How to Stop Water Hammer and Noisy Banging Pipes
Water hammer is the loud banging you hear when fast-moving water slams to a stop inside your pipes, usually right after a valve or appliance shuts off quickly. That sudden stop sends a pressure shockwave back through the supply lines, and left alone it can loosen fittings or crack joints over time. Installing water hammer […]
How to Determine the Right Water Heater Capacity for Your Household
Key Takeaways Getting the capacity of your water heater right for your home is an important consideration. This is largely determined by the size of your household and daily hot water consumption. For example, a family of four typically requires a 40–50-gallon tank. In comparison, a smaller household may only need to heat 30 gallons. […]
Sump Pump Testing Checklist: Essential Steps for Homeowners
Key Takeaways Regular testing of your sump pump will help keep it functioning when you need it most, preventing your basement from flooding. These pumps play a vital role in managing excess water and preventing property damage, especially during heavy rain or emergencies. Routine testing ensures a problem will be detected early, long before your […]
Signs You Need to Repipe Your Home in West-Central Minnesota
Northern Services Today helps west-central Minnesota homeowners recognize when their plumbing needs repiping. Repiping means replacing old, corroded pipes with modern copper or PEX materials throughout your home. The clearest signs you need to repipe include low water pressure, discolored or rusty water, frequent leaks, visible pipe corrosion, and noisy plumbing. In Olivia and across […]
The Pros and Cons of Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating
Hydronic radiant floor heating warms a home by circulating heated water through tubing beneath the floor, radiating even, silent, draft-free warmth from the ground up. For west-central Minnesota homes that face sub-zero winters, it delivers steady comfort and lower operating costs – but it also carries a high upfront price, slow warm-up, and complex installation […]
How to Safeguard Your Plumbing Before Leaving for Vacation
Key Takeaways So to help you protect your plumbing during extended vacations, here’s what you need to do. By turning off the main water supply, you can help prevent any leaks or water damage from occurring while you’re away. In the winter, draining your pipes by allowing faucets to run on drip prevents freezing, especially […]
What Is a Condensing Water Heater? Pros, Cons, and Costs for Minnesota Homes
A condensing water heater is a high-efficiency gas unit that captures heat from its own exhaust gases to warm your water, reaching efficiency ratings above 90 percent. A conventional water heater sends that hot exhaust straight up the vent as wasted energy. A condensing model routes it through a second heat exchanger first, squeezing extra […]
5 Ways To Minimize Dust And Enhance Air Quality In Your Home
Key Takeaways Minimizing dust in your home and improving air quality starts with simple but effective steps that create a cleaner and healthier living space. From routine cleaning habits to using the right tools, each method targets common dust sources, helping reduce allergens and irritants in the air. Dust collects on surfaces and beds into […]
Signs of Electrical Problems in Your HVAC System You Shouldn’t Ignore
Key Takeaways Electrical issues can sometimes present themselves in strange or seemingly unrelated ways. Constantly tripped breakers or burning smells coming from around the unit are obvious warning signals. Frequent heat/cool change is a sign of major wiring/component problems as well. Keep an eye out for indicators, such as the system turning on and off […]
How Circulator Pumps Work and Their Key Benefits in Heating Systems
A circulator pump is the small electric pump that pushes heated water from your boiler through the pipes to radiators, baseboards, or in-floor loops. In west-central Minnesota, where boilers run hard through months of sub-zero weather, a healthy circulator keeps every room evenly warm, prevents cold spots, and holds down energy costs across the whole […]