Posts Tagged ‘Home plumbing system’

How To Design A Bathroom ?

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

If you want to build a new bathroom or renovate an old one then you need to take many complex decisions from basic plumbing installation to complex window treatments. You also need to decide that how to create a space that is flexible, efficient and attractive. The decisions are done keeping in mind the size and number of members in your family.

Before designing your bathroom you also need to consider that who will use the new bathroom and how often. In case the bathroom is being designed for children or elder or disabled people then you have to keep in mind certain safety factors. Decide that you want which type of fittings for your bathroom like a separate shower, double basin, towel holder and so on.

After deciding all these things, you can draw your plan on a plane sheet of graph paper. On this paper, mark the positions of all the doors, windows, radiators, cupboards, bath tubs, basin(s), showers, WC and any other fittings that you want in your bathroom. If you have small space for your bathroom then you may decide to put WC in a separate room.

Keep in mind that you need to leave sufficient space around all the fittings so that you can properly use that fitting. In case you would have limited space then it would become really annoying to use the bathroom.

Discuss the requirements of your hot water system with your plumber. You may, for example, need to upgrade your boiler or fit a pump to make your shower work effectively.

Lighting of your bathroom should also be decided at an early stage because you need some special arrangements for bathroom lights. A properly fitted light provides you bright and directional light for shaving or putting on make-up.

In your bathroom you might have a combination of overhead and wall lights in order to produce special effects such as a concealed light behind a mirror or beneath a wall-hung vanity unit.

Storage space in bathroom is required by every homeowner. It is essential for hiding things that you don’t want others to see like spare loo rolls or toilet cleaners. Therefore, while planning for your bathroom also plan for the storage space so that you can utilize the space to maximum possible extent.

Scott Rodgers is a noted writer who has been providing ample guidance on plumbing works all over the country. His luxurious knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the nation, from Sun City Center Plumbers (Need one?click here!) to Boynton Beach Plumbers (Need one?click here!).

Protect Your Home From Water Damage

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

People who are spending their first winter in their new home and have never owned a home before might not think about the kind of damage a burst water pipe can cause. New homeowners do not often think about this very real problem and it can lead to some very expensive consequences.

Water pipes in the home that are not properly insulated can freeze and burst in the winter if temperature drops below 20 degrees. Even a crack that is only one-eighth of an inch can let out over 250 gallons of water each day. Like this, your floors, clothes, carpet and personal items will be damaged and as the water dries up and spring returns, it will leave you with a more serious problem.

If you will not get these damages repaired then it can make you and your whole family sick over time. At this time, insurance policies can help you a lot. However, they do not solve the problem of molds but they solve the problem of water damage.

If water damage is covered in your home insurance then the problem of mold can be tackled to a great extent. However, the growth of mold can be caused because of many water damaging things but bursting of frozen pipe is one cause that can be prevented.

During winters, you need to take some precautions like you should cover your water pipes with insulators or try to pass warm air through your pipes during a deep freeze. This can be done by opening the cabinets under your kitchen or bathroom sinks and placing a space heater in the room.

If you are going to use space heaters, be careful and do not leave them unattended for long. Do not place them where they can possibly catch things on fire. Do not use extension cords with space heaters and keep things that could catch fire preferably over 5 feet away or you could be facing a fire damage problem instead of water.

Disconnect any garden hoses and make sure cracks in your home’s foundation are sealed so that cold air, water and snow can not get inside your pipes.

Keeping a small bit of water running through hot and cold water faucets can also mean the difference between a busted and un-busted pipe.

Scott Rodgers is a noted writer who has been providing ample guidance on plumbing works all across the nation. His expensive knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the nation, from Squaw Valley Plumbers (Need one?click here!) to Chatsworth Plumbers (Need one?click here!).

Installation Technique Of A Gray Water System

Monday, May 31st, 2010

For the homeowner, gray water is the water that is discharged from your clothes washing machine, dish washing machine, kitchen sink, bathtub, bathroom sink and showers. In short, all water using appliances except toilets and garbage disposal units.

Homeowners are happy to have a gray water system because it does not allow soap, cleaning liquids and other unwanted chemicals to flow to the sewer system or to the septic tank. This system also facilitates the automatic water distribution to the trees and plants in the courtyard.

Fixing a gray water system is very easy task and can be accomplished by the homeowner himself. Going through the flowing lines, one can familiarize oneself with the process of fixing the gray water system. First of all we should ascertain the place this system is to be installed, does not fall in prohibited areas. Get an old bath tub and another water container or a large sink to be used as a distribution tank for the gray water.

Set the tank outside of the house, near the outside wall of your kitchen or laundry room, and set it to angle down slightly towards the drain opening. Run a 1″ to 1-1/2″ diameter PVC line from the tank drain to the trees or other plants in your yard.

Once you have the gray water tank drain distribution lines connected, you’re ready to bypass the sewage system, and re-route the clothes washing machine and dishwasher drains, to the gray water system tank. Under the kitchen sink, locate the dishwasher drain line that presently connects to the kitchen sink drain line. It will be the rubber hose that goes up to the dishwasher air gap.

Disconnect this hose, and re-direct it to the gray water container outside. This may require drilling or cutting an opening in the wall to the outside where the container is located. Do the same with the clothes washing machine drain line.

The tank should be covered with plywood so that unwanted items are prevented to fall into it. The cover will also give the tank a good appearance

The drain openings may be covered by a wire mesh like hardware cloth so that solids are prevented from flowing into the plants. The tub or the water container may be painted to match the color of the house.

Scott Rodgers is a fine expert who has been authoring on plumbing for a long time now. His talent has given inspiration to a host of workers, ranging from New Lebanon Plumbers to Oak Forest Plumbers .

Joining Garbage Disposal Unit And Dishwasher

Monday, May 24th, 2010

A garbage disposal fits under the sink and is connected to the plumbing, chopping food waste into smaller pieces and washing it away. Installation requires removing some existing plumbing pipes and attaching the disposal.

These are easily connected to dishwasher drain lines so that the waste food drains into the disposal as well. Here is the stepwise procedure to attach the garbage disposal with the dishwasher.

To begin this process we shall first of all clean the bottom of the sink cabinet and keep a bucket beneath the sink. Using a pipe wrench, loosen the pipe and remove it. Any water in the pipe may be disposed in the bucket. Remove the drain pipe by unscrewing the long screws that joins the sink and the drain pipe.

To remove the strainer body from the sink, unscrew the large nut that holds it in place underneath the sink. Then clean off the old plumber’s putty that surrounds the edge of the drain opening.

We shall connect the garbage disposal unit to the sink. Apply a coat of plumber’s putty of about quarter an inch around the sink hole and place the sink mounting assembly and the flange piece through the hole and fit it into the cabinet underneath. The drain pipe should be pressed on to the putty so that it can give a sealing effect. The ring is to be tightened by hand so that it does not move from its position on the sink. Wipe out any excess putty pushed out by the tightening.

For removing the plug from the dishwasher inlet tube which is fitted on top of the unit, we use a flat headed screwdriver and a hammer. Hit it a few times and remove the plastic retaining the piece of the into the unit. On moving the unit upside down the plug would fall down and the unit is ready for mounting.

Now that everything is installed and in position, lock the disposer to the sink mounting assembly using the special wrench that came with the unit. Finally, you should test the disposer for leaks and turn on the electrical breaker to test its operation.

The disposal plug should then be pushed into the outlet below the sink and the reset button be pressed. This will set the disposal ready for use. Open the water tap of the sink and look for leaks. Make sure the power is switched on and the disposal is activated. Also, ensure that the unit turns in. The water should keep running during the is process otherwise the unit may damage.

Scott Rodgers is a remarkable writer who has been providing great guidance on plumbing works all over USA. His splendid knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the nation, from Lawrenceville Plumbers to Belleair Beach Plumbers .

Inspecting Septic Tank Is Essential Before Purchasing A House

Monday, May 10th, 2010

There are several reasons why potential home buyers should ask for a septic system inspection before they negotiate the price of the house. However, in most of the states, the law requires that you have one done before the property changes hands.

As the potential home buyer you might think it’s an unnecessary expense and it’s only going to add on to the purchase price of the house. But actually, it’s a pretty sensible investment as a septic system inspection will only cost you a couple of hundred dollars and it might save you tens of thousands.

Nobody wants to buy a house and spend $10,000 or $20,000 for getting the septic tank repaired in just a week or two. However, over time a drain field can become clogged and you might not even notice it.

It might reach certain point where it becomes impossible to repair and effluent starts leaking into the surrounding soil and ground water causing pollution and spreading bacteria throughout the whole area, not just your yard.

These laws were basically created to protect potential home buyers and the environment. Other reason behind this was to make the homeowners aware about it as a lot of homeowners have no idea how old their septic system is or even the last time it was inspected. Most potential home homeowners do not even think to ask if there’s a septic system as well as when the last septic system inspection was done.

It’s also terribly vital that you hire someone who is licensed and certified to perform your inspection. They should really do it, not just sign off on the forms. A proper inspection will include everything from the pipes in your house to the septic tank and out into the drain field.

He should also check that all the lines are clear. Most important of all, he should check the sludge and scum levels by opening the tank to ensure that every thing is working properly.

In short, whenever you plan to buy a new home, keep in mind that it is better to spend a few hundred dollars than tens of thousands of dollars after signing the contract. Once you sign the contract, you will have all the problems of septic tank along with the house.

Scott Rodgers is a noted writer who has been providing ample guidance on plumbing works all over the country. His expensive knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the nation, from Rolling Meadows Plumbers (Need one?click here!) to Bensenville Plumbers (Need one?click here!).

Need To Check Anti-Siphon Valve

Monday, May 10th, 2010

You may already know that anti-siphon and/or back-flow prevention devices are widely required, but you may want to know why. The answer is, “contamination.” Anytime a hose is placed in a yard or an underground sprinkler is operated, there’s a chance for contaminants — such as pet excrement, fertilizer, lawnmower gas, etc to enter the line. Without anti-siphon or back-flow prevention, these contaminants could be sucked into the source water, where they may be ingested in drinking water.

The anti-siphon valve is located on the outlet of the pump. This strategic location works against gravity and prevents draining on the tank. The valve opens when pressure is applied from the pump and then closes airtight at the moment the pump pressure ceases to flow. The anti-siphoning valve will close more tightly when negative drainage occurs.

Not only does the anti-siphon valve prevent someone from stealing gas, but it completely shuts out any unwanted contaminants with vacuum-tight sealing (made of thermoplastic) around the tank. The seal is a non-wet u-cup. This isolates the control spring. You will want to check from time to time to make sure your anti-siphon valve is operating properly; you can do this yourself without hiring a plumber.

Make sure you are well apprehended with the essential tools like plumber’s wrench, shovel, and Teflon pipe tape before getting into the process.

At first, turn on the lawn sprinklers so as to fill them with water. Having filled them, just turn the water off to the lawn sprinkler.

Curb the water to the main supply line that is going in the house. Bring out the piping from the ground by digging it accordingly. Disassociate the pipe from the anti- siphon valve. Make use of a plumber’s wrench to unscrew it.

Next step is to remove the sprinkler head and see if water is coming out of the pipe that was recently opened. If there is a flow of water, the failure of your anti- siphon valve is confirmed. Just replace it with the new one. In case, no water comes out of it, the valve is perfectly alright.

Wrap Teflon pipe tape two to three times around the threads of the pipe you opened and reattach the pipe by turning it clockwise with your plumber’s wrench.

Scott Rodgers is a fine expert who has been authoring on plumbing for a long time now. His knowledge has given inspiration to a host of workers, ranging from Buffalo Grove Plumbers to Fort Sheridan Plumbers .

Know About Different Shower Units

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

In market, different varieties of shower units are available. You can choose any of them as per your need and choice. To have a quick idea about all of them, we will now talk about push-on mixer shower unit, bath mixer shower unit, manual mixer shower unit, thermostatic mixer power shower and electric shower unit.

In push-on mixer shower unit, the hose and spray parts can be connected to the bath tap as per your requirement and the water temperature can be adjusted via taps. Push-on mixers are cheap and extremely simple to install. However, although the hose connection is simple, it gets easily removed.

The hose and spray in bath mixer shower unit is connected to a bath mixer tap and with the help of bath taps, temperature can be adjusted. It is also very cheap but temperature control is quite inconvenient in this shower unit option.

The hose and spray of a manual mixer shower unit are a part of wall unit and the hot and cold water supplies are connected to a single valve. The temperature and pressure of the water are controlled through either one or a variety of knobs.

Temperature control is quite easy in manual mixer types but as per as the cost is concerned, these unit are more expensive than bath mixer shower units and push-on mixer shower units. The installation of hot and cold water supply pipe is also quite difficult.

Just like manual mixer, in thermostatic mixer also, the hose and spray are part of wall unit and there is a single valve for hot and cold water supplies. Thermostatic mixer has a built-in stabilizer to self-adjust the water temperature. Therefore, there is no problem of temperature adjustment here.

Power shower unit comes with a powerful electric pump to alter water pressure as well as temperature. This shower unit can be connected to a cold water cistern and a hot water cylinder. Adjustment of temperature and pressure is quite easy in power shower unit.

Electric shower units are usually fixed in cold water supply line and there only it heats the water. For adjusting temperature and pressure, a knob is provided in this shower unit. A common problem with this unit is that you can maintain high temperatures only at low pressure and low temperature only at a high pressure. However, models that come with winter/summer setting, solves this problem.

Scott Rodgers is a noted author who has been providing great guidance on plumbing works all across the nation. His splendid knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the nation, from White House Plumbers to Chadds Ford Plumbers .

Things Required For Becoming A Licensed Plumber

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

A licensed plumber remains in demand always but many people do not find it a good profession and don’t give them much respect. However, every homeowner needs to have a licensed plumber, some or other time. Whenever a homeowner needs to hire a plumber, he always looks for a licensed plumber.

Although a plumber is required every now and then but still homeowners do not give much respect to the plumbers. The basic reason behind this is that they consider the plumber’s job as dirty as a plumber needs to do many dirty tasks.

Generally most of the homeowners have a misconception in their mind that plumbers do not earn much money but the fact is not same. Plumbers usually earn well in their job especially a licensed plumber and every homeowner needs to have an efficient plumber for solving their problem.

It is actually surprisingly difficult to become a licensed plumber. In fact, becoming a licensed plumber takes over five years of training! Just think about this fact next time when you think about your plumber.

After all, five years of job training would be even longer than your average full time college degree if one is taking his/her bachelor’s degree.

A licensed plumber needs to follow certain defined path such as first he need to take admission in a tech school or find out any local plumbing company having vacancy for an apprentice plumber. If you get a opportunity to join a tech school then you might get the chance of working for a larger company.

The hours spend in the school are very important because it is essential for a plumber to spend 580 hours in school and 5 years in on-the-job training. In case a plumber has successfully completed the classes then the next important thing is to clear all the tests. In case due to any reason a plumber could not pass the test then he can again give the test after 6 months.

As you can see, becoming a licensed plumber isn’t as easy as it sounds. So think about that next time you need to find a plumber or use your regular plumber services. Even though it’s difficult to become a plumber, it’s still easy to find plumber’s services.

Scott Rodgers is a noted writer who has been providing ample guidance on plumbing works all over the country. His expensive knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the nation, from Germantown Plumbers to South Charleston Plumbers .

Steps To Get Rid Of Choked Shower Drain

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

There are a number of plumbing repairs that require immediate attention. Chief among these is a clogged drain. Everyone knows the inconvenience and mess that accompany a sluggish drain. Dealing with a clogged drain is just no fun. However, remedial actions taken at the right time can control the situation.

Blocking of the shower drain is also one such situation. When soap scum, hair etc gets into the drain on daily basis, can completely choke the shower drain. Therefore, clear away all the mess from the drains as soon as possible. Well, the task is not that difficult and you can surely do that by yourself if you have an auger.

Cleaning the drains and unplugging them easily and in virtually no time can be done with the help of an auger. At times, when you don’t have the auger, the steps below will help an individual to unclog them.

Remove the trap from the drain. Usually, the trap is secured with the help of two screws, just unfasten them. If there are none, use a pair of pliers, preferably long nosed ones. Catch the holes in the drain and lift it aside.

Next step is to fill the shower drain with a little water. Make use of a plunger and plunge it vigorously. Repeat the steps twice if the clogging is still at its place.

If you find no improvement in the drains, you can simply take the help of the garden hose. Just put the garden hose into the drain so as to plight the drain hole. Now, make a roll of a towel and hold it tightly around the drain opening. Turn on the water and let it strike the drain at full speed. Do it several times.

Consequently, the clog will move on down the line. Bother yourself cleaning the entire mess both in and outside the drains. Place back the pop- in stopper or the trap tightening them with the screws. Pour good quantity of water into the drain at last.

Situation may occur that all the above methods fail to unclog the drains. In such circumstances an auger is needed. You can call in a talented plumber to look into the matter, if you fail to handle it by yourself.

Author, Michael Simmons, is respected by plumbers looking for expert advice and extensive knowledge on all aspects the industry. For those who are seeking information on solar water heater facts and repairing hot water heater, visit eLocalPlumbers.com.

A Guide To Toilet Installation

Monday, April 5th, 2010

It is always better to replace an old and damaged toilet rather than repairing it. Installing a new toilet is not very difficult and do not require much time. In a toilet you can also get gaskets, washers and hardware for fitting the tank to the bowl.

However you might need to buy a few parts like toilet bowl, toilet tank, toilet seat, two 1/4″ bolts for bowl to flange, wax ring, 20″ water supply with fitting at valve or floor connection and tools like pair of channel pliers, bucket and screw driver for installing a new toilet.

Before stating the installation, shut off the water to the toilet. Now remove the water left in tank and bowl after you flush the toilet. Using a pair of channel pliers or a small pipe wrench (8″), remove the nut where the water line fastens to the ballcock valve.

After this, use crescent wrench to loosen two 1/4″ nuts which connect the bowl to the floor flange. Once the nuts get loosened, you can easily remove your old toilet and start installing the new one.

Now you need to put two 1/4″ bolts near the side holes of the flange and bolt head in the flange. Don’t forget to put some old wax at this point to keep the bolts straight and now place the new wax ring on flange.

Set new bowl only straight down so it centers on wax ring and both bolts come through holds on each side of bowl. Put metal washers and nuts on bolts and tighten it. Do not over-tighten as you can crack the bowl. Tighten these again after toilet is completely installed and filled with water.

Next put 2″ rubber gasket on tank where it sets on the bowl. Pick up tank and set on bowl over holes in bowl where bolts go through. Put bolts on from the inside of the tank into holes in bowl, put on metal washers and nuts and tighten.

Using a large screw driver and a crescent wrench or end wrench you can tight all the nuts below the bowl. After this, set back the water connection and check the toilet against any leaks. Like this your installation of new toilet is done.

Scott Rodgers is a noted author who has been providing great guidance on plumbing works all across the nation. His expensive knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the nation, from Chula Vista Plumbers to San Ysidro Plumbers .