Mahoney's eNews - Food, Water, Warmth & Shelter

Feb. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- As you may know, food, water, shelter & warmth are the fundamentals of life and of Maslows hierarchy of needs. Inspired by our involvement with a month long food drive starting today for the Northern Illinois Food Bank, we began pondering the idea that these literal requirements for human survival arent always as easy to meet as wed hope. To help people meet their food requirements, we are participating in the drive as a drop-off point to accept donations to help the food bank (complete details below in the Mahoney Plumbing News section)
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More in our area of expertise though, we compiled some information on the water & warmth needs that we hope helps you stay comfortable in your shelter. Especially with the pending snowfall, we hope everyone stays safe & comfortable in their homes over the coming days.

Till next time, Sláinte!
Dan Mahoney

Maintenance Reminder: Identifying Your Water Shutoff Valves

Water is a life source, but when its leaking in your home its more like a pain source. Just this week, we had a customer who couldnt find her shutoffs & thus sustained more damage to her home than necessary. In an emergency, the very last thing you want to do is struggle to find your water shutoff valves. We strongly encourage you to get to know your home & where the shutoff valves are located. In the event of a leak, this information can save you thousands in unnecessary water damage.

There are two types of shutoff valves  the main shutoff which controls the entire house & supply shutoffs that control water to specific fixtures & appliances. While every home is built differently, the logic of these valves is usually similar. Supply shutoffs are found near the fixture or appliance. To see an example, take a look behind your toilet at the knob on the left side as you face the toilet (most toilets have these but certainly not all do).

Here is a picture of what one style of shutoff looks like. Yours could look like your water hose shutoff or more similar to a pull lever. If you cant see a shutoff behind the toilet, check your other fixtures like your kitchen sink or laundry machine. These should have 2 - one for the hot; one for the cold.

If the leak is major, then sometimes the supply will not stop the water. You should know where the main shutoff valve is to turn all the water off to your house. The main shutoff is typically located near the water meter. Around here, the valve is typically inside in a basement. The shutoff will be on the water line coming into the house and will always be before the first fixture or appliance such as a water heater.

As a starting point, check around your water main or in the mechanical area of your home. If you have trouble finding these valves on your own, please have one of our plumbers label your shutoffs the next time we perform a service call. Knowing how to stop water from flooding your home can be an extremely useful piece of information & takes just a few minutes to understand.

Quick Fix Tip-o-the-Month: How Water Protects You From Foul Odors

If you smell something foul in your house, it could be caused by water missing from your p-trap.
Without being too technical, the p-trap is an ingeniously designed pipe that is used throughout your house in places like your sinks and tubs. Pictured here is an example of a bathroom p-trap.
These odd looking pipes use water to keep foul fumes and gases from getting into your home by trapping water in its dip at the lowest point. This trapped water fills the lowest area and it acts like a plug blocking odor f rom coming up through your pipes. However, sometimes there isnt enough water or the water has all evaporated and sewer odors are allowed into your home. If this is the case, simply run a little water in the drain to reinstall that protective water barrier & the leaking odors should disappear.

Product Spotlight: Whole House Humidifiers Enhance Comfort of Your Heating System

As any Chicagoan knows, humidity makes a big difference in comfort. The high humidity days of summer are prime examples of how its not just the thermostat that impacts your comfort. During the winter, the effects of humidity exist too. The lack of humidity in the winter leads to dry sinuses, itchy skin & static shock that plague you. To maximize the comfort in your home, you need the right mixture of heat and humidity. A whole house humidifier delivers the exact amount of moisture required for your heat setting by adding moisture to the air as it leaves your furnace and runs through your ducts. Best part, you can add or update your humidifier for a special discounted rate! Check out this months special below for details.

Details on Specials at www.MahoneyPlumbing.com/specials.html

Working Together to Sink Hunger Food Drive

Annually PAMCANI (a local contractors) February food drive to benefit The Northern
Illinois Food Bank (NIFB). This year we are proud to serve as a drop off site for the food drive. We are reaching out to our customers to ask for donations. Canned food can be given to our technicians to include in the donation, or you can drop off items to our shop in Highwood or lend your support by giving money. The NIFB can provide six (6) meals for just one dollar. Any and all donations are appreciated. All food items and monetary
donations  without exception- will be donated fully to the Northern Illinois Food bank.

Learn more plumbing, heating & air conditioning tips & tricks at www.MahoneyPlumbing.com/Blog.html

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About Mahoney Plumbing
Founded in 1960 to provide home comfort to North Shore residents, Mahoney Plumbing, Inc. offers complete service and repair of plumbing, heating and cooling systems. Our teams of licensed, bonded and insured technicians are ready to take care of you. From small repairs to larger remodeling and new construction builds we’ve grown over the last 50 years by providing outstanding service our customers talk about. Check out the company’s full line of service at www.MahoneyPlumbing.com .

For interview requests or additional information, contact:
Contact: Katie Mahoney, Administration/Marketing
Phone: 847.432.0320
Email: Katie@MahoneyPlumbing.com