Land & Property Archives - Page 23 of 27 - Cardinal Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric

3 Ways To Save Money and Make Your Home Merry and Bright During the Holidays

For most people, the holidays need to be planned for all year long. They start setting money aside in January for the holidays in November and December. Lights, food, decorations, gifts, and time off all cost money. But that doesn’t mean that all money-saving should go out the window.

Homeowners can do a few simple things to have an amazing holiday season while still saving some money. Read on to discover the three ways to save money this holiday season.

Use Energy-Efficient LED Lights

It’s about that time of year to start thinking about putting up holiday lights. Many homeowners think about the rat’s nest of old incandescent bulbs in the attic and groan. How many bulbs get used up in a year? How many sections will be dark because of some mysterious issue that seems impossible to find?

The good news is that LED lights can help on more than one front. They are more durable than old incandescent lights, meaning they don’t break easily. It’s also rare for a section to go out. It’s even rare to have a single light out. Plus they can save money on electricity. And it’s no small amount. On average, LED lights use 75% less energy than older filament-based lights.

Get All the Baking Done at Once

One money-saving holiday hack homeowners often overlook is getting all the baking done at once. This eliminates the need for reheating the oven every time a new batch of cooking comes up. Doing it all at once allows homeowners to dedicate one day to baking, only powering up the oven once or twice instead of repeatedly throughout a week or a month. This also frees up time to relax and enjoy the holidays.

To take this even further, homeowners should bake multiple items at once. It doesn’t take too much planning to determine which dishes need to bake at the same temperature. This not only speeds up the total baking time, but it saves money in the long run by utilizing the whole oven instead of only some of it.

Utilize Timers for All Electronic Decorations

One of the biggest ways homeowners run up the energy bill during the holidays is forgetting to turn the lights off. Luckily, this is easily fixed. A simple programmable timer allows homeowners to set it and forget it. But setting it correctly is also a way to save some money. Setting the timer to switch the lights on at sundown is a start. Plus, instead of leaving the lights on all night, it’s a good idea to set them to turn off shortly after bedtime.

But the outdoor lights aren’t the only ones that can benefit from this. It’s also easy to get any indoor decorations on a timer. With timers, there’s no way to forget about turning off any of the decorations and running up the energy bill.

About Cardinal Heating and Air Conditioning

The experts at Cardinal Heating and Air Conditioning have been happy to serve Sun Prairie, WI, for 35 years. They always dispense honest advice, provide upfront pricing, and perform quality workmanship. They have fast, friendly service and excellent customer service for heating, AC, plumbing, and electrical. Call now for their fantastic electrical services!

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Solve These Heaters Issues Now, Before Winter Is in Full Swing!

For many homeowners, the days slide past quickly. Summer turns to autumn, and then autumn turns to winter before they’ve had a chance to prepare. Unfortunately, all sorts of problems can come with heating systems that have been collecting dust all year. This is why it’s a good idea to check for common heater issues before the cold sets in. Read on to discover what to look for as the days start to grow colder.

Blowing Cold Air When the Heater’s On

One of the easiest (and most unpleasant) ways to know that a heater is malfunctioning is a lack of hot air from the vents. The first thing homeowners should check if this is the case is the thermostat. The fan control should be set to “auto,” the heater on, and the temperature at the appropriate number.

Another common issue that can cause cold air to blow when the heater is on involves the flame sensor. If this part becomes dirty, it can malfunction. Often, homeowners will turn the heat on, feel warm air for a few moments, and then only cold air. A dirty flame sensor usually causes this, and could lead to air pollution in the home.

Mysterious Noises

No heaters operate silently. But, there are normal noises and abnormal ones. It’s the latter that homeowners should look out for. These can range from squealing, rumbling, bumping, hissing, grinding, rattling, and popping. The severity of the issue depends on the specific sound. For instance, grinding often means a motor problem, while rattling may signal a loose panel.

Below are some common sounds and the issues that may be causing them.

Squealing – Usually an issue with a belt. Belts can slip and cause noise, or they can get old and need replacement.
Popping – When heard near vents, this is usually caused by vent expansion as they heat, which is normal.
Thumping – Often a sign that the blower wheel or the motor has become unbalanced.

Pilot Lights Should Be Blue, Not Yellow

Another common cause of home heater issues is a problem with the pilot light. Those homeowners experiencing trouble should visually inspect their pilot light. A blue pilot light is normal, while a yellow one is not. Pilot lights can also turn green and red, none of which are normal. This is typically caused by a dirty air intake valve or contamination of the gas in a furnace. A yellow pilot light may mean a carbon monoxide leak, which needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Homeowners who notice that their pilot light is not blue are advised to immediately shut off their gas and furnace and call an HVAC technician. It may be caused by something as simple as dirt or too much air, but it’s better not to take chances in these situations.

About Cardinal Heating and Air Conditioning

Cardinal has been serving homeowners with pride since 1984. They provide honest, upfront pricing on every job. Their techs are clean, professional, friendly, and expertly trained. They’ve also been voted the best heating and cooling company in Sun Prairie five times in a row. Call them now for excellent heater services!

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Understanding the Dire Danger of Backflow

Murky, strange liquids may be standard Halloween fare for witches and warlocks, but homeowners should beware of tainted water in their home. The contamination of a home’s water system often comes from backflow. In this scenario, clean water flows backward in direction for various reasons and pulls dirtied water into the clean water supply. The result is the contamination of the home’s water supply with potentially dangerous substances.

There are typically two causes of backflow: back-siphonage and backpressure. The well-known suspects of causing backflow troubles are toilets, dishwashers, and hosed faucets, waterline main breaks, flooding, and power loss, to name a few.

Backflow waters can contain pesticides, chemicals, and sewage that can greatly impact the home’s safety and the health of its occupants. It’s a dangerous phenomenon that should be addressed by a qualified plumbing expert immediately. Backflow is not a situation to be remedied by a DIYer or handyman for the following reasons.

Backflow Is a Monstrous Mess To Clean Up

Most backflow situations arise from plumbing fiascos. Busted pipes, major water main breaks, and waterline flushing are major plumbing events leading to backflow in a home. As backflow occurs, sewage and chemicals will invade the water supply and the surrounding plumbing system if the event is bad enough.

The average cost to repair a backflow situation runs into the five-figure range and is a time-consuming project that can take months to rectify. The backflow of chemicals can cause the corrosion of pipes and alter the water supply’s color, odor, and taste. If sewage contaminates the line, a thorough clean of the system is needed to make the water safe to use. Preventing the backflow is far easier than the nightmare of fixing a backflow event.

Backflow Is a Major Health Risk

Backflow also poses a significant risk to the health and wellness of a home’s occupants. The chemicals, pesticides, and sewage that often seep into a water source during backflow can cause serious illnesses and side effects. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes that backflow can cause the introduction and growth of harmful microorganisms, germs, and mold into a water source, and cause poisoning or water-borne diseases from sewage contamination. Any backflow incident warrants immediate attention to prevent life-threatening situations.

The Value of Backflow Testing

When it comes to protecting the water supply of a building, backflow testing is essential. If a building is at risk for backflow, it becomes all the more important as a proactive step to prevent it. Backflow testing gauges whether a building needs a backflow prevention device installed. If a device is already installed, testing will verify if it is working or needs to be updated.

A backflow test can be conducted by a certified plumbing professional. The test will verify if the correct checks and valves are in place to prevent and detect backflow. A plumbing professional can then recommend any updates or changes needed to protect a home from backflow.

About Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning

Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning know that plumbing, HVAC, and electrical problems can happen at any time. They know just how stressful home problems can be and are ready to help 24/7. With over 35 years of experience, homeowners can depend on them for backflow testing and certification in Sun Prairie, WI, and the surrounding areas.