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Save Water This Season With These Three Easy and Effective Tips

Pinch Pennies With Less Pain by Using These Three Tips

There are many expenses that homeowners have to worry about, and during the summer months, especially, the water bill can get quite high for some families. Water is essential to many aspects of life, and many everyday activities around the home use water. So, is there a way to still do what needs to be done without much water? The answer is yes, and many changes that can be made to water usage around the home do not have to be as drastic and life-altering as one might think.

Minor changes and adjustments add up, and small reductions in water use can lead to bigger savings over time. As more people understand the importance of water conservation and why we need to save water, practical options to conserve water are in high demand. Here are three simple ways to save water this season!

Use Less Water Indoors and Outdoors

One of the fastest and easiest ways to lower water bills and expenses is to be mindful of when plumbing fixtures are used. Everything that uses water should be carefully monitored, from washing dishes to showering to doing laundry. Keeping tabs on how much water is used when taking a shower or doing the dishes can help homeowners be mindful of where they might be able to cut back a little and use less water.

Monitoring water usage outside the home is also important as irrigation systems can be a major source of water waste. An easy way to conserve water is to be mindful of how often the lawn is watered to look for issues with irrigation pipes and keep up with leak repair and system maintenance.

Invest in Water-Saving Upgrades in the Home

Homeowners can enjoy many incentives and rebates when they make certain upgrades to their homes. One example is the numerous rebates available for upgrading to water-saving appliances and features within the home. It is easier to save water and reduce usage and waste when the system is working well and in tip-top shape.

Installing new appliances, water heaters, and plumbing systems can help improve leak detection and reduce water usage throughout the home. Families that are serious about water conservation can take this major step, which impacts short-term and long-term water usage.

Fix Leaks and Maintain Plumbing Properly

The final way to make water conservation easier this year is to give the home plumbing system a good once-over. Regular inspections and preventative maintenance should be a part of the normal home upkeep regimen, but plumbing inspections are more important than ever when it comes to saving water.

A skilled and experienced plumber can spot early warning signs of leaks and other issues that might otherwise be overlooked. Addressing these issues and dealing with leak detection and repairs sooner rather than later makes it easier to save water every day!

About Bedell Home Services

When homeowners need help with water conservation measures or want to help maintain their plumbing fixtures and pipes, Bedell Home Services is there to lend a helping hand. With plenty of actionable steps to save water and deal with leak repair and water concerns, they are the ones to call for all plumbing-related needs. Call today for a free estimate and to learn more about their plumbing services for Carmel area residents.

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Improve Home Plumbing This Year With These 3 Intentions

3 Sure-Fire Ways to Improve Plumbing Systems This Year

A home’s plumbing system doesn’t need a ton of care for it to function properly. However, it’s never a good idea to neglect it altogether. There are a few things homeowners should do to avoid expensive plumbing emergencies. Additionally, there’s something to be said for knowing the signs of common plumbing problems, so homeowners can identify them and avoid the need for costly repairs. Read on to learn the three intentions every homeowner needs to enjoy a well-functioning plumbing system.

Create Flush Awareness

Many people are surprised at the term “flush awareness.” They may have an idea of what it means. Really, it’s not hard to figure out. Some of the most common and costly plumbing problems come after something that isn’t supposed to go down the toilet gets flushed. Those with small children will need to create a greater flush awareness than those households where everyone understands what should and shouldn’t go into the toilet.

As a quick refresher, only toilet paper and human waste should be flushed down the toilet. Like those with septic tanks, some plumbing systems will need special septic-safe toilet paper to prevent clogs and facilitate proper function. Those homes hooked up to municipal plumbing systems can use any toilet paper. Feminine hygiene products, Q-Tips, paper towels, and even “flushable” wipes should never be flushed down the toilet, no matter the type of plumbing.

Know Water Leak Signs

One of the risky things about plumbing systems is they’re mostly out of sight. Other than the fixtures coming out of the walls and the occasional glance under the sink, most of the plumbing system is behind the walls or under the floors. This is why it’s important to know the signs of a water leak.

There are many signs there may be a water leak in the walls, or somewhere else the homeowner can’t easily see. The appearance of mold or mildew on the walls, ceiling, or floor can indicate a leak. This often, but not always, comes with peeling or bubbling wallpaper. The sound of running or dripping water coming from inside the wall also indicates that something is awry. A drop in water pressure and a rise in the water bill can also both indicate a leak.

Put Drain Cleaning in the Calendar

While watching what goes down the toilet drains is a good way to prevent expensive clogs, there are also other drains in the house to think about. These drains need a different kind of care. The shower and sink drains can build up hair and soap scum mounds, while the kitchen drain can clog with grease and coffee grounds. It’s hard to prevent buildup in these drains. However, drain cleaning is an excellent way to keep these drains from getting clogged and causing issues.

But using liquid drain cleaners isn’t the answer here. Not only can liquid drain cleaners eat away at the inside of the pipes, but they can also harm the environment. Hiring a professional plumber for drain cleaning services at least once or twice a year can prevent drain clogs. Many plumbers offer drain cleaning as part of their plumbing maintenance plans, which are worth looking into.

About Bedell Home Services

Bedell Home Services has been serving Carmel, IN, since 1988. They provide expert workmanship and superb customer service. They also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee to all their customers. Contact them today for drain cleaning, toilet repair, and leak repair in Carmel, IN.

Scary Movie Marathons Made Easy With These 3 Tips!

DIY the Perfect Halloween Home Theater This Year

Halloween isn’t Halloween without scary movie marathons. And scary movie marathons are nothing without the perfect home theater setup. That doesn’t mean homeowners have to go out and buy a whole new sound system for the occasion, but a few well-picked movies, snacks, and a cozy setup can make a world of difference. When it comes to Halloween movies, there are tons of classics to choose from. Whether homeowners want to have a family movie night or pick something horror-related, there is a perfect movie for everyone this year. However, the home isn’t ready without first tailoring to the furnace to ensure it works efficiently.

Luckily, professionals have all the tips and tricks to ensure homeowners have the perfect Halloween movie marathon night. All the information homeowners need is located below!

It Starts With the Perfect Movie Pick

The great thing about a Halloween movie marathon is that there are many great movies to choose from! They don’t all have to be scary movies either. There are choices for the entire family.

If homeowners want to start their Halloween movie marathon off with family-friendly movies that gradually get scarier as the night goes on, here is a good list to pull from:

Ghostbusters
Casper
Halloweentown
Hocus Pocus
Carrie
It: Chapter One
The Sixth Sense
Scream
Poltergeist
The VVitch
Midsommar
Halloween

Let’s be honest. If Halloween with Michael Meyers isn’t the finale of Halloween movie marathon night, can it even be considered a Halloween movie marathon?

Blanket Forts and Snacks Are a Must

There’s nothing better than watching numerous movies while cozied up inside a massive blanket fort. This goes for children and adults! There’s no age limit on enjoying a blanket fort. The only difference is that blanket forts tend to get larger and more intricate when they’re for adults.

If homeowners invite friends over, make sure they bring one blanket to contribute to the fort and another to cover up with, as well as a pillow!

However, what is a movie marathon without snacks? Homeowners can go the simple route with popcorn, chocolates, and candy corn, or they can try making their own Halloween-themed treats!

Here are a few ideas:

Magic Wands: Dip pretzel sticks into melted chocolate, add Halloween sprinkles to the chocolate end, and put a piece of candy corn on the end and let it dry
Strawberry Ghosts: Dip strawberries into white chocolate and add ghost faces to them
Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats: A little food coloring turns the Rice Krispie green, then uses minor art skills to put together the monster’s face with icing
Eyeballs: Cakepops that look like bloodshot eyes

Don’t Forget the Furnace

Although hearing the furnace make unusual noises during the movie could add to the scary appeal of the entire evening, it is best to ensure the furnace is working properly before hosting a scary movie marathon this Halloween.

If homeowners want to scare their guests, they can plan to bang on the walls themselves; there’s no sense in risking the entire night with a broken-down furnace because the homeowner didn’t have their heater professionally maintained before the evening’s festivities.

This time of year tends to be busy for HVAC workers, so homeowners should try to schedule in late September or early October.

Why Homeowners Should Call Bedell Home Services

There’s no one quite like Bedell Home Services in Carmel, IN. They are the company homeowners have relied on for all of their HVAC needs. They always use the latest technology and provide honest recommendations because they care about their customers. Call today for heating services!

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Avoid These 3 Common AC Problems!

Don’t Get Stuck Sweating! Prevent These Issues With Residential HVAC.

Even though fall weather may soon be here, the heat is still hanging around. Air conditioning is a great invention for optimal comfort, but it also has health benefits for the elderly and those with cardiac and respiratory issues. People certainly don’t want to be without cool air in the hottest part of the year. Here are a few maintenance pointers to help homeowners avoid sweating.

Obstructed or Restricted Airflow

Does there not seem to be proper airflow from the vents? It may not be a customer’s imagination. Poor airflow is a common problem with a variety of causes including:

Dirty Filter: Filters keep particulate matter and pollution out of a home’s air ducts but can be coated with dust and the like, thereby inhibiting airflow. Changing or cleaning the filter is an easy solution.
Duct Disconnect/ Damage: Whether it is from normal wear and tear or pests, traditional HVAC ducts can take damage or can be disconnected, causing uneven airflow in certain areas of a home. This one should be inspected and dealt with by an HVAC professional.
Fan Obstruction or Malfunction: If some debris is stuck inside the fan preventing rotation or something mechanical is malfunctioning, This will keep air from flowing properly. Again, one can take care of this with regular maintenance and inspection.
Damaged Fins: The shiny metal grate-like structure on the back of an air conditioning unit often gets knocked. This can flatten the thin metal pieces against each other and inhibit airflow to the unit. Straightening these fins is another part of a regular maintenance schedule.

Leaky Coolant

Coolant or refrigerant is the compressed gas that absorbs heat from the air as it blows over the copper coils containing it. It is an essential part of any HVAC system, but leaks can cause real problems for a unit.

Signs of a refrigerant leak:

Air is not blowing as cold as normal
Ice on the unit
Hissing sounds near the unit
Hot air blowing through vents

Regularly scheduled maintenance with a reliable HVAC contractor is key to preventing such leaks because they are typically caused by age and corrosion.

Where’s the Power? Unit Won’t Turn On

What if a homeowner’s air conditioning won’t even come on? Does the entire unit need to be replaced? This is not necessarily the case. It may be as simple as tightening a wire. Here are a few reasons an HVAC unit won’t power on:

Loose electrical connections
Thermostat malfunction
Thermostat battery

The end of the matter is this: regularly scheduled maintenance is best for the HVAC unit and the homeowner. There is great peace of mind in knowing that such an important part of the residential comfort will work properly when it is needed. Regular maintenance prevents or mitigates the need for emergency service and should keep a home’s unit in tip-top condition.

About Bedell Home Services

The professionals at Bedell Home Services have been serving Carmel, IN for years. They offer 24/7 service and personalized options. They also provide upfront pricing and a satisfaction guarantee on every job, big or small. Call them today for air conditioner service.