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Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ category

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Save Money with a Simple Plumbing Snake

January 3rd, 2011

Anyone who has ever experienced a clogged drain in the kitchen or bathroom knows just how expensive it is to hire a plumber to have it cleared. Reliable plumbers are difficult to find and the better they are, the more they will charge. One way to save money on service calls is to purchase a plumbing snake and clear the drain without the help of a professional.

This handy tool is something that every homeowner should purchase. With the proper technique a clog that is unaffected by a plunger can be cleared with relative easy.
Different types of snakes all work basically the same way. A bendable wire or cable is guided into the drain to break through the clog or push it out the other end. Gather some towels and a bucket and put them in the work area.

Introduce the snake into the drain. Crank on the mechanism to spin the snake. Remove the clog and discard it in the bucket. If nothing comes out, repeat the same action. If the clog is still drained, a longer snake may be required. It is a good idea to have a couple of snakes that are different lengths to be prepared for anything. » Read more: Save Money with a Simple Plumbing Snake

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DIY: Installing or Replacing Your Sump Pump Check Valve

December 31st, 2010

Check valves are an indispensable component of any sump pump system. A sump pump check valve works by letting water flow through it to the discharge line and blocking it from re-entering the sump pit once the pump stops working.

Let us say your sump pump system is fitted with pipes 1.5 inches in diameter and stretching to ten feet from the sump pit out to where the water is safe to be discharged. Before it reaches its end point, the pipe system has to climb straight up from the pit and bend at a right angle, parallel to the ground for discharging. If your sump pump system does not have a check valve somewhere in the pipeline, the water that’s been pumped out by the motor from the sump pit will flow right back in when the motor shuts off. The result? Your sump pit will get filled again with 10 feet worth of sump. Aside from the inefficiency this will cause, it will also hasten the deterioration of your sump pump, because it will have to work twice as much for every discharge cycle.

This is why it is important to make sure you get the right type of sump pump check valve when you initially have your sump pump system installed. More importantly, when it’s up and working, it’s best to check the condition of your check valve regularly. This will ensure that you’ll be able to address every minor repair or replacement requirement.

The best time to test if your check valve is in working condition is when the » Read more: DIY: Installing or Replacing Your Sump Pump Check Valve

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Basement Plumbing for Beginners

November 13th, 2010

Adding a comfort room below the ground can cost you up to $15000 for a small bathroom. Large part of the expenses is from the plumbing part of the room. It is important that you lay out the pipe lines and sewerage pipe correctly to avoid problems and hassles that might arise in the future. Plumbing includes the basic lay outing of the pipe lines and the sewerage pipes which plays a vital role in your bathroom. If you want to plan a DIY basement bathroom plumbing it is very important that you know the basic part of it and the basic things that you have to plan. It is also advisable to talk to a plumber or work with them for some points that you have to consider.

In DIY basement bathroom plumbing, you must consider the toilet part and the drainage part. Defying gravity is a problem for most houses which have their main drain located above the floor level. If this is the case there are several products in the market created to help you with this problem. The sump and sump ejector system of up flush toilets is the solution to your problem. Once you flush the waste, the sump ejector system will proceed with the treatment of the waste and turn it into simpler particles that are easier to flush. The drainage can also be a problem. There are motors that can help you in flushing the water away to the main drainage system like the macerating systems that are commercially available. » Read more: Basement Plumbing for Beginners

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Posted in Basement & Attic, Plumbing

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Taking Charge of Unclogging the Toilet

June 8th, 2010

Flushing the toilet only to hear the dreaded sound of water swirling aimlessly in the toilet instead of heading down the trap leaves you with a feeling of dread. It is the unmistakable sound of a clogged toilet, taking the bowl out of commission until someone, you, fixes it.

Don’t panic though, just follow these simple clogged toilet solutions:

First: Before the water has a chance to surge over the edges, take the lid off and push down the flapper to close it. This prevents water from coming into the bowl, but it must be done quickly.

Second: A proper plunger needs to be used to go to work on the clog. The ideal type is called a ‘funnel-cup’ plunger because it creates an effective seal against the toilet trap opening. This plunger is easily recognizable by its narrow extension protruding from the larger cup.

Third: It helps to run hot water over the rubber of the plunger to make it more flexible and form a better seal.

Fourth: Once it is ready, be sure it is sealed tightly over the opening, and give as much emphasis to the backward pull as you do to pushing it down. » Read more: Taking Charge of Unclogging the Toilet

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Posted in Bathroom, Household Tips, Plumbing

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Plumbing Advice from Atlanta Plumbers

February 21st, 2010

After working for many years as a professional plumber I’ve learned quite a bit about some of the mistakes that the average home-owner makes when it comes to simple plumbing maintenance.  Many of my closest friends are fellow Atlanta plumbers, and we often comment on how so much of our money is made as simple handymen.  Here are a few tips that you can use to make your home a little more plumbing friendly and more comfortable. After all it is better to make sure everything is functioning well than to let things turn into a plumbing emergency. » Read more: Plumbing Advice from Atlanta Plumbers

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Dark Colored Kitchen Faucets

February 15th, 2010

While stainless steel might be great for many things, it is also a bit boring in my opinion.  Nearly every kitchen in the world has a stainless steel sink and faucet. Although it is easy to just go along with the crowd, you might be surprised to find out how easy it is to get another kind of faucet.  Stainless steel and chrome may be the most popular, but plumbing manufacturers also make faucets out of other materials that have completely different looks.  Let’s take a look at some of the best ones available.

If you still like the shiny, metallic look but just want to change the color, a good choice is to get a copper kitchen sink faucet.  Just as shiny as stainless steel or chrome, these copper units have a natural golden color.  Some people think this is too bright, and want something a bit more toned down.  For a darker look, try an » Read more: Dark Colored Kitchen Faucets

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Posted in Kitchen, Plumbing

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Tips on Unblocking a Bathroom Sink

January 26th, 2010

One of the nastiest most disgusting places on the face of the earth lies in your bathroom sinks drain. In this article, you will find out how to go about cleaning a drain, how they work, and how you can put new parts on. You might not believe it, but if it wasn’t so gross, it would be a simple job that could be done by anyone.

Before you begin you should empty the cabinet beneath the sink because extra room will make your job easier. If you look directly under the sink you will see an inch and a half pipe come down and bend back to the wall. This pipe is known as a P trap and continuously reserves water to ensure gas is not sucked back in from the outside sewer pipes, which would create an unpleasant odor. This bend is a common area where obstructions occur since all things must pass through there on their way out. Taking it off is a simple as loosening the nuts that are around the pipe. You will then be able to separate the pipes and remove the P trap. It is a good idea to have a small bucket or container to catch the water still in the P trap. » Read more: Tips on Unblocking a Bathroom Sink

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Posted in Bathroom, Plumbing

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A Plumbing How-to from an Alpharetta Plumber

January 20th, 2010

After working as an Alpharetta Plumber for many years I have seen far too many home-owners part with their hard earned money in situations where they could have really saved themselves from doing so. In this article I would like to pass on a few tips that can help the vast majority of home-owners save money by doing simple repair jobs themselves. Now before you say that you just aren’t “handy” I would like for you to consider this. Everyone has to start from somewhere and whether you catch on quickly or slowly, if you put in enough effort and time you WILL eventually catch on. This is not just true in home improvement and » Read more: A Plumbing How-to from an Alpharetta Plumber

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The Benefits Of A Stainless Steel Sink

December 26th, 2009

If you’re a home owner and you have just purchased your very first home you just might be interested in updating some minor things to stamp your own personal touch on things. You might want to start with your kitchen which is after all considered the heart of the home. When many people purchase their first home they notice that the kitchen is not exactly what they bargained for, so they end up having to do some updating, starting with the kitchen sink. Nowadays many people sell their homes without putting any effort into updating it for the new occupiers, meaning you’re not always going to get lucky and find the modern look you are looking for.

Most people use the porcelain kitchen sinks which is not the most attractive because » Read more: The Benefits Of A Stainless Steel Sink

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Posted in Kitchen, Plumbing

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