Category: Blog

New Incentives Make Heat Pumps More Affordable For Washington Residents

Posted on | by sitemanagerwpmanagerio

Updated: August 10, 2023

When the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law on August 16, 2022, it included the most ambitious climate action policies in American history.

The IRA aims to cut domestic greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, but significant changes to the way we live will become necessary.

Americans can help the country reach its goals by switching to electric energy whenever possible. Fossil fuels are responsible for about 73% of greenhouse gas emissions in the country, so limiting their use will be critical.

Using a heat pump to heat and cool your home is one way to do your part. These HVAC units use electricity and refrigerant to remove heat from the air and pump it inside or outside, depending on the season, limiting your need for a natural gas furnace.

The time to invest in a heat pump is now better than ever to reduce your carbon footprint, while at the same time lowering your energy costs. As this article points out, there are some significant discounts and rebates that are available making these energy-saving units more affordable than ever.

Here’s a look at some of these subsidies and incentives available to Washington state residents.

The Inflation Reduction Act

Reading through the Inflation Reduction Act, you’ll see that $369 billion is reserved for climate and energy programs. These programs aim to incentivize consumers to purchase electric vehicles, solar panels, energy-efficient windows and doors, high-efficiency air conditioners, and other appliances that don’t use fossil fuels.

With Washington state becoming more prone to extreme heat, installing a heat pump to keep your home cool in the summer is becoming ever more important for the comfort and health of you and your family. You can also use your heat pump for heating in the fall, spring, and winter. So it makes sense to take a look at what the IRA offers home owners to purchase and install a heat pump for both heating and cooling of your home.

First, the IRA offers rebates of up to $8,000 for Washington state families making 80% or less of the state’s median income that purchase a heat pump. Households making 80-150% of the median state income are eligible for a $4,000 rebate. These rebates reduce the upfront cost of purchasing a heat pump and are issued at the state level using IRA funds.

The Inflation Reduction Act also offers a nonbusiness energy property credit, a tax credit for 30% of a new heat pump’s value up to a cap of $2,000. As a result, you can receive up to $2,000 in tax credits just for installing a heat pump in your home.

These incentives cover any heat pump installation you complete after January 1, 2023, and you’ll have until the end of 2033 to complete the job.

With these rebates and tax credits, installing a heat pump makes more sense than ever especially since you’ll save on your monthly energy bills.

Working with Hunt’s Services to purchase and install your heat pump is a no brainer because we specialize in HVAC so we can offer you years of experience and certified technicians to complete your job. In fact to serve you better, we offer a free consult with one of Comfort Specialists to discuss and analyze what options are best for you before you decide.

Energy Smart Eastside

The federal rebate and tax incentives aren’t the only ways you can save on a Washington heat pump installation, as a local program offers residents of select King County cities an additional discount.

The Energy Smart Eastside program allows homeowners in Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, and Redmond to purchase a new heat pump at a discounted price through their group buy program.

To be eligible for this discount, you’ll have to attend a free educational workshop explaining heat pump technology, the money it can save you long-term, and the incentives you can receive. This workshop is only an hour long and virtual, so you don’t have to leave your home.

From there, you’ll sign up for a free site assessment from a certified HVAC installer like Hunt’s Services, select the heat pump option that’s best for your home, and sign a contract. Hunt’s Services can then install your heat pump, and you’ll get $500 off its purchase price.

Puget Sound Energy Rebates

Finally, Puget Sound Energy has a program where customers using a less efficient electric heating source can receive an $800 rebate if they switch to a ductless heat pump system. So, if you use an electric furnace, wall, or baseboard heaters and live in a single-family home, an incentive is available to you.

This incentive is part of PSE’s Efficiency Boost program, which aims to reduce consumption in the Puget Sound area. Other incentives are available when switching to a tankless water heater, upgrading to an Energy Star furnace, or installing a smart thermostat in your home.

Heat Pump Rebates in Washington

The cost of installing an energy efficient heat pump as your heating and cooling system has never been so affordable than now. These rebates and discounts aim to reduce the financial burden on families, making upgrades possible for more households.

Hunt’s Services offers heat pump installations for all of Pierce, King and Thurston Counties. Booking an appointment with our licensed, certified team puts you on the track to energy savings. Call Hunt’s Services at 253-533-7500 to learn more about these rebates and discounts and your eligibility.

Using Trenchless Technology to Replace Your Orangeburg Pipes in Western Washington

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What are Orangeburg Pipes?

Depending on your home’s age, there’s a chance your sewer line is made from a material called Orangeburg which was prevalent between 1945 and 1972.

This material doesn’t corrode because of its tar paper composition. However, it’s also extremely light and brittle, leading to premature deterioration. Homeowners should know that Orangeburg pipe absorbs moisture at a higher rate than clay or cast iron sewer pipes, too, which can lead to distortion or layers of the pipe bubbling and causing blockages.

Although manufacturers claimed Orangeburg had a 50-year lifespan, it starts breaking down at about 30 years. And since homebuilders stopped using the material about 50 years ago, you’re well overdue a new sewer line if you have this under your home.

If you believe you have Orangeburg sewer pipes, here’s what you should do.

How to Tell If Your Orangeburg Pipes Need Attention

Orangeburg was a popular building material until 1972 because it was easy to make. In short, it’s a bituminized fiber pipe made from wood pulp, a water-resistant adhesive, and hot pitch that gets its name because it was mass-produced in Orangeburg, New York.

So, how do you tell if your Orangeburg pipe is due for replacement?

The most obvious sign of a pipe problem is an indent in your front yard along your main sewer line’s path. You’ll clearly see an issue in your yard when this occurs, and you’ll want a plumbing technician to address the problem immediately.

You should also pay attention to what your neighbors are doing. If other houses in your neighborhood are running into issues with their Orangeburg pipes and replacing them, it’s probably only a matter of time until you experience similar problems.

Hunt’s Services can assist with a camera sewer inspection that allows us to see the condition of your Orangeburg pipes and make recommendations based on what we discover.

Why You Should Consider Replacing Your Orangeburg Pipes Soon

Naturally, minimizing your costs as a homeowner is a priority, but it’s essential to look at the big picture. Orangeburg pipes typically last for about 30 years, and since these products have been in circulation for 50 years, yours probably are getting close to the end of the line.

As your pipes approach the end of their lifespan, you might notice symptoms like:

  • Slow drains
  • Toilet back-ups
  • Mold
  • Indentations in your yard
  • Sinkholes in your foundation
  • Sewer odors inside your house

Proactively replacing your sewer line when you notice these symptoms, or at least calling the pros at Hunt’s Services to inspect your system, could save you significant cash in the long run.

How Your Trenchless Sewer Repair Will Work

As you research sewer line replacement options in Western Washington, you should know that traditional dig-and-replace methods are somewhat outdated. While they might be necessary for some scenarios, reinforcing or replacing your sewer line using trenchless technology is often possible.

Trenchless pipe repair can restore cracks and root damage to your pipes without digging up your yard. Technicians can typically complete these repairs in a few hours, and they are less expensive.

Perhaps the most efficient form of trenchless sewer repair is cured-in-place pipe lining. The gist is that the technician will access your sewer line through an existing access point, inserting a liner coated with epoxy into the pipe. The inside of the pipe is coated with resin, which hardens and reinforces your Orangeburg pipes.

It’s possible to get an extra 50 years from your Orangeburg pipes if you complete this repair early enough, although you should know that sometimes the damage is too extensive, and you’ll have to go in a different direction.

Your other trenchless sewer repair option is pipe busting, which is reserved for situations where there’s more extensive damage to the plumbing system.

In this scenario, your technician collapses the existing Orangeburg pipe into the soil without needing to dig it out using steel bursting heads. The new line is also attached to these heads, allowing it to replace the old pipe simultaneously.

The entire job is completed through a small entry point in your yard, so no trench is necessary, and there’s minimal displacement to your landscaping.

While pipe lining is the most economical option, it’s nice to know there’s another trenchless option for situations where your Orangeburg pipes are beyond repair.

Getting the Assistance You Need

If you have Orangeburg pipes in your home, you should know it’s only a matter of time before you experience issues. This material is prone to problems as it ages, and you’ll want to bring in a technician to complete a camera sewer inspection as soon as possible to check on its condition.

From there, your technician will develop a repair plan that works for you.

Contact Hunt’s Services at 253-533-7500 to learn more about our trenchless sewer repair options for Orangeburg pipes in Thurston, Pierce and King Counties.

4 Reasons to Switch to a Heat Pump for Heating and Cooling

Posted on | by sitemanagerwpmanagerio

As you know, there are a few different options for heating and cooling your home in Seattle, Tacoma area.

Of course, a gas furnace is the most common heating method in the area, as these devices are widely available, and the majority of homes in the region already have natural gas lines running to them. There’s nothing wrong with using a gas furnace because they’re abundant and convenient, but they’re far from the only game in town.

Cooling your home is a bit different because you’ll likely need an air conditioning unit. You can often use your existing ductwork with these systems, ensuring your home is cooled evenly and thoroughly on even the hottest days of the year.

Heat pumps are another option worth considering because they provide both heating and cooling for your home. These units have other benefits, too, that it’s a good idea to learn about before making the leap.

Ductless heat pumps are a cost-effective option that allows you to cool and heat your entire home or just certain rooms or zones without the use of ducts.

Here’s a look at four of the main advantages associated with installing a heat pump in your home in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Gig Harbor or elsewhere in the Puget Sound area.

1) Environmental Benefits
About 75% of American homes currently use natural gas, propane, oil, or wood for heating and central or window air conditioners for cooling. However, those heating methods create a significant amount of carbon dioxide and methane, and air conditioning produces greenhouse gases, all of which are harmful to the environment.

Switching to heat pumps reduces the emissions your home is creating. In fact, heating your home with a heat pump lowers your carbon footprint by between 46 and 54 percent. If the entire country did this, it would cut our carbon emissions by 142 million metric tons every year. That’s staggering and shows just how clean heat pumps are compared to gas furnaces.

So, switching to a heat pump allows you to do your part for the environment because it’s a cleaner form of energy, and you’ll also use less energy because these devices are more efficient than their counterparts. This efficiency will save you money, which is another great benefit you’ll experience when going in this direction.

2) Lower Costs
It’s all fine and dandy to do your part to help the environment. After all, we’re all in this together, and by taking action to help reduce the effects of climate change, you can rest easy knowing you’re part of the solution rather than the problem.

However, you’re still a human being with bills to pay, so the next benefit heat pumps provide might make it easier to invest in one of these units. The gist is that you’ll save money, even when taking the cost of a heat pump into account. Tacoma Public Utilities reports that a heat pump can reduce your electricity use for heating by 25-50%.

On average, running a heat pump instead of other heating and cooling sources will save families $557 per year. That number equals thousands of dollars over the unit’s lifetime, paying for the difference in cost between a heat pump and a furnace and then some.

It’s also worth noting that the entire country switching over to heat pumps would create 6.6 million jobs, which is another win for people all over Western Washington because of how it would benefit the economy. While that probably isn’t realistic right now, it’s a figure that adds credibility to the idea.

In short, heat pumps are sure to save you money and put more money in the pockets of people in your area, both of which are beneficial now and in the future.

3) No Combustion
Gas furnaces rely on internal combustion to produce heat. The idea is that natural gas combines with a spark, which generates heat inside the furnace’s burner. The heat this reaction creates then passes through the heat exchanger, making it even hotter before the air passes over and is warmed.

While this reaction is generally pretty safe, there’s always risk anytime you’re dealing with combustion inside an appliance in your home. Therefore, heat pumps are safer than furnaces because they rely on electrical wiring instead of internal combustion.

The fact that there’s no combustion also means less maintenance, which is sure to save you money annually. A heat pump generally requires a quick once-over every year, and you should probably take the filter out and clean it every few months. Other than that, you don’t have to worry much about maintenance.

If you have a gas furnace and air conditioner in Seattle, you’ll need to have each appliance serviced once per year. It’s probably wise to have the furnace looked at in the fall and the air conditioner in the spring to ensure they’re both ready to go when needed.

The lack of maintenance heat pumps require is yet another reason they’re a solid investment for Western Washington households.

4) All-in-One Solution
Finally, a heat pump is an all-in-one solution for your home’s heating and cooling needs. Once you have one installed, it acts as a heater in the winter and an air conditioner in the summer, so you only have to worry about one appliance.

Rather than replacing your furnace and air conditioning unit every 15 to 20 years, you can invest in a heat pump that should last you at least 15 years if you maintain it. The life expectancy alone is enough to save you some cash, and when you factor in the energy savings, installing a heat pump in Seattle becomes an extremely attractive proposition.

Get the Expert Assistance You Need
Purchasing a heat pump for your Tacoma home is a significant decision, and you won’t want to make it without first speaking with an expert. Fortunately, Hunt’s Services is available to answer your heat pump questions, and we can also handle your heat pump installation when the time comes.

Give Hunt’s Services a call at 253-533-7500 to discuss your heat pump needs today.

Don’t Flush Your Wipes: Lessen The Impact of COVID-19

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Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, toilet paper is in low supply and high demand, forcing Puget Sound residents to turn to personal cleansing wipes.

We’re also seeing citizens use disinfectant wipes and paper towels to clean surfaces in their homes, hoping to stop the spread of this virus.

While all of this is fine, and even encouraged, as we fight a global pandemic, we do have to think of our local sewer systems and the effect these items can have on them.

The issue is that we’re seeing an abnormally large percentage of the population using these products, with many choosing to flush them down their toilets to dispose of them. Wipes and paper towels can quickly clog sewer lines, both personal and municipal, causing severe problems for sewer systems in Western Washington and around the country.

Do your part by throwing your wipes and paper towels in the garbage after use to help prevent even more local problems from arising as a result of the COVID-19 virus.

What’s Causing the Problem?

The reason why we’re seeing blockages in sewer lines is because of how these systems operate.

For the most part, our sewers use gravity and water to remove waste from homes and divert it to the main city sewers. From there, the sewage moves to a treatment plant, where it is cleaned before being released.

When many people flush wipes and paper towels in a short period, it clogs the lines and prevents the system from working as it should.

The reason?

Wipes and paper towels don’t break down as toilet paper does. Toilet paper’s construction allows it to dissolve very quickly, a feature these other products don’t have.

If you’ve ever experienced a clogged toilet due to using too much toilet paper, you know that it leads to wastewater coming back into your fixture, sometimes overflowing. The toilet paper quickly disintegrates, however, allowing you to use a plunger to remove the clog.

The same thing happens in a city sewer line, as they can get a little backed up from time to time, but the toilet paper breaks down quickly, so the issue can be solved.

When dealing with wipes, it takes far longer for them to dissolve. And once thousands of wipes clump together in the sewers, removing the clog takes significant intervention.

Even flushable wipes aren’t safe because they still take longer to decompose than toilet paper.

This sewer issue is happening in Seattle, Tacoma, and throughout Pierce and King counties right now, putting a strain on our sewer systems and pressure on city and state officials, in addition to our plumbers.

Seattle has about 1,421 miles of sewer pipe, while Tacoma has over 700 miles. This is a lot of line to keep clear, and flushing wipes makes the job exponentially more difficult.

Yes, throwing these items in the garbage is an inconvenience, but it’s necessary as we try to keep people safe during this global pandemic.

It Isn’t Just Wipes

In some places, even wipes are in short supply, so we’re seeing people turn to other alternatives.

T-shirts, newspapers, and napkins are also being used instead of toilet paper, all of which put unnecessary pressure on the sewer systems.

In fact, in Redding, California, one neighborhood saw sewage overflow into the streets because of a resident using a shredded t-shirt as toilet paper.

If you don’t have any alternative but to use a t-shirt, do so, but make sure you throw your waste in the garbage. Avoid flushing it down the toilet.

Safety First

We’re clearly living in a challenging time when some supplies are running low, and stress is running high. At the same time, let’s face it, people still need to use the bathroom and will need to wipe.

If you run out of toilet paper and must use an alternative product, make sure you throw it in the garbage when you’re done with it each and every time.

Everyone will have to do their part in the coming months if we have any chance at containing the COVID-19 virus, and by choosing to throw this waste in the garbage, you can protect your family, neighbors, local plumbers, and city workers from possible exposure.

What to Do About Your Clogged Toilet

Now you know not to flush anything but toilet paper, but what’s the protocol if you’ve already flushed some wipes and it’s leading to problems?

Well, the answer is to bring in a plumber, but at this time, you’ll have to be extremely careful about who you trust.

For starters, your plumbing technician should do everything possible to limit your potential exposure to COVID-19, including washing their hands regularly, avoiding shaking hands, using shoe covers and protective gloves, and keeping a safe distance from all residents in the home.

At Hunt’s Services, we’re following all of the advice put forth by the World Health Organization during this pandemic. We’re practicing social distancing and have compiled a list of safety measures for each of our technicians to follow while working on your home.

If you have any questions or are dealing with a plumbing emergency at this time, call Hunt’s Services at 253-533-7500 for assistance.

We’re all in this together, so do your part by not flushing anything but toilet paper and keeping your social distance, so that local service providers and healthcare workers have the resources needed to keep you safe.

Why Sewer Lines Fail in Seattle Tacoma

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Your sewer line is an essential part of your plumbing system because it’s responsible for removing water waste from your home. You’ll quickly notice if your sewer pipe isn’t functioning as it should because you’ll run into issues flushing your toilets, draining your sinks, or running your washing machine. Hunt’s Services is standing by in the Seattle and Tacoma areas to assist with all of your sewer system needs.

So what causes these sewer line problems in the first place? The reality is that numerous things can go wrong with your sewer system, and in some cases, there isn’t much you can do to prevent the issues from occurring in the first place.

What you can do is be proactive when you realize that your sewer line isn’t functioning at its full capacity by getting Hunt’s Services on the job.

Our team of licensed, certified technicians have seen every plumbing problem imaginable in King County and Pierce County so that we can get to the bottom of your issue quickly and efficiently.

Give us a call at 253-533-7500 to start the process right away. From there, you won’t have to worry about your sewer system anymore because Hunt’s will take care of it.

Here are some common sewer line problems in the Tacoma and Seattle areas.

1) Tree Roots

One sewer line problem that we see with regularity in Seattle and Tacoma involves tree roots damaging the pipes in search of water. These roots extend for substantial distances underground, looking for moisture to keep the tree alive. Eventually, the roots can wrap around your sewer line and break through at the joints, causing your drains to slow.

As the roots continue to grow, they weaken the pipe’s joints even further, and wastewater can begin escaping into your yard. Eventually, the entire pipe will collapse, leaving you with a significant cleanup in your yard, and a pipe that needs a complete replacement.

Tree roots are a problematic issue to prevent because the plant doesn’t necessarily have to be on your property to cause problems in your yard. What you can do, however, is make sure the trees on your property have enough water, especially in a period with little rain.

When planting new trees in your yard, make sure you avoid water-loving species like silver maples and weeping willows. Trees that require more water tend to cause more problems with sewer lines. You should also be aware of the location of your sewer pipe and avoid planting new trees close to it.

2) Shifting Ground

Another common sewer line issue in Western Washington is pipe failure because of shifting ground. Your pipes are supported by the soil under your landscaping, and when tectonic activity occurs, the ground can shift.

Even a slight shift puts added pressure on your pipes and can lead to a complete failure over time, complete with wastewater leaking into your yard.

While you can’t prevent the ground from shifting, you can have your pipe repaired as soon as you notice an issue to, hopefully, prevent significant damage from being done to your property.

3) Orangeburg Pipe

Depending on the age of your home, you could run into plumbing problems based on the materials used in your sewer line. Before 1972, homes in this area would use Orangeburg pipe, which is made from wood pulp and asphalt. While these pipes are incredibly lightweight, the material is brittle and prone to breaking because it absorbs moisture.

If you believe that you have Orangeburg pipes in your home, the best thing you can do is have them replaced with PVC. That way, you won’t have to worry as much about breaks and will experience fewer plumbing issues in the future, as well.

Warning Signs of Sewer Problems

There are some warning signs to watch for that can help you call for the plumbing help you need before your property is extensively damaged.

  • Slow drains – When you notice that your drains are taking longer to empty than usual, it means that something is blocking your pipes. If only one drain is slow, there could be an isolated problem with that particular fixture. Multiple slow drains, on the other hand, could mean that you have a clog or break in your Seattle sewer line.
  • Clogged drains – If nothing is draining from your fixtures at all, you likely have a significant clog. There are a variety of underlying reasons for clogged drains, as anything from putting grease into your sink to having a broken sewer line could make it difficult for your pipes to drain. Hunt’s offers drain cleaning services, getting your system back on track quickly.
  • Sewer waste backing up into your home – Have you noticed waste coming back into your fixtures after you flush your toilet or drain your sinks? If so, you likely have a problem with your sewer line that you’ll want to address sooner rather than later. Hunt’s Services offers trenchless sewer repair options, including pipe bursting, which is a non-invasive pipe repair method.
  • Frequent service calls – When you find yourself making constant service calls, you likely have a severe plumbing problem that should be addressed. Hunt’s
    Services will conduct a camera inspection, which allows us to see inside your pipes and identify why you’re experiencing issues.

Call Hunt’s Services Today

If you believe you’re in need of plumbing assistance, give Hunt’s Services a call at 253-533-7500. Our team of certified plumbers is standing by to handle all of your sewer and pipe lining needs, so don’t hesitate to contact us.

We offer discounts to seniors and veterans, and can even deal with your septic to sewer conversion, if necessary.

For more information on our plumbing services, check out our Sewer Repair YouTube video.

Unlocking The Mystery Of Your Home’s Electrical Outlets

Posted on | by sitemanagerwpmanagerio

Outlets are so common in nearly every home… but not all outlets are the same. Have you ever tried to plug something in and it didn’t fit? (For example, a 3-pronged device but your outlet only has 2 holes.) Ever wonder why that is?

There are many types of electrical power outlets, and more are being created. Do you know which ones are right for your home? If you are thinking about upgrading outlets or renovating this spring or maybe even buying a new home, take a moment to educate yourself on these different types.

Two vs Three-Prong Outlets

Two-prong outlets are in a lot of older homes. They can fit many devices that only have two prongs such as coffee grinders, phone chargers, some adapted computer chargers, and more. The problem with two-prong outlets is that they are not grounded, and any device that you plug into them will not be protected from any power surges which can severely damage your devices. There are also a lot of higher-powered devices that will not fit into a two-prong outlet as they have the third prong.

If all you find in your home or business are two-prong outlets, it may be that the electrical system is not grounded. This is unsafe for both you and your electrical devices and appliances because there is no way to prevent an electrical short from happening. You don’t want to be at the receiving end of electrical short, especially where there is water such as in your kitchen and bathrooms.

Three-prong outlets are the most common type to find in your kitchen, bedroom, living room, and more. The third circular prong is the grounding wire which sends any stray electricity into the ground rather than through the device and anyone touching it. With the three-prong outlet, you can stick with the typical 15 amp system or upgrade to a 20 amp system if you tend to use a lot of high-powered devices. Make sure you have three prong outlets installed with the proper rating for your electrical circuits and panel.

When you hire Hunt’s Services for your electrical needs, we will always do an inspection of your electrical system and panel before we begin any work to make sure it is properly grounded and rated to handle the loads for all your electrical devices and appliances. Some electrical devices, such as hot tubs require 220 vs 110-volt electrical circuits and outlets to insure they work properly and do not overheat or damage your appliance or electrical panel.

GFCI Protection

A GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupter, is an outlet that will automatically shut the flow of power off when it senses a short circuit or a major power surge. (You often see these with one or more buttons on the outlet). These outlets will often be where the outlet or device could come into contact with water, such as in the kitchen or bathroom. A GFCI can protect us from a major accident.

If properly installed, GFCI is designed to prevent an electrical shock to a person by shutting off the power in as little as 1/40th of a second. GFICs also protect your home or business from an electrical fire due to a faulty connection or unprotected electrical wire going to the outlet. It is a good idea to hire a certified licensed electrician to install your GFCI outlet to make sure it is done correctly and up to current codes. If your outlet is outside or exposed to water, such as rain, make sure the outlet you have installed is waterproof or you will be constantly tripping your electrical circuits.

USB Outlets

USB outlets are for charging electrical devices like phones, e-readers, wireless headphones and more. These outlets come either with several USB ports or with a combination of three prong and USB plugins. The benefit of these plugs is the ability to plug in multiple rechargeable devices at once while maintaining full charging speed. As you know from your cell phones, computers, and iPads, finding and using an USB outlet when you are at the airport or other public facility can often times be the difference between being able to use your phone or needing to charge it.

Smart outlets allow you to turn each outlet on and off just by using your phone. Smart outlets can be beneficial for night time lighting, holiday pre-sets, Christmas lights and much more. You have to have a smart hub already installed in your house for this to work. For a lower-tech option, there are also outlets that have an on/off switch above the plugin.

Many newer homes or ones being built today will come with USB Outlets. Hunt’s Services certified electricians can install USB Outlets where ever it is most convenient for you. There are different types of USB Outlets and we can explain them to you so you can decide which ones are the best for you.

Rotating outlets allow you to plug in a device that has a large charging case and turn it so that another case would fit nicely next to it, maximizing your space potential.

There are many options for the outlets in your home. Which one is right for you? When you hire Hunt’s Services to service, repair or install your electrical outlets you can rest assured your work will be done according to current electrical codes and done right the first time.

HVAC Heating and Cooling Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks

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Spring is here and that means spring cleaning for many people. You open the windows, air out the stale winter air, and do some vacuuming and dusting. But don’t forget about the maintenance of your HVAC system, either! When you’re spring cleaning the rest of your house, make sure you clean out your heating and cooling system, which has been working hard all winter long to keep you warm.

Your home’s HVAC system is essential to the comfort AND SAFETY of your family, and it can only do that if it is clean. Check out these tips to help you enjoy a safe and comfortable home this spring (and the rest of the year).

Maintenance of Your HVAC System

Before you do any cleaning, make sure the power to your HVAC system is turned off. That is most important for your safety. The last thing you want is to injure yourself. Even if you think you’ll be careful, it’s better to be safe; turn off your power as the first step any time you plan to work in or near your HVAC system. The reason is you don’t want your furnace or HVAC unit to come on while you are working on it.

There are a couple of ways you can turn off your furnace before you do any spring cleaning. Sometimes there is an on-off switch either on the furnace or close to it. Otherwise, you can go to your electrical panel and find the circuit that goes to the furnace and flip it to the off position. Also if you have a gas furnace or HVAC unit, such as a heat pump, you should turn the gas off to the unit. Find the gas line running into your HVAC unit and turn the gas valve coming into the furnace to the off position.

Clean Heating and Cooling Filters

Remove the filter in your HVAC system and replace it. Air is forced through the filter but that gets harder and harder for your HVAC system to do if the filter is clogged with dirt, dust, and debris. Replace your filter at least once every 3 months, depending on use and whether you have pets, allergies, and level of dust in your home. Only use filters that have been approved by the manufacturer so you don’t risk losing your warranty.

The filter to the furnace is typically where the cold air from the outside comes into the furnace. This can be on the furnace itself or in your house in the intake vent that leads to your furnace. For replaceable filters, there is usually a size of the filter marked somewhere on the filter. Find the filter at your local hardware store and replace it with the same size filter.

Some heating units have washable filters in which case take the filter to your sink or hose outside and run water over the filter until all dirt and debris have been washed off. A good tip is to write the date on the filter when you replace it, so you know when to replace it next. It is important to make sure the arrow on the filter is pointing in the direction of the airflow into your furnace. Central heat pumps and air conditioners will also use filters in the same way where they intake air into the unit.

Air Conditioning

If you have an external air conditioning unit, go outside and look at it. Make sure that the unit is free from debris that often accumulates around it during the fall and winter. Often, leaves and clippings will start to build inside the unit and at the vents.

While you’re looking at you’re air conditioning unit, clean the fan blades and the coils which can also pick up debris.

Clean Your Vents

Walk around the inside of your home and inspect your vents—the ones that blow warm/cool air FROM your HVAC system and the ones that pull air into your HVAC system. Make sure both types of vents are not blocked so that air can freely get in. This will not only ensure that you get clean fresh air throughout your house, it also helps you save money by keeping your HVAC system from doing too much work to draw in air.

Duct Cleaning

Think about the last time you had your ducts cleaned. If it isn’t in the last year then contact a company to come out and clean your ducts. All that dust and debris that accumulated over the winter can be removed so it’s not recirculating.

Proper duct cleaning is really a two part process to be effective. First remove debris and particulate matter that clings to your ducts and then suction to remove that debris. This is usually a job you cannot do without the proper equipment. Hunt’s Services HVAC technicians use Nikro negative air duct cleaning machines with compressed air whips that we run through each duct. The whips loosen all the dust and debris that collects in the duct system and then the negative air machine suck all the debris out of the system.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are a great way to reduce your energy bills by circulating the air in your home or business to either keep you warm or cool depending on the season. Make note of the direction of ceiling fan and make sure it is going in the correct direction. The general rule of thumb is the blades of the fan should turn clockwise in the winter, and the reverse in the summer. Run your ceiling fan at low speed in the winter to circulate your warm air and pull the warm air up and then push it downwards without creating a cooling effect from the fan.

Summary

Springtime is here and that means spring cleaning and enjoying the freshness of a new season. When you clean your home this spring, don’t forget about the HVAC system that has been working so hard all winter long, and reward it with a good cleaning… your HVAC system will run more efficiently and your family will be safer and more comfortable this spring!

7 Spring Cleaning Plumbing Tips For Your Home

Posted on | by sitemanagerwpmanagerio

Happy Spring Cleaning!

The birds are singing, the leaves are appearing on trees, and it’s a time when many people are thinking about spring cleaning. If you’re opening up your windows for some fresh springtime air and cleaning up your home for the spring, don’t forget your plumbing!

Just like other parts of your home, your plumbing needs to be cleaned too! When you clean up your plumbing, you’ll save money and enjoy worry-free, problem-free water for this season and many more to come.

Here are some tips to help you know what to clean when it comes to your home’s plumbing:

Toilet Bowl Cleaning Tips

Clean out the bowl as you normally would, and also clean out the inside of the tank. Avoid using harsh chemicals. It doesn’t hurt to give your toilet a plunge or consider pouring a small bucket of water into the bowl from about waist level to “power flush” your toilet. Remind your family not to put trash in the toilet: never flush paper towels, tissue, diapers, or tampons. These things do not break up correctly and can clog your pipes. Additionally, use the minimum amount of toilet paper required to clean up after you are done.

If your toilet is leaking because of worn-out parts or the need for adjustments to your valves, floats, or gasket, give Hunt’s Services a call to make sure your toilets are in good working order. We will replace the parts and make adjustments so that you aren’t wasting water or end up with water damage to your house.

Bathroom Sink Overflow

Ensure that your sink’s overflow holes are clear. Overflow holes are used in case the sink starts to overfill, which may not seem like a big problem–until it is. Fill your sink to test the overflow holes and clear any overflow holes that are clogged. Drain pipes can also get clogged over time and require a good cleaning or flush to remove the blockage. Check your stopper to see if it is the cause of the blockage by removing and examining it from your sink.

Check below your sink to see if there are any leaks either from the sink or from the drain pipes. If you have a leak that you can’t fix yourself or a clog that won’t go away, give us a call so we can insure that leaks and clogs don’t cause you headaches any longer.

Bathtub Drains

To keep things flowing smoothly through the drain of your bathtub, each month you should feed it baking soda—one cup’s worth, with a cup of vinegar to chase it. Plug up the drain and allow the chemical reaction to occur. Wait for a little while, and then pour boiling water down the drain. This method clears out soap scum buildup and accumulated hair that gets caught in the pipes. Avoid slow bathtub drains by using a drain straining device to collect hair that would normally clog the pipes. This inexpensive device, when cleaned regularly, will prevent a lot of problems.

Perhaps even more so than a bathroom sink, your bathtub can get clogged with hair. As a part of your plumbing Spring Cleaning, remove the stopper from your tub. Most stoppers are removed by unscrewing the stopper from the drain hole. Get a piece of stiff wire, make a hook at the end, and fish out the gunk and hair that are usually just below the drain.

Kitchen Sink Clogs

Your kitchen sink drain takes in a lot of debris, including grease and fat, which can clog the drain and slow drainage. Pour boiling water down your kitchen sink drain to proactively clear the build-up. Consider using a drain straining device here too.

Garbage Disposal

Don’t use your hands to clean your garbage disposal. You can actually use lemon rinds or dish soap to do it! Lemon juice can help loosen and clean any build-up in your disposal and drain. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice in your disposal and let it sit for a while to do its work. Afterward, place small chunks of lemon with the rind and run your garbage disposal which helps clean the blades. And when you use your garbage disposal, avoid pouring grease or fat into it because that can clog up the machine and your pipes, especially when the grease or fat cools off.

Dishwasher

Your dishwasher works hard to remove the debris from your dishes and utensils to keep them clean and sanitary. Consequently, the leftover food particles can build up and clog your dishwasher drain. It is a good idea to remove the cover from your drain at the bottom of your dishwasher and check for and remove any debris that is stuck in your drain.

Also check your dishwasher for leaks. Leaks can occur in any of your water and drain connections in your dishwasher. If you have an air gap that empties into your kitchen drain or sink, take the cap off and clean any debris that has accumulated from your dishwasher.

Water Heater

Take a look at your water heater. Is it producing enough hot water for you? Are there leaks or visible cracks? Be proactive; don’t wait for your water heater to break before you do something about it.

When was the last time you had your water heater flushed? We generally recommend flushing your water heater so it is free of debris and sediment at least once a year. Springtime is a good time to get your water heater ready for the upcoming year. Flushing your water heater will increase the life span of your water heater and reduce your energy bills.

Summary

Spring is here and for many people that means it’s time to do a big spring cleaning. When you do, don’t forget your pipes because they are crucial to helping you keep your family comfortable and clean and quenched all year long!

5 Ways to Make Your Heating and Cooling Systems More Environmentally Friendly

Posted on | by sitemanagerwpmanagerio

We all have a responsibility to do whatever we can to protect the environment, as even implementing a few small changes can make a big difference over time. One method of making your home heating and cooling more environmentally conscious is reducing your energy consumption.

The good news is that limiting your energy use doesn’t have to make your life more difficult or your home less welcoming because you can easily invest in more efficient heating and cooling units, or make improvements to the systems that you already have.

The following HVAC tips can help you reduce your carbon footprint and assist you in doing your part to protect our environment for future generations.

1) Go with an Energy Efficient Furnace and Air Conditioner

If you have an older furnace or air conditioner in your home, it probably isn’t a high-efficiency model. In these situations, you’re likely using more energy that you need to, which is not only bad for the environment but is also costing you money every month.

In fact, some older furnaces only run at about 60% efficiency, while newer models are mostly above 95%, so you can see that there is a significant discrepancy.

Have a look at the age of your existing heating and air conditioning systems to see if it’s time for an upgrade. Remember that most furnaces last 15-25 years, and once you approach those years, you’ll probably start running into some costly repairs, making it cost-effective to replace the unit.

When the time does come to replace your system, commit to one of the more energy efficient models for the best results.

2) Invest in a Smart Thermostat

Your thermostat influences how much energy you use. The majority of homeowners turn their thermostat higher than it needs to be in the winter and leave the unit turned on while they’re not at home. Of course, no one wants to return to a cold home at the end of the day, so what’s the solution?

Why, a smart thermostat, of course. Smart thermostats have a variety of options, as you can control the temperature remotely through your phone or set it to turn on and off at certain hours. Perhaps the best benefit of a smart thermostat, however, is that it learns your schedule and will adjust the temperature in your house accordingly.

For example, if everyone is usually away between 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM during the week, the thermostat will pick up on this after a couple of weeks and start turning the furnace or air conditioning down when no one is there. It will then switch your system back on before you return home, so your house will always be a comfortable temperature when someone is there.

3) Install Some Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are highly efficient and can reduce the amount of energy you use heating and cooling your home. This point is particularly accurate if you’re currently using electric baseboard heaters or window-mount air conditioners, as heat pumps use up to 50% less electricity than these other devices.

There are a few different types of heat pumps on the market, so you can make a choice based on how much you want to spend and whether or not you want the unit to operate within your ductwork. No matter which version to go with, however, you can expect lower energy bills and a more environmentally friendly home.

4) Have Your Ducts Cleaned

It sounds simple, but having a professional company clean your ductwork could reduce the amount of energy that you use. When ducts fill up with dust and debris, your heating and cooling systems have to work harder to push air throughout the home, which means you’ll use more energy.

Go with a brush through and negative air duct cleaning service because this is the best way to get absolutely everything out of your ducts. A bonus is that cleaning your ductwork limits the dust and other pollutants that enter the air you breath in your home.

5) Maintain Your Heating and Cooling Units

A properly maintained furnace or air conditioner will always run more efficiently than one that is ignored. It makes sense when you think about it, as units that don’t receive regular maintenance end up with dirty filters and much like with clogged ducts, air can’t flow through the unit properly.

Luckily, your HVAC service provider can put you on a regular maintenance schedule, so you don’t have to worry about your furnace or air conditioner performing at anything less than an optimal level.

Doing Your Part for the Environment

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to reduce your energy consumption by making your HVAC system more efficient. And these steps won’t make your home any less comfortable; they will merely make it easier to keep your living spaces at the ideal temperature.

Hunt’s Services can help you with all of these jobs and will ensure that your home is not only as energy efficient as possible, but that you will never have to compromise your comfort as you become a more environmentally friendly family.

Top 5 Reasons To Have Your Ducts Cleaned

Posted on | by sitemanagerwpmanagerio

Top 5 Reasons To Have Your Ducts Cleaned Regularly

As we move into the coldest months of the year, your furnace will be running more often and, therefore, you’ll want to make note of the air in your home. Have you considered having a professional duct cleaning?

Does your home have a strange smell? Are you noticing dust and other allergens in every room in your house? Do you feel like you’re spending too much money on your energy bills?

All of these problems are symptoms of ducts that are overdue for a thorough cleaning.

Your ducts are responsible for delivering air to every room in your home after it has gone through your furnace or air conditioner. As a result, all of the air that you breathe in your home interacts with these ducts throughout most of the year, so if they are full of dust, mold, and other debris, you’ll end up with these particles in your lungs.

The good news is that our Tacoma duct cleaning this winter can ensure that the air you breathe is completely clean, reducing health problems and saving you money in the process. While you are getting your ducts cleans, let us also take a look at your dryer vents and ducts to make sure they are clean because clogged dryer vents are the number one cause of home fires.

1) Save Money on Bills

The cleaner your ducts, the lower your monthly heating and cooling bills will be. The reason is simple, as the buildup in your ducts means your system has to work hard to push air through your vents. When your ducts are clean, however, the air moves more efficiently and uses less energy in the process. Getting your ducts cleaned even once per year makes a difference in this regard and will ensure that you don’t end up with too much dust or other debris blocking your airflow. You can save even more money if you have an energy efficient heat pump or furnace installed

2) Reduce Issues with Allergies and Asthma

If you’ve noticed a fair amount of dust in the air at your home, you should have your ducts cleaned right away. This statement is particularly true if anyone in your household has asthma or allergies because having dust pushed out through your vents can trigger attacks and make life pretty miserable. The last thing you want is for something entirely preventable to cause problems with your family’s breathing this winter but luckily, a duct cleaning can greatly improve your indoor air quality.

3) Give Your Home a Fresh Start

When you move into a new home, having the ducts cleaned is essential because you never know how the previous tenants treated the property. Did they smoke inside the house? Did they have pets? Was there water damage? All of these things lead to debris in the vents, and if you don’t have them cleaned, you’ll be stuck breathing the particles in. It’s also a good idea to brush your ducts in Bellevue or Puyallup whenever you conduct renovations because drywall dust, paint, or, in some cases, asbestos, can fall into the vents when they aren’t properly sealed. From there, these harmful pollutants are blown all over the house. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially if you don’t know how previous homeowners treated the place or if the ducts have ever received a cleaning before.

4) Breathe Cleaner Air

Even if you don’t have allergies or asthma, breathing cleaner air is always a good thing. You could keep your house spotless, but dust will still make its way into the vents and, therefore, into the air every time the furnace or air conditioner runs. The good news is that through a duct cleaning, you can have much of this dust removed from your home before it has the chance to be blown into the air, helping ensure that the air you breathe is as clean as possible. You’ll notice a distinct difference once the job is done because the air in your home will smell cleaner and fresher. And since you can’t open this windows as much in the winter here in Seattle, having clean air coming through your vents is essential.

5) Improve the Lifespan of Your HVAC System

Maintaining an HVAC system gets expensive as the unit ages because there are so many problems that you can run into. By cleaning your vents, however, you help the unit to work at a more manageable pace and prevent debris from getting into your system. Keeping your ducts clean also means you won’t have to replace your furnace filter as often, and even though these filters are a minor expense, every little bit matters. Keeping debris out of your ducts can improve the overall lifespan of your system by preventing it from overworking when moving air throughout your home.

Keeping up with your furnace maintenance will also save you money in the long run and improve the lifespan of your heating and cooling unit. When you schedule a furnace inspection or maintenance call to your home or business, ask one of HVAC technicians to take a look at your filters and ducts. Furnace maintenance is a good tie to also have your ducts cleaned.

Who to Trust?

When searching for a duct cleaning company, you’ll have a few different options. Flyers often come in the mail advertising duct cleaning for a rate of well under $100, but the truth is that these companies might not use the best equipment and, often, won’t provide adequate bang for your buck. Its a good idea to avoid duct cleaning scams that sound too good to be true.

Reputable companies, such as Hunt’s Services, use a hybrid system where we not only have a negative pressure vacuum to suck out dirt and debris but also a brush to physically scrub the inside of your vents. This method ensures that no debris is left behind.

Remember, when it comes to your ducts, the quality of the job done is of the utmost importance.