The Bathroom Plumbing

You use water to shower, wash your hands, do laundry and cook. Having access to water is likely an important part of your daily routine. Care to guess how much water an average household uses every day? That would be 400 gallons, or 144,000 gallons every year.

There are many ways that a water softening system can save you money. Experts say your appliances will last longer because minerals won’t build up in pipes. Detergents will rinse out more easily in your clothes, so they will last longer, and you won’t need to buy as much soap and detergent once you have a soft water supply.

If your home was built in the 40s and 50s, the plumbing may have galvanized pipes. These have a limited lifespan and can fail suddenly. Talk to us about replacing them with better materials.

If you can’t finish that big pot of pasta you made for dinner, refrain from dumping it in down the sink. While we may think enough water can wash anything away, the disposed pasta will only absorb the water and expand. Rice is another expanding food to avoid putting down the drain.

Traditional electric and gas water heaters typically last for about 10 to 12 years. A solar water heater, on the other hand, can often last for at least 20 years, according to experts.

Just because a garbage disposal is taking a little longer to do its job doesn’t mean it’s time for a replacement. Your disposal’s performance can be improved significantly by sharpening the blades. All it takes is a filter full of coffee grounds to make your garbage disposal more efficient.

If you have a problem with slowly draining sinks or tubs, or issues when flushing your toilet(s), inspect the building’s grounds. Look for trees (and large shrubs) near the pipelines. Their roots may have invaded and are clogging them.

What is that ammonia-type smell that seems so common in bathrooms with urinals? That is result of the reaction between urine and water and it is a smell that isn’t present in water-less urinals, according to experts.

Have you noticed that your skin is often red, tight or irritated after you take a shower? This is a telltale sign of hard water. Let’s talk about ways to combat this problem and improve your water quality.

Care to guess why a man named John Harington is famous in the annals of plumbing? He is widely believed to have invented the flushing toilet back in the 16th century. That's where the toilet nickname "John" came from.

Is your water pressure lacking? This could signal problem with your pipes or may indicate that corrosion and buildup are present. Remember to always contact a plumber to avoid long term damage!

Do you know how to prevent your garbage disposal drain from clogging? Periodically run cold water, and put ice cubes or citrus rinds in the grind chamber. Some larger models can even grind small bones and fruit pits, which keep the grate clean.