The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
As a former Ridgewood resident (1984 to 1996) and now with the world’s largest manufacturer of Festivus Poles in Milwaukee, I would be happy to provide you with a Festivus Pole for your event. You can see our products at www.festivuspoles.com. We carry them in Full size, table top and our new desk top “Festivus in a Box”. Forward an address and I will get one out to you.
Tony
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, since 2009 the Ridgewood blog has sponsored the annual Ridgewood Festivus . Looks for updates and schedule on the Ridgewood blog today .
Festivus was created as an alternative holiday in response to the commercialization of Christmas. Or perhaps it was created by cheap skates looking for a good excuse to duck present buying !
Festivus is traditionally celebrated on December 23rd.
Continue reading Reminder Festivus Starts Tonight December 23rd
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Local sewer service NJ contractors https://a1sewercleaning.com. A1 sewer $ Drain is NJ sewer contractors for all drain sewer and plumbing needs.
Call us today for free estimate. 201-645-0888
Call degrace plumbing and heating in North Arlington for 24 hours plumbing services
Save Time Call Now: 201-786-2538
If you ever want service for any sewer repair or drain problems, I highly recommend this local company to work with. They are reliable, reasonable and very professional that handled my sewer repair in a very nice manner with patience, like the old school way.
Their name is A1 Sewer and Drain. They showed up on time, which is not obvious for contractors. They did the job well with a warranty and charged a very reasonable price.
Their website is www.a1sewercleaning.com
A kitchen cabinet repairman for minor kitchen repairs in NJ is rare to find. Most companies will not even show up for minor repairs like adjustments to doors, fix shelving or door handle replacements, as they want only the bigger kitchen replacement and kitchen installations jobs.
I found this local Engelwood company that did minor adjustments and fixed some small things in my kitchen for a small fee.
Their phone number is 201-458-0455. The site is: www.alldonecompany.com . Nice good handy people to have around.
A good plumber is rare to find. They come and go in their own time, come up with crazy prices sometimes and who knows what else. If you ever need a good plumber; an honest old fashioned american plumber call John DeGrace. 201-786-2538 he is local plumber in North Arlington. He will take care of you well.
His website is: https://degraceplumbing.com
Located in North Arlington and nerve northern NJ
Old septic tanks eventually wear down from corrosion and other problems, and will need to be removed and replaced by a certified sewer service contractor. At A1 Drain & Sewer Services NJ, we provide septic tank replacement in NJ for homeowners and businesses in rural and suburban areas, who depend on a septic system for reliable on-site waste management.
You can call us any time for a 100% free consultation and cost estimate for your new septic tank replacement. In an emergency, we’re also available 24/7 for urgent septic tank repairs and sewer repairs.
Call us any time for same-day service at unbeatable prices, at 201-645-0888.
The city of Los Angeles, California has long had problems with corroded and deteriorating municipal water supply lines. Budgetary concerns and other obstracles have prevented much-needed water line repair and replacement in many areas of this sprawling metropolis, leaving many pipes whose service lives should have long since ended. In 2014, a towering geyser of pressurized water from a ruptured water pipe provided an eye-catching and alarming reminder of this ongoing problem. At A1 Sewer & Drain Services, we work with local cities, towns, and communities in north New Jersey to maintain, repair, and replace aging or damaged water supply lines and public sewer systems.
We’re always available for fast, reliable service, including free consultations and cost estimates. Using revolutionary trenchless repair techniques whenever possible, we help keep the water line repair process as simple, streamlined, and straightforward as possible, minimizing disruption to local commerce and traffic. Call us any time for a free consultation and cost estimate, at 201-645-0888. An Earlier Incident with a Broken Water Line: Damaged Property and Delayed Settlements for Homeowners In Fall 2009, a 62” water line burst catastrophically near Studio City in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Eight months after the fact, homeowners and businesses still awaited the compensation they’d been promised for their extensive damages.
The burst pipe flooded numerous homes, many of them worth millions of dollars. Homeowners were displaced, costly belongings were lost or damaged, and months later, homeowners also wanted reimbursements for the very costly rent of their temporary abodes. Years later, in 2014, an 8” water pipe burst less than half a mile from the site of the 2009 incident, creating a 40-foot geyser of pressurized water in the middle of a residential area.
Also in 2009, around the same time as the Studio City water main break, a broken water main in Historic Fillipinotown led to the formation of a sinkhole 20 feet in diameter. Overall, LA has an alarming recent history of catastrophic water main breaks. Municipal Water Line Repair, Replacement, & Maintenance: Protecting Public Water Systems in New Jersey Problems with faulty water supply infrastructure aren’t unique to Los Angeles, of course.
Here on the East Coast in northern New Jersey, many cities have outdated plumbing water supply pipes in need of urgent attention from professional water pipe repair contractors. At A1 Sewer & Drain Services, we’re always available to consult with municipal officials from nearby cities and towns about municipal sewer and water pipe replacement and repair. For a free consultation and cost estimate from experienced local New Jersey sewer and water service contractors, call us any time at 201-645-0888.
Prevent Water Main Breaks with Municipal Water Line Replacement & Repair: Call Us Today at 201-645-0888
The city of Los Angeles, California has long had problems with corroded and deteriorating municipal water supply lines. Budgetary concerns and other obstracles have prevented much-needed water line repair and replacement in many areas of this sprawling metropolis, leaving many pipes whose service lives should have long since ended. In 2014, a towering geyser of pressurized water from a ruptured water pipe provided an eye-catching and alarming reminder of this ongoing problem.
At A1 Sewer & Drain Services, we work with local cities, towns, and communities in north New Jersey to maintain, repair, and replace aging or damaged water supply lines and public sewer systems. We’re always available for fast, reliable service, including free consultations and cost estimates. Using revolutionary trenchless repair techniques whenever possible, we help keep the water line repair process as simple, streamlined, and straightforward as possible, minimizing disruption to local commerce and traffic.
An Earlier Incident with a Broken Water Line: Damaged Property and Delayed Settlements for Homeowners
In Fall 2009, a 62” water line burst catastrophically near Studio City in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Eight months after the fact, homeowners and businesses still awaited the compensation they’d been promised for their extensive damages. The burst pipe flooded numerous homes, many of them worth millions of dollars.
Homeowners were displaced, costly belongings were lost or damaged, and months later, homeowners also wanted reimbursements for the very costly rent of their temporary abodes.
Years later, in 2014, an 8” water pipe burst less than half a mile from the site of the 2009 incident, creating a 40-foot geyser of pressurized water in the middle of a residential area. Also in 2009, around the same time as the Studio City water main break, a broken water main in Historic Fillipinotown led to the formation of a sinkhole 20 feet in diameter. Overall, LA has an alarming recent history of catastrophic water main breaks.
Municipal Water Line Repair, Replacement, & Maintenance: Protecting Public Water Systems in New Jersey
Problems with faulty water supply infrastructure aren’t unique to Los Angeles, of course. Here on the East Coast in northern New Jersey, many cities have outdated water supply pipes in need of urgent attention from professional water pipe repair contractors.
At A1 Sewer & Drain Services, we’re always available to consult with municipal officials from nearby cities and towns about municipal sewer and water pipe replacement and repair. For a free consultation and cost estimate from experienced local New Jersey sewer and water service contractors, call us any time at 201-645-0888.
Prevent Water Main Breaks or Water Line Replacement & Repair: Call Us Today at 201-645-0888
https://degraceplumbing.com/
Just a few months ago, a water main burst at an intersection in Hoboken, NJ. The 12” pipe burst around 6 AM on March 15th, creating a sinkhole that swallowed at least one vehicle. During urgent repairs, nearby residents experienced lowered water pressure and other issues as utility workers rushed to repair the line. The pipe had already burst once the year before, leaving many nearby residents without running water over Thanksgiving weekend in 2015.
Water main breaks have been a consistent problem in Hoboken. One local resident remarked, “It feels like it happens every couple of weeks.” The local water company, Suez Water, has reported that residents should expect a staggering two water main breaks per month until the city finishes water line replacement for over 40 miles of aged infrastructure, some of which is over 100 years old.
With only $350,000 per year budgeted for municipal water line replacement, the city faces a massive budgetary problem. This is far from uncommon throughout the United States, as the cost of replacing hundreds of total miles of infrastructure outstrips local budgets.
Flooding and standing water in your basement or crawlspace is nothing but trouble. If your basement isn’t dry, moisture can damage your foundation, wooden structural elements, and more. It also promotes mold growth, which can compromise your indoor air quality and cause respiratory infections and other health problems.
At A1 Sewer & Drain Services, we provide professional sump pump installation in New Jersey to help homeowners and businesses eliminate standing water in a basement or crawl space. You can call us any time for a free cost estimate and consultation regarding your standing water problem and basement drainage needs, at 201-645-0888.
Obviously, basements are generally partially or completely below ground. This puts them at an increased risk of flooding and standing water. Installing a basement sump pump can go a long way toward protecting your basement from accidental flooding and standing water in the event of a burst pipe, stormwater intrusion, or other emergencies.
If your basement doesn’t already have one, you may want to consider installing a sump pump. The average cost for the unit and basin, plus professional sump pump installation, is far lower than the average cost of extensive repairs after basement flooding– a serious basement flood can cost as much as $50,000 to completely repair!
Sump pumps use an impeller mechanism to forcibly remove water from the sump basin into which it flows, sending it safely away into a discharge line to prevent standing water from accumulating. Sump pumps are strongly recommended by drainage experts for buildings and homes that have a below-ground basement or crawlspace, which is common in New Jersey. Many sump pumps are even equipped with an alarm system, some of which will notify you on your smartphone if water levels are rising.
Many sump pumps rely on a direct connection to a power outlet. In severe weather where stormwater flooding is a serious possibility, power outages could disable the pump when it’s needed. Installing a secondary backup sump pump prevents this. Backup sump pumps have a battery, and are designed to activate when your primary sump pump fails. You can also find combination sump pumps with a backup battery.
You don’t want your sump pump to fail when you need it. Sump pumps have a limited service life, just like any other appliance. A good sump pump will last for over a decade, but you’ll eventually need a new one when it wears itself out.
Before it fails completely, an aging sump pump will start showing signs that its time is coming to an end. Some of the telltale signs that you need to replace your sump pump soon include:
When you’re choosing a new sump pump, you’ll want to make sure you choose a model that’s the right size and power level. Sump pump horsepower can range from ¼ to ⅓, and your needs will depend on how much water your pump needs to handle.
At A1 Sewer & Drain Services, we’re always available for sump pump installation, repair, and replacement throughout north New Jersey. We provide same-day service and 24/hour emergency repairs throughout the area, including:
Call us now for service today, at 201-645-0888.
Many homes in New Jersey are built with a basement, which may or may not have been converted yet into useable living space. A finished basement is a great way to add hundreds of square feet of useable living space to your home, with less cost and hassle than building a whole new addition. Many homes have over a thousand square feet of basement, meaning there’s plenty of space for that new bedroom, rec room, or man cave you’ve always wanted.
Basement renovation often involves installing plumbing to create an extra bathroom. At A1 Sewer & Drain Service, we’re drainage and sewer service contractors who specialize in wastewater, outdoor drainage, and bathroom plumbing. If you’re planning a new bathroom addition, call us any time for a free consultation and cost estimate from our experienced local plumbers, at 201-645-0888.
Need an extra bathroom to accommodate a growing family? If you have an existing basement, you may not even need to build a new addition. Finishing all or part of your basement can add a great deal of extra living space, including much-needed extra toilets and showers. A new basement bathroom addition can even add market value to your home.
Basements are almost always located below the level of the main sewer line. Because of this, installing bathroom plumbing can be complicated. Vent, waste pipe, and drain pipe installation is the most difficult part of basement plumbing, and you’ll need experienced renovation plumbing and sewer service contractors to make sure that everything is installed correctly.
Any new drain lines in your basement bathroom addition will need to flow into your existing main sewer line. Before construction begins, contractors need to locate the sewer pipe, generally by finding the main stack and the cleanout. In urban and most suburban areas, the main sewer line runs into a municipal sewer system. If you have a private septic tank, the pipe will run toward the septic drain field.
To flow correctly, drains and sewer lines need a downward slope of at least ¼” per linear foot. This ensures that liquids and solids move at the same rate through the pipe via gravity, preventing clogs and sewer backflow. This can be tricky in basements, where the main line may not be deep enough to allow the correct drop per foot. To send water and effluent through the drain pipes against the force of gravity, you may need sewer ejector pump installation.
When the level of the main sewer line is too high for wastewater to flow in the right direction due to gravity, you may need sewage ejector pump installation to ensure that wastewater doesn’t back up inside the drain pipes. Ejector pumps are equipped with float switches, which trigger the pump to activate when the water in the ejector pump tank reaches a certain level. The wastewater is forced into the drain pipes, allowing wastewater from toilets and other fixtures to be safely removed without relying on gravity.
For toilets, many homeowners opt to install a grinder pump. This type of ejector pump grinds up solid waste into a fine slurry, helping to prevent clogged drain pipes and backflow.
Regardless of whether your basement is used as living space, or whether it contains a bathroom, you may need to consider sump pump installation. Sump pumps remove water into the drainage system, preventing flooding and costly water damage. Because basements are located below grade, they’re at heightened risk for flooding from severe weather, burst plumbing pipes, sewer backups, and other emergencies.
Installing a basement sump pump can prevent thousands of dollars of costly water damage, making it a worthwhile investment for New Jersey homeowners.
Need an experienced plumber for toilet, shower, vent, and drain pipe installation in NJ? At A1 Sewer & Drain Services, we’re sewer service experts. We work with homeowners to install reliable, high quality plumbing for basement bathrooms and new bathroom additions. For a free cost estimate, call us today at 201-645-0888.
Septic systems are an efficient, self-contained wastewater treatment option for properties in New Jersey that do not have access to a nearby city sewer main. In rural and semi-rural areas with large lots and houses spaced relatively far apart, on-site septic systems are often more economical than using a centralized public sewer and wastewater processing system. With proper care and maintenance, a properly installed septic system can last for up to 30 years before being replaced.
As a homeowner or the owner of a commercial property with a septic system, it’s your responsibility to maintain it adequately. Good septic system maintenance can save you thousands of dollars on costly septic tank repairs, as well as helping you maximize the service life of your septic system and delaying the need for septic system replacement.
If you do need septic system repair, or your septic tank is due to be replaced, call us any time at A1 Sewer & Drain Services for fast, friendly septic and sewer services from experienced Bergen County contractors, at 201-645-0888.
Proper septic system maintenance doesn’t just prevent problems and help your septic system last as long as possible: it’s also important for your local environment. Failing septic systems can be a significant source of groundwater pollution, which can in turn pollute nearby streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. The excess nutrients contained in sewage effluent are damaging for aquatic ecosystems, causing algal blooms that kill off other organisms in the water. The pollution can also expose humans to hazardous bacteria that cause diseases like dysentary, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever.
Maintaning you septic system also saves you money in the long run. A failing septic system can be quite costly to replace, and preventative maintenance is far less expensive than extensive septic tank repair or septic tank replacement.
To maintain your septic system, it’s highly recommended that you get annual septic tank inspections from experienced local sewer service plumbers. During the inspection, contractors will ensure that the system is working properly, and determine whether it needs to be pumped. They will also check for cracked pipes, damage or corrosion in the septic tank, and other problems that might require septic tank repair. Professional septic tank inspections include the following steps:
To schedule your annual septic tank inspection and maintenance, or for same-day service for septic tank repair in NJ, call us today at A1 Sewer & Drain Services, at 201-645-0888.
When you’re planning for kitchen renovation in New Jersey or NYC, choosing sustainable building materials is a great way to do your part to reduce your carbon footprint and avoid contributing to industries that cause environmental problems. Choosing kitchen countertops is a major kitchen design consideration, providing a key focal point as well as a crucial workspace. There are many types of materials to choose from, from recycled materials to quarried natural marble.
At All Kitchen, we work with homeowners in New Jersey and New York to find sustainable kitchen design solutions. These kitchen countertop materials are a renewable and eco-friendly alternative to more problematic traditional materials, helping you create a sustainable lifestyle without sacrificing beautiful design.
These kitchen countertop materials provide chic, appealing alternatives to options like natural stone, which may involve environmentally damaging mining practices, or synthetic materials, whose manufacture may emit pollution. Choosing an ecofriendly material for your kitchen counters is a great way to create sustainable kitchen design that’s as beautiful as it is environmentally responsible.
Reclaimed wood countertops bring a rich personality and history to your kitchen. Kitchen design provides ample opportunity to make use of reclaimed wood, from countertops to kitchen cabinet installation. Unlike brand new wood, the aging process in reclaimed wood creates a rich patina. In some cases, the woods themselves may no longer be available new. For example, American Chestnut was a popular wood for cabinetry and furniture, until chestnut blight nearly eradicated the entire North American population of these trees. However, some homeowners have managed to find reclaimed American Chestnut wood.
Butcher block countertops provide an interesting opportunity to incorporate salvaged and recycled wood into your kitchen design. Because butcher block is made from many smaller pieces of wood, it can be created from reclaimed or repurposed materials, like old shipping pallets or demolished buildings.
Bamboo is an unusual but highly versatile sustainable alternative to wood for countertops, cabinets, and other kitchen essentials. Bamboo isn’t wood at all– it’s actually a grass. Maturing in only five to seven years, bamboo is incredibly renewable compared to pine or hardwood trees, which take decades to mature completely. Bamboo stalks are sliced into thin strips, then pressed together into a durable wood-like material that comes in both horizontal and vertical grains. Bamboo is even stronger than many hardwoods, and will not swell or contract due to moisture.
Believe it or not, recycled paper can be fashioned into durable, attractive kitchen countertops. Made from a combination of post-consumer recycled paper and environmentally friendly petroleum-free resins, and pigments. The texture of the product is quite similar to soapstone, and it’s stain resistance makes it easy to maintain. Over time, they develop a warm patina. One drawback to recycled paper countertops is that they’re not particularly heat resistant, and could be damaged by temperatures over 350 degree Fahrenheit.
Recycled glass countertops are a durable, sustainable alternative to natural stone like marble or granite. Made from numerous tiny pieces of recycled glass held together with cement or resin polymer, their mosaic look is truly unique. Available in many color schemes, recycled glass kitchen counters have a distinctive “wow” factor that complements many colorful modern kitchen designs.
Stainless steel is a perennial favorite for sleek, contemporary kitchen designs. They can be made with up to 60% recycled materials, making stainless steel a surprisingly sustainable option. With top-notch durability and easy cleaning, stainless steel is suitable for even the most demanding commercial kitchen environments.
At All Kitchen, we work with homeowners in north New Jersey and NYC to bring their design visions to life. We’ve created many beautiful, unique, sustainable kitchens using renewable materials, energy-conserving room design and appliances, and other features that can help you minimize your household’s carbon footprint. From bamboo countertops and cabinets, to dazzling counters made from sparkling fragments of 100% recycled glass, we’ll help you find design solutions that perfectly blend sustainability, beauty, and functionality.
