Neptune Plumbing Blog

2011 Home Improvement Trends

2011-02-15T06:47:00.000-08:00

50 experts were interviewed about home improvement trends in 2011 and their results were packaged nicely into this infographic. Use this as inspiration for your 2011 home improvement projects. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding a plumbing project or green plumbing fixtures. Do you have projects planned yet for this upcoming year? Share them below in the comments.

Source: eLocal.com

Plumbing Pipe Candlesticks

2011-02-11T09:45:00.000-08:00

In anticipation of Valentine's Day on Monday, we though we'd share this relevant "how-to" guide. Stephen Antonson teaches how to turn spare plumbing parts into an array of industrial candlesticks that are guaranteed to set the mood for any occasion, especially Valentine's Day.

How-Tuesday: Plumbing Pipe Candlesticks from Etsy on Vimeo.

Materials

Plumbing parts can be found at most hardware stores or plumbing supply stores. Here’s a breakdown of all the plumbing parts you can use in this project:

Bushings — a threaded exterior on one side, and a threaded interior on the other
Couplings — each end of a coupling connects to other parts
Unions — two identical interior threadings on either side, unions “unite” two other parts together
Nipples — a short length of pipe that has two identical threaded ends on either side.

Plumbing parts come in either black or galvanized silver, both of which are quite striking. You have the option of leaving them bare or painting them (See Step 3).   You’ll also need:

Candles
Mineral spirits
Spray paint (optional)

Directions

Thoroughly wipe down the plumbing parts with mineral spirits and a clean rag. The parts come with grease and oils on them to prevent corrosion, so you want to make sure to give them a good once over. If you’re planning on painting your candlesticks, wait for the parts to fully dry before you break out the spray paint.
Now it's time to assemble your candlesticks. There are endless combinations of parts you can try, so let your creative candlestick vision guide you. If your union-bushing-coupling combination isn’t looking quite right, try a union and four bushings. Or maybe add a nipple. There’s no wrong way to make a candlestick, so have fun!
As we mentioned, if you prefer the original galvanized or black finish your plumbing parts, skip this step. If you do want to customize your candlesticks with paint, pick a color and start spraying. After ensuring that your candlesticks are completely dry and free of residue, apply your paint in short, even bursts until your surface area is fully covered.
Pick a candle that complements your creation and you’re ready to go. Now you’ve got a great piece to spruce up your kitchen table or a romantic evening you’ve been planning.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

For more information on this and other great DIY projects, check out Stephen’s book, Home From the Hardware Store, available on Amazon or from an independent bookseller near you.   About the filmmakers:   Soo Kim and Marcus Ricci are founding members of Brazen Angler Films. They live and work in Brooklyn, NY.

Super Bowl Party Tips

2011-02-04T18:32:00.000-08:00

If you're hosting a Super Bowl party this year you’ll want to add these tips to your to-do list.

Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest day of food consumption, according to the American Institute of Food Distribution. It’s behind only Thanksgiving Day. Just like the holidays, your family and friends cram into your home for the big game. And that means your garbage disposal and toilets will likely be working overtime.

Neptune Plumbing has some steps you can take before your guests arrive that will help keep your home’s plumbing in good working condition:

You should not overload your garbage disposal with leftovers. This can clog you kitchen sink. When in doubt – just throw it out.
Instead, you should throw scraps in the trash or put in the compost pile.
You should avoid pouring grease down the drain, because grease hardens when it’s in your pipes.
Wipe off greasy plates and pans with a paper towel before washing them.
Remove small objects from the top of your toilet tank that could fall in, causing it to clog.
Make sure your trash bin is easy to see, so guests won’t flush paper towels, napkins or facial tissue.
You may want to stock your bathroom with single-ply toilet paper, depending on the number of people attending your party. This can really help.
You really need to know how to use the water shut-off valve (this is behind the toilet tank).

These tips will help keep your plumbing in good working condition. However, if you have a plumbing emergency, Neptune Plumbing is open on Super Bowl Sunday; you can contact us here.

Have fun and enjoy the game!

Winter Plumbing Maintenance

2011-01-18T18:05:00.000-08:00

When the mercury drops during winter, frozen or burst pipes and broken water heaters can cause water damage and costly repairs. Follow these steps to prevent plumbing disasters in your home:

Drain outdoor water supply lines
Disconnect garden hoses and drain water from water sprinkler supply lines, swimming
pools and spigots. Be sure to shut off the water supply.

Check your water heater
If you have an older water heater, replace it before winter hits. Gas heaters normally last 8 to 14 years, and electric ones last 10-18 years. You can find the installation date on the service plate or on the heater’s serial number.

Insulate exposed pipes
Water can freeze in both hot and cold water supply lines, so it’s important to insulate exposed pipes in areas that aren’t well-heated, like under your bathroom and kitchen cabinets and in your basement, attic and garage. To insulate pipes, wrap them with foam insulation and secure them with tape. For added protection, wrap heat tape (thermostatically-controlled electric cables) around pipes following the manufacturer’s instructions for installation.

Take precautions during extreme cold
Even if you’ve already insulated your pipes, leave doors open in crawl spaces and under cabinets to let warmer air circulate. If there are pipes in the garage, keep the doors closed. Allow water to drip from faucets to prevent pipes from freezing—even a dribble helps.

Prep your house before you go away
If you’re going to be away from your home for a month or more, keep the heat on and set the thermostat to no lower than 55°F. A plumber can drain your water system by shutting off faucets, opening the meter in the basement, and using an air compressor to force excess liquid from pipes. Shut off the water heater as well.

Be sure to contact us if you have any questions or needs any assistance with your winter maintenance.

Have any additional tips that you do to protect your plumbing in the winter? Share them in the comments below.

Pumpkins and Plumbing Don't Mix

2010-10-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

Every Halloween season, plumbers across the country get the call to repair garbage disposers and kitchen sink drains clogged with sticky pumpkin pulp and seeds. The goopy by-product of jack-o-lantern enthusiasts is, unfortunately, ideal for clogging household drains. The pulp dries and hardens inside pipes and disposers causing all sorts of problems. Never put pumpkin guts down the kitchen sink or worse, attempt to flush them down your toilet! To guard against Halloween drain disasters, follow these tips:

Never put pumpkin pulp or seeds down the toilet, sink drain or in the garbage disposer. The stringy, sticky gunk hardens and clogs drains and disposers.
Carve pumpkins on a thick bed of newspaper. Wrap up pumpkin-related materials and throw away in the garbage can or compost pile.
Separate the seeds, then roast for a tasty treat. (See the recipe below.)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds:

(Source: www.allrecipes.com)

Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. This is easiest just after you’ve removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.
Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet, stirring to coat.
Sprinkle with salt (or try cayenne pepper or garlic salt) and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit until toasted, about 25 minutes. Check and stir after 10 minutes.
Let cool and store in an air-tight container.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

BP Oil Spill: 'Mystery Plumber' May Be Brains Behind Containment Cap

2010-07-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of press recently concerning the BP oil spill, however, one specific article caught our attention.

This article

from ABC News is about a “mystery plumber” who sent in a sketch on how to solve the problem at the bottom of the Gulf. The articles states that they “received a late-night call from an apologetic mystery plumber... whose humble refusal to give his name at the time nearly brought [them] to tears.” The engineer said that, "You can kind of see how a plumber thinks this way. That's how they have to plumb homes for sewage."

We have a poster hanging in our office that reads “The Plumber Protects the Health of the Nation” and this story reminds us of this phrase. This is not just a cliche saying; it comes from the fact that potable water systems, as well as waste disposal systems, need to be designed and installed correctly to prevent a possible failure that could result in personal damage or health hazards. We believe that our industry is critical to the health and safety of the public. Plumbers protect the health of the nation every day and, as this story shows, in more ways than just in our homes and offices.

Read the full ABC News article here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/bp-oil-spill-mystery-plumber-brains-containment-cap/story?id=11182225

[link]

Notepad Toilet Paper

Cool advertising for the School of Visual Arts encouraged people to “think” by giving them a place to write down their ideas. [

link

]

Money Toilet Paper

You can always use dollar bills when you run out of regular toilet paper…

Have you seen other types of creative toilet paper or what type of creative toilet paper would you like to see? Leave your comments below.

Are Camera Plumbing Inspections Necessary For All Plumbing Jobs?

2010-05-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

Sooner or later, every homeowner will have to deal with a plumbing problem. Sometimes problems in a septic or water pipe system can be tricky to determine because the source of the problem is difficult to locate. Fortunately, plumbers, such as Neptune Plumbing, now have access to technologically advanced devices that will allow us to view deep inside a plumbing system. One such device plumbers now use is a pipe inspection camera. When it is difficult to locate the cause of a plumbing problem, a plumber may use a pipe inspection camera.

Plumbers can use a micro-inspection camera to peer inside walls or behind appliances or objects that are obstructing the view. Additionally, we can use a sewer inspection camera to examine the septic system. These cameras are beneficial because they can fit in small, tight, and hard to reach places. A sewer pipe camera operates much like a snake because it is a camera that is attached to a long flexible cable. The cable is joined to an LCD screen which will show the image that is captured by the camera. This gives the plumber a clear real time view of the plumbing system. The small camera is sent into the pipe using the cable. As it is fed into the pipe, the plumber is able to view the video that is being transmitted. This is very beneficial for the plumber because the interior of the pipe can be seen which helps in locating the source of the problem and its exact location. This shows where to exactly to make the repair and what is needed to make the repair. For instance, a camera can easily find out if roots are clogging up the pipes and the appropriate measures can be taken to break up the roots so they can be flushed through the system.

Video inspection makes it convenient and inexpensive to locate the problem. For instance, for a problem in a pipe located behind a wall, previously, the wall would have to be torn up. By using an inspection camera, the problem can be located and fixed without destroying parts of a wall. Uses for inspection cameras include: finding clogs in the pipes, inspecting the drain pipes, diagnosing and repairing problems in the HVAC systems, locating electrical wiring problems, and seeing behind walls or other difficult to reach spaces.

Our plumbers are trained and experienced on how to properly use plumbing inspection cameras. They can pinpoint the problem and know what tools and devices are needed to make a proper repair. They can then look at the completed repair job to make sure it was properly fixed. They are perfect devices to use when trying to locate expensive jewellery that was lost down the drain. As well, these cameras are effective at tracking changes in the pipe over time such as the accumulation of sediment. It also is safer for one’s health to examine backed up sewer pipes and it does not damage the plumbing system. The next time a plumber suggests a plumbing camera inspection, it is wise to consider the benefits of using such a device.

Have you had an experience where the use of a sewer camera was beneficial? Share it in the comments below.

Neptune Plumbing & Heating Company Announces Partnership with Sustainable Improvements

2010-04-29T05:13:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New partnership combines services of Neptune Plumbing with the energy efficiency benefits of Sustainable Improvements

Cleveland, OH– April 29, 2010 – Neptune Plumbing & Heating Co. (

www.NeptunePlumbing.net

), a Cleveland-based plumbing contractor, today announced their partnership with the energy efficiency consulting firm, Sustainable Improvements (

www.sustainableimprovements.org

). This partnership will benefit the clients of Neptune Plumbing in many ways by offering a wide array of energy efficient improvement opportunities.

Sustainable Improvements details the best practiced guidelines aimed at homeowners, builders and designers who seek to incorporate energy-efficient building methods into a new or existing structure. Whether it is residential or commercial, existing homes or new builds, fixtures or appliances, they can help to ensure appropriate measures are taken for obtaining the tax credits and rebates needed to make a property “greener” and more sustainable. Sustainable Improvements supports energy efficiency as a cost-effective energy resource under existing market conditions and advocates energy-efficient policies that minimize costs to society and individual consumers. These procedures will also lessen greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the global climate. Sustainable Improvements offers eco-friendly alternatives in a vast selection of areas including roofing, high-efficiency toilets, insulation, HVAC, water heaters and windows.

In addition to federal tax incentives, some consumers will also be eligible for utility or state rebates, as well as state tax incentives for energy-efficient homes. The rebate program will help offset the cost premium that is often associated with building an energy efficient home or remodeling an existing home, including the purchase of appliances and fixtures.

“We are extremely excited by our new partnership with Sustainable Improvements,” said Vice President of Construction Mark Novak. “This alliance will provide our customers the opportunity to not only to do something positive for the environment, but to also save money in the process.”

About Neptune Plumbing & Heating Co.

Neptune Plumbing & Heating Company, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is a locally owned and family operated business since 1957. Originally specializing in commercial, industrial, and institutional projects throughout Northeastern Ohio Neptune Plumbing recently expanded their operations to include commercial and residential plumbing services.

For further information about Neptune Plumbing & Heating Co. Contact:

Mark Novak
Vice President, Construction
Neptune Plumbing & Heating Co.
23860 Miles Road, Suite G
Cleveland, Ohio 44128
Office 216-475-9100
Fax 216-475-2996

mnovak@neptuneplumbing.net

www.NeptunePlumbing.net

For further information about Sustainable Improvements Contact:

Michael Wallenstein, LEED AP
President
Sustainable Improvements
Office: 216.702.2817

michael@sustainableimprovements.org

www.SustainableImprovements.org

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

In honor of Earth Day today, we thought we’d share fifty green tips for Earth Day and beyond (shared by Kathleen J. King). Some of these tips are plumbing related and some are not, but they all can help contribute to us making an impact (or less of an impact) on our planet. Here are 50 favorite tips:

1. Lower your thermostat. Buy a programmable thermostat.
2. Reuse your water bottle. Avoid buying bottled water. In fact, reuse everything at least once, especially plastics.
3. Check out your bathroom. Use low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets.
4. Start a compost in your back yard or on your rooftop.
5. Buy foods locally. Check out

Eat Local Challenge

and

FoodRoutes

to get started. Buy locally made products and locally produced services.
6. Buy in season.
7. Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. You'll find more on energy-efficient products and practices at

Energy Star

.
8. Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room. Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall when not using it. Turn off energy strips and surge protectors when not in use (especially overnight).
9. Recycle your newspapers.
10. Car pool. Connect with other commuters at

eRideShare

.
11. Consider a car sharing service like

Zipcar

.
12. Ride a bike.
13. Walk, jog, or run.
14. Go to your local library instead of buying new books.
15. At holidays and birthdays, give your family and friends the gift of saving the earth. Donate to their favorite environmental group, foundation, or organization.
16. Get off junk mail lists.

Precycle

can get you started. They’ll even plant a tree for you!
17. Buy products that use recyclable materials whenever possible.
18. If you use plastic grocery bags, recycle them for doggie poop bags or for small trashcan liners.
19. Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Given a choice between plastic and paper, opt for paper.
20. Buy locally. Find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food near you at

LocalHarvest

.
21. Consider

organic cleaning products

like vinegar, borax, and baking soda.
22. If you have a baby, consider using cloth diapers. To sign up for a diaper service to do the dirty work, check out the

National Association of Diaper Services

.
23. Consider buying a fuel-efficient car or a hybrid.
24. Landscape with native plants. Check out the

article

on the

EPA website.

25. Opt into a clean energy program. Check out the

Green Power Network

at the US Department of Energy.
26. Go paperless. Consider reading your newspaper and magazine subscriptions online. Switch to electronic banking and credit card payment, too.
27. Teach kids about the environment.
28. Take your batteries to a recycling center. Earth 911 gives you the

scoop

.
29. Turn your car off if you’re going to be idle for more than one minute.
30. Do full loads of laundry and set the rinse cycle to “cold.”
31. Recycle. If you’re not at home, take the extra steps, (literally), to find that recycling can.
32. Reuse. Plastic food containers make good crayon and marker holders. Use padded envelops more than once. Give away clothes that don’t fit to friends.

Goodwill

or the

Salvation Army

can help.
33. Limit the length of your showers. Even better, take a “navy shower,” shutting off the water while soaping up and shampooing.
34. Don’t run the water when brushing your teeth. Learn about

water scarcity

.
35. Wash towels after several uses.
36. Purchase one case of water and

provide clean water

to 24 people (for over twenty years).
37. Give away your goods and find new ones at

FreeCycle

.
38. Recycle your technology. Dell, Hewlett Packard, Apple, and IBM, among others, offer recycling programs.
39. Go zero! Log on to the Conservation Fund’s

Carbon Zero Calculator

and in less than five minutes, you can measure and then offset your carbon dioxide emissions by planting trees.
40. Put your money where your mouth is—invest in green investments. Web sites like

Co-op America's National Green Pages™

can help.
41. Learn about threats to ocean life and help

Greenpeace

take action.
42. Whenever you can, try using green cleaning products. Check out

Cheap, Clean, and Green

.
43.

Find your local watershed

and learn how to protect it.
44.

Build a greener home

.
45. Opt for

eco-friendly and holistic health products

.
46. Good to the last drop. Switch to

fair trade coffee

.
47. Go paperless at work. Distribute company information and post company material online.
48. Eliminate junk mail at work. For no fee, the

EcoLogical Mail Coalition

will eliminate the junk that former employees receive at work.
49.

Plant a forest and feed a family

while you’re at it.
50. Shop smart. Choose

eco-smart products

What other Earth Day tips do you have? Share them in the comments below.

Fire Hydrant Flushing

2010-04-20T07:20:00.000-07:00

Many of you have probably noticed “Hydrant Flushing” signs being posted around your neighborhood recently. Each year, the Public Works Department opens fire hydrants throughout the city and allows the water to flow through the pipes. The hydrant-flushing program is very important to the maintenance of the city's water system.

It serves the following purposes:

Flushes sediments from mainline pipes (which enhances water quality)
Verifies the proper operation of fire hydrants and valves
Helps find weaknesses in the water system
Checks for closed valves and weak flows in the water mains
Verifies ample flow for fire fighting

Public Works crews will post notices on barricades at intersections to inform residents of flushing in their neighborhoods.

Things to Know During Hydrant Flushing

There may be a temporary drop in water pressure at this time.
Water may be rusty or cloudy. Discolored water is not harmful and will clear up in a few hours.
Fill a bottle with water and store it in the refrigerator to use for drinking or cooking.
Flush your hot water tanks after the cold water clears.
Do not wash white laundry during this period (wait until cold AND hot water are clear before laundering whites).

Hydrant Flushing Frequently Asked Questions

WHY IS HYDRANT FLUSHING NECESSARY?
Hydrant flushing enhances water quality by flushing sediment from the water mains, verifies the proper operation of hydrants and valves, and maintains firefighting capability.

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN THE CITY CREWS ARE FLUSHING HYDRANTS IN MY AREA?
If you see a crew flushing a hydrant on your street, avoid running tap water and using the washing machine or the dishwasher until the flushing is completed. If you see hydrant-flushing crews working in the area, please drive carefully and treat them like any other road construction crew.

WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER HYDRANT FLUSHING?

If tap water is used during flushing, it could come out full of sediment that causes discoloration. If you encounter discolored water, shut the water off and wait several minutes. After waiting, check the clarity by running cold water for a few minutes allowing new water to work its way into your pipes. If the water is clear it’s OK to use. If not, wait a few more minutes and check again. In some cases, there may be slight discoloration for a few hours. This discoloration only affects the appearance of the water; it does not affect the taste or water quality.

Avoid washing laundry during scheduled flushing times. Wait until the water runs clear at the tap, then wash a load of dark clothes first. Hot water tanks can hold discolored water for some time after the cold water runs clear.
If pressure or volume seems low, check your faucet screens for trapped particles.

WHY DOES MY WATER LOOK FUNNY AFTER HYDRANT FLUSHING?
When a hydrant is opened, there will be temporary incidences of discolored water while fine sediment particles are flushed out. There is no health hazard associated with the discolored water. Allow a few hours for discoloration to dissipate. To verify water is clear, run your cold-water tap for a few minutes.

WHO DO I CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION?
For additional information you can contact your local water department or you can contact us with any questions.

Have any further questions or comments on fire hydrant flushing? Leave them below in the comments.

Customer Question: Increasing Water Pressure / Choosing the Best Shower Head

2010-04-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

We received an email yesterday from a customer who had some questions about the new apartment he is moving into. We figured we’d share our response with all of you in hopes this could help other friends and customers of Neptune Plumbing:

“I’m moving into a new apartment this week. I was wondering if there’s anything I can do to try and increase the water pressure in the sinks and shower. I was also wondering if you could help in suggesting a good type of shower head; I saw a variety of different styles and wanted to know if any were better than others. Thanks in advance for your help. - Ryan”

Ryan,
Normally, a tenant in an apartment building cannot control or increase the water pressure to their unit. However, one thing you can do is to check and see if the flow restrictors are clogged. This is a moderately easy task and will only require a few hand tools (adjustable wrench, vise grip wrench, flat-tip screwdriver, cross-tip screwdriver).

For Kitchen and Bathroom Sinks:

Either by hand, an adjustable wrench or a vise-grip wrench, unscrew the flow restrictor on the end of your bathroom or kitchen sink faucet, along with any rubber gaskets with it. The flow restrictor is simply the aerator (screen) where the water exits at the end of the faucet.
Inspect the screen for any clogs. Clean any clogs or debris that may be present.
Run both the hot and cold water at a high rate for a minute or more. Sometimes debris that is too large to pass through the aerator (screen), or flow restrictor, stays trapped in the plumbing near the faucet, and only moves back and forth between the screen and back to where it rests when the water is turned on and off.
Replace the flow restrictor. Test the water pressure.

For Shower heads:

Remove the shower head by unscrewing it by hand or with a wrench from the pipe extension protruding from the wall. Disassemble the shower head, remembering how you take it apart so that you can put it back together the same way you took it apart.
Inspect the shower head for any clogs or debris. Clean clogs, if necessary.
Run both the hot and cold water at a high volume flow. Again, this is to clear out any foreign debris that may be lodged somewhere in the plumbing. Because such debris can't pass through the shower head, it can decrease the water pressure.
Reassemble the shower head and re-attach it to the pipe extension. Test the water pressure.

If you don’t feel comfortable removing the aerators or taking apart the shower head, feel free to

to have a technician come out and assist you.

In regard to suggesting a shower head, choosing the best showerhead can be tricky. It's easy to be swayed by the more stylish designs that look good, but disappointment can follow when it comes to performance. To avoid disappointment in your new showerhead, follow these tips to help choose the right one.

Adjustable Spray Shower Heads

Your best bet in choosing a new shower head is most likely an adjustable spray model. Adjustable shower heads usually have three settings and provide a strong, dependable water flow. They're easy to install and are usually lower priced than other styles of shower heads.

The drawback to this model of shower head is that they aren't necessarily very stylish and it can be hard to change the setting when your hands are wet. Overall, customers are happiest with these shower heads.

Rainshower Shower Heads

While rainshower shower heads are very popular, they ranked lowest in customer satisfaction. Customers buying these shower heads are happy with the appearance but very disappointed in the water pressure they provide. Water pressure was described at "wimpy" and state that it is difficult to rinse with these shower heads.

Rainshower shower heads also have such a wide stream that it is difficult to keep your hair dry if you want to and require extra plumbing parts requiring additional installation.

Shower Towers

The most expensive choice in a new showerhead is a shower tower. These are the best if you are looking for a "spa" experience but don't want to go to the expense of installing behind-the-wall plumbing.

Be aware that if you want this "spa" experience, it costs more money -- for the fixture and the cost of using it. Shower towers use up to 2.5 gallons of water per nozzle per minute and will require that you have a larger hot water heater.

To choose the best showerhead for your home/apartment , take into consideration how you use your shower. Is it strictly utility -- a quick wash, or is the shower a place for relaxation? By thinking through your usage and your budget, you can easily get the best showerhead and enjoy it for years to come.

Do you have any further suggestions for Ryan? Feel free to post them below in the comments. Have any questions of you own? Email them to

service@neptuneplumbing.net

or use our

contact page

and we’ll be sure to respond promptly.

Water customers in Cleveland could see another rate increase next year

2010-04-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

An article from the Metro section of today’s Plain Dealer:

Customers of the Cleveland Division of Water may see another rate increase next year. How much is yet to be determined.

A rate study is in progress, and the division could approach council with a request for a hike around the end of the year, officials said at a council committee meeting this week.

Customers are in the last year of an increase instituted in 2007 that pushed rates up almost 80 percent for city residents and 45 percent for suburban customers over four years. Council sets the rates for the city-run water division that serves 1.4 million people.

Water Commissioner Chris Nielson said revenues were $25 million below projections last year due to a decrease in consumption and a drop in interest earnings and fees. The cool, wet summer contributed to the drop in water use, he added.

The revenue decrease, overall maintenance and a proposed $86 million automatic meter reading system the division wants to buy

will be factored into the cost analysis, division spokesman John Goersmeyer said.

The search for additional revenue comes not long after the division was barraged by customer complaints due to estimated bills, bad meters, long waits on the phone and rude customer service. The Plain Dealer chronicled the division's troubles throughout much of last year.

Residents continue to be critical of the department. Director of Utilities Barry Withers said steps are being taken to improve customer service, including extended calling hours and putting a new computer billing system online.

Nielson said the proposed automatic meter reading system is key to solving most of the remaining problems. "All of our customer service revolves around a good meter reading," he said.

Council, which put the brakes on the purchase last month, is now ready to move forward. Members wanted to investigate whether the radio-driven remote reading system could be used for other city needs such as safety-force communications and traffic cameras.

Councilman Kevin Kelley, chairman of council's Public Utilities Committee, said at the meeting this week that he concluded "meshing systems would be cost prohibitive" since the division's system extends into five counties, including all of Cuyahoga.

In the next several weeks, council is expected to approve legislation to allow the purchase. Nielson said the costs include $3.2 million for design and management; $17.8 million for meters; $42 million for technology; $23 million for installation.

The water division will pay for the network with $8.5 million of previously encumbered money; $12 million from 2009 operating capital; $15.5 million from future operating capital; and $50 million from bonds.

Nielson said the system will eliminate estimated bills. Radio devices strategically installed on places like buildings and utility poles will allow employees downtown to read meters remotely at any time. This could clear the way for monthly billing, he said. The division now bills quarterly. Consumption eventually could be broken down to daily and even hourly use, allowing for detection of leaks or water theft, Nielson said.

The division would save on the cost of vehicles and fuel when the system is fully functional in three years, he said. Installation would begin this fall. The first year, 10 percent of residential meters will be replaced along with 40 percent of the commercial meters.

Nielson said meter readers would reassigned to inspection, maintenance, leak detection and customer service crews as the system is phased in.

See the full article:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/04/water_customers_could_see_anot.html

As a customer of the Cleveland Division of Water, there are a few actions that can be taken to help combat the increase in the rates:

Check for water leaks or running toilets.
Water leaks can add up on your monthly bills, so make sure to periodically check your home or office for leaks.
Invest in low-flow plumbing fixtures. Items such as low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucet aerators can help reduce your water consumption and your water bill.
Contact Neptune Plumbing
to learn more about having these items installed.

How do you feel about these rate increases? Do you have any tips to help lower your water consumption? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Water Heater Maintenance

2010-04-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

Water heaters are one of those appliances we rely upon every day. Whether gas or electric, they are generally very dependable and quiet. Water heaters can last for a decade or more and with this simple 3-step annual maintenance plan you can extend the life of your water heater even further and save money in the process.

Do the 3-Steps

By following this easy 5 minute, 3-step annual maintenance plan, you can significantly extend the life of your water heater:

Dial Down the Temperature
Test the T&P (temperature and pressure) Relief Valve
Do a Mini-Flush

Dial Down the Temperature

Check your water heater temperature setting:

Go to the temperature setting dial on your water heater. It will be a knob on the gas valve or a thermostat behind an electric water heater panel.
Dial the temperature setting down so it is between 115 to 120 degrees F.
This lowered setting will protect the tank from overheating and will reduce the energy used to heat the water.

Test the T&P Valve

The temperature and pressure relief valve is critical to safety and proper operation of your water heater. It's a simple but important valve and is easily checked:

To test the T&P valve simply lift up on the lever part way, then let go and allow it to rapidly snap back.
You should hear a gurgling sound as the valve allows some water to be released into the drain tube.
If the T&P valve did nothing then it is bad and needs to be replaced.

Do a Mini-Flush

Removal of sediments from the bottom of the tank is important to prevent rust, corrosion and improve efficiency. Although a full water heater tank draining and flush is best, performing a full flush is a bit of work and requires shutting down the water heater. This mini-flush works well, takes a fraction of the time and allows you to do it while the water heater is running:

Place a bucket under the drain valve found near the bottom of the tank.
Some drain valves have a handle. Others like the one in the photo shown here have a short handleless stem with a slot for a flat blade screwdriver.
Turn the valve counter-clockwise to release a few gallons of water into the bucket.
Close the valve by turning it clockwise and drain the bucket.

Make sure to take caution and be safe when following these plumbing tips. If you are unsure or feel uncomfortable make sure to call Neptune Plumbing to have a technician come out to assist you.

Do you have any other water heater maintenance tips or questions? Feel free to post them in the comments below.

Spring Plumbing Tips

2010-04-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

April showers bring May flowers and the onset of spring, which means it's time for "spring cleaning." Neptune Plumbing offers these maintenance tips to protect your home against plumbing problems.

Kitchen/Bathrooms

Check faucets for drips or leaks. Make repairs to save water.
Ensure that all drains have strainers to prevent hair, soap and debris from clogging the drain lines.
Check toilets for hidden leaks. Dye test your toilet (Neptune Plumbing technicians can provide you with dye test kits). If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.
Inspect tank and bowl for cracks or leaks.
Exercise water supply valves under sinks and toilets to prevent them from sticking.
Make sure toilets flush properly. If the handle must be held down for a thorough flush or jiggled to stop the water from running you may need to replace worn tank parts. They're inexpensive and you'll notice a lower water bill.
Clean mineral deposits from showerhead. Unscrew it and soak in vinegar or fill a plastic baggie with vinegar; place it over the showerhead and hold in place with a rubber band. Soak overnight then remove and gently scrub with an old toothbrush to remove deposits.

Appliances

Check the temperature setting on the water heater. It should be set no higher than 120°F to prevent scalding and reduce energy use.
Carefully drain several gallons from the water heater tank to flush out corrosion causing sediment, which reduces heating efficiency and shortens the life of the heater.
Consider replacing a water heater more than 15 years old. (The first four numbers of the serial number represent the month and year it was made.) Newer water heaters are more energy efficient.
Make sure flammables are not stored near the water heater or furnace.
Check dishwasher, washing machine and icemaker supply hoses for bulges or leaks. Replace hoses showing signs of weakness or older than ten years.
Clean out washing machine lint trap, if equipped, and place a wire trap or a piece of pantyhose over the end of the hose that drains the washer.

General

Pour a gallon of water into infrequently used drains (including floor drains) to fill the trap and prevent odors from entering the house. Slow floor drains should be snaked to ensure they will carry away water quickly in the event of a flood.
Check exposed pipes under sinks and in the basement for signs of leaks.
If your home has a sump pump, make sure it operates properly by pouring a few buckets of water into the sump pit. The pump should quickly turn on, discharge the water then shut off without any problems.
Install a backflow valve in the floor drain if you live in an area where sewers sometimes back up into homes. This device will prevent future backups.
Inspect for slow leaks in your home by taking a reading on your water meter before bedtime. The next morning, without using any water overnight, take another reading. If the reading has changed you have a leak that should be repaired.
Install flood alarms. Like a smoke alarm, a flood alarm is a battery-operated device that sounds an alarm when it comes in contact with water. It alerts you to potential flooding or leaks. Ask your technician for more information.

Outside

Make sure yard drains, gutters and downspouts are cleaned out, open, and free of debris.
Check for bird nests in plumbing vent pipes.
Check faucets and hose bibs to make sure water flows freely. If an outdoor faucet drips or if there is leakage inside your home the first time the hose is turned on, you may have had a frozen pipe that cracked and needs to be replaced.

Make sure to take caution and be safe when following these plumbing tips. If you are unsure or feel uncomfortable make sure to call Neptune Plumbing to have a technician come out to assist you.

Do you have any questions about these tips or have any other Spring Plumbing Tips to share? Post them below in the comments.

Garbage Disposal Problems: Be Safe, Not Sorry

2010-03-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

Garbage disposal problems are bound to occur from time to time. Nothing is more frustrating than the garbage disposal not working. Regardless of popular belief, there are many foods that are not recommended to be run through your garbage disposal. Things like potato skins, carrot skins or banana peels should never be run down a disposal.

Garbage disposers, and the drain lines to which they’re connected, are not intended for use in disposing of fat, grease, large hard (T) bones and extremely fibrous materials like cornhusk silks and artichokes. These items have a tendency to plug up the drain line causing it to back up and create a stinky mess in your kitchen sink.

Place fat and grease into cans or bottles for disposal through your solid waste trash. Place T bones and other large bones into a plastic zip lock type of bag and dispose of through normal household trash. If you have a compost heap, consider recycling cornhusks, artichokes and other fibrous wastes there, or again, throw them out with your regular trash.

When using your disposer, make sure to run plenty of COLD water to eliminate food wastes. If you are using it to eliminate a substantial amount of food waste (1 pound or greater), when you’ve completed using the disposer, turn it off and plug the drain for the sink. Fill the sink with cold water to approximately ¼ of its depth. Pull the drain plug out and turn the disposer on. This should thoroughly wash the drain line free of any garbage that might cause a partial stoppage, which could eventually lead to a complete stoppage. Although it is tempting to use hot water during the operation of the disposer, this will almost definitely cause a stoppage further down stream. Using cold water helps to keep grease and fat in a solid form where it can move down the drain line, and not coat the line over a period of time, which would eventually cause it to become blocked.

However, even if you are very vigilant about what goes down your drain, eventually something will sneak past even the best of us. When this happens you need to know what to do. First of all, and this is the most important thing that you need to know about your garbage disposal, never, ever, under any circumstances, put your fingers in your garbage disposal. Not even for a moment. Secondly, before you put anything down your garbage disposal, turn off the circuit breaker for the disposal. Once you are sure that power has been disabled to the disposal, find a long pair of tongs or anything else that you can use to remove debris from the disposal. It might not be a bad idea to grab a flashlight to get a better look at what is blocking the disposal. Clear as much material as possible and run hot water through the drain. It is also a good idea to use the tongs to make sure that the blades of the disposal move freely. Once you feel everything is clear and moving freely, turn the circuit breaker on, run cold water and run the disposal for a second. If the drain is working properly, you have fixed the problem. If there are still issues, you may want to

schedule a service call

to have a professional plumber diagnose and fix the disposal properly.

A list of

DOs

Do turn on a medium to strong cold-water flow before you start using the appliance. Continue running the cold water for approximately 15 seconds after grinding has ceased, to flush the drain line and the disposer free of food particles.
Do occasionally put a small amount of ice into the disposer to help clean the inside of the grinding area. Use caution when doing this and make sure you have the drain stopper in place to avoid flying particles that could be ejected from the disposer’s grinding chamber.
Do occasionally use a disposer cleaner degreaser to help eliminate grease that may cause unpleasant odors. Check to make sure that the product is authorized by the disposer manufacturer.
Do consider having your kitchen drain line snaked approximately every two years as preventive maintenance. The disposer is only as good as the drain line serving it.
Do ask your plumbing professional for advice on the best methods to maintain your drains and to help keep them clean and flowing freely.
Every once in a while, grind up peels from citrus fruits like lemons or oranges. This helps keep the grinding area smelling fresh and the natural acidity help suppress bacterial growth associated with odors.

A List of

DON’Ts

Don’t use hot water while grinding food. It is perfectly acceptable to run hot water down the drain after you’ve used the disposer, but it is important that only cold water be used during the food grinding process.
Don’t put grease, fat or fibrous waste into the disposer. It will cause the drain line to become plugged. Dispose of it as previously described through the solid waste channels available to you.
Don’t fill the grinding chamber full of vegetable peels and then turn it on and expect it to handle the load. Keep the cuttings in a separate container and feed them slowly into the grinder while feeding plenty of cold water at the same time.
Don’t use harsh drain cleaning chemicals, as they are potentially harmful to the user, the plumbing system and the environment. If you have used strong drain line cleaners, be sure and tell this to the drain cleaning technician so that he can take appropriate precautions.

Do you have any more tips for using/maintaining your garbage disposal? Post them below in the comments.

Happy World Water Day!

2010-03-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

World Water Day: 10 Things You Need to Know About Water

Yesterday was

World Water Day

, an international day honoring fresh water, the stuff we can’t live without. Clean water is an absolute requirement for any human civilization to survive; World Water Day reminds us not to take it for granted.

To commemorate World Water Day, here’s a list of 10 things you need to know about water:

1%
of the world’s fresh water is currently accessible to humans.
346,000 million:
Number of gallons of fresh water the US consumes per day.
80%
of that water is used for irrigation and thermoelectric generation.
80-100 gallons:
Amount of water the average person in the US uses per day.
13.2 gallons:
Estimated amount of water required for any single person for cooking, sanitation, bathing, and survival needs.
3.575 million
: Number of people who die every year from water-related disease.
84%
of them are children.
50%
of global hospital beds are occupied by someone with a waterborne illness.
25%
of bottled water is basically tap water in a bottle–treated or untreated.
1.5 million
tons of plastic are used to bottle 89 billion liters of water every year.

Help sustain your own local water supply by installing water-saving devices into your home and using filtered rather than bottled water. Neptune Plumbing can assist you with the installation of low-flow fixtures to help reduce your home or office water usage.

for more information.

Do you have any interesting water facts or tips on reducing your water usage? Post them below in the comments.

Source:

http://www.businesspundit.com/world-water-day-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-water/

Unclogging A Toilet (for Non-Plumbers)

2010-03-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

Everyone is familiar with that feeling of dread that sets in when, after flushing the toilet, you see the water begin to rise to an unusual level. Lots of things flash through your mind in this moment. You hope that it’s not going to overflow and that you’re soon going to hear that reassuring sound indicating that the water is draining. If it’s night time, you may wonder how many 24-hour plumbers Northeast Ohio has, and if any of them would be available to help you.

But often, instead of draining, the water just sits there. Even if it doesn’t overflow, you know that one more flush would push the water over the edge, and nobody wants that. But before you start

requesting a service call

let’s see if you can do anything to fix this problem yourself.

Drain cleaners

First of all, as any plumber will tell you, store-bought chemical drain cleaners usually have little or no effect on clogged toilets. Of course, you can try one if you already have it, but buying one would just be a waste of money.

Plungers

Most people have plungers, and fortunately you do not need any advanced plumbing knowledge to use one. However, if you don’t have a high-quality type of plunger, you greatly diminish the tool’s potential effectiveness. You need one that is made of tough, durable but flexible material and has a fold-out cup. Plunger use is simple: Press the rim of the plunger around the toilet opening so that it forms a ring of suction. Push down on the handle, and then pull up with force. Do this several times. The important thing is to put your force into the pulling, not the pushing.

Toilet augers

A toilet auger is usually the first tool that a professional plumber will use to try to unclog a toilet. Basically, it’s a metal snake that works its way into the draining system of the toilet, hooks the obstruction, and then pulls it out. Many hardware stores that carry toilet augers, but while this may seem like a cheap alternative, toilet augers are not always guaranteed to work, so you may end up wasting money by purchasing one and using it on your own. Also if you take this approach, be careful to not scratch or damage the toilet.

Advanced techniques

If none of these options work, and if you’re not experienced with advanced plumbing techniques, it’s probably best to give up on the idea of fixing the issue yourself. If you wish to schedule a service call, you can call Neptune Plumbing toll-free at 1-800-PLUMBING or

request a service call online

. Every Neptune Plumbing technician has 3 different sized sewer machines on his van to accommodate any sized sewer blockage.

Do you have any tips, suggestions, or stories? Leave them below in the comments.

"Faces In Strange Places" Contest!

2010-03-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, while on a service call, we find a bathroom faucet or a toilet looking back up at us (normally with a surprised look on its face). Over time, we have documented some of these “expressions” and we thought this would be a good platform to share them with you (see the images below). Additionally, we wanted to see what other “faces” are out there, and need your help!

Here’s the contest:

look for your own “Faces in Strange Places”. Take pictures of the “faces” you see in strange places, whether they’re in plumbing fixtures or not. You can post the pictures in the comments of this blog post, on our

Facebook Page

, or email them to

service@neptuneplumbing.net

(be sure to tag them “Faces in Strange Places” and make sure to leave your name and email address). We’ll allow submissions for the next 3 weeks (deadline is April 9, 2010) and then we’ll post all the submissions for you to vote on. The winner will receive some Neptune Plumbing/1-800-PLUMBING merchandise as well as some valuable coupons. We look forward to seeing your submissions!

Here are a few examples to get you started:

EGHNFU45RCE4

Shower Running Out of Hot Water? Here’s What to Do

2010-03-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

Hot-water problems can be frustrating. It’s no fun when you turn on your water and get ready for your shower only to find that the water won’t get any hotter than lukewarm. And even worse is when you’re in the middle of your shower and the hot water gives out completely. Over time, what may seem like a minor inconvenience can become a real headache, and you might want to

request a service call

so we can help you get to the bottom of the issue.

But before you start calling, try to get a clearer sense of what’s causing your hot water shortages. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Water heater or plumbing?

Do your hot water problems affect your entire household, or are they confined to one fixture? Next time your shower hot water runs out, immediately go around your home to other showers and faucets and test whether they work properly. If you can get them to produce a sustained flow of hot water, then the problem is probably confined to your shower, which means that it’s probably in the plumbing, rather than in the water heater. This will be useful information when you start calling Neptune Plumbing. If the other showers and taps have similar hot water issues, then the problem is probably with your water heater.

When does it happen?

If the hot water problems are intermittent, make note of when they occur. Do they happen during a certain time of day? What’s the outdoor temperature when the hot water goes out? How long were you running the water? Were you previously running water elsewhere in the house? These things may mean nothing, but it doesn’t hurt to know this information when the plumber comes.

Check the valve.

Find where your water valves are located, and make sure that the hot water valve is all the way open. Over time, valves can slowly close on their own, so don’t rule this out as a possible solution. You wouldn’t want to have a technician come out to your home only to find that the problem was a half-closed valve all along.

How old is the showerhead?

If your showerhead is older than a year or two, it may be that its inner parts are worn out and causing obstructions. If you can, take apart your showerhead, and make sure everything inside still looks new. If it’s falling apart inside, installing a new one is a fairly easy process that you may be able to do on your own. (Note: Be careful not to injure yourself or break the showerhead when taking it apart. If you are concerned, please

Do you need a professional?

If the source of the problem is more complicated than a worn-out showerhead, and if you don’t have much plumbing experience, you may want to

call a professional

. Remember that plumbing is complicated, and Neptune Plumbing technicians go through years of training and certification before they’re qualified to work on advanced plumbing projects. So if you’re not sure of yourself, put the project in the hands of someone with the necessary know-how.

Have you had hot water or shower issues in the past? How was it resolved? Share your stories or tips in the comments.

Are water leaks costing you money?

2010-03-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

Are water leaks costing you money? Periodically you should:

Check all faucets for drips. Replace worn and leaking washers, gaskets, pipes or defective fixtures.
Check for leaks on outside faucets, and make sure the valve closes properly.
Check toilets for leaks - they are the most common cause of high bills! Check the overflow of the tank to make sure no water is running over (float level may be set too high) The flapper valve in the bottom of the tank is also a location of a possible leaking toilet. To check for a flapper valve leak, you can ask your Neptune Plumbing technician to dye test your toilets or ask him for a complimentary dye test kit. You can also put a small amount of food coloring in the toilet tank after it has filled. Do not flush the toilet for at least an hour, or overnight if possible. If the food coloring shows up in the bowl without flushing, you probably have a leaking flapper or plunger ball valve. For further information or assistance you can contact us at 1-800-PLUMBING or
request a service call
.

The following chart shows the amount of water that can be lost (and billed to your utilities account) for various size leaks.

How to Check for Leaks

Studies show that dripping faucets and leaking toilets account for as much as 14% of all indoor water use, equivalent to 10 gallons per person of water lost per day.

Read Your Water Meter

- Use your water meter to check for leaks in your home. Start by turning off all faucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the testing period.
Take a reading on your water meter, wait for about 30 minutes, and then take a second reading. If the dial has moved, you have a leak.

Check for Leaky Toilets

- The most common source of leaks is the toilet. Check toilets for leaks by dye testing (see above). If after an hour or so the dye shows up in the bowl, the toilet has a leak.
Leaky toilets can usually be repaired inexpensively by replacing the flapper.

Toilets can account for almost 30% of all indoor water use, more than any other fixture or appliance.
Older toilets (installed prior to 1994) use 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush and as much as 20 gallons per person per day. Replacing an old toilet with a new model can save the typical household 7,900 to 21,700 gallons of water per year, cutting both your water and wastewater bills.
An average of 20% of toilets leak.

Check for Leaky Faucets

- The next place to check for leaks is your sink and bathtub faucets. Replacing the rubber O-ring or washer inside the valve can usually repair dripping faucets.

Water Conservation

You can use

WaterWiser's Drip Calculator

to measure and estimate water wasted due to leaks.
For more information about water conservation contact the

Cleveland Water Department

or your local water department.

Do you have any additional tips to check for leaks or any leak-related stories/issues? Share them with us in the comments.

Are you ready for the toilet of the future?

2010-03-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

An interesting article from

TODAY

Diane Mapes

While most bathrooms in the United States are business as usual, toilets in Japan and in some parts of Europe are high-tech wonders, overflowing with luxurious amenities such as heated seats, sound effects, built-in bidets and lids that raise automatically.

But the toilets lids aren’t the only things going up. Complex commodes are also raising eyebrows, especially with Americans unaccustomed to toilets that require an instruction manual.

“You walk into a bathroom in Tokyo and the toilets are like the captain’s chair on the Starship Enterprise,” says Kim Terca, a 27-year-old public relations consultant from San Francisco. “There’s a control panel with all these buttons. The first time I saw one, I just burst out laughing. Then I started pressing buttons to see what they could do.”

Perplexing potties

Terca says she found Japan’s smart toilets both “hilarious” and somewhat perplexing, since not all toilets offer the same snazzy features — including a special deodorizing feature that she says she never figured out.

And then there are the motion sensors.

“Once, I was in a coffee shop and went back to use the bathroom and when I approached the toilet, the seat suddenly went up,” she says. “It stayed for a second and then went back down. So I kind of reached for it and it opened back up again. It was like a Venus flytrap.”

Mary, a 53-year-old business consultant from Manhattan who asked that her last name not be used, says the special sound effects were what threw her for a loop.

“I went to see my client and had to use the bathroom and as soon as I sat down, there was this sound,” she says. “In retrospect, I realized it was a rainforest or some nature sound to give you your privacy, but at the time it sounded like applause. I thought, ‘Good god, that’s what you do in toilet training!’ ”

Peter Czech, a 31-year-old Web developer from Rutherford, N.J., says the smart toilets at a Japanese resort where he stayed a few months back were a constant topic of conversation among guests.

“People would talk about it breakfast,” he says. “They’d come down to the restaurant in the morning and say, ‘How about that toilet seat?’ ”

Czech says high-tech toilets definitely come with a learning curve, but he loves the innovation, particularly when it comes to heated seats, his-and-her bidets and seats that “self-sanitize.”

“It’s like the ultimate gadget,” he says. “I think it’s the next big thing.”

Trickling into the U.S.

Dr. Michael Sykes, a San Diego molecular biologist who runs the

International Center for Bathroom Etiquette blog

says he’s surprised at how long it’s taken for high-tech toilets to hit the U.S.

“Bidets and dual-flushing systems have been popular in Europe and Asia for a long time,” he says. “It’s interesting how people are encountering this on their home soil now.”

Tina Kurfurst, a 46-year-old data coordinator from Seattle, says her company recently moved to a new building where the bathrooms now have a fancy new flushing system.

“They’ve installed these multiple-choice potties complete with instructions,” she says. “You pull up on the handle for number one and pull the handle down for number two. I guess it’s even more efficient than a low-flow auto-flush. But I’m a foot flusher. So ‘up for #1’ and ‘down for #2’ requires a bit more forethought and dexterity — especially in heels.”

Jamie Hysell, a 28-year-old interior designer who specializes in hotels and casinos, says most of her clients opt for “run-of-the-mill” features such as motion sensor flushers or self-cleaning seats, but she’s ordered a few deluxe models – complete with built-in bidets, motion sensor lids- and heated seats – for presidential suites.

Not surprisingly, the extra bells and whistles have elicited some interesting responses.

“The funniest responses were from the construction workers,” she says. “I found them playing with the remote control seat and shooting each other with the bidet. They would crank up the water pressure and send a stream of water eight feet across the room.”

Going paper-free

Some features — like the heated seat — are popular (“When I came home from Japan, the first thing I told my husband was we need a heated toilet seat,” says Mary), but others — like the bidet — often receive a more tepid response.

“There’s a lot of fear surrounding a bidet,” says molecular biologist Sykes. “Obviously, there’s nothing sinister about it, people have been using them successfully for years, but there’s a fear of the unknown. It’s a new thing.”

Or is it? According to Lenora Campos, public relations manager for plumbing manufacturer TOTO USA, many cultures have traditionally used water to cleanse “post-toileting” but for various reasons, the practice hasn’t really caught on in the U.S.

“My own private opinion is that when our forebears started up new settlements, there wasn’t the plumbing infrastructure to support a bidet culture,” she says. “So something important dropped away.”

TOTO is attempting to bring that “something” back with both its high-tech “Neorest” toilet, which can costs thousands of dollars, depending on the model, and the retrofitted toilet seat, “Washlet,” which starts at around $500 and comes in several different versions.

The “hands-free” units — which can be found everywhere from Hollywood bathrooms to hotels in the Heartland — come with heated seats, built-in deodorizers, motion sensor lids, remote control seats that go automatically lower after use (“We call it the marriage saver,” says Campos), automatic flushing, dual flushing, self-cleaning capabilities and antibacterial coating.

They also feature built-in bidets (with both oscillating and pulsating features) and a warm air dryer.

“The idea is to remove paper from the equation,” says Campos. “If we can use water to cleanse, it benefits both the individual and the environment.”

Terca says she liked the built-in bidets she encountered in Japan (once she got the hang of them), but is dubious about the U.S. becoming T.P.-free.

“I don’t really see Americans going for that,” she says. “People have their favorite brand and there are huge campaigns about which way to put the roll on” the toilet paper dispenser. That might be kind of a tough sell.”

Toilet of the future

Paper-free bathrooms are just the start, though, says Campos. The humble commode may soon become a virtual seat of knowledge.

“Traditionally, we’ve thought of a toilet as a waste-removal receptacle, but we’re working on technology that will re-conceive it as an in-home health testing unit,” she says.

Already, smart toilets in Japan can perform urinalysis — testing for diabetes, for instance — then wirelessly transmit the findings

to either a home computer or health care

provider. In the future, Campos says toilets in the U.S. will be able to act as both an early warning system for disease and provide the user with insights into their day-to-day health.

“We’re always thinking about how to improve the individual’s life,” she says. “Soon, your toilet will be able to give you advice about diet and exercise."

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35787518/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/page/2/#ixzz0huK2nWTb

What features would you like to see in your “toilet of the future”? Post your ideas in the comments below.

Tips for Hiring a Plumber - 6 Questions to Ask

2010-03-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

Kimberly Gibbons

shares tips on hiring a plumber:

If you are like the majority of homeowners, chances are, you may not know too much about plumbing, let alone, how to go about finding a qualified plumber. This can be a daunting and an intimidating task. Not sure where to turn, some homeowners just thumb through the yellow pages and pick a plumber at random. Finding a plumber in the yellow pages is fine, however assuming a plumber is qualified because he or she is listed in the yellow pages can be a grave mistake. Always ask the following questions of any potential plumber.

1) Are you insured?

The only acceptable answer to this question is yes. The potential plumber needs to have both workers' compensation and liability insurance. He or she should also be able to provide you with a copy of his or her insurance policy. This is mandatory and cannot be emphasized enough. Should damage occur to your home during the process of having your plumbing fixed, the last position you need to be in, is one in which you are footing the bill for this damage.

This is a very good tip. It is definitely important to make sure your plumber carries the necessary insurance to work at your home. At Neptune Plumbing, we are licensed, bonded, and insured. You can always ask a technician to provide you with a copy of our insurance.

2) Are you licensed?

Many states require that a plumber be licensed for their company to be considered legitimate. If so, you can to call (or check online) the appropriate agency for your state, to make sure the license is current. At the same time, you can also check to see if there are any complaints against the license.

Another important tip. To guarantee quality workmanship at your home it is imperative that your contractor is licensed. At Neptune we are licensed, bonded, and insured. You can always ask a technician to provide you with a copy of our current plumbing license.

3) How long have you been in business and do you have references?

This will let you know just how experienced the plumber is. A list of references is a great source for finding out how content previous clients have been with the plumber and his or her business. If a plumber acts reluctant to give you this information, it is always best to trust your intuition. A legitimate, qualified plumber will be more than happy to provide this information for you.

Neptune Plumbing has been in business since 1957. We are proud of our tradition of excellence and are enjoying continued growth due to our quality workmanship and our ability to complete projects in a timely manner. A list of references can be found on

our website.

4) How much will this cost?

You will need a detailed quote which includes a written estimate. This will include payment terms as well as a materials list. It will also include any additional information you have spoken about together.

At Neptune Plumbing, there are no hidden costs because we charge our clients a flat rate for our services instead of the hourly fee most of our competitors charge. We believe our clients should know what their costs are up front before we perform any plumbing services on their home. Therefore, we have devised pricing to reflect the quality of our services.

5) Does he or she provide clean up themselves?

If so, have this included in the contract.

Every job we perform isn’t complete until the work area is cleaned up 100%. We feel that this is so important that “cleanliness” is one of the ranked factors on our surveys each customer completes after a job.

6) Is your work guaranteed?

Will you come back to fix the problem if it returns again? It is always best to pick a plumber who guarantees his or her work.

Different types of jobs are guaranteed differently, but at Neptune Plumbing, the job is not complete until the customer is satisfied.

Let's face it, needing plumbing repairs for your home can be an extremely stressful time for yourself and your loved ones. Put yourself in a position of power by asking all of the right questions and receiving all of the correct answers. Your peace of mind will be well worth the time and energy you spent, to find a decent, qualified plumber.
To schedule a plumbing service call, you can either call us at 1-800-PLUMBING or

request a service call online.

What other tips can you suggest in finding a professional, reliable plumber? Leave your ideas/suggestions in the comments below.

Introducing Our New Blog!

2010-03-08T13:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our new blog for Neptune Plumbing & our service division,
1-800-PLUMBING.

Here you can stay informed on what we’re up to, get industry news, and find other useful plumbing-related information. Make sure to subscribe to our feed to keep up to date and to see the specials and promotions we are running throughout the year.

Here’s a brief list of what you can expect from our blog:

Plumbing Tips & Tricks
Important/Topical Plumbing Information
Local Plumbing-Related News/Updates
Coupons & Promotions
Answers to all of your plumbing questions by licensed plumbers

We welcome you to share your comments with us and create an open dialog.

Is there anything you’d like to see in future blog posts? Let us know in the comments.