Water consumption is probably the easiest way for someone to participate in “going green.” You can help by taking shorter showers, washing dishes and clothing less often, making sure you do not have a pipe leak and changing your toilets. You typically wouldn’t jump straight to the logic that changing your toilet would cut your water costs, would you? In reality, this simple switch could save you up to 67% of water usage.

Dual-flush toilets use two different buttons to control the amount of water being released. This means that you do not use the same amount of water for each bathroom “release.”

The main benefit from a dual-flush toilet system is that they do save up to 67% of water usage, meaning you will spend less money in utilities. There is a disadvantage though, they are slightly more expensive than other regular low-flow toilets.

Some people thoroughly enjoy the switch to dual-flush toilets, but it really depends on the person.  If you have questions or are interested in installation of a dual-flush or low-flow toilet, contact a professional for advice.

By Talia DiFulvio

Ever had your plumbing break in the middle of the night? During a dinner party? Or when you aren’t even home? It seems as though plumbing will break only in the worst possible times and calling a plumber can be expensive. Living in a home long enough you are bound to have something leak, drip or get clogged. For smaller issues like that it is important to be able to understand how to fix them and what tools to use.

No matter what, every home should have a plunger. It doesn’t matter how handy you are, a plunger will be your best friend when it comes to clogged toilets and sinks. Toilets and sinks get clogged very easily so it is important to have a plunger and to know how to use it. No plumber is necessary, simply stick the rubber end into the bottom of the toilet and push up and down. Voilà, you did it, without the help of an expensive assistant.

When dealing with plumbing you’re going to run into issues with pipes. What works better on a pipe than a wrench? Lets say your ring fell down the sink, what are you going to do? Wrenches are used to tighten and loosen pipes so you can easily retrieve fallen items. You need one wrench for turning and a second for gripping.

Getting these couple of tools to start out with and eventually learning and adding more to the collection can be very beneficial. It is easier to fix simple problems yourself then hire someone to do it for you.

By: Nicole Jensen

Compost is completely decayed organic matter that can be used to condition soil. It is dark, has no odor, and is packed with nutrients.   It doesn’t sound very glamorous (decay never does) but it can absolutely make the difference between a sad pale tomato and a prize worthy vibrant, healthful one.

If you are only gardening indoors, or on a balcony you can still compost! If you only have a few dollars to spend on it, you can compost! If you don’t have any money to spend on it- you can still compost. All that you need to make it happen is a container (for indoor composting) and a little basic knowledge.

If you just took your strawberry greens, zucchini peels, and melon rind and threw it in a bucket you would probably eventually get compost. More likely and more quickly you’d get a smelly moldy mess.

The smell comes from the anaerobic break down of food; the mold comes from cool, dark, wet places.

So to avoid the smell all you have to do is allow as much air as possible to contact the compost. You can poke holes, stir, shake, or turn it. To avoid the mold you just have to expose it to warmth and light. You will also want to drain off the nutrient rich “compost tea” (and use that in your garden) to keep the compost from being too wet.

If you want to try composting indoors, try modifying the mason jar compost experiment found HERE, or you can try a bucket, trash can or a commercially available compost bin.

For outdoor composting you can use a large bin or trash can, a compost turner, or just make a compost heap. A compost heap is literally a pile of compost in your yard. You can aerate it with a shovel or rake.

The ideal temperature for quick, odor free compost is thought to be between 120-160 degrees. A hot Southern California summer is perfect, but don’t fret if the temperature drops. The compost also creates its own heat because of the activity that happens in the compost.

Microorganisms are what make the food trash, newspapers, and other discards into gardeners gold, so depending on the initial size of the discards and the size of the heap, you may or may not want worms involved. Worms break the compost into smaller pieces, and then the microorganisms do the rest.

So how much trash space can you save and how much stuff can you put into a compost bin? You can put vegetable peels, coffee grounds, newspapers, eggshells, and any type of fruit or vegetable. Some people even compost meat and many people buy additives to help with the process. The more you break it down before you throw it in the heap, the quicker the process will happen.

There are a lot of expensive products out there that promise to speed the process, eliminate odors, and practically do your composting for you. But did you know that there is something that you might have under your sink already that will deliver better results than anything you can buy at Home Depot?

If you’ve had us out for an inspection or a drain line problem, chances are you’ve at least seen Bio-Clean.

Bio-Clean is generally used to keep drain lines running smoothly, but the way it works makes it a perfect compost helper, too. It is all natural, eco-friendly, and safe for every living creature. It is a highly concentrated (the highest available) powder filled with enzymes and friendly bacteria that do not attack living cells or inorganic material. You can touch it, eat it, even accidentally inhale it and it won’t do anything to you. You can store it in a plastic baggie and it won’t eat through it. You can throw it in your compost heap and your worms will be safe but the cellulose (paper) and your kitchen scraps will be broken down into odor-free compost by “Clean Gene” and his army.

If you already have a tub of this drain line (and garden!) helper, give it a try. It’s used to turn sewage spills into garden worthy compost, and while we don’t recommend holding onto sewage for any reason, you can rest assured that a sprinkle of this stuff will accelerate your compost while still being the safest and most reliable drain maintenance product you can buy. If you don’t already have Bio-Clean and you want it, or want to know more, give us a call. We can send a technician out to not only deliver it, but he’ll also teach you how to use it properly, and apply the first treatment at no additional charge.

Of course you don’t need to use any product at all!

That is composting at its most basic. There are dozens of resources online if you want to give it a try, and it doesn’t have to cost anything. The City of Los Angeles Sanitation District even offers free workshops with hands on instruction about composting! It doesn’t even require a whole lot of time. How hard is it to throw your scraps into one bin instead of another?

If you have a whole house water filter with a self-cleaning cycle (such as the HALO water system) you can save even more money and use that water (which is just as de-chlorinated and filtered as the water that comes out of your taps) to water your new garden. Next time we’ll talk about whole house filters and how they can improve everything from your garden to your hair and nails to your overall health!  Of course if you can’t wait that long, give us a call, we’ll be happy to talk to you about them or send someone out to show you how they work.

Wet floors are a sign of slab leaks

Since it’s extremely difficult to locate the precise location of the slab leak without professional equipment, you’ll want to call your southern California leak detection experts at the first sign of a problem. Trying to locate the leak on your home can result in extensive damage to your foundation, so it’s best to leave it to the professionals.

Signs of a slab leak

Here are some signs that you may have a slab leak in your home:

• You can hear running water even at times when no one in the house is using water.
• New cracks form in your walls or floor. The leaking water tends to weaken and damage the structure of your home, leading to cracks.
• Mold or mildew begins to grow beneath carpets and rugs. This could mean that water is leaking in the area.
• You notice a drop in water pressure, even when no one else in the house is using water.
• Your water bill increases for no apparent reason. This could be caused by a variety of problems, but one of the most common causes is a leaky slab.
• Damp spots form on your floor or carpet as water begins to leak up through the foundation.

Slab leaks can cause extensive damage if left unrepaired, so it’s important to get the problem taken care of as quickly as possible. If there’s a plumbing problem in your home, call the California slab leak repair professionals today!

By Tim Crain

Slab leaks cause water to pool in the foundation of your home

When’s the last time you really thought about your garbage disposal? Most of us don’t bother thinking about them until they break down. However, like most things worth having, the lowly garbage disposal has a long history of controversy.

The garbage disposal, food waste disposal, or “garburator”, was invented in 1927 by a Wisconsin architect who created InSinkErator.

Or maybe it was invented by General Electric, whose unit hit the market in 1935, five years before InSinkErator’s did. It depends on who you ask.

That’s not the end of its sordid story, though. In the 1970s, New York City actually outlawed garbage disposal units out of fear of what all of the food waste would do to the sewer system. Even today it is still under investigation, but in 1997 the ban was lifted and the units were allowed once more.

Like a true Cinderella this lowly kitchen appliance has a bright future. In the UK, where only about 6% of homes have the units, some local authorities subsidize the installation of garbage disposals in order to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills. In Sweden, some areas encourage the use of garbage disposals to increase the production of a type of biofuel called biogas, which is created by the anaerobic breaking down of organic material. Even right here at home, modern wastewater plants are incredibly effective at turning the solids into “biosolids”, which are used as fertilizer products and some even capture the methane to use as fuel.

Garbage Disposal Best Practices

Now that you know of its dark past and bright future, what are you actually supposed to do with it?

Its intended use is to chop organic materials- such as vegetable peels- into tiny pieces that won’t stop a drain. Many units aren’t powerful enough to deal with very fibrous materials, so some peels may not be appropriate. Think of celery stalks, those strands are easy to separate but hard to cut, right? Very fibrous things like artichoke leaves can break a weak garbage disposal. Same with sweet potato peels, jicama peels, or anything else that is similarly tough.

Starchy things like pasta, rice, potatoes, and potato peels can also damage or jam a unit by simply binding up the blades. Anything that could stop a drain, like fat and coffee grounds should be kept out of the disposal unit. There is some controversy about whether egg shells can bind a garbage disposal or not, so it’s a good idea to throw them in the trash instead of down the disposal.

No matter what you put into it, you’ll want to run cool water along with it to keep things moving and prevent the motor from overheating.

How  to Fix a Smelly Garbage Disposal

What do you do if you have an underperformer under your sink? Call us for an upgrade!

Even if you have the best garbage disposal available, you’ll want to keep some things out of the unit, your hands being the most important. We’ve been called out for some inappropriate things ending up in garbage disposals including glasses (eyewear and drinking), jewelry (which can usually be retrieved if the unit has not destroyed it), keys, lots and lots of cutlery, and even a cell phone or two. If it seems like this keeps happening, there are safety measures we can install for you to keep your valuables out of your garbage disposal.

What do you do if it works fine, but it smells a little sometimes? If the smell is coming from the unit, you can try pouring equal parts baking soda and vinegar into it, you can try grinding some lemon peels, but our plumbers say that there is one thing that really works like magic. So what is it? Ice. A couple handfuls or a bowl of ice down the garbage disposal (while it’s running, with cold water running) is the key to a happy, healthy, stink-free unit.

And finally, what if you don’t want to feed your garbage disposal all of your food waste? Well, you can always try composting. In fact, things like potato peels, coffee grounds, and egg shells are less than ideal for a garbage disposal, but perfect for composting! Come back to the blog later for a post on that!

Of course there are times when home remedies just aren’t enough. When that happens, give us a call. We’re here 24/7 for you.

Worried that you may have a leaking pipe?

Leak detection saves you time and money

Fortunately, modern technologies allow us to pinpoint leaks without the hassle and expense of digging up your property. Using advanced leak detection technology, we’ll find the leak without doing any damage to your property. Our methods are non-invasive and non-destructive, which means that we won’t leave a mess behind. We’ll find the leak, fix it, and then leave your property in the condition it was in before we came.

Leak detection has many advantages over traditional methods of finding leaks, including:

• It’s precise. Leak detection doesn’t just locate the general area of the leak—it detects the exact location, so we won’t have to dig around for the problem.
• It’s non-destructive. We use sophisticated equipment to detect the leaks, which means that we won’t have to tear up your home or landscaping to discover the source of the damage. It also means that you won’t have to worry about cleaning up after we leave.
• It saves you money. Our leak detection services are fast, non-invasive, and non-destructive. You won’t have to pay to have your home or landscaping torn up and then repaired.

Leak detection has many benefits over traditional dig methods. If you think you may have a leak on your property, call your southern California leak detection experts today!

By Tim Crain

Our leak detection equipment can precisely locate any leak, without digging

Tankless heaters are very compact

Tankless water heaters are more efficient because they heat water on the fly—meaning that they only heat water when you need it. Water heaters with tanks, on the other hand, constantly heat and store water, whether or not you currently need the hot water.

Here are some of the reasons a tankless water heater may be just the right water heating solution for your home:

• Tankless heaters save you money. Though they often have a higher upfront cost, over time they can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That’s because tankless heaters use 30 to 50 percent less energy than heaters with tanks.
• Tankless water heaters provide an endless stream of hot water. Regular heaters have a limited amount of heater water stored in the tank, and once it’s gone you have to wait quite a while before you can get hot water again. Tankless heaters heat water on demand, so they don’t have that problem.
• Tankless heaters are very compact, and take up much less space than heaters with tanks. If space is a big concern for your home, tankless water heaters are an ideal solution.

There are many advantages to installing a tankless water heater in your home. If you’re in the market for a new water heater, talk to your southern California water heater specialists and they will help you decide what kind of water heater best fits the needs of your home. Tankless heaters ensure that you get the hot water you need, when you need it.

Leaky plumbing can lead to major problems

Leaking pipes aren’t always easy to detect without professional help from your southern California leak detection professionals. However, here are some signs you can look for on your own that would indicate a leaking pipe somewhere in your home:

• An unexplained increase in your water bill. Compare your older bills to more recent ones—a strange rise in the size of the bill may indicate an undetected water leak.
• Dampness or dripping water under your sink or around other appliances. Look in areas with visible pipes (such as under kitchen and bathroom sinks) to check for moisture.
• Signs of mold growth on walls, ceilings, or floors. Mold is often the direct result of excess moisture, so any mold growth is a good indicator of leaky or defective plumbing.
• Warping, bubbling, or softness around appliances that use a lot of water, such as toilets and dishwashers. Look and feel around the base of the appliances.
• Dampness on walls or ceilings, particularly beneath areas such as bathrooms. This is one of the clearest signs of leaking water, and one that indicates a serious and long-term problem that should be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Stains on your ceiling are a sign of leaky plumbing

Water filters have many advantages

Water filters remove contaminants and minerals, including chlorine, from your water.  The result of this purification process is water that’s better tasting and better for you.  Here are just three of the advantages of having a water filtration device installed by northern Los Angeles water purification professionals:

• Filtered water tastes better.  Even water that has been tested and found safe will have a lot of different minerals and contaminants that aren’t beneficial, and that can make the water taste “off.”  After filtering, your water will taste cleaner, fresher, and purer.
• Filtered water is healthier for you.  Filtration devices eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses that can be dangerous to your health.  This means that even if your local water supply is contaminated, you will be safe.
• Filtered water helps you look better.  All the minerals in filtered water can be tough on the skin, and can lead to skin that is dry and rough.  Filtered water, on the other hand, can help give you skin that is soft and healthy.

Water filters have many advantages, and no drawbacks.  They are also more affordable than ever, so there’s no reason to wait to improve your quality of life by adding a water filter to your home.  If you’re ready to gain the advantages of water filtration in your home, talk to your California water filtration experts today!

Regardless of the type of drain you have, here are some tested methods to clear it if it's clogged.

If anyone in your home has long hair, you know that clogged bathtub drains happen more often than you would like. Buying drain cleaner is sometimes very expensive, especially if you have to buy it frequently. So, what other methods can you use to keep your drain free and clear so it can continue to do its job? Here’s a list:

The Wire Hanger Method

If you unbend a wire hanger and make it into a long hook that can be pushed down the drain, you can fish out the blockage inside your drain, as long as you don’t mind seeing the gross things that come out. Repeat this until your bathtub is draining regularly again.

The Plunger Method

Plungers don’t just work for toilets. If you put enough water in the tub to cover the bottom and block the overflow outlet if you have one, you can plunge the drain until the blockage is cleared. This method works well with complete blockages, but not as much with partial blockages.

The Old Baking-soda-and-vinegar Trick

Pour half a box of dry baking soda and a half cup of vinegar into the bathtub drain and quickly clog the drain with something like a large rag. Leave the mixture in the drain for 30 minutes and come back to see if the drain runs correctly again. If not, try repeating the process.

For more difficult problems

Sometimes you don’t have the tools you need to fix your pipe problems, but there are those who can help you. Call your California plumbing specialists now for immediate help!

-Kassandra Konecny