Plumbing Tips For Around the Home

Your house has several separate plumbing systems: Sinks, toilets, washers, bath tubs, and related fixtures. Plumbing is something we use every day and which most of us know little about. Shopping for your own plumbing fixtures rather than getting them through your plumber allows you choose from a wider selection and save money.

Types of pipes for different plumbing usage may vary, from:

1.Copper

2.Plastic

3.Lead

4.Concrete

5.Steel

6.Cast iron

Water enters your house through a pipe that connects either to a municipal water line or a private well. Faucets, like all plumbing fixtures with moving parts, are apt to require more repair than non-moving fixtures. The less strain you put on your faucets, the less frequently they need repair.

Most people are familiar with plumbers, who come to their home to unclog a drain or install an appliance. When construction plumbers install piping in a house, for example, they work from blueprints or drawings that show the planned location of pipes, plumbing fixtures, and appliances.

If your plumbing fixtures drain slowly, the problem may be a clogged vent. This happens when vents are improperly located and when birds or animals deposit debris in the vent where it exits the roof.

Whatever your intended plumbing projects, the first step is to familiarize yourself with the water system in your home. At the very least it is important to know where to switch off the mains in case of an emergency.

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Ordering Parts For Your Plumbing Through The Mail

If you own a home, do it yourself projects undoubtedly occupy many of your weekends. Mail order plumbing makes plumbing upgrades cheaper, particularly if you plan ahead.

Ordering Parts For Your Plumbing Through The Mail

The Internet has given rise to so many new and, frankly, odd things that there seems to be no end to it. One of the hugely popular areas that have arisen is the area of home improvements. You can see practically anything online, shop for the best price and have it delivered to your door. This, of course, fits in with the American motto of give me convenience or give me death! If nothing else, you avoid the mobs at the local hardware store each weekend.

There are a vast number of sites offering mail order plumbing products. Products range from complete pieces for renovations, such as entire plumbing systems for bathrooms, kitchens and so on to more isolated components. The sites allow you to see a completed project [so you can groan later when yours doesn't look like it] and often provide detailed instructions on installation. Of course, the downside is there isn't anyone to actually talk to when your project starts to look like abstract art.

You can also order individual plumbing parts off of sites. If you do this, be careful! Matching parts you need to those on a site can be a bit sketchy. First of all, there is no guarantee the site used the correct photograph for the part. What you see may not be what you get. Second, you need to know exactly what you need including sizing and accessories. Third, you have to wait for the parts to appear. You can find tremendous pricing for non-emergency projects, but major leaks usually need immediate attention.

There are two primary reasons to shop online for your plumbing needs. First, you can click around to find the best price. Second, you can always find what you want, even if you have to hunt through a few sites. This can be particularly advantageous if you have a unique situation which none of the local stores have parts for. There is always some online store specializing in the esoteric.

If you are looking for good prices, planning ahead and know exactly what you want, give online plumbing sites a try.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on building your own home.

Must-Have Plumbing Tools For The Homeowner

Whether it is a leaking faucet you want to get fixed or a clogged drain, finding a good plumber at odd hours in an emergency situation is not always easy. But if you stock the most basic do-it-yourself plumbing tools at home, not only can you temporarily stave off the crisis till the plumber arrives, you may even learn to fix small problems on your own.

The basic homeowners plumbing tools kit must have the following essential tools:

Plumber's Pliers: Also called channel-lock pliers, plumber's pliers are a must-have for any kind of plumbing job. Compared to the conventional pliers, their serrated jaws open much wider to get around pipes of all sizes.

Crescent Wrench: Plumber's pliers when used on polished chrome fixtures tend to mar the finish. Conventional adjustable pliers, on the other hand, tend to slip off polished surfaces. A crescent wrench is less likely to mar the finish or slip off.

Pipe Wrench: This is a long-handled wrench meant for working on threaded connections. It is commonly used on thicker pipes requiring wider-opening jaws. When using the pipe wrench, make sure that the rear sides of the wrench's jaws come into contact with the pipe. This will ensure that loosening or tightening of the pipe does not damage the pipe or alter its shape.

Basin Wrench: Basin wrench is a long-handled wrench with adjustable spring-loaded jaws. It allows you to reach spots that are not easily accessible for tightening or loosening a connection, for example, underneath or behind the sink.

Pipe Dope/Teflon Tape: Threaded joints, i.e., joints that are screwed together rather than being soldered, need to be smeared with a material called joint compound or pipe dope before screwing them in order to guard against any leakage. The same purpose can also be achieved by wrapping a Teflon tape around the threads before screwing them.

Washers: It is advisable to stock an assortment of washers of different sizes at home because you never know when a faucet may need a new washer all of a sudden. That way you will always have the right-sized washer on hand when you need it.

These are the most essential do-it-yourself plumbing tools. However, if you intend to do a little more than the basic stuff yourself, sooner or later you are likely to require cutting and soldering of pipes. Then you would need to get additional tools like pipe cutter for cutting pipes, and soldering materials to join the pipes - such as pipe-cleaning tool or emery cloth, soldering flux, solder, torch, striker, and protective eyewear - all of which can be bought online at great prices.

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DIY Bathroom Plumbing - Sewer and Septic Odor

One common problem many homeowners run into is a sewer or septic odor in their bathroom. It may not be strong, it may not be constant, and it may only occur occasionally but it can be annoying and/or embarrassing when it does happen. Often the first inclination of the homeowner is to attempt to use a cleaner or deodorizing agent to stop the odor. While this may mask the problem, it usually will not address it. One important note for homeowners with septic systems - be careful of what chemicals you put down your drains - bleach and other cleaners can harm the normal operation of your septic system - check with a professional first.

Every drain in your home plumbing system should have a trap installed as part of the line. This is simply a curved section of pipe that "traps" water in it. If you look under your sink you should see an example of a trap. This will usually be a straight portion of pipe from the sink connected to a curved section that dips down and then back up before connecting to another horizontal section where the water exits. If you were to look inside your wall you would see a "T" section where the pipe goes down to your septic/sewer and up to an external vent.

The purpose of the trap is not to capture jewelry or other object dropped down the drain as many think but to hold water to prevent sewer/septic gas (and odor) from entering your bathroom. Every time you use the sink, shower, or tub some water collects in the trap blocking the gases and odor. If a component of your bathroom is not used frequently (i.e, the bath in a guest bathroom) then the water can evaporate and allow some gases to escape back into the bathroom. The good news is that this is very simple to prevent and/or fix. The solution: pour water down the drain. If you keep the trap full of water by running the water periodically you should not have any problems with odor. If this was the cause of your problem then the odor should dissipate in a short period of time once there is water in the trap.

Another possible cause for odor is the build up of slime, mold, hair, etc in the tailpiece (the portion of pipe that comes out the bottom of your sink) or overflow of your sink. The popup stopper in many bathroom sinks and tubs can also build up this "gunk". Use a small flashlight to check and see if you do have any buildup. If you do, clean the buildup out (remember to use a cleaner that is safe for your sewer or septic system) and see if that addresses your odor problem.

If the odor persists, it could indicate a more serious problem and you may want to consult a professional - they will have the tools to correctly diagnose and fix your problem.

Ray Breitenbach writes for Simple Home Repairs. Please visit for more information on how to perform you own basic home repairs.

Welcome To Anything Possible Plumbing!

Driving home this morning from Hollywood, a van streaked across from the right to my left, and I was just able to catch the name of the company it belongs to:

ANYTHING POSSIBLE PLUMBING.

Of course, that name got me to thinking.

First thought: Is that grammatical? Shouldn’t it be anything’s possible?

Then, of course, it occurred to me that the owner may not know the difference, and being the melting pot that is Hollywood, it’s quite possible that the boss hails from a foreign country.

Well, then, isn’t that the perfect name for a business? You’ve come to the land where anything’s possible, right? This is the land of opportunity, where one version of the American dream is that anyone can start a business, from scratch, if necessary.

I can only imagine how they handle phone inquiries.

“Hello, Anything Possible Plumbing, how may I help you?”

“Can you fix a broken pipe?”

“Anything’s possible!”

“I like your attitude! Come on by, and give it a try!”

It makes you wonder why more of us don’t inject optimism into our business names.

Instead of Harry’s Flowers, it could be, The Gift of Flowers Is Priceless!

Phone companies could drop boring monikers such as A T & T, and adopt: Great Things Happen When You Phone People, Incorporated, or GTHWYPPI, for short. If they wanted to work another emotion, like guilt, they could name themselves, Isn’t It Time You Phoned Your Family?

All kidding aside, it’s nice that some people are bringing life and verve to their company identities and shying away from “tombstone” names, only. It’s like the folks who answer the line with the cheery words, “”It’s a great day at the Orlando Marriott!”

Even if it’s cloudy or raining, they’re trying their best.

Isn’t that the American way?

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of http://www.customersatisfaction.com/, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC's Annenberg School, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com

4 Tips To Know When You Need To Find A Plumber

Some of these plumbing problems are simply too overwhelming and difficult for us to deal with on our own. Even if you think you can do the work yourself, in the messy end that has to come, you will be glad you called a professional to get the job done properly. However, since hiring a plumber is something that a lot of us have little experience in, here are four things that might be good to know when you want to find a plumber who will get the job done right and at a fair price.

Always Ask Friends How to Find a Plumber

The first thing you should know is the extent of your particular plumbing problem. Remember, even if a problem only takes a few minutes for a plumber to fix, most of them have a minimum time fee that usually covers their visit and then some. This cost can be anywhere from a half hour charge or even a full hour base charge just for coming out to look at your problem and turning off a tap in your basement. If you have any reason to believe that, the problem is serious, get a plumber and have him or her correct the problem before any more damage can occur. Friends and family might recommend a plumber with a high reputation for service.

Find a Plumber- Licensed Plumbers are the Best

You would not want a backyard mechanic working on your prized vehicle right. Well, in that same sense why would you allow anyone not licensed to work on your home? It is always a good idea to have a licensed plumber working on your plumbing project. There is a lot to be said for experience and the proper training. Do not take any chances with your home. Therefore, we now realize a licensed plumber will provide the best service and they have the insurance required to cover any problem they might run into.

Always Ask The Right Questions

Knowing what questions to ask a plumber is almost as important as listening carefully to the answers he gives you. You need to make sure that the plumber you pick has had experience solving your particular kind of problem. Do not be afraid to ask direct questions that require a yes or no answer; this is your home you are dealing with here. A good plumber will not shy away from your questions and will often volunteer free information that may end up being useful to you.

Judging The Price

The more you learn the more you can expect when you find a plumber. Remember to always receive an estimate before work begins. Calling the plumber is easy; paying a plumber might be a problem for some if the cost exceeds their funds. Therefore, always ask for the estimate and then let the work begin when you find the lowest but best plumber for your project.

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Creative Writing Feedback from Your Plumber

 

When I informally ask aspiring writers who they prefer to review their manuscripts, answers range from professors to community college instructors to writing workshop coordinators. These responses are fine if you are writing for an audience of community college instructors, but this scenario is in fact quite rare.

I have a brother who is thoughtful, intelligent, pragmatic and by no means "artsy". It is for these reasons that I value his feedback. I classify his reaction as a "real world" reaction to a manuscript. Is he bored? confused? lost? entertained? His feedback may reshape my writing.

Audience obviously plays a crucial role in writing. Any composition would benefit from review by members of the intended audience, whether the subject be professional, avocational, personal or a combination of the above. The process could even help identify the true audience for which you are writing.

Creative writing tends to widen the audience boundaries. If John Q. Public is a member of your target audience it is best to get a range of responses to your work. There is a large segment of the population who spend their days working in cubicles. How would they be impacted by your writing? Single moms struggling with the cost of daycare? Teenagers drinking cola from enormous containers at the convenience store? The plumber in your building or home?

If any of the individuals above are part of your intended audience, their opinions could be invaluable. There could also be a lot to learn from their "art", be it a trade, a white collar profession, juggling an impossible budget, or finding rare songs on the Internet.

The next time you need a manuscript reviewed, show it to the usual suspects. Then offer your plumber a coffee or lunch in exchange for editorial comment.

Robert Mann is a poet residing in California. His most recent work can be viewed at http://www.crickethymns.com, an ongoing blog of original poetry.