Boden Plumbing Acquires Gene's Plumbing

It's official. In early February Boden Plumbing acquired another Sonoma Valley plumbing company - Gene's Plumbing. Gene Wade has been plumbing in this area for a long time and has many loyal and satisfied customers, but he has decided to retire. Boden was fortunate to be able to take on Gene's business, and we look forward to extending the same fine service and quality workmanship to Gene's customers that they are accustomed to - and that Boden customers enjoy.

The old telephone number for Gene's Plumbing (707-939-7586) now rings through to the Boden Plumbing office. Call us on any of our local numbers for your service area and you will reach us here at the office. We look forward to your call!

:: Sonoma 996-8683
:: Napa 255-8155
:: Petaluma 762-2769

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Boden Plumbing serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7577
www.nodrips.com

Safeguarding Your Septic

Here at Boden Plumbing we often talk to customer's about the pros and cons of water softeners compared to other water treatment systems. One thing we haven't given a lot of thought to until recently is the impact water softeners may have on home septic systems. If the salts aren't good for you to drink and they make the discharge water unsuitable for graywater systems, what about their effect on the biology and soils associated with a septic system?

It seems the jury's out. No one is ready to give a definitive thumbs up or down on water softeners and septic systems. But there are some important things to consider if you do use a water softener or are thinking of installing one - and are on septic.

1. Do the salts in the discharge water adversely affect the beneficial bacteria in the tank?
2. Does the additional discharge from water softening system overload your system's capacity?
3. Do the salts that settle out in the leach field affect percolation?

Know where you septic system is located and familiarize yourself with how it functions. There are certainly ways to minimize negative impacts, as well as a whole host of things you can do to keep your system healthy and functioning properly.

Know Your System

Wastewater from toilets, baths and sinks flows into a septic tank. A septic tank holds the wastewater allowing solids to settle as sludge. Lighter liquids like oil float to the top as scum. Wastewater remains in the middle. Baffles at the inlet and outlet allow only the separated wastewater to flow out. A leach field drains the wastewater and allows it to leach into the ground where bacteria decomposes the sewage. Disease–causing organisms, organic matter, sewage and most nutrients are removed. The clarified wastewater moves downward into the groundwater or is evaporated from the soil. Buildup of scum and sludge should be removed every 2-3 years by pumping the tank. The distribution box channels wastewater into perforated pipes, which drain into the leach field.

Keep Your Septic Healthy

• Inspect your septic tank once every year and pump as necessary.
• Avoid putting materials such as grease, cigarettes, coffee grounds, feminine hygiene products, solvents, paints, caustic chemicals, or pesticides down your drains. Even products such as paper towels, wipes, heavy toilet paper and other sanitary items that you might think are OK to go down the drain can unduly tax your septic system and shorten the time between necessary clean outs.
  
• Avoid the use of chemical septic tank additives.
• Use water wisely. Keep your usage below the “daily designated flow” or the maximum number of gallons the system was designed to handle per day.
• Limit garbage disposal use. Better yet, do not use a garbage disposal if you're on septic.
  
• Don’t construct patios, carports, decks, or other structures over the leach field or septic tank.
• Don't use landscaping plastic over the leach field or septic tank.
• Keep vehicles and other heavy machinery off of the septic tank and leach field areas at all times.
• Don’t compact the soil over the tank or leach field in any way.
• Direct surface drainage and water from roof drains away from the drain field and septic tank.
• Don’t dispose of water from hot tubs in to the septic tank.
• Keep a detailed record of all septic system maintenance activities.
• Be aware of the location of all septic system components.
• If you have a pump system be aware of the precautions to take during a prolonged power outage.
• Don’t plant anything but grass near your septic system. Roots from shrubs and trees can cause damage.
• If your tank is over 15 years old, have it inspected for baffle deterioration (sooner if you have a water conditioner)
• Never use anti-bacterial soaps

Do Your Research

:: Water Softener Use Raises Questions for Septic System Owners
:: Biological augmentation of septic systems at Sea Ranch on the Sonoma Coast.
:: Water conditioners & septic tanks - some advice from a MD contractor.
:: BioSmart - for cleaner, healthier drains.
:: Nature's Miracle reduces scale without increasing salts.

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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.
866-663-7577
www.nodrips.com

Bruiser says Happy Holidays!

Everyone at Boden Plumbing (and especially Bruiser) would like to wish you a completely happy holiday. Really. Bruiser insists. It's been a long year and a good year, and this is the time to celebrate. So enjoy!

Bruiser's wish for himself in the new year is that he gets his own little Boden Plumbing uniform so he can go out on the trucks like the big boys. He thinks he's put in more than enough time at the office - and he insists he's a very good digger. Our wish for you is a safe and prosperous New Year free of plumbing woes and worries. Knock on wood, be happy, but call us if you need us!

--a very Merry Holiday and wonderful New Year, with best wishes from Terry, Mary, Casey, Tom, Shane, Alan, Omar, Jeri AND Bruiser

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Bruiser's YouTube debut He's thinking if he can't make it as a Boden Plumbing apprentice, he may have a future in show biz! What do you think?

Sonoma County Considers Ammendment to Sewer Lateral Ordinance

In an effort to protect groundwater quality, the Sonoma County Water Agency, along with a group of county sewer districts, have proposed amendments to their respective ordinances. These changes would introduce new requirements for inspection, maintenance, and repairs of sewer laterals.

Similar requirements have been in effect in Marin County for awhile now and have helped to address a number of important issues - including safeguarding groundwater quality. We think it's a good step for Sonoma County to take - and high time.

The sewer lateral is the pipe that conveys wastewater from a home to a main sewer system pipeline. The "main" then transfers the collected wastewater to the local treatment facility. When the lateral line is damaged both precipitation and groundwater can infiltrate the line and add to the load being transported to the sewer plant for treatment, potentially overloading capacity at the plant. Wastewater in the pipe can also leach out into the surrounding ground and mix with groundwater. Breaks also give roots an opportunity to work their way into the line and create more damage to the pipe. A homeowner may not be aware of a problem until the line nearly collapses or the roots block enough of the pipe to cause a backup.

The proposed changes would require, among other things, inspection of lines before a sale or change in ownership of a property and when a building permit is pulled for an additional toilet installation.

If you'd like more information about the likely changes in store for Sonoma County, you can visit the water agency's website or contact Project Manager Kevin Booker by email or phone at 707-521-1865.

Save Water with a Hot Water Recirculation Pump

Are you wasting water waiting for the hot water to arrive?




In a typical 3-bedroom home with four occupants as many as 34 gallons of previously heated water goes down the drain unused every day when people run the tap waiting for the hot water to arrive. Over an average 350 days per year, that's 11,970 gallons of water - and the energy to heat the water - wasted. (source: Laing)

It's not necessary!

A hot water recirculation pump installed on the hot water heater of your home helps to maintain the water temperature in the line. It's not complicated to install, and it's easy to maintain. The pump attaches to the heater and a small return valve is unobtrusively installed on the furthest faucet in the home. Because the existing lines are used, there's no added expense for additional lines. An optional timer keeps that hot water circulating in the pipes just when you need it most - saving energy and water.

If you'd like more information - or to have us take a look at the situation at your house - call us here at the office (707 996 8683) or send an email to Boden Plumbing. We'd be happy to tell you more.

:: www.askthebuilder.com
:: www.hgtvpro.com
:: www.grundfos.com

BYO Big Box Parts - or Not?

So the question is: Are the parts you find at the Big Box stores the same - or at least as good as - the parts available through plumbers' supply houses? Is it OK to "buy your own" - or is it smarter to let your plumber use his parts?

It's a good question.

And it depends.

The first thing to do if you spot a deal you can't pass up - or simply want to do your own shopping - is check model numbers. According to the manufacturers, if the model numbers are the same on the parts you are comparing, the parts are the same.

And that's important. Often, to meet the price point for Big Box retailers, manufacturers will replace an internal metal part or fitting with a plastic part. The fixture may look just like what you hope it is, but it's not comparable in terms of quality. So you end up saving money in the short term on something that doesn't hold up in the long term.

Not a good deal.

So check the model numbers. If the fixtures look the same but their numbers differ, you're comparing a store brand to the real thing.

Also, consider warranties and return policies. Does the store you're buying from warranty the item - or will you be going back to the manufacturer if there are any problems or if you need to return or exchange an item?

Are replacement parts available? If the store has made a one-off special purchase of a discontinued line will the parts still be available when it comes time to make a repair? Or maybe the store just doesn't carry parts. Be forewarned, if what you're looking at is an off-brand model, you may be hunting for replacement parts.

So it does depend. Do your research. Check the details.

Here at Boden Plumbing, because we guarantee the work we do and the parts we use, we prefer to use parts and fixtures that we know through experience our customers can depend on. We want to be confident that problems are rare and that fixtures hold up - and when maintenance and repairs are necessary that parts are readily available.

If you'd like to shop for yourself, give us a call here at the office (707 996 8683), and we can recommend our favorite brands. And rest assured, if you leave if to us, we'll install parts you'll be happy with - we guarantee it.

:: Boden Plumbing website
:: A discussion thread on BYO parts

Dogs Love Clean Water Too

Let's face it. Bottled water tastes better than tap water. Yet it feels silly to spend all that money for water at the store when it's virtually free from the kitchen tap.

Why not treat your own water instead? You can... automatically, efficiently, inexpensively.

Think about it. Public water systems are regularly tested and most tap water is safe. Yet "most" is not "all."

According to the University of Missouri, "55,000 of 61,000 public water facilities in the United States meet the standards mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act." What about the other 6,000?

Even properly treated water can become contaminated in the journey from the treatment plant to your tap.

And what about the chlorine? Chlorine is a fact of life in municipal water. 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 while bathing or showering? Not to mention the fact that during showering your lungs are rapidly absorbing the chlorine as well.

Safety concerns aside, installing a water filtration system in your home makes sense.

Do away with the majority of those plastic bottles and get all of the bottled water you need for pennies. Use it in cooking, water the plants with it, and even give it to your dog. Why not? The price of clean fresh water that you know has been run through a trusted system will no longer be a concern.

At Boden Plumbing we really like the Nature's Miracle™ whole-house system. It uses a three part filtration system. Granular activated carbon acts as a chemical sponge, while a kinetic degradation fluxion component removes chlorine and heavy metals and acts as a certified bacteriastat. Finally, a quartz bed assures a high flow rate through the system. A really nice feature is that maintenance is absolutely minimal - there are no cartridges or membranes to replace. Plus with a whole-house system, the benefits of clear, clean water are delivered to every faucet in the home.

We can help you find a method that best suits your objectives and your budget. If you want to learn more, call us at 707 996 8683. There is also some good info on our main website.

Your dog will thank you for it!

:: This dog's person got him filtered water! YouTube video clip