Friday, June 13, 2014

Best Anti-Aging Secret out there is… Soft Water!

Best Anti-Aging Secret out there is…  Soft Water!  By Lisa Carter RN, BSN, BA

Plumber | Plumbing Contractor | Registered Nurse | Cancer Coach | Carter's
I’m a spoiled Plumber’s wife!!  Every time we have something go wrong in our home, Jamie, my husband, and a #Plumber will fix it!  Well for the past week our water softener has been out of commission.  It needs replaced, and Jamie has been too busy at work to take care of our matters at home!  I didn't think it was too bad the first day, and wondered if it was really necessary to have a water softener.  By the 2nd day, I noticed my hair wasn't performing at optimal levels being limp and dry.  My skin has been drier than normal, and soap definitely doesn't lather up like it normally does with a softener.  I notice build up on the faucets, and the shower doors have water spots all over them.  
I found some statistics stating 85% of homes in America depend on a hard water supply.  Hard water contains excess minerals or metals, such as calcium and iron.  It’s generally safe to use, but it can cause problems for cleaning purposes and appliance use because of the harshness of the metals.  Water Softeners remove or dilute the mineral/metal concentrations in hard water.

Benefits of a Water Softener:
  1. Easier Cleaning of showers and tubs, including glass doors
    1. Harsh metals leave scum and deposits that are difficult to clean.
  2. Extended Appliance Life
    1. Minerals found in hard water build up on the inside of appliances, shortening their usable life and decrease overall efficiency.
  3. Faster Water Heating
    1. Hot water heaters can heat softened water more quickly than hard for the obvious reason of fewer deposits in the chemical composition of the molecule.
  4. Cleaner Plumbing System
    1. Hard water leaves scaly deposits in plumbing fixtures and pipes, which build up over time causing clogs and corrosion.  Have you noticed green deposit build up on your showerhead?
  5. Better conditioning for Hair & Skin
    1. Skin is more conditioned with the sodium ion where harsh metals cause drying at the cellular level.
  6. Better lathering for soap and washing
    1. Soap and shampoo lather up faster and rinse out cleaner with the silkiness of the conditioned water.

Having softened water is definitely an overall benefit for a household, and in the long run will save you money with longer lasting appliances and plumbing systems.  Overall, for me I really miss our water softener, and I will have to up the ante to get my Plumber husband to increase the priority of installing a new one!! 
Information about Carter’s My Plumber:
Carter’s My Plumber is a local, family-owned, 3rd generation plumbing business located in Greenwood, Indiana, providing plumbing service to the Indianapolis, Greenwood, WhitelandFranklinBargersville,TrafalgarMooresvilleWannamakerBeech Grove and Southport areas.  Carter’s My Plumber has a special menu of services designed to meet the needs of every homeowner to provide a complete solution to their home’s plumbing system.  With over 30 years of plumbing experience, their trained plumbers meet the plumbing need of every residential and light commercial need.  Carter’s My Plumber is a Licensed Plumbing Contractor and is a member of the PHCCBBB and Greenwood Chamber of Commerce.

Other posts to read regarding health & Plumbing:  http://cartersmyplumber.com/blog/flush-medicine-toilet-drain/

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Leaky Faucet can Cause Lack of Sleep, and Waste up to 5 Gallons of Water per Day!

A Leaky Faucet can Cause Lack of Sleep, and Waste up to 5 Gallons of Water per Day.    byKelson Carter

Can you imagine not having a faucet in your home?  Where would you brush your teeth?  Wash your face?  How about that fresh glass of water?? Faucets are such a valuable part of a home structure, and keeping them in a good working condition is imperative.
A leaky faucet causing a “drip, drip, drip” noise is not only disturbing to sleep but adds to the water bill and causes inconvenience that might range from annoying to catastrophic.
So, what causes a faucet to drip?  The cause can be corrosion, mineral deposit on the internal parts, or defective gaskets, o-rings, or washers. Ignoring a faulty faucet can turn a simple repair into a major plumbing replacement project. Did you know a single faucet drip can drip 5 gallons of water per day?  That equates to 41 baths per year!
Not only is that bad for the environment, but the wasted water will cost you.
Here are the Facts:
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency; “On an average, leaks can cause almost 10,000 gallons of wastage in a home every year, and this amount is sufficient to fill a swimming pool. The most common issues of leakage are dripping faucets, leakage in toilet flappers, or leaking valves, all of which can be easily fixed. However, among these, the most prominent leakage issue is caused by a dripping faucet; fixing one can save almost 10% of a homeowner’s water bill.”
What causes a Faucet to Drip?
There may be several causes why a faucet is drips. Here is a list of some major causes:
1. Problem with the O ring – A stem screw holds the handle of a faucet in place. This stem screw is made up of a small disc attached to it, known as the O ring, which is an integral point where dripping can occur. The O ring, which is a rubber material, may become loose or wear out with regular usage, causing the faucet to drip near the handle. Replacing the damaged O ring will fix the dripping faucet, if this is the issue, and this problem occurs specifically in cartridge faucets.
2. Corroded Valve Seat – A valve seat is the connection between the faucet and the spout in a compression mechanism. Accumulation of water sediments can cause the valve seat to corrode and cause leakage around the spout area. Make sure to clean the valve seat regularly, with the help of a professional plumber.
3. Worn out Washer – Definitely one of the most common causes behind a dripping faucet. During each use, the washer is forced against the valve seat. This constant friction and resistance causes the valve to wear out. As a result, dripping starts around the spout.  A worn out rubber washer in a compression faucet can be stopped by replacing the washer.
4. Improper installation of Washer – If the washer is not installed properly or is not the right size, it will cause leakage.  Seek professional help in installing the washer correctly, and this will take care of the leakage problem.
5. Loose Parts – The adjusting ring and packing nuts in the stem screw may become loose with continuous usage, causing leakage near the handle of the faucet. If there is leakage from the handle, either packing nut needs tightened or replaced.
6. Worn out Seals – Inlet and outlet seals are a vital part of disc faucets. With constant usage, sediment can accumulate inside the assembly, and cause the seal to wear out.   This causes a faucet to drip.  Hire a plumber to clean the water sediments regularly from the inlet and outlet seals to make sure that the faucet mechanism works properly. Replace the seals for better faucet function.
7. Broken Plumbing – On occasion, a dripping faucet may be caused by a broken pipe or fittings. Broken pipes develop cracks that can interfere with water pressure and lead to faucet dripping. If none of the solutions above have solved the dripping faucet issue, hire an experienced plumber to check the water pipes.
Understanding why a faucet is leaking is crucial to fixing it properly and fixing the drip will save sleep and money over time!  Call Carter’s My Plumber if you need advice, or a professional plumber: 317-859-9999
Other Clients also read this article:
http://cartersmyplumber.com/blog/water-leak/
Comments:
K. Gammons – Customer | Greenwood | May 2, 2014 |says:
Kelson and everyone with Carter’s My Plumber were fantastic!  You worked us into what I know was a VERY busy schedule for your team – even now I can recall seeing the crawl space with the mud, gravel and rain.

L Query | Indianapolis | April 10, 2014 |says:
Your plumber was awesome!  I’d recommend Carter’s to anybody!!  L Query, Indianapolis

M & K Fortune | Indianapolis | March28, 2014 | say:
You guys did a great job, and we will definitely recommend you to friends and family!