Homeowners and business owners that already have a water softener installed on Lake Michigan (city) water can see and literally feel a noticeable difference in quality.
To begin, let’s start with what is considered “hard” water and at what point you may consider a softener and its lasting benefits. Hard water contains “unwanted” inorganic minerals. Lake Michigan water is considered moderate to hard based on hardness classifications of the U.S. Geological Survey. A softener installed will protect the plumbing system by reducing scale and lime deposits (fixtures will look better and last longer). Conditioned water will also brighten whites and colors and you’ll decrease your laundry detergent use by 2/3 with less soap buildup. Most importantly, limp lifeless hair and dry skin caused by hard water can dramatically change to shiny/manageable hair and softer skin.
Bottled water is a great choice for hydration and consumers get the safety, quality and good taste on a consistent basis. As an added benefit choosing a glass of chilled purified water over a soft drink is a better alternative for your family’s health.
Consumers can trust that bottled water is safe for many reasons. Bottled water is produced and distributed as a packaged food product and is strictly regulated at the federal level by FDA and by state level agencies. By law, FDA standards for bottled water must be at least as stringent and protective of public health as standards set by EPA for public water systems.
Quality and taste are another reason to choose bottled water. Tap water levels of chlorine, fluoride and inorganic minerals can all vary every day and can leave an after taste.
Testing may be recommended if there is a visual, odor or taste problem that wasn’t there before. The question to really ponder: What is happening between the water treatment plant and your kitchen tap?
Water is described as the “universal solvent” and as a result of this solvent action water dissolves at least a portion of everything it touches. That includes heavy metals, rocks, dirt/dust waste matter and other foreign substances. Testing water for a multitude of contaminants can cost several hundred to thousands of dollars and still not find a “sporadic” problem.
The best “insurance step” every homeowner or business can do is to have at least one cold-water faucet equipped with a multi-contaminant cartridge filter system for cooking and drinking. This strategy gives you the consistent water quality 24/7.
I’m tired of waiting for my water to heat up in the morning before I jump into the shower. Our house plumbing is basic and does not include a separate hot water return pipe, but I have read about a new energy conservation device that eliminates the need to open up walls to run a new return line. How does this work?
The wait for hot water is over! Waiting any longer than 15-20 seconds is wasting water, time and money. In a nutshell the system you are referring to incorporates a quiet pump and patented check valve (installed at the furthest fixture from the hot water tank) that is installed on your existing lines to circulate hot water using your cold water pipe as a return line. A built in timer function allows the homeowner to have nearly instant hot water at the kitchen sink, bath sink and shower, all on your own schedule or 24/7.
I’m curious, what are the top priorities a homeowner should know regarding their plumbing system?
How about a top 5 list to start 2005?
1 ) EVERYONE in the house should know where the main water valve is located…and that it is operational!
2) Inspect washing machine rubber hoses yearly, replace every 5-7 years with new flexible braided type.
3) Older plastic supply lines to toilets or sink faucets can burst – replace every 5-7 years with chromed supply tubes or flexible braided type.
4) Install battery operated water alarms (audible when you’re home) or electronic whole house water leak detection systems for 24/7 protection.
5) Over-the-counter drain cleaners used for slow or stopped drains are a temporary solution and can damage pipes and cosmetic finishes. Power rodding and plunging are the most effective and/or natural enzyme drain treatments.
Please call, write or Email us at info@bernerplumbing.com for a complete top 10 list including tips on preventing frozen pipes or schedule a thorough plumbing inspection with Berner Plumbing & H2O, Inc.!
After finishing our basement next month we are thinking about replacing our older sump pump and adding a battery Backup pump system. Any suggestions?
Replacing an older sump pump (avg. life span 5 yrs.) is a wise idea after spending thousands of dollars finishing a basement. Better grade pumps have a housing made of cast steel or stainless, carry a 2-6 year warranty and have a pumping flow rate of 40-60 GPM @ 10 feet of head. Don’t forget to replace or add a reliable PVC check valve or upgrade to a spring-loaded check for silent operation.
Battery Backup systems are necessary in case your AC sump pump breaks, heavy rains overload the pumps capacity or if the power goes out. Systems come with one or two battery configurations and a microprocessor control unit. Variations include a choice of either an auxiliary power source battery system that drives your existing sump pump during an outage or a secondary battery powered pump system along side your main pump. Also, it is not always a “one size fits all” when it comes to choosing a battery back up system; many other factors that can come into play are to numerous to list for this article.