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Categories Superior Plumbing & Drain

Tank or Tankless Water Heater

tankless water heater

Choosing between a tank or tankless water heater is a common question we get from customers. While they both have benefits, the tank (generally about 40 gallons in a residential home) is the main difference. Without having to store the water, a tankless water heater operates with hot water on demand. Using a heat exchanger, the water runs through and is immediately heated before coming out of the faucet.

The Benefits of Tank Water Heaters

In a tank water heater, the entire volume of water is stored in the tank and consistently heated. As water is used, the water is replaced and heated. Two of the main benefits are the up-front costs and higher tolerance for usage across multiple faucets or showers. Tank water heaters are also simpler to operate and repair, as noted from customer feedback. Although cost, is the number one reason customer prefer the tank.

The Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters

With tankless water heaters, they are generally more energy efficient due to their on-demand nature. Water is only heated as it passes through the heat exchanger. Along with saving space, the longevity of a tankless heater is another benefit. Our customers site “endless hot water” as another benefit. Even though the hot water supply is not endless, it appears that way when used by fewer outlets at one time. Customers enjoy the ease and convenience of the tankless water heater when they are installed on a wall that is out of the way as well.

Superior Plumbing & Drain

We are a full-service residential plumber based in Henderson, NV serving the entire Las Vegas valley. Our company runs a full fleet of work trucks along with employing only experienced and certified technicians. We’re on call seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day and with more than thirty years experience, there is no jog too big for our team of plumbing experts. Call for your tank or tankless water heater installation.

Categories Superior Plumbing & Drain

Winterizing Outdoor Pipes

Winterizing Outdoor Pipes

Winterizing outdoor pipes saves money in the long run.  Be sure to follow these Superior Plumbing & Drain tips:

  1. Insulate pipes with insulation sleeves, wrapping or using slip-on foam pipe insulation. Don’t leave any gaps without insulation as cold air can affect the pipe in these spaces. Plastic piping is more tolerant than old copper or steel water pipes. Winterizing outdoor pipes now helps.
  2. Inspect the exterior of the property, making sure that all visible cracks are sealed. Cold air can enter through the cracks and, once inside, it will cause your pipe to freeze. If visible cracks are noticed, seal them using caulking or spray foam to fill the voids.
  3. Maintain a heating source inside the building to protect pipes against cold.
  4. It is a good idea to maintain a faucet dripping, allowing the water to move freely and continuously, preventing it from freezing.
  5. Make sure the crawl space is properly insulated. Block all vents that lead to the outside using cardboard or wood.
  6. Don’t forget the hose bibs. Hose bibs are normally left unattended, causing them to burst in the middle of the night. Drain hose bibs and insulate with covers. Once this has been completed, deactivate bibs at the shutoff valve.
  7. Use heat tape to protect pipes from freezing. Heat tape is one of the preferred methods for winterizing plumbing, but be aware that these might bring additional hazards. The U.S. CPSC has provided safety recommendations for homeowners using heat tapes to help prevent fires.

Superior Plumbing & Drain

We’ve been servicing Las Vegas for many years and we see pipes burst all the time. Be sure to follow these steps and save yourself some money along the way.

If you need emergency plumbing services, please call us at (702) 468-9743. Our technicians are on call twenty-four, seven to serve you. For all plumbing issues, call Superior Plumbing & Drain.

Categories Superior Plumbing & Drain

Water Conservation

Water Conservation - Lake Mead

Water conservation is more important than ever in Las Vegas. As of August of 2021, Lake Mead was only filled to 35% of its capacity and with lower than normal snow falls in the Rocky Mountains, there I no end in sight for the drought conditions.

The Summer of 1999 was the last time the lake was at or near capacity. As noted by https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ the article states: “For the 2022 water year, which begins October 1, Mexico will receive 80,000 fewer acre-feet, approximately 5 percent of the country’s annual allotment and Nevada’s take will be cut by: 21,000 acre-feet (about 7 percent of the state’s annual apportionment). The biggest cuts will come to Arizona, which will receive 512,000 fewer acre-feet, approximately 18 percent of the state’s annual apportionment and 8 percent of the state’s total water use (for agriculture and human consumption). An acre-foot is enough water to supply one to two households a year.”

For the full article, click here

Superior Plumbing & Drain

As a family owned and operated company, we’re members of the community too. That’s why we treat every customer just like family. Call us at (702) 478-9643 for a free plumbing estimate.

Please consider water conservation by following local and state guidelines.

Categories Superior Plumbing & Drain

Summer Plumbing

summer plumbing

Summer plumbing in Las Vegas has many challenges. In addition to regular hard water challenges, the Las Vegas heat and additional summer use causes its own set of problems. We’re here to help identify potential issues before the become a major water issue. Our professional team is on call 24/7 and ready to serve when needed.

Disposals

As we use our kitchens to cook more vegetable son the grill and larger meals for our guests, the disposal gets more use. Be sure to remove large, fibrous items before turning it on. Larger items like corn husks and vegetable stems. When ground up, they don’t go all the way through the pipes. This leaves smaller pieces that cause odors and additional blockage.

Sprinklers

The harsh heat leads to busted pipes. For sprinklers in the yard, they are usually in the direct sunlight. While the pipes are underground, the water in the pipes is still hot which can cause the pipes to expand. The constant expansion and contraction of the pipes makes them weak. In time, this leads to a pipe failure and leaks or floods.

Superior Plumbing & Drain

As a family-owned company, our team treats every job like a family visit. We wear the proper foot protection to guard against floor scuffs and scrapes. We also come in a clean uniform to every job. It’s -our dedication to our customers that sets us apart from the competition. For an appointment for your summer plumbing, call our office at (702) 478-9643 and we’ll get you on the schedule.

Categories Superior Plumbing & Drain

Running Toilets Waste Water

Running toilets waste water

Running toilets waste water. The fact is, running toilets are a common issue for our residential customers. However, with Southern Nevada in unprecedented drought conditions, the wasted water needs to be reduced. It’s crucial now, more than ever that we come together as a community and conserve as much water as possible.

Toilet Is Running Only at Night

It’s possible your toilet only leaks at night; that’s because we use much less water during these hours and in many municipal water systems, the water pressure rises considerably during this time. It is not uncommon for system water pressure to rise by 15 to 20 pounds per square inch (psi), and by as much as 30 psi in some situations.

Parts of a Toilet

Above the ground, our toilets only have a few parts that residents interact with. These are: the bowl, tank, float, flapper and supply line. When dealing with leaking toilets, we often see the float and flapper as the culprit. We’re going to focus on the flapper for the rest of this article.

The Flapper

This is the flush valve seal and serves to control the volume of water passing from the tank to the bowl during the flush cycle. It mates with the seat on the flush valve to complete the seal and prevent water leaking from the tank into the bowl. Almost all flappers are shaped, in part, like a “flying saucer,” that is, slight “dome” on top, flat like a “pancake” in the center and then (not like a flying saucer) a “funnel” or “bulb” shape on the bottom.

To stop a leaking toilet, start with the flapper as it usually solves the problem. While you have to get -your hands a little dirty, replacing the flap will help conserve water and save money in the long run.

If you need any additional help, please call Superior Plumbing & Drain at (702) 478-9643.

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