Spring Home Questions and answers from the professionals

Q. Why do I need to have a plumbing inspection yearly?

A. A homes crawlspace should be checked at least twice a year.  More often than not
when doing a plumbing inspection we find moisture in the crawl space from leaks
in the water piping or waste piping.  The results of a leak in the crawl
space that a home owner is not aware of are bugs, molds, bad smell and wood
rot, not to mention it could raise your water bill significantly.  A crawl
space also needs to be vented properly in the non winter months by opening
foundation vents so long as they get closed BEFORE winter.  If vents do
not get closed before winter you can end up with frozen pipes and a flooded
crawlspace

Q. After the latest wind storm I noticed I had some roof shingles that blew away. Is this something
that my homeowners insurance will cover?

A. Yes, most homeowner policies cover wind damage roofs, your insurance provider will
require a detailed roof repair estimate. Contact you insurance representative
and a local roofing company.

Q. Why do I need to service my Air Conditioner yearly?

A. To keep your cooling system running at its optimum ability the refrigerant levels need
checked so that they are not too high or too low (causing icing up on the
coil), the condensing unit also needs to be checked for proper function and
cleaned, if it is dirty you are spending money on electricity that you don’t
need to because of reduced efficiency.
The electric motors also need checked for proper amp draw and the capacitor
(which is like a little battery that gives the motor a jumpstart upon turning
on) gets checked so that if it is out of spec it can be replaced and does not
go out as soon as the temperatures get hot.
Your equipment when it is hot is under much higher pressures and
operating stress than when it is just a little warm outside.  The service technician should also go through
your crawlspace or attic and make sure none of your ductwork is
disconnected.  If you are heating/cooling
your attic or crawlspace you are throwing money away.

Q. My washing machine takes forever to fill?

A. Remove and clean the strainer screens on the hose connections also make sure that the
faucets are turned all the way on to the washing machine

Q. My windows are foggy, can I just replace the glass or do I have to replace the entire
window?

A. yes, most windows allow for the glass to be replaced.
A qualified window professional will be able to custom order the glass
and install it in a matter of minutes

Q. I heard that there are some Idaho Power rebates out there for putting in new more
efficient light fixtures.  Is this true?

A. Rebates are Offered for commercial buildings, as it is more expensive for them to upgrade
for energy efficiency.

Q. How do I know if my system is low on Freon (refrigerant) and just needs a charge?

A. As a homeowner without training and the proper tools and equipment there is no way
to know that.  It requires putting gauges
on the system and being trained to do that.
If you’re only getting warm air out of the furnace it can be caused by a
broken compressor, dirty coils or low on refrigerant.  This is the biggest misconception that people
have.

Q. Why does my hot water smell bad?

A. Bacteria growth on the anode rod. (An anode rod is what dissolves away and corrodes
rather than the water heater tank) Replace the magnesium anode rod with an
aluminum anode rod and flush the hot water system or replace the hot water
heater.  To replace the Anode rod please
contact a licensed and trained plumbing professional.

Q. I have the old style fluorescent light fixtures in my garage, are there any newer options that will save me money on my utility
bills?

A. Yes, there are new fixtures that are more efficient. If you would like more information
regarding energy efficient programs provided by Idaho Power, it can be found
at:

http://www.idahopower.com/EnergyEfficiency/Programs/default.cfm?tab=Irrigation

Q. When it’s time to get my house repainted should I call anyone other than a painting
company?

A. You will certainly need a painting company involved when repainting your home, however
most painting companies don’t have product knowledge about the siding on your
home. There is far more to protecting your home than paint alone, having a
siding company evaluate, seal and repair any weather damage to your homes
siding assures you receive the full value of a quality paint job.

Q. What is the benefit of a programmable thermostat?

A. A programmable thermostat sets back (resets the temperature automatically) when
you are not home so that the home is not heated and cooled unnecessarily when
no one is home saving you on your monthly utility bills.

Q. Are the new twisty fluorescent bulbs worth spending the money on over using the regular old light bulb?

A. If Energy Star has endorsed these bulbs with their logo on the packaging, they have done
product testing and concluded that it is energy efficient. For more information
on how a product earns the Energy Star label go to: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_how_earn

Q. Why do I need a new pressure tank on my well system?

A. Because the tank bladder is bad the pump will run more frequently trying to keep up the
pressure in the house or building.  Pressure tanks help keep a constant pressure
in your water system while preventing the well pump from start/stopping too
often which extends the life expectancy of the well pump.  As with any motor start and stopping the
motor on the pump can do the most damage to the pump motor.  If you notice your pump running all the time
and your power bill has gone way up it is most likely your pressure tank.

Q. Why do I need to change my air filters?

A. Because the filters are plugged with household dust, lint, animal fur ect. during heating
season it will cause your furnace to overheat and short cycle (start and stop
frequently rather than running the duration it should) which can over time
cause something to break that shouldn’t.
(During air conditioning season it causes air flow problems and will
cause your evaporative coil to freeze up due to lack of the air being able to
flow through the coil freely)

Q. Why do I need to flush my water heater every year?

A. your water heater acts as a holding tank for everything that comes into it such as sand,
debris that may come through your water piping along with the minerals that
solidify from the heating of water.  Flushing out the debris and junk will give you full
volume of your tank and also cleans the water heater side walls.  Not flushing the water heater causes the tank
to fill with crud and if it is gas you lose heating efficiency due to the heat
having to pass through the minerals and debris before it can heat the
water.  (Sometimes causing a popping and
banging sound)

Q. Why is the siding on my house starting to buckle, and what can I do about it?

A. Most of the time buckling is caused by excessive moisture and poor product installation.
You as the home owner should make sure your sprinklers are not spraying on your
home, and then you should call an exteriors company that specializes in siding
to avoid mold growth and structure damage.

Q. How often should I change my air filters?

A. Check them every 2 months regardless of the make or size, if dirty change them, if not
dirty check again in another two months.
We recommend changing them out to at least a standard pleated filter not
the super cheap see through ones.  As far
as a permanent filter and Ultra violet germ killing filters it depends on the
budget and your system capabilities.  If you have a weak system with undersized ductwork already restricting filters I
would not recommend a super dense filter that will restrict the airflow even
more.

Q. My water water blow off valve leaks sometimes?

A. Most people’s water meters that are out in your yard now contain a check valve that they did
not before.  When water is heated it expands.  Due to the check valve in the
water meter it will not allow that built up pressure to expand out into the
city water mains.  That means that the pressure has to go somewhere and that is out through the temperature and
pressure relief valve.  Over time the opening and closing of this valve will weaken the spring and cause the valve to
eventually fail.  This can all be prevented by installing the correct size expansion tank on the cold water line
prior to the water heater inlet.  This is standard with most new water heater installations.

Q. How important is it for me to maintain the exterior of my home?

A. It is extremely important and often overlooked by homeowners. Having an exterior
service professional perform a yearly evaluation can help protect your home
from moisture intrusion.  By maintaining your home’s exterior on a yearly basis you will avoid major damage and product
failure saving you thousands in the future. Your home must be maintained just as the vehicle you drive.

Q. I have the old style big bulbs outside my house for outdoor lighting?  Is there anything more efficient you could
recommend to replace them with?

A. LED (Light-Emitting Diode) bulbs are more energy efficient.

Q. is it ok to leave the fan on my furnace running all the time?

A. Yes, the motor gets worked the hardest when it first turns on.  Blower motors are designed to run all the
time so long as the filters are clean.

Q. I forgot to take my garden hose off this winter, should I be concerned?

A. Yes, even if you have a frost free hose bibb ice can travel from the hose full of water up into the wall and break the hose
bibb.  You should either check your crawlspace when you use it for the first couple times and make sure you don’t
have water pouring into the crawlspace or have a licensed plumber check it out If you have your suspicions.

Q.  I have a 50 year old house, would it be a good idea to have an electrical contractor go through and check for proper
grounding and good wiring?

A. Yes, for safety purposes mainly, as well as, potential resale, it is beneficial for the
homeowner to update the electrical in an older house. For your safety
concerning electrical troubleshooting or standard electrical code updating,
consult a licensed electrician.

Q. If you have an older home, should you worry about the sewer lines? Do you recommend using those enzymes to keep
the main line clean?

A. There is a copper sulfate chemical that is used in root treatment that can help if you have an issue with tree
roots in your sewer lines.  The key to that is that one, you need to have the lines augured first to remove the tree
roots, it does not dissolve them.  Second, you are only prolonging the replacement of the lines.  If you have roots in your piping then they
have a way in and will keep coming back.  As far as enzymes specifically, I would not spend the money on them
unless you are treating a septic tank. They are designed to keep your septic tank healthy and working not clean
pipes.

Q.  I have little kids, is there anything I can do to prevent them from putting things in the electrical outlets?

A. For existing receptacles there are safety plugs available. New code is requiring
the installation of tamper proof TR receptacles in any upgrade of existing
homes and new home construction.

Q. Is there an inspection for sewer lines in and out of the house?

A. There is an inspection available for your sewer lines.  We have video cameras that are specifically
designed to be used in a sewer/drain line.  That way if there is a problem with frequent sewer line backups you can
have it videoed (as long as the camera can work its way through barring broken pipe and separations) and find out what is going on.

For More information on plumbing, heating and air conditioning subjects please visit www.drakemechanical.com
or call Drake Mechanical at 208-362-6200.

For more information on siding, roofing windows and all
things exterior please visit www.steelheadconstruction.com
or call Steelhead Construction at (208) 863-9678.

For your safety due to the hazards and dangers of
electricity concerning electrical trouble shooting, maintenance or energy
upgrades we recommend contacting a licensed electrical contractor such as Snake
River Electric, Inc. at 208-286-0444.