Believe it or not, summer will be here before we know it! You know what that means…West Texas summer heat is on the way! If you’re looking for some ways to beat the heat this summer, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our energy tips for summer!

1. Strategically Place Trees

Did you know you can reduce the temperature of your home by up to 20 degrees by shading with trees? Plant trees on the south side of your home to provide shade in the summer and warmth in the winter.

2. Shade Your Unit

According to the US Department of Energy, you can reduce energy usage by up to 10% by placing your A/C unit in the shade.

3. Improve Ventilation

Let your attic breath by improving ventilation with additional vents. This alone can drop the temperature of your attic by 10-30 degrees!

4. Clean Out The Condensing Unit

By ridding your condensing unit of grass clippings, leaves, and debris, you can allow your A/C to operate much more efficiently.

5. Roof Color

Considering replacing your roof any time soon? Choose a light-colored roofing material.

6. Cover Windows

Up to 40% of heat buildup comes from the windows. Reduce heat gain by adding shutters, awnings, or shades.

7. Insulate & Seal

By insulating and sealing your home, you could reduce heating and cooling costs by 20%!

Taking just a few simple steps and using these energy tips for summer can drastically cut your cooling costs and help keep your home cool this summer! For other tips and tricks like these, follow our boards on Pinterest!

West Texas is already feeling the heat…and its barely spring! You may be curious how you can cut cooling costs and save money this season. Follow these steps (and build the habits) to cut cooling costs during the hot months to come!

1. Set your AC fan on “high,” except for humid days, where your fan should be set on “low.”
2. When no one is home, increase the temperature of your air conditioner’s thermostat. Keeping your home at a comfortable 78 degrees and increasing it when you’re away can save 5-15% on your air conditioner bills, according to the Department of Energy.
3. Also according to the U.S. Department of Energy, you could boost your AC’s efficiency by up to 10% by planting trees or shrubs that will shade your outdoor air conditioner unit. So add to your curb appeal AND cut cooling costs!
4. When was the last time you replace your AC filter? Keeping your air filter clean allows for good air movement through your home. Try to do this once every 3 months.
5. Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the day (the best time to use them is at night). The heat from these appliances increases the heat in your home. During and after cooking, be sure to turn on the exhaust fans.
6. Similar to using appliances, use the bathroom fans when taking a shower. This decreases the heat put off by the shower.
7. According to the Department of Energy, if you replace your old air conditioner with a new unit, you can cut your cooling costs by up to half. (Tip: When shopping, look for a high-energy-efficiency ratio- or Energy Star unit. A higher ratio means higher efficiency.)

Using these tips will help to cut cooling costs during these hot spring and summer seasons! For more tips and tricks like these, be sure to follow our board on Pinterest!

Spring is right around the corner, folks! You know what that means…spring cleaning! Spring is the perfect time to “freshen up” your home after the winter season. Are you wanting to get a head start on spring cleaning, but aren’t sure where to start? Don’t worry! Check out our spring cleaning checklist below!

City Plumbing’s Spring Cleaning Checklist

• schedule pest control maintenance
• dispose of expired foods from your refrigerator or freezer
• remove everything from refrigerator/freezer and clean the inside shelving and drawers
• eliminate calcium buildup
• replace light bulbs (consider going LED for the energy/cost savings)
• replace batteries in smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector
• clean scuff marks from baseboards and doors
• have chimney swept
• dust around mirrors, picture frames, and wall hangings
• dust crown molding, baseboards, ceiling fans, light fixtures, lamps, bookcases and shelves
• wipe down and vacuum furniture
• condition leather furniture
• remove stains from upholstered furniture
• rotate fan direction to counterclockwise
• touch up paint
• vacuum or wash window curtains
• dust window blinds
• clean windows
• polish wood furniture
• vacuum and wash lampshades
• vacuum all flooring (don’t forget the corners & edges!)
• deep clean hardwood, tile, linoleum
• shampoo carpet (DIY or schedule a professional)
• remove rugs to shake out, then vacuum, then clean under them
• scrub grout lines

Contact City Plumbing!

Now that your home can be ready for spring, what about the plumbing systems within it? When was the last time you had a professional check out your plumbing for any potential problems or costly leaks? Contact City Plumbing today to check your plumbing and ensure it’s ready to take on a new season!

Can you believe Christmas is a little over a week away? We know you’ve been busy decorating for the season, but are you practicing electrical safety? Avoid electrical emergencies this Christmas with our electrical safety tips! Have a look!

Avoid Electrical Emergencies

• Do not plug too many lights and/or decorations into an outlet. Overloaded circuits can overheat and start a fire.
• Be sure your lights have cleared the safety tests conducted by Underwriters Lab or another established testing facility. Lights checked by the Underwriters Lab are marked with a holographic UL label. (Red labels means lights can be used indoors and out, while green means indoor-use only).
• Don’t run extension cords under carpets, through doorways, or in places where they can be damaged by furniture.
• Do not run outdoor connections across driveways and/or walkways.
• Keep in mind, your source of power for your lights should come from a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet. That way, if there is an over current, the outlet will shut down the circuit. If you don’t have an outdoor GFCI, contact the team at City Plumbing to permanently install one for you!
• Cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires and loose connections may pose a fire or shock hazard. Before putting anything up, be sure to check all electric lights and decorations for damage.
• When leaving the house, be sure to turn of and unplug any electrical decorations.

We hope these electrical safety tips keep you safe during this holiday season! For more home tips & tricks like these, please follow our boards on Pinterest!

Yikes! We’ve just had our hard freeze…you know what that means! Winter is on the way! Whether you’re ready or not, you should be sure your home is prepared to prevent costly damages that frozen pipes can cause. Prevent frozen pipes with the tips below!

Why Do Pipes Freeze?

• Pressure – The typical cause of frozen pipes is pressure from the unfrozen water between the closed faucet and the ice.
• Old pipes – Debris tends to build up in old pipes, therefore making them more likely to freeze.
• Poor insulation – Especially if your house was built before the 1960’s (when insulation quality started improving) you could be at risk of frozen pipes.
• Bends in the pipe – The expansion of the frozen area can be trapped by bends in the pipe.

How To Prevent Frozen Pipes

• Insulate (with foam) any pipes that are in colder areas of your home.
• Replace old plumbing, if possible.
• Re-route any pipes that are exposed to the cold.
• Seal any insulation gaps near plumbing.
• Turn off any valves for your outdoor water supply. Make sure the tap is empty and shut it tightly.

If you expect freezing temperatures…

• Allow warm air to circulate to your home’s coldest areas, especially if your plumbing is vulnerable in that area. For example, opening cabinets under sinks.
• You may want to set your heating system to maintain a warmer temperature overnight.
• Open faucet taps to allow a slow drip of water.

If you’re leaving town…

• Have someone monitor you home (both inside and out).
• Turn off your hot water tank.
• Consider shutting the main water valve to your home and draining the plumbing.
• Keep your heat set to a normal temperature.

Contact City Plumbing

The best way to prevent frozen pipes is to not only take certain precautions during the winter, but to replace any plumbing that you think could potentially be a problem. Please contact us for more information or a quote!

Can you believe it’s Thanksgiving already? The day after Thanksgiving is typically the busiest day for plumbers. With the amount of food going down the disposal and the amount of guests using the plumbing, it makes sense doesn’t it? City Plumbing is here to share some tips on how to prepare your plumbing for Thanksgiving!

Hot House

There’s no doubt about it, those working appliances can definitely warm your house up! If possible, try to do the majority of your cooking in the early morning hours. Another suggestion is to keep that oven door closed! The more it stays open, the warmer your house will be. To prevent your home from getting too warm, consider knocking down the thermostat a couple of degrees prior to your guests arriving.

Disposal Don’ts

Preparing your disposal is as easy as knowing what NOT to put down there. Think of it this way, if you wouldn’t eat it, your disposal shouldn’t either. For example, the following foods should never be put down your disposal:

• Fats
• Oil
• Grease
• Potato Peels
• Egg Shells
• Corn Husks
• Vegetables
• Bones

Shower & Toilet Prep

Clean out shower drains and place a strainer over them for guest use. This will clear out any existing clogs, and also prevent any new clogs from forming.

Before guests arrive, se sure your toilets are flushing properly. Keep a plunger next to all toilets.

Call The Pros

Of course, we wouldn’t wish plumbing problems on anyone, but they happen. If they do, City Plumbing offers emergency plumbing service! We’re simply a phone call away!