What and where's your sewer cleanout - and why does it matter?

What and where is your sewer cleanout?...and why does it matter?...in this video Casey tells you...

Should you get a sewer inspection when you buy a house?

When you're in the market for a new home purchase get a sewer inspection before you buy - here's Casey to tell you why...

Have your plumber check your entire house while he's at your home

When you have to call a plumber this is great advice when he's at your house...hhhhere's Terry!...

Plumber vs. Handyman

When you need a plumbing repair, installation or service should you hire a plumber or a handyman? Here's Casey Boden to give you his take...

Haunted by dripping faucets, running toilets, not enough hot water, slow drains, water that tastes yucky, persistent craving for candy corn, leaks below your bathroom sink, low water pressure, weird noises, funky smells or roots in your sewer line?

Don't be spooked!

Call Boden Plumbing
the drip busters

707-996-8683 in Sonoma
707-255-8155 in Napa
866-NO-DRIPS Worldwide

Periodic plumbing inspection and maintenance pays dividends

No one really wants to call the plumber. (We know, we know. It's understandable so we try not to take it too personally.) Just like no one likes to go to the dentist for a periodic check-up and cleaning - or make that appointment for a yearly physical. And we're all too busy to remember the regular oil change and tune-up for our vehicles.

But if we're honest with ourselves we know that regular inspection and maintenance can pay off big time over time.

The plumbing system is a major component of your home. The disruption to daily activity when a major failure or mishap occurs is always significant, but most plumbing problems don't develop overnight. They can almost always be detected months or years in advance.

Regular inspection can detect leaks from the various fittings and connections - both in the water supply and waste disposal systems - before a major failure or water damage occurs. And you might be surprised the problems inadequate or excessive water pressure can cause. When was the last time you checked the water pressure at your home?

Besides periodic inspection, regular cleaning and maintenance is also key. Fixtures kept clear of mineral and soap build-up operate properly - more smoothly with fewer obstructions. Taps and shower heads hampered by too much build-up can be more difficult to shut-off completely, which can lead to you applying too much pressure to get those annoying drips to stop. Threads are stripped, more drips ensue. It's not a good scenario.

So simple steps when repairs and maintenance are still simple in scope - put it on your calendar. Do your own walk around - or call us to schedule a home inspection. Go ahead and replace leaking toilet parts and faucet washers and cartridges when you first notice an issue. As we're always reminding people, those drips really do add up!

For our customers who like to formalize maintenance and save some money with us on repairs, we do have a customer assurance plan. We call it the 'No Drips Club'. You can read more about it here: Why Not Join the 'No Drips' Club?

So just a piece of advice: check your plumbing system every once in awhile - but regularly - and avoid unnecessary damage and mishaps with proper maintenance. It's always best to be able to plan for major repairs or replacements ahead of time. Sudden failures and disruptions to service never happen at the most convenient time. (It's Murphy's Law.)

Have questions or need advice? Call us! We're here to help. (707) 996-8683. Or stop by the office to chat. We're right on Broadway across from the high school.

Plumber vs Handyman...

When it comes to deciding who to hire, it's worth remembering the impact properly functioning, modern plumbing has on our existence. It's not necessary to get fancy, but it is essential to get it right. A licensed plumber doing the job he or she has been trained to do is where you want to go when it comes to your health and safety.

Let's face it, even in the grand scheme of things plumbing is pretty darn important. Just imagine what would life be like without it.

And it's not only our personal well-being that we're safeguarding by getting it right. Improvements to water delivery and sewer systems over the past 100 years have made an incredible impact on the public health in this country. It was not so long ago that cross contamination of sewage and potable water and inadequate access to clean water for washing led to epidemic outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery - even flu.

People have been coming up with ingenious ways to plumb water and sewer since ancient times. The Egyptians and Babylonians got it going thousands of years B.C. The Romans were not far behind and are famous for their baths and sewage disposal systems - some of which are still in use today. They also boast the first flushing "water closet." Given all that, can you believe that when President John Adams and his wife Abigail moved into the White House in 1800 the building was without indoor plumbing and water had to be carried from a spring in a nearby park. It seems the modern conveniences are quite recent indeed.

Don't take them for granted!

Plumbing may not be rocket science, but it is important to get it right. Next time you need a plumber just remember - the health of the nation depends on it!

:: Plumbers: The Health of the Nation
:: Plumbing Through History - and more...
:: Protection Against Contaminated Water
:: Flush TV
:: More on Plumbers and Our Health

Can We All Agree?

Customers routinely ask about the benefits of a service agreement and whether they should bother purchasing one, especially after we just installed a new system or performed a major repair in their home. The answer, of course, is a resounding "yes."

We are all busier than ever these days. Procrastination is human nature. We all know we should get the car in for a tune-up or visit the doctor for an annual check-up. But how many of us wait until the last minute to make the call, or worse yet, until something goes wrong?

Most plumbing systems are not as complex as an automobile or the human body - though to some, they may seem that way - but the benefits of preventive maintenance are just as valuable. Just like auto tune-ups and medical check-ups, our service agreements were created with prevention in mind. Most plumbing problems don't develop overnight. They can almost always be detected months or years in advance. A service agreement gives our plumbers the opportunity to inspect your system, detect problems and provide solutions long before disaster strikes. We'll even contact you when it's time for your check-up.

A service agreement is a small investment that can yield tremendous savings. As a preferred customer, you're entitled to discounted rates on all our services with priority scheduling, a yearly water heater flush, a 323-point inspection, and a video of the sewer line - not to mention the peace of mind knowing the plumbing in your home has been frequently and properly maintained.

Rest assured, plan ahead, save money every time - ask about our Customer Assurance Plan today. email us

Why Dig? Go Trenchless!

Do you have roots pulling apart your sewer line or some other damage that calls for extensive repair or replacement? Well, before you dig consider the alternatives.

At Boden Plumbing we use a drain lining system that provides a cost effective alternative to traditional dig methods of pipe replacement - and yet still offers the structural strength of new pipe. And no trenches required!

This patented system allows our technicians to replace underground pipe without disturbing any surface materials such as driveways, landscaping, porches, sidewalks, floors, electrical & gas lines or water lines (which means no locates), roadways, and parking lots.

Your existing pipe provides the form for a slick new skin that restores the integrity of the line. It's really very ingenious.

If you'd like to know more, check out the why dig? website - or email us here at Boden. We can tell you about the projects we've done and discuss with you whether or not the trenchless way is suitable for your situation. Chances are it's a real good choice!