How important is fixing a leak?

How important is fixing a leak? Thats a good question!

Most people are unaware they have any problems. Most first get wind of issues after they get an outrageous utility bill or some other indication that there is something wrong.

The EPA Watersense program is having a fix a leak week in 2011 to help everyone conserve.

Fix a leak week! is the EPAs' way to help everyone understand what can done to help conserve our life giving water.

Heres what you can do!

If you need help or assistance on water conservation feel free to contact me for a free no obligation estimate on fixing those leaks you may have!

Thank you!

If you have any questions or comments feel free to call me and I will be glad to help you if I can. I can be reached at (408) 263-8433.

your plumber,

Cameron

Are building codes necessary? Why?

In this segment we will consider what codes are for and if they are necessary.

Have you ever wondered why plumbing looks the way it does? Did you think it was just the way the plumber installed it was the reason it was so complicated? Actually the plumber is following a preset configuration practice that is known as codes. Codes help the construction industry progress from today's technology to future technology in each respective trade.

Its like this, since you are using a computer to read this you may relate. Do you remember your first computer experience? I am sure it is quite different from today. Computers today are a lot more intuitive and software is beginning to be more universal. Even if you don't know how it works you are sure somewhere there is a lot of engineers working to make it so. The more universal something becomes the more people will have access to it. We call this cross platform. Codes are the cross platform of the construction industry.

Building codes help the plumber, electrician, roofer, stucco, framing, flooring, hvac and other trades coordinate and work together so a structure can be built with integrity. Codes are reevaluated constantly and updated every two years by committee. These committees are made up of dedicated professionals who pour through thousands of documents from people who have questions or issues with respect to the current requirements. Then the most relevant issues are resolved and adopted into the code. It is a process that has helped America have some of the greatest buildings that are not only ornate but safe, energy efficient and valuable.
So, what makes them necessary? The question almost answers itself. First, why is your front door as wide as it is? Why do the steps leading up to the front door look like they do? All of these answers lie within the code. The code is the minimum you can do, you can do more. For instance, there is a minimum width of the steps or door opening. You can have a five foot door opening for your front door, yet not one less that three foot. Why? Well consider all of the furniture and appliances you need to get into your home. A door needs to be at least three foot wide... and so the code is used to require it. Imagine some poor guy who is trying to save as much money as possible puts in a two foot six door and can't get a refrigerator into the home and then sells his home to someone who doesn't realize what they have purchased and can't get one in either.

Codes protect you eventually. Training, understanding and application takes years of work. Make sure the person you hire is qualified before you let them take out your code approved plumbing and replace it with the cheapest job you can find. Most of the problems I see is you can no longer tell who is qualified until the job is done. Ask questions, do some research and be informed. Not everyone who can stop a leak is qualified to do so.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to call me and I will be glad to help you if I can. I can be reached at (408) 263-8433.

your plumber,

Cameron

path="" title="" permalink="">

Should you fix that leak?

Water water everywhere....

Well not so anymore. Water, as I have said in the past, will be the next oil. Look the writing is on the wall. You now pay more for 12 oz. bottled water per gallon than gas. We can run out of oil and survive but if we run out of water then disease and death are soon to follow.

It always amazes me when I go to a customers home and find plumbing leaks during my free routine inspections I do. I will point out that these other problems should be addressed and corrected yet the customer is reluctant. Dismissing a leak is wasteful and harmful to the environment. Water, like oil, is a resource. Use it wisely and you will not have to adjust your lifestyle when a drought comes.

So how can you conserve water? The number one way is low flow toilets. Low flow toilets help each of us slow the flow and can save tremendous amounts of water each flush. Next is irrigation and landscape selection. You can consult with a landscape architect who can show you what you should plant in your particular area and don't be afraid to ask them how long or what time you should water your existing landscape.

Then comes showers and shower heads. If you have teenagers then you know how long a shower can last. It is not uncommon to let the shower run until the water is warm enough to get into but did you ever wonder how much water that wastes? Estimates are near 60,000 gallons per year per household! Wasted! A circulation pump would eliminate most of that and so would catching that with a bucket and using it on your landscaping. Shower heads can use from .5 gpm to 8 gpm (gallons per minute) So in one minute you could have taken a sixteen minute shower! Something to consider. Sewer treatment facilities are running at capacity and the housing keeps going up so conservation to control your personal costs is a prudent investment.

Finally we come to leaks. Waste with no purpose. Fixing those running toilets, dripping faucets or the newly discovered "wet spot" in the yard should be done as quickly as time allows. Bad plumbing probably accounts for most of the loss we face overall since it is a total loss and is not used by anyone. These leaks usually go unnoticed.

Prudent conservation, water saving devices and technology will help you do your part in the great water conservation effort soon to be coming to a city near you! Be ready and reap the benefits of a properly working water saving plumbing system. You will feel good for doing it and the planet will too!

If you need any help or have any questions feel free to call me at (408) 263-8433.

your plumber,

Cameron

path="" title="" permalink="">

Pex pipe as an option

Recently I went to a customers house who had a water piping leak. This was not the first leak I repaired for this customer, it was the second. I fixed the leak and the customer started to inquire about re-piping their entire water system inside their home. They asked about options. I informed the customer that because of their locale they were limited to either copper or steel pipes in the home. Cpvc or pex had, by the locale, been rejected by way of an addendum to the Uniform Plumbing Code. When the customer asked why, I suggested they call the locale and ask. Now please don't get me wrong this is not knocking either steel or copper both of which I have installed, at the customers request, for years. Both are good, quality materials in their respective environments and for differing reasons. With this in mind the water in this area is particularly aggressive for both copper and steel. This is the focus of this particular segment.

Why pex?

I don't think one material is better than the other until water conditions are considered. With the addition of chloramines in public and private water supplies combined with already aggressive water I am noticing a new phenomenon of piping failures in the metals. I can't say I'd recommend replacing failed materials with more of the same failed material. Pex is not new it has been used extensively in Europe for years and is taking the plumbing market by storm. But buyer beware it is not the save all solution for every application. The key to pex, in my opinion, is how it is joined and how it is installed. There are quick connections that incorporate "O" rings that may react with the water, there are plastic inserts that may be subject to failure (see quest piping) there are installation standards that can and will cause problems if they are not followed. My idea of a quality install would incorporate the following practices. Pex pipe with brass inserts, pex bend supports, a home run from a strategically placed manifold system and copper stub outs. One hot or cold pipe from manifold to one fixture. A manifold can be installed in a wall with a manifold box and gives the consumer access to conveniently turning off the water in one central location within the home or garage. If you would like to talk to a live person about pex, have questions or just are curious visit http://www.pexsupply.com/ they have a live chat feature and will answer questions about pex you may have for your particular application. Pex should be installed by a professional plumbing contractor.

Consult with your local building department before considering pex to insure it has been adopted, if it hasn't ask why not and inquire about the steps you would need to take to get a variance. If you have a failed water system you may get one depending on the locale you live.

Call me if your interested in knowing more or would like an estimate for installing PEX or Pex related products for you at (408) 263-8433

your plumber,

Cameron

path="" title="" permalink="">

Valves are for emergencies, will yours work when you need it?

Valves are used for every sort of plumbing emergency and maintenance. There are several types of valves. I will deal with the types most people use in day to day life. First, do you know where to turn off the water for your building in case of an emergency? The type of valve you have will also determine the success you will achieve when trying to do so. Gate valves the kind of valve you turn the handle repeatedly will seize if they are not properly maintained. Cheap construction grade valves usually never work in a pinch. There is an alternative to these types of valves. A simple ball valve. Yes a ball valve, if it is the right type, can be a life saver in a pinch. Its use is easy, just a lever on or off. Be sure to ask if the valve is a full port which means it does not restrict the flow rather it allows the full opening of the pipe to pass through the valve body. Angle stops, those little valves under your sink you never notice until you have a leak, also come in quarter turn ball valve styles. These valves should be replaced every time the fixture is replaced to ensure they will work in an emergency. The valve on your water heater could also be switched to a ball valve for emergencies. These are the most typical valves you would use in your building. Get familiar of the locations of the various valves on your building and maintain them so they will work when you need them.

your plumber,

Cameron

path="" title="" permalink="">