Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Clogged Drain Health Alert

Alert

How to clean clogged sink
Keeping your drains clean not only saves you a headache by preventing an unpleasant drain clog, but it also protects you and your family from harmful bacteria, infestations of drain insects, and odors originating in your home’s drains and plumbing systems.

When a drain clogs, you can attempt to unclog the pipe with simple home solutions without calling a plumbing company, but it is always important to remember certain safety measures when taking on do-it-yourself plumbing projects.
Why Are Clogged Drains Harmful to Health?

The worst case scenario caused by blockages in drains is sewage back-flow, but even when the clogging is minor and no sewage is present, other problems like drain insects breeding on the insides of the pipes and persistent drain odors threaten the well-being of your household.
Backed-up Drains and Sewage

If at any time you notice sewage backing up in your shower drain or bathroom drains, you should take caution to minimize exposure to the contaminant because it contains numerous bacteria that cause disease. Immediately protect yourself by following this check list:

   1. Make sure children, pets and the elderly are not allowed in the exposed area; they are the most vulnerable to bacteria threatening health.
   2. When in contact with sewage backing up from the clogged drain, use gloves and a face mask, and avoid skin contact with the material
   3. Clean up the contaminated area and every item that came to contact with the sewage (especially toys) with diluted bleach (1 cup bleach for every 5 gallons of water)
   4. Be sure to carefully wash your hands with soap after treating the sewage from the clogged drain
   5. If you or a family member has symptoms such as fever, chills, or vomiting, it is a sign of exposure to sewage, and medical attention may be needed.

Drains Flies and Insect Infestations in Drains

Drain flies, also called moth flies or sewer flies, breed in drains, and while they do not bite, they sometimes spread bacteria and microorganisms from the location of breeding around your home. Cleaning drains professionally not only eliminates clogs, but will also make sure that the breeding areas for drain flies are disinfected. You can also locate the drain or drain trap where the flies are coming from, and use an appropriate drain cleaner meant for removing organic debris from the interior of the pipes.

Drain FlyIn homes, the most common areas for drain flies to breed in are the bathroom drains, most likely the shower drain. You can place masking tape on the drain opening, and if numerous flies get caught, you have probably found the source. Beware that the flies might not be coming from just one drain, but areas like sump pump pits and sewers in the basement are also common homes for the drain flies.

Regular drain cleaning ensures that your drains remain free from odors, insect infestations, and minor clogs. Clogged drains are only one of the nuisances involving drains, and protecting the health of the members of your household requires keeping the plumbing in your home running smoothly, even if that means calling in the pros every now and then.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Minnesota Plumbing Codes Conflict

Editor’s note: The following is a response to “New plumbing code for Minnesota? Them’s fightin’ words,” which appeared in Finance & Commerce on May 19. It represents the views of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), the group that developed the Uniform Plumbing Code and a key player in the state effort.
While we applaud Finance & Commerce’s effort to bring the state plumbing code issue to the public’s attention with its May 19 coverage, we believe the story included inaccuracies that must be corrected.
To give the reader a more balanced view of what’s happening with the code, we want to highlight some myths we believe the article created and provide our view of the facts:
Myth: A “plumbing code war” in Minnesota is pitting contractors, unions, building operators, owners, designers, and others against each other.
Fact: The state Plumbing Board’s goal is to maintain the best possible code by using a familiar format that’s based on the latest technology for the plumbing systems while protecting public safety. Far from creating conflict, this will eliminate the need for extensive training and education.
Myth: The issue is to replace Minnesota’s homegrown plumbing code with one of two international codes — the International Plumbing Code (IPC) or the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
Fact: There has been only one proposal to replace Minnesota’s homegrown plumbing code. It was initiated by the International Code Council (ICC) utilizing a local building inspector in early 2010. The actual request document asks the Board to “repeal” and “replace” the existing code with the International Plumbing Code (IPC). Our group, IAPMO, requested that the Board consider the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and our association’s Green Plumbing Supplement as the basis for updating the state code. This is what the Plumbing Board decided to do by two-thirds majority vote. At no cost to the state or public, we’re working with the board and the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry to merge the existing Minnesota Plumbing and the Uniform Plumbing. We submit each draft for review to Labor & Industry officials and the Plumbing Board. The final decision for any revisions rests with the department.
Myth: Plumbing contractors and the board prefer the UPC because it sells more plumbing.
Fact: Plumbing contractors and the board do prefer the UPC. So do many others, such as plumbing inspectors. Besides being very similar, the state code and the UPC share the same philosophy that all plumbing provisions should be in one place and that place is the plumbing code. Plumbing is plumbing and residential plumbing is no less important than commercial plumbing. However, this is not the case with the IPC, which applies only to commercial buildings, and the International Residential Code is applicable to residential construction. Additionally, those two documents conflict in many areas. The user would have to learn two codes to cover commercial and residential. Furthermore, the IPC references six other codes that would otherwise be covered by the UPC. Buying the necessary documents and getting training makes this a very expensive proposition for a plumber, inspector, designer, or homeowner.
Myth: Because of the other codes adopted in the state, the only logical choice for Minnesota is the IPC.
Fact: Statements like this by some organizations are uninformed. Each ICC code is developed concurrently by one or more committees and supported by different staff members. A number of them are out-sourced or obtained from other organizations. With regard to plumbing, the IPC is not the predominant code in 26 states. There are numerous examples of codes developed by local authorities and our organization that are widely adopted and that work well with the International Building Code.
Myth: The Minnesota Plumbing Board is unwilling to consider the ICC’s arguments or the IPC, and “stonewalled” an ICC lobbyist.
Fact:  After a review in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Minnesota determined the IPC is not a suitable plumbing code for the state. More recently, the plumbing board established a code committee after receiving a formal request from ICC to repeal the existing code and adopt the IPC. All meetings of the board and subcommittees had public meeting notices. In addition, both the ICC and our organization made at least two presentations and had the opportunity to attend all subcommittee meetings that addressed this very issue, as well as the regular board meetings.
Myth:  The “fixture” count will cost Minnesota upwards of $6,000 per building with the UPC.
Fact: In the example cited in the story, the reason for the disparity in the fixture count is not because of needless additional fixtures to pad labor and building cost, but rather to respond to the research performed by the Stevens Institute of Technology and American Society of Plumbing Engineers that concludes that women require more plumbing fixtures due to the differences in how fixtures are utilized and wait times. The research also forms the basis for recommendations made by the American Restroom Association and the Journal of Planning Literature.
Myth: The IPC is a “greener” code.
Fact: Quite the opposite is true. IAPMO currently publishes the most advanced green plumbing code in the United States. The ICC is offering a draft document not yet formally approved by their organization or Board of Directors. The 2012 UPC will be the most sustainable plumbing code ever published. Green is nothing new; in fact, the UPC has been green for decades, with provisions for gray water reuse and establishing water consumption limits for plumbing fixtures and fittings. In 2012, the UPC will have numerous substantive changes that raise the sustainability bar even higher, while maintaining health, safety and reliability.