3 Things to ConsiderBefore Your Next DIY Job

It's great to be able to take care of simple repairs and maintenance yourself. Doing it yourself can save you money if you've got the time to spend.

However, not every project is worth taking on yourself - some are better suited to a professional. Before tackling a project yourself, we think there are a few things to consider: money, time and workmanship.

Money

By doing a project yourself, you will be paying only for materials, which could potentially save a significant amount of money. However, before you assume that you can cut the cost of your project in half, there are a couple of things to take into account.

1. Cost of tools: Certain projects require specialty tools. You will either have to buy or rent these tools if you don't already have them. Of course, the more projects you take on, the more tools you will have on hand and the cost of future projects will then be reduces. While it's always good to have a good collection of basic tools, the cost of more single-purpose or specialty tools may not make financial sense for you.

2. Logistics: Unless you're taking on a job you've done before or you're confident that you're familiar with the materials needed and the steps to take, count on taking longer to do the job than an experienced professional would who arrives equipped to do the job.

If you've got the time, this may not be a big deal. Just keep in mind that each time you head out to buy tools or materials, it will cost you time and money for gas. Factor in rental fees and delivery charges, too. And remember, these would all be included in the cost quoted to you by the person you're trying not to call.

3. Waste and mistakes: No matter how many projects you take on at home yourself, your experience can never be equivalent to someone's who does the same thing everyday, all week, as their job. It's just a natural fact. You have to accept that you will be learning on the job and making mistakes and wasting material in the process. Again, no biggee if the relative costs still make sense for you, you have the time, and you want to learn some of these skills for yourself. But if it really is about money, remember that when you hire the professional, you are paying not just for his labor, but also for his experience and expertise.

4. Warranty: Installing a fixture or major appliance? Before you start, find out if the manufacturer will only honor their warranty if an authorized contractor installs it. Even if this isn't an issue, keep in mind you will also be passing on any warranty offered by the contractor (that you would rather not call). Here at Boden Plumbing we certainly guarantee our work. If you do the work yourself, you will be giving up that assurance.

Time

It's a simple question: How much is your time worth - and how do you want to spend it? DIY can definitely be a satisfying, and even enjoyable, way to occupy your time - and why hire someone else to do something you enjoy doing yourself?

Just so you know:

1. First: It's not like they show on TV. Things take time. Those so-called reality shows? They do a lot of editing.

2. Second: With experience comes speed. If you don't have the experience, know your house could be disrupted for the duration of the project.

3. And bottom line: Remember you do have a real job and home repairs isn't it. Any job you take on will come second to your other responsibilities. Be realistic. How much time do you have?

Workmanship

This also comes with time and experience - yours or the professional you've hired to do the job for you. But there's also attention to detail and a certain pride in work well done that factors in. You can buy the best materials, but if they are not installed properly and the job is not done cleanly and neatly, well you might as well have saved your money.

1. Beware the do-it-yourselfer do-over. It happens, but choose which jobs to tackle wisely and you will save yourself the frustration and extra time and money. Bad DIY will cost you.

2. At Boden Plumbing we take pride in doing the job well. We don't rush through jobs. We know that can lead to mistakes and call backs. Instead we aim to work efficiently and avoid costly mistakes. Find contractors and service providers that you trust to do a good job, and you might feel more inclined to call them in the first place.

So just a few things to consider. Call us here at the office if you want any advice before starting - or if you get stuck half way through. DIY can be a real money saver and give you a sense of accomplishment - but it can also be frustrating, time consuming, and more costly than expected. Remember, we're here to help.

Oh, and one last thing.

There's an important rule of thumb to keep in mind when you do go for the DIY option. Never start taking anything (important) apart on a Friday afternoon. If you get stuck (and usually it's the jobs that are started on a Friday afternoon that run into trouble), the plumber will have gone home and you might be without some important fixture for the weekend.

If you run into trouble, however, we do schedule appointments on Saturdays, although there is just one plumber available, so it's still best not to tempt fate.

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photo credit: jonlarge's photo stream

Simple Tips for Clearing a Clogged Kitchen Sink

A clogged kitchen sink can be one of the most frustrating plumbing problems. Inevitably they occur in the middle of preparations for a big holiday get-together or when you are otherwise under some kind of time crunch to get a meal on the table.

And, of course, they never seem to happen during normal working hours for the plumber!

Fortunately there are some simple things you can try to clear the clog yourself before putting in a call to the plumber. (There are also things you can do to keep clogs from happening in the first place. See: 5 Tips for Maintaining Clear Drains Over Thanksgiving)

If you have a garbage disposal, the first thing to do is to check and see if you have a clogged disposal.

If the disposal is clogged, begin by turning off the power to the disposal at the circuit breaker before you attempt to clear the clog. Next, find a pair of long tongs or similar device that will allow you to reach down into the disposal and remove any obstacles from the disposal. (Never, ever, EVER - did we emphasize that enough? - place your fingers inside the garbage disposal. Even if the power is turned off. Just don't do it.) Remove any debris you can and run hot water down the disposal. Switch power back on to the unit and, with the cold water running, try turning on the disposal to see if the clog is removed.

If the sink is still clogged, the stoppage would seem to be further down the line past the disposal. If you're not up for disassembling the pipe work under the sink, it's probably time to call the plumber.

If you don't have a garbage disposal and your kitchen sink is not draining, you can try a plunger.

If you have a double sink, stopper the other side of the sink in order to create a vacuum. Place the plunger over the drain opening being careful to get as good a seal as possible and work the plunger up and down vigorously.

You can use this method whether there is standing water in the sink or not, and it usually clears most clogs pretty quickly - if they're in the sink line or close to it. If the clog doesn't clear, well you'll probably have to call the plumber after all, but at least you can say you tried.

P.S. We usually recommend against using liquid drain cleaners to try and clear a clog. You have to be very careful of splash back when plunging water mixed with drain cleaner, these cleaners can be hard on your pipes, and if the plumber does end up having to come, having caustic liquids in the pipes just makes his job more difficult. So avoid them if at all possible.

Dishwasher Not Draining? Here's Some Quick Advice

Is it a plumbing problem - or an appliance problem? Sometimes that is the question. And if you're not sure, just call. There are certain issues that come up frequently for our customers, and we're bound to have some good advice.

One of those not so uncommon issues is the non-draining dishwasher (darn). Here's our quick advice on the matter: Nine times out of ten, if your dishwasher seems to be running fine but not draining properly, it's an appliance problem - not a plumbing problem.

In our experience, if water from the dishwasher is reaching the sink but not draining, there is a clog somewhere in the drain line that we can clear for you, but if the water isn't making it out of the dishwasher, it's probably the pump on the dishwasher that's acting up.

In the latter case, rather than waste your time with a service call from us, we think your best bet is to start with an appliance repair person. Call if you're not sure - and we can recommend a repair person if you'd like, but that would be our advice.

Dishwashers, stoves, washers and dryers are all appliances we don't fool with. We leave those repairs to the people whose expertise it is to repair them - and who most likely have the parts available. Of course if it's a water or gas supply problem to any one of these appliances, then we're your guys. Or if you have any kind of drainage problem, we're on it.

Water heaters and garbage disposals are exceptions to this maybe over-generalized appliance rule. We can repair them or replace them if necessary.

Non-Toxic Home Cleaning Alternatives

Home cleaning supplies can be some of the most toxic and caustic materials around. Read a warning label on any of the products stashed under your kitchen sink or in the utility closet if you don't believe us.

Keeping surfaces clean and drain lines clear is important, but we don't think that should come at the expense of your family's health, the life of your septic tank and plumbing fittings, or a healthy environment - especially since there are non-toxic alternatives.

Used properly (that is, according to any warnings and cautions on the side panel) any of the chemicals approved for retail sale can be used safely - and are formulated to be effective. But to to get your home really clean - without all the toxic leave behinds, why not try making your own non-toxic cleaners?

Below are some basic recipes for non-toxic alternatives that you can make easily from just a few basic ingredients that might already be in your kitchen or laundry room. You'll probably even find these simple home made cleaners are cheaper than the proprietary stuff you've been using.

Five basic ingredients are all you need for many safe home cleaning solutions:

1. Baking Soda: Cleans and deodorizes, softens water to increase sudsing and cleaning power of soap and is a good scouring powder.


2. Borax: Cleans and deodorizes, softens water and is an excellent disinfectant. You can find borax in the laundry section of the grocery store.


3. Soap: Biodegrades safely and completely and is non-toxic. Readily available in grocery stores and health food stores. Sold as liquid, flakes, powder or in bars. Bars can be grated to dissolve more easily in hot water. Only choose soaps without synthetic scents, colors or other additives - like Dr. Bronner's or Kirks castile soaps.


4. Washing Soda: Cuts grease and removes stains, disinfects and softens water. Washing soda, also known as sodium carbonate, is available in laundry section of grocery store or in pure form from a chemical supply business or sometimes a home improvement store.


5. White Vinegar or Lemon Juice: Cuts grease and freshens.

A few other things that are good to have on hand in some quantity are salt (if you don't want to empty the salt shaker to do a little scouring), hydrogen peroxide and plain rubbing alcohol. All good clean things that help to clean and disinfect without leaving toxic residues behind.

Simple Recipes for Non-toxic Home Cleaning Alternatives

HOUSEHOLD CLEANER
Mix together:
1 tsp. liquid soap (castile, peppermint)
1 tsp. borax
Squeeze of lemon
1 qt. warm water
or
¼ c. baking soda
½ c. borax
½ c. vinegar
1 gal. water

For surfaces that need scouring, try moist salt or baking soda and a green scouring pad.

DISINFECTANT
Mix together:
¼ c. borax
½ gal. hot water

DRAIN CLEANER
Pour together: ½ c. borax in drain followed by
2 c. boiling water
or
¼ c baking soda down the drain, followed by
½ c. vinegar
Cover drain and let sit for 15 minutes. Follow with 2 qts. boiling water.
or
Use a plumber's "snake" and boiling water.

TOILET BOWLS
Pour: ¼ c. baking soda into bowl and drizzle with vinegar.
Let sit for ½ hour. Scrub and flush. Add borax for stains.

CERAMIC TILE
Mix together: ¼ c. vinegar
1 gal. warm water

BASIN, TUB AND TILE
Mix together: ½ c. baking soda
2-3 tbsp. liquid soap (castile, peppermint)

MILDEW REMOVER
Dissolve together: ½ c, vinegar
½ c. borax in warm water.
Apply with sponge or spray bottle.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL FRESHENER
Grind ice and lemon or orange juice in the disposal.

For more non-toxic home cleaning tips and recipes, visit ecocyle.org.

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Here at Boden Plumbing we've also promoted BioSmart drain treatment for awhile now. It's a natural biological drain line, septic, and grease trap maintainer that contains no harmful chemicals. Instead it keeps drain systems clean and free flowing by unleashing naturally-occurring bacteria that thrive on the grease, oil, and stubborn organics found in every wastewater system.

Pretty cool stuff really - and a good addition to your non-toxic cleaning and home maintenance toolkit. Call the office for more information (707-996-8683), ask your service tech next time he visits, or read more about BioSmart here on the nodrips blog.

Boden Plumbing Earns Best Practices Award from the Business Environmental Alliance

Boden Plumbing has earned the Sonoma County Business Environmental Alliance Best Practices Award, which recognizes businesses that best exemplify environmental excellence through sound business practices. The award will be presented March 11 at the Business Environmental Alliance breakfast. Casey will be attending the breakfast at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek in Santa Rosa, along with the fifteen other Sonoma County businesses being honored.

The BEA recognized us for our installation and promotion of water-conservation options with our customers and at our office here in Sonoma.

Our big-ticket item was almost surely our participation in Sonoma County's recent Direct Install Program. The Sonoma County Water Agency has projected that the fixtures we changed out as part of that program will save 4,438,152 gallons, or 13.62 acre feet, per year. These figures represent 11% of the total water savings gained by the program.

We're actually quite proud of these figures. We worked hard to make sure we reached as many people as possible. The program made new low flow toilets extremely affordable for our customers and obviously had the potential for saving the community as a whole a lot of water.

We also participated in the Water Wisdom Workshop in Sonoma, and as part of our ongoing efforts to use resources wisely, we recycle all metal, porcelain, cardboard and paper and have implemented energy-saving measures in our office.

Boden Plumbing is extremely pleased to be recognized by the Sonoma County Business Environmental Alliance for the efforts we've made to 'green' our operations and provide environmentally sustainable products and services to our customers. We don't do these kinds of things for the recognition, but it's good to know environmental practices are valued and those values are shared. We're excited to be involved in what we believe is the future for all good business in California

For more information about BEA or to register for the breakfast, go to www.sonomabea.org.

The other Sonoma Valley business also being honored at the March 11th event is Kunde Wine Estates. You can read a full write-up in the Sonoma Index-Tribune. See: Boden Plumbing, Kunde Wine Estates earn Sonoma County environmental honors