Plumbing San Ramon - Bar Sinks - What you should look for - Guaranteed Plumbing Co - Danville

There are now a wide variety of options for bar sinks - they range from the smaller space-saving sinks to the commercial-size ones (those that have many bays). To make it easier for you to make the decision, you must think about the available space you have and the amount and quality of entertainment that you will do in your home bar.

As a matter of fact, before designing your bar space, you would need to foresee how much entertainment you will probably do, the number of guests that you will welcome at a time, and the distance that separates your kitchen and your bar space.

Bar Sinks for Small Parties

For instance, if you will throw one party a month, and host small number of guests each time (less than 20), then you would likely need a sink that would be good for quick washing of glasses, rinsing of blenders and mixers, and so on. For these tasks, a small drop-in type of sink might be enough, or a stainless steel single-bay type might even save you some space. It may also be best for you to have the sink mounted in the counter that is underneath the bar as it is the most convenient location. One bay type sinks usually have side drain boards and back splash boards, and is very easy to install. In addition, a stainless steel type that is of restaurant quality will last a longer time and can be a good investment.

Bar Sinks for Big Parties

On the other hand, if you plan to host more frequent and larger parties, you would want to think about reserving bar space and opting for a 2 or even 3 bay commercial sink. Making frequent and long trips to your kitchen for cleaning and washing of glasses and other bar accessories can not only be disruptive to your guests, but can also take you away from being able to entertain them. Wandering through the crowd frequently with trays of glasses can also be distracting and can potentially lead to undesirable accidents. Larger 3 bay sinks can accommodate glassware preparation, cleaning, rinsing and drying all in the same place. These models also are equipped with back splashes, swivel faucets, and side drain boards which are most convenient for party hosts. Also, they are quite simple to install. Aside from these benefits, these large sinks are usually adjustable so that they perfectly fit into your bar space, wherever you install it (against the wall or under the bar). You would only need to leave the right size opening on your under bar counter tops, slide the assembled unit in, and connect the water supply and plumbing drains. Of course, best results can expectedly be achieved if you let a professional do it for you.

Thus, choosing the right bar sink for your home should not be done carelessly depending on what you feel like. You should make sure that it matches your bar design style and has just the right functionality.

source: http://www.streetdirectory.com/etoday/bar-sinks-and-faucets-peple.html

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Danville Plumbing - Things You Should Know About Your Home Sump Pump - Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville, CA

As mechanical things go, we don’t often think about the sump pump. It’s down under the house, out of sight and out of mind. In reality, your sump pump is one of the hardest working pieces of equipment in your house.

A typical submersible sump pump drains water year round, and when a rainstorm hits the  water pump works extra duty keeping your basement from flooding. Some homes  have sump pumps to aid in basement or under the house drainage.

So, here are a couple of things to consider:

Sump pumps are mechanical and will eventually fail.  Average sump pump life is 10 years. The most common reason for failure is the sump pump switch.

If your sump pump fails during a rain storm, hundreds of gallons of water can  flood your basement  in a matter of minutes. It doesn’t take much water to cause thousands of dollars in damage.

Basement flooding can ruin your furnace, water heater and other mechanical and electrical devices. According to the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association these appliances must be replaced.

Sump pumps should be checked for proper operation a couple of times per year – pour some water into the sump pit until the submersible pump cycles. This is usually an easy process and only takes a couple of minutes.  Don’t wait for a failure during a rainstorm to find out your sump pump doesn’t work.

Again, all sump pumps eventually fail, so you should protect your home with a battery backup sump pump.  If you have a finished basement, a battery backup system is essential.

Battery backup systems range from basic to very elaborate.  My experience has been the basic systems seem to fail when you need them most.  While you don’t need to spend a fortune, you will find that for a few extra dollars you can get a good quality battery backup sump pump. These systems give you an extra measure of defense. They not only protect your belongings in case of a power failure, but automatically kick in should your primary water pump fail. 

Written by Erik Schroll

Orinda Plumber - You Dropped Your Cell Phone in the Toilet - Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville

What To Do: Those fireplace tongs might come in handy for this problem, too—otherwise, you're just going to have to reach in and go fishing. "Put on your longest pair of rubber gloves and grab it," says TOH plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey. If it gets stuck, a plunger can make the problem worse. "The pipe gets narrower inside the trap, and if the phone gets wedged, it's going to be a bear to get out," Richard says. If all else fails, a plumber may be able to hook it on the end of a snake. Once you've retrieved the phone, remove the battery and SIM card, dry them with a paper towel, and, if it's worth the $100 it will cost you, take the phone to an electronics repair shop, where they can open it up and dry the components inside.

How to keep this from happening to you: Lest you feel like a fool, nearly a third of the 20 phones fixed each day  are suffering from the ill effects of a spin in the loo, Don't multitask. That way, you won't lose your new iPhone. (Or offend your friends.)

source: This old house magazine
by Johs Garskof

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San Ramon Plumber - How to Stop a Flood in its Tracks - Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville

 Learn what to do when pipes burst, fixtures leak, or appliances flood

Image by: Randall Enos

When pipes burst, fixtures leak, or appliances cause a flood, stop the deluge by cutting off the water at its source. Take a moment to locate all of the shutoff valves in your home so you'll be prepared for an emergency. 

Whole-house shutoff. For a home served by a well, the shutoff will be on the house side of the pressure tank. You should also cut power to the tank so it doesn't detect a phantom pressure loss and burn out trying to compensate. In a home with metered water, look for the shutoff on either side of the water meter. Remember, your meter could be located in the basement, mounted on an exterior wall, or even out near the street in a concrete "meter pit" where the household feed line meets the utility main. 

Whole-house hot-water shutoff. On your water heater there should be a valve on the hot-water outlet, which controls all of the hot water to the house. If there isn't one on yours, you or your plumber should install one. 

Toilet shutoff. Look for this inline shutoff — typically a ribbed oval handle — under the toilet tank. Sink shutoffs. These inline shutoffs usually sit just beneath the sink or within the cabinet or vanity. The one on the left is usually for the hot water, the one on the right for cold water. 

Dishwasher shutoff. Look first under the kitchen sink. Often there's a reducer coupling and shutoff valve leading to the dishwasher on the 1/2-inch hot-water sink-supply line. Not there? If you have a basement, look between the ceiling joists just below the appliance. 

Clothes washer. There should be valves where the house-supply lines meet the washer hoses. Washer hoses are notoriously weak, so always close the valves when leaving home for an extended period.

source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,193969,00.html

by John D. Wagner

 

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Alamo Plumber - Skills You Need to Survive Homeownership - Solder a Copper Pipe - Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville

Don't get caught with your toolbelt down—learn this technique and tackle any household emergency with ease

Learn to sweat a pipe properly and you can save some bucks by doing simple plumbing repairs yourself. Just make sure your joint starts with clean pipes (no water or grit inside).

1) Deburr inside the pipe ends with a reamer, then polish the outside with an emery cloth.
2) Coat both parts with flux and fit them together—wherever the flux is, the solder will flow.
3) Hold a propane torch flame on one side of the joint. When the flux bubbles, touch the solder to the other side of the joint and move the flame away. The solder will be sucked all around the fitting. The heat draws the solder toward the hottest point
4) Immediately wipe the joint with a damp rag. New joint, no sweat.


source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20434090_20863283,00.html
this old house magazine


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Danville Plumber - Fix a Leaky Faucet - Skills You Need to Survive Homeownership - Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville

Too bad a house doesn't come with an owner's manual. And a week-long seminar where you learn what every button, switch, and wire is for. Alas, the keys to the castle come with no troubleshooting guide to dog-ear—and, we're betting, no wise master to unlock the mysteries of the place you call home.

Then again, that's what we're here for: to provide fast fix-it advice when it's time for you to do your home owning duty. Because at some point, you're going to have to know how to change out a light fixture without zapping yourself to kingdom come. Or paint a double-hung without gumming up the works. Or stem the flood when the toilet overflows. And you're going to want to do things right. The first time. 

This particular type of water torture is likely due to a failed washer inside a handle. The faucet is just the messenger.

To replace the washer, turn off the water supply valve under the sink. Stuff a rag in the drain so you don't lose parts, then take the handle apart. Pop the screw cover on top, remove the screw, and pull off the handle. Use a wrench to disassemble the stem, and line the parts up on the counter in the order they came off, so you know how it goes back together. Examine rubber parts or plastic cartridges for cracks, and take the offending piece to the hardware store for an exact replacement. Reassemble the parts you've laid out, in reverse. Then revel in the ensuing peace and quiet. 

source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20434090,00.html
this old house magazine


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San Ramon Plumber - Cause of a Cracked Sink? - Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville

 

Have you notice that a sink in one of your guest or main bathrooms has cracked even though it is 10 to 15 years old. Porcelain is a fairly brittle material; you don't need a rambunctious kid to break it. All it takes is a dropped jar of hand cream, or a blow to the countertop, or a sudden extreme temperature change from pouring scalding water into a cold sink; any of these could easily cause the crack. It might not show up immediately, either, but repeated exposure to the stresses of cold and hot water and a buildup of dirt will eventually enlarge and darken it to the point that it becomes noticeable.

This isn't an immediate problem, unless the sink is actually leaking, but cracked porcelain can't really be fixed, either. Replacing it will be easy, so I'd be inclined to get it out of there now. While you're at it, replace the faucet and both its water-supply tubes and the stop or shutoff valves under the sink. If they're as old as the sink, they're all ready for retirement.

source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/asktoh/question/0,,1547835,00.html
Richard Trethewey