2. Lancaster Plumbing & Heating’s Commercial Services Specialist Larry Gassert and his 6 year old son, Reese, participated in the promotional video this past Saturday morning in downtown Lititz for the upcoming October event “Dawn of the Lititz
Dead”, a 5K obstacle run to raise funds for the Lititz Springs Park. It looks like Larry and Reese were officially zombies for the day! To learn more go to www.dawnofthelititzdead.com

3. Joan Brown, President of the Human League and her staff did an absolutely fantastic job Friday night at the Wags & Whiskers Gala. Here is Joan wearing one of the zany wigs that gave the gala that fun and Mardi Gras feeling!

4. Lancaster Plumbing & Heating attended the Humane League’s fabulous Wags & Whiskers Gala Friday night at the Ware Center. We also donated two great auction prizes for the silent auction. Some prizes included autographed players jerseys from the Phillies, Flyers & Steelers and an autographed Bruce Springsteen’s guitar! Mistress of Ceremonies was Susan Shapiro from WGAL. She did a fabulous job. Pictured here with our Business Development Manager, Michele Weiss.

The Marriott and three other premier restaurants, Christine’s Café, Old Greenfield Inn and Lombardo’s Restaurant donated the most delicious food ever!

Pictured here (left to right) party organizer, Michele Weiss, Business Development Manager, Lancaster Plumbing & Heating, Jennifer Powell, Director of the Clare House, and Sue Thomas, Director of Sales, Marriott Hotel.

Last Thursday, March 14th, our Business Development Manager Michele Weiss attended the Lancaster Chamber’s Women in Business program at Meadia Heights Golf Club.  The program featured a panel Q&A discussion with three vibrant speakers: Kathy Phillips, owner of Primitives by Kathy, Kim Decker, Partner, Barley Snyder Attorneys at Law, and A.R. Smith, owner of Terra Verde Management Advisors.

The Women in Business Group provides growth-minded professional women with a friendly and welcoming environment where they can network. Businesswomen from all professional levels and backgrounds come together to share ideas and learn about relevant topics.

Lancaster Plumbing & Heating is also proud to support Junior Achievement.  Michele (we keep her busy!) attended JACP’s Annual Black & White Gala Saturday evening, March 16^th at the Lancaster Country Club.  It was a fun filled evening that featured Monte Carlo style black jack, roulette and craps games with proceeds going to JA.  They also held a silent auction that featured two prizes donated by Lancaster Plumbing & Heating.  We donated a complimentary heating or AC system check and we also donated a complimentary plumbing system safety check.

Michele is pictured above with Junior Achievement president Rebecca Doumaux.

The main thing that you have to look into as you look through the home generators that are available in the market is the amount of load that the generator is expected to carry in case of a full outbreak. If you have a lot of electrical equipment that will require power in case of a blackout, then make sure that you will be buying a generator that will have the capacity to generate the power that every single one of these pieces of equipment requires. Invest on a generator that will be able to generate enough wattage that your house will needs, plus a little more.

It will also be a great idea for you to learn what you can about the two main kinds of generators, and to decide which type will suit you best. If you can allocate a certain amount of space for your generator, then a standby unit will do the trick. If you need something that you will be able to move around and position where necessary, on the other hand, then you should go for a portable model. Consider all your needs and pick out the model that will suit you best, to ensure that you will be able to make the most out of you investment.

Finally, see to it that you will be working on a budget, as you go about in looking through the home generators that are available in the market. Do a canvas of the usual rates for which the normal models go for, and prepare yourself to spend a little more than the average prices. Do not be wary of spending more than necessary for a model that will best fit your needs, as opposed to downgrading to a cheaper model that will present you with problems in the future.

Pennsylvania water heaters

Like most of our beloved appliances, Lancaster Water Heaters themselves have dramatically improved over the years. Considering the purchase price alone will never work for you – the considerations should also include the costs involved in actual operations. Here, you can work your way through so you can save a great deal of money in the long term. It is just like in the case of cars; some can run a good distance with a gallon, some others still can do better. In the same way, some water heater designs out there have the ability to exploit energy more efficiently compared to their other counterparts.

The average Water Heater life expectancy can run up to a good 13 years. You have all that time to enjoy or suffer the decision that you just made right now. If you favor a heater that can save you money, you will sure enjoy this for years to come. If the savings makes for a dollar a month in your total energy costs, then that means you can treat yourself to a $12 a year in savings, or better yet a good $156 over its lifespan.

What should occupy your mind first as you get down in the business of choosing what best works for you is whether you should go for an electric or a gas model. In case you are simply trying to replace your existing machine, determine what you have first. Having an outlet for natural gas within the perimeter, or only electrical outlets for that matter should influence your decisions. It is clearly obvious that you should go for gas models if your house has an all-electric theme.

Which is better among the two by the way? Most of Pennsylvania for example, natural gas is the smart way to go since it is the most economical choice. Naturally, gas usually costs about three times just as much it takes to heat water in the same quantities using electricity. Electric Water Heaters together with gas furnaces and stoves should hint you that there is real money that you can save in the long term if you decide to divide the load and extend your gas line to the water heater. Living in rural areas is another picture to paint. Propane service is more common in these areas as it is much cheaper than electricity.

Solar hot water systems are now getting the attention of the masses. For decades now, the sun’s heat has been harnessed for use in home and business Pennsylvania Water Heaters. This concept is now becoming more common in many areas with some countries making them mandatory. However anyone would look at it, its future looks great.

Your professional Lancaster plumber can offer a number of benefits to your businesses depending on the extent and nature of the plumbing concerns that you experience. Besides providing immediate solution to a plumbing emergency, following are other advantages of using an Lancaster plumber.

Improvement Of Drain And Sewer Lines

Clogs are the most common problems of drainage and sewerage systems. With the help of modern science, specialists in the field are able to remove these clogs. The latter usually come in the form of fossilized grease, soap suds and mineral deposits which pass through the drainage along with water. The amount of these materials present in a specific line can now be easily identified by a professional Lancaster plumber with video images even before he goes through the process of eliminating them.

Moreover, an expert can fix damaged lines, clear obstructions in the sewerage lines, pump septic tanks and the like. When all these are done properly, sewer systems will be able to operate. Thus, there are fewer chances of clogged sinks in restaurants, congested toilets in malls and jammed bath tubs in hotels.

Installation Of Plumbing Parts And Fixtures

Installation of plumbing parts and fixtures and entire plumbing system can only be done by qualified Lancaster plumbers. They can readily set up complicated pipe networks and water meters for businesses. The fixtures that they install, on the other hand, depend on the establishment they are servicing. Say, sinks, faucets and toilets are usually installed in restaurants. Shower heads, hand-free faucets, sir dryers, commercial garbage disposal and low flow toilets are a few of what they install in hotels and hospitals.  They also set up water heaters, water filters and handicap fixtures for parts of the business like the bathroom, kitchen and the laundry room.

Upgrade Of Plumbing Pipes

Lancaster commercial plumbing services also address the problems about old pipes. The latter are awful as they make water from faucets unfit for our health and hygiene. Expert plumbers can replace these old pipes with new ones, even the hard to reach ones. Gas lines are also another type of pipes that they can fix. With their tools, they are able to detect gas leaks in an establishment to prevent any disaster.

Water Heater Services

Making sure that water heaters are working properly would entail a lot of processes like hard water elimination, tank and water line cleaning, temperature checkup, leak detection and many more. Obviously, only a trained Lancaster plumber can do all these tasks.

Commercial plumbing services entail extensive and technical responsibilities. This goes to show that only qualified specialists are to perform them. When hiring an Lancaster plumbing service team, ensure that all its members are licensed and are capable of doing the tasks they were called to do.

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Drain cleaning

Hair

More than anything else, hair is the primary culprit behind most household clogs, especially as it pertains to the bathroom pipes. It’s only natural, of course. Shaving, grooming, even shampooing can cause you to lose quite a lot of hair over a short period of time. If you have people with long hair in your family, the chances of facing a clog in the near future grow ever more likely. While having everyone in the family shave their heads is a drastic measure to take, there are some simple steps you can take to avoid needing professional drain cleaning. Install some special filters or strainers and catch the hair rather than letting it flow into the pipes.

Cooking Oil

Pour a bottle full of vegetable oil down the kitchen sink and you probably won’t run into any problems. Pour that same amount down the hole after you’ve cooked with it and it may be the last thing that goes down without a fight. When it comes to your Lancaster kitchen sink, no substance creates as much need for drain cleaning as used cooking oil. Once it cools after cooking, it hardens into a white, sticky mess that clings to the side of your pipes. It doesn’t take many times of doing this before you’re facing a real problem with water flow. Instead of pouring it down the sink, pour it into a sealable bottle or can and throw it out with the trash.

Paper Products

Toilet paper is very light and practically disintegrates when put through the plumbing system. Paper towels, tampons, and feminine napkins are not the same and should never be flushed down the toilet. It is another of the most common reasons for a clog and it is why nearly all Lancaster drain cleaning specialists advise finding something else to do with these paper products.

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Whirlpool bathtubs

The basic jetted tub comes in two different forms: the drop in bathtub which has been around since the 1960′s and the free standing jetted bathtub a new innovation that came along in the late 90′s. The free standing bathtub has revolutionized the way people install Jacuzzi style bathtubs. Free standing bathtubs are not technically considered a fixture; the free standing bathtub installation has more in common with a washing machine then a recessed bathtub. They are built atop a stainless steel tubular frame which gives the unit added stability and elevates the unit so it can utilize any existing drain the sits beneath the base. Just based on ease of installation, free standing whirlpool bathtubs have become more popular than their old fashion drop in cousins. Your Lancaster plumber can install your free standing whirlpool bathtub easily and efficiently and have you up and running in no time.

Since free standing jetted bathtubs are supported by a tubular frame there is also additional room for features that until recently couldn’t be found in any bathtub. Chromo therapy lighting, FM radio, speakers and waterproof televisions are just a few extras that can be found in today’s free standing jetted bathtubs. Although they may not appeal to everyone, these new futuristic bathtubs have made quite a splash with the tech and gadget crowd.

Technically savvy bathers are not the only ones who gravitate towards the new self-supporting tubs.  Lancaster interior designers and builders alike favor them for their ease of installation, low cost and wide variety of designs and styles. Unlike drop in Jacuzzi bathtubs, free standing units don’t just come in a few standard sizes; there are literally thousands of styles ranging from claw foot antique style jetted bathtubs to units inspired by our favorite aquatic life.

Compared to a standard whirlpool bath installation, a free standing jetted bathtub only takes a small fraction of the time, and they are designed for quick and easy remodels. The tubular frame has adjustable feet so the tubs can always be leveled even if your floor is not. The drain stub is also elevated and if there is an existing drain sitting underneath the base of the tub it can be attached easily with a Fernco connection. The water lines are connected via metal braided hoses ( ½” hot and cold). The electrical on free standing bathtubs ranges from unit to unit but many of them can simply be plugged into a standard outlet. The standard installation time for a prepped free standing whirlpool bath is around 15 minutes to an hour.

Overall if you are in the market for a whirlpool jetted bathtub for your Lancaster home, you might want to consider a free standing model. You will save money along virtually every part of the process as well as time and frustration. You will also find the selection of models, styles and colors to be superior to the traditional style bathtub.

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This way you can compare notes and ask questions. He will give you a thorough report on the home’s condition. Between what you found and what the inspector found you will be able to take care of what needs to be done before you put your house on the market.

For now we’ll focus on plumbing, including bathrooms, the laundry area, and water and septic systems.

* Look for signs of leaks in exposed pipes, including in areas where pipes run through the walls or foundation.

* Look for signs of corrosion, which could indicate a problem with the water, or with the pipe itself. Are there green stains around brass and copper fittings and on shutoff valves? This is a sign of either corrosion or a reaction that occurs with mismatched metals. If this is left uncorrected, it will cause leaks and bad connections.

* Check water pressure. Low pressure could mean a problem with the line or sediment buildup in the faucet aerator or shower head.

* Check drains for speed of drainage. A slow drain may mean there’s a clog or a blocked vent pipe. Look for a full swirling drain. Bubbling drains are a sign of a problem.

* Flush toilets to make sure they operate as they should. Open their tanks and look for worn or missing parts. Wait around for a few minutes to see if the toilet runs after a while. This is a sign of a slow leak.

* If you have a gas water heater, look inside the burner chamber for rust flakes. Check the flame. It should be an even blue, with no yellow. A yellow flame indicates soot or a problem with the gas-air mixture. The jets may need cleaning.

* You may need help for this next task. It’s a good idea to drain the water heater to remove sediment that has settled to the bottom. If you have an electric water heater, turn it off first or you’ll burn up the heating element.

* Check for cracked tiles in the shower area or around sinks. Tap on tiles to find loose or hollow ones that could be masking rotted backerboard behind them.

* Check on the state of the tub and shower caulking. Is it time to replace it?

* Look for evidence of mildew wherever water has a chance to stand for longer periods of time.

* Check the toilet base to be sure it doesn’t rock. There could be a leak that has damaged the floor around it.

* Look for cracks on the toilet tank or bowl and also on sinks

* Slide shower doors to check for sticking or rust. Examine the gaskets around the door glass for any gaps or tears.

* Turn on the shower and bath faucets to check for leaks around the handles and valves. Are they easy to use, or harder to turn on and off? Check any set screws you see.

* Unscrew the shower head and look for collected sediment. This could be lowering the water pressure.

* Examine vent fans for blockages or dust. If it sounds really loud when you turn them on, the bearings may be worn out or a flapper may have gotten stuck.

* Check washing machine hoses for signs of cracks, brittleness, or leaks.

* Check the dryer vents for tears. Vacuum or brush out lint in the hose and around the lint screen inside the dryer. Look for lint around the floor or on the wall, which indicates there’s a clog in the vent hose.

* If you have your own well for water, send out a sample of your water to your county cooperative extension to test it for chemicals and bacteria.

* Be sure that the well cover is tightly sealed but that there is still access to the pump.

* Check the sump pump by pouring water on it to see if it turns on automatically.

* Look around your septic tank/field for soggy ground or lush vegetation. This may mean the tank is full or failing.

Being familiar with your Lancaster home inside and out will give you an advantage when dealing with your home inspector and prospective buyers.

If you determine there are some plumbing issues, get with your Lancaster plumbing contractor to take care of any issues and make any plumbing repairs necessary to successfully pass the inspection.

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