Diamond Certified Resource Plumbing Guide
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Read MoreOAKLAND — When it comes to adding legal living space to a home, it sometimes makes more sense to go vertical than horizontal. The question is: Do you go up or down? Each house will have a different answer for that question, so it’s important to consult a professional. If you decide to go down, this will mean taking your existing lower level and digging down two or three feet to create enough height for livable space. Going up, on the other hand, will consist of lifting your home to convert your crawl space into a livable area. Either way, you’ll need to achieve a minimum height of eight feet to make the space a legal living area. Read more
PETALUMA – If you want to have filtered drinking water in your home, you have a couple of options. One is a reverse osmosis system, which is effective at removing chlorine, lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in tap water. However, this type of system has a couple of drawbacks. First, while it removes a lot of the bad things from tap water, it also removes a lot of the good things, such as calcium and magnesium. What’s worse, it’s inefficient: As a result of its multi-phase filtration process, for every gallon of water a reverse osmosis system produces, four more gallons are lost. A better choice for water filtration is a single-stage point-of-use filter, Read more
SANTA ROSA —It’s well known that traditional water heaters need to be flushed regularly, but few people realize this is also necessary for tankless water heaters. In fact, it’s even more important for tankless units because they have a higher susceptibility to issues caused by mineral buildup. By keeping the inner pipes clear of buildup, routinely flushing your tankless water heater will prolong its operating lifespan. You should flush your tankless water heater at least once a year, but if your home has hard water, you may need to do it more frequently. If you don’t want to flush your water heater as often, consider installing a whole-home water filter. By filtering water as it enters your home, Read more
CONCORD — If you have damaged or broken sewer pipes underneath your home, you’ll be glad to know there are repair alternatives to jackhammering your foundation. Here are a couple of potential options: If your sewer pipe only has minor damage, a plumber can descale the line and apply an epoxy to create a smooth surface and seal any cracks. This will increase the line’s lifespan and defer the need for more intensive repairs or replacement. If your pipe is severely damaged, a plumber can insert a liner through the existing pipe using the trenchless line replacement method. This innovative method makes sewer line repair much easier than in times past, Read more
SAN RAFAEL — Most water heater problems stem from a lack of routine maintenance. Over time, sediment and mineral buildup can inhibit a water heater’s efficiency and water flow, leading to subpar performance and even premature failure. Routinely flushing your traditional or tankless water heater will prevent these types of problems and help ensure efficient long-term operation. Tankless water heater maintenance Tankless water heaters require annual flushing with a descaling solution. This helps clear any blockages caused by sediment or mineral buildup so the heat exchanger can maintain an uninhibited flow. Tankless water heaters also have air and water filters that need to be routinely cleaned to ensure an uninhibited flow of combustion air and efficient flow of water throughout the unit. Read more
