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In a typical home, more than 9,000 gallons of water are wasted while running the faucet waiting for hot water. 

As much as 15% of your annual water heating costs can be wasted heating this extra 9,000 gallons. (Ask us about the solution)

Though we all have heardthe many slang-words of which his cognomen is probably responsible for, the truth is... there is no hard evidence anywhere that English plumber, Thomas Crapper was the inventor of the modern-day amenity that often bears his less-than-flattering name (it's believed Crapper may have bought the patent rights from another man - Albert Giblin - and marketed the concept as his own).

More toilets flush during half time of the Super Bowl than during any other time of year.

The toilet uses more water than any other appliance in the house. 

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Greetings!  

Happy Halloween? Already? Well, not only is it Halloween but we will soon be preparing for Thanksgiving. Whew! My, how this year has roared by.

And speaking of time flying by, I want to remind you that now is the time to winterize your home. Last month, I included my annual "how to winterize your home instructions'. If you didn't see it, please click here, to review them. You'll notice that for winterizing an outside faucet, there is more than closing the shut off valve. So if you haven't winterized yet, do it soon, before the first cold wave hits.

For our monthly helpful tips, I have included some information about kitchen sink clogs. Thanksgiving and Christmas are our busiest seasons for these types of stoppages and many could have been prevented. So check them out and have a "clog free" holiday season.

Finally, because Caisie and I have been invited to my brother's home for Thanksgiving, I won't be including our entire Thanksgiving menu this year. I am however including a super turkey recipe that you will want to try.

So thanks so much for continued patronage and Caisie and I wish you a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday later this month.

Your plumbing and electrical service provider,

Before I go in to detail about opening kitchen sink clogs, I'm going to go over some basic preventative advice first.

 

One of the biggest culprits of a clogged kitchen sink,is overtaxing a garbage disposal. I once watched a plumber dealing with huge pile of potato peelings he made in the sink. Expecting him to begin sending them down the disposal, I was surprised to see what he actually did with them.

 

First, he opened the lower sink doors open wide, then with a big grin on his face, he scooped up all but a few peelings in his hands and placed them in the kitchen garbage bag. Then, for the peelings that slipped through his fingers, he slowly sent them in to the disposal with the water running. The water was left running for a good 10 seconds after the peelings were gone to ensure their safe trip to the sewer.

 

Doing this will usually avoid those expensive plumbing repairs or your efforts below, unclogging the sink yourself. 

 

But if your sink is clogged and you want to handle it yourself, here are some helpful tips.

  

Fill the sink partially full of hot water.

Position the plunger over the drain. If you have a double sink, then stuff a washcloth into the unclogged drain to ensure that the plunger's pressure is focused on the clog.

 

Work the plunger up and down quickly. Pull the plunger off of the drain opening and see if the water starts to drain. Continue using the plunger until the clog is dislodged.

 

Unclog a Kitchen Sink with Vinegar and Baking Soda

Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Use a bowl or a cup to bail standing water out of the sink. Pour the water into a bucket.

Push 1 cup of baking soda down the sink drain. Use a spatula to force the baking soda into the opening, if necessary.

Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the drain opening. Put the stopper into the sink so that the vinegar is forced toward the clog.

 

Wait 5 minutes to allow the solution to work on the clog. Run warm water into the sink to see if the clog disappears.

 

Pour 4 cups of boiling water down the drain if the warm water fails to work. If the sink is still clogged, then apply the baking soda and vinegar solution again.

 

Unclog a Sink with a Cable Auger

Open the cabinet beneath your sink. Place a bucket underneath the pipes to catch any water that may drain out.

 

Detach the trap. The trap is the curved pipe that dips below the horizontal and vertical pipes.

 

Try to unscrew ABS or PVC pipes by hand.

If you can't unscrew the pipes by hand, then use a pipe wrench or large pliers "Channel Locks", to loosen the connections.

 

Empty water from the trap into the bucket. Check the trap for clogs and clean the trap if needed.

 

If you find the clog in the trap, reattach the trap. Turn on the hot water and see if the sink drains. If the sink is still clogged, then follow the next steps to use the cable auger.

 

Remove the horizontal pipe that connects the trap to the stub pipe in the wall. Push the end of the cable auger into the stub pipe until the auger meets resistance.

 

Pull out about 18" of cable from the stub pipe. Tighten the lock screw.

 

Crank the handle in a clockwise direction. Push forward at the same time to guide the auger deeper into the pipe.

If the cable catches on something, then turn the handle counterclockwise and pull the auger back. If the auger meets resistance again, continue pulling the cable out and cranking the handle clockwise until the cable catches on the clog.

 

Retract the cable from the stub pipe. Reattach the horizontal pipe and the trap. Turn on the hot water to see if the sink drains. If the water runs slowly, then use a plunger to dislodge the remains of the clog.

 

If this doesn't do the trick or it is just more than you want to try, then give us a call. We'll always be there for you.

 

  503-620-9111

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MORE THAN JUST A 20% SAVINGS

including 20% off any work performed*.

They also receive special treatment when calling in for a service call; they go to the front of the line regardless of how many non-Diamond Club Plus customers were on the board. 

A Diamond Club Plus member will receive a FREE annual plumbing and electrical evaluation to ensure your system is safe and operating smoothly.  

And finally, it's FREE! The $14.95 monthly dues accumulate in an account to be used for future work. So let's say that you've been a member for 10 months and now need some plumbing or electrical work done. You will now have accumulated around $150.00 that can go towards that work. So there you have it; it really is FREE.

Because we couldn't possibly accommodate all of our clients, we limit the membership to 22% of our customer base. So if you are interested in becoming a member, do so today.  

Just call, 503-620-9111 and tell them you want special treatment too and are ready to sign up for the Diamond Club Plus.

*Does not apply to larger bid type work. 

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Tips for hiring a contractor

MONEY SAVING COUPONS

All Plumbers Are Not The Same  

• All Casey's Plumbing employees are background checked to insure that a safe person is entering your home.

• All employees at Casey's Plumbing are drug tested to insure that an alert professional will be performing your plumbing work.

• We offer a full two year warranty (three years for Diamond Club Plus clients), on all our repair work and a lifetime warranty on all workmanship. That's right - if any work we perform ever fails due to workmanship, we will repair it at no cost to you.  

Sure, there are a number of plumbing contractors out there to chose from and it's always a good idea to get more than one quote when choosing a contractor. 

But I want you to know, that when you need a plumber, we'll be there for you. There will be no price surprises and if you are unhappy at anytime with our service, we'll do the job over for free! 

So who should you choose?  

I am humbled and indeed proud, of the loyal customer base we have grown and believe that if you give us a chance, you'll be a happy loyal client as well.

You'll be happy with our service - I personally guarantee it!

Thanksgiving has a rich history, and in many ways, it is the history of America. Thanksgiving dates back to the time when the pilgrims reached America, and were greeted warmly by the Native Americans, also known as Indians. In course of time, these pilgrims mixed into the culture and life of the Native Americans, which gradually developed into the nation that we know today.
There are two views of the history of Thanksgiving though, both of which are under lined below. Go through the rest of page for more details.
The turkey has become the most important icon of Thanksgiving. We have also provided a history of Turkey after the history of Thanksgiving. Read, enjoy and share.

SOURCES FOR "THE FIRST THANKSGIVING"

The events of Plymouth in autumn 1621 relates to the first thanksgiving, there are 2 primary sources for them. However, research conducted by Center for World Thanksgiving at Thanks-Giving Square throws a good deal of light on the subject. Given below are the citations from the two original writings followed by an analysis of the roots of Thanksgiving. Enjoy the history of Thanksgiving and forward it to your friends. Winslow, Mourt's Relation :

"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation :

"They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their house and dwelling against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides, they had about a peck of meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned by true reports."

The story of Thanksgiving is basically the story of the Pilgrims and their thankful community feast at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The Pilgrims, who set sail from Plymouth, England on a ship called the Mayflower on September 6, 1620, were bound for the resourceful 'New World'. The Mayflower was a small ship crowded with men, women and children, besides the sailors on board. Aboard were passengers comprising the 'separatists', who called themselves the "Saints", and others, whom the separatists called the "Strangers".

After land was sighted in November following 66 days of a lethal voyage, a meeting was held and an agreement of truce was worked out. It was called the Mayflower Compact. The agreement guaranteed equality among the members of the two groups. They merged together to be recognized as the "Pilgrims." They elected John Carver as their first governor.

Although Pilgrims had first sighted the land off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, they did not settle until they arrived at a place called Plymouth. It was Captain John Smith who named the place after the English port-city in 1614 and had already settled there for over five years.

And it was there that the Pilgrims finally decided to settle. Plymouth offered an excellent harbor and plenty of resources. The local Indians were also non-hostile.

But their happiness was short-lived. Ill-equipped to face the winter on this estranged place they were ravaged thoroughly.

 

Somehow they were saved by a group of local Native Americans who befriended them and helped them with food. Soon the natives taught the settlers the technique to cultivate corns and grow native vegetables, and store them for hard days. By the next winter they had raised enough crops to keep them alive. The winter came and passed by without much harm. The settlers knew they had beaten the odds and it was time to celebrate.

They celebrated it with a grand community feast wherein the friendly native Americans were also invited. It was kind of a harvest feast, the Pilgrims used to have in England. The recipes entail "corn" (wheat, by the Pilgrims usage of the word), Indian corn, barley, pumpkins and peas, "fowl" (specially "waterfowl"), deer, fish. And yes, of course the yummy wild turkey.

However, the third year was real bad when the corns got damaged. Pilgrim Governor William Bradford ordered a day of fasting and prayer, and rain happened to follow soon. To celebrate - November 29th of that year was proclaimed a day of thanksgiving. This date is believed to be the real beginning of the present Thanksgiving Day.

Though the Thanksgiving Day is presently celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every November. This date was set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941). Earlier it was the last Thursday in November as was designated by the former President Abraham Lincoln. But sometimes the last Thursday would turn out to be the fifth Thursday of the month. This falls too close to the Christmas, leaving the businesses even less than a month's time to cope up with the two big festivals. Hence the change.  

Turkey tradition  

"The turkey is a much more respectable Bird and withal a true original Native of North America". Remarked Benjamin Franklin, the scientist cum statesman, who was in favor of making Turkey the national Bird, instead of Bald Eagle.

The wild turkey is native to northern Mexico and the eastern United States. Later it was domesticated in Mexico, and was brought into Europe early in the 16th century.

Since that time, turkeys have been extensively raised because of the excellent quality of their meat and eggs.

Some of the common breeds of turkey in the United States are the Bronze, Narragansett, White Holland, and Bourbon Red. Though there is no real evidence that turkey was served at the Pilgrim's first thanksgiving, but through ages it became an indispensable part of the Thanksgiving tradition. The tradition of turkey is rooted in the 'History Of Plymouth Plantation', written by William Bradford some 22 years after the actual celebration.
In his letter sent to England Edward Winslow, another Pilgrim, describes how the governor sent "four men out fowling" and they returned with turkeys, ducks and geese.

Unfortunately the Bradford document was lost after being taken away by the British during the War of Independence. Later it was rediscovered in 1854. And since then turkey turned out to be a popular symbol of the Thanksgiving Day. And today of all the the Thanksgiving symbols it has become the most well known.  The turkey has brown features with buff-colored feathers on the tips of the wing and on the tail. The male turkey is called a 'tom'. It is bigger and brighter with more colorful plumage. Also it has a long wattle (a fleshy, wrinkled, brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat)  at the base of its bill and additional wattles on the neck, as well as a prominent tuft of bristles resembling a beard projecting downward from its chest. The female is called a 'hen' and is generally smaller and drab in color.

Thanks to theholidayspot.com 

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Standard outside faucets with winterization shut off valves.  

 

 

If you have a garage, there is a good chance that there is an outside hose bibb or hydrant,  attached to it along with a service valve located somewhere in the garage (usually somewhere in close proximity to the water heater - see below). 

TYPICAL BALL AND WASTE SERVICE VALVE

The shut off valve to your garage hydrant is either a ball and waste or another form of valve with a waste cap. Note: The "waste cap" is to allow air into the system so that when you turn off the valve to your hose bibb, air can displace the water. 

Turning the above valve off without opening the "waste cap" will result in a vacuum. As such, water cannot drain even though the water is shut off and the outside hydrant completely open.

Below are a couple of images to illustrate taking off the "waste cap" to prepare the faucet for draining. In theory, you are only required to loosen the "waste cap" to allow air into the system. But as you can see from the below image, there is a small rubber gasket up inside the cap.

Opening the "waste cap", to ensure the drain line is open and can get air to drain properly. Sometimes this gasket will get stuck to the drain on the valve body, thus not allowing air into the system.  That's why I remove the cap completely, allow a little water to drain out (see above) just to make sure the drain is open, and then replace the cap back onto the drain with just a turn or two making sure it is still loose.

And you're still not done yet. The majority of modern outside hydrants also have an Anti Siphon Valve at the tip. Exercising this is the final step to winterize your outside hydrants.

 

 

 

As you can see, the Anti Siphon Valve above has a pin protruding out of the spout. After performing the earlier steps, the last step is to push this pin to the side and hold it until the water is drained. On some vacuum breakers like the one above, will have a ring to pull down or lift up. Use the same instructions for these as well.

Here are all the steps, in order to winterize your outside hydrant...

• Close the service valve (see above).
• Disconnect garden hose from outside faucet and leave it disconnected for the season.
• Open the outside faucet and leave it open.
• Return to service valve and open the "waste cap". After making sure that the gasket is not stuck and blocking the flow, place the cap back on the drain loosely.
• And then finally, return to the outside hydrant and exercise the Anti Siphon Valve (see above). 

Clearly, it's no wonder so many end up with broken pipes even though they thought they prepared properly. Again, the most common mistake made when winterizing the above outside hydrant, is that some or all of the above steps are not performed properly.

Frost Proof Hydrants

If you have a frost proof hydrant, the only thing you need to remember to do is to disconnect the garden hose connected to it. This is because a frost proof hydrant has a long stem that will actually stop the water on the heated side of the house. So when a garden hose is left attached, the faucet barrel cannot drain. 

If you have left the hose connected all winter and are unsure if there is damage, simply turn it on. If it froze up, the barrel is likely cracked and will leak inside the wall, only when the valve is turned on.

              
As you can see, this faucet has a long stem designed to stop the water on the heated side of the room. After turning this valve off, the excess water left in the faucet drains on out of the 6" to 30" barrel. But if you have a garden hose connected, it cannot drain and thus will freeze and break during harsh weather. (SEE BELOW)

When this happens, the faucet will leak everytime you turn it on to use it.

So again, if you have a frost proof faucet REMEMEBER TO DISCONNECT YOUR GARDEN HOSES BEFORE THE FREEZING WEATHER SETS IN.

FOUNDATION VENTS

Another common over sight when preparing for winter weather is leaving the foundation vents unprotected. These vents must be open in the warmer weather to allow your home to breath. 

But during the winter, they must be blocked to prevent arctic winds from freezing your pipes. No matter how well you insulate your pipes, if the arctic winds are allowed to enter the crawl space, they will simply take longer to freeze, but freeze they will!

                              

               

APPLY VENT COVERS FROM THE OUTSIDE  / OR FROM THE INSIDE

Of course, if all this is more than you want to tackle, you can always hire a professional. 

For your plumbing preparations, give us a call! We'll always be there for you.

If you just need a little advice, feel free to call Caisie Breen at 971-563-9418.

  503-620-9111

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