Your plumbing system needs to be fully functioning in order to keep your doors open and your business moving, and a clog in your sewer line can be a serious setback. There are a few ways you can have your sewer line checked out and repaired, but the trenchless method seems to be the most favorable. Read on and see how trenchless sewer technology helps your business stay open.

Before trenchless sewer technology, plumbers would have to dig up sewer pipes to find out where the problem lies. Today they can use trenchless technology to diagnose the problem without having to excavate your property. Trenchless sewer technology involves the use of a small, high-quality camera that goes through your sewer line and identifies the cause of the problem. This goes right into the sewer line without the need for any excavation, so you can keep your business open during the process.

Reach out to Albert Nahman Plumbing & Heating if you think your business needs trenchless sewer repair, or visit our website to see what you should expect. Our Berkeley plumbers can handle anything from water heater installation to duct cleaning. Call our offices at (510) 843-6904 for more information.

Regular furnace maintenance improves your heating system and extends its working life, but what kind of furnace do you need? Condensing furnaces make your home or business place more energy-efficient, but you need to choose the right size to get the best results. You also have to set up proper ventilation and drainage systems. Keep reading to learn more about condensing furnaces.

How Condensing Furnaces Improve Energy Efficiency

A condensing furnace is a high efficiency furnace, which means that it lowers your energy bills and your carbon footprint. They minimize heat loss with the help of a secondary heat exchanger. This lets you enjoy all of the heat that you pay for, rather than losing some of it in the process.

What Size You Need

Size is an important factor when choosing a heating unit. Anything that’s too big for your space will just end up wasting energy, and a small furnace might not be able to get the job done. That means the wrong size heating system can waste money and energy, while still failing to keep your space comfortable. Consider the space you’re trying to heat. A large commercial space will need more power than a studio apartment, so talk to your HVAC professional and find out what size best suits your situation.

How to Vent and Drain Properly

Installation is more important than ever when it comes to condensing furnaces, and there are some special considerations to think about as well. Condensing furnaces need drainage systems and ventilation. Ventilating a condensing furnace typically involves venting through a side wall with PVC pipes, which lets condensation return to the furnace to drain. You also need an effective drainage system that can remove water vapor after combustion, and your drain needs to be at the right pitch with unobstructed tubes.

Do you think a condensing furnace could be right for you? Contact Albert Nahman Plumbing & Heating or look through our website to view the scope of our work. If you need residential plumbing services or a change in your heating in Berkeley, give us a call at (510) 843-6904 and see what we can do.

Replacing your shower or your tub may seem like a daunting task, even if you use a professional plumber that you’ve known for years. Repairing can get the quick fixes done, but how long will it be until you need another repair? Think about how old your fixtures are, and make use of your plumber’s expertise. Here’s how to find out when to repair and when to replace your shower and tub.

Frequency of Repairs

Your shower and your bathtub should last for a long time. If you care for them properly and they were installed the right way, you shouldn’t run into too much trouble throughout their working lives. The bad news is that sometimes tubs and showers malfunction even if you do take care of them properly. Clogs, leaks, and water flow issues are common problems that you might encounter, but consider how often these problems happen to you in particular. If you’re calling your plumber to repair your shower or tub on a regular basis, it’s probably time for an overhaul.

Age of Appliances

The tub design and showerhead you chose 20 years ago might have seemed like the best choice at the time, but you may have changed your mind over the years. If you’ve noticed problems with your bathroom fixtures and appliances and they’ve only gotten worse, then a replacement might be in order. Showers and tubs don’t last forever, even if you maintain them the right way. Think about how old your bathroom plumbing appliances are when you decide whether you should repair them or replace them.

Second Opinions

The best way to determine if you should repair or replace any plumbing appliance is to talk to a qualified plumber. He or she can break down your options and tell you which option is best, as well as give you an idea of what to expect when you make a decision.

Whether you’re looking to repair or replace your Berkeley plumbing appliances, call Albert Nahman Plumbing & Heating at (510) 843-6904. We can save you from water leaks and improve your indoor air quality.

If you’re dealing with skyrocketing heating bills, one factor you may be overlooking is the location of your thermostat. The placement of your thermostat can dramatically affect how your HVAC functions, so if your bills are through the roof, then consider whether yours could be in a better place.

Ideally, your thermostat should not be in a place where it can be affected by extreme temperature changes. For instance, it should not be located across from a window that allows the sun to beat on it, as it could make the thermostat read your interior temperature as warmer than it is. Placing the thermostat near a vent or draft can also cause inaccurate readings. To evaluate the placement of your thermostat, call your HVAC repair expert to come out and determine the best location for your home.

Albert Nahman Plumbing & Heating can help you get the maximum efficiency from your heating and AC in Berkeley, with advice about the best HVAC systems and how to use them. Get to the bottom of your HVAC issues today by calling us at (510) 843-6904.

When you’re choosing a furnace, one of the first factors you should consider is its energy efficiency. The efficiency of your furnace will drastically affect your heating costs, and if you are committed to living a green lifestyle, then the efficiency of your furnace plays a major role. The benefits of owning an energy-efficient heating system could make it worthwhile to replace your older furnace. What do the efficiency ratings on furnaces mean, and what should you look for your home? Here are the facts you need to know.

Furnace efficiency is measured using AFUE.

To check the efficiency of a furnace, you need to check its AFUE rating. AFUE stands for annual fuel-utilization efficiency, and it represents the minimum amount of fuel that is used to heat your home. Old furnaces can have AFUE ratings that go as low as 56%, but some new furnaces have ratings of 99%, making them dramatically more efficient.

AFUE doesn’t account for heat loss.

Heat loss, through poorly sealed ducts and pipes, also has a significant impact on the efficiency of your heating, though AFUE does not account for this. Even if you have a furnace with a high AFUE rating, heat loss can diminish its efficiency by causing it to run more often than it would otherwise have to. According to the Department of Energy, this kind of heat loss may be responsible for up to 35% of your heating costs, so seal any cracks around ducts and pipes to mitigate this risk.

Upgrading to a newer furnace could save you money.

Despite the initial cost of getting a new furnace, upgrading to a model with a better AFUE rating can save you money. If you have an older furnace with a 60% AFUE, you could save $33.33 for every $100 of heating costs. You will also significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Let the experts at Albert Nahman Plumbing & Heating in Berkeley help you select the right furnace for your home, so you can maximize the energy efficiency of your system and save money on your heating costs. For more information, call us today at (510) 843-6904.