Commercial Plumbing Updates to Save You Water and Money

Saving water means saving money for residential and commercial property owners alike. Making a few simple updates to your commercial property can drastically reduce your daily water usage to add up to significant savings each year. If your commercial building in Anderson, SC, older than a decade and hasn’t been recently updated, it could be time to look at the many benefits of updating your plumbing and fixtures.

Toilet Updates

In most businesses settings, the majority of your building’s water usage is attributed to toilets. Most toilets that are ten years old or older use 3.5-7 gallons of water per flush or more, while modern high-efficiency toilets can drastically reduce that value. A typical high-efficiency toilet uses 1.6 gallons per flush; thus, replacing your older models with new ones can add up to significant water savings. Replacing your 3.5-gallon toilets with 1.6-gallon models could save you on the order of $100 annually per toilet if each toilet is flushed 30 times per day. Other options to consider when updating your restroom facilities include dual-flush flushometers, which adjust the amount of water used per flush depending on need, and waterless urinals, which require no water to flush at all.

Faucet Updates

Sinks represent another source of significant water usage in any commercial building, including both restroom and kitchen sinks. Updating your faucets will not only improve the look of your facilities, but reduce water usage in these areas as well. Touchless or automatic faucets are a popular restroom upgrade that work by sensing the presence of hands held in front of or under the faucet. This process eliminates the water wasted during the time it takes to turn the faucet on and off, as well as preventing faucets from being left running by accident. Both touchless and manual faucets are available with low-flow features, which reduce the amount of water used with an aerator that mixes air with the water as it pours from the faucet. Aerators can reduce the amount of water each faucet uses by up to 75% without compromising the water pressure needed to wash hands properly.

Grease Trap Updates

Restaurants and many other commercial buildings are required to maintain a grease trap to collect greases and fats before water is flushed into the sewer system. However, an old or inefficient grease trap could be costing you extra money by affecting the function of your plumbing, even causing you to use more water in an attempt to flush out stubborn drains. Upgrading your grease trap to a modern, efficient system can help you save money on water and plumbing repairs over the long term, resulting in a healthier plumbing system that works as it should.

If you own a commercial building, updating your plumbing offers many benefits. You’ll enjoy lower water usage and reduced water bills, as well as more efficient plumbing that is less prone to problems. Visit our website to find out more about our residential and commercial plumbing services throughout the Anderson area; check out our blog for even more water-saving and plumbing maintenance tips.  

The Basics of Roof Cleaning

Although roof maintenance is largely not a DIY project, there are a few simple tasks you can perform regularly to keep your home’s roof looking and functioning like new. Regular cleaning will prevent mold and algae growth, which can cause unsightly stains on your roof that detract from the look of your home. Furthermore, simple gutter maintenance will prevent problems during rain and snow, which could threaten the integrity of your roof. In addition to the regular cleaning tasks outlined below, don’t forget to schedule a yearly roof inspection and maintenance visit from a professional roofer to check for signs of wear and take care of the more extensive maintenance tasks you can’t perform on your own.

Why Roof Cleaning Is Important

A clean roof is a healthy and aesthetically-appealing roof. Your roof not only plays a vital role in the comfort and safety of your home, it is also an important aspect of its curb appeal. Keeping your roof clean and maintained will ensure its materials last for their full predicted lifetime, minimizing the amount of repairs needed and ensuring you get more out of your roof before it requires replacement. Regular cleaning will prevent dirt, debris, and stains from accumulating, which detract from the overall look of your home and your property. Because most roof “stains” are actually due to moss or algae, it’s especially important to address these marks as soon as you see them. Although you may think stains are only a cosmetic issue, the fact is that mold, moss, and algae growth on your roof can damage your roof’s structure over time if left unchecked. Removing the cause of these stains will protect your roof and its integrity so it can continue to perform its function for many years to come.

What You Can Do to Keep Your Roof Clean

There are a few basic roof-cleaning tasks that you can easily perform on your own. How often you need to clean your roof is generally determined by need—when your roof looks like it needs cleaning, it’s time to clean it. However, preventive maintenance should also be considered; cleaning your roof two to three times per year can prevent problems or stains from occurring and enhance the overall look of your home. If your roof is easily accessible by ladder, you can apply a cleaning solution yourself. Make sure any cleaner you choose is appropriate for use with the type of roofing material you have. Mix the cleaner as per the package instructions in an insecticide sprayer or power washer. If you choose to use a power washer, make sure to set the pressure to low to prevent damaging your roof. Spray the cleaner onto your roof, then let it sit for the recommended amount of time—typically half an hour. Rinse away any cleaning solution with fresh water and let your roof dry naturally. In addition to cleaning your roof, you should also regularly clean out your gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters can easily overflow, causing water damage and stains on your gutters and your home’s siding. The weight of clogged gutters could also damage your roof, leading to the need for extensive repairs or even gutter and roof replacement.

In addition to these simple tasks, your Alexandria roofer can help you maintain a clean and beautiful roof with a regular maintenance plan. Visit our website for more information about our roof and gutter services for residential and commercial buildings, or fill out our online form to request an estimate.

Apartment Decorating with Books

Whether you’re an avid reader or a casual one, chances are that you’ve got more than a few books. While books are easy to store and look great when properly organized on a bookshelf, they are also a versatile way to add color and personality to your apartment’s décor. Rather than keeping all your books neatly stacked on a set of shelves, consider the many ways in which you can use a few—or more—volumes as decorative accents and accessories throughout your home.

Visual Vignettes

Books make either a perfect centerpiece or an excellent addition to any visual vignette. If you want to highlight your books as the core of your vignette, place them at the center of your arrangement and choose items that encourage the eye to settle on the books and their covers. Alternatively, you can use books to raise or frame other pieces you want to focus on in your vignette, such as statues, flowers, or decorative items, letting your books serve as a background for your display, rather than the focal point.

Coffee Table Displays

Books add personality to your décor in many ways; one of the easiest ways to decorate with books is to choose one or a few volumes and incorporate them into your coffee table display. You may wish to choose books for their subject, size, or color, depending on how you want to use them as part of the overall arrangement. Coffee table books are a wonderful way to show off your personality and can often provide an easy icebreaker during parties or other social gatherings. Additionally, you can easily rotate the books you keep in your coffee table display to match seasonal décor or highlight your many interests.

Kitchen Décor

If you have a collection of cookbooks, don’t hide them—display them as part of your kitchen décor. You can stack books on countertops, inside display cabinets, or on bookshelves to add color to your kitchen while keeping these valuable reference materials close at hand. If you choose to keep cookbooks in a cabinet or on a bookshelf, consider breaking up the monotony with dishware, pots, pans, or other kitchen-related décor for a more interesting and aesthetically-pleasing display.

Appealing Bookshelves

Even the books that you choose to leave on your bookshelves can be arranged in a way that turns your bookshelves into a decorative statement, rather than a simple storage option. The easiest way to improve the look of a bookcase is to arrange books in order of size or color. “Zig zag” your arrangements such that each subsequent shelf runs from largest to smallest starting at opposite ends. Break up the look of purely vertical books by leaning or stacking books horizontally at the ends of each shelf; you can also add small decorative items, photos, or even small baskets or jars for storage at the ends or in the middle of each shelf for even more variety.

At Carmel Pacific Ridge, you can put your personality and your love of books on display throughout your luxury studio, one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartment. In addition to a spacious floor plan and private outdoor living space, you’ll also enjoy features and amenities that include a professional fitness center, jogging trail and dog-walking loop, digital café and study lounge, and green apartment construction with eco-friendly materials. Visit us online to find out more about our features, availability, and pricing.  

Caring for Your Commercial Roof

A proactive approach to commercial roof maintenance will ensure that no unforeseen problems affect your business operations or the comfort of employees and customers. While some commercial roof care tasks can be performed on your own, others should only be completed by an experienced roofer. Taking care of your roof by maintaining it regularly will not only save you money over the short term, it will benefit you in the long term as well—studies show that well-maintained roofing lasts an average of 21 years longer than roofing that is not cared for regularly.

Maintain Your HVAC Equipment

Many commercial buildings have HVAC systems located on the roof. Although you may not think about how you HVAC system affects your roof, problems with roof-mounted air conditioners, fans, and air handlers can damage to your roof as well. Condensation or ice formation on a poorly-maintained cooling system can cause water damage and promote the growth of mold and mildew, which could lead to deterioration of roofing materials. Excessive vibration from an overworked or aging HVAC system can cause cracks or other damage to the material of your roof as well, leading to air and water leaks that cause further trouble. Thus, maintaining your top-level HVAC equipment is an important step toward both indoor comfort and roofing integrity.

Trim Your Trees

If the landscaping around your commercial building includes tall trees with overhanging branches, keeping these trees maintained will also protect your roof. Avoid letting branches get so long or heavy that they bow down close to your roof, as poorly-supported branches could snap off in a storm or high winds, causing damage. Gutters can easily become clogged with plant debris from overhanging branches, which could cause leaks that damage your property and invite the growth of mold. Furthermore, pests and insects could use overhanging branches to reach your roof, damaging it and paving the way to larger pest problem as well. Keeping any trees located near your building healthy and well-trimmed will reduce the risk of damage to your roof.

Inspect Your Roof

At least once a year, perform a thorough visual inspection of your roof. Look for areas of pooling water, bowed or sloped roofing, missing gravel or other roofing material, and other signs of damage that should be addressed. If your roof includes chimneys, check the condition of the flashing and mortar around them as well. Don’t wait to schedule repairs if you think your roof needs them—letting small problems grow into large ones by ignoring them will only cause you more stress and cost more to repair in the future. If you aren’t able to inspect your roof on your own or aren’t comfortable doing so, talk to a professional roofer about scheduling an annual roofing inspection.

Caring for your commercial roof will reduce the cost of annual maintenance by up to 11 cents per square foot. Additionally, regular care and repairs will increase the longevity of your roof and improve the appearance of your commercial property. Click through our website to find out more about commercial roof installation, roof repair, and roof maintenance in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, and McLean.

How to Clean Your Refrigerator

A clean refrigerator is also a well-maintained one. Although you use this appliance daily, how often do you think to clean it? Giving your refrigerator a thorough deep cleaning two to three times a year offers many benefits, from a safer environment for your food to an appliance that is less likely to need repairs as it ages. Even if you don’t have time for a deep clean, a quicker, less intensive cleaning will still help to maintain this valuable appliance.

Deep Cleaning Your Refrigerator

Deep cleaning your refrigerator every few months will keep it looking and functioning like new throughout its lifetime. First, you’ll need to remove all the food from your fridge and set it aside—this is also a great time to check the expiration dates on all items and throw away any expired food. Next, remove all the shelves and drawers; if you can’t remove them, you may want to consider unplugging your refrigerator while you clean to conserve energy. Wash all the surfaces of your refrigerator, shelves, and drawers (inside and out, top and bottom) with warm, soapy water. Follow with a damp cloth dipped in clean water to rinse away any soap and finish by drying all surfaces with a soft absorbent cloth. If your refrigerator, shelves, or drawers have any stains or encrusted food, use a solution of vinegar and water to help break up and remove stains and dried food or liquids. A smelly refrigerator can be addressed with a variety of solutions, including baking soda, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. You should also take this time to check the gasket around your refrigerator and freezer doors—the rubber should be in good condition, without cracks or damaged areas. Clean the gaskets using an old toothbrush dipped soap-and-water solution, then rinse and wipe them dry. Replace all shelves and drawers, then wipe down any food packaging with a damp cloth before returning it to your fridge. Wipe down the exterior of your refrigerator and use your vacuum hose to remove any dust from the coils at the back of the appliance, as well as the grille at the lower front of the appliance. If you unplugged your refrigerator during cleaning, make sure to plug it back in and enjoy your squeaky clean fridge!

Quick Cleaning Tips

In between deep cleans, taking care of your refrigerator is still important for its function and longevity. Every one to two weeks, wipe down the exterior of the fridge with a damp cloth, including all the way around the doors and the gaskets. Use your vacuum cleaner’s hose attachment to clean the coils behind the refrigerator and the grille at the front or bottom of the appliance. This step is particularly important, as it will prevent dust buildup and keep your refrigerator functioning efficiently—and often more quietly—for comfort and convenience. Finally, wipe any available surfaces of the interior with a damp cloth to prevent spills from drying out and making a more difficult mess to remove during your deeper cleaning sessions.

Cleaning your refrigerator regularly will go a long way toward maintaining its efficiency and functionality. If you do experience trouble with your refrigerator, your local appliance repair service can help you solve it quickly to reduce stress, spoiled food, and high energy bills. Click through our website to learn more about refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher repair in Portland, or take a look through our other blog articles for additional tips, advice, and troubleshooting.