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Home Water Treatment Systems – Water Purity in Your Home

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Papalia Plumbing and Heating, Inc. of Acton, MA offers solutions for home owners wanting clean, quality water in their homes. Concord, Massachusetts has become one of the first communities in the U.S. to ban the sale of single-serving plastic water bottles.The campaign Ban the Bottle claims that “It takes 17 million barrels of oil per year to make all the plastic water bottles used in the U.S. alone. That’s enough oil to fuel 1.3 million home-water-filtrationcars for a year.” Their website also states: “In 2007, Americans consumed over 50 billion single serve bottles of water. With a recycling rate of only 23%, over 38 billion bottles end up in landfills.”

According to the EPA, in 2010, the U.S. generated 31 million tons of plastic waste.

This law definitely raises awareness of waste and causes us to think.  Is there something you can do to make your carbon footprint smaller?   Maybe a water filter is the answer!  Below are some thoughts on the subject and a guideline for the 4 major types of water filtration systems.

Proactive thinking:

  • What if more consumers used washable travel mugs at coffee shops?
  • What if coffee shops charged $.20 less for everyone who did this?
  • What if more homes had water filters so you could re-fill your water bottles and coffee makers with no waste?

What is Papalia doing?

Papalia is doing its part by offering a discount on an under the sink quality water filter system for all homes that are on town water.  Well water homes would require a water test and possibly a different style filter to accurately filter the water.  We have had great success with the APDWS-1000.  It is a dual action filter that removes all the impurities that could be in question when dealing with town water.  The easy to remove filters can be replaced up to every 2 years.  The fancy spout can be installed easily into a stainless steel sink.  In this special off Papalia will drill the necessary hole in the stainless steel sink at no additional charge.

 THE FOUR (4) MAJOR TYPES OF PURIFICATION:

  1. Water Treatment Systems (Point of Entry, POE)
  2. Whole House Filter (POE)
  3. Point Of Use Filter (Point of Use, POU)
  4. Reverse Osmosis Filter (POU) 

Water Treatment Systems

These systems are installed in your basement near the point of entry of the water service and can vary from small and cost effective to elaborate and very expensive.  Depending on the quality of your water, your budget, and what you want to gain from your water treatment system there are many choices for the consumer.

Over the last 10 years there has been new technology to raise the bar in this field.  For example, in the past the best way to remove bacteria from your water would be iodine or chlorine.  Today the ultra violet light has been introduced to kill bacteria and viruses in the water.

Do you have hard water?  Small amounts of calcium and magnesium, the most common minerals that make water hard, dissolve in water as it moves through rock and soil and remains there. As the minerals increase in content the degree of water “hardness” is greater.

Softeners and treatment systems help protect your home’s piping system and water-using appliances by reducing hardness and scaling. These systems are installed at the point of entry and require electricity and a connection to the home’s drain system. Specialized media are also available to target low pH and iron as well as off tastes, odors and high sediment.

Whether you have well water or town water you will still need a professional water service company to evaluate your water and make recommendations to best suit your needs.

Whole House Water Filters

These are normally inexpensive units used to remove dirt and rust at the point of entry.  You would be expected to replace this filter cartridge approximately once per year and the cost of the filters are very reasonable.  If your sediment was unusually high there are some models that can flush themselves automatically and there is no need to replace the filters.  This would require a connection to a drain.  A dirt and rust filter is a great investment to any home and would save wear and tear on the internal parts of faucets, toilets, and even septic systems.

Under the Sink Filters

For odor free, taste free water at your fingertips a quality under the sink type filter is sufficient.  The filter mounts under the sink and the filters will get replaced every 1 to 2 years depending on the quality of the filter and how much water is used.  These units are most often used for consumers that are on town water.  Town water departments must regulate their water and treat it as needed.  The under the sink filters, such as an AP DWS-1000, starts filtering where the town filtering stops.  It will take out Sediment, Chlorine Taste and Odor, Lead, Cyst, Mercury, Asbestos, VOCs, MTBE and a host of other contaminates.

Reverse Osmosis

This style of filter is most commonly used for homes with well water because it can remove to a greater level of contaminates.  Reverse osmosis, also known as hyperfiltration, is a process that reduces the particles down to the molecular level. The same process used by major bottled water companies, reverse osmosis reduces the salts and other impurities, giving you high quality great tasting water. This five-stage system provides an affordable alternative to bottled water, conveniently located right in your home.

A reverse-osmosis water filter forces water through a membrane that absorbs many contaminants in the water. This type of water filter is extremely effective at reducing most chemical contaminants and eliminating disease causing organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. Many reverse-osmosis systems need to purge three to four gallons of water for every gallon of water that they purify.

Call or email us today to set up an appointment so we can all start doing our part!

978.897.1701

4 Common Sump Pump Problems and Solutions

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A good sump pump, tied to a properly installed, working foundation drainage system is a homeowner’s first line of defense against basement flood. sump pumpBelow are the most common types of sump pump failure, and what you need to do to prevent them.

1 – Overwhelmed Sump Pump

Sometimes a single sump pump just isn’t enough to handle the job. Sometimes the pump is simply not powerful or reliable enough.  Plastic, cheap sump pumps for example, often can’t keep up with the high volume of water that pours in, especially during heavy rains. It will burn out or fail to pump water as quickly as needed.

Upgrading your sump pump and adding a battery backup sump pump to the system, usually solves this problem. In some rare cases you might need more than one sump pump and a back-up system, installed in different corners of the basement.

2- Pump Works, but There Isn’t Any Water Coming Into the Sump Pit

This is a classic sign of an improperly installed sump pump. Many contractors install a sump pump in the basement but do not link it to a drainage system.

A sump pump only works properly if there is a drain tile installed externally or internally, along the internal perimeter of the basement. The drain tile collects all the ground water from around the foundation, and relies on gravity to channel and discharge it into the sump pump. If the drain tile is clogged, collapsed, inexistent, or just not installed with the proper pitch, it won’t divert the water to the pit, and the best sump pump in the world will not keep your basement dry.

3- Clogged Sump Pumps and Switches

Sump pits that do not have a lid can easily fill with dirt and debris which can cause a sump pump to clog. Likewise, if you have a sump pump that sits straight against the bottom of a dirty sump pit it’s mechanical parts are liable to clog with dirt and debris. If this interferes with the pump’s operation, the system will slow or stop.

This same debris can cause the “float switch,” which causes the pump to turn on and off as the water level in the pit changes, to clog or jam as well.

If these switches clog, become jammed, or (in the case of cheap sump pump models) become tangled in the rest of the system, the sump pump switch will either stop working entirely or be stuck in the “on” position, meaning that it will run nonstop.

Our sump pump systems include a sump container with an air tight sealed lid that will not only prevent debris from falling in it, it will also keep small children and pets safe and the water from the pit from evaporating back into your basement. The system also includes a pedestal that keeps the sump from coming in contact with the bottom of the container, which is where the silt accumulates.

4 – Sump Pump Running Non-Stop

Sump pumps that run continuously, non-stop, or way too often, regardless of the weather conditions or season, may be a sign of different problems, all of which need to be addressed  before the pump burns out.

  • Stuck sump pump switches
    The float switch becomes clogged, jammed, or the switch becomes tangled in the system. In some cases, the vibrations of the sump pump as it runs can cause it to begin to lean on the edge of the sump pit or liner, disabling the sump pump switch.
  • The Sump Pump Liner and/or the Liner are too small or too big.
    In some cases the sump pump is just not big enough to handle the job, so it runs continuously to keep up. In other instances, the pump may be powerful enough, but the sump pit is so small, and fills up so quickly that it triggers the sump pump to work more often than it should
  • The check valve is missing or broken.
    Because the sump pump is installed below grade, the discharge line goes upwards until it can exit the basement at some point above grade, when the pipe is then pitched downhill, relying on gravity to discharge the water. The check valve, installed in the discharge line, prevents the water from coming back into the pit before it reaches the point in which it begins to roll downhill. A broken or missing check valve will cause 1/3 to 2/3 of that water to flow right back into the pit, overworking the pump.
  • Continually flooding sump pit.
    In very rare cases, there is just a continuous flow of water into the sump pit due to a high water table or an underground spring. If the water table is too high, raising the sump pit a bit might help. Upgrading the system or adding an extra sump pump on another corner of the basement might help.

If the sump pump is running non-stop under normal conditions, there is a chance that it will fail when you need it most: during a heavy rain.

15 Fun Plumbing Trivia Facts

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“There is disagreement over who the inventor of the modern flush toilet was, and flushing out the truth is not easy. describe the imageMany give credit to Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), an English sanitary engineer, for inventing the valve and siphon and the water closet, both devices make our modern toilets possible. Then there are others who maintain that the inventor was a random Minoan in ancient Crete who lived about 4,000 years ago. There are also those who give the credit to Alexander Cumming who patented a specific type of flushing device in 1775. But it was none of these, they just had parts in the final outcome of the toilet.” Read 15 more plumbing facts!

  1. Water pipes used to be made from Lead. In fact, the word Plumbing (and plumb, and plumber) actually derived from the Latin word for Lead, plumbum. (Incidentally, the periodic table element label for lead, Pb, is based on the same word).
  2. Pipes haven’t always been made of metal. In the 1800s, both Boston and Montreal used wooden pipes; they were logs that were hollowed out and tapered at the ends.
  3. Lead solder was used even after lead was found to be harmful to humans, all the way through the 1980s. It was believed that the amount of lead that could potentially leach into the water was too small to matter. We’ve since smartened up.
  4. There are actually two common types of plungers – a toilet plunger and a sink/shower plunger. Toilet plungers narrow at the bottom to fit into the toilet drain, while sink and shower plungers have a flat rim.
  5. Sir John “the john” Herrington is credited with inventing the flushable toilet in 1596. He called it the “Ajax” a shortened version of “a jakes.” “Jakes” was a common old slang for toilet at that time. Unfortunately, Sir John’s designation for the flushable toilet didn’t stick, but his name did.
  6. In 2004, there were over 91,000 miles of water distribution piping (4″+ pipe) in the U.S. 78% of that pipe is made of PVC.
  7. The most recognized video game character in the world is a plumber. Nintendo’s Mario (of Super Mario Brothers fame) was created by Shigeru Miyamoto, and has appeared in more than 200 games.
  8. In Japan, some urinals have voice-activated flush mechanisms. According to Wikipedia, these urinals respond to as many as 30 different languages and several terms, including “fire.”
  9. In 1929, a series of sewer explosions occurred in Ottawa, Canada. Contrary to initial reactions, it likely wasn’t caused by Methane gas, but rather by shop owners pouring flammable oils down drains as the still-unregulated automobile industry took off.
  10. Hot water heat recycling is the process of recovering heat from used water (primarily from sinks, showers, dishwashers, and washing machines). Heat exchanger systems can recover as much as 60% of the heat that normally goes down the drain.
  11. The terms Faucet and Spigot were once used only in the Northern and Southern U.S., respectively. The terms have come to be used interchangeably (although spigot is more commonly used for outdoor connections.
  12. There are more than 10 different types of common end-user plumbed-in fixtures. Can you name them? They include, at least, toilets, urinals, drinking fountains, sinks, bathtubs, showers, ice makers, humidifiers, plumbed-in coffee pots, eye wash stations, washers, dishwashers, and fountains.
  13. The Chicago Water Tower was one of the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago fire of 1871. Now a historical site, It is the only building from this time still standing in the area
  14. The fire sprinkler was invented in 1864 by Henry Par mêlée to protect his piano factory. He patented the idea, but by 1883 had only successfully had the system installed in 10 factories.
  15. At 140 degrees, it takes 5 seconds for water to burn skin. At 160 degrees, it takes only 1/2 of a second.  Home hot water systems should be set to no hotter than 125 degrees.

Improve your Home Indoor Air Quality!

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No matter what the season, where you live or the age of your home – your indoor air quality has an important impact on your health and comfort.   Aprilaire has a family of products that are designed to provide you with the best indoor air possible. Breathe easier today, be more comfortable tonight!

whole home humidification

1. Provide total comfort: Aprilaire whole-home humidifiers provide maximum comfort throughout your entire home.  Say goodbye to dry skin and that unnecessary chill!

2. Protect your family’s health: By keeping your sinuses and airways moist, you reduce the potential for bacteria and viruses to enter your body. Aprilaire humidifiers are proven most effective at providing optimum levels of humidity.

3. Preserve your home and furnishings: Aprilaire humidifiers help keep your home humidity at optimum levels, maintaining the value and extending the life of your home and furnishings.

4. Eliminate static electricity: Adding moisture to the air reduces electrical charges, helping to eliminate these annoyances and protect your electronics.

What do I need for MY home?

Indoor air quality needs can differ by the region you live in, the type and age of your home and more. For example, newer homes tend to be more tightly constructed leading to higher energy efficiencies. However, because of this, odors and indoor pollutants tend to build up inside your home. Mechanical ventilation along with a whole-home air cleaning system can help alleviate the problems associated with newer, tighter home building methods and construction.

The type or style of home can also impact your indoor air quality. Homes that are built with expansive windows often suffer from hot and cold spots. A zone control system can help alleviate temperature variations throughout your home, making you and your family comfortable in every room.  Papalia Plumbing & Heating are uniquely qualified to determine what you may need in YOUR home.

Keeping your home’s humidity levels in check can significantly improve the healthfulness and comfort of your home.

When it comes to feeling comfortable in your home, the old saying “it’s not the heat (or cold) – it’s the humidity” rings true. Other than ambient temperature, nothing affects a body’s perception of comfort more than the humidity level. And there’s a fairly narrow range between what is considered “too much” and “too little” of it.

Industry experts state that keeping your home’s humidity between 30-60% can help reduce the effects of many unwanted conditions. Excess humidity or too little humidity can not only lead to an unhealthy home but also cause permanent damage to your home and belongings.

Too Little Humidity

  • You experience chronic physical symptoms such as sore throats, dry/itchy skin, nose bleeds or sinus irritation.
  • Your home’s wood floors are shrinking and cracking. Joints in wood furniture are becoming loose or failing.
  • Annoying and sometimes painful static shocks are common occurrences.
  • Your thermostat is cranked up, as is your energy bill, but you still feel cold.
  • Your piano and other musical instruments are falling out of tune.

Too Much Humidity

  • Your skin often feels clammy, sweaty or sticky.
  • Musty-smelling odors are invading your living space.
  • Wood floors, trim or wood furniture is warping or rotting, paint is peeling.
  • Condensation, frost or ice have formed on the inside surface of your windows. Water pipes are “sweating”.
  • Damp spots, or worse, mold and mildew have formed on ceilings or walls.
  • Your allergies or asthma have gotten worse due to the growth of mold, mildew and dust mites.

What You Can Do to Treat the Symptoms

  • Use ventilation fans in kitchens and bathrooms when in use
  • Cover dirt floor crawlspaces under your house with plastic to act as a vapor barrier.
  • Check to make sure your dryer is vented to the outside. Don’t dry wet clothes on drying racks in the house. Air-dry them outdoors if possible.
  • Ensure air conditioning drip pans are clean and drain lines unobstructed.
  • Fix any water leaks in pipes, toilets, showers, etc.

Go to http://www.aprilaire.com/ for more information on indoor air quality, and call Papalia Plumbing & Heating to have your air quality tested today!

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I Have 99 Problems, but a Drain Isn’t One

As a homeowner, you probably think a clogged drain is just that; a slow running drain or just a gurgling that needs to be cleared.  You pour Drain-O down your pipes, hoping it clears up.  It may for a day, week, month or year, but sure enough it’s back. roots drain The cycle repeats.  Your pipes are buried.  As a homeowner, you may not know what is going on beneath your soil.  That drain that keeps clogging may be a symptom of something else and something much bigger.  This could be a symptom of roots in your drain.

A tree brings in 40,000 gallons of water in one year from the soil.  If the tree cannot find the soil easily, the tree roots then search for water.  Over the years the ground shifts and settles.  This shifting can cause a crack in your drain pipe.  The tree root finds the crack and slowly moves into that space seeking out water.  The water inside your piping is rich in minerals and other nutrients that the tree needs.  Over time, it invades your drain piping causing the drains in your home to back up.

Older homes have clay pipes beneath their soil. The clay piping expands and contracts with natures variances.  This allows the tree root to put pressure on the piping.  The newer homes (or if your home has had the drain line replaced in recent years) use PVC piping.  When the pipe cracks, it is usually difficult to remove just a section of the piping.  As a result, this can be quite an expense for homeowners.

To help minimize the risk of tree roots invading your home’s drain system, a common resource is Copper Sulfate.  This is an inexpensive compound that can be found from most drug stores and garden centers.  You place the sulfate in a ½ cup of water and pour the mixture down the toilet.  This should never be poured down your drains; it can ruin your plumbing.  The sulfate will not kill or hurt the plants it is affecting.

As a homeowner, you should be aware of your laterals.  This just means where your trees lay on your property.  Your trees should never be located less than 10’ from your sewer line to minimize intrusions. You should have your sewer laterals regularly cleaned.

Think you have roots?

The only way to tell if the constant drain issue is related to roots is to have a plumbing technician come to your home.  The technician can use a camera that is on a long snake and camera your line.  This will give a better visual as to how severe the situation may be and where it begins.  Could it be a crack in the piping or do you have roots?  Having a licensed technician investigate the main drain will allow the homeowner to gain a clear perspective over what needs to be done.

Here at Papalia Plumbing & Heating, Inc., our techs are extensively trained on these exact situations.  They can advise you on your options and guide you to results.  Call Papalia today to inspect your home. 978.897.1701

Why You Would Need Air Duct Sealing

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1) Do you have high utility bills?
2) Are your rooms stuffy in summer and chilly in winter?
3) Does anyone in your family suffer from dust allergies?air duct sealing
4) Do you worry about the environment?
If you answered “yes” to any question here, you may benefit from air duct sealing.

 

1. High utility bills

Air duct sealing often reduces heating and cooling costs by 15%. If you’re planning to install new HVAC equipment, a well-designed system may allow you to downsize to a smaller unit that will also provide better dehumidification.

2. Rooms that are stuffy in summer and chilly in winter

Leaky ducts can reduce heating and cooling system efficiency by as much as 20%. Air duct sealing can help solve common discomforts, such as rooms that are too hot in summer or too cold in winter.

3. Dust allergies / asthma

Fumes from household and garden chemicals, insulation particles, and dust can enter your ducts, aggravating asthma and allergies. Air duct sealing can help improve indoor air quality by reducing the risk of pollutants entering ducts and circulating through your home.

4. Concern about the environment

Our homes often use fossil fuel to heat and cool, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Air duct sealing helps reduce the energy needed to heat or cool your home, and can help reduce air pollution.

Know your ducts

A typical duct system can leak 30% of your system’s airflow through leaks, holes, and gaps at the seams. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, regardless of your thermostat setting.

What are signs of poorly performing ducts?

  • Rooms that are difficult to heat/cool
  • Rooms with uneven temperatures that never seem comfortable
  • Non insulated ducts in your attic, crawlspace, or garage
  • Tangled or kinked flexible ducts in your system

Supply ducts waste cooled air when they leak into an unused attic. In summer, leaking return ducts “pull” attic air (often 120Fº or higher) into the system and reduce performance. If the ducts also provide heating, those leaks cost you even more!

What else should you know?

What is ENERGY STAR?

The EPA-backed ENERGY STAR program helps consumers to save money and protect our environment with energy-efficient products and practices. More than 40 categories including lighting, appliances, heating and cooling equipment, and even new homes, can earn the ENERGY STAR label.

For more information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) including a full-color brochure on duct sealing, visit http://www.energystar.gov and search “duct sealing.”

What is COOL SMART?

COOL SMART is a residential central air conditioning rebate program that promotes best installation practices, education, and HVAC technician/contractor training, and ENERGY STAR qualified high efficiency air conditioning equipment.  Papalia Plumbing & Heating Inc. is a COOL SMART Contractor and can assist you in your rebate

 

Do you have questions or want to know more?

Derek Vacca is Papalia Plumbing & Heating’s Comfort Specialist.  He can guide you through what you need to know about your existing or future HVAC system.

Derek is a skilled specialist in his field and can also walk you through any rebates the state is currently offering.  The rebates will be changing over the next year, so have Derek come out to your home today and take advantage of the current savings.

Call Papalia at 978.897.1701 to have Derek visit your home.