Tips & Tricks Archives - Page 5 of 6 - The Bosworth Company Kerrville

5 Signs Your Water Heater Is Going Out

Posted on October 25, 2016 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | 12 Comments

Typically, a water heater is the most costly component of a home’s plumbing. If you’ve ever had a water heater go out, you know that you don’t want it to happen again. Not only can it be a huge mess, but cold showers are simply no fun. That’s why it’s important to look for signs your water heater is going out…

Look For These Signs

Temperature – Does the temperature of your water seem off? If your water doesn’t seem to get hot enough, or if it’s too hot, this could be a sign that your water heater is going out. Sometimes, however, this problem can be fixed by adjusting the thermostat in your unit. Generally, the ideal temperature for hot water is between 120 and 140 degrees.
Lack of hot water – No hot water? Typically, this is an easy fix. More than likely, your heating element has gone out (or gas thermocouple, if your device is powered by natural gas). This requires a simple relighting. If that doesn’t work, you may have to replace a part on the element itself.
Noise – Can you hear your water heater knocking, whining, or creaking? Sometimes this is simply caused by the sediment buildup inside the tank. This buildup comes in contact with the heating element and makes noise as the sediment is burnt away. Flushing the tank can correct this problem. However, noise is also a sign that the heating element is broken. If that’s the case, you could need a new water heater.
Leaking – Have you noticed standing water from your hot water heater? It’s important to contact a plumber immediately in order to prevent flooding and damage to your home.
Age – How old is your water heater? Most residential water heaters are sold with a 5-year or 10-year warranty. Your water heater should last at least that long, but usually they can last up to 15 years. If you experience common problems with your hot water heater and it has reached 15 years, this could be an indication that it’s time for replacement.

Contact Us

We’re the plumbers you want to call for you water heater problems. We’re the knowledgeable experts who will diagnose your problem and take care of it immediately, saving you trouble (and money!) down the road. We also have the perfect solutions for your water heater needs, including Noritz Tankless Hot Water Heaters. For more information, or to request service, contact us today!

Your Guide To Saving Energy In The Kitchen

Posted on October 20, 2016 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

Did you know homeowners typically spend about $2,000 every year on their energy bills? One of the biggest energy consumers in your home is the kitchen. Between appliances and lighting, it can really add up. Check out our guide to saving energy in the kitchen!

Lighting

Let’s start with lighting. While there are many different types of kitchen lighting (under-cabinet lighting, recessed ceiling lighting, ceiling fixtures, pendant fixtures, and architectural lighting), there are Energy Star certified options. If you decide to replace existing kitchen lighting, consider renovating with LED lightbulbs. This will save you an average of 80% less energy than standard bulbs.

Appliances

Similar to lighting, find appliances that are Energy Star certified. Here’s why:

“An Energy Star certified dishwasher is, on average, 12% more energy efficient and 30% more water efficient than standard, non-Energy Star certified models.”

“An Energy Star certified refrigerator is approximately 9% more energy efficient than the federal standard and uses about half as much energy as a 15-year old refrigerator.”

Kitchen Tips

In addition to purchasing energy-efficient lighting and appliances, there are also simple methods to saving energy in the kitchen:

Reduce cooking times by approximately 10%, by covering pots and pans while cooking.
Use your microwave—it’s the most efficient means of cooking…not to mention the fastest!
Keeping the oven door closed while the oven is in use can save as much as $20 per year! Same goes for your refrigerator door.
Don’t waste water by pre-rinsing your dishes! Instead, just scrape excess food directly into the trash, achieving the same result, without using extra water or energy.

Hopefully the tips above help you to save energy (money!) in the kitchen! For other tips and tricks like these, follow our boards on Pinterest!

Halloween Safety Tips

Posted on October 18, 2016 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

Halloween is a fun time for both kids and adults! But it’s also a great opportunity to practice some necessary safety skills. Stay safe this Halloween with the Halloween safety tips below!

Costumes

Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers.

If possible, choose brightly colored costumes.

Since face masks can obstruct vision, avoid them and use face paint instead.

Carry glow sticks or flashlights to not only help with seeing, but to be seen.

Walking

Watch for cars that are turning or backing up.

Always stay on the sidewalk and stop and obey traffic signals.

Put electronic devices down when crossing the street.

Learn to make eye contact with a driver before crossing in front of them.

Don’t run, across the street. Walking is safer.

Driving

Eliminate distractions inside your car.

Drive slower than usual on Halloween, especially in residential neighborhoods.

Enter and exit driveways and alleys with caution.

Be especially alert for kids from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM, those are popular trick-or-treating hours.

Treats

A good dinner prior to trick-or-treating will discourage kiddos from filling up on Halloween treats.

Tell children to wait until they get home to eat their treats. Though tampering is rare, an adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.

Try to ration treats for the days and weeks following Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy Halloween! For more tips and tricks like these, follow our boards on Pinterest!

Cleaning Air Ducts

Posted on October 11, 2016 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | 4 Comments

Essentially, air ducts are the respiratory system of your home. By maintaining them, you keep your home healthy and breathing normally. Find out how, and why, to clean air ducts with our tips below!

Why Clean Air Ducts?

First off, let’s discuss why your air ducts should be cleaned. All kinds of air pollutants can build up in your air ducts and then be blown into the air of your home:

Pet dander
Spores
Pollen
Mold
Dust
Smoke residue

If you notice yourself more susceptible to allergies, it is likely due to the accumulation of irritants in your air ducts. Or, if you notice dust collecting along the grates, it is definitely time to clean your air ducts.

How To Clean Air Ducts

Now that you know a little bit more about air ducts, you may be curious about how to clean your air ducts. First, gather your tools:

1. Screwdriver

2. Vacuum with hose

3. Brush

4. Broom

5. Paper towels

6. Cleaning solution

Next, take the following steps to clean your air ducts:

1. Vacuum or sweep the floor near your duct to keep debris from falling inside the duct while cleaning.

2. Remove your vents with a screwdriver.

3. If you notice a lot of dust on the grate itself, use your rag to wipe off the excess dust and use your cleaning solution to make the grate shine.

4. Wipe off the dust from the inside of the duct as well. (Tip: Your vacuum cleaner hose will reach farther into the vent than your arm.)

5. Finally, reattach your grates and run the vacuum over the grates to remove any remaining particles.

Worth The Call

Cleaning air ducts helps your home breathe easier. If you need help cleaning air ducts, contact the professionals at The Bosworth Company! We’re worth the call. Always.

Home Maintenance Tips

Posted on September 27, 2016 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

It’s time to pull out the tool belt! Maintaining your home is just part of home ownership. After all, prevention is the key to avoiding costly repairs and replacements. But where do you even begin? Check out our home maintenance tips below!

Keep Your Dishwasher Dishwashing

It’s important to occasionally clean out the dishwasher trap at the bottom of your unit. It collects excess food and can build up grime after extensive use. You should also carefully clean out the seals around the washer to remove particles and gunk. The bacteria that breaks down the particles can also eventually eat away at those seals.

Keep Your Air Conditioner Conditioning

Another simple home maintenance hack is to clear out your air conditioner’s condensate line. This is the thin pipe that runs from your air conditioner to a place outside your home. When your AC runs, it “sweats” (think of beads of water on the side of a glass on a hot day). That liquid accumulates over time and needs a place to go.

This line can become clogged. These clogs cause the liquid to back up and eventually overflow from the AC drip pan. This can cause substantial leaks and damage if you don’t catch it quickly. Once a year, you should use a portable air compressor to blow out any clogs.

Keep Your Hot Water Heater Heating

West Texas is notorious for its hard water. Calcium, lime, and other mineralized sediment can accumulate at the bottom of your hot water heater. The accumulation becomes hard and creates an “insulation.” This prevents the heating element from properly doing its job. What does this mean? Low efficiency and high utility costs for you!

In order to keep it running at its best, it’s important to drain the tank completely every once in a while. For residents of West Texas, our hard water indicates that the tank should be drained once or twice each year.

Keep Your Dryer Drying

It’s important that you clean the removable lint catcher each time you use the dryer. To do this, you must remove the “accordion” from your dryer. Clean it out completely. Then, using a vacuum, suck up all of the excess lint from the cavity.

Seasonal Clean & Checks

Don’t feel like tackling home maintenance on your own? Don’t worry, the team at Bosworth can help! We offer seasonal clean & checks to prepare your home for the upcoming season. Learn more about our Fall and Spring services! Or, you can always schedule service online! Let us show you we’re worth the call. Always.

How To Collect And Use Rainwater

Posted on August 30, 2016 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

Wow! These rare rainy days are surely appreciated in our dry climate. Why not use that rainwater for household tasks and save money on your water bill this month? Not sure how? Find out more about how to collect and use rainwater!

Collect Rainwater

Did you know you can install a rainwater collection system? This consists of large underground tanks, a filter and pump. When it rains, the rainwater is directed into those tanks and then filtered and pumped into your home. This rainwater can then be used for common household tasks. In fact, using rainwater for toilet flushing, laundry and garden use alone can reduce water requirements of a typical household by up to 70%!

While it is nice to have some type of rainwater collection system in your home, it is not exactly practical for West Texas residents, as rain isn’t exactly a regular occurrence. What are some ways you can collect rainwater without a system?

You could simply collect rainwater naturally by using things you already have around your home (plastic swimming pool, buckets, barrels, etc.). Set them out in open space or under the drip edge on your roof and allow them to fill up. However, be cautious to use the water within a couple of days, as mosquitos may begin to breed. You could even add decorative gutters and downspouts to your home to have an easy form of collecting water without having an actual system.

Use Rainwater

You can use rainwater in a variety of ways. While laundry or toilet flushing may not be your preference to utilize your rainwater, you can certainly use it for washing your car or watering your lawn or plants. You may not realize how much water you actually use to complete basic tasks like these until you collect the rainwater and water it yourself!

As you can see, rainwater represents a sustainable source of water ideal for use inside and outside the home. So go ahead, go set some collection sources outside and utilize that rare rainwater! For more household tips & tricks like these, be sure to follow our boards on Pinterest!

How To Protect Your Home When On Vacation: Part Two

Posted on July 21, 2016 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

In part one of our blog, we discussed some general things you can do to protect your home when you’re on vacation. If you missed it, catch up here! In part 2, we are continuing that topic with ways you can protect your home from actual damage from water, pipes, electricity, etc. Read on!

Lights

Despite what you might have heard or even done in the past, it is not wise to keep lights on while you’re on vacation. First of all, it will run up your utility bill and waste energy. But having lights on throughout the night and all during the day looks a little suspicious. No one keeps the same lights on all the time! Instead, invest in a light switch timer that turns lights on and off according to a programmed schedule. If a burglar is keeping an eye on your house, he will probably assume someone is home flipping the light switches.

Water

If you’re going to be gone longer than a week or so, you should consider shutting off your water. Either way, you should show your house sitter (tip number one from our first blog) where the water main shut-off is just in case of a water emergency.

Unplug

According to the Consumer Energy Center, many appliances use power even when they’re turned off. Before you leave town, you should unplug your television, computer, toaster oven, chargers, etc. to protect them from power surges. This saves power as well!

Curtains & Blinds

You would probably expect us to tell you to keep your curtains or blinds shut to keep your home cool, but that’s actually not our recommendation. Keep your curtains and blinds the way you would have them if you were at home. If you usually leave them open during the day, leave them that way. Noticeable changes like this could tip off a burglar.

There you have it…8 simple ways to protect your home while you’re on vacation! With these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation, not worrying about what’s going on at home. For other home tips and insight, follow our boards on Pinterest!

Happy travels!

How To Protect Your Home When On Vacation: Part One

Posted on July 19, 2016 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | 1 Comment

Coming back from a vacation is always tough…back to reality! However, coming home to realize that something has happened while you were gone can be downright devastating. There are certain precautions you can take to be sure a disaster like that doesn’t happen. In our two-part series, find out how to protect your home when on vacation!

House-Sitter

A couple of weeks before you leave on vacation, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to keep an eye on things while you are gone. This will not only help you be alerted if anything bad were to happen, but it will also give you peace of mind. Make sure they have a key to your house and at least one phone number where you can be contacted. In addition to keeping an eye on your home, ask if they will check your mail and pick up any newspapers, flyers, etc. Burglars will know if someone is out of town if newspapers start to stack up. Be sure to bring your house sitter back something special from your trip as a thank you!

Social Media

As tempting as it may be to post your incredible vacation pictures, or tell all your friends/followers how amazing ____________ was…don’t. The Internet does not consist of only your friends and family. Even burglars can see what you post. So avoid posting on social media during your vacation…you can do that when you get back!

Jewelry & Valuables

If you aren’t taking your jewelry or valuables with you, then be sure they are out of sight and in a secure place. Make especially certain they are not visible from a door or window.

Spare Key

That fake rock isn’t fooling anyone…certainly not burglars! Pick up your spare key from its “hiding place” and give your house sitter one of your own keys. You don’t want to risk someone else knowing the location of your spare key and letting themselves into your home.

But wait, there’s more! Stay tuned for part 2 of our “How To Protect Your Home When On Vacation” series.

Bosworth’s Guide To Kitchen Lighting

Posted on July 11, 2016 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

Nothing is more unappetizing in a kitchen than harsh fluorescent tubes behind yellowing plastic panels! Lighting designers agree that there are more options than ever before to highlight your kitchen space. In our guide to kitchen lighting, let’s cover how to layer light to accentuate your kitchen, while remaining practical and functional.

When approaching kitchen lighting, there are 4 layers to consider:

1. Ambient

This is where the kitchen’s uniform level of light is created, typically found in overhead ceiling lights or from a recessed cove around the kitchen perimeter. The key to this layer is even spacing.

2. Task

Task lighting is more focused, helping you to keep track of what you’re doing in the kitchen. It often takes the form of under cabinet lighting, pendant lights over sinks, pantry lights, or track lighting over an island.

3. Focal

This lighting is used to draw the eye to details, such as fun architectural accents, pieces of art, niches, etc.

4. Decorative

The decorative layer is purely aesthetic; for example, a dazzling lamp or heirloom sconces.

While the ambient, or overhead, layer should be approximately half of the lighting, the other 3 layers should make up equal parts of the remaining light. Achieving the right mix of these 4 layers will create depth and ambiance in your kitchen that you won’t believe.

At Bosworth, we are licensed electricians and ready to help you enhance your kitchen with layered lighting. For more information on kitchen lighting or to get a quote, contact us!

We’re worth the call. Always.

How To Choose An Electric Company

Posted on July 5, 2016 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

Electricity comes from a monopoly provider…so it’s all the same, right?

No, not exactly.

Shopping smart for electricity can save you a significant amount of money. Especially in these hot summer months! But where do you begin? Check out our tips below!

1. Original providers (the companies your parents used) are not always the best. In fact, newer companies can offer the solid, uninterrupted service that you’re used to experiencing with an original provider, for typically a cheaper price!

2. Consider switching, or at least shopping, for a new company every year. The market is constantly changing, as are the rates, and you don’t want to miss a whole year of savings.

3. Before you shop, be familiar with what you already have. See when your contract expires, what your rate is (fixed or variable) and what you are being charged per kilowatt-hours. You don’t want to fall for a gimmick just to find out you were better off before!

4. Electricity is measured by kilowatt-hours, or kWh. Paying a difference of just 4 cents (8, instead of 12), can drop your monthly bill by at least $100.

5. Choose what kind of rate type you want. Variable rates may be cheaper, but could potentially spike depending on the market. A fixed rate will provide you with more consistency. Decide which is best for you before you choose an electric company.

6. Next, visit www.powertochoose.org. By simply entering your zip code, you will be able to view several offers specific to your area.

7. Before you decide on a company, do your research. Find out what other people are saying in the form of reviews. If you find a troubled history, think twice before choosing them. Don’t pay any mind to only a few poor ratings or reviews. No business is perfect, and there will always be at least a few disgruntled customers. However, if there are dozens or poor ratings or reviews, that could be a cause for concern. You can always consult the Better Business Bureau as well!

8. ALWAYS read the contract! Before signing anything, find out exactly what you’ll be signing your name to. Look for termination fees, contract term, rate plan, and per kWh rate. You don’t want to be blindsided down the road.

Shop Smart & Save

We hope these tips help you shop smart, choose an electric company and ultimately save money! For any and all of your electrical or air conditioning needs, contact The Bosworth Company! We’re worth the call. Always.