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

Check Those Washer Hoses

It seems like a small thing really - washing machine hoses. Until they go, that is. A burst hose, with household water at an average 70 lbs of pressure, can release up to 650 gallons an hour. Yikes!

So definitely check your hoses for visible wear. You may want to make a habit of changing them periodically as part of regular maintenance - especially the hose on the hot water line. The traditional black rubber hoses may seem strong, but with constant exposure to hot water the rubber can harden and become brittle, making them more susceptible to failure. They can either split along the wall of the hose or separate at the join with the fitting. The normal lifespan of these hoses is 5 to 7 years, with some qualifications. The greater the bend in the hose, the shorter the hose will last. The hose's lifespan may also be affected by your water's chemical composition and by higher water pressure.

(Test the water shut-offs behind the machine, too. If you do need to stop the water flow in an emergency, you definitely do not want frozen bibs.)

At Boden Plumbing we also recommend that you at least consider going one step further than including the washing machine hoses in your regular maintenance scheme - particulary if you are away from home a lot or have a living unit above another unit.

We like Floodchek brand hoses as an alternative to the standard hoses. These heavily constructed hoses start out with the same traditional rubber tube, but add two layers of 23# braided rayon reinforcement, a .012"-gauge rubber jacket and a .063"-gauge rubber cover. And, since most floods start at the coupling, Floodchek couplings are machined from non-corroding solid brass. The patented heart of a Floodchek hose is the brass insert, rounded at the end to prevent cutting the hose's interior. Barbs along the hose's flank supplement the crimp design to provide extra protection against pull-off. These improvements make the hoses so reliable that they come with a limited 20-year manufacturer's guarantee.

Steel braided hoses might seem like another good choice, but there are some concerns with these types of hoses. Manufacturers use a very aggressive crimp when assembling the hoses and a relatively thin rubber tube to secure the rubber tube and steel braid to the swivel. When hoses are bent and flexed, they fail at the crimp point.

So if this is something you'd like to take the next step on in your home, Boden recommends going ahead with the Floodchek hoses. Unless you've already had a hose burst, you'll never know just how glad you'll be to have them.

Questions? Call the office at 707 996 8683 or send an email. We'd be glad to tell you more.

:: www.floodchek.com
:: www.nodrips.com

Got Hot Water?

Are you running the tap waiting for the hot water to arrive? We know. It's inconvenient - and a waste of both water and money. But what are ya' gonna do?

Well, a hot water recirculation system could be just the ticket.

Think about it. You may not run the hot water all day long while the family is away from home at work and school. During that time, heated water lays in the line cooling off. Then when you do get home - or up in the morning - and need the hot water, all that unused and now tepid water needs to be run through the line - and down the drain - before fresh hot water reaches the faucet.

It's goofy.

With a recirculation system, water temperature is maintained in the line when you need it most. At Boden Plumbing, we like the Grundfos Comfort System. It's a straightforward install and easy to maintain. The pump attaches to your hot water heater and a small return valve is unobtrusively installed on the furthest faucet in the home. Since the existing lines are used, there's no added expense for additional lines. Then timers keep that hot water circulating in the pipes just when you need it most - saving time, energy, water. You name it.

If you'd like more information, call the shop. Or log onto the Grundfos site to learn more.

:: the Grundfos recirc system
:: PG&E energy calculators

Don't Get Caught without an Earthquake Valve

We don't mean to be alarmist - really we don't. But let's be realistic. Stuff happens. The good thing is some "stuff" we can prepare for and mitigate - even some of the big stuff. Like earthquakes.

Earthquakes are one of those inevitable eventualities that no one who lives in faulty areas can run or hide from. Besides structural failures, perhaps the biggest danger when an earthquake strikes is fire. In particular, fire from ruptured gas lines.

A gas shut-off valve is a smart addition to any building located in earthquake country. Triggered automatically by the shaking of a temblor, they quickly cut off the supply of gas to the building, which greatly reduces the risk of fire – a very good thing! In fact, many insurance companies in California now require installation of a gas shut-off valve before writing new policies.

The valve is installed outside on your gas line, near where the line enters your home, and it's on duty whether you're home or not. The cost of installation varies depending on conditions at your particular property and there are a couple of options to choose from, but it's a pretty straightforward procedure. Call us with any questions - we'd be happy to give you an estimate. You can contact us at 707.996.8683 or e-mail us at info@nodrips.com.

:: www.nodrips.com

Considering Going Tankless?

As energy costs continue to rise, interest in tankless or on-demand water heaters is increasing. These types of heaters are actually nothing new; they've been around for 50 years or more in Europe where energy costs have been traditionally high, and they have also been used in commercial applications. They are definitely something to consider, but whether or not a tankless system will work for you depends on how you and your family use hot water.

Tankless systems heat water directly, on demand, thereby avoiding the standby heat losses associated with heaters with storage tanks. No need to wait for the tank to fill up with hot water. No need to keep a pilot light on to maintain water temp 24/7. According to information at www.tanklesswaterheaterguide.com you can increase your energy efficiency anywhere from 8 to 50% by using an on-demand system.

The very important thing to know is that on-demand systems supply hot water at a rate of 2 - 5 gallons per minute, with gas-fired heaters providing higher flow rates than electric heaters. Smaller units may not be able to provide enough hot water for simultaneous use at multiple outlets. It's possible to work around this - with bigger heaters, point of use heaters, or multiple heaters - but it's important to evaluate both your hot water needs and the layout of your home before you decide to go tankless. And keep in mind that a bigger gas heater may require a bigger or dedicated gas supply.

Regular maintenance to keep the heating element clear of mineral buildup can keep your heater working well for years - saving energy in the long run. And that's a good thing. But do your homework, consider your options. The info is out there.

If you have more questions, call or e-mail us here at Boden Plumbing. We have experience with both traditional tank style and tankless models. We can help you decide what's best for you.

:: www.tanklesswaterheaterguide.com
:: PG&E energy calculator

Tap Into Filtered Water

There are lots of reasons to rethink our consumption of bottled water. One big one is simply the cost - do we really spend as much as $12.00 on a gallon of water while we're bemoaning $4 for a gallon of gas? There are also the environmental and social costs of privatizing water supplies and then shipping them halfway around the world, not to mention all those plastic bottles! Perhaps the most important reason, though, is that we often don't even know whether or not what we're drinking isn't just somebody else's tap water.

Beginning July 1st, the City of San Francisco began weaning itself off bottled water (SF Says No to Bottled Water). Recognizing that the City's public water supply from Hetch Hetchy is pretty much as good as it gets, the powers that be cut off public funds to all city departments, city concessions, city-funded events and functions in city buildings for bottled water. By the end of the year, the City will stop shelling out for water for the legendary office water cooler. After that, any water dispensers in City buildings will have to be attached to the existing plumbing system and dispense good old fashioned tap water.

Some restaurants have also made the switch to tap - foregoing Santa Lucia, Fiji and San Pellegrino for filtered water. (Restaurants begin the switch to tap.)

Making the switch from bottled water seems like a good idea, doesn't it? But what if you're not as confident in your water supply as are the people of San Francisco? If that's the case, it's definitely worth considering a water filtration system.

At Boden Plumbing we feature an activated carbon whole-house filtering system that improves on reverse osmosis systems, which waste 3 to 4 gallons for each gallon of filtered water provided and increase the acidity of the water.

The great benefit of one of these systems is that they provide clean, fresh-tasting water through every outlet. If you use a public water supply, this can be important because chlorine is a fact of life in municipal water and, while it may be an important step in removing dangerous pathogens from the general water supply, it’s not something you want to take in on a regular basis once that water gets to your home. Studies now link increased cancer rates to drinking chlorinated water. Filtering it from your drinking water at the kitchen tap goes part of the way, but did you know that over 60% of the chlorine and other impurities that you take in from your water comes through your skin and lungs while bathing and showering?

The system we like requires no periodic maintenance—and even does away with the need for a water softener. Combine that with a six to eight year life span and it means you can have a continuous supply of fresh water that’s good for you, good for your plants and the environment—and good for your plumbing system—often for less than a penny per gallon.

Many of us spend a lot of money each year on bottled water and find only partial solutions to hard water and filtration. Why not consider simplifying your water treatment with a whole-system unit—and get one-step peace of mind? If you would like more info, log on to our website at www.nodrips.com or send us an email here at Boden Plumbing. We'd be happy to tell you more!

Do You, uh, Fish 'n Flush?

Frankly, we think it should have a different name. But what do you think? Could this contraption have factored into Andrew Stanton's inspiration for Finding Nemo? Hmmmm... we wonder... Where did he find Nemo?

No word on whether it's low flow.

www.fishnflush.com