Why does your garbage disposer smell bad an what can you do about it?

Why does your garbage disposer smell bad an what can you do about it?  Watch this one minute video with Casey because he is about to tell you...

What's OK to put down your garbage disposer?

What's OK to put down your garbage disposer?...watch this one minute video with Casey Boden to find out...

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5 Simple Steps for Avoiding the Plumber Around the Holidays

Greetings and Happy Holidays from Boden Plumbing! It's time for our annual holiday pep talk about keeping your drains clear when you're cooking up a storm and have a house full of company.

You know the drill. We've talked about it more than a few times before. The day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for plumbers. In fact, it might be the busiest - with calls to clear stopped drains by far the most common problem.

Lots of cooking and extra house guests can take a toll on your plumbing system - but they don't have to. Here are just a few tips to help keep your drains running and your system functioning for the holiday:

1. Don't put fats, grease or cooking oils down the kitchen drain. When rinsing anything down the drain, flush with plenty of water.
2. Avoid putting stringy or fibrous materials like celery and potato skins through the garbage disposal.
3. Never put turkey skins in the disposal
4. Remind your guests not to flush cotton swabs, cotton balls or similar materials down the toilet. The waste basket is the best place for those things.
5. Allow 15 minutes between showers so the drains can empty and the water heater can catch up.

Don't worry - we'll be open on Friday after the dust clears for business as usual, but just a few simple things can help you avoid hassles altogether.

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(For more tips on using your garbage disposal, see our previous post Friends will be envious...Dogs will be sorry

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.

5 Tips for Maintaining Clear Drains over Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for plumbers. In fact, it might be the busiest - with calls to clear stopped drains by far the most common problem.

Lots of cooking and extra house guests can take a toll on your plumbing system - but they don't have to. Here are just a few tips to help keep your drains running and your system functioning for the holiday:

1. Don't put fats, grease or cooking oils down the kitchen drain. When rinsing anything down the drain, flush with plenty of water.
   
2. Avoid putting stringy or fibrous materials like celery and potato skins through the garbage disposal. (For more tips on using your garbage disposal, see our previous post Friends will be envious...Dogs will be sorry)
3. Never put turkey skins in the disposal
4. Remind your guests not to flush cotton swabs, cotton balls or similar materials down the toilet. The waste basket is the best place for those things.
5. Allow 15 minutes between showers so the drains can empty and the water heater can catch up.

Don't worry - we'll be open on Friday for business as usual, but just a few simple things can help you avoid hassles altogether.

And while we have your attention, all of us here at Boden Plumbing would like to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. We know we're very thankful to be doing business here in beautiful Sonoma Valley with so many loyal customers. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Friends will be Envious...Dogs will be Sorry...

Garbage disposals - what a great invention, huh? This vintage 1951 General Electric advertisement expresses all the optimism that heralded this great invention - the out-of-sight out-of-mind machine! "Friends will be envious, dogs will be sorry and germ carrying flies will be discouraged."

Garbage disposals are a wonderful convenience (if it's not possible to keep a compost pile at your house), but you do have to be aware that not everything should be stuffed down one.

Never put fibrous foods like celery, corn husks, potato and onion skins, artichoke leaves or asparagus ends in the disposal.

And then there are egg shells. Technically they're not really a problem for the disposal. When they can cause a problem, however, is once they get down in the sewer pipe and combine with grease to form clogs. This can especially be a problem if your system is prone to clogs.

So when grinding eggshells, make it just a few at a time and wash the bits down the drain with plenty of water - and no grease. When you do send grease down the line, make sure you chase it with cold water, which will help to break up and solidify the grease.

Actually, no matter what you're grinding in the disposal, always run a strong flow of cold water through it whenever it's in use, and then for at least 20 seconds after turning it off.

Over time, a film of scum can form in the grinding chamber, causing an unpleasant odor. To freshen your disposal, grind a half lemon or lime while running cold water. Citrus is a natural cleanser. A sprinkling of baking soda will also help to dispel odors. Most important, when it comes to keeping your disposal clean and odor-free, never let food sit in the disposal without running it.

Another tip: Periodically run ice cubes through your disposal. This helps to sharpen and clean the blades.

And one last tip: Never use a liquid drain opener in a clogged disposal. If you do get a jam up, use tongs, pliers or a plunger to remove obstructions.

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Boden Plumbing primarily serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7477
www.nodrips.com