You’ve probably heard many tips on conserving water, but do you actually know just how much water you can conserve by implementing those well-known tips? For example, you may already know that turning off the water while you brush your teeth is an easy way to save water. But, did you know it saves as much as eight gallons per day? That’s over two hundred gallons per month! Imagine how much money you could save on your water bill if you cut out 2,400 gallons per year! If this is all news to you, check out how much water you can save by implementing each of the tips below.

• 40 gallons per day by installing a smart sprinkler controller
• 150 gallons each time you use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks
• 500 gallons per month by checking your sprinkler system for leaks, overspray and broken sprinkler heads
• Hundreds of gallons per year by using organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation
• 5 gallons per day by shortening your showers by one or two minutes.
• 20 gallons per day by fixing leaky faucets
• 15 to 50 gallons per load by washing only full loads of laundry
• 10,000 gallons per year by changing your old toilet to a new 1.28 gallon flush toilet

If you were to implement all of these water-saving tips in one day, you could potentially save over 300 gallons of water! Each of these tips takes very little time and effort. Plus, after you’ve been doing them for a while, they’ll become second nature. You’ll be making a big difference for your Orange County community without even thinking about it! For more great tips, check out the slider below.

In addition to these quick daily deeds, there are easy modifications you can make to your home appliances and plumbing to help conserve water and save money. For information on green plumbing installations like water heaters and low flow toilets, give Barker and Sons Plumbing in Orange County a call!

If you’ve lived in California for a little while, chances are you have experience at least one earthquake, even if it was just a slight tremor. Our environment here in California is unlike most others in the country. Each year, Orange County and other parts of Southern California experience about 10,000 earthquakes.  Several hundred of these are greater than a 3.0 magnitude, and approximately 15-20 are greater than a 4.0 magnitude.  However, larger earthquakes can happen at any time.  It’s important to be aware that earthquakes can cause gas lines in your home to rupture, a serious issue that needs immediate attention.

Should a major incident occur, you may be unable to shut off your gas on your own.  With public safety services having so many emergencies to handle, there could be a wait period before they can reach you to assist.  If you are trapped inside your home during this time, your life is in imminent danger due to the possibility of asphyxia, fire, and explosion.

Thankfully, Barker & Sons has a way to help you take control and avoid this situation.  Our licensed professionals can install an earthquake shutoff valve in your home, which will automatically shut down your gas system in the event of an earthquake of 5.4 magnitude or greater.  In the event that you are not at home or otherwise unable to shut off your gas line, you can have peace of mind that it has already been handled.  The valve can be reset by either you or a professional when it is safe to do so.

As an additional method of preparedness, the Southern California Earthquake Center recommends homeowners make sure the gas and water lines attached to their water heaters are made of flexible copper connectors.

To discuss earthquake shutoff valves or any other plumbing and heating issue, please call Barker & Sons Orange County plumbers today for a consultation.

Having a plumbing issue can be a major, and usually messy, inconvenience.  Once the problem is discovered, you want it to be fixed quickly and expertly.  With 28 years of experience, Barker & Sons Plumbing & Heating is prepared to handle both your residential and commercial plumbing needs.

One of the methods we use to insure the quality of our services is video camera pipe inspection, which eliminates the guess-work from plumbing issues in hard-to-reach areas.  This type of inspection provides a real-time visual of underground sewer lines and other piping to determine the issue at hand.  We use state of the art technology, consisting of a flexible fiber optic cable with a high resolution video camera on the tip, to pinpoint issues such as cracked or broken drains, collapsed drains or sewage lines, and pipe obstructions.  Our professionally trained technicians are experts in this equipment, allowing them  to get to the root of the problem and make the repair quickly, saving you time and money.  An added bonus of this video camera is that it allows you as the customer to view the repair work when it is finished, giving you confidence it was properly completed.

Barker & Sons offers the experience of a large company with the personal service of a small one.  Family owned and operated, we will personally answer your calls 24/7. You will never get an answering service!  We are happy to diagnose your plumbing issues over the phone, with no further obligation.

For all of your Orange County plumbing needs, Barker & Sons Plumbing & Heating is the company you can rely on for top-notch, personalized service.  For additional information on video camera inspections, our preventative maintenance program, or for any other questions, please call us anytime!

“DIY” – you’ve probably heard that term. It stands for “Do It Yourself,” and it’s a popular concept these days – especially during this challenging economy. There’s even an entire television network dedicated to DIYing your home. Taking care of household repairs and fix-ups yourself can be very beneficial, but sometimes the most beneficial thing you can do – for your wallet, your home and your sanity – is to let a professional perform jobs that really require specialized knowledge and skills. So, how do you know which jobs to take on yourself and which to leave to the pros? Here are just a few.

Fixture Installations – Performing installations yourself may seem like a money-saver, but you can find yourself in over your head very quickly. When an installation attempt goes wrong, it often costs more money to have it fixed by a professional than it would have cost to hire the professional initially. If fixtures like sinks, toilets, water heaters and dish washers are installed incorrectly, you could find yourself with anything from small, undetectable leaks to a full-blown flooded home.

Hot Water Heater Installations, Maintenance and Repairs – It’s especially important to have professionals install and maintain your hot water heater. These appliances must be connected to natural gas and water lines with air-tight seals. If your hot water heater is not installed perfectly, you risk exposing your home and your family to natural gas leaks, potential flooding and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Sewer Problems – Sewer issues pose a potential health hazard. If you have sewer problems, it’s best to hire a professional plumber who is trained to deal with hazardous waste. Keep in mind, not all Orange County plumbers are licensed, and not all are trained to deal with hazardous waste. We at Barker and Sons meet both of these criteria. We are specially trained to fix sewer problems without exposing your family to harmful waste and bacteria.

No matter what, if you have to wonder whether a job requires a professional, you should probably err on the side of caution. Do-It-Yourself projects can be rewarding, but when the safety of your home and family are in question, it’s best to hire someone who is trained to do the job right. As always, Barker and Sons plumbers in Orange County are happy to help you determine the best options for your plumbing problems. Feel free to call us anytime!

We often take things for granted if they don’t affect one of our five senses. If we can’t see, hear, feel, taste, or smell a problem, why worry? The sewage system is one of those areas that’s often overlooked but is a very important part of your home. It’s important because it removes waste, foul odors, and harmful bacteria. If a sewage drain backs up, it can flood your home with harmful waste. If it leaks outside, it can seep into soil, hurt wildlife and cause a quite a “stink” with your neighbors….literally.

What can go wrong?

Because a sewer line runs underground, it can be easily damaged by tree roots that break through pipe joints. It can also get clogged by debris that other household drains wash into it.

Signs of trouble?

One sign is a musty, foul odor outside your home or a puddle of water that’s formed where the sewer pipe from your home connects with the city’s sewage system. Signs indoors include gurgling noises in your drains, improper draining in showers or sinks, or bubbling in your drains or toilet. If the water is coming back up from your drain instead of flowing down, you likely have a clogged sewage line. In addition, beware of rat holes in your yard. Rats like to dwell in sewage systems, and they may be able to enter your home from the broken sewer line and through your toilets and sinks.

Why inspect sewage lines?

If a sewer line is damaged, then the pipe may need to be excavated-this can be a very expensive project. So it’s a smart idea to have your sewage lines inspected regularly to catch any problems before it’s too late. Barker & Sons offers non-invasive inspections that include a camera inspection of your sewer line.

How can sewage line problems be fixed?

Cleaning sewage drains may sound like a nasty process. However, Barker & Sons’ services include Trench-less No-Dig solutions, Bio-Clean (Green Cleaning), and high pressure water jetting to get sewer pipes open and flowing. Our repair and replacement of sewer and drain pipes is backed by a full warranty.

If you believe your home is having sewage problems, give us a call. Barker and Sons plumbers in Orange County can give your sewage line a thorough inspection and help protect your family and your home from dangerous and damaging sewage spills.

Barker and Sons Plumbing has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that Barker and Sons Plumbing can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

Our owner, Michael Barker, says, “Getting an award based on customer reviews is the best honor we can get. We realize that making our customers happy is the key to our success. We are so grateful that our customers took time to write a review based on their happy experience with us.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines. Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 2 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions.

Water nourishes us, helps bathe us, and keeps the community of Orange County beautiful. And when it’s not usable, it’s hugely disruptive. Here are some common water line problems and solutions you can implement to solve them as fast as possible:

• Burst Pipe: This is a major problem; in fact, it’s the biggest and needs to be solved immediately. If your pipe bursts or starts to leak, turn off the main water supply ASAP, and call us. This will ensure normal water service will return to your home.

• Noisy Pipes: This isn’t as huge of a problem as a burst pipe. However, it can lead to much larger problems down the road if not dealt with. Typically, there is air in the pipes which can create a very loud banging sound. If this is happening to your pipes, the best and simplest solution is to shut off the water supply and empty your pipes completely. Then, you can fill them back up to remove the air build-up.

• Water Pressure: There are several different reasons why you may be experiencing low water pressure – from a small leak somewhere to an issue in the incoming water supply. If you notice low water pressure, it is important to call a plumbing professional to examine the issue and offer possible solutions.

• Sediment in the Pipes: Sometimes, you’ll experience a sudden surplus of residue, corrosion, or other debris in your water. This is most likely due to an aging pipe. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that your pipe will burst, it can be a sign of possible glitches in the future. Build-up from hard water or erosion can both be major problems if not fixed immediately.

Water line problems can range from minor troubles to major disasters that compromise your entire home, but they all are equally important. If any of the above happens to your water line, don’t waste time. Turn off the water supply and call Barker and Sons plumbing in Orange County right away.

Additionally, insulating your water heater system reduces the average household’s carbon dioxide emissions by 52 pounds per year. Every 10 percent reduction in water temperature results in a 3-5 percent reduction in energy costs.

Types of Insulation

The most commonly used types of insulation are pipe insulation wrap, called pipe sleeves. They’re typically made with polyethylene, neoprene foam or fiberglass. Pipe sleeves are assigned with an R value, which is a measure of how well insulation keeps in heat. The higher the R value, the better.

Precautions

It’s important that all accessible hot water pipes located within 3 feet of the water heater are insulated. However, be careful that a fire hazard isn’t created by having something insulated that was not meant to be insulated, or by installing flammable insulation near a high heat source.

Also, make sure the pressure relief valve is not insulated. It’s typically mounted on the top or the side of the hot water heater. This valve is a couple of inches high, has a small lever on top of the valve, and has an overflow pipe coming out of the side and down to the floor.

If you have any questions about the insulation of your water heater system, or you have general questions about water heaters, give us a call. At Barker and Sons plumbing in Orange County, we’re happy to give you our two cents if it will save you a few cents every time you run your faucets.

Looking for ways to make your home more energy efficient AND save on 2011 taxes? You’d better act fast! If you make certain home improvements before the end of this month, you can still claim a federal tax credit before they expire.

Water Heaters: The federal government offers a tax credit incentive of 10% or up to $300 of the cost of a new tankless water heater or gas or propane water heaters with an Energy Factor (EF) of at least 0.82, or a thermal efficiency of at least 90%.This tax credit also applies to heat pump water heaters with an EF of at least 2.0.

Insulation: The government offers a tax credit of 10% of the cost, up to $500, for certain types of insulation and sealing materials. The credit does not include installation and labor costs. It includes attic insulation, like batts and rolls, as well as air-sealing items such as weather stripping, caulk, house wrap, and foam sealants.

Doors: This tax credit applies to 10% of the cost of insulation exterior doors. The tax credit also applies to storm doors. They must meet Energy Star requirements.

Windows and skylights: Replacing the windows with Energy Star labeled items can earn you a tax credit of 10% of the cost up to $500, but the window credit is capped at $200. This credit doesn’t include the cost of installation and labor.

New air conditioning and heating systems: An energy-efficient central air conditioner, electric heat pump can earn you a credit of $300. A high efficiency natural gas, oil or propane furnace can earn you $150. If you just need a main circulating fan, it’s a fax credit of $50. Remember, not all Energy Star certified products qualify.

Keep in mind, there’s an overall cap of $500 for energy efficiency tax credits for the combined fiscal years 2006 through 2011. So if you have claimed this credit in the past, it counts toward the $500 cap. However, it doesn’t affect the $1500 limit available for 2009 and 2010. So, for example, if you claimed $200 in 2008, you can only claim $300 in 2011; if you claimed $900 in 2009, you cannot claim any more credit. Luckily, a new bill was introduced in the U.S. senate in November that could help continue these tax credits into 2016. The fate of the bill has not yet been determined, but we’ll keep you updated.

Wondering how you can make your home greener and possibly take advantage of these tax breaks? Give us a call. We can help you identify ways to make your home greener. We provide energy efficient Orange County plumbing installations such as tankless water heaters, solar water heating systems, water-saving shower heads and faucets, and low flow toilets. As licensed Green Plumbers, we are passionate about conserving energy and promoting a greener community.

Everyone loves clean bathrooms and kitchens. Just look at the number of cleaning products available nowadays! At Barker and Sons Plumbing, we’re not only experts on keeping plumbing clean on the inside, we’re also experts on keeping kitchen and bathroom fixtures clean without damaging plumbing.

Toilet cleaning tips

Avoid “In tank” toilet cleaners, as they usually contain chlorine liquid that can wear away toilet flappers and other parts in the tank. (Some newer flappers are made to be chlorine resistant, but it’s still risky to use in-tank cleaners with these.) It’s better to use a toilet brush and scrub the bowl once a week. However, if you have stains that can’t be cleaned, try dropping a couple of denture cleaning tablets in the bowl and let them fizz for a while. You can also pour two cups of vinegar into the bowl and let it sit for an hour. For hard to remove stains, fill the bowl with vinegar and let it to sit overnight.

Cleaning lime scale from faucets

Lime is the chalky white mineral deposits from hard water that, over time, can damage sinks, toilets, and tubs and make soap scum harder to remove. To get rid of lime stains from a faucet, soak a rag or paper towel in vinegar and wrap around your faucet, keeping it in place with a rubber band or hair clip, for about a half hour. Brass fixtures, however, require special care.

Cleaning brass faucet fixtures

First, if you’re not sure your fixtures are brass, put a magnet against it. If it sticks, that fixture is not brass. Wipe brass fixtures daily with a soft cloth. If stains occur, don’t use ammonia, rubbing alcohol or silver polish. Instead, dampen a soft cloth with water and a little dish detergent or gentle hand soap and wipe. For stubborn spots, use a small amount of vinegar diluted in water. Then rinse with cool water (to keep the vinegar from damaging the fixture’s lacquer) then wipe dry with a soft cloth. When considering a brass polish, first test it on an inconspicuous area to be sure the polish won’t damage the fixture’s lacquer.

Cleaning shower heads

If you’re shower head is clogged with mineral deposits or mold, use a thin wire or paperclip to clear any major clogs and scrub it with an old toothbrush.Then, remove the shower head and place it in a container filled with warm white vinegar. Soak for 15-20 minutes. If you can’t remove the shower head, submerge it in a small plastic baggie filled with 2-3 inches of white vinegar, making sure that the faceplate is completely covered. Use a rubber band or tape to keep it in place and soak it 15-20 minutes. After soaking, rinse the shower head with warm water. Repeat these steps, if necessary.

Keeping drains clean

First and foremost, avoid store-bought drain products like Draino! Using it, even on occasion, is not only ineffective, but can harm your pipes! The chemicals in Draino can eat away at the pipes interior surface and can eventually burn a hole through the interior of the pipes or can make them brittle enough to crack. Instead, it’s best to avoid getting drains clogged by keeping hair and food scraps from getting into drains in the first place.

However, if you have a stubborn slow drain or clog, give us a call. One of the professional tools we use for cleaning clogged drains is a commercial-grade,non-caustic, friendly bacterial solution that naturally digests oil, grease, and food wastes into water and carbon dioxide. It’s called BioOne – a “hungry bacteria” that is perfect for clogged pipes and safe for septic systems in Orange County. You can learn more about this effective, safe product in our previous blog post on BioOne, or give us a call at Barker and Sons Plumbing in Orange County. We’re always happy to help!