Utilities Matter
By Julia Bell
Household utilities are services most homeowners do not think about until they stop working. Utilities like electricity, propane, and plumbing do more than just make life comfortable; in certain temperatures and circumstances, they can be life-saving. Despite working mainly “behind the scenes,” properly maintaining these utilities in your home will enhance property value while saving you money.
Electricity has only been available to the majority of American homes within the last 100 years, but this utility impacts so many aspects of our lives today, going without it for a few hours or days can feel crippling. Outside of the occasional interruptions from storms or local outages, it is important for homeowners to pay attention to even minor changes in their electrical services. Manufacturers estimate a home’s wiring will last 30-40 years, but it is wise to ask a trusted electrician to check the condition of your home’s system when conducting service and maintenance calls.
Electricians will tell you that when it comes to current and wiring, it is either working well or it is not. Pay attention if the breaker trips frequently, when a reliable appliance is operating differently or suddenly not working at all, or if an outlet only works when the plug is held at a certain angle. Any of these examples of wiring issues could indicate a potential fire hazard, which means it is time to call a professional.
Local electrical companies, like Palmetto Electric Group, can provide greater customization of services to a homeowner’s specific project and budgeting needs. Along with his skilled and experienced team at
Palmetto Electric Group, owner Jackson Elrod addresses residential electrical repairs, installations, and wiring upgrades, including installing generators and power to docks and boatlifts.
If you have been considering a home project that involves an electrician, Elrod recommends getting started right away to save some money. “The cost of materials is rising, along with labor prices. There is no better time than now to maximize your financial investment for projects like these,” he says, adding
that qualified electricians should be knowledgeable about current industry
codes and be able to advise homeowners on energy efficient solutions.
Propane is another utility to consider when looking at home energy efficiency. “Propane provides all the benefits of natural gas where natural gas is not available,” says David Lever of Palmetto Propane. They also have products that run on propane and services homes that are close to the lake, in rural areas, and
anywhere that doesn’t have access to the natural gas infrastructure. Propane is a reliable, non-toxic, and
affordable energy source that safely fuels a variety of home appliances such as hot water heaters, stovetops, gas logs, generators, and lanterns. According to Lever, it can also save roughly 30 percent
on monthly energy costs. Companies like Palmetto Propane service residential propane tank installations and refills and can advise homeowners on options that best meet their individual needs.
Depending on those needs, propane is stored in a large tank buried underground or in a smaller tank that is installed outside the house and can be easily hidden with landscaping. An indicator on
the tank automatically alerts the propane company when it needs refilling, making the entire process easy to maintain.
Homeowners can benefit from propane’s efficiency during wintertime when temperatures dip below 40 degrees and the tank’s dual fuel heating kicks in or when gas logs are used to quickly warm a room instead of relying on central heating alone. Similarly, a tankless water heater can operate on natural gas or propane and is popular because it heats water on demand. This appliance can also decrease
overall energy costs within the first month of use.
Plumbing is another behind-the-scenes utility that is used daily but rarely receives proactive attention or maintenance until it stops working or springs a leak. According to Luke Waters of Smooth Waters Plumbing, his industry’s biggest tip is to prioritize your home’s plumbing through regular maintenance.
“Investigate monthly service plans to get service benefits and an annual inspection that allows a
trained professional to regularly look at your plumbing system. This helps us spot problems before something goes wrong,” Waters says, adding that insurance companies “get excited to see
homeowners taking a proactive approach to home inspections, too.”
Plumbing issues stem from three primary sources: water pressure, water quality, and the age of the system. Homeowners should make sure that elements like water-pressure-controlled shut-off-valve sensors or sewage-back flow preventers are functioning properly and address water quality issues to help protect the lifespans of pipes and fixtures. Some common-sense plumbing recommendations include annually checking drain lines in homes built on slabs or with crawl spaces and never putting things in the kitchen or bathroom drain lines that should not be disposed of in that way.
Your home’s water heater should be checked regularly, and if it is over 10 years old, the warranty is probably expired. Generally, homeowners can expect a water heater to last about six to eight years or up to 12, if it’s tankless. When it’s time to replace a tankless unit, Waters recommends investing in the new polymer tank, which has a longer warranty and meets current industry standards and codes. The hybrid
and polymer units are also more efficient on power grids, and these standards will eventually apply to all residential units, like the regulation codes in the HVAC industry regarding freon.
Depending on the age of your home, it might feel like you cannot get ahead of repairs long enough to even begin thinking of how to tackle preventative maintenance. As these utilities professionals from locally owned businesses have shared from their areas of expertise in electrical, propane, and plumbing services, there are many simple ways to begin addressing the specific needs your house may have. Appliances, wiring, and pipes will eventually wear out, so it’s wise to conduct regular inspections to catch small problems before they become expensive repairs. Check on the things that work
behind the scenes in your home—because they matter, too.
Our Town Magazine proudly supports local businesses!
Palmetto Electric Group
803-463-3165
PalmettoElectric.Pro
Palmetto Propane
800-233-1882
PalmettoPropane.com
Smooth Waters Plumbing
803-530-7109
CallSmoothWaters.com
