A Few Green Plumbing Tips

As a plumbing service company committed to making sustainability integral to how we do business, we like to periodically share a few tips for making sustainable choices a habit in your life. There are lots of things we all can do every day to make small differences that add up big. The key is doing something and making it a part of your daily routine.

Bottled Water

Obviously it's convenient, but what price convenience? C'mon people. There are the plastic bottles that end up in landfills (or the ocean) for starters. Then there's all the energy involved in shipping water hither and yon. It's crazy. And don't even mention the privitization of water supplies by corporations that turn around and charge more for a liter of water than they'd get for a liter of gas. Plus, you know you can't be sure the water in that plastic bottle is any cleaner than the water available to you from your tap right?

Anyway, we're ranting. But this is important.

Get to know your own tap water and buy a reusable water bottle.

Have your water tested if you're just not sure. (For a list of laboratories certified for both chemical and biological testing of water, see the bottom of our post Clean Drinking Water a Major Concern). And then, if need be, install a point-of-use filter or whole-house system. Filtering your own water is so much less expensive in the long run than using bottled water.

And when shopping for that reusable water bottle, look for a good stainless steel bottle or a plastic bottle that is BPA and phthalate-free.

Want to read more about bottled water? See Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It, by Elizabeth Royte (It's on our Bathroom Reading List.)

Toilet Cleaners

All kinds of cleaners are used in the name of keeping toilets and other bathroom fixtures clean and germ-free. Seems like a good idea - on the surface. The problem is most cleaners have chlorine, ammonia and hydrochloric acid as the main ingredients. While these may kill the bad bacteria, they kill beneficial bacteria that exist throughout the drain system. The chemicals can also shorten the lifespan of your pipes and fixtures and react with other substances in the system to form...well, we're really not sure what. (see Creature from the Black Lagoon)

We hear baking soda is a good alternative to the harsh chemical cleaners. It's a natural chemical compound that wipes out the breeding grounds for bad bacteria. Just sprinkle in the bowl and scrub. For stains, spray a little vinegar onto the baking soda and allow to sit for awhile before scrubbing.

Drain Cleaners

And while we're on the subject... We recommend BioOne for maintaining your drains. You can really damage the health of your septic system by using caustic drain cleaners and other disinfectants and antibacterials. Not a good thing. The 'good bacteria' help to keep your drains clear by digesting scum, goo and other gunk from the pipes. You want to keep them happy and healthy. BioOne helps to do that.

Ok, that's our green 2-cents for the day. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call. We're here to help.

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Reminder About Free Toilets in Sonoma County

Sonoma County Sanitation District's Direct Install Program has been going on for quite some time now. It's been a great opportunity for public sewer customers with non low flow toilets to get those older-style fixtures exchanged for new high-efficiency toilets. What a good deal all around. Demand is reduced on the sewer system, customers save hundreds of dollars on fixtures, and everyone saves water.

We do want to remind everyone that all this good stuff won't continue indefinitely. When the funds have been depleted the program ends, and we suspect the money will run out sooner rather than later.

So if you haven't taken advantage of the Direct Install Program yet, give us a call. We have primarily been installing Vortens Tornado pressure assist toilets. (The County pays for the toilet and installation.) There's one installed here at the shop if you'd like to find out what they're like. And then the County also provides new low flow shower heads and faucet aerators.

Call with questions or to make an appointment. We're here to help.

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