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The key to maintaining a dry basement is, well, taking every preventive step you can to keep water out.  But nature and your indoor plumbing each has a way of sneaking up on you and greeting you one day with a watery mess.

So, and for starters, if your home or neighborhood is prone to basement flooding, you’ll want to install a main sump pump as your first line of defense.  They do, however, have one limitation:  they run on electricity.  Should you therefore lose power, your pump will immediately shut down. Or, what if your pump breaks down for mechanical reasons?

Not to worry, because should it suddenly fail for any reason, you’ll be protected by installing a water-powered back-up sump pump.  Each one is apable of pumping more than 1,300 gallons per water out of your basement. And, because water-powered pumps require neither electricity nor batteries to operate – just pressure from your main water line – they can run indefinitely even under extremely trying conditions.

Another big plus about a water-powered sump pump is that it requires virtually no maintenance.

To learn how best to protect your basement and valuables from water and any resulting damage, contact Boden today to request a free in-home proposal. At Boden, we install only high quality sump pumps and, where maintenance is required, you can count on us to keep your sump pumps and all your plumbing in top working condition.

As technology evolves, you have more and more green living options essentially handed to you on a silver platter.  And we’re all better off for it.

Let’s say, for example, you’re ready to replace an older toilet, the kind that uses between three and five gallons of water per flush.  You might be surprised to learn you can no longer purchase such a water guzzler, and that low-flush toilets that use between 1.3 and 1.6 gallons per flush are the new default toilet purchase.

Well, you have another option beside that:  a dual-flush toilet for the ultimate in water consumption.  Just as its name suggests, a dual-flush toilet has two flushing modes:  half-flush for liquid waste, and full-flush for solid waste. These toilets consume only .8 of a gallon for a half flush, and 1.6 gallons for a full flush.

How much water can you save by switching from your older toilet to a dual-flush model. According to the Sierra Club, a family of four will save an average of 7,000 gallons per year.

One more thing about dual-flush toilets to keep in mind: less water does not mean more toilet blockages.  Quite the opposite, in fact, since dual-flush toilets have greater flushing power and in-bowl traps about twice the size of older style toilets, thus virtually eliminating the potential for clogged toilets.

Have questions before you buy?  At Boden, we’ll be happy to answer them for you and provide the new toilet solution that works best for your home and family.  To learn more or schedule installation, contact Boden today, your Sonoma Valley plumbing professionals.

When it comes to bracing for cold winter temperatures, especially how it gets during the late evening and overnight hours, do you feel more like that of a super hero or a 90-lb. weakling?  There’s plenty of both to go around here in the Napa-Sonoma area, and far be it from us to pick sides.

But here’s what we do know:  love or hate the winter chill, you can save yourself a lot of aggravation and some money, too, by following the few simple steps we’ve detailed below:

Water Heater

Lowering the thermostat to 120 degrees will give you all the hot water you need and reduce your energy costs at the same time.  To cut your energy expense even further, consider covering your storage tank with a specially made water heater blanket.

Pipe Insulation

Do you have water pipes in unheated areas that are prone to freezing?  Then it’s time to take a stand against frozen and burst water pipes by covering them with foam insulation.  For your added peace of mind, consider adding insulation to the inside of your garage door or inside any crawl spaces as additional means to prevent frozen pipes.

Cut Your Home Heating Costs

When it comes to reducing your home heating costs, we have all sorts of suggestions up our sleeves. Feel cold air coming in from around windows and doors?  Time to beef or replace caulking and weather stripping?  Are you heating bills going through the roof, literally?  Then your attic insulation can probably use a little help, or maybe it’s so far gone it needs to be replaced.  Also, are you paying more to heat your home and don’t understand why?  Well, it it’s been a year or longer since your heating system was last cleaned and inspected, we might just have a ready-made solution for you – more on that in just a minute.

Clean Air

Replacing a furnace filter couldn’t be easier.  And yet the majority of heating repairs we perform trace back to dirty and clogged filters that ultimately caused bigger problems that required our services.  If you clean or replace your filter even just three or four times all winter long, you’ll be miles ahead in the clean air department, and less likely to rack up any repair charges.

Take Notes and Store Them Somewhere Safe 

Let’s say you’re the ambitious type and follow every suggestion we’ve made.  For your sake, keep a record of things that you can refer to from time to time. It will help remind you when follow up measures might be called for.  Of, if you’re planning to sell your home, you can show prospective buyers the improvements that you’ve made.

Remember how we mentioned it would be a good idea to have your heating system cleaned and inspected?  Well, we’re just the people to do a very thorough and professional job.  It’s a service that should be performed once a year and for all the right reasons:  fewer repairs, cleaner air, lower utility costs, and more.  Contact Boden today to schedule service and start enjoying the fruits of our labor.

We all use bottled water at one time or another to satisfy our need for “clean and fresh”.

But legions of people across the land overdo it, thus creating an ecological menace.  Consider these very real and alarming statistics:

For those occasions where bottled water is your only clean water solution, please recycle.  But for just about every other clean water need, a home water filtration system is the answer.  These are the two types we recommend and install most often:

• Plastic bottles take 700 years to begin composting
• 90% of the cost of bottled water is due to the bottle itself
• 80% of plastic bottles are not recycled
• 38 million plastic bottles go to the dump per year in America from bottled water (not including soda)
• 24 million gallons of oil are needed to produce a billion plastic bottles

• Point-of-use (also called “under sink”) water filters remove lead and other impurities as you draw water from your faucet.  The water tank and filter is installed under your sink, and we have different size tanks to accommodate your average daily consumption.

• Whole-house water filters provide clean, purified water from every water source in your home, including your washing machine, dishwasher, faucets, shower, and all the rest.  This is the solution for people who want clean, soft, and filtered water – no substitutions, please!

More Benefits of Filtered Water.

• Water filters greatly reduce the risk of rectal cancer, colon cancer, and bladder cancer by removing chlorine and chlorine byproducts from drinking water.

• Water filters provide the healthiest water for children’s developing immune systems.

• Water filters provide the last line of defense between the body and the over 2,100 known toxins that may be present in drinking water.

And, of course, you’ll be saving money on all the bottled water you won’t need to buy any longer.  To learn more about your home water filtration options, contact Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air today.

Knowing that your electric water heater is not going to last forever, you can do yourself a world of good by keeping an eye on it, especially once it starts getting up there in years.

Just to put some numbers to it, your water heater has a projected lifespan of 10-12 years (up to years if you have a tankless system).  Once it hits 6 or 7 years old, it’s time for some closer surveillance. That way, you’ll be able to spot early warning signs of trouble and can get them fixed before the problem gets worse.

These are the primary indications that trouble is brewing

Water Leaking from the Top

If you see or suspect water is leaking from the top of your electric water heater, it probably means the cold inlet or hot outlet pipes are loose, that the T&P valve has failed, or the inlet valve is leaking.  These are all very fixable issues.

Water Leaking from the Bottom

This could be caused by something as simple as normal condensation.  But water leaking from the bottom of your electric water heater also could indicate a leaking gasket or that a small amount of water has been expelled through the overflow pipe.  Worst case scenario, the leak stems from internal tank corrosion.  If that’s the case, you’ll need to replace your system.

No Hot Water

Several possibilities here.  First, the circuit breaker may have tripped – the ultimate easy fix.  Or, perhaps the heating elements have failed or there’s an issue with the thermostat’s limit/reset switch.  If the unit has power, try re-setting the switch.  If that fails to deliver the desired result, you’ll probably need to call a plumber.

Not Enough Hot Water

If you’re running out of hot water at all, or faster than you recall, chances are there’s a problem with your system’s thermostat.  During the cold weather months, raising the thermostat might be enough to solve the problem.  On most models, you’ll find the thermostat on one side of the tank in a compartment and behind a layer of insulation.

Dirty or Rust-Colored Water

Rusty hot water usually indicates corrosion on the walls of storage tank or what’s called the sacrificial anode rod.  The latter is so named because it’s “job” is to sacrifice itself to internal corrosion to spare the storage tank.  Either way – storage tank or anode rod – call your plumber once you notice rusty water to have the exact cause diagnosed.

Smelly Hot Water

The likely culprit?  Bacteria inside the tank, which can easily be flushed out.

If your electric water heater is displaying any of these warning signs, contact Boden Plumbing Heating & Air today for prompt scheduling, expert problem diagnosis, plus a guaranteed upfront price quote for the repair or replacement work we recommend.

Even if you have the world’s greatest heating system, here’s one thing it wasn’t designed to accomplish:  heat up the space outside your home.  And yet it can’t help but attempt the impossible when heat is permitted to escape outdoors.

To prevent that and take a big bite out of your monthly heating costs, simply follow these steps energy conservation steps:

• Attic insulation – Pardon us for repeating the obvious, but heat rises, and unless your attic is well insulated, it could be rising into your attic and through your roof. If it’s been a while since you’ve inspected your attic insulation, now’s a good time to do so or hire a professional for assistance.  For best results, the insulation should be at least 6” thick and cover the entire surface of your attic without gaps.  Because heat, you see, will find those gaps, and that spells higher utility costs and more wear and tear on your heating system.

• Window and Door Insulation – On cold and blustery day, you don’t need an expert to tell you that heat is escaping through or around windows and doors.  Simply stand next to one and you can feel the added chill for yourself.  When you do, that’s the time to beef up or replace window caulking or the weather stripping around doors that lead outside.  If you can feel cold air coming in from beneath a door, installing a door skirt can help a great deal. So can hanging thick shades or drapes over certain windows.

• Wall Insulation – It’s estimated that about 35% of heat loss occurs through your outside facing walls.  You can gain a lot of extra rest for your heating system and cut your heating costs simply by insulating the inside of them.

• Fireplace, Switches & Outlets – Your fireplace opening is such a large and easy exit point for heat, it might as well have a neon sign pointing the way out!  To prevent large scale heat loss, cover the opening with airtight glass doors when your fireplace is sitting idle.  Warm air can also escape through switches and outlets – you’ll find specially designed insulation for these at your local hardware store or home center.

How’s your heating system performing?  If it’s been a year or more since you’ve had it checked, now’s the perfect time to contact Boden Plumbing Heating & Air for our multi-point heating system tune-up and inspection.  It’s a great way to prevent heating repair problems while ensuring your system’s safer and more reliable operation.  With regular maintenance, you also can look forward to significant reductions in your monthly heating costs.

Preventing Heat Loss, Santa Rosa & Sonoma – By preventing heat from escaping your home, you’ll enjoy greater comfort plus lower monthly heating costs.

Even though you already know your garbage disposal won’t last forever, what’s wrong with it lasting “longer than expected”?

Absolutely nothing! And Boden Plumbing Heating & Air is here to explain how you can accomplish that money-saving goal:

• Feed your disposal a little at a time. While you’re at it, take care to keep utensils and your hands out of the drain.

• Keep all fibrous foods out of the disposal since they’re likely to clog your drain – the disposal simply can’t properly grind them. That goes for food scraps like corn husks, onion skins, celery, and most soft vegetables.

• Deodorize the disposal. Cut a lemon into small pieces and drop the fruit into the disposal along with some baking soda or distilled white vinegar. Turn on the cold water faucet and then the disposal. The unit will clean itself as it grinds up the mixture. Use a strong flow of cold water and keep it running at least 30 seconds after the grinding noise has stopped. This helps to flush food all the way down the drain line.

• Do not put uncooked meat fat or liquid fats into your disposer.

Still, even with all the “TLC” in the world, sooner or later you’re bound to run into a problem.  In fact, you probably have one if you hear or see any of the following signs:

• If the disposal won’t run, check the circuit breaker or fuse and replace or reset/replace as necessary. Also check to see if the disposal’s overload switch has tripped. Locate the reset button at the bottom of the disposal unit and push it.

• If the motor hums but the disposal doesn’t run, you may have a jammed impeller – that can be fixed.

• If the disposal runs intermittently, the switch or stopper may be defective. If so, it’s probably time for a replacement unit.

• A leaky garbage disposal isn’t necessarily a sign of rust. The cause might be as simple as a loose connection, which easily can be tightened.

• If your disposal starts making a racket, turn it off immediately; chances are, something was being ground up that didn’t belong in there in the first place, like a meat bone. If you stop it in time, no harm.  If not, you could be facing a damaged blade, impeller or motor.

Like all other plumbing fixtures and systems, treat your garbage disposal with care, and it will give you more years of uninterrupted service.  But if and when it needs a little help to continue, one call to Boden will get you all the professional help you need.

When it comes to toilet troubles, the dreaded clogged and overflowing toilet bowl is one that can send most homeowners into a temporary state of panic. But things can wrong with your toilet tank, too, but usually they’re a lot easier and less stressful to resolve.

Let’s have a look.

Toilet won’t stop running.

A continuously running toilet is more than annoying – it can be quite wasteful and costly as it constantly sends clean water down the drain.

• First, check the handle to see if it’s loose or broken.

• If the handle seems intact, remove the tank lid and check to see if the chain that connects the flushing handle to the ball valve is loose, tangled, or broken, as it could be preventing the ball valve from closing completely.

• Also check the ball valve for damage. Does it close on its own, or is it stuck?

Toilet doesn’t fill with enough water.

When this happens, too little water is being sent into the bowl following a flush, and that could result in your toilet clogging.

• Is the toilet water supply valve in the open position? Turn it to the right, then to the left, and see if the tank starts filling up with water.

• If the water supply valve is fully open, you could have a problem with the float level. In an older toilet, you can adjust the float level by bending the metal arm upward. Newer toilets either have a small clip that you can pinch and slide the float up along the rod, or a screw that you turn, one that’s located on top of the float.

• The fill valve could be clogged. The fill valve is what moves water into the tank over time, it can become clogged with mineral deposits or debris. Shut off the water to the toilet, remove the fill valve cap, and let the water run for a few seconds to flush out the debris. If this doesn’t work, you may need to replace the fill valve.

Cracks in your toilet tank are pretty easy to locate and repair, especially those above the water line.  But whatever the problem, count on Boden Plumbing Heating & Air for assistance if you don’t have the time, tools, or inclination to fix it yourself.  We’re your home plumbers for every reason and every season, and we look forward to help making your life a little more comfortable, convenient, and plumbing-problem free.

When all your plumbing is in tip-top shape, you’re going to have to find something else to complain about.  We’re not egging you on, mind you – at least not about looking for reasons to complain.  But we are offering a gentle reminder on how to KEEP your plumbing as problem-free as possible.  And that’s with an annual whole-house plumbing inspection performed by Boden Plumbing Heating & Air.

While our inspection focus is on problem prevention, we can also spot small problems that we know will only get worse.  Fixing them right away, however, will save you money.  And that’s what we’ll recommend:  guaranteed upfront price and all.

Another great reason to schedule annual plumbing inspections is to protect the value of your home.  What if, for example, we’re able to spot a water pipe with visible corrosion or hairline crack. By fixing it, you not only escape a bigger plumbing problem later on.  You also avoid water damage to your home and the potential for a mold and mildew problem, one that could be difficult and costly to get rid of.

there’s the safety factor – both for you home and family.  Add it all up, and you have everything to gain with an annual whole-house plumbing inspection.  Here are just a few of the steps included in ours:

1. Check for exposed pipe leaks. 
2. Check for soft or damp areas on floors, ceilings, or walls that could indicate hidden water leaks.
3. Inspect for signs of corrosion that could indicate water quality or pipe issues.
4. Check your water heater for safety, leaks and signs of corrosion.sh, anode rod, and more.
5. Check all your drains above and below the sink for leaks and clogs.
6. Check your tub to see how quickly it drains water.  If it’s draining slowly, you could have a blocked drain or vent pipe.

During a Boden plumbing inspection, we’ll also address any specific concerns or questions you might have about your water pressure, water filtration, outdoor access to hot and cold water, and more.  If we find a problem or means to add greater comfort, convenience, or safety into your life, we’ll recommend how to achieve those goals in common sense and budget friendly ways.  Do your home and family a favor and contact Boden today to schedule our whole-house plumbing inspection service.