Category — Plumbing

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.

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.

It helps to learn a little about the latest water purification technology, before you decide on a water filtration system for your home. Over the years, many methods of water purification have been used. Some companies are still stuck in the dark ages.

All of us want the healthiest drinking water possible and with today’s water purification technology, we can all have that, without spending a fortune. Every company will tell you that the methods of water purification that they use are the best, but you can not always take their word for it. Here’s what you should know about the different systems you will find on the market today.

Distillation

This is one of the oldest methods of water purification. In brief, water is passed over a heated coil, causing it to vaporize. The steam rises and is transferred to a cooling chamber, where it once again becomes liquid. Inorganic compounds, such as lead, calcium, magnesium and other minerals are left behind. Bacteria are destroyed. Chemical contaminants such as chlorine, pesticides and herbicides are vaporized along with the water, because their boiling point is lower and so enter the cooling chamber along with the water. Water purification technology has advanced beyond the distillation method, as the need to remove chemical contaminants has increased over the years.

Reverse Osmosis

This is another of the older methods of water purification. It has been around for over fifty years. It works by forcing pressurized water through a semi-permeable porous membrane. Inorganic compounds are removed by this system, as they are with distillation, but once again, synthetic chemicals will pass through along with the water.

Water purification technology has advanced beyond this method, as well, and has also become more affordable. RO systems for the whole house cost in excess of ten thousand dollars, not to mention the cost of wasted water and the electricity needed to pressurize the water

Pitcher Filters

The idea of portable inexpensive methods of water purification has made pitcher and carafe-style filters increasingly popular in recent years. Although it took more advanced water purification technology to develop pitcher filters, they are not the most effective. Pour through filters are a slight improvement over tap water, because they do block a lot of the chlorine, but they cannot block other chemical contaminants, nor can they remove bacterial cysts. They can filter out lead, which is a good thing. They do cost less initially, but because the filters must be replaced so often, they cost more to use than a countertop or under the counter filter.

Multi-media Block and Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon is recognized by the EPA as the best water purification technology available today for the removal of chlorine and its by-products, pesticides and other synthetic chemicals. The chemicals are bound to the surface of the filter medium and cannot pass through with the water. Multi-media block filters remove sediments and bacterial cysts, while balancing the mineral content and pH levels of your tap water. For home use, these two are the best methods of water purification on the market today. They can be found together in multi-stage home water filtration systems and they are very affordable. When it comes to home filters, advancements in water purification technology have made us safer and saved us money. For more information, please see my website listed below. Larry L. Taylor

Larry L. Taylor is a dedicated advocate of living a healthy lifestyle and diligent researcher of water purification systems. Visit his site at: http://www.CleanWaterPure.com to discover which water filtration systems Larry recommends after extensive comparisons.

For many people, faucet installation is a piece of cake. You don’t need a hired expert to do this for you. With a little initiative, you can install your faucet at no extra cost. It is important to remember though that installing a faucet does involve basic knowledge or skill in understanding instructions. Here are some basic points that you should know before you install your faucet.

Bottom or Top

Faucets are not uniformly made. There are many different faucet types for you to choose from before you can install. You would have to determine for example if you would prefer disc, compression, cartridge or a ball type faucet. One other crucial installation related concern is choosing between a top or bottom mounted faucet.

Bottom Mount

With this type, you have to hold the faucet securely from the bottom. Once the faucet is in its right position, all you have to do would be to install the washers and manually thread the mounting nuts. You can then secure the escutcheons with some putty. The last step is to install the handles.

Top Mounted Faucet

Faucet installation with this type may seem easier for some to manage. Many new models come with their own gaskets so they can be tightly put in place. If your faucet doesn’t have its own gasket, make sure you apply the right amount of plumber’s putty. Once the putty is in place, put the faucet head on. From the bottom, install the mounting nuts and washers to the tailpiece.

Connecting Water Lines

Your faucet is now in place. All that is left to do is to connect the faucet to the water supply lines. Connect the appropriate hot and cold lines to the right shut off valves. You can use pipe tape to make sure that you have a tight connection. Check all the connections again before you give a go signal to turn on the water supply.

In case you hadn’t noticed yet, all you really need is to follow instructions. You also need to understand them correctly. You would be lucky if you were able to buy a faucet with free installation instructions. There are however, also several instruction sites online that could help you.

Faucet Tips

There seems to be no big deal to installing your own faucet. Sometimes the real challenge is in going through the pre installation concerns. You have to consider for example your faucet design based on whether you will be placing it on your kitchen sink or in the bathroom. Some designs are simply meant for one or the other.

Another faucet related consideration would be the space. A small kitchen sink and a small bathroom would look better with small faucets. You could also opt for wall mounted faucets to maximize the use of your small space.

Another concern would be your handle preferences. Double handles can help you mix hot and cold water more accurately. Those who are always in a hurry though would do better with single handle faucets that function with a single twist or flick.

Faucet installation can be the easiest project you can do. Do make sure though that all your pre installation concerns have been properly addressed.

There are many available types of pipe for the pipefitting trades. I’ve worked with all of them. From black steel to blue brute underground piping, you name it and I’ve installed it at one time or another around the Los Angeles area. While you may think if you have seen one type of pipe then you have seen them all, think again. The wrong pipe installed in the wrong location can spell financial and structural disaster in just a few short months.

Black Steel – the standby for sprinkler and gas lines. This type of pipe is available in varying wall thickness, called “schedule”. The standard thickness for black steel pipe is schedule 40, which is more than enough steel to allow for machine threading. Black Steel piping can never be used for water supply lines; it is used primarily for gas lines and for automatic fire protection systems.

In recent years, the high cost of steel has spawned a thinner schedule pipe that is less expensive to manufacture but still allows for machine threading. While the thinner schedule piping can significantly save on material costs (especially when installing a new system in a high-rise building or equally large structure), there have been many instances when the thinner piping could not handle machine threading and ultimately had to be uninstalled due to leaks or pipe ruptures.

Most contractors (and installers) prefer to use schedule 40 pipe even though it is more expensive to purchase. The lower schedule (thinner) piping is perfectly fine for machine-grooved installations that require the use of mechanical couplings.

PVC Plastic – Most common piping used for drain lines inside and outside of the house. This type of piping is easy to work with and can seemingly last forever. When used on supply lines, extra care must be taken during installation because PVC joints have been known to fail during prolonged use under pressure.

CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) – CPVC has proven itself as a replacement to copper piping. It can handle high supply pressure, is easy to install, is immune to aggressive water that would otherwise eat through copper piping, and can handle 180 degree water temperature.

CPVC is substantially less expensive when compared to purchasing and installing copper piping. When working within your house, CPVC is by far the easiest piping to work with. However, not all cities have adopted CPVC for residential use. Check with your local planning department to find out if this type of piping is approved for use in your city.

Galvanized Steel – well known for being the strongest piping available for supply lines, Galvanized steel requires special threading dies and cutters. In the mid 90’s, I installed an entire Galvanized steel sprinkler system for a 3,000 square foot office in Beverly Hills. Our fabricator mistakingly used the wrong dies for threading the pipe. The result: leaks, leaks, and more leaks!

The system had over 100 leaks throughout the suite and we worked for weeks to try to fix each individual leak before realizing the error had been made by the fabrication company. Eventually, we had to tear the system out and completely reinstall it with black steel piping.

Copper Pipe – This is the most common piping used for supply lines. It is available in both rigid and flexible format. Copper Piping can be connected by two different methods: soldering and compression fittings. The better piping will require soldering.

Ductile Iron Pipe – This is the ideal choice for high pressure, underground water supply lines. It is stronger and easier to tap into for future water supply. Compared to other piping made from other materials, it requires much less support and provides a better flow of water.

Those are the primary types of piping available to fire sprinkler fitters, plumbers, and steam fitters. Each trade has its own preferred (and often required) type of piping. And every pipe type requires special tools and skills in order to cut, prepare, and install.

Interested in working with pipe for a living? The pay is great and work is always plentiful. Check with your local pipefitters union to learn more about your local pipe trades.

When embarking on a plumbing project, be sure that you seal the pipes and hoses well. It might be harder than you think. Do read up on how it can be done. However, it is also very important to make sure you have the appropriate tools.

Never use a sealant that is not designed for what you are doing. Use plumber’s putty to seal the sink flanges of a garbage disposal unit. There are types of special wax or grease sealants that are suitable to be used on the base of the toilet. Shower pipes and spouts should be sealed with caulking, and the list goes on from there.

Most will learn from their mistake of utilizing the wrong sealant for certain jobs. Do not substitute PVC Pipe glue when instructions ask for plumber’s putty. If you use these things rather than Teflon plumber’s tape on hoses, you will never be able to remove it should you ever decide to replace the hoses.

Be sparing but not stingy. It’s also important to use the right amounts. For example, a ¼ inch bead of plumber’s putty is sufficient to seal around a sink. Too much of it will certainly mean that more cleaning up is needed. If insufficient amounts are used, water will leak under the sink.

Remove the excess but make sure not too much is removed. Too much sealant will tend to crack and tear after it hardens. Using your finger or a damp sponge, lightly wipe away any extra and you should be fine. In addition, ascertain that all smears are removed before they are dry.

Do not stingy about the use of Teflon plumber’s tape. It is uncommon to use too much, but in some cases, it can create gaps for water to seep through. Because it is relatively malleable it can be difficult even if you want to overdo it. You want to ensure that not too much is being used as it can make it near to impossible to fit the new pipes or hose back on.

Wind it in the proper direction. If you are handling hoses, the direction is not a problem, however if you are threading pipes, direction will matter. If it’s not done correctly, the tape will twist off. The tail of the tape should be facing the direction you will be threading onto it. It will create a seal that us tight as the tape will extend in the similar direction as the pipe while the pipe is being threaded. If the tape is facing the opposite direction, the seal will not be tight.

Avoid torn ends. Do not tear or bite the tape off using your teeth. It can seem like a good idea if you are working in a cramped space that is hard for you to move around. This can lead to stretching and tearing of the ends. If the tape is stretched too much before it is threaded on the pipe, it will not seal correctly.

If the tape is cut cleanly, it will set in the threads better and not leave any ridges that could cause leaks. This should be done on the front and back of the tape. If you have ridges, you will create small openings for water to escape from.

If you utilize the appropriate sealant for the job and follow instructions faithfully, your project should be free from leaks.

If you need a sewer contractor you most likely need something done with your sewer line, which takes the waste from your house to the main waste tank, shared by your neighbors. A sewer contractor and a plumbing contractor are one and the same. Wherever there is water and a tube with a problem, there is a plumber waiting to fix it.

If you hire a plumber to fix or replace a sewer line you can end up paying anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. The main reason it’s so expensive to deal with sewer lines is because they are hard to get access to. Before hiring a plumber to repair or replace your sewer line you should know that you can do it by yourself as well.

A lot of people get their sewer lines replaced because they are often made of a ceramic material, which can degrade easily. A plumber can charge $2,000 to have it replaced. Because the plumber and his crew are going to spend so much time digging, they are going to charge you a pretty penny. You can do the digging yourself by contacting your city for a diagram of the sewer line running underground. It will take you 2-7 days to dig out the old sewer line.

People often seek sewer contractors because they have roots invading their sewer lines. You can take car of this problem by treating the roots with copper sulfate. If you are set on hiring a plumber, do yourself a favor and shop around. The more you shop around, the better deal you can get.