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New EPA Rule on Lead Pipe Replacement – What It Means for You

The Impact of the EPA’s New Lead Pipe Replacement Rule

At Kokesh Plumbing, we care deeply about the safety and quality of the water flowing through your home. That’s why we’re excited to share important news from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). On October 10, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration finalized a new rule that requires the replacement of all lead pipes within the next 10 years. This is a major step toward improving public health and ensuring cleaner, safer drinking water across the country.

What the New Rule Means
The EPA’s new rule mandates that every lead service line—pipes that carry drinking water—must be identified and replaced. This effort will reduce the exposure to harmful lead, which can cause severe health problems, particularly for children and pregnant women. Lead poisoning is linked to learning difficulties, developmental delays, and other health risks, making this initiative crucial for public safety.

The program also requires:

  • Transparent data sharing, so customers know where lead service lines exist.
  • Water utilities to replace entire lead service lines instead of partial replacements, which could still leave residents exposed.
  • A strong focus on disadvantaged communities, ensuring equitable access to clean drinking water.

How This Impacts You
This new rule presents a great opportunity for homeowners and businesses to ensure their water systems meet modern safety standards. If your home has older plumbing, now is the time to act. Kokesh Plumbing is here to help you identify any lead pipes in your system and safely replace them.

With this rule in place, you can feel confident that the water flowing through your taps will be safer and cleaner for years to come. Plus, with the potential for federal funding and local rebates, replacing lead pipes could come at a lower cost than ever before.

Read the full EPA article by clicking here.

We’re Here to Help

At Kokesh Plumbing, we’re ready to guide you through this transition. Whether you need an inspection or a full pipe replacement, our experienced team will ensure the job is done safely, reliably, and to the highest standard. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward safer water in your home.

Product Highlight: American Standard Champion Toilet

Flush Like a Champion with a Virtually Clog-Free Toilet

Keep your home running smoothly by ensuring your bathroom can handle the se that comes with a busy household. That’s where American Standard’s Champion® Toilet comes in—a high-performance, virtually clog-free toilet designed to make your life easier.

Why the Champion Toilet Stands Out

The Champion Toilet is engineered with a powerful flushing system that outperforms standard toilets. With a 2-3/8-inch trapway and a 4-inch flush valve, it can handle up to 70% more waste, dramatically reducing the likelihood of clogs. This makes it ideal for busy families or homes where the bathroom is in constant use.

Low Maintenance, High Performance

Beyond its clog-fighting capabilities, the Champion® Toilet features American Standard’s EverClean surface, which helps prevent the buildup of mold, mildew, and bacteria. This means your toilet stays cleaner for longer, cutting down on the time you spend scrubbing.

With its robust design, the Champion is built for high-traffic environments. Whether you’re preparing for the back-to-school rush or just looking to upgrade your home, this toilet ensures dependable performance, giving you one less thing to worry about.

Make every day stress-free with the power of the Champion Toilet— because every flush counts!

 

 Contact us today to learn more about American Standard products and to find the perfect products for your home!

Lead Line Replacement Program: What you can do

Missouri American Water has a lead service line replacement program and we here at Kokesh Plumbing think you should know about it. Missouri American water has voluntarily pledged to replace all lead/ galvanized service lines in their service areas by 2030. In order to provide us with the safest, most reliable water service, they need to hear from us!  You can do your part by accessing the Missouri American Water website and find learning more! If you find that your service line is lead or galvanized steel, then MAW will work with you to replace it at no direct cost to you.

How do I find out if I have a lead/galvanized steel line?

Galvanized: A dull, silver-gray color. Use a magnet – strong magnets will typically cling to galvanized pipes

Copper: The color of a copper penny.

Plastic: Usually white, rigid pipe that is jointed to water supply piping with a clamp. Note: It can be other colors, including blue and black.

Lead: A dull, silver-gray color that is easily scratched with a coin. Use a magnet – strong magnets will NOT cling to lead pipes.

Lead service lines are typically found in homes that were built prior to 1930. Between 1930 and 1965, the plumbing industry moved away from lead and typically installed copper service lines. If you feel like your older home might have a lead/galvanized service line, there is a quick way of determining if that is true:

 YOU WILL NEED: Key or coin and a strong magnet

WHAT TO DO:

  1. Locate the service line pipe as it enters your home from an exterior wall or floor.
  2. If the pipe is a dull, silver-gray color, carefully scratch the pipe (like you would a lottery ticket) with a key or coin. Take care not to make a hole in the pipe. If the scratch turns a shiny silver color, it could be lead or galvanized steel.
  3. Place the strong magnet on the pipe. If a magnet sticks, it is a galvanized steel pipe.
  4. Wash hands after inspecting pipe.

OTHER WAYS TO CHECK FOR LEAD

  1. Kokesh Plumbing can inspect your pipes and plumbing, please give us a call at 636-391-1233 to set up an appointment.
  2. Lead test kits can be purchased at local hardware or home improvement stores. These kits are used to test paint, but can also be used to test pipe—not the water inside. Look for an EPA recognized kit. Wash your hands after inspecting plumbing and pipes.

Check out this map where you can review what MAW has as the material used in the service line and if it says unknown, you can self-report what the material is.

If you have any questions or want to find out what type of service line you have in your home, please don’t hesitate to call us at 636-391-1233.

Your Moen PRO Plumbing Experts 2024

At JJ Kokesh & Son, we are proud to be a Moen PRO plumbing company. This means that we are highly trained and qualified to install and service all Moen products including the Moen Smart Water products, such as the Smart Faucet, Smart Shower, and Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff. Moen Smart Water products are a great way to improve the efficiency and convenience of your home plumbing system.

Why choose a Moen PRO?

There are many benefits to choosing a Moen PRO plumbing company. First and foremost, we have the expertise and knowledge to properly install and service your Moen products. This will ensure that your products are working properly and that you are getting the most out of them.

Credit: https://www.moen.com/smart-water-network

What are the Moen Smart Water products?

Moen Smart Water products are a line of innovative products that use technology to make your life easier and more convenient. These products include:

Credit: https://www.moen.com/moen-plumber-network-enrollment

  • Smart Faucet: This faucet allows you to turn on and off the water with your voice, hand gestures, or even your phone.
  • Smart Shower: This shower allows you to control the temperature, water pressure, and spray pattern with your voice or phone.
  • Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff: This device monitors your water usage and can automatically shut off the water if it detects a leak.

Here are just a few of the benefits of Moen Smart Water products:

  • Water conservation: Moen Smart Water products can help you save water by monitoring your water usage and identifying leaks.
  • Convenience: Moen Smart Water products can be controlled remotely using your smartphone or tablet. This means you can turn on your faucet, start your shower, or check your water usage from anywhere in the world.
  • Peace of mind: Moen Smart Water products can give you peace of mind knowing that your home is protected from leaks and other plumbing problems.

If you are interested in installing Moen Smart Water products in your home, JJ Kokesh & Son is the team to call. We have the experience and expertise to ensure that your products are installed correctly and working properly.

Here are just a few of the benefits of working with JJ Kokesh & Son:

  • We are a licensed and insured plumbing contractor.
  • We have over 125 years of experience in the plumbing industry.
  • We offer a wide range of plumbing services, including installation, repair, and replacement.
  • We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality service possible.

If you are interested in learning more about Moen Smart Water products or if you need help installing or servicing your Moen products, contact JJ Kokesh & Son today. We are your Moen PRO plumbing experts and we are here to help.

Call us today at (636) 391-1233 to schedule a consultation.

How JJ Kokesh Can Bring the Benefits of Steam Shower to Your Home

Credit: https://www.mrsteam.com/

If you are looking for a way to improve your health, wellness and comfort at home, you might want to consider installing a steam shower. A steam shower is a system that generates steam and delivers it to your shower enclosure, creating a relaxing and therapeutic experience for your body and mind. But installing a steam shower is not a DIY project. It requires professional skills and knowledge to ensure safety, performance and durability. That’s why you should choose JJ Kokesh & Son, who are now certified MR. Steam installer and repair plumbers.

JJ Kokesh is an authorized installer for Mr. Steam, a leading manufacturer of high-quality steam shower systems and accessories meaning that they have the training and experience to install, maintain and repair your MR. Steam products according to the highest standards of quality and safety.

What are the Benefits of Steam Shower?

Credit: https://www.mrsteam.com/products/isteamx/

A steam shower can bring many benefits to your home, such as:

  • Relaxation: Steam can help you unwind and de-stress after a long day, by soothing your muscles, joints and nerves
  • Detoxification: Steam can help you flush out toxins and impurities from your skin and body, by opening up your pores and stimulating your sweat glands
  • Hydration: Steam can help you moisturize and nourish your skin and hair, by increasing blood circulation and delivering oxygen and nutrients
  • Respiration: Steam can help you breathe easier and clearer, by loosening mucus and congestion in your lungs and sinuses
  • Immunity: Steam can help you boost your immune system, by raising your body temperature and activating your white blood cells

Credit: https://www.mrsteam.com/products/musictherapy/

Credit: https://www.mrsteam.com/products/chromatherapy/

You can also enhance your steam shower experience with Mr. Steam therapies and accessories, such as:

  • Aromatherapy: You can add natural oils or fragrances to your steam shower to create a powerful sensory experience that can uplift your mood, calm your mind or energize your body
  • Chromatherapy: You can add colors to your steam shower to create a soothing or stimulating ambiance that can balance your emotions, enhance your creativity or improve your focus
  • Music therapy: You can add sounds to your steam shower to create a relaxing or invigorating atmosphere that can harmonize your brainwaves, reduce your stress or increase your motivation
  •  Towel warmers: You can add warmth and comfort to your towels with Mr. Steam towel warmers that can dry, heat and sanitize your towels with the touch of a button

Credit: https://www.mrsteam.com/products/musictherapy/

Credit: https://www.mrsteam.com/

How to Get Started with JJ Kokesh?

If you are interested in installing a steam shower in your home, you can contact us at 636-391-1233 for a free estimate.  We will help you:

  • Help you invest in the right Mr. Steam products for your shower enclosure size, style and budget
  • Install the Mr. Steam products for your home and connect the Mr. Steam products to the water supply, for the electrical connection, we recommend Enerco Electric- 314-842-8800
  • Test the Mr. Steam products for functionality and safety before use

Credit: https://www.mrsteam.com/products/isteamx/

JJ Kokesh can also provide you with ongoing maintenance and repair services to keep your Mr. Steam products in top condition. They can perform tasks like:

  • Flushing the steam generator regularly to remove mineral deposits and prevent corrosion

  • Replacing the water filter cartridge as needed to ensure water quality

  • Troubleshooting any issues or malfunctions with the Mr. Steam

 

Give us a call to get started making you steam shower dreams a reality