Nexus Plumbing Blog

We Need Your Help:

Support AB2467

Victim Safety through GPS Monitoring

The PHCC- SD and Members Ryan and Ginny Scharbarth, are asking for your help.

After the tragic murder of their daughter, Ginny has testified before state lawmakers this past Tuesday in support of a bill that would allow authorities to use GPS technology to monitor targets of restraining orders.

Ginny Scharbarth said if Assembly Bill 2467 had been in effect last year, it may have prevented her daughter’s ex-boyfriend from ambushing and strangling her the night before Thanksgiving.

Letter from Ginny Requesting YOUR HELP:

On Tuesday, April 17, 2012, I appeared in Sacramento to support a bill written by Assembly member Ben Hueso of District 79. Assembly member Hueso has proposed a bill, AB2467 – Victim Safety through GPS Monitoring. It will increase safety for victims of domestic violence and stalking through GPS monitoring of their abusers. This bill will serve to turn the written words of a restraining order into real and tangible protection for victims. I testified in Kathy’s memory and for all women who fear for their lives.

Your support is vital. Please reach out to the members and ask them to support the bill. A simple phone call before Monday, April 23, 2012 to the members’ offices would be very helpful in getting this bill out of Public Safety Committee and on to the Judiciary Committee. Make sure you ask for the person who “briefs” the member on the Public Safety Committee or is assigned to that committee.

Thank you for your help. Let’s make a difference in Kathy’s honor and for all women who need protection.

Ginny
Act Now!! Please call the following Assembly members and let them know you are in SUPPORT of the Victim Safety through GPS Monitoring before Monday!

Tom Ammiano – Chair 916-319-2013
Steve Knight – Vice Chair 916-319-2036
Gilbert Cedillo 916-319-2045
Curt Hagman 916-319-2060
Holly J. Mitchell 916-319-2047
Nancy Skinner 916-319-2014

Lately I am obsessed with DIY network. They have so many good tips and ideas for homeowners.

Here is a link to try and fix a running toilet on your own

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-stop-a-running-toilet/index.html

Here is a tip of my own..Do not modify or cut any parts inside the tank of your water closet!

If you attempt to repair on your own and still need assistance it is better to call a plumber at that point to avoid a slow drip or possible leak.

www.nexusplumbing.com

Campaign slams regional water district
San Diego authority protests provider’s proposed rate hikes

The San Diego County Water Authority has turned frustration with the Metropolitan Water District into a full-fledged public relations campaign in hopes of avoiding more regional rate increases set for a vote next week.

In letters, news releases and a just-launched website, water authority officials said they will divulge “the truth” about MWD. By their accounts, the Los Angeles-based water provider is a modern-day “Chinatown,” full of shady dealings designed to avoid public scrutiny and maintain its empire.

While the two agencies have a long history of spats in and out of court, the current offensive by San Diego leaders targets Metropolitan’s plans to raise wholesale water rates by an average of 7.5 percent in 2013 and 5 percent in 2014. It already has increased prices by 75 percent over the past six years, according to county water officials.

The San Diego officials are chartering a bus to Los Angeles on Monday so they can protest the proposed prices and what they see as a systematic attempt by some Los Angeles-area water agencies to undermine their credibility.

Mark Watton, general manager of the Otay Water District in Spring Valley, said the local delegation will call for Metropolitan to delay voting on rates and make budget cuts given a sharp decrease in water sales.

“We want to right-size Met,” Watton said.

John Foley, chairman of the Metropolitan board, issued a statement Thursday that said that his agency is committed to transparent public discussions to make sure that all of Southern California’s needs are addressed.

“It is regrettable that San Diego County Water Authority is using ratepayer money to engage in political gamesmanship and questionable tactics outside of the deliberative process where all member agencies attempt to work collaboratively to resolve differences,” he said.

In recent months, Metropolitan leaders have defended the integrity of their rate-setting process and disputed many of the water authority’s claims. The water authority sued Metropolitan in 2010 for allegedly setting rates so that San Diegans subsidize other Southern California ratepayers. There’s been no ruling on the substance of the case, which could be worth billions of dollars in coming decades.

The San Diego water authority has launched a new website — MWDFacts.com — “to provide greater information and transparency into the powerful and secretive Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.”

Metropolitan serves 19 million people in six counties by importing water from Northern California and the Colorado River. It is the largest supplier for the San Diego County Water Authority, which has been trying for years to reduce its reliance on MWD. The Southern California supplier is run by a 37-member regional board that has left the four San Diego members feeling outnumbered.

In a statement on its website, Metropolitan said its proposed annual budgets of nearly $2 billion allow it “to meet key priorities while keeping proposed rates as low as possible.”

Spending over the next two years is expected to include more than $550 million of investments in infrastructure, along with funding for conservation programs and incentives for water recycling projects. Prices also are set to increase Metropolitan’s fiscal reserves.

Metropolitan is considering the 2013 and 2014 rates at a committee hearing on Monday in Los Angeles and the issue is on the full board agenda for Tuesday.

Representing those local agencies, the county water authority complained to Metropolitan this week that the Los Angeles agency did not provide enough public notice about next week’s rate decision.

“Metropolitan’s highly irregular, headlong rush to adopt another two years of water rate increases serves no apparent purpose other than to shorten the time for public review and comment,” said Monday’s letter, signed by four county water authority representatives to Metropolitan’s board.

The letter noted that Metropolitan’s sales had fallen sharply in recent years.

“The (MWD) board has taken no meaningful actions, in terms of programs or staffing, to reduce the expense side of the budget to reflect this dramatic reduction in MWD sales,” San Diego representatives said in February.

Metropolitan said that it has reduced its staff by more than 160 positions in the past three years.

In a related development, water authority officials said Thursday that they have uncovered a plan to disgrace them. Local leaders suspect Metropolitan used an intermediary to pay for a $50,000 analysis of San Diego’s water costs by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.

A subcontractor who helped with the report was Steve Erie, a professor at UC San Diego. The county water authority, led by General Manager Maureen Stapleton, said Erie has been a paid consultant for Metropolitan in past litigation against the water authority and questions whether he is unbiased.

The Western Municipal Water District, a member of Metropolitan that serves part of Riverside County, requested the study. Several agencies, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Municipal Water District of Orange County, wound up commissioning the analysis.

“We were simply looking for a factual presentation of the cost components of the water transfer” from the Imperial Irrigation District to the San Diego County Water Authority, said a statement by Western Municipal’s General Manager John Rossi. He said part of the goal was to determine whether SDCWA was trying to shift “a significant portion” of its transfer-related costs onto Metropolitan agencies.

Colin Maynard, a spokesman for the economic development council, said the report is being finalized by an internal economist before it’s formally delivered to Western Municipal.

“There’s nothing nefarious,” Maynard said. “This is just a straightforward economic analysis.”

Erie expressed irritation over the water authority’s charges. He said his contract was with the economic development agency and he didn’t know that Western Municipal was a sponsor. Erie also said much of the work was done by others.

“Maureen Stapleton has been saying for years I have been a secret consultant for MWD,” Erie said, something he denies.

Watton is doubtful it’s all aboveboard.

“Metropolitan, through some of its member agencies and consultants, I believe conspired to have this study done to give it some distance from them and put on a stamp of a disinterested third party,” Watton said.

The study includes a comparison of rate increases by the water authority to those by Metropolitan over 10 years. The bottom line, according to the report, is that San Diego County water users pay more and absorbed quicker cost increases because local leaders have purchased relatively expensive water from the Imperial Irrigation District.

Stapleton on Thursday sent a letter to the economic development corporation asking it to terminate what she called an “incomplete and inaccurate” assessment or submit it to “objective and credible” economists for review.

mike.lee@utsandiego.com (619) 293-2034 Twitter: @sdutlee
View Full Articel at :

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/08/campaign-slams-regional-water-district/?ap&page=2#article

It is that time of year again and although most of us here in San Diego do not see the change of seasons as much as the rest of country we do engage in the ritual of “Spring Cleaning”.

Beside the basics most people forget to make up a check list of annual “To Do’s” to keep there appliances, heating and plumbing systems functioning properly and at an energy efficient level.

So here is a reminder to:

Check all silicone caulking around tub, shower, windows, toilets and sinks

Have air filters for heating and A/C replaced and air ducts cleaned if needed

Inspect under sinks to ensure all P-traps and angle stops are tight and no leaks or water damage is visible

Make sure you have adequate insulation for your home. Current code is 6″ and most people have 4″. Updating could save on energy costs.

Call us if you need any advice on updating or repairing your plumbing 858-736-4028 or www.nexusplumbing.com

Home buyers have it drilled into their heads that they need to get a home inspection. In California, for example, real estate agents advise home buyers to do a home inspection 15 ways from Sunday. Our purchase contracts contain two pages that talk about doing a home inspection, and those two pages are repeated in the buyer’s broker agreement. That’s just for starters.
A home buyer does not close escrow without hearing about the need for a home inspection. But what does a home inspection report disclose? Home buyers are often clueless about home construction and its components, and have difficulty deciphering home inspection reports. Many don’t know how to figure out which types of defects are serious or whether their home inspector checked all the essentials. But, by George, they got that home inspection!

Home Inspection Checklist Comparisons

All home inspections are different and can vary dramatically from state to state, as well as across counties and cities. Much depends on the home inspector and which association, if any, to which the home inspector belongs. Because I am most familiar with home inspections conducted in accordance with the standards of practice established by the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, the following information is based on NACHI guidelines.

Home Inspection Checklist of Items Not Inspected
Understand that California home inspectors are not licensed, nor are they licensed in many states. However, a home inspector’s standard practice typically does not include the following, for which a specific license to inspect and identify is required:

•Asbestos
•Radon, Methane, Radiation and Formaldehyde
•Wood-Destroying Organisms
•Mold, Mildew and Fungi
•Rodents
•Lead

General Home Inspection Checklist Items

•Structural Elements.
Construction of walls, ceilings, floors, roof and foundation.

•Exterior Evaluation.
Wall covering, landscaping, grading, elevation, drainage, driveways, fences, sidewalks, fascia, trim, doors, windows, lights and exterior receptacles.

•Roof and Attic.
Framing, ventilation, type of roof construction, flashing and gutters. It does not include a guarantee of roof condition nor a roof certification.

•Plumbing.
Identification of pipe materials used for potable, drain, waste and vent pipes. including condition. Toilets, showers, sinks, faucets and traps. It does not include a sewer inspection.

•Systems and Components.
Water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning, duct work, chimney, fireplace and sprinklers.

•Electrical.
Main panel, circuit breakers, types of wiring, grounding, exhaust fans, receptacles, ceiling fans and light fixtures.

•Appliances.
Dishwasher, range and oven, built-in microwaves, garbage disposal and, yes, even smoke detectors.

•Garage.
Slab, walls, ceiling, vents, entry, firewall, garage door, openers, lights, receptacles, exterior, windows and roof.

Home Inspection Checklist Items Needing Service
Home inspection reports do not describe the condition of every component if it’s in excellent shape, but should note every item that is defective or needing service. The serious problems are:

•Health and safety issues
•Roofs with a short life expectancy
•Furnace / A/C malfunctions
•Foundation deficiencies
•Moisture / drainage issues

Home Inspection Checklist Items Sellers Should Fix
If you have a choice, it is smarter to hire your own contractors and supervise repairs. Before issuing a formal request to repair, consider the seller’s incentive to hire the cheapest contractor and to replace appliances with the least expensive brands.

Although home inspectors are reluctant to and, in many cases, refuse to disclose repair costs, call a contractor to determine the scope and expense to fix minor problems yourself. No home is perfect. Every home will have issues on a home inspection. Even new homes.

A repair issue that will be be a deal breaker for a first-time home buyer, causing the buyer to cancel the contract, will not faze a home buyer versed in home repair. Talk to your agent, family, friends and call a few contractors to discuss which types of defects are minor. Perhaps a simple solution is available such as replacing a $1.99 receptacle, which can resolve many outlet problems.

Pat yourself on the back, too, for getting a home inspection. Some buyers feel a home inspection is unnecessary, especially if they are buying new construction. If a light switch doesn’t work or the air conditioner blows out hot air, those are problems you can see and test. The problems that aren’t readily identifiable to you such as code violations, a furnace that leaks carbon monoxide or a failing chimney, are the types of defects a home inspector could identify in a new home. Builders’ contractors make mistakes, too.

Watch Weintraub’s Video about What Happens at a Home Inspection.

Read full article here:

http://homebuying.about.com/od/homeshopping/qt/091107_homeinsp.htm

Join the Water Authority for an informative discussion on our area’s water infrastructure at the third “Water Talks” community forum, co-hosted by the South County Economic Development Council.

The event is free, but space is limited and RSVP’s are required. Light refreshments will be served.

http://www.sdcwa.org/water-talks

For those who don’t know Westfield Mall UTC is undergoing a massive remodel.

Nexus Plumbing was awarded (2) projects as part of this renovation and recenlty completed the remodel of (2) restaurants located at the food court of UTC Mall. (1) Mongril and (1) Steak Escape.

Westfield UTC is scheduled to have the following changes by the end of 2012:

•Fourteen-screen ArcLight premium cinema — ArcLight operates with no commercials, all-reserved seating and no entry after a movie has started. Amenities include extra-wide seats.

•Tender Greens restaurant — will feature organic produce and al fresco dining.

•Expanded 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport Club — will be triple the size of the existing club and have a swimming pool and full-size basketball court.

•Public seating — more places to sit scattered throughout the mall, including tables for business meetings and soft chairs around a fire pit — and Wi-Fi.

•Family features — a new children’s play area and family lounge in front of Macy’s.

By the end of 2013, the mall plans to have:

•More than a dozen new shops and restaurants replacing some existing ones whose leases are expiring. Names will not be released until the deals are finalized.

Full Article:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/07/westfield-utc-kicks-1-billion-renovation-project/

Use a five gallon bucket as a tool holder. And if a leak springs mid-project, it’ll catch the water. A tool caddy can also be attached to the bucket providing a place for everything.

Keep a forced cup and a regular plunger handy. Each plunger has its own specific use and provides extra unclogging power.

Wrenches are essential in plumbing. A pair of medium sized slip joint pliers and an adjustable wrench should cover most jobs, along with various sized wrenches.

A multi-bit screwdriver can reduce the number of tools that need to be carried around on the job.

An assortment of Allen keys is very handy and has many uses.

Duct tape and leak sealing tape can help out in a plumbing emergency until a permanent fix can be made. Teflon tape will seal up leaks from around threaded connections.

A variety of blind caps can help you see your way through repairing a broken valve.

Heavy duty paper towels or rags will help clean up water from small leaks.
Emergency Tips

Always know where the main water shut-off valve is located in case of a leak.

Know how to turn off the water heater. If it’s a gas water heater, turn the switch to the “pilot” position.

Isolation valves located at each fixture will stop the flow of water to that location. This allows water to continue to service the remainder of the house while the leak is being repaired. It’s a good idea to turn on and off each isolation valve in the house at least once a year to keep them in good working condition.

Using two wrenches at once turning in opposite directions is called “backing off” and allows the wrench to absorb the stress and not the plumbing.

Slip joint pliers can be used to loosen the collar nuts on a drain line.

If a supply tube break off is causing a leak, screw in a blind cap to seal off the leak until it can be fixed.

Occasionally, the ferrules in a supply tube can get scratched or dented causing water to leak. Use Teflon tape around the ferrule until a permanent repair can be made.

Use duct tape or pipe sealing tape to pull together a crack in a pipe, reducing the leak as a temporary solution.

A cup plunger can be used for small drains like bath tubs, showers and lavatory sinks. Forced cup plungers have a funnel that can apply extra force down the drain, which is good for sinks or toilets.

When unclogging a kitchen sink, use a second plunger to cover the other drain to get the most force to remove the clog.

To unclog a toilet, use a forced cup plunger.

For bathtub clogs, unscrew the chrome cap — this exposes the entire drain. Once the mechanism is removed, you’ll be able to see the clog. Put the plunger on the drain, and then use the second plunger to plug up the tub’s overflow. Plunge the drain to remove the clog.

Allen wrenches are useful for working on a faucet and garbage disposals.

http://www.diynetwork.com/plumbing/plumbing-emergency-tips/index.html

The Holiday Season is a happy time.

During the Holidays we enjoy visits from our friends, family and even Santa Claus.

Although you love your friendly plumber, we don’t enjoy having emergency plumbing house calls.

Here are a few simple tips to help keep your Holiday parties and pipes running smoothly:

1. Keep drains free of cooking oil and grease. Scrape food and grease from plates into the trash. Pour off cooking grease from pans and bake ware into a can. Let it cool before placing it in the trash. Collect turkey frying oil and take it to the local household collection facility for free. The tallow company picks it up and recycles it.

2. Beware of the “unflushables.” Household cleaning wipes, facial wipes, baby wipes, toilet bowel cleaning pads, diapers, dental floss, feminine hygiene products and condoms should be disposed in the trash. When flushed they can hang up on roots in sewer lines and cause a stroke of disaster.

3. Keep your sewer lines free-flowing and root free. Use a snake to clean out roots. Don’t use copper root killers. They are toxic to the environment and treatment plants where the waste water flows. If trees grow over your sewer lines you may need to schedule regular visits from a qualified plumber to remove them safely.

http://www.elocalplumbers.com/blog/holiday-plumbing-tips-5541

SAN DIEGO, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Turner Construction Company, San Diego is pleased to announce that its prominent Turner School of Construction Management commenced its first session of 2011 on February 24 at the New Central Library jobsite in downtown San Diego. This free series of classes is available to any company or individual in any segment of the construction industry, and is designed to educate subcontractors on the industry’s newest technology and best practices. As one of the country’s top ranked builders, Turner Construction Company’s training program is an excellent opportunity to develop strategic business relationships with small, women-owned, and minority-owned firms. This newest series of classes in downtown San Diego will complement two existing sessions which take place at the San Diego International Airport every year. Turner’s San Diego office is the only business unit nationwide to host three Turner School sessions.

City of San Diego Mayor, Jerry Sanders, states, “Completing this program places subcontractors in a much stronger position to compete for future city projects. Having a robust local small business community benefits all of San Diego. These classes truly are an asset to our minority business-owners, our communities, and our economy.”

Turner Construction Company’s nationally-recognized Construction Management training program began in 1969 in Cleveland, Ohio. Since its inception, the training has taken place in 70 cities, and over 32,000 businesses have taken the classes. The classes are lead by community leaders and Turner executives who focus on specific aspects of the construction industry, for example: estimating, purchasing, logistics, finances, insurance, and bonding.

Shawn Rosenberger, Vice President and General Manager for Tuner Construction Company, San Diego states, “We have lined up a stellar group of industry leaders to share their expertise in the critical aspects of the construction industry. We are so pleased to partner with the City of San Diego to offer these classes to promote excellence in our industry, and support growth in our region.”

Turner is the leading general builder in the U.S., ranking first or second in all major segments of the construction field. For more information, visit www.turnerconstruction.com/sandiego, or contact Vera Howell at 619-961-2289 to register for future Turner School classes in San Diego.

Media Contact: Beth Binger

BCI

Mobile: (619) 987-6658

beth.binger@BCIpr.com