It's undeniable that the longevity of appliances isn't what it used to be. Take water heaters, for instance. The typical lifespan of a traditional gas or electric water heater is around 10 years, with some variation based on usage patterns. If you're purchasing a pre-owned home, it's wise to check the installation date of the water heater to estimate its remaining lifespan. Eventually, as a homeowner, you'll likely need to replace your water heater.

Many homeowners are opting for tankless water heaters as a long-term solution. Unlike traditional heaters, tankless models can last twice as long because they only operate when hot water is needed. Although tankless water heaters come with a higher upfront cost, their extended lifespan and energy efficiency often balance out this initial investment over time. Additionally, tankless heaters save space in the mechanical room, providing valuable storage space—a perk for any homeowner.
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When selecting the right tankless water heater, it's essential to consider your household's typical water usage. For instance, if you often run multiple appliances simultaneously, such as the dishwasher and washing machine while showering, you may need a model with higher flow capacity. Discuss your usage habits with your installer to ensure you choose a tankless water heater that meets your needs and avoids disappointment post-purchase. Making an informed decision upfront can lead to greater satisfaction and efficiency in the long run.

Holiday season means family and friends visiting, cooking extravaganzas, last minute shopping and, as much as we try to avoid it, stress. The last thing you need on your hands this holiday season is a plumbing emergency. Here at All Connect Plumbing, we know this is the time of year that your home is taxed to the max. We are coming upon the most intense use of your home plumbing of the year. Between the buzz of activity in the kitchen and guests staying over, your sinks, toilets, showers, dishwashers, garbage disposals and hot water heaters will be working overtime. We're giving you some holiday plumbing tips to keep the holidays moving along as smoothly as possible:

• Be aware of what you flush! One of the most common emergencies around the holidays are clogged toilets. Avoid flushing baby wipes, feminine napkins and facial tissues. Encourage guests to not flush these items by keeping a waste basket in the bathroom.
• Be nice to your garbage disposal. Another common emergency during the holidays is a broken garbage disposal. This is primarily caused by putting too much food and the wrong kind of food down a disposal that is not built to handle such a large load. You can avoid this by cutting larger pieces of food before putting them into the disposal and also not putting the following foods down the disposal:  rice or pasta, celery, egg shells, potato peels, fruit pits, gravy, bones, onion skins, grease or oil.
• Turn up your water heater, but not too hot! You can help prepare for an overloading of your hot water supply by turning up the heat. However, make sure you do not exceed 120 degrees and turn it back down to normal after your guests leave to conserve energy.

Finally, we all know that prevention is the best method to avoid catastrophe. Here at All Connect Plumbing we conduct plumbing inspections to ensure that your system will be running smoothly. For such an inspection, contact us. As always, our 23.5/7 hour emergency services are available to you should a holiday disaster occur. Simply call the number at the top of the page!