Category — Tips and Advice

Grab bars are bars that you install in your shower or bathtub to help you move around. You can find them readily in handicapped bathroom stalls, bathtubs, clinics and hospitals. There are several advantages of getting a few of these installed in your home. For one, it will help you safely move around your bathroom, as getting in and out of the shower can sometimes be a hassle. If you have weak knees, they will take some of the pressure off of rising from the commode. If you simply need something to lean on, these grab bars will provide just that, and best of all, they can go just about anywhere where there is a wall to hang them on.

As a body gets older, it starts to slow down and move a little differently. This can make it so difficult to get out of a shower. With a grab bar, this is made simple once again. Since you can put them anywhere in the shower, you can find yourself having something to hang on to at waist height, or at standing level you have an aide to step out. If you are a person that bathes in the bathtub versus standing for long periods in the shower, having one at the tub level to push or pull yourself up on is ideal – and with the two hundred and fifty pound weight capacity you can pretty much ensure that you can lean as heavily as you like without compromising safety.

Grab bars are especially vital if you have elderly parents or relative living with you. They provide the extra support needed to lift themselves from the toilet which is much safer than placing their hands on the slippery tiles. It is also very useful for those who are handicapped as well.

If getting out of the shower isn’t a problem, perhaps your body has trouble riding from a sitting position on the toilet. If you install on or two bars on each side, the problem is eliminated. Don’t worry – grab bars come in a variety of shapes and sizes so that you can fit them in even the tightest spaces to lean on, or even in front your toilet so that you can grab onto it and pull yourself up. Grab bars are peened, which makes them a little rough so that there is less chance for your hands to slip.

Grab bars are an essential part to the safety of an elderly or disabled person who wants to stay at home. These items are made so that people can move around safely in an environment that can be quite dangerous for anyone. Children can also benefit for the bars when standing in a tub so that they don’t slip as well.

At Baker Elman Plumbing, we are conscious of the needs of the elderly and handicapped. Hence we now offer a wide range of grabs bars and hand held shower systems that is easy to install and maintain with the goal of making your bathroom and home a safer place.

For more information about grab bars and handheld shower systems, call us at 617.244.6500 or visit us at http://bakerelman.com.

About the Author

Baker Elman Plumbing is the leading Boston plumbing company in the greater Boston area. Their award winning services are unsurpassed and with over 60 years of experience in the plumbing business, they are confident in their ability in offering high quality workmanship at affordable rates.

If you’d like to know more about making your home elderly or disable friendly, let the expert plumbers at Boston plumbing, Cambridge plumbing, Somerville plumbing, Arlington plumbing, Belmont plumbing, Brookline plumbing, Jamaica Plain plumbing, Newton plumbing, West Roxbury plumbing or Watertown plumbing provide you with the appropriate advice and guidance.

One of the important things to consider when designing your bathroom is the type of hand held shower system that you are going to install. Choosing the right shower system for your bathroom may be confusing as there is a wide array of choices available for you to choose from. Some of the types of showers, which you may consider are the handheld and overhead showers.

If you prefer handheld showers, you can choose from among the different styles. If you are often experiencing leg and back pains, you may try the massage handheld showerheads. This type can relieve stress and relaxes your tired muscles. It has adjustment mechanisms where you can set your desired water level and pressure.

The handheld shower is more suitable, especially if someone in the house is elderly or handicap, as it allows one to control the water pressure and the movement of the water that comes out. It is also great for caregivers because you can get hold of the shower with one hand and your other hand to hold your patient without you getting wet. This also allows the person to sit on a chair and control the water if they like.

Installing the handheld shower is easy. There are several ways to install the handheld depending on your individual needs. It can be used as a showerhead and a handheld or it can be put on a hose that hangs on a cup on the wall. You can also install a slide bar and make it adjustable to the persons height.

Boston’s leading plumbing company Baker Elman Plumbing specializes in installing grab bars and hand held shower systems that caters to the elderly and disabled.

For more information about handheld shower systems, call us at 617.244.6500 or visit us at http://bakerelman.com.

About the Author

Baker Elman Plumbing is the leading Boston plumbing company in the greater Boston area. Their award winning services are unsurpassed and with over 60 years of experience in the plumbing business, they are confident in their ability in offering high quality workmanship at affordable rates.

If you’d like to know more about making your home elderly or disable friendly, let the expert plumbers at Boston plumbing, Cambridge plumbing, Somerville plumbing, Arlington plumbing, Belmont plumbing, Brookline plumbing, Jamaica Plain plumbing, Newton plumbing, West Roxbury plumbing or Watertown plumbing provide you with the appropriate advice and guidance.

NEWTON, Mass. — The cold temperatures on Monday could mean problems in your home, and one of the biggest – frozen pipes.

The subfreezing temperatures have put one bathroom out of commission in Newton.

“The pipe to the bathtub is frozen, and the drain, so it’s not working,” said the homeowner. “No bathtub. No shower.”

David Elman of Baker-Elman Plumbing says he’s been responding to multiple frozen pipe calls all day long.

“No heat. No water – just typical cold weather related issues,” said Elman. “All because of frozen pipes.”

Elman says this particular pipe froze because it was in an uninsulated part of the house over the garage. He says to help prevent frozen pipes, you can insulate the pipe or the area around it, run a faucet connected to the pipe, and for houses with hot water heat, don’t turn the thermostat down at night.

“Keep it at one temperature through the cold weather because the water will circulate more often and won’t freeze,” said Elman.

But Elman says frozen pipes can’t always be prevented.

“Pray for warm weather would be the only way. In some houses there’s no way to prevent it,” said Elman.

Elman says there is one other thing homeowners can do. If the frozen pipe is inside a cabinet, he suggests that you open the cabinet doors to expose that pipe to warmer air.

Click HERE for a complete footage of the video interview with David Elman.

More and more people are becoming environmentally conscious these days and are building homes that are earth-friendly. This initiative extends to plumbing systems as well. Eco-friendly plumbing is often called ‘ Green plumbing’, as they reduce the environmental footprint of our actions on the planet. Plumbers equipped with these skills are capable of installing many different types of energy saving systems and even appliances in your home. Baker-Elman Plumbing is one such company who is dedicated to practicing green plumbing and they are installers of earth friendly products.

A green plumber usually possesses certificates in several relevant courses to become accredited. This is important to look out for when hiring plumbing services, as it confirms their expertise in the area. Examples of their expertise are in implementing solar powered water heating systems, tanks that collect rainwater, and grey water recycling systems. They should also be knowledgeable about the latest information regarding energy efficient methods in plumbing.

Eco-Friendly Plumbing Projects

Some of the most common earth-friendly plumbing projects for the home are:

•Rainwater Collection – This can be done by installing a rainwater tank, and it is a great way to take full advantage of this free resource. Gardens are not only pleasing to the eye but they play an important role in preserving oxygen levels in the air. However, they require a lot of water, thus collecting rainwater, especially during dry weather can be especially cost-efficient and green. Moreover, rainwater can be collected in tanks that run through toilets or laundry appliances.

•Solar Powered Water Heating – The abundant natural energy from the sun’s solar rays are an economical and green way to heat water in a home. These days, they even come with back up systems in case of sun-free periods.

•Grey Water Systems – Grey water refers to used water from certain sources and appliances at home, such as the washing machine and bath. When a Grey Water System is installed, it filters and stores this used water to be re-used later. If the household members use green detergents, it can provide a considerable amount of additional water for use.

Six tips to save water at home

Use these tips to make the most of one of the world’s most valuable resources.

1. Install a dual flush toilet, that uses more or less water as needed

2. Choose showers over baths, as they use less water if you keep them quick

3. Check your plumbing systems regularly to avoid leaks

4. Use plants that are water independent in your garden

5. Install a rainwater tank and use it to water your garden and for other exterior washing needs

6. Tankless water heaters which are 90% efficient and the Eternal water heater are energy efficient and heat the water as needed. The Eternal water heater which is 98% efficient, has a small chamber which holds 2 gallons of water so that you do not experience the hot and cold sandwich effect that are common with the other style tankless heaters.

If you’d like to know more about the information provided above, seek out accredited green plumbers at Boston plumbing, Cambridge plumbing, Somerville plumbing, Arlington plumbing, Belmont plumbing, Brookline plumbing, Jamaica Plain plumbing, Newton plumbing, West Roxbury plumbing or Watertown plumbing for additional advice and guidance on making your home more green.

Find out more at http://bakerelman.com/ or call 617.244.6500 today!

One of the most costly systems in a home or any building for that matter is the plumbing system. A small damage can easily snowball into a very expensive affair, and therefore, it is absolutely essential to constantly check the plumbing system. By hiring competent and skillful Watertown plumbers like Baker Elman Plumbing to attend to your plumbing needs on a consistent basis, you will save yourself the expense of future plumbing damages which might cost you thousands of dollars. Thus, it is advisable to make time to check your plumbing system at least once a month. As soon as you see a leak, take immediate action by calling plumbers in your area such as West Roxbury Plumbers!

But how do you detect a leak? In a copper pipe, you will first see a small white circle around the leak. In the beginning it may not cause a big problem, but this can very soon grow out of hand.

Remember to check the sinks in your bathrooms and kitchen. Clear out everything from beneath them and check the pipes. Moreover, many people store cleaners and other things underneath the pipes. While handy, the cold temperate and moisture in these bottles can attract mold and pests. Some of the hard bottles and objects can accidentally knock your pipes and cause damage. Thus, Newton plumbing advise you to avoid using the space underneath sinks to store things.

After checking the pipes, you should take a look at the valves around your home. If they feel tight, and are difficult to close, do not push or pull too hard as they might break. Instead, call Watertown plumbers to help you replace and fix these valves.

The final step is to turn off the taps and check your water meter. Generally, the meter should not be moving, but if it is, then it could suggest the presence of a leak. Call West Roxbury plumbing to aid you in looking for these leaks as they may be anywhere. The leak could be underground, from the faucets or the tanks. Call Newton plumbing, Watertown plumbing, West Roxbury plumbing or Jamaica Plain plumbing when you have these problems. Do not try to handle these issues yourself as a little mistake can end up costing you dearly.

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. So before you have a huge plumbing problem on your hands, seek out warning signs in advance by thoroughly checking your system ever so often.

For more information as assistance call Watertown plumbing, West Roxbury plumbing, Newton plumbing, Jamaica Plain plumbing, Brookline plumbing, Belmont plumbing, Arlington plumbing, Somerville plumbing, Cambridge plumbing or Boston plumbing at 617.244.6500 or visit http://bakerelman.com/ now!