Whats Up With "Wit"

Winter burrrrrrrr

2008-07-01T16:02:00.002-04:00

Hello ..... I know it is SUMMER :) but the way the economy is going we sooooooo need to think about WINTER ALREADY !!!! This is the time that you need to check your furnaces, boilers, wood stoves ... however you heat your home in the winter. Make sure they are cleaned !! (Home Inspection information on our website www.falconvt.com) or get them replaced NOW why it is summer and you can go a day or two without heat ! and it's not three in the morning with 20 below wind chill paying overtime charges for someone to come out and get you back up ! Take advantage of all the incentives that are out there to replace those boilers and to have a more efficiently heating system in your home which will give you lower heating cost and a return on your dollar when it is time to sell !!!

None of us want to think about winter when it is just days away from the 4th of July... I know that.... but I also believe that we are going to have one extremely tough winter to get through ! So if anyone has any questions on this.. or wants us to supply you with a FREE heating analysis .. just give us a call and we would be happy to provide you with the best price, the best information and the best service that soars :)

So, I will end this with a Salute to ALL of our Service men and women out there, fighting for us.. for our country... for our Freedom !! THANK YOU !! and come home safe :)

Happy Fourth Of July to All

SPRING !!!

2008-04-14T14:46:00.002-04:00

WOW, it is spring already !!! Time change has happened... (pointing at all the people out there that has not either changed there batteries in the smoke detector or the C.O detector) please do so if you have not... :)

OK, what a winter this has been, weather was fair... no real cold snap but we did get snow... so for the skiers out there YAHOO !!!! Pipes seem to behave for people this year, and our NEW programs we now have at Falcon Plumbing Service has been a HUGE help for our new Landlords... Tenants... and good ole fashion Home owners !!! Seems that the Home Inspections for our customers have also been very well received... like I always say "Spend a little now... Save A LOT later" seems to have worked :)

Well my tip for the day would be for everyone to make sure they know where there shut off valves are for the water !! *besides checking those batteries in the detectors* .... you never know when you may need to shut the water off immediately ... and like my husband always says... "Better to know and not need it, then to need it and NOT know it" :)

So with that being said, I will wish everyone a Wonderfull Spring... A Safe Summer .... and may all your plumbing problems be ours :)

Thanks for stopping by
Wit :)

Question of the Day... "To go Tankless or Not" ????

2008-01-23T13:04:00.000-05:00

It seems that Brian has been getting TONS of questions about going "Green" which we so very much support... the question of the day is: Should I go Tankless ??? So Brian has written in detail his thoughts on that... which you will see below... PLEASE feel free to give Falcon Plumbing a call at 802-878-0077 if this does not answer any of your question.. or you might have more question... We care about this Earth and want to help all we can to save it :)

Brians words..
We are excited to be involved with the newest technologies pushing the instantaneous hot water heaters. If you want to “Go Green,” a tank less hot water heater is for you. They will save you money on gas used for heating hot water. No tank means that you only heat the water you are going to use so there is no wasted money heating water that cools down just “sitting” there. There are some important considerations that you need to consider when making this leap to being “Green.” Read on to see if a tank less, instantaneous hot water heater is what is going to fit the needs of your residence.

Let’s get the negatives out of the way first. There are a few negative aspects of these water heaters that you, the consumer, may not like but are part of the package and can’t be avoided. First is the gas supply needed to heat a lot of water real fast. If you have an existing hot water heater that is supplied with propane or natural gas there is a very high probability that the gas pipes supplying the new instantaneous hot water heater will need to be increased in size. In technical terms, a normal hot water heater burns around 50,000BTU per hour of heat to heat the tank of hot water. The tank less hot water heaters have to heat the water much faster and thus can burn over 200,000BTU per hour, or roughly four times the amount. Many times the gas supply pipes need to be increased all the way back to the meter or propane regulator on the side of the house to account for the increase in gas demand at any given moment. This can add significantly to the cost to convert from a “standard” hot water heater to an instantaneous one.

Second negative is a thing we call flow rate. Flow rate is exactly what it sounds like, the rate of flow from the hot water heater. In order to get a steady flow of consistent hot water from an instantaneous hot water heater the water needs to be in contact with the flame for a certain period of time. The colder the water is, the longer it has to stay in contact with the flame to get to the desired temperature. Instantaneous hot water heaters slow the flow rate of the water down according to how cold the water is. Here in Vermont , and more specifically Chittenden County , most of us receive our water from Lake Champlain . During five to six months of the year the lake temperature hovers around 40F or below. At these temperatures the flow rate drops to around 2 gallons per minute, or below in some cases. Now this is fine for a single source of hot water being used but may be an issue, especially in older homes, if two sources are being used at the same time, such as a shower and kitchen sink. In these situations someone will have a sudden, or at least pronounced, drop in hot water flow. This can be rather unsettling if you are the one taking the shower and the hot water keeps fluctuating. This can be eliminated by adding a second hot water heater, but now you have roughly doubled the cost of the installation and there may not be the return on your dollar that you are hoping for.

Third and last negative is service. Instantaneous hot water heaters are a relatively high tech piece of equipment that have many parts that can, may and will fail. When they fail they of course will require a service call to get it running again. Even the best units can be difficult to service due to the amount of “stuff” they pack into the boxes that house them. Some calls will be quick, but an equal number of calls can be lengthy resulting in a significant bill at the end.

So enough of the negatives. There are also many great things about instantaneous hot water heaters. Let’s give them some very careful considerations as well and then you can decide if it will be a good fit for your residence.

First and certainly foremost positive is the “Green” factor. These units will save our precious natural resources, specifically natural and propane gas. There is just so much gas out there and when it’s all used up we had better have a plan B. Since plan B is still trying to be found, we have to conserve as much of our resources as possible and these are an excellent way to do that. The units are considerably more efficient than a standard hot water heater and, as a result of the higher efficiency, add far less greenhouse gasses to the environment. Greenhouse gasses produced by human consumption of fossil fuels, particularly gas, coal, and oil, are contributing to the current global warming crisis that is plaguing our planet. Any thing we can do to help curb this is certainly worth doing.

Second positive is a direct result of the first. Using less gas will lower your gas bill. Since you heat only the water you need at the time, there is no wasted money spent heating water you are not going to use. This is especially true if you are gone for long periods of time. Though you can turn a regular hot water heater off to conserve energy, most of us do not. The cost to keep a hot water heater hot can add up very quickly. With an instantaneous heater, no gas is used at all while you are away. Now that is what we call a savings.

Third is space savings. These units take up a fraction of the space a hot water heater does. In our shrinking homes, and as we collect more “stuff,” space can become a real issue. These units hang on the wall, freeing up a considerable amount of floor space. They can easily fit inside a closet and even fit inside a cabinet. In Europe , it is quite common to find them in a kitchen cabinet, covered by a cabinet door.

Another benefit, if you install multiple units close to bathrooms, washing machines, kitchen’s etc., the amount of time it takes to get hot water to the faucet when you first turn it on is cut dramatically. This will also save on your water bill if you are like most of us and let the water run waiting for the hot water to travel from the hot water heater, normally in the basement, to your faucet. In some homes, you can use up to two gallons of water just to get hot water to the faucet each time you do this. Again, this wastes our precious water resources that are just as important, if not more important, than out gas and oil supplies.

Another positive is the use of these in the many camps that are here in Vermont . These are an excellent way to provide hot water instantly upon arriving to your camp and they winterize very easily as well. There are a some that mount to the outside of the camp and subsequently don’t need to be vented (good only in warm weather applications).

And then there are the rebates available from the gas companies and government agencies for going green. Each company and agency offers different incentives to install these, too varied and numerous to inform in this format. If you do some leg work, however, you may find that there is a significant amount of money saved or “given back” for installing one of these.

Finally, if you are adding an addition such as a mother-in-law appartment or an addition with plumbing to your house, these are an excellent way to supply hot water to the new area. All you need to do is run a cold water line to the new area and install the instantaneous hot water heater. If it happens to be an appartment that you are renting, the gas used can be seperatly metered and billed to your tenants.

So in conclusion, in the right situation these water heaters are a great way to “Go Green” and save a few dollars in the process. There is a negative side to them that needs to be weighed with the positives to determine if they are a good fit for you and your needs. If you have further questions give us a call or ask one of our trained technicians. We at Falcon Plumbing Service are here to answer all of your plumbing and heating questions and concerns.

Merry Christmas To All

2007-12-20T08:25:00.000-05:00

Well first I must apologize for not being here sooner, tis the Season of being busy!!! but no one should ever be so busy that they can not stop and say Merry Christmas... Happy Holidays... Feliz Navidad.... God Bless... or whatever your heart feels. So with that being said.. I stop to say We at Falcon Plumbing Service wishes everyone a Very Very Merry Blessed Christmas and a New Year full of dreams coming true... happiness in hearts beyond any feeling before... and Peace on Earth for ALL.

Brian & Linda & Laura & Peter & Ryan & Brian & Justin

TIP FOR THE DAY

2007-11-28T11:57:00.000-05:00

Ok, here it is almost "freezing" time.... which means are phones are ringing off the wall !!! Number one problem is no heat !! Overtime cost that could of been prevented IF the customer would of had there boiler or furnace checked out in the summer time ! We encourage everyone to take advantage of the Home Inspection we offer. It is very popular with our customers and has already proven to save them money in the long run. By just spending a little bit of money now... you will save TONS of money in the future. Not to mention avoiding the early wake up in January ... a good 20 below temperature outside with no heat, kids are freezing, plants are not liking the cold, animals are curled up in the coats and there is no plumber to be found for at least 6 hours !!! NOT one of your "better" days :(

Preventative maintenance on your plumbing and heating equipment will not only save you money in the long run, but give you peace of mind that you and your family are safe and will stay nice and "toasty" for the winter months ahead.

Check our website for more details on our Home Inspections Plan. www.falconplumbingvt.com

A Helping Hand

2007-11-14T10:16:00.000-05:00

Ok, we are about a week away from Thanksgiving.... you know that Holiday that we pause a minute and be Thankfull for our Blessings :) no matter how big or small they may be... it's time that we remember ALL of those service men and women that are fighting for our freedom... that risk there own lives so we may have our freedom... that will not be home with there family this year... it's time to share a hug with a good friend and be Thankfull that they are in your life.... it's also a great time to take some groceries to your local church or food shelter... If we could all just take a can or two of food ... or more if you can and donate them. It is truly amazing how if everyone would just do a little to make a HUGE difference in a life of a family who can't afford food. So when you are sitting at your own family Thanksgiving table this year... enjoying your wonderfull meal with your own family you can feel that smile in your heart knowing you have helped feed a family who possibly would not have had any food without your donation.
I am very Thankfull for all of the blessings that I have in my life, my sons.. my friends... my home... my husband who is truly my best friend.... and all of our Falcon Plumbing Customers !! without you, we would not be in business... so from all of us here at Falcon Plumbing... we wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday season... may it be filled with lots of love and warm blessings for the coming year.

Why "Wit"

2007-10-18T10:18:00.000-04:00

Ok, for those of you who are wondering who or why the "Wit" ? It is in memory of my father, Norm ... a very special man in my life who taught me my "Wit" and who I was so very blessed to have around for 47 years. He taught me life is not a bed of roses, you have to get through the "pits" first. He also taught me Never to QUIT ! and most of all he taught me to be kind, to be thankful for the blessings we have in our life and he also taught me that a good deed is a great action :) when you put a smile on someones face by simply performing a good deed, that's a good thing ! So to you Norm/Dad/ Grandpa Wit ... I will attempt to pass on not only some helpful plumbing tips.. but some of the "Wit" you taught me... and maybe, just maybe someone will "pass it on" so that the "Wit" will never be lost. I love you... I miss you... and I Thank You !

Because we care

2007-10-10T11:27:00.000-04:00

Ok.. I promise, ONE MORE TIME and you won't hear it from me again till next fall :) PLEASE remember to take off your outside hoses ! The weather is starting to get colder and frost is possible soon. It amazes me how many people call us in the spring to repair a cracked sillcock. ALSO ..... time change is coming, November 4th .... that means it is time to check the batteries in the smoke detectors and the C.O. detectors !! a five minute test can save lives... if you have any questions about Carbon Monoxide you need to check out this great website I came across www.firstalert.com very informative!

Ok... now that I have repeated myself again.. I will leave this post with some F.Y.I.'s from our friends at www.bathroomreader.com

BATHROOM BREAK

* If you live an average life span, you'll spend about six months on the toilet ....

* Seventy-six percent of bathroom readers prefer their toilet paper to hang over the top...

* Americans use more than 4.8 billion gallons of water flushing toilets each day !

* Alaska has more outhouses than any other state....

* The first stall in a public restroom is usually the cleanest. Seeking privacy, most people skip it.

* Most toilets flush in E flat....

So there you go, a little information about the toilet, just in case you were wondering :) Please feel free to leave any info you may have..... I'm sure our readers would love to know more.

What is it ?

2007-10-03T12:31:00.000-04:00

Plumbing is the system that supplies, distributes, uses, and removes water from a building. Among the components used in the system are pipes, fittings, sinks, basins, faucets, valves, drains, toilets, and tubs. In colonial America, water used for cleaning or cooking was typically brought into a building by bucket and the wastewater was later removed in the same way. Elimination, for the most part, tended to take place out-side in a privy or outhouse. Although there were rare isolated examples of indoor toilets and running water based on or using English and European technology, it was not until the mid-nineteenth century that there were an appreciable number of plumbing installations. For many households they amounted to nothing more than a hand pump and kitchen sink. For a far smaller number it also might be hot and cold running water and what early on became known as the bathroom. During the 1840s and 1850s, the major elements of the bath were in place and consisted simply of a water closet or toilet and a "bathtub." Light washing still took place at the bedroom wash-stand with its basin, water pitcher, and slop jar or bucket. It was not until the 1860s that these items began to be replaced gradually by basins, faucets, and running water installed in the bathroom.

So there, now you have a little history on Plumbing :) The things we learn when you read a blog .....

A Suggestion .....

2007-09-25T13:32:00.000-04:00

OK... I have a suggestion/request for anyone who is reading this......

Share a smile... that's right, a SMILE... you know that action that happens when you bring your cheekbones up higher and possibly squint your eyes..... that "action" that will make another person react the same way... that nice feeling you get in your mind when you see someone smile .. or you smile to someone... Yes, a SMILE... doesn't cost anything... doesn't even take a huge effort to do it.. but what it can give in return... well, you'll see ... Try it :)

A few good plumbing tips for the fall

2007-09-06T08:50:00.000-04:00

Ok.... here we are looking right into the "eyes" of fall. It was a good summer at this end and hope that yours was good also. Since the weather is going to change a bit here in the next couple of months I do have a few suggestions that just might make your wallet a bit happier. First suggestion, take OFF the water hoses before the first frost !! I can't tell you how many calls we get in the spring with people who need our service because it is raining in there basement :( Our first question to them is: "Did you happen to leave your hose on all winter long?" ... they reply: "Yes, why?" we reply: " you have a cracked sillcock due to water left in the hose that froze and split the sillcock" Second suggestion, clear all leaves and debris around your venting so when the first big snow storm comes when you go out to clear that away you won't have to worry about frozen leaves that have piled up. Having a blocked vent could be very dangerous and could cause a no heat situation not to mention a carbon monoxide factor, or what we call the "Silent Killer" .... so please change your batteries in the smoke detectors and also your C.O. detectors... it could very well save your life!
Falcon Plumbing Service does offer a 57 point Home Inspection that has been very popular. Our thoughts on that is "Spend a little now... Save a lot later" ! Please feel free to check our website for the details on the Home Inspection, give us a call and we can provide you with peace of mind knowing your home is ready for the winter months to come.
So for now I will say so long, Please feel free to stop by share your thoughts or questions you may have and enjoy a bit of the "Wit"

My first wit-ism

2007-07-24T15:28:00.000-04:00

You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.