Category — Plumbing
How Clean Pipes in Your Home Lead to Better Health
You may never think about your washing machine and mold, but if you haven’t cleaned the drain pipe then more than likely black mold is living there. Black mold can cause serious even fatal health issues. Your sink pipes can hold multiple bacteria and mold. The drain pipes are harboring germs that cause common sickness, mold, mildew and bacteria. All these things can accumulate doctor bills, medication and time off from work. All drain pipes in your home have build up that needs to be flushed out for better health for you and your family.
With all of the waste that flows through our drains such as food particles, oil, grease etc, it is not surprising that over time, a foul swell smell will develop. This is because of a build up of mildew and bacteria. The mildew and bacteria can cause a foul smell within the bathroom or kitchen. Not only a smell, but the bacteria can creep pack up into the sink bowl and get on food placed in the sink. Fresh vegetables rinsed in the sink may have bacteria, germs, mold or mildew on them that may be harmful to your health.
Flushing your dirty pipes with bleach, vinegar and some household cleaners can get rid of these bacteria. You mustn’t clean your pipes too often with household cleaners or bleach for the reason of harming the bacteria living in your septic tank. You want bacteria in your septic tank because it keeps your septic tank clean and costly maintenance bills away. Harmful bacteria needs to stay in the septic tank not your pipes or on your food. Different products need to be used for different drain pipes in your home.
The following information gives insight on how to clean your pipes weekly and without hurting your septic tank. A clean, good smelling and healthy kitchen is always the goal for better health within our families, so once a week, mix a 1/2 cup of lemon juice or 1/2 cup of vinegar with a 1/2 cup baking soda and let it sit for an hour in the drain. Then, run hot water through the drain for a few minutes. All smelly, germ holding debris will be washed away. Next, pour a thick solution of salt and water down the drain weekly. This will help clear any grease build up that may be potential mold, mildew and bacteria build up.
If you clean your pipes regularly and you still feel like you have a bacteria problem, you may want to consider a drain or pipe replacement. Please contact a qualified plumbing company for that service.
July 12, 2010 No Comments
Why Plumbers Are So Expensive
So many people dread the moment when they have to finally call plumbers simply because of how expensive they are. Some might say that these professionals are simply over charging people in order to make a killing but the thing is, getting into the field, especially starting up your own business, costs a lot of money. Some of that money is re-cooped by charging higher fees.
Think about it, the parts or materials for the plumbing job are not cheap. If you are unsure about that, just take a drive to any of your local home improvement stores that have a large plumbing section. Start walking up and down the aisles and really get a good look at everything there is and what the prices are. A basic kitchen faucet could cost well over a hundred dollars. Copper piping is certainly not cheap and then you have all of the little connection pieces, glues, seals and other parts that are needed to complete even the simplest of all jobs.
Plumbers have to take all of the parts and materials into account, along with their time and experience. If you want a highly experienced professional doing the job for you, you are going to end up paying a little more per hour. Someone with less experience will have a harder time finding work so he might be able to charge less money, in hopes of getting more customers. Sometimes though, saving that little bit of money on new plumbers will cost you more in the end.
If someone has started his or her own business, then there is all of the costs of the business start up that you will have to consider. They have to make that money back as quickly as possible so that they can eventually start making a real profit. Many business owners do not see a profit until they are five or six years into their business. That can be a long time to wait.
As you can see, there is a lot that goes into a plumbing job and business. You, as the customer, have to pay the extra money to have someone come out to work on a job that you are unable or unwilling to do on your own. If you are really concerned about saving money then you will want to do what it takes to learn the trade of plumbing. This way, you can always complete the work on your own and you will not have to hire anyone.
Then again, maybe you will simply continue to call in help but you will at least have a better understanding of why it is that you are being charged so much money.
If you are looking for professional plumbing services at prices you can afford then look no further. Our Raleigh Plumbers can help you. With our valuable experience and great customer service, we prove to be one of the most dependable plumbing services around. Contact our Plumbing Raleigh service team today!
June 20, 2010 No Comments
Q&A For Dual Flush Toilets and Conversion Kits
What is a dual flush toilet? One of the best innovations in bathroom water conservation is the dual flush toilet. Dual flush, as the name says allows you to choose from two different flush options: One kind of flush for liquid waste, and another kind of flush option other for solid waste. It is effective because liquid waste uses significantly less water per flush than the solid waste option does. Using a dual flush toilet or dual flush conversion kit like the one2flush conversion kit will save you a ton of water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average household could save approximately 4000 gallons of water a year by changing over to a dual flush toilet. That much savings will reduce your water bill by hundreds of dollars a year. In addition to saving water and money, you can help minimize the ecological damage to society and protect one of our most precious resources.
Does a dual flushing toilet really work? Studies show that by implementing the dual flushing system into your home, you will save consumption by up to 67% compared to the standard flushing system. In fact, many countries who suffer from water shortages have required these toilets be placed in all new installations. This technology, is new however in the United States and Canada, but is increasing in popularity. A dual flushing toilet system is greatly beneficial in any area of the world, even where water there is no significant water shortages.
Is this dual flushing technology new? These toilets were introduced to the market around the late 90s and early 2000s. Because of the new technology and the general public’s natural ability to consume, and not necessarily save, the demand for this sort of technology in the United States is just being realized. With the economy in bad shape and our homes and businesses growing desire to save and conserve, this technology is growing in popularity.
What is the cost of a new dual flush toilet or conversion kit? Because most home and business owners don’t want to replace their existing toilets unless absolutely necessary, you can purchase a dual flushing conversion kit like the one2flush for about $35 and a few hours in the afternoon. This will change your own standard toilet into a water efficient toilet and you can start saving water and money. If however, you are ready to throw out your old toilet and purchase a new dual flushing toilet, you can expect to spend about $250 on a new high efficient dual flush toilet. You can spend more depending on the style and model.
What are the benefits of a dual flush toilet? The benefits are undeniable. These water saving toilets will save the average household of 4,000 gallons of water per year. The average household can also expect to save hundreds of dollars a year on their water bill. There are also incentives offered by the government to convert your toilets to the dual flushing system. These toilets also require less ongoing maintenance than the typical standard toilet, because these toilets are less likely to clog.
What is the biggest disadvantage of the dual flush toilet? The biggest disadvantage would be the cost of a new toilet. They start at around $250 and go up from there. Fortunately, you can buy a toilet conversion kit like the one2flush conversion kit for around $35.
Start saving money and water today. Check out the reviews and benefits of the one2flush dual flush conversion kit at one2flush
June 10, 2010 No Comments
Water Damaged Flooring
The finished flooring materials have observed a higher significant surge in their usage as well as popularity as compared to the carpets. Whenever some form of water damage takes place, people employ various restoration professionals in order to restore their concrete floors and other parts of their homes to a state in which they were before the occurrence of such a disaster.
The extent to which the task of drying different parts of the home can be accomplished depends on various factors such as response time, flooring type, replacement value, type of wood, type of finish, method of installation, amount of moisture, visible extent of damage etc. The restoration professional is responsible for carefully examining the damp floor. After performing a detailed analysis on the damp floor, he/she can determine the extent to which the previous condition of the floor can be recovered.
Time plays an important role in determining the amount of damage that may be caused to the various entities on the occurrence of water damage. With the increase in the amount of time for which the moist entities of a person’s home are left untreated, the extent of damage increases. The process of absorption of moisture by hardwood flooring takes place slowly because of the porous nature of the hardwood flooring.
The customers can call the restoration professionals at any time of the day. The hardwood floor has to be carefully inspected before it is dried. Hardwood floors are available in a variety of forms such as oak, pine, maple, cherry etc. Various exotic species of hardwood are used in flooring. The rate of absorption of moisture varies from species to species. Some kinds of flooring materials look like wood. However, they are not made of wood. The surfaces of such materials are composed of laminate and the substructure is made up of particle board. It is difficult to remove moisture from such materials due to the presence of thick laminate barriers at the surfaces of these materials.
The initial flooring materials can be either glued or nailed to the floor. If huge amount of moisture is absorbed by the nailed flooring materials, the nails may get lifted up. The presence of excessive moisture on a glued floor may result in the release of glue from the floor.
Various kinds of hardwood floorings such as tongue and groove may form a cup shaped structure when these floorings absorb moisture. Water damage can be effectively removed from beneath the floor surface by making use of techniques such as surface or subsurface drying methods, dehumidification etc. Hardwood flooring will be dried continuously by a restoration professional until the water content gets reduced to at least 4% of the dry standard of the floor. Once the moisture content has been reduced to 4%, further drying is carried out by the nature itself gradually.
Daniel Camara is the owner of PuroClean Home Rescue, a restoration and mitigation company that specializes in Water Damage, Fire Damage, Mold and Odor Removal http://www.waterdamageout.com. Puroclean is one of the largest property mitigation and restoration professional service firms in the country. With nearly 300 offices across the U.S., we respond to all emergencies immediately.
If you need any helpful advice on property restoration please visit us on our website http://www.purocleanhomerescue.com or contact us from the contact page.
June 6, 2010 No Comments
Installing a Water Filter? Here’s All You Need to Know
Installing an under-the-sink water filter is not as frustrating a task that you might imagine it would be. If you follow a few basic instructions, you will soon have filtered, clean and great tasting water flowing from your tap.
Under the sink water filtration systems provide you and your family with clean, contaminate-free water in the area that you need it the most – the kitchen. The kitchen is where you do most of your drinking and cooking, so it makes sense to install an under-the-sink water filter at this faucet.
The first thing you need to do is select the type of water filter that is right for your family’s needs. There are a variety of water filtration systems available that target specific contaminates, bacteria and chemicals. If you don’t know what kind of contaminates are in your water supply, have a water treatment company perform an evaluation of your tap water. They can help you decide on the best course of action – and the right water filter – for your specific situation. Whichever water filtration unit you select, it should be adaptable to change filtration cartridges as your needs change.
You’ll need wrenches that fit the size of the nuts on your plumbing connections under the sink. You’ll also need a drill and a screwdriver (or screwdriver attachment for your drill). After you surmise that the wood underneath your sink can support the weight of a water filtration system, mark the proper spacing for the screw holes.
Next, drill holes using a bit that is slightly smaller than the screws in the places indicated by your markings. Lift and align the unit with your drilled holes and use the screws to attach it to the wood. The pre-drilled holes will make it easier to be screwed in, but will still remain strong and snug if the pre-drilled holes are a smaller diameter than the screws.
Make sure your cold-water inlet is shut off completely. You may also need to turn off the hot water inlet to insure it doesn’t back flow through the faucet when you disconnect the water lines. Depending on the plumbing in your house, you may need to shut off the water supply where it enters your home. Once the water is turned off, open the tap to allow the remaining water to be eliminated.
Now you can disconnect the flexible water line from the inlet and re-connect it to the outlet point on the water filter. Attach the flexible line that came with the unit to the inlet cut-off and the input point on the water filtration system. Make sure all connections are tight and secure before you turn the water supply back on.
Let the water flow for a few minutes to dislodge any sediment and purification material loose inside the filter. Before you know it, you have clean filtered water flowing directly from your kitchen faucet for the whole family to enjoy.
Mr. Abernathy is a marketing agent of Crystal Clear Water VA. The water experts offer filters, softeners, and entire filtration and softening systems to remove harmful impurities and leave only great tasting water behind for you and your family. Kick your water bottle habit; save money and get great water right from home! For more information on their Water Filter Richmond please visit their website.
May 24, 2010 No Comments
Thermostatic Shower Mixer Can Eliminate Scalding Hot Shower Water
Installing a thermostatic shower mixer in your bathroom could be exactly what you need to do if you are having problems keeping the water temperature exiting the shower head at a comfortable level. This is a common problem and there are a lot of people that do not realize that there is a simple solution to solve this problem.
Let’s say for example you are taking a shower and someone in the house flushes the toilet or turns on a faucet. Suddenly you get blasted with hot water because the cold water pressure drops in the shower causing more hot water to exit the shower head. You jump back so that you avoid getting scalded and wait until the water temperature returns to normal. Sound familiar?
A thermostatic shower mixer solves this problem by regulating the hot and cold water with a built in thermostat. As you take a shower the thermostatic shower mixer automatically controls temperature of the water as it exits the shower head to the temperature that you have it set to. The temperature is set basically like a dial on oven and can be adjusted as needed. Once the temperature is set, flushing toilets or using other faucets in the house will not effect your water temperature in the shower.
Some thermostatic shower mixer models have an optional anti-scald feature so that if the water gets to hot it will automatically shut down the shower. This is a great option if you have children that shower unattended or if you are handicapped because it will eliminate the risk of burns.
I hope that this article has helped you understand more about how you can fix those sudden blasts of scalding hot water and avoid being burned by simply installing a thermostatic shower mixer. Now you can jump in shower and enjoy yourself with no worries.
If you want more information on how to eliminate that scalding hot shower water please check out Thermostatic Shower Mixer
May 12, 2010 No Comments
Pipe Fittings – A Brief Overview
When you are remodeling your home, you may wonder what type of pipe fitting is going to work best for you. There are a lot to choose from and it can seem overwhelming. The good news is that it really does not need to be.
What Are Fittings
Pipe fittings are the objects that holds the whole plumbing system together. This is because they make the pipes usable and help route the water to where it needs to go. When a bathroom remodel is done, these carbon steel pipe fittings may also need to be worked with in order to make sure they are doing what they need to be doing. If they are not there, then the whole thing will not work at all.
Where to Get Fittings
The best place to get a stainless steel fitting is going to be the local plumbing store. This is because you can see what you are getting and bring it back if it is not working right for you. Sometimes people get the wrong size and they are allowed to bring it back without any issues and get the part they really need for the remodel work.
If you are considering a bathroom or kitchen remodel, you will probably have to think about the fittings you are going to be using. This way you will be able to get the size and style you need for your plumbing issues. Take some time and be sure to get what you need. The last thing you want is to have to come to the store several times for something this simple.
Ryan H. Clemens is a plumber and frequently uses Stainless Steel Fittings and Carbon Steel Fittings.
May 11, 2010 No Comments
Clearing a Toilet Choke
It can be a very time consuming task to deal with when there is a choke toilet bowl. However, there are ways in which to clear it up therefore eliminating the cost of a plumber and taking up too much time in waiting for one to arrive. It is not hard to fix a toilet that has clogged. Just make sure the tools needed are handy. A few things that may be needed are plunger, bleach, gloves, and a bucket. It can be a bit messy, so do not wear clothes you do not want to get dirty, or splashed on.
First, gather all items needed. Remove the toilet tank to give you access to where the water comes from. There may already be water in there. Just make sure there is not too much water in there. But inside the toilet there should be some water. If there isn’t sufficient water to plunge, then add some water in the bucket, be sure it’s hot water. Pour that water into the toilet bowl. The point is to just make sure there is enough water in the bowl, to be able to plunge, without it overflowing the choke toilet bowl.
Now take the plunger and insert it in the toilet, base side downwards. Make sure the base is to the bottom of the toilet, lined up with the hole. The point of this is to form a tight suction between the plunger and drain. This will aide when it is time to plunge.
Next push down firmly and pull up, steadily and rapidly to loosen up the choke toilet bowl. This should be done until the gunk from the choke comes up. This is proof that the plunging is working. Continue plunging until it seems the choke is no longer there. Bleach can be poured into the toilet at this time.
Finally, flush the toilet. The toilet should flush as normal. This is how to remove a choke toilet bowl. Rinse off the plunger and put away the tools used. Remove the gloves and be sure to wash hands after the procedure.
Read here for more information on plumber services in singapore
Edmund Wong is the owner of 24HrSingaporePlumber.com. His family has been in the plumbing business for more than 20 years.
March 21, 2010 No Comments
Discover the Truth About Water Purification
Water purification is a complex topic, but learning a little about the technology is a good idea. This is especially true, if you are shopping for a home water filter. There some really good water purifiers and some mediocre products. What follows are some suggestions about which type to look for and which ones to avoid.
If you live in an area with a public water purification facility, then the liquid that comes through your faucets has already been treated in a number of different processes. Of course, some treatment plants can supply cleaner water than others. In its latest published annual report the EPA stated that “76% of the populations served by public water systems received drinking water with no significant violations”. That means that for the other 24% there were significant violations.
It is reports like this that have caused consumers to look at ways to obtain cleaner drinking water. As a result sales of water filters have increased substantially. Companies ranging from Sears to the Clorox Bleach Company are selling water purifiers. Regardless of where you live, there are some contaminants still present in the water supplied to your home. The only way to completely protect yourself is to invest in a water purifier of your own.
EPA standards are not all that high, you see. For example the level of chlorine allowed by the EPA is not considered safe by some experts. A recent study carried out at Birmingham University found that babies born in areas where drinking water is heavily disinfected with chlorine are at double the risk of heart problems, cleft palate or major brain defects.
Chlorine can be removed with an activated carbon filter, but the effectiveness of the different models varies between 75-99%. You should ask to see a certification, before you buy. The California Public Health Certification is the most stringent. UL listings are also reliable.
The best manufacturers of home water purification systems provide this information freely, along with their other brochures, but only in three states are they required to have their products certified.
One problem that public water purification systems cannot address is contamination with bacteria resistant to chemical disinfection. One of the biggest threats is a parasite called cryptosporidium. Some home water purifiers can block 99% of these illness causing parasites, but not all.
In addition to chlorine and bacteria there are more than 2000 chemicals in tap water, many of them potentially cancerous. The best water filter for the money is one that blocks them all.
What should you avoid? You probably do not need reverse osmosis water purification. It does nothing to remove chemicals or bacteria. It’s outrageously expensive and wasteful. It does, on the other hand, remove health giving minerals from the water. This type of water purifier is only helpful if you live on an island or your only source for drinking is an untreated lake or river water.
Water purifiers complete the process begun at the public water purification plant. Be a smart shopper and choose the right ones.
Hugh Harris-Evans is a writer and researcher on water purification issues. Visit his site now at http://www.brightwaterfilter.com to get the facts on how to choose the best water purification system.
January 20, 2010 No Comments
5 Big Reasons Why You Should Use Drinking Water Filters
Do you know why you should use water filters? And furthermore do you know what water filters you should use? Take two minutes and find out how to safeguard your family.
(1) The best drinking water filters provide us with the best quality water we can get. The best drinking water filter can improve our life, enhance our performance and increase our energy levels by providing what our bodies crave…99.99% pure drinking water.
70% of our body weight is water. We have to replace and replenish that water on a regular basis or face illness. Each person should consume gallons of water every day, but many do not, because their water doesn’t taste fresh or it smells like chlorine. Good water filters will put the joy back into drinking water.
(2) Pure water is important in more ways than one, the water that we take in may contain bacteria that can cause diarrhea, which can be life threatening to small children, the elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system. Chlorine is added to the water at the treatment facility to remove bacteria…to disinfect the water.
But, some bacteria are resistant to chlorine. Cryptosporidium cysts, for example, are not killed by chlorine. Only a water filter with a micron particle stage can stop cryptosporidium at the cyst stage and protect your family’s health.
(3) The average drinking water filter is carbon based. Carbon activated drinking water filters remove chlorine and chemicals, but other stages are needed to remove different things. It all really depends on what’s in your water and without laboratory testing, the only safe thing to do is buy a water filter that can address all of the problems that “could” be in your water.
(4) Some drinking water filters (like reverse osmosis and distillation) remove trace minerals that are good for your health. The best drinking water filters “balance” the mineral content, instead. So, in areas where high mineral content or “hard” water is a problem, hard minerals are replaced with “softer minerals”. A water filter that has a ion exchange stage is the right choice for well balanced mineral content.
Drinking water filters have been around for a long time. In India they had a crude drinking water filter that was used for ages. It consisted of a big round clay pot. The impurities would be absorbed by the clay and the remaining water tasted sweet and refreshing. With modern science we have perfected the technology and now can filter a number of things that are not good for us, but some water filters are stuck in the dark ages.
(5) Chlorine removal is just one thing that a water filter can do to improve our water. Some companies stop there. Other water filters go the extra mile by reducing harmful pollutants like pesticides and herbicides. Remember, anything that goes down the drain or on the ground eventually ends up in the ground water and our drinking water reservoirs
We use thousands of chemicals every day, thoughtlessly. Industries have spills, as do gas stations and repair shops. We have our grass treated with pesticides. We use herbicides to kill weeds. We wash medicines down the drain. All of this stuff ends up in the water.
It is important to be careful about what you flush down the drain or pour on the ground, but you have to realize that other people may not be so careful. The only way to protect your family is by investing in good drinking water filters for every tap in the house.
Gordon Hall is fervent about enabling you and everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, and is an ardent reviewer of Water Purification Systems. Visit his website now at: http://www.water-safe-and-pure.com to discover which Water Purification Systems Gordon recommends after far ranging comparisons.
January 19, 2010 No Comments