Plumbing-when To Do It

We all know the story of the homeowner who tried his own plumbing repairs and ended up paying more since the plumber had to fix the repairs. Recognizing when the job is too big or too complicated for the ordinary homeowner is not easy-handyman egos are too easily bruised. However, plumbers are notoriously expensive so you want to make sure you really need one before you call him. There are a number of things you can do to make sure you will keep your costs of plumbing repairs at a minimum.

First of all, don't compare the prices of plumbers based solely upon their rates. Make sure you know all of the costs involved. One plumber may have lower advertised rates, but charge mileage which will increase the price of the job. Some plumbers start the clock when they get to your house, others may start it as soon as they leave their shop. Find out if they charge by the quarter hour; if they charge by the hour, you may have to pay for a full additional hour even though the job only went a few minutes over. Make sure you are fully aware of the real rates, so that you are comparing apples to apples. Another good idea is to ask around with friends and families for a reputable plumber instead of relying on advertisements.

Keep your plumbing jobs down altogether by taking good care of your plumbing. Most plumbing emergencies are caused by backups. Avoid having items such as grease or hair, which are responsible for most clogs, go into your drains. Putting vinegar, followed by boiling hot water down the drain is said to cut through grease clogs. Use a mesh catch in all of your drains to catch hair and avoid it going down the drains. Use a drain cleaning product once a month to keep the drains clean.

If you do hire a plumber to install a fixture, save money by buying your own fixtures. A plumber will add a premium to any fixtures he has to obtain for you. Just make sure you agree upon the type of fixtures you will use. Some plumbers won't guarantee certain cheaper brands.

If you keep all of your plumbing fixtures properly maintained, you can almost eliminate the need for a plumber. Make sure fixtures are attached properly and tightened. If you do call a plumber, make sure you know exactly what the problem is so the plumber can fix it and get out; don't forget he charges by the hour so you don't want to spend precious time discussing the problem. Keep a list of plumbing problems, so that if you have to call a plumber for one thing, you can have him fix everything in the same visit.
Focusing recent findings in truck tool storage, Ray Walberg published predominantly for http://www.insidewoodworking.com . His abstracts on kennedy tool boxes can be found on http://www.insidewoodworking.com/boxess

Plumbing Help: How to Avoid Burns When Setting Your Water Temperature

Sometimes it seems like your shower or sinks are too hot, or not hot enough.

But raising the temperature valve on your water heater can be dangerous or a waste of energy. If there are children, elderly, or disabled persons in your household, for example, you might not want to set the thermostat above 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid contact with "hot" water.

The following chart may help you determine the right temperature for your water heater. According to Shriners Burn Institute:

- Water set to 125 degrees generally takes about 1.5 to 2 minutes to scald.
- Water set to 130 degrees generally takes about 30 seconds to scald.
- Water set to 135 degrees generally takes about 10 seconds to scald.
- Water set to 140 degrees generally takes about 5 seconds to scald.
- Water set to 145 degrees generally takes about 3 seconds to scald.
- Water set to 150 degrees generally takes about 1.5 seconds to scald.
- Water set to 155 degrees generally takes about 1 second to scald.

So you can see how small increases in temperature can have a large effect on scald times.

People are often concerned about raising the temperature on their water valves due to a bacteria known as Legionella (and the disease known as Legionella's disease) that thrives in water at a temperature of 105 to 115 degrees.

Since this bacteria cannot survive above a temperature of 131 degrees people often look to exceed that temperature despite the risk of scalds.

Fortunately, the solution is a simple one. A device known as a water mixer allows your water to be heated to a point that will kill off all harmful bacteria, but sets a different max temperature to water being distributed to your tap water in sinks and showers.

A plumber can install this device for you quickly and without great expense!

Donald Koen is a master plumber and owner of Koen Plumbing, a Dallas Plumbing Company since 1946. If you're looking for a Dallas Plumber, Donald can offer expert assistance through his website http://www.KoenPlumbing.com.

Plumbing Help: How to Avoid Burns When Setting Your Water Temperature

Sometimes it seems like your shower or sinks are too hot, or not hot enough.

But raising the temperature valve on your water heater can be dangerous or a waste of energy. If there are children, elderly, or disabled persons in your household, for example, you might not want to set the thermostat above 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid contact with "hot" water.

The following chart may help you determine the right temperature for your water heater. According to Shriners Burn Institute:

- Water set to 125 degrees generally takes about 1.5 to 2 minutes to scald.
- Water set to 130 degrees generally takes about 30 seconds to scald.
- Water set to 135 degrees generally takes about 10 seconds to scald.
- Water set to 140 degrees generally takes about 5 seconds to scald.
- Water set to 145 degrees generally takes about 3 seconds to scald.
- Water set to 150 degrees generally takes about 1.5 seconds to scald.
- Water set to 155 degrees generally takes about 1 second to scald.

So you can see how small increases in temperature can have a large effect on scald times.

People are often concerned about raising the temperature on their water valves due to a bacteria known as Legionella (and the disease known as Legionella's disease) that thrives in water at a temperature of 105 to 115 degrees.

Since this bacteria cannot survive above a temperature of 131 degrees people often look to exceed that temperature despite the risk of scalds.

Fortunately, the solution is a simple one. A device known as a water mixer allows your water to be heated to a point that will kill off all harmful bacteria, but sets a different max temperature to water being distributed to your tap water in sinks and showers.

A plumber can install this device for you quickly and without great expense!

Donald Koen is a master plumber and owner of Koen Plumbing, a Dallas Plumbing Company since 1946. If you're looking for a Dallas Plumber, Donald can offer expert assistance through his website http://www.KoenPlumbing.com

Different Types of Plumbing Professionals

What are the different types of plumbing professionals? Different types of license? What each type of plumbing professional is licensed to do?

The choice you make on what type of plumbing professional you should hire to do work for you is often contingent on what kind of work you want done.

Some plumbers specialize in installing new pipes into new houses while other plumbers may specialize in installing new pipes into new commercial buildings. Some plumbers specialize in fixing pipes in residences while others may specialize in fixing problems in larger buildings. Some plumbers may have very focused specialization such as a plumber who excels in working on fire suppressing sprinkler systems. And some plumbers specialize in installing natural gas lines, installing natural gas appliances and fixing natural gas lines. Plumbers that specialize in natural gas line work are sometimes called gas fitters.

Most plumbers know how to unclog a drain. But if you are looking to hire a plumber to do a big job, it is smart to look for a plumber who specializes in the kind of work you need done. No matter what kind of plumbing work needs to be done, people should always make sure the plumber they hire to do water pipe work of gas line work has been licensed by the state or the appropriate local authorities.

In most states there are several levels of a plumbing license an individual plumber can hold. In some states a plumbing license states the holder of the license is certified to work on water pipes and on natural gas lines and in other states separate licenses are awarded for water pipe work and natural gas line work.

The different levels of plumbing license indicate the amount of experience a plumber has. Many states award a master plumbing license, a journey pluming license and an apprentice plumbing license. Master plumbing licenses are awarded to plumbers who have held a journey license for a certain amount of time and have accumulated a certain amount of hours working as a licensed journey plumber. In order to get a master plumbing license, the plumber also normally has to pass a state-sanctioned test. In most states, a journey plumbing license is awarded to those who have held an apprentice plumbing license and have trained for a certain amount of hours with a master plumber. A state-sanctioned test must be passed in order to receive a journey license in most states. An apprentice license normally is awarded to those who have just begun training as a plumber and often the only requirement that someone needs to get one is that they have to be of a certain age.

Licenses to become certified to work on natural gas lines and install natural gas appliances work much the same way that plumbing licenses do. There are master natural gas fitter licenses, journey natural gas fitter licenses and apprentice natural gas fitter licenses.

Some states award separate certifications for propane gas fitters and natural gas fitters. Master natural gas fitters and master plumbers are certified to work on most any project that an average person will ever need a plumber to do. Journey plumbers often work with master plumbers and can do some work themselves.

?Dapeem.com 2006. To find a plumbing professional in a city near you, please visit the Dapeem.com Yellow Page Directory located at http://plumbing.dapeem.com.

Top Ten Reasons To Be A Plumber

Have you ever been told you need a college degree if you want a high paying career?

Do you know over 25% of all college graduates work in jobs that don't require a degree?

Do you know you don?t have to go to college to get a great job or a great salary?

It?s true, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; eight of the top ten fastest growing occupations do not require a bachelor?s degree.

One of the hottest job opportunities right now is plumber. Here are the top ten reasons why you should pursue a career in plumbing:

1. It?s a hot opportunity- Human resource issues are a serious threat to the plumbing industry. There is an ongoing shortage of skilled workers and the coming wave of Baby Boomer retirements will cause the current large problem to explode into a gigantic one.
2. The great pay- Plumbers are one of the highest paid construction occupations. Pay rates of $20-25 per hour are common. And depending on your location, you can earn up to $35 per hour and more.
3. Awesome benefits- The competition for quality plumbers is causing employers to put together amazing benefit packages including; paid vacations, retirement, and medical coverage including dental and vision insurance. If you join a union, the benefits are even better.
4. Incredible training opportunities- Most people enter the plumbing trade through an accredited apprenticeship program. By training as an apprentice you?ll earn a living wage, train with a seasoned veteran, and depending on the program you join you can earn college credit for the classes you take and the work experience you gain.
5. Employment stability- Employment of plumbers is less sensitive to changes in economic conditions than other construction trades. When construction activity declines; maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement of existing systems provide many jobs for plumbers.
6. Job advancement- Starting out as an apprentice and then reaching journeyman status you can accelerate your career by becoming a foreman, general foreman or even a piping superintendent. With additional training you could move into construction management or building inspection.
7. Create something that lasts- Plumbers help build homes, offices, hospitals, factories and sports facilities. You can be a part of something that lasts for generations.
8. Never be bored as a plumber- As a plumber you can work with gas piping, medical gas, water supply, waste water treatment, vacuum piping, underground utilities, residential service, residential and commercial construction? the possibilities are endless.
9. Make lifetime friendships- The construction community is a close knit group that serves and protects its members better than almost any group. Working as a plumber, you?ll make lasting friendships with other plumbers as well as members of other trades you work closely with.
10. Recognition- Get the recognition you deserve by doing quality work in the plumbing trade.

If this article has helped you and you think a plumbing career is the right fit for you, then visit the www.escoweb.com for more information.

J.K. Stephenson helps people find jobs that pay more than $20 per hour. Visit http://www.escoweb.com to learn more.

How Do You Install Your Own Plumbing And Drainage System?

The first thing that you will need to consider when undertaking any DIY plumbing and drainage are the regulations issued by your Local Authority or State Department covering these.

If you are altering your existing drainage, or installing a new drainage system you must always inform the local Building Control Department at your local council offices. You will almost certainly need to present detailed plans of the work that you intend to undertake and it will need to be inspected as the work progresses making sure that it complies with local building regulations. If you are simply replacing damaged sections, in most circumstances they do not need to be informed. However, if in any doubt – check it out. A simply phone call should suffice.

To begin with we will take a look at drainage systems.

These can be described as Foul Water systems and Surface Water systems. Foul water is anything that comes from bathrooms, kitchens, utility rooms, car washing areas etc. Waste from these sources must always go to your foul water drain system.

Surface water is basically rainwater. This can discharged into a soakaway, watercourse, surface water sewer or, particularly in older properties, into the foul water drainage system. In a combined system, the rainwater pipes are discharged into the foul water drains via gully traps which stop foul air escaping from the drains. However, modern systems are designed to keep the foul water and the surface water apart. It is extremely important to ensure that you do not connect foul water to a surface water drainage system. If you are unsure about the drainage system around your house get advice from the Building Control Department before you start any work.

Remember – If in doubt – check it out!

Planning

Before you begin, you will need to plan the route of the waste pipes. The main things to consider when planning the route of a waste or soil pipe are to keep the route as straight and short as you can. You must avoid making your pipe runs too steep. A soil pipe is normally laid to a fall of 1:40. This won’t seem very much but it is plenty. The rule of thumb for pipe laying is ‘a touch on the bubble’. This means that the bubble on the spirit level has moved to the higher end, but part of the bubble is still contained between the level lines on the spirit level. Remember - this is only a ‘rule of thumb guide. You can calculate the fall of a drain over a distance using a surveyor’s site level. If you do not have one of these available, establish a datum point and use a hosepipe filled with water to establish levels and calculate the fall from the datum this way. (If a hosepipe is filled with water, the level of the water will equal out at each end, measure to the trench floor from the end away from the datum to enable your calculations.)

Your local authority will be able to give you the recommended falls for pipework. Putting in drainage:

Preparing the trench:

When installing your drain trench, you will need to make sure that you do not impair the stability of the building. If you are laying a drain run parallel to the building, you must ensure that any foundations are not undermined.

Do not dig the trench too long before laying the pipe when installing a new drainage system. Make sure that you get the pipes laid as quickly as possible and then backfill the trench as soon as the system has been inspected and tested. The trench may need to be supported depending on the depth and soil conditions. Do not take any risks. If in doubt – add support to the trench to prevent it from collapsing. Keep the trench as narrow as possible, but allow room to work in the trench - say the width of the pipe plus 150mm (6”) on each side. The base of the trench should be clean and even and free from protruding stones or bricks etc. You may need to import a suitable material for the base of the trench if the existing material is unsuitable. Your local inspector will advise you.

Never use bricks and/or other hard materials to support the pipe in the trench. This will damage the pipe and must never be used as temporary or permanent support. The bedding should be properly compacted with hollows made to accommodate the joints in the pipes. You will need to provide a continuous and uniform support for the complete length of the pipe. Once the laid pipes have been inspected, granular material should be evenly backfilled and compacted to a depth of at least 100mm above the pipe. 10 mm shingle has often been used as a backfill material as, not only is it a uniform medium but is also a visual warning to anyone excavating in the area of the drains that there are drainage pipes immediately below. Above the granular backfill material, the original dug material can be used to completely backfill the trench. This should be compacted in 300mm layers. Be sure not use heavy compactors until there is at least 300mm of cover. Light vibratory tampers could be used sensibly to help with the compaction.

You will need to protect any part of the drain system that is less than 600mm below a garden. This is because of potential damage from garden activities and gardening tools. A 50mm layer of lean concrete laid 100mm above the pipe will be adequate to do this. However you could use preformed concrete slabs as an alternative.

It is important that all parts of your drainage system are designed so that all parts of the pipework are accessible to a set of drain rods. Therefore, a run of drains should be as straight as possible between two points. As a general rule, any change in direction of the pipework should be provided with an inspection chamber to allow rodding access. This will also apply to changes in gradient, all drain junctions that are inaccessible to a set of drain rods, changes in pipe diameter and at the head of each run of drain. Where a junction between two drains does not have a manhole, access should be sited on the branch drain within 12 metres of the junction.

DIY plumbing and drainage is certainly within the bounds of most DIY enthusiasts. However, you must remember that it is important to follow local building control regulations and, as always, it is ‘hard graft’!

Remember if in doubt – check it out!

Whilst the author endeavors to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this article, you are reminded that this is only a guide and you should always check with local professional before undertaking any work based herein.

After many years working in the construction industry, Phil now teaches in the UK. He has written many articles for web sites like Householders Guide and http://ukhomeonline.co.uk. His wide knowledge of the Construction Industry and Housing Markets makes him a popular author on how to install drainage.

Is An Arizona Water Softener the Answer to Your Plumbing Woes?

If you live in the southwestern American desert, chances are you are no stranger to hard water and its irritating side effects. In fact, the Southwest has some of the worst hard water in the country. This nettlesome problem has plagued homeowners for years and can cause numerous and sometimes costly results including hard water stains, corroded valves and faucets, and lackluster hair and skin. Even worse, hard water causes limescale, a hard mineral deposit that is chalky and off-white in color.

Scale is typically found in kettles, hot-water boilers, hot-water central heating systems, and other elements that employ the use of water. Limescale can also clog pipes and damage plumbing systems, as we found out the hard way.

My husband and I discovered the extent of our hard water problem a little too late. The realtor apparently did not know (or forgot to mention) the “minor” problem of the clogged plumbing pipes which had been the result of limescale build up. As the pipes become more and more clogged, the water flow would become restricted, thus dramatically reducing water pressure throughout the house. Not only was this a headache to deal with (showering felt like standing outside in a light rain), it also caused serious and expensive damage to our plumbing and heating equipment. Scale had built up on the central heating unit, insulating the heater, which caused it to use far more energy than it should have, resulting in a premature burnout. Replacing the system as well as having a plumber fix all our pipes was a very costly endeavor (not to mention our high heating costs prior to the burnout) that probably could have been avoided.

After having dealt with this ordeal, we found the best solution was to have an Arizona water softener installed to avoid future problems with hard water. The cost to have one installed was a mere fraction of the costs the hard water incurred in the first place. Not only will a water softener reduce limescale and heating costs, your water-using appliances will last longer, your clothes and dishes will come out cleaner and brighter, and the domestic tap water even tastes better.

Crane Plumbing

When it comes to plumbing manufacturers Crane Plumbing is one of the biggest in North America and they've got huge line of products that are manufactured.

There are more than 20 facilities throughout North America that are responsible for producing all the product lines and there are more than 3000 employees all with specialized training in the plumbing industry. So whether you are new to plumbing or an old pro they'll be able to assist you.

Crane has been producing quality fixtures for more than 130 years. That's an awfully long time! You'll find their products in the home, in hospitals, apartments, schools, hotels, and commercial places. And even if you don't see the Crane name chances are you've seen a Crane product because they market under a variety of brand names which include.
1. Crane Plumbing - Full line of fixtures and accessories
2. Universal Rundle - Full line of fixtures and accessories
3. Showerite - Full line of shower doors
4. Fiat Products - Specialty plumbing products
5. Sanymetal - Bathing compartments

Wait, there's more. They have plenty of product categories to choose from too.
1. Vitreous China - toilets, lavatories, urinals, flushometer, marine fixtures, penal fixtures, hospital fixtures, counter top sinks, pedestal sinks.
2. Enamel Steel - lavatories, bath tubs, kitchen sinks.
3. Plastic Wall Surrounds - Tubs and showers.
4. Acrylic & Gel Coated Fiberglass - whirlpools, soaker tubs, steamsuites, showers, tubs, physically challenged bathing units.
5. Cultured Marble - lavatories and vanity tops.
6. Molded Stone - service basins, laundry tubs, shower floors.
7. Commander - commercial showers, change stalls.
8. Terrazzo - commercial shower floors.

If you don't believe how common Crane is have a look at the stamp on your toilet, or checkout the lavatory in your parent's home. You'll find the Crane stamp on more than 50% of the fixtures you check.

The warranty is excellent. Another reason to buy Crane. Of course it varies depending on the product but they range from anywhere from 1 year to 10 years depending on the item and there may be a few that are even longer. And warranty claims are handled professionally and with as minimal of hassle as possible.

Crane is well known not only for the quality products but also for the good prices and terrific selection. It's a great feeling to know you can hit one manufacturer and get everything you need without having to run all over the country.

It's even better when you can grab your comfy desk chair, turn on your computer, and let your fingers go shopping. In no time you can find exactly what you want and there is no looking for parking, and no running around town burning up gas and time.

The most important thing before you start shopping is to know what it is you really need. It's too easy to get caught up buying pieces that aren't necessary. Make your list and then stick to it. If you are looking at bigger items it also pays to set a budget and then to price compare online.

Crane Plumbing is a name you can trust in your home renovations.

Carl has been a professional plumber in a company he owns for more than 10 years not only is he experience in unclogging just about anything but also an expert in installing plumbing fixtures and installing new water lines. Carl will give you some helpful tips on plumbing installation when you visit http://www.alliedesolutions.com.

Who's Plundering your Plumbing Business?

If you occasionally feel that you are working for nothing, chances are that you are.

How many times have you put your invoice in for payment only to have to wait for 30 days for your money? If this is happening to you and your business, chances are that your business is being plundered by pillagers.

Pillagers are those people who sneak around thieving from you. They seem to have an instinctive nose for any Plumbing contractor in business who is not minding his business.

By not minding his business, I am referring to any plumbing business that is lax-a-daisical about his accounting procedures and following-up on over-due invoices. Every time you have an over-due account, it means you are paying for that client’s job. So the question is, are you a Plumbing business or a financial services business?

It is the function of financial institutions to lend money, not a Plumbing Contractors. Any Plumber in business today has to be a good business person first. Why? Because no matter how good a Plumber you are, if you aren’t being paid at job completion you soon won’t have your own Plumbing business to grow into a business.

Business is about profits. Building profit into each job to grow a business from your Plumbing activities. Plumbing is how you make the money to grow your business.

In today’s technological world there is no excuse for not being paid at job completion every time. There is no excuse except excuses for being a bad business operator.

With the information highway that the Internet provides, there is training and information products readily available for learning any aspect of operating a Plumbing business you may need assistance with. There is no shame in acknowledging you need information. Besides, no-one even needs to know that you are learning via the internet anyway, but if you feel your business could be run better, then you would be a poor business operator if you didn’t seek out the information.

You didn’t ‘just become a Plumber’ did you? You studied hard and ‘did your time’ learning. What makes you so sure then that you can run a successful Plumbing business without learning? Just because you are an excellent Plumber does not necessarily equate that you are therefore a good business operator.

All new skills have to be learnt from the bottom up. Building a business is no different.

Treat your business like a job site. Plan it out, lay it out on paper, understand why you have to dig the ditch to the required depth before you lay the pipe – by understanding why things have to be done in your Plumbing business allows you to plan ahead. Once you have this planning done, you can then see what needs to be done to achieve the desired outcome.

Because you have a plan for your business you will be able to quickly see who or what is plundering your business and stop it before it becomes too late.

Pillaging is still a crime so make sure you aren’t the one responsible for plundering your own Plumbing business.

http://www.constructingprofits.com Showing contractors how to make more money ~ working less hours!

Overview of the Training Necessary to Become a Plumber

 

Do you actually know what a plumber does? It’s not just about unclogging toilets or stopping leaks. Think you might have what it takes? It is not an easy job, but if you will put all your dedication to it, you can fulfill the requirements and earn yourself the title.

Plumbers do the job of installing and repairing gas. They also put up water and waste systems for commercial, residential and industrial clients. They install residential plumbing fixtures and appliances to newly built homes also during renovations. You might never know that plumbers are paid at a high income. Although plumbers are well-paid, many people shy away from this job opportunity because or the hard labor or long hours.

If you want to be a plumber, you need to be in a good and healthy condition. There are some steps you need to understand and practice if you want to be a good plumber.

Just because the title of plumber is not as prestigious as that of a doctor or lawyer, doesn’t mean that you don’t need special education. You will need to complete high school, take up a math, science or shop course if you may possible take it. Vocational courses are helpful such as plumbing and blueprint reading.

If you wish to find a job with regards to plumbing, you can ask a guidance counselor about the different plumbing opportunities in your local area. If you want a broader search, you can search the internet so you will gain a lot of information.

There are a lot of plumber’s unions, and if you wish to be a part of them, you need to apply for a four year apprenticeship which involves approximately 2,000 hours of training and a little as 216 hours for classroom work. This is where you can enhance your plumbing experiences and knowledge. You will also be able to apply your knowledge in it.

If you wish to go out alone with your own training, you can enhance your plumbing skills through applications and a little comparative work like fixing your own leaks at home or your friend’s. In this way, you will be able to fine-tune your abilities and prove that what you are doing is correct.

There are many trade schools that offer plumbing courses. The advantage of joining trade schools is that you will often be receiving job-placement services if you have qualified for the completion and requirements of the course.

Now if you are free, you can check out all the small plumbing problems in your area or neighborhood but you have to make sure that you have already the proper knowledge because your performance will reflect on your reputation. So if you are still a beginner, make sure that you will handle the plumbing problems properly. If the people in your area have proved that you are a good plumber, they will recommend you to other people and this will be the start of your career.

Jo Williams has an interest in Home & Garden and Plumber Training, for more FREE information and articles please visit Plumber Training Resources