Surfin' Snowman 5 Miler & 2 Mile Walk on January 2nd

Come out to the Surfin' Snowman 5 Miler and 2 Miler Walk, presented by Miken Builders on Saturday January 2nd at 4pm.  It will be a great way to start the new year, and support some local organizations like Justin's Beach House, Contractors for a Cause and the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Department.  

Magnolia Man Arrested for Home Improvement Fraud in Millsboro Ar - WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 -

Magnolia Man Arrested for Home Improvement Fraud in Millsboro Area - WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 -

Don't let this happen to you!  Reputable contractors should ALWAYS be licensed and insured.  Home improvement contractors and tradesman should hold a professional license through the state in which they are working - visiting your state's website should allow you to confirm whether or not the individual is licensed.  

Secondly, it can't hurt to ask for references, or do some research on the internet to make sure that the company/individual is in fact reputable.  You can also ask friends and neighbors if they have any recommendations on a reputable contractor.  

Lastly, some contractors will require a deposit ahead of time - if you are uncomfortable with this, please express your concerns and ask them for copies of their licenses and an insurance certificate.  A reputable company or individual should have no problem with providing this information.  

Garbage Disposal Repair - Common Troubleshooting Tips | AHS

Here are some troubleshooting tips for common garbage disposal problems, if these don't work then it might be a good idea to call a professional.  

Thanksgiving Plumbing Tips

The holidays are often the busiest time of year for plumbers. Sometimes issues can arise when you are not home, or because you have too many people in your home. Here are a few tips to reduce your chances of becoming victim to frozen pipes and common clogs:

-If travelling for the holidays, do not turn your heat below 60. It's also a good idea to turn your water off at the main shut off valve - if a leak should occur while you are gone, this will minimize the damage.

-Try not to put any fats, oils or fibrous/tough materials (including sweet potatoes, egg shells and poultry skins) down your drain or into your garbage disposal.

-Turn your disposal on before throwing any food scraps into it.  Also let your disposal run for at least 10-15 seconds before and after using it to be sure that all of the food waste has flushed through.

-Avoid using flushable wipes - they are often not as 'flushable' as the manufacturer makes them out to be and can commonly cause backups.

-Keep a trash can nearby toilets and make sure it's visible to discourage guests from flushing unwanted items.  

We hope you have a happy and headache free holiday!

ACT's Wild & Scenic Film Festival on November 19th

Don't forget to come out to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on November 19th!  Seaside Plumbing Inc is a proud sponsor of this awesome event that features environmentally focused films.  

Don't Forget to Unhook Your Outside Hoses

With temperatures hovering around freezing recently, it's important to unhook any outside hoses.  Leaving hoses connected can cause water to freeze all the way back into the crawlspace of your home.  You also may want to consider having any outdoor plumbing items (including outside showers) winterized by a licensed plumber.    

Tanked Vs. Tankless Water Heaters

Often our customers will ask “What do you recommend – a tanked or tankless water heater?”  There is no perfect answer to this question, it depends on the individual preference and situation.  What we can offer is a list of pros and cons for your consideration and to assist you in making a decision.

Gas Tankless Water Heaters:

Pros:

• You have on demand, endless hot water that will not run out.
• Tankless water heaters are generally smaller and more compact, saving space inside of your home.
• Water is only heated when you need it which makes tankless units more efficient and cheaper to operate in most cases. Some units boast an energy factor of up to .96!
• They have a longer life expectancy of about 20 years (as opposed to 10-15 years for a standard tanked water heater)

Cons:

• Tankless units are more expensive than traditional tanked water heaters and the installation costs are generally higher.  In some remodeling scenarios installation costs can be significantly higher.
• While tankless water heaters are more efficient, many recent studies have found the payback on actual energy savings vs. the initial cost of the unit to be longer than what is advertised.  Again, it depends on the individual situation and usage (and certainly more research will continue to be released), but it is worth noting.
• Most tankless water heaters require a minimum flow of .5 gallons per minute in order to ignite the water heater and deliver hot water to fixtures.  If you turn your faucet on at a trickle, it will most likely not be enough to ignite the water heater.  There are hybrid units on the market that are tankless water heaters with a small 2 gallon storage tank inside of the units – they specifically address this issue (among other things) and allow you to get hot water even at a trickle.
• Most units require both gas and electric to operate, in the event of a power or gas outage, you will not have hot water.

We typically do not recommend electric tankless water heaters for a whole house scenario.  They need a serious amount of electrical amperage to operate, in most cases 4 double-pole breakers are required to be dedicated to this appliance.  A typical home does not usually have that extra space in their breaker box to run an electric tank-less water heater.  Additionally we have found that their hot water output cannot always sufficiently meet household demand.

Traditional Tanked Water Heaters (Gas or Electric):

Pros:

• Tanked water heaters are typically cheaper for both the material and the installation.
• They have been around for a very long time, so the technology is proven and widely understood. 
• You will receive hot water at a fixture, even if the water is turned on at just a trickle.
• In the event of a power or gas outage, you will still have a temporary supply of heated water in the tank available for use.

Cons:

• The amount of hot water you have is limited to the size of your tank, so you can easily run out of hot water, having to wait 30-45 minutes in order for the tank to heat up again.
• Tanked water heaters have a shorter life span of 10-15 years tops, they are also prone to bursting once they get to the end of their life expectancy which can cause flood damage to your home.
• They are continuously heating the water in the tank making them less efficient, subject to standby heat loss and thus more expensive to operate. 
• They are larger, bulkier and take up more space inside your home.

Both tanked and tankless water heaters should be routinely maintenanced and flushed in order to operate efficiently and properly.  Sediment can gather on the bottom of tanks or within the tankless units which can affect the lifespan, water quality and in some cases void the warranty.

A qualified and licensed plumbing contractor should be able to give you a free estimate in writing with all of the details spelled out on either a tanked or tankless water heater.  BEWARE of low estimates!  It’s very important that tankless water heaters are installed correctly and sized to sufficiently meet your demand.  Tankless water heaters must also be properly vented and sometimes require upgrading your gas line to a larger size – this is where many contractors will cut corners in order to get the job.   It’s important to educate yourself, ask questions and shop around.  As always, give us a call if you’d like more information or if you have any questions.

It's Time to Start Thinking About Winterizing

It's that time of year to start thinking about preparing your home for winter. Tentatively, the weather forecast this winter is calling for temperatures below normal in our area.  We have had several extraordinarily cold winters recently, so let's try to prepare, and reduce the amount of frozen pipes.  

The average insurance claim for damage stemming from frozen pipes is reported to be anywhere between $5,000-$18,000.  Click here for several things you can do yourself if you are away for shorter periods of time.  Otherwise, we HIGHLY recommend calling a licensed plumber to perform a thorough winterization to protect your home or condo during the winter months.

NASA Wants to Turn Human Waste into Plastic and Vitamins

How about this for sustainability?

NASA Wants to Turn Human Waste into Plastic and Vitamins

Why You Should Flush Your Water Heater

Flushing your water heater once a year can greatly increase the life and efficiency of your water heater.  Over time, mineral deposits can build up which can not only damage your water heater, but also affect your water quality.  Many manufacturers will not cover damage caused by sediment or mineral build up, and in some cases it can void your warranty.  A little preventative maintenance can save you lots of money in the long run, whether you have a tanked water heater or tank-less water heater - both should be routinely flushed and inspected by a licensed professional.  

Click here for more information on the importance of flushing your water heater.  Or as always, you can contact us with any questions!  

The 2nd annual Contractors for a Cause Golf Tournament was a huge success!

The 2nd annual Contractors for a Cause (MD Chapter) Golf Tournament was held on August 7th at the Ocean City Golf Club in South Point.  The tournament was a great success with roughly 100 participants.  The event raised over $15,000 that will go directly back into our community in the form of home improvements for non-profits and individuals in need, and a yearly scholarship awarded to a Stephen Decatur High School student.  A special thanks to all of the sponsors, including PNC Bank, Legendary Leader Boards, East Coast Fasteners, Main Street Homes, State Line Building Supply, Carl M Freeman Company, ABC Supply and Sharon Moore from CPG Building Supply.  

Bath Tub Races

Well we didn't win the bathtub races last Friday, but here's why we should have! Nonetheless, we had a great time.

Phase 2 of Bath Tub Racer Complete!

Our bath tub is starting to come along, complete with a recycled PVC roll cage!  Come out and see us on Friday at the Berlin Bath Tub Races at 6pm.  

First Seaside Remodel Using Recycled Drainage Piping

We've completed the rough in of our very first remodel using recycled drainage piping for Alesi Construction in Rehoboth.  Thanks to all of our builders for being supportive so we can try to change our industry practices for the better. By switching to recycled drainage piping, less waste will go into our landfills in the future since this piping can be recycled.  

Phase 1 of Bath Tub Racer Complete!

Our bath tub is starting to come together!  Come out and see us at the Bath Tub Races in downtown Berlin on Friday July 17th at 6pm. 

Save Water and Save Money

Seaside Plumbing Inc will be giving away 4 free EPA water sense certified low flow toilets every year as part of our mission to save water.  Visit our website for more details and to enter. 

The majority of household water is used to flush toilets.  The EPA estimates that by switching to low flow toilets, a family of four can save over 16,000 gallons of water every year, which results to a savings of more than $90 a year - in some cases the savings can be much higher depending on the cost of water.  

Home Water Saving Tips

Check out the video below for some simple water saving tips. Visit our sustainability page for more ideas on saving water. 

RePVC Will Be Used For All Projects Moving Forward

We are happy to announce that moving forward, we will be installing recycled PVC (RePVC) for all of our projects, in lieu of standard PVC piping.  This product made by Charlotte Pipe, is made of a minimum of 30% recycled content, and is itself recyclable.  It's the only product of it's kind on the market.  Sustainability is very important to us at Seaside, and we want to do our part.  

Normal piping is not recyclable and a huge amount ends up in our landfills every year.  Sources estimate that about 7 billion pounds of PVC products end up in landfills each year, however about 70% of this is estimated to be from single use household plastics.  Nonetheless, we want to reduce the amount of construction materials ending up in landfills.

Duluth Trading Commercial: How to Hug a Plumber

Saturday is National Hug a Plumber Day!

Spring Plumbing Tips

-Think About Saving Water:  Call a plumber to have them do a quick assessment of your fixtures (you can also click here to calculate your water usage). Upgrading your fixtures to more efficient/water saving fixtures can save you tens of thousands of gallons of water every year.  Not only will this save you money on your water bill, but ten thousand gallons is enough drinking water to last the average person about 50+ years.  Small changes can make a big difference!  Also, consider getting a rainwater catchment barrel to use for watering your outdoor plants.

-Flushing Your Water Heater: Water heaters (both regular water heaters and tank-less water heaters) should be flushed on a regular basis (we suggest once a year). Over time, inches of sediment can build up in your regular water heater. Tank-less water heaters also need to be flushed with vinegar to keep lime and scale from corroding the heat exchanger piping.  Having your water heater flushed regularly can help prolong it's life and keep it running efficiently. Spring is also a good time to do a quick visual assessment of your water heater. If you have a tanked water heater that is showing signs of rust, it's time to call a plumber!!  Generally tanked water heaters last anywhere from 10-15 years.  

-De-winterization:  If your home has been vacant all winter, we highly recommend having a plumber de-winterize it (even if it has been winterized). During the de-winterization process, your plumber should air test your piping to ensure it's integrity before the water is turned back on.  We had an especially brutal winter which makes this even more important - water damage is one of the most common and costly homeowner's insurance claims.  A little preventative maintenance can save a huge amount of money and hassle.  

Fix A Leak Week EPA WaterSense Video

The EPA's Fix a Leak Week is the perfect time to remind us all to be conscious of our water usage.  Small changes to our water usage habits can make a big difference.  Inspect your home for any leaks, or call a plumber!

In Celebration of World Plumbing Day 2015: Why plumbing matters to health, safety, water sustainability and more | The Wholesaler

March 11th is internationally recognized as World Plumbing Day, it was created to bring awareness to the importance of plumbing.  Proper sanitation and running water are things that most of us take for granted, but more than 750 million people in the world do not have access to clean water according to water.org, that's more than twice the current population of the United States.  Check out the article below to learn more about why plumbing matters.

In Celebration of World Plumbing Day 2015: Why plumbing matters to health, safety, water sustainability and more | The Wholesaler

Happy World Plumbing Day!  

What To Do If You Suspect You Have a Frozen Pipe

If you turn on a fixture and very little or no water comes out, you may have a frozen pipe.  We highly recommend calling a licensed plumber right away to get on their schedule as soon as possible.  Next, shut your water off at the main shut-off valve.  Click here to learn more about where your shut off valves are located.  If there is a visible leak and you do NOT know where your shut off valve is, then call your local water utility company so they can come and shut the water off for you underground at the street. 

Here are a few tips on thawing frozen pipes for the 'do-it-yourselfers': 

• Make sure the water is off at the main!
• Try to locate the frozen pipe.  If you had no water at any fixtures in the home, then the frozen pipe is probably near your main.  If only one fixture was affected, then one of the pipes feeding that fixture may be frozen.  Open the faucet that the suspected frozen pipes are feeding and try to follow the pipes from that fixture. 
• With the faucet remaining open, try to use a heat lamp or a hair dryer to thaw the frozen area. 
• Visually inspect the pipe for any cracks or breaks – if the pipe appears damaged then you will want to stop here, leave thewater off and wait for a plumber to make the repair.
• If the pipe does not appear to be broken, you can turn the water back on once the frozen area has started to melt.
•  Leave the water running at this fixture until the pipe is completely thawed, you may want to leave it trickling to help prevent it from refreezing.
•  If the pipe froze once, it could freeze again – it’s important to have a plumber or contractor come out to identify any problem areas.  The piping may need to be rerouted, insulated, or your crawlspace may need to be insulated more.
• If you followed the above steps and were able to successfully thaw the frozen pipe, you should still have a plumber come out and inspect the piping to ensure there are no additional issues or leaks. 

AirPNP - Need to find a toilet?

There's a new app Airpnp (inspired by Airbnb) that helps people find toilets nearby.  The site started in New Orleans, but is now gaining popularity in other big cities, users can find nearby toilets, see their cost and even rate them once they've finished their business.  

Does my plumbing system really require maintenance?

This is a common question that many homeowners have, and the answer is most definitely YES!  Maintaining your home’s plumbing system is a must to keep everything in working condition and prevent larger issues down the road.  We have the luxury of clean, drinkable water at our fingertips, along with proper waste disposal.  (Almost half of the world’s population does not have these luxuries that have become so second nature to us, we can sometimes take them for granted.)  But, when there is a problem we are very quickly reminded of how important indoor plumbing is!

Water heaters – Arguably one of the most important appliances in your home (especially on these cold winter days!)  Without regular flushes and maintenance, the internal components of your water heater can start to malfunction, or the bottom of the tank can begin to rust out.  This can shorten the life of your water heater, leave you without hot water, or even flood your home.  Regular maintenance can keep your unit operating properly, prolong its life and also ensure that your manufacturer’s warranty stays valid (they can void it if you haven’t kept up with their recommended maintenance). 

Leaks – Unattended leaks can damage your home and in extreme cases cause mold issues.  They can also waste water, leading to higher water bills (in addition to depleting a precious resource!).  As a homeowner, there is a lot you can do to prevent leaks:

• Make sure any drafty or exposed areas are insulated to prevent freezing pipes
• Do a periodic visual inspection of your piping in the crawlspace and your fixtures
• If you call a plumber for any other reason – ask if they can also do a quick once over, or complete a maintenance checklist to alert you to any issues. They look at pipes ALL day so they can certainly identify any areas of concern. (Just be sure to let the plumber know ahead of time, when you call to schedule service.  Most plumbers are on a tight schedule so if you wait until they show up, they may not have time to complete additional items without being late for their next call – this is one of your plumber's top pet peeves!)

Keeping an eye out for these smaller issues, can prevent them from turning into emergencies.  In an emergency situation, not only will most plumbers will charge you higher rates, but availability could be limited (particularly during cold snaps), and damage could occur to your home. 

And lastly, the #1 item you should take from this blog post, know where your shut off valves are located!  Click here for help in identifying them, or call your favorite plumber.

Contractors for a Cause Scholarship

Seaside Plumbing Inc is a proud member of Contractors for a Cause.  One of their many community based programs is the Legacy Scholarship Program, in which $1,500 is awarded to a Stephen Decatur High School graduate that is looking to pursue a career in the construction industry, or a related field.  This year's deadline is Friday April 24th, 2015.  Click here or contact us for more information.