Water Heater Thermocouple Replacement Made Easy

water heater thermocouple replacement service by leone plumbing Your water heater is one of your house appliances that serve a lot of benefits for your home. It gives hot water needed for your hot drinks, showers, baths, laundry, and dishes. Every part of it is important especially the water heater thermocouple. But what if it suddenly dysfunctions and needs replacement? Can you replace it by yourself? If you can’t, let us tell you how. Water Heater Thermocouple Replacement by Leone Plumbing

What does a water heater thermocouple do?

Before you perform water heater thermocouple replacement, you need to know what a water heater thermocouple does. It is one of the important parts of your water heater. This part transforms heat from a flame into a minimal electric current. It works like a switch to regulate gas flow from the gas supply valve.

The 5 Easy Steps For Water Heater Thermocouple Replacement

Now that you know what a water heater thermocouple does, it’s time to get your hands working. Here are the easy steps for water heater thermocouple replacement.

1. Turn off your gas supply.

For your safety, make sure that the gas control valve is turned off before you start.

2. Remove the burner access covers.

Normally, the burner just slides out since it sits loosely. You first need to detach the nuts that are holding the thermocouple and the two tubes to the valve.

3. Detach the thermocouple.

The thermocouple is typically snapped into place to the pilot gas supply with one or more clips. The end of it is inserted within the pilot assembly which you can pull out easily. Be reminded of how the old thermocouple is placed (take pictures) since this is important for step number 4.
Note: Make sure that you got the correct part for your water heater thermocouple replacement. Bring along with you the detached thermocouple when you buy one at a hardware store.

4. Install the new thermocouple.

You need to make sure that you install the thermocouple the same way as how the old one was placed. To test, turn on the control valve. Your water heater should be back working.

5. Turn the gas back on.

Please follow the water heater lighting instructions once the gas is turned on. Watch out for gas leaks! You can check by putting soapy water into joints. If you see bubbles while the main burner is firing, it means gas is leaking.

Do you still need help?

If you encounter something odd on your water heater such as gas leaks, we are here to help. Reach out to us anytime!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Photo Credit: Edited in Canva, Photo by Charlotte May from Pexels
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Radiant Heat Driveway: The Advantages and Drawbacks

Radiant Heat Driveway Install By Leone Plumbing   Are you shoveling snow at least 10 times (or more) every week during winter? Getting rid of snow and ice on your driveway can be a major back sore! With a radiant heat driveway system, you can put aside your shovels during the winter season. If you prioritize safety, installing a heated driveway helps to minimize the safety hazards of slippery pavements. It can also prevent accidents for your loved ones and visitors. If you are considering installing a heated driveway system, we present to you the pros and cons to help you decide. Radiant Heat Driveway Installation By Leone Plumbing

The Advantages of a Radiant Heat Driveway System

Now, we will take a look at the advantages or the pros of having a radiant heat driveway system.
Minimal Maintenance Service
A radiant heat driveway system can operate for many years upon installation. Barring unforeseen issues, there is nothing more you need to do. Just ensure that the heating components are large and spaced evenly, and sharp stones were not present when the driveway was drenched.
Shovel-Free Winter
Say goodbye to back pain and give yourself a break during winter. Getting rid of snow shoveling lessens accidents such as slip-and-fall. You can also avoid frostbites and hypothermia from shoveling outdoors for a long time. The risk of unintentionally chipping your pavement with shovels can be prevented.
Avoid The Hazards Of Deicing
Rock salts or other deicers have damaging effects on your pavement and close-by plants. It is better to minimize or stop its usage. Aside from that, you can eliminate the risk of contact or accidental ingestion of deicers to your kids and pets.

Drawbacks of a Radiant Heat Driveway System

From discussing the pros, let us talk about the drawbacks or cons of a heated driveway.
Costly Installation
Installing a heated driveway can be expensive. In order to incorporate a sub-pavement heating system, a new driveway has to be set in place. A new driveway plus the heating system itself may cost thousands of dollars.
The Expense Of Repair
If properly placed, the heated driveway system doesn’t require maintenance. But if they do, the entire driveway needs to be dismantled for repair. It is also expensive to fix electrical wires and PVC tubes if punctured. This is why it’s important to choose the right and experienced heated driveway system installers.
Operating Cost
The total expense to operate a heated driveway may depend on the size of the heated area. The bigger the area it covers, the higher the operational cost. Temperature is also a contributing factor including how frequently snow/ice accumulates.

Make Your Driveway Winter Ready

Installing a heated driveway is worth the investment. It will not only keep your driveway snow-free, but it also protects your family and friends from accidents. It is best to install a heated driveway system before winter begins. Contact us today to find out more!                                                                                                                                                                              

| Photo Credits: (Man Shoveling) Photo by Filip Mroz on Unsplash(Driveway) Photo by Eric Mclean on Pexels

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Water Leak Detector: Detect Water Leak And Protect Your Property

water leak detector installation by Leone Plumbing One of the main causes of property damage is water leaks. This problem is also causing crucial wastage of water resources. If not prevented, water leaks can foster the growth of molds. This can bring serious health concerns to any individual inside the property. For this reason, having a water leak detector is a wise move when it comes to leak detection.

Why should you consider installing a water leak detector?

If you care for your property and the people around you, you need to consider installing a detector for water leaks. Undetected leaks can cause terrible damage due to accumulated water. A small leak may further intensify into inconvenient water invasion incidents if not treated. But with the aid of a leak detector, you can spot water leaks in no time which help you in:
  • Conserving water resources.
  • Preventing the accumulation of molds.
  • Protecting furniture, appliances, and other important keepsakes from water damage.
  • Avoiding structural damages to the property.

Water Leak Detector Types

Water leak detectors come in various types depending on the technology. Here are the three main types.
Flow Meters
It reads the flow velocity, pressure, and vibration inside the pipeline. Any abnormal readings indicate escaping water from a leak. An analytics platform interprets the reading that helps to locate cracks so you can perform maintenance.
Acoustic Sensors
This system uses sound to locate leaks. The noise produced by water seeping through a fracture is captured by the system’s acoustic sensors. The size of a leak is determined through sound. If it captures high-frequency sound, it is interpreted as a small leak and vice versa.
Flood Sensors
This is the most common leak detector type.  A flood sensor triggers an alarm if the gadget came in contact with water. Other flood sensors have an option to adjust the level of water detection to avoid false alarms.

Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze Detector

Aside from the mentioned main detector types, there are other types as well such as Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze Detector. We mostly use Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Water Leak And Freeze Detector. This gadget will alert you once it detects moisture and freezing temperatures. Its sensors can record the humidity and temperature of the area being monitored. When you are at home, you are notified by audible alerts or text messages if you are away. Leone Plumbing water leak detector installation

Protect Your Property From Water Leaks

If not prevented, water leaks may cause significant damage to your property. Afterward, they are a huge hassle to deal with and may disrupt your regular activities. Protect your home or establishment from water leaks with the help of a water leak detector. Talk to us to know what device fits your needs and budget. We have a team of experienced technicians to help you with proper installation. | Photo Credits: PixabayCanva
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How does a water-powered sump pump work?

Leone Plumbing Water Powered Sump Pump Installation   When mother nature set its course, one of the concerns of homeowners is basement flooding. Flooding can cause damages to your house furniture, appliances, and other important keepsakes. Your sump pump is your home’s primary defense against encroaching floods. It normally works when you have power supplied to the house during normal rainy conditions. But what if you lose power? What should you do? The best option is to have a backup water-powered sump pump.

Why is it important to have a sump pump backup?

The main sump pump is usually powered by electricity. In the event of unexpected power loss, the pump will eventually stop removing water from your home. This is the reason why it is a wise choice to get a water-powered sump pump as a backup.

How does a water-powered sump pump operate?

During the worst storm conditions, a power outage can happen and will render your electric sump pump useless. With a water-powered sump pump, the unit uses water pressure from the incoming water supply lines of your home to pump out water in the sump pit. It will then activate the float causing the valve to open in the base pump (installed on the ceiling above your sump pit). The valve will then send the water from your incoming water supply through the pump ejector. While the water runs through the pump ejector, there is a powerful suction created by flowing water. This mechanism sucks water out of the sump pit which will then discharge it outdoors. Leone Plumbing water-powered sump pump installation  

No Electricity? No Problem!

As long as your home continues to receive water supply, the water-powered sump pump will operate. It does not require a battery and does not need electrical power. When operational, it can remove as much as 1,324 gallons of water per hour, leaving your basement dry.

Protect your basement in a cost-effective way

Having a water-powered emergency sump pump is worth the investment. You will love this pump because it’s not only a reliable backup pumping system but it’s cost-effective too! You will be able to protect your basement even if there is no electricity for an extended period of time. In addition, it’s low maintenance and no battery to be concerned about. If you want to find out more about sump pump installation, call us right away and we will be happy to speak with you. | Photo Credit: Pixabay, Canva  
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Grohe Bathroom Fixtures: Bringing Luxury and Functionality To Your Home

Leone Plumbing And Grohe Bathroom Fixtures The time we spend in the bathroom is precious. After a busy and tiring day, the bathroom serves as your sanctuary within the home to relax. Your bathroom should not only function well, but it should also offer comfort and a feeling of luxury. So take your bathroom’s overall look to the next level with Grohe bathroom fixtures. If you are planning to upgrade, consider Grohe bathroom fixtures to achieve that grand and elegant look for your bathroom.

The Latest Trends In Adding Luxury To The Bathroom

As an expert in bathroom renovation, we are aware that clients want to experience the same standard of comfort they can get from luxury hotels. Most customers want to incorporate that same high standard of comfort in their own homes. That is why we use Grohe bathroom fixtures for high-end luxury bathroom renovation. Grohe’s extensive line of products offers industry-leading technology providing bathroom sink faucets, shower faucets, and tub faucets for an idealistic aesthetic in the bathroom. The trend for luxurious finishes has become a trend. There has been a demand for more architectural and striking structures within tap design. We believe that the trend for luxurious finishes will continue to grow as people are becoming aesthetically aware through social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. Social media will continue to influence how people would want to upgrade their homes, especially the bathroom.

Does bathroom size matter in bringing a touch of luxury into a bathroom?

For us, bathroom size doesn’t matter. We can provide a luxurious offering for any bathroom size. You can achieve that luxurious finish through small touches such as matching pretty brassware accessories to the taps and shower fixtures. Grohe bathroom fixtures offer the best and stylish products that cater small to extra large sizing service. If you have an extra small tap, for example, it can be used in a cloakroom with a smaller sink. On the other hand, an extra-large tap is the ideal focal point for a statement room. These examples go to show that even in the smallest of spaces, luxury or product quality does not need to be compromised.

Ensuring Luxurious And Functional Bathroom Experience

What we like about Grohe bathroom fixtures is it does not only offer up to date line of products but it’s functional too. The functionality that Grohe products offer ensures a luxury hotel standard of comfort in every bathroom. Plus, Grohe has been an industry itself when it comes to bathroom fixtures. Quality and durability equate to how functional it is. With this being said, luxury and functionality are not only ensured but also future-proof you’re home.

Achieve that luxury bathroom of your dreams!

We are here to help you to achieve that luxury bathroom you desire. We offer various remodel bathroom ideas that are suitable for you. The renovation cost is doable with our Home Improvement Financing option. Contact us today to find out more.  | Photo Credits: Pixabay, Canva
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AO Smith Hot Water Heater Proper Care And Maintenance

  AO Smith Hot Water Heater Proper Care And Maintenance Water heaters are one of the important appliances in your home that you need to maintain. As a certified AO Smith Hot Water Heater technician, we know very well how to maintain the unit. If you own an AO Smith Hot Water Heater or planning to have one, this article will help you how to maintain the unit safely on your own.

Maintaining your AO Smith Hot Water Heater

You can do the unit maintenance by yourself. But before you get your hands working, make sure that you turn off the unit before touching it. In your home’s breaker box, switch off the circuit breaker for the water heater first. After you have turned off the unit, you are good to go. Maintaining your AO Smith Hot Water Heater can be performed with these easy steps.
Check the temperature and pressure relief valve.
This should be done once a year. Annually test the temperature-pressure relief valve by discharging it quickly at least three times. While doing this, keep an eye for small leaks from the valve. If you see any drips, you need to repair the leaks or tighten the connections.
Watch out for leaks.
One of the culprits of water heater leaks is high water pressure or thermal expansion. You can control water pressure by installing a thermal expansion tank. To monitor the water pressure, you will need a water pressure gauge attached to the water heater drain valve or an outside faucet. If you find the water pressure reaches above 80 PSI, we recommend installing a pressure-reducing valve. We recommend setting the home’s water pressure to 50-60 PSI. Higher water pressure can damage your water heater and your plumbing system. Also, check the water heater flue pipe for any leaks that could result in carbon monoxide leaks. Inspection for leaks should be done every month. Do immediate repair if you find any leaks.
Check the anode rod.
This aluminum or magnesium rod should be checked from time to time and needs to be replaced if worn out. The anode rod helps in protecting the tank from leaks. To remove the anode rod, follow the instructions in your owner’s manual. You will know that you need to replace the rod if it looks slightly “chewed up” or most of the metal is gone.
Drain and Flush
Drain and flush the tank at least once a year. The first thing to do is you need to connect a garden hose to the drain valve and place the other end on a drain or outside. Using a screwdriver, open the drain valve and drain a few gallons of water. If the water looks cloudy, drain the tank until the water is clear.

Additional Maintenance and Safety Tips

Aside from routine maintenance, make sure that your water heater is not near any flammable materials such as gasoline, paint, and chemicals. Remove any combustible materials close by the unit to avoid incidents of fire. If you need urgent maintenance assistance, please feel free to contact us.
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