Archive for Environment – Page 2

The Real Cost of Ignored Shower Leaks

By Dorothy Skinner · Comments (3)
Monday, March 12th, 2012

There’s never a good time to have a shower leak, but this month we’re giving the topic extra attention because it’s Fix a Leak Week, a week to think about the effects of wasteful water habits on conservation efforts. Fix a Leak Week is part of the WaterSense initiative set up by the EPA.

If your child goes to elementary school with a member of the Gary’s Quality Plumbing family, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade teachers were given these worksheets to send home with their students. They are a great way to use math, science, and conversation skills between parent and child to learn about how easy it can be to waste water. Most of us have no idea just how much water is wasted when we ignore simple leaks. Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.  Read More→

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Fixing Failing Faucets is Just Good Stewardship

By Dorothy Skinner · Comments (3)
Monday, March 5th, 2012

According to the EPA’s WaterSense website, “Leaks can account for, on average, 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year, which is enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.” That’s a LOT of water.

If you’re not thinking about the leaks on your property, you’re not doing anyone a favor. Water is a limited commodity, and we need to be good stewards of what we’ve been given in life. Good stewardship is a thought-provoking attitude – a mindful manner of resource management, not a careless, what-do-I-care way to do things. Fixing simple faucet leaks not only preserves the condition of your home, it also saves water.  Read More→

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Natural Gas Patio Grills are More Fun

By Dorothy Skinner · Comments (2)
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

Ordinary gas grills are powerful and reliable, to a point. Like when the tank runs out of propane!

The more powerful they are, however, the faster you burn through those tanks. Did you know that burning natural gas runs about a third the price and burns cleaner? That’s better for the environment, and better for your health. What a convenience to not have to run and fill or exchange a tank at the last minute, as most people do.

outdoor grillConsider having your outdoor patio grill built in. Built-in grills last much longer and if you entertain frequently, are really the way to go. Now you can have an entire outdoor kitchen built in to make your B-B-Q experience even more memorable.

Natural gas grills allow you to enjoy your time with your friends and family without the hassle of managing heavy tanks or refilling them when you least expect it. In addition, they are healthier for your body and the air we’re all breathing because natural gas burns cleaner than propane. Give us a call to find out if a natural gas grill or an outdoor kitchen is right for your backyard.

Your Plano plumber understands where the gas, water, and sewer lines will need to run based on tying into where they already exist. That advice can keep the expenses reasonable and the resulting outdoor kitchen highly functional. Yes, we do gas and water plumbing lines!

Call 972-424-6479 and get on the schedule while the Google Coupon is still valid to enjoy the most of football season.

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How Efficient Are Garbage Disposals?

By Debi Proctor · Comments (3)
Saturday, March 21st, 2009

Are Garbage Disposals Efficiently Disposing Your Food Waste?

We take it for granted that when we scrape our food into the sink drain that holds the garbage disposal, our food waste is being disposed of ‘somewhere’ down the line in some kind of regurgitated manageable substance. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Lately we’re becoming more informed about what really happens to the food waste we dispose of.

Truth be known, our urban sewer system was never designed to handle the resulting residue from food disposals. What is happening is disturbing at best. Once food has made its course through your garbage disposal, it doesn’t just float away into our sewer systems as we have previously thought. No, it sits in every curve and dip in the line from your home, through the neighborhood, and further into urban systems until it collects much like plaque on an artery. You might call it arteriosclerosis of the urban sewer.

With this information we have a greater understanding of how to make our systems more efficient. Follow these tips to insure you don’t experience problems relating to the food waste leaving your home through a garbage disposer.

  • Always scrape food from plates into the garbage
  • If it doesn’t float, don’t put it down the disposer. Coffee grounds, rice, potato and citrus peels are among the foods that accumulate in your pipe system, even after being ground up.
  • Use plenty of water to rinse dishes when using your disposer. Most do not, and if that is not an option for your household’s green living campaign you should,
  • Purchase a composting garbage disposal if necessary. This will be discussed more in upcoming posts.
  • If odor is coming out of your disposal drain, baking soda and ice will clean the blades and deodorize safely. Make sure you run hot water while doing so.

Proper maintenance is important to the homeowner and the city water treatment plant. If the ‘gunk’ does make it out of your home, it ends up in the bottom of your city’s systems, and takes tax dollars to clean out. Its a good idea to make sure you’re aware of what you’re putting into your disposal.

What have you learned to do differently with your food waste?

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