Plumb Smart, Inc. - January 2021

the

2021 JANUARY

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That I’ve Heard About Plumbing Over the Years THE MOST COMMON MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

No matter how many plumbing how-to videos get posted on the internet, there will always be instances when you need to call the professionals. That’s especially true considering how many myths and misconceptions that exist about plumbing. So, to help you avoid some big plumbing problems, I’ve decided to share some of the most common plumbing myths that I’ve heard over the years. “Anyone can do plumbing.” It takes a lot to be a professional plumber. You have to be able to fit in tight, awkward spaces and have excellent coordination. You have to be okay with taking things apart and putting them back together, even if you’ve never done it before. You also have to be able to discern the ultimate cause of a problem, rather than just address the symptoms (i.e., fixing a leak vs. fixing what caused

down the toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Don’t believe what it says on the packaging.

“Chlorine tablets are great for keeping your toilet clean.” Chlorine tablets will destroy parts inside your toilet tank. In fact, the municipal water supply already has enough chlorine in it to deteriorate parts of your toilet tank over time. Adding concentrated amounts of chlorine yourself will only accelerate that process. As an important side note, you’ll

“No matter how many

plumbing how-to videos get posted on the internet, there will always be instances when you need to call the professionals.”

the leak). Finally, you have to be okay with getting dirty, sweaty, wet, and potentially splashed with sewage.

void your toilet’s warranty if you use chlorine tablets to clean it, and if we find chlorine tabs in your plumbing, we offer no warranty on parts or labor.

“Kitchen sink disposals can handle any food you put in them.” The garbage disposal in your kitchen sink is for food waste that you rinse off your dishes, and nothing more. Throw larger scraps, like potato peels, celery and other fibrous scraps, as well as old food from your refrigerator into the garbage instead. Then, regularly clean your disposal with Bio-Clean, which uses natural enzymes to break down food waste in your disposal. “If the wet wipes package says they’re flushable, they’re flushable.” Wet wipes clogs are some of the hardest clogs to clear. Even high- pressure jetter machines have a hard time clearing them away. Paper towel and face tissue clogs are only slightly easier to clear. The only things that you should ever flush

“Use hot water to melt grease and prevent clogs.” While this might seem sound in principle, in practice you just end up with solidified grease 5–10 feet down the drain that only a plumber can reach. This is another scenario where having some Bio-Clean on hand can do wonders for keeping your drains clear. I recommend using it once a month. Bio-Clean loves to eat grease. “Harsh chemical drain cleaners will always clear clogged drains.” Drain cleaners actually seldom work. They temporarily unclog drains by burning a hole through the clog, but then the clog just reforms after the cleaner gets washed away. Plus, they are dangerous for your health, the environment, and your plumbing systems. Chemical drain cleaners corrode sewer cables, which are expensive to replace.

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How to Find Your Flow in 2021

IS DEEP FOCUS THE SECRET TO SUCCESS?

Have you ever started working on an important project and looked up at the clock after what felt like minutes only to find that hours had passed? If you have, you’ve probably experienced “flow state,” aka the Holy Grail of concentration and achievement. What is a flow state? Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes a flow state as a “focus that, once it becomes intense, leads to a sense of ecstasy, a sense of clarity: you know exactly what you want to do from one moment to the other; you get immediate feedback.” That sounds complex, but you can also think of flow as being “in the zone.” And it might be the key to achieving your New Year’s goals. That’s because a flow state almost always coincides with tackling a difficult task, and when you’re in a flow state, even the most challenging things feel relatively easy. Why are high achievers obsessed with flow? Flow state doesn’t only happen for people with desk jobs. You can get it while running, playing chess, dancing, or climbing a mountain, and it’s considered the Holy Grail because it has a host of benefits. According to the meditation app Headspace, those perks include heightened focus (goodbye, distractions!), a sense

of clarity, feelings of happiness and pleasure, and the impression that all obstacles ahead of you have disappeared. That makes accomplishing your goals feel like less of a struggle. It’s no wonder high-achieving hobbyists, workers, and creatives crave the feeling! How can you get in a flow? Usually, a flow state isn’t planned — it just happens. In a BBC article, author Steven Kotler describes flow as “a happy accident.” But he also notes that we can make ourselves “more accident-prone.” To set yourself up for a flow state, find a quiet place to work and choose an activity that’s difficult but meaningful for you. Ideally, it should be something you’ve already put work into perfecting. If you’ve never tried painting before, you probably won’t find flow on your first attempt, but an experienced painter could achieve it while mastering a new technique. Some people claim that being in a flow state is a form of meditation and that learning how to meditate can help you reach it. To that end, apps like Headspace and Evenflow (for iPhones only) are great places to start! Before you know it, you’ll be finding the flow like a pro.

A Few Tips for Insulating Pipes AND PREVENTING THEM FROM BURSTING

A cold snap came through the Atlanta area last month, and there will be plenty more to come. So, let’s talk about how to cold-proof your house and prevent your pipes from bursting. When outside temperatures drop low enough, water in uninsulated pipes can freeze and expand, tearing a hole right through the copper. Even if you have PEX pipes, which are more flexible, your pipes are still at risk of bursting. Fortunately, any pipes in your home’s interior walls are already plenty insulated from the outside cold. However, you may have exposed pipes in your garage. If the garage gets below freezing when the outside temperature drops, you should insulate those pipes as well. You can purchase pipe insulation online or at most hardware stores. Two other groups of pipes that might need insulation are lines running to showerheads on exterior walls and the lines running to hose faucets. If the temperature gets low enough to permeate the hollow spaces in an exterior wall, the pipes in there could freeze or burst. Fortunately, there are ways to eliminate that risk. To protect tubs/showers with a valve on an exterior wall, the solution is simple: drip the faucet at night. When the water moves gently but constantly through the pipe, it prevents it

from freezing. If the sound is irritating, place a towel under the spout to dampen the noise.

For hose faucets, completely drain the water out of the line, unless you have frost-proof hose bibbs. Every spigot should have an indoor shut-off valve somewhere

in your house (the operative word being “should”). Usually, the indoor valve is near the water heater; under a sink, branching off the cold side; or near the hose faucet itself.

To drain the line, simply close the inside valve and open the outside faucet. You can do this when winter starts and then forget about it until the next time you need to use a hose. If you can’t find your indoor shutoffs, give us a call. If you have them, we’ll find them, and if you don’t, we’ll install them! Of course, you should also call us if you ever have a pipe freeze or burst. If you follow these tips, hopefully you’ll never have to worry about that. Until next time, stay safe, stay warm, and stay Plumb Smart!

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“If your water heater isn’t heating like it used to, adjust the thermostat to its highest temperature setting.” If you’re not getting enough hot water, that usually means sediment is building up at the bottom of the tank. Flushing the tank can get rid of most of the sediment, but unfortunately, if your tank is old and has never been flushed before, that could cause it to leak. I hate to say it, but if your water heater is over 10 years old, it’s probably time for a new one. With a few simple add-ons, we can help your new heater last for 20 years. “Tankless water heaters don’t leak and are energy efficient.” Tankless water heaters create more problems than they solve. They’re expensive to install, which means any money you save with their efficiency doesn’t mean anything, and they do in fact leak — I’ve repaired several of them. They are also very high maintenance; not doing the yearly documented maintenance can void the warranty. Those problems are just the tip of the iceberg, too. I hope this article helped clear up any misconceptions you may have had about plumbing. Happy New Year! –Pa u l Little

WORD SEARCH

Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

FAMILY FIREWORKS FRIENDS JANUARY MIDNIGHT

BEGINNING CELEBRATION CLOCK COUNTDOWN

NEW PARTY WINTER YEAR

Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com

SUDOKU

Ingredients

• 8 chicken thighs or

• 1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut in large chunks • 2 garlic cloves, sliced • 14 oz chicken stock • 1 sprig rosemary • Finely grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

drumsticks, lightly salted

• 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour • 1 onion, finely sliced • 2 celery sticks, thickly sliced • 2 carrots, thickly sliced • 1 leek, thickly sliced

Directions

1. In a large frying pan, heat oil and fry salted chicken on high until brown. 2. Transfer chicken to the slow cooker. Add flour and stir. 3. In the frying pan on high heat, fry the onion, celery, carrots, leeks, and potatoes until lightly browned. Add garlic and fry for 30 seconds. 4. Transfer vegetables to the slow cooker and add the stock, rosemary, and lemon zest. 5. Cook on high for 2.5–3 hours or until chicken is tender. 6. Check seasoning and add lemon juice to taste. Top with parsley before serving.

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The Most Common Plumbing Myths Out There 1

How to Find Your Flow in 2021

A Few Pipe Insulation Tips 2

Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

Take a Break! 3

Hunkering down and waiting for the dark and chilly winter season to pass sounds pretty nice. But the reality is, if we deprive ourselves of time outside, we do ourselves a big disservice both mentally and physically. Staying indoors all day affects your energy and mood, which makes it hard to get anything done, so here are four easy tips to make it easier to get a little fresh air. 1. Make it a priority. Getting outside means making the conscious effort to do so. If you want to reap its benefits, you have to decide to make it a priority in your day-to-day schedule. If you make the act important to you, you have more motivation to actually do it. 2. Use mornings effectively. Waking up and getting the day started can be hard. But studies have shown that natural light helps decrease your melatonin production, which means you feel ready to face the day sooner. So, set yourself a second alarm to head outside and take a quick walk around the block just after waking. Don’t even wash your face or grab coffee. Just get out there. 3. Take your work outside. If you’re working from home, take some work outdoors. Phone and virtual meetings are a great outdoor option, especially if you’ll just be an active listener and aren’t required to do any work simultaneously. Attach a note to your meeting reminders to get yourself set up outside five minutes before you start. Give Yourself the Boost of Getting Outside 4 LET THAT FRESH AIR FUEL YOU 4 Tips to Make Getting Outside Easier

4. Create a schedule. It might feel strange to set reminders throughout the day to step outside, but you easily get wrapped up in activities and overlook breaks, and these reminders are exactly what you need. Start with 10-minute blocks three times a day. If you stick to them, soon you won’t need a schedule to get outside anymore. Winter weather may be cold, but even when you’re bundled up under a jacket and scarf, just 5–10 minutes outside can do wonders for your mood and energy for hours.

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