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

Nevada City, Ca.

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.

DIY Electrical testing for your Auburn CA Home;

If the thought of working on an electrical circuit in your Nevada County home makes you cringe, then investing in a good quality multi-meter, voltmeter, ticker tracer or a neon-light tester should be your first order of business. These testers can be inexpensive and are well worth the investment to help protect you from an electric shock. They can be purchased at your local Grass Valley, Ca hardware store or Auburn, Ca home center.

1. Testers and How They Work

A basic neon light tester consist of a neon light bulb that is attached to two leads used for checking if a circuit is “hot” (electrified)or “dead”(not electrified). When you press these two leads into an outlet, the bulb will light if the circuit is “hot” or on. If it doesn’t light, then the circuit is “dead” or off.

Always check to see if the tester is working properly by checking a circuit that you know is working properly before moving on. To double-check that an outlet is actually off, remove the outlet cover and test the screws on the sides of the outlet. But be sure to be safe, the outlet may still be hot(electric). A good habit to practice is to always assume the circuit is electrified or hot, in other words just don’t touch any bare wire with your hands. You can also plug a lamp or vacuum into the outlet just to put your mind at ease.

2. Outlets and Testing

 To test an electrical outlet in your Grass Valley home do the following. A typical outlet has three holes built into it. The shorter straight slot is the “hot” (electric) lead. The longer straight slot is the “neutral” lead (if it’s wired correctly). The slot that looks like a small circle hole is the ground.

To test the ground, test between the “hot” (electrified) and “ground” slots. If the circuit is working and you have a good “ground” connection, the tester will light up. The tester will also light if you test between the “hot” (electric) and “neutral” slots.

 There are plug-in circuit testers are available that will test your circuit for you via three neon lights. They test for an open neutral, lack of a ground, wires on the wrong terminals, and no power. This is a great inexpensive tool to have in your tool box.

3. Switches and Testing

To test a switch in your Auburn home, remove the cover plate and check from the “hot” (electric) screw on the side of the switch to the bare copper wire (ground) or the metal box. Keep in mind that the box may not be grounded, especially if it’s a plastic box.

4. Testing Light Fixtures

When checking the light fixture wiring in your Grass Valley home, take down the light and using a “tick-tracer”, test the circuit to see if it working. This tester lights when you place it close to a wire that has current flowing through it. Again always double check your testers by testing a known working outlet.

To double-check the circuit, first turn off the electricity to that circuit by turning off the light switch. Now, remove the wire nuts from both the black “hot” wires and the white “neutral” wires. Now with the wires exposed you can use your neon light tester. Separate these sets of wires so that they are not touching one another. If the wires touch and they’re hot, look out sparks will fly.

  Turn the circuit back on and check between the black and white wires with the voltmeter or neon tester. Be careful not to touch the exposed wires with your fingers. The voltmeter should show a reading of around 120 volts. Likewise, the neon tester should light if the circuit is working properly.

   That’s it. But I can’t stress enough the fact that you need to be careful and always assume you’re working with electrified lines. And another thing if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t mess with it. With electricity it’s always better to be safe than sorry or dead. There are times in everyone’s life where its just better to hire a professional. Only you can decide when to hire someone.

If you get in over your head or just don’t want to mess with it, give ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air a call and we’ll be there to help. 530-272-9120

ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air serves:  Nevada and Placer County, Grass Valley, Ca. Alta Sierra, Ca. Nevada City, Ca. Penn Valley, Ca. Rough and Ready, Ca. Lake Wildwood, Ca. Smartsville, Ca. Colfax, Auburn, Ca. Lake of the Pines, Ca. Meadow Vista, Ca. Newcastle, Ca. and all places in-between. 

Safety first.

Turning on your furnace for the first time after months of inactivity is often a shock. It can literally be a shock to your heating system, and it might even be a shocking experience when you get your first heating bill! But there are a few common sense things you can do to get your heating system ready for winter. And, take it from a Grass Valley heating tech who visits a variety of homes every day, most people do not adequately prepare their home for the peak winter months. Here is some advice to consider before the winter sets in.

It’s highly recommended to have a fire extinguisher next to your furnace, fireplace or heating system at all times, especially when turning on the system for the first time.

Turn your furnace on now.

Got it switched on? Good. Now stop and immediately check your common senses.

1. Smell: Does it smell like something is burning? If so, first check to be sure there is not an actual fire or smoke coming from the heating system. If there is, turn the system off immediately (you have that fire extinguisher, right?) Put out any flames or get out and call 911. If there’s not a fire, wait and see if the burning smell subsides. If not, this is a sign that the system needs to be tuned-up. Call ABT and we’ll be right out 530-272-9120

2. Listen: Does it sound like the system is struggling? Is the noise level or airflow excessive? This is also a sign that the furnace needs to be tuned-up.

3. Feel: Feel the ducts and walls. Are there any vibration? Do you feel any air moving like an air leak from the ducts? If so, I recommend a performance inspection/tune up to identify the cause.

4. Look: Check your carbon monoxide detectors readings. You do have a carbon monoxide detector, don’t you? If the carbon monoxide alarm goes off or if the reading is above 30, turn the heating system off immediately and call ABT for a furnace Performance Inspection. This is a sign that there could be a potentially hazardous condition. Open all the windows to air out the house and do not turn the heat on again until it is checked by a professional heating technician. You should also exit the home until the reading falls below 30.

5. Look again: Have you replaced the air filter lately? Your filter should be replaced monthly to help keep your indoor air healthy and clean but also it will save you money on your heating bill. A clogged air filter can cost you some serious money on your energy bill.
After you’ve tested your heating system and followed your common senses, you should have a pretty good idea if the system is working normally. By design, any appliance or equipment that heats up can be a potential hazard, so always put safety first when it comes to your furnace. Checking your heating system early in the heating season not only helps you know if there are problems now or on the horizon, but will save you money in the long run. Most all equipment manufactures recommend having your furnace checked by a qualified technician at least yearly. So after your basic check give ABT a call for a full inspection of your heating system. We’re offering an early bird tune-up special for only $79.00 from now until November 30^th, regularly $149.00.

Call us today 530-272-9120

ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heating & Air Conditioning serves:

       Nevada County, Placer County, Grass Valley, Ca. Alta Sierra, Ca. Nevada City, Ca. Penn Valley, Ca. Rough and Ready, Ca. Lake Wildwood, Ca. Smartsville, Ca. Colfax, Auburn, Ca. Lake of the Pines, Ca. Meadow Vista, Ca. Newcastle, Ca. and all places in-between.

1) Turn down the heat

Electricity consumption differs dramatically in households around the world, but energy efficiency is universal. Figures from Greenpeace state that the average household in Europe consumes 4,667 kWh, in Japan 5,945 kWh per year, whereas the typical American household consumes 11,209 kWh.

According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, by turning your home’s heating down by 2 degrees in the winter and up by 2 degrees in the summer you can save around 450 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

2) Unplug un-used appliance

You might get a small 21st-century thrill sitting in your Grass Valley home with the lights off watching all the red stand-by lights of your gadgets and appliances glowing in the dark, but they’re really little red warming lights that electricity is being wasted. Even when devices are off and those little red lights aren’t glowing, they still use electricity.

Fact: According to the University of Strathclyde in the UK, the average household will use 525 kilowatts per year to keep equipment in stand-by mode.

3) Buy energy efficient products

From fridges and ovens to computers and light bulbs, some energy efficient appliances may be more expensive to buy, but will generally save in energy use and bills in the long run. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use four times less energy, and last eight times longer than incandescent light bulbs.

Extra tip: Research your products before you buy them. Do the manufacturers have an environmental policy; do they try and avoid toxic chemicals where they can? Greenpeace’s guide to “greener electronics.” is a good place to start.

Learn more: All about electronic waste

4) Insulate your home properly

Yes it’s dull, but proper attic insulation and duct wrap can make a great difference to reducing wasted heat in homes and the amount of energy needed to heat them. Weather-sealed windows are also important, just as much for homes that need air-conditioning as heating.

Fact: The average American home that has proper weather striped doorways and windows can save 375 pounds of carbon dioxide and $274 per year. (Source: stopglobalwarming.org)

5) Don’t wash dishes by hand

Finally, a good reason to avoid washing up. No need to try and avoid the chore by protesting that scouring those pans will make your hands like scaly lizard’s claws and your life as hand model will be ruined, a study by the University of Bonn, in Germany found that a fully loaded dishwasher uses only half the energy and one-sixth of the water than hand washing the identical set of dirty dishes.

Extra tip: Choose a plant-based detergent as modern dishwashers use more detergent than hand washing (Source: Friends of the Earth). Also if you can’t pronounce the ingredients in a household cleaning product, it probably isn’t good for the environment.

Don’t Miss

• Green tips: At work
• Green tips: Travel
• Green tips: Food

6) Recycle more

We’ve been recycling for thousands of years. It was only when the industrial revolution came around that it became almost as cheap to make things new rather than reuse them. As well as reducing the need for “virgin” material

Fact: Creating a ton of aluminum cans from scratch takes five times the amount of energy as it would to produce a ton of recycled cans. (Source: Friends of the Earth)

7) Lower the Flow
Your old shower head probably delivers a lot more water than you really need. Reduce that to 2.5 gallons a minute or less with today’s standard shower head – it can make a difference in your water bill. The low flow shower heads of today work and feel a whole better than those old mister from the 70’s and 80’s. For even greater savings, replace your old toilets with today’s standard low flush models that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush. Again the new ones work a lot better than the first generation of low flow toilets. Give ABT a call we can help.

8) Reduce the Runoff
Soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems can lower your water bills by delivering water directly where you need it. By reducing or eliminating runoff, you also reduce the burden of fertilizers and pesticides on our lakes, streams, and oceans and still have a gorgeous garden or lawn.

9) Keep Your Cool
Ceiling fans can make you feel cooler while reducing air conditioning costs by as much as 40% in summer. In winter, they can save up to 10% in heating costs by circulating warm air from the ceiling to the floor where you can enjoy it. Whole house fans work great in Nevada and Placer County where it usually cools off in the evening.

10) Try Branching Out
For an all-around environmental boost, plant a tree. When properly sited, trees and other landscaping can save up to 30% in home cooling and heating costs. They also help cool your community and make your Auburn or Penn Valley home even more enjoyable.

11) Look for the Energy Star Label
Replace your old, inefficient appliances with Energy Star qualified appliances and save energy and money.

12) Something Bugging You?
Stay in control by starting with nature’s own methods to beat the bugs. Attract birds with birdhouses, feeders, and natural backyard wildlife habitats to help reduce pests. Installing a Bat house is a great addition as bats will eat millions of mosquitos a night. Bug lights, screening, citronella candles, and insecticidal soaps are other less-toxic alternatives to pesticides.

13) Clear the Air
Tune up your systems to make your family more comfortable while you save on heating and cooling costs. Upgrading and properly maintaining your home air filters is easy and helps improve indoor air quality. Vented range hoods and room exhaust fans also help remove smoke, moisture, airborne bacteria, and other indoor air pollutants.

14)  Get the Lead Out
In the U.S. and Canada, over 58 million homes built before 1978 contain lead-based paints. Houses plumbed with copper pipe before 1990 used 50% lead / 50% tin solders. To reduce lead hazards in your home and protect your family during any home renovation, ask a  Paint Department  at your local paint store for the free information sheet “Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home.”  To get rid of the lead solder ask one of our plumbers about alternative piping for your home. Or you may just want to filter your drinking water. We can help with that as well.

15) Make Your Own Mulch
Composting is the smart way to dispose of leaves, yard clippings, selected food scraps, and other organic wastes. Instead of burdening landfills, you’ll produce rich nutrients to fertilize your nevada City garden the natural way. And it’s free. Make it a habit to recycle your glass, cans, cardboard, and newspapers, too.

For info call ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heating and Air Conditioning at 530-272-9120

ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heating & Air Conditioning serves:

Nevada and Placer County, Grass Valley, Ca. Alta Sierra, Ca. Nevada City, Ca. Penn Valley, Ca. Rough and Ready, Ca. Lake Wildwood, Ca. Smartsville, Ca. Colfax, Auburn, Ca. Lake of the Pines, Ca. Meadow Vista, Ca. Newcastle, Ca. and all places in-between.