Filtering units for removing odor from plumbing vent pipes, most often referred to as stink pipes by plumbers, are the best solution age old problem of stink coming out of the plumbing/septic tank roof vent. The vent is design to release gas to the outside air so the waste water can flow down the drains. What are the differences between the various manufacturers? They are all similar in appearance with the outer shell made of PVC and ABS design. Sweetfilter was epoxy coated Black. Sweetfilter, VentPure, and Peacemaker show they are registered. Sweetstack has one way off and on valves and cannot be sold in Minnesota. OdorHog is now available with solar powered exhaust fan. Is that an added part to fail? VentPure and SweetAir units have rain cap because their chemical medias must be protected from moisture.
All chemical medias are a mixture of Carbon with other additives. You have to check the chemistry, or be a chemist, to see which is really the best chemical. What the home owner is looking for is a chemical media whose primary target is Hydrogen Sulfide. Hydrogen Sulfide produces that rotten egg odor that any home owner is familiar with if they have any type plumbing problem. The secondary problem is the Ammonia which produces the urine odor.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is only place to search to find if a design is patented or a brand name is registered. Only Sweetfilter is registered with The United States Patent and Trademark Office. There are no other sewer/septic tank odor eliminator vent filter units registered!
VentPure and Peacemaker were registered in individual States only. Any brand name that has a registered Trademark in a State only, can be copied in another State. In Federal Court you cannot protect your brand name unless you have registered it in The United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Sweetstack, OdorHog, VentPure, Peacemaker, and SweetAir filtering units are made primarily with the common chemical mixtures for removing odor from plumbing vent pipes and can never get a Federal Registration. Sweetstack and SweetAir have Sweet in their name. Sweetfilter is registered, Sweetstack and SweetAir cannot be registered in The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
What unit is best? What unit should you the home owner purchase to install? Sweetfilter, Sweetstack, OdorHog, VentPure, Peacemaker, and SweetAir are all similar, but are all different, only you the home owner can make the finial decision. You want your filter to operate like a odor eliminator on your roof top vent, most often referred to as a stink pipe, You want the smell to be gone!
Joe Kessler
http://www.Ezeox.com
For More Information Email, Call or fax:
Joe_Kessler@comcast.net
1-484-624-4909
1-484-624-4909
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Kessler
Friday, January 18, 2008
Is Your Hot Water a Health Risk?
Modern hot water heaters can be turned up to the point where you can get a serious burn from water that is too hot. However, water that is not hot enough can also be a heath risk.
Here are the numbers:
Water at 160F (71C) will physically damage the human body by scalding. That is way too hot.
Humans cannot stand temperatures of 140F (60C). Your body will not let you hold your hand in water that is 140F.
Water at 140F will kill 90% of the bacteria in it in 2 minutes.
Water at 122F (50C) will kill 90% of bacteria with in 2 hours.
Warm water in the range of 95-113F (35-46C) is perfect for growing Legionella bacteria. This is the bug that causes Legionnaire's disease.
What should you do?
You will see articles suggesting that for energy conservation a home hot water heater should be set in the 115-120F (46-49C) range. That may be too cool for your good health.
One U.S. government agency advises keeping your heater set at 140F for good health. Another U.S. government agency suggests setting it at 120F to save energy!
120F might not be hot enough for your health. If there are dead ends in your piping, where the flow stagnates, bacteria could grow inside your home hot water system.
A good choice for home hot water is 130F (55C). Hot enough to kill bacteria but not energy wasteful either.
Check your water temperature by putting a coffee mug in the sink. Use a candy thermometer in the mug. Let the hot water run into the mug until it is as hot as it will get. If it is below 130, adjust your heat up a little. If it is well above 130, adjust it down. Click here for more money saving information
I am a, Baby Boom Vintage, Energy Conservation Engineer. My mission is to help folks save money on their energy bills. The more than 127 FREE articles that I have written teach folks how to save money on their utility bills. Click here for an index of ways you can save money by saving energy
For more information on saving your energy money, visit the Energy Boomer blog at http://energyboomer.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Birney_Summers
Here are the numbers:
Water at 160F (71C) will physically damage the human body by scalding. That is way too hot.
Humans cannot stand temperatures of 140F (60C). Your body will not let you hold your hand in water that is 140F.
Water at 140F will kill 90% of the bacteria in it in 2 minutes.
Water at 122F (50C) will kill 90% of bacteria with in 2 hours.
Warm water in the range of 95-113F (35-46C) is perfect for growing Legionella bacteria. This is the bug that causes Legionnaire's disease.
What should you do?
You will see articles suggesting that for energy conservation a home hot water heater should be set in the 115-120F (46-49C) range. That may be too cool for your good health.
One U.S. government agency advises keeping your heater set at 140F for good health. Another U.S. government agency suggests setting it at 120F to save energy!
120F might not be hot enough for your health. If there are dead ends in your piping, where the flow stagnates, bacteria could grow inside your home hot water system.
A good choice for home hot water is 130F (55C). Hot enough to kill bacteria but not energy wasteful either.
Check your water temperature by putting a coffee mug in the sink. Use a candy thermometer in the mug. Let the hot water run into the mug until it is as hot as it will get. If it is below 130, adjust your heat up a little. If it is well above 130, adjust it down. Click here for more money saving information
I am a, Baby Boom Vintage, Energy Conservation Engineer. My mission is to help folks save money on their energy bills. The more than 127 FREE articles that I have written teach folks how to save money on their utility bills. Click here for an index of ways you can save money by saving energy
For more information on saving your energy money, visit the Energy Boomer blog at http://energyboomer.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Birney_Summers
Sump Pump Backup Systems
Of all the residential homes in the United States, upwards of 85% of them will experience a problem with flooding sooner or later. Any basement equipped home is even more prone to this problem, and if your home has a basement, it should have a sump pump installed and properly maintained in good working order.
Short of the creek raising, a well working sump pump is very effective at protecting a basement from flooding. But like almost any other machine, it can break down, especially if not properly maintained on a regular basis. When that happens, a breakdown is likely to happen when you need it the most - now you're in trouble. This is where the backup sump pump system comes into play - to provide a fail safe setup to protect your basement.
Backup pumping systems that supplement the main, or primary setup are necessitated by the need for uninterruptible availability of water removal from the basement. A battery is usually the source of power for a system like this but often an emergency power generator is used to power the backup setup.
When shopping for a backup, you should look for one that can be powered from several different power sources such as the previously mentioned emergency generator or battery array. A truly failsafe setup will have multiple sources of power to take over in the event of any single point of failure. Multiple pumps, with multiple sources of power.
Installation
A sump pump is not a simple piece of machinery. Installation of the pump, the required plumbing work, and the electrical hookups should not be tempted by someone without specific expertise with these systems. The consequences of a botched install are too expensive to think about. So unless you are very knowledgeable of these systems, it's best to pay the labor of a professional installer.
Installation is a simple task for a professional installer. If you let them do the job the cost is small compared to what could happen with a botched install, including fire or leaky pipes. They will warranty the work being done, and you will sleep better at night knowing your family and your basement are well protected.
If you're purchasing from a local retailer, some of them will offer installation services for free or for minimum fee. Be sure to ask about that while you're shopping around. If they don't offer installation, then you will need to factor the minor investment into your budget.
As with any system that is critical in your home, you should have a fail-over over system to take up the slack in the event of failure. Like most critical systems, failure is most likely to happen when you need the system the most. Make sure you're protected against a flooded basement with a backup sump pumping setup.
Backup Sump pump systems is presented by Pump-and-Filter.com - the 'must bookmark' site for residential or light industrial pump and filtering questions, problems, and product inquiries.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D_Marx
Short of the creek raising, a well working sump pump is very effective at protecting a basement from flooding. But like almost any other machine, it can break down, especially if not properly maintained on a regular basis. When that happens, a breakdown is likely to happen when you need it the most - now you're in trouble. This is where the backup sump pump system comes into play - to provide a fail safe setup to protect your basement.
Backup pumping systems that supplement the main, or primary setup are necessitated by the need for uninterruptible availability of water removal from the basement. A battery is usually the source of power for a system like this but often an emergency power generator is used to power the backup setup.
When shopping for a backup, you should look for one that can be powered from several different power sources such as the previously mentioned emergency generator or battery array. A truly failsafe setup will have multiple sources of power to take over in the event of any single point of failure. Multiple pumps, with multiple sources of power.
Installation
A sump pump is not a simple piece of machinery. Installation of the pump, the required plumbing work, and the electrical hookups should not be tempted by someone without specific expertise with these systems. The consequences of a botched install are too expensive to think about. So unless you are very knowledgeable of these systems, it's best to pay the labor of a professional installer.
Installation is a simple task for a professional installer. If you let them do the job the cost is small compared to what could happen with a botched install, including fire or leaky pipes. They will warranty the work being done, and you will sleep better at night knowing your family and your basement are well protected.
If you're purchasing from a local retailer, some of them will offer installation services for free or for minimum fee. Be sure to ask about that while you're shopping around. If they don't offer installation, then you will need to factor the minor investment into your budget.
As with any system that is critical in your home, you should have a fail-over over system to take up the slack in the event of failure. Like most critical systems, failure is most likely to happen when you need the system the most. Make sure you're protected against a flooded basement with a backup sump pumping setup.
Backup Sump pump systems is presented by Pump-and-Filter.com - the 'must bookmark' site for residential or light industrial pump and filtering questions, problems, and product inquiries.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D_Marx
Dangerous Hardness Ions
Water is everywhere. Nothing can happen without it and nothing can live. We commonly say about pure water and impure one. This recording to the possibility of drinking it or not. But except the rain there is no such thing as clean water. There is one important class of impurity: hardness.
Hard water is the type in which we have dissolved minerals of magnesium and calcium. And water that comes to our houses probably always has it. It's kind of a natural process: rain is falling and getting into the rivers and finally to our houses. But while it sleeps trough the ground it is slightly possible that it picks up minerals from the rocks like limestone, chalk. And that is the reason of hard water at home.
As it may seem natural to have that kind of water at home it may cause different problems. For example when you are wondering why your bills for heating increased the limescale might be the answer. The minerals, during the heating process, form a visible scale in pipes. As a result, the scale is clogging them and the efficiency of heat that it is needed to make water hot is increasing. That is why bills may get much higher. Whole process may also damage other appliances which are using heated water as for example kettles and dishwashers, and shorten their lives. Not speaking about smaller issues caused by hard water as sticky hair or harsh clothes.
We have two categories of hard water - temporary hard and permanent. The first one is water which hardness can be removed by boiling it. It's caused by combination of ions and bicarbonate ions in the water. And boiling promotes the formation of carbonate from the bicarbonate and precipitates calcium carbonate out of solution, leaving water that is softer upon cooling. Second type is much harder to soft and this is the one which deposits limescale and causes all the bad effects that were described above. To make permanent hard water soft you can't boil it. Heating permanent hard water increasing the problem. You need a good water treatment.
The most popular solution is using water softener. It might be one that works by replacing the calcium and magnesium in the water with sodium. Or an electronic limescale remover, that may remove lime scale problem. The truth is that all are less expensive than ignoring the problem. Prevention might be much cheaper than removing the effects. In that case the only thing left is to think about the best solution for you to deactivate dangerous 'hardness ions'.
http://www.scalewatcher.co.uk/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Idalia_Luczak
Hard water is the type in which we have dissolved minerals of magnesium and calcium. And water that comes to our houses probably always has it. It's kind of a natural process: rain is falling and getting into the rivers and finally to our houses. But while it sleeps trough the ground it is slightly possible that it picks up minerals from the rocks like limestone, chalk. And that is the reason of hard water at home.
As it may seem natural to have that kind of water at home it may cause different problems. For example when you are wondering why your bills for heating increased the limescale might be the answer. The minerals, during the heating process, form a visible scale in pipes. As a result, the scale is clogging them and the efficiency of heat that it is needed to make water hot is increasing. That is why bills may get much higher. Whole process may also damage other appliances which are using heated water as for example kettles and dishwashers, and shorten their lives. Not speaking about smaller issues caused by hard water as sticky hair or harsh clothes.
We have two categories of hard water - temporary hard and permanent. The first one is water which hardness can be removed by boiling it. It's caused by combination of ions and bicarbonate ions in the water. And boiling promotes the formation of carbonate from the bicarbonate and precipitates calcium carbonate out of solution, leaving water that is softer upon cooling. Second type is much harder to soft and this is the one which deposits limescale and causes all the bad effects that were described above. To make permanent hard water soft you can't boil it. Heating permanent hard water increasing the problem. You need a good water treatment.
The most popular solution is using water softener. It might be one that works by replacing the calcium and magnesium in the water with sodium. Or an electronic limescale remover, that may remove lime scale problem. The truth is that all are less expensive than ignoring the problem. Prevention might be much cheaper than removing the effects. In that case the only thing left is to think about the best solution for you to deactivate dangerous 'hardness ions'.
http://www.scalewatcher.co.uk/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Idalia_Luczak
Want Good Tasting Water? Then Keep Your Old Water Filter
We get water filters to remove contaminants such as bacteria. However, some bacteria can be helpful. Many filters we use have a sand base and water travels through that sand to remove harmful germs. When we start using these bacteria grow on the sand particles and those bacteria on the sand remove bad tastes in water.
What we drink from the faucet many times has a muddy and stale odor. It is not something that affects our health, but many people will not drink water that tastes bad or dirty. Many companies continue to strive to remove the bad tastes because people think that bad taste means harmful things in the water. Water companies are always striving to change and upgrade their filters, however, they have found that maybe leaving an older system in place and adding additional filters after going through the first one may be a good choice.
The compounds that are the culprits of the bad taste are usually geosmin and methyl lisoborneol. These compounds are in water organically. When using a sand based water filter it accumulates a barrier or a type of film on the outside of the grains. When new water passes through the sand with this covering of film it attracts and removes these compounds from and eventually breaks them down.
Old pipes in your house can also cause bad taste, especially if your house has copper or a metal base which it uses for the pipes. You may notice a difference in taste from your home to a newer home. Some people think the newer home has water that actually tastes worse. This may be caused by a similar fashion as mentioned above.
So if you are using a sand type of water filter and you really want fresher tasting drinking water you may want to continue to use the old system.
To get more information on water filters and to learn which one is right for you visit http://waterfilters.learn-about-it.com
Lesa Bolt is a contributor to http://waterfilters.learn-about-it.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lesa_Bolt
What we drink from the faucet many times has a muddy and stale odor. It is not something that affects our health, but many people will not drink water that tastes bad or dirty. Many companies continue to strive to remove the bad tastes because people think that bad taste means harmful things in the water. Water companies are always striving to change and upgrade their filters, however, they have found that maybe leaving an older system in place and adding additional filters after going through the first one may be a good choice.
The compounds that are the culprits of the bad taste are usually geosmin and methyl lisoborneol. These compounds are in water organically. When using a sand based water filter it accumulates a barrier or a type of film on the outside of the grains. When new water passes through the sand with this covering of film it attracts and removes these compounds from and eventually breaks them down.
Old pipes in your house can also cause bad taste, especially if your house has copper or a metal base which it uses for the pipes. You may notice a difference in taste from your home to a newer home. Some people think the newer home has water that actually tastes worse. This may be caused by a similar fashion as mentioned above.
So if you are using a sand type of water filter and you really want fresher tasting drinking water you may want to continue to use the old system.
To get more information on water filters and to learn which one is right for you visit http://waterfilters.learn-about-it.com
Lesa Bolt is a contributor to http://waterfilters.learn-about-it.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lesa_Bolt
Top 7 Water Filters
Here is a list of the top 7 types of water filters you can purchase on the market and information about each one. Hopefully this will help you make a decision when purchasing your next filter.
1. Pitcher
2. Faucet
3. Refrigerator
4. Under Sink
5. Shower
6. Laundry
7. Whole house
Now to take this further, I will describe each a bit.
The Pitcher filter is great if you just want to drink a good glass of clean water and are really not worried about the tap water for anything else in your home. With these you have a specially made pitcher with a filter at the top and you have to pour water in slowly and it filters this through to the bottom of the container. It may take 10 minutes or so for this to complete its process.
The Faucet filter I have found to be very popular, especially with families who have children. This attachment hooks up to the faucet spout and you have the choice to turn the filter on to dispense cleaner water or turn it off if you do not want to waste the cleaner. The only issue some families did not care for was that the pressure coming from the tap is diminished because it must go through the filter and process before coming out so I would say you get half of the pressure. Also it is a bit cumbersome and takes up space around the faucet and is a little unsightly if you are wanting a kitchen that looks designer beautiful.
The Refrigerator filter is becoming more popular as families purchase refrigerators with water and ice dispensers on the door. This hooks up inside the door and helps produce better tasting ice as well as water.
Under sink filters are great to have as a full kitchen use. It keeps clutter from being on top of the counter or faucet, however, it usually required a professional installation and you will have to give up some room under your sink cabinet to make space for this larger item.
The Shower filter basically allows you have have a bath free of contaminants. These are less common and people will usually get a whole house filter if they want good water in their bathrooms.
The Laundry Filter again is like the shower model information in that the whole house choice will usually be used. However, families find that they like to use cleaner water free from hard water deposits on their clothes.
The whole house filter is the next big upcoming appliance that families are automatically having installed in their homes when they are building a new home. It is somewhat of a no brainer that they can have great water and why not do it now while they are installing everything else.
Find more information about water filters and whole house water filters here.
Lesa Bolt is a contributor to http://waterfilters.learn-about-it.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lesa_Bolt
1. Pitcher
2. Faucet
3. Refrigerator
4. Under Sink
5. Shower
6. Laundry
7. Whole house
Now to take this further, I will describe each a bit.
The Pitcher filter is great if you just want to drink a good glass of clean water and are really not worried about the tap water for anything else in your home. With these you have a specially made pitcher with a filter at the top and you have to pour water in slowly and it filters this through to the bottom of the container. It may take 10 minutes or so for this to complete its process.
The Faucet filter I have found to be very popular, especially with families who have children. This attachment hooks up to the faucet spout and you have the choice to turn the filter on to dispense cleaner water or turn it off if you do not want to waste the cleaner. The only issue some families did not care for was that the pressure coming from the tap is diminished because it must go through the filter and process before coming out so I would say you get half of the pressure. Also it is a bit cumbersome and takes up space around the faucet and is a little unsightly if you are wanting a kitchen that looks designer beautiful.
The Refrigerator filter is becoming more popular as families purchase refrigerators with water and ice dispensers on the door. This hooks up inside the door and helps produce better tasting ice as well as water.
Under sink filters are great to have as a full kitchen use. It keeps clutter from being on top of the counter or faucet, however, it usually required a professional installation and you will have to give up some room under your sink cabinet to make space for this larger item.
The Shower filter basically allows you have have a bath free of contaminants. These are less common and people will usually get a whole house filter if they want good water in their bathrooms.
The Laundry Filter again is like the shower model information in that the whole house choice will usually be used. However, families find that they like to use cleaner water free from hard water deposits on their clothes.
The whole house filter is the next big upcoming appliance that families are automatically having installed in their homes when they are building a new home. It is somewhat of a no brainer that they can have great water and why not do it now while they are installing everything else.
Find more information about water filters and whole house water filters here.
Lesa Bolt is a contributor to http://waterfilters.learn-about-it.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lesa_Bolt
If you have thought about getting a water filter but do not want the expensive costs associated with it all I have compiled a list of them and their average cost which may change your find.
Keep in mind the cost you are spending right now to buy bottled water whether it is from your local grocery store or wholesale food chain store can be expensive. If you purchase water on the go it is usually $1.00 per bottle and the case can run you anywhere form $.30 to $.40 per bottle depending on what kind of water you get.
Here are my recent price reviews from a local store:
There are some people who complain about the faucet mounted water filter because they have to go to the hardware store to install the models. This is not the case. You need to read the box. I bought two and brought them home and installed them in a matter of 15 minutes for one model to 5 minutes for the other without any extra tools needed.
Here are my reviews:
PUR - faucet mount water filter - average price $40 - This comes in a variety of colors, including white, chrome which is brushed or stainless steel with plastic. Meaning it looks like stainless steel but is plastic underneath the color exterior. The water tasted good. I did have a problem with a leak where I connected the unit to the faucet but I found that same problem with many of these filters systems.
Brita - this one cost about $30
The Aquaview Brita runs a little more at $35
I found both about the same with taste and installation. After a little tweaking on my part neither model had any leak from the faucet.
I would get a water filter and fill my own bottles for on the go travel considering I would have the filter paid for in a short amount of time versus the bottled water i am buying.
Get more information on affordable water filters at http://waterfilters.learn-about-it.com
Lesa Bolt is a contributor to water filters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lesa_Bolt
Keep in mind the cost you are spending right now to buy bottled water whether it is from your local grocery store or wholesale food chain store can be expensive. If you purchase water on the go it is usually $1.00 per bottle and the case can run you anywhere form $.30 to $.40 per bottle depending on what kind of water you get.
Here are my recent price reviews from a local store:
There are some people who complain about the faucet mounted water filter because they have to go to the hardware store to install the models. This is not the case. You need to read the box. I bought two and brought them home and installed them in a matter of 15 minutes for one model to 5 minutes for the other without any extra tools needed.
Here are my reviews:
PUR - faucet mount water filter - average price $40 - This comes in a variety of colors, including white, chrome which is brushed or stainless steel with plastic. Meaning it looks like stainless steel but is plastic underneath the color exterior. The water tasted good. I did have a problem with a leak where I connected the unit to the faucet but I found that same problem with many of these filters systems.
Brita - this one cost about $30
The Aquaview Brita runs a little more at $35
I found both about the same with taste and installation. After a little tweaking on my part neither model had any leak from the faucet.
I would get a water filter and fill my own bottles for on the go travel considering I would have the filter paid for in a short amount of time versus the bottled water i am buying.
Get more information on affordable water filters at http://waterfilters.learn-about-it.com
Lesa Bolt is a contributor to water filters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lesa_Bolt
Tips for Plumbing Home Remodels
Whether it's fixing that leaky faucet or unclogging the commode, plumbing home remodels can be quite a chore. It's amazing how much damage just a small amount of water in the wrong places can do. So, if you're faced with plumbing home remodels, make sure to do your homework before you begin the project. Prevention is always better than trying to solve a problem.
If you're planning plumbing remodels as part of a total remodel, it's a great time to improve and thus prevent future plumbing jobs. Whatever project you're about to attempt can be accomplished easier if you do your homework first by simply doing a bit of evaluation and planning.
One important step to use when doing plumbing home remodels as part of a total remodel is to make sure to install cut-off valves at each area of water use. All sinks, faucets, tubs, water heaters, and commodes should have a cut-off valve at their location. This can save a bundle should leaks or overflows occur.
Another factor that's important is the location of your pipes and fittings in the scheme of your plumbing home remodels. It's important to plan the layout for ease of access as well as water travel for the hot water.
If you have plumbing remodels scheduled to prevent or eliminate problems, start with locating and finding the source of the problem. Easy access is not usually the rule. Often plumbing pipes are hard to access. Don't be surprised if you have to cut portions of a wall or flooring to access your trouble areas. This is especially true if your home has been constructed on a concrete slab.
For a leak, start by identifying the area that has the most moisture accumulation. By locating as nearly as possible the exact source before you go into a crawl space or start going into walls and ceilings for an upstairs leak do your best to isolate exactly where the problem begins.
For a stopped up drain, grease is often the culprit. Sometimes using a hair dryer at the low point of your pipe can melt the problem. After you"ve heated it well, try running hot water for several minutes to assure the grease is gone from your pipes. You"d be surprised at how many times this saves a costly plumbing bill.
This article was written by Gregg Hicks of http://www.reliableremodeler.com which provides Internet-based home improvement information and services. Offering homeowners a simple, quick, and free way to access, qualified home improvement remodeling contractors.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hicks
If you're planning plumbing remodels as part of a total remodel, it's a great time to improve and thus prevent future plumbing jobs. Whatever project you're about to attempt can be accomplished easier if you do your homework first by simply doing a bit of evaluation and planning.
One important step to use when doing plumbing home remodels as part of a total remodel is to make sure to install cut-off valves at each area of water use. All sinks, faucets, tubs, water heaters, and commodes should have a cut-off valve at their location. This can save a bundle should leaks or overflows occur.
Another factor that's important is the location of your pipes and fittings in the scheme of your plumbing home remodels. It's important to plan the layout for ease of access as well as water travel for the hot water.
If you have plumbing remodels scheduled to prevent or eliminate problems, start with locating and finding the source of the problem. Easy access is not usually the rule. Often plumbing pipes are hard to access. Don't be surprised if you have to cut portions of a wall or flooring to access your trouble areas. This is especially true if your home has been constructed on a concrete slab.
For a leak, start by identifying the area that has the most moisture accumulation. By locating as nearly as possible the exact source before you go into a crawl space or start going into walls and ceilings for an upstairs leak do your best to isolate exactly where the problem begins.
For a stopped up drain, grease is often the culprit. Sometimes using a hair dryer at the low point of your pipe can melt the problem. After you"ve heated it well, try running hot water for several minutes to assure the grease is gone from your pipes. You"d be surprised at how many times this saves a costly plumbing bill.
This article was written by Gregg Hicks of http://www.reliableremodeler.com which provides Internet-based home improvement information and services. Offering homeowners a simple, quick, and free way to access, qualified home improvement remodeling contractors.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hicks
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