Protecting Your Family and Home From Lead

Posted on February 6, 2012 by admin

Lead is defined as a highly toxic metal found in small amounts of the earth’s crust. Lead and lead compounds have been used in many products including paint, ceramics, pipes, solders, gasoline, batteries, and cosmetics. Today, the most common lead exposures are from lead-based paint, older homes, contaminated soil, household dust, drinking water, lead crystal, and lead-glazed pottery.

Extreme lead exposure has been associated with causing a variety of neurological disorders such as a lack of muscular coordination, convulsions and coma. Exposure to lower lead levels has been linked to changes in children’s mental development and behavior such as hyperactivity, deficits in fine motor function, hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and lowered performance on intelligence tests. Chronic lead exposure in adults results in increased blood pressure, decreased fertility, cataracts, nerve disorders, muscle and joint pain, and memory or concentration problems.

You can find lead based paint generally in older homes built before 1978. These include homes in the city, suburbs, and country; as well as apartments, single family homes, and private and public housing. The soil surrounding your home can also pick up lead from exterior paint, and remnants of the past use of leaded gas in cars. Any peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead based paint is very dangerous and needs immediate attention.  You can also find lead in areas that go through a lot of wear and tear. These include windows and window sills, doors and door frames, stairs, railings, banisters, porches, and fences.  Keep in mind that lead chips and dust settles on surfaces and objects that others touch. It can also get back in the air when you vacuum, sweep, or walk.

The safest way to check your home for lead is to have a professional do the work. The professional will use several methods such as visual inspection of paint condition and location, lab test of paint samples, surface dust test, and the use of a portable fluorescence machine to detect lead. Simply painting over the lead hazard will not be enough. If there is an improper removal of lead it can increase the hazard by spreading it around the house even more, so it is important to hire someone with special training to handle the lead problem.

If you suspect your home might have lead, you can have your family tested through a simple blood test. Blood testing for lead poisoning should be administered for children who are six months to one year old, and for family members that suspect a high level of lead exposure. Other ways to protect your home and family include:

.Cleaning paint chips right away.

.Cleaning floors, window frames, window sills, and surfaces weekly.

. Keeping play areas clean.

. Washing your hands often.

.Cleaning and removing shoes before entering your home.

.Make sure children eat healthy. The better their diet, the less lead absorbed.

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Preventing A Drainage Catastrophe

Posted on January 7, 2012 by admin

Home maintenance is one of the most important tasks to keep up with in order to avoid any major water issues.  No one wants to experience sewer backups in their home, especially the basement.  Any water damage in the home can be very costly, and that is why prevention is the best solution.

Here are some ways to keep your basement clean and dry:

·Clear gutters at least twice a year to prevent overflowing. Leaves and debris will clog gutters and can send water back toward your roof, walls, or foundation.
·Make sure gutters and downspouts are not connected to municipal sewage lines.

·Your yard should be graded to slope away from the house so surface water is drained away.

·If gutters connect to storm sewers, keep drain lines clear.

·Check to make sure gutter downspouts extend at least 10 feet away from the foundation of the house. This way water is carried away from basement walls.

Prevent Backflow:

What is Backflow?  Backflow is the undesirable reversal of water in any plumbing system. It can lead to leaking, flooding, and contamination of potable water. There are homes that have check-valve devices that allow water and sewage to flow away from the drain. This prevents water and sewage from backing up into the drain. Gate-valve devices work by closing and shutting off the flow of water and sewage. You can also use drain plugs and standpipes to prevent backflow, but they also come with some risk. Drain plugs seal off the
flow of water but can cause an overflow to occur at the next opening in the system. Standpipes or vertical pipes connected and sealed to a drain, contain overflows and act as safety valves, but can only contain backflow up to their height – usually just three feet.

Sump Pumps:

Sump pumps remove water from a reservoir in your home. There are several types of sump pumps, including single sump pumps and dual-level systems. Usually, batteries or a generator can be used to power the pump in case of a power failure. If you have a sump pump, check it every month to make sure that it’s working. If it’s a battery-powered unit, check to make sure the battery is charged.

You can also always check with your local building code department, water utility, or a
qualified plumber for more information on steps you can take to reduce the chance of water damage to your home.

Posted in Drain Cleaning, Leaks, Philadelphia Plumbing, Plumbing, Plumbing and Heating, Sewer, Sump pumps | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

The Facts on Leaks

Posted on November 28, 2011 by admin

One of the most annoying issues in a home is having leaking pipes.  On average, a leaking pipe can waste 212 gallons of water per month. Overall, this can increase not only your water bill, but your gas or electric bill because of the need to heat water lost from the leak.

How you go about in dealing with leaks is up to you. You can either call a plumber or try to fix it yourself. However, it all depends on how complicated the situation looks, and whether your efforts to fix it worked. Therefore, the most important steps to take are to deal with the leaks quickly before more damage is caused!

Facts on Leaks:

. Leaks account for, on average, 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year. That is enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.

. Water leaks from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1 trillion gallons per year. That’s equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined.

. Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.

. Some types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves.

. Fixing household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.

. You can keep your home leak-free by repairing dripping faucets, toilet valves, and showerheads.

How to detect a leak:

. One method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month of water usage there is a problem.

. Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter reads differently after the two hours, you probably have a leak.

. A good way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak. Don’t forget to flush immediately after this experiment to avoid staining the tank.

Faucets and Showerheads:

. A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.

. Leaky faucets can be reduced by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary

. A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. That’s enough to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher.

Toilets:

. If your toilet is running constantly, you could be wasting 200 gallons of water or more every day.

. If your toilet is leaking, the cause might be an old, faulty toilet flapper.

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Purchasing new house; We take care about plumbing

Posted on August 8, 2011 by admin

When purchasing a new home typically new home owners are so excited to be a new homeowner and the last thing that they think about is the plumbing in the house.  The inspection was completed by a Philadelphia Plumber or an appraisal or home inspector.  A couple weeks pass by and then you realize that you may have a problem that hopefully is minor.  Showers clogging, wash bins for washing machines start to overflow, toilets not flushing properly, are just a few to mention.

Making sure all of your plumbing in your new home can take a few weeks or months to see if there are any situations that need to be addressed.  Take notice if anything seems to be “acting up” or not functioning properly.  By assessing the plumbing in your home, you can sometimes catch a small problem before it becomes a huge problem.   Plumbing in Philadelphia is our business.  We are Philadelphia’s best plumbing company and we are happy to help you find out what the problem is.  Give us a call, your Philadelphia Plumbing Company.  We GUARANTEE that we can help solve your Philadelphia Plumbing problems or help with some advice as to what to watch for and avoid problematic situations.

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Remodelling Of Your Bathroom Is Necessary

Posted on July 19, 2011 by admin

What is the difference between a house and a home? A house is just a space, but when you feel really comfortable and positive in that space, a house becomes a home. It is essential that a house provides a productive and healthy environment, both for the body and the mind.

An inseparable component of our homes is the bathroom, where we usually start our day. A good start in those early hours of the morning can lead to an energetic day. They are not just places for to clean or groom yourself. In recent times they have become a place to unwind, refresh, and relax the psyche. Just imagine a leaky, stained claustrophobic bathroom and you should feel depressed.

Modern day bathrooms are a style statement. With exquisite bath suites, eye catching accessories, delectable furniture, gorgeous shower enclosures, fancy bathtubs, and the latest gadgets, one can bring more glamour to a bathroom than a living room.

If you have an old, smaller bathroom, remodelling it to bring it up to par with the modern ones can be a tricky endeavor. Nonetheless, it’s not an impossible task. With proper planning, any changes to your bathroom can be given a soothing feel, looks, and efficiency at a decent budget.

Bathroom remodelling can be done in two ways depending on the current state of your bathroom and your requirements. If it is too inconvenient, old and grimy, then you may have to go for a complete remoulding by changing the layout of the bathroom, changing the wall and floor tiles, as well as adding new accessories and furniture. On the other hand, if it is good enough and you just want to tweak it with the latest updates, it can be done easily with minor modifications. For an ultra-modern look, you can opt for a sauna, or a Jacuzzi. An uber-cool way is to go for a themed bathroom, with artistic tiles and accessories.

One must bear in mind that bathroom equipment is costly and great care should be taken while buying them and remodelling be done to requirements. Careful remoulding can transform your bathroom into an eye catcher and also a place to soothe the soul.

Also, bathroom designing and remoulding is not a job for the amateur and best left to the hands of experts. Any flaw can create reasons of permanent worry for you.

Given the amount of psychological and physiological benefits that a good bathroom can bring, a bathroom remoulding plan can easily be compared to a holiday vacation. Serenity, peace is the prize that an exquisitely designed yet efficiently functional bathroom can provide.

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What You Should Know Before Getting AC Installed

Posted on June 13, 2011 by admin

Prior to getting an air conditioning system installed at home, one must take into consideration a whole lot of factors. Installation of an AC calls for spending a lot of money, so one must take in cognizance before making an appropriate decision.

When a person is looking for central air conditioning he or she must seek professional help in its installation. Even though it may cost a person some money, it is definitely worth the investment. A wise investment would ensure that the air conditioner is properly installed easing the tension on a person’s wallet.

Purchasing a central air conditioning system requires that a house be equipped for a central cooling and heating system. Some old homes may require ducts to be installed (often an inexpensive,) and many local air conditioning companies will be able to help with that issue and let you know if it is feasible to have centralized cooling within a given budget. If it turns out to be beyond the said budget, then a customer may have to consider small air conditioners that fit into your windows, and cool only a particular room.

Another important aspect that must be taken into consideration before purchasing an air conditioner is the quality of the system. Everyone looks for a high quality air conditioner that does not delve too far into their pockets when it comes to paying electricity bills. So, before purchasing, a customer should inquire about the energy efficiency of the machine, as well as the cooling capacity of the air conditioner. Larger homes often need a system with greater cooling capacity so as to have proper cooling in their home.

Cost is undoubtedly a prime factor in air conditioning system installation. People would most likely have to shell out thousands of dollars in having the system installed properly, but in the end, it is worth it if one lives in a hot climate. Also, try to size up the rise in electricity bills for each month after you get the system in place. The rise in bills may take a customer for a toss, but he or she must realize that this is a price worth paying to stay comfortable within the confines of your home.

In case someone is looking for accurate answers to these questions, he or she must find a trustworthy local AC installation company. The installer must do the job right and not overcharge for the services rendered. Hence, it is best to negotiate with a few companies before a customer makes his or her purchase.

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Plumbing and Heating were never so easy

Posted on May 5, 2011 by admin

It is essential to hire an experienced plumber for any home repair work concerning plumbing. It is best not to attempt to do it yourself except for those relatively minor repairs. A clogged drain or a leaky faucet is something you can certainly attempt. However, a major repair such as a gas fire or central heating system problem should best be done by a professional plumber to avoid any accidents. Any good home plumbing system should be able to drastically reduce fuel bills. A major fuel or electricity expense is the central heating system and hot water system (essentially for bathing during cold months).

A new trend nowadays (just a revival of sorts) is using basement areas to add living spaces to homes. It is a cost-effective way to add a few more rooms (such as an extra kitchen or a sleeping room) but it brings along with it a few problems, primarily plumbing related. Sewage has to be pumped out since the basement is below street level where the main sewerage lines are located. Pumps need to be used if the gravity cannot be made to work in your favor. This is an additional cost plus all the labour cost of a licensed plumber to install below-grade systems. An extra space will be worth all the extra expenses of a plumber.

It is easy for you to choose a plumber who gives you guarantee if he is a certified one. This means that he is a purely professional plumber for your work. If he is a certified plumber then it is more likely that he is going to charge the appropriate amount from you. But there is always an option for negotiation as well and you can get the charges reduce. There are some plumbers or many, who have their own shops. If you buy the plumbing appliances or the items including the pipes that are needed for the work, then they will charge you less and you do not have to go to another shop too. Moreover, you have to see how much experience a particular plumber has. The more he is experienced, more useful and beneficial he will be for your work. You can check out the profiles of the plumbers from the web pages that are flooded with numerous ones so that you have ample of options to choose from. You can call a plumber or electrical work-related company which deals in this work. It is more beneficial to approach a company than an individual especially when it comes to procuring the guarantee and saving a considerable amount of money. Guaranteed Plumbing & Heating Company is a solution to all your plumbing related problems as you do not have to go here and there.

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Blog

Posted on April 4, 2011 by admin

Welcome to Blog.

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