Don’t Let a Pumpkin Clog Ruin Your Halloween!
You’ll probably have a lot of spooky little trick-or-treaters at your door in Orange County this Halloween. The scariest thing of all may not be the little witches or monsters knocking at your door, though. No – the most frightening thing you experience this Halloween could be lurking in your drains! What did you do with the guts of your pumpkin after carving it? If you threw it down the sink or toilet, you could be in for a real nightmare!
Americans scrape millions of pounds of stringy pulp when carving pumpkins during the Halloween season. It’s fun to get creative with your carvings, but be sure you dispose of the pulp safely. It’s best to lay out newspaper and carve your pumpkin on top of it with a safety knife. Of course, you’ll want to supervise children as they carve their pumpkins. Then, you’ll be able to fold up the newspaper with the pulp inside and easily discard the remains in a trashcan or dumpster.
The results of throwing pumpkin pulp down your drain can be monstrous. The sticky, stringy pulp full of hard seeds will not easily slide down your pipes. It will likely harden into a tough mass and block anything that comes its way. Just imagine what that could mean for your toilet! It’s not a pretty thought! So, save yourself the nightmare this Halloween and just throw your pumpkin guts in the trash!
Of course, if you ever find yourself in a sticky situation with any clog, give us a call. We are happy to help you with drain cleaning and repair!
PHCC Trade Show: October 29 at Anaheim Convention Center
Over 2,000 licensed plumbing-heating-cooling contractors will be attending the PHCC Trade Show next Saturday, October 29 at the Anaheim Convention Center! Attendees will enjoy demos of the latest industry products, experience informative free seminars and get hands on training. There will be a wide variety of exhibitors from regional and national companies whose products and services cover the full spectrum of PHC projects and supplies. Some of the industry’s biggest names will be at this tradeshow, so don’t miss it! Here’s the info:
- Saturday, October 29, 2011
- 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Anaheim Convention Center
- Hall A
- 800 W. Katella Ave.
- Anaheim, CA 92802
- PHCC Trade Show Website
Online registration ends at 12 noon on Monday, October 24. After that, you can register on-site at the convention center. The only cost for the event is parking.
The PHCC of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties is a professional organization of open and union shop contractor members who successfully manage businesses in residential service, new construction, commercial and industrial markets. Members include business owners, employees, managers and partners in plumbing/HVAC companies. PHCC is committed to member service, environmental protection, public health, safety and comfort. Whether you’re just starting your plumbing and HVAC career or are a seasoned veteran, PHCC is dedicated to providing you with the industry training, guidance, and services you need to reach your professional goals. Check out the PHCC website if you are interested in becoming a member.
Video Sewer & Drain Camera Inspections for Plumbing Problems
Sewer and Drain Clogs can be downright stubborn and elusive. However, high-tech, state of the art video technology can provide an advanced way to analyze your plumbing problem to correctly diagnose and treat stubborn drain and sewer clogs. In fact, we have a lot of experience with this technique, which utilizes a video camera attached to a push rod reel. We use a locater with the camera so we can locate the sewer or drain pipe hidden from view and give an exact distance in the ground, ceiling, or wall. The camera allows us to check for cracks as well as crushed, shifted or damaged sewer pipes. This technology is valuable because it takes the guess work out of plumbing repairs. Plus, it can also be used to clearly show you repairs once they are completed.
Using the video footage recorded by the special camera, we can determine the course of action that will serve you best, given your specific issues. This video technology can also help save you money and hassle. Video sewer and drain technology allows us to precisely locate and resolve your plumbing issues without needing to tear up your beautiful Orange County lawn. So, if you feel you are experiencing drain or sewer issues, give us a call. We’re happy to help!
Why Should I Flush My Water Heater?
Water heaters are a luxury we Orange County residents sometimes take for granted. We certainly take notice, though, the moment we step into that shower and receive the frigid shock that there’s no hot water. Fortunately, flushing your water heater can help prevent this and actually extend the life of your water heater.
The heating of water in your heater causes calcium carbonate to precipitate out and settle to the bottom of the tank. This sand-like sediment can drift into recirculation lines or jam open check valves and then eventually burn out the pump. Regular flushing of your hot water heater can help prevent this sediment build-up.
How Do I Know It’s Time to Flush?
A Distinct Noise
Noise coming from gas models can often be caused by the sediment build-up in the bottom of the water heater tank. Steam bubbles form under the sediment and the thumping and popping noises are created by the bubbles escaping from under the sediment.
A Distinct Sulfur Smell
Another problem associated with sediment build-up is bacterial growth inside the tank. If you’ve ever experienced the odor of sulfur or “rotten eggs” around a water heater, you know how unpleasant and unbearable it can be. This is actually a symptom of bacterial problems, and flushing the water heater can resolve this.
Sediment build-up reduces the amount of hot water you have, and heating the sediment will waste fuel and increase your utility costs. We recommend flushing your water heater once a year. It will operate more efficiently, and you’ll extend the life of your water heater, saving you money and energy in the long run! If you’d like help, just give us a call!
Can Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures Save Water and Money?
There are many things you can do to save water in your home. Behavioral changes, such as turning off the water when brushing your teeth or taking baths instead of showers, are helpful. However, you can add even more savings by updating your plumbing fixtures to low-flow toilets and shower heads. Low-flow toilets use only about 1.6 gallons of water per flush as opposed to about 3.5 gallons with normal toilets. Low-flow shower heads use about 2.5 gallons of water per minute compared to between four and five gallons per minute used by conventional heads.
Do low-flow toilets work well?
When low-flow toilets were first introduced, consumers complained that there was insufficient water within the toilet bowl to properly flush below the line of normal toilets. The toilets were using less water, but simply didn’t have enough power to flush waste efficiently. After much consumer dissatisfaction, toilet manufacturers made some design modifications to make low-flow toilets more efficient.
Do water saving shower heads provide enough water pressure?
Using low-flow shower heads doesn’t mean you have to compromise water pressure. Conventional shower heads may deliver about 5 to 8 gallons per minute (gpm) at a pressure of 75 psi, which is the max pressure allowed for California unless a pressure regulator is installed. Many low-flow heads can deliver 2.5 gpm at 75 psi. Some may deliver even less. Therefore, you can have the same comfortable shower experience with a low-flow shower head as with a conventional one.
Is it worth switching?
You can save as much as $100 a year in utility bills by switching to water-saving fixtures throughout your home. Additionally, a home with both low-flow toilets and low-circulation shower heads can save thousands of gallons of water per year. Switching to these green plumbing options is definitely worth it since they allow you to save money, energy, and help the environment. Plus, it’s a great time to consider low-flow toilets because, as of January 2012, toilets will be 1.28 gallon flush toilets; so, picking the right toilet will be very important. If you’re interested in making the switch to green plumbing fixtures in Orange County, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help!
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