Design Comfort Blog

Signs That Your Water Heater Is Struggling

January 17th, 2022

surprised-womanNo matter what season it is here in Salt Lake City, there is one home comfort system in particular that you will always need, and yet it probably doesn’t get the acknowledgment or appreciation it deserves–your water heater. This system is easy to take for granted–relying on the fact that you’ll have hot water from the taps whenever you need it.

When you take into account the amount of strain a water heater undergoes (it works every day of the year, after all), you can understand that you can’t expect your water heater system to operate 100% free of problems. At one point or another, you’ll probably need professional water heater repairs. But how do you know when this is the case?

Well, here are some signs you can watch out for. 

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The Benefits of a Duel Fuel System in Salt Lake City

January 3rd, 2022

floor-ventIf you’re asking what a dual fuel system is, don’t worry, you’re not alone! Before we jump into how one of these systems can benefit you and your home, we’ll go ahead and answer this question first.

The thing about a gas furnace for your heating needs is, it’s not perfect. It can be too powerful on milder winter nights, meaning that it’s drawing more energy than is really necessary to keep you warm. An electric heat pump isn’t perfect either–it actually struggles to work as a heating system if temperatures drop too terrible low during the winter, which can be a real pain in Salt Lake City!

It’s too bad that there isn’t something that combines the two, right?

Wait, that’s exactly what a dual fuel heating system is! Read on to learn more.

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It’s Not Too Late for This Vital Heating Service

December 20th, 2021

burners-inside-furnaceTemperatures haven’t reached their chilliest just yet here in the Salt Lake City area, but they sure are cold. We’re certain that you are using your heater on a regular basis, as you should be. But have you already scheduled heating maintenance? If not, it’s not too late! Maintenance is a service that requires highly trained and experience technicians–it’s really not a simple service that homeowners can just do by running through a checklist. That said, there is one small maintenance task you can and should do–change your air filter every 1-3 months so it doesn’t get too clogged up and restrict airflow.

The rest of your maintenance needs to be done by a professional! After all, you want your heating system to work as reliably as possible for the rest of fall and all throughout winter, right? And we can’t stress enough just how important it is to have this service done routinely–once a year for a traditional furnace or boiler and twice a year for heat pump and ductless systems. This is the only way that you’ll be able to operate your heater at its best. Read on to learn some of the benefits of this service.

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Tips for Staying Warm This Winter

December 6th, 2021

man-shivering-in-homeOur number one tip for Salt Lake City homeowners to stay warm this winter is to ensure that their heating system is in good shape. This means scheduling maintenance for it first. Maintenance tune-ups should be scheduled once a year (twice, if you have a heat pump system) to keep the system working as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible. Maintenance tune-ups even help fend off up to 85% of the repairs that a heater may ever need in its lifetime.

But what if you haven’t had maintenance in a while, and your heater broke down? This is of course an emergency and you’ll want to call us right away. However in the meantime, while you wait for repairs, you want to do whatever you can to stay comfortable. Read on for some tips on how to do so.

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Should You Choose a Tankless Water Heater for Your Home?

November 22nd, 2021

tankless-water-heater-on-green-tiled-wallIf there is any home comfort system in the modern home that people tend to take for granted–as unintentional as that is–it’s likely the water heater. Even though this is the most often used appliance in the average home, you likely don’t give yours a whole lot of thought, unless something goes wrong with it. Then, when something is amiss with the system, the next question is “do I repair it or replace it?”

The answer to that question is really in its age. If you have a newer water heater and this is the first time it’s needed a repair, then that’s likely the best course of action. If yours is edging on a couple of decades in age though, and it’s needed repairs more and more frequently, it’s time to replace.

Let’s say you’re in the latter camp, what next? You may have always had a traditional, storage tank water heater in your home, but this doesn’t mean it’s what you have to stick with. There are benefits to staying with a tank model, and we’ll talk about that below, but you might do well to consider a tankless water heater installation instead. Read on to learn more!

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Have You Scheduled Water Heater Maintenance This Year?

November 8th, 2021

hot-steamy-water-coming-out-of-faucetWhen we’re talking about essential components to your modern home, the water heater tops the list. This system allows you and your family to comfortably shower, wash dishes, wash clothes, and more. Since it’s so important, we hope that you’re scheduling regular maintenance for it, so our professionals can thoroughly inspect it and repair it as needed.

Your water heater came with a manufacturer’s guide, which will tell you how often maintenance is needed for your specific system, but a good rule of thumb is to go no longer than a year between maintenance appointments. So if you haven’t scheduled yours for this year yet, now is the time! But why does this matter so much? What actually happens during water heater maintenance that makes it such a vital service? Read on to find out!

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Is It Time to Call Our Pros for Your Struggling Furnace?

October 25th, 2021

woman-wrapped-in-blanket-sipping-from-mugWhen you purchase a furnace for your home, you expect it to keep you warm. That’s literally its only job, right?!

Well, a lot goes into its functionality to do that job. For instance, it’s important that you invest in routine furnace maintenance. Once a year, you should have professional HVAC technicians comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust your furnace. This ensures that it works as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible. Not only that, routine maintenance helps fend off up to 85% of the repairs your furnace might ever need in its lifetime.

How?

Just like any other major home appliance or piece of equipment, and even just like your car, components suffer from wear and tear over the years. When we do the inspection part of your maintenance appointment, we check for signs of this wear and tear, and then we alert you to it. This allows you time to get furnace repairs on your schedule, without allowing those small “wear and tear” issues to grow into a much bigger problem that could lead to a complete system breakdown.

Of course, it’s still possible that repair needs can crop up in between maintenance sessions–especially if you have an aging (10-15 years old) furnace. So, it’s good to know the signs of a furnace in disrepair so you can give us a call for your struggling heating system. Read on to learn what some of these signs are!

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How to Avoid Problems with your Bathroom Remodel

October 11th, 2021

beautiful-bathroomIf you came across this blog post, then we’re going to guess that your bathroom doesn’t look the way you would like it too, right? Maybe it is not as functional as you think it could be, or perhaps you’re having trouble moving around the space with ease.

Depending on your specific scenario, a bathroom remodel can be a great idea! After all, aside from your kitchen, the bathrooms are often the most used rooms within a living space, and remodeling can give you a great new space.

But it’s very important that when you’re considering a bathroom remodel, you consider what that remodel means for the plumbing. Preparing and planning the right way for all components of your remodel job will make a huge difference in your results. There might even be things you haven’t consider at all about your bathroom plumbing. Read on to learn what they are and to avoid some of the most common problems with your bathroom remodel.

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Here’s How to Protect Your Kitchen Sink

September 27th, 2021

kitchen-sink-drainYou might be wondering, reading the title of this blog post, why you’d need to “protect” your kitchen sink. What we’re really referring to here is your kitchen plumbing in Salt Lake City. A large part of this involves the pipes connected to your kitchen sink that help it properly drain. It also includes the garbage disposal, if you have one in place.

Not properly caring for your plumbing system can leave you with stubborn clogs, leaks, and even broken components that need replacing. Of course, if any of this happens, our team is here to help! But we’d like to help you avoid some of the problems that befall kitchen sinks, if possible!

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Is It Ever Too Late to Install an Air Conditioner?

September 13th, 2021

two-technicians-working-on-outside-ac-unitThe short answer to the question of “is it ever too late to install an air conditioner” is usually no, but right now we’d say it depends. 

As you may or may not be aware of, the pandemic has caused a shortage in HVAC equipment across the country, which does make it a bit more challenging for homeowners to find the perfect system. But with a trained professional’s help, you can certainly explore your options and find the right system for your home with a little bit of patience and time. The good news is, temperatures are cooling down! So you actually have quite a while before you need your new air conditioner.

Read on as we uncover factors to consider when installing a new air conditioner.

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