Category Archives: Home Improvement

Easy Answers To Your Tough Plumbing Questions

November 26, 2024   Matt

Easy Answers To Your Tough Plumbing Questions

Look no further than this article for the greatest plumbing advice that you will ever find. You are concerned about either current issues that you are having or things that might occur in the future. Read the advice carefully in this article and you will be more than satisfied.

Group all of your plumbing repairs before scheduling a plumber to come out. Check all of your fixtures and faucets. If anything is dripping, running or clogged, make a list for the plumber. That way, when the plumber comes, they can do all of the jobs in one visit. This will cut down on charges.

Avoid the bursting of pipes due to the change in the temperature. You need to allow the flow of heat to reach under the sinks and into the pipes, you have to keep the cabinet doors of the bathrooms and kitchens open. It is important to keep water running at both hot and cold faucets along with vanities that are in close proximity to exterior walls.

Ask before the plumber comes out if they charge for the consultation. In order to quote a project, the plumber has to come out to inspect your particular issue. It is standard to charge for the consultation appointment but the prices can vary wildly. Ask upfront so that you aren’t surprised by the total.

Check for standing water in your yard which can be a direct result of leaking pipes. Standing water can cause an increased level of damage to your lawn and will attract bacteria and insects. Reduce your level of standing water to put your family and home in the most secure position.

Keep a grease vat in your kitchen to pour all used cooking grease into. Grease is a big reason that kitchen drains slow and eventually, stop up. Even the harshest drain cleaning products, tend to not be a match for a heavy grease clog. The grease you save in the vat can be formed into balls and rolled in bird seed for wonderful winter bird feeders.

If you go to flush the toilet and nothing happens, do not be afraid to open up the lid and take a peek. The mechanism inside the toilet is not overly complex, and with some time and thought you can nearly always pinpoint the problem and then find the tools and parts to fix it.

If you have drains in your house that have not been used for a long period of time, pour one gallon of water through them to keep them functional. Furthermore, this will have the added benefit of reducing any odors from entering your house from lack of use during the year.

In conclusion, there is a lot to know about plumbing and not all of the advice available is useful. Ideally, this article either provided you with new knowledge or it allowed you to solidify current knowledge. Use this great information today and you will be set up for success with any plumbing project.

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Plumb It Right!

November 21, 2024   Matt

Plumb It Right!

Plumbing problems are considered to be one of the
major problems that each household can experience at
least once in a lifetime. Although most would opt to
call a professional plumber to do the dirty work for
them, most plumbing repairs are actually minor ones
that even you can do without having to pay a plumber
some notable amount of cash.

Be Vigilant

One way to fix major plumbing problems is by
prevention. Keeping a sharp eye for sluggish or slow
drains is the key. It is way much easier to fix and
unclog a slow drain than opening one that has wholly
stopped from functioning.

If your drain is slow, you can fix this by simply
pouring scalding water down the pipe. Do this to
loosen any grease buildup. Additionally, you should
clean the drain screen or stopper. This should do the
trick.

However, if it doesn’t, then try to locate the problem
by checking out other household drains. Do this to
know whether the clog is present in only one fixture.
If it turns out that other drains are clogged, then
you may have a problem with your main drain pipe.
Sinking In

Fighting a sink clog automatically means getting a
bathroom plunger. In picking a plunger, make sure it
has a large enough suction cup that can completely
cover up the drain. It should also be able to create
an airtight seal around the surrounding sink.

Next, you should fill the fixture to completely cover
the plunger’s suction cup. Do this by using water or
coating the cup’s rim with petroleum jelly. You should
create a vacuum by trying to seal off other outlets,
like overflow drain in sinks. Then, push out any
trapped air underneath the cup. After this, do 15 to
20 forceful up-and-down pumping blows to jerk loose
the clog. It may take you three to five times of this
cycle to do the trick.

Snake It Out If using the plunger doesn’t work, then
you would have to resort to another technique. In this
remedy, you would need to have a plumbing snake. You
can get one at your local hardware. These can work
their way through your drain pipes and physically push
out the clogs.

Plumbing snakes are considered to be one of the most
dependable tools for fixing drainage problems. All you
have to do is push the snake in until you hit the
clog. Once you hit the clog, hook it up by twisting
your snake’s handle. After hooking it up, push your
snake back and forth until you feel that the
obstruction has broken up. Then, flush out the pipe
using cold water. Main Drain Cleanup

If you detect that more than one of your draining
fixtures is clogged up, then your main drain line may
be the problem. Thus, you have to clean it up. You can
start off by locating the clean-out plugs of the large
drain pipes. You can find these in your crawlspace or
basement.

Main drain lines can also be found in your garage or
somewhere outside, along the foundations of your
house. You can see that each plug has a cap on it that
has a square fitting on the top. Use a wrench to
remove the cap.

Make sure that you have a bucket with you to catch
some dripping water. Also, be sure that nobody will
use the facilities while you the main drain line is
open, or else some serious problem can come your way.
Once you have everything in place, use a plumbing
snake to break up any obstructions in the main line by
running the snake in all directions of the pipe.

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Pex Tubing

November 16, 2024   Matt

Pex Tubing

Tubing is a flexible hose or pipe used in plumbing, irrigation, and other industries. Tubing may be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), copper, or other material. Tubing is usually supplied in rolls compared to rigid pipe which is sold in straight lengths called joints or sticks. Tubing is usually measured by its outside diameter, while pipe is usually measured by its inside diameter.

PEX Tubing is used to distribute water in PEX Plumbing, Radiant Heat, and other Hydronic Heating Systems. When using PEX Tubing for heating purposes, Oxygen Barrier PEX such as ThermaPEX, Wirsbo hePEX, Mr. PEX-al-PEX, and Multicor PEX-al-PEX Tubing should be used.

PexSupply.com offers high quality products from the best manufacturers in the industry. Manufacturers such as Wirsbo, Taco, Watts, Bell Gossett, Honeywell, and McDonnell Miller set the highest standards in the plumbing and heating industry. PexSupply.com provides the customer with all the information needed to make the right product purchase.

ThermaPEX Barrier PEX Tubing for Radiant Heat is the strongest and most flexible Oxygen Barrier PEX tubing available today. ThermaPEX PEX Tubing is competitively priced and available for same day shipping.

PEX Supply offers FREE SHIPPING on all orders over 0. We have provided you with access to many products, a lot of information, and competitive pricing.

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Plumbing Tips To Help You With Your Needs 6

November 11, 2024   Matt

Plumbing Tips To Help You With Your Needs

Imagine taking on a plumbing project with the confidence that you are going to do a good job and that you are going to complete the job for well under the price of hiring professional help. Now use this hopefulness, and take a few minutes to read the great tips in this article.

If you are using PEX tubing for the supply lines in your home, make sure you get the right tools for the job. PEX tubing requires a completely different tool type than regular lines. PEX has a lot of benefits though, so don’t let the different requirements throw you off.

Set the temperature on your hot water heater to a temperature that does not exceed 120 degrees. This helps to save energy and prevents the water from becoming too hot and potentially scalding someone in your household. Older models that do not have a temperature setting should be set on Medium.

Many people deal with clogged toilets. However, if your toilet will not flush every time, the water rises to the top, and there is bubbling effect occasionally, this can be due to a much deeper blockage in the main pipe. The main pipe must then be cleaned in order for your toilet to work properly.

You always want to solder correctly, the biggest mistake most people make when soldering is failing to get the interior of the fitting and the exterior of the pipe clean and shiny. Polish these surfaces with a fine emery clot until bright. When soldering, never heat the pipe, but instead heat the fitting. Doing so allows the solder to be drawn into the fitting by capillary action.

If you have a plumbing nightmare and your house gets flooded, avoid using heat and heat lamps to dry the property out. Let it dry naturally if you can because the additional heat can cause problems. When building materials dry too fast, they can warp and crack causing more damage than just the water.

Make sure never to store flammable objects near the water heater in your home. These heaters can rise to a high temperature, risking ignition of surrounding objects. Try to keep the area around your water heater clear of debris if you want to be in the safest position during the day.

When you are snaking out your drain, always make sure that you use a mask to cover your face. You will be pulling up all sorts of chemicals that you do not want to inhale or get on your skin. Practice safe plumbing if you desire to optimize your health.

Unclog drains with ease. Try using a plunger and drain cleaner, as your clog may simply be a build-up of hair and debris. If this doesn’t work you may have to clear the drain with a snake. Feed the snake into the drain line as far as it will go. Turn the crank gently, which will help to loosen the clog. Remove the snake, and run water down the drain to see if the clog has been removed. You may have to use the snake a couple of times, before the clog is cleared so don’t give up!

To summarize, you want to know that you are taking care of your plumbing job just the same as a professional would, but without the additional costs they would inflict upon you. Hopefully, this article was informative enough for you to tackle any plumbing issue that might come your way.

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Building a New Home? Don’t Take Plumbing for Granted

November 06, 2024   Matt

Building a New Home? Don’t Take Plumbing for Granted

Today there are alternatives to metallic systems
(ARA) – Building a new home means having choices and making decisions. So if you’re planning to build a new home, be prepared to spend an endless number of hours looking at options and making final selections.
When it comes to cabinets, faucets, light fixtures and floor coverings, everyone expects a lot of choices — different styles, colors, finishes, price ranges, etc. Even windows come in different shapes, sizes and energy efficiencies.
Yet, when it comes to something as important as the home’s plumbing, most people don’t ask any questions. They assume they don’t have a choice. For many generations, metal (in the form of galvanized steel or copper) was the only material available. Look in the basement of any home built before the Kennedy era and it’s unlikely you’ll see anything but metallic pipes.
Today is a different story as a host of alternative materials — many of which are plastic — now garner significant market shares.
Why has plastic gained such popularity? Metal has demonstrated a number of pitfalls through the years that have been documented by numerous studies and lawsuits. Pinhole leaks and premature system failures, caused by metal’s natural tendency to pit, corrode and scale, have opened the door for more reliable, virtually maintenance-free systems.
Of these, CPVC (post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) plumbing systems, which have 40 years of proven experience, are the most popular. CPVC pipe and fittings, such as those used in FlowGuard Gold CPVC plumbing systems, offer a number of benefits over metallic systems. Primarily, they never pit, scale or corrode, which eliminates the risk of premature failures and costly re-piping, in addition to possible property damage.
FlowGuard Gold CPVC systems are also highly energy efficient with natural insulating properties that keep hot water hotter and cold water colder than metallic systems. In addition, condensation, which is a common problem with metallic pipes that can cause drip damage to walls and foundation, is virtually eliminated.
As water quality becomes a significant concern in this country, CPVC piping has gained high marks for its ability to maintain water quality. There is no leaching or metal contamination into the water supply, so there are no related health concerns. And without pitting or corrosion, CPVC systems are able to maintain full water carrying capacity throughout their entire life. If you’ve ever looked inside a piece of old copper pipe, you’ve probably seen a thick layer of hard minerals. These minerals can dramatically reduce the diameter of the pipe, which reduces water flow and water pressure, and can inhibit the efficiency of many water-using appliances. Eventually, homeowners with corroded pipes must completely re-pipe their home at an average cost of ,000.
Through the years, many homeowners have come to accept water hammer (or banging pipes) in their homes, which is typical of metallic systems. CPVC systems, on the other hand, resist water hammer. They also minimize water flow noise, which has been proven by independent testing laboratories to be four times louder in copper pipes.
Although CPVC systems are most often used in new construction, they are also compatible with other plumbing systems used in remodeling projects, the addition of a guest bathroom, or the replacement of a failed copper system.
For more information on the benefits of CPVC plumbing systems, visit www.flowguardgold.com or call (888)234-2436 (Ext. 7393) to locate a FlowGuard Gold professional near you.

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Plumbing Is Not As Hard As It Seems 2

November 01, 2024   Matt

Plumbing Is Not As Hard As It Seems

This article is going to provide you with well proven advice about plumbing. Sometimes you are not sure about what you can trust and what you cannot. Use the great tips and tricks that have been gathered here and you can be assured you are getting tried and true advice.

If you have a plumbing nightmare and your house gets flooded, avoid using heat and heat lamps to dry the property out. Let it dry naturally if you can because the additional heat can cause problems. When building materials dry too fast, they can warp and crack causing more damage than just the water.

Schedule all your plumbing work at the same time. It can be tempting to call a plumber each time you have a minor problem, but saving plumbing work for one time allows you to put money aside for the repairs. It also saves you money because a lot of plumbers charge by the hour–they cannot charge for multiple hours every trip if they only make one trip out.

Watch how your toilets are flushing. If you have to jiggle the handle or if it takes too long, you might have to repair some toilet parts. Replacing these parts early may help you to save on your water bills and will save you from more expensive repairs at a later date.

To avoid frozen pipes in your home, never allow the temperature in your house to drop below freezing and insulate any pipes that are exposed to the elements. If the ambient temperature around the pipes is below freezing, the pipes can freeze. At best, it can take time for them to thaw and for you to be able to have running water. But they could also burst, causing a mess and a large repair bill.

If your toilet is slow to flush, add some white vinegar to the overflow tube. White vinegar helps the water from your tank to flow quickly, which will make the toilet flush faster. It is recommended that you use about a quart of the vinegar and let it stay there for at least an hour before flushing.

It is imperative as a homeowner that you know exactly where your main water shut-off valve is located and can operate the valve in case of an emergency. The best first step measure for frozen pipes is to stop water from entering your home in the first place. Locate the main water supply valve and turn it on and off on a regular basis to keep it easily operable in an emergency.

If the water in your shower or tub seems cold, even though the water coming out of your kitchen faucet is hot, don’t assume the worst. The faucets in your shower or tub enclosure have been preset to prevent burning and the way this is accomplished it that most newer faucets have a little mechanism in place to prevent turning the handle to the point where you get hot water. You can remove the faucet handle and readjust that mechanism to allow the handle to turn more and get you much hotter water.

To summarize, you are looking for advice on your plumbing project but want to be sure that the information you are using has been tested over time. Hopefully you will find this to be true of the information in this article. Use this great advice today and you will be more than satisfied.

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