Having a baby changes everything, even the way you use your plumbing system. If you don’t take the proper precautions, your plumbing system could harm your little one, or your little one could damage your plumbing. Get started by following these seven plumbing tips for new parents.

1. Don’t Flush Baby Wipes

After you wipe your baby’s bottom, tossing the wipe into the toilet may be convenient. However, this habit is very dangerous for your plumbing. Unlike toilet paper, which breaks down very quickly, wipes can stay intact for weeks or even months. So, if wipes get caught in your sewer pipes, you could end up with a major clog and sewage backups.

Put baby wipes into the trash can rather than the toilet. Many parents find that wrapping the used wipes up inside the diaper helps minimize odors. There are also odor-resistant cans that you can use to hold dirty diapers and wipes.

2. Put a Lock on the Toilet

Locking your toilet helps ensure the safety of your baby and your plumbing. It prevents your child from falling into the toilet and drowning while also preventing them from dropping toys or other items into the bowl.

There are numerous styles of toilet locks on the market, and it may take some time to find one that fits your toilet model. If you’re struggling to find the right one, try using a baby latch—the same type you’d put on a cabinet or fridge—to latch down the toilet seat. 

3. Install Anti-Scald Devices on Faucets

Once your little one starts washing his or her hands, you need to ensure the water does not get hot enough to scald them. The easiest way to protect their little hands is by installing an anti-scald device on each of your faucets.

An anti-scald device is a special type of valve that regulates the temperature of the water that comes out of the faucet. Some work by mixing hot and cold water in a chamber, which is fitted with a thermostat, and releasing the water through the faucet when it’s at a safe temperature. Others respond to hot and cold water pressure; they adjust to limit the flow of hot water if the cold water pressure ever drops.

A plumbing company like Custom Comfort can come fit your faucets with anti-scald devices. It’s a rather simple process that they should be able to complete within a few hours.

4. Replace Your Shower’s Mixing Valve to Prevent Hot Water Surges

Does your shower get extra hot when someone flushes the toilet or uses cold water elsewhere in the home? This could be dangerous if you wash your child in the shower or tub.

Have your plumber come address the issue by replacing your shower’s mixing valve. A thermostatic mixing valve, which is similar to anti-scald devices used in faucets, automatically reduces the amount of hot water that’s released if cold water pressure fails.

5. Install GCFIs in Bathrooms and Kitchens

A GFCI is a type of electrical outlet that constantly monitors the flow of electricity and stops the flow if there is any loss of current. Essentially, it prevents someone, such as your child, from suffering an electrical shock if they accidentally touch a wire and water at the same time. A GFCI could prevent electrocution if your child were to drop a plugged-in toaster in a sink of water, for instance.

Most building codes require CFCIs in the bathrooms and kitchens of new homes, but if you have an older home, your outlets may not have them. It’s a good idea to switch them over before your child is old enough to use the water.

6. Keep Baskets in Your Drains

If your drains don’t already have baskets in them, it’s time to make the change. You can find inexpensive plastic sink baskets at most dollar stores, and if you pay just a few dollars more, you can purchase some really nice metal ones from a hardware or home improvement store.

Sink baskets stop small items from going down the drain. So, if your child drops a small toy, a candy wrapper, or tissues into the sink, you won’t end up with a clog. 

7. Install a Water Softener If Needed

Have you noticed mineral buildup on your faucets? Maybe your soap does not lather well and your family members are all prone to dry skin. These are all signs that you have hard water, which is water with a high concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium. 

It’s a good idea to have a water softener installed now that you have a child. The water softener will remove minerals from the water as it enters your home so that all of the water coming from your faucets has a healthier mineral concentration. Soft water will keep your baby’s skin softer, leave their clothes softer after laundering, and make baby soaps and shampoos easier to lather.

If you follow the plumbing tips above, your child will be protected from most plumbing-related hazards. You’ll also reduce your chances of having to call the plumber for a clog, sewage backup, or other plumbing emergency caused by your child’s actions.

Have you ever bought a brand-new pair of shoes only to discover that it was the wrong size for your feet? You wouldn’t put up with a pair of shoes one size too large in hopes that your feet would grow, nor would you suffer with a pair a size too small. Yet, many homeowners buy new air conditioning systems that are either too large or too small for their homes and then cope with the consequences.

Buying an oversized or undersized air conditioner can have a wide variety of consequences, including compromised cooling comfort, higher energy consumption, or even a shortened lifespan for your A/C equipment. The following explains why you need to choose the right size when you purchase a new air conditioning system for your home.

The Wrong Size Could Increase Your Utility Bill

The bigger the air conditioner, the more electricity it’ll use during operation. This general rule of thumb applies to even the most energy-efficient of air conditioning systems. An air conditioner with a cooling capacity in excess of what your home actually needs will use more energy than a properly sized unit.

An undersized air conditioner can also be an energy burden on your home. Since these units don’t have enough capacity to adequately cool your home, they’ll run for far longer than necessary in a sometimes futile effort to reach the desired temperature. As a result, undersized air conditioners tend to consume more energy than properly sized units.

The Wrong Size Could Make You’re A/C System Short Lived

Your shoes might not be able to stand up to the rigors of your everyday routine if they’re the wrong size. Likewise, your air conditioner might not be long for this world if it’s too large or too small for your home. There are plenty of reasons why a wrongly sized air conditioner won’t be as reliable as a properly sized unit, but we’ll start by examining the problems an oversized AC system can bring.

Oversized air conditioners can experience short cycling, a phenomenon with which the A/C compressor runs for an unusually short amount of time only to stop and restart shortly afterward. Short cycling is usually due to the air conditioner cooling the home to the target temperature in a very short amount of time. A quick rise in indoor temperatures can cause the cycle to start anew in only a matter of minutes.

To put things in perspective, an ordinary air conditioner usually undergoes three cooling cycles per hour, with each cycle lasting for 10 minutes with a 10-minute break between each cycle. An oversized air conditioner, on the other hand, may undergo six or more cooling cycles per hour, with each cycle lasting five minutes. This can add a tremendous amount of stress and strain on the compressor and other air conditioning components.

Meanwhile, an air conditioner without enough cooling capacity for your home could run for extremely long periods of time while struggling to cool your home. Long cooling cycles also place extraordinary strain on your air conditioner, shortening its lifespan while making it more vulnerable to unexpected breakdowns.

Poor Sizing Can Lead to Poor Comfort

Just as the wrong size of shoe can rob your feet of well-deserved comfort, an oversized or undersized air conditioner can also leave you feeling uncomfortable. For instance, an oversized air conditioner won’t run long enough to dehumidify the air in addition to cooling it. The leftover moisture may make your home feel damp and clammy despite being cool.

While an oversized air conditioner gives you a damp and clammy home, an undersized unit can leave your home a bit warmer than expected, especially on days when outdoor temperatures approach the triple digits. Without enough cooling capacity to overcome your home’s natural heat gain, keeping your home cool becomes an uphill battle for your air conditioning unit.

The Right Size Will Meet Your Needs

A properly sized air conditioner can save you plenty of headaches and ensure your home remains comfortable throughout the summer. If you suspect your air conditioner isn’t measuring up to your comfort expectations, then you should have your HVAC contractor come in and evaluate your home’s cooling needs.

While some contractors rely on an old standard when it comes to sizing air conditioners, the best and most accurate way of sizing a unit up is by following the ACCA’s Manual J load calculation procedure. This procedure allows your contractor to accurately calculate your home’s cooling needs. Armed with this vital information, your contractor can then choose the right air conditioning equipment using the Manual S equipment selection process.

You can always turn to the HVAC experts at Custom Comfort for your air conditioning needs, whether you need service, installation, or repairs. We can help you design an A/C system that’s just the right size for your home so you can enjoy the comfort you deserve without wasting time, energy, or money.

There’s nothing worse than sweltering in the house on a hot summer day, turning on the AC for some relief, and feeling only a faint whisper of coolness. When an older air conditioning (AC) unit fails to deliver on its cooling and drying promises, the unit may not need complete replacement.

Many times, all your AC unit needs is a bit of maintenance, a small repair or two, or an equipment adjustment. If it’s been a while since an HVAC professional inspected your air conditioning system, schedule a service call before you give up on your air conditioning unit. Below are some tips about repairing and replacing your air conditioner.

There Are Times to Give Up

Ten years go by fast when you own a home. And ten years are about as long as you can expect some AC units to last. This fact is especially true if you’re not fastidious about maintenance. 

With care, a modern AC unit may last up to 30 years. If your AC unit is getting older, replacing it is a wise choice.

AC units requiring refrigerant that is obsolete, or soon to be obsolete, must absolutely be replaced. If the refrigerant is impossible to find/illegal/too expensive, you’ll pay too high a price for any cooling you receive.

Other reasons to replace an outdated AC unit include:

• Repair bill more than 25 percent of replacement cost
• Unit is over/under capacity 
• Energy costs for cooling are too high
• Climate conditions are salty or corrosive
• Cooling needs of household have changed
• Unit is loud and obnoxious

You’ll want new ductwork installed for any home additions. A new AC unit is a wise choice during any renovation where additional cooling zones will be created.

There Are Times When It’s a Simple Fix

Many times, an AC unit struggles to deliver cold air because it needs a refrigerant charge. The filter, unit, or ductwork may be atrociously dirty. The compressor may have issues. Or there’s another simple, fixable problem in the system.

Your HVAC tech will run tests on the AC system to see how various components perform. The air pressure going into the system and the air pressure coming out of the system are measured. Sometimes, the return air grills don’t let in enough air. Other times, dust and dirt are causing a drop in pressure, so all you feel on your end is a weak wisp of coldish air from your vents.

A fan may be too big, too small, or have a loose connection. You could have a leak in the ductwork or refrigerant supply. Ductwork may be too narrow or too wide to deliver the proper air pressure in combination with your AC unit. As you can see, there are a number of reasons why your AC unit is failing, and many solutions don’t involve replacement.

There Are Key Considerations When Replacing AC

If a replacement AC unit is in your plans, take some time to think about what you expect from a unit in the future. How well did your present unit perform? Did the AC unit live up to your expectations as far as your comfort level and energy usage? What things would you change about your air conditioning performance?

Today, you have a host of new options to design a custom system for your home. Smart appliances and devices are available, so you can control your AC from work or anywhere you have an internet connection. New AC units are available with options including variable speed fans and split units.

Variable speed fans are quieter and use less energy than traditional one-speed fans. Split systems are also available, offering flexibility to people who only use certain areas of their homes on a temporary basis. Those seldom-used areas can be conditioned as needed rather than kept cool 100 percent of the time.

There Is the Entire HVAC System to Remember

When you have your AC replaced, it normally means your furnace will be replaced as well. It’s a great time to explore the options you have for heating and cooling.

The possibilities for your new HVAC system include heat pumps, geothermal systems, and radiant floor heat. You can combine a high-efficiency AC unit with a high-efficiency furnace, or have your HVAC pros install a combination unit that’s rated for great performance and low energy usage.

Your HVAC supplier will show you the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating for each type of air conditioner you’re comparing. This rating is determined by the ratio of the AC’s cooling to its energy usage. The higher the SEER rating number, the better the energy efficiency of the unit. 

Trust the HVAC experts at Custom Comfort to service, install, and repair your AC unit, ductwork, and other HVAC systems. We sell, install, and maintain nearly every air conditioning brand on the market. We design your system and your ductwork individually so your system delivers the comfort you expect inside when it’s hot outside.