Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. Blog: Archive for November, 2014

10 Facts You Should Know about Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 27th, 2014

Thanksgiving has been celebrated as an official holiday in the United States for over 150 years, so you may think you understand all there is to know about this family feast. Most of us have heard the story of the pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving in 1621 after arriving in North America on the Mayflower. But did you know that only about half of the people on this ship were actually pilgrims? This fact is one of ten things that may actually surprise you about the Thanksgiving tradition!

  1. Although we often consider Thanksgiving a holiday unique to the United States, many other countries and cultures celebrate their own set of harvest-time and thanksgiving traditions. In Korea, Chu-Sok (or “fall evening”) is put on in remembrance of forefathers on August 15th of every year. Brazil celebrates a contemporary version of the U.S. holiday. Chinese, Roman, and Jewish cultures all have a history of harvest celebrations as well.
  2. President Harry S. Truman began the tradition of a ceremony held before Thanksgiving during which the president receives a turkey. George H.W. Bush was the first to pardon the turkey instead of eating it.
  3. In Minnesota alone, farmers raise over 40 million turkeys a year. In fact, U.S. farmers produce about one turkey for every one person in the country.
  4. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the average American will gain about one to two pounds every year during the holiday season.
  5. On the other hand, turkey is naturally high in protein and has been known to support and boost immune systems to protect against illness and speed up healing. So feast on!
  6. Abraham Lincoln issued a “Thanksgiving Proclamation” in 1863, but a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale can be credited with the idea. While Thanksgiving had been celebrated at different times of year in many areas of the U.S. for years, it was Hale, prominent magazine editor and author of the rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” who urged Lincoln to finally establish the national event.
  7. President Franklin D Roosevelt once tried to change the date of Thanksgiving to the second-to-last Thursday of the month in order to extend the holiday shopping season and boost the economy.
  8. Only about half of the people on the Mayflower were what we would consider today as “Pilgrims.” The other (approximately) 50 people were simply trying to find a way over to the New World.
  9. Gobble, gobble! Click, click? While male turkeys make a gobbling noise, females (hens) do not; it’s often described as a clicking.
  10. Even though we celebrate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November, the month of June has been declared National Turkey Lovers’ Month by the National Turkey Federation so you can continue the celebration in the summer as well!

From our family here at Modern Plumbing Industries Inc., we’d like to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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Can Drain Cleaning Improve Your Kitchen?

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

The kitchen sink is a key component of your plumbing system, as it’s where you get some of the most important home tasks completed throughout the day. Whether it’s filling up a glass of drinking water, a pot for boiling water, or a bucket for mopping, you’d be lost without a working sink. And in order for your kitchen sink to work, you also need a functional draining system so that wastewater doesn’t pool in your sink and so that sewage backup doesn’t occur in other areas of your home. Maintain your kitchen sink by scheduling annual drain cleaning, the benefits of which are outlined below.

Remove Clogs

Professional drain cleaning is simply the best way to ensure common kitchen clogs are eliminated from the pipes for good. A drain clog is more than an annoyance; it’s also a health hazard if wastewater pools in the sink or dishwasher or if sewage backs up through a drain. And the only safe method of clog removal at home is a plunger. If you attempt to clean your drains with a chemical drain cleaner, it could actually damage the pipes, and it’s toxic for humans as it risks injuring to the skin and eyes. You may be able to purchase a small drain snake at the local hardware store, but you risk pushing the clog further along into the drain. Professionals can inspect the pipes to ensure the blockage is entirely eliminated after cleaning.

Prevent F.O.G. from Causing Future Clogs

F.O.G. stands for fats oils, and grease, and it’s one of the biggest threats out there to your plumbing system. These substances seem relatively harmless, which is why many people end up dumping them down the drain after food is fried or when they need to dispose of leftover grease or oil after meal preparation. However, these solidify when they cool, and then they may stick to the lining of the pipes, until debris and dirt continues to latch on leading to major drain clogs in the future.

Call Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) today to schedule an appointment or speak with a quality plumber about our professional drain cleaning service in Orlando, FL.

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What Is the Difference Between Hybrid Water Heaters and Other Water Heaters?

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

You may be surprised to learn that there are several different options available to homeowners looking to find a new water heater near Apopka, FL. You’re probably most familiar with the traditional storage tank water heater, which relies on a large tank and the heat rising principle to heat water. A long tube sends cool water down to the bottom of the tank, where a burner or electric heating element then heats up the water. Hot water naturally rises to the top of the tank and is sucked through a tube and brought into the pipes when you turn on a hot water tap in the home.

For people with gas-powered storage tank water heaters, particularly with high-efficiency systems, this can be a rather efficient way to heat up water. A storage tank water heater must stay on throughout the day to keep hot water available. This means that there is a lot of standby energy loss; energy is used all day to heat water that you will only use a few times a day. However, natural gas is generally less costly than electricity. If your water heater can only run on electricity, you may end up spending a lot more, unless you choose another type of unit.

Many people who rely on electricity to heat up water choose a tankless water heater. A tankless water heater instead heats up the water on demand, sending water through a heat exchanger which begins to heat up as soon as you turn on a hot water tap and turns off immediately after you’re finished. Still, some people are dissatisfied with tankless units because they can take a long time to heat up water. Besides, you may need multiple tankless units to accommodate large households, at a much higher cost.

Enter the hybrid water heater. This is a traditional storage tank water heater with a twist: it uses a heat pump to heat up the water. A heat pump is a device that moves heat from one area from another. In this case, the water heater uses a fan to draw in air from the surrounding area. An evaporator coil contains refrigerant which absorbs heat from the air. As refrigerant moves through the compressor, it’s heated up even more. It then flows through a heat exchanger so it can heat up the water in the tank. This is a far more energy efficient way to produce heat and keep hot water available at all times.

Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) has a wide variety of water heaters available, including traditional units, tankless water heaters, hybrid systems, and even solar-powered units. Call us today to find the perfect water heater for your home in Apopka, FL.

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Why You Need Professional Plumbers for Pipe Replacement

Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

If you have a problem with your water or sewer line, the worst case scenario is that your pipes will need replacement. However, the situation does not have to be stressful so long as you choose a qualified plumber for the job. A quality plumber will inspect the pipes to ensure that you get the right service, keep you informed of time and cost estimates, and provide the quickest and, more importantly, the most thorough service possible.

At Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI), we want to help you choose the right technician for the job, so we’ve put together a guide to some of the reasons you should always trusted skilled and experienced professionals for pipe replacement in Winter Park.

The Right Contractor Will Let You Know if Repair Is an Option

Of course, replacement is generally a last resort, chosen only when the pipes suffer from mineral buildup, are at risk for corrosion, or when improper placement or faulty installation causes frequent leaking and pipe bursts. Don’t let an inexperienced plumber charge you more for pipe replacement when a few repairs may prove just as effective. Check reviews online to find a contractor who won’t scam you and leave you with a hefty bill.

A Good Contractor Can Work with Your Schedule

A decent contractor should be able to work with your schedule in some ways, since pipe replacement is a job that often takes several days. Ask for time estimates and make sure there is some way you can still have access to water. Many plumbers will run a temporary pipe to the water main so you can get on with your daily routine.

Professionals Know How the Safest and Least Invasive Methods of Pipe Replacement

Finally, professional plumbers know the safest ways to repair your pipes, as well as which methods do the least damage to the landscaping. Pipe replacement is an invasive process, during which large portions of your yard must be excavated, but professionals can help make sure the impact of this is kept minimal.

Call Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) to schedule an appointment and speak with experts you can trust for quality pipe replacement service in Winter Park.

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