Imagine being in the middle of a perfectly warm shower. The temperature is just right and you are in a relaxing environment to end a stressful day. Suddenly your perfect moment is interrupted by a blast of cold water or extremely scalding hot water. This is what is known as hot water shock and it can be prevented. By knowing just a few tips and tricks, you can prevent the hot water shock from happening to you or anyone else in your home.

1. Buy and install a pressure-balancing shower valve. This valve is designed to keep pressure flowing at the same level – regardless of a change in pressure in other areas of the pipes. In other words, if a toilet is flushed during a shower the water pressure will change. This change will normally cause the hot water shock. With a pressure-balancing shower valve, the pressure is regulated and the shower is not interrupted.

2.    Have a plumber perform an evaluation on the pipes in your home. Make sure that there are no areas where water pressure may change dramatically. Have the plumber check for blockages and for possible issues that can be fixed to prevent hot water shock issues later.

3.    Perform preventative maintenance. Check periodically for leaks that may be connected to pipe issues, blockages or washer issues.

4.    Routinely replace washers in pipes and valves to make sure that water pressure continues to flow at an equal level.

5.    Place pressure-balancing shower valves in all of the showers and bathtubs in the home. This will help control ongoing water pressure and to prevent hot water shock from happening to other members of the family.

6.    Check the temperature of the water heater. Make sure the temperature is set to a level that is suitable for your family but also will not cause burn injuries if there is a hot water shock issue. Keep it lower if you have small children or elderly parents or relatives in your home.

7.    Have the valves and connectors to the water heater checked to prevent clogs and to make sure they are operating normally. Pressure build-ups in the water heater can cause pressure issues throughout the pipe system of the house and can cause possible damage to the water heater and home.

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When you notice that your kitchen sink is draining slowly or your toilet is overflowing quite often, you obviously know you have a plumbing problem. Yet what you don’t know is exactly how big the problem could be. It could be a simple clog in your kitchen drain or the pipes beneath your toilet. Or it could be much worse.

Determining the exact cause of the problem is essential. The longer you wait, the more damage can be done.

To determine if you have a main line problem, there are a few things you can look for.

If your dishwasher and washing machine cannot be operated at the same time without both of them backing up, you probably have a main line issue.

If your drains are extremely slow and no amount of drain cleaner speeds them up, you could have a main line issue.

If your toilet keeps overflowing and plunging doesn’t do the trick, the main line could be the culprit.

The best way to determine if your main line is causing your plumbing problems is to have a professional evaluate the situation. Have a plumber come to your home, explain the problems you are having and let him or her determine the root of the problem. The truth is that it really could be a root. Tree roots cause many main line clogs. Either the roots break through the pipes and cause a clog or the roots wrap around and crush the pipes.

Your plumber will find the source of the clog and can help you fix the problem. If tree roots have invaded your main line, usually a sewer snake will break through the roots and allow water to flow freely again. If the pipe has been crushed, the line will have to be replaced. Either way, a professional plumber will be able to fix the main line and have your plumbing draining smoothly.

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As homeowners age, they are rejecting the idea of moving to a stark, sterilized institution.  Many aging homeowners are choosing rather to remodel their current home to accommodate their changing health needs.  What are the top 5 plumbing tips homeowners can apply to their changing needs?

1. No threshold showers - Showers are a common feature of a more handicap accessible bathroom, but the threshold can still present a tripping hazard.  Many age in place remodels are transitioning to the use of “edgeless” showers.  When combined with slip resistant flooring, this type of shower can accommodate personal hygiene needs while minimizing the dangers associated with a regular shower.

2. Walk-in baths - Some homeowners prefer the comfort of a nice warm bath over the spraying function of a shower.  For these individuals, there is a stylish new bathtub that allows users to walk in rather than climbing in over an edge.  The most obvious benefit of this design is the reduced fall risk that results from a walk-in rather than climb in design.

3. Elevated toilets - One frustration a majority of aging individuals face in the bathroom is the level of the toilet seat.  For many of these individuals, the standard toilet seat is too low for comfortable and independent access.  To help counter this, many aging in place remodels are replacing standard height toilets with an elevated model.

4. Raised sinks - Especially if an aging individual is confined to a wheelchair, they may struggle accessing the sink area in a typical bathroom.  Many bathroom designers are producing elevated sinks without the cabinetry below to provide greater accessibility and convenience for aging, wheelchair-bound individuals.

5. Hand rails - While not plumbing specific, many plumbing remodels for aging in place projects include hand rails at the toilet and shower to provide greater mobility.  Rails are available that can provide function without sacrificing design.

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That little drip in the shower, the small leak behind the toilet, and even the crack in the outside water line can quickly puddle up, and begin spreading to places you can’t see. Then when you do attempt to fix it, you may get more than you bargained for.

Most mold problems tend to become visible only after significant damage is done.  So it’s important to fix drips and leaks early, and watch for signs we may have bigger problems.

1. Excessive humidity – Mold thrives in high levels of humidity.  The higher the levels of humidity in your home, the more likely you are to have a problem with mold.  There are several things that can cause elevated humidity levels in your home including poorly ventilated bathrooms, poorly ventilated dryers, regular humidifier use, large numbers of plants, etc.  If your home falls under one or more of these categories, be careful.  Your home could be a welcoming environment for unwelcome mold.

2. Leaks - If excessive humidity can cause mold to thrive, than excessive water levels are mold Utopia.  If you know you have a leak, be proactive and fix it as soon as possible.  Then be sure to dry the area thoroughly.  It can sometimes take as little as 24 hours for mold to make itself at home.  One very common cause of household mold is hidden leaks.  These leaks can go undetected for years, which gives the mold more than enough time to establish itself.

3. Musty smell - Does your home seem to have a permanent musty smell no matter how much you clean?  If Mr. Clean isn’t exterminating the stink, then you may not be addressing the source of the smell.  This smell can be a warning sign that you have hidden mold growing.

4. Visible mold – Mold you can see is typically a sign of quite a bit more that you can’t see, especially if it comes with any of the other warning signs.  If you see mold in your home be sure to seek out the source rather than just cleaning the surface.

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The NSF tells us that most households today have hard water to some degree.  But how do you know if your home is in that majority?  More importantly, how do you know if your water is hard enough to warrant a water softener?

First, let’s consider a few questions to help you determine if you might have hard water or not:

Can you create a soapy lather?  The calcium and magnesium prevalent in hard water tends to suppress the lathery capabilities of soaps and shampoos.  If you feel you are using too much soap for too little results you might have a hard water problem.

Do your dishes and glasses come out of the wash with unsightly water spots?  Calcium and magnesium tend to form a film on dishes that remains even after the water is evaporated.  If you find yourself struggling with terrible water spots all over your clean dishes you may have problems with hard water.

Does your shower seem to be constantly overrun by soap scum and other unpleasant deposits?  The same minerals that cause your soap not to lather also cause it to linger in your tub.  And just like your dishes, your tub is a great place for hard water to leave its deposits.  If your shower seems to be overrun by white (and we’re not talking a good clean white) than you might have a hard water problem.

If these questions have led you to believe that you have hard water problems, it is time for the next step: determining if you need a water softener.  Check with your water utility company for a recent water report.  If the water in your area is reported as having a hardness greater than 6 or 7 gpg (grains per gallon) or 100-120 ppm (parts per million) then you should consider getting a water softener.

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A leaky faucet is easy enough to diagnose, but do you know how the rest of your water system is doing?  You could easily be throwing money away paying for water that is wasted through a leak.  Thankfully, there is a relatively simple method to determine if you have a leak and where it might be.

1. First, you should turn off all water using devices.  This includes you dishwasher, your sprinkler system, and the ice maker in your fridge.  Don’t use toilets or sinks during this time as that will mess up the test.  Next, locate the water meter attached to your home.  Write down the meter’s current reading and wait at least 30 minutes.  Don’t use any water during this time.  If the meter reading is different when you check again, you know you have a leak.

2. To determine if the leak is within the house, turn off the water supply to your house.  The shut off valve is typically located in a utility area just outside the house.  Once this is turned off write down the meter reading again.  Check the meter again in a couple of hours.  If the number has changed, your leak is most likely in the pipes between the meter and the house.

3. If the number didn’t change in the previous step, turn off the water valves to toilets, sinks, and appliances. Then turn the water to the house back on.  If the meter hasn’t changed, your leak is most likely related to one of these devices.  Turn them off one by one to test them.  If the number did change at the beginning of this step, your problem could be with an outdoor water supply like a sprinkler system.

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Backflow is the term used to describe the reverse flow of water back in the direction it came from. It can happen in any type of plumbing or piping system, including the plumbing in your home. Backflow can cause clean water sources to become contaminated.

Backflows can be caused by a number of reasons, including the loss of water pressure. For example, imagine you are watering your garden with pesticides attached to your hose. A water main breaks and you suddenly lose water pressure. This can create a type of siphoning action and the pesticides in your hose can be sucked back into your clean water supply, leaving you with contaminated water.

Preventing backflow is not difficult. It simply involves installing mechanical devices in the plumbing or piping system that prevents the water from backing up. These devices ensure that your water supply remains clean and healthy for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other uses. There are several different types of backflow prevention devices, including:

Pressure Vacuum Breaker – a spring-loaded assembly that closes a valve when water flow stops

Air Gap – a physical gap between two specific pieces of piping

Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly – two internal check valves and an independent relief valve

Double Check Detector Assembly – two internal independent check valves

If your water supply becomes contaminated, it can be dangerous to you and your family. It can also be costly to remove the contaminants, in the case of severe contamination. Instead of taking unnecessary risks, you should make sure that your plumbing system has backflow prevention devices in place. The installation of these devices is normally not a difficult process. You can contact a licensed professional for more information on the cost and installation process. Having the proper backflow prevention device in place can save you money and potential health risks.

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1. Thermocouple – The most common cause of the pilot light going out is a thick looking copper wire called the thermocouple.  It sits on the gas valve and is responsible for turning off the gas if the pilot light goes out.  If the piece is faulty it tends to turn the pilot light off instead.

2. Draft – Is your pilot light going out mainly on windy days?  Is the lighting area exposed to a draft?  If the pilot light isn’t properly shielded from airflow, a draft can put it out.

3. Ventilation - Your water heater should have it’s own vent out through the roof.  Any issues with the stack can cause a backdraft of air to flow down and put out the pilot light.  If this is the issue, you might want to have a professional come look at it.  They can tell you if adding to the stack height would help eliminate your problem.

4. Not enough air – Just as too much air can cause problems with the pilot light, too little air can do the same.  You pilot light is a flame, and as such, it needs air to continue to burn.  So, if your water heater is in a poorly ventilated or stuffy area, your pilot light may go out.  For instance, if the water heater is in an attic that has insufficient ventilation, the pilot light will go out.

5. Thermostat – Sometimes, the water heater’s internal thermostat goes bad.  It will overheat the water, which begins a chain reaction that ends with the pilot light going out.  If this is your problem, you will need to replace the entire unit.

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It is a homeowner’s nightmare: water damage.  You have to act fast to minimize the damage, but where do you begin?

1. Stop it at the source – The first thing you will want to do is find the source.  Turning the water off immediately will prevent the damage from spreading further.  If the source is too difficult to pinpoint, you may have to resort to more drastic measures.  Turning off the water to the whole house will definitely stop the water if the source is a plumbing issue.

2. Call your insurance provider – You will want to let your insurance company know what has happened.  The sooner you bring them in, the sooner your premiums can start working for you.

3. Call the Pros – Start with your local plumber, and have him come in as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence with water damage – the quicker you can stop the problem and clean up, the more you can save.

4. Safety first - As you begin cleanup, make sure you put safety first.  Water and electricity do not mix well, so to avoid the possibility of a painful shock, you should turn off the power to the affected area.

5. Move your belongings – To minimize water damage, move your belongings as soon as possible.  Store them out of the way in a dry place.

6. Help dry what you can - As you move things, use a towel to wipe off excess water.  Open drawers and remove couch cushions to help every inch of your possessions gain access to dry air.

7. Start cleanup ASAP – You will want to remove the excess water as soon as possible.     The longer water sits, the higher the likelihood that your home will develop mold.  Pros have great tools for getting water out. But don’t wait. Start drying what you can.

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1. Time of year - Especially for larger projects, weather can play a large role in planning home improvement projects.  Warm, dry weather can do much to simplify a large project that requires materials or furniture be left outdoors for long periods of time.  With Colorado spring snowfalls, the best choice for anything entailing outdoor work would be summer and early fall. From remodeling a bathroom, to adding an outdoor room complete with grill and firepit, the key factor is to start a project and have enough time to finish it before the snow sets in.

2. Timing - Aside from time of year, you will also want to consider the timing involved in completing your project.  Do you have several weeks to do a remodel on your own? Or do you need it completed in a shorter period of time? Don’t start projects that will be delayed because something else comes up. Dedicate the time to get things finished.

3. Skill - Start with projects you would be more familiar with, and therefore more comfortable with.  It is also a wise idea to begin with the simpler projects.  If a home improvement project can get more complicated than it should be, it probably will.  Save yourself some discouragement and a few headaches and start with projects that are well within your comfort range. Leave the rest to the professionals or work into them as your skills progress.

4. Budget - When it comes to home improvement projects, money will almost always be a factor.  And in many cases, cost even a bit more than you budget for. Prioritize your projects based upon what you can afford and when.  Especially for larger projects that will require a contractor, plan ahead and plan according to a budget.

5. Work Together – In many cases, a professional will be willing to help out with your projects. You may purchase the tools and fixtures, do part of the work, and have a professional come in to finish up and check on the progress. This can be especially important with things like gas lines or water lines, which can cause major damage if done incorrectly.

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