Your Potty Invitation
June 20, 2011 | 
Author 
Sure, Toto is a dog from The Wizard of Oz and a rock band from the early ‘80s (remember Rosanna?), but most importantly, it’s a pretty amazing toilet line. And who can’t live without a good toilet? Undoubtedly the search for such a universal necessity calls for some research.
A simple Google search for consumer write-ups on toilets brings one immediately to the name Toto. Why? One reason is their gravity- and pressure-assist toilets, which are increasingly popular options on the market today. Gravity-assist units, the most common type of toilet, use gravity to release water from its tank through a flush valve and into the bowl during flushing. Pressure-assist toilets, on the other hand, hold the water under air pressure inside a plastic tank and flush it out with more force than a gravity toilet. Toto toilets receive high marks in both categories.
Many customers are most interested in the fact that Toto’s engineering refinements deliver powerful flushing technology while maintaining eco friendly water conservation. Others most value the combination of function and design. A Toto Drake Toilet offers elegant curves with superior non-clog flushing, and for those seeking a bidet seat, a Toto Washlet is one of the most popular styles sold. The most luxurious toilet is a Toto Neorest. The Neorest combines a state of the art toilet with a washlet seat. A Toto Neorest 500 combines a tankless design with the new Cyclone flushing system technology. This model comes with the SanaGloss finish for a super smooth ion barrier for added cleanliness, and the lid open and closes automatically.
So, what’s the “bottom” line? A recent study found that men spend an hour and 45 minutes every week going to the toilet–whereas women get everything over with in a mere 85 minutes a week. In either case, toilet purchases are similar to mattress purchases… private, but important. Why not take the time to do your research and see the latest, hottest options out there? Even easier, why not call Moon Valley Plumbing and let us help you choose the potty of your dreams? Ask about our June special on Toto toilets, and get your morning constitutional going in style!
It’s Rebate Time!
Did you know that you may be able to receive a rebate from Southwest Gas if you purchase a new appliance? These rebates are being funded with $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Under this program, eligible consumers can receive rebates to purchase new energy-efficient appliances when they replace used appliances.
According to www.energysavers.gov, as of January, a total of 1.4 million consumer rebates, valued at $207 million, were paid to consumers. The annual energy savings resulting from the purchase of the rebated products is estimated at 1.4 trillion Btu. The bar chart below shows the distribution of these rebates by major appliances (89%), HVAC (9%), and Water Heater (2%) categories.
Customers Rick and Liz Holmes were excited–not only to receive a rebate from Southwest Gas–but also to see their electric bill decrease by over 20% with the purchase of an efficient water heater. They didn’t realize that more than 70% of the energy used in our homes is for appliances, refrigeration, space heating, cooling, and in their case, water heating of their large tank.
Replacing old appliances and equipment with those that are Energy Star labeled can help families like the Holmes save significantly on their utility bills. Each state has selected its own set of qualified products to rebate, and here are the fitting categories for Arizona:
- Boilers
- Central air conditioners
- Clothes washers
- Dishwashers
- Freezers
- Furnaces (oil and gas)
- Heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
- Refrigerators
- Room air conditioners
- Water heaters
Most rebates are $50 to $550, and some states give additional rebates for recycling. Now’s the time to jump in, purchase a newer, more efficient appliance, and enjoy some “found money” through a timely utility rebate. For more information, visit http://www.conservationrebates.com, or give us a call at Moon Valley Plumbing.
Support Local Companies
One of the values of Moon Valley Plumbing is to buy American whenever possible, and to do business with reputable local companies. These practices help the economy and establish lasting relationships in the industry.
This month’s “wonderful vendor” is B&R Industries, manufacturers of water softeners. In one of our recent blogs, we talked about the fact that many households in Arizona require water softening, as the minerals that cause hardness in water have a wide impact on households. If you live in the area, you know that hard water affects almost every cleaning task–from laundry to dishes to showers. Clothes laundered in hard water may look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. Dishes and glasses washed in hard water may be spotted on drying. Hard water may cause a film on glass shower doors, shower walls and bathtubs, and hair washed in hard water may feel sticky and look dull. More importantly, hard water also affects the performance of household appliances.
Fortunately, B&R Industries is always available with water softening supplies. The company always has the parts we need in stock–and an attitude of quick and helpful service. Plus, they only focus on sales and service to contractors, leaving us to take care of our residential customers directly. Their technical support department has helped us solve several plumbing mysteries, and their employees’ 100 years of combined field experience has lent credibility to our team efforts in the state.
As Moon Valley Plumbing continues to serve Arizona, we’re grateful that top local vendors like B&R Industries continue to serve us so faithfully. For more information about softening your water with B&R components, please visit us at www.moonvalleyplumbing.com.
The Truth about Hard Water
Our cousins, the Bailey’s, live on the Red River between Texas and Oklahoma, on some of the most beautiful land in the country. Although we love enjoying the beauty of the area with them, we always remind ourselves to bring plenty of bottled water with us. Why? Because their water tastes different… a bit salty, perhaps.
What’s happening with the Bailey’s water, we found out, is that it’s “hard water.” Hard water is water that has a high mineral content (in contrast with soft water – e.g., rainwater and distilled water) and elevated concentrations of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Typically hard water is not harmful to human health, but it can pose serious problems in industrial settings, where water hardness is monitored to avoid costly breakdowns in boilers, cooling towers, and other equipment that handles water.
So, how can you tell if we have hard water in the home? Besides the salty or overly-mineral taste of the water, you can conduct a simple experiment. Try putting liquid soap into a sink of water, and then agitate it. If suds do not form–or form well–there’s a possibility your water could be hard.
The problem with hard water is that it forms calcium and magnesium deposits that can clog your plumbing. These deposits, called “scale,” tend to be deposited as off-white solids on the surfaces of pipes and heat exchangers, and scale restricts the flow of water in pipes. In boilers, the deposits impair the flow of heat into water, reducing the heating efficiency and allowing the metal boiler components to overheat. Hard water can also eventually lead to pipe corrosion.
For these reasons, it is often desirable to soften hard water. The professionals at Moon Valley Plumbing can conduct a simple, free sampling of your water to test its hardness and create a plan to soften your water system. Here’s to your health, and the health of your pipes!
Stave off Pool Problems this Spring
One of the highlights of Glen Hawkins’ life of retirement is his backyard pool. He loves entertaining friends by its crystal blue waters, hosting a game of pool volleyball, and catching some rays by the pool during his lunch break. He even enjoys skimming leaves off the pool during his morning chore routine. But what he doesn’t like are the plumbing problems that have recently cast a dark shadow on a favorite hobby.
In recent months Glen has noticed some issues with water circulation and filtration, and he’s received some crazy high water bills he suspects are related to the pool. Fortunately, he knows his limitations on playing Amateur Fix-It Man, and he’s called the experts at Moon Valley Plumbing. As Spring unfolds, the plumbing team at Moon Valley Plumbing offers some helpful educating and advising of frustrated pool-lovers like Glen.
First, swimming pool plumbing seeks to meet two objectives–circulation and filtration of the water in the pool. Pools are typically self-contained systems needing little connection with external sources of drawing or disposing water. Rather, water from the pool is drawn up into the pump from drains and skimmers by pumping. It then passes through the main filter and through the heater before being finally transferred to the pool via the “returns,” or the piping used for returning water. PVC pipes circulate water into and out of the pool, but sometimes pools have old, faulty, inadequate, or leaking pipes or fittings. A knowledgeable plumber can check to see that there are several working drains and water skimmers to facilitate water flow, circulation and filtration; they can check for and fix clogs, and they can ensure that the pool adheres to important plumbing codes.
There’s no better time than Spring to get your pool questions answered and your pool up to speed for fun and entertainment. So call Moon Valley Plumbing now for your complimentary pool consultation, and free yourself to focus on that tan!
What You Need to Know About Toilets!
Even with new toilets averaging 1.6 gallons per flush toilets consume 27 % of the water in the home. You can save water and money by checking for leaks, replacing your flapper and installing a fill cycle diverter or upgrading to a high-effiency toilet. New low-flow toilets typically use two methods of flushing. Most consumer households use gravity flush toilets which use water weight and gravity to remove waste. but may be more prone to clogs. Consumers who lack fiber in their diet may want to consider toilets that use a pressure assisted flush. Pressure assisted toilets use pressure from the water supply to create a powerful flush to expel waste. They really get the job done but you’ll will have to put up with higher maintenance costs and a noisy flush!
Picking the Right Water Heater
In all our years of servicing Arizona residents’ plumbing needs, we’ve noticed a trend. People often spend more time picking the right dishwasher or even coffee maker than they do their water heater. But choosing the right water heater from the myriad of choices on the market today is actually important when it comes to the longevity and efficiency of your system.
So what are the big factors to consider in such a purchase?
Warranties
Top water heater manufacturers are not afraid to offer a five-year warranty on their products, and a good warranty is solid assurance that you won’t be left hanging in an emergency. Most of the major brands offer warranties, but be sure to look over your documents carefully to make sure you are getting five years’ coverage on parts and the tank – and that you’ll be covered with repair or replacement for every foreseeable issue.
Know Your Specs
Next, you should understand what to buy based on the specifications of your home. You’ll need to know what size and configuration you’ll need, and this is based on the size of your home and the number of people living there. You don’t want to under-supply or over-supply for your particular needs. The professionals at Moon Valley Plumbing can consult with you about all the factors related to your family’s needs. Many people think that because the 30-gallon tank wasn’t working so well, they obviously need a 40-gallon tank for the new install. This isn’t necessarily true. A bigger goal, in some cases, is to have the unit heat the water more rapidly than the old unit. We use a term called “first hour recovery,” which takes into consideration the amount of water a tank can hold with what it can heat in one hour. This provides a meaningful comparison between brands.
Solid Options
Two good options we’ve found in our industry are American Proline and Bradford White. These brands offer electric, gas, high efficiency, tankless, and eternal units, all depending on what your needs are. They provide greater longevity and efficiency than several others we’ve worked with over the years.
In essence, it’s a good idea to take a few minutes to educate yourself on this important purchase. And the team at Moon Valley Plumbing would love to sit down with you and lay out your best options.
Top 10 Water Heater Safety Tips
1. Set water temperature at 120 degrees
2. Make sure all combustable material is 3 feet away from the water heater
4. Test the T & P relief valve once a year
5. Have the drain valve tested for clean out
6. Make sure the pedestal is mounted at correct height for location
7. Make sure the drain pan is installed where needed
8. Check for proper venting for gas heaters
9. Check the flame in the combustion chamber hatch
10. Inspect the outer shell for water leaks or rust
It’s Time for a Water Heater Checkup
As the economy has taken a marked downturn over the last two years, Americans have commented on how many of life’s small pleasures they may have taken for granted in the past. No doubt one of the most appreciated pleasures is a hot shower–a daily treat most of us couldn’t dream of going without.
We love our hot water, but few of us stop to think about our hot water heaters and in what shape they might be. Turns out that many plumbers, including the Moon Valley team, have learned to “retro-fit” old units in order to extend their useful lives. If your water heater is six years old–or older–it’s time for a quick checkup.
So, what can you do to check on things and bump up your water heater health? First, call the plumber! Don’t try too much water heater maintenance on your own–especially the first time. A member of the Moon Valley Plumbing team will come to your home for a tutorial that will set you up for an extended life on this most crucial of appliances.
He will make sure you have a tank with an easily accessible, functioning anode rod, little or no sediment, and a functioning temperature/pressure relief valve. It should be 18 inches off the floor where it won’t ignite fumes. Fires are a very real concern as water and electricity don’t make good bed mates, and a good plumber can prevent a number of household disasters and train you to avoid mishaps.
Your Moon Valley plumber will further ensure safety by making sure your water heater is sitting on a drain pan so that if anything does leak, it won’t flood your home–and he’ll ensure that the pan has a drain line that goes somewhere safe. Finally, he’ll check to make sure the plumbing around it is in good shape and that water isn’t dripping onto it from overhead pipes.
In essence, compared to every other season of history, we live like kings. And one of our grandest luxuries as kings – even in a down economy–is our enjoyment of almost-instant hot water. So let’s keep the bliss rolling with a healthy heater!