Ask The Experts: Water Filtration Systems FAQs With Jason Bolas

Jason Bolas is one of Bill Howe Plumbing’s senior technicians. Jason has extensive experience in tankless water heater installations and repairs as well as the installation and repair of water softeners, whole house water filtration systems and reverse osmosis systems. In our latest “Ask the Experts” interview, we asked Jason questions that he receives most from customers interested in water filtration systems.

Q: How many years have you been in the plumbing industry?
A: I’ve been in the plumbing industry for 19 years. The first four years of my career I worked in a plumbing supply warehouse, then I started working out in the field. I’ve been with Bill Howe Plumbing for the last seven years.

Q: How long have you specialized in whole house water filtration systems?
A: I’ve been working with water filtration systems for the last 10 years. I worked at Culligan Water for four years before I came to Bill Howe. At Culligan Water we did a lot of work with whole house water filtration systems, water softeners, well treatment and reverse osmosis. During that time I received both formal training and a lot of on-the-job training with these systems.

Q:  How do whole house water filtration systems work?
A:  There are two types of systems: A carbon filtration system and a water softener.

A carbon filtration system has a coconut charcoal in the system and as the water passes through the charcoal it filters out the chlorine, sediment, etc., delivering bottle quality water to every fixture in your house. As time passes and this charcoal collects waste in the water, it has to clean itself out. It goes through a self-cleaning process automatically every 7-10 days.  The average lifespan of a carbon filtration system is 10 to 15 years.

A water softener works on what’s called an ion exchange. A tank of a man-made resin and sodium ions is used to attract calcium and magnesium which creates hard water. As the water passes through, the result is soft water to every plumbing fixture of your home. After a period of about 7 to 12 days, these ions become depleted and the resin needs to be regenerated, which is done automatically. A salt/brine tank is used for the regeneration process. The salt water is flushed through the tank and filters through the resin, during which the sodium ions adhere to the salt. Then the machine washes away any excess ions. The life-span of a water softener is about 12 to 15 before the resin would need to be switched out. Most often at that point it would be the most cost effective to simply replace the system.

Q: So, does a water softener increase the amount of sodium in the water?
 A: No. There is a misconception about the amount of sodium that is potable water. It’s actually a minimal amount. When the water softener goes through the regeneration process and cleans itself, it rinses out a lot of the excess sodium left behind. So, in actuality, VERY little sodium gets into your drinking water.

Q: How do you determine which type of filtration system a customer needs?
A:  Customers first need to decide what they want. Do you want “water bottle quality” water throughout your house? Or, do you want soft water, free of grittiness. San Diego is notorious for its hard water and is probably the more common system of the two. Both systems serve different functions: water softeners remove the calcium and magnesium that cause hard water and a carbon filtration system removes everything except for calcium and magnesium. Sometimes customers will have both installed.

Q: Are there any other water filtration options?
A:  Another option is a reverse osmosis system which is installed to filter the water of one fixture. These systems are not large consumption systems and typically installed to improve the home’s cooking and drinking water. They’re usually a 2 or 3 gallon reservoir tank and most times they fit right under the kitchen sink. They run around $1000* to install.

*Price subject to change, for exact price call 1-800-BILL-HOWE for an onsite estimate

Q: How is a whole house water filtration installed?
A: First, I have to find the main water supply and shut off valve so that I can hook up the system there. By hooking up the system where the water enters the house, it ensures the entire home’s water will be treated. Then, we want to find the nearest drain (that could be a clean out or a drain line that we can tap into) because each unit is a self-cleaning system and will need to drain excess water when it does this. Next, we find the nearest power source because they are all electrical and need to be plugged in.

Q: Should customers be concerned about their electric bill going up?
A: No, these systems are low voltage (24 volts) so there should be minimal, if any, increase to the electric bill.

Q: How much water does it waste when it goes through the self-cleaning process?
A: These units will waste about 15 to 20 gallons when it cleans itself. This happens once every 7 to 12 days, depending on water usage. This is equivalent to the water waste of a 10 to 15 minute shower.

Q: How long does the job take?
A: On average, installation of either unit takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on where the unit is going to sit at, how much copper needs to be used, how much drainage needs to be ran, etc. The really easy installations only take 2 hours, but I’ve been on really hard installations that have taken 5 or 6 hours.

Q: How much does a whole house filter cost?
A: Cost varies from house to house. On average, through Bill Howe Plumbing, a softener will be installed for $2,100 to $2,200 and a carbon filter will cost roughly $1,900 to $2000.

If you’d like to schedule a free estimate for a water filtration in your home or business, please call us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469) or visit our website at www.billhowe.com!

Why You Should Keep Your HVAC Air Filters Clean

The heat wave may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean we should forget about maintaining our HVAC units! When it comes to HVAC, San Diego residents can count on Bill Howe Heating & Air. After all, we know that to keep your HVAC system running well, it is important to follow these two simple steps. Replace your indoor air filters regularly and have a San Diego HVAC specialist give your system a tune-up once a year.  It’s never too early to get ready for the cold weather, you can get your heating tune-up now and make sure your heating unit is ready the minute you need it!

However, if you suspect you already have an issue, don’t worry because we can help! At Bill Howe, our technicians often find that filters with excess buildup have created problems for our customers.  A clogged filter stops airflow and puts more stress on your system. This drives up utility costs as owners attempt to correct poor air quality by running the AC or heat more often. Air slow-down can result in iced-up evaporator coils or cause the system to overheat. These problems can lead to HVAC failure or, in the case of over-heating, can spark a fire. Fortunately you can prevent these problems by calling one of our expert San Diego HVAC technicians for a tune-up.

If these filters aren’t replaced and the unit is not regularly inspected (we recommend twice a year), the system will reduce the heat-exchange rate. A lower heat-exchange rate will cause the system to fail over time. Then, the evaporator and condenser may break down as a result. Tune-ups by a professional technician will clean out debris and allow the system to function effectively.
Additionally, dirty filters result in lower air quality, which can lead to various problems. Poor air quality has been known to inflame allergies and cause other health and respiratory issues.

So, a good rule of thumb is to change air filters in the house every month and to have an HVAC tune-up once a year. If your business creates a high dust environment, it may need multiple tune-ups during the year. Additionally, homes with pets may need a tune-up more often if filters are easily clogged.

We are the preferred local company when it comes to HVAC. San Diego home and business owners have trusted us for years, and you can too.

To schedule an appointment or receive an estimate regarding HVAC, San Diego residents please contact us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469) or visit our website at www.billhowe.com.

Pressure-Balanced Shower Valves and Cartridges

As leading San Diego plumbers, Bill Howe Plumbing knows that a nice warm shower that suddenly turns freezing cold or painfully scalding can be all too familiar in some homes. However, we also know that there is no need for this uncomfortable and irritating situation. After all, there is an easy and safe solution that prevents this annoyance from happening known as pressure-balanced shower valves and cartridges.

Pressure-balanced shower valves and cartridges allow hot and cold water to stay well mixed even if the pressure changes from a toilet being flushed, washing machine started or running sink. By allowing one of our expert San Diego plumbers to install a pressure-balanced valve or cartridge, your shower plumbing will no longer react to common pressure changes, allowing your shower to remain at a comfortable temperature. As a result, this can prevent scalding hot water and minor burns along with slips and falls from trying to escape icy cold water. Essentially, these valves and cartridges are a wise safety measure, especially for young children and the elderly.

When it comes to plumbing in San Diego, we know all the best ways to provide customers with everyday solutions. After all, we have been providing the very best service when it comes to plumbing in San Diego for well over 30 years. If you are looking to install a pressure-balanced valve or cartridge in your home or business, we can help. Customers know that they can count on us to make sure the job is always completed correctly the first time. We guarantee all of our parts and labor. Customer satisfaction is number one with us and we know you will be 100 percent satisfied with our service.

Don’t take another unnecessary uncomfortable shower. Schedule an appointment with one of our expert San Diego plumbers today by calling 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469) or visition our website at www.billhowe.com.

Stay Cool and Safe With These Heating and Air Conditioning Tips!

We are supposed to have another HOT weekend and at Bill Howe we want to keep our San Diego heating and air conditioning customers cool AND safe! A couple weeks ago we stressed the importance of checking your drip pan (aka your safety pan) on your indoor air handler to make sure it is not leaking. During this hot summer we’ve been having, our air conditioning units might be top-of-mind, but with the recent earthquakes in San Diego, heating units also need a little attention.

Typically, there are two types of pipe used when a new furnace is installed. While there are several brands for both of these types of pipe, they generally fall into two distinct categories: they are either a hard pipe that is black in color or a flex pipe with a yellow plastic covering. While the hard pipe is thick, rigid and safe, the flex pipe is generally thin, flexible and prone to breaking which can cause very dangerous gas leaks. In the case of an earthquake, which can cause your furnace to shift, a hard pipe will not break in the commotion, but a flex pipe is far more likely to break and cause a gas leak.

If a flex pipe was used in your furnace installation, or if you are unclear about what type was used, we highly recommend that you have one of our expert San Diego heating technicians take a look in order to ensure your safety. Our heating technicians adhere to strict standards. Our technicians are certified with the North American Technician Excellence (NATE). They also belong to the non-profit Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries, Inc. (IHACI). They have completed the AC&R Safety Coalitions and have extensive training in the refrigerant known as R-410A. They must also adhere to the standards of the EPA and have been certified through the Esco Institute.

When it comes to cooling you down during these hot summer months, and keeping you safe with all of your needs in heating, San Diego residents count on Bill Howe Heating & Air. No problem is too large or too small for us and we guarantee your satisfaction and safety.

To schedule an appointment or for more tips on your heating, San Diego residents please contact us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469) or visit us online at www.billhowe.com.