When you have any type of plumbing work done on your home – whether it is a repair or a new installation – you have a variety of choices to make. One choice, of course, is which of the many Greensboro plumbers you are going to call in for the job. On that point, simply pick Berico and know that you are in good hands.
You’ll also need to decide if you would like to improve your home’s eco-friendly performance while having this work done. Green plumbing is the concept of making small improvements to the way the water system works in your house in order to consume less and help the environment. This type of environmental plumbing is an excellent way to get the performance you need while doing your part for the world around you, as well. This page will take a closer look at this topic and why it’s so important.
An Introduction to Green Plumbing
If you stop and think about it, the way your home utilizes water is likely pretty inefficient. A significant amount of water is used up each time you flush the toilet, for example. Added up over the course of a month, or a year, countless gallons of water are wasted in the average residential plumbing system that could have been saved with a bit of careful planning and through upgrading a few key components.
This is the foundation of green plumbing. More and more people are looking to find ways that they can save water while still having a plumbing system that is able to get the job done. That goal is within reach when green plumbing is employed, and the rest of this page will explain why this is such a worthwhile project and how you can make it happen in your house.
A Number of Notable Advantages
The primary advantage of green plumbing is the way that reduced water consumption can benefit the environment. Modern life places a tremendous strain on the limited water resources we have available, so if every home was able to reduce how much water it went through on a daily basis, the difference would be enormous.
Cutting down on water consumption is far from the only advantage, however. Some green plumbing measures also help to reduce energy consumption – more on that later – so that’s another benefit to the earth that can be enjoyed. Between using less water and using less energy, it’s easy to see how green plumbing can lead your entire household toward having a smaller environmental footprint.
Finally, you might also enjoy a longer useful life out of some of your appliances when you reduce water consumption. When less water is moving through the system, less wear and tear will accumulate, and you should be able to get an extended life span out of some of your components as a result.
Help the Environment – And Save Money at the Same Time
You might be primarily motivated to explore green plumbing because of the environmental benefits, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the financial savings that will come along with it. In fact, you can go a long way toward offsetting the cost of the plumbing upgrades when you start to see savings on your utility bills moving forward.
Using less water simply means you will spend less on that resource month after month. Cutting down on your water bill is a great start, and if you include upgrades that reduce energy consumption, you can reduce the size of that bill, as well. Even if these savings are modest at first, they just keep coming month after month, and the cumulative effect over the coming years will end up being significant.
You could also wind up saving some money by avoiding plumbing repairs after you upgrade your system. Once many of your fixtures have been replaced by new, green fixtures, you’ll be well-positioned for potentially many years of hassle-free plumbing performance.
Types of Green Plumbing Fixtures
So, what kinds of upgrades to your plumbing system will fall into the category of “green plumbing”? There are many to consider, including those listed below –
- Low-flow toilets. If you were to break down the water consumption in your home, you would likely find – perhaps to your surprise – that your toilets are the main water usage feature. An inefficient toilet can use several gallons of water in just one flush, so you can easily imagine how that will add up over time. Upgrading to low-flow toilets can save more than 10,000 gallons of water in your home in just one year!
- Low-flow showerheads. While your toilets might lead the way in terms of water consumption, your showers aren’t far behind. This is particularly true in a home with several family members. Adding low-flow showerheads will cut down on the volume of water that is used during showers, without any significant loss of performance. You’ll be able to get just as clean in a shower with a low-flow head, and you’ll be saving water – and money – at the same time.
- Tankless water heaters. While this is a bigger investment than a low-flow toilet or showerhead, making the switch to a tankless water heater is a great way to make your plumbing system far more green. The value here is found in the reduced energy consumption of the tankless system. Rather than continuously using energy to keep a big tank of water warm, tankless models only heat the water when you are going to use it, meaning significant energy savings are enjoyed. There is also a functional benefit to tankless water heaters that shouldn’t be ignored – since there is no tank and the water is heated on demand, you won’t run out of hot water during a long shower or an extended dishwashing session.
If you would like to have some green plumbing fixtures added to your home, or if you simply have some repairs that need to be made, Berico should be your first pick. Give the friendly Berico team a call today and get started on this important project.
Will Your Furnace Run Without a Filter?
/in Articles/by William HammerIf you are looking for help with a furnace installation project, or if you need heating repair, Berico is the ideal pick for that job. Thanks to a history that dates back generations, Berico is a proven leader in the market and is the easy choice for all of your HVAC needs.
The Simple Answer is Yes
To answer the question posed in the title of this article, yes – your furnace will run without a filter. If you were to take out the filter and then turn on the unit, it would run, and you might not even really notice a difference at first.
There is, however, a big difference between asking “Will your furnace run” and “Should your furnace run” without a filter. Yes, it will run, but no, it should not. The filter is an integral component in the system, and you absolutely do not want to run the furnace without one.
A Number of Problems Await
If you were to decide to run your furnace without a filter, you would almost certainly run into problems very quickly. For starters, you will have dirt and debris pulled into the furnace system from the air return, and those particles are going to start to collect on key components like the blower motor and heat exchanger. It is the job of the filter to prevent that buildup from occurring, so with no filter in place, things inside the furnace would get dirty and it will soon struggle to work as well as it did previously.
You will also notice that the air quality in your home goes down dramatically when the furnace doesn’t have a filter. A large volume of air is moved through the furnace each day during the cold season, and if that air isn’t filtered, you are going to notice problems like allergy symptoms, dust accumulating on surfaces, and more.
A Simple Problem to Solve
Fortunately, there really isn’t any reason to run your furnace without an air filter in place. Purchasing a new air filter is a low-cost investment that will more than pay for itself in terms of the lasting performance you wind up getting out of the unit. And you don’t even need to pay a professional to install the filter, as this is an easy DIY task. Just pick up a new filter that fits your system, put it in place, and provide your furnace equipment with the protection that it needs. An even easier solution is to sign up with Berico’s filter delivery service here: filter delivery service.
Ready to get started with a Burlington furnace repair or installation project? It all starts with a call to Berico. Get in touch today to learn more and schedule your appointment.
Why Your Furnace Might Be Short Cycling
/in Articles/by William HammerThose experts are the professionals at Berico. Offering the best HVAC repair Eden has to offer, and for excellent prices, Berico will always impress no matter what project is at hand. Call today to get started.
What is Short Cycling?
The term “short cycling” refers to a situation in which your furnace is turning on and off more frequently than it should. Furnaces are designed to complete a full heating cycle each time they kick on, which is the most efficient and effective way for them to work. If you notice that the system seems to be going on and off more often than it used to, short cycling is taking place and there are a number of potential causes to consider.
Start with the Air Filter
One of the easiest places to begin looking for a cause of short cycling is with the air filter. If it has been a while since you replaced the air filter in your furnace, it may be clogged up and restricting the airflow through the system. This will lead the furnace to overheat, and it will shut itself down as a result. Obviously, the fix here is to replace your air filter, and that might be all it takes to get back to normal operation.
Check the Thermostat
You could also be dealing with problems with your thermostat. If you have had the same thermostat for many years, that old unit might be malfunctioning and giving the system inaccurate readings as a result. When the thermostat readings are off, it can send signals to the furnace to turn on or off more quickly than it would have otherwise. Replacing your thermostat with a modern programmable one is an affordable and easy upgrade.
Is Your Furnace the Right Size?
Believe it or not, another potential problem that can lead to short cycling is having a furnace that is too big for your home. With a large furnace, you’ll have more heating power than you need, and the spaces might get warm before the heating cycle has had a chance to finish. This is why it’s important to work with a proven HVAC contractor to install a new furnace to make sure the unit you have installed is the right size for your property.
Do you need Eden heating repair that will get the job done properly without breaking the bank? Berico is the answer, and you can place a phone call now to ask any questions you may have or schedule your first appointment. It’s always important to work with a qualified HVAC contractor and they don’t get any better than Berico!
Why More Greensboro Homes Are Switching to Propane for Heat
/in Articles/by William HammerIf you decide to make the switch to propane, or you already use propane and need a reliable residential propane delivery company on your side, Berico is the easy choice. Get in touch today to learn more.
Reliable Performance All Year Long
When heating your home, the one thing you want more than anything else is reliability. You simply want to be able to set your thermostat and know that your system is going to keep the home at the right temperature day and night. With propane, that’s exactly what you’ll get. Some other types of systems, such as electric heating, can struggle to get the job done when the weather gets particularly cold, but propane will have no such issues.
Enjoy Excellent Value
As the winter months add up, the cost of keeping your home warm can start to accumulate. Again here, propane looks like a great pick, as it is an affordable option with steady prices. If you look at the price of propane over time, it tends to be quite stable, so you can plan on paying a reasonable rate for your heating fuel all winter long. If you have noticed that your current fuel source is getting more and more expensive, it might be time to make a switch.
Serve the Entire Home
You don’t have to limit your propane usage to just heating your house. While that’s a great starting point, there is much more that can be accomplished with this versatile fuel. You may also want to have it run your water heater, stove, laundry machines, and more. Propane is impressively efficient, so you’ll always be getting a lot of performance for the money you put into filling up the tank.
Environmental Benefits
As an added bonus, switching to propane is a smart choice from an environmental perspective, as well. If you would like to lower the overall carbon footprint of your home, go for propane and feel good about the reduced greenhouse gas output of your system as a whole. Even if your primary motivations for making this change are rooted in things like saving money and getting great performance, it’s still nice to know that you’ve done something that will benefit the world around you, as well.
Thanks to excellent furnace efficiency, affordable prices, and many other factors, propane is an outstanding choice for your heating needs. As a local propane delivery company with a history that dates back more than a century, you can always trust Berico to treat you right. Take a moment to reach out today and schedule your first delivery to see what you have been missing!
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Greensboro
/in Articles/by William HammerTaking steps to avoid frozen pipes is important, and will be the subject of the discussion below. Should you need help from qualified Greensboro plumbers to keep your system on track during cold (or warm) weather, reach out to the team at Berico right away.
Insulation is the Key Starting Point
Without a doubt, the best way to keep your pipes from freezing is to add insulation to them wherever you can. There are pipe insulation products meant just for this purpose and the task of wrapping up your pipes is a simple one. Insulating your pipes is going to slow down the transfer of cold air into the pipe and will make it far less likely that one of the pipes will freeze and burst. Reviewing the condition of your pipes and checking out which ones might need to be insulated is a good task to put on your to-do list or if you would like to have Berico take care of this for you, that can be arranged.
Seal Up Cracks and Openings
You can also limit the chances of a frozen pipe by sealing up any cracks or openings that might be allowing cold outdoor air to get in and surround the pipes. Take a walk around your house and look for any small openings that shouldn’t be there – if you can see light coming through a crack, it’s a sure bet that cold air is streaming in, as well. Once you spot some of these openings, use caulk or weather stripping to seal them up, and your pipes will immediately stay warmer and be at less risk of freezing.
Open Cabinet Doors to Keep Pipes Warmer
This is an interesting strategy that just might be able to help you avoid problems with your pipes during cold weather. You are certainly using a furnace to keep the interior of your home warm, but there are no vents inside your cabinets where much of your plumbing can be found. That means those spaces – such as under the kitchen sink – won’t get nearly as warm as the rest of the house. Consider opening up those cabinets for a while so warmer air can circulate and keep the pipes at a higher temperature.
Whether you need to call in Berico for emergency plumbing services or just for a regular repair or installation job, you’ll be met with a friendly team that offers outstanding work for a fair price. There is no reason to keep putting off important plumbing work when Berico is ready to get everything in your home back to proper working order.
Should I Replace a 20 Year Old Furnace?
/in Articles/by William HammerIf you have a Greensboro furnace that may be on its last legs, or if you just want to explore your options, take a moment today to check in with the Berico team. Leaders in HVAC repair and installation throughout the Greensboro area, Berico will never let you down.
The End is Near
Even if your furnace is still running when it hits the 20-year mark, you can be sure that the useful life of this piece of equipment has just about ended. Most furnaces will be able to perform well for around 10 to 20 years, so if you have already gotten 20 years out of yours, consider yourself lucky and start to plan for what is next.
You’ll likely start to notice some issues with the performance of your old furnace if you look closely. Specifically, you may see that your utility bills have started to climb as the furnace gets less efficient and starts to use more fuel. At the same time, it probably won’t be able to achieve the same type of heating performance as when it was younger, meaning you will be paying more and not even getting the results you need.
New Furnaces Offer Plenty of Advantages
Obviously, the cost of a new furnace will be your primary concern when considering this upgrade, but you should know that you stand to gain significantly in a number of areas when you make the move. For one thing, new furnaces are much more efficient than models from a couple of decades ago, so you will use significantly less energy to keep your house warm day after day.
The reliability of a new furnace is also a great selling point. A new furnace can be expected to perform reliably for years to come, and even if a problem does come up along the way, you will have warranty coverage in place that may pay for some or all of the needed repairs. Soon enough, you’ll come to see the investment in a new furnace as a smart move that you maybe should have made a few years ago.
When the calls for furnace repair start to add up and you notice that the time between those repairs keeps getting shorter, it may be time for a replacement. Fortunately, you can work with Berico to decide if your furnace should be replaced, and what modern unit is the best choice for the job. Get started today to enjoy better heating than you have in years!
How to Avoid Emergency Furnace Repairs This Winter
/in Articles/by William HammerThe best way to steer clear of the need for emergency repairs is to have Eden furnace maintenance performed by a talented team like Berico. As a long-time leader in Eden HVAC service, you can be sure that Berico will be ready to handle any challenge. Call now to get started.
Change Out the Air Filter Often
While it might seem like a simple step, one of the best things you can do for the health of your furnace is actually one of the easiest – change the air filter regularly. This is a job that you should be able to handle on your own without bringing in the pros, and air filters are quite affordable, meaning there really isn’t any reason to skip this step.
The exact interval for changing your furnace air filter will depend on how much the system is running and how quickly the old filter is getting dirty. During the middle of a cold winter when the furnace is running often, changing out the filter once per month is a good idea. You don’t need to change it so frequently when the weather is milder and the furnace isn’t working as hard.
Don’t Overwork the Furnace
Speaking of your furnace working hard, avoiding putting too much strain on the system is an important way to keep the system running all winter long. When it gets particularly cold outside, don’t ask your furnace to heat your home to a particularly high temperature. This will put tremendous strain on the system and could lead to a breakdown. Instead, adjust your thermostat temperature to reduce the strain on the furnace and maybe just add a layer of clothing or use an extra blanket to stay warm during the cold snap.
Respond to Performance Issues Right Away
It’s often the case that a furnace won’t completely stop working immediately when a problem comes up. Commonly, a problem in the system will lead to symptoms like unusual noises or a drop-off in performance, but it will keep running. If you are proactive with your furnace and respond to those signs by getting in touch with Berico to have the proper fix applied right away, you can avoid running into an emergency repair situation later on.
If you stay ahead of the game, you should be able to avoid needing emergency heating service during the winter months. Of course, some things just happen despite your best efforts, so if you do need to have prompt repairs made to your furnace to warm your home back up again, Berico is ready and waiting to take on the project.
Green Plumbing – Better for the Environment
/in Articles/by William HammerYou’ll also need to decide if you would like to improve your home’s eco-friendly performance while having this work done. Green plumbing is the concept of making small improvements to the way the water system works in your house in order to consume less and help the environment. This type of environmental plumbing is an excellent way to get the performance you need while doing your part for the world around you, as well. This page will take a closer look at this topic and why it’s so important.
An Introduction to Green Plumbing
If you stop and think about it, the way your home utilizes water is likely pretty inefficient. A significant amount of water is used up each time you flush the toilet, for example. Added up over the course of a month, or a year, countless gallons of water are wasted in the average residential plumbing system that could have been saved with a bit of careful planning and through upgrading a few key components.
This is the foundation of green plumbing. More and more people are looking to find ways that they can save water while still having a plumbing system that is able to get the job done. That goal is within reach when green plumbing is employed, and the rest of this page will explain why this is such a worthwhile project and how you can make it happen in your house.
A Number of Notable Advantages
The primary advantage of green plumbing is the way that reduced water consumption can benefit the environment. Modern life places a tremendous strain on the limited water resources we have available, so if every home was able to reduce how much water it went through on a daily basis, the difference would be enormous.
Cutting down on water consumption is far from the only advantage, however. Some green plumbing measures also help to reduce energy consumption – more on that later – so that’s another benefit to the earth that can be enjoyed. Between using less water and using less energy, it’s easy to see how green plumbing can lead your entire household toward having a smaller environmental footprint.
Finally, you might also enjoy a longer useful life out of some of your appliances when you reduce water consumption. When less water is moving through the system, less wear and tear will accumulate, and you should be able to get an extended life span out of some of your components as a result.
Help the Environment – And Save Money at the Same Time
You might be primarily motivated to explore green plumbing because of the environmental benefits, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the financial savings that will come along with it. In fact, you can go a long way toward offsetting the cost of the plumbing upgrades when you start to see savings on your utility bills moving forward.
Using less water simply means you will spend less on that resource month after month. Cutting down on your water bill is a great start, and if you include upgrades that reduce energy consumption, you can reduce the size of that bill, as well. Even if these savings are modest at first, they just keep coming month after month, and the cumulative effect over the coming years will end up being significant.
You could also wind up saving some money by avoiding plumbing repairs after you upgrade your system. Once many of your fixtures have been replaced by new, green fixtures, you’ll be well-positioned for potentially many years of hassle-free plumbing performance.
Types of Green Plumbing Fixtures
So, what kinds of upgrades to your plumbing system will fall into the category of “green plumbing”? There are many to consider, including those listed below –
If you would like to have some green plumbing fixtures added to your home, or if you simply have some repairs that need to be made, Berico should be your first pick. Give the friendly Berico team a call today and get started on this important project.
Electrical Outlets and Switches
/in Articles/by William HammerOutlets and switches are the primary ways that you interact with the electrical system in your home. Sure, there is more to a functional system than just outlets and switches, but without these key components, your system would be virtually useless.
Whether you need new outlets and switches installed, or you have repairs to complete on existing ones, Berico is the ideal partner for the job. The experienced Berico team will handle outlet repair and any other related electrical safety projects to make sure your home is functional and safe for everyone inside.
A Job for the Pros
While some minor electrical work might seem simple, attempting DIY electrical repairs can be dangerous and even illegal. Working with electricity requires specialized knowledge and adherence to strict safety codes. Improperly wired outlets and switches can pose serious fire hazards and increase the risk of electrical shocks. By entrusting your electrical projects to the experienced professionals at Berico, you ensure that all work is performed safely, efficiently, and to the highest industry standards. Our licensed electricians prioritize your safety and will always adhere to local electrical codes.
Signs That You Need a New Outlet Installed
Most of the time, the outlets in your home will work just fine. Modern electrical outlets are extremely reliable, but even the best equipment can develop problems at one point or another. Fortunately, the signs that you need to have an outlet replaced are pretty obvious as long as you pay attention to how they function and act quickly when a problem does arise.
The first big sign that something is wrong is when you see sparks or smoke coming from an outlet. If there are sparks when you plug something in, or if smoke starts to appear, immediately unplug the item and call in the professionals at Berico right away. Continuing to use this outlet can lead to a very dangerous situation and a fire risk will exist.
While it’s not as dramatic as sparks or smoke, discolored outlets also point to the need for a replacement. The black, burnt marks on the outlet mean there is overheating taking place, and again there is the risk of a fire. You should not use such outlets and should have them replaced as soon as possible.
New Switches Can Add Convenience
You can obviously turn to Berico for help if you have a switch in your home that is no longer working, but you don’t have to be having problems to utilize this service. You might also want to bring in Berico simply to add a switch in a place where you don’t have one currently. Is there a room in your house where you wish the light switch was in a different spot? Solving that problem is a quick and affordable job when you turn to the professionals.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Berico is ready to get started on your electrical project, but it’s up to you to make the first call. Reach out about childproof outlets or other types of repairs or installations and the Berico team will jump into action. Don’t wait any longer to check this important project off of your to-do list!
The Environmental Benefits of Using Propane
/in Articles/by William HammerWhen it comes to picking an energy source that will be kind to the environment – while also performing beautifully – propane should quickly land at the top of your priority list. Propane is a leader in sustainable heating solutions and you can get started switching to this reliable fuel today by contacting the friendly team at Berico.
Cut Down on Greenhouse Gases
The first big point to know about how propane impacts the environment is that it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other commonly used fossil fuels like coal, oil and electricity generated by burning coal. So, by making the move to propane, you will be reducing the carbon footprint of your home effectively without experiencing any decline in performance.
Excellent Efficiency
Measuring efficiency is an important way to determine what type of fuel you should be using for your home. The more efficient a given fuel is, the less of it needs to be used – and it will have less of an impact on the environment as a result. In this case, propane does much better than the alternatives, especially electricity. If you have been using electricity to power things like your furnace or water heater, switching to propane will cut down significantly on your overall energy consumption.
The Production Process
Propane is a byproduct of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. In other words, it is being derived from things that are already being harvested, rather than adding another thing that needs to be harvested from the environment. Using this byproduct in such an efficient way is an excellent approach and one that makes the most out of what resources the earth does have to provide. If you don’t like the idea of the fuel you use in your home having to be harvested from the earth time after time, make the move to a fuel that comes along as a byproduct of other products.
Secure Storage
Another way fuels can damage the environment is through a spill. Since propane is a gas a “spill” isn’t really possible and if there is a leak, the gas usually will disperse harmlessly into the atmosphere. But leaks are not common, as the fuel is stored in sealed tanks that are very secure and can be expected to hold your propane securely until it is used. As long as you have the condition of your tank inspected periodically to make sure it remains sound, any problem with propane leaking will be unlikely.
If you need a trustworthy partner to deliver Greensboro propane to your home in or around the city, turn first to the proven leader in this market – Berico. Now that you understand how eco-friendly propane is, there is nothing left to do but make sure you have a supplier that will always offer fair rates and won’t miss a delivery. Call now and get started!
Eco-Friendly Plumbing Upgrades for a Sustainable Home
/in Articles/by William HammerOf course, you’ll want to work with qualified Greensboro plumbers for any of these kinds of projects, and Berico is the right team for that job. Whether it’s green plumbing or any other type of job that you need to have completed, make sure Berico is your first call.
Start with Low-Flow Fixtures
Without a doubt, the easiest way to get into the world of eco-friendly plumbing is to add low-flow fixtures in various places throughout the house. As the name suggests, these fixtures reduce the flow of water while they are being used, yet they still get the job done effectively.
This approach can be used in many different places, including toilets, faucets, and showerheads. For example, you could get a low-flow showerhead that only uses 50% of the water used by a traditional model. That might not sound like much over the course of one or two showers, but when you think about how much water your family uses in the shower over a full year, it becomes clear how significant the savings can be.
Add Smart Leak Detectors
Cutting down on how much water you use by upgrading your fixtures is a great step, but you also need to make sure that you aren’t wasting any water due to leaks somewhere in the system. This is where smart leak detectors are such a wise addition to a plumbing system.
These can be placed in various locations that might be prone to leaks, and they will alert you that a leak has occurred, so a fix can be applied. Since many of your plumbing components are out of sight during day-to-day life, a leak sensor is an ally that will prevent any problem from spiraling out of control.
Consider a Tankless Water Heater
Another big step in the right direction is making the switch from a traditional water heater – with a tank – and a tankless model. With a traditional unit, your water heater is constantly holding a large volume of water at an elevated temperature, whether you need it or not. This is obviously inefficient, as you could go extended periods without using your hot water and energy would have been used all along the way.
Tankless water heaters work on an on-demand model. There is no hot water being held in a tank, and only when you turn on a hot tap somewhere in the house will the water move through the heater and make its way to you. This virtually eliminates the wasted energy in the system, and as a bonus, tankless units are compact and won’t waste valuable space somewhere in your home.
Which of these eco-friendly plumbing upgrades will make the most sense for your home? Whether you just pick one to get started, or you want to take on all of them at once, Berico is here to take on any plumbing repair or installation projects you have in mind. Get in touch now to schedule an appointment!