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RT08132015

18 TIMES • AUGUST 13, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com Get safer drinking water the natural way ConstruCtion LLC (718) 845-9200 Free Estimates Violations removed •Brick Work •Paving Stones •All Types of Concrete •Custom Built Homes •Kitchens & Bathrooms •Dormers & Extensions •Residential & Commercial •New Construction •We Do It All! VISIT US AT... SclafmoreConstruction.Com NYC License #1314744 Fully Insured at home Household bacteria can be a serious issue affecting your health. In fact, the very steps we take to eliminate harmful bacteria may be spreading it. Everyone washes their fresh fruits and vegetables, but the water in your pipes may contain even more bacteria, especially if you have hard water. The problem isn’t only in the kitchen. When you take a hot shower, the steam you are inhaling can also contain the same microbial contamination that is in the rest of your plumbing, exposing you to pathogenic bacteria such as Legionella, which can cause Legionnaire’s disease. The piping used in home plumbing, whether it is copper or PVC, has very smooth interior surfaces which don’t permit bacteria to settle and grow. However, hard water, which contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, results in scale formation on the interior surfaces of those pipes which provides a perfect home for bacteria. Researchers at the School of Sustainable Engineering at Arizona State University found that bacteria may grow at the same rate in pipes fi lled with both hard and soft scale. This is important new information as some forms of water conditioners produce this soft scale. The only solution to this problem is to remove the scaling in the pipes entirely, which only a traditional saltbased water softener can do. This type of water softener works by running the incoming hard water through a resin fi lter that traps the calcium and magnesium in the water, as well as any iron, manganese or radium ions, and replaces them with sodium ions. Bacterial growth in plumbing is well documented and can cause serious hygienic problems in water systems, especially in hospital buildings and hotels. Factors like water fl ow and plumbing materials infl uence the growth rate of bacteria, but once it’s in your pipes, it’s distributed throughout your home each time you turn on the faucet. The fact is that salt not only helps remove and prevent the hard water scaling in home plumbing, it is also a natural antibiotic. Throughout history, people have used salt as a vital food preservative to keep bacteria from growing on cured meats and cheeses. New research form the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine shows that salt acts as an antibiotic in the body as well. In the case of a skin infection, the body naturally moves more salt to that spot to fi ght the infection. The extra salt also helps the body’s defensive systems more effectively fi ght infection. If you have hard water, there are signifi cant benefi ts to having a traditional salt-based water softener in your home. Use a home water testing kit to test for water hardness yourself, or have a water treatment professional do the testing. For more information on water softening and salt health please visit www.saltinstitute.org. Courtesy BTP Bathroom organization styles The bathroom should be a functional room that works for you. Here are some ways to create a personalized and stylish bathroom: • Separate grooming areas – If you share a bathroom with someone who rises at the same time as you in the morning, it can quickly get congested in the room. Choosing a vanity with two sinks and related storage space is one solution to create better space and prevent grooming tools from getting mixed up or lost. • The right fit – When incorporating a new vanity into your bath, it’s often difficult to find the right fit in size, style and functionality. You want a vanity that holds all the extra supplies needed in the bathroom - extra shampoo, clean towels, toilet paper and tissues – so they’re available for residents and guests alike. Plus you want something that matches the decor you already have in the room. Kohler’s Tailored Vanity Collection provides several size options, configurations and wood finishes as well as top materials in a variety of shapes and colors to perfectly blend into your bathroom style. Courtesy BPT that work smarter


RT08132015
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