Thanks to tax credits, making your home more energy efficient is no longer a taxing problem on your pocketbook. Take advantage of this opportunity, and save money by improving your home’s plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems.

“It’s a win-win situation for homeowners,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation. “They can save energy and money while keeping their homes comfortable and current.”

The United States stimulus package includes tax credits when consumers make energy saving improvements to their homes. The credit is worth 30 percent of the installed cost of improvements with a combined maximum credit of $1,500.

Consumers can apply the credit to the setting up of the following higher efficiency items:

1. central air conditioners
2. water heaters
3. furnaces
4. boilers
5. air source heat pumps.

While consumers must make the above upgrades either this year or next, the tax credit for the installation of solar hot water systems and geothermal heat pump systems is available until Dec. 31, 2016. This credit equals 30 percent of the installed cost. Plus, there’s no maximum cap.

Don’t forget that first-time homebuyers who purchase their homes before Dec. 1 are eligible for an $8,000 tax credit. The money saved could go to home improvement projects.

Visit www.irs.gov for more information on the Economic Stimulus Plan.  For a full list of eligible products, go to www.energystar.gov.

Simply keep the peel the next time you eat an orange. You can use it to deodorize the garbage disposal. It’s a nifty way to save money on cleaning supplies during this sour economy.

“Using a handful of citrus peels and ice cubes is a great way to get a clean and fresh smelling kitchen sink,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation.

Odors can form when food debris builds up in the garbage disposal. But getting rid of the smell can be an inexpensive and simple spring cleaning project that can save you money.

So roll up those sleeves and follow these steps from Mr. Rooter:

• Place a cupful of ice cubes as well as citrus peels – oranges, lemons or limes – in the disposal.
• Turn on cold water and then the disposal for 15 to 30 seconds.
• Then turn off the disposal and continue to rinse with cold water for 15 more seconds.

As you and your family make party arrangements for the Super Bowl, ordering pizza and setting up tables around the big screen are high on the to-do list. But don’t overlook the plumbing.

Super Bowl parties can be a super problem for plumbing systems if you don’t tackle some plumbing precautions now.

When football fans arrive at your Super Bowl party, they’ll be eating more pizza, chicken wings and other snacks than usual. This means overtime for your garbage disposal and toilets.

“People are focused on the big game, and they don’t realize how much food is going down the garbage disposal,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation. “We want to coach people on how to best prepare their kitchens and bathrooms for a house full of guests, especially on a day like Super Bowl Sunday.”

To keep plumbing problems from throwing a flag in your party plans, Mr. Rooter® service professionals suggest the following six points:

• Remove small objects from the top of the toilet tank that could fall in, causing it to clog.
• Keep a trash bin in the bathroom, so guests won’t flush paper towels, napkins or facial tissue.
• Don’t overload the garbage disposal with leftovers, which could lead to a clogged kitchen sink.
• Instead, throw scraps in the trash or compost pile.
• Avoid pouring grease down the drain and wipe off greasy plates and pans with a paper towel before washing them.
• It’s always important to know how to use the water shut-off valve under the tank. Toilet overflows are messy to clean up and can damage floors and drywall.

While these tips should help you intercept any issues, local Mr. Rooter service professionals will be ready if you have a plumbing problem.

Don’t Let a Clogged Drain Dampen Your Holiday Spirit

It’s the holiday season, and you’re decorating the house, shopping for gifts, mailing holiday cards and baking cookies. But have you thought about your plumbing? Don’t let a clogged drain dampen your holiday spirit!

Whether you’re having family over for the holidays or you’re hosting a festive party, your kitchen and bathrooms will be busier than usual. To save the cost and inconvenience of a plumbing emergency, Mr. Rooter® recommends you pay special attention to your plumbing.

“With the extra food, family and friends, you can easily forget about the stress it puts on your plumbing,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation.  “We have some advice that will help keep a backed-up drain from ruining your holiday plans.”

To properly operate a garbage disposal, turn on the water, then turn on the disposal and feed the waste gradually. Keep the water on while using the disposal. Leave the water on for a short period after the disposal is turned off.

Follow these steps to keep your plumbing system off of Santa’s naughty list.
In the kitchen:

• Avoid pouring grease down the drain.
• Throw large scraps of food in the trash or compost pile.
• Don’t put turkey bones and skin, potato peels and celery down the garbage disposal.
• Wipe greasy pans and plates with a paper towel before washing them.
• Rinse off dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
• Don’t overload the garbage disposal.
• Turn the disposal power off and press the re-set button (if available) under the sink when the disposal stops abruptly while in use.

In the bathroom:

• Wait ten minutes between showers.
• Avoid flushing items that don’t break down easily: cotton balls, paper towels, facial tissue and sanitary products.
• Know how to use the water shut-off valve under the tank in case of an emergency.
• Remove small objects from the top of the toilet tank that could fall in, causing it to clog.

If one of these disasters intrudes on your celebrations, contact your local Mr. Rooter shop to put the happy back into the holidays.

The Root of the Problem

It’s surprising, but true – roots from a tree or bush several hundred yards and several houses away can damage your home’s plumbing system if they break into your pipes.

It’s called root intrusion, and it can create major blockage in your line.

“Trees and shrubs seek water to grow, and pipes provide the perfect environment,” says Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of the Mr. Rooter Corporation. “Roots are even drawn to unbroken pipes because of condensation and will grow alongside and around the pipe to lap up the moisture.”

There is a misconception that roots are the problem, but Thompson says the problem is actually the pipe because the roots cannot get in the pipe unless there is a crack or bad joint. The older the pipe, the more susceptible it is to cracks, breaks and deformations.

A possible sign of root intrusion is a sudden back up or flooding of the lowest plumbing fixture in the house. When you fill a bathtub or shower with water and let it drain, look for this warning signal:

• If you don’t see the water exiting in a swirling, cyclonic action, it might be a good time to call a qualified, licensed plumber.

Mr. Rooter utilizes the most current technology to specialize in sewer and drain maintenance, repair and replacement.

“Those who suspect root intrusion need information to make the best decision to protect their homes,” Thompson explains. “We offer our drain cleaning customers sewer camera inspections to properly identify the problem and provide solutions.”

October is a great time of year – cooler winds blow in, leaves begin to change and children start talking about what scary gremlin or magical princess they want to be for Halloween.

But in the midst of the Halloween festivities, if pumpkin carvers don’t properly dispose of the pumpkin pulp, they could have more than just trick-or-treaters knocking at their doors this Halloween season. They may need a plumber to come unclog their kitchen sink drains or repair their garbage disposals.

Carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns is an age-old Halloween tradition, but it can quickly turn into a plumbing nightmare for families if they put the pulp and seeds down the garbage disposal.

Instead of breaking down like most foods, the orange pulp hardens and clogs the drain.

“A pumpkin’s stringy, slimy substance is too much for the garbage disposal to handle,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of the Mr. Rooter Corporation. “Your thoughts should be on Halloween costumes, trick-or-treaters and giving out candy – not calling a plumber to clear your drain.”

To ensure the pumpkin carving experience – and your pipes – flow smoothly, Mr. Rooter® recommends carving your award-winning jack-o-lantern on a newspaper away from the kitchen sink. This way no unwanted scraps creep into your drain. Be sure to avoid throwing any pumpkin pulp, seeds, triangle eyes and other cut pieces into the sink or toilet. Instead, throw all pumpkin-related material and newspaper in the garbage.