation Of the Compressor
  • Monitor the Refrigerant’s Operating Pressures
  • Calculate Supply/Return Temperature Differential
  • Calculate the Blower Motor’s Amperage and Voltage
  • Inspect The Electrical Disconnect Box Proper Installation

If you’re not sure what all of that means, don’t worry. You don’t have to know everything about your AC because it is a professional’s job to ensure it is appropriately maintained.

Professional Maintenance Is The Only Way To Properly Service Your AC

We would all like to take care of our repairs, but we have to leave some things to professionals. Unless you plan on joining an AC repair school sometime soon, there is no way for you to take proper care of your air conditioner.

Not to mention that maintaining an air conditioner can be a dangerous job! Between all of the refrigerants, electrical wiring, and fans, there is no shortage of ways that you can hurt yourself.

Instead, it is best to leave most AC maintenance to your local HVAC company. If you think hiring someone to maintain your AC is a waste of money well, then think again! Not only will regular maintenance help prevent breakdowns, but an efficient AC will also help you save on your utility bill. Altogether, you can be sure that maintaining your AC, especially with Brother’s Plumbing, will only save you money in the long run.

Protect Your Family With Cleaner Air!

With so many viruses and allergens, we at Brothers Plumbing, Heating & Electric want to tell you about a piece of equipment we’ve been installing for years, the REME Halo air purification system. We have always recommended air purification systems to those who have respiratory trouble. Still, we are now also recommending the REME Halo air purifier to all homes. So, if you want cleaner air, this is how we recommend you get it.

Numerous studies by universities, independent laboratories, and major corporations have shown that the RGF REME Halo air purification system effectively reduces substantial amounts of surface mold and bacteria. And, other findings included:

  • Effective against H1N1 swine flu with 99+% kill on surfaces
  • 99% of microbes in human sneeze killed at 3 ft
  • 97% airborne bacterial reduction
  • 99% reductions of e Coli, listeria, strep, tuberculosis, bird flu, etc.
  • 85% odor reduction
  • 97% airborne mold reduction
  • U.S. Military approved for mold protection in field hospitals
  • 99% reduction of staph (MRSA)

Live Healthier And Get Cleaner Air With REME Halo Air Purifier

Breathing cleaner air isn’t the only benefit of using an air purifier. By keeping an air purifier running, you can live healthier. Air contaminants can potentially worsen many different health problems, including asthma, headaches, and allergies.

If you feel like air purification services will help you breathe easier, please do not hesitate to call us at (303) 468-2270. Or, for more information, visit: https://www.brothersplumbing.com/heating/air-purification/