Agoura Hills Choice Plumbing Advice About Automatic Earthquake Shutoff Valves in Agoura Hills, CA

When an earthquake occurs, the shaking to a home can cause damage to both gas pipes and appliances, damage that can result in natural gas leaks, fires, and explosions.  Earthquakes can’t be prevented, but fires from broken gas lines certainly can be. The installation of a shutoff valve can put a help to lower the pervasive fire risk, one that is a major factor in one out of four fires following an earthquake. In Agoura Hills, CA, having an automatic earthquake shutoff valve for natural gas lines makes a lot of sense.

Of course, while we at Agoura Hills Choice Plumbing believe that earthquake and over-surge protection can be a real life-saver, it is also vitally important to reduce the possibility of a gas leak with regular gas line and appliance maintenance, as well as repair when necessary. Electronic gas line leak detection is yet another important safety tool.

Make sure your water heater and all appliances that use natural gas are anchored, and that they utilize flexible pipe connections. Flexible pipes are very important, as much gas line plumbing uses decidedly unflexible black iron piping. An earthquake can all too easily break the joints in these types of pipes, and flood a home with flammable gas. There are several kinds of shut off valves,  including valves that are earthquake-activated, excess flow valves, methane detectors, and manual shut-offs, as well as methane detectors. Both earthquake activated valves and excess flow valves should be state certified and installed on the house line that connects your meter to your actual gas.

Is it hard to install these valves? No. When an earthquake hits with a larger than 5.4 magnitude, a seismic actuator releases, and gas is prevented from entering your house. In short: a simple and effective way to reduce danger when an earthquake occurs.

Walking in Agoura Hills, CA: Four Reasons Agoura Hills Choice Plumbing Believes in the Benefits of Stepping Out

Walking is great for your health, and walking on your own home turf is even healthier. At Agoura Hills Choice Plumbing in Agoura Hills, CA, we believe there are many benefits to taking steps - yes, pun intended - that lead to social connections, neighborhood safety, and a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.    

Here are four main benefits:

First, walking the streets of your community will keep you fit. Averaging two miles a week results in a body weight of six to ten pounds less than a resident who doesn’t walk, according to health studies. Walking is a great way to exercise regardless of your age. It can help prevent or reduce the risk of diseases like diabetes, it counters the rising incidence of obesity, and lengthens the average person’s lifespan.

Second,  you won’t just be helping yourself, you’ll also be helping the environment. Using your feet as transportation reduces another kind of footprint - your carbon footprint. You aren’t burning fossil fuels when you’re walking, or wasting money on automobile expenses. You’ll be saving all sorts of “green.” After all, traveling on foot instead of by car means steps taken toward a reduction in both pollution and personal costs.

Third, you’ll also be helping to keep your neighborhood safe. Studies show that crime takes a dive when people are out walking, watching the neighborhood, and supporting local businesses.    Keeping an eye out means keeping your community safe from crimes of opportunity.

Fourth, you’ll make connections with other residents and local business owners. When you’re walking, chances greatly increase for casual conversations with the neighbors, or getting to know local shopkeepers. That support makes neighborhoods thrive. Locally run businesses succeed in communities where people walk to shops and restaurants, where neighbors know each other. Instead of driving to a big box store in another area, make a point to stroll a few blocks to the local hardware store or eatery.

So start stepping out! Walk by yourself, or form a group of neighbors or friends.  No matter how you walk,  only 30 minutes a day, five days a week can add an average  year and a half to your life.

Water Heater Maintenance and Replacement Tips for Agoura Hills, CA

Your water heater may be the last thing on your mind. At least, it is until there’s a leak or when you climb in the shower, only cold water comes out. At Agoura Hills Choice Plumbing in Agoura Hills, CA we know that  water heater service can be all too easily ignored. But service is key to increasing the lifespan of a water heater. That’s why water heater service from a certified contractor is so important. Whether you have a gas, electric, or tankless water heater, it’s smart to schedule regular maintenance –  before you need water heater repair or replacement.

After all, maintenance is just as important as installation. Making sure your water heater stays in good shape means that it will not need to be replaced for a much longer time, and it will work more efficiently. An efficient water heater will reduce your costs and energy consumption. Along with regular maintenance, water heaters should be insulated, to reduce heat loss - which will also reduce water-heating expenses.

Depending on the type of water heater you have, your maintenance needs will differ. Traditional hot water heaters, whether they’re gas or electric, should have the pressure relief valve inspected by discharging it several times, and examining it for any leaks. The water heater tank should also be drained to remove sediment if necessary, and the tank and connections both thoroughly examined to check for wear, rust, or corrosion. If necessary, worn anode rods should be replaced as well. Replacing a rod is much more cost efficient than replacing your water heater.

A tankless water heater utilizes different maintenance procedures, such as checking for debris in the in-line screen filter, and flushing the unit to remove any lime or scaling.

Here in Agoura Hills, CA how long can you expect your water heater to last? The average is about eight to twelve years. However, by following a regular maintenance schedule you can extend the life of your water heater well beyond that average.


  
  

Electrical Panel Contractor Service in Agoura HIlls, CA - Service Tips from Agoura Hills Choice Plumbing

                        Electrical Panel Installation and Home Re-Wiring Tips


Residential rewiring, installation, and the upkeep of electrical panels, and circuit breaker installation can require a residential wiring contractor in Agoura Hills, CA. At Agoura Hills Choice Plumbing, with that in mind, here are some house re-wiring and electrical panel inspection tips.

One of the most important considerations involving electrical panel installation and home wiring and re-wiring is that this type of work can be dangerous in untrained hands. You need to be aware of national and local electrical codes, power must be turned off, and you should use a non-contract voltage tester to be absolutely certain no hot wires are left in the circuit before work has begun. Sometimes electrical panel boxes are poorly marked, so double checking is always key, and one of the first things any professional does.

Basic house wiring starts at the main service panel. This is where the main breaker is located.
Installing a new panel is a large job, and while adding a circuit is less onerous, it still requires precautions and precision. For one thing, there are a variety of different types of circuits in the home, including 240 volt circuits which are used for large appliances like stoves, hot water tanks, and dryers. Basic house wiring uses copper wiring in all homes built recently. Houses constructed in the 1970's or earlier can have aluminum wire in them, which, due to fire hazard, should be replaced. Knowing what type and thickness of wire to use within the home depends on the circumstances in which it’s used - another reason to have a professional work on home wiring and panels.

Like wiring, circuit breaker types vary and depend on usage. Because circuit breakers are usually specifically tied to a panel manufacturer, it’s important to make sure that any replacements or additions are compatible.

For all these reasons, choosing a professional to handle your electrical panel installation and home rewiring can be the best choice for homeowners.

Using an Electronic Slab Leak Detection Inspection in Agoura HIlls, CA to Cut Costs and Prevent Damage to Your Home

Electronic leak detection is a plumbing technology that can help you uncover leaks without major disruption to your home or your wallet.  In fact,  at Agoura Hills Choice Plumbing in Agoura Hills, CA,  we’re skilled at using electronic slab leak detection service to uncover below-ground leaks before they result in high costs and property damage. Using a certified contractor with the proper equipment to detect leaks below ground can save you thousands of gallons of water, and thousands of dollars, too.

Electronic detection can reveal problems that are hidden beneath slabs, underground, and in walls. With so many homes built on slabs, leak problems have become more and more commonplace. If there’s a hot spot on the slab floor or in a wall, your water bill is increasing or your water meter running for no reason, you’re likely looking at a leak. But it doesn’t mean the end of the world. Even sewer and water service lines can also be inspected with a small amount of disruption, allowing trenchless repairs to take place easily. Electronic detection can also detect cracks in cement, dry wall, or plaster, to prevent problems with outside water leakage, too.

Routine inspection means prevention before problems get out of hand. With fast, easy detection, solutions to leaks are less costly and time consuming than in the past, with equipment capable of
pin-pointing a leak’s location without having to tear up foundations just to locate a problem.

And once a problem is located? Spot repair and re-piping or re-routing can rapidly and easily performed. Spot repair involves opening the slab exactly where the leak is located, and repairing that spot only. If plumbing systems are over ten years old, or more extensive leaking is taking place, re-piping or re-routing repair is the way to go, again with minimal invasion to the slab.

In short, we use quality equipment to detect hidden leaks wherever they occur, behind walls or underground. And that means simple repairs before major damage has a chance to occur.

Finding a Licensed Electrician in Agoura Hills

If you need help with installation, repair, or upgrading of the wiring in your home, where do you start? At Agoura Hills Choice Plumbing we believe that finding the best licensed electrician in Agoura Hills, CA is an important first step, whether you need to fix a faulty outlet or handle any electrical repair, house rewiring, or the installation of electrical panels.

The electrical contractor you choose should be skilled at major electrical tasks, such as wiring home upgrades, and be available for residential emergency services seven days a week, at any time in a 24 hour day. After all, electrical emergencies don’t just happen during business hours on weekdays.

Whatever type of electrical work you need, you need reliable service - electrical repairs and additions are not something to tackle on your own. However, it’s important to find an electrician that’s locally based so you’re not wasting time or spending money on travel charges. Ask questions to ascertain your electrician’s skills and comfort level with not only repairs but the installation of cost saving electrical fixtures such as motion detector switches, accent lighting, installation of major appliances, and if necessary, rewiring your home.

If you are thinking about rewiring, whether to update an older home or repair damaged wiring, the electrician you choose should be able to discuss material costs - copper wiring can be quite expensive - as well as the process of rewiring. Although rewiring isn’t something to be undertaken lightly, it’s often a necessity that will help your home operate more smoothly, and accommodate appliances, computers, home video systems and the like. Older wiring systems are often not built to handle today’s conveniences, and just using them can tax your system to the breaking point.

Finding the right professional to work with  you on any project - whether it’s a major task such as upgrading the wiring in your home, or a quick solution to a broken fixture, or trouble-shooting an outage in your residence - means peace of mind when it comes to the type of project that it’s best not to do yourself!

Using a Video Camera Inspection in Agoura Hills for Sewer and Drain Lines

Getting a regular sewer line inspection, and drain lines examined is an easy form of preventive maintenance and trouble shooting. Using electronic leak detection will help you watch for plumbing problems of all kinds. Early detection is key to home maintenance. Preventing problems or addressing them quickly means putting a stop to damage to your home and finances.

Using a video camera inspection in Agoura Hills is a sound plan to examine your sewer and drain lines. An inspection provides an accurate view of the condition of your plumbing. Even small issues can be seen, such as rusted patches or waste build up. How are such detailed images possible? Video inspection uses a very small and unobtrusive camera. It’s inserted down your branch lines - the pipes leading from your bathtubs and faucets to your home’s sewer line; or down your home’s sewer line, leading from your home to the sewer line on the street. Video cameras are waterproof, suspended on a flexible rod, and able to fit pipes in a variety of sizes from two inches to thirty six inches. Images can be saved, too. Comparing past and current images can be important.

Video inspection provides accurate pinpointing of trouble spots, which means a fast solution to your plumbing problems. The camera inspection can reveal issues such as tree root intrusion and pipe breakage, cracks, corrosion, or identify the exact location of leaks and clogs. Whether used to address specific problems or for preventive maintenance, inspections are thorough and fast. And speed is of the essence: if you find a needed repair early, options are available to handle even major issues, such as trenchless sewer line repairs. Let the camera travel where you can’t - and use the technology of a skilled video inspection, today.