Category: Plumbing

 

During the Civil War, soldiers lived and fought in unsanitary conditions. Lack of bathing meant their bodies were dirty, and they suffered from various ailments like army itch and lice. Lack of clean drinking water meant they suffered from diseases like typhoid. Sadly, 45,000 Union soldiers and 50,000 Confederate soldiers died from dysentery.

With every war our country has participated in, our soldiers have had to endure harsh conditions and various sufferings, like sickness or the death of a friend. It’s important to remember the sacrifices that have been made for us to live in a free Country. Our freedoms have been won thanks to the men and women who have sacrificed their comforts or lives to protect us.

Decoration Day: Honoring the Brave

Founded in 1868, Decoration Day was a day when veterans and civilians decorated the graves of fallen Union and Confederate soldiers with flags and flowers.

If you look into the history of Decoration Day, you can see a poster from 1917, which shows soldiers from the American Revolution, War of 1812, Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War all marching together with the message “Honor the Brave.”

This poster is a great example of how we should honor all the soldiers from all the wars we’ve fought in because they all made important contributions to their Country.

In 1968, the day became Memorial Day and a federal holiday, which we still celebrate today by honoring the brave men who have fought for our nation since its inception.

Generally speaking, concerts, parades, and other events are held across the United States in honor of fallen soldiers. Here in El Monte, there will be a Memorial Day Ceremony at City Hall at 11 a.m.

Thanks to our Armed Forces

It is due to our armed forces–the men and women serving in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard–that we are a democracy.

Out of the world’s 192 countries, 123 are democratic countries, and we’re fortunate to be one of them.

If a foreign nation were to try to take our Country over again, we can depend upon our Armed Forces to protect us, and we owe them gratitude for protecting us in the past.

Gratitude to Our Clients

Since we live in a free country, we have the privilege of owning a business and serving all of our veteran and civilian customers. We want to tell you all how much we appreciate you and your loyalty.

We are grateful to serve you all and thankful to own a business in this great Country, and we continue to be dedicated to our customers by offering them 100% satisfaction.

This Memorial Day, take time to appreciate the simple freedoms you enjoy in your life every day and remember the veterans who risked or sacrificed their lives so that we could live in this great Country. The cost of freedom has a high price, and we must be grateful for the sacrifices that have been made by soldiers and their families.

 

You’ve probably heard that expression that April showers bring May flowers. If you haven’t, where do you live that you’ve been sheltered from overused cliches? In all seriousness, the rains that usually accompany the spring season can, in fact, cause some really beautiful flowers to grow, making for wonderful gardens.

The downside to this is that sometimes those same rains can collect in your yard, weakening your outdoor plumbing with rust and corrosion. Let’s take a look at some of the negative effects those April showers can have on your plumbing, and how scheduling regular plumbing inspections can help you avoid some of those effects.

Heavy Rains Can Lead to Broken Pipes

Not sure how something as common as rain can cause your pipes to break? Well, to be completely fair, it’s more like the rain causes a change in the soil around the pipes, which causes a change in the pressure inside the pipe, which causes the pipe to rupture.

When the earth around your pipes becomes saturated with water, it becomes softer, causing it to shift. Even the slightest shift in the earth can increase the pressure around the pipe greatly, causing the pipe to collapse.

If this happens below the foundation of your house (sometimes called the slab), you could be stuck dealing with what is known as a slab leak, which can cost you hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in water bills and damage to your piping system.

Heavy Rains Can Cause Your Sewer System to Back Up

Again, that statement isn’t entirely fair to the rain. What the rain does is collect in your yard, potentially flooding your sewer drain, which can cause your sewer drain pipes to have to hold more water than they are equipped to handle.

When this happens, the contents of your drain pipes need to empty somewhere, but since they can’t empty out through the drain like they usually do, they empty the only other way they can- back into your home. Sewer system backups can lead to health risks like contamination by bacteria like E-Coli.

Heavy Rains Aren’t a Problem if Your Plumbing’s Been Inspected

The best way to avoid plumbing failure related to heavy rainfall this spring is to have your pipes inspected and maintained.

A plumbing inspection can give you an idea of the overall health of your plumbing system so that you can either feel confident in your plumbing’s ability to withstand the rain or resolve any potential issues within your system before they become a major problem.

Yes, April showers can bring May flowers, but they can also bring a lot of strife to your outdoor plumbing. Have you ever experienced issues like a slab leak or backed up sewer pipes due to the heavy spring rains? If you have, we want to hear all about it!

Share your stories in the comments below! To avoid the problems heavy rain can cause to your yard, remember to have your pipes inspected regularly. Call Drainiacs Plumbing, Drain & Sewer today at (626) 962-0885 to speak to a plumbing contractor in El Monte, CA about scheduling a plumbing inspection.

 

If the time has finally come to replace your traditional, storage tank water heater, you may be considering replacing it with another of a similar model. Take a moment to look into all the benefits of switching to a tankless water heater instead!

If you need a replacement anyway, now is the perfect time to make the switch, and start benefiting from instant hot water in your home. You read that right- instant hot water!

Some tankless systems can heat as much as 5 gallons of water in as little as 1 minute! Read on to learn more about the benefits of tankless water heaters over traditional water heaters.

Tankless Water Heaters Conserve Water

You may be thinking to yourself, well I’m not really too concerned about water conservation. If that’s you, you should be concerned about it for two reasons.

The first is that the world is currently facing a global water crisis, meaning that if we don’t start conserving more water, the planet could run out of fresh water in as little as two to three generations.

The second, more immediate reason you should pay attention to water conservation is that wasting less water means spending less money on utility bills! Because tankless water heaters don’t fill and heat an entire thank, just to dump out whatever isn’t used up in time, they produce less water waste.

That’s less water you have to pay for that you’re not even using! But tankless water heaters don’t just waste less water, they also waste less energy, since they are far more efficient than traditional units.

Tankless Water Heaters Save Money

Speaking of using less energy, less energy usage also saves you lots of money on your electric bill!

How much money your water heater is saving you depends on what type of tankless water heater you install.

If you choose to go with a gas-powered unit, you can save $100 or more a year on your electric bill by installing a tankless water heater. Electric tankless water heaters can still save you anywhere from $40-$50 a year.

One common argument for traditional water heaters is that tankless systems are substantially more expensive. While it is true that tankless water heaters can cost up to $2,000 to install, they save you more money the longer they’re in use. Tankless systems also last twice as long as storage tank heaters, up to 30 years.

Tankless Water Heaters Take up Less Floor Space

Finally, if you are looking to free up a little more storage space in your home, consider getting rid of that big, bulky water heater tank that is unnecessarily taking up so much floor space in your utility closet or garage.

Most tankless water heaters are so compact that they can sit virtually anywhere, mounted on your wall. Some models can even be mounted outdoors! How’s that for saving space in your home!

Still not sure if switching to a tankless water heater is the right move for you? It’s essential that you do your research to find out what water heater works best for your family. Whenever you’re ready to make the switch, call Daniel Cordova Plumbing, Drain & Sewer at (626) 962-0885 for tankless water heater installation in El Monte.

 

At Drainiacs we always place your health and safety as our number one priority. That’s why when it comes to your plumbing pipes, we know how important the materials they are made of can be.

Not sure what different materials your pipes can be made of, or how different plumbing pipes are used for different jobs? Read on to learn more about how the materials your pipes are made of can help you keep your home and family safe!

Home Safety & PEX

PEX is an abbreviation for cross-linked polyethylene, a flexible type of fabric that has become one of the most popular materials used when repiping today. Because it is less likely to leak than other materials, and because it is thermally resistant, PEX is commonly used for hot and cold water supply pipes.

It is also very durable while remaining fairly inexpensive, so it protects your wallet as well as your home. Another advantage to PEX piping is that it is recyclable, and therefore, more environmentally friendly than other plastic pipes.

Home Safety & Stainless Steel

Stainless steel can be used in a variety of plumbing applications, due to the range of types and sizes the pipes come in. IT is decidedly more expensive than other types of steel piping, but stainless pipes resist corrosion very well, making them worth the investment. Stainless steel is also known to be unlikely to burst, which can save you thousands of dollars in a potential plumbing disaster.

Home Safety & Brass

Need safe freshwater supply lines? Brass may be a good option for pipes carrying water, as long as they are made from lead-free brass. Brass pipes that do contain lead are still safe to use in your home as drain waste lines since they resist corrosion and heat.

Home Safety & CPVC

CPVC, to put it simply, is PVC with a higher concentration of chlorine. Safe for use in freshwater supply lines, CPVC is also known for its excellent water noise cancellation, thanks to its smooth surface.

That means you don’t have to listen to water hammer or other banging or clanging noises from your pipes. CPVC has a reputation for being more durable and more versatile than most other piping materials, which is why it can cost a bit more than other plastics like PVC.

Home Safety & Cast Iron

Cast Iron is a safe and dependable material that has been used in plumbing pipes since the first cast iron pipes were installed in the gardens of the Château de Versailles in 1623. While most of the pipes there have naturally been replaced over the last three centuries, some of the original cast iron remains to this day, pointing towards the durability of the material.

It is safe for use as fresh water supply pipes, as well as waste and gas lines. Cast iron pipes, due to their density, also offer unparalleled water noise reduction. Now that you know how your home plumbing pipes can affect your home safety don’t keep it to yourself!

Share this article with all your friends! Trust Drainiacs Plumbing, Drain & Sewer with your new commitment to health and safety in your home. Give us a call today at (626) 962-0885 for all your residential plumbing needs in El Monte, CA.