Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is “The Silent Killer”

During the cooler months of the year, we all use our heaters, fireplaces, and other appliances to protect ourselves from the harsh winter winds and low temperatures.  Unfortunately, the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning is raised with the constant use of our heating devices and gas-fueled appliances.  We, at Wilbur’s feel that you should be informed about the dangers of this deadly gas.

What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Carbon monoxide is produced as a result of incomplete burning of carbon-containing fuels.  Exposure to carbon monoxide reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body, therefore threatening your life.

Why is it called, “The Silent Killer?”

Carbon monoxide is called, “The Silent Killer,” because this ghost-like gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.  The gas seeps into homes and other buildings in various ways without obvious warning or even knowledge of it being present. Unfortunately, over 3000 deaths per year occur due to the gas, and 10,000 people are sent to the hospital with complications.

What appliances in my home could produce carbon monoxide?

Any fuel-powered appliances used in the home including furnaces (chimneys), gas water heaters, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, gas stoves, gas dryers, charcoal grills, lawnmowers, snowblowers, other gas-powered yard equipment, and automobiles can produce carbon monoxide.

How can I prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from occurring in my home?

– Purchase carbon monoxide monitors – at least one for each level of your home.  A monitor can save your life before you know it’s in danger.

– Before the heating season begins, once per year, have all fuel burning appliances checked, cleaned, and inspected by your local, qualified Wilbur’s HVAC technician.  He will carefully check for cracks or holes, which would allow gas to escape.  Make sure that these same technicians are the only people who install, remove, and convert any fuel-burning appliances in your home.

– Check the pilot lights in your stove, oven, and furnace.  If the flame is burning yellow or orange instead of blue, have the appliance checked by your local Wilbur’s HVAC technician.

– Always open flues when fireplaces of any kind are in use.

– Never idle a car in a garage – closed or open.

– Do not burn charcoal or coal in an enclosed space.

What are the physical warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?

– Flu-like symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, drowsiness, impaired manual dexterity.

– Bright red lips.

– Discoloration in the beds of your fingernails.

– Frequent headaches.

If I sense that carbon monoxide is in my home, what should I do?

Immediately, shut off your furnace, and open the windows.  Move your family outdoors to fresh air.  Do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for.  Go to a neighbor’s house to call us at WIL-BUR1 (945-2871) to investigate for sources.  If symptoms are severe, go directly to a physician.

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With energy prices rising, it’s important to make your home more fuel efficient.

1. Service your heating system every year. It’s the best money you’ll spend. Cost for a typical service call to clean the unit and change filters in both the furnace and humidifier? An average of $75-$100, depending on where you live. Also if you are considering replacing your heating system buy the highest efficiency unit you can. The payback for the increased cost can be re-cooped in as little as three years and then the savings keep coming. Once cleaned you need to change the filters regularly. I recommend that you upgrade to a pleated filter which will do a better job of trapping airborne particles than the cheaper spun fiberglass one.

2. Install a programmable thermostat. This is a must. There are many different brands on the market. You can program it to lower the temperature while you’re at work or sleeping and save up to 30% in a well-insulated home. What’s more, outdated thermostats are the weakest link in conserving energy. According to the government’s Energy Information Administration, only about 15% of U.S. homes are equipped with modern programmable thermostats. Honeywell, a leader in control technology, estimates that homeowners can receive one to three months of free heating and cooling by installing a programmable thermostat. So, what are you waiting for?

3. Add weather stripping around windows and doors. A project that any homeowner can do. This also has a real impact on drafts and conserving energy. Door thresholds, window caulking, and plastic window film can go a long way in saving your money this winter. If you live in a drafty home, you could save up to 20% with an investment of as little as $25.

4. Utilize or install ceiling fans in your home. Remember learning that heat rises in physics class? Well, running the fans slowly and in reverse will keep that warm air circulating and keep you more comfortable. The bonus? The time your furnace runs will reduce. So will your monthly bill.

5. Check the arrangement of your Furniture. Really. Many times people put couches and chairs over vents and in front of baseboard radiators, decreasing the efficiency of the units. By restricting the airflow, you increase the use of your furnace or boiler, and ultimately the energy used to heat your home.

6. Wrap your water heater or consider installing a tankless water heater. More than 20% of a tanked water heaters energy is used while it is on standby keeping the water hot for the next use. Adding a blanket of insulation around the water heater can help reduce its standby energy use. And it only takes about $20 and 20 minutes to install one. Tankless water heaters have been around for over 75 years, almost all of Europe heats their water with these units. They create hot water on demand so there’s no stored water needing to be continuously heated. (Think about when you’re away or asleep.) And once they are on, 10 people can take a shower in a row and never run out of hot water. Cost? Around $1500-$3500. Some of these units qualify under the new energy bill that took effect January 1, 2006 and you may qualify for a tax credit of up to $300.

7. Be smart about the temperature you set in your home. According to the EPA, you’ll save up to 3% on your energy bills simply by turning down your thermostat just one degree. If you have a colder room in your home it’s cheaper to use a small, portable safe electric heater to get the chill out rather than turning up the thermostat for the entire home. Make sure you use these heaters at least three feet from any combustible item and do not plug them into an extension cord. Also make sure the heater you use is in good condition and has a UL listing.

8. Install thermo-pane windows in your home. You’ll increase your home’s energy efficiency up to 70%. Multi-pane windows can have R-values of as high as 9.1. The higher the R-value, the more resistant the glass is to losing heat. Conversely, your typical single pane glass has an R-value of 1.

9. Make sure your ceilings and attics are properly insulated. Heat rises, and if there isn’t enough insulation in the space above, your money is going through the roof. Literally. Most ceilings and attic spaces should have at least an R-30 rating, although some areas of the country recommend an R-40-50 rating.

10. Let the sun be your guide. Why not? It’s free energy. During the day, open up those drapes and blinds and let that sun heat your home. At night draw the curtains to keep the heat inside.
If you are looking for a certified plumbing or heating and air conditioning professional then please call 205-945-2871 or complete our online request form.

If you are looking to Lower your home heating bills in 10 steps then please call 205-655-2396 or complete our online request form.

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Steps to Thawing Your Coaldale Pipes

• The very first step is locating the frozen areas of the pipe. In some cases the entire pipeline is frozen from the main water supply to just below the house entry. But in most cases, the frozen parts of the pipe are isolated and can be located.

• Begin by turning off the main water supply in order to prevent the flow of water after the ice has melted. Next, open up all the faucets and water outlets in the house. If there is no running water coming out of the faucets then there’s a good chance that the area around the water meter is frozen. You can test the meter and the surrounding pipes by touching to see if they are extremely cold. If so, it’s likely that they are frozen. If water runs, say, in the bathroom, but not the kitchen, then a pipe in the kitchen area is probably frozen.

• When you have identified the frozen pipe, then turn on the faucet connected to the pipe. All of the other faucets in the house are also turned. Make sure the hot water is turned on, and the cold water turned off. Once the ice has thawed enough to allow a flow through the pipe, turn all other faucets to a trickle. This will keep the hot water flowing. Allow the frozen pipe to completely thaw and the water to flow freely before turning it off.

• Other methods may include using a hairdryer on a low setting, using a heat lamp or other device that provides gentle warm air. If you use a hairdryer or an item that blows air, then direct the flow of air into the faucet, allowing the steam to exit. When steam builds up in a frozen pipe it can cause enough pressure to burse a heavily frozen pipe.

Items such as a blow torch or flame will inevitably create too much heat too soon causing the pipe to burst. Boiling water will also have an adverse affect on a frozen pipe. Basically, all heat applied to a frozen pipe must be subtle and incremental in order to allow the ice to melt and the metal to slowly contract.

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Every heating system is different, an important step in determining whether or not you need heating repairs is knowing what type of heating system you have, and how it works.

Some of the most common heating systems include:

However, no matter what type of heating system you have in your home, there are some common heating system faults that most heaters experience at some point after heavy use. Some of the most common heating repairs include the following:

Lack of Maintenance

No matter what type of heavy piece of machinery you are working with, you have to provide proper maintenance. You wouldn’t allow your car to be driven for long when it is overdue for an oil change. The same goes for your heating system. Your heating system requires regular maintenance that includes:

We recommend giving your heating system proper maintenance at least twice a year to guarantee that all parts of your system are working correctly. This is best done by having a professional Birmingham heating expert perform seasonal tune-ups on your system.

Regular Wear & Tear

The heating system in your home is used more frequently in the winter months. There are some days when your heater will run all day and all night, and that’s okay. This is why you have a heater. However, you have to be aware that regular usage will lead to common malfunctions in your system.

The more you use your heating system, the higher chance you have for a malfunction. Wear and tear on essential parts of your system such as belts and bearings can cause need for major heating repairs. While many of these repairs can be prevented by proper maintenance, as your system gets older, some of these issues will be unavoidable.

Clogged Filters

Just like with your air conditioning system, the filter in your heating and cooling system affects the function of your heater. To ensure that your heater stays functioning correctly you should change out your air filter regularly throughout the entire year. How often to change your air filters can depend on several different factors:

Pilot Light or Ignition Control Issues

If you have a gas heater or furnace, it is able to provide you with hot air due to your pilot light. Other systems use a similar electronic version known as an ignition control. It is very common to have the pilot light go out in your heating system. This can cause your home to go without heat.

If you determine that you need repairs, or may need repairs soon, you should contact a certified Birmingham heating specialist. If your heater no longer provides warm air, you should contact one immediately. A qualified repair professional can troubleshoot your system to find the root of your problem and likely fix it much faster than expected.

The post The Most Common Heating Repair Problems to Expect appeared first on Wilbur Corporation.

There is an abundance of articles on the internet that supposedly “teach you” how to handle your water heater repairs by yourself, and they can guide you through an easy step-by-step process. In reality, fixing a hot water heater by yourself can be dangerous and more difficult than you think.

There are several different reason why hiring a professional Birmingham water heater repair service makes more sense than taking the large project yourself.

Prompt and Efficient Services

When you are searching for a water heater repair company, you need a professional service that is prompt and efficient. That is because losing hot water is likely very inconvenient and preventing you from getting every day things done.

A quality hot water heater repair contractor will have the experience to get the job done quickly but do it right the first time. Repair technicians are immediately dispatched by these companies as soon as they receive your call. You can guarantee that when you hire the right professional the job will be done correctly.

Affordable and Time-Saving

When you are looking to hire someone to fix your water heater, a reasonably priced service provider that will save you time is a life saver. In the past, plumbers have gotten a bad reputation for being late, expensive and inconsiderate. Nowadays, most plumbers have switched from charging by the hour to a straightforward pricing system. This gives you more affordable pricing option that you will know before the job is completed.

When you attempt to repair a water heater by yourself, you will spend hours on trying to find the right part and the right information on how to fix it. You will also spend a fortune on equipment that the professionals already have. The best way to save yourself time, hassle and money is by hiring a professional plumber to handle all of your water heater repairs.

Comprehensive List of Services

Most Birmingham plumbers offer many other services, giving you the opportunity to have them address other issues you may have, or help you with further problems your broken water heater may have caused. This will also allow you to establish a relationship with a trustworthy professional for future service needs.

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Having a water filtration system installed on your home is beneficial for several different reasons. Not only will it make the water that you drink cleaner, but it can help to ensure your family’s health. Here are the top reasons to install a new water filtration system in your Birmingham home.

Improve Your Family’s Health

The number one reason to install a whole house water filtration system in your home is to improve your health and the health of your family members. Contaminated water can be harmful to drink and a whole home filtration system ensures pure water is being served at every tap.

Provides You with Fresh Water

There is nothing more refreshing than drinking a cold glass of ice water on a hot Birmingham summer day. When you have been working out in the yard all day long, it is nice to be able to go inside, turn on your faucet and drink the water straight. A whole home filtration system can make this a reality.

Saves You Money

In an attempt to provide your family with clean water options, other than your tap water, you will end up spending a fortune on bottled water and other drinks. In reality, bottled water is not a logical alternative to fresh, clean tap water. The only way to ensure that pure, contaminated free drinking water is running throughout your home is to have a professional install a whole house water filtration system. This is also a much more cost effective method in the long run than individual tap filters. You may safeguard your drinking water with a tap filter on your kitchen sink or water dispenser, but you won’t be addressing contaminated water issues that you bathe or wash your clothes in. A whole home system keeps all of your water pure.

Make Your Home More Marketable

A whole home water filtration system can be another great feature to add to your Birmingham home to make it more attractive to potential home buyers. When you are looking to sell your home, any feature that you can add that will increase the market value of your home is a wise investment.

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