Do you know the busiest day of the year for most plumbers is the day after Thanksgiving? As you know, most families prepare large meals during the holiday weekend for family and house guests – it’s a time when most homes get much more use than normal. With the additional wear and tear in your kitchen and bathrooms, it’s a busy time when plumbers are out clearing pipes, unclogging toilets, repairing garbage disposals and working on water heaters.

Eliminating food scraps from the kitchen is a large part of meal preparation. With all the action garbage disposals experience this time of year, we’d like to remind you of foods that can create problems for most disposals. To help prevent emergency plumbing services during the holidays, avoid putting these foods into your garbage disposal:

• Grease and Oil
• Pasta and rice
• Stringy vegetables
• Vegetable peels
• Coffee grounds
• Seeds and pits
• Bones
• Bulk foods (large quantities of food)
• Trash (items that should go in the trash, like paper products and cigarettes butts

At Marlin Services we wish you a wonderful holiday with family and friends!
Count on us for your plumbing services and
call us anytime at: 602-470-1040. We are here for you 24/7.

Many of us have had a time or two when we’ve experienced the loss of water at home, and it’s not fun, nor is it ever convenient. It’s often only these times we think about the importance of our plumbing system. All it takes is to go without running water, drinking water, a warm shower, flushing toilet, and laundry, before plumbing is given much thought.

The plumbing system is a strategically designed set of water and gas supply pipes, drain-waste-vent plumbing, and more. Refer to the image in this article to get a look at the complexity of a plumbing system. You don’t need to know everything about this system, it is simply a quick view to understanding the value of plumbing.

Plumbing is essential to daily activities and lifestyle, and it is good to have an idea of how it looks and operates in the home. Whether your home is in need of remodeling, you are building a new home, or just living your everyday life – it’s good to have a basic understanding of your plumbing system. It is to your benefit to give attention to drips, sounds and other issues that occur in everyday use, and be sure to utilize professional maintenance once per year for best results.

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We all know water is a precious resource and especially in the desert, where we live. Water is essential to our everyday lives. That said, it is important that we do our part in conserving and protecting our water supply. Look at our neighbors in California who are experiencing many hardships due to scarcity of water.

We can make simple changes to our water consumption that can have a great impact on our lives and the environment. Here are ways we all can help our water conservation:

• In Greater Phoenix, outdoor water use accounts for approximately 70% of our household water use.
• Swimming pools can lose up to 15,000 gallons of water every year due to evaporation.
• Cover your pool when it is not in use to save on evaporation.
• Check your pool for leaks and repair them quickly.
• Conserve water with a variable-speed pool pump.

Inside the home, there are numerous ways to save on water usage:

• Careful not to let excess water run from faucets and showers.
• Reuse water from cooking and rinsing.
• Wash fruits and vegetables in a pan of water, rather than running excess water from the tap.
• Water houseplants or outdoor plants with re-purposed water from the kitchen and bath.

In the bathroom: showers, toilets and faucets can waste up to 30% of indoor water. Conserve on the amount of water you run while showering and washing in morning and evenings. It all adds up.

• Install water-efficient faucets, shower heads and toilets.
• Take shorter showers and use less bathwater in the tub.
• You can collect cold bath water or shower water for watering plants.

In the laundry room, older washers can use up to 50 gallons of water, and newer Energy Star washers only use 18-20 gallons per load.

• Adjust water level to the size load for greater efficiency.
• Wash clothes in cold water for energy savings.
• Check washing machine hoses for leaks and replace them immediately.

Now, these water-saving tips are easy enough for us to each go out and make a difference.

Marlin Services
Count on us for your Plumbing Repairs – Call the professionals.
Call: 602-470-1040

Many of us have experienced low water pressure or what is known as low flow in the home plumbing system, and it can be a real hassle. Daily activities, like showering, washing dishes, and doing laundry can be frustrating and can take extra time to complete when water flow is significantly slowed.

Key areas to check when the water pressure drops or fluctuates:

Plumbing Leaks

Leaks in a home’s plumbing system can naturally affect and reduce the water pressure throughout a home, due to the interruption of water flow as a leak pulls water from the system.

Mineral And Debris Buildup In Pipes and Aerators

Debris buildup occurs in the form of sand, dirt, and other pollutants and can enter the pipes of your home or business when a water main fractures. As water travels through a building, mineral buildups naturally occur in pipes from water deposits. Even small amounts of sediment can create a blockage in your home’s plumbing system. One way to address this is to clean the screen on the faucet aerators.

Corrosion Buildup Inside Piping

Steel and galvanized water pipe systems have a life expectancy of up to 20 years. Over the years, a pipe’s natural corrosion tends to block the flow of water in every system.

Malfunction of Municipal Water Supply

There are times when your water flow issues have nothing to do with water pressure at all, and it might have nothing to do with your own piping system. It could be caused by a malfunction in your area’s municipal water supply. Municipal water supply systems are subject to leaks, buildups, and other issues that affect the water supply and water pressure.

Water Softener

Your water softener is another place to look when there is low water pressure in the home or office. Water softeners can fail and backwash water softener resin beads throughout a home’s water pipes. As you can imagine, this can become a huge mess in the plumbing system as it can plug faucets, ruin toilet supply valves, and affect major appliances. A sudden drop in water pressure is a good indication the water softener is the culprit.

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Water pressure concerns? Call the professionals at Marlin Services
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This spring the U.S. Department of Energy mandated new efficiency standards on water heaters. This means water heaters manufactured after April 16, 2015 may have more sophisticated designs and may potentially be larger than previous models.

The new regulations require a higher energy factor (EF) rating on gas, electric, oil, and tankless water heaters. On a water heater, the energy factor (EF) indicates the overall energy efficiency, based on the amount of hot water produced per unit of fuel consumed in a typical day. The higher the EF, the more efficiently the water heater converts power into hot water while reducing losses… and the more money you save on overall energy costs.

For homeowners the good news is the new water heaters save more energy, increase performance and efficiency over the life of the system, and lower operating costs. Read more here: http://bit.ly/1bbMfs5

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Many people don’t even think about the care of their plumbing system until it becomes an issue. As with most other major household systems, every plumbing system needs regular care and maintenance for best day-to-day performance – and most of all to help keep your household running smoothly. Rather than wait until you need emergency service, it’s good to know the key areas of your home to check for leaks.

At Home, Watch For:
• Areas where leaks can occur, such as: kitchen and bath faucets, pipes under sinks, showers and bathtubs. Check these areas periodically. The sooner water leaks are detected, the better off you are. It’s best to have plumbing repairs taken care of immediately so as not to incur additional damage and expense. Allowing small leaks to continue, there is greater potential of damaging floors, drywall and fixtures.

When to Call Your Plumber:
• Once water pressure is noticeably low, there is a change in the color of water, or when there are slow draining sinks, showers and tubs… Call your plumber at Marlin Services for professional service and repair 24/7.

What to Watch For:
• Excess water on the floor, loose tiles on tub surround, or damp walls hours after a bath.
• Kitchen sinks and toilets with discolored water, or faucets making rattling sounds when water is running.
• Plumbing leaks can be a substantial expense, when left untreated. We encourage you to check for signs of leaks and plumbing concerns regularly and especially before leaving home on vacation.

MARLIN SERVICES
We know comfort – and we are there when you need us – 24/7
Call: 602-470-1040

If you watched the video from World Plumbing Day 2015, which was March 11^th, you saw that California (and other parts of the world) are in crisis with their water supply. It’s a big story in the news these days and the water supply shortage is a big problem that will be difficult to solve. This crisis is a reminder to everyone, not just California residents, that we must be vigilant about water conservation now. Let’s not wait until it’s a crisis here in Arizona.

Check out this link for a very cool interactive display which shows you many simple ways to conserve water. Here are a few of these tips:

http://saveourwater.com/what-you-can-do/tips/

Here is a sample of just a few (and very simple) water conservation tactics. Be sure to check them all. You will be surprised at how easy they are to do:

• Kitchen: Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.
• Bathroom: Turn water off when brushing teeth or shaving. You can save approximately 10 gallons/day.
• Outdoors: Water early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. You can save 25 gallons/each time you water.
• Work: Monitor your bill and water meter to determine unusually high use and possible leaks.

Be sure to check out all the tips on the interactive website. You may be surprised at how many easy changes you can make that will impact your water consumption.

Take a look at these videos and you will learn about the water supply crisis throughout the world. It is a good reminder for all of us to take efforts to conserve water.

Video message from the Chairman of the World Plumbing Council:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkBfuDHfNc4?rel=0]
Video: The Water Crisis is Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLMn2P5q1ho&feature=youtu.be

Water.org
http://water.org/water-crisis/one-billion-affected/

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

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World Plumbing Day is March 11^th every year!

Many of us don’t think much beyond our own plumbing needs and likely do not spend a lot of time thinking about plumbing at all. World Plumbing Day, however, really brings forward all the plumbing and water issues we have globally. Again, it’s not something we think about very much but when you hear the statistics about available clean and healthy drinking water globally, they are a bit startling.

Did you know?

• China has 20% of the world’s population, yet has only 7% of the world’s fresh drinking water.
• 39% of the water in China’s rivers are considered to be too toxic to drink.
• 1/3 of Spain is at risk of turning into desert as a result of poor water management.
• India lacks a sustainable water management system and only has 20 years until its aquifers reach what will be considered critical condition.
• More than 76% of California is currently in extreme drought.
• Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada are also facing extreme droughts in 56%-87% of the state.
• 750 million people (approx.. 1 in 9) lack access to safe water globally.
• 5 billion people (approx. 1 in 3) don’t have access to improved sanitation.

The importance of professional plumbers is clear and it is important globally. Water conservation and healthy, safe water is vital in the coming years and our plumbers play a big role in this. Wish your plumber a HAPPY WORLD PLUMBING DAY!

For some additional information on World Plumbing Day and the World Plumbing Council and their mission. 

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/WorldPlumbingDay

Video message from the Chairman of the World Plumbing Council:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkBfuDHfNc4?rel=0]

Video: The Water Crisis is Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLMn2P5q1ho&feature=youtu.be

Water.org
http://water.org/water-crisis/one-billion-affected/

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

Connect With Us at Marlin Services

In the case of an emergency like a leaking faucet or a bursting pipe in the bathroom or kitchen, you can turn the water valves to stop the flow of water which stops the water from getting all over the house. It is also a good idea to teach children, who are old enough to stay home by themselves, where the valves are located.

Each sink in your house has a water valve. There are water valves for the toilets in your house as well. And your washing machine also has water valves. The question is – do you know where they are located should you need to turn them off in an emergency?

We are showing you the individual water valves for the sinks, toilets and washing machine. There is a main house valve, when you need to turn the water off in the entire house. However, shutting off these valves, directly connected to the fixture will give you time to call a professional plumber and get him to your house to fix the problem.

When turning off these water valves, you want to turn clockwise (or to the right). When turning the valves back on, turn counter clockwise (or to the left). Typically newer valves will require only a ¼ turn to close however some valves will require several turns to close. Unfortunately some of the older valves requiring several turns have a high failure rate and may not actually stop the flow of water. It is recommended that these valves be replaced with a ¼ turn valve.

Under the Kitchen Sink

Here are a couple of photos that show 2 different types of turn-off valves. This will help you recognize them, if you have one or the other. They are easy to locate when you look in the cabinet under the sink.

Under the Bathroom Sink

As with the kitchen sink, they are easy to locate in the bathroom as well. These samples are open, pedestal type sinks but when there is a cabinet in the bathroom the valves are still easily identifiable if you need to turn off the water quickly.

Washing Machine Water Valves

A burst washing machine hose can discharge 500 gallons of water in one hour, which will cause flooding problems quickly. The water valves are easy to locate. It may be behind the washing machine or it can be located above the washer. See the two samples below.

Toilet Water Valves

They are located right behind the toilet. You will have to get down on hands and knees to reach it but it is easy to find.

Hopefully you will not have an emergency with leaking faucets or burst pipes, but if you do, you know where to find the valves to turn off the water.

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

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The first day back to school – it’s exciting, nerve-wracking, filled with hope and also filled with anxiety. Everyone in the family needs to get back to a daily, morning routine. It is often hectic and chaotic, with the entire family doing their “get ready for the day” routine all at one time. This includes everyone showering, brushing teeth, preparing and eating breakfast and getting dressed.

There is no time for drain back-ups, low water pressure, no hot water, overflowing toilet, pipe leaks or a faucet leak.

Everyone in the family needs the bathroom at the same time for showers, the toilet, brushing your teeth and primping time.

You then head to the kitchen and breakfast is prepared, with multiple dishes and glasses being used. Whatever you do not finish eating goes into the garbage disposal and you complete the morning routine by preparing lunch for the day, using more plates and utensils.

Later in the day (or sometimes even in the morning) there is laundry to be done with daily school outfits, football/track/cheerleading practice, dance class, karate class and many other school and extra-curricular activities. This is an increase over your Summer laundry loads.

Some easy ideas to be sure your home and plumbing is ready for going back to school:

• Check your water pressure and be sure it is running at normal pressure.
• Check your faucets. Are they all functioning properly with no leaks?
• Set a shower schedule for everyone in the family and stick to it. You may even want to split up the showers between night time showers and morning showers. Plus night time showers are likely less expensive, with utility companies charging off-peak rates in the evening.
• Inspect your garbage disposal for clogged drains and leaking pipes.
• Always wash your clothing in full loads.
• Check your clothes washer and dryer and be sure they are operating at normal capacity with no broken or leaking pipes.
• Inspect your water heater, to be sure you have hot water for showers as well as the clothes washer and dishwasher.
• Check your toilet to be sure it is flushing properly. There is nothing worse than a flooded bathroom with an overflowing toilet as you are trying to get out of the house.

Be ready for the excitement of the upcoming school year and be sure your plumbing is ready to handle the morning routine and overall increased activity of your family as school starts up again for the year.

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

Connect With Us at Marlin Services