If so, John Wood, founder and CEO of Hub Plumbing & Mechanical of Boston outlines some alternative methods that can be used to clean up your water.

First of all, many consumers buy bottled water because they assume it’s safer or cleaner than what comes out of the tap from their municipal water source or well. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water used for drinking. While most consumers assume that bottled water is at least as safe as tap water, there are still potential risks. Although required to meet the same safety standards as public water supplies, bottled water does not undergo the same testing and reporting as water from a treatment facility. Water that is bottled and sold in the same state may not be subject to any federal standards at all.”

Wood urges consumers to take matters into their own hands by employing an in-home water filtration system. “If clean drinking water is your primary concern, a number of alternatives to buying bottled water are available. All offer greener alternatives to bottled water, reducing the huge volume of plastic water bottles that end up in landfills. Point-of-use (POU) systems treat water at a single tap. Point-of-use systems include pour-through products, faucet mount filters, counter-top manual fill systems, counter-top systems connected to sink faucet, or plumbed-in systems that are installed under the sink with a permanent connection to an existing water pipe.”

If your water woes are more widespread and include problems with rust or sediment, scale or odors, you might want to consider a point-of-entry filtration system explains Wood. “Point-of-entry (POE) systems treat water as it enters the house, providing filtered water for use throughout the house for drinking, bathing, cooking, laundry and dishwashers.”

Continues Wood, “POE systems can stop dirt, sediment, rust and scale. Both rust and sediment, left unchecked, can ruin appliances while scale creates unsightly build up on water fixtures, coats water heating elements thereby reducing their efficiency, wastes soap by reducing its lathering ability, and leaves an unpleasant residue on your skin, hair, and clothes when they are washed. Also, one of the most common chemical disinfectants found in municipal city water supplies is chlorine, which tastes and smells bad and can be removed with a carbon filter.”

Both POU and POE devices are based on various contaminant removal technologies including carbon filtration, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and distillation. In addition, flow rate, filter size, filter life and port size are also important components in point-of-entry systems, which require professional installation. Whichever system is used, it should meet NSF/ANSI standard 53 and be certified to remove the contaminants of concern in your water.

About Hub Plumbing & Mechanical
Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was established in 1999 and now includes a staff of 16 full time employees. This full service plumbing company assists residential and commercial customers with code violations, sewer/drain clogs, garbage disposals, water heaters, water filtration, steam and hot water boilers, thermostats, leaky faucets, tub valves, gas pipes, appliance installation, outside hose faucets, and residential HVAC service.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was recently highlighted in a new book entitled “The Celebrity Experience” where Hub Plumbing & Mechanical’s Red Carpet Service was cited as an example of how it’s possible to create faithful life long customers by showering them with treatment usually reserved for celebrities.

Hub Plumbing and Mechanical’s signature Red Carpet service features experienced teams of licensed technicians who not only protect your floors with a red carpet, but also cover their work boots with stain-resistant booties, wear ID badges for security purposes, and arrive on time and smartly dressed in crisp, clean uniforms.

The company does not charge by the hour, but by the specific project. Hub Plumbing & Mechanical is available 24 hours a day and 7 seven days a week to provide immediate access and peace of mind. Dedicated 2nd and 3rd shift night dispatchers internally handle all calls at Hub Plumbing & Mechanical, not an answering service. The difference between the two enables Hub Plumbing & Mechanical to get real-time info on the customer 24/7 to expedite the call as efficiently as possible.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. is located at 70 Old Colony Avenue in South Boston, MA 02127. For more information about Hub Plumbing & Mechanical call 1-866-HUBPLUMBING (482-7586), email services@hubplumbing.com, or visit www.hubplumbing.com.

DATELINE: SOUTH BOSTON, MA…

Boston area residents know that summer isn’t over yet but many are singing the mid-summer blues as they face ever-increasing energy costs, including the cost of keeping cool.

John Wood, founder and CEO of Hub Plumbing & Mechanical, offers some cost-effective ways to reduce the load on your air conditioner. Notes Wood, “Some of the steps that you can take now will not only help curb your current electric bill but will also help control your heating costs this winter.”

Don’t make your air conditioner work harder than it has to  – warm air entering through cracks around window and door frames, electrical outlets, and attic doors all keep your air conditioner’s compressor running longer, costing you more.

Taking the following steps now will help reduce both air conditioning and heating costs:

·                Check for air leaks around doors and windows

·                Use caulk, insulation, or weather stripping to seal air leaks to reduce drafts

·                Add attic insulation

·                Insulate duct work

Year round energy savings can be achieved with the use of a programmable thermostats for cooling and heating. An empty house or apartment doesn’t need to be kept cool all day. Even many newer window air conditioners have timers that can be set to cool things down in time for your arrival home from work.

Ceiling fans should also be used year round. During warm weather the ceiling fan should be set to turn in a counter-clockwise direction. The breeze created by this airflow creates a wind-chill effect that makes you feel cooler.

When it’s hot outside, don’t create more heat inside:

·                Minimize the use of heat producing appliances during the hottest part of the day, such as a clothes dryer or dish washer

·                When cooking use an outdoor grill, a microwave, or a toaster oven to avoid heating up the kitchen by turning on a full sized oven

·                Minimize the use of heat producing light bulbs –replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents that produce less heat

·                Close shades, blinds, or drapes on windows that in are in full sunlight

Both central air conditioning systems and individual room air conditioners need to be kept in good running condition for maximum efficiency:

·                Change or clean filters at least once a month

·                Keep coils clean and dust free

·                Make sure you have a proper sized unit – a unit that is too big lowers the temperature without running long enough to reduce the humidity to a comfortable level resulting in a cold clammy feeling

Consider investing in a central air conditioning system if a number of your individual air conditioning units need replacing. A central air conditioning system is more expensive to purchase up front but it can result in lower energy costs over time.

About Hub Plumbing & Mechanical

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was established in 1999 and now includes a staff of 16 full time employees. This full service plumbing company assists residential and commercial customers with code violations, sewer/drain clogs, garbage disposals, water heaters, water filtration, steam and hot water boilers, thermostats, leaky faucets, tub valves, gas pipes, appliance installation, outside hose faucets, and residential HVAC service.

Hub Plumbing and Mechanical’s signature Red Carpet service features experienced teams of licensed technicians who not only protect your floors with a red carpet, but also cover their work boots with stain-resistant booties, wear ID badges for security purposes, and arrive on time and smartly dressed in crisp, clean uniforms. Imagine actually looking forward to a visit from your plumber!

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was recently featured in a new book entitled “The Celebrity Experience” where Hub Plumbing & Mechanical’s Red Carpet Service was cited as an example of how it’s possible to create faithful life long customers by showering them with treatment usually reserved for celebrities.

The company does not charge by the hour, but by the specific project. Hub Plumbing & Mechanical is available 24 hours a day and 7 seven days a week to provide immediate access and peace of mind. Dedicated 2nd and 3rd shift night dispatchers internally handle all calls at Hub Plumbing & Mechanical, not an answering service. The difference between the two enables Hub Plumbing & Mechanical to get real-time info on the customer 24/7 to expedite the call as efficiently as possible.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. is located at 70 Old Colony Avenue in South Boston, MA 02127. For more information about Hub Plumbing & Mechanical call 1-866-HUBPLUMBING (482-7586), email services@hubplumbing.com, or visit www.hubplumbing.com.

DATELINE: SOUTH BOSTON, MA…

Boston area residents know that summer isn’t over yet but many are singing the mid-summer blues as they face ever-increasing energy costs, including the cost of keeping cool.

John Wood, founder and CEO of Hub Plumbing & Mechanical, offers some cost-effective ways to reduce the load on your air conditioner. Notes Wood, “Some of the steps that you can take now will not only help curb your current electric bill but will also help control your heating costs this winter.”

Don’t make your air conditioner work harder than it has to  – warm air entering through cracks around window and door frames, electrical outlets, and attic doors all keep your air conditioner’s compressor running longer, costing you more.

Taking the following steps now will help reduce both air conditioning and heating costs:

·                Check for air leaks around doors and windows

·                Use caulk, insulation, or weather stripping to seal air leaks to reduce drafts

·                Add attic insulation

·                Insulate duct work

Year round energy savings can be achieved with the use of a programmable thermostats for cooling and heating. An empty house or apartment doesn’t need to be kept cool all day. Even many newer window air conditioners have timers that can be set to cool things down in time for your arrival home from work.

Ceiling fans should also be used year round. During warm weather the ceiling fan should be set to turn in a counter-clockwise direction. The breeze created by this airflow creates a wind-chill effect that makes you feel cooler.

When it’s hot outside, don’t create more heat inside:

·                Minimize the use of heat producing appliances during the hottest part of the day, such as a clothes dryer or dish washer

·                When cooking use an outdoor grill, a microwave, or a toaster oven to avoid heating up the kitchen by turning on a full sized oven

·                Minimize the use of heat producing light bulbs –replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents that produce less heat

·                Close shades, blinds, or drapes on windows that in are in full sunlight

Both central air conditioning systems and individual room air conditioners need to be kept in good running condition for maximum efficiency:

·                Change or clean filters at least once a month

·                Keep coils clean and dust free

·                Make sure you have a proper sized unit – a unit that is too big lowers the temperature without running long enough to reduce the humidity to a comfortable level resulting in a cold clammy feeling

Consider investing in a central air conditioning system if a number of your individual air conditioning units need replacing. A central air conditioning system is more expensive to purchase up front but it can result in lower energy costs over time.

About Hub Plumbing & Mechanical

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was established in 1999 and now includes a staff of 16 full time employees. This full service plumbing company assists residential and commercial customers with code violations, sewer/drain clogs, garbage disposals, water heaters, water filtration, steam and hot water boilers, thermostats, leaky faucets, tub valves, gas pipes, appliance installation, outside hose faucets, and residential HVAC service.

Hub Plumbing and Mechanical’s signature Red Carpet service features experienced teams of licensed technicians who not only protect your floors with a red carpet, but also cover their work boots with stain-resistant booties, wear ID badges for security purposes, and arrive on time and smartly dressed in crisp, clean uniforms. Imagine actually looking forward to a visit from your plumber!

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was recently featured in a new book entitled “The Celebrity Experience” where Hub Plumbing & Mechanical’s Red Carpet Service was cited as an example of how it’s possible to create faithful life long customers by showering them with treatment usually reserved for celebrities.

The company does not charge by the hour, but by the specific project. Hub Plumbing & Mechanical is available 24 hours a day and 7 seven days a week to provide immediate access and peace of mind. Dedicated 2nd and 3rd shift night dispatchers internally handle all calls at Hub Plumbing & Mechanical, not an answering service. The difference between the two enables Hub Plumbing & Mechanical to get real-time info on the customer 24/7 to expedite the call as efficiently as possible.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. is located at 70 Old Colony Avenue in South Boston, MA 02127. For more information about Hub Plumbing & Mechanical call 1-866-HUBPLUMBING (482-7586), email services@hubplumbing.com, or visit www.hubplumbing.com.