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Banging Pipes in Grass Valley, CA.
March 1st, 2010Here’s a question that came to me from a client in Grass Valley Ca;
For a few months now, the water pipes in our house have been making this terrible noise like someone is beating on them with a hammer. It only happens when we use the sink in the guest bathroom. It’s driving my wife and I crazy, my wife is ready to sell the house and move
Banging Pipes,
Grass Valley, Ca.
Dear Banging Pipes in Grass Valley,
This can be tricky. There are a couple things that can cause the water pipes to hammer. First I would check to see if the house has a pressure reducing valve on the water main. It would be installed somewhere along the main line either outside or just inside where the pipe enters the house. A pressure reducing valve uses a rubber diaphragm to regulate the incoming water pressure. Sometimes this diaphragm can become loose or worn and when water runs along it, it will vibrate like a reed on a wind instrument. The easiest way to solve the problem is to replace the pressure regulator with a new one. If this doesn’t solve the problem or if you don’t have a regulator you’ll want to install what’s called a pneumatic hammer arrester into the plumbing system. A hammer arrestor is a little shock absorber for your plumbing. You’ll want to install it as close as possible to the fixture that’s causing the problem. If the fixture is on the second floor you may need to open the drywall to get access to the piping. You’ll also want to take a look at the piping in the area around the problem fixture. There may be some loose pipes that will need to be strapped down. Hopefully this will help; water hammer can be a difficult and frustrating problem to solve. A lot of times I will start with the easiest thing and work my way through to the more difficult and expensive things. Sometimes solving difficult plumbing problems is just a process of elimination.
New Employee
February 25th, 2010ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heating and Air Conditioning has just hired Gary Hughes to head up the Grass Valley company’s heating and air conditioning division.
Hughes has more than 34 years of experience in the HVAC trades. His father, Ira Hughes, started Hughes and Sons Heat and Air back in 1976. The younger Hughes took over ownership of his father’s company a few years back, but has moved on to join the ABT team.
He has extensive knowledge in both residential and light commercial heating, air conditioning and refrigeration.
Contact ABT Plumbing at (530) 478-0600.
Water Hammering Pipes in Grass Valley, CA.
February 16th, 2010Dear ABT,
For a few months now, the water pipes in our house have been making this terrible noise like someone is beating on them with a hammer. It only happens when we use the sink in the guest bathroom. It’s driving my wife and I crazy, my wife is ready to sell the house and move
Banging Pipes,
Grass Valley, Ca.
Dear Banging Pipes in Grass Valley, CA.
This can be tricky. There are a couple things that can cause the water pipes to hammer. First I would check to see if the house has a pressure reducing valve on the water main. It would be installed somewhere along the main line either outside or just inside where the pipe enters the house. A pressure reducing valve uses a rubber diaphragm to regulate the incoming water pressure. Sometimes this diaphragm can become loose or worn and when water runs along it, it will vibrate like a reed on a wind instrument. The easiest way to solve the problem is to replace the pressure regulator with a new one. If this doesn’t solve the problem or if you don’t have a regulator you’ll want to install what’s called a pneumatic hammer arrester into the plumbing system. A hammer arrestor is a little shock absorber for your plumbing. You’ll want to install it as close as possible to the fixture that’s causing the problem. If the fixture is on the second floor you may need to open the drywall to get access to the piping. You’ll also want to take a look at the piping in the area around the problem fixture. There may be some loose pipes that will need to be strapped down. Hopefully this will help; water hammer can be a difficult and frustrating problem to solve. A lot of times I will start with the easiest thing and work my way through to the more difficult and expensive things. Sometimes solving difficult plumbing problems is just a process of elimination.
DIY Clearing a Drain In Nevada City, CA.
February 2nd, 2010Dear Handy Andrew,
The sink in our bathroom has been draining slowly for some time now and suddenly it just sort of stopped draining all together. What should I do?
Thanks,
Stopped-Up
Dear Stopped up in Nevada City,
Keep a sharp eye out for signs of a sluggish drain. It’s easier to unclog a slow drain than it is to open a drain that has completely stopped. When the drain is slow, you can try a couple of easy things first. First try pouring scalding water down the drain to loosen any buildup of grease or soap scum. If that doesn’t help, you can clean the stopper, pop-up or drain screen. (This is not for the faint of heart. My wife makes a funny face whenever I clean the pop-up.) If this doesn’t solve the problem, the next thing you’ll want to do is grab a plunger. If you don’t have a plunger, or if you have one of those silly little guys from the grocery store, go out and buy a good one. Pick a plunger with a large enough suction cup to completely cover the drain and create an airtight seal against the surrounding sink. The one I use is black rubber with a yellow handle and has a cone on the bottom which can be folded up when I use it for clearing sinks or tubs. First cover the drain with the plunger and fill the sink with hot water and completely cover the suction cup. Seal off the overflow if you have one with a wet sponge or a rag. Push out any trapped air beneath the cup, and then give the plunger 5 to 10 vigorous up-and-down pumping strokes to jolt loose the clog. It may take 3 or 5 times to do the job. (One thing you should know is a plunger works with both the up and down stroke, so really tug up on it.)
If none of this works you could try using a hand cranking snake, but let me tell you from my experience, they don’t work so well. They take a lot of effort with very little affect. You really need a good electric snake to do the job right. You may be able to rent one from the rental yard, but it helps if you know how to use it, they can be very dangerous to use.
One other thing you can do before the drain gets clogged is to use an enzyme drain cleaning product. The enzymes help to digest the organic material and break it down to it basic element. It’s a great, environmentally safe product. And if you’re on a septic system the enzymes will work their way down into the tank and digest the gunk in the septic tank as well.
If none of this works, well then I guess it’s time to call out the professionals.
New Years Resolution, Go Green
January 5th, 2010Story From KYA 3.com Springfild IL. PM CST
Story Updated: Jan 2, 2010 at 9:49 PM CST
, but if your resolution is to go green this year, one Springfield couple makes a great example. Many of us recycle, but Rick Scarlett and Gloria Johnson have done much more to reduce their energy use, shrink their carbon footprint, or simply go green in the past year. “I’m amazed at what we’ve done in a year,” says Gloria Johnson.
Over the past year, Scarlet and Johnson have gone green, and they think it will save them green in the long run. “The way the economy is, you’re not sure if you’re going to make any money, so we’ve decided it’s better to lower your outgo instead of raise your income, so that’s kind of the goal we’re working toward,” says Scarlet.
They own an electric vehicle for trips under forty miles, charging it with only five dollars a month. “It may not be a perfect technology right now, but somebody’s gotta be the first on to do it,” says Johnson.
They drive a Toyota Prius for longer trips. To cut down on trips to the grocery store, they’re growing plenty of fruits and vegetables right in their own yard. “We’re just going to redo it completely into a little farm back there,” says Scarlet.
They use rain barrels to save water, and speaking of water, the strange looking thing on their roof is a solar water heater. “The gage shows the temperature in the solar water heater on the roof, and it’s in Centigrade,” says Scarlet. For cloudy winter days, there’s a backup in the basement. “It comes back down to the tankless down here, and it runs through the tankless, and the tankless bumps it up to whatever temperature you have it set for- 115,” Scarlet says.
They’re also installing chili pepper pumps that eliminate that waiting for the water to turn warm. “You don’t run a bunch of cold water down your sink,” Scarlet says.
The couple will also soon get much of their electricity from the sun. “During the winter, it’ll probably be 50% of our power, and during the summer, it’ll do really well- probably take care of most of our needs,” Scarlet says.
They’re happy to be helping the environment. “I just feel like I want to do what I can,” Johnson says.
Plus, they’re cutting their costs for the future. “I think down the road, it’s gonna pay off really well,” says Scarlet.
They also have a dual-flush toilet with a smaller flush and a stronger one, and they’ve ordered a SunFrost refrigerator that is supposed to use only 20% of the energy of a regular fridge.
They also have double-pane windows, and are putting extra insulation in their 90 year old house to increase its efficiency.
Of course, most of us won’t be able to do it all, but Rick and Gloria suggest going green one piece at a time. One simple step is to unplug or use power strips to turn off things like microwaves or TV equipment off when they’re not in use to prevent the use of phantom electricity.
Tankless Water Heaters in Grass Valley, Ca.
December 29th, 2009
Check: www.energystar.gov — check site for qualifying replacement models and more details.
Odds are, somewhere in your house is a black hole that’s sucking down a constant stream of wasted energy, and wasted money.
If you’re like most homeowners, the main culprit is the hulking tank that’s constantly keeping water hot for whenever you might decide to jump in the shower.
“Water heaters are one of the most energy-consuming appliances in the home,” says Rich Wenzel of the Sustainability Network. They can account for 14 percent to 25 percent of the energy consumed in your home.
“They’re keeping 30 to 100 gallons of water at, say, 120 degrees 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — and therefore offer an area of significant savings,” he says.
The savings potential for most homeowners is now greater than ever, thanks to the Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency.
In the case of water heaters, homeowners can get up to $1,500 back at tax time by installing a qualifying model (listed at energystar.gov). The tax credit covers 30 percent of the total cost — including installation.
Plumber Andrew Twidwell of ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air says most of the water heaters he sees in Grass Valley would be ideal candidates for replacement.
“Upgrading makes sense for anyone who has a water heater that is rated at less than 80 percent efficient. Most conventional water heaters you find in Nevada County have energy ratings of 52 percent,” he says. You can find your heater’s efficiency rating on the large yellow Energy Star sticker on the tank.
“On-demand, tankless gas water heaters are rated at above 80 percent and do not use energy when there is no demand for hot water, he says. Also, “tankless water heaters can easily exceed 20 years of use and maintain very high efficiency. Conventional water heaters average between 10 and 15 years in Auburn.”
Andrew says “the impact of this modest upgrade on a wide scale would be significant.”
“If most homeowners installed one of these hot water systems, the country as a whole would likely reap an overall energy savings of around 10 percent,” Andrew says. “With homeowners saving around 25 percent of their overall energy bills.”
Other tax credit options
Replacing your water heaters may be the most affordable, widely available way to take advantage of the tax credit — but it’s just one of several options. Tax credit incentives are also available for insulation, air conditioner replacement, furnaces and a number of other improvements.
A number variables determine whether it makes financial sense for a homeowner to invest in one of these options, says Ryan Jones of Home Inspections, a Grass Valley-based energy auditor.
First, he says, it depends on whether a homeowner is interested in helping save the environment or just saving money. If the latter, then most energy-efficiency upgrades will take at least a few years to pay for themselves in lower utility bills.
Insulation tends to pay for itself the most quickly — in four to seven years, Jones says. Woodstoves take longer at up to eight years if they’re used consistently — less if the wood is free.
In the case of roofs, windows and doors, Jones says it likely only makes sense to replace those once they’re worn out.
“If the windows and doors are moderately bad or not that bad, they will not be cost-effective to replace,” Jones says. And even if they’re very bad, they might not make sense to replace. “If the windows and doors are that old, the house probably has other areas that need improvement that would be more cost-effective.”
Nevertheless, Jones says the tax credit seems to be generating more replacement of windows and doors than any of the other energy-efficiency upgrades.
“HVAC has picked up some, but windows and doors picked up the most, because of window and door company advertising,” he says. “I think those are the only areas the tax credits have had much affect.”
No tax credit, but savings
It won’t make sense for many homeowners to take advantage of tax credits, Jones says. The upfront costs may be too high, or they may not plan on moving in a year or two. Regardless, he says there are several simple, cheap steps all homeowers can take to reduce their energy consumption — and their bills — now.
• Air-sealing the house by caulking exterior window frames and using foam weather stripping around leaking door jambs.
• Sealing air ducts — with a high-quality, aluminum-backed duct tape (not just ordinary duct tape), or with duct mastic, which does a better, longer lasting job.
• Hanging heavier drapes that extend to the floor over drafy windows.
• Using an insulating blanket on your tank water heater, and insulating foam around hot water lines.
ABT Installes a Back-Up Generator
December 12th, 2009
ENLARGE|
The Alire’s 2,800-sq.-ft. home is designed for year-round charm and cheer.
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Instead of a small kitchen dining area, there is a sitting room, making it a nice place for guests to visit while Laurie cooks.
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In the dining room, the rich wood armoire seems particularly dramatic as well. The table is over 100 years old. There’s a dollhouse replica of a gracious 19th century home, made by the godmother of daughter Kristen Alire.
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The master bedroom
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The dollhouse.
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The backyard water fall at Laurie Alire Banner Lava Cap Road home.
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The day I visited the 2,800-sq.-ft. home, three very friendly Pugs greeted me, with tails wagging and barks of joy. “Oh, they’re not all mine,” Laurie laughed, “one belongs to a friend, and I’m just keeping him while she’s away.” Within minutes, the neighbor’s Jack Russell appeared at the door, and he joined in the fun.
Typically, high-energy pets and perfection do not live in harmony. Here, they do. The hardwood floors and stunning area rugs look spotless, in spite of the canine traffic.
Since the living area opens directly on to the patio and back garden with its decorative stream, there’s a real openness as well as an unusual elegant informality.
Now comes the dichotomy
Much of the furniture in the three-bedroom, one-office and 2.5 bathroom home is European-style Victorian. “Many of the pieces and the artifacts you see, such as the Victorian love seat and the matching red chair in the corner of the living room, can be traced back several generations,” Laurie explained.
While the home houses many such nostalgic treasures, its design is a far cry from the ornate classic Victorian style. No brocade wallpapers. No intricate trim or busy Oriental rugs. Instead, the furniture is grouped and presented with plenty of space and lots of natural light. The walls throughout the home are complementary and plain. The living room is a soft, sage green. The fireplace surround is marble. The floral-print furniture nearby really stands out in this straightforward setting, as contemporary and traditional live in blissful harmony.
Another dichotomy is the choice of paintings and prints displayed. In the entry hall there are lithographs of Ansel Adams originals. To the right is a numbered print of the cable car turnaround in San Francisco that was originally purchased at the White House Department store in San Francisco in the 1940’s. Laurie’s Dad, Harold Himmelman, was a mounted guide in Yosemite in the 1920’s and 30’s. Wearing old-time chaps astride a horse, his picture is given a place of honor by the glass-and-wood front door.
In the dining room, the rich wood armoire seems particularly dramatic as well.
The table is over 100 years old. There’s a dollhouse replica of a gracious 19th century home, made by the godmother of daughter Kristen Alire. The details are so authentic, even the roof shingles were done by hand.
Is there a lesson here?
When you have furniture that’s special, each piece is likely to look far more dramatic when treated as the focal point of a room. Surround each one with tasteful simplicity, and it’s really going to stand out. If it’s authenticity you want, then stick with the Victorian bric-a-brac. If you want the emphasis to be on the craftsmanship and design of furniture and artifacts, keep it simple and clutter-free.
Built in 2004, the Alires purchased the home in 2008. In 2009, it was included as one of the properties in the prestigious Music in the Mountains Home Tour. “That was a lot of fun,” Laurie recalled, “and preparing the home for such an honor became a real family affair. Kristen is a true horse lover, owner and competitor. Hence, her part of the house has a real equestrienne bias. Perhaps this is a love she shares with her Grandfather.”
Kristen’s part of the home has many pictures of her on horseback, sailing over sizeable show jumps. The bathroom features cowgirl-style towel rails as well as a shower curtain with horses running wild.
In Laurie’s office, you’ll find a colorful, original painting of the family pets by Boulder-based artist Harriet Peck Taylor. Laurie, a public relations professional who consults on line, thoroughly enjoys working from home – as well as the open views from her window.
The home’s floor plan is perfect for privacy – with the master bedroom, kitchen and laundry room on one side and the two bedrooms and office on the other.
More cooking; less walking.
That’s what Laurie likes most about her kitchen. “It’s a pleasure to cook in. Everything is easy to reach and easy to clean. We like to eat at the breakfast bar.
Instead of a small kitchen dining area, we’ve turned it into a sitting room. That way, guests can visit while I cook.” When I asked about her Christmas menu, she’s planning roast beef and red cabbage with steamed persimmon pudding and brandy cream sauce for dessert.
Snowflakes with a back-up plan
Banner Lava Cap is known for its snowy winters. Thanks to a back-up generator recommended and installed by ABT Plumbing & Electric, scenic snowstorms are worry-free. Double-pane windows, generous insulation and well-placed shutters (both internal and external) help conserve energy while keeping the home toasty warm. “Barbara Hartwick of Nevada City gave me good practical and aesthetic advice,” Laurie added.
From its indoor light, space and warmth to its beautiful garden areas front and back, the Alire home is one that offers a year-round invitation to relax, and enjoy the splendor of every season.
“Exploring fascinating Nevada County homes is an adventure, not only in design and personal preference, but in creativity. There are so many ways to enhance a home’s character – both aesthetically and environmentally.”
— Courtney Ferguson
ABT Was Quoted in The Union
December 12th, 2009But for some, icy roads sent business through the roof.
“We had all we could handle for about 20 hours a day,” said owner Kent Kilroy of Kilroy’s Towing.
Most common were calls from people sliding off their driveways, especially on the steep slopes in Alta Sierra, he said.
And when accidents did happen, auto body shops got the calls.
“We’ve had a lot of tow-ins and cars buried in the snow for a day,” said Nancy Maldonado, an estimator at Chris’ Collision Repair in Grass Valley.
The shop’s staff has seen the big accidents in the past few days, but is expecting business to stay steady — most people who had minor fender benders won’t bring the cars in until the roads improve.
Tuesday saw “lots of spinouts in the snow and ice, but nothing major,” said CHP Officer Eric Wagner. While the highways were clear Wednesday, many of the side roads still were problematic, with patches of black ice, said CHP spokeswoman Heather Blancarte.
“People are still driving way too fast,” she said. “Increase your distance and slow down.”
The county’s schools reopened Wednesday, despite the icy conditions. Many buses ran late Wednesday morning, leaving some students complaining about their wait in the bitter cold and some parents frustrated at the delays.
“It was slow going,” said Durham School Services operations supervisor Bill Locke. “There were some roads we couldn’t get down, but the county did a good job of sanding. We were running about a half-hour to 45 minutes behind on most routes.”
Some roads in the Wolf Creek and Dog Bar areas were covered in 6 to 8 inches of ice, with Cascade Shores being another problem area, Locke said. Communication problems between dispatch and bus drivers are typical for the more mountainous areas of the county where reception is spotty, he added.
“As ugly as it could have been, it was a pretty good day,” Locke said.
The emergency room at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and the waiting room at Yuba Docs in Grass Valley saw a jump in injuries due to people slipping on the ice.
Between 25 percent and 30 percent of emergency room patients seen Tuesday had injured themselves in a fall, hospital staff reported. At Yuba Docs, staff saw more “bumps on the head” and even some fractures, they said.
The cost of a cold snap
It costs about half a million dollars annually to remove snow on western Nevada County roads, plus about $250,000 to maintain county roads near Truckee, according to Nevada County Public Works Director Doug Farrell.
The county employs a road maintenance crew of 30 and assigns them into two 12-hour shifts for around-the-clock snow removal when big storms hit.
Nevada Joint Union High School District already has used the two snow days it schedules into its annual budget. The district’s concern is possibly having to foot the bill if the winter brings more snow days.
In that case, the district will apply for a waiver from the state to avoid potentially costly make-up days.
But safety, not financial savings, comes first, Superintendent Ralf Swenson said.
“We would never let that influence our decision on whether or not we’ll have school,” he said.
Preparation pays off
B & C Hardware has been selling ice-melt products as fast as they could stock it, said Jeannie Nettles, who works in inventory control at the store. When ice melt sold out, they started selling lawn fertilizer, which warms itself, to thaw driveways and walkways.
All other seasonal merchandise has been flying off the shelves, too, Nettles said. That includes shovels, windshield de-icers, pipe insulation and lantern oil for power failures.
Hills Flat Lumber Company General Manager Jeff Pardini said a lot of people stopped in to pick up Pex Piping, a polymer pipe that doesn’t burst like metal piping. People install it where they have exposed pipes and it is getting more popular.
Customers also are picking up things like snow shovels, sand, flashlights, fire-starter logs and heat insulating tape.
“Most people are procrastinators; they didn’t come to get supplies until after (the storm),” Pardini said.
For those who didn’t wrap their pipes, Andrew Twidwell of ABT Plumbing was on call. He said he only sees freezes this bad every five to 10 years.
“We’ve got a lot of work with broken pipes, and we’re still reeling from that,” he said. “We’re doing triage — just stopping the bleeding and getting people back online.”
His advice to keep ice plugs from developing inside pipes: Leave a faucet on, and know where the water shut-off valve is to avoid a flood if a pipe does break.
To contact Staff Writer Kyle Magin, e-mail kmagin@theunion.com or call 477-4239. To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call 477-4229. To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.
