What to Do if Your A/C is Running 24/7
Dear Burton, Lately, my A/C has been running constantly. The air temperature is comfortable, but the unit just doesn’t shut off. Should I call for an A/C repair, or is this normal for Omaha summer days? Cool but Concerned If your A/C runs 24/7 during the summer, that’s likely a sign that something needs to be repaired or cleaned. Even if your A/C seems to be working fine, it’s a good idea to call for an air conditioning service every year— before you fire up your unit for the first time. At Burton, our annual A/C preventative maintenance visit includes [...]
5 Signs You Need an A/C Repair – Before the Heat Wave Hits!
Nothing interrupts your carefree, sunny fun like a broken A/C during the dog days of summer. It’s time to dust off that A/C unit, flip to the cool side of the thermostat, and do a quick at-home inspection of your system— before the real heat wave hits! Here are five easily-recognizable signs that it’s time for an A/C repair: You’ve got a water leak. If you notice a puddle around your A/C unit, call a repair tech right away. Moisture and condensation are normal, but in a properly functioning system the drain lines take care of the water. This is [...]
Are Water-Saving Devices Really Worth the Hype?
The short answer is…. YES! The best water-saving devices are efficient, easily installed by your home handyperson or local plumber, and have little to no impact on your comfort. Trust us, green plumbing has come a long way from the trickling shower you probably think of when you consider water conservation. From high-efficiency toilets to shower timers, water-saving is the biggest trend in modern plumbing for good reason. These are the most common (and convenient!) water-saving devices we recommend and install for our Burton customers: Dual-flush toilet triggers. These two-button toilets give you the option of a full flush or [...]
How To Plan for Plumbing in Your Home Remodel Project
Dear Burton, We’re getting ready to start a major home renovation project, updating our kitchen, bathrooms, and a couple other spaces. Is there anything we should know about our plumbing before we start the remodel? The Demolition Dad Dear Demolition, Before you start swinging that sledgehammer (as satisfying as a good tear down may be) you need to know exactly what’s behind your sheetrock. Otherwise, you’ll have a major flood on your hands faster than you can say “extreme home makeover!” Always shut off your main power, turn off your water, and carefully cut away the wall— before you go [...]
Homeowner Hacks: Handy Tips for DIY Drain Opening
Omaha homeowners: Is your bathtub just not draining like it used to? Before you call a drain cleaning service or reach for the harsh clog-busting chemicals (that often cause more harm than good) try this quick homeowner hack! As much as we love sending our expert plumbers to open drains all across Omaha, with just a few tools and a little elbow grease, you can get your bathtub draining again in under ten minutes— no chemicals or prior plumbing experience needed. https://youtu.be/-8UncgbPsfg Read on to learn Burton’s latest Homeowner Hack: Opening your bathtub drain with just four simple steps [...]
Follow These Quick Tips to Save Big On Your A/C Bill This Summer
With summer just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to prepare your home for the heat to come. We’ve rounded up eight quick tips you can put into practice this spring to save big on your A/C bill when the summer heat really kicks in: Keep your cool air in and the hot air out. If you have older windows, caulk around the leaky areas. Got drafty doors? Add insulation. Plant some trees. Even just a few shade trees near your home can help reduce your energy bill. Maybe not this summer, but in the years to come! Get [...]
4 Reasons Your Water Heater Isn’t Working Right – and When to Call a Plumbing Service
Are you a hot morning-shower person? Or do you prefer a relaxing bubble bath after work? If your water heater is acting up, you might not get either one! And hot water isn’t just important for bathing. If your water heater is unreliable, your dishwasher and washing machine suffer too. Here are four common reasons why your water heater might not be operating at peak performance, and when it’s time to call a plumbing service. It’s not plugged in… This may seem like an obvious issue, but you’d be surprised at how often electric water heater issues are caused by [...]
If You See One of These 3 Septic System Symptoms, Call a Plumber!
Hopefully, you don’t have to think about your septic system that often. It’s out of sight and out of mind, as it’s meant to be! But you should keep a vigilant eye out for these three telltale signs that it’s time to call a septic tank plumber—before you have a major emergency plumbing situation. All your drains take their sweet time One or two slow-flowing drains is probably the sign of a minor plumbing clog, not a major septic tank emergency. But if all the drains in your house flow slower than molasses, it’s an early sign that a sludge [...]
Should You Buy a Smart Thermostat?
In our modern era smart technology has become more common and more appealing to consumers. All around us, we have specialized technology making everyday tasks easier -including anything from smart cars to smart kitchen appliances. Among this ever growing and evolving industry are the thermostats, yes, specifically the smart ones. Let's break down the benefits and changes you could expect should you make the switch to what's smart! These systems allow complicated actions and commands to be made with ease. Through simple voice commands you can control anything from your home's lights, music, and even temperature. They can even increase [...]
Tune Up Your Furnace Before You Need It
Dear Burton, My neighbors mentioned how they always get their furnace serviced in the fall, but I’m curious what the big deal is. Between back-to-school shopping and all our other expenses, why should I spend more to tune up my furnace if it worked fine last winter? Our house is only about 10 years old, so do we really need preventive maintenance? - The Skeptical Smiths Dear Skeptical Smiths, That’s a good question, and we hear it a lot. When your budget is tight, it’s easy to put preventive maintenance on the back burner. Regular home furnace servicing helps your [...]
3 Easy Seasonal Plumbing Service Tips for Fall
Feel that chill in the air? That basically means two things in Omaha—it’s Husker football season and it’s time to protect your pipes from being caught out in the cold. A plumbing service tip a day keeps the plumbing repairs away! Love a hot bubble bath? Better flush your water heater Throughout the year, your water heater can fill with sediment. In the summer, when heating water is a breeze, it’s not a big problem. But when your water heater has to fight against the bitter chill of an Omaha cold snap, that sediment makes your heater work harder. A [...]
Can Your Plumber Say “Yes!” to These 3 Questions?
As a local homeowner or landlord, you really should have a plumber in Omaha on speed dial. Yes, right there between your best friend and the pizza guy. Why? When an emergency arises— and it will!— the last thing you want to waste time on is digging through the phone book for a plumber. Calling a dozen different companies, leaving messages, and sitting on hold is a surefire way to make your bad day worse. So do yourself a favor! Vet your go-to plumber with these three critical questions. Do you keep service parts in stock? When you have a [...]