If you have been shopping for new plumbing fixtures in Wilmington lately, or even just wandered through that section of the home improvement store, you have probably noticed that some of them bear a familiar label.

“Just what is this ‘WaterSense’ company and why have I never heard of them before?” you may ask yourself. “Are they a new manufacturer?”

No, it’s not a new fixture company. WaterSense is a program in partnership with the Environment Protection Agency designed to make it easier for consumers to find, identify and choose products that use water more efficiently. You can find it on a number of faucets, shower heads and toilets. Even some newly built homes that exclusively have WaterSense fixtures installed bear the certification.

In order to wear the WaterSense label, a product has to meet strict criteria, such as using water at least 20% more efficiently than its average competitor, while also performing at least we well, and obtaining certification from an independent third party.

That’s all well and good, buy why should anyone buy a WaterSense labeled fixture? What are the benefits? In contrast to older or less efficient products, fixtures with the WaterSense label:

• Are kinder to the environment
• Reduce water consumption
• Operate more efficiently
• Employ more advanced technology
• Perform as well as or better than competing products
• Save you money on utility bills

As with the EnergyStar label that graces so many appliances and electronic devices these days, in this case what is good for the environment is also good for your wallet. The added efficiency of WaterSense products reduces water consumption, which not only conserves water for everyone, but conserves money for you.

So, for homeowners who are in the market for new plumbing fixtures in Wilmington and like to save the planet as well as some money, WaterSense labeled products are the way to go. Call Boulden Brothers today if you have any questions about new plumbing installation in the Wilmington area!

If you have dealt with a blocked sewer line in your New Castle home, you know all too well that it can be a nightmare. Sewer lines are made out of especially sturdy materials for a reason: because we collectively want to keep their contents inside. So, when a sewer line gets blocked and starts backing up or seeping — or even cracks under the stress — it can be a real mess.

If you have never had encountered a sewer line block, count yourself lucky.

Whichever category you fall into, it is important to know about causes of sewer blocks lie, so that you have an idea what you are up against should you ever encounter (another) one, as well as being able to take some reasonable prevention measures. Read on to learn about some of the common culprits that block up sewer lines.

Flushed Objects

The most preventable common cause of a blocked sewer line is the flushing of objects that should not be flushed. Sewer lines are not meant to handle solid objects like diapers, sanitary napkins or other garbage, so if these get flushed down the toilet — either intentionally or by accident — it can cause an ugly block.

Even smaller objects or bits of debris that seem to move fine through the sewer line can build up over time to cause a block. Paper towels, hair, grease or dirt can collect on the walls of the line and cause a block as well.

Tree Roots

It may seem like nothing happens beneath the ground of our lawns, where the sewer line runs. In fact, there is quite a bit of life going about its business under there, including the root systems of the trees in your yard. These roots can grow right into your sewer line, infiltrating it and causing a blockage.

Defect

The last main cause of a sewer blockage is shoddy materials. Although sewer lines are meant to be made of high quality material because of the stress they perform under, it is still possible for one to collapse or bulge with use.

Repairing a blocked sewer line calls for a New Castle plumbing professional’s assistance. To avoid having to make that call, the best thing you can do as a homeowner is keep solid objects from being flushed down into the sewer line. It can save you a huge headache later on. For any plumbing repairs in the New Castle area, give Boulden Brothers a call!

New homes in Kenton offer many new water saving features which older homes tend not to offer. Water saving in a new home can be quite simple, considering all the new technologies which are available to home builders. Make yourself knowledgeable about these options and when you purchase a new home watch for these. If you are building a home, it is good to communicate to the builder which of these options you want in water efficiency.

Indoor Water Saving Solutions

Up to 70% of water usage in residences happens indoors. A number of items that new homes tend to provide save water usage and money in the long-run.

Fixtures such as toilets, bathroom faucets, and showerheads offer low-flow options

High efficiency and low energy use hot water heaters

New appliances such as dishwashers and clothes washers

Install a tankless water heater close to the most used hot water usage areas

Use of an on-demand style recirculation system in combination with a high efficiency water heater

Install a solar water heating system to preheat water which enters the tankless water heater

Check for leaks regularly to ensure there is no waste

Outdoor Water Conservation

Anywhere from 30% to 70% of water usage of homes is used outdoors for yard landscaping and pool upkeep. When designing an outdoor space, it is important to keep in mind how much water will be used for upkeep, as well as to ensure that water is saved where possible.

Landscaping:

• Properly plan and design the landscaping
• Limit grass and lawn to 40% or less of landscaped areas
• Choose plants and flora which are regionally appropriate
• Group plants according to similar water usages
• Use native plants and those which have low water needs
• Schedule efficient irrigation
• Use fixed-spray sprinklers on lawn
• Use drip or micro irrigation on plants, flowers, and bushes
• Water during cooler times of day to ensure little evaporation due to heat
• Do not over-water, it can harm plants just as much as not watering enough
• Use mulch to prevent evaporation of water near plants, and to keep weeds away
• Keep the yard properly maintained and the soil healthy with fertilizers

Pool:

• Use a pool cover when the pool is not in use; this can save 30% to 50% of water which is wasted through evaporation
• Keep the pool temperature a few degrees lower, the higher the temperature of the water the more evaporation occurs
• Plant a windbreak of tall foliage to prevent wind from whipping water out of the pool
• Check and fix leaks regularly
• Clean pool and pool filters regularly to prevent backwash

Whether indoors or outdoors, water saving in new homes is quite easy, and while some options mean spending some money initially, the long-term savings on water month over month and year over year are quite significant and worthwhile indeed. For more information about water saving plumbing options in Kenton, give Boulden Brothers a call!

For most Newark homeowners, the garbage disposal is an essential kitchen convenience.  Food preparation and cooking become much easier when peelings and scraps can just be whisked into the sink and down the drain. Many of the earlier environmental concerns about garbage disposals have been resolved. Most municipal water treatments plants now have the technology to extract the pulverized food debris from waste water and turn it into sludge that can be sterilized and disposed in a landfill or used for fertilizer.

 When to Replace a Garbage Disposal

Obviously, when your Newark garbage disposal stops working it’s time to either fix or replace it. While it’s possible to service a garbage disposal, it would probably be cheaper to replace it. But if your disposal is still operating, how do you know when it’s time to for a new one?

Garbage disposals don’t last forever. No matter how well it’s made, any appliance exposed to thousands of gallons of running water, detergent, food scraps, bones, and the occasional spoon accidentally dropped into the drain is going to wear out. A disposal in good condition should be able to dispatch a few potato or apple peels in a matter of seconds. If your unit seems to take forever to accomplish a simple grinding task, it may be time for a new one.

A foul odor emanating from the disposal that won’t go away after a thorough rinsing may also be a sign that it’s time to replace it. As the components in the grinding chamber wear out, food can get trapped inside and rot. You may adapt to the smell, but guests will probably not appreciate it.

Even if your disposal is in good shape, you may want to look into replacing it. Garbage disposals are rated in horsepower. Basic models are usually rated in the 1/5 to 1/3 horsepower range, while top of the line models are in the 3/4 to 1 horsepower range. The difference may seem small, but it has a major impact on performance. If you have a smaller unit in the 1/5 to 1/3 range that is a few years old, and you like to cook, it may be worth your while to consider replacing it.

Size Matters

Most manufacturers offer a range of models with increasing power ratings. If you do a lot of cooking and use your disposal a lot, the few extra dollars investment in a 3/4 or 1 horsepower disposal is worth the money. Not only do more powerful units dispatch food scraps more easily, but they can handle tougher jobs like bones and meat scraps that might jam a smaller disposal. More powerful disposals are less noisy and they tend to break down less. The only drawback of larger disposals is that they tend to be larger and take up more space. It’s best to consult a Newark plumbing contractor before buying a new disposal to make sure it will fit under your sink.  For any garbage disposal installation or repair you need, give Boulden Brothers a call!

Choosing a water treatment system is a process that takes research and education in order to make an informed decision on what is needed and the best system for a given job.  Before diving into the details of the process it is ideal for consumers to educate themselves on the quality of the drinking water which is being supplied to their home or business.  Identifying contaminants which should be removed from the water allows for a necessary base knowledge-base which will help in identifying water treatment systems that treat the specific contaminants which need to be removed.

 Water Treatment Technologies

Drinking water treatment systems utilize a number of technologies which are available, each technology focusing on producing a particular result by running water through it.

•  Filtration:  Separates undesirable elements from water by use of a layered absorbent medium such as carbon which keeps larger particles in the water from flowing through the membranes while still letting the water through.
• Softeners:  Reduces the amount of hardness—calcium and magnesium—in the water, and replaces those ions with sodium or potassium.
• Ultraviolet Treatment:  The use of ultraviolet light to disinfect water and reduce the amount of microorganisms present in water.
• Reverse Osmosis:  Removal of large molecules and ions from water by applying higher pressure to one side of the membrane, then pushing the water through the selective membrane, leaving contaminants behind.

Water Treatment Devices

In order to choose a water treatment system which is appropriate for your particular needs, have a look at the water treatment devices which are currently available on the market.

•  Point-of-Entry System:  The purpose of this whole-house system is to treat a majority of the water which passes into a residence.  Some water softeners are POE systems.

• Point-Of-Use System:  Water is treated in batches and delivered to a single tap such as an auxiliary faucet mounted next to the kitchen sink.  Within the POU system are a number of options such as the personal water bottle, pour through pitchers, faucet mounts, counter-top manual fills, counter-top connected to sink faucet, plumbed-in to an existing faucet, or plumed-in to a separate tap.

Once you decide what your water treatment requirements are, how extensively you want your water treated, and what contaminants you want to focus on eliminating, it will become quite easy to choose a water treatment system which is right for you. If you need any help choosing a water treatment system in Wilmington, give Boulden Brothers a call!

he kitchen is one of the best places where you can cut down on your water usage. You can easily save water by only running your dishwasher when it is completely full and by using your garbage disposal sparingly. You can also use bowls of water to clean vegetables instead of running them under the faucet. Installing faucet aerators is another simple way to cut down on the amount of water you use. Remember that saving water is not only good for your utility bills, it also is good for the environment!

You should also have all of your kitchen plumbing checked once a year by a qualified professional. A technician can spot links and things that may need to be replaced or repaired. If you are looking for a kitchen plumbing installationteam, look no further than Boulden Brothers. We can help you with all of your kitchen installation, maintenance, and repair needs. Boulden Brothers servesDelaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

No one wants a dirty, grimy tub. After all, that’s the apparatus you use to get clean. But because of the nature of its use, the tub can be tricky to keep clean. Need some tips to keep that porcelain enamel tub looking shiny and clean? Try some of these techniques for a ring-free, pristine bathtub.

Commercial Solutions

Of course, there are a number of commercial cleaning products out there that can be used on porcelain enamel, including in your tub. Here is a look at some of those products and how to use them for better success:

• Mix a solution of dish soap and hot water. Use a rag or sponge to wipe the tub with the soapy water, then rinse clean. This works well for routine cleaning.
• Instead of the hot soapy water solution, you can use a commercial spray product designed for the bathroom.
• Sprinkle scouring powder (e.g., Comet or Ajax) liberally around the tub. Use a damp scouring pad to scrub dirt and grime free from the surface. This is a better solution for deeper cleaning, once a month or so.
• For tougher stains that a scouring pad doesn’t get out, try a pumice stone and some stiffer scrubbing.

The Natural Route

If you don’t have the necessary cleaning products around, or just prefer to do things more naturally, there are some techniques involving products you probably already have around the house that can also get your tub sparkling. See if any of these methods work for you:

• Make your own scouring powder with equal parts baking soda and salt. Use this once a week with a warm rag.
• For rust stains, sprinkle them with salt and add lemon juice. Scrub the lemon/salt mixture with a sponge or rag to dislodge the rust.
• Sprinkle baking soda around the tub and spray with vinegar. The resulting fizzy reaction helps break up deposits of dirt and grime. Scrub with a scouring pad for bonus cleaning action.

There are lots of techniques for keeping tubs clean, and for every method, you can find people who swear by it. Find one that you like and that works for you, and away you go!

For more information about ways to make your Newark bathroom better, give Boulden Brothers a call!

The toilet is one of our most important parts of your Wilmington plumbing. But it also prone to its fair share of problems. Let’s take a look at some common toilet problems and how to fix them.

1. Running
   Perhaps the most common of toilet annoyances is the constantly running toilet. Not only is the sound irritating, but it can result in high water bills and cause your septic tank to overflow.  Fortunately, it is simple to diagnose and fix. Just look into the tank at the flapper. If it is not seated properly, adjust the chain to give more slack. If that doesn’t solve the problem, the flapper may be worn and need to be replaced. You can buy a new one at your local hardware store and install it yourself easily.

2. Slow draining bowl
   Also known as a weak flush, this one is also fairly easy to fix. A weak flush is usually caused by clogged flush holes, which are underneath the rim of the bowl. Using a mirror to see, poke a bent wire coat hanger into each one to remove any clogs.

3. Phantom flush
   Although it won’t actually flush, sometimes you may hear the tank spontaneously start to refill as though someone has just flushed. This just means the water is leaking out of the tank, which can usually be fixed with a new flapper, as with problem #1.

4. Suction sounds
   If you flush the toilet and hear sucking or gurgling sounds emanating from the tub or sink, that usually indicates a clogged vent pipe. Such clogs usually originate in the roof, such as a dead bird falling into vent pipe up there. You may be best served by calling a plumber to fix this one, in order to avoid making the problem larger.

5. Clogged or overflowing
   Lastly, of course, is the clogged or overflowing toilet. While wearing gloves and holding your nose, use a plunger or pipe snake to clear the drain. If that doesn’t get it done, the clog may be too large to handle without professional equipment, so you had better call a plumber.

For any problems that you have with your plumbing in Wilmington, call Boulden Brothers!

Did you know that 14 percent of the average home’s water use islost to leaks? The easiest way to cut down on your home’s water usage is to repair leaky faucets and toilets. You should also think about upgrading to low-flow fixtures in your bathroom to save even more water every day. If you use less hot water you will also help save energy; water heating can account for up to 25 percent of your home’s energy consumption!