A standard toilet relies on the force of gravity to force the water in the tank to drain into the toilet bowl and out the drain. The trap is designed to develop a siphon which sucks all the water out of the toilet bowl. As the tank is filled with new water, some of the water is diverted to fill the toilet bowl again after the siphon is lost. A Pressure Assisted or "Air assisted" toilet fills a pressurized tank with water at the same pressure as your water pipes, usually somewhere between 40-60PSI. When flushed the water is forced into the bowl at this pressure until the water is drained from the tank. The pressurized tank then fills again with water and is ready for the next flush. The pressure assisted toilets rarely back up due to the increased flushing capacity and don't have many rubber parts immersed in water to go bad, so they have a relatively long service life compared to a standard toilet.

When water is heated, it expands. In a closed system, like your plumbing in your home, when the water heater heats water it also expands, but often has no where to go. The result is increased pressure on the water heater and the rest of your piping and fixtures. An expansion tank is installed near the water heater to allow the expanding water to go somewhere. One half the expansion tank is filled with air and the other half is filled with water separated by a rubber bladder. Air can be compressed, so when the water expands upon heating it pushes on the air in the bladder and compresses it. When the water is used again the air pushes back on the water and returns to its original position. This action protects your water heater and the rest of your plumbing from damage. An expansion tank is also required by code in many municipalities.

A water heater typically lasts between 8-10 years. There have, however, been occasions when a water heater lasts much more or much less than that. The key things that help a water heater last longer is proper installation with an expansion tank, water pressure less than 70PSI, and regular flushing. For a checkup on your hot water tank, call today.

Generally, the difference between retail grade and contractor grade products is the focus of the industry sector. Retail products are highly competitive and largely driven by the lowest price. Contractor grade products, while still being competitive, are driven more by longevity and quality than lowest price. It is far more expensive for a contractor to have to go back to warranty a poor quality product than it is to install a more expensive, higher quality product. Differences in product range from thinner walls in piping to lower tolerances in machined parts.

The best way to reduce scalding in the shower due to variance in water pressure is to install pressure balancing tub & shower valves. These valves will compensate for a drop in cold water pressure by reducing the hot water flow by the same amount. This allows the temperature mix of the water to remain the same even if the overall pressure drops. The other necessary thing to do to be sure you are not scalded by hot water is to check the temperature setting on the water heater. It should not be set above 120 degrees.

A submersible pump is lowered down the well into the water and "pushes" water up into the pipes. An above ground pump stays up above ground and "sucks" water up from the well through a pipe. An above ground pump must have a foot valve on the suction pipe to keep the water from leaving the pipe.Since it is easier for a pump to push than suck, a submersible pump can produce higher water pressure, go to lower depths and never need priming. An above ground pump needs to be primed before it can work, can only effectively produce 50 psi of water pressure, and can only be used on wells shallower than 60 feet typically.

A variable speed pump offers some advantages over traditional pumps. A variable speed pump starts slower reducing the amount of power required to start, doesn't require a large pressure tank, and has built in protection against low water, overload, under-voltage, power spikes, and other conditions. A variable speed pump can produce a constant water pressure rather than a pressure range as in traditional pumps.

The pressure tank allows the well pump to stay off for a longer period of time while maintaining a useable water pressure ranging from 30psi to 60psi depending on the setting of the pressure switch. It also allows the pump to stay on long enough for the pump to cool down once it is started. It is vital when using traditional pumps so that the pump doesn't "short cycle" and burn up.

Yes, there are several ways to protect your pump against a low water condition depending on the type of pump you have. Submersible pump can have controls added that have settings to turn off the pump if it runs out of water. Above ground pumps can have low-pressure switches installed that have to be manually reset if the pump runs out of water.

A drilled well is one in which a 6" or 8" diameter steel pipe is "drilled" or pounded into the ground. A dug well that is dug out and 4' diameter concrete cylinders are placed on top of each other to keep the dirt from falling back in. You can tell which one you have by the type of pipe sticking out of the ground.

Comfort is controlled by more than just temperature. Some other factors that affect comfort are humidity, oxygen content, and air quality. Humidity is the measure of moisture in the air. With the proper humidity, a person can feel warm even with a temperature 2 degrees lower than the same temperature with the wrong humidity. This factor alone could save you money on your heating bill by lowering the average temperature needed to feel comfortable. The air in the average wintertime home is dryer than the air in the Sahara desert. When air is not changed in a home, it becomes stale. Today's homes do not breathe well because they are sealed for energy conservation. Exchanging air with new, fresh outdoor air is a key element to comfort. Air Quality is the measure of toxins in the air like dust, pollen, and dander to name a few. The paper filter on your furnace is not designed to clean air for breathing, but only to protect the furnace. You need an electronic air cleaner to remove 99% of the toxins in the air you breathe in your home.

A furnace heats your home by blowing air around a heat exchanger or elements. On the inside of the heat exchanger, some sort of fuel is burned like propane, natural gas, or oil. An electric furnace has electric elements that the air is blown across. In either case the heat is transferred to the air in your home from the consumption of electricity or a type of fuel. A heat pump uses the properties of refrigerants to remove heat from the air outside and bring it inside. A typical heat pump consist of a coil inside the "furnace" inside the house and a coil in a rectangular metal cabinet outside the home. When a refrigerant is compressed it is warm. When it evaporates it is cold. By controlling which coil is warm and which is cold, a heat pump can provide both heating and air conditioning.

Filters should always be cleaned when they get dirty. During the heating season, I recommend you check the filters each month. Because each home is different, you may have to change the filters more or less often than your neighbor. Once you become familiar with how long it takes for the filters to get dirty, it is a good idea to check regularly. Dirty or clogged filters are one of the most common causes for early repair problems.

A humidifier controls the humidity in your home which has several impacts on overall comfort. Dry air can rob you and your home's woodwork and furnishings from moisture. Chapped lips, dry skin, nosebleeds can be some side effects of dry air. Humidified air can help you feel comfortable even at slightly lower temperatures than you otherwise would which could save you money by lowering the average temperature you need to feel comfortable.

Air quality can be improved by installing an electronic air cleaner and Ultraviolet lamps in your ductwork. The UV lamps kill bacteria in the air and can retard mold growth on air conditioning coils. Electronic air cleaners can remove up to 99% of airborne toxins in the air.

GFI receptacles are required to protect bathroom, kitchen countertop, garage, and outdoor receptacles. Any receptacle that has the potential to get wet must have a GFI protecting it. One GFI in a circuit can protect the rest of the circuit. A GFI can be a receptacle, a faceless GFI (without the plug ins), or a GFI breaker. If you suddenly lose power in your bathroom, kitchen, garage, or outdoor receptacles, first find the GFI that protects that circuit and try to reset it. If that doesn't work call an electrician.

Many times a garbage disposal outlet can be added by using the dishwasher circuit. Disposals can be installed with air switches, basket strainer interlocking switch or by installing an above counter switch. At PlumbStar we are able to perform the plumbing and electrical and can recommend the best solution for you.

Yes, we can install a whole house surge protector on your homes electrical panel.

Yes, we can recommend and install a standby generator to serve only a few circuits or your whole house. There are several options to fit your budget from using a portable generator to a permanent standby generator run off natural gas or propane.

In order to free up space on your electrical panel we may be able to install tandem or "peanut" breakers to serve some of your existing circuits and free up space for the hot tub circuit or install a new sub panel to expand your existing panel. It is important to have a licensed electrician from PlumbStar install your hot tub electrical. There are specific requirements for hot tub electrical circuits to make sure they are safe for you and your family. A load calculation should always be done when adding circuits to be sure you don't overload your electrical service.