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The Sonoma Valley is known for many things the world over and, mercifully, one of them NOT being brutal winters.

Yes, it can get pretty chilly in the December through February corridor, especially after the sun goes down. But usually not so bad that it makes you think of pulling up stakes and moving elsewhere.

Still, when it’s cold enough to turn the heat on – and we get plenty of days like that – then it’s time to prepare to help ensure your family’s winter-long indoor comfort. We have two suggestions we invite you to consider:

• Heating System Preventative Maintenance – The best way to fix a problem with your heating system is to not let anything go wrong in the first place: which is precisely the point of our annual preventative maintenance service. The best time to have the work done is in the fall before you even start using your heating system. That way, you’ll already know that it’s been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. What’s more, we’ll advice you if we locate any small repair issues that would make more sense to correct now before they become bigger and potentially costly repair problems.

• Whole-House Humidifier. One of the biggest complaints we get from customers this time of year is how dry their homes get while the furnace is running. Dry air, in turn, can cause problems for allergy and asthma sufferers, create plenty of static electricity, dry up and potentially warp objects (including musical instruments) made of wood, and more. But with a whole-house humidifier, you can maintain relative humidity levels exactly where you like them for even greater comfort and allergy relief this and every winter to follow.

Our advice? Even while you’re enjoying the early fall months, Northern California style, don’t forget completely about winter. In fact, embrace and more fully prepare for it by contacting Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air today.

The single best way to get rid of mold in your bathroom is not to let it form in the first place, even though very often that’s easier said than done. Still, if you don’t at least try, then it’s like placing a welcome matt out for this very unhealthy substance.

So let’s start with 4 effective ways to keep mold out of your bathroom:

1. When showering, make sure the bathroom is well-ventilated. If have a window, open it just a crack and, for even better ventilation, open the door a crack at the same time. An exhaust fan works well for the same purpose, even if you turn it on only after turning off the shower water. Also, when leaving the bathroom after a shower, keep the door open so whatever moisture is left in the air can escape.

2. If you have a shower curtain, stretch it out completely after exiting the tub or shower enclosure. Otherwise, mold can and will form in the cracks.

3. If, on the other hand, you have sliding glass doors, wipe them down after your shower to get rid of the moisture. And then periodically clean your sliders to destroy lingering mold bacteria.

4. Keep a sharp lookout for bathroom leaks, especially in hard to spot places like behind your toilet or under your sink, especially if you have a vanity. A little moisture left undetected is all it takes to start a colony of mold.

Already have mold and want to know how best to get rid of it. Here at Boden, we recommend the following cleaning measures:

• Mix bleach with warm water and spray it directly on the mold spots or onto a sponge and then wipe it away. Bleach is a pretty potent substance so, to avoid staining, don’t use too much.

• If you don’t have any bleach in the house, here are some other products that also are effective against mold: Borax; vinegar; a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and water; and ammonia.

• Once you’re done applying your mold cleaner, thoroughly rinse and wipe away after each application.

• If mold has made its way onto your bathroom ceiling, you need to repaint it once the mold is completely gone to prevent a re-occurrence.

Let’s face it: some homes are just more prone to others, no matter how careful you are to prevent and/or clean up after mold first appears. Then again, there are probably one or more things we can do to assist you. That includes clearing any clogged drains, repairing a faucet or pipe leak, and repairing or replacing your leaking toilet. Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air. Contact us today long-term relief against mold in your bathroom or anywhere else in your home. Just like always, we’re here to help.

With some things in life, timing is everything. Other times, timing just doesn’t matter.

If a local radio station is giving away $10,000 to the “100^th lucky caller,” for example, being 99^th just won’t cut it. Or, take applying for your first job right out of college. You could have the world’s best resume, but unless you apply somewhere that needs what you bring to the table right then and there, your search will probably need to continue.

Okay, so how about when timing really makes no difference at all? Well, scheduling a water heater performance and safety inspection definitely falls into that category. That’s especially true if you have a gas water heater and it hasn’t been professionally inspected in at least a year.

Here’s the logic behind “any time scheduling”:

• Your water heater is designed, on average, to last 10 -12 years. In the overall scheme of things, that’s not a very long time. So while you have it, doesn’t it make sense to give it the best care possible?

• Water heater storage tanks are prone to interior corrosion over time, especially if you have hard or acidic water. Corroded water can bring about internal cracks, and cracks can lead to gas and carbon monoxide leaks.

• During a water heater inspection, your professional Boden plumber will also check your thermostat to make sure your water is hot enough without the risk of scalding.

• Is your water heater insulated? You might want to consider getting that done, too, as it can cut your water heating costs by about 9%.

• We’ll also check your sacrificial anode, a device used to help prevent internal corrosion. By replacing it at proper intervals, we can help extend the lifespan of your system.

These are just a few examples of what goes into a water heater performance and safety inspection by Boden. To help better protect your investment, home, and family, we encourage you to contact us to schedule service today.

If you spend enough time watching the Food Channel, you know that all the top cooks and chefs use gas stoves and ovens to prepare their culinary wonders.

And now, perhaps, you’re past the stage of curiosity and seriously considering switching from electric to gas, but not until you’re sure you’re making the right decision. Well, to help you along in the process, here are the top pros and cons of cooking with gas.

Gas Stove Pros

• It’s faster. You turn on a burner, it’s already hot, and away you go.
• Readily adjustable. Want to switch from medium to simmer? Just turn the know and eyesight alone will take you exactly where you want to go.
• More uniform cooking. Gas flames cook more evenly than an electric burner because the flames spread themselves along the bottom of a pot or pan.
• Lower cost. Assuming you already have natural gas, it will cost you less to operate a gas vs. electric stove.

Gas Stove Cons

• Higher upfront cost. And yet, you will recoup the difference over time in lower energy costs.
• Safety concern. You have to be diligent when operating a gas stove or oven to make sure it turns on. If not, then it’s still releasing gas into the air and, if left unattended, real and serious problems can result.

And yes, if you switch from and electric to gas range and don’t already have a gas connection in your kitchen, you’ll need that too. And that’s a service Boden is ready and able to provide. We are licensed plumbers and gas fitters, and that’s your assurance of the right combination of skill and strict adherence to safety standards to ensure the job meets or exceeds your expectations. Contact Boden today to learn more and, at the same time, we’ll be happy to answer all your questions.

Your home’s plumbing can be easily overlooked when you leave your house unoccupied for a period of time. If something goes wrong while you’re away, your vacation memories can easily turn into living nightmares.

Unattended plumbing is just one of the reasons why homes are ten times more likely to be damaged by water than fire.

So, to make sure your home doesn’t become part of that statistic, here are five simple plumbing tips that will ensure you don’t return to a watery mess.

1. Turn off the main shut-off valve to your plumbing system. If you can’t turn off the main valve, shut off individual valves under sinks, behind toilets, your refrigerator and the washing machine.

2. It’s always a good idea to turn off your water heater before going on vacation.  All water heaters have a shut off water valve attached to the tank.  Turning it to the off position could prevent a big water spill, the kind that can result from a tank fail during your absence. Turning the heater down or off is another good idea.  Why heat water when not home?

3. Add some water and a drain maintenance product to your drains before you leave. This will keep them semi-wet and prevent them from developing an unpleasant odor.

4. Do a visual inspection of all appliances that have plumbing (refrigerator, washing machine, hot water heater) to make sure nothing is wet or corroded.

5. Have someone come to your house while you’re gone and walk around – inside and out – to keep an eye out for water leaks and other signs of trouble.

Has it been a more since you’ve had a whole-house plumbing inspection? Then scheduling one before vacation will allow you to enjoy your time away with greater peace of mind. If nothing’s wrong, you’ll know that for sure. And if there’s an item or two should require further attention, the professionals at Boden will advise you whether immediate attention is required or if the issue can wait until you return. Safe travels this summer or anytime at all.

When most people think of plumbing, they think of toilets, sinks, and showers – all of which reside inside their home. But did you know that plumbing can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your backyard experience, as well?

From the practical to the deluxe, here are some backyard plumbing solutions that can add a splash of modern luxury to your backyard retreat.

• Rinse off the sand, chlorine, or simply the sweat in an outdoor shower. Add a lower hand-held shower head so you can give Fido a refreshing rinse as well.

• Relax to the soothing sounds of flowing water and help drown out the sound of traffic with an outdoor fountain.

• Add a garden sink to help make watering your plants and flowers and washing your gardening tools a breeze.

• Tired of dragging your garden hose from one area of your yard to another? An outdoor tap – or two – in a more convenient location can help solve that problem.

• Save yourself the hassle of running in and out of the house every time you or your kids need a drink of water by having a drinking fountain installed in your backyard.

• No one wants to be stuck indoors cooking on a beautiful day. An outdoor kitchen, complete with a mini fridge, wet bar, and bar-b-q can be the perfect place to entertain all summer long. And, with a few well-placed portable heaters for good measure, you can extend your backyard experience by leaps and bounds.

Here at Boden, we’re skilled and experienced residential plumbers with creative solutions for indoors and outdoors. Contact us today, tell us the need you’re trying to fill, and we’ll come up with one or more creative, practical, and affordable solutions.

“I’d like the silver one, please!”

Ah, if only it were that simple when purchasing a replacement water heater. It’s not, of course, and now it’s only gotten more complicated since the federal government implemented new and tougher energy conservation measures in April, 2015.

The program is called NAECA (National Appliance Energy Conservation Act), and it has forever changed the way Americans will purchase water heaters going forward. That’s because water heaters, as you once knew them, for the most part no longer exist.

Here are just a couple of the recent changes, and how they can impact your next purchasing decision:

• Let’s say you have a gas or electric water heater with less than 55 gallons of water storage capacity. If you were to purchase a replacement system today with the exact same storage capacity as your current unit, the new tank would be 2” taller and 2” wider. No big deal, right? Well, it’s only “no big deal” if you have enough space in your home or condo for the bigger storage tank. If not, then some creative thinking is going to be required to help you get the kind of hot water system you really need.

• Next, let’s say you’re looking to replace your 80 gallon electric storage tank water. Well, conventional models like the one you have now (hypothetically) are no longer being manufactured. So unless you can find one left over from the good old days, you’ll be replacing your current system with a hybrid electric heat pump water heater. And while you’ll definitely save money on your water heater operating costs, heat pump water heaters can only be installed in rooms or spaces at least 10’ by 10’ with sufficient ambient air for the heat pump function to work effectively.

While it’s always been a good idea to trust a professional plumber to recommend and install the right water heater, it’s even more important now in the wake of the NAECA regulations. Is it time to replace your water heater? Then contact Boden Plumbing today. We’ll explain all your options and help you choose what’s best for your home, family, and budget.

Does your kitchen look more like the set of a 1980s sitcom than the sleek, efficient, and stylish hub of your home? Maybe you’ve considered giving it a little – or big – facelift, but just aren’t sure where to start. Sure, the “before and after” pictures on those home improvement web sites are stunning, but the thought of starting a kitchen remodel can be downright overwhelming. And given the investment required, it’s definitely not something you want to jump into uninformed.

So before you hire a contractor and start swinging that sledge hammer, here are some things to consider.

• Budget – This may seem like an obvious starting point, and yet many kitchen remodeling projects go over budget, sometimes by thousands of dollars. Factor “surprises” into your budget, especially if you’re opening up walls or changing the footprint of the space.

• Stated Reason – Are you updating to make the space work better for you and your family or more for increased resale value? If it’s the latter, consider speaking with a real estate professional about what upgrades buyers in your neighborhood are looking for. You want to make your home desirable without going overboard.

• Use – How does your household use the kitchen or how do you wish you all could? If you’re an entertainer at heart, maybe an open layout, large French door refrigerator, and lots of prep space are important to you.

• Style – Do you prefer a modern look with simple lines and sleek surfaces or is traditional more your style? If your dream cabinets, counters, and flooring are out of your price range, look at alternative materials that still deliver the look you want for a fraction of the cost.

• Storage – Even a small kitchen can have tons of storage space if you make the most of the space you have. Upper cabinets that reach to the ceiling can hold seasonal or special occasion dishes, platters, and other items. A small rolling island or cart offers extra prep space and storage, while a small bistro table with a drop down side offers casual dining for two.

If you ultimately decide on a project bigger than changing out cabinet hardware, Boden Plumbing can prove to be an excellent resource for you, complete with helping you select just the right appliances and fixtures.  On the plumbing side, our many kitchen upgrade services include hooking up your new ice-making refrigerator, adding a new gas stove connection, installing all the plumbing for your new island sink, and much more.  Contact Boden today for professional advice and outstanding results.

We all know about knee-jerk reactions, as in, doing and saying the first thing that comes to mind in response to some sort of external stimulus.

Touching a hot stove, for example, not only causes you to pull your hand in a hurry, but perhaps utter a few choice words or two – hopefully with the kids well out of earshot.  Or how about when an ump calls your kid out at the plate during a little league game and, from your vantage point, he or she was clearly safe.  Do you sit there calmly and shout “you’ll get ‘em next time,” “loudly pronounce the ump unfit for his present occupation”   (even though you might be inclined to phrase that a little differently).

Take, for example, the last time a drain or sewer pipe in your house backed up.  The most common knee-jerk reaction when you don’t already have a family plumber?  Go to the internet and call the first living, breathing person who advertises drain cleaning as one of their services.

Sometimes that works out just great.  Other times, not so much.  And that’s when the problem needs more than a plunger, wrench, or mechanical snake to get it fixed.  So what happens then?  You wind up paying twice – at least – for the same service until you locate a company that has the skill, experience, and equipment to handle any size sewer or drain job – especially yours.

At this time, we’d like to suggest one more knee-jerk reaction:  before you do anything us, write down our name and phone number and store it in a secure place where you’re likely to look and locate it the next time you have a sewer or drain problem.

At Boden, we do it all:

• Sewer and drain cleaning
• In-line video inspection
• Sewer and drain repairs
• New sewer and drain line installation

Would you like to learn more about our experience and qualifications?  Then just pick up the phone and call us – we’re happy now and always to answer any questions you might have.

Much like baseball, gardening, and yard sales, grilling is a quintessential part of spring. After all, what’s better than being called outdoors by warmer weather and longer daylight hours than the tempting odors of flame-broiled food – meats, seafood, and veggies alike!

But it’s not all sunshine and burger, as outdoor grilling comes with its own fair share of risk. That’s why we’ve prepared the following safety tips to help keep everything delicious, and your family free from harm.

Get to Know Your Grill

Whether it’s gas, charcoal, or propane, brand new or well loved, familiarize yourself with your grill. Give it a thorough inspection and cleaning at the start of grilling season, and clean it after each use. Routinely check for any loose hoses, leaks, corrosion, or damage. And only light your grill according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Location, Location, Location  

Choose a flat, sturdy, non-flammable surface for your grill, at least 10 feet away from any buildings, hanging tree limbs, or awnings. If you routinely entertain outdoors, make sure the grill is away from heavily trafficked areas. Never attempt to move a grill once it’s been lit.

Don’t Get Burned

Have the proper grilling tools on hand, such as long-handled utensils and fire-resistant oven mitts. If you’re in charge of the grill, avoid wearing loose clothing, or clothing with strings, ties, or frills that could catch fire.

Be Prepared

Every home should have a working portable fire extinguisher. Never attempt to douse a grease fire with water, it will only make the flames flare. Should your gas grill catch fire, turn off the burners and tank valve if you can reach it safely. If you have a charcoal grill, closing the lid should stifle the flames. If the fire involves a propane tank, evacuate the area and call the fire department immediately.

One way to enjoy added safety and convenience is to connect your gas grill to your home’s natural gas supply. As licensed plumbers and gasfitters, that’s a job we’re eminently qualified to perform on your behalf. Contact Boden Plumbing Heating & Air today for more information or to request a new gas hook-up.