Why filter perfectly good water?

Read article : Why filter perfectly good water?

By Greg Illes
Why filter perfectly good water? The answer to that question is another question: How good is “perfectly good”?

Many RVers use the water that the RV park supplies, straight from the tap. After all, that water comes from treated sources and should have no problems. Right?

Well — maybe. Yes, it’s reasonable to assume that a typical chlorinated municipal supply is biologically safe. But that’s only guaranteed at the water treatment plant output. The distribution system can be full of flaws that degrade the quality of the water before actual use.

And that’s not to mention if the local water is coming from a private well, with something subtle in the treatment protocol not working properly. UV irradiation bulbs burn out, filters get clogged, etc.

Aside from health issues, rust and sediment are the biggest culprits, and they increase with the age of the distribution system. The photo shows a graphic example: a new ceramic 0.5um (micrometer) filter, and a second one with only a few hundred gallons through it. It was so clogged with rusty sediment that the flow had slowed to a trickle. It had never been used anywhere except from certified sources.

Odors and tastes can be “safe” but still objectionable. A friend’s house, in another town, provided municipal water — with a noticeable “stink” when it first came out of the faucet. Nobody got sick, but it wasn’t pleasant.

Bottom Line: When I fill my motorhome’s fresh water tank, I would like to be certain that the next 75 gallons of water I drink, shower with, or use for cooking, is going to be good for my equipment, and good for me.

But such certainty is a real challenge. I can’t possibly test for contaminants and parasites every time I need a fill. And I can’t have every single possible filtration and treatment protocol (there are dozens) applied to all the water I take on.

The answer, as with so many things in life, is a compromise. With properly treated water as a baseline, I have settled for a simple configuration: a fairly fine-pore sediment filter, augmented with activated carbon. The fine-pore filter removes all but the tiniest particles of sediment and screens out any nasty protozoans that might have crept in (e.g., giardia, cryptosporidium). The carbon takes out any odors and tastes. For me, this is an acceptable balance between trouble/cost and quality/safety.

In order to keep an eye on my filter’s health, I chose a clear whole-house housing like the Pentek 150071 (shown). The business of actually doing the filtration is handled by a special high-flow cartridge like the Pentek Flo-Plus, which has great flow performance even with fine (0.5um) filtration. I would hate to have great water at the cost of an hour’s wait to fill my tank. (Not to mention holding up the people in line behind me.)

I screwed pipe-to-hose adapters into the housing so that it could be connected right at the source faucet — that way, I don’t let any “strange” water into my hoses or fittings.

YMMV (“Your mileage may vary,” for those who don’t know) — Note that different people (preferences, allergies, etc.), different water, locales, and use demand different solutions. What works for me might not be your best or safest choice. I’ve only outlined my configuration here by way of example, and not as advice. I’ve seen people with dual-filter setups, UV-light setups, silver-impregnated cartridges — the list goes on. Some folks don’t bother with filtration at all. Some people boil every drop that they drink. It’s up to each individual to sort out their own best approach.

Please feel free to leave a Comment about your own “adventures” with water, and your own filter solutions. We can all benefit (and often be entertained) by each others’ experiences.

Happy travels, and safe and healthy living as well.

Greg Illes is a retired systems engineer who loves thinking up RV upgrades and modifications. When he’s not working on his motorhome, he’s traveling in it. You can follow his excellent blog at www.divver-city.com/blog.

##GI-6-29-17; ##RVT800

Bathroom Shower Head Anion Filter Shower Spray Head

Read article : Bathroom Shower Head Anion Filter Shower Spray Head

Bathroom Booster SPA Anion Water-saving Handheld Rain Filter Shower Spray Head

NEW STONE Multifunctional shower is a new healthy & cosmetic product and is able to create a delightful sense of natural beauty, to achieve physical and mental stretch, clean, relaxed state, which brings good health and smooth skin.

Effectively remove the residual chlorine in the water, reduce water ORP value, antioxidant, make skin tender and elastic; make hair soft and beautiful, restore the natural luster.

Launch anion, well absorbing of the body can regulate nerve center, improve lung ventilation function, promote metabolism, reduce fatigue.

The energy balls in the shower head can increase your cell vitality and make your skin healthy.

Water Saving: Saves up to 30% water usage. Save more water while showering under normal water pressure, through the pinhole and throttling technology.

Simple and Durable Design: We use eco friendly ABS material, features a transparent, see-through design and high-density filter that's removable for easy cleaning. Enjoy a relaxing shower with our showerhead for years.

- Health & Lifestyles!
- Removal chlorine
- Purified water
- Give yourself a health bath
- Filter water and Ion spa
- Stainless steel laser drilling, a small water hole water delicate incomparable
- It also gives you very powerful yet soft water flow, perfect for dry sensitive skin.

Specifications:

- 3 Modes
- Shower Head Panel Diameter: 8cm
- Fit Hose Caliber: 2cm
- Total Length: 24cm
- Color: Blue

Package included:
1 x Water Saving Bath Shower Head Shower head

SHIPPING: Select the delivery option according to your address. Any errors will cause our system to prevent the trade from completing leading to unnecessary delay.
PLEASE pay the full delivery fee when purchasing with the correct selection of RURAL or URBAN delivery! Please read the questions and answers for this listing.

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Discolored water will continue to flow from Potomac River | Environment

Read article : Discolored water will continue to flow from Potomac River | Environment

More Maryland residents will see yellow and brown water flow from kitchen taps, showers and washing machines over the next several weeks as discolored water makes its way from a Potomac River filtration plant into more homes and businesses, utility officials said.

Carla Reid, general manager of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), said the discolored water is safe to drink and use but called it “unacceptable” from “an aesthetic standpoint.” She said the problem stems from changes required in the disinfection process due to an unusually large amount of organic matter — decayed leaves, grass and other vegetation — that has washed into the Potomac during recent heavy rainstorms.

WSSC, which provides water and sewer services to 1.8 million people in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, said that as of Wednesday afternoon, it had received more than 730 complaints of discolored water since Aug. 8. That nine-day total compares with 200 complaints in a typical month.

So far, the problem has mostly affected areas closer to WSSC’s primary filtration plant on the Potomac in western Montgomery, including Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville and Gaithersburg. However, with each passing day, officials said, the water will reach areas farther away, such as northern Montgomery and into Prince George’s.

The discoloration comes from higher-than-usual levels of a natural mineral called manganese. WSSC officials advise against washing clothes with the discolored water because it can stain laundry but say it is otherwise fine.

Manganese is regulated as a “secondary” aesthetic issue for odor and taste in drinking water but not as a public health concern, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“It’s an aesthetic issue that people have to understand, but it’s safe to consume,” said J.C. Langley, WSSC’s director of production. “We want people to understand that we take their safety very seriously.”

Even so, persuading customers to ignore the yuck factor might not be easy.

Mary Hills, of Potomac, said she’s had “yellowish-brown” water two days in the past week. She said she changed the water filter in her refrigerator and that her family is drinking more bottled water. She’s heard WSSC say the tap water is fine, but when brownish water filled her tub last week, she skipped the bath.

“It didn’t make sense to me that it’s clean if it’s discolored,” Hills said. “You don’t look at a tub full of brown water and want to take a bath in it.”

Paul Tibbits Jr., also of Potomac, said he’s still comfortable drinking water that’s passed through his refrigerator filter, even though he’s noticed discolored water in the bathtub twice over the past week. He said he’s accepted WSSC’s assurances that the water is safe, but he’d like some independent testing done as well.

“As the tub was filling up, the water just became darker and darker,” Tibbits said. “My daughter asked why she was taking a bath in brown water.”

WSSC officials say an unusually rainy summer has created a high and fast-flowing Potomac full of more grass, leaves and other organic matter than usual. Like other Washington-area water utilities, WSSC draws water from the Potomac before it disinfects it and sends it out to homes and businesses through pipes. Unlike other local utilities, however, WSSC relies on chlorine to disinfect the river water and control manganese levels.

The problem: When chlorine combines with organic matter, it produces “disinfection byproducts,” which the EPA regulates because of their potential for increasing cancer risks, according to the agency’s website. To limit such byproducts, WSSC officials said, they had to scale back the amount of chlorine they used starting Aug. 8. The lower levels of chlorine are still enough to kill bacteria but leave behind more discoloring manganese, officials said.

“We’ll always side with water quality over an aesthetic issue,” Langley said.

He said he expects that customers will see discolored water for several more weeks, depending on how long the heavy rains continue to carry vegetation into the Potomac.

“We’re asking our customers to be patient with us,” Langley said.

Manganese has been linked to neurological problems in children, but at levels more than 10 times higher than what WSSC is finding in its testing, officials said.

“There’s a big difference in the levels of manganese that cause health problems and what’s in our water,” said Jin Yeong Shin, WSSC’s water quality section manager.

Officials at the Washington Aqueduct, which serves the District of Columbia and the Falls Church area, and Fairfax Water, which serves much of Northern Virginia, said they’ve also seen more organic matter in the river but have had no problems with discolored water. Both said they use other treatment methods that have kept manganese in check.

Shin, WSSC’s water quality manager, said WSSC uses chlorine because it’s good at keeping water safe for long periods. Because WSSC’s distribution system is so large, he said, water can spend a couple of days to a week or so in pipes before reaching its destination.

WSSC’s other filtration plant, which draws water from the Patuxent River, hasn’t had any manganese problems because it has a reservoir that allows organic matter to settle before it reaches the plant, Shin said.

WSSC has had previous problems with manganese. In 2015, the utility received thousands of complaints about brown water. WSSC initially blamed the problem on winter road salt washing into the Potomac and later said the saltier water’s impact might have been exacerbated by the utility’s decades-old iron pipes, which hadn’t been regularly flushed in 15 years.

Shower Head Ultimate Shower for Bathroom

Read article : Shower Head Ultimate Shower for Bathroom

Bathroom Booster SPA Anion Water-saving Handheld Rain Filter Shower Spray Head

NEW STONE Multifunctional shower is a new healthy & cosmetic product and is able to create a delightful sense of natural beauty, to achieve physical and mental stretch, clean, relaxed state, which brings good health and smooth skin.

Effectively remove the residual chlorine in the water, reduce water ORP value, antioxidant, make skin tender and elastic; make hair soft and beautiful, restore the natural luster.

Launch anion, well absorbing of the body can regulate nerve center, improve lung ventilation function, promote metabolism, reduce fatigue.

The energy balls in the shower head can increase your cell vitality and make your skin healthy.

Water Saving: Saves up to 30% water usage. Save more water while showering under normal water pressure, through the pinhole and throttling technology.

Simple and Durable Design: We use eco friendly ABS material, features a transparent, see-through design and high-density filter that's removable for easy cleaning. Enjoy a relaxing shower with our showerhead for years.

- Health & Lifestyles!
- Removal chlorine
- Purified water
- Give yourself a health bath
- Filter water and Ion spa
- Stainless steel laser drilling, a small water hole water delicate incomparable
- It also gives you very powerful yet soft water flow, perfect for dry sensitive skin.

Specifications:

- 3 Modes
- Shower Head Panel Diameter: 8cm
- Fit Hose Caliber: 2cm
- Total Length: 24cm
- Color: Blue

Package included:
1 x Water Saving Bath Shower Head Shower head

SHIPPING: Select the delivery option according to your address. Any errors will cause our system to prevent the trade from completing leading to unnecessary delay.
PLEASE pay the full delivery fee when purchasing with the correct selection of RURAL or URBAN delivery! Please read the questions and answers for this listing.

Your question and answer privileges have been disabled.

You must log in to view questions and answers on this listing. We recommend reading questions before you make any purchases.

Question submitted Note:

You must log in to ask or answer questions posted. We recommend reading questions before you make any purchases.Available only to approved bidders. You must be an authenticated member to ask questions Find out more about becoming authenticated. Your account is in debt Your current account balance is You must credit your account to use this feature.

Buy Perrin & Rowe Phoenician 4460 Monobloc 2 Lever Mixer Kitchen Tap

Read article : Buy Perrin & Rowe Phoenician 4460 Monobloc 2 Lever Mixer Kitchen Tap

Product information

Handcrafted in the UK, the Perrin & Rowe Phoenician 4460 Monobloc 2 Lever Mixer Tap is plated to a thickness that exceeds the industry standards, produced from quality materials. A 1/4 turn ceramic disc flow control and vernier insert allows for accurate handle alignment. Unique handle construction with integral bearing ring and flexible connectors for easier installation. Dimensions & Specification Height: 370mm Spout reach. 225mm Height to under spout. 230mm Tap base. Diameter 60mm. Tap hole size required 35mm.

Brand

Perrin & Rowe

Country of Origin

UK

Dimensions

H37 x W15.3 x D22.5cm

Finish

Pewter

Furniture Range

Phoenican

Material

Pewter

Number of Holes Needed Information The number of holes required to install your taps

1

Number of Levers

2

Tap Function Type

Monobloc

Tap Handle Type

Lever

About Perrin & Rowe

Manufactured in the UK, employing the latest available technology, Perrin & Rowe’s kitchen and bathroom taps offer style and durability. Whether machined or cast from brass, all taps feature a deep layer of protective plating which exceeds industry standards, to produce an attractive and hard-wearing finish. Each tap is hand assembled to accredited standards and individually water tested to maintain the very best quality, whilst ensuring installation remains a simple and easy process.

Choosing the perfect tap for your kitchen

Below are a few options and features to consider when choosing your perfect kitchen tap. Taps are largely about style and preference although they can have several useful features:

Aerators (also called flow constrictors)	These are anti-splash, but also mix air with your water, creating a good pressure, at the same time as saving water. If you are simply rinsing plates or cutlery these can give a great saving.
Filter taps	These work in the same way as a water filter jug, except they filter as you draw water from the mains, therefore giving you limitless filtered water. They remove bacteria, chlorine and lead from the water supply. They also remove any pesticides and insecticides which may have got into the water system. Filtered water also helps reduce the build up of limescale in appliances. The filter cartridges for these taps need replacing every 6 months or so to retain effectiveness.
Hot taps	Use a mini-boiler under the sink to provide you with instant boiling (or hot) water. You no longer need to rely on kettles or saucepans to heat water before you make a cup of tea, or boil your veg - it comes instantly from the tap. Some taps can also provide you with chilled water for cold drinks, and even sparkling water. These are great if you like fizzy drinks, but prefer to avoid additional sugar - simply mix with your favourite cordial!

My French "No Water" Skin Care Routine

Read article : My French "No Water" Skin Care Routine

I know, I know. I have gone AWOL again. I guess you can say I am still in my adjustment phase. Imagine, a new baby and a new home (yes, we moved three weeks after Xavi was born!), on top of all my other responsibilities. 

So yeah, writing really took a back seat. But anyhoo! I am slowly getting back into the groove of things, and hopefully I can squeeze in more "me time" (which these days means just having enough time to take a bath, nyarks). But ahhh! The bonus of not spending time in front of the computer and having to unpack and organize our stuff also means more time for me to organize my stash of baby and beauty products and testing them on the kiddos (baby prods) and myself (beauty prods). 

I have so many discoveries and re-discoveries. Plus of course my old reliables that I ought to share with you (seriously, I get Aha! moments while using these products when I realize I have been keeping them to myself. To think these are too good to not be shared here in the blog).

But before I go to all those, I'll start off with my starting point for skin care - cleansing. My cleansing routine is sort of revolutionary really. I have tweeted about this on and off for months now, and for my Twitter friends, you know what I am talking about - Garance Dore's "NO WATER" skin cleansing routine.

Yes, you read that right, NO WATER. Tap water that is. Because there's thermal water involved here:

Ok, quick background. Six months or so ago, I happened upon Garance Dore's post on skin care. Apparently, tap water is our skin's worst enemy (I can practically see my friend Kris aka OC Mom in Manila seconding this one, with the statistics to back it up!). 

1/ The milk makeup remover Hydrabio Lait
2/ Avène’s Thermal Spring Water
3/ The moisturizing cream Ictyane H.D. “for severe dry skin.”

Then, I realized, I had two huge spray bottles of Avène stashed in our bath - 1 unopened and 1 that I barely used. It was kismet really. Finally a reason for being here, considering the sort of reasons I bought them back when we were still living in Singapore, were really flimsy:

1/ It was on "Buy 1, Take 1" which came out to about SGD $29.90 for 2 or something like that
2/ It's a French beauty brand, a drugstore brand yes, but it's French. So there.
3/ I like the packaging okay?

But since I do not live in France and have limited access to European beauty brands, I made do with the products that worked extremely well for me all these years. So my 3 essential products looked like this:

1/ Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
2/ Avène’s Thermal Spring Water
3/ SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

Yes, it was with a bit of trepidation that I started eliminating water in my cleansing routine and began sticking to three products. "How effective could it really be?" I thought. Images of blackheads on my nose and yucky skin came into the picture. But since I was staying home most of the time anyway because I was on bed rest, I went ahead and took the plunge, ironically.

Fast forward to 6 months later and you know, my skin has been better than ever! No oiliness, no enlarged pores, not even a zit! None of that "greasy Peking duck" skin Garance was afraid of. She herself said it this way, after taking her dermato's advice:

"But quite quickly, the shine started going down. My skin started to get more supple, clearer and even if it shined a little (it’s just how it is, so stupid.), it was at its healthiest… It looked pretty."

Yes. I feel the same way about my skin now. Yes, ever since I started quitting tap water. A few days ago though, I started using Clarins Anti-Ageing Double Serum in lieu of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence and oooh la la! It's like magic! 

Why do I say magic? Well, a lady at my OB's clinic thought I looked 15 years younger than I actually am (ok, maybe she was just being nice). But just this afternoon, my mom asked me what makeup I've been using and I said, "Huh? None!" And she said my skin looked really good. This coming from a woman who would tell me the truth, even if it hurt and damaged my self-esteem. Haha!

Once I've used my Clarins Double Serum longer than 2 weeks (results visible in 4 weeks actually but if I were to believe the feedback I've been getting, 2 weeks should do it), I will do a more comprehensive review. Meanwhile, let me do an FAQ on this "No Water" Skin Care Routine.

How do you take a bath?

I had an Aquasana water filter installed, so no worries about tap water touching my face. But if you don't have a shower filter installed and it can be helped, just avoid getting water on your face.

If its any consolation, I have been sans filter the past three weeks because I need to have it installed in our new bath room, and so far, I have just been trying not to get my face wet in the shower and it hasn't had any bad effect on my skin.

What's the step by step?

1/ On your dry/dirty face, pat with Cetaphil and massage onto skin

2/ With a cotton pad, wipe off Cetaphil

3/ Spray face with Avène Thermal Spring Water and let it dry

4/ Follow with moisturizer

If you use heavy make-up, its fine to use a cleansing oil. Whatever cleansing oil works for you is fine. I use shu uemura's brightening cleansing oil.

What if I can't find Avène Thermal Spring Water here in the Philippines?

Try using Evian.

Dear Readers, if you have further questions, feel free to leave it on the comments section. I will do my best to answer!

KCASA Adjustable Negative Ion SPA Pressurize Filtered Bathroom Shower Head

Read article : KCASA Adjustable Negative Ion SPA Pressurize Filtered Bathroom Shower Head

Best Selling! Top Quality Genuine Materials!
Impurities in your tap water will often dry your skin and cause an imbalance in your oil glands. 3 layers of mineralized spheres will greatly reduce impurities in your water
- With the purifying effect of the bioactive stones our shower heads will help you restore balance
- Health benefits may include smoother skin, reduce oil secretion, increase cell viability
- Remove 97% residual chlorine and heavy metals in the water
- Water-saving and environmental-friendly Current limiting and pressure boosting
- Three types of water spray, Free to switch
- Sending a soothing flow of water through 288 spray holes to gently cascade over you
- A smoothing rainfall shower will help you achieve full body relaxation
- Deodorization and Antibacterial function
- With negative ion activated ceramic balls, far infrared mineralized balls and antibacterial activated balls in the tube
- N-ion : 4600 parts per cubic centimeter
- UP to 89% health far infrared ray emissivity
- Suitable for men and women children pets

Special Features:
* 100% Brand New and High quality, with Ionic Filter Balls for water Filtration
* Anion activation ceramic balls have the function of increasing oxygen, diastolic pressure, reducing fatigue.
* With negative ion activated ceramic balls, far infrared mineralized balls and antibacterial
Material PC + ABS
Net Weight Shower head : 230g
Tube : 180g
Filler Mineralization ball
Head size 80mm
Handle Dimensions 180mm x 35mm
Connector Size 1/2 Connector
Color: Transparency OR Blue

Packing include 1 x KCASA Negative Ion SPA Pressurize Filtered Bathroom Shower Head
Color sent at Random and generally follow the color as shown in the head photo (1st picture)
If you prefer either Transparent or Blue color please tell us in your order

Health benefits of Far-infrared mineralization ball
• Far-infrared mineralization ball on on the role of the body that the adsorption of far-infrared mineralization ball can eliminate toxic substances in the intestine, the bacteria have a certain adsorption capacity, far-infrared mineralized ball by the detection of fifty-eight species of the body Beneficial long-term elements and trace elements, more importantly, many of which mineral elements in vivo activity of various enzymes in the center, can stimulate enzyme activity, improve the catalytic role of the enzyme, thereby improving the metabolism and promote nutrient digestion and Absorption, enhance disease resistance, and promote growth and development. Far-infrared mineralized ball mineral ball with high-quality medical stone as raw material, add a small amount of tourmaline powder, processed by a special process, with a strong adsorption and permeability, is a sterile non-toxic pollution-free water Mineralizing agent.
If long-term drinking by the far-infrared mineralization ball soaked in water, can protect liver and stomach, diuretic fossils, stable blood pressure, promote circulation, disease prevention and anti-cancer, longevity, skin care beauty, strong bones, develop intelligence, promote development, hemostasis , Far infrared mineralization balls are widely used in medical and health, food health, environmental protection, water quality improvement and beverage, wine, medicine, deodorant, crop and flower cultivation, poultry farming, aquaculture and other industries.

• Health benefits of Tourmaline ceramic ball:
- Manufacture alkaline water. Tourmaline ceramic ball with permanent electrodes, with far infrared emission. The permanent electrode makes existing tourmaline surface electric field strength of up to 107V/m in the range of tens of micrometers in thickness, can put the water molecules into OH- electrolytic electrolysis, H2O and H+, the hydrogen ion electron by weak current between the electrodes of tourmaline: 2H++2e and H2 increase with hydroxyl ions and water molecules to form negative ions: OH-+nH2O to OH- (H2O) n, the water is weak alkaline.
- The production of active water. Infrared radiation tourmaline generated by emission at room temperature in the wavelength of 4-14um, emission rate in more than 0.90, can be a strong incentive to water molecules, which is in the state of vibration, resulting in some hydrogen bond was broken, so that the water molecules are decomposed into large clusters of small water molecules containing only 5-6 water molecules, to achieve activation water, improve water penetration, dissolution and metabolism ability, can improve the microcirculation, enhance the immune ability.
Health efficacy. Tourmaline ceramic ball as a kind of health materials, has been widely used in functional health products.

Package:
- 1 Handheld Negative Ion SPA Pressurize Shower Head Blue/Silver
Small size: 210mm/(H), 65mm/ (Dia.)

Slow Travel United Kingdom - Household Appliances, washer/dryer, plugs, tea kettles, phones

Read article : Slow Travel United Kingdom - Household Appliances, washer/dryer, plugs, tea kettles, phones

> SlowTrav > United Kingdom & Ireland > Instructions for Visitors

Pauline Kenny updates by Susan (aka Panda)

This page is an overview of the appliances you will find in most vacation rentals in the United Kingdom.

Plugs

UK plugs are not the standard plugs used in much of Europe. They are as pictured below. You need a plug adapter for the electrical things you bring to the UK. See our Europe Trip Planning - Electronics page for more information about plug and power adapters.

Plug and AC Adapter for my notebook with the United Kingdom Adapter plug

Where to Buy Plug Adapters

Purchase plug adapters from our affiliate Amazon (see details at bottom of page).

Wall Switches/Plugs

Plugs in England have an extra level of safety - an on/off switch for each socket. In the photo below, you can see the socket with the plug in it is turned on (on the left), but the other is off. Put the plug in the socket with the socket turned off, then turn on the socket. Remember the voltage is much higher in England and you do not want to get a shock when putting in the plug. Turn the socket off when the appliance is not in use.

Wall socket with two sockets and two on/off switches

Telephones

Many vacation rentals in England do not have phones. Most holiday cottages are used by people from England and it is assumed that they either want to "get away from it all" or will have their own cell phone. If a cottage does have a phone, it will be one of the following types:

• Coin Box Phone: You can make out going calls using coins, but you cannot receive calls and you cannot use it with your computer to go online (there is no place to plug in the phone line).
• Incoming Calls Only: This is a regular phone, but it has been set up so that you can only receive calls, you cannot make any calls. You cannot use it with your computer.
• Telephone: Usually this means a phone that you can use to receive or make calls, but always check to be sure. If you need to connect your computer to a phone to go online, be sure to tell the agent/owner and confirm that you can do this. Some phones are hardwired into the wall and you cannot unplug the phone and plug in your computer modem.

Coin Box phone in a vacation rental

Stovetops and Ovens

In England, most vacation rentals have stovetops and ovens. Some ovens have a fan setting for defrost or for oven cooking. If the oven does not turn on, check the fan setting.

Water Heaters

A common type of water heater in vacation rentals is an "on demand" heater; the water is heated as it runs. It can be slow to get the hot water started, but usually these work very well. In our Winchcombe cottage in 2004, the water heater was used for the heating system as well as the hot water. Beware if you are trying to run two showers or a basin tap and a shower at the same time since from one of these ‘combi’ boilers, as they are known, as the flow rate will be very disappointing. We have also run across immersion water heaters. These you turn on 30 minutes before you have a bath or shower, but you may not have to do this as they are often on timers to ensure that there will be sufficient hot water in the morning or for bedtime.

Washing Machines and Dryers

Many vacation rentals have a small washer/dryer combination; this is one machine that looks like a washer, but it also a dryer. You put in the laundry and it washes, spins, rinses, and then dries. These are usually small machines and you do not want to fill them too much, or the dryer will not work. Fill them about 2/3s full. You can often get a better result by doing the wash, taking out the clothes and dividing into two shorter drying sessions.

The photo to the right is a Hotpoint washer/dryer in our Somerset vacation rental.

How To Use

On the control panel you find the following: a drawer to pull out and add soap (on the left), buttons for economy wash or half load, the descriptions of cycles, settings for the dryer (length of dry time), settings for the cycle, on/off button.

For adding the soap, usually there are two places labeled 1 and 2. If you select a prewash, put soap for the prewash in compartment 1. For the regular wash, put soap in compartment 2.

Set the cycle, set the time for drying (usually 60 or 90 minutes), put in the soap, load the clothes, close the front loading door, press the on/off button. Make sure the power is switched on (at the wall). Many of the cycles are quite long (two hours for the wash alone is not unknown): unless you are washing sheets or towels, use the Half Load option. The ‘Quick Wash’ cycle on most machines of between 25 and 45 minutes gives a perfectly adequate result for clothes unless it has been a particularly muddy hike! The Economy button often means either a reduced heat or water just as it comes from the water tank or pipeline – fine for the summer months or if using the latest low temperature washing detergents.

The control panel. Click for a larger image.

Electric Kettle

All English vacation rentals have an electric kettle and they are fabulous. They boil water in just a few minutes! Put the water in the kettle, put the kettle on its base, turn it on (there will be a switch, usually on the handle, and a light comes on), and the water is boiled before you know it. The kettle turns off once the water has reached a rolling boil. (Make sure the socket is turned on at the wall!)

Electric kettle. Put it on the base and flip the switch under the handle.

Cafetiere

You will find "cafetiere" coffee makers in most cottages. They are also called a "French Press".

To use: Take the top and the filter off, rinse with warm water, put in the ground coffee, pour boiled water over the grounds (make sure it is "off the boil"), put top and filter on and let sit for a few minutes. Then gently push the plunger down so the filter and coffee grounds move to the bottom and the coffee sits above. Pour when the plunger is all the way down.

Electric kettle and cafetiere - coffee and water are in, plunger is up.

How much coffee? Use the same amounts as for a drip coffee maker. The caffetiere in this photo holds 4 cups (5 oz. per cup, total of 20 fluid ounces). I put one tablespoon of ground coffee for each cup - 4 tablespoons. This might be a bit strong.

Other Appliances in Vacation Rentals

In most English vacation rental cottages, you will find a toaster and a microwave.

US to United Kingdom Plug Adapters

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Top 6 Trends in Faucet Technology in 2017 for Kitchen & Bath

Read article : Top 6 Trends in Faucet Technology in 2017 for Kitchen & Bath

Staying ahead of industry trends can help trade professionals boost their businesses. Plumbers, builders and remodelers in the pro trade industry can increase their perceived credibility in the eyes of the customer by introducing them to the latest faucet technology for the kitchen and bath. Whether you’re working on a residential bathroom remodel or need faucets for a cutting-edge commercial kitchen, implementing a technologically-advanced faucet will help you exceed customer demands. Discover the kitchen and bathroom faucet technology trends for 2017 and see how these advancements will help you grow your pro trade business.

1. Kitchen faucets that deliver filtered water on demand.

   Imagine telling your customers that they can pour a glass of water that is safer to drink and tastes delicious every time. Three plumbing brands have made that a reality with faucets that feature water filtration technology in their functionality. Kohler offers the Carafe® kitchen faucet, which features a built-in water filtration system. The Grohe Blue® faucet incorporates a chilling system, carbonation and water filtration to give users the option to pour a glass of crisp, chilled fizzy water whenever they want. Pfister offers two faucet models with Xtract™ technology, which increases water safety by removing chlorine, lead, pesticides, mercury and select pharmaceuticals from the water.

   Contact your local Ferguson for more information about faucets that filter water.

   
2. A shower head that changes function with a simple touch.

   You can help your customers enhance the way they shower with an advancement that will soon be available on the market from American Standard. Instead of manually adjusting their shower head, users will be able to change the shower head spray pattern by simply touching the shower head or via a wireless remote button. This will make it easier for your customers to adjust their shower to their personal preference, and will be especially helpful for those with limited height or mobility. Adding this functionality to your customers’ bathrooms will give them a customizable showering experience, and they’ll have you to thank. Check for this product with your local Ferguson this coming fall.

   Connect with your local Ferguson for the latest information about plumbing advancements.

   
3. A kitchen faucet that turns on with your feet.

   Much like car doors that can be opened with the tap of a foot, Grohe has introduced a foot-activated kitchen faucet that is conveniently turned on and off by tapping a sensor mounted at the base of the counter. This faucet is the answer to busy moments in the kitchen where people find their hands full and messy. Because of the hands-free activation, you can offer this technology as a way to improve the overall cleanliness and sanitation of your customers’ kitchens.

   Find your local Ferguson to request this faucet or shop our online offering of other Grohe faucets.

   
4. A shower system that you control through Wi-Fi.

   Sell your customers on the idea that you can bring their showering experience into the digital age with a Wi-Fi enabled showering system. Available at your local Ferguson, the new U by Moen promises to deliver the perfect shower based on customizable settings that users control through their smartphone. Your customers can choose their shower temperature and have it warmed up and ready before they step in all through the U by Moen app. Offering this technology will help your business because you can market yourself as a smart home automation plumbing expert.

   Get more information about the U by Moen from your local Ferguson or shop our online offering of Moen products.

   
5. A faucet that will keep kitchens splatter-free.

   You can give your customers a cleaner kitchen with a faucet that incorporates the futuristic ShieldSpray™ Technology from Delta Faucet. The stream is a unique elliptical shape that the manufacturer describes as working like a shield to prevent splatter. You can provide your customers with the benefit that their kitchen counters, and their clothes, will stay clean and dry no matter the size or shape of any dish they wash.

   Contact your local Ferguson to get this technology, or browse our online offering of plumbing supplies from Delta Faucet.

   
6. Kitchen faucets that sense when they’re needed.

   Impress your customers by giving them the ability to turn on their kitchen faucet simple by holding your hand near it. While this might seem like magic, several quality faucet brands have made this a reality. American Standard, Kohler, Moen and Pfister have developed several pull down kitchen faucets that incorporate this technology. Hand-free faucets will give you the advantage of increasing the level of sanitation in your customers’ kitchens.

   Visit your local Ferguson to explore our offering of hand-free faucets and check out or online offering of kitchen faucets.

   

Scott Watts

With over 24 years of experience in the plumbing supply industry, Scott Watts leverages his extensive product knowledge to help trade professionals make the best purchase decisions to grow their businesses.

FORMER TESLA EXECUTIVE, PETER CARLSSON JOINS ORBITAL SYSTEMS

Read article : FORMER TESLA EXECUTIVE, PETER CARLSSON JOINS ORBITAL SYSTEMS

ORBITAL SYSTEMS, which is out to change the way the world uses water, is proud to announce Tesla Motors’ former CPO and VP of Supply Chain, Peter Carlsson, has joined the company as a board member and as Executive Director of Operations. He has also become an investor in the company.

Orbital is a pioneer in distributed water recirculation systems that filter out mineral and biological impurities out of lightly-used water in showers to dramatically cut energy and water consumption. The Company’s Shower of the Future, for instance, saves up to 90% of the water and 80% of the heating energy. Founder and CEO Mehrdad Mahdjoubi developed the technology as part of an academic collaboration between NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Lund University. Orbital also expects to develop products based around its technology for baths, sinks and other applications.

Since closing a $5m funding round in May 2015 led by Skype cofounder Niklas Zennström, ORBITAL SYSTEMS has more than tripled its staff, opened offices in Berlin, Palo Alto and Oslo, and has announced major strategic sales wins with healthcare and public bath institutions among others. Additionally, the company has set up its own production facility, allowing Mr. Carlsson to help transition Orbital from “boutique manufacturing” to mass production.

“It is very exciting to be a part of ORBITAL SYSTEMS during this rapid growth and entrepreneurial phase. The company has superior technology, a global market, and a fantastic team dedicated to changing the world. I am looking forward to applying my experiences and network to bring about this paradigm shift in daily water usage.”

Mr. Carlsson had an instrumental role at Tesla Motors enabling the electric car manufacturer to scale operations, including the launch of the highly successful Tesla Model S. Prior to this he has held similar global positions with NXP Semiconductors and Sony Ericsson.

“Peter’s experience of the challenges facing a disruptive startup transitioning from R&D to a global consumer product enterprise will be extremely valuable for us”, says Mr. Mahdjoubi.

Sweden’s city of Malmö installed six showers in its public bath house at the Baltic Sea and enjoys saving over 80,000 liters (22,000 gallons) of water and 14,500 kWh monthly with customers preferring the Orbital shower to conventional ones, for comfort and flow rate.

ORBITAL SYSTEMS’ patented shower technology emerged from an academic collaboration between NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Lund University. Founder and CEO Mehrdad Mahdjoubi utilized the same recycling principles used in space shuttles and stations, where resources are limited, while at the same time increasing comfort, water flow and temperature stability. Although the shower water recirculates, the nanotechnology-based filter system removes impurities so efficiently that the hot shower water contains less bacteria and viruses than the drinking water coming straight from the tap, according to tests performed by the Public Health Agency of Sweden.

In 2015 Orbital’s Shower of the Future was recognized as Certified Space Technology by the United States Space Foundation. ORBITAL SYSTEMS was also awarded Sweden’s greatest invention by SKAPA in 2014, received a 2015 Edison Award in the US as one of the world’s leading innovations, and a 2015 INDEX Award in Denmark, one of the world’s most prestigious design awards and second only to Tesla Motors.

Press release December 17th 2015

RV Plumbing Tips – Cleaning RV Faucets, Sink Drains & Shower Wands

Read article : RV Plumbing Tips – Cleaning RV Faucets, Sink Drains & Shower Wands

The effects of hard water on RV sinks, faucets and drains can be an ongoing problem for RVers. This page describes a few tips for how we remove these pesky mineral deposit buildups from our bathroom and kitchen sinks in our fifth wheel trailer and keep the water flowing smoothly in our shower wand and RV toilet rinse sprayer.

RV plumbing tips for cleaning RV faucets and drains and removing mineral deposits" width="731" height="384" class="size-full wp-image-50990" />

RV plumbing tips for removing mineral deposits and cleaning RV faucets and drains.

We like the water to flow freely in our RV vanity sink faucet, kitchen sink faucet and in the shower and RV toilet sprayer wands, however, periodically these faucets begin to spray water in weird directions because their inner workings have gotten clogged up by mineral deposits from the hard water.

In our bathroom vanity, our first step is to remove and clean the screen filter in the faucet. Sometimes the faucet tip can be unscrewed by hand, but if we’ve let it go too long, we have to use a pair of pliers to break the faucet tip free due to corrosion that makes it impossible to unscrew.

RV faucet screen with pliers" width="701" height="515" class="size-full wp-image-50993" />

Remove the RV faucet screen (with pliers if it’s stuck!)

Then we unscrew the entire screen assembly from the faucet.

The faucet tip unscrews from the faucet.

RV faucet screen" width="681" height="518" class="size-full wp-image-50995" />

Ugh… the screen is pretty dirty. No wonder the water comes out funny!

This time the screen was very corroded. We remove the corrosion and mineral buildup by putting all the pieces in a bath of white vinegar for 20-30 minutes or so.

Prior to putting the pieces in the white vinegar bath, it is a good idea to make note of the order that these parts go into the faucet assembly!

After noting how the pieces go together, soak them in white vinegar.

After the bath, the bits of corrosion can be seen in the white vinegar!

Here are all the pieces. You can see the dirt that came off in the vinegar bath!

Using an old toothbrush, we scrub each piece until it is clean.

RV faucet screen" width="681" height="534" class="size-full wp-image-50997" />

Use a toothbrush to get the screen totally clean.

Scrub all the parts with the toothbrush.

Then we reassemble the pieces in the correct order and orientation.

.

Reassemble the pieces.

.

.

To make it easier to remove the faucet tip the next time we do this job, it helps to grease the threads with a marine PTEF lubricant prior to screwing the assembly back onto the faucet.

Lubricating the threads makes it easier to unscrew next time!

.

Screw it back into the faucet.

Ta da! Now the flow will be smooth and full.

Our trailer has white plastic sinks in the bathroom and kitchen, and these sinks often develop a skanky brown ring around the sink drain. For years, we relied on Comet to clean these sinks. We sprinkled it on the entire sink, let it sit for a bit, and then scrubbed.

We recently discovered that Baking Soda is just as effective!! The fantastic thing about Baking Soda is that it is non-toxic. This is wonderful not only for our gray water holding tanks but also for the RV dump stations as well as the septic fields and municipal waste water treatment systems that are downstream from them.

It’s also really cheap!

RV sink drain" width="751" height="394" class="size-full wp-image-51008" />

White plastic RV sinks are prone to getting ugly stains.

RV sink drain" width="701" height="511" class="size-full wp-image-51009" />

Yuck!

We simply sprinkle it on the sink and then scrub the sink with a damp Scotch-Brite scrubbing pad.

RV sink drain cleaning with baking soda" width="721" height="495" class="size-full wp-image-51010" />

Sprinkle the baking soda in the sink and scrub the stains with a damp scrubby pad.

What a great result — a wonderfully squeaky clean sink!

RV sink drain is sparkling clean" width="701" height="483" class="size-full wp-image-51011" />

Sparkling!

The drain plug also gets gummy, and we use an old toothbrush to scrub it clean with either baking soda and/or Murphy’s Oil Soap (a handy all around biodegradable cleanser).

In an RV that is used for dry camping a lot, like ours, the bathroom vanity sink drain can get really gross really quickly because in an effort to conserve fresh water not much clean water gets flushed down the drain.

This can result in foul odors in the sink drain, and it’s pretty unsightly too.

So, we do two things.

First, we scrub the inside of the bathroom sink drain with an old toothbrush. To get a longer reach down the drain, we taped our toothbrush to an old tent stake we had lying around. Anything long and narrow will work.

RV sink drain" width="800" height="256" class="size-full wp-image-51013" />

Tape an old toothbrush to a long stick to reach deep down the RV sink drain.

RV sink drain" width="721" height="481" class="size-full wp-image-51014" />

Scrub inside the sink drain.

We also scrub the sink drain plug.

Second, to keep the RV bathroom sink drain fresh smelling, we use Happy Camper Holding Tank Treatment which we’ve found is a particularly good deodorizer. We put scoop of powder in an old water bottle, fill it up with water and shake it well (the bottle gets warm as the enzymes get activated!), and then pour it down the drain.

Most of it goes into the gray water tank, but a small amount stays in the bathroom sink drain p-trap and does its magic there, killing off the offensive odors.

RV sink drain plut" width="721" height="481" class="size-full wp-image-51012" />

Scrub the sink drain plug with a toothbrush.

To keep our RV shower in tip-top shape, we clean the drain there as well. The biggest problem in our RV shower drain isn’t foul odors, because the shower drain gets flushed with lots of water everyday. Instead, the challenge with the RV shower drain is accumulated hair.

In a house, it’s easy enough to use a powerful cleanser like Drano to clean out any clogs caused by hair, but we don’t want strong chemicals like that sitting in our gray wastewater holding tank. Afterall, we want the enzymes and bacteria in the Happy Camper and Unique RV Digest-It holding tank treatment products we use to thrive and go to work breaking things down!

So, we use a long spring hook (and flashlight) to pull the hair out. It just takes a few minutes and then the drain is clear.

Some RV shower stalls may have drain components that can be removed for cleaning. Ours doesn’t.

RV shower drain" width="631" height="539" class="size-full wp-image-51015" />

Use a spring hook to pull hair out of the RV shower drain.

Periodically, the RV shower wand gets crudded up with mineral deposits just like our RV sink faucets do. Again, we rely on white vinegar to clean up the deposits clogging the spray holes in the shower nozzle.

First, we pour the white vinegar through the shower wand to let it soak from the inside.

RV shower wand" width="681" height="712" class="size-full wp-image-51016" />

The RV shower wand can be cleaned with white vinegar.

Then we soak the shower wand’s face in a bath of white vinegar.

RV shower wand" width="751" height="421" class="size-full wp-image-51017" />

Put the RV shower wand face down in a white vinegar bath to clean all the little holes.

If we’ve let a little too much time pass, we’ll also use a toothpick to clean out each hole in the shower head. We use bamboo toothpicks because they hold up well in water. Ordinary wooden toothpicks tend to disintegrate when they get wet. A scribe also works well.

The before-and-after difference in the flow of water through the shower wand is startling. When half of the little holes are blocked from mineral deposits and the other half have an impeded flow, the water can feel like needles on your skin. After cleaning the wand, it is more like a waterfall.

RV shower wand with a toothpick or scribe" width="681" height="516" class="size-full wp-image-51040" />

Use a toothpick or scribe to clean each hole in the shower wand.

Lots of RVers love the Oxygenics RV shower head. We don’t use it because it doesn’t work well with the low water pressure we use to conserve water since we dry camp every night, but for RVers who get water hookups a lot, these shower heads are extremely popular. Of course, in hard water areas, these shower heads will need periodic cleaning as well.

The RV toilet bowl rinsing wand is also subject to corrosion from mineral deposits, and after a while when we go to rinse the toilet bowl we find the water flow from the sprayer is restricted and funky.

RV toilet sprayer wand cleaning" width="721" height="481" class="size-full wp-image-51018" />

The RV toilet sprayer wand gets clogged with minerals too.

Again, it’s easy to unscrew the end of the toilet spay wand, put it in a white vinegar for 20-30 minutes, scrub it a bit with a toothbrush, and then put it back on the wand.

Unscrew the tip of the toilet rinsing wand and soak it in white vinegar to clean the holes.

As an aside, if you have energy leftover after cleaning all your RV sinks, faucets, drains and spray nozzles, a spray bottle filled with a water and white vinegar mixture is super for washing the windows. As I wrote this, some flies got in our trailer and Mark started spraying them when they landed on the window next to him using a spray bottle filled with water and white vinegar. Besides slowing them down and killing them, he was really impressed with how clean the window was when he finished!

So, these are a few of the things we do to keep our sinks and drains flowing smoothly in our life on the road in our RV.

We hope they help you too!

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