As reviewed with Pat McMahon recently, thousands of Valentines will be taking their romance to the bathroom this year. With soft music and candle lite baths, but before homeowners turn down the lights they should make sure their shower and bathtub are safe from clogs, mineral deposits, and life-threatening bacteria.

The bathroom can quickly become a safe haven for germs and even life-threatening bacteria. This is one of the major reason it is essential to maintain a regular cleaning schedule with a home’s drains and pipes.

When Texas A&M University microbiologist Rita Moyes, PhD tested 43 water samples from whirlpools, she found that all 43 had mild to dangerous bacterial growth.  Almost all showed bacteria from fecal matter; 81% had fungi, and 34% contained staph bacteria.  According to Moyes, the main reason whirlpool tubs are so dirty has to do with the lining of the pipes.  Water tends to get trapped in the pipes, providing a breeding ground for bacteria.  When the jets are turned on, the germy water spouts out into the tub where homeowners will be soaking.

1. Flush the drains, toilets and grease traps at least once a month with BioBen. This will keep the pipes clear and issues resulting from clogged plumbing at bay. It also doesn’t contain any hazardous chemicals, so homeowners never have to worry about sacrificing the safety of the environment for the sake of a clean and functioning drain.
2. Fill each sink to the brim, and then pull up the stopper. The volume and weight of the water will completely fill the drain pipe and flush the drain line. Once every three months, fill every sink and tub in the house with water. With the help of friends or family members simultaneously pull all of the drain stoppers up and flush all toilets in the house. This large volume of water will help flush out the larger sized drain stacks and underground building drains.
3. Soak each showerhead in vinegar overnightand scrub off excess mineral deposits in the morning. This will help maximize water pressure. Simply tie a plastic bag filled with a cup of vinegar around the showerhead before bed and remove in the morning.

Pipes should be given a cleaning every six months by a professional plumbing service. In addition the cleaning of pipes and drains, look closely at pipes for cracks and breaks.  Cracks in the pipes can cause leaks, both slow and fast, which can ultimately lead to damaged cabinetry, ceilings and flooring, mold and even termites.

Regular cleaning of drains and pipes can prevent clogging, flooding, breeding of bacteria and ultimately preserves the condition of fixtures and the health of the occupants of the home.  Scheduling time to do a check-up on the piping in your home may be the best and most important choice to make this Valentine season.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment with us, feel free to visit us online at http://www.benfranklinplumbingaz.com/ or call 480-485-1111.

Looking for a little pop of glam in your accessories for the holidays? Try something unexpected like this…

You may have seen the hints of gold and copper accessories hitting the runways this fall and we’re here to tell you theres a very simple and affordable way to do it yourself.

Did we mention it was actually pieces of piping? Not all plumbing pieces are used for plumbing repair only

You can head to your local home improvement store and pick piping pieces in all shapes, sizes and metals. Once you pick out your pipe ask for a piece cut between one and three inches – depending on the size you’re looking for.

Then all you have to decide is whether or not you’re going to go for a sleek or casual pony tail, a cute braid, or experiment with different updo’s.

To insert the clip into your hair, just twist the hair style and slip the clip up to the spot you would like it in. If you’re worried about it staying put just wrap a small elastic hair band under the clip.

Whichever way you decide to incorporate the DIY hair cuff you can be guaranteed the cuff itself will be the easiest part. We would love to see your styles. Check out our facebook page: and send us pictures that we can feature on our next DIY Blog!

Thanks to our friends at glitterandpearls.com for sharing DIY Plumbing inspired fashion tips!

Water, whether you drink from your faucet, your fridge or a pre-packaged bottle is not what it used to be. We as consumers can tell by key factors like taste, smell and even appearance.

We have talked about what’s in your water. We have talked about how cities are trying to decontaminate it and what those decontaminates are like chlorine. We have talked about how they are affecting your plumbing and even a few ways to prevent that water from entering your home like with a whole house filter system.

What we haven’t talked about is exactly what contaminates are in your water, let alone what household items are flowing with that water around in your pipes.

A recent article by Readers Digest released what is truly in our tap water. “60,000 chemicals are used across the country—and can get into our drinking water—though the EPA enforces limits on fewer than 100.” Out of what was found, some could be expected like animal waste and pesticides especially around smaller, rural towns. Others, like medical waste, arsenic and rocket fuel were a bit more of a shock. The largest shock was how much was slipping through the checks and straight into our homes.

We’ll tell you here, exactly whats in our water and floating around with it in the sewers…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPFjP9H63zw[/youtube]

Have any questions about whats in your water? Call us at Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber today at 602-485-1111. Mention this Blog post, and we’ll even come out and check the quality of your water for FREE!