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May 26, 2009
Generating Interest
Q: Hello, Ed. This past winter was tough. Like many areas of the Northeast we were hit with a bad ice storm this season and were among the unfortunate people that lost power for over a week! Once we got our life back and recovered, I promised my family that as soon as the weather broke we would look into a permanent generator. What is the normal process to getting a standby generator installed? Can I do this myself?
-Bill, New England
A: Bill, like so many of us you found out first-hand that "we never know what we have until it's gone"! I have received many letters and questions like yours from people stuck without power, and that is the key with standby generators.
You can't wait until it's too late; standby generators need to be installed when there is no emergency since it is a process that may take several weeks to fully complete. The reason it takes a little time is because a permanently installed standby generator is more of a system than a piece of equipment, and they require natural or propane gas for operation.
In the event of a power outage, a "transfer switch," working in tandem with the generator, automatically starts the generator, switches over the breaker panel, and restores the power to your home.
Since a few different contractors may be involved -- like electricians and pipefitters -- it's best to go through an "authorized" distributor of home standby generators. They're pretty easy to find on the Internet, or you can ask around at some of the larger contractor supply houses in your area.
Once you do find a dealer that's right for you, the process will usually involve taking out the proper permits, sizing the generator for your home, locating the unit outside on a concrete pad, installing a fuel supply (natural gas or propane), installing the electrical sub panel and transfer switch, and (finally) firing up and testing the new system.
As you can see, installing a standby generator is not a "do-it-yourself" job, but if you don't "do-it" you may find "yourself" alone in the dark!
Posted by Ed Del Grande at 12:18 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 21, 2009
A Toilet Eruption
Q: Ed, your column is great! We enjoy reading it every week and now we have a problem. Our home is only about four years old and every time you flush the toilet it seems to erupt in an upward motion instead of going down the drain. No one can solve this; what could cause this problem?
-G, Florida
A: This can be a tricky one, since you need to determine if it's the toilet not creating a siphon in the bowl -- or if it's a drainage problem. Drainage problems can include blockage issues, venting problems, and septic system failures.
I would start by replacing the present toilet with one of the new high-efficiency toilets on the market (make sure it's a top brand name). Once a new toilet is installed, that should help you pinpoint where the problem is (or was).
If the new toilet works, you're all set. If you still have the same problem, well, now your plumber can concentrate on the drainage system and track down the issue.
I know there's a chance you'll be buying a new toilet that might not necessarily be needed, but like anything else in life, you have to start somewhere!
Posted by Ed Del Grande at 12:08 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 1, 2009
Conserving at the Commercial Level
Q: Dear Ed the Plumber, I read your recent article on conserving water in a home. Over the years I have read similar articles telling homeowners to conserve water by installing water saving shower heads, high efficiency toilets, etc. But, why don't you write an article about the need to save water for business and industry? Have you used a shower in a hotel in the past few years?
Here at my home I can take a shower with very little water by adjusting the flow while soaping up. At most of the hotels I have stayed at, the water pours out of the shower head at a very high rate and there is no way to adjust the flow. So please let the commercial plumbing market know that they have to start conserving water the way homeowners do. Thanks for the platform!
-Tom, Indiana
A: Well, you just told them yourself, Tom!
In all fairness, the commercial market -- and many hotel chains -- have already started to adapt water conservation methods in their day-to-day operations. For instance, many Hotels now have high-efficiency showerheads and toilets along with the options of washing towels or letting the guests simply air dry them in the bathrooms. Hotels also use recirculating hot water systems to cut down on wasted cold water while waiting for the hot water to kick in.
I enjoyed your passion for conservation -- and thanks for helping to get the message out that water conservation is for everyone!
