John Moore Services Blog

High Heating Costs? Follow These Easy Tips!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 13:00:00 GMT

So far, 2015 has proven to be a cold year. With two Arctic cold waves hitting much of the US bringing the temperatures below freezing even in Houston, it’s time to crank up the furnace. But the lower the temperature the more we use the furnace, and depending on its condition, that could mean high monthly bills.

According to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home – typically making up about 48% of your utility bill. No matter what kind of heating and cooling system you have in your house, you can save money and increase your comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can save up to 30% on your energy bill while reducing environmental emissions.

Here are some tips to help you keep your furnace in top shape so you can save money and keep your home comfortable at the same time:

Change your air filters. This simple task can end up saving the life of your furnace. Air filters are designed to collect dirt, dust, and other impurities in your indoor air. If you go months without changing them the debris gets thicker and thicker, causing your system to work that much harder to produce warm air. And the harder your system has to work, the more energy it uses and the more money it will cost you. Also, the dirt and dust will get sucked back into the system causing it to fail – in fact, that’s one of the leading causes of furnace failure.

Make sure the capacitor is running efficiently. “The capacitor is located in the fan of the furnace and is responsible for starting up the motor,” said John Moore Services HVAC Coach Lewis Yancey. “It is like a car battery and has a charge. When it is below the recommended percentage, which is 5%, it needs to be changed. The motor will still come on if the charge is low, but it will pull more amps and greatly increase your energy usage and monthly bill. And once the charge gets low there is no guarantee of how long it will continue to work.”

Make sure your system is shielded. A shielded system is one that has no cracks or leaks. For example, if there are small leaks in your air ducts, then the warm air will seep out and end up heating your attic AND the living portion of your home. This will cost you more money and it will also take a lot longer to reach the desired temperature inside your home.

Adjust the temperature when leaving for work. There is no need to keep your furnace running strong while your house is empty. By setting the temperature to a lower degree, you are still keeping your furnace running, but not as hard, which can amount to savings.

“Everyone has their own way of adjusting their thermostat, but the one recommendation I want to make is to never turn your furnace completely off during the day,” said Yancey. “Turning it off will cause the system to work twice as hard to get to the temperature you want when you come home.”

Maintain your system. It is important to have your furnace inspected annually during the fall. A lot of internal problems can only be diagnosed by a licensed HVAC technician, and by having him do so right before winter you are being proactive about finding and fixing small problems before they become big and costly.

Utilize your fireplace. Your fireplace is not there just to make your house look good. The flue in your chimney is not airtight, and when it is cold outside it is not uncommon to feel a breeze in your home coming from the fireplace. By lighting a fire you are providing heat in your home and giving a little bit of rest to your furnace because you don’t need to have the temperature set as high.

“By following these steps you should notice a decrease in your bill, but it is also important to pay attention to signs in your home that are indicators that you have a problem with your furnace,” said Yancey. “If you have one or two rooms that never seem to heat as well as the rest of the house, if you feel cold spots throughout your home, or if you notice an outrageously high electric bill there is something not right in your system and you need to call in a professional.”

By paying attention to your thermostat and furnace, and by following the advice listed above, you should be able to maintain a warm and cozy household at an affordable price. But if you have made some changes and still notice no difference in your monthly payments, it’s time to give the expert HVAC technicians at John Moore Services a call. We can properly diagnose all furnace-related problems and help get your home comfortable in no time.

New Space Heater Features Promote Electrical Safety

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 13:00:00 GMT

When it’s cold outside, we Houstonians are always looking for ways to stay warm. And so far, this winter has proven to be pretty extreme for our warm Texas blood! That’s why we turn to things like coats, scarfs, gloves, and extra blankets while we sleep. And if things get really bad, we get out a space heater. Space heaters are a great way to keep a particular room toasty, and depending on the size of your home, can reduce your heating costs as much as 80%. That is, if they are being used correctly, because more often than not, space heaters are misused, and when this happens they become extremely dangerous.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, approximately one-third of all house fires during the winter are caused by space heater-related issues. And according to the Harvard University Environmental Health & Safety group, they amount to at least 6,000 emergency room visits each winter. That’s a lot of danger for such a small appliance to produce, which is why we feel it’s important to discuss space heater safety.

“Space heaters are one of those items that people don’t tend to replace as often as they should. Typically a person will have the same old space heater for years and pull it out every winter,” said John Moore Services Electrical Manager David Floyd. “It’s those older ones that are more dangerous than the newer ones on the market. The old ones draw a lot of heat and become fire hazards, especially when people don’t pay attention to where they put them and end up setting it up next to an indoor plant, couch, or something else that is flammable. The new ones are made with certain safety protections like automatic shut-offs.”

Are there different types of space heaters?

Currently, there are two types of space heater on the market:

Electric heaters are the safest type out there, and would probably be the best fit in an average household. Convection models are efficient and are best for heating an entire room because they produce heat more efficiently over a wider area. There are also models available with a fan that will better help spread the heated air. You can find some equipped with the following safety features:

Extra long power cords, which will allow you to place the heater in spot far away from flammable material.
Digital thermostat. This is beneficial because you can set the temperature of the air and do not have to worry about constantly adjusting your heater settings as the temperature varies.
Tip over switch, touch sensor, overheat protection. These features will automatically shut off the heater if it is tipped over, touched, or if it overheats.

Propane and Kerosene heaters are available, but there is much more risk associated with them. Because heat is produced with gas, there is an open flame inside the heater. This means that the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is greater and it is recommended to only use these types of heaters in rooms with good ventilation. Certain makes and models are equipped with:

Oxygen depletion sensor/low-oxygen shut off. This feature senses the amount of oxygen in the air. When it senses that the oxygen level is dropping due to the buildup of carbon dioxide, it automatically shuts off the heater’s fuel flow.

Here are some more safety tips:

Make sure your space heater is turned off before leaving the room and especially when you leave your house. Using your space heater only when you need extra warmth can save you money and reduce the risk of an accidental fire.
Keep children and pets away from the heater. Certain heaters, mainly older models, heat up on the outside and can cause third degree burns within a second of touching it. A space heater is not a toy and can cause great harm to a small child or pet.
Make sure the cord is not frayed or damaged. Frayed cords will create excess heat conditions and could potentially start a fire.
Do not overload circuits while using a space heater. Never use an extension cord or multiple plugs with a space heater, and make sure the heater is not plugged into a receptacle with other electric appliances. Too many items plugged into a receptacle will create a heat condition and start a fire.
Only place the heater on flat floor. Never put a space heater on a table or a floor that will enable the heater to wobble. Doing so creates a risk of the heater tipping over and starting a fire.
Clear the area around your space heater. A space heater needs room and air flow to properly operate, and should never be close to flammable materials.

If used correctly, a space heater can be very beneficial to your home. But before you turn yours on, make sure you have read the instructions, know exactly how it works, and what safety features yours is equipped with. If you need any help or advice, the expert electricians at John Moore Services are only a phone call away!

Upgrade Your Plumbing-- Cost Efficient Tips For A Bathroom Remodel

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

If you are a homeowner and have lived in your home for a while, you have probably experienced a time when the thought of remodeling entered your head. Now, depending on your personal taste and style this can be a scary thing, especially when your attention is focused on the master bathroom. The options are endless when it comes to a bathroom remodel, and if you don’t have a budget and a plan-of-action in place, the price can quickly get out of control.

But if you stick to the budget and consult a professional, a simple bathroom remodel can be a breeze. In fact, replacing a few key items can give the illusion of a whole new bathroom and will end up saving you thousands. Continue reading so you can learn some cost efficient and eco-friendly remodeling tips from John Moore Services Manager and Master Plumber Joe Bany.

“If you’re thinking about a whole bathroom remodel the first thing you should know is there are an endless number of things you can do, some things can be dome in a day while some can take weeks,” said Bany. “But before you start tearing anything out you should first decide what you want the finished product to look like, how much you want to spend, and what you can do within your price range.”

Figure out what needs immediate attention

If your home is over 20 years old, no matter how much you scrub and clean your shower and tub you will never get the grout completely clean. That’s why in most home remodels the shower and tub are usually the first things to go.

“The biggest impact you can make in an older bathroom is to take out the tub and shower, and install brand new ones. It is just a small upgrade, and if your shower and tub are together then it only involves one change,” said Bany. “Most older homes have seashell countertops which still look nice, and if you install new lighting and faucets you will be amazed at the overall improvement.”

The toilet is another item that is an easy plumbing upgrade. If your home is older and you have never replaced it, then you do not have efficient, low flow toilets. Because of their high water usage, the United States ruled in 1992 that all new toilets sold must be low-flow. Before 1992, each toilet flush used at least 3 gallons of water, and in some cases even more than that. But with new toilets you only use 1.28 gallons of water when you flush, which is a significant decrease. So if your toilet has not been replaced since 1992, it is probably a good idea to upgrade. And the new ones look pretty good, too.

Determine a timeline

With the thought of remodeling comes excitement, and if you’re like a lot of homeowners, you want your remodeling to be done as quickly as possible so you can show off your new bathroom! But depending on what type of fixtures, tubs, showers, tiles, and countertops you purchase, you can end up prolonging the duration of your remodel.

“We have been in the remodeling business for a while now and have figured out that the biggest letdown in all remodeling companies is time, it’s the customers not realizing that ordering particular products would take so long. For example, certain granite countertops can take weeks to get ready, and the same goes with custom tubs and tiles,” said Bany. “Ordering materials and waiting on those materials to come in can take weeks, and while we are waiting on the materials to get to the home, there is no work that can be done.”

While custom remodel jobs can take a long time to finish, according to Bany there are some jobs that can be finished in a few days.

“Because of the long wait time for particular products, we have put together different bathroom remodeling packages that we can have installed in less than a week,” said Bany. “We offer 9 different shower and tub remodels, whether it’s a tub with ceramic tile, an acrylic tub, or a tub that is ripped out and turned into a big shower base. We have all the materials in stock and can have the bathroom completely finished in under a week.”

All tubs in the different packages are made by Kohler and are part of their Sterling collection. Different styles and options are available, and all are in stock and are ready to be installed. The same goes with toilets, tiles, faucets, fixtures, and even paint.

“Our packages are designed for the average homeowner. We find that by having packages ready and available to pick from, it helps the homeowner make smart remodeling decisions that will last a long time and look good,” said Bany. “We also have different floor and accent tile readily available, and the customer is able to pick and choose to make a custom remodel that is the perfect fit for their home.”

If you want to remodel your bathroom, instead of doing everything yourself and purchasing all your upgraded products from individual vendors, just call John Moore Services. Our remodeling experts have different packages available and will work with you to find the best options for your home. And instead of waiting a month to have a finished, beautiful bathroom, you can have it all done in a few short days!

Understand Your Furnace-- Learn All Its Important Parts!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 14:00:00 GMT

These days, Houston, all we can think about is getting back to our warm homes and beds, put on our pj’s and kick back with a glass of whatever it is that makes us feel warm inside, all to forget the freezing cold and rain that has taken over our city. Sure, we recall wanting a “real winter” sometime in the last couple of months, too, but we probably aren’t the only ones who are going to be careful with what we wish for next time around, are we?

Thus, we now realize that having a warm and cozy home during the winter is a true blessing – thanks to your heater. Without it, you’d be living in an icicle and resort to sleeping next to the fireplace with every article of clothing you own on your body. But with a working furnace, staying warm and comfortable in your home doesn’t have to become a distant dream. Even more than that, a homeowner who knows the parts of his or her heater and how each works is a responsible one, and always reaps the benefits. It’s about knowledge, and that’s what every good homeowner should have when it comes to the complex (and expensive!) systems in the home.

With the help of Lewis Yancey, an HVAC coach at John Moore Services, we want to shed some light on identifying the most important parts, what their purposes are, and why it’s so important to take good care of them. Read on!

Parts of a Furnace

Burners

The gas burners are ignited by a pilot flame or electronic ignition that is incorporated in most modern gas heaters. The main function of the gas burners is to heat up cold air using heat exchangers that are made of stainless steel. After, the warm air is distributed through the ducts by a blower motor.

Blower

Run by the blower motor, this is one of the crucial parts of the entire system, and it helps set up the air draft that is required for the operation of the heater itself. The blower's main purpose is to allow for easier intake of cold air and then channel it through to the heat exchanger chamber.

Heat Exchanger

The heat exchanger is made of heavy gauge metal mixed with alloys that resist temperatures above 2000° F to accommodate the extremely high temperatures that are reached inside the combustion chamber. That’s why it is so important to perform annual inspections and examine the state of the heat exchanger on a regular basis. If not, there could be dangerous consequences.

“The heat exchanger, which is talked about the most, is the part that takes the carbon monoxide out of the house and is usually visible, so it needs to be regularly inspected for cracks or rusting over time- anything that can allow even the possibility of carbon monoxide leaking into your home.”

Capacitor

Capacitors store electricity and help compressors and blower motors actually start and operate. Specifically, start capacitors provide motors with a boost in starting torque. Faulty capacitors lead to overheating, intermittent motor operation, humming noises or even outright blower motor failure.

Vents

Yancey says that the vents are usually one of the only parts that are directly visible to the homeowner. Vents are usually made of stainless steel or PVC, with PVC being used most often due to its durability. The vent pipe works by carrying the exhaust gasses that are formed due to combustion out of the home, which is a very good thing.

Igniters

This is one of the key components designed for safety. The flame sensors, pilot, electronic or hot surface igniters monitor the presence of the flame in the combustion chamber. If the flame in the combustion chamber goes out, then these sensors stop the flow of gas into the chamber using their link up with the gas control valve.

Control Board

“The control board is the brain of the entire operation; it controls the ac and the heat,” Yancey said. “It’s the communicating part.”

Modern ones use integrated circuit boards to monitor the its operations. It works because of light emitting diodes that show failure codes if the gas furnace is malfunctioning in any way.

Keep Your Ears Open

Most of the parts of it are usually behind a door. According to Yancey, a person can actually hear certain parts of it working.

“The furnace is made up of the blower motor, the heat exchanger, the blowers, and the control board, among a few others,” Yancey said. “Those are the main components of it, and none of those can be seen to the naked eye. Usually the only thing you see is the venting coming out of it through the roof, so being able to hear the things you can’t see helps when examining the state of your unit.”

Listening for the parts really helps. If you listen, you should hear a small motor come on, hear the lighting of the burners, and you should hear the fan come on in the heating stage.

“Unless you know what you are looking for, it’s hard to see the parts right then and there,” Yancey said. “It just helps in terms of identifying any potential issues. If things don’t sound right or you don’t hear an expected sound, chances are it’s a problem.”

Be Smart: Consult a Pro

We recommend always calling an experienced John Moore HVAC technician to come to your home and check everything out for you. We aren’t just saying that, either. There are fragile and expensive parts that need to be removed or moved, and only professionals have the hands-on experience to get things done correctly and safely.

For example, the blower motor should be checked regularly for dust and debris trapped deep inside, the capacitor should be checked to make sure it is within range of its proper functions, and the control board should be checked for any pitting, darkening, rusting, or burning. These, among other things, should be looked at annually.

“Homeowners need to be very careful when it comes to checking these things and furnace repair,” Yancey said. “That’s why I suggest bringing in a professional- it’s just so much safer. You have high voltage and low voltage in that same area, and there is a possibility for major damage to not only the equipment but to the person as well.”

Spring Is Almost Here-- Time For A Lawn Care Maintenance Program

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 18:10:00 GMT

Wintertime seems to put everyone in a daze, causing us to bundle up and stay indoors as much as possible. And that is not something that we Houstonians enjoy doing! Lucky for us the worst is over and spring is right around the corner. In fact, we have already had several beautiful 70-degree days with the sun shining. The sun and nice weather do wonders for our spirit, but it also does amazing things to our yard.

Early spring is an important time of the year to focus on your yard. During the winter, your yard basically shuts down in order to protect itself from the harsh weather. But as soon as the winter subsides, your yard starts to wake up from hibernation and things start to grow. And in order to enable your yard to grow strong and green, a few things must be done.

“During the winter all yards go dormant and basically turn brown. They do this for protection. Even though it is brown on top, the root system underneath is still growing strong,” said John Moore Services Lawn Care Specialist Bob Bachmann. “Most all Houston yards have St. Augustine grass that tends to grow very well because of our clay soil, but you still need to clean it up after the winter to make sure you get optimal growth.”

So, what do I need to do?

By following the steps listed below, you will have a healthy yard all year round.

Aerate

Because the top layer of your yard becomes dormant for the duration of the winter, something must be done to help open it back up again. During its dormancy organic layers of stems and tree roots develop between the soil and roots. This layer of debris is called thatch. And that is where aeration comes to play.

Aeration is the process of breaking up the yard’s surface. It not only helps to remove thatch, but also allows oxygen, nutrients, and water to better reach the root system. Aeration is also helpful because the clay-based yards that we have in Houston become tightly packed very easily. By mowing the yard or walking on it on a regular basis you are indirectly compacting your soil. With aeration, you are loosening the soil, which helps promote new plant and root growth.

Apply pre emergent/fertilizer

According to Bachmann, because of all the rain this year is going to be bad for weeds, especially crab grass. Crab grass tends to grow like crazy in our Houston climate and if left untreated can quickly overtake your entire yard. But by applying a pre emergent you are keeping these undesirable weeds from growing. And if you apply it after aeration, you are making sure that the application will go directly to the root system.

The spring is also a good time to start applying fertilizer. A heavy dose of fertilizer now is key to getting your yard back to a vibrant green, and to help it with root development. Because of our harsh summers, getting your yard ready now will help it stay strong and healthy during the summer.

Start watering

“Now is also a good time to have your irrigation system checked,” said Bachmann. “Having someone come out and make sure it’s working correctly, adjust the heads, and fix all damaged parts are good things to do. Many people don’t notice if their system is working or not because usually they are asleep when it turns on.”

Watering your yard twice a week for about 30 minutes is enough for now, but it will need to increase as the temperatures get warmer. A thirsty yard won’t grow and won’t ever reach that vibrant green color all homeowners want. And remember, always water your lawn in the early morning. Watering during the day is not nearly as effective.

And don’t forget to mow!

One thing that will be truly missed by a lot of homeowners (or their kids) is the fact that during the winter you only have to mow about once a month. As soon as spring hits, your grass starts to grow and must be mowed more often. But if your yard has developed any fungus issues over the winter there is some good news about mowing. All funguses, including brown patch, are only topical. This means that after 3 good mows, the grass will be back to its normal green color again and your fungus problem will be gone.

Follow the steps listed above and you will have a beautiful yard. Sounds simple enough, right? But just in case you’re not quite the lawn expert, we’ve got you covered. The lawn technicians at John Moore Services have developed a lawn care maintenance program that includes everything mentioned above and more! So if worrying about the yard isn’t your thing, relax and call in the experts!

Be Energy Efficient-- What Are The Top Energy Wasters In Your Home?

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The beginning of the year marks the time when most homeowners decide to make positive changes within their home. Making the home energy efficient and saving money (especially after Christmas!) become top priorities. And a good way to save money on monthly bills is to cut down on your energy consumption. But aside from turning off the lights when you leave the room, knowing exactly what to do can be difficult. Below is a list of the top energy wasters in your home. Because by identifying what they are, you will be able to cut down your energy usage and save money!

Windows and doors

Most of us don’t think of our windows and doors as energy-suckers, but the fact is that if they are not properly sealed, you are wasting a ton. Heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer can cause us to rely more heavily on our air conditioner and heater to reach a comfortable temperature. And that excessive use will make your bills sky-high.

“Your heating system works hard to bring your home to the set temperature, and if there are leaks in your doors or windows, your furnace will work a lot harder because that heated air is going outside and not staying in your home,” said John Moore Services HVAC Coach Lewis Yancey. “By fixing all open cracks and making sure your home has the right amount of insulation you are making your home more energy efficient which will in turn lower your monthly bills.”

Many homeowners incorrectly assume that if they have drafty windows, they need to have replacement windows installed, but that’s not really the case. The truth is, replacement windows will improve your home’s comfort and efficiency, but they don’t always get rid of drafts. When it comes to windows and doors, many times the gap between the framed window opening and the frame of the window, called the shim space, is the culprit. You can’t see the “shim space” underneath the interior and exterior trim that’s been nailed to the window jambs and to the wall framing, but you can feel the effects of an open shim space when it’s cold. Chilly outside air will find its way around the exterior trim outside, into the shim space, and then around your window’s exterior inside trim and into your living space, and poof – the comfort is gone. Because of this, it is important to have a licensed HVAC technician thoroughly inspect all doors and windows.

Old appliances

Older appliances, such as washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators waste a lot of energy. If any of these items in your home are over 12 years old, replacing them is your best option for running a more efficient and inexpensive household in the long run.

For example, modern, energy efficient front-loading washing machines can save you up to 85% on your energy costs and use up to 75% less water. So even though you might spend a little more on the purchase of your new machine, the energy efficient model will likely save you hundreds of dollars each year. And if you upgrade all your appliances to energy efficient models, the savings will really start to add up!

Small loads

We already mentioned before that washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers account for a significant amount of energy usage. Because they use so much water and energy, it is important to run them only when they are full. If you only run them when they are full you will be surprised at the amount of money you can save!

Vampires

No, we’re not talking about the “Twilight” series. We’re referring to all those appliances you keep plugged in and running even when they’re not in use. They might seem insignificant individually, but an old alarm clock in a rarely-used room, a video game console you haven't fired up in months, a toaster oven with a clock on it, or your laptop charger plugged in even though your laptop is already charged -- those "vampires" add up to a decent chunk of charges on your electric bill. Unplug them, and watch your expenses go down.

Air conditioner/Furnace

Your air conditioner and furnace are two of the largest systems in your home, and keeping them maintained and in proper working condition is very important, because not doing so will drive up your energy costs. By having each system inspected annually, you are being proactive about discovering and fixing all problems before they get out of hand, waste excess energy, and cost you thousands of dollars to fix.

By making a few small changes to your household, you will be surprised at the amount of money you will end up saving each month. And if you have already made some changes and not seen any savings, call the experts at John Moore Services. We offer home energy audits and can pinpoint the areas in your home that are wasting energy. Give us a call!

Leak Detection Finds Hidden Plumbing Problems

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 14:00:00 GMT

You step out of the shower and as you are drying off you notice a little bit of water on the floor. You figure it’s just water that has fallen off your body and think nothing of it. But as the weeks go on, you notice that there is more and more water on the floor after each shower. All this water couldn’t possible be from you, could it?

Internal leaks in the shower, bathtub, and toilet are a serious problem that will eventually affect every household. The reason they are so vicious isn’t because they are hard to fix, it is because they typically do not get detected until an extensive amount of damage has already been done. And the longer a leak continues, the more you’ll have to pay to get things back to normal.

“It’s easy to see a leak when it is in one of your pipes and you can physically see water bursting through it, but it is very difficult to see a leak when you don’t see water dripping, you just see evidence,” said John Moore Services Manager and Master Plumber Joe Bany. “Many homeowners do not realize they have an internal leak in their bathroom until a lot of damage has been done. This makes what could be a simple plumbing repair a costly one because now internal and external items need to be replaced.”

What causes internal leaks?

According to Bany, the major causes of internal leakage are the age of the home and basic wear-and-tear on the shower, tub, and toilet. As a house ages, it will shift and settle because the earth is constantly moving. This constant shifting causes cracks to form in the home’s foundation, and in turn causes cracks in other parts of the home like the grout in the tile of the shower, which will cause a leak. Also, as the house settles, the drains of the shower and tub shift.

“A lot of houses have a standing shower with a fiberglass base. In the base there is a rubber gasket, and over time that gasket starts to age and will eventually dissolve,” said Bany. “The gasket is no longer able to keep the water from leaking, and water will start to leak from the base of the shower. Each time you run your shower, more and more water will start to leak and cause a bunch of problems.”

Problems? What kind of problems?

The problems that are caused by a leak are bad, but if you are able to recognize them when they first appear, you can get the leak fixed before the damage becomes costly.

Broken tiles: People tend to think that a broken tile is just an aesthetic problem, but it is actually caused by water damage. A hole in a tile, or a tile that has completely broken off will allow a lot of water to come through and end up damaging the entire wall.

Rotting baseboards and flooring: The longer water leaks from the shower or tub the longer it will sit and absorb into your flooring and baseboards. As water saturates the flooring, it will start to curl up and buckle from the floor. The baseboards will begin to peel off and rot.

Shower door won’t close: If you notice that your shower door is becoming harder to close or won’t close at all, that is a sign of an internal leak. The water damage has become so great that it effected the base of the shower and caused it to expand, which in turn caused the door to shift and move into a different place.

Dark, moldy grout and tile: If you scrub your shower and can’t ever seem to get it clean, and as time goes on it only gets worse, then you have a leak. The constant leak has produced steady moisture, which caused biological growth to form. This growth also causes dark rings and circles around the tub and drains.

Spongy sheetrock: Sheetrock acts as a sponge when wet, and if it is exposed to a leak it will absorb all water that comes its way. If you are able to put your finger to your wall and it is no longer solid like it should be, then you have a serious problem.

And if these problems aren’t bad enough, internal leaks can also cause major issues with household pests. Termites, roaches, and water bugs are attracted to moisture. If you have a constant drip in your bathroom, the bugs will find it and immediately start to nest and breed.

“The biggest problem of all is the homeowners that don’t notice they have a leak for an extended period of time,” said Bany. “If I catch the overflow leak quickly I can fix it for next to nothing, but the longer you let a water issue go the more things you are going to have to fix and the more expensive it becomes. An example would be if I find that a shower is leaking we decide to replace the shower. But as soon as I rip out the shower I realize that the sheetrock is rotten, the studs and wood inside the walls are rotten, and all that has to be replaced. So instead of a simple shower replacement, I have to basically rebuild the frame of the house.”

What if I’m just not sure if I have a problem or not?

To the untrained eye, noticing a problem can be difficult. If you think you might have a problem it is best to call in the experts.

“Our goal is to make the customer aware of what can lead to serious plumbing problems. If you are looking at different parts of your bathroom and see something that you aren’t sure about, we can send one of our guys out to perform a test to determine if there is a leak and where the leak is coming from,” said Bany. “If it is a potential shower leak we do what is called a Pan Test. Basically, we plug the shower drain and fill it with water. We let the water sit for an extended period of time and if the water level lowers at all then the leak is somewhere in the shower. We can perform the same test on tub, or we can inspect the tub’s access door to see what’s going on underneath it. There are many things we can do, and it is best to have these tests done as early as possible in order to save money.”

Internal bathroom leaks are tricky and can be expensive the longer they go without being fixed. If you take a shower and notice a large amount of water on the floor, or if you notice any of the signs listed above you should call John Moore Services. Our expert plumbers can be at your house in no time and can diagnose and fix the leak before it becomes a bigger, more expensive problem. Give us a call!

Make Sure A Licensed Electrician Installs All Your Lighting

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Nothing draws attention to a room like a chandelier or a statement light. Lighting has the ability to turn a drab living room into a showpiece, and can make eating at your dining room table a romantic event. Are you ready for some upgrades to your home? Lighting can be a relatively inexpensive way to make a big change. Purchasing the fixture or vanity is the easy part, but the installation process can be tricky.

When it comes to replacing or adding new lighting, it is important to do it by the book. Many times, homeowners think they can install an overhead light themselves, and when they are finished noticed a few extra parts still in the box. Does this sound familiar? The fact is, lighting installation is not easy, and if not done correctly can end up causing a whole lot of problems.

“A lot of the calls we get for a lighting installation comes after the customer has tried to install the light without professional help,” said John Moore Services Electrical Manager David Floyd. “And what we run into a lot when putting in new fixtures is when we take the existing fixture out, we find that it wasn’t installed correctly in the first place. It doesn’t have correct wiring, or doesn’t have proper J-box bracing. And taking a shortcut isn’t what you want to do with lighting.”

Lighting rules 101

Make sure the new fixture meets weight requirements. A lot of homeowners end up replacing builder-grade fixtures throughout their home with nicer fixtures. But typically, the nicer the fixture, the heavier it will be.

“Chandeliers, decorative fans, and vanity fixtures can be excessively heavy because of the glass and other decorative items that are added on,” said Floyd. “A simple vanity is heavy already, but to top it off with pounds of decorative glass adds a lot of extra weight. So before anything can be installed, you need to make sure the J-box is properly installed and mounted so that wall can handle the extra weight.”

To clarify, a J-box, or junction box, is a box attached to lighting fixtures that encloses all its wiring. It has plastic tabs inside that allow wires to go through. This helps protect the wires and, if there is a heat condition, can help delay a fire.

Make sure all fixtures are grounded. All fixtures, no matter how big or small, need to be properly grounded. Each individual metal piece on the fixture needs to be grounded, and most all fixtures will come with a ground in them. And all grounding needs to be tied to a metal mounting bracket. If the fixture is not grounded, you are opening yourself up to the possibility of being shocked each time you turn on the light.

Make sure the fixture is wired properly. Fans and chandeliers are challenging to install because they come with a lot of wires and parts that must be installed correctly.

“Trying to install a fan/light combo is difficult because all the wiring has to correctly fit inside the J-box, and that is not easy to do,” said Floyd. “The biggest thing about wiring is the connections; if you don’t make proper connections it might still work, but it is not working correctly. Improper connections create heat conditions and can lead to a fire.”

Make sure your lighting is up to code. A common spot for people to upgrade lighting or install new lighting is in the closet. Years ago it was common to see a light bulb with a string as the light source for a closet, and some older homes still have it. But that particular style has been outlawed because it would often shatter or create a heat condition.

“Today’s code states that any light inside a closet has to be enclosed and protected. If you accidently bump items against the light it will be less likely to break and if items in the closet brush up against it, it will be less likely to create heat conditions and start a fire,” said Floyd.

Make sure to check ratings on all fixtures. Before installing any type of lighting, it is important to check the box and see if the fixture is rated for the inside or outside. A lot of people hang fixtures outside that are made for indoor use only. This creates a lot of issues with the fixture itself and can become a fire hazard.

Also check the instructions to see what wattage the fixture is rated for. Using a higher wattage bulb than the fixture specifies can cause heat conditions and potentially start a fire.

As you can see, there are many things to keep in mind when installing lighting, and this is why we recommend hiring a professional. By using a licensed electrician at John Moore Services you are giving yourself the advantage of warranties, guarantees, and expertise. Next time you want to change the lighting in your home, give yourself a break and call the experts.

2015 Water Heater Regulations Make The Home More Energy Efficient

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMT

It’s 2015, and yes, the times they are a changin’. Over the past few years we have seen a surge in all things energy efficient, and many homeowners are making necessary changes so they can save as much money as possible on monthly bills. And this year, one of the biggest changes we will see will be with water heaters.

“There have been government energy efficiency regulations set by NAECA, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, that have been made, and these are regulations that have been put into place over 10 years ago,” said John Moore Services Manager and Master Plumber Joe Bany. “These new water heater regulations stated that by the year 2015 there has to be certain specs on different products. And the deadline for water heaters to meet these requirements is April 15, 2015. This means that from that point forward, water heater manufacturers cannot produce any water heaters that are acceptable in today’s standards. All new water heaters must meet new specifications and energy efficiency ratings.”

According to Rheem, a top water heater manufacturer, the updated water heater design will substantially alter the materials and components, water heater dimensions, freight parameters, plant configuration, and the manufacturing process. As a result, the price increase on all new compliant models will average 25%.

“The manufacturers have to change the design of their water heaters to meet these specifications,” said Bany. “They want them to consume less gas or electric when heating the water and to be able to maintain water at that heat. This means that they will require more insulation around the heater itself to meet these regulations. And by adding more insulation, the size of the heater will get bigger.”

We often have the mentality that bigger is better, but when it comes to water heaters that is not always the case. The most common location of a water heater in the home is either in the attic or in a closet that is specifically made for the water heater. According to Bany, certain types of water heaters are barely able to fit inside the attic opening right now. And when the size of the water heater is increased, it will not be able to fit into the attic without some major changes to the home.

“I would say about a third of homeowners are going to have to make some major changes in their home to get a water heater inside,” said Bany. “Replacing a water heater was once an easy in and out switch, and these new regulations are going to make it a lot more difficult. Homeowners are going to have to rebuild walls, tear down closets, create bigger attic access, and basically do all kinds of things to replace their water heater. It will no longer be the simple job it is today.”

Is there any good news?

We are well aware that these changes are a bit of a shock to a lot of people, and that’s why we are warning you now, instead of waiting until the changes are already in place.

“We are trying to make homeowners aware of what is going to happen down the road and if they have an older water heater, or are having problems with their current heater, now is the time to consider changing it,” said Bany. “By replacing your water heater now, you can put the new one in your home at an affordable price and at least have it 10 or 12 years. That will buy you a great deal of time before you have to worry about paying the price to relocate it to a larger spot in the home.”

And if you are planning on purchasing a new heater before April 15, Bany recommends doing it now and not waiting until the last minute.

“All water heater manufacturers have to be producing the new heaters on April 16, so now they are slowly shutting down their divisions for the old styles to start getting ready to produce the new models,” said Bany. “The production on the old ones is going to slowly run out, and we will probably have a 2 or 3 week period before April 15 where we could sell them but won’t be able to find one. We are trying to stock up so we don’t run into that spot, but you just never know what could happen the closer we get to April.”

With all these changes, there is a little bit of good news. If you have an older style water heater you will still be able to call a plumber and have it serviced if there is a problem. As long as it can be repaired and parts are available, you can have your water heater for the duration of its life. But if it your water heater is approaching the end, we recommend purchasing a new one now before the new law goes into effect.

If you have any questions about April 15^th, or want to replace your water heater while you can still purchase the older model, call the expert plumbers at John Moore Services. We will evaluate your current heater and help determine if replacing or waiting is the best option for you.

Limescale buildup Can Show Up Anywhere-- Water Softeners Can Help!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The New Year is here. Resolutions have been made, gym memberships have been purchased, and black-eyed peas have been eaten. And what is a common wish for many people for the new year? Spending more time with family. People travel thousands of miles to be with loved ones, and if you are planning on hosting a family gathering we’re sure you want everything to be perfect. But have you ever sat down for a meal and realized there were spots all over your dishes and glasses? Or maybe when you went to wash your dishes after that big meal you noticed a strange buildup inside your sink. These are common problems that many homeowners face, and both are caused by hard water.

“Calcium and limescale buildup can show up on a lot of things inside the home like chrome fixtures, shower doors, sinks, shower drains, dishes, glasses, and silverware,” said John Moore Services Manager and Master Plumber Joe Bany. “The deposits generally occur when water is heating.”

We have hard water in Houston. Rainwater is naturally “soft” because it contains few impurities, but the water we have is full of calcium and magnesium, which is what makes it “hard.” When we want hot water, that water must first travel through the water heater in order to heat up to the correct temperature. As the hard water heats, a chemical reaction occurs and the calcium and magnesium inside the water fuse together and form crystals. These crystals, or calcium and lime scale deposits, sit inside the water heater, which is why having your water heater flushed on a regular basis is important. The deposits also travel through your plumbing system and come out your faucets and that’s why you might notice a chalk-like substance on all faucets that produce hot water.

Hard water in your home can:

Make your showers difficult because it keeps soap from lathering correctly
Make laundry detergents less effective
Cause your clothes to look dirty even after being washed
Cause skin to become dry and irritated
Cause your piping system to become clogged with calcium and lime scale deposits
Make all your heating devices (water heater, dishwasher, sinks, washing machine) less energy-efficient, which will in turn cost you money

If you have noticed any of the problems listed above, continue reading because there are two solutions for you.

Whole house water softeners

By installing a water softener every single drop of water that comes into your home will be soft, meaning all the calcium and magnesium will be removed before the water enters your house. It is installed at the entry point of your home’s water system, which is usually located in the garage or attic.

“Water softeners are a great addition to the home but they do require maintenance, you can’t just install one and forget about it,” said Bany. “Each softener has a tank that sits to its side and you have to put potassium and rock salt inside it. Periodically you have to check to make sure the salt level is high enough to create the chemical process that softens the water. And in many cases, other items must be installed, like a special drain, so that the softener will work correctly.”

Flow-tech

There is a lot that goes into installing a water softener, so if you are looking to take an easier route, Flow-Tech Home Anti-Scale System, an anti-scale device, is the right fit for you. The Flow-Tech system does not remove the calcium and magnesium from your water, but it sends an electronic signal through your piping system that confuses the calcium and magnesium and causes them not to fuse together. And when they are unable to bond, lime scale and calcium deposits do not form.

“Not as much is required in the installation process for Flow-Tech, and the other cool thing about it is that as the electronic signal goes through pipes not only does it deter calcium from continuing to build, but over time it will go through your system and break down the calcium that has already formed,” said Bany. “If you have a calcium riddled faucet or drain, Flow-Tech will get them back to a better shape than before you started using it.”

You can scrub and scrub at lime scale and calcium buildup in your home, and although it might go away for a day or two, it’s only a matter of time before it returns. The only way to make it go away permanently is by installing a water softener or Flow-Tech Home Anti-Scale System. If you are unsure about which device would best fit your home, call the expert plumbers at John Moore Services. They are knowledgeable in the field and can answer all questions you might have. Give us a call today so your home is spotless for the new year!

Foundation Issues Cause Plumbing, HVAC, And Electrical Problems

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Your home is your biggest investment. Hello, Captain Obvious! We know, we’ve said it before, and we will say it over and over again (did you expect anything less?)! But what if something could go so wrong that your home turns from a great investment to a terrible and costly liability?

A major structural problem with your home is probably every homeowner’s worst nightmare – and we’re talking about the foundation. In severe cases of foundation movement, operational problems with windows and doors may become noticeable. Plumbing lines or mechanical equipment can also be affected, which is never a good thing. Although every situation is different, a crack is generally considered to be due to a foundation issue when it is or exceeds about one-quarter inch in width. Smaller cracks may also represent a concern, especially if there are multiple cracks. On the other hand, new or enlarging cracks in an existing structure are more likely an indication of a potentially serious structural issue. Either way, you always need to make sure to call in the pros to see what’s really going on when you see any cracks or experience trouble with windows and doors.

That said, diagnosing the cause of foundation movement is a critical part of the repair process. If you want to properly fix a foundation, you have to correctly diagnose why the foundation is moving in the first place. Here are a few common causes that could be happening in your home:

Inadequately compacted soil: Your house may have been built on soil that wasn't prepared appropriately to bear the load of your home.

Drainage problems: Ever wonder why you're always cautioned to make sure downspouts direct water away from your home's foundation? Here's why. Water that drains near the foundation causes soil to swell unevenly, thereby shifting part of the foundation but not all of it, which can lead to structural damage.

Unsteady moisture: Periods of wet weather followed by extended periods of dry weather (Houstonians know this change in weather really well!) cause soil to expand and contract at uneven rates, which can cause major stress on your foundation.

Roots from trees or other vegetation: The uneven distribution of moisture caused by vegetation near your home can create damaging changes to your foundation.

Erosion: If your home is built on a hill or other elevation, eroded soil can affect the solidity of your foundation.

Now that you know what may be causing your home’s foundation problems, it’s also good to know that the foundation itself is not the only thing that can be badly affected. In Houston, you either have or will have foundation problems that need to be fixed. More than that, there can be potential electrical, HVAC, and plumbing problems that need attention as well.

Electrical

For electrical, there is definitely a possibility that you could lose ground to your home. That means that your house is grounded to your electrical tap, and during a shift the wires may be pulled and lose the natural ground it has to the electrical panel. The further the cracks go, the more the panel will be pulled away from the wall on the outside of the home. There are a number of things that can be affected by natural movement of the earth, your home, and the things attached to it. Electrical is certainly one of them and can also be the most costly and even dangerous. Get a John Moore electrician to check things out as soon as possible of you are in need of electrical repair due to foundation problems.

Plumbing

In many neighborhoods where foundation is a well known issue, the plumbing is cast iron. If the foundation needs to be repaired and the plumbing is still cast iron, there is a possibility that the plumbing will break. This can add quite a bit to a repair budget.

HVAC

According to Lewis Yancey, a John Moore HVAC coach, problems may arise with your Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning units if you have a really bad problem.

“It would have to be an extremely bad foundation issue to begin ripping ducts apart or making the units off balance or not level,” Yancey said. “All this can affect your unit’s efficiency and airflow, which will have you losing energy and of course, cost you more money.”

Fixing Your Foundation and Hiring the right Contractor

Foundation problems can reduce the value of your house, raise your utility bills, create trip hazards, and interfere with electric, gas and water, causing potential safety issues. It's important to have a correct diagnosis of your foundation problem so that it can be repaired appropriately, thereby helping you avoid increasingly serious problems in the future.

There are two basic choices for repairing foundation:

Piering: Piering is a type of underpinning, which is a term that includes various methods used to provide additional support to your foundation. In piering, a mechanical jack is submerged under the subsoil, which them lifts the foundation back to grade and provides ongoing support. The two main piering options, push piers (which are like huge pipes) and helical piers (which are like large screws), are installed deep enough to withstand fluctuations in soil moisture levels.

Slab jacking: Also known as mud jacking, slab jacking is most commonly used on concrete slabs, sidewalks, driveways and swimming pool decks. It involves pumping a cement grout into a series of holes drilled in your slab. This grout hardens into a concrete mass, helping to bring the slab back to its proper grade and reinforcing the sub-soil on which the slab rests.

Any professional company is going to cost you a lot of money – there is really no way out of that unless your contractor is your best friend’s husband and he gives you the deal of a lifetime. No matter the case, you want to make sure to check references even if they say they have been in business for years and make sure they have done the type of work you are looking to have done. Get several estimates, check all the references, and when you decide on a contractor, make sure he or she is licensed and insured. Ask for the estimate in writing and get a copy of the certificate of insurance. Any reputable contractor will have no problem giving you these things for that type of work.

If your home has minor to severe foundation problems, don’t forget that your home is a system of connected systems. If one goes wrong, chances are that it is affecting something else that you may not expect or notice. Call John Moore to get our experienced and certified electrical, plumbing, and HVAC technicians over to your home to help diagnose any underlying issues before it gets any worse.

It's Freezing Outside! Is Your Plumbing Protected?

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMT

It’s that time again Houston -- winter is here in full force! And with temperatures below freezing at night, some urgent around-the-home maintenance is needed (did you see the segment on KTRK about what to do?) to make sure our pipes stay insulated and don’t freeze up! Because who wants to wake up in the morning with no running water? We sure don’t!

“Wind and cold air are what freeze pipes, and by properly covering up all exposed pipes from the wind you are taking the right steps to make sure your pipes don’t freeze up and burst,” said John Moore Services Manager and Master Plumber Joe Bany. “Protecting pipes from the wind is key. The wind chill is colder than the outside temperature and when it reaches a certain degree, it can destroy all unprotected piping.”

How can I protect my home before a freeze?

Wrap up all pipes and hose bibs outside that are exposed: All pipes, hose bibs, and sprinklers that are exposed to the outside elements are vulnerable to freeze if not properly wrapped AND insulated. Many people wrap a towel or newspaper around an exposed pipe thinking that it will be enough to keep it from freezing, but this is not the case.

“Using a towel to protect an outdoor pipe is a horrible idea because towels and newspapers hold moisture,” said Bany. “Basically it is like covering your pipe with a wet rag, and that only increases the freezing process. There are materials that are made specifically for pipe covering that should be used instead.”

The best item to use that will cover and insulate outdoor fixtures is polyethylene foam insulation. It is a foam wrap that will completely cover the exposed pipe and protect it from rain, wind, water, and cold air. Different sizes are available and they can be purchased at your local hardware store.

Fix all outdoor leaks: Many times, homeowners have a leaky hose bib and do not notice it or get it fixed because it is hidden away in the backyard. Now is the time to inspect and repair all leaks, yes, even the small ones. If we get cold weather, the leaking water will freeze all the way up the hose bib and get back into the pipe. The tiniest leak can cause a great amount of damage.

Make sure you have the right amount of attic insulation: Attic insulation isn’t just for keeping our home cool during the summer; it also helps to keep warm air inside during the winter, which can be beneficial during a freeze. Pipes, along with other important systems in the home, are located in the attic. If your home is not equipped with the right amount of insulation, your pipes might freeze.

But what if I forget and my pipes DO freeze?

Start thawing!

There are various options you can try to thaw your frozen pipe. Here are some common solutions:

Hair Dryer: Possibly the quickest, easiest, and safest methods for thawing a frozen pipe, a hair dryer can access hard-to-reach pipes underneath your sink and in a number of other areas throughout your house. A high-powered hair dryer can provide concentrated heat specific sections of your pipe, helping you to thaw it quickly.
Heated Blankets / Heating Pads: Applying a moderate amount of heat directly to the pipe can help quickly and safely melt the ice. Just be sure to be careful with the cord and with any electricity used near the pipe. You definitely don't want to add fire or electrocution to the excitement of the day. For a safer alternative, soak washcloths in hot water, and apply those instead. Just rinse and repeat to continue melting the blockage.
Heat Lamp: Providing both light and heat, a heat lamp can be used to concentrate warming effects onto the frozen pipe. It can also be useful in tighter spots.

Warning: if there is standing water anywhere near the burst pipe, use extreme caution with any electrical appliances. Keep kids and pets away from the scene until the pipe is un-frozen and the area cleaned up.

And do not under any circumstance use an open flame of any sort, which can cause explosions, fires, and other calamities.

“The last thing you want to do to a frozen pipe is to use a torch to try and warm it up,” said Bany. “When you use a torch on a pipe that is already frozen you can create stress problems and cause the pipe to crack. Once they freeze the right thing to do is to wait it out. You never want to be aggressive with your plumbing because you will create bigger problems.”

If your pipes do freeze, the most important thing to remember is to call a plumber after they have thawed to come inspect the damage. Having a licensed technician thoroughly inspect your whole piping system to make sure the freeze didn’t cause any leaks is important and can save you from experiencing further damage. And John Moore Services has trained plumbers ready and waiting to help. Give us a call!

Make Your Home More Energy Efficient In 2015!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The New Year has arrived! Christmas decorations have been put away, black-eyed peas have been eaten, and people everywhere are making resolutions with hopes of improving their lives for the new year that lies ahead. But let’s be honest, how many of us really stick to our New Year’s resolutions? A top resolution for a lot of people is to get healthy. And sure, it might be hard to go to the gym every morning, but there are things you can do around the house to get healthy in other ways.

Making your home more energy efficient will benefit the different systems in your home and will also benefit you. By making simple changes to the appliances and systems in your home you are ensuring that your home is healthy for your entire family. Below is a list of positive changes that can be made in your home that have the John Moore stamp of approval. Enjoy!

Go tankless

The biggest benefit of a tankless water heater is never running out of hot water. With a typical family of four, the last person to take a shower in the morning often gets the short end of the stick. Most traditional water heaters provide around 35 gallons of hot water before they begin to run out. But with the tankless system, you can run your washing machine and dishwasher, fill up the bathtub, and take a long shower without running out of hot water.

“Instead of being always on and running like traditional heaters, the tankless water system shuts down until someone in the house turns on a hot water faucet,” said John Moore Services Manager & Master Plumber Joe Bany. “It is basically a heat exchanger that is made up of a bunch of coils. These coils heat up very quickly and are able to heat the water immediately as it comes through the system.”

Going tankless also means you are conserving water and will have more space throughout your home. A regular water heater is large, bulky, and needs a floor stand which takes up a significant amount of room. But a tankless water heater is mounted on a wall, and some can even be installed outdoors. This means extra storage for you in your garage -- more room for stuff! Yay!

Energy Star® Appliances

Energy Star® is a program that was first developed in the early 1990’s by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a method to identify and promote products that are energy efficient. Products carrying this symbol provide a way for businesses and consumers to save money and protect our environment at the same time.

All major appliances that sport the Energy Star® label, are not necessarily a better product than a comparable model, but in order to be rated Energy Star®, it must meet very strict energy efficiency guidelines as set out by that program.

Appliances carrying the Energy Star® rating typically are 10 to 20% more energy efficient than non-rated models. This means you'll not only save money, but help your environment as well.

Using eco-friendly and energy efficient appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines will significantly reduce waste and keep more money in your pocket. They also use less water, and by reducing water consumption & waste, using Energy Star® rated appliances also helps protect our lakes, streams, and oceans.

Media filter

Like normal air filters, a media filter collects dust and other particles to prevent them from contaminating your air. But a media filter is like an air filter to the extreme. It is located on the back of your furnace and is designed to keep your whole HVAC system cleaner. As air travels through your HVAC system, it must first pass through the media filter, so instead of the air only filtering once, it is filtered twice, which will keep your air fresh and contaminant free.

“A media filter is a thicker filter. The average filter collects about 10% of all airborne particles, but the media filter gets up to 98-99%. It cleans almost 100% of the air,” said John Moore Services HVAC Coach Lewis Yancey. “It also collects particles down to .3% of a micron, and will remove all pollen, dust, fungi, smoke, and spores from the air.”

A good media filter can prolong the life of your HVAC system for years. It helps to keep your heater, AC system, and air ducts clean. By keeping them clean, your system won’t have to work as hard and will last longer, run more efficiently, and save you money on monthly energy bills.

Programmable Thermostat

Your thermostat, small as it is, plays a large role in the amount of energy consumed by your heating and air conditioning system. The Department of Energy says that by turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours, you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill -- a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is 8 hours long. And that is a HUGE savings! But for a lot of us, remembering to turn the temperature down before we leave for work in the morning happens long after we’ve left the house. A programmable thermostat can help.

“With a programmable thermostat you are able to set up a schedule so at a certain time of the day the temperature goes up, and later on in the day it goes down, and in the evening it goes down even further. You can set the temperature to your lifestyle,” said John Moore Services HVAC Manager Charles Griffith. “It is part of the home automation system, so you are able to control your thermostat through an app on your smart phone or through your computer.”

Whole house water filtration system

“Your tap water carries things like arsenic, copper, lead, and zinc,” said Joe Bany said, senior Manager and Master Plumber for John Moore Services. “There is also coliform, which is fecal matter. Most cities recycle water through the system, so there is animal fecal matter that runs through and gets into the water at the plant, which then gets back into your home. Chloramine is in there too. It’s basically chlorine on steroids, which has been beefed up with ammonia to help it live longer through the system so it kills viruses and bacteria, but there are a lot of chemicals that they add to the water to kill these bacteria that end up making it to your house.”

A whole house water filter installed by a certified technician is connected to the water line that goes in your house and filters all of the water in your home right at the source, ridding it completely of all those gross, harmful pollutants. That means that every single outlet for water in your home -- faucets, baths, showers, kitchen and washing machine -- use only filtered, pure water. It will also help make your water soft, which will keep your appliances running longer and is better for your skin and hair.

Making a few small changes to your home can not only save you money, but will also keep the air inside your home cleaner and keep all your systems running more efficiently. Start the year off right by calling the professionals at John Moore Services. We can evaluate your home, answer all your questions, and get your home ready for an efficient new year!

Did A Plumbing Problem Destroy Your Wall? We Can Fix It All!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMT

After a great night of sleep, you wake up in the morning to the soothing sound of rain. But as you reach over to hit the snooze button on your alarm clock, you look out your bedroom window and realize that the sun is out. You stand up in a panic and run out of your bedroom, and that’s when you see it. Water is pouring out of the ceiling and has completely flooded your living room. What do you do next?

Situations like this happen all the time, and when they do it is important to know what to do before the damage gets any worse. That’s why every homeowner should know where the main water shut-off valve is located. Obviously there is a leak, and by turning off the water you are taking the first step to fixing the problem. But once the leak is fixed, there is still a lot of work to be done, especially if part of the wall needs to be replaced.

“If there is a burst pipe in a home or if the home has been damaged because of a flood, we have plumbing and water damage restoration departments that can fix both issues,” said John Moore Services Home Improvement Manager Mark Thacker. “But when our plumbers fix the leaky pipe, a lot of times the wall needs to be torn out and replaced due to damage. And that’s where we come in. We are experts in drywall repair. We tear out what is damaged, replace it, and can texture the wall to match the rest of the home. We will even repaint it. If a customer decides to use our services they can get everything fixed from beginning to end and don’t have to go through the hassle of calling other repair guys.”

What jobs require sheetrock repair?

Often times when we think of plumbing repair we don’t associate it with replacing sheetrock. But the fact of the matter is, many plumbing leaks cause water damage to walls and ceilings, which need to be fixed. Many leaks start out as a small drip and get worse over time. If you have a leaky pipe in your ceiling and don’t notice it for a month, then you have gone a whole month with water slowly damaging your ceiling. And if you fix the leak but don’t fix the ceiling, you are prolonging the inevitable.

Sheetrock also needs to be replaced any time there is flooding inside your home, and this happens a lot during hurricane season.

“Floodwater is extremely dangerous to our health and should be dealt with immediately if it gets inside your home,” said John Moore Services Water Restoration Manager Joe Souza. “It brings all sorts of contaminants inside your home and completely saturates your furniture, flooring, carpeting, sheetrock, and walls.”

Once the home has become flooded, even if only a few inches, the bacteria and disease in the water starts to settle in walls and begins to spread. Houston’s climate is infamous for humidity after rainfall, and the humidity mixed with contaminated water causes growth of microorganisms and other disease. The only way to remove all the disease and growth from your home is to replace or thoroughly clean everything it came in contact with, including sheetrock. If you don’t, the air inside your home will become toxic.

“As far as water damage is concerned, once the home has been dried out and cleaned, we come in to repair the walls,” said Thacker. “It’s a pretty simple process if you know what you are doing. We go in and remove the old sheetrock, replace it, and then we have our skilled technicians go in and match the texture to the rest of the house and paint it.”

When problems like this happen, it is important to have a trusted company in mind to come in and quickly fix the mess. And isn’t it easier and less of a headache to have one company do it all? The expert sheetrock repair technicians at John Moore Services are trained to make your home look as good as new. And if you have a sheetrock problem, or think you might, give us a call for a free estimate!

Happy New Year!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMT

May you have a prosperous new year filled with love,

family, and happiness all year long!

A Heat Pump Will Lower Monthly Electrical Bills

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Did you know there is a way to heat up or cool down your home that will save energy and keep more money in your pocket than traditional appliances?

No? Well now you do! Heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners for you, and should seriously be taken into consideration! Nowadays, energy efficiency is the key to everything- it’s what homeowners want. With heat pumps, electricity is used to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide equivalent space conditioning at as little as one quarter of the cost of operating conventional heating or cooling appliances.

“Heat pumps are greatly beneficial to houses that have an electrical heating system,” said John Moore Services HVAC Coach Lewis Yancey. “When the system calls for heat, the cooling system turns into reverse. The compressor outside now acts as a heater so instead of taking the hot air out of your home, it puts it in by compressing the heat and pushing it back inside.”

There are a few different kinds of heat pumps that serve their purpose much better in certain climates, so finding the right one for you should be the first step. Whichever you choose, you’ll be sure to notice the many different benefits each ones offers.

Types of Heat Pumps

Air-Source Heat Pump

These transfer heat between your house and the outside air using electricity and are the most common type of heat pump. If you heat with electricity, a heat pump can reduce the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30% to 40%. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months. However, the efficiency of most air-source heat pumps as a heat source drops dramatically at low temperatures, generally making them unsuitable for cold climates. This makes this kind of heat pump a great option for Houston homes!

An air-source heat pump's refrigeration system consists of a compressor and two coils (inside and outside) made of copper tubing which are surrounded by aluminum fins to help with the heat transfer. In heating mode, liquid refrigerant in the outside coils extracts heat from the air and evaporates into a gas. The indoor coils then release heat from the refrigerant as it condenses back into a liquid. A reversing valve, near the compressor, can change the direction of the refrigerant flow for both cooling and defrosting the outdoor coils in winter.

When outdoor temperatures fall below 40°F, a less-efficient panel of electric resistance coils, similar to those in your toaster, kicks in to provide indoor heating. This is why air-source heat pumps aren't always very efficient for heating in areas with cold winters. Some units now have gas-fired backup furnaces instead of electric resistance coils, allowing them to operate more efficiently.

Geo-Thermal Heat Pump

Geothermal heat pumps have been in use since the late 1940s and have a unique way of doing their work. With these, the constant temperature of Mother Earth herself is used as the exchange medium instead of the outside air temperature. According to the Department of Energy, this allows the system to reach fairly high efficiencies of 300% to 600% on the coldest winter nights, compared to 175% to 250% for air-source heat pumps on cool days. This means that if you live in a place where temperature drops significantly, this might be the solution for you and your home.

Even though different places have different seasonal temperature extremes, the ground still remains at a relatively constant temperature a few feet below the earth's surface. This ground temperature is warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler than the air in the summer. The GHP takes advantage of this by exchanging heat with the earth through a ground heat exchanger. As with any heat pump, geothermal and water-source heat pumps are able to heat, cool, and, if it has the right equipment, can also supply the house with hot water. Some models of geothermal systems are available with two-speed compressors and variable fans for more comfort and energy savings. When compared to air-source heat pumps, they are quieter, last longer, need little maintenance, and do not depend on the temperature of the outside air.

Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump

Ductless, mini-split-system heat pumps make good retrofit add-ons to houses with "non-ducted" heating systems, such as hydronic (hot water heat), radiant panels, and space heaters. They can also be a good choice for room additions where extending or installing distribution ductwork is not feasible, and very efficient new homes that require only a small space conditioning system.

Like standard air-source heat pumps, mini splits have two main components: an outdoor compressor and an indoor air-handling unit. A conduit, which houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and a condensate drain, links the outdoor and indoor units together. Two great advantages of mini splits are their small size and flexibility for heating and cooling individual rooms. With this, only occupied rooms need to be conditioned, which saves energy and of course, money! Also, being ductless means that it avoids the energy losses associated with the ductwork of central forced air systems. According to the DOE, duct losses can account for more than 30% of energy consumption for space conditioning, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic.

Absorption Heat Pump

These are essentially air-source heat pumps driven not by electricity, but by a heat source such as natural gas, propane, solar-heated water, or geothermal-heated water. Because natural gas is the most common heat source for absorption heat pumps, they are also referred to as gas-fired heat pumps. There are also absorption (or gas-fired) coolers available that work on the same principle. Unlike some absorption heat pumps, however, these are not reversible and cannot serve as a heat source.

Residential absorption heat pumps use an ammonia-water absorption cycle to provide heating and cooling. As in a standard heat pump, the refrigerant (in this case, ammonia) is condensed in one coil to release its heat; its pressure is then reduced and the refrigerant is evaporated to absorb heat. If the system absorbs heat from the interior of your home, it provides cooling; if it releases heat to the interior of your home, it provides heating.

The difference in absorption heat pumps is that the evaporated ammonia is not pumped up in pressure in a compressor, but is instead absorbed into water. A relatively low-power pump can then pump the solution up to a higher pressure. The next task is to remove the ammonia from the water, and that's where the heat source comes in. The heat basically boils the ammonia out of the water, starting the cycle over again. Although mainly used in industrial or commercial settings, absorption coolers are now commercially available for large residential homes, and absorption heat pumps are under development. The 5-ton residential cooler systems currently available are only designed for use in homes around 4,000 square feet or more.

Absorption coolers and heat pumps usually only make sense in homes without an electricity source, but they have an added advantage in that they can make use of any heat source, including solar energy, geothermal hot water, or other heat sources. They are also amenable to zoned systems, in which different parts of the house are kept at different temperatures.

How to Maintain Your Heat Pump

Like all heating and cooling systems, proper maintenance is crucial to have your system work properly and efficiently. The difference between the energy consumption of a well-maintained heat pump and a severely neglected one ranges from 10% to 25% (yikes!).

We recommend that you clean or change the filters once a month or simply as needed. Dirty filters, coils, and fans reduce airflow through the system, which then decreases system performance and can damage your system's compressor. Make sure to also clean outdoor coils whenever they look dirty. It’s also a good idea to occasionally turn off power to the fan and clean it by removing any clutter from around the outdoor unit. Whenever handling important systems in your home, maintenance is just something that comes with the territory if you want things to always work well and actually save energy and money. If you aren’t experienced with these types of systems or you just don’t feel comfortable doing a specific task yourself, a John Moore technician will be glad to take a look at it for you.

You should also have a professional, experienced John Moore technician service your heat pump at least once a year no matter what. Once there, you can trust that the technician will take care of any and all issues. Some things they will do are:

Inspect ducts, filters, blower, and indoor coil for dirt and other obstructions
Find and seal duct leakage
Measure air flow
Measure refrigerant charge
Check for refrigerant leaks
Inspect electrical terminals, clean and tighten connections, and apply nonconductive coating
Lubricate motors and inspect belts for tightness and wear
Check on the electric control, making sure that heating is locked out when the thermostat calls for cooling (and vice versa)
Make sure the thermostat is working properly

“If you have electrical heat in your home, a heat pump can save you a lot of money on your monthly bills,” said Yancey. “The electrical heat system can pull three times as much electricity as a heat pump heating system can, which will make your home extremely efficient. If your home is the right fit for a heat pump, I’d recommend getting one.”

With proper maintenance and operation, your heat pump will work efficiently and safely to give you, your family, and guests maximum comfort when in your home. And hey, if you can save energy and money doing it, what else can you ask for?

Extra Attic Insulation Can Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

If you were stuck outside on a cold winter day, what would be one thing you wish you had? Most of us would say a coat or a warm blanket to keep you warm and help insulate your internal body temperature. But the cold air doesn’t just affect us; it directly affects the efficiency of our home.

Insulation is the “coat” for your home. And according to the Department of Energy, one of the most cost effective ways to make your home comfortable year-round is to add insulation to your attic, including the attic trap and access door. The main purpose of insulation is to keep either the warm or cold air, depending on the season, inside your home. A home without a sufficient amount of insulation will allow the outside air to penetrate the living area of your home, which will in turn making everyone inside uncomfortable and will also make the HVAC system less efficient because it will have to work harder to produce warm or cool air.

Because attic insulation plays such an important role in the home, there are strict codes that must be followed to ensure every home is equipped with the proper amount. And because of climate different cities have different codes, and currently all Houston homes must have 13 inches of insulation. But just because your home has the minimum amount in place, doesn’t mean that it is enough to keep your home running as efficiently as it could.

“A lot of homes want to be labeled an Energy Star Home, and this means that parts of the home are extremely efficient,” said John Moore Services HVAC Coach Lewis Yancey. “But 80% of homes, even new homes, are not built with enough insulation to be labeled Energy Efficient. Energy Star rates homes based on the recommendation of HUD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency.”

There are two basic types of insulation, Batt and Blown-in. Both perform the same function, but the application process is different.

Batt insulation comes in large pink roles, and it’s typically made of fiberglass, but can also be made of wool and other natural fibers. It is not that difficult to install, but is labor intensive because it has to be rolled in and cut to fit the desired area. It is best suited in areas of the attic that are free from obstructions, and can also be placed in-between walls. The down side is that because it comes in rolls, it is hard to place in tight spaces and tiny crevasses that are notoriously found in attics.

Blown-in insulation can be made from a variety of different materials, the two most common being fiberglass and cellulose, which is plant fiber. It is easier to install and also makes the home more efficient because instead of being rolled in, it is blown in and is able to get to every tiny crevasse inside the attic. It will also last longer.

“Over time insulation will settle. When blown-in insulation is first installed it has a settling point, if you install 15-inches it will settle down to 12. But once it reaches 12 inches, it will stay that way. The only time there are issues with blown-in insulation losing its efficiency is if the house has rodent or pest problems,” said Yancey. “And batt insulation will shrink over time and will lose its efficiency altogether if not reapplied.”

Adding extra insulation can help make your home more energy efficient, but according to Yancey there are two other things that should be done if you want to start seeing a difference in the price of your monthly bills.

“I’d recommend having an attic evaluation. We go in and check the attic insulation, the ventilation, and the radiant barrier and give your home a grade based on HUD recommendations,” said Yancey. “These are things that can bring the efficiency of your attic up, and will lower your energy bill. If you do all three things properly you can save up to 30% on your bill and extend the life of your HVAC system because it won’t have to work as hard to heat and cool your home.”

Sounds pretty good, right? Who doesn’t want to save money on bills, especially during the holidays when every penny counts! If you think your home isn’t running as efficient as it could be, or have any questions or concerns regarding your attic insulation call the expert HVAC technicians at John Moore Services. We can be there the same day and will figure out what parts of your home can be improved in order to lower your monthly bills. Give us a call!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Merry Christmas from all of us at John Moore Services! May your holiday season be filled with love and laughter!

Indoor Air Quality Problems? Winter Is The Time To Get Them Fixed!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

During the winter, the main focus for most homeowners is making sure the furnace is working in prime condition. After all, having the heater go out in the middle of a freeze could easily turn into a disaster. But winter is also a great time to focus not only on the temperature of your indoor air, but also on its quality.

“When it’s cold outside people stay indoors and don’t really go outside unless they absolutely have to,” said John Moore Services HVAC Coach Lewis Yancey. “When there is no fresh air circulating inside the house you start to see colds and germs getting transmitted more and more. That’s why during the winter when one person in the home has a cold it is usually spread to the rest of the house pretty quickly. The germs stay in the air and that contaminated air circulates through your HVAC system. But if you focus on your indoor air quality in the winter and take the right steps to make sure your air is purified and clean, you will improve the health of everyone inside the home.”

On average, indoor air is 80% more toxic than outdoor air. During the holiday season people are always trying to improve the smell of their home, and this usually involves plugging in air fresheners, cleaning the carpet with sprays, and cleaning in general with cleansers and aerosol spray cans. All these items give off VOC’s, or Volatile Organic Compounds, which pollute the air and can cause respiratory problems. High levels of VOC’s mixed with germs and disease that are easily spread during the winter can create a toxic situation inside your home.

Are you scared yet? If you are, you shouldn’t worry too much because there are several things that can be done to clean and purify your indoor air.

Media filters

Like normal air filters, a media filter collects dust and other particles to prevent them from contaminating your air. But a media filter is like an air filter to the extreme. It is located on the back of your furnace and is designed to keep your whole HVAC system cleaner. As air travels through your HVAC system, it must first pass through the media filter, so instead of the air only filtering once, it is filtered twice, which will keep your air fresh and contaminant free.

“A media filter is a thicker filter. The average filter collects about 10% of all airborne particles, and the media filter gets up to 98-99%. It cleans almost 100% of the air,” said Yancey. “It also collects particles down to .3% of a micron, and will remove all pollen, dust, fungi, smoke, and spores from the air.”

A good media filter can prolong the life of your HVAC system for years. It helps to keep your heater, AC system, and air ducts clean and by keeping them clean your system won’t have to work as hard. Also, the media filter only has to be changed about once every 6 months, unlike regular filters which should be changed every 30-days.

UV light

The UV light sits in front of the evaporator coil of your HVAC system and puts the power of the sun on the coils, so as the air passes through the coils the light physically cleans it. It is extremely beneficial because it doesn’t let contaminates or biological growth collect on the coils, it kills all airborne contaminates, and helps prevent the coil from creating any gunk, slime, or biological material that has a tendency to grow on the coils. It can only clean the air as it passes through, so it is not able to clean what it can’t see.

Air purifiers

The UV light can only clean air as it passes through the coils, but air purifiers produce molecules that actively go out and search for VOC’s in the home. When they find them, they break them down and turn them into water molecules or dust molecules. During the first few days of usage, your home might smell like light rain, but that is because all the contaminates in the air are being attacked. After a few days the smell goes away and your indoor air is clean and purified.

“Air purifiers are great because they go out and search for any impurities in the air and attack them,” said Yancey. “It is able to kill germs, diseases, and viruses like SAARS and H1N1 before they go into your AC system and circulate throughout your home.”

If you or anyone in your home suffers from allergies, asthma, or respiratory illnesses, cleaning and purifying your indoor air could be the solution. If your indoor air feels thick and unclean, or if the people in your home are always getting sick, call the expert HVAC technicians at John Moore Services to come take a look at the quality of your air. All our technicians are trained to test your indoor air and can help you determine which of the three systems mentioned above will be the best fit for your home.

“We have so many different packages available to improve indoor air quality, and it all depends on your home and how clean you want your air,” said Yancey. “I’ve seen it pay for itself because it reduces doctors visits for your children, prevents contaminates from being passed from one child to another, and everyone in the home sleeps better at night with better quality air. It is a great solution for every household.”

Need A New Heater? Common Signs And Symptoms

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Sure, most Houstonians complain about the summer heat and humidity, but as soon as the winter comes around we get to complain about the cold, too. It might be cold for 3 days and hot for a week, but during those 3 days of cold weather we all rely on the furnace to keep us warm. And just like having your air conditioner checked in the spring, it’s just as important to have your furnace checked in the early fall to make sure it’s working correctly.

But then the annual furnace check slips to the bottom of the to-do list – which is easy since we don’t use the furnace very often. But it’s when we forget that things start to go wrong. So how do you know if your furnace is starting to go downhill? There are many signs that are visible to HVAC technicians, but to the average homeowner recognizing the more technical signs can be difficult. But not to worry because if you follow the advice listed below you will be able to understand your furnace almost as well as a licensed John Moore Services HVAC technician (well, not quite!).

“The life of a heater depends on what make and model you purchase and what type of warranty you have,” said John Moore Services HVAC Coach Lewis Yancey. “Different parts of the furnace will have a different warranty and some will last longer than others. Heat exchangers usually have a 20-year warranty, but the blower and control boards have around a 5-year warranty. All this depends on usage and maintenance. And knowing when to replace your whole furnace or just some of its parts all depends on what is breaking down and how old your furnace is. For example, you may meet or exceed the cost of a new furnace and it might make sense to go ahead and replace the whole thing.”

How do I know if my furnace isn’t working correctly?

If you make a point to pay attention to the age of your furnace and the way it responds when turning on and off, you will be able to detect certain signs that are indicators of it not working correctly. Your furnace might need replacement if:

You hear funny noises: When you turn your furnace on and off, you can expect to hear some noise, but if you hear excessive rattling, popping, banging, or squealing coming from your unit, you have a problem. Noises are an indicator that your furnace or certain parts of it are about to give out. As soon as you hear these strange sounds it is important to call in a professional because the longer you wait, the more damage will be done to your furnace and other parts of your heating and air conditioning system.

You smell strange odors: A slight smell is to be expected when you turn on your furnace for the first time during the winter. But if the smell doesn’t go away and seems to get stronger as the days go by, there is an issue. Burnt smells, musky smells, and other off-putting odors are your furnace warning you that parts of it are not working correctly. The problem might be with the blower or the motor, and the only way to tell is to have a licensed heating and air conditioning technician come check it out.

Your furnace is old: Maybe you have had your furnace for over 10 years and have never had a major problem with it. However, just because you have never had a problem doesn’t mean you won’t, especially as it ages. As your furnace gets older its parts are no longer able to work as efficiently as they once did. And because of its age you might wake up one morning and find that your furnace completely stopped working while you were asleep. We recommend having your furnace checked out if it is older, even if you have had no problems. It is better to be safe and warm than to take the chance and be cold.

You notice higher bills: Different parts of your furnace use up different amounts of electricity. And the blower motor and fan use up a lot, especially if they are about to break down. If you notice your electric bill is exceptionally high, the problem could be that these parts are about to go out and are pulling more amps than they should.

You might not be a professional HVAC technician, but if you know what to look for you can be aware of a potential problem before it becomes a real one. If you notice any of the signs listed above, call out a professional to come take a look. Our HVAC technicians are thoroughly trained to detect even the smallest problem and can help you decide if replacing your furnace is the best option for your household. And remember, now is the time to check your carbon monoxide alarm, and if you don’t have one now would be a good time to get one installed. (Read more about them here) Give us a call now, and stay warm all winter!

Will Your Holiday Lighting Pass An Electrical Safety Test?

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

One of the most popular Christmas movies of all time is “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Who can forget the iconic scene when Clark Griswold plugs in his Christmas lights for the very first time? He had so many lights on his home they could be seen from space. No matter how much this makes us laugh, many of us can relate to that scenario. Because during the holidays, we want to put up as many lights as we can, both inside and outside, in order to get into the Christmas spirit (and maybe to try and impress our neighbors a little).

But holiday lighting can be a dangerous thing if not done correctly. A lot of people pull out their box of lights, plug them all into each other, and staple the long string of lights to their house or wrap them around trees and bushes in their yard. But if you do this and do not take the proper precautions, you can create a heat condition that has the potential to burn your home down.

“Many people do not pay attention to the limitations of the product they are installing,” said John Moore Services Electrical Manager David Floyd. “Christmas lights are not made to last forever, and a lot of people use their lights longer than they should. And on the box of lights, it will tell you the wattage and the maximum amount of lights that can be plugged together. But most people do not read that information and plug too many strands of lights together. This creates all kinds of problems.”

What kind of problems?

Electrical fires start because of heat conditions that are created in the home. If you are planning on installing lights to the outside of your home and string together 10-15 strands of lights and then plug them into one receptacle, you are creating an extreme heat condition. The same goes with the lights on your Christmas tree.

“If all the lights are plugged into the same receptacle, is potential for that receptacle to heat up and in turn heat up everything around it,” said Floyd. “They will start out warm, then get hot, then start smoking, and then start to melt which will eventually start a fire. This can be especially dangerous on a Christmas tree because people have a lot of ornaments and tinsel that can go up in flames in a second.”

Not only is it a fire hazard, but too many lights on one circuit will continue to trip your circuit breaker. Breakers are not designed to continually trip, and the more often they do, the less efficient they become.

What can I do to protect my home?

We understand decorative lighting is an important part of the holiday season, and if you follow the tips listed below you should be able to have a worry-free Christmas.

Make sure you do not have a lot of lights plugged into the same receptacle. By limiting the amount of wattage being used, you are diffusing the heat conditions which will reduce your risk tripped breakers and fires.
Make sure your tree is alive and watered daily. Christmas trees drink a lot of water, and a thirsty tree is a fire waiting to happen.
Make sure all cords are out of the pathway of children and pets. Accidently tripping over a cord can rip lighting out of the receptacle and cause serious damage.
Make sure all outdoor cords are not in excessively wet or damp locations to reduce risk and other hazards. Also, make sure that all your outdoor receptacles are covered with plastic bubble covers. This keeps the extension cord protected from the outside elements while plugged in.
Double check that all outdoor receptacles are GFCI protected before plugging anything into them.
If you want to install a lot of outdoor lighting, consider adding some additional electrical outlets to the exterior of your home. Having extra outlets installed specifically for the holiday season near trees and bushes that you want to wrap is a good idea.
If you have had your lights for a few years, consider upgrading to more efficient LED lights. LED lights are better quality, more energy efficient, and produce less heat than regular lights.
If you are stapling lights to the perimeter of your home, make sure the staple does not go through the wire. If you accidently do, wrap up the wire with electrical tape to prevent further damage.

The holidays are a wonderful time of year, and if you follow the advice listed above, you will make it through without a hitch. If you have any questions regarding your holiday lighting, call the expert electricians at John Moore Services. We can give advice, install more outlets, and help make your holiday season one to remember. Give us a call!

Low Flow Toilets Help With Water Conservation

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Water conservation is important to all responsible homeowners. Watering the lawn in the evening, running the dishwasher only when it’s full, and turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth – these are a few of many tricks that can be used to conserve water. But what item in your home do you think uses the most water? You might be thinking the shower or washing machine, but you would be incorrect. Flushing a toilet uses 38 percent of your indoor water. Yep, more than a third of the water used in a typical household goes right down the toilet.

Because of their high water usage, the United States ruled in 1992 that all new toilets sold must be low-flow toilets. Before 1992, each toilet flush used at least 3 gallons of water, and in some cases even more than that. But with new toilets you only use 1.28 gallons of water when you flush, which is a significant decrease.

“Throughout the years the law on toilets has changed because of advances in technology that made toilets more efficient,” said John Moore Services Quality Control and Plumbing Manager Joe Bany. “Four years ago you were able to buy a 2.5-gallon/flush toilet, then it changed to 1.6-gallon/flush and now it is up to 1.28-gallon/flush. The design and basic function of toilets have not changed, just the way water is distributed.”

If your home has low-flow toilets already, or you are thinking about purchasing one, you don’t have to worry because they work exactly the same as older toilets. You still pull down the handle, and water still comes down to wash everything down to the main sewer line, but the internal mechanisms have been changed that control the amount of water that is released during each flush.

“If you’re standing in front of a low-flow toilet looking down you will see a large hole where the waste goes through. On the front edge of that hole there is an opening where water drops down each time the toilet is flushed and forces through from the bottom in order to clear the contents inside the toilet,” said Bany. “In old style toilets the holes are under the seat and water pushes through in large quantities and swirls around until everything has been pushed through the hole that leads to the sewer.”

Low-flow toilets are great at conserving water, but because they use less water they tend to clog more often than the older 3-gallon/flush toilets. If you use too much paper or overuse the toilet it will get backed up, and improvements have been made over the last few years to alleviate this issue.

“You can purchase pressure-assisted low-flow toilets which will help push everything down the drain better and will keep your toilet from getting backed up,” said Bany. “Also, toilet manufacturers have started to make them with bigger drains and have started to glaze them so they are smoother which will help contents flow better.”

The important thing to remember with these toilets is proper usage and maintenance. Here are some tips to keep your toilet running smoothly:

Always make sure your toilet is working the way it is designed to work. If your toilet is constantly running or dripping then something is wrong. Noises like this could mean that the flapper is not working, there is an internal leak, or there is not enough water entering the toilet bowl. Calling a professional to fix any problem, even a small one, ensures that your toilet is in good working order and this will help keep stoppages to a minimum.
Make sure that after every flush all contents inside the toilet go down the drain. And sometimes, this may take more than one flush. If paper or anything else gets left behind inside the toilet then it is safe to say that contents are stuck inside the drain and will eventually cause a stoppage.
If you lift the lid and see dirt, sediment, or black rubber floating around in the tank you probably have a problem with the gasket or the flapper. Small problems like these can lead to larger ones, which will cause damage to the toilet if not properly fixed.

Low-flow toilets are a great money-saver and can help cut down on your daily water usage. But just like anything else, they can malfunction from time to time and when this happens it’s important to call in a professional who knows what he is doing. The expert plumbers at John Moore Services are trained to install and repair toilets and stoppages of all kinds. If you have a low-flow toilet or want to get one installed in your home give us a call and have it done right.

Keep Bats Away With Pest Control Treatment

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

They feed during the night. They sleep upside down. And depending on what show you watch they turn into blood-sucking vampires. Yes, we are talking about bats. And no matter how mythical they might seem, they are real and are all over the Houston area. But contrary to popular belief Houston bats aren’t all that bad. In fact, they even help control our mosquito population, and anything that eats mosquitos is okay with us.

The City of Houston is home to eleven different species of bats, the most common being the Mexican Free Tailed Bat. These are medium size bats that live in caves, under bridges, and in some cases attics. And because of our great climate, Texas has more bats than any other state. But no need to worry because unlike the hype you hear during Halloween, all Texas bats are insect eaters meaning they won’t harm humans unless they feel threatened.

“All bats sleep during the day and people normally see them around dusk or dawn when they fly out of their roost to hunt for food,” said John Moore Services Pest Control Manager Brian Menn. “All during the night they are out searching for and eating bugs and insects, mainly mosquitos. A regular size bat eats about one hundred mosquitos a night, so they eat a lot. They eat insects only, not pets, humans, or livestock like most people tend to think.”

If they don’t eat humans, why should I be concerned?

Although they don’t harm humans intentionally they do carry disease, which can cause problems if they decide to roost in your home. A roost is a place where bats congregate during the daytime and because of our large bat population, it is not uncommon for them to roost in an attic of a residential neighborhood.

“I’ve seen a lot of houses that have large bat roosts in their attic, and it doesn’t take a big opening for the bats to get inside, all it takes is one tiny hole and before you know it there are hundreds of bats living in your home,” said Menn. “I had a customer once who found out she had bats because when the sun was going down one evening hundreds of bats started to fly down her chimney into her home. Typically this doesn’t happen because they usually fly out of the hole they used to get inside your home in the first place, but it can, which is why if you do have bats it is important to have a professional remove them immediately.”

Another reason to have them removed is because they are carriers of rabies. And it is impossible to tell which bats have rabies and which ones don’t, so if you have them in your home chances are that some are infected. Also, when you have a roost of bats in your attic they are going to leave behind a large amount of feces. Inside bat feces is a substance called “guano.” It is high in methane, very potent, and is dangerous to inhale. Most people realize they have bats because the smell of guano seeps down into the living area of their home.

How can I remove them?

In Texas, bats are a protected species so killing them is not an option. To remove them professionals use the process of exclusion, which involves sealing up all openings around the home so the bats are unable to get inside.

“First we search the entire home and attic and find all openings, and we seal all of them up except one,” said Menn. “On the last opening we make an enclosure with a one-way door so the bats are able to get out but when they try to come back at dawn they are unable to get inside. We wait a couple days to make sure all bats are out of the house then spray the attic with a professional grade disinfectant called Nisus DSV. This removes all viruses and disease that they left behind.”

When they realize they are unable to get back inside the home they start to search for another place to set up their roost. They have very heightened senses, including eyesight. We have all heard the phrase blind as a bat, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. They can smell, see, and hear extremely well, and their senses help them to quickly find another place to live. And that is a good reason to make sure your home doesn’t have any openings, because you never know when a group of bats in your area might be looking for a new home.

As homeowners, you have enough to worry about already and having a bat infestation is not something you want to have to deal with. The pest control experts at John Moore Services can inspect your home, find areas of vulnerability, and seal them up before things get out of control. And remember if you smell or see a bat in your home don’t go near it, because with bats, it really is best to leave it to the experts.

Winter Humidity Will Cause Major Indoor Air Quality Problems

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Humidity is a term that we Houstonians directly relate to summertime. And if you’re not from Houston, all it takes is spending one day of summer in our great city to know what we are talking about. But the thing with excess humidity is that it doesn’t just come around during the summer months, and winter humidity can be just as bad. Not only does it make your living conditions uncomfortable, but it can also cause major health problems.

“Humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor that is in the air. It is basically the difference between the temperature of the outside air and the air that is inside the home,” said John Moore Services HVAC Coach Lewis Yancey. “The greater the temperature difference is between the outside and inside, the greater amount of humidity a house will have if it isn’t equipped with the right systems. And having too much or too little humidity inside the home will either make the home sweat, or extremely dry. To get optimal living conditions, having the correct percentage of humidity is very important.”

What’s wrong with high humidity?

When the humidity is high outdoors and you go for a walk, what happens? You immediately get hot, sweaty, and sticky. And when you have too much humidity inside your home, that same thing happens to all parts of your house. When humidity starts to become a problem, you will first notice condensation on your windows, walls, and other surfaces. But the thing with humidity is that it doesn’t just get on the surface of things, it creeps down inside them. In fact, it can force its way through wood, plaster, brick, and cement, which are most of the components of your house.

As excess moisture sits inside your home, biological growth begins to develop in places like your walls and air ducts, and causes major indoor air quality problems. This growth is then distributed throughout your home through your air vents and can cause respiratory problems for your whole family.

“Air ducts are not designed to remove moisture, so if you have a high humidity problem in your home one of the first things that will happen is biological growth issues in your air vents,” said Yancey. “The longer the growth stays inside your home the more problems you will experience. They can range from breathing issues, to coughs, to headaches and asthma.”

What’s wrong with low humidity?

When the temperatures drop in the peak of winter, humidity in the house has a tendency to drop as well and can fall to as low as 10 percent. The recommended amount of humidity for a typical household is 45-55 percent, so that is a major difference. When the humidity level gets this low, everything in your house will dry out, including the people in it. Furniture will start to dry out, wood floors will start to warp, but the biggest problems are directed towards people.

“Your whole body will start to dry out. You will experience dry skin and hair, chapped lips, scratchy throats, and dried out sinus cavities,” said Yancey. And your body moisture will evaporate so quickly that you feel chilled even at higher thermostat settings. When this happens, you will be prone to bad colds and respiratory problems.”

How can I correct the humidity levels in my home?

The easiest and most efficient way to correct indoor humidity problems is to purchase a dehumidifier for your home. It circulates the air and balances the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures. It also removes excess humidity out of the air to eliminate moisture and prevent any biological growth from developing throughout your home.

“Dehumidifiers are great and are easy to use because they attach directly to the AC unit and can be used in both the winter and the summer,” said Yancey. “They are designed to keep your home humidity level at 44-55 percent, which is the optimal range for indoor humidity. To determine if a house is in need of one, I first figure out what the dew point is in the home, and depending on that reading I am able to see if a house has a problem with humidity.”

While the dew point test is important, if your home is in need of a dehumidifier you will know it. If your air feels heavy, wet, you notice condensation on your windows and other surfaces, or you are developing any of the health issues listed above, you have a problem. And by getting your humidity level under control you are also making your HVAC system run more efficiently because it isn’t having to work as hard to make your indoor air temperature comfortable. If you think you have a problem, call the experts at John Moore Services to come fix it. Our experienced HVAC technicians can correct all issues associated with high or low humidity and can get the temperatures inside your home back to perfect condition. Give us a call today so you can breathe comfortably during the holidays!

Clogged Drains Can Back Up All Your Plumbing -- Get Help Now!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

If you are a woman, know a woman, are married to a woman or just have even heard of woman, chances are you know what goes down after they wash their hair in the shower (literally!). If you’re a guy, it’s pretty much the same story. Hair accumulates in the drain pipe as more and more goes slipping down the drain, and next thing you know, your feet are sitting in murky water.

It can be a pretty icky situation, since hair can sit in the drain pipe for a long time before it’s cleaned out and accumulate skin particles, soap scum, hard minerals from the water, oils, and other things that use the hair as a base to sit in. It stinks. It looks gross. It clogs your pipes quickly. But it’s not anything that can’t be handled when done right.

We talked to Joe Bany, senior operations manager at John Moore, about the source of the problem, solutions for the average Joe, what the experts can do to help, and how to prevent clogs from happening any further. Read on for the inside scoop on what’s really going on under your feet!

The Root of the Problem

According to Bany, hair that accumulates in the drain is the main cause for shower drain clogs, on top of soap scum and hard minerals in the water. Typically these clogs are a combination of hair and soap that has clung together, blocking the flow of water down the drain.

“If you have hard water, which most people in Houston do, it’ll form hard crystals around the drain and it will actually take your pipe size from a standard 2-inch drain and slowly build mountains around the inside and slowly collapse the size of the hole,” Bany said. “And then as you wash your hair and shave, your hair falls out and just gets hung up in the drain along with it.”

Unclogging Your Shower Drain, for Dummies

So can you do? Once you have a clog, it can be pretty easy to notice that there is something in there. Although clogs are a pain, they aren’t always impossible to take care of on your own. In fact, most homeowners find that certain simple steps will take care of most of their issues.

Shower drain stoppages are common because the drains are literally building up every time you take a shower – soap scum, hair, oil, dead skin- it’s not necessarily something you’ll be eager to deal with. But the reality is, these things are flowing down your drain all the time, and they will eventually build up to the point where they can clog drains. We don’t recommend using chemicals on clogs that reappear in the same location over and over. This means you have a bigger problem and need a plumber to help solve the problem. When using chemicals we recommend Professional Strength Plumbers Formula 5 for normal stoppages and Plumbers Formula 6 for regular drain maintenance. We also recommend these commonly used methods for the do-it-yourselfer:

Coat Hanger- Use a screwdriver to remove any drain covers. Shine a flashlight into the drain. You might be able to see a wad of hair or other blockage that is clogging the drain. Insert a straightened wire coat hanger and try to fish out whatever is clogging the drain. This will work for minor clogs that aren’t too deep.

Baking Soda and Vinegar- If you can’t see a clog, you can always try using white vinegar and baking soda to try and flush it out. This takes a bit more time but is effective in flushing out and unclogging drains because it helps break up the material that’s causing the clog. We recommend 3/4 cups of baking soda followed by the same amount of vinegar. Then, cover the drain after pouring in the solution, which will isolate the clog and keeping the solution from flowing out.

When to Call the Pros

You’ve tried and tried again, and still nothing, even with Formula 5? It means you have a bigger problem than you think. It’s time to call in professionals to get the job done. Sometime it may not be just a normal stoppage- it can be something a bigger that requires professional grade work, equipment, and experience.

“The equipment is better when professionals do the work,” Bany said. “After inspecting, I would auger your drain. For the bathtub, we would take the overflow plate off and run a machine down through the top side of the tub to get down the drain where you can actually get all the hair out. Sometimes, on a tub, there are stoppers- everyone’s should come out. If you unscrew it and lift it, hair should come out. That’s one of the first things that you could do as a homeowner. Go in there with tweezers, a screwdriver, or a coat hanger and try to dig that hair out. It’s not easy. Women have really long hair. You’re sitting there looking down the drain and you might only see about half an inch of it when it’s actually a foot long.”

In the master shower, disassembling the drain might be required to use a bigger snake to try to break up some of that calcium buildup, and then eventually pull the hair out.

More severe instances would depend on the age of the home, if the house is settled, or if the pipes are broken.

“It gets into foundation issues. This is something you see on 10, 20-year-old homes that have settled a bit. It’s put pressure on a pipe or a pipe is broken, or a tree interferes. A tree can grow under the house and roots have gotten into the line. Those are the bigger things that your Plumbers Formula 5 or 6 liquid (sold only by John Moore Services) can’t take care of. That’s when you know you need to bring a professional out there to run a camera and see what’s really going on.”

You Can Prevent Severe Drain Clogs

It’s inevitable. Hair will come off you and your family’s heads until the earth turns to dust. It happens and will always happen. But you can still prevent major clogs from happening by simply reducing the amount of hair that actually finds its way down the drain.

According to Bany, the first thing to know is that you need to maintain your drain. You can do that with John Moore Services’ exclusive product, Plumber’s Formula 5 or the newest liquid drain maintainer, Plumber’s Formula 6. Both are designed to eat hair and soap scum which will help clear the path.

“There are some products you can buy that allow you to actually take your tub or shower drain plug out and cover it with a catcher,” Bany said. “It’s like a little strainer which catches all the hair. When you’re done showering, you just pull it right out and it brings the hair with it.”

Also, a shower drain strainer is about five inches around and five across, and it fits perfectly with your shower drain and won’t let the hair through. These things won’t stop every single hair, but they will definitely prevent major amounts from accumulating which will help prevent future clogs.

As we always say, it’s better safe than sorry, so make sure you take the proper, safe steps to take care your shower drain clogs. Call us at John Moore for more information and to get a plumbing expert at your door in no time.

Beneficial Bugs Help With Pest Control Treatment

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Many people are afraid of spiders -- who remembers the movie “Arachnophobia”? It doesn’t matter how big or small they are; something about their eight legs and poisonous reputation is enough to send a lot of folks to the other side of the room. Bugs and insects in general are unpopular with humans, which is why many homeowners sign up for a regular pest control treatment plan.

But some bugs and insects are around for a particular reason, and maybe, just maybe, they aren’t so bad after all. Seriously – keep reading! Spiders, lizards, geckos, and a few other types of bugs and insects can be beneficial to your home. In fact, without certain types of spiders and geckos around your home could possibly become infested with a whole different crop of critters.

“There are many bugs and insects that help me out because they help control the mosquito population,” said John Moore Services Pest Control Manager Brian Menn. “Our Houston climate is a breeding ground for a lot of different bugs. But having spiders, lizards, and geckos around can reduce the population of some really annoying insects.”

Geckos

Geckos are reptiles and a part of the lizard family, and there are over 5,900 different species of them. While it might make you a little uneasy to see one crawling around inside your home, next time you see one you might want to consider yourself lucky. Geckos feed off of mosquitos, spiders, roaches, and a variety of other flying insects. Having a few geckos around your home means that the population of these other harmful bugs and insects will not be as high.

Typically they like to hang around outside of the home in places like the garage and in bushes and trees. But it isn’t uncommon to see one or two inside your home from time to time, and they often get inside through small holes or cracks around your house. They are nocturnal, which means as soon as it gets dark they begin to search around your yard for food.

“Geckos are not harmful to humans at all and they protect us from other bug populations getting out of control,” said Menn. “We don’t even have a way of treating the home for geckos because they are really no threat. But if people do not like them then the only way to make sure they won’t get inside the home is to caulk any small openings around all doors and windows.”

Spiders

Just like geckos, spiders are beneficial because they too have an appetite for bugs and insects. In fact, certain spiders eat geckos. But there is one spider in particular that is very common in Houston and does a great deal for the home, and that is the Yellow Garden Spider.

Its long legs, impressively intricate webs, and ominous black and yellow coloring automatically make one assume that it is poisonous, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. They make large webs in wind-free areas of the backyard, often in trees or near fences that can block breezes from destroying their home. And sometimes these webs can be as large as 2 feet in diameter. But it is their web that makes them beneficial because they use it to catch their dinner. And lucky for you, they like to eat all the annoying flying insects you hate like flies, wasps, June bugs, and mosquitos.

You may not want spiders and geckos inside your home, but having them around outside isn’t such a bad thing. But even with them around it is still a good idea to get your home sprayed for other bugs and insects a few times a year. And with the cold weather here, you should also be focused on rodent-proofing your home because rodents like to be warm just like we do! If you have a pest problem that is out of control, or any questions regarding beneficial bugs, call the expert pest control technicians at John Moore Services. We can help keep the beneficial bugs around and the bad bugs out!

Keeping Your Electrical System In Good Shape Will Prevent A Fire

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Chuck Davis was getting ready to leave town and went into his guest bedroom to get a suitcase out of the closet. He walked in the room and turned on the light switch, but nothing happened. He figured the bulb was out and walked over to turn on a lamp, but again, nothing happened. That’s when he knew there was a major problem.

“We don’t use the guest bedroom very often, but I knew the coincidence of both the overhead light and the lamp being burned out wasn’t very probable,” said Davis. “My wife and I were getting ready to leave for a vacation and knew that I needed to figure out what the problem was quickly, so I called John Moore and they came out the next day. The technician looked around and figured out that we had a small electrical fire in the back of our panel which had completely burned up the circuit breakers for that part of the house.”

The electrical panel is a very important part of your electrical system because it is what houses circuit breakers and what brings electricity into the home. Electricity flows through power lines, which are connected to every home through separate underground or overhead lines. These lines are then connected to a meter can that is located outside your home, usually in the back yard. And the panel is connected to the meter can.

“Inside every panel is a copper or aluminum component called a busbar. All circuit breakers are attached to this internal component,” said John Moore Services Electrical Manager David Floyd. “The busbar distributes electricity in a proper way to all the circuit breakers, which in turn power everything that is plugged into a receptacle inside or outside the home.”

Because the panel plays such a critical role inside the home, it’s important that it is installed properly and maintained on a regular basis. Not doing so creates a dangerous situation and can even start a fire. But unlike most items inside your home, age is not a big factor in determining if your electrical panel needs to be replaced or serviced because they can last up to 50 years. But just because they can last that long does not mean they will.

“Heat is the main factor in determining how long your panel and circuit breakers will last,” said Floyd. “Say there is a wire that is undersized for the breaker that is being used. This will cause too much heat and will cause wear and tear on the wires and the panel itself.”

Other factors that affect the life of your electrical panel are:

Wires becoming flaky or discolored. This is usually a sign of too much heat going through the wire.
Poor workmanship. If your panel was installed improperly, it won’t last as long as it should.
Having a panel too small for your home. If your panel is small and you are using a lot of electricity, you are creating more heat, which shortens its life.
Tandem breakers. These are two breakers that fit into one breaker slot. Normal breakers are 1 inch thick, which helps dissipate heat. But when you have tandem breakers that are not used properly, you are doubling the amount of heat, which has a tendency to start a fire.
If your panel is outside, the weather causes damage – especially here in Houston, with our famous heat and humidity.

“My circuit breakers were creating so much heat that they caused a fire to start inside my electrical panel,” said Davis. “I was lucky that I called John Moore before another fire started and did any real damage to my home.”

Faulty electrical panels and wiring account for 28% of house fires across the United States. But with routine maintenance on your electrical system and panels you never have to worry. The licensed electricians at John Moore Services are trained in the latest electrical code and can give you tips on how to prevent electrical damage and fires inside your home. If you have any questions or are concerned about the safety of your panel, give us a call!

Outdated Galvanized Plumbing Will Cause Leaks

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Getting ready to leave her house one Sunday morning to go to church, Ann Hays heard a strange sound coming from upstairs. She went to check it out and saw that her whole upstairs study was flooded. Unfortunately, this was not the first time a thing like this happened, and she immediately went to shut off the water.

“This was the third time a part of my home had flooded, and ironically enough each time it happened on a Sunday,” said Hays. “I knew from the previous two times that I needed to patch up the pipe that was leaking. But when it happened this last time I decided to call in a professional to figure out why my pipes kept on bursting and flooding different parts of my home. I didn’t think this was something that should happen as often as it was happening to me.”

By the next morning, John Moore Services was at her home and had already figured out the problem - galvanized pipes. See, the piping system that the majority of homes were built with before 1981 were galvanized, and Hays fit right into that category because her home was built in 1970.

“Galvanized pipes are a supply system that carries hot and cold water to all your fixtures, faucets, toilets, and tubs. On the outside, a lot of times galvanized pipe looks like it’s good, and the reason for that is because it deteriorates from the inside out,” said John Moore Services Senior Operations Manager Joe Bany. “The water we have in Houston slowly eats away the inside of the pipes. Rust then builds up and will eat holes through the outside of the pipe, which will lead to cancer marks that can end up flooding your house.”

To break it down, galvanized pipes are steel pipes that are covered with a protective layer of zinc. And yes, the zinc does protect it for a while, but after many years it erodes from the pipe which causes corrosion to build up on its inside walls. With galvanized pipes, there are several big issues to watch out for:

You lose pipe size. Mountains of rust form inside the line of pipe reducing the volume of water that goes through and also the pressure that you will receive at the end use.
You get discolored, unclean water. Your water supply flows through the corroded pipes to reach your faucets. As it travels, it collects the rust that it has to flow through. This is bad for water quality in general, but is really bad when you have not used a particular faucet in a day or two because the water is just sitting in the pipes collecting rust and other debris.
You will get leaks. Over time, your galvanized pipes will develop cancer spots. These are weak spots on the pipe’s outer layer that will leak. You can always patch up a cancer spot, but as long as your whole piping system is made of galvanized pipe, you will continue to develop more and more cancer spots until all the pipes have been replaced.

“The true solution to galvanized pipes that are starting to cancer and leak in your ceiling is to re-pipe your house,” said Bany. “It sounds like a big chore, and yes it is a big job, but it is not the way it used to be 20 years ago. We don’t have to gut your house and we don’t have to tear it apart.”

Bany and the other plumbers at John Moore Services use a new type of pipe called PEX piping to replace galvanized pipes. It is flexible and can work into spots where rigid, solid pipe can’t go. Now instead of cutting a whole wall open to make a repair all that has to be cut is a small access hole where the piping needs to come out of the wall.

“The plumber cut a few small holes into my walls and went to work putting in the new pipe,” said Hays. “That part took a few days and when he was finished a different technician came to repair and patch up the small holes that were made. The job only took four days and when they left my house looked as good as new. I could have had the plumber patch up the leak like I had done before, but I knew leaks would keep happening so I made the decision to re-pipe everything and it turned out great.”

Galvanized pipes can cause a lot of problems. If you are having reoccurring leaks or are not sure the type of piping system your home is equipped with, call the expert plumbers at John Moore Services. We will come and evaluate your home and help you come up with a plan of action for fixing your plumbing problem.

Drafts And Air Leaks Lower The Energy Efficiency Of Your Home

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMT

It’s officially down-to-the-bone cold, Houston. Where better to seek sanctuary and guaranteed warmth than your own home, right? Wrong!

Air leaks in the envelope of the home - windows, doors, ceilings, etc- are a major cause of heat loss in most homes. According to Energy Star, if you added up all the leaks, holes and gaps in a typical home's envelope, it would be the same as having a window open every single day of the year. That’s the last thing you want when it’s getting below the 50’s. Think about how much energy that wastes and how much that will cost you in the long run. Before you get “It Will Never Happen to Me Syndrome,” the fact is that most homes in the United States don't have enough insulation and have major air leaks.

Green Building Advisor, a website that provides information for building, designing, and remodeling green homes, estimates that a whopping one third of the energy you pay for ends up leaking through holes in your house’s windows and cracks. Along with rain and other weather factors, air leaks through walls, roofs and floors can have the largest effect on the resilience of a home. Uncontrolled air flow through little open spaces you can’t see can not only carry moisture into pockets within the frame causing mold and rot, but it can also be the cause of excessive energy use and cause indoor air quality problems.

What’s the problem?

Air leaks around windows don’t cause that much discomfort during summer months. But in the winter, drafty windows can make an entire room chilly, forcing you to spend extra money on heating and wondering what the heck is going on.

“The most common reason for air leaking in a window is probably old caulking that gets worn away over time and comes out,” Charles Griffith said, a John Moore HVAC technician. He also said that it could be the shim space that was left a bit too loose and open by your home’s builders.

Many homeowners incorrectly assume that if they have drafty windows, they need to have replacement windows installed, but that’s not really the case. The truth is, replacement windows will improve your home’s comfort and energy efficiency, but they don’t always get rid of drafts. When it comes to windows, many times the gap between the framed window opening and the frame of the window, called the shim space, is usually the culprit. You can’t see the “shim space” underneath the interior and exterior trim that’s been nailed to the window jambs and to the wall framing, but you can feel the effects of an open shim space when it’s cold. Chilly outside air will find its way around the exterior trim outside, into the shim space, and then around your window’s exterior inside trim and into your living space, and poof – the comfort is gone.

Feel it or see it? Seal it!

According to Energy Star, a knowledgeable homeowner or skilled contractor can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs - or up to 10% on their total annual energy bill - by sealing and insulating.

When checking your home windows and doors for air leaks, start with a detailed visual inspection from both the interior and exterior parts of your home.

Outside: Griffith said to look for areas where the old caulking has failed, revealing the gap between the window or door frame and the side of your home. If your home has old single-paned windows, be on the lookout for damaged glazing, which is the hard putty that holds the individual panes of glass in place. If the entire perimeter of each window and door is not sealed tight against water and air infiltration, then your home is vulnerable to heat loss and expensive bills.

Inside: Inspect the sill under each door, looking for daylight or other obvious signs of an opening that is too big and needs to be sealed. Make sure that the weather stripping around the windows and doors is in good condition, making note of any damaged weather stripping that needs to be replaced. Holding your hand by possible leaky areas and feeling a draft will tell you if there is a leak, but that isn’t always so easy and obvious. Another more accurate way to check for air leaks is to conduct a “smoke” test.

Smoke Test: First, on a very cool day, depressurize your home by closing all windows and doors, turn off the furnace, and turn on all fans that blow air outside, such as bathroom fans or stove vents. Then, hold a lit candle or incense stick (something long-burning) close to the spaces around the edges of your home’s windows and doors, looking for a noticeable change in the smoke rising from the lit incense stick. If there is an air leak, the smoke will waiver and be drawn inwards by the outside air that is finding its way into your home. If the smoke remains undisturbed, then you can assume that there are no air leaks in that specific spot.

Get it Done Right

Sealing leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will have a great impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills.

In some cases, an experienced energy technician will have to carefully pry off your interior trim to reveal the shim space. In other cases, the tech may be able to drill holes through the window jambs and inject spray foam into the shim space through the holes using a special spray foam applicator. In addition to plugging air leaks, caulking can also prevent water damage inside and outside of the home when applied around faucets, ceiling fixtures, water pipes, drains, bathtubs and other plumbing fixtures, so it’s a great, inexpensive tool to have on hand at home.

Many homeowners are often concerned about sealing their house too tightly. However, this is very unlikely in older homes. A certain amount of fresh air is required to have good indoor air quality. Did you know that there are certain specifications that set the minimum amount of fresh air needed for a house? If you are concerned about how tight your home is, experts can use diagnostic tools to measure the actual leakage in your home. If your house is too tight, they may even recommend a fresh air ventilation system.

It’s also important to remember that after any home sealing project, you should have a heating and cooling technician check to make sure that your combustion appliances (gas- or oil-fired furnace, water heater, and dryer) are venting properly.

Reap the Benefits

You may be thinking about all the effort you need to put in to get the process for air leak detection going and ultimately getting it all fixed. We get it; the information above may seem a bit overwhelming. Usually, fixing the entire problem isn’t quick and it isn’t necessarily easy, but the benefits that will come from sealing up air leaks are well worth it, and that’s a promise! Sealing leaks and adding insulation can improve the overall comfort of your home and help to fix many of these common problems:

Reduced the amount of outside noise
Less pollen, dust and insects (or pests) getting into your home
Better humidity control; keeps things from rotting and molding which pollute your home’s air
Keep your home warm during the winter (you need this right about now… Brrrr)
Lower your energy bills (this one’s our favorite!)

No matter what you do, don’t attempt to seal your windows or doors alone unless you are highly experienced. Taking on some of these projects without proper training and knowledge can cause bigger problems in the long run and cost you even more money. Also, make sure someone experienced takes a look at your work to make sure everything checks out and is safe. Call our John Moore experts for help with any aspect of energy efficiency, or even just to answer any of your questions about a small, quick-fix project. Once you see your energy bill lowered and feel warm and toasty in your home, you’ll be really glad you did.

Happy Thanksgiving From John Moore Services

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Enjoy Your Thanksgiving! May your holiday be joyful and may happiness surround it, with good things on your table and those you love around it!

Regular Upholstery Cleaning Will Remove Stains And Smells

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Have you ever walked through your living room and got a whiff of something that shouldn’t be there? Or maybe you just had a dinner party and noticed a drop of your famous blueberry pie on one of your dining room chairs. Unexpected situations like this happen all the time, and when it happened to Katherine Simmons she knew she needed to get help right away.

“My husband has had his favorite chair for over 10 years. It’s an eyesore but he loves it so much that I have learned to live with it,” said Simmons. “My daughter brought over her dog, and apparently he loved the chair as much as my husband. But when the dog left, the smells from the dog were left behind and caused my whole home so stink. I knew getting rid of the chair wasn’t an option, so I decided to call John Moore to see if they could help.”

When it comes to smells and stains on upholstery, it’s important to call in the experts immediately because the longer they sit on your furniture, the harder it will be to remove them. And it’s also important to hire a reputable company who knows what they are doing because cleaning off a stain or smell is a science, each one having its own unique way of removal.

What can be removed from where?

No matter how much we love our animals and consider them part of the family, we hate it when they lift their leg on our couch or rug. It is unacceptable. And usually, we tend not to notice until they have done it quite a few times, and by then the smell and stain is beyond our ability to clean up alone.

“We get a lot of calls from customers who have spots on their furniture from their animals, normally they smell the urine for a while but don’t realize how bad it is until they find the hidden spot,” said John Moore Services Water Restoration Manager Joe Souza. “And we can remove the smell and stain from mostly all pieces of furniture including area rugs, couches, love seats, sofas, and dining room chairs.”

Food and liquid stains are also common, especially with the holiday season right around the corner. Holiday parties can run long into the night, and there is no guarantee that your guests will be careful while sitting on your new dining room chairs.

“Liquids, soft drinks, coffee, different types of foods, these are all things we see during the holidays and these items stain pretty good,” said Souza. “We can get most liquid stains out easily, but with food stains it sometimes takes extra time depending on the color of the food. Something red or blue can really hurt the fabric, but we usually are successful. But if the red or blue stain has been on the fabric for a long time sometimes it is hard to remove it completely, but we can get most of it out to where it is hardly noticeable. That’s why it’s important to get somebody out to your house as soon as you notice a stain, the quicker you take action the better our chances are of removing it.”

What is the process for removing stains?

There are a variety of different products that are used to remove stains and smells, because pretty much each stain has its own unique protocol for removal. The first step in the removal process is to identify what the stain or smell is and how long it has been there.

“Then we look at the type of material that is going to be cleaned and from there we can best determine which product we need to use,” said Souza. “We use the same equipment that we do for carpet cleaning but we attach upholstery cleaning tools to it so we can get a deep down clean. We also have to take into consideration if someone has tried to clean the stain before. If that is the case then we need to use different products depending on what was used originally for removal.”

Should I get my furniture cleaned even if there are no stains or smells?

Having your furniture cleaned is just as important as washing your sheets, and should be done once or twice a year depending on usage. Over time, dust mites and other microbes can grow on furniture if they are exposed to food or other organic substances. And sitting on these contaminates can cause health problems for those who have weakened immune systems, like children and the elderly.

“With pets you can also get disease. It’s amazing how people say their pets never get on their furniture but when I clean it, I remove a lot of hair,” said Souza. “I also see a lot of soils from clothing and bare skin, and oils from bodies. Things like that accumulate over time and you might not notice them, but they are there. I have several customers who didn’t notice how dirty their furniture was until they spilled water on it, which cleaned a specific spot. It was only then that they could see the amount of dirt that had collected.”

Removing stains and smells, and periodically having your furniture professionally cleaned can be beneficial to your whole family. And the expert stain-removers at John Moore Services are trained to recognize and remove any and all stains. If you have a spot that won’t come out, or a smell that is unpleasant on any piece of furniture, give us a call and have it removed today!

Be Prepared -- Is Your Home Prepped For Your Winter Vacation?

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

A little more than 30 percent of Americans are expected to travel this holiday season. In fact, AAA estimates that 94.5 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles or more from their home in the short period of time between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. Millions of people traveling at the same time can be hectic, and if you are included in that bunch it is important that you are as prepared as possible.

Packing, getting your family ready, and making sure you have all the essential travel documents is one thing, but making sure your home is prepped for your winter vacation is just as important. And sure, it might sound funny, but there are certain things that must be done to your home to ensure it remains safe and efficient while you are away. If you don’t take the time to get your home in order, you could come home from your vacation to a disaster.

Plumbing

“Short-term trips, or any trip that is 3 days or under doesn’t really require much attention where plumbing is concerned, but usually around the holidays trips tend to last a week or longer, and it’s these long trips that need attention,” said John Moore Services Senior Operations Manager Joe Bany. “Before you leave for a longer trip I’d recommend taking a thorough look around your house to check and make sure there isn’t anything leaking, dripping, and that there are not any toilets that are running. By fixing these smaller problems before you leave you are ensuring that a small leak won’t become a large leak and ruin parts of your home while you are away.”

After checking your home for leaks and drips, there are two other important things that must be done:

Turn your water heater to “vacation mode.” Your water heater uses up a lot of energy because it is constantly heating and reheating water, and while you are gone there is no need for this to happen. All gas water heaters have a vacation setting that keeps the pilot light lit but eliminates the constant heating of water. And doing this will save you money.
Turn off your main water supply. In every home there is a main water supply shut-off. Turning your water off while you are away is a smart thing to do because if you do get an unexpected leak, or your toilet tank cracks, the amount of water that will burst out will be limited. Sure, there will still be water on the floor but it will only be a small amount.

Electrical

You don’t want to turn off your electricity because you are going to be away for a while, but you do want to protect items in your home from sudden power surges. An unexpected strike of lightning or a malfunctioning appliance can send surges of power through your electrical system and can ruin anything that is plugged into an outlet. By unplugging all unnecessary electrical items that draw power, you are lowering your electric bill, reducing your chances of a fire, and protecting these items from an unexpected power surge.

HVAC

Turn down your heat. When no one is inside your home keeping it warm and toasty isn’t necessary and will add to your monthly bill. If there are no pets inside your home, set your thermostat to around 50 degrees. Although it is cold, it isn’t cold enough you freeze your pipes. And if you have a programmable thermostat, you can adjust your temperature settings to return back to normal the day you come home from vacation, that way your house will be comfortable right when you walk through the door.

Home Security

Unfortunately, during the holiday season crime rates skyrocket all across the country. And if you are going to be gone for an extended period of time, it is important that you take the proper precautions to keep your home safe.

Keep certain lights inside your home on. It is recommended to keep a sensor light on outside around the front door, and to keep a few key lights on inside. This will give the appearance that people are home.
Keep a radio on, and talk radio is best. That way, if a burglar approaches your home he will hear voices and might think twice about going inside.
Have a neighbor or friend collect your mail, trash cans, recycle bins, and newspapers. Any of these items left outside are a red flag to burglars that you are not home. Many times, burglars will watch a neighborhood for a few days before they make their move, and if they notice a stack of newspapers on your driveway your home will instantly become a target.
Make sure you set your alarm system. That way if someone does get inside your home, the police will be notified right away.
Never announce on social media that you will be out of town, and wait to post pictures from your vacation until you return. Not doing so will tell the world that your home will be empty for a specific amount of time, which is very dangerous.

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year, and is a great time to visit friends and relatives that you don’t usually get to see. And if you follow the advice listed above, you will have one less thing to worry about as you travel. If you have any questions about plumbing, electrical, and HVAC preparations, or need some help installing a home security system, call the experts at John Moore Services. We are around all holiday season and would love to help you keep your family and home safe and secure.

Perfect Your Plumbing -- Find Your Ideal Water Temperature

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Anytime you fill up your tub to take a hot bath, what is the first thing you do? You slowly stick your toe into the water to make sure the temperature is perfect, right? Testing the water is important because if you just take the chance and jump right in you run the risk of burning yourself. However, a dial that is connected to your water heater determines the temperature of your hot water. And making sure this dial is set on the correct temperature is something every homeowner should pay attention to because it can end up saving you money and maybe even a third degree burn.

Experts agree that all heaters, whether they are traditional or tankless, should be set to 120 degrees. This temperature is hot enough to get you, your clothes, and dishes clean, but at the same time is not too hot to burn you.

“Most water heater manufacturers recommend that your heater should be set to 120 degrees, and if you were to buy a tankless heater then it would come factory set at 120 degrees making it really difficult to adjust,” said John Moore Services Senior Operations Manager Joe Bany. “When you buy a traditional heater it has a dial, like a radio volume dial, and has different settings. One is the factory setting of 120 degrees, one is a little bit cooler and one is hotter. But going hotter than the manufacturer recommends is dangerous and the reason for that is scald control.”

What if I like my water really hot?

Everyone enjoys taking a hot shower or bath, and if our water were not heated to a certain degree then this wouldn’t be possible. However, going against the recommendations of the manufacturer and setting your heater to any degree higher than 120 will cause problems and end up costing you more money each month.

“There is a misconception that if I turn my temperature higher than I am going to get hot water faster but that is not true,” said Bany. “The water still has to travel the same distance, and all that will happen is you are going to pay more for water that is too hot to use. Once you start adjusting the temperature of the heater you are immediately shortening the life of your heater. It may last the same amount of time but I guarantee you are going to have to replace some major and expensive parts during its lifetime. Something you wouldn’t have to do if you keep the temperature set where it should be.”

What harm can be done with a little adjustment?

You might not think that by adjusting the temperature 10 or 20 degrees that you are doing much harm, but you would be surprised. If you set your temperature higher than 120 degrees, two major things can happen: burns and a shortened lifespan for your heater.

Many household burns are caused by hot water coming out of a faucet. Right now you are probably thinking that 120 degrees is hot, so wouldn’t you get burned anyway? And the answer to that is no. If you have your heater set to 120, the water must first travel through your pipes in order to reach your faucet. As the water flows, it cools down, so by the time it reaches you it is a temperature that you can handle. But if you have your heater set to 140 degrees, the water that is coming out of the faucet will be a scalding 120, which can cause major burns to the skin in as little as 40 seconds.

“Another reason for keeping your temperature set at 120 is to prolong the life of your heater. If you have them burn at a higher temperature you are causing them to work much harder than they are designed to do,” said Bany. “In fact, many tankless water heater manufacturers will void the warranty if they figure out that you have increased the temperature. I always say this, if I had a car and you had a car, and I took great care of mine and you drove yours fast and never got its oil changed, whose car do you think will last the longest?”

Don’t take the risk of setting the temperature of your water heater too high. If you have any questions on how to set the temperature on your water heater call the expert plumbers at John Moore Services. We have years of plumbing experience and want to help you and your families stay safe.

Clogs In The Sewer Line Cause Major Plumbing Problems

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Have you ever flushed the toilet and saw water appear in the shower drain? Or maybe you turned on the faucet at your sink and all of a sudden the water in your toilet started to bubble. If you have, these are signs of serious trouble. And if you have not, consider yourself lucky. Both of these situations are indicators that your main sewer line is backed up, and when this happens professional help is needed immediately.

All drains, toilets, bathtubs, showers, sinks, and the garbage disposal are connected to the main line of your house. And the main line runs all the way to the sewer that is managed by the city. It is the only way to rid your home of waste. It is important to keep your main line running efficiently because even the smallest stoppage can cause major problems.

“The main line brings everything from all locations in your house to the city, and in most cases it runs somewhere outside the master bathroom,” said John Moore Services Senior Operations Manager Joe Bany. “If your main line is backed up you will have problems in your master bathroom only. You may have a hard time flushing toilets, they may gurgle, and the tub may not drain. But there would be no signs in any other part of the house because there is room for the waste inside those pipes to travel.”

What causes stoppages?

There are two common causes of stoppages in the main line, and the first is tree roots. The main line goes from your house, through your yard, and into the sewer. Typically it has to travel a good distance before it finally reaches the sewer, which leaves the pipe vulnerable to obstruction by tree roots. Roots are attracted to water, and it is not uncommon for them to break through the pipe to reach the water inside. Once this happens, there is no way for the waste inside the pipe to go around the root and things start to get backed up inside your home.

Another reason is the ground itself. Over time, the ground shifts and settles. This causes the pipe to move and creates high spots called bellies inside the line. Once a belly forms, waste and food starts to collect inside and creates a plug or stoppage.

How can I fix a stoppage in my main sewer line?

The first thing that has to be done when you have a stoppage is to determine if the clog is in the main line or if it is just a simple clog in a toilet or drain. And the way to figure this out is to count the clogs that are occurring. If the clog is in a fixture that is not in the master bathroom, then it is just a simple clog. And typically, if it is just a single clog in the master bathroom, then the problem is probably not inside the main sewer line. But if you have multiple stoppages in your master bathroom at the same time, that’s when you know there is a problem with your main sewer line.

“The way to fix a clog in your main sewer line is to find the line cleanout that is located somewhere in your backyard. It is a white plastic cap with a screw-on lid and is designed for easy access to the line,” said Bany. “Most all houses have them but the problem is trying to locate them. Many homeowners have been in their house a long time and are usually not the first family to live in it. And over time the landscape grows and changes and often hides or breaks the line cleanout.”

Once the cleanout is found, the next step is to snake the line to try and clear the stoppage. But if the problem is root growth, the line will need to be patched up or replaced.

How can I prevent stoppages?

Use a professional strength drain maintainer like Plumbers Formula 5. It treats all drains and will prevent normal wear and tear. By using this solution on your drain lines, sinks, and tubs on a regular basis your plumbing will run more efficiently and last longer.
If you have a guest bathroom that doesn’t get used very often, flush the toilet about once a week. This will keep the water flowing inside that line and will prevent stoppages.
Always remember that the garbage disposal is for leftover food on plates only. It is okay to empty the remainder of food on a plate in the garbage disposal but never empty all the food left over inside a pot into the garbage disposal. Doing so will cause a clog.
Once you use your garbage disposal, put the stopper on the drain and fill the sink up with water. Once it is filled about half way, remove the stopper. This will push all the food that is stuck in the line all the way through and will clear out the drain.

Stoppages in your main line can be messy, but if you take the right steps and maintain your drain lines you can prevent them from happening. But sometimes they will happen because of circumstances we cannot control, and when they do it is important to call in a professional and licensed plumber to come take a look. And the experts at John Moore Services would love to help! We can unclog any stoppage, fix all plumbing problems, and will always give you different options for fixing the problem. Next time you have a clog, give us a call!

Protect Your Electrical System With A Whole House Surge Protector

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

The average family spends a great deal of time inside their home and also spends a great deal of money filling their home with items to keep them entertained, productive, and comfortable. Computers, televisions, sound systems, refrigerators, washing machines, cable boxes and modems are all high-ticket items that are essential for every household, which is why all homeowners should take the right steps to make sure these items are protected. And how do you keep them protected? It’s simple: surge protection.

Many homeowners believe that plugging their expensive items into a power strip is enough to protect them from unexpected power surges. But the fact is, most of the time a simple power strip doesn’t provide enough protection. And if your home doesn’t have protection, a lightning strike or a sudden surge of power can end up costing you thousands of dollars. By installing a whole house surge protector you are ensuring that your home and all your possessions inside it will remain safe.

“A whole house surge protector will prevent electrical surges from going through your home and destroying your belongings,” said John Moore Services Electrical Manager David Floyd. “Your home and your devices have a certain amount of ratings on outlets and receptacles, and based on that rating it can only handle so much voltage going through it at one time. If a power surge happens, your home will experience a momentary increase of voltage which can end up destroying anything electrical inside your home.”

How does it work?

Unlike surge protection outlets that protect only one receptacle, a whole house surge protector protects everything inside your home that is plugged into an outlet or connected to your electrical wiring. Because it protects your whole electrical system, it is located inside the main breaker panel. Its only function is to resist surges that unexpectedly come through the home. It creates a resistance to the surge by using insulators. As the surge travels through these insulators, it slows down before it reaches the devices inside your home.

“Imagine you are shooting a pumpkin with a rifle. You have a clear shot and hit the pumpkin dead on, and it splatters everywhere,” said Floyd. “But for your next shot there is a piece of plywood in front of the pumpkin, and when you shoot it this time the pumpkin splatters a little less. And for your last shot there are two pieces of plywood in front of the pumpkin, and when you shoot no damage is done to the pumpkin at all. The pumpkin was protected by the plywood, which was acting as a shield. Basically that is what a surge protector does: it shields all electrical wiring and receptacles from being damaged.”

Do all homes need protection?

Surge protection is recommended for all houses, no matter if yours was built 50 years ago or last week. It is impossible to know when an unexpected surge will hit your home, and if your house is protected then you don’t have to worry. While it is important for all homes to be protected, it is especially important for older houses.

Surge protection and grounding work hand-in-hand. Older homes are notorious for being equipped with outdated electrical wiring and having alternate paths to ground. Any time your wiring isn’t up to code or your home has more than one path to ground, you are extremely susceptible to damage from a power surge.

“When you have alternate paths to ground or an outdated breaker panel you are creating more heat in your electrical system,” said Floyd. “The more heat you have, the more likely you are to face serious damage if you are hit with a power surge. Many older homes are in need of an electrical re-wire or a panel upgrade, but those are big jobs. So if your home was built in the 70’s or earlier and upgrading your electrical system isn’t a possibility, I would highly recommend installing a whole house surge protector to keep your home protected.”

What happens if I don’t have protection and my house is hit by a surge?

Most power surges are caused by malfunctioning equipment or lightning. And if your home is hit, you will definitely hear it. Sometimes your lights may flicker or your power will go out completely, but that all depends on the severity of the surge. When the surge hits a circuit breaker that isn’t protected, it will fry it immediately and then travel through your electrical system. In seconds your TV, computer, and any appliances that are plugged in can be destroyed. And if the surge is powerful enough, fires can erupt inside your home through any device that is plugged into a receptacle.

A whole home surge protector, although a small device, can save your home from a great deal of damage. You work hard for your home and for the items inside, and the last thing you want is for them to be destroyed by an unexpected strike of lightning. If you don’t have surge protection for your home, give the expert electricians at John Moore Services a call. They will inspect your electrical system, give advice, and install a surge protector that could save your home from a potential fire.

Keep Your Yard Bright With Winter Lawn Care

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Hey Houston, it’s finally starting to get a little chilly out there! It isn’t quite the dead of winter yet, but it’s definitely time to start thinking about the other beings you need to keep warm this winter, and no, it’s not your kids! We’re talking about your lawn, shrubs, and flowers, which are all living things that need your love and attention. Our friends up north might think we’re crazy for piling on a million layers in 50-degree weather, but we Texans know our limits. And plants have limits, too. They don’t adapt very well when they are exposed to very cold weather (sounds like us, right?). We recommend you treat your plants the way you would want to be treated, and that means giving them enough water to drink, good soil to grow in and get nutrients from, lots of sun, and of course, protecting them from nature’s wrath.

There are a few things to consider when prepping your lawn before and during the winter, and the same goes with protecting your plants when the environment gets too tough for them. By taking the right steps, they will survive the winter right along with you and be ready to bloom in the spring. We’ve told you before how valuable a gorgeous lawn is to the home. Not only does it add monetary value to your home, but it also adds an intangible value: a welcoming home that reflects a happy and healthy family.

Prepping Your Lawn

Fertilization- Fall fertilization is the key to keeping a good fall color and encouraging early spring recovery of the lawn. It helps create a thick turf that resists those pesky winter weeds. Bob Bachmann, John Moore sales manager and expert in lawn care, says that it’s important to choose a fertilizer, often called a winterizer, that is high in potassium and low in nitrogen. “Beware of purchasing discounted fertilizers,” he said. “These are usually left over from summer, and contain high amounts nitrogen. Always purchase products designed for the season in which they will be applied.”

Irrigation- Bachmann said that one of the biggest mistakes that people can make when it comes to caring for their lawn in the fall is overwatering. “A good rule is to reduce your watering after Labor Day to prepare for winter,” he said. “Heavy watering in the fall promotes Brown Patch Fungus. This is the fungus that appears overnight in neighborhoods and looks like a big brown circle with a green center. You won’t miss it.”

When winter finally rolls around, the story changes a bit. Your lawn goes dormant during the winter months, but the grass is still alive and needs moisture to survive. During the winter, if it doesn't rain for several weeks (we know this all too well), then the lawn should be watered. Irrigation before a hard freeze is helpful in reducing freeze damage to the grass.

Weed and Disease Control- With our recent rains and high humidity, both could become active once the severe stress your lawn has gone through due to the terrible summer heat is introduced to cooler, wetter conditions. Fungal diseases love cool weather and are most prevalent in the colder months. “First, identify the type of weed you need to control,” Bachmann said. “Fall and winter weeds such as henbit, chickweed, or bluegrass may best be controlled now with a compound such as benefin, bensulide, or isoxaben.” Make sure you always read the product’s directions carefully and contact a JMS professional if you don’t feel comfortable working with these chemicals.

Mowing- Another big mistake people make during fall lawn care is mowing the grass too short. Most of you have probably been mowing your grass down to about 1 ½ inches. “That causes it to grow shallow roots, which can't reach moisture when it gets dry,” Bachmann said. “You will need to make sure to have your mower set on one of its highest settings, or tell your landscaper to set his higher.”

Keep your mower raised from 3-3 ½ inches; this will help ensure a thicker turf in the spring. It will help your grass grow stronger roots, too. Also, try not to let your grass grow too long between each mow. “You may have to mow more often, but your lawn will look great for the entire season, and that’s definitely worth it,” Bachmann said. Along with mowing, Bachmann is one of many experts who recommend that your lawn be clear of debris during winter, such as fallen leaves. This allows the grass to get sunlight and grow.

The Know-How About Flowers During Winter

First, you have to choose the right plants and the right location for planting based on the available light and temperature conditions. For flowers, that usually means at least six to eight hours of sunlight. It’s always best to add compost (organic matter) to the soil mixture to drastically improve fertility and drainage. Plants love compost.

Here are some of the best choices when it comes to flowers for the fall and winter months in Texas:

Violas and pansies
Dianthus (carnations or pinks)
Snapdragons (short and tall kinds work)
Petunias
Alyssum (smells fantastic and looks great as an edging!)
Lobelia (intense blue, lavender, and white petals are visually appealing)
Cyclamen
Ornamental cabbage & kale

Keep Them Growing

Usually, it’s best to space the above plants about 6 to 10 inches apart. Then, make sure to add slow release fertilizer (such as Osmocote, or HastaGro, an organic alternative by Medina Agriculture Products) when planting. These are the best products to use because unlike others, they don’t have a lot of chemicals and synthetic ingredients. Think about it: You can’t expect your plants to grow to their full potential, or your fruits and veggies to grow well and be good enough for you to eat, if you feed them chemicals and synthetic materials.

Watering

The biggest thing is to water correctly. It’s best to check the flowers every other day or every three days in the winter and water when the top of the soil is slightly dry but the plants are not wilted.

Deadhead

Last tip is to always "deadhead.” That means that you need to clip off the spent flower heads. This not only makes the plant look better, but it also keeps them producing more flowers. Put it this way: the reason for flowers is to make seeds. So, if you keep the seeds from forming, the plant keeps making more flowers, which is ultimately what you want to see in your yard and garden!

Cover Them Up During a Freeze

If you are only expecting a light freeze, which is the case here in Houston most of the time, you may be able to protect plants in a freeze simply by covering them with a sheet or a blanket. This acts like insulation, keeping warm air from the ground around the plant. The warmth may be enough to keep a plant from freezing during a short cold snap.

For added protection when you protect plants in a freeze, you can place plastic over the sheets or blankets to help keep warmth in. Never cover a plant with just plastic, however, as the plastic will damage the plant. Make sure that a cloth barrier is between the plastic and the plant.

Be sure to remove the sheets and blanket and plastic first thing in the morning after an overnight cold snap. If you do not do so, condensation can build up and freeze again under the covering, which will damage the plant. In Houston specifically, plants definitely need to be covered if the temperature gets anywhere under or around 38 degrees Fahrenheit. This doesn’t happen too often, but it can happen (remember those crazy frozen days last winter that shut down the entire city?), and being prepared is the way to save your plants.

Act like You Mean It

If there’s anything we know about being a good, responsible homeowner, it’s that you always are striving to improve things and be proud of what you’ve created. It’s rewarding to work hard for something in your home and see the fruits of your labor, and your lawn and garden are definitely part of that experience. They need you in order to survive and thrive, and they always give back. We want you to have the knowledge to reach your home and garden goals, so that’s where we come in. The experts at John Moore will walk you every step of the way when it comes to caring for your lawn whenever you need it, as well as provide lawn maintenance to keep it going strong. Houston may not be the coldest place in the world, but do we act like it when winter comes? You bet we do. And as true Houstonians, we always will. Start acting like it today and have a plan to protect your lawn and garden this winter. Your plants will thank you!

Make Your Life Easier With A Programmable Thermostat!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

The cold weather has finally arrived. Along with putting on boots, coats, and a scarf you may have turned on your heater for the first time and had a silent moment of thanks for no longer needing the air conditioner and paying those high summer utility bills. But have you ever given any thought to the tiny device that allows you to control the most important systems in your home?

Your thermostat, small as it is, plays a large role in the amount of energy consumed by your heating and air conditioning system. The Department of Energy says that by turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours, you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill -- a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is 8 hours long. And that is a HUGE savings! But for a lot of us, remembering to turn the temperature down before we leave for work in the morning happens long after we’ve left the house. A programmable thermostat can help.

“With a programmable thermostat you are able to set up a schedule so at a certain time of the day the temperature goes up, and later on in the day it goes down, and in the evening it goes down even further. You can set the temperature to your lifestyle,” said John Moore Services HVAC Manager Charles Griffith. “It is part of the home automation system, so you are able to control your thermostat through an app on your smart phone or through your computer.”

If you can set your thermostat and control it from any location, forgetting to adjust the temperature as you are rushing to get to work is no longer a big deal. Aside from the convenience factor, there are several other key features that are beneficial to you, the homeowner.

Scheduling: There are many different brands and options of programmable thermostats available, but they all have the basic feature of scheduling which includes wake, leave, return, and sleep settings. You decide what time of the day each of these periods begin and end, and then set the temperature you prefer. And all you have to do is set it one time and never worry about it again.

Scheduling for different days: Not only can you schedule your workweek, but many brands allow you to set your weekends too. This is an important feature because most people have a different schedule on Saturday and Sunday than during the rest of the week. And depending on how advanced your thermostat is, you can program a vacation override, which allows you to adjust your settings for a week and then return back to normal once you come home.

Learning: The learning feature on some thermostats take everything a giant step further. Instead of setting up and programming your schedule based on your daily routine, the learning feature will watch your habits for a week and is then able to adjust the temperature based on your actions of the previous week. It is also able to detect the temperature outside, and on a really hot or cold day, it will turn on earlier to make your home as comfortable as possible.

If you program your thermostat correctly you could save a significant amount of money on your monthly bills. But notice we said correctly. Remembering to set your temperature at least 10 degrees lower when you are at work and asleep is important when it comes to savings. As we mentioned before, you can get a 1% savings for each degree if the setback period is 8 hours. And you also have to remember not to override your settings because doing so will affect the amount of savings you achieve.

Programmable thermostats are designed to make our lives easier, and if used the right way can help us save a great deal of money. But because there are so many options available, it can be difficult to know if you are purchasing the right one for your home, and that’s where we come in. The expert HVAC technicians at John Moore Services are trained and knowledgeable in the world of programmable thermostats and would love to help you find the one that is right for your family, so give us a call today!

Continual Pest Control Treatment Will Prevent Sugar Ants

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Imagine this. You walk in your kitchen to get an afternoon snack and you notice little black specks all over your counter. Your first thought is, who spilled the pepper? But then you realize that these tiny pepper flakes are moving around. And that’s when reality sinks in - you have a sugar ant infestation.

The first rule about sugar ants is, there are no sugar ants. Yes, you heard that right. The term “sugar ant” was coined to describe several different species of ants that do not bite or sting but invade your home.

“Pharaoh Ants, Argentine Ants, and Ghost Ants are several species of ants that have come to be known as sugar ants,” said John Moore Services Pest Control Manager Brian Menn. “They are interior feeding ants that people see in their kitchen or bathroom. They don’t do any damage to health or property but they are a nuisance and are very hard to get rid of.”

I’ve heard of a fire ant, but what is a sugar ant?

Unlike carpenter and fire ants, sugar ants are smaller and are the most invasive of all household ants. They can range from 2-15mm in size, and because they are so tiny they have the tendency to get into places most other ants cannot. But what really makes them a nuisance is that they have multiple queens per colony. For example, if you kill the queen in a fire ant colony, the colony will die. But if you kill the queen in a sugar ant colony, that colony will continue to grow. In fact, the colony will grow rapidly because as soon as an ant is alerted to danger they will immediately start reproducing to make their colony as large as possible.

Where do they live?

Sugar ants differ from other ant species because they do not set up traditional mounds that you typically see around your yard. They prefer to nest near a water source inside a home such as inside a wall void or pipes. If they do nest outdoors they pick a spot underneath vegetation, rocks, or under landscape.

Do they really eat sugar?

Although they are called sugar ants they eat a variety of foods and have a unique appetite. Basically, they will eat whatever they are in the mood for at a particular time, just like a human.

“They are an interesting ant species because you may have one colony that prefers sweets and will invade your kitchen looking just for sugary foods. But the next colony might be in the mood for greasy and fatty foods. Then you have another colony that only wants protein,” said Menn. “They will eat a certain type of food for a while and then their appetite will change and they will be on to something else. Because their food choice is constantly changing, the elimination process difficult.”

How do I get rid of them?

The only way to remove sugar ants is to use baits. It is important to note that the ants you see on your countertops are the forager ants. The rest of the ants stay inside the colony and never leave. By strategically placing baits around an infested area, the forager ants will take the bait back to the colony and feed it to its fellow ants. This is the only way to eliminate their colony for good.

“The biggest mistake homeowners make is spraying the ants that are crawling in their house with Raid or other ant killer. By spraying the ants you are actually making your ant problem worse,” said Menn. “When the colony sends out the forager ants to collect food and the foragers do not come back, the colony senses that something is not right and they feel attacked. And when ants feel attacked they ramp up reproduction to create more foragers. When you see ants inside your house leave them alone. Do not spray them or squash them. It might be hard but it is what has to be done in order to kill them for good.”

Here are some tips for sugar and prevention:

Keep counters, sinks, and floors clean and free of crumbs, spills, and other pieces of food. Whether clean with chemical cleaners or vinegar, be thorough.
Run your dishwasher regularly and keep your washer’s door closed to deter ants from going inside. And if you throw food down your garbage disposal make sure to run it.
Vacuum kitchen rugs, dining room carpeting, and any other places you and your family eat around your home on a regular basis.
Take out your trash as often as possible and keep trash bags outside away from your home to deter additional pests from becoming interested in your home.

Sugar ants, although they don’t bite, are still annoying. And if you have an infestation the best thing to do is call a professional. Getting rid of them permanently can be difficult, and only a John Moore pest control technician knows all the tricks for keeping them out of your home altogether. Next time you spot pepper flakes moving around your kitchen counters, call John Moore!

Common Plumbing Problems -- Water Pressure Too High?

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

When you step in the shower each morning to get ready for the day you expect your water pressure to be just right, right? Too high and it will hurt your eyes when you wash your face, and too low and it will take hours to get the conditioner out of your hair. But sometimes, certain factors happen to our plumbing system that cause the water pressure to get a little out of whack.

While some Houston homes get their water from wells, most get it from the city where the water is stored in large distribution systems. And water pressure is created when the water forces its way through the distribution system to the different faucets throughout your house. Because the water pressure is set by the city, sometimes it is too strong and can cause problems in your home. But at the same time, things can happen to the pipes that carry the water and can cause the pressure to get very low.

“The standard for water pressure is somewhere between 40-55 psi, and if you were to put a pressure gage on the majority of homes in Houston most would fall within that range,” said John Moore Services Quality Control Manager Joe Bany. “But things happen over time which effect water pressure and it can end up on the low side or too high. When this happens it’s important to fix whatever the problem may be and get the pressure back to normal as soon as possible.”

Too high?

Because we live in regulated communities the chances of your water pressure being dangerously high are not that common, but it does happen. The higher your water pressure the more likely you are to have leaks in your pipes and broken appliances.

“When water pressure is too high it is traveling through your plumbing and appliances at a fast rate,” said Bany. “High pressure is a nuisance and will cause wear on your pipes and can have a tendency to create seal or gasket issues and can also cause your faucets and hoses to drip.”

You might have high water pressure if . . .

You hear loud, banging noises coming from your pipes
The water in the shower stings your skin
You have a leaking hot water heater
Your faucets and pipes leak over and over again, even after being fixed
Water bursts out of pipes very strongly when first turned on and then returns back to normal

Too low?

Low water pressure is much more common, especially in older homes. And the cause of low pressure can be because of many things. Low water pressure makes life more difficult. Instead of taking five minutes to fill up your washing machine, it could take fifteen. And there is nothing worse than taking a shower and having the water slowly drip out of the fixture.

“A major cause of water pressure being too low is old, galvanized pipes,” said Bany. “With time, pipes start to rust and the rust will plug up on the inside which reduces the inside diameter of the pipe. It can also be caused by hard water. When a home has hard water it is important that the water heater be flushed on a regular basis to clear out the calcium and buildup inside. If you don’t, the hot water pressure will be extremely low. In the hard water situation, it is not uncommon for people to have low hot water pressure and normal cold water pressure.”

If you think you might have low water pressure, it is important to check all the faucets around your house so you can determine if there is a problem with the whole house water pressure or if it is isolated to one area. Often times, low pressure in one bathroom is due to a restriction in the line and is not affecting the entire house.

“There are a whole bunch of reasons for loss of pressure. If you have great pressure and one day you notice your shower water pressure is low, the problem could just be in that area,” said Bany. “But if you notice the quality of your water deteriorating over time there could be a distribution issue. In both cases it is important to get a pro out to your house to figure out exactly what and where the issue is.”

What do I do if I have a problem?

Checking your home’s water pressure is important and should be done a few times a year as part of your continual plumbing maintenance. Doing so is easy and you can even do it yourself by purchasing a pressure gage at a local hardware store.

“If you find that your pressure is too high there are pressure regulators that can be put on your house that will get the pressure back to normal,” said Bany. “There are also pressure booster pumps available if you find that your water pressure is too low.”

There you have it, when it comes to water pressure it is important for your home that it be just right. And for those of you that would rather leave the pressure checking to the professionals, the expert plumbers at John Moore Services are only a phone call away!

Burned Wires Will Cause Problems For The Whole Electric System

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

According to a study by the National Fire Prevention Association, faulty wiring is the most common cause of house and apartment fires in the United States. Because of this, codes for electrical work are constantly changing to provide a safer living environment. But even if your electric system is current (no pun intended), you can still be vulnerable to burned wires.

Burned wires create a lot of issues within the home. If you notice problems such as light bulbs burning out quickly, flickering, or you have an issue with a light fixture refusing to turn, on you might have a burned wire. Burned wires are dangerous and are a leading cause of house fires. But the really scary part about them is that you may have one and not know it for a really long time, which makes your home a danger zone.

“The thing about a burned wire is sometimes it can take a long period of time before you even notice you have one,” said John Moore Services Electrical Manager David Floyd. “Or sometimes you might notice that something is not right with your electrical wiring but have no idea what the problem actually is because there are no lasting visible signs. A lamp might flicker for a few days then work fine for the next week. And that makes them really hard to notice.”

Because burned wires are hard to detect, knowing what causes them is a great way to prevent them from occurring.

Loose connection

Loose connections are primarily responsible for burned wires. In the back of all receptacles are terminals in which wires should be anchored so they stay in place. But many times, installers stab the wires through and don’t wrap them around the terminal. This is called backstabbing, and backstabbed wires have a tendency to become loose. A loose wire causes the wire to burn, and burned wires will eventually start a fire.

Abuse and misuse

The holiday season is right around the corner and this means decorating the home and yard with colorful lights. In order to do this, an extension cord is usually needed. But if the extension cords are not placed in certain areas, you can end up with burned wiring.

“If the extension cord is placed in a populated area where people are walking on it or moving things across it big problems are occurring within the cord,” said Floyd. “Electricity is flowing through the cord and by stepping on it you are impeding the flow of electricity and creating heat restrictions. This causes the wiring that is inside the receptacle the cord is plugged into to fray and become burned.”

Overloading of a circuit

A circuit is made to hold a certain amount of heat. If you have an outlet that has several loads on it that are in use for a long period of time that can create a great amount of heat that the circuit can’t handle. When the circuit breaker gets too hot, the breaker is supposed to trip, but sometimes this doesn’t happen. And if it doesn’t, that heat will start to burn the wires on the inside of the receptacle, which can start a fire.

Because it’s hard to spot a burned wire, here are some signs to look for:

As you walk by an outlet you smell smoke
There is a burned smell in a particular room that gets heavier with time
Lights, TV, and other devices plugged into an outlet will flicker
You see small amounts of smoke coming from the outlet
You might have several outlets in one room that are not working at all. Many times, outlets are wired together and if the wire in one outlet is burned it will cause all the other outlets that are connected to it to stop working

“Once you realize that you have a burned wire you need to get it fixed right away because the longer you wait the more likely you are to start a fire,” said Floyd. “Typically the burned portion of the wire is closest to the device and in order to fix it that part must be removed. And many times there is enough good wire left to use to make the connection safe again.”

The electrical wiring in your home needs to be monitored regularly by a licensed professional because the slightest problem can end up causing a fire that could burn your entire house down. If you notice any of the signs mentioned above in your home call the experts at John Moore Services to come and take a look. Because taking the time to fix a burned wire now is a lot better than having to rebuild your home after an electrical fire.

Part of Plumbing Maintenance is Checking Your Water Heater's TPR Valve

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMT

Your hot water heater can become a bomb in your home when you least expect it, and only you can prevent that from happening. Have we got your attention?

Like many appliances in our homes, we don't really think about our water heaters very often. That is, until there's a problem. But with one simple task, you can ensure greater safety and longevity for your water heater and your home, and that’s simply testing and checking your heater’s Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve (TPR valve) on a regular basis. Some water-heater experts recommend testing annually, while others recommend every six months. Either way, more frequent testing can lessen the chance of a leak caused by mineral and corrosion buildup, which will allow it to function at its best and be much, much safer for you and your loved ones.

The TPR valve is the safety element to your heater. It opens to release pressure that has built up in the water heater when the temperature or the pressure gets dangerously high, preventing a possible explosion. It definitely should matter to you that you alone have the power to prevent a potentially fatal accident.

Why Check-Ups Matter

Water expands as it is heated, so if a water heater thermostat somehow malfunctions and continues to heat water without stopping, the tank would eventually explode if it didn't have a relief valve to relieve the pressure inside. If the valve also somehow malfunctions and you haven’t spotted the problem due to no regular checking and maintenance, you’ve got a dangerous problem on your hands. Also, a buildup of mineral salt, rust, and corrosion can cause a TPR valve to freeze up and become useless. This is why it’s crucial to check things out regularly and call in professionals to fix large and/or unidentifiable problems before it’s too late.

How to Test Your Heater’s TPR Valve

Pressure relief valves are often found near the top of your unit and are usually connected to a pipe that funnels water out if pressure builds up inside the unit. Here are the steps to take to test your heater’s TPR valve:

Place a bucket on the floor beneath the valve to catch water released when you perform your test.
To check for a leaking valve, feel the drain line with your hand to see if it’s hot. The drain line may be warm near the valve, which is normal. If the line is hot, the relief valve is opening.
Gently raise the test lever on the relief valve to release the pressure. Be careful because the water will be hot. Let the water drip out for a few seconds and then lower the valve again with caution (using force can damage the lever and leave you with a faulty valve). You should hear water discharging out the relief valve drain line. If you do, your valve is working correctly. If you don’t hear or see a discharge or your test lever won't lift (make sure you don’t force it!), you need to call a trained and certified John Moore plumber to replace the relief valve as soon as possible.

Other Important Considerations

Don’t ignore leaks. If the valve leaks immediately after a test, lift the test lever up and down gently several times to free lodged debris that may be preventing the valve from seating properly. If the valve is operating properly but hot water is dripping or spewing out of the TPR drain valve, turn down the temperature on the water-heater controller and/or turn down the water pressure. If the problem persists, call the experts at John Moore to get someone in your home right away.

Make sure the drainpipe is properly configured. The TPR drainpipe should travel in a slightly downward path starting from the valve to the point where it ends. It should end outside the house with some space between it and the ground (usually 6 to 24 inches). If the drainpipe moves upward and then downward, water could potentially get trapped against the outlet of the valve and corrode it shut. If the drain line had a trap or a low spot, water could sit there and freeze. Even though the valve seems to work correctly, pressure would build up and an explosion could occur.

Know when it’s time to replace your valve. If your valve hasn't been tested or replaced in five years, experts agree it's a good time to go ahead and get that taken care of. Remember, the TPR valve is the safety element to your water heater, so making sure it is in top physical and functioning condition should be a top priority.

Pay attention to the small stuff. The pipe leaving the relief valve should be the same diameter as the exhaust port of the valve, which is usually 3/4 inch. It doesn’t just stop there. The pipe should be made of a material that is not negatively affected by heat, such as metals like copper. If the pipe is too small for the exhaust port or not heat-resistant, it’s a good idea to replace it with copper. We recommend you have a plumber do it for you to avoid damage to the piping or injuries.

If you ever see any discrepancies in configuration and/or operation, call John Moore immediately to get someone on the issue to avoid bigger problems. Remember, though, that the only way you can identify current and future problems with your TPR valve is to get continual plumbing maintenance, so don’t delay! It’s better late than never, so if you’re behind on this, get started today and call us if you have any questions or need someone to help you get started.

Continual Electrical Maintenance Will Prevent A Sudden Shock

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 13:00:00 GMT

Have you ever turned on a light switch and felt a tiny jolt of electricity? Or maybe you stepped into the shower this morning but instead of feeling the water, you got shocked. Either way this should not happen and is a warning sign that something is seriously wrong in your home.

While the places you get shocked around your home may vary, the reasoning behind it is usually the same- improper grounding. In basic terms, electricity flows from the earth to the ground and will travel through materials like metal and water to get there. But if something is wrong with your electrical system, that flow of electricity will end up using you as a conductor and can cause serious damage.

“The biggest thing that causes people to continue to get shocked in their home is because of improper grounding,” said John Moore Services Electrical Manager David Floyd. “Many “Do-It-Yourselfers” try to fix their wiring problems without consulting a professional electrician and create a bigger problem than they started with. I had a customer who was trying to replace a switch in his home. He was taking the hot wire and putting it on the ground terminal, which is something you should never do because doing so will energize the whole terminal. Needless to say he never finished the job because he was getting shocked repeatedly.”

According to Floyd, any metal conduit that is coming into your home needs to be grounded. For us non-electrician folks, a conduit is a tubing system that protects electrical wires as they go throughout your home. Most conduits are made of metal and should be grounded. Grounding is important because if there is an issue with the wires, the breaker will trip and cause the flow of the electric current to stop. If they are not grounded or are grounded to multiple terminals, the flow of electricity will continue and shock whoever is in the way.

Here are the most common places in the home where people get shocked:

Pool equipment: For safety reasons all pool equipment must be GFCI protected. GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, and was designed to protect people from electrical shock. Because water is a great conductor for electricity, it is important that all pool equipment is grounded and up to code. If not, it creates an extremely dangerous situation.

Old appliances: Older devices like toasters, microwaves, and hair dryers are often a source of shock because over time they begin to break down and their wires start to split open. Turning on an appliance with open points will lead to electrical shock.

Shower/faucets: If your home is not properly grounded you will feel it when you turn on a faucet or step into the shower. The metal that your faucet and shower is made of will become “hot” the longer your home goes without being properly grounded. And when you add water to that situation, you are creating the ideal scenario for an electrical current.

Excessive use on outlets: We have all seen an outlet that has 10 items plugged into it. This is extremely dangerous. The more devices you have plugged into an outlet, the more heat you are creating. This is not only a fire hazard but also has the ability to shock you as you turn on any one of those devices.

“Poor workmanship is a main reason for people getting shocked in their home,” said Floyd. “Electrical work is very technical and in order to do it safety and correctly you have to go through a lot of training. Going online and researching how to rewire your home or install an outlet doesn’t make you an expert and you could create a dangerous situation for anyone in the home, and you most definitely could end up getting shocked. Regualr electrical maintenance is important to make sure you stay safe.”

So -- leave electrical work to the professionals! Sure, we can all handle a small shock every now and then, but with faulty electrical work you never know how severe the shock will be. And that creates a dangerous situation for us all. If you are experiencing a jolt when you flip on a switch, call the professionals at John Moore Services to come check it out because we all know it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Make Your Home Energy Efficient With Energy Star Appliances!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 13:00:00 GMT

$30,000,000,000.

That’s the amount of money Americans saved by using Energy Star® appliances, lights, and windows in 2013, saving the energy equivalent to 277 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Bet you want in on this, huh? We’re happy to hear that! But we also understand that it isn’t always easy to be green and choose the best appliances for your home. Sometimes, it can be really hard to keep up between wanting to be an eco-friendly homeowner and just being so busy you aren’t always following through. You probably don’t pay constant, careful attention to how much water you might be wasting, how much energy you are using, or simply which bin takes plastic or paper. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a way to be eco-friendly without having to think about it?

Nowadays, there is a way. At our disposal are some modern, innovative home appliances that brands you recognize are currently selling and/or developing, and guess what? They’re green - and we don’t mean the color. These companies give us the option of making our home eco-friendly every single day starting with the appliances we have working in our homes.

The Energy Star® Stamp

Energy Star® is a program that was first developed in the early 1990’s by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a method to identify and promote products that are energy efficient. Products carrying this symbol provide a way for businesses and consumers to save money and protect our environment at the same time.

A major appliance which sports the Energy Star® label, is not necessarily a better product than a comparable model, but in order to be rated Energy Star®, it must meet very strict energy efficiency guidelines as set out by that program.

Appliances carrying the Energy Star® rating typically are 10 to 20% more energy efficient than non-rated models. This means you'll not only save money, but help your environment as well.

Here are a few of our picks for today’s Energy Star® rated and innovative appliances for your home:

Bosch Refrigerator

The Bosch B11CB50SSS/01 500 series fridge ($2,399 MSRP) was awarded a spot on the list for Energy Star®’s Most Efficient 2014. Its specifically engineered hidden hinge and reversible doors allow for a next-to-wall placement. The LED lighting shines remarkably bright and saves you energy while the HydroFresh drawer keeps fruit and vegetables fresh for a lot longer.

This fridge is perfect for small and/or compact kitchen layouts in the city, and Houston definitely fits the bill. It is a bit pricey, but worth the energy and money savings in the long run.

Kenmore 417.4112 Large Washing Machine

This front-load washer ($899 MSRP) costs about $74 to $79 a year to run and offers innovative technology to meet your needs. It provides powerful but gentle Smart Motion technology to get your clothes clean, uses Kenmore's Vibration Guard™, which keeps even super large loads balanced for smooth and practically silent operation. The Stain Boost option adds on time for clothes to soak so stains like ground-in mud, blood and grass stains can be removed easily and thoroughly. Lastly, this washer has five temperatures and five spin speeds so you can use the best and most efficient option for each load, and three soil sensors that can test exactly how dirty your clothes are so it uses minimal water and energy.

One reason to choose this machine is because it is Energy Star® rated and on the Most Efficient 2014 list as well. Energy Star® washers on average use 20% less energy and 35% less water than basic models of new washers on the market today, and those savings can add up. An Energy Star® washer saves about 284 kWh more of electricity and 3,385 more gallons of water a year than a non-Energy Star® model. According to the National Resources Defense Council, that translates into savings of $60 on utility bills for the average person. Further, you reduce emissions by approximately 437 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. That’s the same amount of emissions you could save by not driving your car for two weeks.

Kenmore Elite Side-by-Side Refrigerator

The Elite side-by-side fridge by Kenmore ($1,799 MSRP) is Energy Star® rated and refrigerators are the second-biggest users of energy in the house after your heating and cooling system. If you find yourself replacing one you’ve had for years, remember that size matters. Don’t buy a bigger fridge than you really need, and don’t get one too small that you stuff things inside. If you buy a refrigerator too small for your needs and keep it packed full, the refrigerator will have to work harder and use extra energy. Similarly, oversize refrigerators keep unnecessary space cool, which wastes energy.

Bosch SHE8ER5#UC and SHX8ER5#UC Dishwashers

According to Greenrealestateinvestingnews.com, these Energy Star® rated 1.9 gallon dishwashers, starting at around $1,288, use on average 180 kWh per year and have the potential to save up to $311 in energy costs over the first 12 years. The super eco and efficient washing machines have a half-load option for when you only have a few things to throw in and provide water savings of almost 500 gallons annually. Some of the most high-tech and innovative features include a water-softening feature that reduces spotting and scratching on glass dishware, and insulation that makes it one of the quietest dishwashers of them all.

If you have a dishwasher that you got before 1994, the fact is that you're paying an extra $40 a year on your utility bills and wasting 10 gallons of water per cycle compared to owning a new, Energy Star® qualified model. What about an Energy Star® model? It’ll save, on average, 1,300 gallons of water over its lifetime.

Why It Matters

Using eco-friendly and energy efficient appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines will significantly reduce waste and keep more money in your pocket for other important things you need (like vacation!). This is why Energy Star® is what homeowners need to look for when choosing an appliance for their home. Being green isn’t always easy, but buying and using appliances that are green themselves is one way to do it. Energy Star® certified appliances use less energy than conventional ones, which helps reduce air pollution and combat global climate change. They also use less water, and by reducing water consumption, using Energy Star® rated appliances also helps protect our lakes, streams, and oceans.

No matter your budget, choosing eco-friendliness and energy efficiency for your home’s appliances is something all responsible homeowners should consider for long-term savings. Remember, being green every single day isn’t easy, but it doesn’t always have to be hard if you start with the home appliances you use every day.

Winter's Around The Corner -- Time To Protect Your Plumbing!

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:00:00 GMT

Sure, Houston is known across the country for its hot and humid weather, but we experience some cold temperatures in the winter. Who can forget the polar vortex last winter? Schools and businesses were closed for days on multiple occasions due to the below-freezing weather and iced-over roads. Although our friends in the north and Midwest may laugh at what we think of as “cold,” it gets cold enough here that you need to take the right steps to protect your home for winter.

Having your heater inspected in the early fall is the most important thing every homeowner should do in preparation for lower temperatures. But when it comes to your plumbing, there are certain steps you should take before a big freeze to ensure all parts of your plumbing system make it through. Not taking the proper precautions could result in frozen pipes that have the potential to burst, which will end up costing you lots of money.

“Wind and cold air are what freeze pipes, and by properly covering up all exposed pipes from the wind you are taking the right steps to make sure your pipes don’t freeze up and burst,” said John Moore Services Senior Operations Manager Joe Bany. “Protecting pipes from the wind is key. The wind chill is colder than the outside temperature and when it reaches a certain degree, it can destroy all unprotected piping.”

How can I protect my home before a freeze?

Fix all outdoor leaks: Many times, homeowners have a leaky hose bib and do not notice it or get it fixed because it is hidden away in the backyard. Now is the time to inspect and repair all leaks, yes, even the small ones. If we get cold weather, the leaking water will freeze all the way up the hose bib and get back into the pipe. The tiniest leak can cause a great amount of damage.

How can I protect my home during a freeze?

Keep a water faucet running: The best way to keep your pipes from freezing is to turn on a water faucet and let the water slowly trickle. Doing so will keep the water moving inside the line which will make it nearly impossible to freeze. It is not so important to do this during the day when you are home and actively using water, but should be done at night when everyone in the home is sleeping.

Keep doors open: In many households, water heaters are located in a pantry or laundry room that doesn’t have a vent inside. These rooms can get extremely cold during the winter. By leaving the door to these type of rooms open, you are actively pushing heated air inside and keeping your water heater warm. This will decrease your chances of your water line freezing up.

What if my pipes freeze?

Sometimes no matter what you do, your pipes will freeze. And if this happens don’t panic – just follow these steps:

Pay attention: Walk around your house and turn on every faucet to try and determine which pipes are frozen. Keep your faucets on and allow the frozen water to slowly trickle out of the faucet. This will help with the thawing process.

Wait it out: The best way to unfreeze your pipes is to give them time. It might take a few hours but eventually they will get back to normal. The biggest mistake homeowners make is to try to quicken the process.

“The last thing you want to do to a frozen pipe is to use a torch to try and warm it up,” said Bany. “When you use a torch on a pipe that is already frozen you can create stress problems and cause the pipe to crack. Once they freeze the right thing to do is to wait it out. You never want to be aggressive with your plumbing because you will create bigger problems.”

Call a plumber: After your pipes have thawed, it is a good idea to call a plumber to inspect your whole piping system and to make sure the freeze didn’t cause any leaks. If you call a plumber while your pipes are still frozen there is not much he can do because it is nearly impossible to detect leakage or other damage.

Knowing what to do before, during, and after a freeze is an important of part of homeownership. By taking the right steps and protecting your pipes from the elements you are extending the life of your whole plumbing system. If you are unsure if your home has the right amount of insulation or have any questions regarding your plumbing system, call the experts at John Moore Services. We are only a phone call away and are happy to help.

Understand Electricity -- Top Reasons For Circuit Breaker Failure

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 13:00:00 GMT

It’s probably happened to you before. All of a sudden, the power is out and you don’t know how it happened. Maybe you were using too many appliances at once, there was an electrical storm, or you had some faulty wiring. Whatever it was, we are sure it’s happened at least once or twice to you, and it’s pretty frustrating, isn’t it?

Most of you find the electrical panel, and reset the circuit breaker. Then,"pop", it trips again, or it trips again when you are back upstairs and turn back on whatever you were using when it tripped in the first place. What are you supposed to do now? At this point, you need to stop and identify the root cause of the problem.

First, it’s best to understand what breakers are for. Their job is to limit the amount of current flowing on a circuit so that it doesn’t exceed the rated level, which is measured in amps. Breakers are supposed to trip if too much current flows through a circuit or if there is a short circuit. The breaker itself is pretty durable, so it’s rarely the reason for a tripped circuit, but don’t rule it out if the common causes don’t seem to fit the bill.

Here are the most common reasons that your breaker won’t reset. Even if you’ve tried to reset it, don’t lose hope. There is a chance you haven’t done all you can before calling in the pros becomes necessary.

Be Sure To Reset Correctly

Are you taking the proper steps to try to reset the breaker? If you see that one of the breakers is tripped or is in the off position, try to reset it by flipping it tightly from the “off” back to the “on” position. Don’t just flip it to the “on” position. There are actually 3 breaker positions, “off” to the left, “on” to the right and tripped, which is actually in the middle. Many times people just push the switch to the “on” position and it won’t stay on. Remember, you need to push it OFF first to get it to work!

Overloaded Circuit

Remember that time when one of you was heating up some popcorn in the microwave, the other was blending up a smoothie, and then a third person switched on the toaster? We can guess what happened next. The power went out, and all you could hear was someone say “oops” amidst the darkness. You just overloaded the circuit.

Most household circuits operate at 120 volts and 15 amps, and are capable of safely drawing 1,440 watts of power. If the total wattage on the circuit exceeds this, the breaker will trip. Add up the total amount of wattage from appliances and fixtures on the circuit to make sure it doesn’t surpass the circuit’s rating.

If the circuit breaker trips, resets only after it has cooled down, and then trips again after a while, it is likely that the problem is an overloaded circuit. If there are too many lights or appliances on at a time on one circuit, it can overload and cause the breaker to trip. Another cause for an overloaded circuit could be that there is a faulty appliance plugged into it. Remember, your breakers should trip if there is an overload! As we said before, circuit breakers are designed to protect you and are an important safety element for your entire electrical system.

Short Circuit

If the circuit breaker won’t reset, and trips instantly, then you probably have a short in the circuit. This is a more complicated and serious reason for a breaker tripping because it can result in an excessive electric current that can potentially cause circuit damage, overheating, fire or even explosion.

A short is caused when the hot wire (black wire) touches another hot wire or touches a neutral wire (white wire). It can also occur if there is a break in a wire in the circuit. Shorts are a little more difficult to identify because they can be caused by the wiring in your home or in something you have plugged into an outlet. To check for a faulty appliance, unplug the fixtures or appliances one by one and check to see if the breaker stays closed when you reset it. This will identify an appliance that is causing a specific problem.

If the problem persists and you can’t seem to find out what the problem is, or, you do know it’s a short circuit condition, bring in a pro. It’s a good idea to contact an experienced John Moore Services electrician to get it taken care of safely and properly as soon as possible so you avoid dangerous situations.

Ground Fault

Your breaker might be experiencing a ground fault if it isn’t resetting. This is when the hot wire, almost always black, touches the ground wire, which is bare copper, or the side of a metal outlet box. This is another type of short circuit, but it’s best to know it has its own details that need attention, so be careful to not overlook it!

Know When to Say “When”

John Moore electricians are the best of the best when it comes to getting the job done right and doing it safely. That’s why we want you to know everything you can about what is going on with your circuit breakers and other important systems in your home, and why we write all these posts in the first place, y’all! We want you to be prepared. Educating the community is the first step in our work as licensed Houston area electricians. Having said that, you should remember that the smartest option is always the safest, and that means knowing when to let us take over when times get tough. Give us a call right away if you run into any of the problems above. Electricity and wiring are not something to mess around with; don’t be shocked (there’s that pun!) to find out you might not be the electrical genius you thought you were. Always do plenty of research beforehand and talk to someone experienced to get your breaker on the way to recovery.

A Tankless Water Heater Provides Unlimited Hot Water

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 13:00:00 GMT

We say it all the time, but we’re going to say it again here anyway -- flushing your water heater once a year is really important. Not doing so will directly affect the quality and pressure of all hot water in your home, and the last thing anyone wants is to run out of hot water in the middle of a shower, right? While continual maintenance is important, it’s a pain at the same time because let’s be honest, who puts that much thought into their water heater?

But did you know that hot water production accounts to roughly 20-25% of your energy bill? That’s a big chunk, and it should be enough to make you start paying a little more attention to your water heater. And that is where tankless water heaters come in. With a tankless water heater there is no water storage involved, and water is heated up only as you need it. The best part about it is that it doesn’t turn on or use energy unless someone inside the home needs hot water, which amounts to a huge energy savings.

Why are they so great?

“Instead of being always on and running like traditional heaters, the tankless water system shuts down until someone in the house turns on a hot water faucet,” said John Moore Services Senior Operations Manager Joe Bany. “It is basically a heat exchanger that is made up of a bunch of coils. These coils heat up very quickly and are able to heat the water immediately as it comes through the system.”

The perk that catches the eye of many homeowners is the thought of never running out of hot water. With a typical family of four, the last person to take a shower in the morning often gets the short end of the stick. Most traditional water heaters provide around 35 gallons of hot water before it begins to run out. But with the tankless system, you can run your washing machine and dishwasher, fill up the bathtub, and take a long shower and not run out of hot water.

Going tankless also means having more space throughout your home. A regular water heater is large, bulky, and needs a floor stand which takes up a significant amount of room. But a tankless water heater is mounted on a wall, and some can even be installed outdoors. This means extra storage for you in your garage -- more room for stuff! Yay!

And the best part about the tankless system is that depending on which one you purchase you might be able to receive a federal tax credit for consumer energy efficiency. According to Energy Star, the purchase of energy efficient products, although they may cost more to purchase than standard models, will pay you back in lower energy bills within a reasonable amount of time, and by making the leap on energy efficiency, certain items are eligible to receive a tax credit.

There has to be a downside, right?

“The installation process for a tankless water heating system is pretty complicated. Most houses are not equipped for this type of heater so we have to go back and retrofit the house which can be pretty complex and will cost additional for changes,” said Bany. “There are many benefits of this system, but you have to make sure that your house will benefit from it before you think about installation. For example, if you are building a new house I would recommend having one installed, but if your house is 30 years old with older galvanized pipes, then it’s probably not the right system for you.”

To figure out if your house could go tankless, you should first look at your current water heater situation. If you have two traditional heating systems that are on opposite sides of your home, you would have to install two separate tankless water heaters, which can be expensive. But if you have two traditional water heaters that are side by side, you will only need to install one tankless system, and that can amount to a huge savings. Each home is different and should be evaluated to see if a tankless water heating system would be beneficial.

And there you have it. While making the decision to go tankless might be more expensive than purchasing a traditional water heater, over time the savings will add up and you will see and feel the benefits of never-ending hot water. If you are trying to make the decision and want to know if your house is the right fit for a tankless system, ask the experts at John Moore Services, we are only a phone call away.

Improve Your HVAC System With Home Automation

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:00:00 GMT

As a homeowner, making sure your home is safe, secure, and that all its systems are running efficiently are top priorities. And with advances in technology like home automation, your job can get a lot easier. Home automation gives you the ability to lock your doors, turn lights on and off, and control your thermostat with the click of a button on your smartphone or computer.

“There are a lot of different benefits and features available when it comes to automation for your HVAC system,” said John Moore Services HVAC Manager Troy Berry. “Entry levels let you monitor thermostat settings and temperature controls so you can turn on the system while you are away from home. More complicated systems allow you to program your system in advance and allow you to control the temperatures in each individual room.”

In order to make an informed decision on which home automation system is best for you, it is important to know what is offered. And that is where we come in. Below is an overview of all the features available for the HVAC system in automation. Enjoy!

Programmable thermostat

All automation systems will offer a programmable thermostat, and it is arguably the most important feature in controlling your HVAC system. It allows you to set the temperature of your house from anywhere in the world because you are able to access it through your smartphone or computer. Remembering to adjust the temperature before you leave for work can be a pain, which is why many of us forget until we have been at work for an hour. But with automation, this is no longer an issue.

“One of the basic systems involves installing a thermostat that can communicate with the alarm panel through a mobile app or a home computer,” said John Moore Services Home Security Manager Michael Hook. “You will be able to program that thermostat and set up different schedules so at a certain time of day the temperature goes up and later on it goes down. It allows you to set temperatures based on your lifestyle.”

Here are some more benefits:

If the temperature goes above or below the set degree, you will be notified immediately. This is usually an indication of something wrong with your HVAC system, and with automation, you will be notified of a problem as soon as it happens.
You will save money on your monthly bills because you are better able to control the amount of air conditioning and heat you are consuming.
All programmable thermostats are eco-friendly and do not use mercury, which is extremely dangerous.
If you don’t remember to adjust your temperature before you leave for work or vacation, you can take care of it any time. That’s one less stress factor in your life.
You can monitor and adjust the temperatures in each room of your home. This is a great money-saver because you can keep the rooms that are most used cooler or warmer than the ones that are not used much at all.

Climate control

Living in Houston, one thing we know all about is humidity. But with certain automation systems, the days of excess humidity in your home is all in the past. With climate control sensors the humidity level is monitored in each room in your home. As soon as excess humidity is detected, ventilation fans are activated to reduce condensation. This helps reduce the growth of mildew and bacteria and will improve your indoor air quality.

Continual Maintenance

Keeping up with changing air filters and media filters throughout your home is easy to forget. But with automation, you don’t have to worry.

“The most advanced systems are able to monitor your air filters and will inform you with an alert when they are clogged and need to be changed,” said Berry. “There are even some that will alert you when the drain pan on your AC system has filled up with water.”

Does automation work on all HVAC systems?

Most air conditioning units and heaters last around 10-12 years. If your system is on the older side, you probably won’t be able to receive all the automation features because a lot of older systems are not compatible with the new technology. According to Berry, the basic programmable thermostat can be added to an heating and air conditioning system of any age, but to get one with all the features your system will need to be upgraded.

Home automation is the way of the future. Pretty soon, you won’t think twice about picking up your smartphone and changing the temperature in your home. Not only is automation convenient, but it is also a great money-saver. If you think automation is the right fit for you, call the experts at John Moore Services. We have options available in every price range and would love to sit down with you to discuss which system is the best fit for you and your family.

Continual Maintenance Is Key To An Efficient HVAC System

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:00:00 GMT

Is anything worse than spending money to replace part of your HVAC system only to have it break down a few weeks later because a different part went bad? Unfortunately, this happens more often than you might think. The HVAC system is the largest, and some would say most important system in the home. And because it is composed of so many parts, sometimes it is hard to keep each individual piece in top shape.

The furnace, air ducts, coils and condenser play a large role in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and when something happens to one of these parts, it’s going to be expensive to fix. But when you understand how the major players of your system work together and that they need continual maintenance to survive, you will see their lifespan grow and your monthly bills go down.

What are coils and what is a condenser?

The coil and condenser are located outside of the house and both work very hard in the summertime to keep the inside of your home cool. Together, they take the concentrated heat from the inside of your home and dump it outside into the hot air. The coils are made up of metal and are there to transfer heat. It is important to keep both the condenser and coils clean because they will run more efficiently. Unfortunately, most of us do not take care of them as well as we should.

And a furnace?

As you probably know, your furnace is what produces warm air and keeps your home nice and toasty during the winter. But did you know that the furnace works together with all other parts of the heating and air conditioning system?

“Most people think that the furnace is only used during the winter, but that is not the case. It is directly tied together with the AC unit because the furnace is the blower for the whole system,” said Berry. “Both the AC and the furnace use the same blower, so when a part is not working correctly on the AC side of your system, it is indirectly effecting the efficiency of your furnace.”

And air ducts?

Air ducts are a system of hollow tubes that carry cooled and heated air throughout your home. They are located in the ceiling, walls, and floors, and play an important role in the heating and air conditioning system because without them, the air produced by your air conditioning unit and heater would have no where to go.

Often times, air ducts can develop leaks, but if properly maintaining they will help keep all other parts of your system in top shape. If you don’t keep up with routine maintenance and leaks are created several things can happen:

High monthly bills
Pressure buildup inside your home
Hot and cold spots
Dust and debris will collect around your home

When there is a leak anywhere in the air duct line it causes the cooled or heated air that is going through the line to escape into the attic instead of its intended destination. At the same time, the holes inside the duct line will suck up dust, dirt, and other contaminants that are inside your home. After they have been sucked up through the holes, they get blown out through the air vents that are in each of your rooms. This not only causes your home to get covered in dirt and disease, but will also clog up other parts of your HVAC system and cause it not to run as efficiently as it should.

Why should I think about my AC with winter right around the corner?

We know you won’t be using your air conditioning system during the winter, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be thinking about it. The HVAC system should be thought of as one single unit. By treating your HVAC system as one unit keeping up with continual maintenance on all parts of the system no matter the time of year, you are prolonging the life of your unit. So when you call the experts at John Moore Services for a 21-point heater inspection, ask them to take a look at your air ducts, coils, and condenser too.

Which Type Of Heater Do You Have? Gas Or Electric?

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:00:00 GMT

When a cold front hits the first thing most of us do is walk over to the thermostat and adjust the temperature. And we do all this without giving the slightest thought to the powerful and sophisticated machine that is making this change in temperature possible. A heater is composed of many intricate parts working together to create warm air. But just like all other systems in our home, there are different types available, the two most popular being gas and electric.

So which type is in your home? While they are similar in the way that they distribute heated air throughout the home, they are extremely different in the way that the air is heated. Both have their pros and cons, but it is up to you to decide which type is the best fit for your household.

How does a gas furnace work?

A gas furnace is composed of four major parts: burners that deliver and burn fuel, heat exchangers, a blower, and a flue that acts as an exhaust for gaseous by-products. In order for all these parts to start working, you must first adjust the temperature on your thermostat. Once the desired temperature has been established, the furnace begins to generate heat by burning gas, which then travels through a heat exchanger. Air from the inside of your home is then blown across the heat exchanger to be warmed, and is then blown through your air ducts to be distributed to each room in your home.

“With gas, there is an open flame that is inside the heat exchanger,” said John Moore Services HVAC Sales Manager Troy Berry. “The flame’s main job is to heat the coils inside the furnace in order to warm the air. There is only an open flame in a gas furnace, electric furnaces do not have one.”

How does an electric furnace work?

When the thermostat is activated, it sends an electric signal to relays inside the furnace. Those relays send voltage to the heat strips inside the furnace causing them to heat up. Air from inside the home is then blown inside the furnace. When the air passes by the heating elements it is heated up and then travels to the air ducts. Once inside the air ducts, the heated air is then distributed throughout the house.

Which one is better?

“Both systems have their pros and cons, and the type that you have greatly depends on the builder and access to natural gas inside your neighborhood,” said Berry. “I see an equal number of both systems, but if you are looking to install a new one, it is really up to you to decide which one you prefer to have in your home.”

Electric systems tend to be safer because they do not have an open flame inside. Many house fires are started this way because people do not have their system inspected regularly.
The lifespan of an electric furnace is usually double that of gas, lasting anywhere from 20-30 years.
Electric furnaces tend to be less energy efficient and have higher running costs than gas.
A gas heater will begin to heat as soon as the temperature is adjusted and will heat much quicker than an electric system.
Both systems need to be maintained and inspected at least once a year. A gas furnace tends to make noise overtime if it has not received routine maintenance.
There is more risk associated with gas furnaces, especially when it comes to carbon monoxide leaks. Poisonous gases are vented to the outside of your home, but sometimes they can leak into the inside.

There are many differences between a gas and electric furnace, so ultimately the decision is up to you. But no matter which system you have, the important thing to remember is to have it checked out by a licensed professional each year before you turn it on for the first time. When any type of heater stays dormant for months at a time parts tend to malfunction. Having it inspected will ensure that it is working in prime condition. Call the experts at John Moore Services today and tell them you want the 21-point heater inspection!

A Water Heater Control Panel Should Be Inspected Annually

suzanne.birkholz@lyntonweb.com (John Moore) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:00:00 GMT

Houston, we’ve got a problem- and responsible homeowners like you can often overlook it! When you are taking care of your water heater by giving it a good scrub, chances are you forget to pay close attention to one little area: the control valve. Sure, now that you are seeing it on paper, you probably are thinking, “of course!” But that isn’t the case most of the time.

Water heaters are familiar fixtures in most homes. They typically look like big metal tubes, or tall drums that are often put into a laundry room or attic. Newer styles have a few different features, like losing the tank entirely. Either way, they all have a place where the controls are. According to professionals in the industry, the control panel tends to break and malfunction if not properly maintained. It isn’t surprising to go on a call and realize that while the homeowner thought their water heater was broken, it was really just an issue with the control panel all along. That’s a huge relief, especially when you thought you were THIS close to having to shell out big bucks to get it fixed or worse, to replace it.

So let’s talk controls. What does the panel (sometimes referred to as the control “valve” or “board”) actually do? It depends on the type of heater, but all have very important and sometimes similar functions that allow your heater to work both safely and properly. And that, y’all, is always the goal.

Below is a glimpse of what you need to know about the control panel on two of the most common types before they malfunction or become damaged. Remember, getting your home’s most important systems working right starts with educating yourself, and we consider giving you the resources to do that just another part of our job at John Moore. Read on!

Traditional Gas Burner Controls

This traditional and reliable design that's most widely used in the U.S. today is really a pretty simple appliance; it's basically a drum filled with water and equipped with a heating mechanism on the bottom or inside.

In a gas water heater, a pipe that has its own gas shutoff valve supplies the natural gas or propane. Just like you need to know where the water supply shutoff valve is located, you need to know where the gas line shutoff is located as well. The gas line feeds into a gas burner control module that serves as a kind of thermostat for the heater.

The gas control valve is a part of the gas burner control module. It also controls the ignition of the pilot light, which is a small gas flame, usually natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas, which is kept lit in order to serve as the ignition source for the burner. This unit operates to control gas flow to the pilot light and as a thermostat by turning the gas to the burner off after water reaches the desired temperature. A thermocouple sensor detects when the temperature of the water drops and sends an electrical impulse to the thermostat control. Finally, the thermostat causes the burner to light and bring the temperature of the water back up to the temperature setting on the thermostat.

Electric and Gas Tankless Controls

With electric heaters, the anatomy of the controls is different than that of the gas heater controls.

Tankless systems avoid standby loss by heating incoming water on an as-needed basis (they’re also referred to as "on demand" heaters because of this). The elimination of the standby heat loss is why some say that a tankless system is more efficient. With tankless water heaters, you can choose from electric, propane or natural gas models. Point-of-use models (smaller systems that heat water for only one or two outlets) are generally electric, while whole-house systems are usually much larger systems powered by either natural gas or propane.

Another reason why many homeowners are switching to tankless: they are operated by a remote control component. That makes it easy to change the set point temperature. Some manufacturers use a standard remote that lets you set an alarm to the size of your tub. After you set your temperature and begin to fill the tub with water, the unit measures the gallons and an alarm sounds to remind you to shut off the water. Other manufacturers have been able to offer multiple remotes to serve the same heater so you can have multiple locations to change the temperature of the hot water if your little heart desires. Most digital remote control panels also run diagnostics for the heater in the event that there is a problem. They flash a fault code to help service personnel find and fix any problems that may come up quickly, something that is extremely helpful and efficient for both homeowner and technician.

The Do’s and Don’ts for Maintaining Controls

As you can see from what we have told you in this post, the controls attached to the various types of water heating systems do a lot to make your system work correctly, safely, and efficiently. Maintaining these parts is something a responsible homeowner should consider doing regularly by getting everything checked by a John Moore professional, just as you would with the rest of your appliances. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts to consider:

-DO keep the controls area, unit, and/or valve clean. Clean, dust and vacuum as needed, making sure there aren’t any kinds of debris obstructing the area.

-DON’T ignore signs of rust. Rust is conductive - even when on the wire insulation. This can lead to potentially deadly shocks, heating and melting insulation and even burns.

-DO perform all care and cleaning to and around electric heaters with the system turned off and the electrical power supply disconnected.

-DON’T attempt to remove or fix any controls yourself if you are even slightly unsure of what the parts are, what they do, and what the problem actually is. Taking on tasks on your own can increase the risk of creating more problems.

-DO remember that safety is everything. Combustible materials, such as clothing, cleaning materials, or flammable liquids should never be placed against or next to it.

-DON’T assume anything. What seems like a small problem can actually be a big one in the eyes of an expert, and vice versa. When encountering an issue with your heater and the source isn’t clear, call someone right away to get it checked out to get to the bottom of it and plan a course of action. As we said before, educating yourself is key to responsible homeowner practices, and that includes consulting a trusted tech when you don’t know what’s going on.

-DO be gentle. Clean it and the remote control with a damp soft cloth and mild detergent. Gently wipe and completely dry all surfaces.

-DON’T forget to call John Moore with all your questions and concerns! We would love to help.