News & Information For The Customers Of YOUR 1 PLUMBER Spring, 2010

Everybody knows a household bathroom can be a dangerous place. That’s especially

true for seniors with diminishing reflexes, vision or mobility.

These days there are a lot of ways to make a bathroom safe for elderly residents.

While it can be expensive to make major modifications to your bathroom, there are

also a lot of simple, inexpensive products that will go a long way toward keeping your

loved ones safe.

The most common accident is a fall. It’s easy for seniors to lose their balance when

bending over, lifting a leg over a bathtub, or even sitting on a toilet seat. They can also

trip over clothes, towels, or even bath mats that are on the floor. Obviously keeping

the room clutter-free will help, but there are other things

you can do too.

One of the easiest and most helpful improvements you

can make is to add wall-mounted safety bars or grab bars

in strategic places around the bathroom. Getting into and

out of the shower is especially risky, and it’s not

uncommon for folks to reach for a towel rack or a shower curtain when there’s

nothing else to hold on to. Safety bars are relatively inexpensive and can usually

be installed without too much trouble.

(Continued on page 3)

© 2010 Service Roundtable®

Keep Seniors Safe at Home with These Bathroom Upgrades

Inside… Simple Bruschetta Appetizers Save with Solar Powered Outdoor Lighting 10% Off Select Shower Valves $200 Giveaway The CORNer

$25 Off Any Repair

Call today for fast, professional service on any plumbing repair in your home.

Not valid with other offers. Expires 6/30/10.

888-540-7586

Save Money with

Solar Powered

Outdoor Lighting

If you’re interested in saving energy, installing solar

-powered landscape lighting makes perfect sense. Outdoor solar lights are

easy to install and virtually maintenance free. Best of all, they provide free

electricity.

These specialized lighting systems use solar cells, which convert sunlight

into electricity. The electricity is stored in batteries for use at night.

Outdoor solar lighting systems will work in most areas of the United

States. However, it is important to consider geographic and site specific

variables when choosing a product. A solar lighting system will work well

only as long as the solar cells receive the manufacturer's recommended

hours of sunlight.

Some solar lighting systems are self-contained units. You only need to

place the lights in a sunny location. Others have the lights separate from a

solar cell panel. Only the panel needs to be placed in a sunny location.

Before you buy an outdoor solar lighting system, check with the

manufacturer to see if replacement bulbs or batteries are available. Some

units do not provide replacement options.

 Some source material obtained 

from The Office of Energy Efficiency a

nd Renewable Energy  

Homeowner News  The Homeowner News is a quarterly publication of Your 1 Plumber. It is provided to our customers free of charge. We welcome your suggestions and ideas. Contact us at: William Kirkorian Your 1 Plumber, LLC 13504 Jamieson place Germantown, MD 20874 888-540-7586 (Local Toll Free)

Www.Your1Plumber.com

 

Page 2 Homeowner News

© 2010 Service Roundtable®

Small, open-faced sandwiches, Bruschetta make perfect appetizers. They are delicious and quick and easy to make. (this recipe makes about 24 Bruschetta)

Ingredients Long loaf crusty bread 3 medium ripe roma tomatoes 3 large fresh mozzarella balls 24 fresh basil leaves Coarse salt Extra virgin olive oil

Procedure 1. Cut Bread into 1/2" (4cm) slices on the diagonal

2. Lightly toast bread in the oven on both sides

3. Cut tomatoes into 1/4 inch (0.75cm) slices and place one on each slice of bread.

4. Cut mozzarella balls into 1/4 inch (0.75cm) slices and place on top of tomato.

5. Chop basil into thin strips and sprinkle on top

6. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

Optional re-toasting with toppings on will make the mozzarella

melt rub roasted garlic cloves on the toasted bread slices

Tell Your Friends

About Homeowner News 

Or call us and we’ll provide them with a free

subscription and give you and your friend

$10 gift certificates!

Keep Seniors Safe at Home

Another very practical add-on is

the elevated toilet seat. These taller

seats replace your existing ones and

have handles of their own for added

safety. Now there’s no reason for

anyone to “flop” down onto the seat

or struggle to get back up due to

weakened muscles or poor balance.

These seats are sturdy, easy to install

and easy to clean.

The bath and shower itself is

another dangerous area. Standing in a

wet, slippery shower can be a

struggle for an elderly person. Sitting

is safer—with the right equipment.

Think about adding a shower stool to

reduce the risk of a dangerous slip.

Be sure to use a stool that’s

specifically designed to be used in

the shower. If not, you could create a

more dangerous situation. Adding a

hand-held shower wand will make it

(Continued from page 1) easier for a sitting person to rinse

off.

If your elderly guest or relative

prefers baths, there are 2 sensible

options. One thing you can do is get

them a powered bath lift that will

set them down gently into the tub,

and lift them out when done. There

are many different types of lifts

available in a wide range of prices.

Some are portable and they’re

usually lightweight and easy to

install.

A second option is a walk-

through tub. You can replace the

tub with a new one that enables the

user to enter it without stepping

over the ledge.

While the products we’ve

mentioned help prevent slips and

falls, there’s another very

important upgrade you should

consider—a pressure balancing

valve.

Pressure balance valves should be

installed on every shower in your

home, but especially on those used

by the elderly and children. This

valve will prevent accidental scalding

that can lead to a very serious injury

if the user is unable to move out of

the way quickly.

At one time these valves were

only available for single-handle

applications. That made for an

unsightly installation when replacing

a two-handle system. Now they’re

available for whatever type of shower

you have. There may not be a more

important upgrade you could make

for the safety of your family.

These tips will make it

safer for everyone in

your home. While the

products should be easy

to obtain, most require

professional

installation. Our team

of licensed and

thoroughly

experienced plumbers

are standing by to help

you if you have

questions about these or

any other plumbing-

related issues.

Call us anytime for expert

advice and quality service.

News For The Customers of Your 1 Plumber, LLC Page 3

© 2010 Service Roundtable®

PLUMBING SPECIAL

Save 10% on any Pressure Balancing Valve installation. Includes single-handle and double-handle applications.

Not valid with other offers. Expires 5/31/10.

888-540-7586 Your 1 Plumber

Page 4 Homeowner News

The Corner

Q: Why did a fellow rabbit say that the Easter Bunny was self-centered?

A: Because he is egocentric. Q: Where do Easter Bunnies go for new tails? A: A re-tail store. Q: How do you make a rabbit stew? A: Make it wait for 3 hours! Q: A man wanted an Easter pet for his daughter.

He looked at a baby chick and a baby duck. They were both very cute, but he decided to buy the baby chick. Do you know why?

A: The baby chick was a little cheeper! Q: When rain falls, does it ever get up again? A: Yes, in dew time. Q: What’s worse than raining buckets? A: Hailing taxis.

© 2010 Service Roundtable®

Homeowner News 13504 Jamieson Place Germantown, MD 20874

Place

Postage Here

Win a $200 Gift Card! Complete and return for a chance to win a $200 gift card. If you correctly answer the three questions below, we’ll enter you in a drawing for a $200 gift card. Second prize will be a $100 gift card. All entries must be received by 4/30/2010. Mail to: Your 1 Plumber, LLC 13504 Jamieson Place Germantown, MD 20874

1. One of the easiest and most helpful improvements you can make is to add wall-mounted __________________ _________________ in strategic places around the bathroom.

2. If your elderly guest or relative prefers baths, you can get them a _________________ _______________ ________________.

3. Pressure _____________________ __________________ should be installed on every shower in your home

Please contact me about:

Name: ___________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________ City: _________________ State: ___________ Zip: ________ Phone: _______________________ Best Time: ___________

Fund raising opportunities for your favorite charity or school

Plumbing repairs

Plumbing maintenance Water filtration products Water-saving fixtures

Limit 1 entry per person. No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Winner will be selected at random within 30 days of entry deadline. All decisions are final. All entrants agree to contest rules, which require winner to sign a prize and publicity release unless precluded by law. Must be 18 to enter. Failure to comply results in disqualification. Entries void if incomplete or illegible. No responsibility is assumed for lost, late, or illegible entries. Company employees and family members are ineligible. Odds depend on the number of entries received. Acceptance of the prize implies consent to use name and image in promotional material with the prize as compensation. All taxes are the responsibility of the winner.

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