Water heater season is upon us!  This is a good time to take a casual or better yet a studied inspection of your water heater.  One obvious alert would be water or water stains under or near the base of the water heater.  Is the top or base of the water heater showing any signs of rust?  If these warning signs appear it would be a good idea to call your plumber and get an educated opinion.  Another way to get a water heater inspection by a professional is ask your plumber to check your water heater when he is making a service call regarding another issue in your home.

If you live in Sonoma, Sonoma Valley, Napa, Napa Valley or Petaluma these are the area we promptly serve...give us a call at 996-8683 in Sonoma, 255-8155 in Napa or 762-2769 in Petaluma to ask us any questions about your water heater or other plumbing issues...we may be able to help right over the phone or if you need onsite assistance we can be there quickly to help you...

Give Us a Shout Out!

Give Us a Shout Out!

Customer feedback is a big deal to us. We thrive on it because it helps us stay up to speed on what people need and how we're doing. We run a service business, so there's nothing more important than providing the best possible service we can.

Each of our invoices includes a tear-off postcard that you can send back to let us know how your service call went. We post customer comments we receive on another page of this blog - you can find them here. If you've never called us for service, we think these comments will give you a good sense of our company and service techs.

But there are lots of ways to get in touch and let us know what you think.

The direct approach is always great! Please call the office (707-996-8683) or stop in when you're driving by - we're on Broadway right across from the high school and there's always a parking spot out front.

You can also send an email (info@nodrips.com) or contact us on twitter (@nodrips).

We would also love to have you give us a shout out on Yelp. That way other people who might not have given us a try yet can benefit from your feedback. Boden Plumbing on Yelp*

Where is the Water Shut-Off? (Quick. This is a quiz.)

Where is the Water Shut-Off? (Quick. This is a quiz.)

One of the most important things you can do when it comes to home maintenance is to prepare for a possible plumbing emergency by locating and identifying all the water shut-offs for the house - before a problem arises.

Take the time to take the tour. Armed with a flashlight, masking tape and a magic marker go through the house with anyone who may also have a need to know and identify and mark the main valves. Test them while you're at it to make sure they turn on and off easily without developing a leak. Then you'll be ready (knock on wood) should a pipe spring a leak.

First stop: main water shut-off. The main water shut-off is usually on the pipe as it exits the house on the street side - or under the house in the basement or crawl space. Go ahead and label it "MAIN H2O."

Next stop: water heater. If you do turn off the main valve, a gas hot water tank must be turned down as low as possible. Yours might have a "vacation" setting on the face of the tank. If so, go ahead and set it to vacation. An electric hot water tank can be shut off at the electrical panel. Label it on the panel to help locate the correct switch in a panic. If you have a hot water heating system, check that the boiler has enough water in it to keep from running dry.

Then head for to the kitchen, where you'll want to identify the hot and cold water shut-offs under the sink. Bathrooms also have valves for the sink, as well as the toilet. Look under the fixtures for them. Then there will be a shut-off for the tub/shower, perhaps in a closet on the other side of the wall or possibly under the house or in the basement.

Make sure you label the valves for the washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker, water softener, hot tub - or any other fixture with a water supply. You might be surprised how many there are once you start. Just as long as you're not surprised in an emergency...

When all else fails or time is of the essence, just head for the main shut-off for the house. Hopefully it's easy enough to get to - and you know just where it is.

Questions? Don't hesitate to call us here at Boden Plumbing (707 996 8683) or send an e-mail if you prefer. We're glad to help.

Gray Water Systems for Sonoma

Gray water systems can be as simple as a rain barrel collecting and saving roof runoff or as complex as a system plumbed to code that separates out bath, sink and shower water for outdoor landscaping. As varied as they are, all gray water systems have one thing in common: they are designed for more efficient use of potable water.

California's Health and Safety Code, Section 17922.12, defines graywater as “untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by any toilet discharge, has not been affected by infectious contaminated or unhealthy bodily wastes, and does not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful processing, manufacturing, or operation wastes. 'Graywater' includes but is not limited to wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tub". It does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers.

The average family of four produces more than 38,000 gallons of gray water per year, according to John Russell, a landscape contractor and owner of WaterSprout, an Oakland design-build company focusing on gray water and rainwater catchment systems. (See gray water article in San Jose Mercury News.)

That's a significant amount of water, and considering how much summer water use goes to outdoor irrigation, the potential for reducing overall water consumption by reusing gray water to water lawns and other landscaping is equally significant.

Fortunately, Sonoma County recently implemented changes making it easier to legally install gray water systems in the County. The three types of graywater systems currently allowed in Sonoma County are:
1) Clothes washer system (single connection only)
2) Simple system (less than 250 gallons per day)
3) Complex system (more than 250 gallons per day)

BENEFITS of HOME GRAY WATER SYSTEMS

:: Reduces your potable water use up to 40%
:: Reduces your water bill
:: Reduces the County’s energy consumption when less water needs to be processes and transported
:: Reduces demand on Russian River and groundwater sources
:: Helps protect water resources for future generations

THINGS TO CONSIDER

:: Graywater may contain pathogens
although researchers have found no documented cases:: Systems that pond may provide breeding grounds for mosquitos
ponding is avoided with proper mulch basins:: Salt accumulation may inhibit plant growth
use biodegradable soaps exclusively:: Unfiltered systems accumulate solids and may clog system
be careful what you send down the drain or include a filter in your system:: Minimal contact with graywater is recommended
water is diverted outside and underground
gray water is not permitted for use on above ground veggies or root crops:: When ground is saturated, graywater must be diverted to site’s sewer disposal
simply switch your system off during the winter rainy season

INTERESTED IN HAVING A GRAY WATER SYSTEM AT YOUR HOUSE? FOLLOW THESE BASIC STEPS*:

1) Educate yourself on the design, installation, and maintenance requirements for a graywater system
2) Design your system or hire a licensed designer/contractor to design your system
3) If required, submit appropriate permit(s) and plan(s) to the local enforcement agency (see contact details listed below)
4) Install your system, obtain required inspection(s), and final permit
5) Maintain your system

*excerpted from Sonoma County's gray water systems brochure



For more information about gray water and Sonoma County, visit the Sonoma County Water Agency's web site at www.scwa.ca.gov/graywater

For more information about installing a gray water system at your home or business:
Unincorporated areas of Sonoma County: Visit PRMD on the web
City of Sonoma: Call 707-938-3681
City of Petaluma: Call 707-778-4301

Interested in reading more about gray water systems in the Bay Area?
See: Gray water systems growing in popularity, ingenuity and ease of installation, in the San Jose Mercury News

photos: Vianney Soto on flickr.com

Got Questions about the Sonoma County Direct Install Program?

Got Questions about the Sonoma County Direct Install Program?

The Sonoma County Water Agency has recently expanded the Direct Install Program to include single-family homes. Woo hoo!!

That means if you are on municipal sewer and you have a toilet that uses more than 1.6 gallons per flush, you are eligible to have Boden Plumbing (or any other plumber participating in the program) install a new low flow toilet for you - at no charge. The County water agency pays the plumber directly for the toilet, seat, angle stop and the cost of installation. Good deal for you for sure. Plus, there is no limit on the number of toilets we can replace for you - they just all have to be clunkers.

It is important to mention that if there are any associated repairs necessary in changing out your toilet -- say we find a damaged floor, for instance -- you would be responsible for those additional costs. In our experience, these instances have been quite rare.

Also, we offer certain toilets under the Direct Install Program. If you decide you prefer something else, upgrade charges may apply. (We guarantee allthe toilets we install, so don't worry that the toilets we're installing under the Direct Install Program are not up to our usual standards. It's just that you might choose something different.)

Our process is to schedule a site visit to determine your eligibility and to evaluate what type of toilet will work for you. Then we can schedule your new toilet install.

And your old toilet will be pushing up daisies - or petunias.

***

Got questions? Call us here at the office (707 996 8683) or visit Sonoma County Water Agency Direct Install Program on the web. The answers are out there.

What to Expect When You're Expecting the Plumber

What to Expect When You're Expecting the Plumber

Randy is ready to go.

We can't say what you might expect when you call other plumbers out to your house, but there are a few things you can be sure of when you have an appointment with Boden Plumbing.

1. First, our trucks arrive stocked with the parts and tools we expect to need to do a good job for you first time out.

2. If the truck and all it's good-natured graffiti isn't enough to tip you off, you'll recognize our technician by his company uniform -- and his name will be clearly displayed on the front.

3. He also arrives prepared to make good on our guarantee to you: Good Service, Good People - Guaranteed.

Our guarantee to our customers is pretty simple. We want you to feel confident in calling on us to solve your plumbing problems - 100% confident - so we stand by our work with our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

5. And then before we set foot in the house? Shoe covers. What more can we say? (If for some reason our tech forgets, go right ahead and remind him. He's got them in that well-stocked truck of his, he just let them slip his mind.)

Casey Boden at work.

6. Once inside your home, we assess the situation, make a diagnosis and give you your options before proceeding. If you're not home at the time, we'll give you a call before starting.

7. We aim to work efficiently and as carefully as possible -- and leave everything tidy when we go. (Well, the area we messed with anyway. We kind of don't do dishes, windows, laundry, put away groceries or toys, recycle the newspapers...those sorts of things. You know.)

Now a word must be said about appointment windows.

Setting appointments can sometimes be the most challenging part of a service call both for us and our customer. When you call for service, we generally give you a 2-hour appointment window. For example, we say we'll be there from 8 to 10 or from 1 to 3.

What we mean by that is that you can expect us to arrive sometime between 8 and 10 (or 1 and 3). If you really do need to get to a meeting downtown by 10:15, let us know when you set your appointment, and we'll know we better not show up at 9:55.

We are almost always very good at reaching your house during your appointment window. Emergencies do happen. Jobs ahead of yours do sometimes bog down. If we're running late, we'll let you know as soon as we know so you can reschedule if necessary.

Tight appointments are tough for us to commit to with great certainty -- but we do when that is what you need. Just let us know. And remember, if you need us to call you when we're on our way so you can buzz home to meet us, we can do that too.

Boden Plumbing - Your full-service plumber
in Sonoma, Napa and Petaluma

Top Ten Bathroom Movie Scenes


A couple of years ago Mira Showers, a U.K. company, conducted a little poll and came up with a list of the ten best bathroom movie scenes.
They must have been royally disappointed when Janet Leigh's frightful screaming scene in Psycho came second to Julia Roberts' tub scene in Pretty Woman, but then maybe they wouldn't want to make too much of the association of horror and shower valves.

Here's the list they came up with. What do you think? Any good ones that got missed?

1. Pretty Woman
   Vivian (Julia Roberts) sings Prince's Kiss in the bathtub as Edward (Richard Gere) looks on.
2. Psycho
   Marion (Janet Leigh) is taking a shower, as a shadow can be seen behind the shower curtain.
3. Porky's
   The girls play up to the boys peeping through a hole into their shower.
4. Something About Mary
   Ted (Ben Stiller) goes to Mary's (Cameron Diaz) home before prom and has a mishap with his trouser zip.
5. The Hangover
   Alan Garner (Zach Galifianakis) is 'relieving himself' as he realizes there's a tiger in the bathroom.
6. What Lies Beneath
   Norman (Harrison Ford) sedates Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer) and drags her to a running bath.
7. The Shining
   Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) hacks through the bathroom door to get to Wendy (Shelley Duvall).
8. Fatal Attraction
   Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) is drowned, strangled and shot in the bath.
9. Bladerunner
   Pris (Daryl Hannah) is taking a shower with her snake, and being interrogated by Derek (Harrison Ford).
10. A Nightmare on Elm Street
    Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) falls asleep in the bath tub and Freddie's knives come out of the water and pulls her under.

The Pride of the Boden Plumbing Showroom

Here at Boden Plumbing, we have a showroom with medium to high end kitchen and bathroom fixtures from Danze. They are very classy specimens,coming in a variety of styles and finishes. When looking to upgrade their fixtures, customers often stop by to take a peek at what we offer, and without fail, they inevitably get sidetracked by what I have come to refer to as "the pride of the Boden Plumbing showroom"; a fully functioning toilet fish tank. I myself have daydreamed of the exotic fish I would collect and keep in my bathroom toilet, and the delight that my guests would feel upon seeing Nemo swim by while doing their business. Alas, I can't commit to caring for any more pets, so my plain white porcelain toilet will have to do for now. Don't be surprised if when you stop by to look for a new kitchen faucet, you spend most of your time admiring our "pride" in the corner.

Waiting Too Long For the Hot Water to Arrive?

Here at Boden Plumbing we're always on the lookout for innovative products and services for our customers. We aim to provide options and make recommendations that are cost-effective and that will save money and resources over the long haul.

Something we've been recommending for awhile now -- for people who don't seem to get enough hot water at their fixtures or who have to wait too darn long for it to show up -- is a hot water recirculation pump. It can save time, money and energy. We've installed quite a few over the years and receive excellent feedback from our customers from the results.

Well, recently we've come across a new hot water recirculation system that we think is another great option. It reduces the water bill without affecting the gas or electric bill. In fact, for the typical household, the water saved in a year would fill more than 42,000 one-liter bottles of water -- all while cutting down on that wait time.

One pump provides faster hot water for the entire house -- and is activated by turning on any hot water faucet in the house. It fits out of the way near the water heater, and the installation is simple.  

Q: How do I know if your product will benefit me?
If it take 45 seconds or more for your water to get hot, this system will save you water, time and money.  

Q: I have a tankless water heater. Will this product work for me?
Yes, we have systems that are effective with both tankless and traditional tank-style water heaters.

 Q: Will this take up space under any of my sinks?
No, this is very small and is installed near the water heater and quickly brings hot water to all of your sinks and showers.

Q: Is there a warranty on this product?
Yes, a full five year warranty.

Still have questions? Call us here at the office at 707-996-8683, or toll free at 866-663-7477.

Happy New Year From Boden Plumbing

Last year right about this time we posted a few ideas for easy resolutions we thought would set you up to save a little money and a little water in 2012. Those resolutions still look pretty good today so if you're casting around for a New Year's resolution, you might want to take a look at Easy Resolutions for a Green and Prosperous New Year.

Looking for some more advice and info to set the year up right and get your plumbing in order?

Some recent posts:
 
Feng Shui Your Leaks Away for a Prosperous New Year 12.26.12
Toilet Seat Art Gives Second Life to Old Fixtures 12.12.12
The Loneliest Outhouses in the World 12.05.12
Time for Water Heater Maintenance 11.28.12
Five Simple Steps to Avoid the Plumber Around the Holidays 11.15.12
Knock, knock. Who's There? It's Probably You Water Heater 11.07.12
Where is the Water Shut-Off? (Quick this is a quiz...) 10.24.12

For all our posts over the past umpty-doodle years, check the archives. It's full of diy plumbing tips, weird plumbing news and humor, product and service highlights, and more. We plan to keep it all going so stay tuned, check back or keep us bookmarked. We'll keep you posted.