Your Guide to Comfort and Efficiency

Now that Labor Day has come and gone, it’s time to think “fall” and get ready for winter. The changing colors and the falling leaves serve as a polite reminder to maintain your plumbing so you’re not left unprepared during the intense cold weather.

Here are some plumbing tips to prevent costly repairs throughout the winter months:

Disconnect outside water hoses - Disconnect and drain to ensure any leftover water has been removed. If left connected, water in the hoses can freeze and expand causing connecting faucets and pipes to freeze and break.

Cover outside faucets using a Styrofoam - These insulation kits can be easily found at home centers. This cheap and affordable option helps protect your outdoor faucets from freezing temperatures and keep the outside cold out.

Clear out your home’s gutters - Clear leaves and debris from outside gutters and downspouts that may block water from flowing and draining. This helps to ensure easy drainage when water freezes and thaws throughout the winter season.

Check your water heater - Testing your water heater can help reduce the chance of a leak caused by mineral and corrosion buildup. Start by setting your water heater’s thermostat to 120°F for optimum performance. Then, test the water heater's pressure relief valve by lifting on the lever and letting it snap back. If hot water doesn’t rush out of the end of the drainpipe, call a professional to have a new valve installed.

Insulate or cover exposed piping - Most homeowners make the mistake of not insulating piping in a garage, crawl space, under your porch, or in another enclosed, but unheated areas. But they are just as vulnerable to freezing as other outside pipes. Avoid frozen pipes in the winter by insulating all exposed pipes unheated areas of your home.

By taking preventative measures with these fall plumbing tips, you can avoid a lot of potential winter plumbing problems. If you still run into plumbing issues during the winter, contact A. Borrelli for quality plumbing repair services.

Purchasing a new home is both overwhelming and exciting all at the same time. As an experienced or first time home buyer, you might not be as aware of the potential problems that can arise in a home. Just because the HVAC system worked during the inspection doesn’t mean it will last.

Professionally maintaining your HVAC system can help you save money in the long run by taking measures to keep your heating and cooling system running smoothly year-round. Enrolling in a residential service program is one of the best ways to stay on top of your heating and air conditioning system's maintenance.

As you settle back into the back-to-school routine and the chilly weather starts lurking in, now is the perfect time to start saving energy at home. Space heating is typically the largest energy expense in American households, making up nearly 45% of residential energy bills.

Here are some tips and tricks to stay warm and comfortable while saving on energy bills.

It can be hard to let go of your old heating system and commit to a new one you hardly know. With the fall and winter season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to assess your current heating system and see if it is time for a replacement. Read on to see the different options available to homeowners to find the best one that fits your needs.

Fall is fast approaching. Cooler temperatures can wreak havoc on your plumbing system is you’re not properly prepared. To prevent a surprise home flooding or big repair bill, undertake these five maintenance tasks in September to reduce the risk of serious plumbing issues that may appear this fall and winter.