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Month: September 2018

Cummings Flag at Half Mast for Sept 11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/11/2018

Nary Vang, Web Design and Marketing Specialist
Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling
520-293-6900
naryv@cummingsplumbing.com

Cummings Plumbing Flies Flag at Half Mast
Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling Flies Flag At Half Mast in Remembrance of The Lives Lost and Those Affected from Sept 11th, 2001
Tucson, AZ.: On September 11th, 2001, America was attacked by an Islamic terrorist group named al-Qaeda. The attacks killed 2,996 people, injured 6,000 others, and caused at least 10 billion dollars in infrastructure and property damage. Since the attack, additional people have died due to 9/11 related cancer and respiratory diseases. Four planes hijacked, four different targets marked, and thousands of lives paid the price. Time stood still that day; not just for America but all across the world. The attack was unprecedented and lives in infamy. Today, Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling flies their flag at half mast to remember all those affected by these attacks.

“It’s still hard to think back on the events of that day,” said Kevin Cummings, Owner of Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling. “I can still remember exactly what I was doing and where I was when the first announcements came out about the attacks on the World Trade Center Twin Towers. Tucson went into lockdown because of the Air Force Base and Raytheon. It’s surreal, thinking about how long ago this happened…17 years ago. Kids these days are learning about this event in textbooks…while to me, and probably most of the people who were alive when the attack happened, still remember it like it was yesterday. Today, I’m going to ask a huge favor of everyone. Take a moment to be kind. Do a random act of kindness to show love to someone today. All those lives…all those families…not one of them thought that they’d leave for work to never return. People were just going about their business. What would they have done differently, or taken the time to say, if they knew it was going to be their last? Let’s make this day count for them. Let’s take this day and remember the good. Let’s choose to remember how America came together. Let’s choose to see how we fought back as a nation. Let’s choose to see that we’re still standing here today; proud and strong. We were not defeated on September 11th, 2001. This attack had the opposite effect on our nation than intended. Instead of making us weaker, it made us stronger. Let’s never forget that.”

“It’s been 17 years and our nation is still mourning,” said Elaine Lee, Office Manager of Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling. “Rightfully so. Whenever I think about the live feeds of the Twin Towers, the images of bodies dropping out of the sky, the burning buildings, the final collapse…I am brought back to that day. I can close my eyes and see the pictures replay like a video montage. I remember calling family and friends…gathering together…sitting in silence. What was there to say? In all of the calm and quiet, I remember saying a prayer. Not for the lives lost but for the ones still living. I can’t even begin to imagine what they went through and are still going through. Like Kevin said, take a moment today to be nice and do something kind. Take the time to tell those you love that you love them. We live in a fruitful and great nation. Let’s ‘Never Forget’.”

About Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling: Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling is proud to be one of the largest privately owned and locally operated plumbing and HVAC companies in Arizona. Initially out of New York, we opened our doors in Tucson in 1983 and have been proudly serving Tucson residents for the last 35 years. Our mission is “To be a trusted household name that spans generations by educating our customers and helping them make informed decisions.” As a 6th generation plumbing business, the professionals at Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling are equipped with a wealth of knowledge and experience that you can trust.

Do You Have Enough Hot Water?

Do You Have Enough Hot Water?

One of the biggest complaints that we hear from our customers during the winter months is that they don’t have enough hot water. They’re often frustrated because they are stuck taking cold showers or waiting until there is enough hot water to go about their business. Our customers are always asking us why this happens; especially since the water heater was working perfectly fine and supplied enough hot water just a few months prior.

To help answer this question, we’re going to do some math. Do you remember thinking why you would ever need to learn algebra back in junior high? Well, today is the day that it comes into good use. We’re going to do an exercise to calculate how hot water is used and why so many people run out of hot water during the colder months.

Here’s what we know:

During winter months, the average temperature of the water entering your home is ~45˚.

During summer months, the average temperature of the water entering your home is ~78.9˚.

The average shower temperature is ~105˚ (this, of course, varies depending on personal preference).

An average shower uses ~2.1 gallons of water a minute.

So what does this all mean?

During the summer, let’s say that the water temperature entering your home is 80˚ and you like your showers at 100˚. That means that it would take 1 gallon of hot water mixed with 1 gallon of cold water to give you 100˚ water for your shower. An average 40 gallon water heater (typical in most homes) would provide you with 40 gallons of hot water. This equals a ~19 minute shower.

Now let’s say that during winter, the water temperature entering your home is 40˚ and that the temperature that you like your showers is still 100˚. That means that it would take 3 gallons of hot water to mix with 1 gallon of cold water to give you the same 100˚ water temperature. This means that an average 40 gallon water heater only provides you with ~13 gallons of hot water. This equals a ~6 minute shower.

Once it’s depleted, and assuming your water heater is working efficiently, the average gas water heater takes 30-40 minutes to fully heat up the water in its tank (an hour to an hour and 20 minutes for an electric water heater).

So just based off of the above information alone, you can quickly see how a brand new water heater can change in its ability to provide you with enough hot water during the summer months but not be able to keep up with your demands during the winter months. Again, this is assuming that your water heater is well maintained and installed properly; which we often find that it’s not.

One of the biggest reasons we find water heaters are not able to keep up with demand has to do with how it’s maintained; or even if it’s maintained. Last month, we talked about Is Your Water Heater Safe. Unfortunately, improperly installed and improperly maintained water heaters are a real problem. Most people don’t think about their water heater until it stops working and don’t take the time to care for and maintain them like they would a normal household appliance.

We encourage our customers to be proactive in caring for their homes to avoid damage and costly expenses later. This is why we offer a lot of free services, like inspections, to help them have a handle on what’s going on inside the four walls of their homes.

Before the cold hits this winter, you should find out if your water heater can handle your hot water needs. Don’t wait until winter to find out if your water heater will be able to supply you with enough hot water to last you through the colder months.

Call us today to schedule a FREE plumbing safety inspection and a free water heater check-up ($165 value).