Bedell Home Services Archives - Bedell Home Services

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.

Distribution Links +

Must-Know Indoor Air Quality and Humidity Facts

Everything You Need to Know About Humidity and the Effects It Can Have on Your Home and Family

A hidden danger lurks in many homes that most homeowners are unaware of- indoor air quality concerns. Indoor air quality, or IAQ, refers to the health and safety value assigned to the air within the home. Poor quality means dust, pollen, dirt, chemicals, or mold contaminating the air. Good quality means the air is clean and safe to breathe in and be exposed to every day. Home air quality is important because daily exposure to pollutants and other harmful things can lead to major health issues for homeowners and their families.

Many components impact IAQ within a home; one of the most overlooked is humidity. It is time to dispel some confusion about humidity and its impact on the home and show how home humidifiers and dehumidifiers can help maintain this delicate and vital balance!

What Is Humidity, and Why Does Humidity Matter for Indoor Air Quality?

Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the home’s air supply. Just as someone can walk outside and feel dry air that leaves their lips and nose dry and their throat parched, the same effect can occur indoors. This is especially common in the winter months when excessive use of heaters removes almost all moisture from the air.

Conversely, someone can walk outside in the summer and feel the air is almost heavy or sticky with moisture that leaves them almost feeling wet and sticky. While not to that extreme, there can be an overabundance of moisture in the home during the warm rainy seasons. The moisture level in the home will affect IAQ and can impact things like the growth of mold and mildew or lead to issues for family members, such as headaches or nosebleeds. Humidity levels matter, and most homeowners are unaware of how to monitor and control the humidity levels in their homes.

Why Homeowners Might Need to Consider Using Humidifiers

One handy device homeowners should have on hand, especially in Northern climates where heaters are widespread for months at a time, is the humidifier. There are humidifiers homeowners can set up in a single room to add back some of the lost moisture and keep the air from being too dry. There are also whole home humidifiers that can do the same for the entire house quickly and easily. If family members are experiencing dry skin, nosebleeds, sore throats, and other symptoms, then a home humidifier might be needed to keep IAQ at a comfortable level by keeping humidity levels from dropping too low.

Why Homeowners Might Need to Consider Using Dehumidifiers

Another device that does the exact opposite is the dehumidifier. As the name implies, this device removes excess moisture from the home to keep levels safe and manageable. These are common in areas with hot and wet summer months where excessive moisture outside finds its way into the home and causes issues with mold.

Single-room dehumidifiers and whole-home dehumidifiers can maintain humidity levels around the recommended 30-50% level. If homeowners notice mold and mildew growth or have family members experiencing flare-ups with allergy and asthma symptoms, humidity levels might make them sick.

About Bedell Home Services

At Bedell Home Services of Carmel, IN, homeowners can find all the indoor air quality services they seek. From inspections to cleaning and maintenance to full system overhauls, they do it all and more! With a professional team of friendly and knowledgeable staff and a commitment to quality and excellence that goes above and beyond for every client, it is easy to see why more and more homeowners trust Bedell Home Services. Call them to check the home’s humidity levels and air quality today!

Distribution Links +

What You Need To Know About Sewer Video Inspection Services

Understanding What Sewer Camera Inspection Is All About

Every homeowner, renter, resident, or occupant of a home has, at least at one point in their lives, had to deal with a clog - whether it was a major or minor one, in the sink, toilet, or tub - a drain clog is just practically a part of living. However, This doesn’t mean that one should treat it as a minor inconvenience that will eventually go away.

While some clogs resolve easily, recurring ones might signal a bigger issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Thankfully, there are many ways to diagnose a plumbing problem, including for more severe clogs and backups - a situation that may require the expertise of a plumber and a procedure called sewer camera inspection.

What It Is

Because pipelines are not easily accessible and are often hidden behind walls, under floors, and even underground, it is not always easy to tell what is causing a problem in the plumbing system. Thankfully, advances in modern technology have made it possible to look into the pipes and see with certainty what is creating a problem in the plumbing.

This is done through video camera inspection, wherein plumbers use a small camera mounted to a flexible cable inserted into the pipes to visually confirm potential issues, such as a clogged sewer line, sewage leak, or tree root infiltration. These cameras transmit images and location so that any problems found in the plumbing can be located precisely.

Some Signs That a Sewer Video Inspection Is Necessary

While sewer video inspection is a precise method for determining a potential sewer line repair, it is not always necessary and should be reserved for problems that have the following indications:

Backed-up water - water backing up and refusing to drain is a sign of a serious clog
Foul odors - an unpleasant stench coming from a drain in the house could be a sign of a sewer line clog or sewage backing up
Slow draining - drains that are taking forever to clear are a sign of blockage
Mold - the presence of mold could indicate that sewage is backing up and creating damp spots where mold thrives
Insect infestation - a sewage backup could be creating the perfect habitat for insects like cockroaches and flies, which are attracted to foul odors and unsanitary conditions

Benefits of Sewer Camera Inspection

After determining that a sewer video inspection is needed to resolve a plumbing problem, it’s good to know that this procedure has many benefits. Not only does it help plumbers assess the extent and nature of the plumbing problem, but it also helps catch problems early - problems that may already be present in the pipelines but of which no symptoms have presented at home to provide clues for the homeowner.

Catching problems early is important so that repairs can be made at lower costs than the expense incurred if a complete sewer line replacement were necessary. Video inspection also benefits everyone involved because it helps resolve problems with minimal disruption to daily life and minimal property damage.

About Bedell Home Services

Bedell Home Services has provided expert plumbing, heating, and air conditioning services to Carmel, IN, since 1988. This family-owned and operated company is licensed, bonded, and insured, employing highly trained and trustworthy professionals who can get any job done right the first time. They also offer competitive pricing and easy financing options for their customers. Call them today in Carmel, IN, for sewer inspection service.

Distribution Links +

This Winter Watch For Indicators That The Furnace Needs To Be Replaced

Furnace Replacement: When Is It Necessary?

Winter is here, and the question for folks in Indiana is: Is the furnace working? Temperatures in this part of the country can be harsh, even without the threat of snow. Furnaces and other heating systems must be ready for the cold just as much as people prepare themselves or their vehicles for the cold slog of a journey over the next few months. People often take their HVAC system for granted until it is not working.

Just like any other appliance, furnaces only last for a certain period and will eventually need to be replaced. This article will cover three major indicators that a home’s furnace might not last the season.

Warning Sign #1: The Furnace Is Older

No matter how good a homeowner’s furnace maintenance plan is, there will come a time when the heater is just too old to function properly, or the professionals working on it will be unable to find the proper parts. Furnaces usually last between 10 and 15 years. If a home’s furnace is within this age range and often needs repairs, it will likely begin costing more to perform furnace repair than to replace that furnace with a new, fully functioning furnace.

Warning Sign #2: Energy Bills Are Climbing

Rising costs during the winter do not always mean a problem with the furnace; it could simply be rising fuel costs. If the bill is suddenly much higher than expected, the homeowner should have someone look at their heating system. The reasons a malfunctioning furnace or heater can cause an increase in energy bills are part of the following list.

Poor Energy Efficiency: As any machine ages, it needs more and more energy to run properly. It may be sucking too much energy to heat the home.
Not Heating as Well: If the furnace is not producing the optimal amount of heat, it will have to run longer and more often to keep the home at a comfortable temperature.
Duct Problems: The ducts need attention, too. If they are damaged, it can cause the precious temperature-controlled air to be lost; this means the furnace will have to use extra energy to keep the house at the proper temperature.
Damage: Some sort of external damage can cause the unit to become less efficient. Furnace repair will be needed to restore it.

Warning Sign #3: Inconsistent Home Comfort

The furnace may also need to be replaced if the home does not seem to stay consistently comfortable. This can be a problem that is caused by anything from the furnace pilot light to the air filter. Some of the discomforting things that can happen with a malfunctioning furnace include:

Humidity
Too cold
Too hot
Temperature is constantly fluctuating

If a homeowner notices any of the above problems, they should seek help from a licensed HVAC professional.

About Bedell Home Services

For more than 30 years, Bedell Home Services has provided excellent workmanship in home comfort for the people of Carmel, IN, and the surrounding areas. Call today for 24-hour emergency HVAC repair and service.

Distribution Links +

When Will a Home Benefit From a Water Softener?

Understanding Hard Water

Hard water is a problem that plagues the majority of US households. Most people don’t even realize that the problems they have with their water are caused by hardness. Despite the widespread problems that hard water can cause, most people don’t know what hard water is or how to recognize the signs.

Hard water is a term used to describe the amount of dissolved ions in drinking water sources. The ions come from minerals found in the subsoil of a region that water leeches out and carries with it through the treatment process and into the home. Removing these minerals, mostly calcium and magnesium, is expensive on a municipal scale. Still, it can be easily and cheaply done in the home to avoid the problems that hard water can cause.

How Does a Water Softener Work?

Water softeners work by removing hard minerals from water. Owners can install a few different types of water softeners to deal with their hard water. The most common choices are:

Salt-Based Water Softeners: These are the most common and time-tested soft water solutions. They use a special resin that attracts ions to remove them from incoming water. Once the resin is full of hardness ions, a strong brine is washed over the water-softener resin to regenerate it, and the cycle starts again.
Template-Assisted Crystallization: “TAC” devices use a special matrix to encourage ions to crystalize together. This causes the ions to clump together, reducing their effects on the hardness of water.
Point-of-Use Water Softeners: Water softening devices can be installed on shower heads or faucets to provide soft water to single-use points.

How to Tell a Home Has Hard Water

Since most homes deal with hard water, but only a few install water softeners, there is a deficit of knowledge regarding hard water. If people knew the signs of hard water and the benefits of soft water, more people would take advantage of cheap technology to fix the problem. Some of the common signs of hard water are:

The unsightly buildup of mineral scale on fixtures
Constant water pressure problems
Short-lived water heaters
Plumbing problems
High water heating bills
Dry hair and skin
Poor tasting water

Reasons to Install Whole-Home Water Softeners

One of the biggest barriers to entry regarding water softeners is that people are reluctant to spend money on a problem when they don’t have a firm grasp of how the solution will help them. This is especially true with water softeners since most people haven’t experienced how effective their water can be when it is softened. Some of the reasons to install whole-home water softeners are:

Water rinses away grime more effectively, leaving dishes spotless and laundry brighter
Soaps are more effectively removed from skin and hair, leaving them radiant and smooth
Fewer ions in the water means better-tasting water
Having fewer corrosion-causing ions allows plumbing fixtures to last longer and reduces the cost of plumbing bills

About Bedell Home Services

Bedell Home Services helps owners achieve better water and plumbing every day. Their licensed experts handle water softener installation and various plumbing services. Call today for expert water softening in Carmel, IN.