I know, I know.  If you look hard enough there are weeks or days that honor everything!  Did you know that March 6th was National Dentist Day?  Really!  It was! And so, it would seem that if dentists can have their own day, why shouldn’t leaks?  Right?

Right!

So, in an effort to help this information leak out, we’re here to help celebrate Fix a Leak Week.  Water Sense in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared  Fix a Leak Week to create water and water conservation awareness.  To me, the most compelling statement on the Fix a Leak Week site is that “Nationwide, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak from U.S. homes each year. “ You can read the entire article here.

Fix a Leak Week is a perfect opportunity for you to check out your home and business water connections.  Take a peek at the plumbing, the connections for your dishwasher and clothes washer and, of course, your water heater.  Look for signs of leaking water and commit to correcting the problem.  If you find that your water heater is leaking, call your water heater expert to assess the situation and repair the cause of the leak.

Truth is, Hot Water 911 is very glad to know that there is a week that celebrates water and encourages awareness of our water use.  If we all just take a moment to correct small leaks in our homes and businesses, we can be part of the solution rather than being part of the problem. Call Hot Water 911 at 1-800- GO HOT WATER  (1-800-464-6892) if you have questions about a leaking water heater.  Water heaters are what we do and we do them well!

And…Happy Fix a Leak Week!

We are exposed to signals every day.  Some signals are obvious like stop signs and railroad crossing signals.  Some signals are less obvious like body language and voice intonation.  Many of the signals we see or hear everyday, we  respond to automatically.  If the intersection signal light is yellow, we instinctively start to slow down and brake in preparation for the red light.  When someone’s voice becomes loud and threatening, we instinctively become protective or defensive.  Time has taught us how to respond.

There are some signals that we need to be guided through.  When a warning light appears on our dashboard, we may not know exactly what that signal means, but we do know that it means something and that we should take the car to an expert who knows exactly what to do.  When we have pains in our stomach that don’t seem to go away, we may not know what that signal means exactly but we do know that we should seek advice from a medical expert who will know what that pain implies.

Water heaters have signals…some that are obvious and some that are not so obvious.  The problem with your hot water heater is that it is usually located in a space that you don’t typically frequent.  So, signals can be missed. It can’t be said often enough that you should take the time to familiarize yourself with your hot water heater…know where it is, what it looks like, what the space around it looks like, how accessible it is, what each to the valves and components look like and how to shut it off.  Make yourself aware of some obvious water heater signals that need attention….water around the floor of the water heater, continuous cycling of the water heater or even sediment in your hot water.  These are signals that need to be shared with a water heater expert. At Hot Water 911, these are the signals that our experts deal with all of the time.

I’m going to share with you my favorite water heater tip.  If you don’t already have a sticker on your water heater from your water heater expert, tape a card with the name, phone number and website of your local water heater expert.  At Hot Water 911 we provide our customers with an easy to read sticker to be placed on the water heater so that, whenever they have a question or concern, they can find our number quickly.  If you have any questions about your water heater’s “signals”, give us a call at 1-800- GO HOT WATER ( 1-800-464-6892 ) and we would be happy to help.

Assuming that water heaters are the topic of choice around your dinner table each night, like it is for Hot Water 911,  you have most likely talked about the buzz regarding tankless water heaters.  As with all things that buzz, the best thing to do is to become well informed before you make a water heater decision.  And that is why today, we will talk about…

The Top 5 Reasons to Install a Tankless Water Heater

1. You won’t run out of hot water.  In a tank type water heater system, when you’ve used up the hot water that is in the tank, you need to wait for hot water to regenerate again before you get more hot water.  With tankless, as the name implies, there is no tank.  You turn on your hot water for a shower, and you get continuous hot water.
2. Tankless water heaters don’t take up a lot of space.  The traditional tank type water heaters are large, somewhat cumbersome tanks that occupy a lot of territory wherever it is located.  If you have a small machine room or are in a condo with very limited space, tankless water heaters are space savers, easier to access and give you more room for other necessities.
3. Tankless water heaters are energy efficient.  Very simply because you only burn gas when you are using hot water.  In tank type systems, the gas needs to cycle on and off to assure that there is hot water in the tank.
4. Tankless water heaters reduce standby losses.  When you don’t need hot water, it’s not keeping water unnecessarily hot that you aren’t calling for.
5. Tankless water heaters provide clean, sediment free hot water.  Tank type water heaters, by virtue of their design, keep water standing in the tank until it is used.  This allows for the build up of sediment and deposits within the tank that get passed through when you turn on the water.

So, with this list of reasons to install a tankless water heater, you may be in a better position to determine if tankless is the way to go for your particular situation.   In a future post, Hot Water 911 will give equal time to the tank type water heater and discuss the virtues of going with a conventional tank type water heater.

If you have any questions about tankless water heaters or water heaters in general, give Hot Water 911 a call at 1-800- GO HOT WATER ( 1-800-464-6892 ) and we will be happy to help you.

Probably the most common thing that people want to know about water heaters is:

HOW TO PREVENT WATER HEATER BREAKDOWNS

After being in this business for over 30 years, we at Hot Water 911 can tell you in one word:

MAINTENANCE

 When you buy a new car and you have invested a lot of money in this shiny new object, you want to make sure that it lasts for a long time.  After all, you need to depend on this new car to get you to work, to get you to commitments, to get you to your vacation destination.   You need that car to be reliable.  So, when the fuel gauge points toward “Empty”, you fill the tank up with gas.  When the windshield washer fluid is low, you fill it up.  When you have driven 3,000 miles, you change your oil.  When you have driven around 50,000 miles, you get new tires for the car.  When the car gets dirty, you wash it.  So, as a rule, you are diligent about the upkeep of your car because you would be lost without it.  You depend on your car.

The same should hold true for your hot water heater. Sadly, we tend not to think about our hot water heaters until something goes wrong.   So what can you do?

You can do some basic water heater maintenance yourself  with the simple steps shared here or you can have a water heater expert, like Hot Water 911, set you up with routine maintenance.

BASIC  ANNUAL WATER HEATER MAINTENANCE

1. Familiarize yourself with your water heater.  Read any instruction manuals that may have come with your water heater.  Look at the various components of your water heater so that you are comfortable with it.
2. Turn off the heat source to your water heater.  If it is an electric water heater, turn off the breaker to the tank.  If it is gas, turn off the gas leading to the water heater.
3. Turn off the water source to your water heater.
4. Attach a hose to the water drain spout at the bottom of your water heater tank and open the water drain valve and the pressure releasing valve to let the water run out of the tank into a floor drain.  The water may look dirty at first.  Let the water drain for about 30 minutes
5. Turn the water drain valve off and take off the hose.  Place a bucket under the water drain spigot and turn on the water to the tank.  Once you have turned the water back on to the tank, open the water drain valve and allow the tank to flush itself out into the waiting bucket.  After about 2 gallons of flushed water, the water should be clear.
6. Turn off the water drain valve and the pressure release valve.  Turn the water to the tank back on and fill the tank.
7. Once the tank is filled, turn the heat source to the tank back on.

This should be done once a year.  If you are at all unsure about this procedure, never take any chances….give your water heater expert a call so that they can complete this important maintenance for you.  If you didn’t know how to change the oil in your car, you wouldn’t take a chance and do something incorrectly…you would take it to your mechanic.  The same is true for your water heater.  When in doubt, always call the expert.  If, in your maintenance of the water heater you notice leaks around the tank or you find that the water never seems to get clear, you need to call your water heater expert so that they can diagnose and fix the problem.

At Hot Water 911, water heaters are what we do.  If you have questions about water heater maintenance or about anything water heater related, please email us or give us a call at

1-800 GO HOT WATER  ( 1-800-464-6892 )

Did you ever have one of those experiences where you just know that this experience was going to be a good thing?  That there was a feeling of kismet? Well, that is what happened with us at Hot Water 911 when we first met Cary Miller, Vice President of Food Industry News.  It was better than six degrees of separation…it was more like two degrees of separation!

You see, Hot Water 911 has a close relationship with so many restaurants, making sure that they have the hot water that they need to keep their doors open.  Food Industry News has a close relationship with many of these same restaurants and food purveyors as well.  When Cary approached us about sharing  information about our services with the Food Industry News readers, we had one of those “aha” moments…and, when we were done kicking ourselves for waiting so long, we shared.  I am happy to say that Hot Water 911 is proud to be seen in the February edition of the Food Industry News.  You can see our offer online here on page 28.

Why is this important, you ask?  I’ll tell you why!

It’s all about connections…and no,I’m not talking about piping connections… this time.

Really, isn’t that what life is about?  Connections?  The more people that we can connect with to tell them about what we do at Hot Water 911 and to inform them about their water heaters, the better their chances are of knowing exactly what to do in case of a water heater emergency.  You know how we have certain expectations of our carand, other than routine maintenance, we don’t put much thought into our car on a day to day basis?  But then, one day, you discover that your transmission is shot.  This could be a time to panic, but you remember talking to a friend not long ago who extolled the praises of a great transmission guy and so you feel confident in trusting this guy because of your connection.  In most service businesses, inherent in their model is a need-based structure….you call service businesses when you need them.   But, if you don’t know about the service business, how are you going to know that business XYZ is the best place to call when you need that particular service?  You don’t…unless you have made good and valuable connections that lead you to that business.

And that’s where the Food Industry News and Hot Water 911 have experienced kismet.  Connecting with this publication creates connections that will help people when they have a water heater emergency.  They will remember that they read about us in a publication that they trust.  And we at Hot Water 911 won’t let them down.  Water heaters are what we do and we do them well.

For all of your water heater related questions and concerns, call us at 1-800-Go Hot Water  (1-800-464-6892 )

Click on the audio button to create the mood… Sound Effects – Spooky Sounds

So can we agree that some basements are downright spooky? I mean dungeons of terror spooky. Ghosts and goblins spooky. Scream spooky.

But of course, spooky or not, every once in awhile, we have to force ourselves to enter into the eerie depths of our basements to check out our water heater if it stops working. Flashlight in hand, swiping cobwebs out of the way, our need for hot water rises above the spookiness of the basement. If it’s a gas water heater, see if you can see that glowing flicker of the pilot light. Ignore the spiders and see if there are signs of leaking around the base of the water heater. With trembling hands, write down the make and model number of your water heater and run back upstairs to the safety of your kitchen and then…

Give Hot Water 911 a call. Not only do we have factory trained technicians to help you with all of your water heater needs, we have also been given special training by the Ghost Busters to handle spooky basements. One call to 1-800-Go Hot Water (1-800-464-6892) and your fears will be removed!

I’m just going to assume that you love  the  awesome TV hit, How I Met Your Mother (heretofore referred to as HIMYM ).  How can you not? And, working under that assumption, you are undoubtedly aware of one of the very best episodes that revolves around doppelgängers.   You can refresh your memory here .  Did I not tell you HIMYM is awesome?

I find the whole concept of doppelgängers fascinating.  We’ve all seen someone in our daily travels that jumps out at us because they look identical to someone else we know. It can be pretty eerie actually.  I’ve called a few friends and family members over the years to tell them that they have a twin walking around in whatever town it happens to be.  The funny thing about most doppelgängers is that, given the opportunity to put the two individuals together, chances are, in real time, the similarities would be less obvious.  The unique effect of doppelgängers is reliant on our memory’s picture of what the other person looks like.  And, quite often, our memory gets a bit fuzzy when in the midst of a doppelgänger revelation.  Usually.

And then there is Hot Water 911‘s president, Tony Scimeca.  Tony has been in the mechanical trades for all of his adult life.  He has been found on rehab project sites, on new construction sites and in the construction check out line of many big box stores.  If Tony had a dollar for every time someone asked him if he was Bob Vila, well, let’s just say the US economy would be in a different situation right now.  Tony’s doppelgänger is Bob Vila…or maybe Bob Vila’s doppelgänger is Tony Scimeca.  Tony had the honor of meeting the very talented Bob Vila a number of years ago at a trade show and Mr. Vila was kind enough to chat with Tony and allow their picture to be taken together.

And, while Tony still gets told from time to time that he is the spitting image of Bob Vila and he politely nods his head and affirms that he has heard this a time or two in his life, for the most part, life goes on.  Until last week… while in a store that Bob Vila promotes.  There in the back room of said store was a life size cardboard cutout of …you guessed it…Bob Vila.  People in the store were laughing at how closely Tony and Mr. Vila resembled each other.  Pictures were requested.  Pictures were taken.  Well….you be the judge.   Do we have a doppelgänger winner here?

I know, right?!?!  That was not the headline that you wanted to see.  It’s not even officially Fall yet and here I am screaming about a cold weather alert!

But here’s the reality…

Cold weather is right around the corner.   So what should you do to prepare for the cold? Simple….

Always Be Prepared

1. Go visit your water heater…seriously.  Go to where your water heater is located and get to know it.  Write down the make, model and serial number and keep it in a place you will remember. Find the pilot light.  Find the reset button if there is one.  Better yet…find the manual for your water heater and, if you can’t find it, go to the manufacturer’s website and download the manual from there
2. Check for leaks around the water heater.  Call your water heater expert if you aren’t sure if water around the water heater qualifies as a leak…better safe than sorry
3. If you can’t remember the last time you had preventative maintenance done on your water heater, it’s probably time.  Call your water heater expert and schedule a preventative maintenance appointment.
4. Make sure that the area around your water heater and furnace are free from clutter and chemicals.  You want to maintain easy access to these machines at all times not only for convenience but for safety as well.
5. Check out the cute video in the sidebar ….Baby It’s Cold Outside…

How would you describe your personality in emergencies?  Are you calm and collected automatically going into triage mode?  Or are you a panic who gets overwhelmed and disorganized in the face of unexpected emergencies? We at Hot Water 911 know what to tell our customers at the time that they are facing a water heater emergency so that we can successfully talk them off of the ledge.  But, failed water heaters, flooded basements, power outages and wind damage are just a few of life’s unexpected emergencies that we can face more effectively if we have a plan in place…in other words, being pro-active is usually far more effective than being re-active. So what can you do to be prepared for life’s little emergencies?

4 Ways to Better Handle Life’s Unexpected Emergencies

1.) Create a list of important phone numbers that are easily accessible to you or to your family or house sitter, etc.  Include in that list the numbers of a close and reliable contact, the police and fire department, the closest hospital, your family physicians, the electric company, the phone company and your water heater specialist, such as Hot Water 911 or plumber.

2.) Dedicate an easily accessible drawer for emergencies that contains batteries ( all types and a substantial supply of each), first aid kit, candles, lighters and flashlights.

3.) Dedicate a shelf in your kitchen pantry for foods that are non-perishable that can sustain your family for up to a week if the power is out and you cannot use your refrigerator or oven.  Include non-dairy milk, cereals, canned beans, soups, crackers and freeze dried fruits.

4.) Create a plan for your family to follow if they are separated during an emergency that will allow you to reconnect.  Review and run through the routes family members should take to return to the safety of their home or to the safety of a pre-arranged designated location.

Remember, we at Hot Water 911 are only a phone call away if you are experiencing  a water heater emergency.  Give us a call at 1-800-GO HOT WATER (1-800-464-6892) for water heater emergency questions or any questions related to handling life’s unexpected emergencies.

Being in the business of making friends has always been part of our mission statement at Hot Water 911 and here’s why.

I recently read a friends very heartfelt but very negative review of a restaurant that she had previously frequented.  After being a fairly regular customer, she had a very negative experience at this restaurant this past weekend…negative enough to post a bad review on Yelp.  As I read about the experience, I realized that, for the restaurant it did not have to end up this way.  This restaurant could have had a glowing review if they had handled the situation with grace and kindness.  But they made a decision.  They decided that they were not in the business of making friends.  And they couldn’t have been more wrong.  And the end result for this restaurant might be devastating.

If you have a small business, it doesn’t matter what kind of business it is, you are in the business of making friends.  Always.  Period.  And here’s why.

1.) As a small business, we rely on the kindness of others to utilize our services.  That holds true for every small business… from customer service businesses to law offices to medical groups.  Your business needs people.  And if these people perceive you as a friend, it’s a win.

2.) Creating buzz for your business.  If you have customers that are brand “friends”, they are going to create buzz for your brand.  Why wouldn’t we want to provide the very best service possible for our great customers?

3.) Referrals are some of our favorite friends.  When we create loyal and dedicated relationships with our customers AND our vendors, we are going to have meaningful relationships with the referrals that are sent our way. We LOVE our referred customers!

4.) Responding to those occasional negative outcomes almost always ends up being a positive.  If we ignored those few less than optimal outcomes, we would not only be doing our valued customers a huge disservice but we would be doing our brand a disservice as well.  If someone isn’t happy, it is our goal to make them happy AND …we don’t stop there… we strive to make them a friend of Hot Water 911.  We want everyone to see that, if they aren’t happy, Hot Water 911 does everything in their power to correct that…and to make you want to do business with us again…and again…and again!

5.) We LOVE what we do!  If you “feel” the love…if you “feel” our passion…you are going to want to be our friend.  Because, you know, at the end of the day, Hot Water 911 is going to always have your back because, after all….water heaters are ALL we do!