RealGreenPlumbing.com

Sewer & Drain Video Inspections

2011-09-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

Sewer and drain inspections are a very important service for plumbing and rooter companies to offer their clients. Inspections serve multiple purposes, they can give the customer peace of mind that there will be no problem with the affected drain or the complete opposite; inspections can allow them to see that a more intrusive repair is necessary. Many companies will offer drain camera inspections as a part of clearing a drain. This is one of the best and most accurate methods for arranging a check up inside your pipes.

It is not a good idea to use the drain camera on a drain pipe that is plugged with sludge, food, grease or roots. Clearing the drain first is crucial to get a good image and recording of the inside of a pipe. A quick way to spot a rip off plumber is when he or she offers you a video inspection before the water is drained out of the pipes. Cameras do not get a clear image when there is still water in the pipes so if the drain isn’t clear they could try to sell you almost anything. Another tip on spotting a potential scam is when the plumber uses a drain cable that is too small or even too short to actually clear the line. The water may go down but all the yuck remains and you can expect a sales pitch about a broken pipe because of the “dirt” in the line.

The best way to get a clean inspection is to use a jetter or a drain cable with LOTS of water to flush the line before it is inspected. A jetter will cost more because it actually scours the inside pipe walls and washes the sludge out of your drains. Think of the difference between rinsing a chili bowl with the water half on versus rinsing that same bowl in Niagara Falls. Once the line has really been cleaned the image on the monitor will show any imperfections in the pipes accurately, talk about peace of mind.

Prices vary from company to company and city to city. The famous $99 drain cleaning companies may offer the video drain inspections but beware of a small upfront cost with a heavy charge for actual repairs. Rooter companies may charge more to clear a drain up front and less to fix it properly. Your best bet is to look for a licensed plumbing company that offers plumbing and drain cleaning at a price that fits into your budget. Since most reliable and honest companies that are licensed charge more than a handyman, and definitely more than do-it-yourself shows tell you, do not set your budget too low or you will be setting yourself up for a half way job for half price.

Hope all this helps.

PlumbTruth

$99 Drain Cleaning

2011-09-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

There are quite a few companies out there advertising $99 drain cleaning. The specifics vary depending on the company, some say "almost any drain" in the home others include only secondary lines. Most companies running gigantic ad campaigns use this as a foot in the door price. This means that the primary concern is getting a serviceman to the door. I have heard prices as low as $39.99 to clear a drain. Once a "plumber" arrives and a customer has opened the door the spin can begin.

The $99 drain cleaner will consider everything that is visible and evident about you before they start actually pitching the sale. What do you drive? What is out on the counter tops? Pictures of family, all these things come into play as the technician thinks about how he or she will relate to you and how much the actual repair will be. In reality they are trained NOT to pull a machine off of the truck to fix your drain. In fact if one of the service technicians does too many $99 drains without upselling he may find himself out of a job. Cheap drain cleaning does not pay for radio ads, pipe replacements do and that is what you will end up buying instead of a $99 job.

As an example, my grandmother lives roughly 90 miles from my home and had an emergency drain stoppage. I could not get to Anaheim for 2 days so I told her I would visit and bring my drain machine. Because I am a licensed plumber here in CA I have all the tools necessary to do the job right. She called a company because she wanted a quick repair and figured for $99 she could save me some gas and time. The technician arrived and was shown a drain cleanout on the side of the home that I had used a drain cable several years before. The "plumber" walked all around the house, he peeked into the crawlspace and told my 85 yr. old grandmother that the only way to fix the problem was to spend $4500 replacing the pipe and then another $2500 to hydrojet the pipes to make sure they were fully open. He refused to remove a drain machine from his truck and told her all the pipes were falling apart beneath the home.

What happened? His company would have lost money if he would have done just a drain cable; it was cheaper to walk away. The big sale would have allowed him to make his commission pay for the day. She was ready to sign his estimate and authorize work when I got a phone call from her daughter, my aunt, and told them to send him away. The following day I used a power snake in the cleanout and ran the full length of pipe (55 feet) 2 times in less than 30 minutes and have not needed to cable the line since. That was more than a year before this blog was written. There are no rusted drains under the house and her pipes are in excellent condition for their age.

Saving money on plumbing and other services is not a new concept and I champion the cause of saving money without sacrificing value. It is not easy to filter through the internet, radio and phone book and actually come out with a good plumber. There are hundreds of service plumbing companies in most large cities and close to a hundred for rural areas. Word of mouth is the best way to find a good plumber but that means actually talking to neighbors and coworkers. Do it yourself programs give you less than accurate information. Design shows tell you what it should look like when it is finished but not what it takes to get there. Saving money is not impossible but it can sure be a job. Once you find a plumber you can trust though you are good to go. You will save time, energy and money because he or she will give you an actual solution that will provide long term function and not just a quick, cheap fix.

Drain Damage

2011-09-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

It’s Not ALL about the Money

When repair plumbing becomes all about the money or the price a client can be left with nothing but complaints and feel as though they have been ripped off. Presenting a customer with a price before work is started, especially for a flat rate pricing company is very important. The estimate, report or service invoice had better address a clients original complaint. If that sheet of paper is presented as nothing more than a make or break decision (i.e. the customer is between a rock and a hard place) it is a short hop to a VERY upset customer. Their home has become nothing more than a paycheck for the service tech.

Not too long ago a friend called ARS Rescue Rooter (out of Sylmar, CA) out to take care of a pipe stoppage at his house. His complaint was the main drain for his house was not functioning. The plumber arrived and suggested to "Herman" that the pipe needed to be snaked ($175). This turned into the drain needing to be hydrojetted ($595) then it needed to be jack hammered out to replace a section ($5,500) then a change order to connect a trenchless pipe to the existing repair and pull it out to the street ($7,129) and while they were at it replace 40' of copper pipe because it was broken ($2,800). On each of these job tickets is a "Truck Operating/ Supplies" line charge of $29.50. Maybe the pipe didn't get hit by the jack hammer but the point is that the plumber wanted a paycheck and "Herman" was his bread and butter.

It is not wrong to charge for professional services rendered, it is not inappropriate to be a little on the expensive side if you are providing a professional service. Looking at these prices none of them are really excessive in the least and aside from extremely poor spelling the invoices even look well planned out. The issue is simply that "Herman" spent about $18,000 (ARS Rescue Rooter gave him a few price breaks) to repair an issue that could have been addressed in a far more cost effective manner.

The ideal drain cleaning company will provide a camera inspection with every drain that is serviced. This camera inspection guarantees that the line is open AND that the line will remain open if it is not abused. It will give the technician the opportunity to recommend further repairs and the client will have the chance to address those concerns and consider the next move. If no repairs are necessary the technician has a customer for life who knows that the well being of the drains were attended to. If repairs are necessary the technician has a customer for life who understands that while more work is needed the primary concern is serving the client not charging for every little thing and not making a mountain out of a mole hill.

"Herman's" job though not excessive in price based on the 5 separate trips, change orders and equipment should have been 30- 45% cheaper and taken two trips. That would have left money in his pocket, a smile on his face and the satisfaction of knowing that his job was handled professionally. He currently has several complaints filed against the company and to date has not received a satisfied response. The last complaint involved a PVC repair installed on his main water line adjacent to their pipe replacement. The "plumber" left a poor excuse for a repair as his "Don't call me back" card. It was all about the money and all about him, by not serving the client he damaged his company and his reputation. Rather than being recommended to neighbors the story of "Herman's" plumbing debacle is posted on the world wide web.

Cost of hiring a real plumber... Priceless

Why Are Plumbers So Expensive?

2011-03-20T17:46:00.000-07:00

Why are plumbers so expensive? It is a question I've heard from clients before and the simple answer is... Well let's answer that in a few paragraphs. Plumbers charge according to the job that needs to be done for the most part. Beware of companies and/ or technicians that charge by the hour, an hourly charge can end up running up a bill unnecessarily. Most plumbing jobs have a
specific value. A faucet installation may go quickly or could be a nightmare, if a customer were paying by the hour that nightmare of a job could cost several hundreds of dollars. A client who knows that price up front may be concerned at first but when all is said and done he or she may be getting the bargain price while the service technician dealt with the nightmare.

Plumbers are priceless for the same reason that gas and water are priceless, supply and demand! A Good plumber will give an up front dollar amount to repair or service the fixture in question. Every customer should have the opportunity to accept the price before any work begins. Sometimes with unknown issues there is a "find the problem" exploration that can take some time; if it goes beyond the service call amount a good plumber will give their client a number even for exploration. After reaching that agreement (written or verbal) both the client and the service technician can be satisfied when the job is finished. Satisfaction equals value, value equals good service and good service equals priceless satisfaction.

When unforeseen issues arise price is always the number one concern for everyone involved. A good service technician will immediately advise his or her client before taking on the challenge of a new issue and a good customer will want to negotiate the terms before sailing these uncharted waters. Open communication is key to reaching an agreement; if a customer has questions they are always free to ask and the plumbers job is to answer those questions with the confidence that there is an end in sight. The number in black at the bottom of a bill should never have a question mark behind it. Give the price immediately, get the price immediately and decide wisely on whether or not the value placed on the repair is correct.

Which leads back to the beginning; why are plumbers so expensive? Good service plumbers do just that, they provide a service. That service has a value and value has a price. Customers who are focused on dollars and cents may be overlooking the best service company in the world and may actually end up paying twice to three times more for the same repair that they rejected on numbers alone. That leads them to the assumption that plumbers are expensive when in all actuality the plumbing repair could have been affordable and the service priceless.

Know Your Pipes

2011-02-11T19:43:00.000-08:00

Knowing the plumbing system in your home can prevent pipe issues from surprising you and having an untimely repair bill fall in your lap. In a home the system breaks down into two to three distinct categories.

Drain, waste and venting is the first part. Any water that leaves a fixture, whether it is a faucet or an appliance, ends up in this part of the system. If you are having an issue with any part of this system, check the system as a whole. If there is a toilet drain that you know is problematic check the other fixtures close to it as well. Sometimes a toilet backing up is an indicator that the main sewer line needs attention. Look for a plumber in your local area who cna inspect the entire problem and not just a "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" service call to auger the toilet. More often than not a good plumber will point out that due to age or approximate year of make the toilet should be upgraded to a High Efficiency Toilet to eliminate the issue in the future. If the shower drain backs up, check the toilet in the same bathroom to see if it shares the problem, this is another main sewer indicator.

Incoming water is the second part of your plumbing system. The water line come in from the street (or well in some cases) and enters the house. Every home should have a quick shut off valve or ball valve to turn the water off hurriedly if necessary. Most homes have a water pressure regulator as well to reduce the pressure in the home to 65 p.s.i. That is the acceptable working pressure for plumbing fixtures that are used every day. Additionally each faucet should have individual shut off valves for hot and cold water. Those valves should be "exercised" once a year and replaced if there is even a slight failure. The faucets should be functional with easily movable handles and cold water from the right side and hot on the left. Toilets should not turn on and off when they are not in use and should not take too long to fill.

Lastly there is the hot water system, that is every pipe beyond the water heater extending to faucets and appliances such as the dishwasher. The pressure in the hot system is regulated by the main water pressure regulator. The hot water shut off valve should also be a ball valve for quick shut down. It will be located above the right side of a tank type water heater and usually in the middle beneath a tankless water heater. The temperature should be set to a consistent 125º F as a maximum safe setting and lower if small children live in the house. As part of the hot water system, there will be a pressure and temperature relief valve that relieves water (or blows off water) if the pressure is too high or the water is too hot.

This is a quick snap shot of most plumbing systems and may lead to other questions. Feel free to search the archives or ask a question in the comment box or by email. Knowing the parts of the system and who to call in an emergency is crucial. If you have an emergency contact a local plumber and look for one who knows their stuff. Hints at finding a good plumber can be found by following this link- http://www.realgreenplumbing.com/2010/12/how-to-find-good-plumber.html.
Once you have found a good plumber save him or her to speed dial and keep them on the cell phone just in case.

Good Repair Plumbers Change

2011-01-20T22:40:00.000-08:00

Repair plumbers who focus on actual problem resolution are a rarity. In having a very long discussion with a friend who has been in the trade for about 30 years it quickly became apparent that the old school way of repair plumbing is directly opposed to change. He only sees two ways to fix a plumbing problem. Servicing the whole issue, according to "Joe" is the wrong way, it's the "salesman" approach. The second option is "Joe's" way, look at the problem tweak and adjust it as absolutely necessary and leave after addressing the one symptom. He doesn't see it as one symptom but because he refuses to change he has only actually patched it and will have to go out again in the near future and solve the next problem.

Change happens in plumbing the same way it occurs in every other business and as with ANY other business there is an aspect of "sales". Technology improves and new products come to market that are more efficient. There are also unsettling alterations to water content and safety codes and laws that are put in place for the benefit of the general population. Staying informed of these changes and passing the knowledge on to clients is all in the job description for a good service plumber. Do not be surprised if your plumber arrives at the door and on his or her inspection of "the problem" several issues are found. If you hire a mechanic to fix the check engine light and he finds that the brakes need to be replaced wouldn't you be upset at him not informing you? Being proficient at customer service does not make a person a salesman, it makes one thorough.

There is nothing inherently wrong or unethical about "Joe's" approach, usually the "fix it and get out" repair is initially cheaper and the "find the whole cause of the problem" is a bigger up front cost. It's better to point out issues before they become problems, this alleviates frustration down the road and leaves a customer with peace of mind. It does not take a communications major to know that the most important part of a conversation is his hearing. Properly servicing any client requires listening and being attentive to the actual problem not just the symptoms.

For hard water complaints there are spectacular water conditioning systems that will outperform and outlast water softeners and reverse osmosis systems, guaranteed! For tankless water heaters there are many different choices and depending on individual job sites, one will be better than another. Garbage disposals, faucets, toilets, showers... there are so many choices out there. Good service plumbers will point out the pros and cons for you to give you an idea of what will last the longest for a client. So many options are available because of the internet and other media that one simple decision can lead to a disaster. Professionals who have been in their business and keep learning as technology changes are an asset to their customer, hence the title "Service Technician".

It truly pays to locate a plumber in your area who will be able to service all of your repair and maintenance needs. There are plenty of companies whose focus is customer service and those companies are looking for lifetime clients not a quick buck. Does your plumber listen to you and solve the issue in it's entirety or just do a quick "cheap" fix and wait for the next call out?

Eternal Hybrid Water Heater Install

2011-01-05T16:23:00.000-08:00

This installation of an Eternal Hybrid Water heater is for a mostly retired couple who have a great home in Southern California. There was a push to get this unit installed before the close of 2010 for tax rebate purposes, these Hybrid water heaters qualify for the “Tankless” rebates that most plumbing companies are promoting. Eternal Condensing water heaters are 98% efficient and particularly great in cases where there is already a recirculating line for instant hot water installed in the home.
Eternal has a 1.9 gallon tank that “stores” hot water, sounds fishy for a “tankless” type water heater right? This tank acts as a buffer for incoming hot water and actually allows for a quicker response time in getting hot water from the appliance to the faucet that is opened. The tank is stainless steel and has a 20 year warranty that is 10 to 15 years longer than some of it’s competitors. Eternal also reuses hot air that would normally be wasted to heat the tank which contributes to it’s high Energy Star Rating.
For this installation (as with most in Southern California,) a water treatment system had to be installed to prevent excessive scaling in the heat exchanger, we used 2 Enviropura in line water conditioners to accomplish this, one for the main water line to the home and one for the recirculating loop because they are notoriously horrible in transporting scale.
The Installation went well, with PVC venting and hot and cold feeds at the top of the unit there was very little modification necessary for the actual feed lines and we used Rhino Flex solid corrugated flex lines on the inlet and outlet, easy peasy.
The return loop offered a little more of a challenge because we didn’t want to mix the hot water into the cold water throughout the home. Using spring check valves (one way valves) and an expansion tank solved that issue and allows our homeowner to have not only unlimited hot water but to have it instantly.
The homeowners are very pleased and know that they are using less gas and do not have to sacrifice instant hot water, it is a step in the right direction. A good green step. Because putting a tankless water heater in is more than just a couple bolts and vent connections, it is a design change, I’ve included a full parts list so you can see what it takes to do it right.
The parts price tag…..$4100.00.

1–Eternal GU145S
1—ECHVT01 Concentric vent terminator
2—3/4” stainless water heater flex
20’—3” PVC for power vent
6—3” PVC 45º
1–Enviropura SAI-12 In-Line conditioner
1–Enviropura SAI-6 In-Line conditioner
1–2 gallon Watts Expansion Tank
2–3/4” Spring Check
1—3/4” threaded ball valve (WOG)
1—pint Christy’s or equivalent
3—3/4” Sweat Ball Valve
1—1” Sweat Ball Valve
6—3/4” copper tee
3—3/4” x ½” copper tee
2—3/4 x 1 x 3/4” copper tee
12–3/4” copper 90
6—3/4” copper M/Adapt.
2—3/4” copper F/Adapt.
1—3/4” copper sweat union
1—1” copper sweat union
1—3/4” fitting M/A
1—1” fitting M/A
1—1” copper M/Adapt.
20’—3/4” “L” copper
2—3/4” brass shoulder nipple
30’—3/4” Insulation with 1” wall (3/4” minimum acceptable)
40’—3/4” TracPipe
2—3/4” TracPipe x ¾” MIP adapt.
2—3/4” Black tee
3—3/4” Black 90
1—3/4” Black cap
3—3/4” Black shoulder nipple
1—3/4” x 6” Black nipple
6—3/4” cushion clamps
2—1”cushion clamps
4—1/4” channel nut w/spring (P1006-1420 or equal)
10’—shallow channel strut
10—1/4” large fender washers

DIY- Changing The Gas Control For Water Heater

2010-12-31T10:14:00.000-08:00

A brief how-to on changing the thermostat for a gas water heater. These directions allow you to leave the tank water in so there is no waste on water. As a note I having the 3/4" nipple ready before doing anything and definitely by step #4.

How does the water stay in? By only having a opening at the bottom of the tank it will be similar to turning a two liter bottle upside down to drain, as long as there is no pressure or air entering to vent it the water will simply "glug" out. Keep the T&P valve closed and make sure the water turns completely off. Most college kids have already figured this out and utilize this vacuum every Saturday night in their ummm... soda pounding competition.

1. Turn off gas supply valve for water heater
2. Disconnect flexible gas supply line from control
3. Turn off water supply to water heater
4. Prepare 6 inch steel nipple by putting. a cap on one side and sealing the threads on the other
5. Remove all three connections at bottom of old gas control
6. Remove old control by turning it counter clockwise
7. As soon as it comes free, quickly insert 6 inch pipe and tighten hand tight.
8. Verify the new control matches the old one
9. Seal threads on new control
10. Remove steel pipe and quickly insert new control
11. Tighten new control and connect tubes to bottom, use a little bit of pipe dope on flare of large tube in the middle before inserting it
12. Reverse steps 3, 2 and one
13. Check for leaks with soapy water at all connections before lighting pilot and again after burner fires up.

Rinnai RC98HPi Installation

2010-12-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

For this job the installation of the Rinnai condensing unit replaces a 75 gallon propane water heater. The house has a recirculating line and pump built in. The homeowner is very concerned about getting his hot water quickly so as not to waste water unnecessarily. Rinnai is very specific about installing the cross connection for the return line requires a "closed loop" in order to maintain the 12 year warranty for the heat exchanger.

Installing an on demand pump is not an option the client wants to consider in this case so the parts list is a little bit more extensive. We still have to install a small electric water heater, a 6 gallon model in this case. Adding the electric water tank as a pre-heater allows for a closed loop recirculating loop as required by Rinnai in order to keep the 12 year warranty.

Water conditioning is also specified for ANY tankless water heater in areas where the total dissolved solids exceed 2 grains per gallon (in this case it is 30 g.p.g.) Doing the job right will keep this water heater running for 20+ years and their propane savings alone will justify the price of installing it. The approximate cost for this order... about $5,00.00 after tax.

1--Rinnai RC98HPi- LP gas water heater
1--Rinnai Roof Flashing for 6/12 to 12/12 roof (189951)
1--Rinnai Roof Terminator (184162)
1--Rinnai metal pass through plate (224097)
2--Rinnai Vent 45 (224077)
2--Rinnai 39” Vent Extension (224080)
2--Rinnai 10” Vent Extension (224087)
1--Rinnai 19” Vent Extension (224079)
1--Rinnai Vent Clamp (169044)
1--Red White or comparable Tankless install kit (IP)
1--2 gallon Watts Expansion Tank
2--3/4” Spring Check
1--6 Gallon electric water heater for pre-heat
1--Enviropura SAI 6 water conditioner
1--Enviropure SAI 12 water conditioner
3—3/4” Sweat Ball Valve
1—1” Sweat Ball Valve
6—3/4” copper tee
2—3/4” x ½” copper tee
2—1x ¾” copper tee
12--3/4” copper 90
6—3/4” copper M/Adapt.
2—3/4” copper F/Adapt.
1—3/4” copper x MIP Union
1—1” copper x MIP Union
1—1” copper M/Adapt.
20’—3/4” “L” copper
1—3/4” brass shoulder nipple
30’—3/4” Insulation with 1” wall (3/4” minimum acceptable)
40’—3/4” TracPipe
2—3/4” TracPipe x ¾” MIP adapt.
2—3/4” Black tee
3—3/4” Black 90
1—3/4” Black cap
3—3/4” Black shoulder nipple
1—3/4” x 6” Black nipple
1—roll heavy gauge p-tape
6—3/4” cushion clamps
2—1”cushion clamps
4—1/4” channel nut w/spring (P1006-1420 or equal)
10’—shallow channel strut
4—2 ½” lag bolts (1/4”)
10—1/4” large fender washers

Tankless Water Heaters: A Comparison

2010-12-19T23:40:00.000-08:00

Comparing tankless water heaters and sorting through all the numbers, specs. claims and fine print has left me with a splitting headache. Just to make it a little bit simpler you will find a chart at the bottom of this article that may interest you. I have installed, replaced, repaired and done trouble shooting for clients and manufacturers alike. Being that I am a professional certified installer, one would think that I've discovered all the deep dark secrets to this wonderful technology and that with this information I can solve the equation for every home. The truth is that there is no single answer or solution that works every time. Those of you who have read my past articles will see that there are even some times when I advocate against installing a tankless water heater.

Eternal, Bosch, Navien, Noritz, Rinnai and Takagi are the brands that I have seen that provide a good product at a fair price. Quality, warranty and life expectancy are the initial concerns with making a selection. Price matters as well though I would place that at the end of the list because saving money up front can take a lot of money to fix when a problem comes up. Focusing on these few brands out of the dozens that are out there allows you, the consumer, to see professional products that have been proven to work in many circumstances.

Noritz, Rinnai and Takagi are great examples of truly awesome units, the best in my opinion. There are certain conditions that may decide for me which unit I put in an application. Water condition is a huge factor, Noritz MUST have soft water in order to work properly but many of the areas that I service do not permit soft water. Takagi has an excellent reputation for working under extreme duress especially in restaurant environments and works longer than their competitors when installed improperly. (I recommend installing them properly but have noticed some of the repair calls I received had the most "creative" installations I've ever seen and didn't fail for 3- 5 years!) Rinnai is a great all around unit, Their technical support and customer service is outstanding, they have even replaced parts when a unit was not up to code, something no other manufacturer normally does.

Eternal makes a great "hybrid" water heater with a 2 gallon "tank" built in which makes it one of the best if you are replacing a water heater in a home that has an existing recirculating loop for instant hot water. The claims of super high hot water flow are a bit reachy for me but the product and technology work, and work well. Just as a note, If you have a recirculating pump and separate line built in to your home, this or the Navien are really the only brands to consider. The other manufacturers will reduce their warranty coverage unless you make severe modifications to your system.

Finally last... but not necessarily least, is the Bosch. I have many contacts in the trade that really like the Bosch Aquastar water heaters. They are a good product, my experiences with them is primarily repair though :-( One of the biggest reasons I get those calls is that the unit was installed wrong, never maintained and cleaned or was mis-sized because the Lowes "professional" who showed them the unit didn't advise them to have a professional install it. Bosch makes a good unit but, as with any tankless water heater, certified professional installations matter.

Finally, here is your comparison chart, current as of 12/ 2010:

Brand             Max BTU    Min. GPM   Efficiency 35ºF Temp. Rise   Approx.Price

Eternal
GU195            199,000       0.5                 98%               11.1             $1800.00
GU145            145,000           0.5                 98%                9.1                $1600.00
Navien
NR/ NP-240    199,000    0.5          98%               11
NR-210           180,000            0.5                  98%               10
NR-180           150,000      0.5               98%               8.3
Bosch
2700ES         199,000             0.65              82%              8.3                $1,100.00
2400ES      175,000            0.65              82%            7.2                $1,050.00
1600H            117,000             0.6                 80%              5.5                 $649.00
Noritz
NR-111           250,000               0.5                 N/A              11              $2,399.00
NR-98             199,900 0.5                 91%               8.5               $1,599.00
NR-83             180,000              0.5                 83%               7.5               $1,299.00
NR-71             180,000              0.5                 83%                 7                $1,029.00
NR-66             180,000              0.5                 82%                 7                   $829.00
Rinnai
RC98HPi        199,000              0.4                 96%                9.8               $1,799.00
R94LSi           190,000    0.6                 82%            9.4               $1,399.00
R75LSi           180,000    0.6                 82%                7.5                  $975.00
R50LSi           150,000              0.6                 82%                  5                   $679.00
Takagi
T-M32            240,000                0.5                 N/A                   9                $1,200.00
T-K3              199,000                0.5                 84%                  7                   $900.00
T-K Jr.           199,000               0.5                 81%              7                   $599.00
* All specifications are as provided by the appropriate manufacturer provided as public knowledge on the respective web site.
I make no claims to the accuracy of the provided information and do not represent any of the mentioned brands or any sales.
This chart is provided to allow you an easy comparison of several different brands and models currently available to you the consumer.*
Josh Newland, a.k.a. Plumbtruth













































* All specifications are as provided by the appropriate manufacturer provided as public knowledge on the respective web site.
I make no claims to the accuracy of the provided information and do not represent any of the mentioned brands or any sales.
This chart is provided to allow you an easy comparison of several different brands and models available to you the consumer.*
Josh Newland, a.k.a. Plumbtruth

Solar Hot Water

2010-12-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

Solar hot water and solar energy usage are hot topics in the world today. Staying ahead of the curve when it comes to utilizing Earth’s natural resources and providing sustainable solutions is possible. Solar hot water systems are not a new technology; they are a more advanced and more efficient water heating solution. Solar panel systems have been around for decades. What’s new is the amount of energy that is produced. Today’s solar thermal water systems heat more water, better and faster than the old solar panel systems that were put in in the 80’s and 90’s.

The pros and cons of solar and thermal water heating range in type from claims on inefficiency to extreme costs. The truth of the matter is that while the initial cost of a solar powered water heating system are definitely higher than a traditional gas or electric system, your gas and electric system will ALWAYS cost you money, heating water with solar energy will CONSTANTLY work to lower your bills. Though the return on your investment may take several years it will more than repay itself over that time because it uses free energy from the sun. Even a tankless water heating system uses energy and energy costs will rise due to depletion of fuel sources and the cost to provide them. Basically, from the moment you begin to use solar hot water your energy usage will decline along with your dependence on utility companies.

While solar water heating and thermal water heating require a storage tank, you are not wasting any energy to heat that water. A typical home will have between 80 and 100 gallons (roughly 20 gallons per person,) of stored hot water to utilize for any reason at no cost. In the winter months your solar panels will still be producing heated water for you to use. If for any reason the system does not gather enough energy to heat the water to capacity, a cloudy winter day for instance, a back up water heater can be used to supplement.

Yes, solar panels for hot water will still work in the winter and will benefit you year round. Yes solar panels can be installed on almost any home after a site visit and an individual plan to maximize their efficiency. Getting estimates from several solar water heating companies will make sure you get the best fit for your needs.

Domestic solar water heaters can be used to heat your home as well, with a heat pump system. The stored hot water can be pushed through pipes that run in the floors of a home or business, your space and water heating costs for the winter can drop drastically. This passive solar powered water heating will generate savings for years.

All said, though the cost is more extreme than desirable initially, solar hot water systems are a good idea for those who want to lower their dependence on utility companies, shrink their negative environmental impact and make a difference for their children. With any "repair" there is a cost but we are already seeing that the longer we wait the more expensive the repair will be everyone. Look into Solar as a part of the solution to a problem a step in the right direction.

Bathroom Remodels

2010-12-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

Bathroom plumbing and remodeling jobs can be complicated and sometimes difficult to even plan. It takes a person who is geared towards all things mechanical to design drains and water lines to feed the different parts of a bathroom. During a redesign a seasoned plumber will arrange all the fixtures to accommodate future repair and service.

The goal of an experienced plumber is to get you bathroom working right. From a minor sink drain repair to a major renovation, you need a plumber who will service you with fair and honest prices as well as attention to detail. A professional will make recommendations that will keep your bathroom in good working order and eliminate the need to work on it again in the future.

If you called out for a faucet repair or sink repair you should expect professional grade and/ or manufacturer specific repair parts, nothing less. For installations look into professionally supplied Moen and Delta faucets, for toilets consider TOTO or Gerber. Each of these companies has a great reputation and they guarantee their products, especially if they are installed by a pro.

Hiring trade professionals to plan and perform repairs and construction for plumbing issues can maximize the work and minimize down time. Using a plumber will keep all the work being done up to code and at the right pace to finish your job on time and in order. Working without a contractor can lead to sloppy errors such as putting a self rimming tub in an enclosure where a tile in tub is required. Simple errors like that can lead to very expensive repairs later. Unless you have worked in various trades it is usually better to manage the process than to experience damage from doing the job wrong.

For those do it yourself (d-i-y.) weekend warriors, you still want to go with one of these name brands. If your favorite home improvement center doesn’t carry them then choose a store that does. Remember that it is harder to fix it twice than to do the job the right way with the right parts the first time.

Water Heater Service, Installation and Repair

2010-12-05T18:06:00.000-08:00

Water heater performance is essential for your comfort and convenience, but your water heater often works silently and unnoticed in your home and office. That means that you are heating water even when you are not using it.

No water heater lasts forever, and new water heaters have energy efficiency ratings that well exceed older models. In general water heaters can also accumulate lots of sediment and impurities which municipal water systems do not fully remove. This further reduces your water heater efficiency and life expectancy.

Water heater repair and replacement is a fairly frequent customer request for any plumbing company and because of growing trends, many home owners are asking about tankless water heaters too. Sometimes a water heater can be repaired economically by replacing a burned out heating element. On rare occasions draining the water heater will make it perform better. If your water heater is beyond repair, it can be replaced with a more efficient model.

If you’re getting a new water heater, now is the time to seriously consider a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters save energy because they do not keep 40, 50 or more gallons of water hot at all times – a big waste. Instead they heat water only on demand, as needed, so you never pay for hot water you don’t need, and you never run out of hot water. Learn more about tankless water heaters here.

If you are not sure about what kind of water heater is best, ask your plumber for his or her best recommendation. Names that have proven themselves are: Rheem (Ruud,) State, Bradford White, A.O. Smith, and American Standard. For tankless: Rinnai, Noritz, and Takagi.

How to Find a Good Plumber

2010-12-01T21:42:00.000-08:00

Finding a good Plumber is not always what it is cracked up to be. There are do's and don'ts to appearance, what comes first, even whether or not they smell. What is always hard to discover without paying a service call is ARE THEY GOOD? I have heard it all from $39.99 to get to the door, to $69 trip fee, and now I am seeing and hearing $99 drain cleaning ads all over the country. It's enough to make my head spin and I do it for a living! A good plumber who knows their stuff and won't run you through the ringer and fill your head with just enough trade jargon to confuse you is hard to find. Add to it that you want an honest technician and the odds shrink even more. I can't give you a recommendation in every city across America, Canada or the U.K. What I can do is give you a few pointers and let you use your God given common sense to make it a little less confusing.

One of the first things to look for in a Plumber is a license. At the very least a Journeyman license and a state contractors specialty plumbing license is better, (in CA it is a C-36, the Carolinas it is a P-1 or P-2.) The reason a state licensed and bonded Plumber is better in the residential and commercial repair business is that with the license comes the responsibility to actually RUN a business as opposed to just being trained with all the technical know how. A licensed Plumber will be responsible for his or her work legally AND professionally.

Good service Plumbers will get along with homeowners and arrive at a solution to the existing problem not try to sell them a new one. All to frequently "Plumbers" in a service truck are actually salespeople in a slightly smellier suit. If the Plumber who shows up at the door starts giving you the run down on what he or she is selling before even looking at the issue you have found that salesman. When a technician shows up to your home or business they are there to provide a service, even if it's just an estimate. First and foremost they should be asking what the problem is. If you described it to their office and/ or dispatch person, go over it anyway, it guarantees that they are addressing the issue not the location or up sells.

A service Plumber will be polite, professional, clean, and understanding. You can decide whether or not they are affordable when you choose to hire them or not to hire them. Most legitimate companies will charge a "trip fee" for minor repairs and free estimates for larger jobs; it is common in the trade. A bait and switch to watch for is an up front charge that disappears if you will sign to begin the work immediately. It is not always a trap, but it is frequently used by "salesman Plumbers." If the technician seems to friendly, trying to use the, "I'm a nice guy, I'll be your friend" approach, remember: they should be professional. If your Plumber is rough with conversation or gives he doom and gloom of not using their company, remember: they should be polite. Your Plumber of choice should be clean, a uniform is most often used to show this. Most importantly make sure that your Plumber listens to your description of the problem and repeats the symptoms back so that there is a clear understanding of what needs to be repaired. All of these qualities are present in a good repair person.

Finding that professional Plumber that will care for your home's needs may be an interview process. Even though dispatch fees are mandatory with many companies, your feelings about their repair people matters. When a service person arrives at your door and does not meet your criteria or the above criteria if yours is not set yet, call the office to talk to a manager before you sign anything but an arrival initial. Do not agree to pay if you are not receiving a service. There is always room for discussion with a good plumbing company if you bring an issue to them before any work is done. If you have a disagreement after the work is complete you will be fighting uphill. That is why it is important to use the service call as an "interview" before hiring them.

A good company will train their technicians first in being good at communication and presentation before sending them to your door. There is no cookie cutter approach to plumbing repair expertise. as the old saying goes, "There is more than one way to shin a cat." The same is true of Plumbers they may be dressed in the same uniform, drive in identical trucks, and work for the same company but be completely unique peoples. I like and agree with the uniformity of a company it shows solid foundation and professionalism. The employees of these companies can vary greatly, as can the individual skills of the employees the important thing is making sure they are the Plumber for you.

AquaPEX With TecTite & SharkBite Fittings

2010-11-29T20:15:00.000-08:00

Sharkbite and TecTite fittings are all the rage with home improvement superstores because they allow adaptation from copper to CPVC and AquaPEX. Although these fittings are fast and the seal is sure when you get the pipe inserted fully I recommend taking the time to look at them before hopping into that boat. The reason these fittings are "hot" is that they are fast and anybody can use them without any special training. STOP! As a professional I have used them in an emergency situation to make a quick transition when the water cannot be turned off for long periods of time. The problem is that they are made using yellow brass. They are all the rage because they are easy all the heartache because they are new.

The ideas behind SharkBite and TecTite is sound and the concept is where it should be but the fact is they are made with brass that has a high zinc content. For those of you who read, "Defective AquaPEX Plumbing," you will see the reaction hard water has with yellow brass and the resulting leaks because of "dezincification." The zinc used to make the brass reacts with the aggressive water and leeches out of the fitting, it will appear as a whitish plaque buildup in the fitting and then begin to press the seal out of the fitting, water will leak out and/ or the brass will rupture. With a little more planning and a change to the design these fittings will be great, until then... Good Luck!

Just a quick side note:
I try to focus on long term value to offer to customers. The tip of the day is, "Condition your water." With usable and potable water resources running slim utility companies are pressured into filtering water and putting minerals and chemicals in the water to make it "safe" for the population. I highly recommend drinking filtered water whenever possible, even though your parents didn't and were fine because of it. They didn't have to deal with additives and poisoning of aquifers and groundwater runoff in the way that we do today. I will not tell you to go out and buy only "Perrier" or "Evian." Simply use your noggin condition your drinking water and all the water for your home. Long term your bodies will be cleaner and your home's plumbing will be happier.

Defective AquaPex Plumbing

2010-11-27T14:48:00.000-08:00

Defective AquaPEX pipes and fittings are starting to show up in various locations here in the States, especially in the states that are known for hard water. Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California are seeing an influx of complaints. I have worked with PEX piping since the mid 90's both for installation and repair. Is there a problem with PEX plumbing systems, you may ask, the answer... YES! Is there a problem with PEX tubing? Maybe.

Kitec is one of the earlier PEX piping system makers, Their tubing has an aluminum sleeve that runs in between two layers of plastic this adds integrity to the piping itself. Kitec failed because the barbed brass fittings began to crumble as it reacted with minerals in hard water. They switched to mechanical fittings and have since experienced less failures. I have not used Kitec in years and do not even know if they are in business any longer.

Zurn is a manufacturer of lots of brass products including a line of barbed yellow brass fittings. They began to make PEX pipes as well and did fairly well in selling to plumbing wholesalers and contractors. I am not completely impressed with the tubing but, if I had to, I would install it without fear of rupture. The problem with Zurn's product is the yellow brass fittings; the darn things react with hard water and corrode like the Kitec line.

Barbed, yellow Brass fittings do not bode well in a hard water environment period. The name of the process of corrosion for these fittings even has it's own name. Dezincification is the official description of the breakdown of yellow brass fittings in plumbing systems. In this process the Zinc in the brass fittings will leech out of the brass and form a buildup around the fitting. The scale will press out the PEX tubing and either break the crimp ring or leak around it. Since the yellow brass fittings don't work something has to close the gaps and make PEX a viable competitor for copper pipes.

Uponor PEX is the last manufacturer of PEX pipes that I will mention. As I said earlier, I have been using PEX since the mid 90's. Although I have tried several different types of PEX, I have been most impressed with Uponor. They had a glitch with yellow brass barbed fittings for a short time. The suppliers were asking them to provide barbed fittings for a time so Uponor conceded and bought RTI, a company that made just the fittings. A very short time later they closed that brass product line and continued with their expansion ring manifolds and fittings. With over 30 years of success with ProPEX expansion connections Uponor just did the right thing.

Plumbers who use PEX made by Uponor and use solely Propress fittings have a very high success rate with no leak installs and happy clients. Unfortunately some "Plumbers" used Zurn brass fittings or other barbed brass connections with Uponor tubing and voided the plumbing warranty and left their customers with potential leak hazards. In other words Uponor PEX with Uponor ProPEX fittings good, Uponor or any other PEX with yellow barbed brass bad.

I still think that PEX plumbing is the way to go and Uponor has been great at providing information for me as a professional as well as my clients. If you feel that I have a particular preference to Uponor PEX, you are right. I have tried and proven their ProPEX system in hundreds of applications as a business owner and as an employee of other service plumbing contractors. I have never had to deal with the yellow brass issue in my installations because I have been using ProPEX since 1998. I have in fact replaced RTI fittings (that other companies installed,) with expansion (Propress) fittings. In low temperature installs where other brands have burst, Uponor was used to replace the affected pipes and no more bursting issues occurred. This means means that Uponor worked where others failed.

We Need to Save Water

2010-11-21T18:47:00.001-08:00

You may or may not be asking yourselves why do I keep writing about water and the shortages we are experiencing here in California, I will keep writing about it until we are no longer in a drought or we have made significant changes to the way we use water and can allow California farmers to do their job without ridiculous restrictions. I am certain that we can improve the manner in which we use water and utilize new technology to make permanent changes to further decrease unnecessary consumption, (or waste.) Some of the issues at stake are fish and game, farming, population increase, local codes and changes in legislation. Beating this crisis will be a major turning point in addressing many of the financial concerns in this state as well as putting many laborers back to work and easing unemployment claims, (whether legitimate or not.) My concern for the well being of families, farms and businesses will keep me at this pc until we see a halt in the backward movement and a turn around that will get California back in the game.

It is necessary to relieve farmers and ranchers by allowing more water through the Sacramento Delta but that is not enough. The water has to go straight to the ones who need it the most, by sending it to the farms, we do not guarantee green lush lawns for California home owners, instead we guarantee that the largest agricultural provider in the U.S. will have the ability to operate successfully. The alternative is to continue importing fruits and vegetables from other countries and putting American businesses owners out of work. Supply and demand is the law of business, if we cannot supply at a fair price what the general population is demanding with regards to fresh food, we will lose to businesses outside of California and outside the U.S.A. If water rights and usage restrictions continue, even more questionable food will be sold at markets and fed to your children and you, even more American jobs will be lost.

What can you do? Write to your representatives, let them know that you know what is going on, let them know that you care. Look into sustainable solutions to the water crunch, not Band-Aids®, actual solutions. You can even talk to businesses in your community and make them aware of steps they can take to cure this epidemic. Not everyone is an activist, not everyone has a loud enough voice, but, it only takes a small pebble changing direction 10% to start a landslide. Are you smarter than a pebble? Again I quote Nike®, "Just Do It!"

Reasons for California's Drought

California's drought has been years in the making. It is the culmination of a variety of factors that affect California's water supply, including:

* The Colorado River, a major source of imported water for California, has experienced drought conditions for eight of the last nine years.
* In December 2007, a federal judge ruled that increased pumping of water from the Sacramento Delta endangers the Delta Smelt, and ordered pumping restrictions that reduced the amount of water available from the Sacramento Delta.
* Reduced statewide rainfall in 2007 and 2008.
* Increases in population - over 9 million new residents have been added to California since 1991.
* Reduced snowpack levels in the Sierras.
* Statewide reservoir levels at historic lows, including Lake Oroville, Shasta Lake, Folsom Lake and the San Luis Reservoir.
* On June 4, 2009 the National Marine Fisheries Service issues a biological opinion which may reduce delta pumping to protect salmon, steelhead and other species of wildlife. This may result in further restrictions of water pumping.

All of the above reasons have resulted in Governor's Schwarzenegger's proclamation of a state of emergency due to water shortage on February 27, 2009. And even if California experiences a winter of heavy precipitation, many of the above issues will remain.

The following information has been provided to residents in order to help explain California's current drought situation, and actions that are being taken to deal with the drought.

Fixing a Tankless Water Heater: Code 11

2010-11-21T16:34:00.000-08:00

Code 11 on tankless water heaters is probably the most common error codes. The cause can be anything from inadequate gas supply, a simple fix, to the heat exchanger coils having buildup; that would mean a complete tear down. It can signify a bad gas valve and at the same time be a simple water flow sensor that is reading wrong. I have serviced dozens of tankless water heaters and found that diagnosing the code 11 is not always an easy task. Many times the diagnosis must be done while on the phone with tech support.

Whether you have a Noritz, a Rinnai or a Takagi, the error code will be the same, in short, code 11 means you have a "flame out." One of the first things to check for on a newer unit (less than a year,) is the gas line size and length. Be sure that the ENTIRE gas line supplying the unit is 3/4" I.D. pipe size; the inner diameter of the pipe HAS to be 3/4" so from the outside it will look to be about 1". If any portion of the line, especially the flexible supply line that some people use to attach the last foot or so, appears to be smaller than that you probably have your culprit. The entire line run should be 3/4", that ensures the right amount of gas to supply the flame at it's maximum need.

Your tankless water heater is a completely sealed unit, if water is leaking from the water heater even a drip every now and then that s a sign of a bigger problem. When the heat exchanger leaks inside the coils it can drip water onto the burner assembly right on the flame; that happens more often than most people think. This problem will also cause a code 11 because the flame has been sprayed out or steamed out. The common cause of this problem is that hard water is supplied to the unit ans scale buildup has caused the exchanger to rot away at that point. The solution is replacing the heat exchanger. I recommend a manufacturer certified repair technician because of the complexity of replacing a tankless heat exchanger. If you are a hard core do it yourself kind of person the manufacturer may ship you a replacement with instructions.
**Before you install your new exchanger, (or very, very, very soon after,) you need a water conditioner to treat the water going through your tankless water heater. One way to treat water for a tankless is with a water softener. Some areas have made recharging water softeners illegal so I will qualify the following statement by reiterating that I am a green plumber and I think that there are great solutions for conditioning hard water without a softener. The BEST way to condition hard water for a home or just a tankless water heater is the right magnetic water conditioner. I STRONGLY recommend an Enviropura conditioner as I have first hand experience with them. All that being said Rinnai, Noritz and Takagi all require water treatment for their water heaters so get it installed ASAP.**

Most other causes for an error code 11 require a more in depth diagnosis. It is a really good idea to use the manufacturer accredited and certified technicians for all repairs to the unit. When this is not an option ask the phone support team member to go through a diagnosis with you, they are both knowledgeable and adept at solving these issues. A gas manometer, electric multimeter, standard allen wrench set, 8" philips screw driver and Channelocks adjustable pliers are needed for testing, tweaking and making adjustments. It is better to have these tools available when contacting the manufacturer tech support.

High Water Pressure

2010-11-18T16:45:00.000-08:00

Eliminating high water pressure is a vital part of preventing disastrous flood in homes around the country. Even though I am a plumber I sometimes forget this minor maintenance item at my own house with the punch list of everyday or even weekly tasks keeping me busy. It is really important to pay attention to your home's water pressure. Water pressure in a home can be likened to blood pressure in the human body. When it is too low everything seems a little sluggish, even your drains will start retaining slime and sludge without volume to flush them out. If it's too high there is potential for burst pipes, supply lines or even severe faucet issues.

To start let's give you an idea of the appropriate incoming water pressure for your home. According to Universal Plumbing Code, 65 lbs. per square inch (65 p.s.i.) is the optimum pressure setting for your home. As a rule of thumb, below 40 p.s.i. is too low for a properly sized plumbing system. Thankfully, solving water pressure issues is much more affordable than their biological counterpart. The water pressure regulator for a home is the "heart" of a building's plumbing system. Some areas of the country may have no need of them due to low pressure being supplied by the utility company. More often than not, however, one is necessary for each home or building.

A simple way to gauge the pressure in your home is to call a professional and have them check the reading on the inlet and outlet side of your regulator. The reason for checking both is to verify that the valve spring inside the assembly is creating a differential. If there is no change in the reading on either side of a regulator and 65 p.s.i. remains the norm, that can be good thing. It means that the supply coming onto your property is controlled by the utility and preset to the appropriate pressure.

In short if your pressure is reading at or over 80 p.s.i. change the water pressure regulator to save you from having problems throughout your home. If your pressure reading is below 80 p.s.i. but above 40 then you are good.

My preferred regulator of choice for replacements is a Wilkins 70 Double Union valve. It is a solid brass valve and the double union makes for faster installs and replacements when it is necessary.

Pipes Under Your Sink

2010-01-05T15:14:00.000-08:00

Sink blockages are very common, very profitable repairs in the service plumbing business. I have done more of these jobs in the years I've been plumbing than I can even remember. They are manageable and preventable with the right precautions in place.

A little while back, I was asked to review a product by a marketing company working with an inventor/ entrepreneur who developed a new product. I first saw this product at a GreenPlumbersUSA/ Water Smart Innovations Training seminar in Las Vegas in 2008, the concept was good, the display of a functioning product was very well thought out, all the literature was very informative. My only issue at the time was that when I asked for a trial use product, being a plumbing professional, I was told that I could buy at a discounted price, but, I would indeed have to purchase it. Fast forward almost a year and my inbox is flashing with an invitation to try this PermaFlow product and write a review.

This is an excellent product with one primary use but many great functions, from the old jewelry down the drain issue to hair blockages at the bottom of the trap to verifying the location, (near or far,) of a blockage to see if it is even necessary to pull the trap. Another reason for the high marks goes to the "American Made" factor which means you "Joe Public" are making money and spending money that stays here in the United States. We demand better quality assurance and better accountability. Finally this is a green product, The product is "green," the plastic packaging is "green," even the cardboard used in the packaging is post consumer material, in other words RECYCLED! This is one of the most thoroughly thought out green products I have seen. I would recommend the PermaFlow trap to everyone.

I foresee this plumbing part actually resolving an ongoing issue I have been having with an account I have serviced for the last 8 years. The customer is a medical doctor, the location is a dialysis unit where sharps caps and test strips cause horrendous blockages. I have had emergency calls ranging from 5 o'clock pm to 4 o'clock am just from this customer! The problems are caused by medical assistants and nurses who inadvertently toss these items into the sinks by each station then wash their hands, as the suds go down so do the foreign objects. With the PermaFlow, an end is in sight. Now like any good on-call plumber, I like to make money; like any good father, I want to see my family. I will not be getting rid of every issue that can occur with plumbing or even drains by using this product, I will however, get rid of the unnecessary calls that cost my customers extra time and money.

There is a drawback, for those of you who have several bathroom sinks or multiple kitchen sinks, there is an upfront cost issue, each unit retails for about $25-$40. Outfitting my house at this rate would cost about $200, one emergency service call saved would balance out this cost though and I vote "Do It."

Locating, The Pros

2009-11-06T22:08:00.000-08:00

Locating pipes underground is a difficult job, locating pipes underground in a home or business can be even more interesting. I learned to find them several years back when one of the companies I worked for sent me out on a job and told me to call if I had any questions. Needless to say it was a LOOOONNNGGGG job. I was forced to learn right there on the spot without any formal training. It is a science and an art to be able to locate pipes, leaks and other hidden utilities buried underground.

The equipment I learned on was made by an American company named Goldak, located in Glendale, California. It turns out that they have been in the business since 1933. Back then there most companies were only using dowsing rods, (witching sticks, divining rods,) to locate pipes and water underground. This company created a device that was much more user friendly and did not require nearly as much training or trial and error to perfect. Goldak equipment made locating utilities underground almost easy.

With over seven years of hands on experience, I still find myself checking my wits on some jobs. I have spent double the normal locating time because the equipment kept saying a leak was in one place but it made no sense. A mentor of mine in the profession still has to remind me on those jobs, "trust the tools." Of course the fall back if I cannot find the issue or the environment is not conducive to a proper locate is simply to call Goldak and ask them to perform the locate themselves. I trust my experience, the equipment, and my training but even I run into difficult ones and have to know when to call in the pros. I appreciate knowing that there are some out there who are specialized and willing to back me up.

It is important to note that right now many people are trying to take care of as much as they can on their own, fiscally speaking. We are in an interesting time right now and less people are paying to have someone take care of repairs they think can be done alone. Goldak is not the only manufacturer of locating equipment, Ridgid, has been making contractor grade tools available to the general public as well. Both companies offer great customer support on the products themselves, both are based in America, both are professional. Point being that though experience counts for a lot, in these times what is important is locating the pros.

Be prepared to spend a few thousand dollars purchasing the tools necessary to find issues buried where eyes cannot see them. For an average homeowner it is a much better idea to pay a service company to find the problem and fix it. Any tool junkies out there may just be excited to own another great trophy and to that person I say, "More power to ya!" for the rest of you, contact us to schedule your job and we'll get you taken care of.

****** If you are considering any kind of excavation, (even in your own yard) contact Underground Service Alert before you dig, IT IS FREE! Do not sacrifice your home or your pocketbook to a broken gas line or other utility service! Call Before You Dig! You can also dial 811 from any phone anywhere in the U.S.A. to request their services.******

Water Saving Urinals

2009-10-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

Urinals and saving water do not usually go hand in hand. There are options out there, here is my take on saving water in your business. If you manage, own or supervise a business with one or more mens restrooms or have specific knowledge of the fact that the mens room in your building smells constantly and is a big drag on it's water bill, keep reading. Learning about water conservation and how to manage saving water is a huge step in the right direction.

Saving water is affordable and possible in many various situations. Today we focus on urine and how we can save water by not washing so much of it down the drain, well same amount of urine not as much water. Regardless of the morbid nature of the conversation, the fact of the matter is that water conservation can be applied almost anywhere and if a technology warrants it, it should be applied everywhere.

Let's start with the common stuff, waterless urinals. A technology devised years ago with the idea that no water is necessary to wash pee down the drain and into a sewer system. This concept of saving 100% of wasted water in urinals has a sustainability rating of around 10%. In almost every case where a water-free urinal has been installed, severe calcification (buildup,) has begun in the drain line. Not that I mind getting called out for this, it is typically a very expensive process to clean up and guaranteed to generate repeat business. In other words, they may make sense to some people to me they make dollars, lots of dollars.

Using "high efficiency" products to simply mass market them without regards to their sustainability, is careless. Waterfree urinals are not an exception to this rule. The Arizona Senate passed House Bill 2276 that requires waterfree urinals to be installed in all state buildings in an effort to conserve water in the state that is consistently plagued by drought conditions. Think of waterfree urinals in a plumbing system being similar to CFL light bulbs in a lighting system. This means that yes, you are saving water, no, you aren't being as efficient as you could be with regards to sustainability; you may in fact be leaving a black footprint in the greenwash.

What is the solution you ask? Try looking int a company called EcoBlue, they have developed a technology that allows ANY STANDARD URINAL to be converted to a 99% water free unit for a more affordable up front cost as well as a sustainable solution, you will not have to call your plumber for regular clean outs in your men's room. The foul odor commonly associated with waterfree urinals goes away, the water waste goes away, the build up in your pipes will actually begin to clear up. Your business will even have a placard at each stall announcing your commitment to saving water. When you save water and do it in a way that also saves money and prevents issues in the future... That's smart.

Tips on Saving Water in Your Home

2009-10-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

* Verify that your home is leak-free! Many homes have hidden water leaks. Here's a way to check:

- Turn off all faucets both inside and outside your home.

- Look at your water meter (usually located in a ground vault somewhere near the front of your home).

- If the dial is moving, you may have a leak. Make a note of the meter reading (the numbers on the dial).

- Leaving all water turned off, read your water meter two hours later. If the meter shows a higher number, there is probably a leak somewhere in your yard or home.

* Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.

* Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year, which will add to the cost of water and sewer bills.

* Consider installing an "instant" water heater on sinks that are located far from your main water heater so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up. This will reduce heating costs for your household. These units are sometimes referred to as "point of use" water heaters.

* One of the biggest and least known water bill increasers are leaking toilets, drop a dye tablet or about 10 drops of food coloring into the tank of any standard toilet, (don't be afraid to have fun with the color if you have teenagers in the home.) Check on the water in the bowl to see if it changes color without having been flushed. One of the first and most common repairs if you see that discoloration is simply changing the flapper. You have just saved over a thousand gallons of water using food coloring and a $10 part!

Serious About Wasting Water

2009-10-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

I want to share a concept with all of you out here, 30% of water consumed in an average "modern" home is wasted, that is to say you flush it right down the drain. This toilet is a classic 1955 American Standard, average water per flush with original manufacturer provided parts is 5 gallons. after fifty-four years and several flush ball and fill valve replacements I would put the actual usage at around 6-7 gallons per flush. Now I would guess that this piece rarely required a plumber's helper (plunger) because the trap is over 2 1/2" all the way through and it took half of Castaic Lake to flush it. Move forward half a century to the toilet I just replaced this one with, a 2009 Toto EcoDrake 1.28 gallon per flush two piece unit. This home owner just saved 3.75+ gallons on every usage! For those of you handy enough to change your own toilets I quote my favorite Nike® tag line of all time, "Just Do It," simple but effective. The best part of the whole deal is that L.A. County D.W.P., Newhall Water, Palmdale Water, Santa Clarita Water, Valencia Water and other various water utility companies will give credits to their customers for making these changes because we are in a drought. In a few years it won't be an option, all the manufacturers are discontinuing their previous designs and moving this direction. As that progresses the utility companies won't give credits and there will be less incentive for customers to replace them. That being said I will make my suggestion quick and painless, change your toilets and start making an impact on your local water table and your bill today.

What Not To Do With Tankless Water Heaters...

2009-10-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

What not to do when installing a tankless water heater, do not hire just any plumber to handle your installation. To the untrained eye there is nothing wrong with this picture, everything appears level, strapped securely, even the drain line and ventilation seem adequate. This install is a perfect example of professional ignorance. In other words it is a great looking piece of work except that it is wrong. The client who had this installed in roughly 2001 paid a tidy sum to a plumbing contractor who was not a certified installer and did not even know the basic requirements for putting a unit in. If he/ she had simply read the installation manual or put a call in to the manufacturer, the issues that the homeowner is currently having would be a thing of the past. Cost to correct what should have been done properly in the first place? Over $3,000.00!

Incorrect

Gas supply sizing is inadequate
Venting is of improper material
The condensation drain is absent
There is no hot and cold water isolation valve set
No water conditioning device is installed
Installation by a non-certified individual or company

What does this mean? First of all, just the fact that the unit was installed by a technician who was not certified by the manufacturer causes an immediate void in the home owner's warranty. This is stated in BOLD print on the front of the water heater. Next, a combination of items 2,3 and 5 in the above list caused scale build up and leaking in the exchanger. Finally, because the gas line is undersized, the burner was not firing efficiently causing a "flame out." The unit lasted approximately 7 years which is average for a tank type water heater but less than 50% of the expected lifespan for a tankless water heater. Basically the homeowner paid a lot of money for a great technology that should have lasted almost a generation, it only worked for just over 7 years. This is NOT a sustainable solution. Tankless technology ONLY makes sense if it is productive and long lasting otherwise it is just a fad and a drain on necessary things like money, time and natural resources.

The solution? Use a manufacturer certified installer to protect yourself, your home and your pocketbook. Follow the installer's suggestions for doing the job right, for instance, we recommend a conditioner with every install, not to make more money but because it will save your tankless water heater. The technology is not new in fact the unit pictured above is Takagi®, they have been in business since the 60's making these very water heaters! We recommend conditioners because they recommend them. They recommend them because conditioning your water will add years to your tankless water heater. Takagi doesn't even make water treatment devices so there is no extra money in it for them, it is just the right thing to do and they know it.

Why $3,000.00? Because of all the incorrect items, the age of the unit and the failures to it, it was actually more cost effective to remove and replace the water heater with a newer model. We used a TK-3 made by Takagi and scheduled to install an Enviro-Pure SAI-12 and FTHT-20 to treat the water in his home and directly treat the water coming into the unit through the isolation valve set. We now anticipate 20 years or so of product function and possibly more depending on outside influences like incoming air quality and scheduled services.