Any Hour Services Blog

After a cold, wet spring Utah is finally enjoying some fine sunny weather! Tempting as it is to go hiking or fishing in the mountains all day long, this is actually the perfect time to tend to indoor remodeling jobs. After all, air conditioning is keeping the house nice and cool and summer or holiday family get-togethers are more likely to take place outside: so there are fewer conflicts to get in the way of finally undertaking those long-delayed projects. And if you have to choose just one remodeling job this year, the bathroom is a wise choice. Why?

• A gorgeous new bathroom is a real selling point if you plan on putting your house on the market
• Installing new fixtures and plumbing will make it feel like you have a brand new house (without breaking the bank)
• The bathroom is one of the most utilized parts of the house, and you need to be sure it gives you reliable service instead of constant headaches
• A bathroom can be an oasis from the world: isn’t it time you turned yours into something really special?

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you can probably handle the retiling and painting jobs; but plumbing is best left to the professionals. Anyhour Services is a Utah heating contractor that also does top-notch plumbing work, and our experienced technicians can make sure the job is done right the first time. Here are some ways that a plumber can assist on your bathroom remodel:

• A plumber can install new fixtures correctly and at very low cost: if your budget is preventing you from doing extensive work, new fixtures can give an instant face-lift to the room that will make you smile!
• If you’re adding on to an existing bathroom, a plumber can effectively connect the old plumbing to the new plumbing with zero problems.
• If you want all-new plumbing, including popular showers for two, a plumbing contractor will design a system that works together seamlessly for a pleasurable bathing experience.

Replacing antiquated toilets and bathtubs is a must: as your contractor about luxurious soaking tubs, tubs with jets, and popular retro stand-alones. Remodeling a bathroom is a wise investment that will give you years of relaxation and pleasure: contact Anyhour Services and see how we can help make your remodeling dreams a reality.

If you have a major plumbing problem, it’s always wise to bring in an expert Utah plumbing contractor like Anyhour Services to make sure the job’s done right. But some of those non-emergency annoying little toilet problems that seem to crop up all the time can be quick-fixed by homeowners who possess even the most rudimentary of plumbing skills. Here are some fast tips to help you get a handle on those little naggers once and for all!

Running toilet: Don’t you dare let that toilet run… stop it dead in its tracks right away! It is said that a running toilet wastes 2 gallons of water each and every minute; needless to say, that can add up to some pretty serious wastefulness in no time at all and lead to unpleasant environmental (not to mention financial) consequences.

Fixing the problem will involve lifting the cover off your toilet’s tank (yes- you can do it)! Chances are if the tank is not filling then the rubber flapper attached to the chain is not closing or the chain has become detached altogether. If your toilet uses a ball seal, make sure the attached chain can move freely. You may have to get your hands wet: but don’t worry; this is perfectly clean water! If the problem is more complicated, it’s time to call the plumber.

Clogged toilet: If you have kids, you know all about clogged toilets! If the problem is a simple clog (meaning sewage doesn’t back up into your tub when the toilet is flushed), you can probably handle the problem yourself.

• First, remove the tank lid and lift the flapper manually to determine if water can pass through: if it can’t, the toilet is indeed clogged.
• Wearing rubber gloves, place a plunger directly over the drain hole and repeatedly thrust down sharply. If the clog is minor, the suction created by the plunger will most likely dislodge the cause of the clog and waste water will drain on its own. Help wash the debris all the way down the pipes by adding an extra gallon of water to the bowl and flushing the toilet.

If the problem is not resolved, you can try to snake out the toilet if you have the right equipment. If not, it’s time to call a reputable and reliable Utah plumbing contractor like Anyhour Services. The worst thing you can do is nothing at all: use the above measures to fix your broken throne as soon as possible and if all else fails, bring in the professionals.

Utah summers bring all kinds of wonderful opportunities for families across the state: hiking in the mountains, getaways to Lake Powell or Bear Lake, excursions on ATVs at the Sand Dunes, afternoons at the public pool, or just jumping on the trampoline in the backyard!

Sizzling hot temperatures are also a fact of summer along the Wasatch Front: so homeowners need to take the time to perform a spring checkup on their cooling systems to ensure their air conditioners will provide their families with reliable, efficient service all season long. Here are 3 easy steps to a summer-ready air conditioning unit.

1. Before attempting to operate your appliance, remove any cover that you may have placed over the unit to protect it from winter wear and tear. In order to function properly, the condenser needs to be able to draw outside air in: which is impossible if it still has a cover on. You also want to make sure to remove stored lawn furniture or bags of leaves that may have ended up next to your unit last fall.
2. Clean the plant life around your unit: Did you know that planting small shrubs near your air conditioning unit will actually help it to perform more efficiently? Unfortunately, debris and overgrowth near this appliance can have the opposite effect, so you want to be sure to keep any plants or trees nearby trimmed away from the unit as much as possible.
3. Once your own cleanup is done, call a professional Utah air conditioning contractor like Anyhour Services and have them come out to perform a spring tune-up on your unit. Most homeowners do not know what problems may have set in over the winter or what to look for, but a trained technician has the diagnostic skills to find and remedy any issues before the summer heat sets in. He can also check electrical components, filters, fluid levels, and perform all of the services needed that will give you worry-free and efficient cooling all summer long.

The time for a tune-up is NOW, before the busy season hits in earnest. Contact your Utah air conditioning contractor right away, and you’ll be able to enjoy all those wonderful outdoor summer activities with peace of mind and confidence.

Have you ever stopped to consider how much your family depends on your home’s water heater? Hot water is an essential ingredient any time you need to take a shower, do the laundry, wash your hands, bathe the baby, and so on. Having a water heater fail is as traumatic to a household as having the furnace or air conditioner go out, so having the right equipment and maintaining it properly is essential. Here are two of the most common reasons why Utah water heaters fail and how to prevent problems.

Age

Water heaters begin experiencing problems beginning at about the 5-year mark after installation. A heater will seldom last beyond 12 years and by that time it is highly susceptible to potentially costly leakage problems. Insurance companies report that water heater issues are one of the top five reasons for water-related homeowners’ insurance claims: and in 95% of those cases the water heater is old.

Prevention: If your water heater is getting older or if you are not sure of its age, contact Any Hour Services. An expert will come out and perform a thorough inspection and assessment of your system. If you do need a new water heater, Any Hour has the quality products and excellent service you expect from a leading Utah heating contractor.

Water Tank Corrosion

Every water tank contains an anode rod whose purpose is to attract corrosion-causing products in the water. The idea is that the corrosive substances will attack the rod rather than the metal tank: less corroding of the tank itself means less chance of leakage. However, over time the corrosive forces will wreak havoc on the anode rod and reduce its size and effectiveness. If the problem is not rectified the tank may begin to corrode, causing potentially serious leakage.

Prevention: For relatively new water heaters, have a professional Utah heating contractor from Any Hour services come out and inspect the anode rod every two years. Once a heater is eight years old, the rod should be looked at yearly and replaced whenever necessary. Keep in mind that the use of a water softener in your home will actually wear out the anode rode faster and so that fact should be kept in mind when arranging your heater’s maintenance schedule.

A water heater is a significant investment and an important part of maintaining your family’s comfort: knowing the common reasons for heater failure and practicing preventive maintenance practices will help it perform better and last longer.