Top Options for Showerheads

April 23rd, 2013 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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This is one area in which everyone is pretty much aware of their own preferences. For instance, ever stay in a motel and remark that everything was fine “except that showerhead,” or feel dissatisfied with a shower’s water pressure? It is easier to narrow down your top options for a showerhead if you are first able to decide what features are most important to you personally.  Do you prefer a handheld shower for ease of flexibility; or, do you prefer a fixed, mounted head? Do you prefer several water flow options for massage? Would you prefer to conserve water with a low-flow showerhead or would you like to have a rain showerhead or even a downpour showerhead?

Showerheads with adjustable arms for height or positioning and adjustable spray patterns seem to be the ideal. Some companies are now offering a “volume control” for their showerheads, which actually stops the flow of water while you scrub, without requiring you to turn it off. Many showerheads now contain filters to remove contaminants that can cause dry or damaged skin. You may simply shop the options of your favorite brand manufacturer or you may focus on the gallons of water per minute in making your choice.

Once you’ve decided your most preferred features, you’ll need to decide on finish and style that would best fit with your current bathroom decor. Should you go with chrome, bronze, nickel, brass, polished, brushed or oil-rubbed? Polished chrome seems to be the most popular, since it is affordable and will match most bathroom decors. Regardless of your personal preferences, your local plumbing professional can help you narrow down all of these options to find the best fit for your needs.  Professional showerhead installation will help optimize the performance and reliability of your new showerhead.

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Could You Live Without Your Shower?

December 11th, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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Many people would answer a hearty ‘No!’ to that question. The shower has become the preferred means of bathing our bodies for most people. They are quicker than filling a tub with water and can be an invigorating way to start the day. In addition, the squeaky clean feeling you get after having rinsed off all the grime with the soap just can’t be compared to that of a bath. We take our showers very much for granted until we have to go without one for a few days, but you may not realize that showers have been a regular part of home bathing for a relatively short time.

Just think about all the cowboy movies you’ve seen. Did you ever see a cowboy take a shower? No. It was always a bath. It didn’t take long for this to change. As soon as indoor plumbing and running water became a standard in homes, people began finding ways to get their cleansing from overhead.

There were showerheads attached to clawfoot tubs and handheld shower attachments for your tub faucet. Although you’ll find multi-head showers in mansions from the early 1900’s, the shower or shower-tub combination didn’t become a common bathroom plumbing feature in most homes until the second half of the 20th century.

The next time you step into your nice warm shower, you might want to think about how nice it is to be living in a time and place where you can enjoy that little luxury that we so easily take for granted.

 

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Adding A Guest Bathroom

November 30th, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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Many homes, especially older ones, are shy on the amount of bathrooms they have. As a family grows, there always seems to be less bathrooms then the need. Since bathrooms are a very private area and an area that gets messy often, it is nice to have an extra bathroom or powder room that is just for guests. Adding a small half bath or powder room can give you that extra bathroom you need and also add to the value of your home.

Finding Space

It can be hard to imagine where you can fit an extra bathroom when you are looking at an existing space. However, since a powder room is small with only a sink and toilet needed, the area can be fairly small. The minimum space needed can be as little as 18 square feet. The easiest and less expensive option is to have it adjoining a wall that has plumbing and electricity all ready. But that is not necessary. Some ideas to look for:

  •  Kitchen. If there is a space off the kitchen, it may be less expensive in plumbing and electrician costs.
  • Closets. Trading a closet for an extra bathroom is always an option.
  • Porches. Enclosing part of a porch can make space for a bathroom.
  • Corners. Many homes have large rooms that can spare the corner space to add that additional bath.

Once you find a place, have a licensed plumber come in and inspect what will be need to add the plumbing. If the area will take extensive work to add water, they may have a solution that can make it easier that you have not thought of. Once the project is a go, you can start shopping for your fixtures and in no time, you will have the extra bathroom you have always wanted!

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Updating Old Tub Faucets

June 28th, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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Many homes built in the 1990’s or earlier have a two handle or three handle tub and shower faucet.  The right and left handles control the hot and cold water.  On a three handle model, and the middle handle operates the diverter valve that controls whether the water flows out of the shower head or the tub spout.   With a two handle unit, there is a diverte incorporated into the tub spout that handles this task.

These faucets usually work well for years, but many of them are now beginning to leak or wear out.  Parts can be hard to find for older models and in many cases, the design is a little dated.  Upgrading an older compression type three handled faucet to a modern single handle faucet can be a significant improvement.  Modern single handle faucets work great and last longer than compression type faucets because they use a modern cartridge design or disks to control water flow.  It doesn’t hurt that these new faucets look great too!

Unfortunately, replacing tub faucets requires more plumbing skill than replacing a sink faucet.  In addition, most homeowners will encounter a couple problems with upgrading their tub faucets.  They will likely be faced with limited access to the plumbing and also need to deal with the holes left behind by the old faucet.

Fortunately, your plumber has the skills and techniques needed to handle all types of bathroom plumbing repairs including replacing your tub faucets without tearing up the walls behind your tub.  Conversion plates are available in different shapes and sizes that cover the holes left behind by the old faucet and give your plumber sufficient access to do the entire job from the tub side.

You don’t have to put up with that ugly, worn out two or three handled tub faucet any more!  Call your plumber today and ask about converting to a modern single handle tub faucet.

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New Toilet Installation Problems

June 21st, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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If you are replacing that outdated toilet with a new water efficient model, you may be tempted to tackle the job yourself.  Replacing a toilet seems like a job that should be within the ability of most homeowners with basic mechanical skills and in theory it is.

However, there are several problems that can arise when replacing a toilet so if you are not completely comfortable with your ability to meet these challenges, it is well worth the expense of hiring a professional plumber to install the new toilet.

One thing to consider is how long the existing toilet has been in place.  The older the toilet is, the more likely you are to encounter problems with the replacement.  Fittings are more likely to be corroded in place or damaged during removal on an older toilet.

One of the first things that can go wrong is the water shutoff valve.  If this valve has not been operated in years, it can be stuck open and be damaged when you try to close it. The valve can start leaking or worse, the force required to close it can cause it to break or to damage the water supply line.

Another common problem is corroded closet bolts.  These are the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor.  If these bolts are rusty the nuts can be difficult to remove and many times the effort to remove them will crack or damage the flange under the toilet.

Over tightening the closet bolts during reinstallation can crack the base of the toilet.  The same thing can happen with the bolts that hold the tank and base together.

The new toilet can leak at the wax ring if it is not properly installed.  You may not notice this leak which can damage the floor under the toilet.  Other places with leak potential include the water supply line, the base of the fill valve, and between the tank and the base.

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Low Flow Toilet Myths

June 21st, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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Ever since government regulations took effect in the early 1990’s low flow toilets have suffered from the misconception that they do not perform well, cause problems with plumbing systems, and are too expensive.  The reality is that modern low flow toilets have excellent performance, meet all national plumbing standards, and are inexpensive to buy.  Your local plumber can help you choose a great low flow toilet and handle the installation and any other bathroom repairs.

The misconceptions about low flow toilets are based on the toilets sold in the early 1990’s and unfortunately persist to this day.  Toilets sold in the U.S. prior to 1994 were designed to use 3.4 gallons of water or more per flush.  When government regulations took effect in 1994 limiting the amount of water used per flush to a maximum of 1.6 gallons, many toilet manufacturers simply reduced the amount of water used per flush in existing toilet designs which understandably resulted in poor flushing performance, clogged toilets, and other problems.

However, in response to complaints from consumers, toilet manufacturers have long since redesigned their products to greatly improve performance while 1.6 gallons of water per flush or less.  Some high efficiency toilets use less than 1.3 gallons per flush without sacrificing performance.

In addition, experience has shown that modern low flow toilets do not lead to clogged plumbing or other issues.  Any toilet will clog if used improperly, but low flow toilets do not clog any more frequently than older standard toilets.

Finally, low flow toilets are available in a wide range of prices and styles to fit any budget.  Starting at less than $100, low flow toilets are very affordable and when you factor in the water savings, a low flow toilet can pay for itself in just a few years.

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Shopping For a New Toilet

June 21st, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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Whether you are remodeling your bathroom, installing a bathroom in a new home or addition, or replacing your old toilet with a water efficient low flow toilet, here are a few things to take into consideration while shopping for your new toilet.

First, measure the area where the toilet is to be placed to make sure that the new toilet will fit.  Toilets come in different sizes and you can avoid a return trip to the store by measuring carefully before you start shopping.

Measure from the wall behind the toilet to the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor.  Then, make sure that the distance from the back of the tank to the bolts on the toilet you are considering is less than this measurement.  In a tight space, you may also want to measure the side to side distance to make sure there is enough clearance.

You will need to choose between a one piece toilet or a two piece toilet. With a one piece toilet, the tank and bowl are combined into a single unit.  There is no connection between the tank and bowl to leak and these toilets have a sleek, modern appearance.  Two piece toilets have a separate tank and bowl.  They have a traditional appearance and are a little easier to install since each piece weighs less.

You can also choose between a round bowl which saves a little space and an elongated, oval shaped bowl that are a little more comfortable.  Toilets are sold in a variety of colors, but white is by far the most common.  You may be able to find what you are looking for in bone, but most other colors will most likely need to be special ordered.

Considering that most toilets will be used regularly for many years, professional toilet installation by a good local plumber who handles bathroom plumbing repairs is well worth the modest cost.  A poorly installed toilet can leak and cause damage to your bathroom floor.

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Replacing Leaky Flapper Valves

June 21st, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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A leaky toilet can waste over 20,000 gallons of water per year.  Fortunately, the most common cause of a leaky toilet is a leaking flapper valve which can easily be replaced.  In fact, most homeowners with basic mechanical skills can do the job themselves.  If you are unsure of your ability, your plumber can handle replacing the flapper valve and any other toilet and bathroom plumbing repairs.

A simple test can quickly identify a leaky flapper valve.  Remove the lid from the toilet tank and add a few drops of food coloring to the water in the tank.  Wait about 15 to 20 minutes to see if the water in the bowl changes color.  If it does, then your flapper valve is leaking.

The flapper valve is the rubber flap at the bottom of the toilet tank that is usually attached by a small chain to the handle.  Moving the handle lifts the flapper valve and causes the toilet to flush by releasing some of the water from the tank into the bowl.

To replace a leaky flapper valve, turn off the water to the toilet and then drain the tank by flushing the toilet.  You may need to flush three or four times to drain all of the water out.  Next, carefully disconnect the pull chain from the flapper, unhook the rubber flapper from the valve, and remove it from the tank.

Take the old flapper with you to the hardware store or home improvement center to make sure that the replacement flapper will fit properly. Installation is the reverse of removal.  You may need to adjust the length of the pull chain for the toilet to flush properly.

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Budget Bathroom Makeovers

June 14th, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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According to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, the bathroom is the most remodeled room in U.S. homes. Over six percent of homeowners reported that they remodeled at least one bathroom in their home during 2010.  Kitchen remodels came in second at about three percent.

The popularity of bathroom remodels makes sense because a homeowner can get a lot of bang for their buck with a bathroom remodel.  A complete makeover can run anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000, but a bathroom update can be even more affordable.

For a truly low budget bathroom update, replacing faucets, showerheads, toilets and other fixtures with new modern fixtures can give the bathroom a fresh look at a very reasonable cost.  Combined with a new coat of paint, updated light fixtures and towel rods, your bathroom will take on a whole new look and you will save money on your water bill if you install low flow fixtures.

The next step up includes replacing flooring, sinks, cabinets, countertops, tubs and showers.  New flooring can make a huge difference in a bathroom at relatively low cost since the square footage of most bathrooms is relatively low.  When replacing sinks, vanities, cabinets, and tubs, the key to controlling costs is to avoid relocating them if possible.  Any time you have to relocate the plumbing for these items, the cost will climb dramatically.

Talk to your local plumber about your bathroom remodeling options.  Your plumber can help you choose high quality, water saving fixtures and explain your options and costs for relocating any necessary water supply lines and drains.

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Sewer Gas Smells

June 14th, 2012 Posted in Bathroom Repairs
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If you have noticed an unpleasant smell in a bathroom or elsewhere in your home but can’t track down the source, it can be a sign of a serious sewer or septic problem that needs the attention of an experienced professional plumber.  It’s possible you have leaking or broken drain line, or a broken sewer vent line.  But there may be a simple answer to bathroom odors that are hard to track down – a dry trap.

Plumbing traps are curved sections of drain pipe that are designed to hold a little water and prevent sewer gas smells from entering your home through the drain pipe.  The easiest place to see a plumbing trap is under the bathroom or kitchen sink.  You will see a curved section of pipe just under the sink.  This section of pipe is often called a “J trap” or “P trap” because it’s shaped like a J or a sideways P.

These plumbing traps are installed on every drain in your home including sinks, showers, tubs, utility sinks, washing machine drains, and so on.  The lowest section of the pipe holds water that prevents the sewer gas smell from your sewer or septic system from backing up through the pipe and entering your home.

However, if the drain is not used for a long period of time, the water can evaporate and allow sewer gas into your home creating a sulfer or rotten egg smell. Many homes have bathrooms that are rarely used such as in a guest bedroom and this is a very common source of sewer gas smells.

To solve the problem, simply run some water down the drain.  The plumbing trap will fill with water and stop the smell.  In addition to the unpleasant odor, sewer gas is also dangerous so it’s important to track down the source and fix the problem.  If the source of the smell turns out not to be a dry trap, call a professional plumber right away.

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