Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Q: With the winter weve had so far, what free advice can you give to folks about how to prevent their pipes from freezing or bursting?

A: Raise your house temp a few degrees to compensate for the outside sub-zero weather. Open all room doors, cabinet doors etc., to circulate warm air to areas in your home that are more prone to colder temps and that contain water piping. Seal and or insulate against ALL cold air drafts but do it correctly as to not insulate against the warm air. Simply using pipe insulation is not the answer. Check and run your faucets periodically and never leave a home with frozen pipes unattended. Pipes that are prone to freezing should be wrapped with an electrical heat tape with a thermostat and covered with fiberglass pipe insulation. Be proactive and not reactive.

Q: Can you describe a time when you were faced with a situation that tested your skills?

A: Sure. A medical facility had a frozen underground service line and no water to the entire complex. The Cleveland Water Department could not establish flow. We showed up with our many pipe-thawing machines -- basically a transformer that produces low voltage but high current and thaws a frozen pipe in minutes. The only obstacle was a 12-foot block wall. I suggested using a hammer drill to drill a one-and-a-half-inch hole so as to get access to both sides of the pipe. Minimal damage, and water was restored within minutes.

Q: Many plumbers are on call nights and weekends. What do you do to balance work and personal life?

A: At Approved Plumbing (owned by Schlekie), we accept no calls after 9 p.m., but start early in the morning. We rotate shifts, try to always keep a positive attitude and just love life. [Being] a good plumber is a career and you better have a passion for it. In our industry we have a saying, Dont let someone's emergency become your emergency. We do try and be very proactive and thorough with our customers with whole-house inspections so as to never allow them to get into that emergency situation.

Q: How have changes in technology affected your job?

A: Plastic pipe vs. metal pipe vs. flex pipe have all made the job easier. Tools such as pressing tools to join pipes have all decreased the amount of labor involved to do a job. Unfortunately material cost and tool costs have skyrocketed. People want it now, and tomorrow is too late. Constant change in pumps and burners etc., means constant continuing education and training. A very stressful job, but at the same time a very rewarding job.

Q: What would people be surprised to learn about your profession?

A: Absolutely without question it is What a plumber actually does. Most think we only unclog toilets and install water heaters. They dont realize we size water piping, drain waste and vent piping, gas piping, protect the public from back flow and cross contamination, protect against Legionnaire's disease, protect against explosions, install most all plumbing systems in a safe and sanitary way. Every day is a different day. And the responsibility is enormous. In our industry there is zero tolerance for error.

Originally posted here:
Dennis Schlekie, Broadview Heights plumber: Five Questions

Q: With the winter weve had so far, what free advice can you give to folks about how to prevent their pipes from freezing or bursting?

A: Adequately heat and properly insulate the house, especially if you have problem areas. One of the mistakes people made was cutting down their heat when they left for the holidays. When they came back, they found tragic results. We had some pretty sad stories. Even in the older homes, if people make updates on things like windows, especially in their basement, it helps a lot.

Q: Can you describe a time when you were faced with a situation that tested your skills?

A: Almost every day in some fashion or another. Just the other day we (at A B Plumbing Services) were changing from three tanks to four in an apartment building. We had to encompass water lines, HVAC, gas lines, and electrical. We had to do that in a fast way so that the 40 units could be back operating in a reasonable amount of time. We also do a lot of service and repair on older homes, such as chasing leaks in pipes through old-style construction and doing as little damage as we can to fix the problems.

Q: Many plumbers are on call nights and weekends. What do you do to balance work and personal life?

A: We have a loyal customer base -- 95 percent are repeat customers. Well do what we can to accommodate them. We are a small enterprise, so we are not a 24/7 operation. And, like the old adage busy people find time, I find time to spend with my family and social groups. With the crew that works with me, we trade off on offhours.

Q: How have changes in technology affected your job?

Q: What would people be surprised to learn about your profession?

A: The biggest shock is that plumbers dont take home a lot of money. Its a really expensive business to operate between the tools, equipment and materials. If people get sticker shock when they see their bills, this doesnt mean the plumber is getting rich. When I bought my trucks, the price of gas was $1.29 a gallon. Were at the mercy of the wholesalers and the economy. When things like the price of oil go up, so does the price of PVC pipe. The price of copper has skyrocketed. We have no control over those types of things.

Read the original:
Tony Bocchicchio, Lakewood plumber: Five Questions

Q: With the winter we've had so far, what free advice can you give to folks about how to prevent their pipes from freezing or bursting?

A: There are several steps that one can take. The first and most important step in this prevention is to make sure your home or property has adequate heat. If temperatures drop to freezing levels, plug in spot heaters where it is the coldest on the property. For example, many burst waterlines are generally located on the outside walls running from the basement, garage and up through the multiple floors of a home. The second step is to isolate any waterlines that are not used, such as hose bibs (outside faucets) and ensure they are turned off and drained. Thirdly, if your home is prone to frozen water lines, our family business, Plumbing 911 is able to install special pipe insulation and heat tape to help aid in this prevention. Finally, if your lines do freeze, it is important to contact us as soon as possible in order that we can professionally thaw the lines, before they burst and create a flood situation resulting in costly pipe repairs.

Q: Can you describe a time when you were faced with a situation that tested your skills?

A: Yes. Plumbing is a big part of everyone's lives, and we often forget how these modern advances simplify and enhance our everyday living. As a master licensed plumber with the state of Ohio, I receive special training each year to update my skills on code changes within the state. Licensed plumbers often find themselves updating incorrect plumbing and even fixing "do it yourself" plumbing to the correct regulated approved codes. Our job, like many other professions, is not always as easy at it seems.

Q: Many plumbers are on call nights and weekends. What do you do to balance work and personal life?

A: Plumbing 911 is a family owned and operated business, which enables us to surround our customers with quality people and employees in order for us to balance the workload equally and to help each other, just like a family. It is important to always remember what things are the most important in life and to keep those things the first priority. My family does this by making Sunday a day of rest, so we can reset ourselves, physically and spiritually, while keeping meaningful connections with the relationships in our life.

Q: How have changes in technology affected your job?

A: The first gift of technology to the plumbing world is the video camera for sewer systems. This camera enables us the ability to inspect the main sewer line for any major issues that the customer needs to be made aware of and then to set up options on how to best approach those sewer issues. Sewers that are not properly maintained or that are older, may cause clogs and backups. The second gift of technology to the plumbing world is electronic line location. This enables us to directly pinpoint where a sewer line has broken underground. It also tells us how deep the line is buried. We do not have to dig up your entire property, but are able to perform spot sewer line repairs -- saving you costs and yard repairs. Thirdly, [gone] are the days of sewer cables, snakes or roto-rooter machines. We now have machines known as hydro-jetters or hydro-flushers that enable us to not only clear the blockage but to clean the entire diameter of the drain. It uses high-pressure water and special cutters. This machine gives the ability to cut through any clog, grease, or roots.

Q: What would people be surprised to learn about your profession?

A: What people don't know is that most in our profession love being a plumber and working with their hands. Secondly, there has been negativity around our trade for plumbers not arriving when they said they would; however, our company is turning that around and we are happy to service you. Whenever you need us -- we'll be there.

Read the original post:
Keith Miller, Medina plumber: Five Questions

12 hours ago by Ann Perry ARS horticulturist Eric Brennan has found that randomly interspersing alyssum plants throughout rows of organic lettuce helps maximize visits by hoverflies that prey on lettuce pests. Credit: Stephen Ausmus

Studies conducted in an organic lettuce field managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicate that there's more to sweet alyssum than just good looks. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) horticulturist Eric Brennan has identified ways to improve how the pretty white flowers control aphid pests that prey on lettuce leaves. ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency.

Lettuce growers in California's central coast plant alyssum to attract adult hoverflies that feed on the flower's pollen and nectar. After eggs laid by the well-fed females hatch, the voracious larvae prey on currant lettuce aphidsan important primary insect pest of lettuce in the region. The aphids are particularly difficult to control because they colonize the interior leaves of the lettuce plant.

Brennan, who works at the ARS U.S. Agricultural Research Station in Salinas, Calif., wanted to figure out the most cost-effective alyssum planting patterns in lettuce fields to help organic producers maximize their profits. At a working research farm in Salinas that is certified for commercial organic production, he established experimental beds with eight different planting combinations of alyssum and romaine lettuce.

For two growing seasons, Brennan evaluated how alyssum biomass and flower production varied with alyssum planting density and how competition between lettuce and alyssum affected the biomass of both plants. In beds where alyssum had been planted in addition to a full complement of lettuce, the alyssum produced more blossoms per gram of alyssum dry matter.

This response indicated that the alyssum and lettuce planted in this pattern may have been in stronger competition for nutrients needed to support biomass production. But the resulting boost in blossoms increased alyssum's value as an insectary plant, which is a flowering plant cultivated in crop fields because it attracts insect predators to feed on pests.

Brennan has also concluded that randomly interspersing alyssum plants throughout all the lettuce rows could minimize competition between lettuce and alyssum and encourage adult hoverflies to forage for pollen and nectar more evenly throughout the field.

Results from this study were published in Biological Control in 2013.

Explore further: Flower power fights orchard pests

More information: Read more about this work in the January 2014 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.

See the original post:
In the field, the right flower arrangement can improve organic pest control

10 Ways Bed Bug infest your room or dorm Princeton NJ 732-309-4209 | Eliminex Exterminators
Eliminex Pest Control NJ 732-309-4209 http://newjerseypest.com explaining how people get bed bugs in their homes and the best way to eliminate bed bugs Middl...

By: pestpro

Original post:
10 Ways Bed Bug infest your room or dorm Princeton NJ 732-309-4209 | Eliminex Exterminators - Video

Burnside Pest Control
Burnside Pest Control covers the Charlotte NC including Harrisburg NC, Concord NC, Matthews NC, Huntersville NC and Mooresville NC. Pest Extermination Servic...

By: Duane Burnside

Link:
Burnside Pest Control - Video

Hunt #39;s Pest Control - Sandy, UT
Hunt #39;s Pest Control 801-200-3688 http://www.yellowbook.com/profile/hunts-pest-control_1855616443.html hunts pest control ccpej8zzp 8015318676.

By: yellowbook

Read more from the original source:
Hunt's Pest Control - Sandy, UT - Video

Commercial Pest Control Sydney
RIP Pest Control offers the most comprehensive and advanced commercial pest control, Sydney; with use of only organic and non-toxic ingredients; carried out ...

By: David Neale

See the original post here:
Commercial Pest Control Sydney - Video

Northshore Pest Control - Kenosha, WI
Northshore Pest Control 262-960-1614 http://www.yellowbook.com/profile/northshore-pest-control_1530198048.html north shore pest control hcbet8zzw 2629601614.

By: yellowbook

View original post here:
Northshore Pest Control - Kenosha, WI - Video

Ken Shick
H H Pest Control Waterproofing serving Cleveland, Gaston, Rutherford, Lincoln Counties since 1974. http:/www.hhpci.com.

By: H and H Pest Control

See the original post:
Ken Shick - Video