Tankless Water Heaters FAQ

Here are some common tankless water heaters questions:

What is a tankless water heater?

Unlike traditional water heaters, tankless ones only heat water as demand, thereby supplying a continuous flow of a hot water.

Can it be installed in the same place as my old water heater?

Yes. They are compact and easy to install, and can be placed into a utility room, garage, basement or other room. They are mounted onto a wall to avoid taking up useful space.

Do they have lower operation costs?

Most have an Energy Factor of .82, while tank water heaters have a .65 EF. A higher EF is one reason why tankless ones cost much less to operate.

Do they work well with hard water?

It’s recommended hard water be softened or filtered, as lime scale can build up in lines with hard water.

Can they be installed in a mobile or manufactured home?

Unfortunately, most can’t and if they are, the warranty tends to be avoided.

Brainerd MN plumber Northern Air Plumbing & Heating can assist you with your plumbing needs. Contact them now by visiting www.NorthernAirPlumbing.com. 

Plumbing FAQ

 Here are some of the more common questions we get about plumbing:

Can’t I just fix my leaky faucet or clogged drain?

Even though the issue might be seem like an easy fix, you may not know everything a plumber does. Plumbers are expert craftsmen at installing and repairing pipes and other plumbing fixtures. They can diagnose and solve all problems related to your water systems.

Isn’t it just better if I install a new sink, toilet or fixture?

There’s no doubt many homeowners are more than capable of handling these jobs. You can even receive instructions from some of the bigger chain stores. For the bigger projects, however, you should have it handled by a professional plumber. You don’t want to wind up stuck in the middle of a bathtub or shower installation.

What can I do about low water pressure?

The loss of pressure could be caused by several things: a malfunctioning shut-off valve, crimped water line or deposits in older pipes. If it’s just you and not your neighbors, it’s probably between the water meter and your house. A qualified plumber will be able to find the problem and inform you about your options.

How do I tell if my toilet is leaking?

Put a few drops of food coloring into the tank. Check the bowl in a few minutes, and if you see the color, then you have a leak.

What’s the best way to unclog my garbage disposal?

Be very careful when attempting to unjam the disposal. Insert into the bottom of the disposal an Allen wrench and crank it to free up the jam. If this doesn’t work, then call a professional plumber to figure out the problem.

Brainerd MN plumber Northern Air Plumbing & Heating can help you with all your plumbing needs. Get in contact with them today by visiting www.NorthernAirPlumbing.com. 

Water Heater Efficiency Tips from Northern Air Plumbing & Heating

Your water heater is the reason you get to have that hot shower every morning. We often overuse this appliance, not even realizing it until it’s too late. At Northern Air Plumbing and Heating of Aitkin MN, we’ve noticed that customers who adhere to the following tips often don’t need water heater repairs as much.

The average water heater last 12 years, but many stop working before that. However, the following tips will ensure that your water heater gets the life it deserves: 

• Frequently checking the pressure relief valve will help avoid costly repairs or a new water heater. It should be located on the unit’s top or side. Place a bucket at the bottom of the pipe. If water doesn’t come out or flow, contact a professional like Northern Air Plumbing & Heating. 
• Drain the tank to expel sediment that may have assembled at the bottom. Be very careful as the water may be hot. Consult your manufacturer’s manual for proper drainage procedure.
• You can save anywhere from 4-9% on heating costs by placing an insulating water jacket around your water heater.
• Another way to save current and future costs is to lower the appliance’s water temperature. This will also slow down mineral and sediment accumulation in the heater and pipes. 

Bid on Sinks & Carbon Monoxide Detectors from Northern Air Plumbing & Heating

Northern Air Plumbing & Heating has teamed up with KKIN Radio to offer the following items for auction at a big discount: 

-          A certificate for a 25” x 22” white molded marble sink. Normally retails for $130, but can be yours for $65.

-          A certificate for a 20” x 22” white molded marble sink. The bidding begins at $136 for this item that normally retails for $275.

-          Carbon monoxide detectors. Retail is $85, but can be yours for $45.

The auction takes place on air every Wednesday morning from 10:03 a.m. to noon. For a full list and more details on the auction, visit KKIN’s auction page. For all your plumbing and heating services in Aitkin MN, visit www.NorthernAirPlumbing.com today.

Northern Air Plumbing & Heating Now Takes Payments Online!

Don’t have the time to mail a check or send in cash? No problem! Northern Air Plumbing & Heating now accepts online payments!

You can pay your bill online with PayPal. To utilize this service, please visit our Make An Online Payment page.

Contact Northern Air Plumbing & Heating today at 218.927.6828 or receive a FREE ESTIMATE for any of your Aitkin air conditioning or Minnesota plumbing needs!

Why Choose Northern Air Plumbing & Heating?

When it comes to your needs for Aitkin plumbing, MN HVAC or Minnesota air conditioning, you have plenty of options.

So, why should you choose Northern Air Plumbing & Heating? We feel our plumbing and HVAC work speaks for itself, but here are a few other reasons why you should make Northern Air Plumbing & Heating your choice for Aitkin residential plumbing or MN commercial HVAC:

• Family owned and local, serving Aitkin MN heating needs for over 18 years
• Licensed, bonded and insured
• We uphold and defer to the Minnesota Plumbing and Building Codes
• ONE YEAR WARRANTY for all work
• We stand behind our workmanship
• We do what is right for your needs
• MN plumbing and Aitkin HVAC for all projects, small to big
• Quality plumbing products and plumbing service for a fair price
• Friendly service with a smile and handshake!

Don’t take our word for all this. Read what our customers have to say about us on our Testimonials page.

Contact Northern Air Plumbing & Heating today at 218.927.6828 or receive a FREE ESTIMATE for any of your Aitkin air conditioning or Minnesota plumbing needs!

Don't Overspend on Your Heating and Energy Cost!

No matter what time of year it is, when it comes to heating and air one of the most standard complaints is the cost. Sure, we want to be cool in the summer and warm in the winter, but we would rather not pay exorbitant prices to do so. As a result, we have products like programmable thermostats, extra insulation, radiant heating systems, solar panels and many other energy efficient items installed in our homes in hopes that we can keep energy costs low and comfort levels where we want them.
Unfortunately, despite our efforts it still seems that energy costs are not getting that much lower. This is often because while we are feverishly working at the things we can see or perhaps know to look for, there are a number of steps we have overlooked. So, to bring those common energy spenders to the forefront, be sure to avoid the following:

• Leaving the furnace or air conditioner salesperson talk us into a larger unit than is necessary. In reality, this actually makes the system inefficient and wastes energy.
• Having a gas or electric comfort system that is not as powerful as it should be; this is especially common in older homes. According to the Federal Trade Commission, an all-electric heating system should have an AFUE rating no lower than 78% and no lower than 75% for gas heaters.
• Not having the ducts checked for leakage when having a new heating and cooling system is installed. If there is air seeping out, then it's money you could be saving!
• Thinking that since heat rises, it is not necessary to use insulation in the attic, this includes not fully insulating the floors over a basement or crawlspace, or between walls and windows.
• Not using ceiling and portable fans to improve the comfort levels. These types of fans use very little electricity and help to keep the air circulating. In most regions of the country, you can actually set the thermostat to 85 degrees and still keep the home comfortable. Just by circulating the air in your home you can set the thermostat 5 degree higher than you normally would.
• Not checking the caulking around doors and windows on a regular basis. If there are any cracks, then you are losing cool/warm air.

A few things to do, to lower energy cost are:

• If you have an older refrigerator, consider replacing it with an energy efficient model. Studies show that older models (pre 1983) actually cost 2-3 times more to use than newer models. Also, if you have a refrigerator in the garage, consider either getting rid of it or moving it indoors as its location alone requires it to work harder to keep cool.
• If you have windows on the west and south side of your home, plant deciduous shade trees and plants as they will help keep out heat during the warm months and help retain heat during the cooler ones.
• Replace traditional light bulbs with CFLs.

Learn more about saving on heating and energy or request a free estimate from Northern Air Plumbing & Heating of Aitkin, MN. 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.