Toilet museum opens in Japan

Check out this interesting article about how Japan’s toilet obsession produced some of the world’s best bathrooms.  Toto has actually opened a $60 million dollar museum that celebrates toilets.  

Is it really necessary to have my home de-winterized?

Our answer is yes!  You've already done the right thing by having your home winterized by a professional plumber, BUT we highly recommend having a licensed plumber de-winterize your home also.  Winterization of a plumbing system does not serve as a leak test on your existing piping, so existing issues or leaks could already be present.  Additionally, if the water was accidentally turned on over the winter AFTER the home was winterized, there could be potential issues.  During the de-winterization process, the plumber will perform an air pressure test on your piping BEFORE turning the water back on.  This will ensure that any leaks/issues are caught and repaired ahead of time.  

Happy World Water Day on March 22nd!

Did you know that 1 in 10 people in the world live without access to safe drinking water?  And 1 in 3 people don't have access to a toilet?  World Water Day on March 22nd was started to bring awareness to these issues.  Visit water.org for more information or to see what you can do to help.  

Fix a Leak Week - March 16 through 22, 2015

Did you know that more 1 trillion gallons of water are wasted each year in the US due to household leaks?  This is a great time of year to inspect your home for any leaks, and to think about making changes to reduce your water usage.  March 16th through March 22nd is the official Fix a Leak Week, so watch the video above to see what you can do about household leaks, or call a plumber!

Did You Know?

Approximately 30-50% of people do not know where their water main or gas main shut off valves are located.  Click here if you are one of these people!  Educating yourself on where your shut off valves are located is a great way to protect your home from costly leaks.  

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 the water 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. 

Contractors for a Cause helping out a family in Berlin

Thanks again to Contractors For a Cause, for identifying and handling some much needed items for a family in Worcester County.  Our local plumbing supplier Thomas Somerville was kind enough to donate all of the material, and Seaside Plumbing was available to complete the install in time for Christmas!  New water heater, kitchen faucet, and new bathroom sink faucet installed and working great!