Thursday, August 22, 2013

Signs Of A Gas Leak

On its own, natural gas does not have a scent. The rotten egg/sulfur smell is added to gas as a safety precaution so that homeowners are able to detect a leak before it turns deadly. However, some people won't be able to smell gas because they have a diminished sense of smell, or certain conditions could result in the odor of the gas fading. Don't just rely on your nose to tell you there is a leak.

If you suspect that you have a gas leak, leave the building and call your local gas company or 911. Never attempt to repair the gas line yourself. These types of emergencies always require a professional and only a licensed plumber is allowed to work on gas line installation and repair.

There are some signs of a gas leak to watch out for:
  • Hissing, whistling, or roaring sound near gas appliance or gas line
  • Smelling the rotten egg/sulfur smell 
  • Dead or dying vegetation over or near a gas pipeline
  • Exposed pipeline after fire, flood, or other disaster
  • Physical damage to a gas appliance
  • Water or dirt being blown into the air
  • A fire or explosion near a pipeline
We also offer gas line installation for any gas appliance. This includes barbecues, hot tubs, pool heaters, fireplaces, gas stoves, cook tops, boilers, clothes dryers, and remodeling projects.

If you live in the Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance with gas line installation or repairs. There are many DIY tasks a homeowner can take on, but installing or repairing a gas line is not one of them.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

The History Of Plumbing

Plumbing has a very rich and long history that not many are aware of. Ancient civilizations even used a crude form of plumbing that we see variances of today. Below is a list of facts you may or may not know regarding the plumbing industry...

1. "The John" is named for a real man. 
There's a reason why we call toilets "johns." It refers to Sir John Harington, the creator of the first modern flushing toilet. Harington created his model upon request from his godmother, Queen Elizabeth I of England. Allegedly, she refused to use it because it was too noisy.

2.Copper has been used in plumbing since ancient times. 
Today, copper is widely considered the best material for piping, but it wasn't our generation that discovered it. Archaeological digs have unearthed evidence showing that the ancient Egyptians used copper piping for their bathroom plumbing over 3,000 years ago!

3.Flushing uses more than a third of your water. 
Flushing the toilet uses enough water to constitute 38% of the average home's annual water usage. This works out to around 37,000 gallons for a family of four. If this seems too high for you to justify, you should invest in a low-flush toilet, which can save you over 18,000 gallons of water per year.

4.Heating up tap water wastes more than you may realize
! If you run your shower or tap to wait for the water to heat up, you likely waste 9,000 gallons of water per year. This waste accounts for up to 15% of your annual heating expenses.

5.Albert Einstein wanted to be a plumber
. In 1954, Einstein sent a letter to the New York-based magazine The Reporter and said that if he could live life over again, he would rather be a plumber than a scientist. As a result, he was named an honorary member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union!

If you live in Naperville-Plainfield-Aurora, Geneva-Batavia-St.Charles or Wheaton-Winfield-Warrenville-Glen Ellyn area, contact AquaTech Plumbing at 630-416-3555, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555 for assistance with any of your plumbing needs.