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Water heaters are amazing devices that provide hot water to every area of your house whenever you need it. But because these devices are metal containers holding water, are under a great deal of pressure, and operate at high temperatures, there are some risks associated with the units.
But with the right maintenance steps, you can keep your water heater running properly and safely, and ensure it has the longest life possible. And to get your water heater ready for this fall and winter, follow these simple maintenance tips.

Double Checking the Temperature

If you don’t know what the temperature of your water heater is, you should have a look. You may find that you need to adjust it for one reason or another.
Most people set the temperature between 120 F and 140 F, but it’s becoming more common to set heaters to 140 F because of the bacteria-killing properties of this heat level. It seems that 120 F isn’t quite high enough to kill certain bacteria in the water, but it is a good temperature for energy savings.

Adding More Insulation

Everybody wants to save money and energy these days, and you can do this by insulating your water heater tank and pipes. If the pipes don’t have any insulation on them, you can add insulating sleeves that will help reduce energy loss. Similarly, if your water heater tank feels warm to the touch, you should outfit it with an insulating blanket or jacket.
Safety tip: If you have an electric water heater and you outfit it with a blanket or jacket, do not set the thermostat above 130 F. Doing so can cause the wiring to overheat.

Getting Rid of Sediment from the Tank

Sediment naturally builds up in the bottom of your water heater tank, and this can allow bacteria and microbes to grow. Not only can this corrode the tank, but if your water heater isn’t set to the right temperature, it can also allow bacteria into your drinking and bathing water. To prevent this, you should flush the tank on an annual basis, as this removes sediment and mineral buildup.
Safety tip: Wear protective shoes when you flush the tank, because the water coming out is very hot, and spills could burn your skin.

Checking That the Anode Rod Is in Good Condition

The anode rod can extend the life of your water heater because it attracts corrosion to itself rather than the tank. The rod should be inspected every one to two years and replaced every five years.
Safety tip: Before inspecting the anode rod for corrosion, turn off the power and the water, turn on a hot water faucet in the house to relieve pressure, and drain several gallons of water from the drain valve before unscrewing the rod.

Making Sure the TPR Valve Is Working

Without the temperature and pressure relief valve, your water heater is at risk of exploding under the pressure that can sometimes build up inside the tank. To test the valve, simply lift the metal lever attached to the discharge pipe to open the valve. If the valve is working properly, there will be a rush of water out the discharge pipe.
To help keep your family and your home safe, you should inspect and maintain your water heater following these steps annually. Call Valley Plumbing, in Salt Lake City, UT at 801-341-4222 immediately if you encounter any problems, or need help with other plumbing and maintenance issues.

The month of October is Adopt-A-Dog Month, a month dedicated to encouraging people into adopting and rescuing a dog at their local animal shelter. There are many great reasons why you should adopt, rather than buy, a dog at your local shelter.
You can also visit your local animal shelter and learn more information about adopting, what kind of shelter they are, and much more. If you still want to support your local shelter but can't maintain a pet in your home, then there are other actions you can take.

Why You Should Adopt and Not Shop!

Sure people believe that you should purchase a dog at a pet shop rather than adopting one because dogs from a pet store are cleaner, less-problematic purebreds. That's a myth. There are plenty of good reasons why adopting a dog is better for both the dog and the adopter.
These reasons include:

• adoption of a dog means saving that dog's life
• purchasing a dog or a puppy from a pet store is more expensive than adopting
• you can choose whether you want a puppy or an adult dog that's more likely to have been trained already

 

Dogs from a Shelter are Cleaner than Pet Shop Dogs

Not only are they cleaner, but they are also healthier. Shelters usually vaccinate their dogs as well as spay and neuter them. On top of all of that, shelter dogs don't have as many problems on a genetic level than dogs from a pet shop.
Pet stores rely on obtaining "purebred" dogs from puppy mills. Dogs that are purebred are forced to mate with their relatives, and as a result, end up receiving more genetic defects and diseases than mutts do.
Those who run puppy mills don't care about the fact that their animals may end up or currently have physical problems. They don't even take great care of their dogs.
To them, dogs are nothing more than a means to earn more money. Adopting a dog can discourage the demand for dogs bred from these cruel puppy mills.

Visit Your Local Animal Shelter to Learn More

You can learn whether or not your local shelter is a no-kill shelter by checking them out in person. The shelter can provide you with useful information on how their dogs are treated, and how to care for a dog, yourself. Maybe your next visit will end with you adopting a new dog.

Volunteering and Donating are Great Alternatives to Helping Your Local Shelter

You may not be able to own a pet of your own or just simply don't want to. That's alright because you can instead go to your local shelter to help out. Just doing basic tasks like washing dishes and feeding the pets can be a huge benefit to the shelter. Even if you don't have the time to volunteer, you can still donate money. A little bit of money can go a long way to these shelters.
Please donate to American Humane in Washington, DC, and don't hesitate to call at (800) 227-4645. They founded Adopt-a-Dog Month and are dedicated to rescuing shelter dogs.
If you find yourself in need of some plumbing assistance in the Salty Lake City, UT area, please contact Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning, at (801) 341-4222 today to schedule a service call.
 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and there are lots of ways that you can get involved to raise awareness of women’s health.
Whether it’s raising money, sharing posts on social media, donating your time to volunteer at a walk or rally, or even just discussing the importance of cancer screening with your loved ones, there are lots of ways to get involved.

Wear a Pink Ribbon with Pride

Wearing pink isn’t just for girls anymore; these days wearing pink is a symbol that you stand with women of all ages and walks of life in their battle against breast cancer and are dedicated to helping raise awareness.
You can help out a local charity by purchasing a pink ribbon to wear on your coat or sweater, or if a ribbon isn’t your thing a little creative Googling will help you find a wide selection of pink products to suit your fancy and show cancer patients and survivors that you care.

Cheer on Your NFL Team

Are you a sports fanatic? Then you’ll be happy to know that the NFL runs a campaign in partnership with the American Cancer Society called “A Crucial Catch” which is focused on encouraging women to get their annual breast cancer screenings.
During the month of October NFL players, coaches, and referees will wear various kinds of pink apparel and will incorporate the pink ribbon into their games. From spray-on pink ribbons on their field, to pink game balls, and more, the NFL is committed to helping raise awareness, and you can do your part by cheering them on.

Get Out and Get Active

No matter where you live, there’s likely a Breast Cancer Awareness march, walk, or run nearby. You don’t have to be a killer athlete to compete; just showing up and showing your support is enough to make a difference.
There are a variety of walks, runs, and marathons which are held across various states, so make sure to find out what’s available near you and sign up for a race that suits your fancy and fitness level. Make sure to sign up early for your run or walk and get others to sponsor your race to raise funds to continue to fight against breast cancer.

Know the Basics, and Share What You Know

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 230,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and the best way to prevent tragedies from occurring is to know the warning signs in advance and to take precautionary measures.
With this in mind, make sure to speak to the women in your life about how they can stay safe, and ask them to commit to annual breast cancer screenings, and to perform self-checks on a monthly basis in order to stay safe.
For all your plumbing needs contact the experts at Valley Plumbing in Salt Lake City, UT at (801) 341-4222 and enjoy the peace of mind that quality workmanship can provide.

Did you know that frequent kitchen activity can lead to problems in your plumbing? It's true. Plumbing systems are made up of two parts. One sub-system brings fresh water in, while the other removes waste water. Substances referred to as FOG, or fats, oils, and grease, can cause common household plumbing issues, like clogged drains -- and this, in turn, will affect the removal of waste water.
Butter, olive oil, lard, meat fats, and food scraps can stay behind in your drain -- even if you have a garbage disposal -- and cause serious draining problems that can lead to worse issues in your home. Here are some signs that your home needs drain cleaning services, and that you should call a plumber:

1. Slow draining is caused by a buildup of foreign materials in your pipes and plumbing system that are not allowing water to pass through.
2. Foul smells and odors around sinks and drains are signs of rotten food that has not been properly disposed of. When rinsing off dishes or running the garbage disposal, some foods can get left behind without you realizing it. They begin to decompose and cause nasty odors.
3. Regular use of marketplace drain cleaners is not normal. Of course it's fine to use these products every so often, but if you find yourself purchasing and using a whole container in a short span of time, this can be indicative of a larger issue.

Failure to address these problems can result in common plumbing emergencies. When water does not drain, stagnant water is left sitting in sinks and pipes. This water, filled with germs, can pose substantial health risks.
Dirty, foul-smelling water can trigger allergies in some people, especially those with asthma. Contact with dirty water can also cause skin irritation.
Some people think that hot water will help force FOG-based clogs down the drain by melting the substances, but actually, steaming hot water is even more harmful to the situation.
Clogged and dirty drains can cause buildup of bacteria like legionella. By immersing the bacteria in warm water, you may give them a perfect environment in which to reproduce. Take legionella, for example; this is a bacteria that can be spread through standing water and bacteria, both of which occur in clogged drains. Legionella causes Legionnaire's disease, a possibly deadly pneumonia-like condition that attacks the respiratory system.
If you find yourself with a potentially clogged drain or any other common plumbing emergencies, Valley Plumbing as soon as possible.

Looking for a job can be stressful. Trying to put together a resume that stands out might seem impossible. September is National Resume Month, and we include four tips that you can keep in mind when organizing your resume.

The Benefits of an Online Resume

An online resume offers a lot of advantages, the most common places being:

• LinkedIn
• Your site
• Job boards like Monster or Indeed

Recruiters and employers do a lot of searching online these days, so if your resume is online, they can find you more easily. An online resume also functions well as a "master resume."
For each job you apply for, you typically edit your resume down and tailor it to that particular job. Having an online resume allows potential employers to see a complete picture of you, and there might be something on there you didn't choose to include that sticks out to them that gets you a callback.

How to Organize Your Resume

There are a lot of different ways to organize your resume, and all can be successful.

• The most shared and popular is a chronologically organized resume that has your most recent accomplishments at the top and goes back in time from there.
• Career changers or recent grads without a lot of experience can use the functional resume format, which emphasizes your abilities over your past employment.

No matter how you ultimately decide to organize your resume, the bottom line is: use the same organizational style throughout.

What Not to Write on Your Resume

• It is accepted that including references on your resume is a waste of time and space - if a potential employer wants references, they'll ask, and you can provide them separately.
• Objective statements have also fallen out of fashion because they are focused on what you, the applicant, wants, not what the employer needs, which is their focus when looking to hire someone.
• If you must have a header statement, try using what's called a personal statement instead. It sums up who you are and your professional qualifications in a sentence or two - basically like your Professional Headline on LinkedIn.
• Do not list hobbies on your resume, unless they are extremely relevant to the position to which you're applying.
• Do not list old jobs on your resume that have no relevance to the one for which you're applying.

Keep Your Resume Up to Date

Even if you are not currently seeking employment, you have a lot to gain by periodically updating your resume. Opportunities can arise very quickly, and even if you are content in your current job, your dream job might make itself known to you at a moment's notice.
It's good to be able to respond immediately when opportunity calls instead of having to take up precious time to massively update your resume or build another one from scratch. You also might forget particular accomplishments when you go to update your resume at a later date.
So give your resume some love this September by picking it up, dusting it off and looking at it critically. Update it even if you're currently happy with your employment situation. You never know when your dream job will come knocking, or your situation will change!
And remember if you are in need of any quality services in your Salt Lake City, UT home, call Valley Plumbing at (801)-487-4770.