–Spring is here and summer is on its way. With the onset of the warmer weather now is the perfect time to check your plumbing system for maintenance and repairs. As water usage increases over the warmer months it is important to check for drips and leaks, a single dripping faucet can waste hundreds of gallons of water in a year. Here are Paso Robles 4 G’s Plumbing’s top tips for plumbing maintenance.

Conserve water in the kitchen and bathroom
Check your faucets for drips and leaks and make repairs to save water, check toilets for hidden leaks and inspect the tank for cracks. Add drops of food coloring to the toilet tank if colored water appears in the toilet bowl you may have a leak. Inspect for slow leaks in your home by taking a reading on your water meter before bedtime. The next morning, without using any water overnight, take another reading. If the reading has changed you have a leak that should be repaired.

Check your water heater
Check the temperature setting on the water heater and make sure it is set no higher than 120°F to prevent scalding and reduce energy use. Carefully drain several gallons from the water heater tank to flush out corrosion causing sediment, which reduces heating efficiency and shortens the life of the heater. Check your water heater manufacturer 's website for specific instructions concerning your make and model. Consider replacing a water heater more than 15 years old. (The first four numbers of the serial number represent the month and year it was made.) Newer water heaters are more energy efficient.

Clean your drains
Check that all drains have strainers to prevent debris clogging the drain lines. Pour a gallon of water into infrequently used drains (including floor drains) to fill the trap and prevent odors from entering the house. Check exposed pipes under sinks and in the basement for signs of leaks.

Check outside the home
Make sure yard drains, gutters and downspouts are cleaned out, open, and free of debris. Check faucets and hose bibs to make sure water flows freely. If an outdoor faucet drips or if there is leakage inside your home the first time the hose is turned on, you may have had a frozen pipe that cracked and needs to be replaced.

4 G’s Plumbing
Paso Robles, CA 93446
www.4gsplumbingpasorobles.com
(805) 835-3024
Press release by San Luis Obispo SEO company Access Publishing, 806 9th Street, #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 226-9890.

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Some Californians are counting on El Nino filling the reservoirs and water tables back up, but data is conflicting; El Nino may be record breaking this winter, or is could also pass us by entirely. One thing is clear though: that California is prone to droughts, and residents of the golden state should be wise about their water use, drought or not.

Here at Paso Robles plumbing company 4G’s Plumbing, we care about water reduction, and we wanted to share some tips on how you can reduce your water usage:

1) Recycle your grey water

The average American uses a staggering 400 gallons of water in a day. If your shower takes a minute or two to heat up, you could be letting gallons of valuable water go down the drain. Use a bucket to collect the cold water, and then re-use it.

If you really want to get serious about your home’s conservation, you can install a home water recycling system into your household plumbing. Systems such as these collect shower, sink and washer water, filter it, and then send it to an irrigation system or to the toilet.

2) Fix that leaky faucet

Another great way to make sure your home is water efficient is to fix any leaks. Even though it may not seem like a lot, those drips add up over time. Call your friendly Paso Robles plumbers at 4G’s Plumbing to assist in fixing any leak, big or small.

3) Install water-saving appliances

Water-saving showerheads can save hundreds of gallons of water over time. Typical showerheads flow at five gallons per minute. Low flow ones flow at half that amount. Another water saving apparatus is a low-flow faucet aerator, which can bring the flow of your faucet from 3 gallons per minute down to 1.5. For your toilet, you may want to consider replacing it for a low-flow model, or for a clever trick, try putting a large water bottle filled with water in the holding tank in the back of the toilet to reduce the amount of water that is used per flush.

Call 4G’s Plumbing today

4G’s Plumbing is your friendly, local Paso Robles plumbing company. We can help with any plumbing job, whether it be installing new water efficient appliances, or just fixing a leak. Give us a call today at (805) 835-3024.

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With water shortages topping the headlines throughout most of California, the urgency to conserve this precious resource has given rise to a new way of thinking for home and business owners when it comes to maintaining their property.

“Water is a vital resource and, with rainfall levels remaining low, we have all become more aware of how even a small leak can lead to waste, loss and damage over time,” says 4G’s Plumbing owner Brad Gilkey. Local, family-owned and operated, the business provides service throughout San Luis Obispo County. “During the summer months, we tend to see an increased number of broken water pipes throughout the county.”

The reason for this increase, according to Gilkey, is the sometimes-drastic changes in temperature that often occur – it’s not unusual for a homeowner to experience 40-degree weather in the early morning hours and then feel the outside temperature rise to 98 by mid-afternoon. This can wreak havoc on already-weak water pipes and may result in a small crack becoming a full-blown water disaster inside or outside the home.

Gilkey and his knowledgeable, professional staff of plumbers at 4G’s Plumbing offer the following tips for home and business owners:

-Check for leaks around faucets, toilets, showers and outdoor water sources.

-Look under sinks and check pipes for moisture, warped surfaces, mold and mildew.

-Check for rust or wet spots around water heaters and washing machines.

-Does your water meter dial move when nobody is using water? If so, you may have a leak.

-Look for streaks inside and around bottom of toilet – this often indicates a leak.

-Pay heed to new or unusual noises near water sources.

-Discoloration on cement on flooring is often the result of leaks in the foundation.
-Patches of unusually green grass or weeds in yard are often the result of a leak.

“When it comes to preventing water damage, time is of the essence, so we want to remind all of our customers in Atascadero, Paso Robles, and throughout San Luis Obispo County that SLO County Plumbing is available to assist whenever and wherever we can,” says Gilkey. “We have increased our staffing substantially since the beginning of the year to help better serve our customers and expand our service area.”

More about 4G’s Plumbing

4 G’s Plumbing offers a full range of quality plumbing services to meet your needs. For help in a hurry or to find out more ways to conserve water and prevent water damage, call 4G’s Plumbing at (805) 835-3024.

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When a plumbing problem arises, it can be tempting to want to break out the toolbox and attempt to remedy the issue on your own, and sometimes, this can be a fairly viable route to take. Other times, however, tackling plumbing issues yourself could potentially make the problem worse.

Paso Robles plumbing company 4G’s Plumbing wants to share these helpful tips on when it’s safe to tackle something yourself, and when you should hire a professional plumber to do the job:

Be honest with yourself

Ego can be a stubborn thing. Sometimes you may want to tackle something merely to keep the ego intact, particularly if you consider yourself a “handy” kind of person. The fact of the matter is though, is that if you don’t have the proper tools and training, attempting to fix a plumbing issue could worsen the problem.

Simple fixes

Simple fixes such as a leaky faucet or a clogged drain could potentially be fixed yourself. Oftentimes, a clogged drain can be fixed with a plunger. Make sure that you have the correctly shaped plunger for the job; toilet plungers are different shapes then ones used up unclog sinks or bathtubs. Some clogs will require a plumbing snake, which is something that, although is fairly easy to use, is not typically found in the household tool arsenal.

A leaky faucet can be a bit trickier to fix yourself. It will require some basic plumbing tools, and you will also need to know how to turn your water off before you attempt to make the repairs.

More complex jobs: Call in the “big guns”

More complex fixes that may require experts include jobs that require accessing the sewer line, going into walls to access pipes, or anything to do with your water heater. These are the kind of jobs that, unless you have extensive plumbing experience, will need to be handled by the professionals, such as the Paso Robles plumbing experts at 4G’s Plumbing.

The Paso Robles plumbing experts at 4G’s Plumbing can help you tackle your plumbing job, no matter if it’s as small as a clogged drain or a more extensive fix. We take pride in being a family-owned and operated, Central Coast based business. We strive to provide the absolute best customer service available with each and every job we take. Call 4G’s Plumbing today at (805) 835-3024.

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Home ownership opens people’s eyes to many new experiences, even requiring homeowners to familiarize themselves with certain things they never encountered as renters. Homeowners become novice plumbers, electricians, horticulturists, and even chemists as they wade through the projects and repairs involved with owning a home.

Outside of high school chemistry class, you may never have given thought to water composition and how it changes. However, once you become a homeowner, you may have to pay special attention to the type of water bubbling out of your faucets. Hard water is a common concern, and it can affect appliances and other parts of the home.

What is hard water?
Hard water affects about 85 percent of the United States, according to the Water Quality Association. Although not harmful to human health, hard water can impact one’s daily life in other ways.

Hard water is formed when water moves through soil and rock. It dissolves very small amounts of minerals and holds them in a solution. Calcium and magnesium are the most common minerals to turn water “hard.” The more magnesium and calcium water dissolves, the harder it becomes.

From nuisance to damaging
Hard water can not only be a minor headache, but also something more serious. Hard water can interfere with various cleaning tasks and also personal grooming. Clothes washed in hard water may not be fully clean and may appear dingy. Hard water can cause a film on surfaces, such as bath tiles and tubs. Some people find that their hair and skin can appear dull and sticky due to hard water.

Hard water can have other effects, too. Over time, the water can deposit minerals on the inside of pipes, reducing water flow. If these deposits grow thick, you may have a plumbing issue on your hands. Furthermore, mineral deposits can harm appliances, such as water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers. Eventually, hard water may render these appliances ineffective, and they will need to be replaced.

Treatment options
Considering hard water is such a common concern, a number of treatment options exist. The main types of water-softening systems use either a packaged water softener or a mechanical water-softening unit.

Packaged water softeners are chemicals that bond with the calcium and magnesium ions in the water so that they cannot interfere with cleaning efficiency. These chemicals fall into two categories: precipitating and non-precipitating. Precipitating softeners are borax and washing soda and can affect pH levels of water and make water cloudy. Non-precipitating softeners use phosphates. Alkalinity won’t be increased, and usually there is no cloudiness or buildup. These products are typically added to laundry loads and the like and are not recommended for drinking water.

Mechanical water-softening systems are hooked up directly to the plumbing of the house. They are ion-exchange systems that will add salt to the water. Although it can be safe to drink, softened water may not be recommended for those who are on low-sodium diets.

Hard water is a problem many homeowners have to face. It can affect a home’s appliances’ performance and cleaning abilities. Water hardness can be managed, and it is best to consult with an expert water-softening system manufacturer about your options.

Call 4G’s Plumbing for solving your hard water problems (805) 835-3024.

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The recent heavy summer storm in Paso Robles flooded several homes. It's a good time to remind Homeowners that no home is perfect. While the notion of a dream house is nice, every home eventually experiences a problem or two. Many problems are bound to occur sooner or later, but there are a few that diligent homeowners can prevent.

One of those preventable problems is flooding. Any home with floor drains or plumbing fixtures below street level can flood, and this can be due to inclement weather, such as heavy rainstorms, local sewer system backup, or groundwater swelling. Flooding can even occur in the spring when melting occurs as the air temperature increases. While homeowners won't be able to control the weather, they can take steps to flood-proof their home.

-Do some preventive landscaping. If the ground around the home's foundation slopes toward the house, make some grading changes so that the ground slopes away from the home.

-Insulate the heating ducts. Some home heating ducts are under the basement floor. In such homes, homeowners should make sure these ducts are properly insulated and watertight.

-Make sure the vents all lead outside the home. The weather can cause moisture issues, but some moisture problems can come from inside the home as well.

-Clothes dryers and bathrooms are both internal moisture sources, and these sources should always be vented outside the home.

-Clean gutters and downspouts. Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned to ensure water is effectively being diverted away from the home. Clean gutters and downspouts in the spring after a long winter, and do so again in the fall to keep fallen leaves from blocking the flow of water. Downspouts should extend four feet from the outside wall of the house.

-Inspect the home at least once a year. Before buying a home, buyers often hire a professional inspector to ensure the home is safe and sound. But the inspections should not stop once buyers sign on the dotted line. To prevent flooding, homeowners should inspect their home's foundation for cracks once a year. If the home has a chimney and fireplace, check for cracks there as well. If any cracks are discovered, consult a professional immediately.

-Clean out basement drains. Basement drains should be cleaned annually from the house to the street. If the drains are still slow after cleaning, then clean them more than once a year.

-When leaving the home for an extended period of time, turn the water valve off. Homeowners worried about flooding can calm those fears when going on vacation or another long trip by turn the water valve off at the source. This ensures that, should a line break while no one is home, water will not pump into the house.

Flood-proofing a home can save homeowners from potentially costly repairs and unsightly damage to a home's interior. Call 4G’s Plumbing for all your plumbing needs at (805) 835-3024.

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