Tag: household

Practical Strategies to Cut Household Water Costs

Easy Ways to Help Reduce Water Bills

Homeowners often look for ways to manage their monthly utility expenses, and water bills are no different, with several simple ways to help reduce them. By implementing a few strategic habit changes, plumbing upgrades, and catching leaks early, households can save water and lower water costs without sacrificing the comfort and convenience of a modern plumbing system.

Implement Water-Saving Habits

sinkOne easy way to lower water costs is to slightly adjust daily routines that involve water use. Simple habit changes, such as turning off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving, can prevent gallons of water from being wasted and going down the drain every day. In the kitchen, homeowners can optimize their water use by using a water-efficient dishwasher and running it only when it is full, rather than hand-washing dishes. 

Outdoor water habits can also play a role in overall consumption and costs. A vital strategy for the yard is to avoid watering during the middle of the day. When the sun and heat are at their peak, water evaporates much faster, meaning more water is required to adequately hydrate the yard and landscape. Watering in the early morning or late evening, when it is cooler, and there is less direct sunlight, ensures that moisture reaches the roots and less water is needed.

Install Water-Saving Fixtures

shower Upgrading old, inefficient plumbing fixtures with new, water-efficient ones is a long-term investment that pays off in monthly water savings. Modern low-flow showerheads are designed to reduce water use while maintaining good water pressure, so saving water doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort. Similarly, old faucets can be replaced with new, water-saving faucets, or a faucet aerator can be installed for a quick and inexpensive fix. Faucet aerators mix air into the water stream, reducing the total amount of water used without compromising spray effectiveness or water pressure.

Replacing each outdated, inefficient toilet in the home with a water-saving toilet can also drastically cut water consumption and costs. Like water-saving showerheads and faucets, there are many types of water-saving toilets to choose from, including gravity-assist, pressure-assisted, and dual-flush models that can save water with each flush. These technology-driven changes can allow a home to operate more efficiently without impacting the user experience.

Fix Water Leaks

Undetected water leaks can be a significant contributor to inflated water costs. Homeowners should contact a plumber for water leak detection if they notice signs of a leak, such as decreased water pressure, a spike in the monthly water bill, running water sounds when no fixtures are in use, and damp spots. Additionally, water damage, including water stains or discoloration on walls or ceilings, damaged or warped flooring, and more, also indicates a water leak.  

When these signs of a water leak are present, and a professional is called for water leak detection, they will identify the location and cause of the leak and perform the necessary water leak repair. Fixing a leak as soon as possible prevents unnecessary water waste and protects the home from further water damage and repair costs.

About Meridian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical

Meridian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical has over 40 years of experience serving the Lansing community and surrounding areas. They provide fast response, the best brands, and satisfaction guaranteed. Call for plumbing services in Lansing, MI. 

Installing a Standby Generator Can Benefit the Household

White HVAC unit surrounded by landscaped stones and mulch near grass and a wooden fence, from The Meridian Company.

Why Get a Standby Generator Installation? 

In modern society, access to reliable power is a necessity. Lighting, appliances, and devices are all in constant use, and a loss of power can be a major inconvenience. When situations or storms knock out power, standby generators can restore power to the home. 

Standby generators are whole home generators that supply power when it goes out. Here is a quick guide to standby generators, including how they work, when they are needed, and their advantages.  

How Do Standby Generators Work?

Standby generator by Generac in a residential setting, illuminated at night, surrounded by landscaping, emphasizing reliable power restoration during outages.Once installed, a whole-house generator turns on and operates automatically when the power goes out, eliminating the need for manual intervention during a power outage. Equipped with sophisticated sensors and switches, it detects power loss and immediately springs into action within seconds. 

The generator's engine starts, and power is restored to the home, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply to essential appliances, lights, and other things in the home requiring electricity. This seamless transition provides peace of mind and convenience, allowing homeowners to weather power outages without disruption.

When Are Generators Needed?

Woman sitting on a couch with candles, expressing concern during a power outage, illustrating the need for standby generators for home safety and convenience.Many situations can cause homes to lose power, including: 

  • Planned outages
  • Storms with high winds
  • Lightning
  • Excessive heat
  • Construction projects
  • Unusually high power demand
  • Vehicle collision with a utility pole 
  • Trees fall on utility poles

With a professionally installed standby generator, homes don’t have to worry about losing power during these instances, as it will supply electricity to the home until the power comes back. 

Benefits of Installing a Whole-Home Generator 

People rely on electricity for so much in their homes, so having a standby generator is extremely beneficial for convenience and safety. Some of the advantages of a whole-home generator installation are: 

  • Emergency Power: Generators can provide electricity for the whole home during an outage. 
  • Powers Medical Equipment: Standby generators ensure that any medical equipment that is powered by electricity can be used during an outage to keep people safe and healthy. 
  • Access to Refrigeration: Generators provide electricity to power the refrigerator and freezer during outages to prevent food from spoiling and being wasted.  
  • Climate Control: During periods of no power, families will be stuck in the hot or cold without heating or air conditioning. However, generators can power heaters and air conditioners to keep homes safe and comfortable. 

About Meridian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical

Meridian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical is a local family-owned business serving the Lansing area. They offer fast response, the best brands, and superior customer service. Call them for electrical services in Lansing, MI. 

Household Electrical Hazards You Can Avoid

Electrical outlet with smoke and flames, indicating a fire hazard in a residential property.

3 Common Electrical Hazards Most Houses Have

Between smartphones, electric stoves, dryers, and all the other electrical appliances of the modern age, it’s hard to imagine a world without electricity. But the benefits of electricity don’t come without their risks. There are an estimated 51,000 home fires caused by electrical hazards every year, and most of those fires are preventable with the right knowledge. Keep reading to learn about three common electrical hazards found in the average home, and how to prevent them from becoming a big problem.

The Most Common: Overloaded Power StripsOverloaded power strip with burned socket and damaged plug, illustrating common electrical hazards in homes.

Every home in America is guilty of overloading power strips. It just happens! Plugging in phones, computers, TVs, and other appliances can take up all the outlets in a home, so people resort to overtaxing a powerstrip for extra bandwidth. 

When is a powerstrip overloaded? Power strips have a maximum amount of amps they can handle, usually under 12. Any amount of appliances plugged in that use more than 12 amps can overload a power strip. For perspective, a toaster and a coffee maker usually use about 20 amps of energy. It’s better to underload a power strip, to prevent any melting or burning that can arise from electrical surges. If calculating amps and wattage aren’t possible while using a power strip, a good rule of thumb is to avoid using more than half of the outlets on the strip itself.

The Oldest Issue: Poor or Outdated Wiring

Historic homes may come with unique features and beautiful architecture, but they also come with a danger hidden in the walls: old wires. Homes more than a few decades old aren’t set up to handle modern electrical needs. The average modern home can handle 200 amps of electricity, but most older homes can only manage a fourth of that or around 60 amps. 

Additionally, homes older than 20 years are usually fitted with frayed, poorly insulated wiring and fuses. Worn-down wire insulation, broken fuses, or overworked old wires can lead to electrical fires. Because of this trend, older homes should be inspected for outdated wiring. The only solution for old wiring is to have an electrician run new wires throughout the home that can handle the needs of modern technology.

The Easy Mistake: Using the Wrong Light BulbsLight bulb on a white background, symbolizing the importance of choosing the correct wattage and type to prevent electrical hazards in older homes.

Most people don’t think there’s such a thing as using the wrong light bulb, but there most definitely is! Using a light bulb with too high of wattage can lead to overheating of the lightbulb itself. The result can mean melted light sockets and damage to wiring and wiring insulation connected to the socket. What’s more, using the wrong type of light bulb can send electric bills through the roof and contribute to energy waste in the home.

Preventing electrical disasters isn’t rocket science. Homeowners can watch out for these common electrical hazards and stop them from harming their homes. Of course, if professional help is needed, contact a local electrician for assistance.

About Meridian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical 

The people of Lansing know that when electrical problems come calling, Meridian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical is ready to fix them! For over three decades, their reliable experts have been providing 24/7 electrical support to their community. They guarantee satisfied customers and top-of-the-line work with every project. Call today for reliable electric service in Lansing, MI.