valentineplumber

Is Your Bathroom Plumbing Ready For Double Duty?

Is Your Bathroom Plumbing Ready For Double Duty?

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Are you planning to do something special for the one you love? Maybe take them out to dinner, cook them a special dinner or even propose to them? Sometimes couples even make Valentine’s Day the day that they move in together.

If you have decided to take that step in your relationship and combined two households into one, one thing to remember is that everything’s going to be double, especially the strain that your pipes go through.

Whether you think about it or not - and chances are you don’t - your plumbing gets accustomed to your daily routine. Add an extra person to the mix and you could be spending your honeymoon fund on new bathroom pipes!

Double Duty on The Bathroom Plumbing

bathroomplumbingIf you or your significant other has been living on their own up until now and now two people are going to be living in the household, this could be a shock to the toilet.

After all, when more than one person is using the toilet, it’s going to increase the chances of a clogged toilet.

More waste and more toilet paper are going down the toilet. Plus, if the house has a septic system rather than city water, the septic tank will fill up a lot more quickly.

It’s a good idea to set some standards for your flushing practice and keep a garbage can in the room. By being wary of what you flush, you can help protect major issues.

A Shower Clog Can be a Hairy Situation

showerclogAnother problem that cohabiting often will cause is that when you increase the number of people in the household, it increases the amount of hair that is going down into the drain.

Even though hair is what you see, that’s not the only thing that is going down the drain, either.

Flakes of dry skin, pieces of soap that have broken off, and even broken nails can all cause problems with the plumbing. Be sure to install a hair catcher at the drain as an easy DIY solution that can protect your pipes.

Is it Time to Hire a Professional Plumber?

proplumberIf your girlfriend or boyfriend is moving in, think about your pipes and your plumbing. Is your system ready for this level of relationship? Maybe you are, but have you asked your plumbing if they are?

They may not be, but with a professional plumber’s help, they might just be ready to take the plunge with you guys. You never know where things can go when you move in with someone.

You might find out that they snore or leave the toilet seat up, or something else that drives you bonkers. But no matter what happens with your relationship, at PhD Mechanical Inc we are always going to be here for you when you need our services!

No matter what you do for your special someone on Valentine’s Day, whether it’s dinner and a movie, a marriage proposal, or moving in together, we hope that you have a good time with them. We hope that you have found our article handy and that you will share it with your friends and loved ones.

The tips inside can help anyone with avoiding clogs and creating a more enjoyable environment for them and their families. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at PhD Mechanical, Inc. and let us know. We are always happy to help you in any way we can and answer your questions.

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What’s Causing Your Toilet to Run Constantly

What’s Causing Your Toilet to Run Constantly

It’s a common occurrence to hear your toilet running, even when it's not in use, but it could be a signal that there’s a more serious problem.

A leaking toilet can cost you significantly more on your monthly utilities, reduce water pressure in your home, and if the water is leaking out onto your floor or walls, lead to more serious property damage issues.

So what should you do? Before you take a DIY approach to your toilet repairs, take the time to learn a little more about a leaking toilet, and what could be causing the issue altogether.

The Toilet Flapper May be to Blame

flapperFor most homes, there is a traditional toilet assembly with the tank behind the toilet. This tank houses the entire flushing mechanism, which keeps water flowing and draining through your toilet with every flush.

The one part of the system that is in charge of this process is the flapper. The toilet flapper is essentially a rubber or plastic flap that sits over the drainage pipe that leads into your toilet. When you flush the toilet, this valve lifts, releasing water into your toilet, and then seals, allowing the tank to refill.

Because of this integral role in the process, it could be a common reason why your toilet is constantly running. If the flap does not have a tight seal over that drainage pipe, it could continuously allow water to flow through. This is often what contributes to that constant sound or running water.

What Else Causes Running Toilets?

runningtoiletAside from the flapper, there are a few other reasons your toilet could be running. For one, it could have to do with the water supply line that leads to your toilet.

If that valve is loose, damaged, or older, it could allow too much water to make its way into your toilet. This can easily be inspected visually (the valve directly behind your toilet), or manually.

All you have to do is open and close the valve to see whether or not water is actually flowing through. Another common issue with toilets is water leaks in the actual porcelain or seals around the connections.

Because these connections are constantly in contact with water, they can deteriorate over time. Eventually, that weakness will allow water to flow through, which is where you run into more serious issues like water stains and damage to bathroom plumbing, walls, and floors.

Prevent Leaky Toilets With Regular Maintenance

maintainThe flapper and flushing mechanism are critical to your toilets operation. If you haven't inspected them in some time, it may be time to take a look.

The best way to prevent a leaking toilet is with regular maintenance and care. If your toilet is still using a float flapping mechanics to flush, it could be time for an upgrade as well. Newer flappers and assemblies offer two-flush modes for added water savings and improved performance.

At PHD Mechanical, Inc. we are your Wayne plumbers of choice. We offer expert solutions to your toilet plumbing needs, and can help you find the best alternative to stop that running toilet once and for all!

warningdangers

Planning a Plumbing Remodel? Have Your Permit Ready

Home renovations are exciting for homeowners because you can turn an old bathroom into your dream spa, give more space in the kitchen, update the look and feel of your house, and so much more. But before you take on any bathroom or kitchen remodeling project, it’s important to think about the plumbing permits you might need to obtain before you can start work.

For instance, if you're going to be installing new pipes, moving old plumbing, or doing drain or sewer line work, then you probably need a permit, and today we’re going to talk about why you should always get one.

A Permit Will Protect You from Fines

“penaltyfine”Fines are one of the common consequences homeowners face if they perform work in their house without the proper permit. Penalties act as a deterrent for unpermitted work and encourage people to have the right permits in place before they begin work.

But another way that unpermitted plumbing work can cost you is that it may result in you having to perform expensive repairs if inspectors catch you working without a permit and determine that the work wasn’t done to code.

A Permit Will Protect You from Mistakes and Improper Work

“safetystandards”There's more to a permit than meets the eye, and one way the permitting process keeps homes and homeowners safe is through inspections.

When you perform permitted plumbing work in your house, an official will come by to inspect the project and make sure it's been done correctly and to code.

There are many ways this benefits you, including making sure the work is high-quality and that it will last. Inspections can also safeguard against your home's value decreasing from poor work or materials, as well as ensuring that you and your family will be safe from things like:

  • Mold in the house from leaks or floods.
  • Bacteria from sewage backups.
  • Potential explosions from improperly installed water heaters.
  • A lack of water pressure from poorly installed pipes.

A Permit Will Protect You from the Ire of Licensed Professionals

“noprofessional”Professional plumbers are serious about their jobs, and this means doing things by the books when it comes to permits. These experts understand that permits are required for very good reasons, including that it protects them, protects you, and ensures quality work with every job.

That being said, it's usually the responsibility of the homeowner to secure the permit before work begins, regardless of who will be completing the project. As such, the plumbing experts of Wayne, NJ want you to know that they always recommend homeowners obtain permits when required.

Your home is your oasis, and you don't want to do anything that might compromise the integrity or value of it. Having a permit in place before you start a plumbing project is the best way to protect yourself from fines, illness, and liability, but it will also protect your home from bad work and inferior materials. Even though the permit process may be an added step to your project, it's well worth the time and money if you want to make sure your next plumbing remodel goes off without a hitch.

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Steps to Follow if the Toilet Won't Flush

Even if you aren’t used to taking on DIY jobs, if your toilet isn’t flushing, today is the day you are going to become an accomplished DIY person.

That’s because taking care of this common bathroom plumbing issue is actually pretty easy as long as you know what to look for and what steps to take.

Our Wayne, NJ plumbers have compiled this handy guide to help you navigate this task.

Dealing With Clogs

“callaprofessional”A very common reason for your toilet not to flush is that it is clogged. For a simple clog, you may be able to dislodge it with the push and pull suction of your plunger.

However, for more persistent clogs, you will likely need the help of your trusty plumber. That’s because your plumber has specialized training and more tools at his disposal.

Depending on what is causing this clog, you may need to use a plumbing snake or hydro-jetting. The sharp tip of the plumbing snake tears through debris, allowing water to pass again. For really tough clogs (caused by a buildup of sediment, grease or intrusion from tree roots) your plumber may need to conduct a hydro-jetting in order to break apart the clog.

Find out if it is the Flapper

“tankflapper”Another common reason that toilets don’t flush is if the flapper is broken. The flapper opens and closes to make sure that water flows in and out of your toilet when you flush it.

The flapper is made of rubber, so as your toilet gets older, it isn’t uncommon for it to crack or get warped, meaning that it can’t seal the opening to control water flow.

To see if this is the problem with your bathroom plumbing, lift the lid of your toilet tank. The flapper is located at the bottom. Is it warped or broken? To replace it, simply drain the tank, remove the broken one and fit a new one back in place. Your toilet should flush now.

An Alternative Way to Flush the Toilet

“waterinsidetoilet”You don’t need to jiggle the handle to flush the toilet. You can use a bucket or a bowl instead! In fact, if you have a wastepaper basket in your bathroom, empty that and use that instead.

Pour water into the toilet bowl. You’ll notice that as the water starts swirling in the toilet bowl, it will actually flush the toilet all on its own.

This method makes use of the shape of the toilet bowl along with the strength of the pouring water.
Whatever your concern is with your bathroom plumbing, we can help!