Fuse Box Maintenance: An Inside Guide to Safer Homes

Three Things To Know About Your Boiler

Living in colder climates, having a properly working air and heating unit is convenient and necessary. With frigid winters averaging temperatures ranging in the single digits and the lake effect adding to the chill, it’s imperative for homeowners that their heating system is properly working.

A critical facet of central heating is the boiler. It is a high priority for homeowners to understand how their home boiler system works to see if anything is off or needs to be replaced before winter settles in. Read on to learn boiler mechanics, types of boilers, and proper upkeep.

How Does a Boiler Operate?

Boilers receive their heat from three different sources: gas, oil, or electricity. Whichever type of temperature sensor a home has will send a signal once the temperature has dropped. There is a combustion chamber with both gas and oil boilers where the oil or gas is heated up. Once the oil has reached a high enough temperature, it will heat copper piping, which heats the water.

As the water warms up, it disperses steam throughout the heating system, which in turn warms the air (and sometimes water) as it exits the vents in the home. The electric boiler works similarly, except it uses (as the name indicates) electricity to heat the water into steam and disperses the steam, which then exits vents and warms the air, same as gas and oil boilers.

Is There More Than One Type of Boiler?

Like any other appliance, there are multiple options to choose from depending on the homeowner’s priorities and needs when it comes to boilers. Whether a homeowner is looking for an energy-efficient electric option, a natural gas or oil option, a combination of the two, or even a boiler that heats the water as well as the home, here are six different selections to choose from:

The steam boiler
The hot water boiler
The natural gas boiler
The electric boiler
The oil boiler
The condensing boiler

What Kind of Maintenance Does a Boiler Require?

It is best to divide boiler maintenance into daily, monthly, and “now and then” tasks for the homeowner. Day by day, maintenance of boilers is simply observational. Make sure there is no water spillage. Keep an eye out for any error codes that may pop up and make a note of them to share with a professional service person.

Check the area surrounding the boiler, the vent termination, and combustion air openings for anything that may be causing congestion within or around it, such as ice, snow, dirt, leaves, or any other debris. Homeowners should also keep their ears open for any unusual sounds coming from the boiler.

Every month, closely examine the following: combustion air piping, flue gas vent piping, relief valve discharge pipe, boiler relief valve, condensate drain line, PVC fittings, drain system, and drain taps. If there is leakage or blockage, call a professional. Bi-monthly or every 3 months, it is important to plan for a professional to come out and inspect low water cutoff to ensure it is in working order.

Though not always possible, homeowners should examine the burner flame and take note for a professional service person if it looks “off” or abnormal. Finally, closely inspect boiler hydronic piping for any water discharge.

About Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning

Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning has been in business for close to four decades providing service to Sun Prairie, WI. They employ highly qualified technicians who provide quality service tailored to each individual customer’s needs and budget. Contact them to schedule boiler service today!

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Signs the Water Heater Needs Help This Winter

Wintertime is probably the last time that homeowners want to be running into issues with their water heaters. From hot cocoa to warm baths, there’s plenty of things homeowners depend on in the wintertime to help with the cold. The last thing they want to have to deal with is trying to find a plumber amidst a plumbing emergency. That’s why homeowners need to establish a trustworthy plumber before they desperately need one. Thankfully, there are a few things they can look out for to help prevent a water heater disaster and make sure they stay cozy all winter long.

Is the Hot Water Pressure Lower than Usual?

Gauging water pressure is one way to determine if a water heater and plumbing system are functioning properly. If homeowners notice that the pressure is weaker when they turn on the hot water, they may have issues with the water heater or plumbing system.

Here are a few things that could be causing issues with hot water pressure:

Faulty water heater: Lower water pressure when running hot water can signify that the water heater is no longer functioning properly.
Frozen pipes: Frozen pipes are also a possible cause of hot water issues. When the water in the pipes freezes, it can block the water flow.
Cold pipes: Lack of pipe insulation or a poor heating system can cause pipes to become cold in the winter months. This may also cause issues with hot water.

Are There Strange Sounds When the Hot Water Is On?

Person listening closely, emphasizing the importance of identifying strange sounds from hot water systems.

Another telltale sign of the water heater and plumbing system function is sound. If homeowners ever notice that there are unusual sounds when the hot water is running, they should contact a professional to check it out.

Here’s a breakdown of what the different sounds may mean:

Banging: When turning the hot water off and on quickly, homeowners may notice a loud banging sound. This is because a valve opens or closes abruptly, causing the water to rush through, creating a bang.
Creaking: Creaking typically happens with copper pipes. When hot water goes through the pipes, it causes the metal to contract, producing a creaking sound.
Rattling: Rattling is typically caused by sediment build-up in the pipes. This sediment can create a coating within the pipe that will produce air bubbles that make a popping or rattling sound when heated up.

Does the Water Temperature Fluctuate?

Last but not least, a fluctuation in water temperature can be cause for concern. If homeowners notice problems with hot water temperature, there can be a few causes.

Showerhead with water droplets illustrating fluctuating water temperature issues in home plumbing systems.

Underpowered water heater: The water heater may not be producing enough power to heat the water properly. In this case, homeowners should contact a professional to have their water heater assessed.
Incorrect water heater size: If a water heater is not the right size for the household’s hot water demands, this will lead to inconsistent water temperatures. Homeowners should consider asking a professional about what size water heater would best fit their needs.
Faulty valves: Faulty water heater valves may not allow for hot water to consistently flow through the pipes, resulting in inconsistent water temperatures.

About Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning

Located in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning works to provide their customers with a smooth experience from start to finish. With cost-efficient, fast service, their priorities are to ensure their customers get the help they need when they need it. Contact them today for water heater installation in Sun Prairie, WI!

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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.

Person rolling out dough with a wooden rolling pin on a kitchen countertop surrounded by baking ingredients, emphasizing efficient holiday baking strategies.

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!