Design Comfort Blog

Is a Tankless Water Heater Better Than a Tank Water Heater?

November 21st, 2022

tankless-water-heater-on-green-tiled-wall

There’s nothing better than a long, hot shower on a cold, winter day in Utah. And there’s nothing worse than your hot water going out halfway through that shower, blasting you with icy cold water.

If your hot water heater is due to be replaced soon, or your existing water heater just isn’t meeting the demands of your household, perhaps you’ve wondered if your home would benefit from a tankless water heater.

There are definitely pros and cons to tankless water heaters and things to consider when deciding between the two types. Read on to discover if a tankless water heater is better for your family’s needs.

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Signs Your Water Heater is Struggling

November 7th, 2022

hot water faucet

Water heaters are the “workhorse” of the home, accounting for up to 17% of your home’s energy usage. This is because unlike your air conditioning unit and heater, a water heater is used frequently and on a daily basis. They also work hard to provide hot water to multiple other appliances. When your water heater starts to struggle, it quickly becomes apparent.

Watch out for these warning signs so you’ll know when to contact us for water heater service in Salt Lake City. If you notice any of these signs of a struggling water heater, don’t hesitate to give our team a call. No one should be stuck without hot water during the coldest time of the year!

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Heed These Signs You Might Have a Slab Leak

October 24th, 2022

cracked-concrete-foundationIf there’s a phrase that has the most potential to strike fear in the hearts of Utah homeowners, it has to be “slab leak.” Perhaps you know a neighbor, friend, or family member who’s suffered from a slab leak problem.

These problematic water leaks occur in the pipes that run beneath a house’s concrete slab or foundation. Because they are notoriously difficult to detect, slab leaks often go unnoticed for a long time. Once the signs of a slab leak become apparent, locating and accessing the slab leak creates another set of problems.

Even though slab leaks aren’t always preventable, noticing the first signs of slab leaks is the key to early detection. Here are common signs of slab leaks that all proactive homeowners should recognize.

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The Benefits of Geothermal Heating and Cooling

October 10th, 2022

animated-diagram-of-a-house-getting-geothermal-tubes-installedWith changes coming to energy efficiency guidelines in just a few short months, if you’ve already been considering replacing either your air conditioner or your heater, now is the time to do so. And if you’re looking to add a system to a brand new home build, or if you’re remodeling or redoing your landscape, now might be the perfect time to consider the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system.

Geothermal energy is a great way to cut back on your energy usage, and therefore your energy bills. In light of the Inflation Reduction Act also going into full effect starting January 1, 2023, making energy upgrades can be extremely beneficial to you, and a geothermal system is absolutely an energy upgrade. Read on as we uncover some of the advantages of switching from a more traditional central air conditioner or heater to a geothermal system.

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Is It Okay if My Heat Pump is Oversized?

September 26th, 2022

white-question-mark-on-blue-circleWhen it comes to your home’s comfort system, you must rely on professionals to handle the installation process. Not only will this ensure the system is hooked up properly, but also that it is the right size for your home. 

In this situation, “size” doesn’t mean the bulk of the unit. The cooling capacity, which is measured in BTU tons, refers to the size of your unit. It’s necessary for your air conditioner to be matched to your home’s cooling requirements. The process of doing this is a complex process called “heat load calculation.”

Just guessing about how powerful a cooling system is, may result in an oversized or undersized unit. This is going to lead to the unit wearing out faster than it should and having to call for heat pump repair in Salt Lake City more often than you should. 

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A Guide on How NOT to Treat Your Plumbing System

September 12th, 2022

plumbing-pipe-with-crack-in-itWe can tell you all about taking good care of your plumbing system. In fact, if you look back through our previous blog posts, we’ve talked about things like preventing frozen pipes by taking proper precautions, knowing the signs that you might have a leak such as the sound of dripping water when no plumbing fixtures are on, and only putting certain things down your kitchen sink drain to avoid clogs.

We thought it would be helpful if we also shared what not to do when it comes to your home’s plumbing system, so that you can take the best care of it possible and potentially even avoid the hassle of calling for plumbing repairs when it’s inconvenient–and let’s face it, plumbing problems are always inconvenient, right? Read on!

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Why You Shouldn’t Try to Install Your Own Air Conditioner

August 15th, 2022

two-techs-working-on-outdoor-ac-unitFor homeowners looking to install an air conditioner this time of the year, we’re sure that time doesn’t really seem like it’s on your side, right? We get it, but unfortunately rushing into a purchase like this could leave you with a system that operates inefficiently, has frequent repair needs, and might not even last its expected 10-15 year lifespan.

Problems like this can be avoided, though, by contacting trained and experienced professionals such as the folks on our team for your air conditioner installation. Whether you’re looking to get a central AC system, heat pump, or ductless, anything other than a portable window unit really needs to be installed by a licensed professional and not left to be a DIY project. Here’s why!

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The Downsides of an Ill-Maintained Tankless Water Heater

August 1st, 2022

tankless-water-heater-on-green-tiled-wallWhat many homeowners fail to realize about tankless water heaters, is that just like their storage tank counterparts, tankless water heaters need occasional services to stay in good shape. This means keeping on top of repairs as they’re needed but also making sure that you schedule maintenance for these systems on a regular basis. If you have a tankless water heater in your home, you should have professional maintenance done at least every couple of years.

Read on to learn what can happen if you don’t maintain your tankless water heater on a regular basis.

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What Are the Most Common Air Conditioning Repair Needs?

July 18th, 2022

two-techs-working-on-air-conditionerSummer is upon us, and it’s time to put your air conditioner to the test.

Of course, you don’t have to test it at all if you’ve just had it professionally tuned-up. Professional maintenance tune-ups are needed once a year (or twice, in the case of a year-round heat pump system) to keep your air conditioner working as effectively and efficiently as possible, for as long as possible.

Maintenance also helps reduce up to 85% of the repair needs that your air conditioner might ever need in its lifetime. Still though, it is possible for repair needs to crop up between tune-ups. For this reason, it’s important that you know the signs that your cooling system needs repair, so you can give us a call right away.

Read on to learn what some of the most common AC repair needs are, and what indicators to watch out for.

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A Guide to Plumbing Maintenance

July 4th, 2022

family-at-kitchen-sinkWhether you’ve been in your home for decades and never had your plumbing inspected outside of the initial home inspection (which, by the way, doesn’t involve checking for everything that could impact your plumbing–such as your risk, of experiencing slab leaks or how old your pipes actually are) or you’re having plumbing newly installed, there is one thing we encourage you to keep in mind. This is, how important plumbing maintenance is.

Your plumbing system works hard to bring you many of today’s modern conveniences–warm showers, the ability to keep beautiful landscaping, the ability to cook and clean, etc. But without proper care, your plumbing system won’t be able to work reliably forever. But what does plumbing maintenance look like? Can you maintain your plumbing on your own?

Sure, there are definitely some plumbing maintenance tasks you can do on your own! We’ll outline these below. It’s also important, though, to trust the pros for the pig stuff. And that’s where we come in. Read on to learn more!

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