Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Inaccurate Water Softener Reviews Can Ruin Your Whole Home

When a person is looking at water softener reviews, some factors that should be included in the decision for which review is the most accurate or will meet the needs of the household considering the review. When a person is looking a reviews it is important that the reviews contain the information that is relevant to one's needs. Many factors will need to be included in the decision for which type of water softener will meet a person's needs.

Affordability is a big concern for most people today. Some units are available for less than a hundred dollars through local discount stores and on the Internet. The price rises until one finds that there is a water softener that is available for over ,000. Setting the parameter of affordability is the first step to looking at any type of review seriously.

A WATER SOFTENER

Knowing the type of water that is in the area where a person lives and seeing if the review addresses that water type. Some people live in areas that have terrible water and need softeners in order to drink and use the water. Other areas have excellent water quality and have little or no need for a water softener.

All of the water softener reviews will have a long list of the benefits of their products. It is important to sort out the benefits offered from the benefits that are actually needed. When a softener is selling for several thousand dollars to soften all of the water coming into a home it will not be a cost effective purchase for a vacation home that one spends a week at once a year.

There are many different types of systems available. Some are very small and hook up to a kitchen sink. Others are larger and hook up the hot water tank in a garage. Others, have connections throughout a home and all of the water coming into the home has been "softened."

One of the biggest pieces of information to check when looking at review are the chemicals used to soften the water. Some systems use organic materials that are not treated with any chemicals. Other systems are reliant on several chemical additives that remove the iron, etc., from the water.

When chemicals are listed on the review it is important to find out what those chemical do. There are many systems manufactured that use organic products to soften and purify the water that one drinks. These systems do not introduce any chemicals into the body through the water that they drink.

When reading reviews it is important to talk to individuals who have knowledge and expertise in these systems. They and can give details regarding a system that may not be shown in a review. These individuals will be able to assist a person in finding the type of water softener they need to meet their needs. They will also be able to assist in finding an affordable water softener system that may not have a great review, but can meet all of the requirements of the household effectively and efficiently.

Inaccurate Water Softener Reviews Can Ruin Your Whole Home

A WATER SOFTENER

Well Water With a Sulphur Smell Can Be Fixed

You anxiously check on your new well only to get that smell of rotten eggs coming from the water. Your heart sinks thinking that you may have to redrill another well. Actually the problem most times is not that hard to solve.

Maybe it is when you first drill the well when you notice the smell. Maybe weather conditions such as very dry or very wet years affect the under ground water supply to your well. At any rate the great water that you thought that you would get or the great water that you had contains the ugly smell of sulphur. The first thing that you need to do is find yourself a good plumbing contractor that is familiar with treating such problems.

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The fix to your problem is in a water filter that looks much like many water softeners. The difference is in the media inside the tank. For the removal of the smell associated with sulpher you need to have activated charcoal inside that tank. The charcoal will soak up the stuff in the water that causes the bad smell.

Because the charcoal is slowly being used up you will need to replace the charcoal periodically. It is often impossible to predict how long the charcoal will last. There are too many factors that can affect the rate at which the charcoal is used up. The amount of sulpher in the water may change daily or weekly. Some charcoal seems to be better quality at one time than it is another. The amount of water used can change from season to season. Too many things can change to predict the life span of the charcoal in the filter.

The main thing to remember is to not despair when you find sulpher water. I have installed many charcoal filters with good results many times. Also do not let yourself be talked into expensive add-ons when buying a filter. Many times the filter is all you need to correct the problem. Water softeners and other miscellaneous add-ons are often not needed. They are just thrown in to boost the profit. Make sure that you are just buying what is needed to treat your water problem only.

Charcoal filters are a great way to give you great tasting water. Not only will they clean that nasty smell out of your water but they will absorb many other bad things also. If you are having problems with the taste or smell of your well water, then give a new charcoal filter a shot at fixing the problem for you. You will be very glad that you did.

Well Water With a Sulphur Smell Can Be Fixed

A WATER

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

How to Remove Iron From Drinking Water - Simple Facts

Iron is one of the numerous water contaminants that is not healthy on your part if its level of contamination in the water is quite high; that is why many individuals want to know how to remove iron from drinking water in order to make the water potable and safe for household consumption. Take note that you can easily detect if the water has excessive amounts of iron because its taste is somewhat metallic.

Cooking food using water with a high iron content will also make your food easily turn black; aside from making your food look bad. More importantly, there are several health risks involved in taking in too much iron through drinking. Hence, you must be all the more vigilant with regards to iron content in order to avoid acquiring various forms of health issues and problems as a result of too much iron intake.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Therefore, it is best to know how to remove iron from drinking water because this information is greatly beneficial in your end; considering the fact that water is one of the basics things for survival, and everyday we are drinking a couple of glasses in order to quench our thirsts.

Fortunately today, removal of iron is quite easy to do; thanks to the most recent advancements that make this process available for everyone to perform right in their own house. All you have to do is to get one of the filtration systems that also cover iron removal; thereby effectively transforming your contaminated tap water into potable drinking water that is very safe to drink.

Keep in mind that there are several types water filtration systems; one of the highly effective types that can also remove iron from drinking water is one that uses reverse osmosis. This process has been in use for quite some time now. In fact, the method is based on the same principle of desalinating salt water into drinking water. Similarly, this system is also effective in sorting out iron from water; hence, you can select this type of filtration if you want to resolve your problem on how to remove iron from drinking water. Another one is a run of the mill water softener that uses carbon filters and salt.

Nevertheless, you have utmost flexibility on your choices; considering that there are numerous types of water filtration systems. What is important is to select the right type that effectively removes iron as well as purifying your water.

How to Remove Iron From Drinking Water - Simple Facts

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Your Water Supply and Acne

Everyday, a countless number of people wake up to find that they are suffering from yet another acne breakout. What's puzzling is that these same people take good care of their skin. They cleanse it two times a day, apply topical acne medication, sunscreen, and finally a moisturizer. The hidden culprit that eludes most is their home's water supply. Water makes contact with your skin on a daily basis. Hence, there is little question that it may be contributing to your breakouts.

Water type is divided into two categories: hard water and soft water. The first refers to water that has a significant mineral contact. Minerals including Calcium are prevalent in such water. Soft water, on the other hand, has negligible mineral content. The minerals are instead replaced with higher concentrations of sodium.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Water that is overly enriched with minerals presents a number of damaging effects to the skin and other surfaces which it comes into contact with. When hard water combines with soap, it forms soap scum. What it should do is form a lather as to cleanse the skin. This soap scum remains on the skin and consequently irritates it. If your home receives hard water, you should see soap scum on your bathroom fixtures and in and around the shower area.

Soft water combines with soap to form a lather that ultimately cleanses your skin. Those who have grown up with it's mineral-rich may complain of a "slippery" feeling after cleansing their skin. Soft water removes the soap scum buildup on your skin - the one that the hard water was supposed to remove.

There are some who refuse to believe that soft water is a more efficient solvent than hard water. Perhaps we can explore how well both types of water function in different applications. In dishwashers, for instance, hard water tends to etch the dishes. This can be extremely frustrating, especially after investing hundreds of dollars towards a new set. Soft water does not cause this etching effect as it effectively cleans the detergent off the dishes.

You can take some immediate, non-drastic steps to reduce the negative effects of hard water. First, replace your shower fixtures on a regular basis. Mineral buildup within these fixtures may be further increasing the hardness of the water. It is also advisable to avoid taking hot showers unless necessary. The steam will open your pores and allow the minerals within the hard water to seep within. This will cause breakouts.

A more expensive solution involves installing a water softener within your home. It can be a big investment, however you will benefit in a multitude of ways. If you find that the aforementioned tips improve the appearance of your skin, hard water may be aggravating your skin. A water filtration device can not only soften your water, but remove additives such as Chlorine. Chlorine can be extremely aggravating to the skin, and will indeed cause acne. It strips oils off your face, which ultimately irritates it. Again, this is a significant investment so all the factors need to be considered carefully.

Your Water Supply and Acne

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Selecting the Correct Boiler Or Water Heater Size

Make sure that you are not allowing money to dictate the size of the water heater or boiler that you purchase. It is important for many reasons to make sure that you are getting just the right size. A water heater that is too small or too large will cause you various problems right away that you would be better off not having to worry about.

A water heater or boiler that is too small for your household will not give you enough hot water for the amount that you use. A tank that is too large will have enough for you to use, but it will be too much. The larger the tank is the more money it will cost to continue to heat it. Therefore, you would be wasting a lot of money if you were always heating a tank that is too large for you and your family.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

The size of water-heater or boiler you need is determined by the amount of people that you have in your house. If you take a trip to your local home improvement store and take a look at the water heater boxes, you will see that there are notes on how many people the water heating unit will accommodate. The larger the tank, the more people it will serve. You might also be able to find this information online or by simply calling the store and asking questions. Making sure that you get the right size only takes a few extra moments but it will save you time, money, and frustration in the end.

Selecting the Correct Boiler Or Water Heater Size

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Why Using Swimming Pool Water Test Kits Are a Must!

Sure, you could just add pool chlorine, clarifier, algaecides, and other pool maintenance chemicals. But is your algaecide neutralizing the benefit of your chlorine? Are you adding enough bromine, or too much? Is your pH safe for you and your loved ones?

Without a swimming pool water test kit you are swimming blind. Measure well, to be sure. Follow a good maintenance schedule and you are on track to create good pool water. But many things you can't control affect the final result, no matter how careful you are.

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Unless you want to be limited to measurements and calculations - in other words, an educated guess or worse still, your nose and touch - you need a pool water test kit.

Fortunately, many are inexpensive and easy to use.

Some are as simple as the traditional test tube kit that provides an eyedropper, litmus paper, and a few needed chemicals. Those can do a good job of measuring pH, determining chlorine concentration, and so forth. Many will allow you also to measure cyanuric acid, urine and ammonia products, and more including calcium, to test water hardness.

You don't have to have a science degree to get good results or interpret them correctly, even with a simple, old-fashioned kit. But modern technology has vastly improved on the methods your grandfather employed to keep his pool clean and clear.

One slightly more advanced version will include a photometer, even with those small, test tube kits. In this device, a small light (often a laser, but there are other devices that use ultra-violet, or another source) shines through a sample.

That sample causes changes to the source's intensity, wavelength, and other characteristics. A sensor lets the device detect them, which transmits data to a small chip to analyze the desired water attributes. The display then shows pH and other measurements, in a form that's easy for an ordinary mortal to read.

Similarly, more advanced digital water test kits can entirely eliminate the need for litmus paper, vials, and chemicals. Various electronic and photometric sensors use proxies to measure all the things you want to know.

Those more advanced systems can automatically self-calibrate for temperature and other variables that might skew the results of an old-fashioned kit. Instead of measuring, for example, pH by observing the color of litmus paper dipped in a sample of your water, you just dip a little test probe into the pool. Voila! Instant, accurate readings.

An intermediate, and therefore less expensive, device might still use a strip, but let you thread it through the unit, which then reads the pH level for you accurately.

Naturally, all digital kits are waterproof, easy to hold, resistant to corrosion, and provide easy-to-read results on an LCD display. Many feature one-touch activation and automatic shutoff so you don't have to worry about the batteries draining.

Why Using Swimming Pool Water Test Kits Are a Must!

A WATER

Monday, November 28, 2011

How to Get Rid of Iron in Well Water

A lot of families using well water as their source have this problem of treating the iron contained therein which causes the water to drink unpleasantly and sometimes causes stain. While it is true the iron do not pose health risk, still, homeowners wanted to get rid of it in any way they could. Here are some of the tips in removing such element on your water well.

First and foremost, analyze the water. The yellowing or discoloration of the water may be due to soluble iron (meaning iron dissolves in the water), insoluble iron (meaning iron does not dissolve in the water) or iron bacteria. You must identify the number of gallons your water well is producing per minute, and how much water your household consumes. In analyzing the water, you can have the aid of your public health department which conducts certain laboratory testing or better yet you can ask your friend or your neighbors about it. If your neighbors do not have a problem regarding this, then you may opt to just adjust the depth of your current well or you can also drill a new one.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Treatment systems on iron in well water ranges from the very simple to more complex and expensive systems, such as an ozonation system.

If the discoloration of the water is caused by just a minor annoyance, that is, the iron is insoluble, you can jumpstart by installing a simple cartridge filter in the pipe line. But from time to time you have to replace the cartridge filter as it gets clog by the iron.

When further simple lined up filter is necessary, the design of system will depend on the nature of the iron, whether it is soluble or not. If the iron is soluble, it must be turned into insoluble materials through different processes. This includes chlorination, aeration, catalytic filtration and ozonation. After which, when the soluble iron is converted into insoluble materials, then you can filter it out already. There are also water softener and manganese "greensand" systems that eliminate soluble iron through a chemical process called "ion exchange."

The well must be treated with a chlorine solution when iron bacteria are present. It is rather "thorny" to clear a water system totally of iron bacteria. The shocking process engrosses preparing a concentrated chlorine solution and circulating it through the well for and pumping the solution through all of the plumbing to eradicate any bacteria in the pipes.

How to Get Rid of Iron in Well Water

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Upgrades to Your Household Plumbing

The very first thing being offered as an upgrade is the plumbing fixtures.

Bathrooms

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Bathroom faucets - The standard faucet offered for a bathroom in a mid level spec home is a single handle lavatory faucet in chrome. Not a lot of style, function is paramount. The counter top drilling for this type of faucet has a single hole or three holes. Three hole 4" center sinks or counters have drillings that are equidistant from the center with a total spread of 4" across. The first thing offered for an upgrade would be the finish. Polished Brass, Stainless Steel, Brushed Nickel are just a few of the finishes available. The finish selections on entry level faucets are more limited however recently the faucet manufacturers have been offering more current finishes i.e brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze. The next upgrade would be to install a mini wide spread (4" centers) or a widespread faucet (8" centers). These types of faucets have separate hot and cold handles and separate spout and tend to have a full line of finishes and styles to choose from. Most faucet manufacturers now offer very high end single handle faucets and regardless of which upgrade you choose those faucets should be solid brass, have PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) finishes with a lifetime guarantee and have a upgraded cartridge usually made of ceramic.

Toilets - The standard toilet offering is 1.6GPF (Gallons Per Flush) round front toilet in white. (A round front toilet has well...a round front. It's design is compact and any man over 185lbs can't stand them. They may never complain but they have a pretty small toilet seat.) The first level of upgrade would be to get a toilet with an elongated bowl. The elongated bowl gives you a few extra inches in front, however some bathrooms don't have the space to accommodate the bowl so check your dimensions. We have seen extremely high end homes have round front bowls and it still boggles the mind. The next standard upgrade and it's becoming more and more popular is having a "comfort high" bowl. This is essentially an ADA height bowl measuring 17" from the floor to the rim. It's easier on the knees both sitting down and standing up. Toilets come in myriad colors however most china manufacturers have reduced their color offerings dramatically over the last five years. The most popular colors are white, bisque/linen, bone/almond, gray and black. Most standard toilet seats are made of laminated wood, over time the lamination and layers of wood separate and the seat begins to break down. You can upgrade the seat to molded plastic to sharply increase the life of the seat. Other toilet upgrades involve the flushing mechanism. Pressure assisted and HET(High Efficiency Toilet)/dual flush are a couple of such upgrades.

Showers - The shower or tub/shower in the mid level spec home is commonly a single handle pressure balanced valve with a chrome finish. As with the lavatory faucet, function and value is more important then style. The type of finish is the first line of upgrades, polished brass, stainless steel, and brushed nickel are a few. On most occasions the shower faucet match the lavatory in style and finish. Another common upgrade would be to add a hand held shower on a holder or on a slide bar. The valve could be changed to a thermostatic mixing valve (unlike a pressure balance valve that protects the user by cutting off water depending on the water pressure a thermostatic valve protects the user from scalding by sensing the temperature of the water. If the water gets too hot the valve slams shut.) Most thermostatic mixing valves have a separate volume control. You can also get complicated and add diverters, body sprays and rain dome shower heads. Steam generating units can also be installed to a walk in shower to enhance the shower experience. For the ultimate in showering experience Kohler manufactures a product called the DVT valve. It is the most advanced shower system readily available to the consumer, it combines steam, water, sound, light and even the web in a wall mounted control unit combined with an digitally controlled set of valves. It's expensive but for the customer with no budget it's awesome.

Steam Generator - A steam generator can be installed in a walk in shower.

Tubs - Most entry level homes get a 5ft or 6ft bathtub they can be drop in or fit in the tub space with a front apron. They are made in enameled steel or better they are made in cast iron. Enameled steel tubs are lighter than their cast iron counterparts but are thinner and don't have the same heat retention properties. We suppose getting a cast iron tub would be considered an upgrade but they are offered in quite a few new homes. Enameled steel tubs are very popular in apartment buildings. With regards to real upgrades, tub depth is one, requesting a drop in soaker tub is another and you can get that soaker tub with whirlpool jets. Tub color and length are upgrades to choose from but the tubs' construction and material are where the real upgrades begin. Steel is by far the cheapest and least durable, gel coat fiberglass can be made pretty cheaply and in any color but if scratched will show the white undercoat. Upgrading to acrylic is the way to go when choosing a fiberglass backed tub, the color is all the way through the surface material so its scratches are not as apparent. Again if budget mean nothing Kohler makes several cast iron models that have therapeutic jets, bubble massage jets and jets that just the water fill with bubbles for ascetics only. These tubs can be bought with LED lighting and remote controls for added please and convenience.

Kitchen

Kitchen Sink - Drop in stainless steel sinks in 20 or 22 gauge are building standard. They are naturally stain and corrosion resistant but they are thin, the finishes aren't very good and if you drop something in them they ring like a bell. When you start getting into the mid level home or condo they'll offer drop-in cast iron. Which as said before is tough, naturally sound deadening and has great heat retention properties. Cast iron sinks come in a variety of shapes and colors. (You can get an enameled steel sink, it is also an entry level sink and has the same pro and cons as the steel bathtub) Laminate counters have drop-in sinks meaning they are self rimming. When the home owner upgrades the type of counter tops to granite or a synthetic aggregate, although you can still use a drop in sink most choose to buy an under-mount sink. The sink is mounted underneath the counter using clips usually pre-drilled by the counter top supplier/installer. Upgrading to an under counter mount stainless steel sink is the most popular choice when the counter tops are also upgraded. Stainless gives you an attractive color contrast between the counter and the sink and as said before is extremely durable. Please take note, several years ago upgrading to an under counter mount stainless assured you of a heavy gauge sink with superior sound deadening and a lustrous finish, there are many that have taken advantage of the sinks' popularity by making a cheaper sink. Beware. If you have any questions regarding a certain type sink leave the question here and we'll give you an honest answer. When installing a Corian or another acrylic based solid surface counter top the kitchen sink can be integral, meaning it is fused to the counter top. The sink can be the same color as the counter or more preferably a contrasting color. Finally and fairly recently quite a few manufacturers have begun manufacturing quartz based drop in and under counter mount sinks. They are available in a very limited selection of colors white, black, granite (gray/beige) are the only ones available at the present. They are extremely durable, some are up to 80% quartz and their sound deadening is on par with cast iron. Most builders are calling this an upgrade to cast iron when in fact they are very similar in price and in some cases less money.

Kitchen Sink Faucets - The entry level faucet is a chrome single handle faucet without a side spray. You can obviously request the same faucet with a side spray and it would be an upgrade but only about .00 list. Similarly to the lavatory faucets you can upgrade the finish and again even the entry level faucets have a few of the popular finishes. The first real upgrade to the faucet comes in the way of a pull out spout. These faucets are manufactured by almost every major plumbing fixture company and are pretty convenient. You can buy entry level faucets with pull out spouts or again upgrade and these upgrades will affect the finish, durability and the cartridge material. The selection of finishes and styles for kitchen faucets are many so be sure to look at the manufacturer's website to find the right faucet for you.

Garbage Disposals - You either ask for one or you don't, if not used properly they can be a pain for your lucky plumbing professional. As a general rule of thumb as the price of the disposal increases so does the horse power rating, the quality of the housing material increases and the sound insulation gets better as well.

Miscellaneous upgrades - The next upgrades that we will list will be to the entire plumbing system.

Cast Iron Waste Piping - There will always be a debate about which material is superior but this we can say with certainty, cast iron is quieter piping. However it's heavier, more difficult to cut, prepare and install so we'll call it an upgrade.

Copper Water Piping - PEX plastic tubing is code approved in just about every state however most plumbing professionals would agree that copper water pipe and fittings is a superior installation. However the disparity in skill level needed to install a copper water distribution system is huge. Copper is expensive and the labor to install is expensive so for arguments sake we'll call it an upgrade.

Water Softener - Depending on the hardness of the water in your area you may want install a water softener. It is our recommendation to have your water tested so you can install the correct softener. Softened water is easier on clothes, skin and the the plumbing piping in your home. The only downside to having a softener is maintaining the salt that needs be added to the system for proper function.

Whole House Water Filter - This is a water filter that removes the the taste, odor and sediment from the entire house water supply. How often the filter cartridge is changed is dependent on the quality of the incoming water. If the quality of water is poor and the water has a high amount of suspended solids the cartridge gets clogged and the water pressure in the entire house drops off drastically. It can be inconvenient but at least you are certain when the filter needs replacing.

Water Heater - Most average homes are installed with either a 40 or 50 gallon water heater. You can upgrade to a larger storage tank or even go with a tankless. Be advised tankless heaters work superbly if installed correctly, but are usually more than double the installed cost.

Hot Water Recirculation Pump - If a home has a long footprint the hot water may take awhile to get to the farthest plumbing fixture, having a recirculating pump installed decreases the wait time for hot water dramatically.

Pressure Booster Pump - Depending on the water pressure in a municipality, the owners of a home with higher than average water demands may want to look into installing a pressure booster pump. These pumps come in two basic models, manual; you flip a switch when you need higher water pressure and variable frequency which turns on, on demand. Obviously the later is the more expensive of the two but it is a more convenient system.

Underground Sprinkler System - Most home builders offer automatic lawn sprinkler systems or landscape sprinklers. Some times when a lawn sprinkler system is installed a water pressure booster pump also needs to be installed to supply adequate water pressure.

Battery Back-up Sump Pump - In areas where basements are installed battery back-up sump pumps are extremely popular. In the event of a power failure a battery back-up will continue evacuating the sump pit removing ground water away from the foundation for up to 8 hours of continuous pumping. If the pump activates 3 times an hour you'll get close to 24 hours of protection.

Fire Protection System - In quite few states this isn't even an upgrade anymore in a new home it is standard and code required. However in the states that it is not required it's usually offered as an upgrade. We don't think we have to say much more to sell this upgrade, it can save lives.

Upgrades to Your Household Plumbing

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

How to Prolong the Life of Your Mains Pressure Hot Water Heater

The lifespan of a water heater is about eight to twelve years, depending on whether it is inside or out, near the ocean, or you carryout simple maintenance procedures. Modern tanks are lined with steel, and this lining can break down over time. Here are some tips to prolong the life of your mains pressure hot water heater.

Installing a second anode rod prolongs the life of the water heater greatly. The anode rod undergoes corrosion as time moves on and collects this corrosion in order to prevent so much corrosion in the tank.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

A pressurised system needs a Temperature and Pressure Relief valve to be working effectively in order to prolong the life of the water heater. As water heats, it expands and needs somewhere to go. A T &PR valve will prevent stress on the water heater and the hot water plumbing system by taking the discharge.

Annual flushing of an older tank will help keep it working and prevent sedimentary build-up inside the tank. Newer tanks are often self-cleaning. They may cost more but are able to last for many years to come.

Very high water pressure can damage your appliances and cause the water heater to wear out too early. Installing a pressure limiting valve regulates system pressure and reduces the wear and tear on your hot water plumbing and your appliances.

Scaling is a big problem for water heaters in areas where excess mineral contents are in the public water systems. Many times a water softener is the answer to this problem. The water softener reduces wear and tear on the water system and helps your soap suds up better.

Should your water heater stop working for you, be sure to call in emergency plumbing services and get hot water back in your house. The Lone Drainer and Pronto plumbing services have an emergency plumbing services number where you can reach a person twenty four hours a day to take care of any problem you may be having with the plumbing. NEVER attempt to do it yourself as you do require a qualified plumber to assist you in this situation.

Follow the suggestions mentioned and prolong the life of your mains pressure hot water heater. You want the hot water heater in your home or business to perform exactly as it should at all times. By taking care of the water heater and making sure you cover most of these things, you will save yourself the expense of replacing a whole system or the frustration of not knowing just what to do when the whole thing seems to be under performing or even leaking.

It is never nice to have an emergency with the plumbing, but for the unfortunate times when you do, it is nice to know that emergency plumbing services are available. Many reputable companies will come back the next day with a follow up to make sure that everything is working the way it is supposed to, as well as to make sure that there are no more immediate problems that could potentially shut your water off for an extended period of time.

When you have to choose a regular plumber, be sure that they have plumbing services for any emergency and reasonable charges for their plumbing services, they should also give you a price for the job upfront, before they start.

How to Prolong the Life of Your Mains Pressure Hot Water Heater

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

One of the Most Popular Solutions for Hard Water!

Hard water refers to water that is extremely high in mineral content. These minerals mainly consists of calcium and magnesium, though other minerals such as bicarbonate and sulfates are also common. If you believe that your water may have hardness in it, the most effective way to make sure whether or not your water is hard, is to do the lather/frost test. Substance like soaps lathers easily on soft water, but not in hard water, so if you try to lather some soap or tooth paste under the water you would be able to tell whether or not it's hard.

The World Health Organization has concluded that "there does not appear to be any convincing evidence that water hardness causes adverse health effects in humans." Though there have been a few studies that show a weak connection between water hardness and cardiovascular disease, but according to the World Health Organization none of those evidences are conclusive enough to deem water hardness a serious threat. How ever, since soaps does not lather on it, it can not be used for any washing or cleaning purposes and a lot of people would probably like to play it safe and not take any risks with their health. For these reasons a lot of people would probably like to eliminate the hardness from their water.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

The most effective way to eliminate the hardness from the water is to use a water softener. A water softener works on the principle of cation or ion exchange, where the calcium and magnesium ions from the hard water are exchanged for sodium and potassium ions, thus effectively reducing the hardness minerals to a tolerable level. This system uses beads made out of ion exchange resins that are recharged with sodium chloride. The water passes through and around the beads with the hardness minerals being absorbed and displacing the sodium ions. When the beads no longer have any sodium left, it can no longer soften water and needs to be recharged. This is done by flushing, often back-flushing the system with salt water. Potassium Chloride can also be used for the recharging; it will replace the hardness ions with potassium, resulting in sodium free water.

One of the Most Popular Solutions for Hard Water!

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Fresh Water - A Limited Resource

Freshwater is vital to the survival of many species on Earth. It is a limited resource. More than seventy five percent of the Earth is covered in water, but freshwater constitutes less than one percent of the total surface water. Only three percent of the water on Earth is freshwater, and most of that is underground. It can be found in ponds and lakes, rivers and streams, as well as in wetlands.

Freshwater is either salt free or low in the amount of salt it contains. It accounts for one fifth of the Earth's surface and is refreshed by precipitation or melting glaciers. Most of the freshwater used by people is for agriculture. Pollution threatens to make this limited resource even scarcer, as chemicals and other pollutants consistently find their way into freshwater sources.

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Freshwater contains abundant life in various plant and animal species. The portions which the sun penetrates are abundant in life and activity. It is called the limnetic zone. These are usually found in lentic systems like lakes and ponds. Running water flows in rivers and streams and will eventually meet up with the ocean. When freshwater meets saltwater, an estuary is formed. This houses many unique species as the flowing water from the lotic system will cause soot and dirt to form obscured areas. Groundwater flows in rocks and aquifers and is another source of freshwater.

Freshwater is a resource that needs to be protected and preserved for future generations. Many freshwater sources are being polluted or wasted. People need to stay informed and take action to keep freshwater clean. This will assure that humans have it when needed, as well as the other species of plants and animals that rely on it.

Fresh Water - A Limited Resource

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How To Build A HHO Generator And Run Your Car On Water

By now you have probably heard about the miracle of running your car on water (or HHO gas) and the benefits it can bring, and you want to know how to build your own HHO generator and run your car on water. But let's go over the process and what can a system like this bring.

The possibility to run your car on water with a HHO generator couldn't have came at a better time. The gas prices are reaching an all time high so one person decided to change things. He came up with a way to power his car using water.

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The process is very simple, you take electricity from your car's battery, you separate it into a gas known as HHO. This burns effectively and supplies significant energy. HHO has the atomic power of hydrogen but maintains the stability of water, this means it's very safe and effective at the same time.

So how does a system like this help us? Well it's pretty obvious that you will get massive fuel savings, it has been researched and has been proven to increase mileage by up to 60%, witch is a lot by any standards, if you install more systems into your car you could gain an even bigger increase. Running your car on water also increases horsepower, reduces emissions, and increases your car's life. My favourite one is get IRS refunds owed to you by the law for using green technology in your vehicle.

Ok, so how to build a HHO generator and run your car on water? Well as this may seem like a very daunting task for many, in reality it's not that hard. The internet is filled with quality do it yourself guides that will teach you everything from step one to completion with illustrations and videos.

It is highly recommended to use one of this guides because it's not hard to understand, most are designed for complete car novices, because the other alternative is a auto shop that will probably charge you 500$ for the generator and another 500$ for installment. As opposed to the guide that normally costs around 50$ and will teach you to build the HHO generator with materials worth 50$ as well. For me, it was pretty obvious what I had to do.

One last note, in case you would want to sell your car, and you do not want to sell it with the HHO generator, it can be removed in a matter of minutes without leaving a trace. Also a system like this will not void your warranty in any way.

In conclusion if you want to build a HHO generator and run your car on water, the obvious path would be a do it yourself guide, it's cheaper and you won't get tricked by any mechanic because you are doing it yourself.

How To Build A HHO Generator And Run Your Car On Water

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Healthy Living - Drinking Fluoride Water - Good Or Bad?

Most everyone is aware that our public water systems include fluoride that is added to the water. The reason for the addition is to help prevent tooth decay; this is good right? The answer to this depends on the source of the fluoride as well as the levels that are added. Current common fluoride levels are on the high side which can have the opposite effect on teeth as well as presenting other health hazards.

According to the WHO, World Health Organization, lower levels than what are currently in our public water systems have been linked to bon cancer in younger boys as well as approximately 10,000 cancer deaths each year. The largest problem with the fluoride that is added to our water is not just in the levels but also in the source; most fluoride used for public utilities are actually a waste product.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Calcium fluoride is the natural fluoride source that can be added to water for beneficial properties. The fluoride in our public utilities drinking water is silico which is from sodium based fertilizer or by-product from the aluminum industry; both of which are about 80% toxic. The public utilities go for the affordable means of getting by.

With fluoride compounds in public utilities at higher levels than what is safe combined with the toxic source of fluoride itself and the thousands of toxic chemicals and additives that are in our public water system it is imperative to homes to use quality water filters. A high quality system such as a whole house water filtration system can purify all the water that comes into the home including a water filter to remove fluoride.

In addition to the risk of the fluoride that is in our water, some packaged foods and most tooth paste also contains fluoride. Adding fluoride to the water system is outdated and unnecessary today. With all the fluoride added we are becoming overloaded and this has serious potential long term health consequences. Installing under sink water filters can protect us from the fluoride as well as the other contaminates and toxins in our water.

A Water filter to remove fluoride is as important as a water filter to remove lead or a water filter to remove arsenic. These are all toxins that can create much damage to our bodies from our drinking water as well as the water we are exposed to in our shower and bath. Fluoride has been linked with Alzheimer's disease as well as aluminum has been. Using a sodium fluoride from the by product of the aluminum industry increases those risks. Additionally, lower IQ scores and an increase in cancer are being linked to the fluoride and contaminates in our water systems.

Whole house water filtration with a multi-level filtering process results in your entire home being protected from the massive number of toxins and contaminates in our water. The toxins that are absorbed through our children's skin in the baths are just as dangerous as contaminates they may drink. Even the best drinking water filters will not protect them in the bath. It is up to each individual to protect our homes from the toxins that are introduced into it. Water filtration is one very important step.

Healthy Living - Drinking Fluoride Water - Good Or Bad?

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER