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Do You Have A Smart Home?

Do You Have A Smart Home?

You did it: you booked the flight, wrestled all week with the kids to get packed up for your vacation, and now you are finally in the cab on the way to the airport. You are the master of all things vacation; a super parent. This feeling continues during your entire trip, all the way up until you open your front door after all the traveling is said and done, and you are hit with a rude awakening. In all the hustle and bustle of getting ready to leave, you completely forgot to set your thermostat lower to save on energy while you were away and didn’t even notice that your 5-year-old left the bathroom faucet running after he was done washing his hands. Forget about all that R&R that you caught up on while you were away, because now it (and a lot of extra dollars) are being spent on your astronomically high electric and water bills – and that’s assuming you aren’t facing costs due to flooding and water damage from any overflow in the sink!

This is an extreme scenario of course but unfortunately, it’s not all too uncommon. It’s situations like these that are prompting more and more people to convert their houses to smart homes. What is a smart home you may ask? Smart homes are named such because they have automated systems that can control anything from lighting, water, heating and cooling, entertainment systems, and even appliances. Often times, these systems can be monitored and controlled right from your phone; even when you are at work or traveling. Having complete control over your home 24/7 can help you avoid emergencies and help you save on regular costs of utilities.

Two such systems that can help turn your home into a smart home are the Nest Learning Thermostat (Nest) and Flo Water Leak Detection System (Flo). The Nest Learning Thermostat handles climate control, while Flo controls water usage. In our vacation scenario above, your 5-year-old has left the faucet running before your family leaves for the airport. Let’s take a look at how a system that controls water like Flo could have helped.

Part of Flo’s installation into your home is connecting it through an app, which will send you information right to your phone. As Flo is installed to the main line of your water system, it is able to detect things like pressure, flow, temperature, and usage. Every day, Flo performs a water system inspection to make sure that your home is leak free and will send you the report through the app. In addition, you are able to check the status of your water usage as it is happening and are able to shut off your water; even from remote locations. Had you had the Flo system in this scenario, you would have been able to see right away that water was still flowing in your home and have been able to shut it off, no questions asked. Water still may have been wasted but it’s nothing compared to water running for a week! Your child may get a stern talking-to but your sanity and your wallet are spared yet another day in avoiding a catastrophe.

Now, as for you forgetting to turn the thermostat down, how about could Nest have helped? This one has a little less severe consequences than leaving your water running while on vacation. However, this can still cost you a lot in unnecessary expenses. The Nest Learning Thermostat works similarly to Flo in that it sends you reports to an app installed on your phone. Not only would you have had the option to turn the temperature down manually through the app, Nest probably would have done it for you. Nest can tell when you are at home or away by using your phone location and sensors. When the house is empty, Nest turns itself down to “Eco Temp” in order to save on energy while you are away. Not only that but say there was an extreme weather change while you were gone. In cases of extremely hot or extremely cold temperatures, the Nest has built-in safety features that ensure that your home won’t suffer any damage due to weather. So even if you never looked at your phone while you were away, Nest would have your back. Problem taken care of and your energy bill stays low.

That’s not all these two systems can do. A faucet that is left on is obvious, but how about a leak that is happening somewhere behind your walls, in your attic, or under your floors? And what if you are simply trying to stay on top of your utility bills and cut down on water and/or energy bills? While these systems are handy in case of emergency, they are designed to help you with every day events such as these. Let’s look at how these two systems can help you in everyday life.

As mentioned before, Flo runs an inspection on your home every day to ensure that your home is leak free. This includes places that you can’t see! Instead of finding out you had a leaky pipe in your attic after you start noticing water damage and a drip coming from your bedroom ceiling, noticing right away can save you the extra costs of repairs (and of course, keep your water bill from suffering!) In the event of more serious pipe damage, like a burst, Flo will shut off the water for you, again saving you money on extra repair costs and water bill. Flo can also keep you up-to-date on what’s going on with your pipes and will let you know if you are at risk for having leaks through its daily inspection. Things like water pressure and temperature can cause leaks under certain conditions. Flo will let you know of this so that you can fix the problem before it becomes an even bigger one. In terms of water conservation, Flo tracks your water habits so you are able to better control them.

Running late and your teenager won’t get out of the shower? You can literally shut off the water with the push of a button from your phone. Going on vacation but need to make sure that the irrigation system continues working to water those award-winning roses? You can control that from your phone. Have a toilet that has a tendency to run? You can fix that from the convenience of your phone. When it comes to managing the water system in your home, the sky’s the limit on what Flo can do for you.

While Flo is controlling your water, on an everyday basis, Nest is also working hard to ensure that you are comfortable and being energy efficient. Aside from having the built-in safety features, Nest learns your preferences as you turn it up or down. Over time, Nest will learn what you like and adjust itself for you. Using this information, it creates a schedule that fits your needs and saves you energy. To keep you even more energy wise, it will show you how much energy you use each day and give you tips on how to conserve. Imagine a home where it’s never too hot or too cold. Wouldn’t that be perfect? Or what if you liked it warmer in the morning and cooler in the evening? Wouldn’t it be great if your home could adjust itself automatically to fit your needs?

Smart tools like these have made saving on energy and water that much easier. When it comes to the peace of mind that they can bring you, the price is limitless. Turning your home into a smart home not only can help you avoid huge catastrophes but helps you save on the everyday costs of life. A home is a huge investment so why wouldn’t you want to know more about what’s going on behind the scenes? Call us today for your FREE plumbing inspection and to learn more about how to turn your home into a smart home with the Nest Learning Thermostat and Flo Water Leak Detection System!

Excellent, the crews were prompt polite, clean, efficient and courteous. In the past I have found that most large companies rest on their laurels so to speak. I know now why Cummings plumbing is still a large plumbing company. They provide good service at a reasonable price for the work and get the job done quickly. Most of the time there were four trucks and at least six service members working on my project. The repairs were expensive expensive but a new much needed furnace was also installed at about half the price I was expecting it to be. The discount on the furnace was much appreciated. I would also like to thank MG for cleaning out my hot water heater while he was here, The next project is a new HVAC system, I think I know where I will go for that project. Jane G.

It’s Getting Cold Out There

It’s Getting Cold Out There!

The wind is howling, you’ve broken out the coat and mittens, staying buried under blankets in the morning seems more and more appealing…it’s officially that time of year again! With the weather as nice as it is here in Arizona, it’s easy to forget about things like furnace and water heater maintenance. As much as we would like to pretend it’s sunny and beautiful year-round here in Tucson, we can’t deny that when it’s cold, it’s COLD. A broken water heater or furnace is definitely an inconvenience while the temperatures are low, but more importantly, it’s a safety issue. There can be severely dangerous outcomes of a water heater or furnace malfunctioning, so for that reason proper use and maintenance are key.

In our August 1st entry, we talked about how a water heater works and what could cause it to malfunction. For more the full article, click here. For now, here are the highlights of that entry:

A water heater is like a giant teapot. How quickly you have hot water is dependent on four factors:

1) The water temperature
2) The amount of water
3) How much heat is applied to the water
4) The type of heat being applied

These four factors work together in a delicate balance, and if knocked out of equilibrium, can lead to catastrophic incidents like a water heater explosion. Things that can knock these factors out of balance and thus cause a major incident are improper installation, lack of maintenance, and leaks and malfunctions. The sediment that builds in the bottom of your tank over time also is a major contributor to water heater issues. In order to avoid any accidents caused by malfunction, be sure to have a professional perform a safety check on your water heater and drain the sediment from it at least once a year. Additionally, water heaters should be replaced every 10 years, so if yours is older than that, it’s time to get a new one!

While making sure that your water heater is serviced seems just like one more thing to add to the never-ending list of chores that come with being a homeowner, the aftermath caused by 40 gallons of boiling water shooting in every direction is well worth avoiding. And, if your water heater is gas powered, having that safety inspection could help save you and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning due to any gas leaks.

We’ve gone over what can happen when things go wrong with a hot water heater but what about with a furnace? In the worst-case scenario, explosion or fire can result from fuel leaks or excessive heat buildup due to faulty or malfunctioning parts. If you have a gas furnace, like most people, carbon monoxide poisoning to you and your family can also happen if there are any gas leaks. These are some pretty serious risk factors here.

The way a furnace works is pretty simple. In a gas powered furnace, the air is warmed up inside the furnace by a pilot light and several burners that heat what’s called a heat exchanger. Basically, the heat exchanger is a chamber in which the air is heated to the temperature specified on the thermostat, and from there is blown through the vents of your home. The heat exchanger is only found in a gas furnace. With an electric furnace, however, the air is heated by a series of conductive coils.

While it all sounds pretty straight forward, furnaces have a lot of components that can break, and any diagnosis or repair should be conducted by professionals only. As with anything, regular maintenance can help keep your furnace running the best it can. Having a professional change your furnace’s filter monthly (unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer) and conduct a safety inspection annually can help keep you and your family safe from dangers like fires and explosions! Furnaces have a life expectancy of around 15 years, so be sure to replace it as needed!

When it comes to water heaters and furnaces, the old adage applies: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling is committed to the safety of you and your family. Check out our winter special below, and as always, call today for a FREE plumbing safety inspection.

PHX: 480-500-1960 or TUS: 520-333-2121
On day one, our regular technician, Jordan, met the installers at our home to walk them through the project. These gentlemen were the utmost professionals. Installing a 5 ton HVAC system on the roof of a 67 year old home was not a quick job. They removed and hauled away the old equipment. They took their time, were SO courteous, and left my home in immaculate condition. When the job was finished they made sure that I understood how to work the Nest thermostat. Manny Sr., Manny Jr., Marcos, Fredo, Carlos, and Pedro ~ you gentlemen are the BEST! Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling has our loyalty and business for life!

Help! My Drain is Backing Up!

Help! My Drain is Backing Up!

The majority of the calls we get are related to backed-up toilets and drains. It’s actually one of the first images people picture when they hear of the word plumbing. So why is there such a strong association between plumbing and stoppages? Well, that’s because it’s so common in our field. However, what most people don’t know is that a stoppage (backed-up toilet or drain) is only a symptom of a bigger problem. Rarely is a stoppage as simple as something getting clogged in your pipes. Clogged drains, frequent stoppages, and backed-up toilets are common symptoms of poor pipe conditions or something else going wrong.

Calcified pipes (pictured) are very common images that we see when we camera lines. If a homeowner tells us that they have frequent stoppages, we can typically assume that there is a larger problem at hand. There are common factors that causes stoppages over and over again. In Arizona, there are two that are extremely common. The first is hard water. Hard water deposits minerals in your pipes as the water flows through. Over time, this creates the image that you see pictured. This process narrows the opening of your pipes. When this happens, even a single sheet of toilet paper will get caught and cause your drains to back up; causing a mess.

Another common problem that we run into are roots. Because Arizona is so dry, trees, bushes, plants, and even weeds, dig to find water. A common source of water for them is often your home’s plumbing system. Your sewage water, which is actually rich in nutrients for plants, only causes them to want to do more to penetrate into your pipes and have access to the water. If they find a weakness in the pipe, they will often force themselves into those pipes and draw out water and whatever else they need. We’ve seen pipes before that had numerous root access points all along the sewer pipe. Having roots in your drains causes a obstructions for things to get clogged.

As you can see, stoppages are only a symptom of a larger problem happening.

We’ve had customers tell us that they use some sort of drain unclogging/drain cleaning chemical to try to get rid of the problem. There are many reasons why we advise against it.

  1. ENVIRONMENT: The agents in drain unclogging and cleaning chemicals are very dangerous to the environment. Once it enters our environment, it basically poisons anything around it. If enough of this stuff gets into our water systems, it can potentially cause irreversible effects to our water system. There are countries overseas that are currently struggling with water pollution due to contaminates that people have put into the water systems. Google “polluted water” and you will see image after image of water that is polluted by chemicals and trash; doing unrecognizable harm to the environment they’re in.
  2. HEALTH: The agents in drain unclogging and cleaning chemicals are very dangerous to our health and to pets. Most of them will have labels that will say, “DANGER: MAY BURN EYES AND SKIN ON CONTACT. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. Avoid contact with body and clothing. TOXIC GAS MAY FORM IF MIXED WITH OTHER CHEMICALS.” That’s only the beginning. Their Safety Data Sheets will often show that they’re extremely flammable, that in the event there is direct contact, you should seek medical aid, and that the product may cause corrosive damage. The labels warn you that inhaling, ingesting, or even touching the chemical is dangerous.
  3. Plumbing: Seeing what it can do in the event it contacts your skin, imagine what it does to your pipes. Yes, it takes care of the immediate problem; helping dissolve the mass that’s causing your drains to back up. However, as it does that, it’s also destroying your home’s plumbing. Over time, this corrosion causes your plumbing to become weak and causes further damage to your home. From your kitchen sink to your sewer lines, the water travels quite a distance and hits a lot of different areas. Sometimes, the chemically tainted water will pool and collect in certain angle stops, unable to move, causing even more damage.

If you have frequent stoppages, the solution we recommend is to camera your lines. For this month only, this service, which is valued at $250, is completely free. We want to help you figure out what’s causing the stoppages and come up with a permanent solution to fix it. While we’re there, we will also do an entirely FREE plumbing inspection to check everything and make sure it’s all working properly. In addition, you will receive $50 off of your stoppage service call. Don’t wait. Call us today!

William (JT) Patterson and team were extremely professional, punctual (which is more important than ever in today’s society) and knowledgeable. They identified the problem quickly, talked me through the solution that would prevent future repairs, and went to work immediately after we agreed. Once finished, they even offered a complementary home inspection from a plumbing/leak perspective and offered some great future options without being pushy salesmen. Overall I’m extremely pleased with the work and customer service and would definitely recommend for plumbing repairs.

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).

Is Your Water Heater Safe?

Don’t miss out on our current month’s special at the bottom of the page.

Is Your Water Heater Safe?

You’re driving along in your car and a little light comes on. The car tells you it’s time to change its oil. What do you do? Most people will either take it to a mechanic to have their car serviced or have a spouse/family/friend do it for them. Your home is going to be the most important purchase you ever make in your life (short of buying a business or something major). What are you doing to maintain it and make sure it’s running the way it should?

Would you ignore the check engine light on your car dashboard? Probably not. The reason is because you don’t want to get stranded somewhere without transportation. However, what would you do if you got home and your water heater exploded? What would you do if you got home and your pipes burst and you faced water damage all over your home? What would you do if your septic tank backed up into your home?

Imagine that your water heater is like a giant teapot (because it basically is). How quickly the water heats up depends on 4 factors:

  1. The temperature of the water
  2. How much water you’re boiling
  3. How much heat you’re applying
  4. What type of heat you’re applying

These 4 little variables can affect how quickly you have hot water available to you. But these 4 little factors also affect the water heater, how it’s operating, and whether or not it’s safe.

Would you leave a boiling teapot on your stove and leave for the day?

Unfortunately, water heater explosions are a very real thing. There are a variety of reasons why this happens but can mostly be attributed to:

  1. Faulty installation
  2. Lack of maintenance
  3. Leaks and malfunctions

Just like how we talked about the calcification process and the need for water softeners last month, sediment can build up in your water tank. This creates a barrier between the water and the burner. In order to get the water to heat, the burner needs to run longer, which increases the heat inside the tank.

Electrical and gas malfunctions may also exist due to construction, normal wear and tear, and poor installation. As water touches components, if it’s worn out, it may cause electrical shorts. Gas leaks are also a major hazard because they are dangerous if inhaled. Carbon monoxide is not detectable; only natural gas (rotten egg smell). So that also causes an unknown threat.

Your water heater also has a pressure relief valve to help vent out extra pressure (like a teapot). If it’s leaky or if the pressure reaches an extreme level and the valve is faulty and doesn’t work, this could cause the tank to explode.

Now imagine that you are boiling water in a teapot on the stove and you drop it. Imagine how you’d react and how you could be injured. Now, imagine that it happens with your water heater and you have 40 gallons of scalding hot water exploding in every direction. Now, try to imagine the aftermath.

Your water heater should be inspected on an annual basis and flushed out. If for no other reason, for the safety of your family. You have a lot to lose. A simple phone call and FREE plumbing safety inspection (this is a $165 value that we’re giving away for August) can give you the peace of mind that you need.

Call us to come and do a FREE plumbing safety inspection and make recommendations on how to best maintain your home to keep your family safe.

Our August Special
For this month only, save $200 when you buy and schedule the installation of your new water heater through Cummings Plumbing Heating and Cooling. Don’t miss out on this special offer.

Again, call us for your FREE plumbing safety inspection today!

PHX: 480-500-1960 or TUS: 520-333-2121

Very prompt & excellent service. Jason in sales was great to explain what could and couldn’t be done with our system. The installers – Marchos and Pedro were fantastic. They worked tirelessly in the 110 heat and replaced the whole system in one day. They were so respectful of us and our property. Did a great job of cleaning up before they left and even checked all the appliances to make sure everything was in order. These guys were an absolute pleasure to have around. THANKS!!

Importance of a Water Softner

The Hazards of Hard Water

Hard water is known to be both a nuisance and a major problem to most Arizona homeowners. It affects your skin when you’re bathing, your laundry when you’re doing wash, and your plumbing. It’s especially problematic to your plumbing, not only causing it to look awful, but it is a cause of major plumbing malfunctions.

So what exactly is hard water? Arizona’s water has a higher level of calcium and magnesium in it. This, over time, causes calcification. It’s easy to recognize calcification because you’ll be able to see the rock-like white and green build up on your faucets, spigots, and even in your shower heads.

Believe it or not, this calcification process is responsible for creating stalagmites and stalactites in caves. This same process is happening inside of your pipes on a daily basis.

As you can see from the image, after years of this happening, the opening for water flow becomes so narrow that even something as small as a single square of toilet paper can get caught and cause a major plumbing issue. Unfortunately, this image is not uncommon in Arizona homes.

We often find that calcification in pipes is the culprit for a lot of home plumbing issues. Not only do they cause your pipes to clog, they can puncture the actual pipe, causing sewage to leak into the ground around your home; which is a health hazard for you and your family.

Once this calcification reaches a certain point, the only thing that can be done to reverse it is to do a re-pipe of your home; which will end up costing you thousands of dollars.

Not only is hard water a hazard to your plumbing, it’s also bad for your home in general. Here’s how:

  • Hard water doesn’t taste very good. Most people who have hard water realize that the water tastes “dirty”. This is because of the extra minerals. To fix this problem, they end up buying bottled water from the store; an additional expense.
  • It causes clothing to feel rough or scratchy. By adding extra mineral deposits onto clothing, after laundering, the clothing is often left feeling rough and scratchy without the use of some form of fabric softener. Again, the purchase of fabric softener is an additional expense.
  • Hard water is harsh on the skin. Arizona is already known to be a dry climate because we live in the desert. But hard water just makes it worse; requiring more skin care products, like lotion, to keep our skin soft. More additional expenses.
  • Hard water can ruin your appliances. Do you have a coffee maker that you use? Ever notice how the appliances never seem to last? That’s because the calcium builds up in those pipes as well, causing malfunctions of expensive appliances. The list of expenses keeps climbing.
  • Dirty looking dishes. Have you ever washed glasses only to notice water spots and dirty looking plates after they’ve dried? Hard water is the culprit for causing it. To fix this, most people will buy a dishwashing aid rinse (like Jet Dry) or rewash the dishes. Either way, this adds to the ever-climbing expenses to fix the problems that hard water causes.

As you can see, hard water is responsible for a lot of things that happen in your home on a daily basis; all minor inconveniences that you’ve just grown accustomed to. But the biggest problem of all that hard water will cause is the need to re-pipe your home. This will be a major expense; costing you thousands of dollars, time, and inconvenience.

Now that you know what it is, how do you fix it? The solution is simple: a Water Softener.

A water softener replaces the calcium and magnesium in your water with sodium or potassium. The difference between calcium and magnesium ions and sodium or potassium ions is that the sodium and potassium ions do not cause scaling or calcification. The water softener filters and distributes water that is conditioned to provide your home with the best water.

By having a water softener installed, you basically mitigate all of the issues listed above.

Call us to come and do a FREE water analysis and provide you with an estimate on what it would cost to have a water softener installed into your home.

Kenneth and Danny jetted all the waste lines in our house out to the street sewer. They flushed out an unbelievable amount of nasty sludge from under our island kitchen sink. Our house is only 12 years old and we bought it 9 months ago. The slow draining kitchen sink has been an issue since shortly after we moved in. After jetting the waste lines, they scoped the lines with a camera and proved to us the pipes were clear The Cummings Plumbing technicians were extremely professional, clean and thorough.

Earlier that day, we had a nationally-known competing plumbing company out, who told us they put a camera through the lines, and that we had a “belly” in a couple of our pipes–that the original lines probably had not been properly backfilled. (They never actually showed us the video.) They told us that correcting the problem would mean jackhammering up our ceramic tile floor and re-laying the pipes. It turned out, there was no bellying in the pipes at all. And, their estimate for jetting all the waste lines was more than twice what the Cummings estimate was! Turns out that the competing company is “commission based” on their sales, whereas Cummings techs are paid by the hour. I’m SO thankful that our realtor recommended calling Cummings for a second opinion!

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