Design Comfort Blog

Why You Need a Sump Pump

May 14th, 2018

A sump pump installed in a basement of a home with a water powered backup system.We are right smack in the middle of what is historically the rainiest month of the year in our area, which is a good reminder that when we have heavy downpours, we also have a risk for flooding. This is especially true for homes that have basements—which is most of the homes in our area!

If you have areas of your home that are prone to flooding, it’s a good idea to protect them by having a sump pump system installed by a professional plumber in Salt Lake City. Otherwise, you could find yourself paying a lot of money for water damage restoration. Keep reading to learn more about these systems and how one will benefit you if you don’t already have it in place.

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The Time to Schedule AC Maintenance Is Now!

April 30th, 2018

technician working on air conditioning unitTemperatures may still be on the cooler side in our part of the country. In fact, we saw snow again just a short time ago. But given how warm it does and can get during the spring and summer, a fully effective air conditioner is vital for the seasonal change. And now is the best time to arrange for an AC tune-up with a HVAC contractor in Salt Lake City, UT.

Maintenance tune-ups should be scheduled twice a year—once for your cooling system and once for your heater. There are a couple small maintenance tasks you can do yourself. For example, you’ll need to change your air filter every 1-3 months depending on the level of contaminants in your home, and depending on the air filter type. But truly thorough and effective maintenance requires the services of a trained HVAC professional.

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Can Plumbing Emergencies Be Prevented?

April 16th, 2018

hand gripping p-trap pipe underneath sinkHave you ever been in a situation where you’ve needed to call an emergency plumber in Salt Lake City? Chances are, the timing and the money you spent were both pretty inconvenient. But, could that emergency have been prevented? It’s not possible to avoid any and all plumbing problems you might ever run into, but plumbing maintenance will significantly help you reduce your risk!

In addition to scheduling maintenance, however, it’s important to be aware of signs that you have a small plumbing problem before it does turn into a much bigger, emergency situation. This can be hard, since most of your plumbing system is likely hidden from view, and the problems that generally impact it are subtle to start out with.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the following warning signs that your plumbing system is struggling. The sooner you notice the signs, the sooner you can call us and potentially even avoid an emergency.

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Upgrade Your Drinking Water with Reverse Osmosis!

April 2nd, 2018

shot of a boy drinking a glass of waterThere are a number of Salt Lake City, UT water treatment systems on the market today that help homeowners achieve cleaner, fresher, and healthier water in their living spaces. Filtration systems help remove larger pollutants, while water softeners can be used to combat the problems with hard water.

Another water treatment product that’s been growing in popularity in recent years is the reverse osmosis system. This system creates two different areas of pressure inside your plumbing in order to force the incoming water through a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane removes much smaller particles than a standard filtration system is able to, making reverse osmosis filters one of the most powerful ways to treat your water.

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UV Rays Are Good for Your Home, and for You

March 19th, 2018

UV Rays Are Good for Your Home, and for YouYou may be wondering how UV rays can possibly be good for you. After all, when you go out in the sun for long periods of time, you wear sunscreen to protect yourself from these rays. But these aren’t the UV rays we’re talking about—we’re talking about UV lights, which serve as a way to improve your Salt Lake City, UT indoor air quality.

UV lights, also referred to as a UV air purifier, serve as a way to fight back against harmful bacteria that may exist in your ductwork, as well as the influx of germs and viruses that can make you ill—especially this time of the year when the air quality is relatively dry.

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The Dangers of a Cracked Heat Exchanger

March 5th, 2018

Inside a gas furnace. Focus = the top of the middle flange. 12MP camera.With winter winding down but temperatures still keeping our furnaces on full-force for now, it’s the perfect time to take care of any small repair needs that might have cropped up, so that you’ll know your heater is fully functional for next year. Functionality is just part of the equation, however. You want to ensure your furnace is safe, too.

The only way to guarantee this is the case is to stay on top of any Salt Lake City, UT furnace repair needs that come up. Hopefully, you had maintenance done before this winter began, and if you were alerted to any service needs you took care of them right away. There is one in particular that should definitely never be delayed—and that is fixing a cracked heat exchanger.

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When One More Heating Repair Just Isn’t Enough

February 19th, 2018

return air vent on wallWe hope that you scheduled your heating maintenance before the heating season began, just like you should be doing each and every year (or twice a year, if you have a heat pump). We also hope that when a professional recommends heating repair in Salt Lake City, UT, that you take care of it right away. After all, this is the only way to properly care for your heater, no matter what type you have.

Eventually though, you will have to replace your heater. No amount of maintenance or timely repairs will prevent a heating system from aging—eventually “just one more repair” just won’t cut it. But how do you know whether or not the time has come to start considering a heater replacement or upgrade? It’s not always easy to tell, but we do have some common signs that you can watch for. If any of the three scenarios describe what you’re going through, be sure to give our pros a call.

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Have You Checked Your Sump Pump Lately?

February 5th, 2018

A sump pump installed in a basement of a home with a water powered backup system.You may be wondering why we ask. After all, you haven’t had any severe rains lately, right? Why would be so concerned about your basement flooding this time of year? Well, as the weather warms and the snow subsequently melts, many home and businesses face an increased risk of water flooding into their basements and crawlspaces.

Besides, weather is just as predictable as, well, the weather—meaning it’s not predictable at all! Storms can happen at any time, and even unexpected plumbing accidents can cause water to gush down into the lower parts of your home. In other words, you need a line of defense, and that defense system—your sump pump—better be in good shape!

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No, Your Furnace shouldn’t be Booming

January 22nd, 2018

woman covering her ears isolated on a white backgroundThis probably goes without saying, but the middle of winter is likely the absolute worst time of the year to have your heating system develop issues. It’s also the time of year when heating issues are most likely to occur, due to the added strain they’re put under. If you can detect furnace problems early enough, you can have them repaired before they turn into a bigger emergency and potentially even a system breakdown.

You’ll want to be especially vigilant if you want to catch Salt Lake City, UT furnace repair needs early enough. One of the first signs most homeowners notice that something is amiss with their furnace is the presence of strange noises while the system is functioning. The one that is typically the most concerning, for homeowners and HVAC pros alike, is a booming sound.

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Maintenance Can Prevent These Common Heater Problems

January 8th, 2018

male technician servicing furnaceThere’s no denying that winter is here, and temperatures aren’t even at their coldest yet! Chances are though, you’re already using your heater on a daily basis. In the following weeks you’ll be putting a lot of strain on the system, so before you read any further, be sure to schedule maintenance if you haven’t done so already in the past year (or in the past 6 months, if you have a heat pump).

Even with maintenance, there is no guarantee that your heater will work 100% without malfunction or the need for Salt Lake City, UT heating repair throughout its lifespan. But the thorough inspection, cleaning, and adjusting that happens during maintenance can certainly help fend off some of the most common heater problems we receive calls for, such as the following.  

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