Guaranteed Plumbing Danville, CA - Dishwasher Water-Saving Tips

Dishwasher Water-Saving Tips 

Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufac­turer’s recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater in your home to a lower temperature (120°F).

Scrape, don’t rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or prewashing is generally only recommended in cases of burned- or dried-on food.

Be sure your dishwasher is full (not overloaded) when you run it.

Avoid using the "rinse hold" on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3-7 gallons of hot water each use. 

Let your dishes air dry; if you don’t have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open slightly so the dishes will dry faster.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip

When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for the ENERGY STAR label to find one that uses less water and energy than required by federal standards. They are required to use 5.8 gallons of water per cycle or less—older dishwashers purchased before 1994 use more than 10 gallons of water per cycle.


source: www.energysavers.gov

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Guaranteed Plumbing Co, Danville, Ca - What are customers are saying

We just had them install a tankless water heater and a gas line for a fireplace insert. The work was very clean, professional, on time and on budget. They even removed a small shed housing the old water heater (detaching it from the house) and removed all debris.

Bryan S.
Walnut Creek, CA


I cannot believe there are no reviews for Guaranteed Plumbing, Having called on this company several times in the past five years, both plumbing issues and also using them for several remodels, I can personally say they are a great company. Professional, honest, genuine, top notch employees. From the owner, to the receptionist and all of the technicians, I have had very positive experience working with Guaranteed Plumbing. When they schedule an appt., they are on time and complete the work or explain what parts need to be ordered and a return visit is scheduled. They also clean up their mess, which is huge on my scale of critique. And, they are reasonable and deal with an excellent resource for their parts.

Kathy H.

Danville, CA

I had an emergency situation and called several places, Gaurnteed Plumbing gave me the fastest response, He came in an hour and fixed the problem with a reasonable price. I recommended them to all my friends.

jasmin d.

Danville, CA

www.guaranteedplumbingco.com

East Bay Gas Lines Danville, CA Can I burn wood in my gas log fireplace?

This is a surprisingly common question. If it’s not surprising to you, then you’ve come to the right place.
The answer to this is without a doubt no!
First of all, the purpose of a gas fireplace is to avoid burning wood in the first place. If you absolutely need to burn wood, then don’t use a gas fireplace. The reasons are too numerous to go into here, but the most important reasons are:

1. You don’t want an uncontrolled open flame near a gas line.
2. Wood ash will clog your gas burners, rendering your gas fireplace inoperable.

The bottom line is gas fireplaces are made to replace wood burning fireplaces and are specially designed not to need wood. Burning wood in your gas fireplace will not only break it, but it is a major safety hazard.
If a natural wood burning look is what you’re after, we’ve got you covered. Gas fireplace technology has reached the point where ceramic log inserts capture the realism of burning wood better than ever before. From a distance you can’t tell the difference.

source: www.gasfireplacehq.com

www.guaranteedplumbingco.com

East Bay Gas Lines Danville, CA - Why is my Gas Fireplace cutting off?

A common problem among gas fireplace owners is that the fireplace will turn itself off in the middle of use. When this happens the pilot light will also go out. This is understandably frustrating for many because one must first light the pilot light before they can turn on the fireplace.

The fact that the pilot light goes out is a good thing. This means that your gas fireplace’s safety mechanism is working, which is designed to turn off the gas flow if your fireplace stops burning while the gas is still flowing.

Normally your gas fireplace will turn off like this because of an obstruction along the burners. An obstruction can be anything from dust to cobwebs. You can safely clear any obstructions by getting a can of compressed air and spraying around the burners. You may need to remove the safety glass and ceramic logs to gain access to the burners, so be sure to refer to your fireplace manual on the proper procedure. You may need to do this every year before you start using your fireplace.

If the gas fireplace continues to shut off, consult a certified expert to come inspect your gas line and set up.

source: www.gasfireplacehq.com

East Bay Gas Lines, Danville, CA - New Showroom

Guaranteed Plumbing, Inc. was founded in Danville, California in 2003 by Marcus Madrid, its Owner and President. The company began with a focus on residential service and remodel work. Through "word of mouth" references that serve as a testament to the remarkably skilled and efficient nature of its staff, Guaranteed Plumbing quickly expanded to complete a myriad of residential and commercial projects throughout the greater East Bay. Marcus Madrid prides himself on maintaining a talented, reliable and amiable team, while also personally actively participating in every job. Guaranteed Plumbing is excited to bring you a brand new show room to help you conceptualize your next outdoor project.

Please come buy and visit at 85 Front Street, Danville, CA

www.guaranteedplumbingco.com

East Bay Gas Lines - Planning Your OutDoor Kitchen - Guaranteed Plumbing, Danville, CA

Planning Your Outdoor Kitchen

outdoor-kitchen.gif

Outdoor entertaining is fun, but entertaining in your own outdoor kitchen is great! Outdoor kitchens no longer belong solely to the rich and famous. With some careful planning and budgeting, virtually any homeowner can add an outdoor kitchen.

Here are some tips to help you better plan your outdoor kitchen:

Location: One of the first decisions that you have to make is where to locate your new outdoor kitchen. Two of the main issues that are often associated with this decision are budget and space. The more space (or land) you have to work with, the more options you have. Likewise, the higher your budget the more options you will have.

When you are considering space, try to be realistic. By this we mean if the kitchen components that you want to install (stove, island, refrigerator, etc) are full size, then you will, of course, need at least a minimum amount of square footage to install them.

A good idea is to first decide what amenities you want in the kitchen, get some idea of what their size is (length, width, and height) and use that information to help guide you through the location decision process. Keep in mind any cabinets or islands that you want to have in your outdoor kitchen. As well, remember your walkways and traffic areas.

Budget, as it relates to location, has to do with your electrical, gas, and plumbing needs. The farther your kitchen is from the home's source of power or water/drainage the more the installation costs will be. This is one reason many homeowners prefer to keep the outdoor kitchen close to the house.

Electrical: As mentioned above, electrical hook up will be a budget consideration for most outdoor kitchens. Very few average homes will already have in place the needed electrical outlets for a new outdoor kitchen. This will be especially true if any of your appliances need 240 volts, which some high-end stoves require. For most homeowners, bringing in a licensed electrical contractor will be needed to get the new wiring installed. All wiring must be up to code, and this one area that homeowners do not want to overlook.

Plumbing: If your new kitchen will have running water, it will also need some type of drainage system. Installing water supply lines and the needed drainage lines is a task best left to a professional plumbing contractor. These lines will almost always have to be up to local code and using a licensed plumber will help ensure that they are up to code.

Gas Lines: If your new outdoor stove will run on natural gas, you will need to have a gas line run to the kitchen area. As with electrical and plumbing, gas lines are usually required to be set within a certain local standard or code. Your plumber can assist you in getting the gas line run or you may need to contact your local gas company.

As you can see from the above information, having a good, solid plan for your outdoor kitchen is mandatory. You do not want to run supply lines only to find that they are not where you really want them.

A very good idea is to bring in an outdoor kitchen designer who can help you draw up some plans. He or she will have experience in the various aspects of outdoor kitchens and this can save you money in the long run.

source: http://www.landscapeideas.com

 

www.guaranteedplumbingco.com

East Bay Gas Lines - Don't miss out on our grand opening Tonight at 85 Front Street, Danville, CA

www.guaranteedplumbingco.com

East Bay Gas Lines Opens New ShowRoom

"East Bay Gas Lines" (a division of guaranteed Plumbing) new showroom to open on thursday 3/8/12 5:30-7:30pm. It will be a Danville Chamber of commerce mixer. $5 members, $20 non members.

www.guaranteedplumbingco.com

Dublin Plumber - Natural Gas Pipeline Safety - Guaranteed Plumbing Danville, CA

Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Alert

Natural gas pipelines may be present in clogged sewer lines outside of homes.

Safety Tips for Drain Cleaners & Sewer Cleaners

The current practice in urban areas is to directional-bore new utility lines (gas, electric, telephone, and cable TV) to avoid damage to sidewalks, patios, and landscapes. Sewer laterals on private property are not typically marked by Underground Service Alert (USA) and can go undetected during boring. The unintentional result is that a utility line can be bored or pierced directly through a sewer lateral in what is known as a "cross bore."

A cross bore in a sewer lateral will impede flow and lead to eventual blockage. A worker who attempts to remove the blockage can accidentally cut the utility line. For natural gas lines, the loss of service may not be immediately apparent, and gas can migrate through the lateral and concentrate in sewer lines and nearby structures.

To prevent this potentially hazardous situation, consider the following tips:

• Before Cleaning. Look for trees or landscaping that could be causing the obstruction. If there are none, ask the owner if there has been any recent utility work in the area that could have affected sewer lines; if so, you should:
  • Be aware that a cross bore may be causing the blockage.
  • If you have access to utility line locating tools, use them to find laterals and gas service lines.
  • If you own or can obtain access to an inline video inspection device, use it to assess the blockage.
• During Cleaning.Use the least invasive equipment first to try to remove the blockage with a snake before employing a cutting too. Then as you go, feel for resistance that does not resemble a tree root or other common obstruction.
• After Cleaning. Natural gas utility lines are typically plastic. If you use a cutting tool, look for yellow or orange plastic on the blades when you withdraw it. Watch for bubbles escaping from the entry point of the cutting equipment or toilet and/or use a combustible gas indicator (CGI) or other gas detection equipment, if available.

Source: www.pge.com/myhome/edusafety

Orinda Plumber - Gas Appliance Safety - Guaranteed Plumbing Danville, CA

Gas Appliance Safety

Ranges

• When lighting any match-lit burners or ovens, always light the match before turning on the gas. If the flame goes out, turn off the burner and let the gas disperse before relighting.
• Clean away any grease, oil or debris from the area around burners to help prevent fires.
• Never use water to put out a grease fire. Use baking soda, or if a fire is in a pan, smother the flames with a lid. A fire extinguisher in the kitchen is also recommended.
• Move any flammable objects — towels, curtains, calendars — away from range burners and other hot surfaces.

Ovens

• Never use your oven for domestic heating. This misuse of your oven puts you at risk of burns from hot surfaces and shortens the life of oven parts and controls. Use only heaters that are designed for domestic heating and follow the manufacturer's operating instructions.

Water Heaters

• Make sure your water heater is securely anchored to a wall. This will help prevent the heater from shifting and possibly falling in an earthquake.
• If your water heater is on an elevated platform, make sure the platform is sturdy enough to withstand the weight of the water heater and movement during an earthquake.
• A temperature of 120 degrees F is adequate for most household uses with minimal danger of scalding and maximum energy efficiency. Dishwashers require a temperature of 140 degrees F for proper disinfection and cleaning. Most dishwashers preheat the water to the proper temperature; if not, lowering the water-heating temperature is not recommended
• Do not store flammable materials — mops, brooms, laundry, newspapers — near your water heater.
• Do not store combustible materials — paints, solvents, gasoline — in the same room or near your water heater.

Furnaces

• Your furnace should be serviced once a year to help maximize its life and performance. Follow the instructions in the owner's manual, or call a qualified professional.
• Have your furnace checked for fire hazards such as a damaged firebox and any dislodged, clogged, rusted or damaged vents.
• Clean or replace your filter regularly, or after each month of heavy usage.
• Replace the blower door cover after checking your filter.
• Securely fasten the door that covers the pilot light and burner area.
• Do not store combustible materials — paints, solvents, gasoline — in the same room or near your furnace.
• Do not store flammable materials mops, brooms, laundry, newspapers — near your furnace.
• Air-supply vents must be clear of obstructions. Furnaces need a constant supply of fresh air to run efficiently and safely.
• Kerosene heaters or other unvented heaters are not recommended and should only be used in well-ventilated rooms. Always operate your heater according to the manufacturer's instructions.

All Gas Appliances

• Do not store flammable materials — mops, brooms, laundry, newspapers — near gas appliances.
• Do not store combustible materials — paints, solvents, gasoline — in the same room or near your appliances.
• Make sure a flexible gas line connection is installed connecting the gas houseline (the gas pipe connecting your appliances to the gas meter) to the appliance to reduce the likelihood of damage if movement should occur.
• You should have an appliance gas shutoff valve installed at each gas appliance that lets you turn off the gas to that appliance only if there is a gas leak, or if the appliance needs to be replaced or serviced.

Source: www.pge.com/myhome/edusafety