How to....From LeVahn Brothers Hardware and Plumbing

What to do if your water softener fails

2011-12-17T10:53:00.000-06:00

: Mortons system saver MSD34C

A water softener is one of those appliances that you don't think much about. Besides the occasional bag of salt there isn't much you need to do. So how do you know if it's doing what it's supposed to be doing? Water softener failure can come in a few different forms some being much more devastating than others. Most times when a water softener fails it stops softening the water. When this happens you'll notice that your dishes are cloudy or that it's taking a lot more soap to suds up and get things clean. You also may notice that you're not putting salt in at the rate that you used to. A simple water hardness test with a test strip can tell you right away whether you softener is still softening your water. The test strips are free and can be found at our retail store in Maple Grove.

: Water Hardness Test Strip

Another issue that can occur is that a water softener can fail and backwash resin beads into your water system. This is the issue that I am going to focus mostly on in this article. A water softener has resin beads inside the brine tank that work to soften the water. The beads are periodically cleaned using the salt that you painstakingly put in the salt holding tank every few weeks. Usually set to go off at night, the system regenerates and cleans the resin beads and washes them clean. If for any reason the membrane breaks that is in place to hold the resin beads, the beads are free to travel throughout you water system. A sure sign of this would be low water pressure. Low water pressure is one of those generic symptoms that we see a lot of in plumbing. One of the main culprits of low water pressure is the water softener.

When the softener back washes resin beads the beads don't go anywhere until there is movement in the system. In other words they don't move if the water isn't moving. Often times what occurs is that someone opens up a faucet in the morning to brush their teeth or to fill up their coffee maker and they notice very low water pressure. There's little pressure because the faucet is plugged with tiny resin beads. If you notice a sudden change in water pressure shut the faucet off and if possible pull off the aerator and examine it. If the softener back washed you will see little tiny beads like the ones below in the aerator. Immediately go to your water softener and put it into "bypass" mode. Putting a water softener into bypass varies by manufacturer but normally it involves turning a valve off or like on the Mortons softener you push a valve in. This step makes it so the water no longer goes through your softener thus preventing the adding of additional beads.

: Water softener resin beads

You now know that you have resin beads in your line and now you need to focus on getting them out which is not an easy or fun job. The first thing that you need to do is to tell the rest of the people in you house not to use ANY plumbing, especially hot water. Next you should shut off the cold water intake valve on the water heater to help ensure that no beads enter your tank. Everything that you run water through will potentially get plugged with resin beads. This includes: faucets, toilets, showers, washing machines, etc. Next you should go to your laundry tub (make sure that it does not have an aerator on it) and open up the cold water valve fully. Try and look for resin beads in the laundry tub to see if you are getting the beads out. If needed try to catch them in a strainer so you can see if there are still beads leaving the system. run the water until it is clear of beads. Now you can move on to a bath tub and do the same procedure over again, running water until it is clear of beads.

If the hot water was turned on that means that there is a good chance that the resin beads are now inside your water heater. You will need to drain the heater to get the beads out. If you do not do this there is a good chance the beads will show up in your system later. Here is a link on how to drain a water heater.

Depending upon how much travel the beads had throughout your water system you may periodically see beads appear later on even after you've flushed them out. You may have issues with toilet valves getting clogged. If the toilet valves have an issue they will probably need to be replaced. Occasionally faucets may get plugged to the point where they also need to be replaced. If all of this seems over your head you can always call a professional plumber to do the flushing of your lines. We have seen it all when it comes to the extent of damage caused by a water softener backwash. We can flush your system and replace your water softener so that you can get back to flushing your toilets and taking hot showers again.

LeVahn Bros. Plumbing and Hardware is located at 12700 Bass Lake Road in Maple Grove, MN 55369

You can contact us at 763-551-8990

You can find us on the web at levahnbros.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/levahnbrothers

Rain fall and sump pumps

2011-10-20T10:22:00.000-05:00

Ice dams, roof rakes and roof melt

2011-10-20T10:21:00.001-05:00

Spring flooding and Sump pumps

2011-10-20T10:21:00.000-05:00

What to do for a copper pipe pinhole leak

2011-09-28T12:03:00.001-05:00

: Pinhole leak in copper pipe

A pinhole leak is a small hole that develops in a pipe causing a mist or stream of water to shoot out. In most cases these leaks develop due to the pipe being eroded from the inside out. There are a number of factors as to why a leak happens. Some of the main factors that lead to a leak include: age, your municipalities water pressure, the amount of minerals found in your municipalities water, how the pipes are configured(i.e. elbows, bends, turns etc.), what season it is, and how the plumbing was installed.
In most cases the leaks occur near the water main inside the house. They occur near the water main because this is where the water pressure is the greatest in the home. Just like how water over time can cut deep into rock creating things like the Grand Canyon it also can erode the inside of your pipe. It slowly erodes the inside of the pipe until it eventually breaks through. This meter horn developed a leak at the bend on the left side. When a meter horn leaks you should check with your municipality to see if they are responsible for replacement, or if it's up to you. In this case the resident was responsible for replacement so they came in and purchased one from us and installed it themselves.

: Meter Horn with a pin hole leak

Most of the factors that cause pinhole leaks can't be avoided. We can't change the mineral content or temperature of the water coming into the home. Most leaks occur at or near a joint. In other words where a connection is. This could be an elbow or even a coupling. When water passes by a joint there is turbulence. The water swirls and spins as it passes through the joint. Preventing this is somewhat unavoidable. The turbulence cause the water to erode the pipe from the inside out.

: copper fitting erosion

When a leak occurs at a joint it may be due to the installer failing to ream out the copper after cutting it. When a copper pipe is cut with a pipe cutter it gets pinched as it's being cut. This creates a lip on the inside of the pipe. This lip can exaggerate the amount of turbulence that occurs at the joint. The pipe in the picture below has multiple holes that probably occurred due to the installer not reaming out the pipe after cutting it.

: Pinhole leaks at solder joint

To help avoid this from occurring you should always use a pipe reaming tool to get rid of the edge that's created when a pipe is cut. Some pipe cutting tools have a reamer attached right to them. If your pipe cutter doesn't have a reamer, or if you don't like that style, you can use a different style such as the one below. It is a very simple tool to use. All you need to do is run it along the inside edge of the pipe you cut and it takes off the lip created when the pipe was cut.

: Copper tubing reaming tool

In our area where our store is located (the western suburbs of the Twin Cities) there is high water pressure and lots of minerals in the water. These factors coupled with the average age of the homes (around 25-30 years old) means that we've had a large volume of pinhole leak calls in recent years. High mineral content in water can cause multiple plumbing issues. Everything from water heaters to faucets and pipes are affected by the minerals. Softening your water doesn't help much either. Softening water doesn't remove many of the minerals that are present in the water.
If you get a pinhole leak what should you do? First you need to cut back the copper piping to a point where the copper is still sound. Remember that the pipe has been corroding from the inside out. The spot where the pin hole occurred is just the first place that it broke through. If you were to replace just the small section of piping where the pinhole is located you would probably be repairing another spot six months down the road.

: Paper thin copper removed from a home in Maple Grove

Next you need to replace all the pipe and fittings that you've removed. I would recommend replacing the piping with a thicker commercial grade copper. Type "M"copper is the standard grade copper used for residential plumbing. Use a type "L" commercial grade copper instead. It costs a little more per foot but it's worth the investment. Make sure you ream out your cuts like mentioned above and solder everything back together. If you don't feel comfortable soldering a pipe and you're going to have someone else do it make sure they cut enough of the bad pipe out and that they use type "L" copper when they replace it (you can also tell if it's type "L" copper if the writing on it is blue, type "M" is red).

: Type "M" (red) and type "L" (blue) copper

For more info on pipe leaks check out this blog: copper pipe leak

If you have any questions call us at 763-551-8990

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/levahnbrothers

Prepare your home for winter

2011-09-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

: Frost covered leaves

There is cold weather coming and there's no way of stopping it. In fact we've already hit lows in the 30's and its only the middle of September. You can curse and grumble all you want but the reality is summer has come and gone. Now is the time to start getting your home ready to take on the cold Minnesota winter. Here are a few easy tips to help combat the effects of winter on your home.
1) Drain your outside faucet
When the temps are consistently reaching the freezing mark at night you need to drain your outside faucet line. Doing this prevents your water line that supplies your outside faucet from freezing and bursting during the cold winter months. Most outside faucets should have a shut-off valve inside on the water supply line. It will look something like the valve pictured below. Start by getting a bucket to catch the water. Shut the valve off supplying the water to the outside faucet. Next go and open up the outside spigot to prevent an airlock in the line. Then go inside and unscrew the small brass drain cap located on the side of the valve being very careful not to lose the cap. When it's done draining PUT THE CAP BACK ON. If you lose the cap you are going to be kicking yourself when spring arrives. You can purchase new caps for most valves but not every manufacturer makes the same. For more info check out these other blogs: How to prevent an outside faucet from freezing, What's the deal with backflow preventors for outside faucets and What to do for frozen pipes

: Brass ball valve with drain

2) Make sure all gaps and cracks are filled around your home
You should go around your home and do a visual check of your window and door casements, and your foundation to make sure there are no cracks for cold or uninvited guests to get in. Use an all-weather window and door caulking. I like to use a caulk that's 100% silicone like GE Silicone II supreme. It stays flexible and is rain ready in about 1 hours time. You should also patch any cracks and holes in your foundation to prevent critters from entering your home as well as preventing heat loss. Unwanted guests of all kinds including insects and mice are going to be looking for somewhere warm to spend the winter. Don't let it be your home. For more info on getting rid of unwanted guests check out these blogs: How to get rid of mice, how to get rid of ants in and around your home

: Seal all cracks in windows doors and foundations

3) Replace weather seals around windows and doors
Check the seals around your windows and doors to make sure the weather-stripping is still in good shape. Caulking the casement helps but you also need to make sure the seals on the windows/doors are doing what they're supposed to. It gets a little more difficult when replacing the seals on windows and doors because every manufacturer has their own specific seal that fits only their product. You can use a generic adhesive backed foam in place of what was there but if want the best seal you need to go back to the manufacturer. For more info on insulating your home check out this blog: How to save money by insulating your home

: adhesive backed foam tape

4)Prevent frozen sump pump lines and damage from ice dams.
Take advantage of the still bearable weather to install heat tape to your sump pump line and to your roof and gutters. We all know about the remarkable amount of snow we received last year. People all over the U.S. were dealing with ice dams and the Twin cities area was no exception. Now is the time to install roof de-icing cables, before there's snow and ice present. If you had problems with ice dams last year you should purchase and install cables on your roof or at least in the gutters to keep the water flowing off your roof instead of in your home.
If you have a sump pump that is constantly running even through the cold winter months they're aren't a lot of options that meet code. One non-code option is to run the line into a floor drain or work sink. Remember this is not an option that is code. In order to solve the issue and still be up to code you need to find a way of keeping your line from freezing. Try using a water proof heat cable inside the sump line to keep the water flowing.
For more info on roof dams and frozen sump lines check out these blogs: Roof de-icing tablets, Roof de-icing cables, Get a roof rake to prevent an ice dam, how to prevent an ice dam on your roof, what to do for a frozen sump pump discharge line,

For more information on what to do for your house before the

snow flies call us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/levahnbrothers

How to get rid of back yard mosquitoes

2011-09-08T12:24:00.000-05:00

Mosquitoes in Minnesota are notoriously bad. In fact it's often joked that mosquitoes are the real official state bird. With that said this year has been one of the worst for mosquitoes that I can remember. It's gotten so bad that it was keeping me inside. That's right, even though we have only 6 months of weather without snow to enjoy the outdoors I would rather have sat inside then get eaten alive.

Here was my problem. My little girl was turning 3 and we planned a birthday party for her at the house. We invited 36 friends and family members 18 of them being children under the age of 12. We needed to be able to go outside for our own sanity. In preparation for the party my wife went outside to do some weeding. Even though it was about 85 degrees out she wore long sleeves and pants and covered herself in bug spray. It didn't help. She could only handle it for 10 minutes and she was done. I watched as she constantly waved her hand in front of her face to shoo away the swarm of mosquitoes around her.

I had never tried it before but we sell a product that is called Mosquito Beater by Bonide. It comes in a few different forms including a granule shaker and a hose end sprayer. A few hours before the party we applied the spray version to the yard and garden around the house itself. Right as the party was starting we decided to apply the granules to the areas we didn't spray down near the lake that we live on. In both instances the mosquitoes were relentlessly attacking us as we applied the Mosquito Beater. But I can honestly say that I didn't see a single mosquito during the party. In fact, I had completely forgotten about it until my dad mentioned how well the Mosquito Beater was working.

I highly recommend using this product in your yard if you have a mosquito issue. It is a residual insecticide so it will continue to work for a number of weeks after you apply it. Using this product made it possible for me to go back outside and enjoy the few remaining weeks of decent weather that we have left.

If you would like more information contact us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

For more tips about getting rid of mosquitoes and other pests check out these blogs: How to get rid of 1-5,000 mosquitoes a night using a bat house, how to get rid of wasps hornets and yellow jackets, How to get rid of Box elder Bugs

How to get rid of Box Elder Bugs

2011-08-23T11:11:00.000-05:00

Adult Boxelder bug Box elder bugs are a nuisance bug that are completely harmless beyond the icky factor. They are a bug that doesn't do any harm to you or your home but most people including myself don't like to live with the bugs. Box elder bugs start showing up in the spring having hatched from their winter hiding spots. They emit an odor that attracts other boxelders to the spot and in no time they can cover the warm southerly facing side of your home. Boxelders are prolific breeders (just watch them for 5 seconds and you'll know what I mean). They lay eggs on and in your windows and siding and in few weeks you'll see thousands of tiny red bugs swarming all over your walls (like the picture below).

In the fall box elders will again swarm the southerly facing walls of your home in preparation for winter. They're looking for a warm place to spend the winter and if they're on your house it means they've found their spot. If you don't want them covering your house in the spring or getting into your house during the winter months I suggest taking care of them in the fall.

The best poison to use is a residual bug insecticide like Bug Max 365. You can apply this to the outside of your home where you see the box elder bugs. Spray the siding directly with the insecticide focusing on the foundation. Make sure to get all cracks and crevices because you don't want them making your home into their home. You may also want to consider sealing up those cracks you find with caulking to prevent any unwanted guests. With a residual insecticide you do not have to spray the bugs directly. The insecticide will continue to kill the bugs day after day until the insecticide finally wears off. On my house we would spray the house above the deck and have to sweep up giant piles of dead box elders daily. There are other residual insecticides out there but based on my experience this one seemed to work the best.

Box elder bugs get they names from, you guessed it, Box elder trees. If you have a severe problem and hate the idea of using insecticides you could remove any box elder trees that are nearby. Please make sure to only remove trees that are actually on your property. We don't want to be responsible for any fights or legal action from your neighbors.

Another non-poisonous ways to get rid of box elder bugs is to use a shop-vac to suck them up. They stink when you squish them and remember that they emit an odor that attracts other bugs so do you best not to smash them up. Suck them up, bag them and throw them away.

For more information contact us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

How to get rid of Japanese beetles

2011-08-09T13:51:00.001-05:00

Japanese Beetles are a pest that were accidentally introduced to the eastern U.S. in the early 1900's. Now they are sprouting up everywhere including in Minnesota. This year in the twin cities metro area they are as bad as they've ever been and they are devouring everything in their path. Japanese Beetles cause damage in multiple ways.

GRUBS- Grubs are present in your lawn during spring and early summer from eggs that were laid and hatched the previous fall. The grubs devour roots of plants (including: trees, grass, plants, flowers and ornamental shrubs). They cause stress on your lawn by not allowing roots to establish causing large patches of grass to die in the heat of summer. Pull up the dead turf and roll it up until you reach the edge of the green. If it is grubs you will find them here at the edge of the green turf eating away at the roots. Another issue that may arise out of having these grubs in your turf is the fact that other pests eat these grubs. Grubs in your turf will attract moles, shrews, and even skunks that all feed on the larva.

ADULT JAPANESE BEETLE -From about the beginning June through the end of August they mature into the beetle and they emerge hungry. They attack plants of all kinds but they seem to like roses, ornamental shrubs, and fruit trees. The beetle emits a pheromone that attracts other beetles to the spot resulting in an infestation on a single tree or garden.

They retreat to the grass in the evening to lay eggs in your lawn/garden. The eggs will hatch in the late summer and the larva will immediately begin the cycle again feeding on roots before winter arrives.

TREATMENT- There are a number of products out on the market that will help control Japanese Beetles. You can attack them in a few different ways. The first is to use a systemic treatment for your trees and shrubs. Infuse by Bonide is a systemic treatment for trees that will help protect them from a number of different insects including Japanese Beetles and Emerald Ash Borer. To kill grubs it's best to apply a granular insecticide with a spreader from July-September. At this point in the grubs life-cycle they are weak and can be killed off easily.

To kill adult Japanese beetles proves to be a little more difficult. Removing the Japanese Beetles as soon as they are present is key due to the fact that having beetles present attracts more beetles. Use a spray insecticide and thoroughly treat the infested area. ou may need more than one treatment to completely kill off an invasion. Be careful to use an approved insecticide when treating a fruit producing plant and follow the instructions on the bottle.

Use of traps to capture Japanese Beetles have mixed results. Some people who use them say that they've had great results in controlling the infestation. However, traps use a pheromone that attracts beetles to that spot which may result in attracting more beetles to a spot without actually capturing them.

For more information on Japanese Beetle control and prevention check out the Univeristy of Minnesota Extension page.

For more information on insect control check out these blogs: What to do for Emerald ash Borer, How to get rid of wasps, hornets and yellow jackets, Summer lawn care: how to get rid of moles grubs and ant control, How to get rid of ants in your home and in your yard

All the products listed above can be found at:

LEVAHN BROTHERS HARDWARE AND PLUMBING

For more info call us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Check us out on the web at levahnbros.com and also on Facebook

How to get rid of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets

2011-07-27T14:28:00.001-05:00

The first thing you need to know when attempting to get rid of a bee, wasp, hornet or yellow jacket is to identify exactly what variety of insect you are looking at. The image above is that of a Honey Bee and when at all possible you should try to avoid getting rid of them. Honey Bee populations have plummeted in recent years having an adverse effect on our food crops. In fact, according to the National Geographic Honey Bee populations have declined by 50% in the last 50 years. Farmers depend on bee populations to populate their crops and if this trend continues it's going to have severe effects on the food we consume. Please be careful and identify that the pest that you're about to spray is in fact a pest and not a vital contributor to our environment. With that being said, there are a number of wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets out there that can be a big nuisance.

One of the most common wasps that we see in this area is the paper wasp. The Paper Wasp builds its nest in trees, building overhangs, eaves, or other areas out of the elements such as sheds, or children's playhouses. If at all possible leave a nest alone if it's not bothering you. Paper wasps are not considered pests and are actually beneficial to the environment. They feed on caterpillars, beetle larva, flies and other nuisance insects. If a nest is too close for comfort a can or two (depending on the size of the nest) of wasp and hornet killer can be used to kill a colony of paper wasps. It is highly recommended that this be done at night preferably when it's cool (50 degrees or less). Wasps have a hard time flying when the temperature is cooler. It is also recommended that you don't make sudden movements as this will attract any wasps toward you as a target to defend against.

A 30+ year old Paper Wasp nest hanging in the store from owner Loren LeVahn's back yard

Yellow Jacket Yellow jackets are a wasp variety that is attracted by sweets, and meats. They will congregate around public areas such as parks, zoos, schools, beaches or anywhere else they can find sources of food. For this reason preventative measures should be taken to prevent yellow jackets from taking up residence near you. Here are some tips to help prevent yellow jackets from becoming a nuisance:

-Keep garbage and recycling contained and covered at all times. They would love to make a meal out of your old discarded food and drink refuse.

-Get rid of your hummingbird feeder. I know this may be painful for some of you out there to do this but it may not be as painful as a yellow jacket sting.

-Properly seal awnings, siding, and trim around your home. Yellow jackets would love to nest inside the walls of your home so seal-up all gaps that you can find to prevent this (and make your home a little more efficient in the process).

Yellow Jacket Trap

-In the springtime use a yellow jacket trap to hopefully snare a queen looking for a place to set-up shop. Queens will be making their rounds in the springtime looking for the perfect place to start their colonies. The traps can also be used in the summer months to help control populations of yellow jackets and wasps.

Once yellow jackets are established in your area they are more difficult to get rid of due to the fact that you can't normally see the actual nest. Do your best to locate the entry point of where they are coming from. Yellow jackets will nest inside your siding/awnings of your home, in your foundation, in your retaining walls or any other number of locations. Be mindful that the actual nest may be up to a couple of feet or more away from the entry point. In other words spraying a poison into the hole may not be sufficient enough to take care of the problem. You may need to drill multiple holes into the structure and inject poison directly into a nest to be certain that you kill the whole colony. Be incredibly careful when attempting to do rid yourself of yellow jackets. They are more aggressive than other bee varieties and can really cause some harm when aggravated. They will defend their nests to the bitter painful end and will sting multiple times before they die. If you have no choice make sure to follow these hints: Work late at night in cooler temps (50 degrees or less) and wear protective clothing. Move slowly to attract less attention (easier said than done). Have an arsenal of yellow jacket and wasp killer at your disposal and use all of it. You may want to do 2-3 treatments to ensure that you've got all of them. The winter temps will kill off the colony so if possible don't be a hero and wait until nature takes care of them for you. Be careful to make sure that you killed off the ENTIRE colony before you plug up any holes (they have been known to chew their way out of a nest and that could potentially mean chewing into your house instead of out of it).

For yellow jackets that make their nest in the ground the rules change a little bit. Instead, use an insect killer that is in dust form like sevin, eight, or Dursban. You can also use a few aerosol cans of Yellow jacket killer. Find some means of injecting the dust or spray into the ground where the nest is located. On a cool night locate the nest and inject an ample amount of poison into the nest. Move slowly to avoid attracting attention to yourself as a threat. You may need to treat a nest a few times to ensure that the nest is fully dead.

Whenever dealing with bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets take the proper precautions. If you are allergic, have someone else take care of it for you. Don't take a chance it's not worth the risk.

For more information contact us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

For more information on pest control check out these blogs: How to get rid of ants in your yard, How to get rid of mice, How to get rid of mosquitoes using a bat house, What to do for emerald ash borer

Back up sump pump

2011-06-20T14:15:00.001-05:00

Wet Basement FloorIf you have a home that has a sump pump you may be familiar with that humming sound that happens every so often. You may also lie awake at night during the spring months worried when you don't hear it. If this is you then you may want to ask yourself this question: what am I going to do when my sump pump fails? Sump pumps have a lifespan. A sump pump will last between 5-10 years depending on how often it's used. The problem is, your pump won't let you know when it's dead. There's no announcement, just a basement full of water.

Step one would be to test your sump pump periodically to make sure it's still working. To test your pump all you need to do is lift the float up to see if it turns on. Pumps generally have three styles of switches on them. The first style is a switch that is in a float that is tethered to the unit. You will need to lift this style switch almost vertical before it will turn on your pump. The second is a pump that has a float that travels up and down on a rod. The third switch is a pressure switch. To test the pressure switch model you would need to add water to the sump basket in order to turn it on. (Check out the slide show below for examples of these pumps.)

Now that you know that your primary pump works you are going to want to consider what could happen if and when that pump fails or when you lose power (like during a heavy storm). The safest bet is to have a back-up system installed. That way, if your pump fails, there is something in place to save your basement man cave. A back-up unit is installed above the primary pump and will engage only if the water level reaches its switch. There are essentially two options when it comes to back-up systems. There is the battery back-up and the city water powered Sump Jet.

Battery Back-up sump pumpFirst I will talk about the battery back-up unit. A battery back up unit obviously works off of a battery. It uses a car battery sized battery that will need to be replaced about every four years. A battery back-up will run for about 7-8 hours before the battery runs out of juice. In other words, if your power is out for more than 8 hours you will be bailing out your basement. Also, if you happen to be out-of-town for a week and your sump fails the battery back-up unit won't even give you a full day help.

Liberty Sump Jet back-up sump pumpThe other option is to have a Liberty Sump Jet back-up sump pump put in. This unit is powered by your city water so it takes no electricity to run. For every gallon of city water that is run through it, 2-3 gallons of water are pumped out of your sump basket. The downfall of this unit is that water lines will have to be run to it in order to power it. You also have to check with your municipalities for code issues with running the water lines. In some cities back flow check valves have to be installed in-line to prevent contamination of the water system. In other words a licensed professional plumber should be the one installing this particular pump. This unit along with a check valve and copper pipe to supply it end up being about the same cost in terms of materials as a lower end battery back up unit. Check out this link to a news piece that we did on back -up sump pumps.

For more information on sump pumps check out these other blogs: What to do for a frozen sump pump discharge line, Product Highlight Liberty Sump Jet, Sump pumps for a flooded basement

For all of the products mentioned above go to LeVahn Bros. Hardware Hank

Located at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, Mn 55369

To contact us call 763-551-8990

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

Also, come "like" us on Facebook

2011-05-23T11:39:00.001-05:00

Sweet AntGot an ant problem? If you do you're not alone. It seems that this year we are having a bumper crop of ants and with the recent rain they're all trying to come inside. Sweet ants seem to be the main culprit, although we've had a number of people who say that they've got the black or "common" ant showing up as well.

Common Black Ant Ants enter your house for the same reasons we do: its dry and that's were the food is. If allowed, ants have no trouble finding a way in to your house. They can crawl into cracks in the foundation and start colonizing your home in no time. Before you know it you've got a full-fledged infestation on your hands.
To help prevent ants from entering your home you have to start at the entry point which is your homes foundation. There are a few options you can choose to form a sort of temporary force field around you home. One of them is a product from Terro called Ant Killer Plus. It is a granular that you shake out around the perimeter of your home. This product also controls cockroaches. fleas, and a whole list of other insects. It claims to be long-lasting but it is vague in terms of what that actually means. You can also use this product as a spot treatment for ant hills in the yard.

Bug MaxAnother option is to use a product called Bug Max by Enforcer. Bug Max is a liquid that you spray around the foundation of your home as well as on door frames and window frames. It is a residual which is just a fancy word for saying that you don't necessarily need to spray the actual bug for it to be effective. Bug Max also works on a number of other insects including Box Elder bugs and Asian Lady Beetles.

If you can't prevent them from coming inside or you already have a problem don't worry there is a solution. If you want to rid yourself of your ant problem you need to kill them in their nest. The problem is, you probably have no idea where their nest is. You could try tracking one until he reveals his hideout to you but there is an easier way.

The ants that you see in your home are the ants in charge of gathering food for everyone else back at the nest. That being said, if you kill only the ants you see you won't solve the problem because there's more ants that will take their place. The solution is to use a poison that the ant will take back to the nest.

Terro liquid ant baitsThere are number of options when it comes to ant poisons. Terro is one option. It comes in liquid form that is in a bottle or in a pre-baited container that you cut open. The only problem with the liquid Terro products is keeping cats, dogs, or little children from ingesting the poison. For this reason you should place the baited traps in places that you have seen ants but also where only the ants can get to it. Terro seems to work best for the small brown sweet eating ants.

Raid Ant BaitsAnother option is to use a product that is not a liquid and is more child/pet friendly like Raids Ant Baits. This product is enclosed so the poison is easily accessible to ants but not to pets or children. It is still highly effective and seems to work better for the common black household ant.

Both of the products mentioned above WILL TAKE TIME to completely kill the colony. This isn't an instant gratification solution to the problem but it is the most effective. You will see ants by the dozens eating from the ant baits and you are going to wonder to yourself if it's really doing what it's supposed to do. Like I said earlier the ants you see are bringing back food to the others in the nest and eventually you will stop seeing anymore ants.

If you have any further ant related questions please post your question or call us at 763-553-1222

LeVahn Bros. Plumbing and Hardware Hank is located in the Bass Lake Shopping Center at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

Check us out and "like" us on facebook as well

For more info on ants and other pest control check out this blog on summer lawn pest control

Spring bird feeding tips

2011-05-23T11:26:00.001-05:00

Bird feederSpring is a great time to establish or re-establish your bird feeding station. During the spring you have the return of birds that have been away for the winter. You're feeder is also going to get a lot of migrating birds that are just passing through that you wouldn't normally see in our area. If you haven't been seeing many birds there are a few things to consider.

The first thing you need to do is to check your feeders. Are they clean? If you have old, wet, moldy seed your birds are not going to eat it. Clean out your bird feeder with a anti-bacterial soap or a mild bleach solution. Use a tube brush to clean out your tube feeder. Make sure they are thoroughly dry before you refill them. You also need to clean up any seed piles that are on the ground. These can become a real source of disease as well as being an eyesore under your feeder.

Tube bird feeder brushThe same needs to be done for bird houses and bird baths. Make sure they are clean and are in good working order. Make sure that bird houses haven't become mouse hotels over the winter. Repair any damage caused by winter and/or rodents. If the feeder, bird house or bird bath is too damaged you should replace it.

Offer a variety of seeds in different feeders. This will allow birds that can dominate a feed station, such as Grackles, a spot to eat as well as having an option for other birds. Try putting out nyjer thistle or safflower seed to attract cardinals, chickadees, finches and titmice.

Black Capped ChickadeeOffer a fruit option such as orange and apple slices, raisins, and grapes for migrating Orioles and other fruit-eating birds.

Put out nesting materials for birds. This can be as simple as pet hair, or yarn. You can also purchase all natural bird nesting material that can be hung near your feeding station.

All natural bird nesting material Offer mealworms for insect-eating birds. Spring (especially in Minnesota) can be very unpredictable for insects and a sudden cold spell can keep insects from appearing. Offering mealworms is a good supplement for birds such as orioles, warblers, and tanagers that are looking for insects.

If you are looking for bird feeders, premium bird food, and bird feeding accessories stop in to LeVahn Bros Hardware Hank

We are located at 12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Call us at 763-553-1222

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

Visit our Facebook page and "like" us

For more info on Bird feeders and Bird food check out these posts

Product Highlight: Wild Delight Bird Food

Winter Bird Feeding Tips

Bird Feeding Tips

2011-03-21T19:34:00.001-05:00

Back up sump pumps - If you have a home with a that is need of a sump pump you may want to ask yourself this questi... http://ow.ly/1bS6UY

2011-03-14T19:36:00.001-05:00

levahnbros - levahnbros Product Highlight: Wild Delight Bird Food Wild Delight: Deck Porch And Patio Bird Food T http://ow.ly/1bLGQn

2011-03-13T19:30:00.001-05:00

levahnbros - Product Highlight: Wild Delight Bird Food Wild Delight: Deck Porch And Patio Bird Food The product http://ow.ly/1bKDHk

2011-03-12T18:29:00.001-06:00

Product Highlight: Wild Delight Bird Food - Wild Delight: Deck Porch And Patio Bird Food The product highlight for t... http://ow.ly/1bJUr7

Ice dams, roof rakes and roof melt

2011-03-09T13:34:00.000-06:00

What to do for a frozen sump pump discharge line

2011-03-09T09:32:00.000-06:00

: Frozen Sump Pump Discharge Line

Sump pumps are a necessity in our area of Minnesota. Besides the ground being clay, we have developments all around us that were placed on top of back-filled swamps and marsh land. Residents of this area have their sump pumps run year round. Because the pumps run year round that creates issues when the temps are below freezing. If your sump pump seems to be running continuously it could mean one of two things: either your back flow check valve is failing or your discharge line is frozen.

Sump pump discharge lines can freeze causing the sump pump to run continuously, eventually burning up the pumps motor. It also means if the water has nowhere to go the sump pump basket may overflow flooding your basement.

A person can do a few different things to prevent this from happening. Often times the sump pump is hard piped from the sump pump to the outside of the house. Once the pipe is outside however it is often then attached to flexible sump pump discharge tubing. This flexible discharge line should be removed in the fall so that it doesn't freeze up. The problem with doing this is that if the sump pump needs to run in the winter it will be discharged right next to the house instead of away from the home. When that happens it is likely that the water that you just pumped out of the basement will make its way back to the basement again. A homeowner should have a couple flexible discharge lines on hand so that if you have a period of heavy sump use you can throw a flex line on to get the water away from the house. Then, if and when the line freezes up, you can detach that line and put your other spare flex line on.

We do not recommend directing the water into a floor drain or laundry tub inside the house. This is considered an illegal hook-up of the sump discharge. However in an emergency situation this is an option.

Another option would be to use some kind of heat cable on the discharge line. You would only do this if your discharge line is hard piped with PVC. This is not something we recommend if you are using the thin flexible discharge line. You could use a roof and gutter de-icing cable and run it through the discharge line and plug it in as needed. DO NOT use pipe heat tape. Pipe heat tape is meant to be used on the outside of the pipe in indoor applications only and is not to be exposed to the elements.

: De-Icing cable

It's good practice to periodically check your sump basket to make sure that your pump is working properly. If you have a flex line on the sump make sure that it is free and clear of debris, snow, and ice during the cold winter months. You may also want to make sure that it is not discharging water that will freeze and create dangerously icy conditions in a spot that could cause you trouble. In other words don't allow your sump pump to discharge massive quantities of water onto your sidewalk and driveway.

For more on sump pumps and flooding basements check out these other blogs: Sump pumps for a flooded basement, basement flooding and sump pumps, Product highlight: Liberty Sump jet sump back-up sump pump

For more info or to have a sump pump installed call us at 763-551-8990

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

We're also on Facebook check us out and "like" us

2011-03-08T18:34:00.001-06:00

What to do for a frozen sump pump discharge line - Sump pumps are a necessity in our area of Minnesota. Besides the ... http://ow.ly/1bG2Bo

2011-02-22T18:36:00.001-06:00

Product Highlight: Liberty back-up sump pump - The product highlight for the week of February 21st is the Liberty Su... http://ow.ly/1bsn6o

2011-02-13T18:27:00.001-06:00

levahnbros - Product Highlight: Foam Rubber Garage Squeegee The product highlight for the second week of Februar http://ow.ly/1bjU3o

2011-02-12T18:27:00.001-06:00

Product Highlight: Foam Rubber Garage Squeegee - The product highlight for the second week of February is a very hig... http://ow.ly/1bjaEm

Product Highlight: Foam Garage floor Squeegee

2011-02-12T09:49:00.001-06:00

: Foam Rubber Floor Squeegee

The product highlight for the second week of February is a very high quality foam rubber floor squeegee. It's mostly sold in our area for getting water/slush out of a persons garage. As many of you know living in Minnesota means having to deal with a certain amount of snow during the winter. Snow accumulation causes of number of issues that person has to deal with on a daily basis. One of these issues is the fact that when you pull your car into your garage you tend to bring a certain amount of snow with you. This snow drips, drops, splats and plops messes all over your garage floor.

Traditionally we sold people a floor squeegee that was made of heavy-duty rubber. This style squeegee was always frustrating because it always seemed to skip and bounce across the floor missing water and debris along its path. It also would warp over a short period of time. We started bringing in the foam rubber squeegees a few years ago. At first I was highly suspect that it would do a good job or hold up to the Minnesota salt, gravel, ice, snow, slush mix that accumulated in my garage. In fact, when my squeegee I had started warping on me I purchased another heavy rubber model instead of the new foam model that we started carrying.

I finally got talked into one after a few months of battling with the rubber model and I couldn't have been more impressed. The foam rubber squeegee outperforms the conventional rubber squeegee in almost every facet. It doesn't miss anything, it removes significantly more water, it doesn't skip and it surprisingly holds up to the salt, ice and gravel. They're even less expensive than the rubber models.
We sell these to people and the never go back to the other old rubber style. We have customers that come from all around just to buy the foam squeegee that we carry. Try one, you won't regret it and you'll never go back to the old style rubber model.

For the product listed above stop in and see us we are located in the

Bass Lake Shopping Center 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55369

Call us at 763-553-1222

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

2011-02-01T18:35:00.001-06:00

Product Highlight: "Roofmelt" roof de-icing tablets - The product highlight for the first week of February is "Roo... http://ow.ly/1b8uTL

Product Highlight: "Roofmelt" roof de-icing tablets

2011-02-01T14:07:00.000-06:00

The product highlight for the first week of February is "Roofmelt" roof de-icing tablets. This product is designed to help aid in the removal of ice dams that form on the eaves of your roof. It comes in a bucket that has approximately 60 tablets in it. You place the tablets about a foot or less apart along the backside of where the ice dam has formed. Down below is the instructions from the back of the bucket.

We have found the claim that you can "throw the tablets safely from the ground" is not the best way to do it. Unless you are a major league pitcher and can throw the tablets from the ground and have them land directly behind the ice dam with about a one foot spacing in between them, you are probably going to have to get on a ladder and place them on the roof.

The point of the roof melt is to HELP aid in the removal of the ice dam. It is not magic pixie dust that makes your ice dams disappear after one day. If used correctly it will help create a channel for the water to go and it will help loosen the ice that is already there. We've found that people expect instant results and that's just not going to happen. It is a good product, that when used properly will help you get rid of your ice dams. Just don't expect a miracle.

For more information on getting rid of ice dams check out these blogs:

Product Highlight: Roof de-icing cables

Get a roof rake to prevent an ice dam

Get your home ready for winter

How to prevent and get rid of ice dams on your roof

The product above can be found at LeVahn Brothers Hardware Hank

12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove Mn 55369

To contact us call 763-553-1222

Check us out on the web at levahnbros.com

Product Highlight: Roof de-icing cables

2011-01-27T08:27:00.002-06:00

The product highlight for the last week of January is Wrap-on roof de-icing cables. The reality is that this is a product that should be purchased when you don't have two feet of snow and ice on your roof but nobody thinks about it when it's warm out. Roof de-icing cables are a device that is applied when there is no ice or snow on the roof and are used when the snow and ice are present. They are a heat cable that will melt snow and ice in your gutters and on the first few feet of roof to prevent ice dams from forming. It is not designed to totally clear a roof of snow nor is it meant for a flat roof. It works to create channels for the water to flow so that when a roof naturally thaws it has a place for water to flow. Packages range in length from 40' to 120' and each package comes with shingle clips to hold the cable in place and instructions for how to properly install the cable.

This is a highly recommended product that we suggest you buy now while the image of ice dams is still fresh on you mind. If you wait until spring, summer or even fall the memory of that ice dam will fade until you have another issue next winter.

For more about ice dams and ice dam prevention check out these blogs:
Get your home ready for winter, How to prevent and get rid of ice dams, and Get a roof rake to prevent an ice dam

To purchase heat cable or if you have other questions call 763-553-1222

LeVahn Bros Hardware and Plumbing is located at

12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, MN 55369
Check us out on the web at levahnbros.com

2011-01-26T18:34:00.001-06:00

Product Highlight: Roof de-icing cables - The product highlight for the last week of January is Wrap-on roof de-ic... http://ow.ly/1b2SVJ

Winter Bird Feeding Guide

2011-01-21T09:05:00.003-06:00

Winter is a very important and rewarding time to feed your outdoor birds. We all know that many birds "fly south for the winter" but that's definitely not the case for all birds. In fact there are many beautiful species that stick around here and tough out the cold with the rest of us. Besides, with the changing of the seasons winter birding allows for easier viewing due to the backdrop of snow and less foliage to block your view.

Place your bird feeders closer to the home or on the deck to allow for easier feeder refilling. You can purchase hangers that will attach directly to the deck railing without drilling any holes.

Single arm Deck Hanger

Double armed deck hanger

Here are some of the species that you should be targeting:

Chickadee

Chickadees

Chickadees are a beautiful bird that will feed in numbers when you have a consistent seed present. Chickadees eat millet, sun flower hearts, black oil sunflower seeds and dried fruit.
You also want to make sure that you have a suet cake available for the chickadee to munch on. Suet cakes are high in fat and protein and are a bird favorite in the lean winter months.

Cardinal

Cardinals

Cardinals are beautiful in the winter time against a white and evergreen backdrop. Cardinals eat; safflower, black oil sunflower, suet, striped sunflower, and dried fruit available for cardinals. You can also purchase blends that are designed specifically for cardinals. Make sure that the blend you purchase is for cardinals and doesn't just have a picture of a cardinal on the package.

Blue Jay

Blue Jays

Blue Jays are a somewhat of a bully when it comes to the birding world but they are beautiful to look at. They have a varied diet that consists of peanuts, sunflower seeds, berries, corn, acorns, insects, suet, and the occasional small mouse, baby bird or egg.

Nuthatch

Nuthatches

Nuthatches are a small fast bird that are an intense bundle of energy and are very entertaining to watch. They love to eat peanuts, black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, insects, peanut butter and suet.

Grosbeak

Grosbeaks

Often mistaken for a purple finch, the male grosbeaks we have in our neck of the woods are a rosy red color. They prefer eating black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, safflower, and suet.

Purple Finches

Purple finches will stick around for at least part of a Minnesota winter. They like to eat black oil sunflower seeds, thistle seed (also know as nyjer seed), outdoor finch food, sunflower chips, and safflower seeds. They prefer coniferous trees to take refuge in.

Downy Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

The Downy woodpecker is the species most likely to visit a feeder. A smaller version of a classic woodpecker body plan. They prefer insects but will also eat seeds and fruit. They love suet, peanuts, black oil sunflower, and millet.

For all birds make sure that you have the feeders near shelter such as a small bush or tree so they don't feel exposed. Try placing the feeder in a place that the birds can escape from the wind and the elements. Use a cluster of two to four feeders and vary the feeder types. Use platform, tray and hopper style feeders. Have some feeders closer to the ground and some higher up.

If you feed the squirrels, rabbits, pheasants and or other critters place that feeder toward the back of the yard and away from the bird feeding station. This helps keep the other critters away from eating from the bird feeders. It doesn't assure that your bird feeders won't be attacked by unwanted pests but it helps.

Do not place the feeders too close to windows to avoid having birds crash into the glass. You may also want to consider putting out a heated bird bath for drinking water purposes. For more information on birds and bird feeding check out this post on bird feeding tips.

As always you can find the products spoken about above at our Hardware Store located in Maple Grove

to contact us call 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

2011-01-20T18:33:00.001-06:00

levahnbros - Winter Bird Feeding Tips Winter is a very important and rewarding time to feed your outdoor birds. http://ow.ly/1aXvMa

2011-01-19T18:33:00.002-06:00

Winter Bird Feeding Tips - Winter is a very important and rewarding time to feed your outdoor birds. We all know tha... http://ow.ly/1aWtlL

2010-12-29T18:31:00.001-06:00

Product Highlight: Toro Power Shovel - The Product Highlight for the last week of 2010 is the Toro Power Shovel. It... http://ow.ly/1aEFol

Product Highlight: the "Ultimate " Scraper snow and ice scraper

2010-12-22T08:14:00.000-06:00

: the "ultimate" scraper

The product highlight for the week of Dec 20th-26th is the "Ultimate" Scraper. The "ultimate" scraper is a fantastic tool for removing ice and compacted snow. It's blade is made from a spring steel that you can really abuse without it breaking or bending. It's meant to be used as a scraper and not a chopper for ice but I've used it as a chopper and it holds up. The blade is replaceable if it does break or wear out. It has a spot to push with your foot, which I thought was nice feature. It can also be used for removing other things such as old carpet and carpet padding, mud and other compacted debris or for general clean up of work spaces such as barns, garages and work spaces. It works better than a classic ice scraper and if you ask me the less work the better when it comes to ice and snow removal.

: the "Ultimate" scraper in action

For more ice and snow removal tips check out the blog ice removal for your driveway and sidewalk or the product highlight post incredible orange

For more info call us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

2010-12-18T18:29:00.001-06:00

levahnbros - Product Highlight: Weber S-310 Gas Grill The product highlight for this week is the Weber S-310 sta http://ow.ly/1aw5lM

2010-12-17T18:35:00.001-06:00

Product Highlight: Weber S-310 Gas Grill - The product highlight for this week is the Weber S-310 stainless steel ga... http://ow.ly/1avo6L

2010-12-16T18:36:00.001-06:00

levahnbros - Get a roof rake to prevent an ice dam With 2 feet of snowfall occurring in the metro area of Minnes http://ow.ly/1auplk

2010-12-15T18:36:00.001-06:00

Get a roof rake to prevent an ice dam - With 2 feet of snowfall occurring in the metro area of Minnesota you need to... http://ow.ly/1atn7t

Use a roof rake to prevent an ice dam

2010-12-15T10:05:00.000-06:00

: Metrodome roof collapse due to snowfall

With 2 feet of snowfall occurring in the metro area of Minnesota you need to make sure you stay on top of the accumulation of snow on your roof. Take the collapsing of the Metrodome as a sign that snow accumulation on a roof is not a good thing. Snow accumulation on your roof isn't going to collapse your roof but it can cause damage.

: Ice dam

The biggest issue with snow accumulation on a roof is the forming of ice dams.
Ice dams occur when heat from your home melts the snow that is in direct contact with the roof surface. This melted snow then re-freezes and builds up an ice dam, normally at the gutter. As time goes by and water continues to feed the dam, the ice dam grows. If you have icicles forming, that is usually an indication that a dam may be forming.

: Water bubble formed by a roof leak

The problem that arises due to ice dams is that the water that is backing up at the ice dam can find its way into your home. The water finds cracks and openings in the roof and makes its way into your attic space. From there it will make its way down walls or through ceilings. It can cause major water damage in your home.

: Remove the first few feet of snow with a roof rake

To avoid having an ice form on your home use a roof rake to pull snow from the roof. A roof rake is essentially a really shovel that is turned on its side so that you can pull snow from the roof surface. When removing the snow you don't need to worry about clearing the whole roof. All that you need to remove is 2-3 feet of snow from the roofs edge. The first couple feet of roof is where the dam forms and you need to keep this area free of snow to avoid having the water accumulate here.

: Avalanche snow rake

The are a number of different roof rake options out there to purchase. The models that we carry are all around the same price (around $50-$55). A new unique version is the Avalanche snow rake. It slides under the snow allowing the snow to slide off the surface of the roof. There are also different length options so be sure to look at what length you need. If you have a really tall roof and need to extend your rake make sure you buy one that has that option. A five foot extension runs about $10.

: "Roof Melt"

If you have an ice dam already formed do not attempt to chip or pull the ice up with your roof rake. They are meant to pull down snow only and they will break if you attempt to use them as an ice chipper. Remove the snow on top of the dam and as much as you can reach behind the already formed dam. As a last resort use a product such as Roof Melt ice dam remover. Roof Melt is a large pellet of ice melt. It is magnesium based so it doesn't harm the surface as much as a sodium based product. I can't say for sure that it doesn't harm the shingles but I'd rather replace shingles then have to deal with gutting a room due to water damage.

For more info on roof rakes and ice dams check out the blog "how to prevent and get rid of ice dams"

For more information call us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, MN 55311

Or visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

2010-12-07T18:34:00.001-06:00

RPZ testing, repairing and replacing - An RPZ or RPZD valve is a "reduced pressure zone device". It is a type of bac... http://ow.ly/1alINP

RPZ testing, repairing and rebuilding

2010-12-07T15:34:00.000-06:00

An RPZ or RPZD valve is a "reduced pressure zone device". It is a type of back-flow preventer whose purpose is to protect the water supply from contamination. Most commonly, RPZ valves are found in commercial spaces that have waters that can potentially be contaminated. They are also found in residential houses on some hot water boilers and also on irrigation systems.

The point of a RPZ is to prevent contaminants from entering back into the clean water supply. Back-flow preventers or double-check valves are often not permitted because, unlike RPZ's, they cannot be tested to make sure that they are functioning properly. Federal, state, and local regulations require yearly RPZ testing. They also need to be rebuilt every 5 years. This helps insure proper function of the valve.

Like anything else in plumbing RPZ valves can and will eventually leak and will need to be repaired. If you have a valve that needs to be repaired you need to know the manufacturer. There are a number of different RPZ valve manufacturers and all use different parts. To have your valve tested, rebuilt or repaired call a professional, licensed plumber. You need to use specific RPZ testing equipment. This is not something that a business or home owner can do on their own.

If you are in need of RPZ testing, repairing, or rebuilding and are in the Twin cities Metro area, contact LeVahn Brothers Plumbing at 763-551-8990

Or, stop by and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

2010-12-01T18:39:00.001-06:00

Product Highlight: "The Snow Plow" snow pusher - Our product highlight for the first week of December is "The Snow P... http://ow.ly/1ag82M

2010-11-30T18:36:00.001-06:00

How to prevent an outside faucet from freezing - Frozen pipes in the winter time aren't anything new to plumbers in ... http://ow.ly/1aeWGY

2010-11-23T18:42:00.001-06:00

Product highlight: Incredible orange - Incredible orange is an anti-ice and snow product that is marketed as a pre-t... http://ow.ly/1a8f3C

Product Highlight: Incredible Orange Anti-Ice and Snow

2010-11-23T16:17:00.000-06:00

Incredible orange is an anti-ice and snow product that is marketed as a pre-treatment for snow and ice. It's the same product that is used by highway departments around the country. Use a pump sprayer to apply the liquid to outside surfaces that you don't want ice or snow to build up on. We use it on the walkway in front of our store and have found that it works great for those irritating snow dustings that we get all winter long. Incredible orange also works to keep ice and snow from adhering to the surface of walk and driveways so that shoveling is easier later on. This product can be used to help melt ice that has already built up on outside surfaces but we find it works better as a pretreatment. For other ideas on how to remove ice and snow from your driveway check out this ice and snow removal post.

For more information call us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove, Mn

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

Product Highlight: Mouse Magic

2010-11-23T09:23:00.003-06:00

: Mouse Magic

This is the first of a new series of posts highlighting products that we feel are unique and useful for the average home owner. The first product that we are highlighting is called Mouse Magic. It's a mouse repellent that is made with all natural ingredients. It smells like spearmint so it is less offensive than moth balls. It works great for cabins, boats, R.V.'s, storage spaces or anywhere else you want to keep mice out of. A box of 4 pouches runs about $9-$10 and each pouch lasts around a month. With 2010 shaping up to be a terrible year for dealing with mice it wouldn't be a bad product to have on hand.

For more info on mouse control check out our post getting rid of mice

For more information contact us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 127000 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, MN

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

2010-11-18T18:34:00.001-06:00

Gift ideas for the handy man in your life. - As Christmas approaches we at LeVahn Brothers Hardware and Plumbing get... http://ow.ly/1a3c5t

Gift Ideas For the Handyman in Your Life

2010-11-18T14:19:00.000-06:00

: A Handyman's Dream Christmas Gift Package

As Christmas approaches we at LeVahn Brothers Hardware and Plumbing get more than a few requests from our customers for gift ideas. Here's a few ideas for what to give the handyman in your life.

WEBER GRILLS

: Weber S-310 Stainless Steel Grill (NOW $799!)

I don't know a man (or woman) that wouldn't love to have a shiny new stainless steel grill from Weber. This grill is built to last. It features 3 stainless steel burners, stainless steel cooking grates, and a stainless steel cover and doors. Pair this with a weber motorized rotisserie and you've got the perfect gift for the Emeril Lagasse in your life. BAM! Other accessories to consider: Weber's halogen grill lights, Weber barbecue mitt, Weber cooking tools, Weber grill brushes, Weber beer can chicken cooker, weber griddle, and a Weber Steam-N-Chips smoker with hickory wood chips.

DREMEL TOOLS

: DREMEL MULTI TOOL

The Dremel tool is one of those tools that you never knew you needed until you own one, then you can't live without. They can do a number of DIY tasks around your home. They can drill, grind, cut, sand and so much more. There are a hundreds of accessories for the Dremel from extension wands and drill presses to router tables and what seems like a countless array of bits. Make sure you also check out the Dremel Multi-Max Oscillating Tool. It has multiple heads that can be interchanged for sanding, grinding, and scraping.

BLACK AND DECKER BULLSEYE

: BLACK AND DECKER BULLSEYE

This tool came out a number of years ago and because of advertising by Black and decker was virtually impossible to keep on the shelf. Now, I'm not usually a fan of the gimmicky tools that Black and Decker puts out every year around Christmas time but I've used this one and it is incredibly handy. It is both a stud finder and a laser level. It makes hanging pictures, shelves or whatever else you have a snap. And if you're like me and you just can't handle looking at all the crooked pictures, shelves, and towel bars at your in-laws house, you can use it while their gone to correct things.

STOCKING STUFFERS
The hardware store is the ideal place for stocking stuffers. We have a countless number of little gadgets that are essential, can't live without items for the handyman toolbox.

GORILLA TAPE AND GLUE

: Gorilla Tape duct tape

: Gorilla Glue

Gorilla Tapes are "For the toughest jobs on Planet Earth". It's essentially duct tape on steroids. It is incredibly thick, strong, tacky tape. It works well in cold and wet applications and will stick to almost anything. Also look for other Gorilla items such as their line of glues which includes a multi-purpose glue, wood glue, super glue, PVC cement, and epoxy.

STANLEY LED FLASHLIGHTS

: STANLEY TRIPOD LIGHTS

Stanley Tools came out with a line of handy LED flashlights that are great to have around. They have a number of different options including a series of tripod flashlights. The tripods are my personal favorites.

OKEEFFE"S HAND AND FOOT CREAM

: Okeeffe's Working Hands

Hand cream that your handyman can use and still feel masculine. Hands will dry out and crack from working out in the cold or from spending countless hours in the wood shop. It takes care of splits and cracks in your fingers and because it's odorless you won't go around smelling like lilacs. It's a new product to us here at the store but I can already tell that it works. Highly recommended. We also carry "Okeeffe's Working Feet".

CRESCENT R2 RAPID WRENCH

: Crescent Rapid Wrench

This is a very versatile adjustable wrench. It is easily adjusted and can grab hex nuts, square nuts, and even eye bolts. It will ratchet both directions and it locks in place so that the jaws won't slip off of what you are working on. It's not a wrench that when you buy it you can throw every other wrench away, but it is a nice addition to the tool box.

LEVAHN BROTHERS COFFEE

: LeVahn Brothers Hardware Coffee

I know it sounds a little crazy but we have coffee and believe it or not it's good. We decided about 2 years ago that we wanted to have free coffee in the store for our customers to drink as they shopped. We talked about options and decided that we wanted it to be a high quality coffee and that if the customer really liked it they could buy a bag. The coffee is roasted locally when we order it so it's fresher than the stuff you buy at the grocery store. If you don't believe me stop in and try a cup on us.

For more info call us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbrothers.com

Get your home ready for winter

2010-11-10T14:06:00.001-06:00

1. PREVENT FROZEN PIPES. THE COPPER PIPING THAT GOES TO YOUR OUTSIDE HOSE SPIGOT CAN FREEZE AND BURST IN THE WINTER IF IT HAS WATER STILL PRESENT INSIDE OF IT. YOU NEED TO DRAIN THE WATER OUT OF THE LINE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IF YOUR HOSE SPIGOTS ARE NOT THE FROST-FREE STYLE OF SPIGOT( to learn more about frost-free hose spigots check out this post: leaky hose spigots

TO DO THIS YOU NEED TO FIRST SHUT OFF THE WATER GOING TO YOUR OUTSIDE HOSE SPIGOT. IF POSSIBLE DRAIN WATER FROM THE LINES GOING TO THE OUTSIDE. MANY SHUT-OFFS USED FOR HOSE SPIGOTS HAVE A DRAIN VALVE ON THEM TO DO THIS. LASTLY, TO HELP INSURE THAT THE SPIGOT WON'T FREEZE YOU CAN INSTALL AN INSULATED HOSE SPIGOT COVER OVER THE TOP ON OF THE SPIGOT.

: outlet insulator

2. SEAL UP YOUR HOUSE FROM DRAFTS.CAULK AROUND WINDOWS AND DOORS. REPLACE WORN OR MISSING WEATHER STRIPPING. REPAIR WINDOWS THAT ARE CRACKED. SEAL-UP THE HOUSE WITH WINDOW AND DOOR INSULATION KITS. INSTALL OUTLET AND SWITCH SEALS ON OUTSIDE WALLS TO PREVENT DRAFTS FROM ENTERING. (For more ideas on how to seal up your home from drafts and save on your heating check out this blog: insulate your home from drafts

: Roof heat cable

3. PREVENT ICE DAMNS. CLEAN OUT LEAVES FROM GUTTERS TO ALLOW THEM TO FLOW FREELY. INSTALL HEAT CABLE ON YOUR ROOF AND IN YOUR GUTTERS TO MELT AWAY ICE DAMNS THAT FORM IN THE SPRING. (For more info on what to do for ice dams and installing heat cable check out this blog: Ice Dams

4. CHECK YOUR HOMES HEATING SYSTEM. TEST YOUR HOMES HEATING SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS RUNNING PROPERLY. REPLACE FURNACE FILTERS WHEN THEY GET DIRTY OR AT LEAST EVERY 3 MONTHS. REPLACE YOUR WHOLE HOUSE HUMIDIFIER FILTER. HIRE A COMPANY TO COME OUT AND CLEAN YOUR FURNACE AND DO A TUNE-UP IF NEEDED TO ENSURE YOU DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN YOU REALLY NEED HEAT.

: Cracked window

5. CLEAN YOUR SCREENS AND WINDOWS. BEFORE IT GETS TO COLD TO DO SO, CLEAN OFF YOUR WINDOWS. REMOVE, CLEAN AND STORE SCREENS FOR THE WINTER. REPAIR ANY SCREENS THAT ARE TORN OR WORN OUT. REPLACE THE GLASS ON ANY WINDOWS THAT ARE CRACKED OR BROKEN. (or you can bring your screens and windows in to LeVahn Brothers Hardware for repair).

For more information call us at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

Tis the season for electrocution?

2010-11-09T13:19:00.001-06:00

Every Year around this time we at LeVahn Brothers Hardware and Plumbing get about a gazillion requests for the elusive double male plug. It's a highly sought after "adapter" for people who are doing their Christmas lighting. You see what happens is that a person putting up the lights who isn't paying attention will put the female plug end of the lights closest to the outlet instead of the other way around. That means that after about 8 hours of painstaking work (think Christmas Vacation) hanging upside down from the gutters, going up and down a ladder 100's of times, and almost freezing your fingers off you realize that the lights you just hung won't plug-in.

The last thing that you are going to do is turn the whole mess around so you head to your local hardware store (LeVahn Brothers Hardware) where you know you'll get the answer that you're hoping for. Unfortunately for you the answer is this: NO! Unless you have a death wish (which might be half-true due to the fact that you just spent 2 hours on an icy roof and the ladder that you use is known as the widow-maker). When you have a plug that has two ends that are male you have one end that is "hot". That means that if you or some other unsuspecting individual grabs a hold of the hot end, you're cooked. Now, I know that touching a live cord doesn't mean certain death but you really don't want to try it.

Your only options are these: You can turn the whole mess around or you can find another outlet to use for your lights. I can tell you from experience most people pick option 2. Get a long extension cord that is meant for outside use and connect your lights that way. DO NOT make your own double male plug. We've heard all the reasoning for why people need a double male. There's no way around it, when you plug-in that double male, somewhere down the line there will be a live male prong just dangling in the wind waiting to fry something.

So keep yourself safe and don't even toy with the thought of making one of these Christmas killers. Also, speaking from experience (the widow-maker) get yourself a new ladder, it's worth it.

For more info contact LeVahn Brothers at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

Tips for how to get rid of mice

2010-11-01T10:28:00.000-05:00

It's something that no home owner wants to see. Little black droppings in the cupboards. Or even worse, you lay awake at night listening to scratching coming from inside the walls. If you're real lucky you may even get to see those dark black beady little eyes peering at you from a shelf in the garage or see one scamper along the wall and under the couch. Most homeowners out there have had one of these unfortunate encounters with the furry menace known as the mouse.
This fall seems to be particularly bad for mice. You might call it a bumper crop. So what can you do short of calling an exterminator? There's no shortage of effective options, you just need to decide what the right one is for your situation.
Here's a few that we've found to be effective:

: D-con mouse poison pellets

POISON: Mouse poison comes in a few different brands and forms. You can buy pellets of poison (like in the image to the right) that you simply open the box and let them eat out of it. There are also bait blocks that you can toss into an area that you can't reach. There are bags filled with poison pellets that you leave unopened and let the mice chew their way through. The poison used is essentially the same from brand to brand. The only real difference is how it's formed and packaged.
The benefit of poison is its ease of use and it's effectiveness. The downfall of poison is the possibility of harming something other than mice (i.e. children and pets) and the fact that you will have dead mice somewhere that you probably won't find. Make sure that if you decide to use poison that you put in a place that it won't have the ability to harm something other than the intended target. As for the dead bodies problem, we usually recommend using poison in the garage or shed where it won't be as much of an issue.

: Snap Trap

SNAP TRAPS: There's variety of choices when it comes to the classic mouse trap. You have people who swear by the old standard but if you're like me you haven't had much luck using this style. Maybe I just had intelligent city mice but they seemed to be able to clean the peanut butter off of these things without setting them off. Fortunately, there are people out there that have built a better mouse trap. There are d-cons hockey puck looking trap that winds up and snaps closed when set off. Or my personal favorite Snap-E's easy set snap trap.

: "Snap-E" trap

This trap has a cup in which you put the peanut butter that is below the trigger for the trap. There's no way that a mouse is going to get that peanut butter without setting this trap off. Another plus for this brand is how easy it is to set the trap and then also how easy it is to release the dead mouse afterward. I just used this particular trap in my own home over the weekend and caught a few myself. They work and they are easy to use, plain and simple.In my opinion this is the "better mouse trap".
One drawback of snap traps is the occasional mouse that only get a paw or two snapped in the trap and will drag the trap all over the house. For this reason I recommend tying a string to the trap so that it doesn't run away.
Other snap traps include d-cons "no view no touch" trap that looks like a hockey puck. This is an effective and is great for the squeamish. The mouse enters the trap, the trap snaps closed, you throw away the trap mouse and all. The downfalls are that a) at about $7 for 2 traps this option can be pricey and b) it is another throw away plastic item for the landfills.
A new comer (and in my opinion, a much better option) to the "no see, no mess" snap trap arena is Ortho's Home Defense mouse trap. The mouse gets snapped internally so you don't see it dead and then the trap has a lever to release the mouse out of the trap so that the trap can be reused. At around $10 for 2 traps it isn't exactly inexpensive but remember they can be reused more than once.

: Tom Cat brand Glue Trap

GLUE TRAPS: Glue traps are a baited tray that is filled with very sticky glue. They are an effective option if you don't like the idea of a squished mouse or a poisoned mouse. There are a few drawbacks to the glue trap. One of the drawbacks would be that it is a large open tray of sticky goo that anything and everything that it comes in contact with sticks to it. That means dust, dirt, bugs, cats (see picture), kids and anything else that happens to touch it will all adhere themselves to the tray. Another drawback is that the mouse will probably not be dead when you find it. That means dealing with a live mouse. It also means that most people will probably just throw away the trap with the live mouse attached to it. That means that the mouse will suffer a much crueller, slower death than with other traps. I know that they just mice but that doesn't mean that they should be treated cruelly. I would suggest that if you don't have the stomach to kill the mouse quickly and humanely after catching it in a glue trap that you shouldn't use this option.
LIVE TRAPS: For the person who doesn't want to kill the mouse but doesn't want to live with it either. A live trap is a good option for the person who doesn't want to kill a mouse. There are a few good option for this including the Havahart brand of traps. These traps come in a large variety of sizes that can catch everything from mice to raccoons. They are a metal cage trap that need to be baited with seeds or peanut butter. They do work well and I have had success catching a variety of pests with them.

: The Kness Tip trap

My personal choice of live trap is from a company called Kness. It has a door on the back of the trap that you open and bait the trap with peanut butter. You then close the bait door and open up the trap door. Place the trap free of any obstacles and check periodically. If the door is closed you've got a mouse. The downfall for this trap is that now you have a live mouse. You will have to "dispose" of the mouse yourself or release it somewhere where it can pester someone else. From experience, these traps do work well and are very easy to use.

For more info contact us at 763-553-1222

Come see us at 12700 Bass Lake Road in Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

2010-10-19T19:33:00.001-05:00

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Winterize your lawn care equipment

2010-10-01T14:49:00.000-05:00

When fall arrives and it's time to start thinking about putting your summer lawn care equipment away don't just put it on the shelf and forget about it for six months. There are a few inexpensive and easy steps you can take to help ensure that your equipment is ready when you are when spring rolls around.
Here is a list of items to consider before storing your gas-powered equipment for a long period of time.
1.Take care of the gas that is left in the gas tank. There are differing opinions on what to do for this but I've found that the easiest method is to add a good fuel stabilizer (like Seafoam) to the gas tank. Add the stabilizer to the tank and let the machine run for a minute or two to allow the stabilized gas to make its way around. You can also run the machine totally out of gas but this is wasteful, time-consuming, and from what I've experienced not as effective. Make sure you also add stabilizer to your gas can as well. It won't do any good to stabilize the gas in the tank and then come spring time add gas from a can that hasn't been stabilized. Stabilizer should be added even if you have non-oxygenated gas in the machine.
Note: Stabilizer only works to prevent gas from going bad it will not revive gas that has already gone bad.
2. Replace the air filter. Air filters need to be periodically replaced and fall is good time to do it. Make sure that you bring in the filter from your mower so that you can match up an exact replacement for it.
3. Replace the spark plug. Spark plugs also need to periodically replaced and replacing it before storing it is a good idea. You should also remove and bring in the spark plug to the store so that you can match up an exact replacement.
4. For lawn mowers and chain saws and powered hedge trimmers you should have them sharpened. Sharpening a lawn mower blade is important for the health of the grass. Using a blade that is dull can actually damage the grass allowing diseases to attack your lawn. For more info on blade sharpening check out http://levahnbros.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/why-do-you-need-to-sharpen-a-lawn-mower-blade/
Using a dull chain on a chain saw is not only ineffective but it's dangerous. A dull chain on a chainsaw may cause the operator to try awkward and dangerous methods of cutting when using the saw. Make sure that when you really need your saw it's in optimal running condition.
5. Change the oil. Oil should be changed at least once a year in equipment. For chain saws make sure you have enough bar and chain oil in your saw as well as having some extra on hand.
For more information on how to take care of gas-powered equipment check out these blogs: http://levahnbros.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/small-engine-troubleshooting/
http://levahnbros.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/snow-blower-maintenance/

Contact LeVahn Bros. at 763-553-1222

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us online at levahnbros.com

LeVahn Bros. Plumbing on DIY network's Bath Crashers

2010-09-08T12:41:00.004-05:00

Look for Dave, one of our plumbers here at LeVahn Brothers Plumbing, in an upcoming episode one of DIY networks newest shows called Bath Crashers! Host Matt Muenster selects the lucky potential participants while they shop at Home improvement stores. He then completely overhauls their bathroom. We assisted with the complete remodel of a master bathroom. On the episode we gutted the bathroom and helped replace a spa tub with a giant steam shower. We also helped host Matt Muenster relocate a toilet to a new location as well as replace the vanities. Look for us on the new DIY network show coming up on Sept. 27th at 9:00 P.M. central. Here's a link to a few previously aired episodes of Bath Crashers-http://www.diynetwork.com/diy-bath-crashers/videos/index.html

For more info call us at 763-551-8990

Come see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd. Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

How to get rid of Creeping Charlie

2010-08-24T17:06:00.003-05:00

: Creeping Charlie (A.K.A. Ground Ivy)

Creeping Charlie, also known as Ground Ivy, is an evergreen creeping weed that is found in the mint family. It is also a nuisance for homeowners that are looking to keep their Kentucky Blue grass lawns looking weed free. If left alone, Creeping Charlie can take over a lawn. If you are trying to identify Creeping Charlie it will have a square stem, paddle shaped leaves, and blue to purple colored flowers.
It was originally brought to North America for its medicinal qualities. It isn't technically a weed but it is viewed and treated as a one. In some instances this ground covering ivy can look quite beautiful.

: Creeping Charlie in bloom

If you have issues with creeping Charlie in your lawn and you want it killed off you can do it yourself. Lawn treatment companies (ie. tru-green) would like you to believe that Creeping Charlie is a menace that is going to destroy your lawn and that they have the only known cure. As a matter of fact I had 3 salesmen at my door arguing with me about how they were the only company that could treat my Creeping Charlie invasion that was occurring on my lawn.
What I told them and what I'll tell you is that Ortho has a fantastic product that when used correctly can very effectively control Creeping Charlie for a fraction of what it costs to have a chemical treatment company treat your lawn. It comes in a green with purple labeled bottle. It also treats clover, chickweed, and oxalis as well as a number of other weeds. Ortho also has a product called Weed-B-Gon Max that works on Creeping Charlie and on broad leaves like dandelions.

: Ortho Weed-B-Gon

It works best to use these products in either a hand-held pump sprayer or a Dial and spray sprayer that you hook up to your hose. Read and follow all directions on the package and give it some time to work. On Creeping Charlie it will take about a week for you to really see any real results. Make sure you don't over apply the product because it can have an effect on the grass. The best times to apply a killer to Creeping Charlie are in the fall when it starts to go dormant (early October) and also in the spring during or after it flowers. Creeping Charlie is a perennial weed so you may have to do treatments yearly to keep it in check.

For more information call us at 763-553-1222

Come in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

How to find parts for Glacier Bay & Pegasus Faucets

2010-07-26T16:45:00.003-05:00

: Two handle Glacier Bay faucet

I hate to say it but good luck. When it comes to Glacier bay or Pegasus faucets you get what you pay for. Home Depot is the exclusive retailer of these brands and they would rather sell you a new faucet than sell you parts to repair it. These faucets are made as inexpensively as possible in a factory overseas. There are parts available somewhere but just doing a search online can leave a customer very confused. Especially if you don't know exactly what part it is that you are looking for.
Parts can be ordered online but there is always a risk that what you see isn't going to match what you have. For a long time Glacier Bay and Pegasus didn't even have a website for customers to look up info on. They finally have a website but finding any info on the site that can help you is nearly impossible. Here is an excerpt from the glacierbayfaucet.org site found on the "parts" page:
"One particular suggestion you could make use of to uncover the correct part for the sink will be the power of the World Wide Web. It is relatively simple simply use the search phrase “glacier bay faucet” + parts and you may substitute parts using a much more specific key phrase so that you can drill down and look for a particular component. For example if you have a product number you are able to research in this way and make use of the model number combined with key phrase. There are lots of online faucet retailerswhich focus on outright sink components and you’ll discover that they can carry what exactly you need."
As you can see the "parts" page of the Glacier Bay website itself has no useful info on how to find parts. In fact at the bottom of the page is a customer comments section where you can read for yourself about all the issues people have with Glacier Bay faucets including finding available parts.
Glacier Bay faucets are made to be thrown away plain and simple. They fall into the category of "planned obsolescence". In other words the designers of the faucet make it look and sound good enough that you'll buy it with the intention that in a few years it's going to fail and you will have to buy a new faucet. They also sell these faucets so cheaply that throwing away the old one doesn't seem like that big of a loss. ( check out my blog about repairing vs. replacing faucets for more info on this).

: Stem for a 2 handle Glacier Bay faucet

With all that said, there are a few parts available if you now where to look. At our store we have a few stems that work for a couple of models of Glacier Bay faucets. I know that "a few" and "a couple" doesn't sound real promising but it's better than nothing. You can also try going to Home depot or wherever you purchased the faucet from to see if they could help. The reality is that I wouldn't recommend buying a Glacier Bay faucet and if you own one and need parts you may be out of luck.

For info on how to change a faucet stem check out the blog dripping faucet

To contact LeVahn Brothers Plumbing call 763-551-8990

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Road in Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

How to Drain a water heater

2010-07-20T17:44:00.000-05:00

According to manufacturers recommendations you should drain your water heater annually to keep it working properly. This allows the heater to rid itself of debris and sediment that settles at the bottom of the tank.
To empty your water heater properly follow these steps:
1) Turn off the gas or electricity to the heater. If it's a gas heater turn the knob to "pilot". If you have an electric heater turn off the power at the main panel.
2) Shut off the water supply going to the heater. Your heater should have a shut off valve located on the cold water line running to the water heater. Normally it is located just above the heater and is either a round handle (like the picture below) or a lever handle. If it is a round handle turn it clockwise until it stops. If it is a lever handle you will only need to turn it a 1/4 turn so that the handle is pointing away from the piping.

: water heater shut off valve

3) If you have access to a floor drain nearby you should hook up a hose to the drain valve located st the bottom of the heater. If you don't have access to a floor drain you may have to drain it bucket by bucket (like the poor guy in the picture at the top of this post).
4) Before you start to drain the heater you need to open up the hot water side of a faucet located in the house. If you don't do this step there will be a vacuum present in the line that won't allow the water to leave the heater.
5) Open up the valve at the bottom of the heater to allow the water to drain out. (do not open the pressure relief valve located at the top of the heater) This is going to take between 20 to 45 minutes depending on the heater. Note: if using a floor drain make sure that it is working properly. The last thing you need is to clean up 40 gallons of hot water.
6) After the heater is finished draining shut off the drain valve. Also shut off the hot water tap that you opened earlier.
7) Turn on the cold water supply to the heater and allow it to fill up.
8) Turn the power or gas supply back on to the heater. The heater will take a while to heat back up again. There may be condensation that forms while heating back up so don't be too worried if you see water dripping from your heater to start with.
9) Turn on hot water on a faucet in the house. You will have to allow the air to come out of the line before any hot water will come out. It's going to sound funny and when the water finally comes it will shoot out with a burst but it will return to normal after a few moments.
Note: If you find that after draining your heater, one or more of your faucets aren't running real smooth or have poor water pressure make sure that the aerator located at the faucets spout isn't plugged with debris. It should unscrew by hand but if it doesn't use a crescent wrench with a rubber jar opener to turn it off. Using a jar opener allows you to grip the aerator without damaging the surface of the faucet or aerator.

: Faucet aerator

For more info call us at 763-551-8990

Stop in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Rd Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com

Buying new vs. repairing

2010-07-20T10:52:00.000-05:00

What is it about consumers today that makes them believe that when something is broken you should throw it away. A person's perception of how to solve problems with their plumbing follow the same trends throughout the retail sales industry. It's a problem called planned obsolescence. Manufactures design their goods to be just good enough that you have faith in your purchase of their product even though they've made it to last only so long. Really, it's literally designed to fail over a certain period of time.

Look at water heaters for instance. The best natural gas water heaters out there last about 10-12 years on average. Manufactures can make them so that they'll last longer but they don't. They know that if you have a heater that lasts twice as long they can only sell you 1 heater instead of 2. We have people call us all the time that want to replace their water heater with the same heater that lasted 25 years for them. The problem is heaters like that don't exist anymore.

For faucets it's a whole different trend. There are faucets out there sold exclusively by a certain orange "big box" store that you can't find parts for. At least in my experience we haven't been able to track anything down for a customer. These faucets, in my opinion, look like a nice faucet but are so poorly designed that in most cases you simply throw them away when an issue arrises. Not only that but faucets have to deal with perceived obsolescence. In other words people think that there faucets are no good because they aren't the newest style.

Style and trend have entered a person's home like no other time in history. If you would have told my great-grandmother Ruby that she could have a Toilet A. that costs $125.00 and is a good quality toilet or Toilet B. that was a decent toilet but it was a trendy color and style and costs $600 she would have called you crazy. functionality has been replaced by style. The problem with style is that it is always changing. Even though the way a toilet operates may change its function will always be the same. The most frustrating thing is that style is cyclical. Trends come back around again that you never thought you would ever see again. I mean really, who saw it coming that the neon 80's styles would ever be cool again.

Don't get me wrong we here at LeVahn Brothers Plumbing and Hardware will be happy to sell you whatever you want to buy, that's how we stay in business. My point is, buy decent products and consider repairing them when they break because that chrome colored kitchen sink faucet will probably be back in style soon.

For the story of how we became a consumer nation and why things are the way they are check out the site The Story of Stuff

To contact us call 763-551-8990

Come see us at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55369

Visit us on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com

How often should you sharpen your lawn mower blade?

2010-07-20T10:51:00.001-05:00

: Dull mower blade

Why do you need to sharpen your mower blade? A sharp mower blade keeps lawns healthy. If you cut your grass with a dull blade the grass is beaten down and the cut is rough. Grass that is shredded by a dull blade is more susceptible to disease, insects, heat stress, herbicides, chemical burn (from fertilizers), and it requires more water to maintain growth. The grass is weakened because it is trying to repair itself form the damage you caused with the dull mower blade.

Make sure that your mower blade remains sharp all season long. This means that you may have to sharpen it more than just once in the spring time. Check your blade for dullness regularly. You can sharpen it yourself or if you prefer to you can have it professionally done for a reasonable price (We charge $7 off the mower $14 if it's on the mower and we do it while you wait, it takes about 5 minutes).

: Corbin sharpening a blade

Make sure if you are sharpening it yourself that you also balance the blade. Leaving a blade unbalanced can damage your mower. (We always balance our blades here at LeVahn Brothers).

For more Info contact us at 763-553-1222

Visit us in person at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55369

See us on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com

Where to buy good quality, inexpensive HDMI cables

2010-07-20T10:49:00.001-05:00

It was brought to my attention recently that the "big box" stores make most of their profit off of gouging the customer for the little things. Case in point is the HDMI cables used for digital TV's. The major electronics retailer has little to no margin on the TV's that it's selling you so they have to make profits up elsewhere. Recently I saw an ad for a major electronic retailer selling a 6' HDMI cable on sale for $ 24.99 which was $5 off the regular price. At LeVahn Brothers Hardware we sell an RCA 6' HDMI cable for $14.99 retail. Just food for thought.

: HDMI CABLES

LeVahn Brothers Hardware is located at

12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Call us at 763-553-1222

Find us on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com

Low odor, low VOC environmentally friendly from Valspar

2010-07-20T10:47:00.004-05:00

Low VOC Paints

In the not so distant past if a person needed to paint an interior wall it meant that they would have to open a window or suffer through the fumes. If you live in Minnesota that meant opening a window in the middle of winter. That made painting interior walls difficult. Paint companies over the last few years have been coming out with lower and lower voc paints that make painting inside a lot less painful. Lower voc's mean that the fumes emitted by paint as it dries are less toxic to breath in to us humans. It also means that the paint has much less odor to deal with. All of this means that painting inside in the middle of winter is easier and much less dangerous.

What is a voc?

Voc stands for volatile organic compound. It's a broadly used term that covers all sorts of chemicals used in everything from paint to refrigerants. Essentially it is a toxic substance that is emitted from in this case paint while it dries. It's partly responsible for why paint smells the way it does. This doesn't mean that an "odorless" paint has no or even low vocs. Some paints are made in such a way to mask the smell but the chemicals being emitted are still the same as normal paint. If you are worried about the amount of chemicals that you are breathing in look for paints that are low voc.

Elan paint by Valspar

Why should a person use Elan paint by valspar? The first reason is because of what I mentioned above. Elan paint has low voc's and can be used inside with out as much worry about breathing in chemicals. Even though paint may dry to the touch within a few hours the realty is that the paint doesn't fully cure for a couple of weeks. Yes, I said weeks. Voc's are emitted during the entire drying process. That means that if you paint your walls with a basic higher voc paint and have the windows open for a few hours while it "dries" voc's will still be present for the following 1-2 weeks. The other reason why you should use Elan is that it is a very high quality paint. It has superior coverage and it lays down really smooth even when using a brush. Come in to our store and look at the sample piece of trim that I painted with the Elan paint. I brushed on one coat of Elan paint over a primed piece of trim and the finished product looks as if it has been sprayed on with multiple coats. I was sold on it right then and there. I have since used it to paint all the trim and doors in my own house and the toughest critic of all, my wife, was very happy with the results.

20% OFF COUPON ON OUR WEBSITE

Best of all, right now we have a 20% off coupon on our website that can be used towards the purchase of any of our Valspar paints that we have in stock (gallons only, see coupon for more details) Here is a link to the coupon page http://www.levahnbros.com/coupons.html Come in and see our recently expanded paint section that includes the Elan paint line which includes a new display of designer colors.

If you have any questions you can call us at 763-553-1222

Come in and see us at LeVahn Brothers Hardware Hank 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Visit us on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com

What to do about a wet garage floor

2010-07-20T10:47:00.001-05:00

If you live in Minnesota you have this problem. Snow, slush, and salt from your car gets all over your garage floor as it drips from your car. Ideally your garage floor was pitched correctly to start with so that the water flows toward the garage door but often times that's not the case. Even if you floor is pitched correctly there will still be slush, salt and dirt that will accumulate on the garage floor.

: Foam Squeegee

To get rid of the mess the best thing to do is to get yourself a good squeegee. For the money what we've found is that a high quality dense cell foam rubber squeegee works the best. Some of you will want to stick to your old hard rubber models but I'd give the foam rubber models a try. I've had both and the foam rubber highly outperforms the old standard. The squeegee does a better job of picking up water down to the surface and it doesn't skip and catch on the floor like the rubber models. The foam squeegee also holds up remarkably well even though it looks like it would fall apart when you try and push a icy, slushy, wintery mix of sludge . The squeegee I own has lasted 3 seasons already and hasn't shown any signs of wearing out .

To purchase this high quality foam rubber squeegee or if you still want the old rubber style visit our retail Hardware Hank store located in Maple Grove

We are located in the Bass Lake Shopping Center Our Address is 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55369

Call us 763-553-1222

Visit us on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com

Do you need a water softener for hard water in your house?

2010-07-20T10:46:00.002-05:00

: Mortons System Saver MSD27B Water Softener

What exactly is "hard water"? The term is used to describe the amount of calcium and magnesium is in your water. While these chemicals aren't harmful to a person's health if consumed, hard water can have nasty effects on your plumbing fixtures and also affect the ability of your water to clean things. Soaps and detergents have a harder time lathering if the water being used is hard. Glasses and dishes are left spotty, plumbing fixtures are left with a film on them and your washing machine may have a shorter life due to the effects from a waters hardness.

If you suspect that your softener isn't performing correctly or if you don't have a softener and you want to find out how hard your water is you can either call your municipality, have the water tested professionally, or use a hardness test strip. Once you know that your water is hard you need to determine what softener is right for your needs. If you live in our neck of the woods in the Maple Grove Plymouth area of Minnesota I can tell you right now that if you don't have a softener already you will need one. Morton's salt company ( the yellow bag people) has a water softener that should fit your needs for whatever level of hardness your water is at. For the Maple Grove and Plymouth area you will most likely need the highest performing unit that Morton's has. The unit to the left is the MSD27B unit is for a salt level of 34000 grains per gallon of water and it will accomodate a family size of up to 5+ people.

The Morton's System Saver water softeners offer a quality product for a decent price. The units will only use salt when needed (on demand) thus saving money on costly salt. It even has patented "look ahead" technology that learns your families usage patterns and predicts your soft water needs. These units are one of the most efficient units in the industry for salt consumption which is ironic considering salt is what they really make their money on. With this unit an average family will use between 10 and 80 lbs of salt per month depending on water usage. It uses about as much electricity as the doorbell in your house and when regenerating will use about as much water as a load of laundry. Another benefit of the Morton's softener units are their space saving design. Gone are the days of separate salt and brine tanks. The Morton's system saver unit has a single tank that takes up less space.

Use a higher quality salt in your softener. Using Morton's system saver pellets (the yellow bag) can help remove more dirt and mineral deposit form your water. Also the pellets themselves are free from impurities found in other off brand pellets and in the crystals (blue bag). These keep your softener clean and problem free lengthening the life of your water softener.

As always the above mentioned products can be purchased and installed by LeVahn Brothers Plumbing and Hardware

come see us at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55369

Call Us at 763-551-8990

Visit us on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com

How to maintain and repair a small engine

2010-07-20T10:39:00.001-05:00

SMALL ENGINE TROUBLESHOOTING

Small engines are engines that you find on snow blowers, lawn mowers, weed whips, leaf blowers and many other pieces of lawn equipment. They can be a real pain in a homeowners side when trouble rises. Here are some of the issues that you may have with your small engine and what the causes may be:

Improper Technique

Improper starting technique. In other words, you may have a kill switch left on, the gas line valve may be turned off, or there may be a process needed to start your engine. Check your owners manual to see what they recommend.

Stale fuel

Gas does not last like it used to. Gas only lasts a few months tops before it starts to go bad. If left without any stabilizer it will gum up your engine and not allow it to start. Bad gas will also cause your engine to run roughly or cause it to die after the engine is started.

: Air Filter

Dirty air filter

A filter that is clogged with debris will not allow air flow through causing the engine to run poorly. If the filter is clogged badly enough you probably won't get the engine started. Make sure your filter is clean and free of debris.

Stale fuel

Gas does not last like it used to. Gas only lasts a few months tops before it starts to go bad. If left without any stabilizer in it it will gum up your engine and not allow it to start. Bad gas will also cause your engine to run roughly or cause it to die after the engine is started.

: Fuel Filter

Dirty fuel filter

If dirt or other debris gets into your gas it should be caught by the fuel filter before it enters the engine. However if enough debris is trapped in the filter it will not allow gas to flow freely enough for your engine to run smoothly if at all.

Water In The Gas

Condensation can occur in a gas tank causing water to get into the gas. If water is present in the gas it will run rough or will not start. The remedy is to add a fuel additive to the gas such as Seafoam. Seafoam will take water out of the gas as well as stabilize the gas from going bad.

: Primer Bulb

Primer Bulb

If your primer bulb has a hole in it, has hardened, or is failing in general it can make it difficult to get an engine started. Small engines need to have the primer bulb force gas into the engine for the engine to fire.

Broken Gas Lines

Gas lines can get brittle and crack over time. Make sure your lines aren't brittle and leaking gas.

Carburetor is plugged

The carburetor can become plugged with debris or can become "varnished" with gas due to old dirty gas being used. Occasionally a carburetor kit is needed to replace parts in your existing carburetor. If you have old gas in the engine this is the most likely culprit as to why the engine won't start.

: Spark Plug

Weak or No Spark

This is usually due to the spark plug. If a spark plug is old or if it is dirty the engine will have a difficult time starting or running. If you are going to replace the spark plug make sure that you replace it with the proper plug.

Exhaust is Plugged

If the exhaust screen or port is plugged or it has been choked off with carbon deposits the engine will have a hard time starting or will run rough. You may need to clean off the screen with a stiff wire brush or scrape out the deposits of the port with a knife or screwdriver. Make sure not to damage the piston or piston rings when cleaning the port.

No Compression

Compression is what occurs when the pistons travel in the cylinder bore forcing the air and fuel mixture into the top of the combustion chamber for firing. If you have low compression it means that you have worn compression rings, a damaged piston, damaged rings or a damaged cylinder bore. This is something that most novices are not going to be able to find out on their own.

Flywheel or Flywheel key

If the flywheel is damaged it can cause the timing to be off. If either are damaged they will need to be replaced.

Starter rope

Obviously if your starter rope is stuck or broken it's going to be difficult to start your machine. Recoils can brake or get frozen and will have to be recoiled or sometimes replaced.

Basic Starting Technique for 2-Cycle Engine

1. Make sure that you have FRESH FUEL in a CLEAN gas tank. Even if you have just purchased brand new gas from a station, if you put it into a dirty old gas can it will cause issues in your engine. This is problem number one when it comes to carburetor problems. Carburetor problems are the number one issue we see when repairing engines.

2. Press the primer bulb (if equipped). If your engine doesn't have a primer bulb skip this step.

3. Put the choke in the choke position.

4. Make sure that the on/off switch (if equipped) is turned to on.

5. Open the throttle just slightly to allow the engine to "breath"

6. Pull the starter rope or turn the key (if equipped) until the engine starts.

7. Turn off the choke

8. Repeat if necessary

For more information call us at 763-553-1222

Visit us at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Look us up on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com

For more info about services offered visit:http://www.levahnbros.com/service.html

Why you need to install a Sump Pump

2010-07-20T10:28:00.004-05:00

: Wayne Genius Sump Pump

Now is the time to make sure your sump pump is in proper working order. Last fall in Minnesota we had a significant amount of rainfall. That rainfall combined with the amount of snow we received means that the ground is saturated and any rain we get this spring isn't going to have anywhere to go. If you have a sump pump in your home you need to make sure that it is in proper working order. Do a test run by adding water to the sump basket to the point where the sump pump turns on. Make sure that the sump does in fact run and that the water is being expelled properly outside away from your home. If the water from your sump pump isn't being deposited far enough from the house you may end up pumping the same water over and over.

: Battery Back-up Sump Pump

If you have major issues with water coming into your home you may want to consider putting in a back up sump pump of some kind. This will save you in case your sump pump fails or you have a power outage. There are a couple choices of back up pumps to choose from. A battery back up pump runs on a a deep cell battery and will operate for up to 6-7 hours on the battery. The battery will need to be checked every so often to make sure that it still holding a charge. The last thing you want is to have your back up pump fail.

: Liberty Sump Jet

Another option for a back up pump is a Liberty Sump Jet sump pump. This unit is powered by your city water. It will not go dead like the battery back up units and you never have to do any maintenance with charging or replacing a battery. The only downfall is that it's going to cost you money to run because the water used to run the pump is also expelled outside along with the water in the basket.

: Sump pump hose

You also need to make sure that when you test your sump pump that the line running from your pump is working properly. Make sure it is free and clear of debris and that it doesn't have any holes or cracks in it. Occasionally sump pump lines may freeze and crack in the fall and or winter. Check both the PVC pipe line and the sump hose line if you have it.

: Sump Pump Check Valve

The last thing you need to check is the sump pump check valve. This is a valve that is usually in line coming from the sump pump. It is often located just above the cover of your sump pump basket. The check valve is a one way valve that allows water to exit and not reenter. It's purpose is to keep water that has been pumped out of the basket from coming back into the basket. If the valve fails the pump may continue to run indefinitely. This may cause your pump to burn up due to overuse. If you have a sump pump that doesn't shut off this may be the cause. You would also want to check to see if the sump pumps switch is working properly. Sump pumps have a few different switches they use to determine when to turn on and off. Occasionally a switch may get stuck or hung up on something causing them to either not turn on or not turn off.

You may also want to check out this blog on basement flooding

If you have additional sump pump questions or if you need parts or a sump pump installed contact LeVahn Brothers Plumbing at 763-551-8990

Visit us at our retail location located in the Bass Lake Shopping Centerat 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, MN

Visit us on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com

Why do you need a Back Flow preventer?

2010-07-20T10:28:00.003-05:00

Back Flow preventers that are commonly seen on outdoor spigots

So what is that thing that is at the end of your hose spigot that's leaking water all over?

Back Flow preventers are devices that are often times added on to the end of a hose spigot. The purpose of a back flow preventor on a garden hose spigot is to prevent tainted water from entering the drinking water system. Let me explain it like this: If your neighbors house is on fire and there are firemen using fire hoses to put it out, the amount back pressure needed could actually suck the dirty water out of the bucket your using to wash your car. If there was no back flow preventor on the line our clean drinking water could be compromised. That is why they have made it code in the state of Minnesota to have a back flow preventor on your hose spigot.

All of this makes sense and seems logical. What isn't logical and does not make sense is the fact that most of the time a back flow preventor is put on in a way that it's not meant to be taken off again. This makes it very difficult to repair or replace a back flow preventor when they start to fail. Like most things in this world a back flow preventor will break down over time. It will either start leaking or in some cases it won't let water even through the hose spigot at all.

In most situations back flow preventers can't be repaired. There are dozens of manufacturers that make back flow preventers and unfortunately each of them is unique. The same company can have a variety of different models. Because things are so unique there isn't many parts available to repair them. This means that in most cases you need to actually remove the whole valve and replace it. I say the "whole valve" because in many cases when attempting to remove the back flow preventor only a portion of it comes off.

When attempting to remove the back flow preventor make sure that you have any set screws removed that may be holding it in place. Also if you are going to use a wrench make sure that you have a second wrench on the spigot itself so that you are not putting too much pressure on the solder joints in the wall. The last thing you want to do is to break a pipe in the wall and have a flood inside the house.

: Mansfield Frost Free Anti-Syphon valve

If worse comes to worse (which is often the case with plumbing jobs) and you need to replace the valve because you cannot remove the leaking back flow preventor, make sure to call a professional to replace it (for instance you can contact us. Call 763-551-8990 or check us out athttp://www.levahnbros.com/plumbing.html ) You may also want to consider putting in a different style valve. For instance Mansfield makes a valve that has the back flow preventor already installed internally in the valve itself. Best of all you can purchase replacement parts if the Mansfield valve fails. It's a great valve that also serves the purpose of being a "Frost Free" valve. This means that the shut off for the valve is found at the back of the valve which is located inside your house. Having the shut off inside the house means that there is less of a chance of your hose spigot freezing and bursting in the cold.

You may also want to check out these posts related to hose spigots and frozen pipes:

http://levahnbros.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/leaky-hose-spigot/

http://levahnbros.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/frozen-pipes/

For more information on what to do or for product info/purchase come in and see us at 12700 Bass Lake Road in Maple Grove Minnesota

Visit us on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com

What to do if a water heater pilot light won't stay lit

2010-07-20T10:26:00.001-05:00

A water heater pilot light is the little blue flame at the bottom of the heater that lights the burner when your water heater needs to heat water. The heater will not heat water if the pilot goes out and it will have to be relit.

In an older heater (prior to 2002) you are able to relight the pilot with a match or lighter. Water heaters have changed in recent years to comply with new laws to prevent fires and explosions. The reason for the new regulations is because residents that don't have basements in their homes usually have their heater located in the garage. That creates a problem when a heater with an open flame is located near lawn equipment and cans of gasoline. The area at the bottom of the heater is now completely enclosed and the only way to relight the pilot is with a igniter that is located on the gas valve.

There are a few causes of a pilot light going out. The first cause may be a thermocouple failing. Very simply put the thermocouple sends the message to the burner that the pilot is lit. If the thermocouple fails the burner won't light and the pilot will go out. In an old water heater (prior to 2002) you are able to replace the thermocouple and hopefully be back in business.

The next issue that you need to consider is the fresh air intake. If you have a traditionally vented heater (i.e. a heater that is gravity vented through a chimney in your home) it is possible that a down draft is occurring due to the fresh air intake being plugged. If the Fresh air intake vents at the base of the heater are plugged with debris the heater may pull its fresh air through the chimney vent. This may cause the pilot flame to be extinguished. To solve this issue you need to clean your air intake vents at the base of the heater and relight the pilot.

Because of these new restrictions water heater manufacturers had to come up with new ways of getting fresh air to the flame while not allowing the possibility of having a fire start or having an explosion. This created issues with pilot lights not staying lit. Most manufactures have some kind of venting that is located at the bottom of the heater. This venting can become plugged with debris and not allow combustion air to be taken in to keep a flame lit.

: New Water Heater Combustion Chamber

Adding to the problem is debris that may get sucked in to the heater itself. Water heaters used to have combustion air coming in from all sides. This design allowed for a more than adequate air supply to enter the heater keeping the flame and burner lit. With the new heaters the size of the air ports for fresh combustion air to enter the heater have restricted the air supply. The amount of air needed is the same however the size of the hole that the air has to enter has been choked down causing a vacuum effect. This causes debris to enter into the heater itself and plug screen that is located in the heater that was added as a safety shield to prevent any flames from escaping the heater. If this occurs it is possible, although difficult, to blow out the debris. Call us and have one of our professional master plumbers take care of this issue.

If you have more questions contact

LeVahn Brothers Plumbing at 763-551-8990

Come see us at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, Minnesota

Visit us on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com

What to do for mold on the grass

2010-07-20T10:24:00.001-05:00

: Snow Mold

I woke up the other morning a thought that my lawn was covered in frost. When I arrived home from work that afternoon the lawn was still covered in white. The temperature was 58 degrees at the time and I thought something's wrong. Upon closer inspection I realized that it was a grey/white mold that was covering my lawn. This mold is commonly called "snow mold". It forms in weather conditions like what we've had this last year in Minnesota; wet cold weather for long periods of time. After a very wet fall, followed by a typical snowy winter and a rainy spring the conditions were ripe for snow mold. It can appear in two forms. Gray snow mold causes irregular dead , bleached patches in your lawn. The grey mold is clearly visible on your grass like the picture above. The other form is pink snow mold which produces circular, light brown patches that are sometimes blotched with pink fungus like the picture below.

: Pink Snow Mold

: Bonide Infuse

If left without treatment both forms can cause the grass in the affected area to die. Treatment involves lightly raking the area and then using a fungicide. Raking removes the mold and allows the grass to breath. Be careful not to pull out your grass with the mold. Your lawn is at a fragile stage right now and heavy raking will do some real damage. Fungicide kills the mold and helps prevent the mold from returning. Bonide brands "Infuse" is a good choice of fungicide treatment.

You can also help prevent this from happening by taking some measures in the fall. Do not use a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen in the late fall. Also you can aerate your lawn to improve drainage. DO NOT aerate your lawn right now. Aerating your lawn too early will do more damage than if you left the mold and did nothing else. Aerating too early tears up your grass and rips out the root base of the lawn. You need to wait until your lawn dries out before doing any aeration. See my Spring Lawn Care blog for more info on lawn aeration.

For more information call 763-553-1222

or visit us at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, Mn 55369

Check us out on the web at levahnbros.com

How to prevent and kill Crabgrass

2010-07-20T10:23:00.002-05:00

: Crabgrass

Crabgrass is a pain to every Minnesota homeowner who owns a lawn. It is a weed that once it's established is very difficult to kill. It spreads if it isn't taken care of and can take over unhealthy lawns.

: Scotts Halts

Crabgrass is a warm weather weed that is reproduced through seeds. The plant itself dies during the cold weather months but emerges in the spring when ground temps rise. The best method for ridding your lawn of crabgrass is to not allow it to reestablish itself. To prevent crabgrass you should use what is called a preemergent herbicide. This a chemical fertilizer that essentially creates a shield on your lawn preventing crabgrass from establishing itself. Scotts Halts crabgrass preventor and fertilizer is a good choice for doing this. This product uses a herbicide called Dimension and is safe for most all types of lawns and will do a great job of prevention as well as fertilization for your lawn. You can also buy just Halts Crabgrass Preventor without the fertilizer.
If you are planning on doing any seeding, or overseeding you will want to purchase a preemergent that says it is for seeding. This type of crabgrass preventor uses a herbicide called Tupersan and it isn't as effective at controlling crabgrass but it will not kill the seed you plant like the Halts will. You can even purchase a starter fertilizer that has this variety of crabgrass preventor in it.
Tips for application:-Timing is everything with a preemergent. You are going to want to apply the preemergent before crabgrass is established. Once it establishes itself it becomes much more difficult to get rid of. If you apply it too early it may not kill all the seeds. A tip for application is to put it down when the lilacs start to bloom. However, if you see crabgrass starting to sprout in your lawn and the lilacs aren't blooming yet (this year is agood example of that) put it down now.
-You may have to reapply crabgrass preventor. Some crabgrass won't germinate until later on in the spring so you may have to do another application of preemergent. Make sure that you aren't doubling up on fertilizer as well. If a second application is needed then use the Scotts Halts without the fertilizer.
-With whatever crabgrass preventor you use you are going to want to water after you apply it. Water will activate the preemergent herbicide. Or just wait until there is supposed to be a good rain.
-Dethatch or aerate before applying preemergent herbicides. Doing so afterward can poke holes in the shield that you just applied to your lawn.
To get rid of crabgrass after it is established there are a few crabgrass killers but they aren't nearly as effective as a preemergent herbicide. They work best on small weeds.
If you don't want to use herbicides you can prevent crabgrass by having a healthy lawn. Crabgrass thrives in the areas where your lawn is unhealthy. If you have hard soil you can aerate. If you have problems with crabgrass in areas near roads maybe you should try something to sweeten the soil. Road salts can wreak havoc on lawns. Try adding gypsum to these spots. You should also make sure to fertilize your lawn especially in the fall.

For more info contact LeVahn Bros. at 763-553-1222

Visit us on the web at http://www.levahnbros.com/

or come see us at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove, MN

Located in the Bass Lake Shopping Center

Cedar Deck Care and Maintenance

2010-07-20T10:22:00.000-05:00

A cedar deck can be a very beautiful addition to a house but it also can be an eyesore if left uncared for. Cedar wood is used for decking due to its ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. However it does need assistance in order to maintain its looks. The two most important things that need to be done to maintain your cedar deck are cleaning and staining. Even if your deck is brand new you need to put a sealer (stain) on it before it starts to weather.

To maintain a deck you need to follow a few steps and use the right product. For starters if at all possible do NOT use a pressure washer on a cedar deck surface. This is not recommended because using a pressure washer pushes water into the surface of the wood which may cause major issues down the road. If you refuse to put in the extra labor of using a scrub brush and still want to pressure wash, make sure to allow a week of dry weather before applying a new stain. Or, you can use Cabots "SPF" line of deck stain products. This stain allows you to stain while the surface is still wet. If you do not allow the moisture to escape, your stain may crack and peel. Click on this link for more info on deck peeling.

Here are some common problems seen on deck surfaces and how to repair them without using a damaging pressure washer:

- Mold, Mildew and or Algae on the surface.

: Mold, Mildew, and Algae

Use a scrub brush and apply a deck surface cleaner like a Cabots "Problem Solver" (There are other brands that will also work I just like Cabots products). Apply it to the surface and keep it wet for 15 minutes. Use a garden hose to wash away after 15 minutes. On tough stains scrubbing may be required.

-Extractive Bleeding (cedar bleeding, tannin bleeding).

: Tannin bleeding on a redwood planter

Tannin bleeding shows up as dark areas on the wood surface. They are caused by water-soluble resins are drawn out of the wood by the sun. It occurs most often in cedar, redwood and fir. To fix this problem apply a wood brightener with a pump sprayer or brush. Keep the surface wet for 15 minutes and then rinse with a garden hose. Stubborn areas may require scrubbing or additional applications.

-Nail or Screw head Rusting and Staining.

: Nail/Screw head Rusting and Staining

When this problem is found on a vertical surface it is accompanied with a dark line bleeding down from the nail or screw. It's caused by a fastener rusting over time and bleeding the rust into the wood. It can be cured by again using a scrub brush and a wood brightener. This may help but removing the stain from the wood surface may prove difficult. If you really want results you may have to sand the area down. After getting rid of the stain you probably will want to prime the heads of the fastener to prevent further damage.

-Silver/Grey Weathered Wood.

: Weathered Cedar Decking

Sometimes it has just been a long time since you've done anything to the deck and the surface greys and becomes weathered looking. This will also occur fairly quickly on cedar that has not been treated with anything. To solve this problem use a deck cleaner with a scrub brush. Apply the product with the brush and keep it wet for 15 minutes. Rinse off with a hose and repeat if necessary.

For all of these issue make sure that when you are done the surface is then resealed with a good quality deck stain to prevent these issues from returning. We at LeVahn Brothers Hardware recommend using Cabot brand prep and stain products.

For more info call us at 763-553-1222

Come see us at 12700 Bass Lake Road Maple Grove , Mn 55369

Visit us on the web at levahnbros.com