What do Mother’s Day & Memorial Day have in common?

Serving the Denver metro area since 1969, we here at Certified Plumbing Company know a thing or two about tradition, and May is a month full of traditions and celebration. Not only does the weather start showing signs of life, but Mother’s Day always falls on the second Sunday of May, and Memorial Day kicks off vacation season on the last Monday of the month. Not only do these holidays share a common month, they are both a product of the American Civil War. We really don’t need a holiday to celebrate everything mothers do for their families, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to help them one day out of the year. And as far as Memorial Day goes, children may love the holiday because school is closed, but how much do they know about this American tradition’s origins?

Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world, and every country has its own traditions. In the U.S., Mother’s Day began with the Mother’s Day Proclamation issued by activist Julia Ward in 1870. Julia was a pacifist, and this proclamation called for women to support troop disarmament in response to the brutality of the Civil War. While this set the table for Mother’s Day, it didn’t become an official holiday until forty-four years later when President Woodrow Wilson made it official in 1914.

Memorial Day was once called Decoration Day, which commemorated the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. But, with dissension still rampant between the north and south, the holiday as we know it was only celebrated in the north to honor soldiers of the Union. The south held its own regional traditions in remembrance of Confederate troops. But, this didn’t last long.

In the 1900s, Memorial Day became an occasion to honor all soldiers and civilians who died in any war. In addition to parades, we have a “moment of remembrance” at 3pm every Memorial Day. To keep things uplifting, since 1911 the Indianapolis 500 race has always kicked off on the Sunday of Memorial Day, and the National Memorial Day Concert brings lively music to the United States Capitol lawn every year.

Spring is finally here! It’s time to brighten up our homes and enjoy the upcoming months of amazing weather. If you’re as excited as us for long hours of warm sunshine, cool breezes, blooming flowers and barbeque, maybe you’ll enjoy these ideas to help brighten your home for the springtime.

During the winter, homes can get awfully stuffy. One of the best things about the spring is letting fresh air sweep through your windows to rush the winter away. Colorful flowers always bring a feeling of spring and freshness to a home too. To help break out of the winter hibernation mindset some of us get bogged down by, adding vibrant colors to your home will liven up spaces. Colored light bulbs can be great mood setters, and a simple thing like a lively tablecloth can give a room a jolt of excitement and life–and that is what spring is all about! If you really want to go all out, an accent wall will take a room to the next level, and you only have to paint one wall in a room to do it.

It’s great fun to spruce up the home for springtime, but the best part about the spring and summer is that we don’t have to huddle in our homes to avoid bitter weather. It’s time to get outside and enjoy the amazing sights that Colorado has to offer. If you can’t fight the urge to strap on you hiking boots, dust off your baseball glove or watch you kite soar any longer, let us take care of some of your spring cleaning needs. If you’re having plumbing issues, don’t let that stop you from getting out of the house. We’d be happy to get your plumbing back on track while you soak in the sun. May is a time for good old-fashioned fun, not wasted away with a plunger in hand.

We’ve been helping families in the Denver metro area with home maintenance for a long time. So, even if you have non-plumbing issues, we’ve partnered with great home repair companies over the years that can get your home in tip-top shape in no time, and we’re more than happy to refer you to true professionals. So, slap on some sun block and leave the dirty work to us!

Eleanor Roosevelt once said “When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.”  Here at Certified Plumbing Company, we believe in the philosophy of this affirmation by Mrs. Roosevelt.  Thus it was our duty to contribute to our clients in March (our apologies that this took so long) by having our annual Shamrock Giveaway.  And the winners are as follows:

Cheatum  $500.00  First Prize
Spur  $250.00  Second Prize
Regis  $150.00
Burdick  $150.00
Barro  $150.00
Swanson  $150.00

Remember to the winners of the contest, these prizes must be redeemed by August 30, 2012.  Also, please note that they will be honored if transferred during this time period.

cleaning is about to begin. Windows need washing; floors, scrubbing; bushes, trimming. We know: You’re probably saying to yourself, “Oh, great. Can’t winter hang on for a few more months?”

It’s important, though, to remember that spring represents a fresh start. Trees and flowers and grass will all be coming back to life, something we should celebrate. Spring cleaning, then, is a chance for you to give your home a fresh start of its own. And while this usually means simply sprucing up the place, it can also mean giving your plumbing a bit of a revival.

That’s where we come in.

Housework can be hard, especially when it involves your plumbing. And when things get hard, they become frustrating. And when housework becomes frustrating, you stop enjoying your home. We don’t want this to happen. Instead, we want you to enjoy your home, to sit back, relax, and relish the fact that everything is taken care of. So, if you have problems with your plumbing, don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to handle them on your own. Leave the plumbing to us.

Of course, we also know that your home sometimes needs more help than plumbing. Well, you can count on us for these things as well. For years we have worked closely with a number of businesses specializing in a variety of home repairs, and for this reason we are confident that, if you need help, we can direct you to the most experienced folks out there. Just ask.

You should enjoy your home in March. And if you experience any problems—plumbing or otherwise—call us, Certified Plumbing Company, theLittletonplumbing experts also serving theDenvermetro area, 303-795-7498.

I am always surprised when I ask a client, “I need to turn the water off to your home, where is the main water shut-off valve located?” Their answer is “I don’t know”. This tells me that the plumbers aren’t doing their job with keeping their clients’ best interests in mind.The main water shut-off valve will either have a round handle or a lever handle. The round handle shut-off valves turn clockwise to turn off. When in the ON position, the lever handle shut-off valves will run in the same direction as the water pipe. They are ¼ turn to turn on or off. The majority of the main water shut-off valves will be located in the basement of a private residence (home/townhome) at the front of the home, opposite the garage or in the crawlspace at same location. If you live in a condo or apartment you may or may not have a main water shut-off valve. You would need to contact your maintenance company to answer this question. Knowing where these valves are located and making sure they function properly can prevent a small plumbing problem from becoming a very bad day. If you need more information, give us a call.

Your Lucky Number

 Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!

Ever heard of the luck of the Irish? Of course you have. And wouldn’t you like to have a little of that luck for yourself? Of course you would? Well, here’s your chance.

As we do every year in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we are holding a contest that could end up keeping a few shamrocks in your pocket, so to speak. Four-leaf clovers at the ready, everyone, because these prizes will have you dancing a jig in your green underwear: $150.00 to $500.00 worth of our services. Just think of the possibilities: “Oh, darn,” you might say. “My toilet’s sprung a wee leak! But wait! I have that $150.00 prize from Certified Plumbing Company!” Or, “Oh shucks!” you might roar. “What shall I do about my malfunctioning sump pump? I know, I’ll take advantage of that $500.00 prize from Certified Plumbing Company!” That’s right, we’re like a leprechaun in your pocket, guiding you to your pot o’ gold.

More information is one the way, so keep checking your email and filling your pocket with lucky charms. And don’t hesitate to call us, Certified Plumbing Company, theLittletonplumbing experts also serving theDenvermetro area, 303-795-7498.

Did You Know?

St. Patrick’s Day’s Voyage to the States

It’s possible that many of us have been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for our entire lives and yet don’t know who St. Patrick was, why we celebrate him, and how this thousand-year-old Irish tradition became so popular in theUnited States.

First, St. Patrick: Born in the fourth century AD into a wealthy Romano-British family (Britainwas founded by Brutus, a Roman who escaped from Troywhen it was overrun by the Greeks), St. Patrick was captured and enslaved by Irish raiders at the age of sixteen. In The Confession of St. Patrick, St. Patrick states that, while enslaved, God told him in a dream to flee for the coast, board a ship, and sail home to Britain, where joined the Church and studied to become a priest. Not long after, however, in 432, St. Patrick returned toIreland, this time not as a slave but as a bishop, and began his work Christianizing the Irish people, the very work that gave birth to his renown. Just listen to this kernel of coolness: To teach the Irish people about the Holy Trinity, St. Patrick used something with which we’re all now so familiar: the shamrock, its three leaves representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

 It’s possible that St. Patrick’s Day didn’t become a full-fledged tradition until centuries after St. Patrick’s death. In any case, researchers are nearly certain that observances ofIreland’s patron saint were taking place at least as early as the ninth and tenth centuries. At this time, and even still, St. Patrick’s Day was a celebration of St. Patrick’s Christianization of the Irish people.

Now, it’s no surprise that many Americans are of Irish descent. Why else would they wear “Kiss me, I’m Irish” buttons? But inAmerica, the holiday is more a chance to celebrate Irish and Irish American culture than it is a remembrance ofIreland’s Christianization. After all, the Irish have a long history in theU.S., a history woven into the fabric of American life.

Did You Know?

 Did You Know? Billions gallons of water are lost to toilet leaks every day!

• Dripping faucets and leaking toilets account for 14% of all indoor water use in a household. This adds up to about 10 gallons of water per day per person. That’s a lot.
•  According to the EPA, 1 trillion gallons of water are lost each year to leaks. This is the same amount of water used by LA, Chicago, and Miami combined.
• According to Reality Times, 6 billion gallons of water are lost to toilet leaks every day. This means that every toilet loses 30 – 500 gallons every day.