Albert Knew a Thing or Two - but not Plumbing

Did you know?...

Albert Einstein was named an honorary member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union after saying publicly that he would become a plumber if he had to do it all over again.

There is a story behind that story.

According to his colleague and friend Robert Oppenhiemer, "Late in his life, in connection with his despair over weapons and wars, Einstein said that if he had to live it over again he would be a plumber. This was a balance of seriousness and jest that no one should now attempt to disturb. Believe me, he had no idea of what it was to be a plumber; least of all in the United States, where we have a joke that the typical behavior of this specialist is that he never brings his tools to the scene of the crisis. Einstein brought his tools to his crises; Einstein was a physicist, a natural philosopher, the greatest of our time." (see "On Albert Einstein" by Robert Oppenheimer)

Well, Einstein was a very smart man (as was Oppenheimer), but we're not too sure about that reference to the typical behavior of the plumbing specialist. But then Oppie does admit the Big Man really knew nothing of plumbing.

All we know is that here at Boden Plumbing we most certainly do show up with the tools and supplies we expect to need to get your job done first time out. It's our thing -- it's what we do -- and we're plumbing specialists.

Arnold (aka John Kimble) Calls the Plumber

We don't want to give you any ideas, but...check out this over-the-top prank phone call. It's kind of funny!

Fun Plumbing Trivia

We came across a bunch of fun plumbing facts while surfing the web. So...from the "Did You Know Department":

The terms facuet and spigot were once used only in the Northern and Southern U.S., respectively. The terms have come to be used interchangeably (although spigot is more commonly used for outdoor connections. (more about spigot on the on freedictionary.com)

Water pipes used to be made from lead. In fact, the word plumbing (and plumb and plumber) actually derive from the Latin word for lead: plumbum. (The periodic table element label for lead, Pb, is also based on the same word).

Pipes haven’t always been made of metal. In the 1800s, both Boston and Montreal used wooden pipes made from logs that were hollowed out and tapered at the ends. (read about water pipes on wikipedia)

Lead solder continued to be used even after lead was found to be harmful to humans, all the way through the 1980s. It was believed that the amount of lead that could potentially leach into the water was too small to matter. (read more about solder on wikipedia)

Sir John “the john” Herrington is credited with inventing the flushable toilet in 1596. He called it the “Ajax,” a shortened version of “a jakes,” which was a common slang for toilet at the time. Unfortunately, Sir John’s designation for the flusable toilet didn’t stick, but his name did. (read about it on wikipedia)

In 2004, there was over 91,000 miles of water distribution piping (4″+ pipe) in the U.S. 78% of that pipe is made of PVC. (read this article on PVC milestones)

Not sure this is a "fact" (seems amazing), but we did find it on the internet...
The most recognized video game character in the world is a plumber. Nintendo’s Mario (of Super Mario Brothers fame) was created by Shigeru Miyamoto and has appeared in more than 200 games. (you can read about it on wikipedia)

In Japan, some urinals have voice-activated flush mechanisms. According to wikipedia, these urinals respond to as many as 30 different languages and several terms, including “fire.”

In 1929, a series of sewer explosions occurred in Ottawa, Canada. Contrary to initial reactions, it likely wasn’t caused by Methane gas, but rather by shop owners pouring flamable oils down drains as the still-unregulated automobile industry took off. (read more about the 1929 Ottawa sewer explosion -- and don't pour that nasty stuff down the drain!)

Hot water heat recycling is the process of recovering heat from used water (primarily from sinks, showers, dishwashers, and washing machines). Heat exchanger systems can recover as much as 60% of the heat that normally goes down the drain. (read more about heat exchangers)

There are actually two common types of plungers – a toilet plunger and a sink/shower plunger. Toilet plungers narrow at the bottom to fit into the toilet drain, while sink and shower plungers have a flat rim. (read more about 'the plunger' on wikipedia

(Small aside: Speaking of plungers...here are a few tips for plunging your toilet, should the need arise: Clearing Simple Toilet Clogs.)

The fire sprinkler was invented in 1864 by Henry Parmelee to protect his piano factory. He patented the idea, but by 1883 had only successfully had the system installed in 10 factories. (more on fire sprinklers on wikipedia)

At 140 degrees, it takes 5 seconds for water to burn skin. At 160 degrees, it takes only 1/2 of a second. (source) Recommendation: Home hot water systems should be set to no hotter than 125 degrees.

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So there you go. When conversation lags at your next party, you will be able to mesmerize your friends with a slew of little-known facts that are sure to get the party going. Have fun!

Easy Resolutions for a Green and Prosperous New Year

We know you're thinking about it -- making a resolution for the New Year -- and we'd like to encourage you. (Because we're thinking about it too, and we'd like to encourage ourselves!) We all know we don't always succeed 100% in keeping the resolutions we make, but as it turns out, people who do make them are way more likely to achieve their goals than the people who don't make the gesture.

So let's do it -- let's make some resolutions for the new year. We've come up with a few suggestions we think are relatively simple and inexpensive but that would make an impact.

They generally fall into two categories: save water and save money. You're already thinking about how you can save money in the new year. All you need to do is add 'saving water' to your list of things to do and you're there.

#1 Repair and Service Existing Fixtures and Appliances,
aka Keep Everything Lasting Longer and Operating Efficiently

Give your water heater a nice drain-and-flush (see Prolong the life of your water heater with simple maintenance)

Stop those annoying and wasteful drips once and for all (see How Many Drips Does it Take to Waste a Gallon? and more Water Saving Tips Galore)

#2 Shut Off the Water

Are you one of those people who turn on the shower to warm up while you continue to do chores around the house? How about running the faucet while you brush your teeth or shave? Well in 2012, no more multi-tasking while bathing, ok? And just shut that faucet off. Turn it on when you need the water.

If you really do have trouble getting hot water to your sink or shower, there's a better solution than running the cold water down the drain. (see Got Hot Water? )

#3 Turn Down the Thermostat on Your Water Heater

For each 10 degrees F reduction in water temperature, you can save about 3-5% in home energy costs. Although water heater thermostats are often set at 140 degrees F, most households have plenty of hot water when theirs is set to 120. Reducing your water temperature can also extend the life of your water heater and pipes by slowing mineral buildup and corrosion.

#4 Use Shorter Cycles


If you have a newer dishwasher and washing machine, check to see if they have quick cycles. A quick cycle can get your dishes and clothes just as clean while using less water.

#5 Invest in One Water Saving Fixture

Do you have any of the older 3 or 5 gallons per flush toilets in your house? If you're able to replace one fixture this year, changing to a new water efficient toilet will make a big impact on your water usage. Switching to a 1.6 or 1.28 gpf toilet can save thousands of gallons in a year. Think about it.

Also, for a really low-cost way to put a big green check next to this resolution, make sure you have a low-flow shower head and aerators on your faucets. You can probably get these free-of-charge from your water department or city hall.

(see Save Energy and Money by Reducing Hot Water Use for some great tips on low-flow fixtures)

#6 Get that Flapper Fixed. Adjust that Chain.

Oh my goodness, the water you can save by simply fixing that leaking toilet. Nuff said. (but if not, see Just the Facts, Ma'am - on Water Leaks)

And most of all, have a very happy 2012...while saving water and saving money at home!!

Happy Holidays from Everyone at Boden Plumbing

To all our customers and neighbors in Sonoma Valley, Napa and Petaluma --



As always, 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, Chris, Randy, (and his other brother) Randy AND Bruiser

Toilet Bling in Tokyo

Would the chance to lay your eyes on a Swarovski-encrusted toilet get you to visit Tokyo? That's what the Japanese are counting on. A building materials company has put the flashy toilet on display in the hope of attracting visitors to Tokyo's ritzy Ginza shopping district. Covered with 72,000 sparkling crystals, the toilet (not actually for sale) is valued at $128,000.

What do you think?



This one's significantly cheaper than the gold beauty we brought to your attention awhile back, (see How Much Does a New Toilet Cost? ), but it still costs way more than a snazzy jazzy new low-flow toilet from Boden Plumbing. Plus, we're not too sure about what it would take to keep it clean.

So maybe you want to shop around a little before deciding? Come down to the shop, we've got a few sensible models on display -- not to mention the famous Fish 'n Flush. Although, if you really do have more than a few nickels burning a hole in your pocket and you feel compelled to spend them on a toilet, consider one of America's Poshest Potties.

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