J.F. Sobieski, Inc. - Mechanical Contractor, Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Process Piping, Fire Protection Systems
No matter how long you've owned your home, or even if you rent, these valuable plumbing, heating & cooling tips may help make your home safer and more comfortable.
  1. Repair weatherstripping and caulk any leaks you find around windows, doors and electrical outlets. (Make sure you don't caulk around storm windows - it holds in moisture and can cause damage to the wood frame.)

  2. Use storm windows and doors and make sure they fit tightly.

  3. Installing low pressure flow showerheads and faucets can significantly cut down on wasted water. Water saving showerheads have a flow rate of about 2-3 gallons per minute (compared to 5-10 gallons per minute for standard showerheads), which saves about 75 gallons during a 10-minute shower.

  4. If you don't have storm windows, cover the outside glass with polyethylene sheets.

  5. Seal up cracks in your home's foundation.

  6. Prior to repairing a faucet, turn the water off and open the lines to drain into the sink. Take a towel or cloth and cover the sink to protect it from dropped tools and to prevent small parts from going into the drain. In order to protect the faucet's finish, wrap the jaws of wrenches with tape.

  7. If you live in a warm area year-round, you know how important it is to keep cool. Use natural landscaping to shade outside air conditioning units, but make sure the unit isn't blocked - that could restrict air flow.

  8. Replace cracked glass.

  9. Keep your fireplace damper closed when not in use.

  10. Having your water heater properly serviced by a J. F. Sobieski, Inc. technician is like changing the oil on your car. Proper water heater maintenance on average can almost double the life of your water heater.

  11. Keep your kitchen vent closed when not in use.

  12. Keep closet doors closed.

  13. Clear a path for rainwater by removing soggy leaves and debris from your gutters and leaders. This helps prevent spill over, which can cause basement flooding and paint damage.

  14. To get the best results from your garbage disposal, turn the water on full flow while putting in food wastes. Allow water to run for 30-40 seconds after disposer is off. This moves the ground up waste further down the drain pipe and helps avoid clogs.

  15. Drains can back up when it's most inconvenient. Talk to your J. F. Sobieski, Inc. technician who has money saving products to keep your drains clear and your sewer root free.