At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air Blog: Archive for May, 2014

Ways to Know You Should Replace Your Air Conditioning

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

Temperatures are starting to climb in Salt Lake City – is your air conditioner up to the task of keeping you cool throughout  another hot summer? Replacing an air conditioner is a big decision, and not one you want to make in haste. Chances are, if your system is ready to retire, it has been giving you some signs it’s ready to go. For over 30 years, At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air has offered air conditioning replacement in Salt Lake City, and through our experience, we have learned some of the telltale signs that your AC is ready to retire.

Is Your Air Conditioner 10+ Years Old?

Ten years may not seem that long for an air conditioner, but estimates on energy efficiency say today’s air conditioners can be up to 60% more efficient than ones from only 10 years ago. Having an AC that is significantly more energy efficient can reduce your monthly utility bill.

Are You Paying for a Lot of Repairs?

As an air conditioner gets older, it can start to breakdown. If you are good about scheduling regular maintenance and are still facing costly repairs, it may be time to look at replacing your air conditioner. At some point, those repairs may total what you would have spent on a new AC that will fare far better over time and be more energy efficient.

Are Temperatures Consistently Inconsistent?

Are you consistently experiencing noticeable temperature differences in various parts of your home while your AC is running? If your unit is more than 10 years old, this can be an indication that the system can no longer keep up with your needs. Stressing an already stressed system by pushing it to cool can result in serious breakdowns and repairs. It may be time to look at an air conditioner that can meet the cooling needs of your home.

Need Help with Your Replacement? Call an Expert

Replacing your existing air conditioner is a big decision and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. Between choices in type, different upgrades and calculating for the right size, there are a number of important factors that go into making the right air conditioning decision for your home.

If you are struggling with your air conditioning replacement in Salt Lake City for any reason, schedule a consultation with At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air today.

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Things to Consider Before Adding a Bathroom Sink

Friday, May 16th, 2014

Adding a new sink to your bathroom is an excellent way to upgrade the space without needing to invest in a full remodel. Bathroom sinks come in a great number of models today which can create a roomier and more beautiful appearance to your bathroom.

You will need an experienced plumber to handle the difficulties of putting a new sink into your bathroom. An amateur job can result in a sink with poor sealing and mounting, leading to leaks and possible collapse. Call for experts in bathroom plumbing in Salt Lake City to handle the addition of a new sink. At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air employs Master and Journeyman plumbers to provide you with the quality work you expect for your home.

Here Are Three Important Considerations For Before Adding A Bathroom Sink:

I. Beneath the Sink: Storage or Space?

You have a large variety of sink types to choose from that go beyond the standard top-mount and bottom-mount sinks. Some sink designs today will maximize available floor space and movement space, such as wall-mount sinks and pedestal sinks. However, these models will reduce storage space and have fewer surfaces for placing items. Other sinks allow for additional cabinets and storage, but will take up more of the floor. When choosing a new sink, balance out your needs for storage vs. your need for additional floor a movement space.

II. Location

Do you like the location of your current sink? If you’ve found it in an inconvenient spot relative the shower, the toilet, and the door, then consider having it moved to a new place in the bathroom. This will involve additional plumbing work, but it may be the key to making your bathroom an easier space to use, as well as a more attractive one.

III. Plumbing Replacement

When replacing a sink in a bathroom, you can simply have the new sink attached to your current plumbing; a skilled plumber will have no difficulty doing that. However, you may consider replacing the drainpipe as part of the sink replacement. Sometimes this is advisable for a new sink to better accommodate its operation and increase its efficiency (i.e. reduce the chances of clogs). If you have older plumbing and aging pipes (pre-1970), it’s advisable to have them changed for newer material.

Adding a bathroom sink can be an enjoyable experience: when you see the many beautiful designs available, you’ll discover how much you can express your own style through just a sink. To make the rest of the job easy, call At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air to handle the heavy work. For excellent service for bathroom plumbing in Salt Lake City, UT, we are one of your best options.

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A Few Things to Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

Tuesday, May 6th, 2014

A garbage disposal makes life in a kitchen much easier. Instead of separating out excess food into a composting bucket when cleaning the dishes, you can simply scrape the organic waste down into the disposal, flip the switch near the sink, and like magic the food vanishes.

However, a garbage disposal isn’t magic: it cannot handle anything placed into it. Unfortunately, people often treat it as if it could, and this leads to the majority of garbage disposal malfunctions. To help you keep your kitchen’s disposal in good shape, look over this list of items that you should never put down it.

If you need repairs for a garbage disposal, call for a professional plumber in Salt Lake City from At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air. From garbage disposals to sump pumps to whole house repiping, we’ve got your plumbing covered.

Never put the following down a garbage disposal

Your hand: This should be obvious, but just to be on the safe side: don’t put your hand down the garbage disposal for any reason. If you need to unjam the flywheel, have a plumber take care of it.

Inorganic waste: Only organic material should go into a disposal. It’s not a garbage can, so put paper, matches, plastics spoons, bottle caps, etc. in an actual garbage can. Nothing will damage the mechanics of a disposal faster than a loose piece of metal crashing around inside it.

Solid organic waste: I.e. “anything you can’t chew.” If your teeth can’t handle it, your garbage disposal can’t either. So place all chicken bones and unpopped popcorn kernels in the trash.

Liquid fat, oil, and grease: Collectively known as “Liquid F.O.G.”, these substances are the #1 enemy of garbage disposals everywhere. Although these liquids looks harmless going in, each changes into a waxy solid when it dries. This will clog drainpipes and jam up the disposal until its motor burns out. Remove all liquid F.O.G. to a separate receptacle and place them in the trash.

Please keep in mind that any repairs for a garbage disposal that go beyond hitting the reset button at the bottom of the unit should only be done by trained plumbers. Avoid the temptation to reach your hand into the disposal to try to dislodge it! Instead, pick up the phone and call a Salt Lake City, UT plumber who can fix the problem quickly and safely.

You can receive plumbing assistance 24-hours a day from At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air. No matter the trouble, our expert plumbers can handle it.

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