Prior to 1994, showerheads had a flow rate of 5 ½ gallons per minute, but since then with the involvement of the EPA and a little repiping, the flow average rate per showerhead has decreased to an average of 2 ½ gallons per minute, thus conserving half the water which used to be wasted in this one area of the home.  Don’t be misled by price: the highest price-tag is not always the best; some of the top-rated showerheads are quite reasonably priced.

Showerhead Types

There are a number of showerhead types which offer a variety of functionality, some with incredible water-efficiency.

• Multi-Setting Models:  Provide adjustable flow patterns up to as many as twelve settings such as massage, mist, wide stream, narrow stream, pulsing, and even a water-saving trickle while applying soap or shampoo.
• Single-Setting Models:  Provide one setting and tend to cost considerably less than their multi-setting counterparts.
• Multi-Head Models:  Provide a spa-like experience in your own home with a fixed or handheld showerhead as well as several body jets mounted on a vertical tower.  However, with such comfort comes a higher price tag.  These are the most expensive to purchase, install and run, oftentimes using as much as 10 gallons per minute of water.
• Custom Models:  Modern showers are created with unique showerhead designs, from luxury panel showers, to artistic expression through showerheads with special lighting, to pocket showers which can be taken on the go and are in essence a waterproof reservoir which holds enough water to have an outdoor shower while camping.

Showerhead Features

• Aerating Showerheads:  Mix air with water, producing a misty spray which makes the water-flow feel more substantial, and they don’t create as much steam and moisture.
• Handheld Showerheads:  Leave it in the holder or remove it to focus the spray on a particular body-part, allowing for quicker cleaning and rinsing.
• Rain Showerheads:  Large heads and wide spray patterns provide a soft, soothing flow of water.
• Low-Flow Showerheads:  Features can include a pause button to start and stop water during the shower, a shower timer to manage the time spent in the shower, a temperature gauge which keeps water-flow to a trickle until the desired water temperature is reached, and water volume controls to let you manually adjust the gallons per minute.

If you have any questions about shower heads or any aspects of bathroom plumbing please call Ace Pelizon Plumbing

How Sump Pumps Work

The pump’s base has openings to allow water to flow into it. When water fills the sump it also fills the interior of the pump. When the water reaches a certain level it triggers a floating switch that activates an electric motor. The motor spins a metal shaft immersed in the water at the bottom of the pump. The shaft is attached to an impeller, which resembles a small, sideways water wheel.

As the impeller spins at high speed it whirls the water away from the center of the pump, forcing it into a discharge pipe that rises up out of the sump. The discharge pipe connects to a length of hose or pipe that empties the water into a sink or outside the foundation of the house. As the water is forced out of the pump it creates a vacuum that pulls more water into the pump and out of the sump. The impeller keeps spinning and pumping water into the collecting pipe until the water level inside the pump – and the sump – allows the float switch to drop low enough to shut the motor off.

Types of Sump Pumps

There are pedestal sump pumps and submersible sump pumps. In pedestal pumps, the motor assembly is above the base of the pump and the impeller, and doesn’t contact the water. The activation switch for the motor is attached to a long shaft with the float on the other end that drops into the water. As the water rises, it pushes the shaft up and activates the switch. Submersible pumps are smaller units with the motor, activation switch, and impeller all on one level. The motor compartment is waterproof. Either style pump is usually connected to the house electric circuit. But some homeowners connect them to backup battery power supplies so the pump will work in the event of a severe storm and power outage.

Which San Marino Homes Need Sump Pumps

Every homeowner in San Marino who knows anything about plumbing should understand the concept of the water table. Simply put, the water table is the permanently saturated layer of soil, sand, or rock below most of the surface of the Earth. In some places it’s hundreds of feet below the ground, but in most areas it’s much closer to the surface. In temperate or seasonal areas, the depth of the water table can rise and fall.

The foundations of homes in the San Marino area are built above the water table. But seasonal fluctuations and heavy precipitation can cause the water table to expand upwards. If a basement isn’t completely waterproof, and few basements in the San Marino area are, the water will seep in. Land near rivers, streams, and wetlands tends to have a very high water table, so homes built in those areas are particularly susceptible to flooding.

Although most basements are not waterproof, they should be able to withstand an occasional increase in the saturation of the soil around and beneath the house. A permanently damp basement could indicate that the foundation is close enough to the water table to prevent the basement from ever completely drying out. Rather than installing a dehumidifier, a sump pump may provide a better solution.  Please call Ace Pelizon Plumbing with any questions.

Mexican Flag Pinata

What you’ll need:

How to make it:

1. Open the grocery bag and put treats and trinkets inside. Fill about ¼ full.
2. Fill remaining space with crumpled up newspaper. Leave a small amount of space at the top of the bag so it can be folded over and closed.
3. Fold top over and secure with staples.
4. Poke or punch a hole in the middle of the bag in the fold. Be sure it’s low enough that the hole won’t rip.
5. Cut strips of tissue paper (in each color) about 3” x 5”. The easiest way to do this is to cut a strip of tissue paper 5” wide the full length of the sheet. Next fold the tissue paper in half, cut. Hold those two together and fold both in half, cut. Repeat until you have rectangles that are approximately 3” x 5”.
6. Fringe the ends of the tissue paper by cutting slits about halfway up.
7. Starting at the bottom of the bag, glue the tissue paper onto the bag by the solid edge only, do not glue the fringe down. Start with red on the left, then white in the middle, and green on the right.
8. Repeat these steps, working your way upward toward the top of the bag.
9. Cover the right side of the bag with green and the left side of the bag with red. Repeat the process on the other side, lining up the colors so that they match the side colors (green will be at the left and red at the right).
10. Thread string or yarn through hole at the top and tie a knot.
11. Gently lay the bag on its side.
12. Cut 12 strips of crepe paper streamers (12 of each color) and glue to the bottom of the bag.
13. Set aside to dry completely.
14. Hang by your string and hit with a waffle bat or rolled up newspaper until it breaks.

Tips:

• Shop for Mexican candies to put in your pinata.
• Instead of crepe paper streamers, you can cut long thing strips of tissue paper.
• To reinforce your hanger, add a few staples through the yarn and the bag.

Indoor Water Saving Solutions

Up to 70% of water usage in residences happens indoors.  A number of items that new homes tend to provide save water usage and money in the long-run.

• Bathroom plumbing fixtures such as toilets, bathroom faucets, and showerheads offer low-flow options
• High efficiency and low energy use hot water heaters
• New appliances such as dishwashers and clothes washers
• Install a tankless water heater close to the most used hot water usage areas
• Use of an on-demand style recirculation system in combination with a high efficiency water heater
• Install a solar water heating system to preheat water which enters the tankless water heater
• Check for leaks regularly to ensure there is no waste

Outdoor Water Conservation

Anywhere from 30% to 70% of water usage of homes is used outdoors for yard landscaping and pool upkeep.  When designing an outdoor space, it is important to keep in mind how much water will be used for upkeep, as well as to ensure that water is saved where possible.

Landscaping:

• Properly plan and design the landscaping
• Limit grass and lawn to 40% or less of landscaped areas
• Choose plants and flora which are regionally appropriate
  • Group plants according to similar water usages
  • Use native plants and those which have low water needs
  • Schedule efficient irrigation
    • Use fixed-spray sprinklers on lawn
    • Use drip or micro irrigation on plants, flowers, and bushes
    • Water during cooler times of day to ensure little evaporation due to heat
    • Do not over-water, it can harm plants just as much as not watering enough
    • Use mulch to prevent evaporation of water near plants, and to keep weeds away
    • Keep the yard properly maintained and the soil healthy with fertilizers

Pool:

• Use a pool cover when the pool is not in use; this can save 30% to 50% of water which is wasted through evaporation
• Keep the pool temperature a few degrees lower, the higher the temperature of the water the more evaporation occurs
• Plant a windbreak of tall foliage to prevent wind from whipping water out of the pool
• Check and fix leaks regularly
• Clean pool and pool filters regularly to prevent backwash

Whether indoors or outdoors, water saving in new homes is quite easy, and while some options mean spending some money initially, the long-term savings on water month over month and year over year are quite significant and worthwhile indeed.  If you would like any explanations of these strategies please call Ace Pelizon Plumbing

Here is a testimonial from one satisfied customer:

“One of my units had a bad slab leak, and with galvanized plumbing. The whole house had to be re-piped. Eddie did a great job, he was fast, clean and efficient; and there was no surprises when I got the bill. Ace Pelizon Plumbing is the best at what they do!”

- Wes U. – Covina

Thank you, Wes!

What Roots Do to Sewer Lines

Trees actively seek water at all times. They grow slowly, but when they grow they move their branches toward sunlight and their roots toward water. On most developed properties attached to a city sewer system, the best source of water is the sewer line.

If allowed to continue, tree roots grow toward the sewer line and eventually infiltrate the line. It may take time, but eventually those roots will find seams and cracks in the pipe and break into it seeking water.

Over time, this will result in leaks, cracks and clogs in your line that can flood your lawn, back up in your home or cause problems for your neighbors.

Solving the Tree Root Problem

The first thing you should do is ensure there are not trees or shrubs growing close to your sewer line. If you don’t know where your sewer line is, check your property assessment or have a plumber help you find it. Remove any trees in the vicinity to avoid such a problem.

If you suspect a tree root problem, have your plumber perform a video inspection to check for roots and other blockages. If they find roots, high pressure jetting can often remove the problem completely.

Keep in mind that if the damage is advanced enough, you may need to have parts of your sewer line replace or relined. The actual work required will depend on the severity of the damage and the opinion of your plumber. Talk to a professional to learn more about what options are at your disposal.

A sewer line is vitally important to the operation of your home’s plumbing system. If you even suspect that a tree’s roots are infiltrating your pipes, contact Ace Pelizon Plumbing as soon as possible for an overall plumbing inspection.

Why the Leak?

There is a valve in your tub’s faucet that diverts water from the tub to the shower head when the switch or lever is pulled to turn on your shower. Because the valve is not a perfect seal, the tub faucet will drip a small amount during a shower. However, if a large amount of water is coming out of the tub faucet and very little is coming from your shower head, it is likely a problem with that valve.

In some cases, the only way to know the root of the problem is to take apart the assembly and check all of the valve parts individually for damage. The specifics of the repair process will depend largely on the type of shower and diverter valve you have.

Fixing the Problem

To fix this bathroom plumbing issue, you can either replace part of or the entire shower diverter valve. Start by removing the faucet and pulling the screw that holds the shower diverter valve in place. Once the screw is removed, take out the rubber washer and replace it. Many times, this is enough to fix the problem.

If it is not, however, you may need to replace the entire shower diverter valve. There are some situations that make it hard to reach the shower diverter valve, such as when you have a shower handle instead of a faucet knob. If this is the case, you may need special tools or professional assistance in removing the knob to access the valve.

If you find that this does not fix the problem or that you are uncomfortable attempting this repair, contact Ace Pelizon who is experienced in removing and replacing shower diverter valves.

As with any big home project, there are some caveats and tips to doing it right. Here are some of those tips to consider before diving right in:

• Before starting on your bathroom or any remodeling project, work out a budget first. Establish what you want it to look like and how much you have to spend, then choose the options that fit into that framework. There are few things worse than having a bathroom left unfinished because you ran out of money halfway through the job.
• Remodeling is a great opportunity to assess the ventilation in your bathroom and upgrade it if necessary. Proper ventilation improves air quality and prevents mold growth and water damage, so an upgrade in equipment can be an investment that is well worth the expense.
• As tempting as it may be to make wholesale, sweeping changes to everything in your existing bathroom, try to avoid relocating any aspects of your plumbing. It’s costly, messy and can really extend the time it takes for the job to be done. Is it really worth an extra week of work to have the tub against another wall?
• Finally, to save your budget, consider plumbing repairs versus replacing all fixtures. Refinished tubs and tiles can look just as shiny as new, but without the extra cost and labor.

Keep those tips in mind as you consider that bathroom remodeling job, and you are likely to have the whole experience work out much more pleasantly for you…and isn’t that the whole point?  Contact Ace Pelizon Plumbing with any questions.