Give Your Sump Pump a Little TLC

Thunderstorms can be very destructive, as we all know. Wind and heavy rains can do quite a bit of damage to any home and the basement is no exception. The unsung hero keeping your basement flood free and dry is the sump pump. Generally, this workhorse plugs along with very little thought from the homeowner. When it does receive attention it is usually because it has a problem and the basement is flooding! Don't get caught in this situation by giving your pump a little TLC from time to time.
The first thing to consider is a temporary power outage. Unfortunately, a common companion to a severe storm is power failure. This is the worst time to have an outage! Copious amounts of water are raining down and this water needs to stay out of your home. If the power outage is severe, you might be without electricity for days or weeks. Frantically running around looking for a solution while your basement fills with water is no fun. Be prepared ahead of time and have a backup system in place. This might consist of something as straight forward as a generator and having reserve fuel on hand. Or maybe you install a small solar array with batteries so that you can have power on an indefinite basis. This option is particularly appealing with the current tax reduction incentive that the federal government is offering. Spend a little money now and avoid the enormous expense of repairing a flooded basement.
Second, inspect your pump from time to time. Examine the components and look for wear and tear. Pumps do not last forever and replacing one before it fails will put you way ahead.
Third, inspect the basin periodically for debris. Over time debris and small objects can find their way into your sump pump basin. These objects can become lodged in the pump and disrupt the pump's on/off switch. This can lead to pump failure as the pump end up running far more frequently than necessary. Be proactive and remove debris from your sump pump basin periodically. On a related note, don't install a pump in a basin with a dirt or gravel bottom as these can lead to debris problems as well.
Finally, even if nothing is wrong with your pump, you might want to consider replacing it every five years. Although they can last longer than this, replacing it before failure is a cheap insurance policy!
Hopefully, these tips can help you avoid a wet basement. Now, enjoy the next thunderstorm that passes through instead of worrying about your sump pump!
For more information on sump pump repair, sump pumps, or any plumbing needs visit www.NorthernAirPlumbing.com or call 218.927.6828
Article independently authored by Eric Parish. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

What to Do If You Smell Natural Gas in Your Home

Someday you might be sitting and quietly reading a book when the pungent odor of rotten eggs assaults your nose. Uh-oh! You have gas leaking from somewhere. Time to do a little investigation.

If the smell of gas is extremely strong and abundant you have a very serious problem and should exit the house immediately and then call 911. A home full of gas could explode. However, as is more common, the smell will be rather subtle and it is perfectly acceptable to attempt to locate the source. Be warned, do not use a lighter, matches or any other fire to find the leak. Doing so can cause the gas to ignite. Yes, people have done this - don't be one of them.

First, check your stove to make sure all of the burners are turned off. It is not uncommon for a knob to be bumped and allow small amounts of gas to escape.

Next, check the pilot light on your water heater. Gas might be escaping from this point as well if it has gone out. Relight the pilot light according to your water heater's instructions.

If the stove and water heater are okay, try to localize the smell by the very sophisticated sniff test. Continually sniff the air in the area and keep moving to the sections where the smell is the strongest. Eventually, you are likely to end up looking at a section of gas line or a gas line joint.

You can test the line by applying liquid dishwashing detergent over the entire section or joint. Wait a couple minutes and look for bubbles. There isn't a leak if bubbles don't form. Try another joint or section until you locate the source of the gas.

Turn off the valve allowing gas to flow into this section of the gas line. If you are comfortable with the task, repair the line yourself. Otherwise, call in the pros.

During this process it is a good idea to open up windows to allow the gas to vent out of the house. Also, don't turn on any appliances or lights as this could cause the gas to ignite. This is a more remote possibility but there is no reason to tempt Fate.

Finally, a bit of trivia. The rotten egg smell is an additive to the gas as a safety measure. Natural gas by itself is odorless. With these simple tips you can quickly diagnose a leak and turn off the gas in order keep your home safe and allow for a proper repair. Happy sniffing!

For more information on services or maintentance of your natural gas heat, please visit Northern Air Plumbing or call 218.927.6828.

Article independently authored by Eric Parish. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

6 FAQ's About Radiant Heating

If you are considering an alternate heat sources for your home then there are several choices. You may opt for geothermal units, solar heating, tankless water heaters or radiant heat. If you have been thinking about ways to improve your energy usage, then consider these frequently asked questions regarding radiant heating.

1. What is the difference between radiant heating and traditional forced air heaters? Radiant heaters are as much as 40% more efficient as it gently warms the solid surfaces in the room resulting in the air becoming warmer.
2. Will this heating method harm my wooded floors? As long as the building is energy efficient, then under floor heating will not harm the wooden floors. While in years past, radiant heating was not recommended, today's buildings are better built and have the proper insulation to accommodate radiant heating. However, if you have an older home, it would be wise to have professional look at your floors/insulation and determine if radiant heating would be a good idea.
3. Is it possible to combine this method of heating and conventional air conditioning? Yes. However, if this is your choice, it is best to have both systems installed at the same time. Typically, the recommended form of air conditioning is a system that is installed in the attic. It is not recommended that you combine a forced air system with a radiant system (one for heating and one for cooling) as this is not only more expensive, but is not as comfortable in regards to the temperature of the home and the quality of the air. In fact, only 5% of the heat transfer is by convection, ensuring cleaner air than traditional energy sources.
4. Do flooring materials such as carpet, tile or wood have any effect on how well this system works? Ceramic tile, wood and linoleum are great for conducting heat; however, carpet is thicker so it takes more energy to heat through the carpet into the room and often results in heat loss below the house. However, in multiple story homes, carpet is good for the upper stories as the "heat loss" will simply go to the floor below.
5. Can this form of heating have specific zones and how many controls are possible? As a rule of thumb, each floor is its own zone and will have its own control.
6. What type of quality of living features does a radiant heating system offer? Not only is the air cleaner with a radiant heating system, but additional benefits are more even heating throughout the home with no dry heat or hot air drafts to cause shifts in humidity and temperature, the ability to arrange your furniture in any formation you want without regard to where the vents are, the system is quiet so you don't hear it "click" on or off and a radiant heat system will last considerably longer than a forced air system as it is corrosion, impact, crush and pressure resistant.

For additional information on the topic of radiant heating visit Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Article independently authored by Janet M. Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Keep Your HVAC Heating and Cooling System Well Maintained

Even in the Depressed Economy

With the advent of winter and colder temperatures quickly approaching, inevitably many home owners will experience a broken furnace or HVAC system. Without a source of heat to provide warmth it is not only uncomfortable, but down right dangerous. Many older homes will often have more drafts and leaks than a newer home will.
As the economy and home owners continues to remain financially depressed, home owners are constantly on the lookout for the best way to stretch the U.S. dollar. For many home owners retrofitting with new types of insulation or remodeling is not a financially feasible option. Doing nothing, however, is an unwise decision.
The alternative can be a scary scenario. Every year multiple deaths are reported and attributed to freezing temperatures. When an individual succumbs to severe hypothermia, the risk of cardiac arrest is extremely high. Although this is a very sobering thought, it is none the less a real possibility.
The best defense is a good offense. Every home owner and family should be proactive with regards to the home's heating in the winter months. Preventative maintenance is always a necessity, but nowhere is this more important than in regions which experience single digit temperatures, such as Minnesota. Having the furnace or other heating source inspected before extreme colder temperatures arrive is paramount to ensure that the HVAC system is working at an optimum level.
"Before" is the operative word. Left unchecked a furnace or heat pump, which may normally be in passable enough condition to provide protection from mildly cooler temperatures, is severely taxed when the temperature drops near the freezing point. Should the HVAC system fail in the middle of a cold spell it is quite likely that it could be at least a couple of days before it is possible for any service company to arrive. The worst case scenario is to be snowed in when the system fails. By this time it may be too late. Individuals at greatest risk of succumbing to extreme temperatures are the elderly and the young.
Because HVAC systems are not always strictly electrical, but often use re-circulated water as a heating source, many plumbing companies also specialize in heating and cooling. Finding a service company which offers a wide range of services can provide the convenience of a one-stop solution for the home owner. Some of these companies may offer reduced rates per service call when an annual service contract is set up, which can benefit both parties.

For additional information on the topic of heating and plumbing visit Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Radiant Heating - How Hydronic Heating Methods Are More Efficient Than a Furnace and Electric Heat

With all of the hectic day to day stress that a home owner experiences finding a reliable company which can service multiple major systems of a home is invaluable. Home owners may think that it is unusual for a plumbing service company to also handle heating and cooling systems and equipment. In all reality air and water are almost identical in the way each behaves, as both are fluids. With each utility having similar properties, it is no surprise an HVAC company will very often handle plumbing and plumbing repair service requests.
In many homes throughout the country, usually found in northern climates, hydronic heating, one of the most efficient methods, is used to heat the home during cooler weather. Hydronic heating is the use of hot water being circulated through a series of pipes and allowing the heat to dissipate into the living quarters. Most commonly this is seen as units resembling base board heaters and even radiators.
Much like the radiator in a vehicle, there are metal fins lining the interior of the metal housing in baseboard heating fixtures. The fins provide a greater amount of surface area for the heat from the hot water to be shed instead of simply relying on a basic pipe. In addition to this, it is also possible to run a series of tubes under the floor, inside the walls or within the ceiling. Running tubes of circulating hot water through the floor or ceiling is one type of radiant heat. There can also be electric radiant heat systems, but are not always as energy efficient as hydronic heating.
Unlike forced heat, which is the most common heating method found throughout the country, the rooms are warmed from the top down. If the home owner were able to walk on the ceiling, this would be a very efficient and comfortable way to heat the home. Radiant heat, when installed in the floor, heats the rooms from the floor up. Because heat rises, all of the heat and energy from the radiant heat is felt at the bottom half of the room, which is where home owners spend all of their time.
Irregardless of the placement of the piping or radiators, all hydronic heating systems need a boiler, normally kept in the basement, which heat the water. Boilers can either be fueled by natural gas, propane, oil or electricity, with oil and gas being the most common. With just one utility such as heating requiring water, oil, pipes or gas, it can easily be understood why an HVAC company would also need to be versatile by being knowledgeable and experienced with plumbing.

For additional information on the topic of heating and cooling visit Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Home Comfort System

If you are thinking about making some changes to your heating or cooling system, then you may be surprised at just how many choices are available today. No longer is it simply a matter of wood stoves/fireplaces, coal, gas or electric. Today's choices range from geothermal heating and cooling or solar powered systems, basic gas or electric heaters to radiant heat or basic window or room heaters or air conditioning units to humidifiers and dehumidifiers. So, with the many home comfort system choices available, how can you determine what will be best for your home?
In addition to the many types of systems available, you will also want to think about the region of the U.S. you live in. After all, if you live in the northeastern part of the country then your summers are typically cooler and your winters much more severe than those experienced by families in the southwest, and for folks in Florida the humidity level is different than for those in Michigan. Before making a decision, be sure to talk to several people (preferably those who have a residence similar to yours) and see what they have found to be most effective for their home. Then, as you begin your quest, here are several key factors to keep in mind:

1. Does anyone in the home have any allergies or asthma? Do you have indoor pets, especially those known for shedding a great deal? If so, then a whole house air cleaner can help remove any unwanted dust particles and allergens as well as any pet dander. Look for a comfort system with an air filtration system that removes 99% or more of them. Once the system is installed, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding how often the filter(s) need to be changed.
2. Are you hoping to lower your energy costs with the new comfort system? Since this applies to us all, then make sure that the system you are considering has an Energy Star rating. Not only will these products save you money over the course of time, but most of them come with government rebates.
3. What types of materials are common for your flooring and furniture? If you have a great deal of wood, then you will want to consider a whole house humidifier in order to add moisture back in the air and protect the wood floors.
4. How big is your home? Make sure you have the dimensions, not just for your home, but for each room, so that you can get the most from your comfort. One that is too big will cost more to both purchase and use, while one that is too small will be inefficient and have to run too hard to have any money saving value.
5. Does your family constantly adjust the thermostat? Be sure to choose a system with a programmable thermostat so that you can set the temperature to suit the needs of particular day, time of day, or other consideration.

For additional information on the topic of heating and air visit Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Article independently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Is Radiant Heating Right For You?

There are many ways available to keep your home warm, so it is a given that some are more energy efficient than others. After all, there is the traditional fireplace, coal burning heaters, wood stoves, electric heat and radiant heat. Yet one of the most energy efficient methods, radiant heat, is perhaps one of the most unused, despite having been around since the days of the early Romans.
History shows that the early Romans used radiant floor heat as a form of central heating for their villas and baths by directing flue gases from beneath the stone slab floors. However, this method of heating ultimately became obsolete, until the early 20th century when it was rediscovered and then adapted by modern science so that hot water was run through the iron or copper pipes. In fact, when Frank Lloyd Wright began designing houses, he frequently employed radiant heating.
As with any "new" thing, it took time for radiant heating to become more standard, but today there are many companies that specialize in the installation and maintenance of this energy efficient method of heating one's home. And, despite claims by more traditional heating methods that assert as much as a 92% efficiency rating, a radiant heat system is actually 30-40% more efficient than forced-air heating systems. This is due to a simple law of science: hot air rises and cold air falls. Consequently, radiant heat rises up from the floor heating the air from the bottom up, then during the warmer months the system is combined with an attic mounted air conditioning system so the air is cooled efficiently and effectively-saving the homeowner money!
If you are building a new home, or merely thinking about upgrading your current home heating system, think about these reasons for using radiant heat:

• Consistent warmth throughout the home because heat loss from occupants is reduced as the higher temperatures are nearer to the floor while cooler temperature are at ceiling level.
• More effective use of energy as the rooms are not pressurized and allowing air and heat to seep out.
• Temperatures stay even throughout the home as you can set the temperatures based needed heat levels. Also, because the heat is dispersed through the floor, there is no need to have the furniture set up a specific way to allot for air vents.
• Radiant heat is quiet. Because the heat is produced by water moving through pipes in the floor, there is no need for the system to make any noise when the heater "kicks in". The only sound comes from the burner in the boiler.
• Miniscule amounts of bad air as only 5% of the heat is transferred by convection. This means that there is no dust, odors, germs or allergens being dispersed throughout a building.
• Durability is perhaps the greatest benefit of radiant heating thanks to PEX tubing that is used in installation. It will last for years and requires little or no maintenance.

For additional information on the topic of radiant heat systems visit Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Article independently authored by Janet M. Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.