Turn Up the Heat on Frozen Pipes

Colorado winters have a whimsical way of making our plumbing systems resemble the frozen caverns of the Ice Planet Hoth (yea, your plumber just referenced Star Wars, we’re cool like that).

See what I mean?

Anyways, as we all know prevention is better than reaction. So with that in mind we give you the number one way to prevent your pipes from freezing:

KEEP YOUR HEAT SET TO AT LEAST 65°F AT ALL TIMES!
(when it’s below freezing outside, of course)

Yep, that easy. Fight the freeze with heat!

Is it 100% effective? No, it certainly isn’t. Winter in Colorado can be brutal and when it hits 10 below outside there’s a good chance a pipe in your garage or along an exterior wall will freeze, but this will prevent the other, easy to avoid problems.

Now, you may ask, “Chris, why do I care if a pipe freezes, won’t it just thaw?”

Great question!

The answer is yes, over time it will thaw. But when the weather is consistently below freezing this can take a VERY long time; days even. It’s best to just prevent the pipe from freezing than worrying about thawing it.

“But can’t plumbing companies come out and thaw my pipe?”

Sure, some can, if they can find it. Because of the amount of and complexity of the waterlines in your home it may be difficult or impossible to locate the freeze, and even worse it may involve making several holes in your drywall and ceiling before successfully located. There’s also a higher than 50% chance that the thawing machine used to warm the freeze will cause the copper line to split, forcing you to repair the line at an additional cost. That’s why McAdams Plumbing doesn’t recommend this practice.

“But I have PEX piping, not copper, what about that?”

Great! Pex handles frozen pipes much better than copper. It can expand and contract to its original form dramatically. This protects your home from freeze breaks. If you can locate the freeze in your PEX pipe you can easily fix it by slowly warming the spot with a hair dryer. PEX is fracture resistant, so there’s lower chance of it splitting, but it’s still possible. If you can’t locate the freeze, however, you’re still in the same boat of having to wait for the freeze to thaw.

I hope that helps give you a plan for protecting your home from frozen and broken pipes. You can find more tips on how to prevent frozen and broken pipes below in the “More Prevention Tactics” section.

Happy Monday and stay warm everyone!

-Chris

 More Prevention Tactics:

In order to make keeping your heat above 65°F more effective you can also open up all your cabinets, closets, and access panels in the house to allow the warm air to move around freely. The more “cold pockets” you have in your home the more likely it is you will have to deal with a frozen pipe.

Also ensure that any pipes you have running along an exterior wall or exposed to the atmosphere in anyway (outside of home, crawlspace, garage) are heavily insulated. Standard fiberglass insulation and foam pipe insulation are good options for this.

Finally, but most effectively, simply turn off your whole house water and open your faucets before you go to bed. By doing this you remove all water and pressure from your plumbing system while you are sleeping, and when the weather is the coldest, and make it close to impossible for your pipes to freeze. No water, no ice!

*Image courtesy of Starwarsreport.com.

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New Water Heater Regulations for 2015

The Department of Energy announced new water heater regulations and standards that began April 16, 2015. These changes will effect how water heaters are designed, manufactured, tested, distributed, and installed. These changes will affect manufacturers, wholesalers, installers and customers alike (Bradford White).

For a detailed review of the changes please watch the video below:

All water heaters produced after April 16, 2015 need to conform to new energy standards, making all models run more efficiently. The changes are anticipated to save approximately 3.3 quads of energy and result in approximately $63 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2015-2044. The standard will avoid about 172.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 33.8 million automobiles (DOE).

The chart below outlines the increased efficiencies that new models must meet. 

While we all can agree that these are noble and necessary changes, we must also be aware of the inevitable increase in water heater prices that has followed. Bradford White alone anticipates a 15-35% increase on ALL water heater prices to off-set the costs of buying new mandatory machinery, adjusting their factories to handle the new, larger model water heaters, as well as the unforeseen costs of building, inspecting, and shipping the new models.

Bradford White also developed an excellent Q & A section  that outlines how we will be affected by the new regulations. This information can be found on their website at http://www.bradfordwhite.com/doe-department-energy-final-rule-effective-04162015-frequently-asked-questions.

You can also read more on the Department of Energy’s site: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/product.aspx/productid/27.

We hope that this information helps prepare you for the road ahead. We understand the importance of making a proper investment in your home with a great water heater and a high quality installation. We want these changes to be as clear to you as possible so if you would like clarification on any of the changes or simply have questions on how you may be affected, please feel free to call us at 303-465-1900.

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NOW HIRING-Licensed Plumbers 

McAdams Plumbing is looking to hire a full-time Licensed Service Plumber. 

If you’re looking for a positive work environment, a friendly staff, great pay, and room to grow, McAdams Plumbing is looking for you. We are a full service, residential only plumbing company (which means you never have to see a grease trap again) based out of Broomfield, CO. We are a family owned company and are continuing to grow day by day. We are consistently busy so you won’t be spending all of your time in a van.

Our mission is to build a lasting relationship of trust with Colorado families through exceptional craftsmanship, reasonable rates, mutual respect, and commitment to our community through charity and environmental responsibility.

Benefits

• Great quality of life
• Flexible scheduling
• Great wages
• Continuing education
• Plenty of room for growth
• Assigned service vehicle
• Company events
• Vacation and holiday pay

Skills Needed

• MINIMUM 2 YEARS RESIDENTIAL PLUMBING EXPERIENCE
• Knowledge of current plumbing codes
• Diagnostics
• Customer service and sales
• Pass drug test, background check, and copy of DMV record
• Must hold valid IN STATE license

So if you’re ready to join a great team where you have the chance to learn something new everyday, meet a wonderfully diverse group of customers and partners, and have an opportunity to showcase your craftsmanship with plenty of work to go around, then apply today!

All applicants must submit a resume complete with 3 references (only 1 family member accepted) in one of the following manners:

Email: [email protected] / Subject line: “Your Name” Resume

Fax: 303-465-1960

OR, feel free to just simply give us a call at 303-465-1900.

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Plumbing Myths

Stinky garbage disposal? Throw some lemon rinds down it! Don’t know what to do with those eggshells? Go ahead and send those down the disposal too!

Problem solved right? Wrong.

There are many myths in the do-it-yourself plumbing world, such as those listed above. Unfortunately, believing some of these myths can cause a whole lot more trouble than triumph.

Below is a great blog posted by our friends at Horizon Services, Inc. They were able to wonderfully highlight 5 of the most common plumbing myths that will have you flushing your money down the toilet.

To read the original article in its entirety please click here.

Enjoy!

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Are you a homeowner who needs to learn about maintaining your plumbing system? If so, it’s important that you learn how to do so effectively without trying practices that may damage your system or your pipes. Here are five myths about home plumbing you’ll want to avoid.

Myth 1: Lemons Clean Your Garbage Disposal

While a running a lemon rind through the disposal may make your drain smell better, it won’t actually get it clean. To disinfect your garbage disposal, you will need to use a cleaning solution that includes a mild soap and warm water. Before you attempt to use it, however, make sure you disconnect the disposal from its power source. Spray the cleaning solution into the disposal, give it a few minutes to work, and then use a cleaning brush to scrub the disposal itself.

Myth 2: Running Water While Using The Garbage Disposal Helps The Waste Travel Smoothly

Many homeowners believe that they can put just about anything down their garbage disposals as long as they run water. The truth, however, is that some things do not belong in a garbage disposal no matter how much water you run. Hard or thick food items, such as banana peel and eggshells, can damage your disposal, which may require an expensive repair or drain cleaning. If you’re considering putting thick foods down your disposal, you’ll need to break them up thoroughly and mix them with water beforehand.

Myth 3: As Long As Things Keep Going Down My Drain, It Isn’t Getting Clogged

Even when your garbage disposal is operating, it may still be at risk of a serious clog. One of the early warning signs of an impending problem is a slow moving disposal, or waste fragments that remain on the discharge pipe. If you notice either of these signs when you use your disposal, it’s developing a clog, even though it may still be working. Stop using it right away until you have the clog removed.

Myth 4: You Can Clean Plumbing Fixtures With Hand Soap

Depending on the type of plumbing fixtures you have, hand soap may actually be damaging to the surface. Brass plumbing fixtures, for example, should be cleaned with gentle solutions such as cut lemons and baking soda. Toilet bowls, however, need to be cleaned with an effective disinfectant to kill germs and prevent infection.

Myth 5: Plumbing Fixtures Require Little To No Maintenance

This is one of the most dangerous home plumbing myths of all, because homeowners who believe it may run into serious problems later on. Pipes may be obstructed by clogs, wayward tree roots, or shifting home foundations. Homeowners should also inspect their sewer cleanouts for obstructions. All of these issues may lead to expensive plumbing repair, such as a sewer line replacement or a pipe replacement. The fixtures inside the home such as sinks, faucets, and tubs also need regular maintenance to avoid serious drain clogs.

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Feel free to give us a call at 303-465-1900 if you have any questions or concerns about plumbing myths you may have heard of that were not mentioned in this post. We would be more than happy to help!

*”Top 5 Home Plumbing Myths That Cost You Money.” Horizon Services Inc RSS. Horizon Services, 30 July 2013. Web. 26 June 2015.

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2015 Excellence in Customer Service Award!

McAdams Plumbing, Inc. are honored recipients of their 4th consecutive Talk of the Town Excellence in Customer Service Award for 2015!

On behalf of all the staff at McAdams Plumbing, Inc. we’d like to offer a heartfelt thank you to the most important people in our company, our outstanding customers, who are the reason we are in business in the first place. We’d also like to say thank you to Talk of the Town for the research and hard work it takes to compile these awards and our fantastic plumbers who’s hard work and quality keep our customers happy.

We are very humbled to receive the Talk of the Town Excellence in Customer Service Award for 2015. While it is a reflection of our past achievements, it’s also a reminder of the bar we’ve set for ourselves going forward. It is our constant goal to improve our services to ensure we have a happy client base who knows that they can always rely on us in their time of need.

The famous Roman philosopher Seneca once said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” While we are very lucky to have won this award, we know we must continue to prepare as if we did not. That’s the only way we know how to ensure that our customers, and our community, continue to be the focus of everything we do.

Thank you all so much!

-The McAdams Family

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Beware of FOG

Happy Monday everyone!

This week we are going to talk about avoiding FOG.

Not fog, rather FOG: Fats, oils, and grease.

These buggers are what cause the majority of drain cleaning issues in your kitchen sink.

We’re highlighting a great blog produced by The Trusted Plumber, out of Phoenix, AZ. To read the original article in it’s entirety please click here.

Hope you enjoy!

*Beware of FOG! Fats, Oils, and Grease vs. Your Kitchen Plumbing

December 10th, 2014 

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Remodeling? Hire Local Contractors

Saw a great article today in the Legacy Ridge newsletter about hiring local contractors for your remodeling needs so we are going to pass it along.

The article makes great points about why it’s beneficial to hire local and it offers tips on what to look for in a contractor.

So without further ado, I bring you Remodeling? Hire Local Contractors (clink link to see the original article) as provided by ARAnet, Inc.

Remodeling? Hire Local Contractors

(ARA) – We’re hearing a lot these days about buying local and for good reason: it’s better for the environment and it’s a direct way to support local businesses. A similar justification can be applied when it comes time to hire a remodeling contractor. It’s often quicker and easier to work with a local professional.

But those aren’t the only reasons why you should hire a local remodeler. Home remodeling projects can take a considerable amount of time, money and patience. Under these conditions, it is important that you feel a certain level of trust with the remodeling contractor you have selected. After all, you’ll be seeing a lot of and working with each other often over the course of your project.

The benefits of using a local remodeling contractor work both ways. It can be easier for you to verify a local remodeling contractor’s credentials than to check the qualifications of a large company with offices far removed from your neighborhood. If a local contractor has been in business for a few years, he’ll already have a local reputation.

Similarly, a local remodeler has more vested in your project than just seeing it completed. If the contractor’s work meets or exceeds your expectations you can become a positive referral, resulting in even more local business for the contractor. Local home improvement contractors often live in the same community as the homes they remodel and can’t afford to disappoint their neighbors. Plus, they pay taxes and have a commercial interest in your community’s success.

Where to Find a Local Remodeler

A national poll found that the number of people who said they get good ideas and information from word of mouth increased by 25 percentage points. Obviously, we listen to our neighbors and care about what they have to say. More importantly, if they’ve hired a remodeler, we can watch that remodeler in action, stop by and talk to the remodeler, then make our own judgments.

But what if you don’t know of a home improvement contractor in your neighborhood? The Internet has become a virtual word of mouth agent and a valuable source for information on about just about everything, including local remodeling contractors. Online contractor referral services, such as ReliableRemodeler.com, are designed to match your project to up to four quality, local remodeling contractors. These services are free and typically provide you with more than one free estimate from local remodeling contractors.

What to Look for in a Local Remodeler

When choosing a local home remodeler, remember to evaluate multiple contractors before making your decision. It’s important to put your request in writing. Make sure each contractor is aware of your project goals and your estimated budget before they submit a bid.

Contractors are bound by their local and state regulations. Check to see if the contractor you are thinking of choosing is registered with the government and has a current business license. The contractor should be bonded and carry general liability insurance as well. It is permissible for you to ask for copies of any certificates or licenses, as well as for information on local remodeling projects of a similar nature the contractor has completed.

A legitimate local remodeling contractor will provide credentials and references. They shouldn’t try high-pressure sales techniques, such as offering you a special price for today only, or tell you they only accept cash. They should provide a written contract and take care of the necessary building permits.

Once you’ve selected a local remodeling contractor, you’ll need to work closely with the contractor to ensure the project stays true to your budget and your expectations.

When your project is done, you will have the dual satisfaction of owning a house that is not only more valuable and more beautiful, but that was completed by the talents of a quality, local remodeler. Good neighbors not only make good fences, they make good investments.

To find the right local remodeler for your project or to learn more about remodeling, check out www.reliableremodeler.com.

Copyright 2008, ARAnet, Inc.

ARAnet. “Remodeling? Hire Local Contractors.” Today’s Life Solutions: Legacy Ridge News. 2008. Weblog. Web. Accessed 26 Jan. 2015.

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Locate Your Main Water Shut Off

As a homeowner, and even a renter, it is extremely important to know how to locate your main water shut off valve.

Why?

Because if you live in a home long enough you are bound to spring a leak somewhere, at some time. Often, that leak will appear behind a wall, in a ceiling, or on your water heater, and you may not have any choice but to shut down all your water to prevent flood damage until you can get a plumber out to help.

So in this week’s blog I’m going to show you how to recognize, find, and use your main water shut off valve so you can rest easy knowing what to do in case of an emergency.

Step One: Recognize Your Valve

There are 2 very common types of shut off valve you will find in not only Colorado homes, but most homes across the United States. They are ball valves and gate valves. They can range in size, but the most common are 3/4″ and 1″ for residential purposes. Handle colors may also vary, so don’t necessarily expect yours to be red or yellow. They could be blue, black, pink, or any other color of the rainbow.

Ball valves are very trustworthy and shut off with a simple quarter turn of the handle. When the handle is parallel to the body (as seen above) it is in the open position. When the handle is perpendicular to the body, it is in the closed position.

Gate valves take a little more effort to close and can become stiff with age. They are, however, very reliable and have a very long life. To shut off a gate valve simply turn the handle clockwise until it will not allow you to turn anymore. Make sure the handle is snug. Some gate valves require a little extra effort on the final quarter turn, but if you find yourself exhausted, hurting, or needing tools to fully close the valve it would be a good idea to have it replaced before an emergency.

Step Two: Find Your Valve

You main water shut off valve is usually in a basement or utility room of your home. In Colorado it is also common for the valve to be located in a crawl space if one exists. Due to the cold temperatures in Colorado it is rare to find a water shut off outside the home or in a garage and it is not recommended that you relocate your shut off to such a place.

Start by following the wall that faces the city street side of your home at the lowest point. If your home does not face city streets (i.e. rural properties) look toward the side of the home that faces your well. The shut off may be behind an access panel, coming off of a copper pipe that pokes through your concrete foundation, in the furthest corner of your crawlspace, near a water heater/furnace, or right in plain view. Less often the shut off is located in an upstairs mechanical room. This happens more in apartments, condo units, and multi-home complexes.

Step 3: Test Your Valve!

Once you have located your valve it is recommended that you test it to ensure it is operating properly. As with all metals in contact with water it will wear down and eventually become non-functional. If this has happened, you want to know before an emergency, not after.

In order to test your valve turn it’s handle following the directions in step one based on your type of valve. Once you have fully closed the valve go to your nearest faucet and turn both the hot and cold water handles to the “on” position. You should have a steady flow of water for a few moments which will become lesser and lesser until the water completely stops flowing. The more faucets you open the faster this process will occur.

If you have the main water valve turned off and you are still seeing water drip out of fixtures after a few minutes of waiting your valve may not be fully closing. Contact your plumber to have them come test the valve and properly replace it if necessary.

If you have a small leak coming from the packing nut (see picture below) on your shut off valve simply use a small crescent wrench first remove the handle stem nut and handle, then lightly tighten the nut and replace handle. Gate valves normally require a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the handle, however the packing nut is in the same location. Tighten only enough to stop the leak, starting a quarter turn a time time. Check after each quarter turn. If you over tighten two things may happen: 1) the handle may become too tight to turn, or 2) you may break the packing nut which will mean you must replace the whole valve.

If you are not comfortable performing the previous task contact your plumber to tighten the bolt for you. Sometimes it’s better safe than sorry, especially on older devices.

Residential homes often also have a water shut off located in a pit at the city street. You’ll recognize this by the round iron lid that is marked with your municipalities insignia. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS! This shut off is for licensed professionals and city workers only. Because this valve is city property, not property of the homeowner, you could face a fine ($500 – $5,000) from your city for using this device.

For Licensed Professional and City Use Only

When you are ready to turn your water back on, do so slowly and purge the air from your waterlines starting with bath tub spouts first. There will be a lot of bubbling and gurgling as your system regains water pressure.

I hope that’s a helpful walk though. If you have any tips or ideas to help your neighbors find their valves, post them below. Also feel free to send pictures or messages with crazy places you’ve found your main water shut off valves.

Extra tip: Occasionally when you shut down your water system small pieces of debris can come loose. This is nothing to worry about, it causes no damage, however this debris can clog the aerators in your faucets. You can avoid this in one of two ways:

1. Simply unscrew and remove your faucet aerators prior to turning you water back on to allow the debris to pass. Then re-install the aerator after purging water.

2. Open a bathtub faucet on the top floor first. They allow for unrestricted flow, therefore if you let this run for a couple minutes it should remove the debris from your system without you needing to remove faucet aerators.

All the best!

-Chris

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Thank You and Happy New Year!

Looks like 2014 is coming to a close this week.

It’s been a wonderful year and we have been blessed to meet so many Colorado residents we didn’t know before, as well as see old friends who help remind us how important you all are to our family.

So on behalf of McAdams Plumbing, Inc., I would just like to say a heart felt thank you and Happy New Year to all of those who have supported us, not only in 2014, but since we opened our doors almost 6 years ago.

We have received such outstanding encouragement since our establishment from our customers, friends, neighbors, and our community. We know Broomfield supports small business better than any other city in Colorado and as a small business we are very grateful.

All of us at McAdams Plumbing hope to see many, many more years of building friendships and professional relationships with our Colorado community and we promise to keep working everyday to provide better customer service, quality craftsmanship, and the highest possible value for your money.

As our creed states: “We view our Colorado community as a part of our family and because of this we strive for long lasting relationships with our customers. Every job is important, every interaction is meaningful, and our business grows only if we prove these things true.”

We really do believe this.

You stay classy Colorado.

Happy 2015!

P.S. As a reminder McAdams Plumbing, Inc. will be closed for business on Thursday, January 1st, 2015. We will open for normal business hours on Friday, January 2nd, 2015.

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Merry Christmas from McAdams Plumbing!

 Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas everyone! I know, I know, I’m a day early. But to be honest, I really don’t want to even look at my computer on Christmas Day, so hopefully you won’t hold it against me.

I don’t know about you, but Christmas is my FAVORITE time of the year. I’m a bit of a holiday sap. I love hanging out with my family, eating, drinking, and exchanging gifts. The decorations, the music, the festivities and traditions, it’s all so enjoyable.

I hope all of our friends out there are just as excited as I am. I hope you all get an opportunity to spend time with your family and friends and remember the true meaning of Christmas and the sacrifices that were made for us.

For all of those who must work on Christmas, I’d just like to say thank you. Whatever job it is you must perform, I hope you receive the appreciation you deserve for working when most others get to play. And hey, if you’re out there reading this while at work, write a comment below and maybe we can get over to you and spread some joy. Because really, isn’t that what it’s all about?

So whether you choose to spend time at home with your family, helping those in need, or celebrating with friends, have a blessed day and remember to always try and give more than you get. And for those with specific Christmas wishes, I hope you get exactly what you hoped for!

It’s safe to say that as you read this I’ll be sipping mulled cider by a roaring fire and enjoying my precious time with those I love most. Or watching The Muppet Christmas Carol, you know, one or the other…

So from our family to yours, Merry Christmas.

-Chris

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