CT Home Improvement blog

Domestic hot water coils are typically found in residential oil-fired, and some older gas fired hot water boilers. The coil’s job is to supply you with the domestic hot water that you use to shower, wash your hands and do laundry. The coil is basically a copper tube that is coiled up in a spring type pattern and submerged in the boiler. So that means the hot water that is in the boiler is surrounding the outer wall of the coil and heats the domestic water inside the coil. Here are two common things about coils that I see all too often when doing plumbing service jobs.
1. No tempering valve installed.
2. Complaints about not enough hot water, “my boiler is only a few years old and lately I’m running out of hot water after 10 minutes in the shower”.
Many times I see boilers with no tempering valve installed. This means you can easily be scalded. A tempering valve is a code required device that is installed in between the hot and cold pipes of the coil. It’s job is to temper and regulate the outbound hot water to a desired temperature not to exceed 140 degrees. Without a tempering valve, the outbound hot water temperature going to your bathtub and faucets,  could exceed 190 degrees. Ouch! Also, a tempering valve could buy you more hot water in the shower. This is because the tempering valve draws a lower volume of water from the coil giving it more time to recoup.
As for number 2, “why is my hot water running out after 10 minutes?”… Let me count the ways. Think of a coil like an artery, any contaminates in the water act like platelets and begin to adhere to the ports. Contaminates in this case are usually calcium, iron and oxygen. These minerals and many others stick to the wall of the coil and slowly clog it up, affecting the volume of your hot water and cutting down on the heat transfer from the surrounding boiler water. People with well water usually have a higher concentrate of one or a combination of minerals and properties that quickly destroy coils.
There is however, an answer to getting more value and life out of your coil: install a booster tank. A booster tank is a non mechanical reservoir tank which is piped in series with your coil. The coil heats the water as usual and circulates the water to the booster tank. This helps you in two ways. It gives you an extra 50 gallons of hot water and more importantly, it keeps the water moving. Those contaminates do a number on the coil when the water is standing still. A circulator pump transfers the water between the coil and the tank frequently which hinders the adhesion of those destructive minerals.

Hope this was helpful

We read a very interesting article on www.TheRidgefieldPress.com the other day about the alarming number of homeowners facing fraud by so-called contractors. I am proud to say that we stand behind and actually enforce many of the CT DCP rules and laws are for home improvement. We strive to give contractors a good name.

Check it out for yourself: http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24016:no-april-1-joke-scammers-are-out-to-fool-you-says-state-commissioner&catid=46:rfd-local&Itemid=778

Written Contract Essentials for Connecticut Home Improvement Contractors and Service Professionals.

All contract needs to fully define all aspects of what homeowner and contractor have agreed to. The level of detail that should be included in a contract will vary with the size and complexity of the project. For a new home building or renovation project, the contract should include details of the design, material and product specifications, the project schedule, costs, and payment arrangements. For more simple home repair jobs, less detail may be needed, but it should still provide a clear warranty on the work – specifically what is covered and for how long.  Here are some simple things all contracts should include:

-Name of contractor, business address, phone number and license number

-A clear description of work the contractor is responsible for doing

-If any work the homeowner or other contractor is responsible for doing

-Who is responsible for obtaining necessary building permits and inspections

-Start and completion dates

-Who will be supplying materials

-A clear payment schedule

-Signatures

A detailed written contract between homeowner and contractor is essential, whether you are doing a simple home repair or major renovation. If you get involved in a handshake “cash deal without a written contract, problems caused by mis-communication are more likely to occur making issues much harder to resolve.

To see what the Connecticut Department of consumer protection has to say about contracts, click here

At Refer Me, we talk with a lot of homeowners and various types of contractors across the state. In some instances, have discovered that there is some confusion about who is required to carry a Connecticut trade license. Part of the Refer Me vetting process for network contractors is verification of proper licensing pertaining to their services and trade. Most homeowners know that specialty trades such as plumbing, electrical, or new home construction require a dedicated license. For instance, plumbing contractors are required to carry a P1 license in order to perform work and pull permits. But what about when it comes to tile setters, painters, masons or garage door installers? The answer is that all of these types of trades fall under the Connecticut “Home Improvement” license. An HI, or Home Improvement license is required if the contractor is paid more than $200 for a job and has made a permanent change to the residential property. Here is a full list, set forth by the state of Connecticut of trades bound to this license: “including but not limited to driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, roofs, siding, insulation, solar energy systems, flooring, patios, landscaping, painting, radon mitigation, residential underground oil tank removals, fences, doors, windows and waterproofing”.

For more information on licensing, please visit the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

Awareness is everything.

The windows in your home can be a major source of energy loss. In cold and warm seasons you can lose a substantial amount of heating and air-conditioning through your windows. That loss of energy through your windows can add up to a lot of money wasted every month. If you own a older home with wood  or aluminum framed windows you might try replacing them with new modern windows.  Materials  such as vinyl and fiberglass provide much more insulation than wood.  When replacing your windows look for windows that have double or triple panes with ” Low-E Glass” coating. 

When purchasing Enery Efficient windows the goverment is offering tax incentives to make these types of windows more attractive to buy. Check with your local window suppler in your area for more information.

Who wouldn’t love to have the kitchen of their dreams. Most of us spend a great deal of time with family in the kitchen, so why not make it the most standout room in the house? Not to mention the value it adds to your home.

Kitchen remodels are not all created equal and it’s important to get a contractor that is a good fit for your project. One person’s idea of a kitchen remodel may consist of updates like new cabinet hardware, a tile back splash, new counter tops, new sink, and fixtures. Another persons remodel may consist of moving walls to open up the room, relocating fixtures and appliances, installing custom cabinetry, moldings, flooring, exotic stone counter tops and fixtures. Clearly, the level of complexity should always be the main factor to keep in mind when looking for a contractor to bring your ideas to life. Ask prospects what kind of work they have done in the past and ask if they have pictures from previous projects. Good contractors build relationships with their customers and often times could even arrange for you to see previous completed jobs. Satisfied customers are often eager to show off a job well done by their contractor.

A good fit of contractor to remodel is important for two reasons. One, I find that contractors who consistently do similar type projects always turn out out a better product. Two, you will get better pricing. You don’t need a high end contractor to put new knobs on your cabinet doors and painting your ceiling. High end contractors get high end money for high end work and as well they should.

If your project is fairly straightforward then go with a contractor that is experienced in doing straightforward type remodels. If your project is complex and requires extensive planning, coordination of tradesmen and material orders, then ONLY go with a contractor who has experience, pictures of projects that are equivalent to the caliber of your remodel.

If there’s one thing on all our mind’s these days, it’s how to preserve what we have in these uncertain times. Energy costs also seem to be skyrocketing, leaving us wondering how we can save a little money. Refer Me is always on the look out for home related programs that our clients might be interested in. Energy efficient is a buzz word these days. The HE appliances look nice in your kitchen and bathroom, and do save you money in the long run, but what if you don’t need a new appliance yet?

Now residents of the State of Connecticut have access to Home Energy Solutions, a program funded through a surcharge on monthly electric bills. The program, run by Connecticut Light & Power Co. and United Illuminating, sends an energy-efficiency contractor to your home to perform an energy assessment, find and professionally seal critical air leaks, replace incandescent bulbs with compact florescent lamps, provide water conservation devices and make recommendations. The Home Energy Solutions audit costs $75 ($300 if you heat your house with oil or propane), and just having the visit can save you on your energy bills. If your home has issues that need to be addressed, be sure to check back with Refer Me to find a contractor to help.

Those looking to do a little more in the way of home improvements, can get rebates for installing energy efficient water heaters, furnaces or boilers. There are rebates of $300 available for those who replace their water heater with an energy efficient one attached to a natural gas boiler. You’ll be eligible for a rebate of up to $500 if you replace your furnace or boiler with a more energy efficient model. You can contact your utility company or visit http://www.ct.gov/opm/site/default.asp for more information on these programs.

If you don’t feel you need an entire house audit it’s good to keep in mind that it is imperative to have your oil fired heating equipment serviced annually which normally includes an efficiency test, a cleaning, and replacement of general filters and nozzles. While gas boilers, furnaces and water heaters are generally maintenance free, you should definitely have a qualified heating contractor evaluate your unit and components every few years. Keeping up with these tasks ensures a longer life for your equipment and also helps them to run more efficiently. Refer Me can also help you find a contractor to carry out these small maintenance tasks as well.

Whether you decide to take the plunge and do a major upgrade to the energy efficiency of your home or just decide to change some old light bulbs to florescent, it’s good to know even these small changes can make a difference to your bottom line.