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Not to get technical on you, but if a water leak really is “hidden,” doesn’t that mean it can be difficult at best to locate it?  Yes, and no.  The trick is to know what to look for, and where.

Take a leaky kitchen faucet, for example.  There’s one you don’t have to hunt down.  It’s staring at you boldly in the face, saying “stop me if you can.”  But here are a few that require a little detective work:

• Refrigerator – From time to time, move your refrigerator away from the wall. That way, you’re far more likely to spot small pools of water which, if left unchecked, can eventually seep into your floor boards and inflict damage on sub-flooring, walls, and ceilings.  If water comes in contact with electricity, even worse problems can erupt.

• Toilets – If you have a toilet tank that likes to refill itself even when no one’s flushed, chances are it has a hairline leak on the tank wall below the water line. To find out, put a drop or two of food coloring inside the tank and let it be for about 30 minutes.  Then come back and check the bowl.  If you see the same color of tinged water, voila, you’ve confirmed your suspicion.

• Slab Leak – Let’s say you have a downstairs family run with a carpet over concrete, and one day your bare foot encounters a wet spot. Yes, one of your kids could have spilled a liquid.  Or, it could be a sign of an under-floor water leak.  This one could take the skill and resources of a plumber to figure out.

Not only can hidden water leaks cause structural damage to your home, spark an electrical fire, and even lead to problems with mold and mildew, they also can cause you waste tons of water before finally catching on when you see your next water bill, grossly inflated from what its norm. To prevent any kind of worst case scenario, contact Boden Plumbing at the first indication that something is leaking somewhere.  We’ll find it for you, using such tools as electronic leak detectors when the eye test isn’t sufficient to the task. You’ll also receive a guaranteed upfront price for any needed repair work along with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.  At Boden, it’s all in a day’s work.

Okay, so maybe the entire universe is NOT already clued in on the whole life hack thing, and what exactly that means.  So, straight from the top of page 1 of Google, let’s call a life hack “a strategy or technique adopted in order to manage one’s time and daily activities in a more efficient way.”

The dog days of summer are officially in full swing, and everyone is looking for ways to beat the summer heat while having fun. So whether you’re a titan of thriftiness, or simply like a good tip that makes your life a little easier, here are 8 summertime life hacks that are sure to keep you cool, comfortable, and even help you save a few bucks.

1. Catch that Drip – There’s nothing like enjoying a cool treat on a hot summer day. But melting popsicles sure can make things messy. Next time, position a cupcake liner at the base of a popsicle to catch the dripping juice so your fingers don’t have to.

2. A Fruity Container – Wow your guests – or just your kids – with a cool beverage container. Simply slice off the top of a watermelon, hollow it out, and insert a spigot into the side. Then fill with your favorite drink and replace the lid.

3. Clever Disguise – Wondering how to keep your valuables safe and secure while at the beach or pool? Use an empty and cleaned out sun block bottle! Just cut a hole at the bottom of the bottle large enough for your credit cards, cash, or even phone to fit through and toss it into your tote or duffel bag.

4. Itch Control – Nothing ruins a fun-filled day outside faster than pesky mosquito bites. But you can calm the itching and reduce swelling with something you already have at home – tooth paste. Just dab a little tooth paste onto the bite and get back outdoors.

5. Soothe the Burn – Spent a little too much time in the sun? Ease the pain of sunburn with cooling aloe. Pour aloe vera juice into an ice cube tray and freeze for an always-ready cooling solution.

6. Condiment Caddy – Adhere contact paper to the sides of a cardboard six-pack container and fill the compartments with condiments, napkins, utensils, or anything else you need for your next summer barbecue.

7. Flies-Be-Gone – Tired of having your outdoor dining experience ruined by pesky flies? Next time, place bowls of lemon halves topped with cloves on the table to ensure a fly-free meal.

8. We All Scream for Ice Cream – It doesn’t take much for your favorite flavor to fall victim to freezer burn. But you can prevent those ice crystals from forming and make your sweet treat easier to scoop by placing the container in a zip-top freezer bag.

Clothes dryers pretty just much go about their business, semi-quietly drying your clothes one load at a time.

Or so we would like you to think.

Because clothes dryers, you see, can be major energy guzzlers, sometimes consuming as much energy as new energy efficient refrigerators, washers, and dishwashers combined.

In fact, Americans spend about $9 billion and 60 billion kilowatt hours per year to dry our clothes.  But those numbers can come way, way down.

The biggest savings will come by switching from an electric to a gas clothes dryer – these cost up to 75% less to operate than electric dryers.  We know it’s not what you’re used to, as electric dryers are still the far more popular choice.   But as our society becomes increasingly energy conscious, gas dryers are slowly starting to gain on their electric counterparts.

In fact, you can now purchase a heat pump clothes dryer and save even more on your energy bills.  But your clothes will take a lot longer to dry, so there’s one technological innovation you want to pass on for the time being.

As for now, and assuming you’re in the market for a new or replacement dryer, you’d do well to give gas a serious look. And don’t worry if your laundry room isn’t already connected to your home’s natural or propane gas supply.  That’s where we come in.  As licensed plumbers and gas fitters, Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air can safely and correctly install a gas connection for your new dryer and, while we’re at it, any other new gas appliances you might be considering.  Contact us for more information or to schedule service today.

There’s nothing like coming in from the summer heat to a cool, comfortable home. Until the electricity bill comes, that is. Then maybe, despite the indoor cool, you find yourself getting a little hot under the collar and wondering what on earth you can do to air condition your home without having to sacrifice an arm, leg, or anything else that matters.

Well, don’t get mad, get busy saving energy around the house.  And here are 8 simple ways to help you do just that:

1. Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use, which continue to draw energy when plugged in even if they’re turned off.

2. Make the switch to LED lights, even just one room at a time. LED lights stay cool to the touch, and thus don’t add any heat to your indoor environment.  Plus, they consume far less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs.

3. Keep the blinds, shades, and curtains closed during peak daylight hours, especially on hot, sunny days.

4. Install programmable thermostats and pre-set them to higher than-than-normal temperatures during those hours when your house is empty.

5. Stay hydrated and wear clothing made of breathable fibers like cotton.

6. Avoid using the oven on those super-hot days. Consider using a slow-cooker, grilling, or simply enjoying your favorite pizza or salad for dinner.

7. Run large appliances, like the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer at night or first thing in the morning, and remember to run them only when you have a full load. For even greater energy savings, try line drying your clothes.

8. Seal gaps around your doors, windows, the areas where walls and ceiling meet, and around electrical outlets. The idea is to prevent cool air from escaping outdoors or into your attic.

Ready to save even more money on your home cooling costs?  Then contact Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air today to schedule our AC cleaning and inspection service.  It’s a service you should have performed once a year not just to keep your energy costs in line, but for improved system performance and a longer lifespan.

When it comes to certain home repairs or maintenance tasks, going the DIY route can often save you a pretty penny.

But if you don’t have the requisite skill, tools, time, and/or patience, sooner or later you’re going to need the services of a professional plumber or plumbing company.  But if that day were today, would you know the right questions to ask to help ensure your chosen plumber proved to be the right match?  Someone you can trust to do the job right – first time, every time?

If not, or even if you’re not sure, you’ll find the following selection criteria extremely useful:

Experience. Whether fixing a cracked water pipe or tackling a bathroom remodel, you want someone with experience and know-how. So ask how long they’ve been in business, what special certifications they carry, and what areas of plumbing they specialize in.

License and Insurance. In a perfect world, your plumbing issue would be resolved swiftly and without any hiccups. In reality, sometimes accidents happen. A licensed and insured plumbing company will be able to protect itself and your home should anything go wrong.

Reasonable rates. Be wary of contractors who grossly underbid their competition. While they may save you a few dollars initially, you could end up paying more the long run.

Warranty. A trustworthy plumbing contractor will stand behind their work and back it up with some type of warranty or quality assurance guarantee.

Written estimates. When your bathroom turns into an indoor swimming pool, the last thing you want is a “ballpark” cost. Choose a plumber who will provide you with a written estimate in advance.

Emergency service. Plumbing problems rarely happen when it’s convenient for you. So ask your plumber if they offer after-hours emergency service, and if there is an additional charge for it.

Here at Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air, we have a long and proud history of serving the diverse home comfort needs – plumbing included – of families throughout the area.  We welcome the opportunity to serve you, as well.  To that end, contact us anytime by phone or email and ask all the questions you like.  The more you know about us in advance, the more confident we are you’ll choose Boden.

How many times has the following exchange occurred in your home?

“You remember that we’re having company this weekend, right?”

“Yeah, so…”

“So, like I’ve been asking you for the past 3 months, you need to either fill up the propane tank or, even better, get us a fully filled back-up.”

“And when exactly did that become my job?!”

Sound familiar?  Then you’re a perfect candidate to give up on the propane and switch a natural gas fired outdoor grill.

Natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than propane, which means that the pipes and connections are going to be easier to clean, and won’t need to be cleaned as often.

Plus, you’re not going to run out of natural gas, because your grill (like your home) would be connected to the gas main on your street.  With natural gas, you simply turn on your grill and, no matter how much cooking you have planned, you’ll have all the gas you need.

At Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’re licensed plumbers and gas fitters.  That’s means we are fully qualified, experienced, and trained not just to install a natural gas hook-up on your deck or patio, etc., but to do so to the highest standards of industry safety and excellence.

So if you’re tired of squabbling over propane, maybe it’s time to go all natural – with a natural gas connection from Boden.

Do you go through cycles where you spend money one day like it didn’t matter and, not too much further down the long, you start wondering how and where you can cut corners?  Most people have a lifetime pass on that particular merry-go-round.

Of course, the less time you spend riding it the less you’ll have to wonder where the money meant.  And while there are a million and one ways to cut your living expenses, here are five that are easy to adopt and really work.

We hope you find them useful:

1. While they help your laundry feel soft and smell great, single use dryer sheets are not only wasteful but filled with potentially harmful chemicals. Instead, why not make your own. All you are some old towels and/or tee shirts.  Make sure they’re clean and you always have enough on hand for a week’s worth of laundry.  Take a couple of the cut up “sheets” to start, dip them in a mixture of distilled white vinegar and your favorite essential oil, store them in an air tight container, and pop one on the dryer as needed.

2. Get a few more washes out of your bar soap by collecting the scraps, melting them over the stove, and pouring the mixture into bar molds. Let them dry and voila, brand new bars of soap!

3. Stop buying costly flower vases and storage containers. Instead, thoroughly wash and dry mason jars, coffee cans, and other food storage containers, and use them for storing tool bits, pencils, crayons, and art brushes, or as a shabby-chic home for a bright bouquet of flowers.

4. Why turn on the hose or fill the watering can to water your garden? Install a rain barrel below the eaves of your roof to collect run-off rain water. Just be sure to check that rain water collection is permitted in your area.

5. You might be tempted to surround your central air conditioning unit with lush foliage to make it a little more visually appealing. However, such vegetation can reduce airflow and make your unit run less efficiently. Trim back shrubbery and remove weeds around your unit to reduce electrical consumption and lower your home cooling bill.

You know what else you can do to keep your AC costs under control.  Contact Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air today and request our annual preventative maintenance service.  By having this service performed once a year, you can look forward to fewer repairs, longer system lifespan, and lower utility costs.

Whether it’s a small extension of your home, or more like a sprawling oasis, a deck is a wonderful addition to any home. And yet just like all the rooms and mechanicals, it requires routine maintenance to ensure that it remains a safe and enjoyable place to just be.

Simply follow these Do’s and Don’ts for deck maintenance and you’re sure to get more years of enjoyment and greater pleasure for your trouble:

DO thoroughly clean your deck once a year. When the temps hit about 60-70 degrees and there is no rain in the forecast, use a roller or sprayer to apply a deck cleaning solution. While power washers are great way to wash of the gunk, they can also gouge the wood. Instead, use a garden hose on a hard-stream setting.

DO sand your deck before applying a sealant. When your deck is completely dry – which can take up to 48 hours – lightly sand the surface using a pole sander with 80-grit sandpaper. Then apply sealant to protect from warping and cracking. If you want a longer lasting seal, use a clear sealant.

DO inspect and clean your deck throughout the year. Regularly sweep puddles, leaves, branches, and debris off your deck to prevent scratches, mold and mildew growth, and water damage. Periodically, inspect the wood for cracks and soft spots, plus loose planks, railings, and nails.

DON’T use chlorine bleach on your deck.  Yes, chlorine bleach is one heck of a cleaner, but it can damage the wood and strip it of its natural sheen. Even oxygen bleach, which is a safer alternative, is still not recommended for certain wood species. Look for and use only a wood-approved deck cleaner.

DON’T mistake paint for sealant. If you want to change the color of your deck, first start by removing any paint with a sander or stripper. Things such as paint, varnish, or lacquer leave a film instead of penetrating the wood like a sealant. This can cause it to crack and peel in no time.

DON’T ignore pressure-treated wood. While it might resist insect infestation and rot, it does not resist sun and water damage. Clean and seal decking made with pressure treated planks just as you would with natural wood, but choose products made specifically for it.

DON’T use area rugs made from natural fibers. An outdoor area rug is a great way to protect your deck from scrapes and scratches while adding a little style, but natural fibers absorb moisture and promote mold and mildew. Opt for rugs made of recycled plastics instead.

Want to enjoy the whole outdoor experience even more?  Contact Boden Plumbing today and ask us about adding an outdoor gas connection and piping so you never have to worry about running out of charcoal or propane again.  That way, you can grill whatever you want, whenever you want.

Spring has officially sprung and that means it’s time to throw open those windows, let in some fresh air, and jump right into spring cleaning to awaken your home from months of hibernation. Still, do you really want to spend a beautiful spring weekend knee deep in dusting and laundry?  Exactly.

So to help ensure that you get your home sparkling clean in as little time as possible, here are 7 time saving tips and tricks.

1. Steam up your microwave. Cleaning dried on food splatters from the microwave can be a time-consuming task, but a little steam can make it all go simpler and faster. Simply boil a cup of water in the microwave to create a steam bath that will soften the dried-on gunk.
2. Vacuum window treatments. Give your curtains and drapes a quick cleaning – in between washing or taking them to the dry cleaner – by vacuuming them with the upholstery attachment. You can do the same for your blinds and pleated shades.

3. Use rubber gloves to ball up pet hair. Getting Fido to stay off the couch may be a losing battle, but cleaning up pet hair doesn’t have to be. Just put on a pair of rubber gloves and wipe your hands over the area. The pet hair will ball right up for fast and easy disposal.

4. Dust walls and ceilings with microfiber mop. Eliminate the need for a step ladder by investing in a microfiber mop with a long handle.

5. Use a pillowcase to dust ceiling fans. Keep the dust under control by sliding a pillow case over each blade. When you pull it back, you’ll end up dusting the blade and sending the dust inside the pillow case instead of onto your floor.

6. Clean your toilet with denture tablets. You read that right. Just drop a few denture tablets into the toilet bowl and walk away. Come back in about 5 minutes and flush. You’ll get a deep anti-bacterial clean that requires no effort at all.

7. Clean your dishwasher with a pantry staple. Even your dishwasher needs a good cleaning every once in a while to remove food scraps and soap residue, etc. Place a dishwasher-safe cup of white vinegaron the top rack of your dishwasher.  Run it through a full cycle on the hottest water setting possible and voila! You’ll have a sparkling clean dishwasher without harsh chemicals.

Spring is also the perfect time to have your AC system professionally cleaned and inspected so you can count on its full cooperation once the warm weather comes to stay.  And that’s the fastest spring cleaning chore of all, because all it requires is a call or email to Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air.  We look forward getting your AC season to a rousing and worry-free start.

If you’ve noticed some unattractive spots appearing and spreading on your bathroom ceiling or grout, you have a problem that is more than just aesthetic in nature. More importantly, the sooner you take steps to remove and prevent mold in your bathroom, the better.

As you may know, mold grows quickly and can be very destructive to your home and harmful to your health.  Mold, for example, can cause severe allergy problems that can lead to asthma.

What’s the first step in getting mold out of your bathroom once and for all? Finding out how and why it got there in the first place. Let’s have a look at the most common causes:

Mold loves moisture and warmth. If your bathroom is not well ventilated, then whenever you use the shower it creates an excess of moisture – ideal conditions for mold to form and grow. Does your bathroom have an exhaust fan? Is it working properly?

Is there an attic space above the bathroom? If so, perhaps that’s where the mold originated and now has spread downward to your bathroom. A small leak in the roof could be the cause, as can can a loose connection in the wiring of your ceiling fan.

Once you’ve found and corrected the source of the moisture problem, you can treat the mold without fear of it returning. First, treat the moldy spots with a bleach-and-water solution. You can put the mixture in a spray bottle or use a sponge to apply it without oversaturating.

After treating the spots, it’s a good idea to repaint the ceiling to prevent mold from returning. You’ll need to use a primer first that has anti-mold properties, and then repaint using a specially formulated bath paint, the kind that will create an effective and lasting barrier.

At Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’re experienced and ready to assist you in preventing and treating mold growth in your bathroom or anywhere else in your home. Contact us today and let us know how we can help.