Seattle Plumbers

If you have a dripping tap now, just think how bad it’s likely to be after the holiday break. Apart from that, think of the environment. Water is the one thing in life we can’t live without.

We can all survive all the other inconveniences for a surprisingly long time; but water isn’t one of them.

Every drip that runs down the drain, unused and unwanted, is like a nail into your coffin. Here in Australia, we are suffering a prolonged and worsening drought.

The City of Brisbane is now on severe water restrictions where people can’t even water their pot plants unless they have saved the water in a bucket or from their washing machines.

You know when you go to have a shower and you have to let the water run until the temperature gets to the right warmth? Well, it’s this water that is now watering pot-plants in Brisbane homes.

If you think that’s crook ~ just wait and watch what will be happening if we don’t get the rain next March-April. Many people will be leaving the city in droves; hordes of people having to leave their homes. Just think of what is likely to happen to the Real Estate prices?

Just thinking about worst case scenarios right now gives me the shivers!

And you want to know the worst truth? Brisbane is not the only city in Australia this is happening to. All around the Country, North to South, East to West ~ there’s a water crisis.

Australia and the United States have roughly the same land-mass. If you can imagine a water shortage from the Canadian border to the Mexican border, from Boston to Seattle, Miami to San Diego and everywhere in between, then you can get some idea of the affected area.

And some people still have dripping Taps! I shudder to think of the outcry they will raise when it finally dawns that hey ~ where did all the water go?

OK, apart from that if you don’t live in Australia, and you aren’t currently suffering a drought; but are your Taps still dripping? Or do you have a toilet that constantly runs?

If so, don’t you think a Plumber might be a good investment about now before the extended family arrives for the holidays and increases demand on your facilities?

It’s not going to get any better when there is a heavier load put on the services; and if you have to call a Plumber out over the Christmas / New Year break because you didn’t get the problem fixed before the holidays started ~ don’t you think he should be entitled to charge an exorbitant charge for his services?

Or will you complain if s/he does? Hardly fair, Um? I mean, how would you feel about having your Christmas dinner spoilt by being called to someone’s crisis because they couldn’t be bothered to have something fixed prior to the holidays? Believe me, I’d be charging for every mouthful of Turkey missed.

Love and respect your environment enough to care for it and about it. Plumbers do a mighty job in protecting the only thing you can’t live without.

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

Best Plumbing Seattle - Do's and Don'ts of Emergency Plumbing Troubles

Best Plumbing Seattle

Facing an overflowing toilet or a leaky pipe can be extremely daunting when we lack the proper knowledge on how to mitigate the emergency plumbing at hand until the plumber arrives to the rescue. With increasing water conservation awareness more and more people are inclined to learn the do's and don'ts of plumbing emergencies to be able to cut down water wastage in times of flooding and leaky fixtures.

Follow the do's and don'ts of emergency plumbing to save on water and money:

DO's

1. With leaky fixtures and burst pipes the first and sometimes only effective action to take is close off the water shut off valve. This action will close the water supply to the faulty fixture and stop the water wastage.
2. Insulate pipes that may be exposed to low temperatures to keep them from freezing and splitting up.
3. Gently thaw freezing pipes with a blow dryer but never with a naked flame to prevent thermal expansion of water that can also split open pipes.
4. As toilet leaks are more than often detected in a high water bill, inspect your toilets for any leaks on a periodic basis. Put several drops of food dye in the water tank and let it sit. Come back after an hour to examine the toilet - if you see color dye in the bowl then your toilet is leaking.
5. Try and clean out sediment accumulation in the water heater on a regular basis to prevent clogs that restrict hot water supply to the relevant fixtures.

DON'Ts

1. Pour boiling water down the toilet unless you want the bowl to crack open.
2. Throw big objects, diapers, sanitary towels, toys down the toilets. Anything that is not tissue paper can clog the toilet's drain and cause plumbing emergencies from overflowing toilets to sewer backups.
3. Plant any shrubs and trees over sewer lines.
4. Throw fibrous material down the garbage disposer. Onion skins, celery, artichokes and more fibrous peels can clog the disposer's blades and cause motor burn outs.
5. Pour cooking fats, oils and grease down the kitchen's drain to avoid stubborn blockages.
6. Ignore a leaky plumbing fixture until it escalates into costly emergency plumbing situations that waste gallons of water and damage belongings.

Emergency plumbing troubles are a nuisance to handle. By adhering to the do's and don'ts of our plumbing we can reduce chances that a plumbing emergency will break out. Save on your money and on water by knowing what you can do and what you can't do in an emergency plumbing situation.

Emergency Plumbing
http://www.emergency-plumbing.com/
888-538-7415

Plumbing Tips For Replacing Sink Traps

The curved traps beneath kitchen sinks and lavatories are vital but vulnerable. Some of the water that flows off through the sink or lavatory drain remains in the trap as a seal to keep odors and gases from backing into the house from drain and sewer lines. But traps are often made with comparatively thin walls because they are not subjected to the high water pressure of supply lines. In time, they corrode and leak, and must be replaced.

The traps we will talk about, called P traps, are the ones commonly found in most homes. They may be made of brass, galvanized iron, steel or (where plumbing codes permit) plastic. The best--and most expensive--are chrome plated for looks and relatively heavy for long wear. Choose the heaviest traps you can afford; they are a better buy, particularly on fixtures that get substantial use. Choose a matching material and weight for the pipes that accompany a trap: the tailpiece that connects the trap to the sink or lavatory drain, and the drainpipe that connects the trap to a drain outlet.

The trap you choose may be either a swivel or fixed type. A swivel trap can be turned in any direction on a drainpipe by adjusting a separate slip nut--a useful feature when you want to replace a tailpiece without first removing the trap, or when you must make a connection between a drainpipe and sink that are not in perfect alignment.

Fixed traps, which screw directly onto the drainpipe, are less adaptable. You can, however, replace a tailpiece on a fixed pipe without removing the trap by using a professional plumber's tactic. Plumbers "roll the trap"--that is, they free the tailpiece and drop it neatly into the trap; then loosen the trap and roll it to one side to get at the tailpiece. The procedure may seem tricky, but it is surprisingly easy to follow, and it makes a tailpiece replacement as simple as on a fixed trap as on a swivel.

Replacing drainpipes, on the other hand, remains a tougher job; no matter what type of trap you have, you must remove it completely to get at the drainpipe.

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The Leak - How to Repair the Leaking Water Pipe

Water is dripping constantly from the rag that you have wrapped around the pin hole in the water pipe. Let's see how easy it is to fix that dripping and give you peace of mind. With some of the fantastic improvements in plumbing fittings in the last few years, plumbing repair has been made very simple.

Many leaks are caused by just a couple of things. The pin hole in the copper pipe that is caused by pitting inside the pipe. Usually this is caused by poor water quality. The inside of the pipe flakes off to cause a hole inside the pipe that eventually gets through to the outside. These often are given away by the green spot that usually is seen on the outside of the copper pipe first. This is caused by mineral left by the water evaporating off of the surface of the pipe. So in all reality there is a leak before there is a leak. The other main problem is the joining of two dissimilar types of pipes. Copper and PVC or Copper and Pex are two examples. The expansion rate of the two different types of materials is very different. This causes friction and constant movement where the two meet. This movement eventually will cause enough of a gap to allow the water to leak out.

Until recently there where many redneck fixes out there most involving garden hoses, inner tubes, hose clamps, epoxy, and many other creative fixes. I have seen way too many to describe all of them. Now there is a great way to fix those leaks with a simple push fitting. The new design of the push fitting allows for the pipe to be cut at the hole and then a coupling just pushed onto the pipe to fix the leak. The hardest part of the whole process is to get the pipe cut neatly. The same fitting can also be used to replace those pesky plastic to copper unions that always seem to give trouble. Joining different types of piping is no longer a problem.

By doing a quick search for push fitting you can find a number of different suppliers of this type of fitting. I have used a number of different ones and they all seem to work well. My preference is the brass types as they seem to be much more rugged in construction. The price of those fittings also reflects that. The most common that I have seen and used are the Sharkbite Brand. These are very good, are sold in many plumbing supply houses, and in Home Depot Stores. Other companies include Watts, Probite, Tectite, and Speedfit. I'm sure that I have left some out. These are some that I am familiar with and have used.

Bottom line is that it is now very easy for even a desk jockey to fix his own pipes. Go by the closet home improvement store on your way home. Pick up some of these fittings and impress the wife with talents that she did not know you had. You may even get brave and do that small plumbing project that she has been begging for. Now you can use these fittings to cut into that water line to run that new outside faucet or hookup that water filter yourself. With the push type fitting plumbing has been made easy enough for anyone to be able to do it.

Floyd Kolb has worked in the Mechanical/Hvac industry for over 20 years, gaining a wealth of knowledge to share. You can contact Floyd by clicking here Floyd is now part of a top internet marketing team of mentors and has a passion for helping others achieve their goals, dreams and aspirations. You can learn more about Floyd by going to http://www.whyearnmoney.com

Do it Yourself Plumbing Tips

There is one constant when it comes to plumbing, water is tricky stuff and has a mind of it's own. When you are looking to do plumbing yourself there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

No matter what, leaks will happen and there is no short cut to correct them. There are no magic pastes or powders that will stop a leak permanently (no matter what the TV says). If you have a leak and want to fix it, use the proper materials and the correct procedures. You need to use copper on copper and plastic with plastic.

When working with plastic always clean it, deburr it and use the appropriate cement to get a good seal. With copper you want to polish the surface with emory cloth, deburr the inside, and use a lot of flux prior to soldering the joint.

When you are working with compression fittings you won't need any solder. There is a metal sleeve that squishes tightly against the fittings to prevent leaks. You can only use the sleeve once so make sure you have it sitting properly before you do your final tightening.

There is no logic when it comes to plumbing sizes. A sink faucet supply hose is a different diameter than a toilet supply hose. A kitchen sink supply line will not work for a bathroom supply line. Also, your toilet can have three different distances from the wall, and there are countless different toilet flappers and faucet washer sizes. Usually the best guarantee to getting the correct part is to take it with you when you purchase the new one.

Usually a good salesperson can tell you what parts you will need, but help them out by bringing in your parts. If you can't, take a picture to show them. There is nothing worse than having to run to the supply store several times, just to get a ten cent washer.

If you are taking on the challenge of your own plumbing repairs, make sure you have the right tools, supplies and parts before you start your job. Plumbing is not really difficult, but remember that water is tricky, so if you try to take short cuts it will out smart you.

C. Mark Babcock has been involved in the construction industry for many years and has run a successful building company for five years. He realized very quickly in his career that with some knowledge most homeowners could do 70 to 80% of the jobs he was quoting. Construction and Renovation Tips.

Plumbing and Sewerage Systems

The term plumbing comes from the Latin word "plumbum", which means lead because the pipes used before were made from lead. While the word sewer came from the French word "essouier", meaning to drain.

It is the system in which pipes, tubes, and other plumbing fixtures are used for different water systems and waste drainage. The person responsible for the maintenance and installation is called a plumber.

The plumbing industry is one of the basic needs of a growing community. It has been around since ancient times. The system was found in Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, Babylon, Crete, Jerusalem, and China.

These countries needed adequate water supplies and drainage systems as they developed public baths, fountains, and eventually the water closet or toilet.

Pipes in ancient times were made of lead, clay, bamboo, and stones. Plumbers would rely on the gravity to supply water. Today, we use pipes that are made of copper, brass, and other non toxic materials. We also used high pressurized systems to supply water.

There are different plumbing and sewer systems that plumbing companies used.

PLUMBING SYSTEM

ONE PIPE

Waste water pipes from sinks, bathrooms, and other branches of waste water pipes are connected to one main pipe which is connected to the sewer system. All traps are completely ventilated.

PARTIALLY VENTILATED ONE PIPE

The function is the same with the one pipe system. The difference is that there is a vent that ventilates the foul smell from the water closet.

TWO PIPE

Soil and waste have separate pipes. The waste pipes are connected to a trapped gutter while the soil pipes are connected to the sewers. All traps are completely ventilated.

SINGLE STACK

This system's function is the same as the one pipe system but there are no traps.

PARTIALLY VENTILATED SINGLE STACK

This system's function is the same as the partially ventilated one pipe system.

SEWERAGE SYSTEM

COMBINED

Foul and surface water is carried through the same sewers and drains.

SEPARATED

Foul and surface water have different or separate sewers and drains.

PARTIALLY SEPARATED

Part of the surface water is carried through the foul sewers and drains.

The plumbing systems have many usages such as the cold and hot water supply, drainage, rainwater and surface water, septic, fuel gas piping, and other liquid or chemical. Plumbing and sewerage systems are found everywhere.

If you want to improve the plumbing system of your house or building, you should know the different pipe materials that are commonly used.

TYPES OF PLUMBING PIPE MATERIALS

CAST IRON

These are very strong but they are very difficult to cut.

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)

This is the first rigid plastic that was approved for home drainage system.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

The modern rigid plastic that is resistant to heat and chemical damage. The recommended material for drain, wastes, and vents pipes.

GALVANIZED IRON

This is a very strong material. This is very difficult to cut and fit and they can corrode gradually.

CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride)

It is a rigid plastic that is formulated to withstand pressure and high temperatures. It is also low-priced.

RIGID COPPER

The most recommended material for water supply pipes because it resists corrosion and has a smooth surface.

CHROMED COPPER

It is used in areas where the exterior is significant. It is durable and it has a shiny surface.

FLEXIBLE COPPER TUBING

It is very easy to shape especially around corners. It can withstand ruptures.

BRASS

It is durable and heavy. It is usually used in areas where the exterior is significant because of its shiny surface.

However, we can encounter plumbers who don't do a good job in installing our plumbing and sewer system. They might use inferior materials that can cause a lot of problems in the long run. Some of these are:

1. Leaking pipes can damage the paint and wooden walls.
2. If we don't get a proper foul waste disposal, it might surface and the foul odor may arise.
3. Any structure's life can be reduced because of pipe leakage.
4. Harmful molds and mildews can grow because of the damp areas created by the leaking pipes.
5. Health problems may arise.

We should hire professional plumbing companies that have a good reputation and we should research well for those companies because, in the end, our health would be greatly affected.

Brijesh Purohit is a Managing Director for http://www.keentoclean.com.au, Keen to Clean Group offers carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, commercial cleaning, domestic cleaning, flood restoration, and move - out cleaning.

Plumbing Seattle

If you need a plumber, you really *need* a plumber! Well... usually anyway :)

There's not a whole lot many bad things that can happen to your house that are worse than having a huge pipe break and spew water everywhere in your home.

Or maybe your toilet is overflowing constantly and the next thing you know your carpet is soaked, your frustrated, you can't stop the water from going everywhere, and your wife is freaking out.

Maybe your dogs and cats are having field day running around in the water and making an even bigger mess.

You need to contact a plumber STAT!

No time to mess around, you probably can't fix it in time, and you know it. Stop trying to be a macho man, and just get the job done the right way by picking up the phone and getting in touch with a plumber.

There are plenty of plumbing services in Seattle, so go get one!