Common Plumbing Problems In Your Home

Yes, the plumbing solutions are within reach. You need not be a victim to common plumbing problems that rear their ugly head. Sometimes is just applying some good common sense. Sometimes it involves doing a bit of research to help you with troubleshooting plumbing problems which is a critical first step in arriving at a solution. Knowing when to apply a do it yourself….diy plumbing problem solution…is also part of the process. Often, it is a judgement call. Depending on your background and familiarity with the plumbing issue, you might very well be able to resolve the issue yourself by applying some handy dandy plumbing fixes. Then again, sometimes it is also important to recognize when you are over your head and in such cases it is best to acknowledge your shortcomings and call in an expert either through an online consulting service or actual home visit. Your time is valuable, so take that into account when you decide whether you wish to dig into trying to fix the plumbing problem yourself. Basically, sometimes the least expensive route you can take is just simply reaching out to get plumbing help.

Toilet plumbing problems provide a good illustration of how you might approach some of these dastardly plumbing gremlins that seek to complicate your life. If its in the toilet, you can fix it. There are a variety of DIY toilet kits you can purchase to help you rebuild in broken down or worn out parts. Just follow the directions and take a good look at what you already have before you start removing anything. Now if the plumbing issue is around the base of your toilet such as a seal is leaking, then these fixes can be a bit more challenging and in such situations you might wish to reach out for some professional help. Websites such as our own are also good resources to help you with specific plumbing problems you may encounter. Whatever your plumbing issue, do not get frustrated and throw in the towel too soon if you are trying to fix the problem yourself. Remember, plumbing help is all around you and the solution can be as easy as a phone call or some due diligence.

Two Common Home Plumbing Problems - Solutions

Vibrating or banging pipes – caused by “air hammer” or “water ramming”. This occurs when there are air bubbles bouncing around the water line, due to air being drawn into the line from a small leak. Call a plumber to find the leak and fix it.

Air bubbles back-flowing in toilet and drains gurgling – main sewer line is plugged or near plugged. You need to have a rooter service snake the main line.

Source http://www.plumbingqa.com/plumbing-problems/

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Pleasanton Plumbing - Guaranteed Plumbing - Understanding How Your Toilet Works

Understanding How Your Toilet Works



One of man’s greatest and most useful inventions is the humble toilet. It has allowed us to modernize the old ways by bringing the old outdoor privy into the house minus all the drawbacks of an outhouse. There are basically six major components to a toilet as well as a mechanism called the siphon action. Knowing how your toilet works will not only help you to appreciate it, but it will also help guide you when there’s a problem with it.
These six major parts are the toilet bowl, the toilet tank, the toilet fill valve, the toilet flush valve, the float, the overflow tube and lastly, the handle.
The toilet bowl is especially designed to hold water in its base. It also has the ability to take in water from the tank via the rim and a siphon jet hole situated at the base of the toilet bowl. Finally, found at the heart of the toilet is the siphon tube. The siphon tube is a tube shaped unit that is integrated into the back of the porcelain toilet bowl and serves two main purposes. First, it acts as a trap so that no sewage gasses can leak up into the home. The second is the more important purpose of the siphon tube. It acts as the mechanism for drawing water and waste products out of the toilet bowl base.
The siphon tube is quite an interesting contraption. If you’ll try to notice, even when you repeatedly pour individual cups of water into the toilet tank, the water level does not rise. If you try pouring a whole bucket of water into the toilet bowl really fast, you will see that the water level in the bowl will initially rise but will then be drawn down very dramatically and up to a point where there is practically no water left in the toilet bowl. This happens because of the siphon action. When you pour a large volume of water into the toilet bowl it causes the water in the siphon tube to rise and spill over into the sewage pipe and then because of the principles of a siphon, the water is automatically drained very quickly from the toilet bowl and into the sewage pipe.
The toilet tank is the one responsible for holding the water supply required for the flushing action. Once you push the toilet handle down, a rubber flapper installed inside the tank is lifted and allows the water to rapidly pour into the toilet bowl. As soon as the water pours into the toilet bowl, the siphon effect instantly occurs which causes the toilet to flush and empty the waste from the bowl. The toilet bowl is designed to have the water flow from the rim and one large hole at the base of the toilet bowl into the toilet. This design basically creates a swirling function to assist in flushing the waste from the toilet. Once this is over, the flapper gets back into position and the water in the tank starts to fill up again and will only stop when the float reaches its predetermined height.
The next time you use your toilet bowl, appreciate the little things that work together to make your life more convenient and healthy.

source http://www.plumbingqa.com/understanding-how-your-toilet-works/

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Alamo Plumbing - Guaranteed Plumbing - Plumber’s Snake Buying Guide

Plumber’s Snake Buying Guide

There will be days when something gets our drain clogged and using a plunger just doesn’t seem to cut it. The next best thing to use is a plumber’s snake. There’s quite a few of these on the market and choosing one can be a daunting task. This article will give you insights on the different features that these different plumber’s snakes have in order to help you choose the right one for you. A few of the better brands will also be featured for your convenience.

Manual Or Automatic?
A manual, hand-powered plumber’s snake may be good enough for most clogs and it is also easier to push through the pipe. A drawback of the hand-powered is that it is short and is more appropriate for smaller bore pipes.
A powered plumber’s snake on the other hand is quite convenient to use because it takes the tiring job of cracking out of the equation. It is advised though that you take extra care when using this to avoid damaging the pipe by cranking too fast because one can sometimes forget when he is having fun. This can also help clean the sides of the pipe along its length as it is cranked. It is also ideal for any size of pipe making it more versatile.
Type Of Head
There are a few types of heads with some being more effective than the others. A plumber’s snake with a simple piston type head may not always be as effective as other types because it only pushes the blockage to wider parts of the pipe which would be useless if the pipe is consistently of the same size and is long. It will only drive the blockage deeper but to no avail.
A screw or coil head can try to screw itself to whatever it is that is blocking your pipe so you can pull it out after. Usually effective when the blockage is made up of accumulated paper towels or similar products.
A cutting head will try to cut the blockage away. If the blockage is cause by a tree root, it is advised that special care should be taken to avoid damaging the pipe. This kind of head is usually left to the professionals to use as it can cause serious damage to the pipes if used in the wrong manner.
When buying a plumber’s snake, make sure that it fits the size of your pipe correctly because a smaller plumbers snake can move around and cause damage to the pipe. Below are a few of the better kinds of plumber’s snakes in the market.
Cobra Products 83250 1/4-Inch-by-25-Foot Metal Drain Clearing Drum Auger
Great for small and medium household drains, it has an effective 25ft carbon spring wire. It also has a self-storing metal canister where the spring wire can be stored safely and conveniently.
Pro-Grade Electric Drain Snake Auger
Professional quality electric snake drain with an amateur friendly price. It has a powerful ½ horsepower motor with a variable 0-500RPM speed as well as a reverse option. It’s 26ft spring-steel flex cable makes it easy to get to the source of the clog easily. The mess won’t be bothering you as well, thanks to its built-in self-storing drum.
Yellow Drain Snake
This product is ideal for small drains. It can go as deep as 48 inches deep and is quite easy to use. All you have to do is put the snake in the drain and squeeze the trigger.

source: http://www.plumbingqa.com/plumbers-snake-buying-guide/

http://www.guaranteedplumbingco.com

Plumbing Danville - Is my toilet leaking without me knowing? Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville

Is my toilet leaking without me knowing?

        

Toilets are notorious for leaking. However, a leaking toilet often goes unnoticed. Many toilets still leak without any obvious signs of trouble.

This is what makes a leaking toilet problematic for homeowners. Most homeowners will notice if there is water around the base of the toilet, but here are some signs to look for:

Toilets are notorious for leaking. However, a leaking toilet often goes unnoticed. Many toilets still leak without any obvious signs of trouble. This is what makes a leaking toilet problematic for homeowners. Most homeowners will notice if there is water around the base of the toilet, but here are some signs to look for:

• 1. If you have to jiggle the handle to make a toilet stop running.
• 2. If you have any sounds coming from a toilet that is not being used.
• 3. If you have to hold down the handle to allow the tank to empty.
• 4. If you can see water trickling down the sides of the toilet bowl long after it has been flushed.
• 5. If a toilet turns the water on for 15 seconds or so without you touching the handle, you may have what is known as a phantom flusher.

Posted   by SuperUser Account

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Alamo Plumber - Choosing The Right Bathtub - Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville

Choosing The Right Bathtub

From Simple To Elaborate

Choosing the right bathtub means you'll need to consider several different issues. Some of them you'll have control over, like how plan to use the tub, while others are more or less controlled by your situation -- like the constraints of an existing bathroom for example.
The spectrum of choices runs not only from the purely aesthetic but to the type of bathtub you want as well. Choices include everything from the basic alcove tub to sophisticated air tubs or a sleek, modern slipper tub.

Technology also factors in to the choices you have available to you. Not only have bathtubs evolved to include whirlpool jets but now you can incorporate light and sound too.
The entrepreneurial spirit has also fostered unique creations like wooden tubs, though there are considerations to think about closely with these kinds of tubs.
The bottom line is this -- choosing a bathtub requires some up-front knowledge of your situation, how you'll use the tub and what's available. Getting this foundation will help you on the path to making a wise and hopefully, "cleansing" choice.

What Bathtub Basics Do I Need To Know?

Bathtubs come in a variety of shapes, materials and colors. But before you even get to the pick-and-choose stage you'll most likely fall into one of two categories that will narrow down your choices:

• You have physical constraints that a new tub must fit within (replacing an existing tub during a remodel for example)



• You have no constraints and can choose virtually any kind of tub you want (like with a new home, a bathroom add-on or a remodel that entails gutting and moving of existing walls, plumbing, etc.)

With that, let's get on to understanding what you should know about choosing a new bathtub.

Types Of Bathtubs

There are several varieties of tubs, each providing a different purpose within the bathing experience.

• General Purpose
  Although probably not an actual technical classification, a general purpose bathtub is one that most of us are probably familiar with and grew up with. It serves multiple purposes from washing the kids to cleaning the dog. They're usually installed in an alcove (see below). There's nothing fancy here but they do the job.


Photo Courtesy Of Duravit


• Soaking Tub
  Soaking tubs are typically deeper than standard general purpose bathtubs and allow you to immerse your whole body into the water. They come in various styles and shapes and vary with the amount of water they hold. Clawfoot and vintage style free-standing tubs fall into this category since they typically have taller sides and hold more water than conventional bathtubs.



• Walk-In Bathtub
  A walk-in tub provides a door that allows you to walk into the tub instead of having to climb over the edge. They're helpful for elderly people and any person that has limited mobility. The door has a seal on it that allows the tub to contain the water when it's filled.


• Whirlpool & Air Tubs
  Whirpool tubs and air tubs offer a therapeutic bath by shooting water and air bubbles into the bathtub at strategic locations to give you the sensation of a massage. The difference between a whirlpool and an air tub is that the whirlpool injects water into the tub, stirring the water, whereas an air tub pushes air through its plumbing system into the water, creating thousands of bubbles that invigorates the water.
  These kinds of tubs are more complex than other tubs because they include pumps, filters, hoses and other equipment necessary to circulate and "energize" the water.

Bathtub Materials

Once you have a type of bathtub determined you should understand the various materials they're made from. Each as their own high and low points and not all types of bathtubs come in all materials. In other words, you probably won't find an air tub made from cast iron.

• Cast Iron
  Cast iron is a very durable material, usually covered with a porcelain enamel coating. A cast iron tub is arguably one of the most durable fixtures in a home, potentially giving reliable service for decades.
  Cast iron tubs are usually of the alcove (surrounded by 3 walls) or free-standing variety. Their finish is durable and easily cleaned although you don't want to use aggressive scouring techniques or you could scratch the surface.
  
  
  Enamel that does eventually wear or chip away reveals the cast iron substrate which can rust. Finally, cast iron tubs are heavy and combined with the water weight, need good support structure.



• Enamel On Steel
  Enamel-on-steel tubs (or porcelain-on-steel as they're sometimes called) have a similar look to cast iron tubs except that they're lighter. Like cast iron, their surface is easily cleaned and maintained and their lighter weight means they're easier to muscle into a remodeled bathroom than a heavier cast iron tub. They're also susceptible to rusting should any of the enamel chip or get scratched, exposing the underlying steel.



• Acrylic
  Acrylic in simple terms is a form of plastic and is another material used to make bathtubs. It's upsides include it's high gloss, similar to the enameled look on cast iron and steel tubs, and it's much lighter weight than iron and steel. It can be scratched more easily but these scratches can also be repaired more easily than a porcelain enamel surface.
  
  
  Because acrylic is an easily-formed material, it's often used for whirlpool and air tubs which can be had in many different shapes and sizes.



• Fiberglass Gelcoat (FRP)
  Another material used to make tubs is fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) that's covered in something called "gelcoat". You'll find some whirlpools and air tubs made from this material because it can be shaped easily. The gelcoat provides the smooth, glossy surface of the tub and offers an easily cleaned surface. It's a lot like acrylic but usually not as durable, as it can be scratched and/or cracked if it's struck hard enough.



• Composite
  Composite tub materials include American Standard's Americast products and Bootzcast from Bootz industries. These tubs are made with proprietary engineered composite materials that form the backing of the tub itself. The finished surface of the tubs are enameled. The intent with these kinds of tubs is to achieve the benefits of cast iron, like heat retention and a durable surface finish, without the weight associated with cast iron. These composite tubs can weight about 1/3 as much as cast iron, something to think about if you're replacing a 2nd story bathroom tub.
  Some users report slight flex and/or creaking with composite-backed tubs though experience varies and is sometimes related to installation technique. Searching an online plumbing forum like the Plumbing Forum might provide some additional guidance on this issue.



• Cultured Marble
  Cultured marble is another form of 'engineered stone' whereby crushed marble is combined with resins to produce a solid-surface product. You could say it's similar to quartz countertops in that regard. Cultured marble is typically covered with a clear gelcoat to provide a durable, easily cleaned and stain resistant surface finish. It's ability to be "cast" (poured into a mold and formed) makes it a good material for bathtubs.
  It's also a brittle material and isn't forgiving of over-tightened faucet and spout fixtures that can crack the surface. While surface scratches can usually be buffed out, cracks are usually unrepairable.



• Wood
  A wood bathtub is definitely a unique style choice and can look beautiful but it comes with some baggage. The wood needs a very good surface sealer to prevent deterioration and tubs made from several slabs of wood that are pieced together must have those seams tightly joined and sealed to prevent leaks. Long term durability, how it stands up to hard water staining and maintaining leak-proof integrity are issues you'll need to contend with before making a choice.

Ways They Can Be Installed

Similar to kitchen sinks, there are several different bathtub mounting configurations that are defined by the type of bathtub you buy.

Again, if you're simply looking to replace an existing tub with no plan for any other changes to your bathroom, you're probably going to replace it with the same type of tub. However if you're building new or changing your bathroom layout, you have the opportunity for more bathtub style choices.

• Alcove Tub
  
  
  An alcove or "recessed" tub is typically rectangular in shape and is installed adjacent to three walls, leaving one side of the tub accessible. The front and back of the tub and one side are bordered by bathroom walls or some other form of structure like an adjacent shower wall.
  These tubs vary in depth, depending on manufacturer, and generally represent what is considered a "standard" bathtub.
  Alcove tubs are designated as a "right hand or left hand" installation. This simply means that the drain is either on the right or left side as you face the tub from its accessible side. Most usually come with an integral tiling flange on 3 sides. This is a small vertical lip that fits up under the surrounding wall tile or shower enclosure.



• Platform Installation
  Going by the names of "platform", "deck mounted" and "drop in", this type of tub installation sits within a built-up deck structure with it's rim at the same level as the top of the deck.
  
  Many whirlpool and air bath tubs use this type of installation. Deck tubs will optimally have one side with removable panels to be able to access the plumbing and other hardware associated with these fixtures.
  An alternate style of drop-in tubs places the tub down into the bathroom floor with the rim flush with the floor. This type of installation makes it more difficult to maneuver in and out of the tub, particularly if the tub has any significant depth.



• Undermount Bathtub Installation
  An undermount tub is actually no different than a drop-in tub except that it's rim is covered by a surrounding deck top made of stone, tile, etc. The tub itself is supported by the floor structure underneath the tub. It's not "hung" from the deck like some undermount sinks that are hung from clips attached to the underside of a countertop.
  One thing to consider with an undermount installation is the type of deck top you use with it and whether you'll ever want (or need) to remove the tub. A stone deck top surrounding the edge of the tub would most likely need to be broken up to remove the tub. Now it may be unlikely that you'd ever need to remove the tub but it's something to consider with these kinds of installations.



• Free Standing Installation
  
  
  A free-standing tub simply sits by itself on the bathroom floor with no adjacent support structure. Clawfoot and vintage tubs are examples of free-standing installations along with slipper and deep soaker tubs. These kinds of installations obviously need to be located near the delivery and drain plumbing.

The basic take-away lessons from this section are that your situation will dictate the type of tub you can choose. If you're starting from scratch you can choose from a variety of styles, governed in part by how they're installed, and from a range of materials, each with their own pros and cons.

source: http://www.home-style-choices.com/bathtub.html

Danville Plumber - The Key Considerations To Get In Touch Around Home Plumbing - Guaranteed Plumbing Co Danville

DIY jobs around the home might differ from unblocking a drain to fitting new doors and windows, or perhaps tackling a brand new kitchen or bathroom. Nevertheless, as much as you may prefer to tackle these jobs around the home on your own, there are many factors why calling in the specialists such as Guaranteed Plumbing Co is actually the very best answer, and there's no much better example than with your plumbing requirements.

Anything that's related with water inside the house is a potential danger, especially towards the untrained eye. A simple leaking tap or pipe could seem so elementary to repair, but so expensive if you did it wrong. Water can trigger damage overnight, with time and may in some serious instances even cause you to lose your house temporarily. You only need to ask a victim of flood water harm from the devastating effect of having water cascading into the home.

Water damage to your house can result in rotten floor boards, humidity and damp and also the destruction of furnishings, which means that unless you are entirely confident on what you have to do and how to fix it, calling in the plumbing specialists is usually the best course of action. Plumbing experts won't only confidently complete the task at hand, but they can even save you money in the long run.

Call in the specialists for anything, however small the job

If you are uncertain about how to deal with the problem with waterworks within your house, then call in your nearby plumbing experts. By looking through your local pages or perhaps on-line, you'll find that no job is too small; from dripping pipes to a total kitchen overhaul, the best local specialists can assist you to with their professional guidance as well as giving you a free estimate or quotation on the essential work to be done.

Calling in the plumbing experts will save you time

Most people love to achieve their very own home improvements, however the truth is these days, busy lifestyles impede many individuals to finish the tasks they begin. A home that looks like a building site is far too common these days, jobs unfinished due to lack of time, preparation or even funding. Obtaining a quote in advance will mean that you know just just how much the work will cost and how much time the job will take. Unless you have a lot of time on your hands or are retired and adore to create your personal masterpieces about the house, the plumbing specialists will certainly save you time.

As soon as again, as much as you might prefer to carry out your own repairs about the home, your personal work won't be insured, and unless you are an expert in the field, the job will frequently not be finished to the exact same standard as if it was handled by the specialists. Check the reputation of the very best local plumbers about and be confident that the job will be carried out to perfection

Save cash by calling in the plumbing specialists

Paying for a service need not mean paying out too much cash. In fact, by utilizing the very best nearby firms, you are able to even save your self cash. Lost hours and time off work as well as constant purchasing of new tools and incorrect parts often indicates that your DIY project soon turns in DIY hell, so save it for the experts; save time, work and money.

source: http://www.thegreercampaign.org/forum/index.php?do=/blog/779/the-key-considerations-to-get-in-touch-with-in-the-plumbing-specialists/
by jeffreycarr414