Plumbing.LifeTips.com

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1 Plumbing.LifeTips.com

2 Category: Additional Plumbing Services Subcategory: More Services Tip: Avoid Having A Plumbing Problem On Cold Weather Days When the temperatures plummet and cold weather days set in, you need to take measures to avoid having a plumbing problem. Ensure your plumbing will stand up to the chill. If you follow our plumbing advice for the winter season, your pipes will have a better chance of avoiding a plumbing problem on the cold weather days: Sealing leaks around your windows and doors will help trap the heat inside your home and keep your indoor pipes from suffering extreme drops in temperature.since your water heater needs to expend more energy to keep up with hot water needs in the winter, give it a little maintenance by flushing it out to remove any sediment build-ups. Your water heater will work more efficiently and you'll help maintain its lifespan.take our plumbing advice and clear out any leaves and debris from your downspouts to make sure draining is easy when the freezing water thaws out. Tip: Avoid Having A Plumbing Problem On Cold Weather Days Roto-Rooter Tip: The winter season also brings on the holidays. Roto-Rooter recommends you avoid a plumbing problem by keeping in mind that the holiday can mean more guests and more strain on your plumbing. Avoid a plumbing problem by being mindful of keeping fat and grease from your holiday meals out of the sink, run your dishwasher at off hours to conserve water pressure for times when your guests are over, and turn the water heater a few degrees above 120 to accommodate overnighters who need to shower. Remember to keep the water heater temperature under 125 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding. Tip: Avoiding Frozen Pipes Roto-Rooter Tip: For chilly weather days, Roto-Rooter suggests you make sure you don't have any dripping or leaking faucets outdoors which could lead to frozen pipes. Frozen pipes can occur in plastic pipes, steel pipes, or copper pipes. If your pipe freezes and cracks, you could waste as much as 250 gallons of water a day. Tip: Liquid Waste Hauling For commercial businesses which produce a lot of grease or liquid waste, it makes sense to hire a professional to handle the collection and proper disposal of these products. A plumbing professional who specializes in liquid waste hauling can do the job for you. All you have to do is schedule regular maintenance times or call them for a pick-up when you need liquid waste hauling taken care of. Make sure you go with a plumbing service that does a thorough job. A reputable plumbing professional will not

3 only pump out any waste for you, but will clean out your trap and scrape away any deposit residues. A reputable plumbing professional will also follow all government regulations and make sure the waste goes through proper disposal at a regulated facility. Tip: Video Camera Line Inspection Roto-Rooter Tip: Video camera line inspection gives a clear picture of the condition of the pipe and is a great visual aid to determine a plumbing problem. Using a high-resolution video camera attached to the end of a cable, your plumber will be able to direct the device to where the plumbing repair should take place. Category: Clogged Drains Subcategory: Drain Tips Tip: Drain Cleaning With A Plunger If you're tired of clogged drains in the house, one way to clear up your plumbing is by using a plunger. Though most people use the plunger for toilets, remember that you can use it for other applications, including drain cleaning a sink. You just might want to keep one used for a toilet separate from plungers used around other parts of the house. You can make a tighter seal on the plunger by spreading a thick petroleum jelly film around the rim of the plunger. You'll get a greater suction and it'll be easier for you to clear out a clog. When using a plunger, use a great deal of force to press the plunger handle down over the drain obstruction. Wait a minute and then see if the clog is cleared. You can then repeat the drain cleaning process as necessary. Tip: Faucet Repair: Troubleshooting Sluggish Water Flow If sluggish water flow from your faucet is a problem, you may find the trouble lies with your faucet aerator. This device is most often located at the tip of the faucet and works by mixing air and water in order to give you an even flow of water. When mineral deposits accumulate or if you have a damaged aerator, the best thing to do is forgo faucet repair and replace the part. If it's just dirt that is lodged in your faucet aerator, you can conduct faucet repair in five easy steps: 1. Unscrew the faucet aerator from the spout, using oil to loosen the connection if necessary. 2. Disassemble the parts, keeping in mind the order of the components. 3. Use a toothbrush to clean the disk and screen with soap and water. 4. To clear out debris in the disk, use a pin or toothpick. 5. Flush the components with water before reassembling the aerator. Tip: Faucet Repair: Troubleshooting Sluggish Water Flow

4 Roto-Rooter Tip: If you aren't able to conduct the faucet repair yourself, contact a reputable plumbing and drain service. A reputable plumbing and drain service can conduct faucet repair, taking steps to adhere to the original manufacturer's standards. Whether you need a faucet repair or a faucet replacement, going with a professional will save you time and keep you from headaches. Tip: Five Clogged Drain Tools If you've ever been stuck with a clogged drain or toilet and left wondering what clogged drain tools you should use, look at our handy list: Plungers These basic clogged drain tools can be used for unplugging your drains in sinks, bathtubs, and toilets by creating suction through pumping action at the handle. The all-purpose plungers have a flat face while the toilet plunger has an extended rim which you can turn back for use as a multi-purpose drain tool. Snake Also known as an auger, the snake is a flexible cable with a corkscrew end, useful for fishing out clogs in your piping. If you're clearing out a toilet, you can get a toilet auger which works with pipes up to 2 in diameter. Flat Tape The flat tape flat length of steel wire that is more rigid than the snake and clears out pipes 2 and up. Power Auger Like a power drill for cleaning out drain clogs, the power auger is a professional tool which cleans out large pipes up to 10 in diameter. Some models can reach lengths of 200 feet. Rocket Nozzle The rocket nozzle is a professional tool which sends a strong steady stream of water through your pipes to break up an obstruction. Rocket nozzles can clear out pipes as small as 1/2 in diameter to as large as 8 in diameter. Tip: Preventive Measures For Clog Free Kitchen Plumbing Want to keep your kitchen plumbing functioning properly? Take on these preventive measures for clog free kitchen plumbing: 1. Don't use the garbage disposer without running water down the pipes to flush out particles. Run the water both 15 seconds before and 15 seconds after you use the garbage disposer. 2. Watch what liquids go down your kitchen sink. Liquid grease shouldn't go down your kitchen sink. Take the time to dispose of it in your trash instead. 3. Keep your kitchen plumbing clog free by not putting food particles with a stringy or fibrous consistency. That means celery pieces, banana pieces, and skins from poultry don't go down the garbage disposer. Tip: Three Easy Steps To Avoid Bathroom Plumbing Problems Roto-Rooter Tip: Be sure there's a trash can in each bathroom of your home to reduce the chance of garbage being flushed into your plumbing system. Tip: Using Drain Cleaning Products Roto-Rooter Tip: Before using drain cleaning products, you can also try a few other methods: use a plunger, clean the trap under the sink, or use a sewer snake to clear the

5 obstruction. If your drain is still clogged, or if you don't feel comfortable taking apart your plumbing, call in your local plumbing and drain service professional. Category: Finding a Plumber Subcategory: Plumbers Tip: Chicago Plumber For Your Business Needs Roto-Rooter Tip: Do you have needs for a commercial plumber in the Chicago area? People know Roto-Rooter for their services as a residential plumber, but this Chicago plumber also provides commercial plumbing services. This Chicago plumber offers everything for the plumbing needs of businesses from routine pipe maintenance to emergency plumbing and drain service. Tip: Five Things To Look For When Hiring A Plumber or Plumbing Contractor If you're doing renovations to your home, the process of selecting a plumber will vary a bit from the process of selecting a plumber to fix a drain clog in your home. When looking for a plumber or plumbing contractor, you will want to do the following: 1. Get recommendations from friends or neighbors of plumbing contractors who have worked on home renovations. That way, you can have the added benefit of working with a plumbing contractor who has had a successful working relationship with someone you know. 2. Verify the state licensing of your plumbing contractor. You'll be able to find out whether the person in question has any complaints filed against him. 3. Find out what the hourly rate of your plumbing contractor is and what you'll be paying for. For instance, will the plumbing contractor charge you for demolition to access a pipe in addition to plumbing work? Will you be charged an hourly rate while your plumber waits on-site for parts? 4. Verify whether your plumbing contractor is bonded and has worker's compensation and insurance. 5. Research at least three different plumbing contractors and obtain estimates. Choose one based not just on the rates, but also what you will be paying for and their level of service and reliability. Tip: Hiring A Boston Plumber Talk To A Live Person If you live in the Boston area, you have a large pool of plumbers to choose from for your plumbing needs. Whether you're looking to fix a clog in your sink or hoping to clear a plugged toilet, you may have wondered what is the best way to select someone to clear the piping in your home. Plumbing is an all-important, but often taken for granted aspect in a household. Next time you need to get an obstruction in your plumbing cleared, keep this in mind if you want to work with a professional, make sure you can speak to a live person. If you're getting stuck with an answering service, answering machine, or worse no answer at all you need to rethink your plumbing choice.

6 Plumbing mishaps can happen at any time, day or night. When the plunger doesn't do the trick at 2 AM, you need to get a hold of a professional as soon as possible. You can find plumbing services which have a live person available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That way, you'll know who is available and when they'll be there. If one Boston plumber can't help you, at least you can try finding another Boston plumber that will. Tip: Keep Your Plumber From Charging Through The Roof Roto-Rooter Tip: Roto-Rooter offers a quick and easy way to schedule service online with a professional plumber. You can pick the day and time slot and describe your service needs. Or, of you prefer, you can always contact Roto-Rooter via phone 24 hours a day. Tip: Questions To Ask The Plumbers Before You Hire Roto-Rooter Tip: If you have a specific question for plumbers about plumbing in your home or business, visit the frequently asked questions section of rotorooter.com or request an answer from one of the Roto-Rooter master plumbers. Roto-Rooter plumbers will answer your questions online through their Website forum. Category: Garbage Disposer Subcategory: Installation and Repair Tip: Call Your Seattle Plumber For Garbage Disposer Installation Roto-Rooter Tip: To combat foul odors, you can grind ice cubes and lemon rinds for 30 seconds in your garbage disposer. Run cold water to rinse rinds down the line. If you don't feel up to the task, have a professional Seattle plumber install the garbage disposer for you. Tip: Call Your Seattle Plumber For Garbage Disposer Installation Contact your local Seattle plumber to install a garbage disposer and save yourself the trouble and hazards of doing it yourself. You won't have to deal with figuring out circuitry and building codes your Seattle plumber will do it for you. Your Seattle plumber can also facilitate repairs of an existing garbage disposer if you want to try and keep the one you have. However, you can also try these solutions for minor problems before you contact your Seattle plumber: If your garbage disposer suddenly shuts off during operation, it may be due to the overload protector triggering when the unit overheats. After shutting off power, try the reset button and then turn your garbage disposer back on.

7 Tip: Garbage Disposer Circuit Safety Use A Voltage Tester If you're getting ready to handle the wiring for your garbage disposer, practice garbage disposer circuit safety. Make sure the wiring is safe to handle by using a voltage tester. The best thing to do is avoid touching the wiring or allowing the wires to touch until you've used a voltage tester. This is how you conduct the test: Touch one probe of the electrical tester to each wire in the connection at the same time. If your voltage tester lights up, you have electrical power running. Don't touch the wires, but instead get a friend to help you determine which wire has the electricity running. Your buddy can go to the circuit box and cut the power for each wire until you've figured out which one links to your garbage disposer. Turn off the power to your garbage disposer and test for electricity again. If your voltage tester doesn't light up, you can safely touch the wires. Garbage disposer circuit safety might take a little extra time, but you'll avoid any unnecessary injuries and hazards from electricity. Tip: How To Install A Garbage Disposer You should only install your own garbage disposal if you have experience working with electrical wiring and have some knowledge working with local building codes. Otherwise, it's important that you call in a professional for help to avoid more damage. If you have the know-how to do this do-it-yourself project, follow our instructions on how to install a garbage disposal: 1. Remove the drain lines to both sinks if you have a dual bowl sink. Next, remove the strainer from the bowl that you'll be using for the garbage disposal. Then, remove the strainer body. You should now have a simple hole at the base of your sink bowl. 2. Take plumber's putty, roll it between your hands, and form a length to run along the flange of your disposal unit. 3. Place the flange onto the drain hole. Then, attach the gasket to the flange, followed by the upper and lower mounting rings. 4. Snap the retaining ring into place next, tightening the three screws into the mounting ring until the flange assembly is secure. 5. Since the plumber's putty should have squeezed out, you can trim the excess and clear out the debris from the sink. 6. Review your manufacturer's instructions to attach the garbage disposal to the flange. You'll either attach the unit via a mounting ring or bolts. 7. Take the washer or gasket, which should come with your disposal unit, and attach the discharge tube to the discharge opening on the side of the disposal. 8. If you will be using a dishwasher in conjunction with your garbage disposal, remove the plug inside the dishwasher nipple. Then, attach the discharge tube to the dishwasher nipple. 9. This is the last step in how to install a garbage disposal. You can put in the drain lines. For a dual bowl sink, you can run the discharge tube perpendicular to the drain line. (You can use a single P-trap.) The discharge to can connect just above the trap. Tip: Tools You'll Need To Install A Garbage Disposer If you want to tackle installation of a new garbage disposer, you have to have the tools to do the job. To make sure you're not stuck in the middle of the project without the one

8 tool you need, take a look at our garbage disposer installation tool list. You'll need a wrench if your new garbage disposer attaches with bolts.get a Philips screwdriver and a flat screwdriver for the removal of the old unit, assembly of the new unit, and accessing electrical circuits.have a hose clamp handy for attaching the dishwasher discharging tube.you'll need plumber's putty for the base of the disposer flange.have wire nuts on hand for managing the electrical circuits for the project.have goggles available for safety reasons. Tip: Using Existing Electrical Circuit For Your Garbage Disposer Unit Maybe you had an electrician handle the installation of the electrical circuit for your garbage disposal. Or perhaps you're using one that is already in place. Now you're just trying to figure out how to connect the electrical circuit to your new garbage disposal. Read on to find out. 1. Remove the electrical connections plate on your new garbage disposer unit. 2. Use a wire nut to connect the white wire from the garbage disposer unit to the white wire from the switch. 3. Use a wire nut to connect the black wire from the garbage disposer unit to the black wire from the switch. 4. Use a wire nut to connect the bare ground wire from the garbage disposer unit to the bare ground wire from the switch. 5. Replace the cover plate to the electrical connections on your garbage disposer unit. Tip: Wiring The Electrical Circuits For Your Garbage Disposal Unit If your garbage disposal unit doesn't have its own electrical circuits, you can still try another route. Tie your garbage disposal unit into the electrical circuits for the dishwasher. 1. You'll need a single pole switch to operate your garbage disposal unit. 2. Tie neutral white wires together with a wire nut. 3. Tie bare ground wires together with a wire nut. 4. Each of the two black wires attaches to a terminal on the single pole switch. Attach the incoming wire to the bottom terminal. Attach the outgoing wire to the top terminal. Category: Plumbing Codes Subcategory: Details Tip: Bring A House For Sale Up To Code If you're selling your home, you may have wondered whether or not you need to bring the old plumbing up to code. Maybe you even got something like the sink vent from your kitchen written up by the potential buyer's home inspector and he's asking you to make the house up to date before you sell it. Do you have to do it? If you're not doing any renovations on your home, you likely don't have to bring your house up to code just for the sale. There are a few exceptions to the rule, so check with your local municipality for

9 their list of requirements if you're not sure. However, it is a negotiation point, so in that respect, consider whether or not it's a point worth arguing over if you're interested in selling your home. Tip: International Residential Code A Guide For Home Building Residential codes vary by local municipality to local municipality. However, one comprehensive codebook is becoming the adopted regulatory source by building departments across the United States the International Residential Code. The International Residential Code (IRC) first came out in 2000 as the all-inclusive codebook covering each type of climate and hazard as well as regulations to keep residential construction safe from those hazards. New for 2006, the IRC has much of its content updated in response to the damage caused by the hurricane season in Eighty percent of changes have to do with increased safety considerations and more stringent response to the impact of the elements on housing. Twenty percent of the changes have to do with making complex text and tables easier to read. Tip: Meeting Current Plumbing Codes If you've had a home inspector look over your home recently and some of your plumbing is not up to code, you don't have to worry about it yet. You only have to deal with current plumbing codes if you are making any alterations or additions to your home affecting the plumbing. For instance, if you decide to add a new bathroom to your home and your existing kitchen sink doesn't meet current plumbing codes for venting, you wouldn't have to worry about updating your kitchen sink if it doesn't affect the new construction or if the new construction doesn't affect the kitchen sink. You would, however, need to make sure the new bathroom meets all current plumbing codes. Tip: New Fixture Related Codes Are you planning on installing any new fixtures in your home in the near future? If you're putting in a bidet or a new showerhead, check out the new fixture related codes which could affect your remodel. New fixture related codes require a temperature-sensing device for bidets to keep the water from going over 110 degrees Fahrenheit. This new code will ensure you keep your backside from scalding from the hot water. For low flow showerhead users, there's good news. Now you can use a 1-1/2 diameter trap in your shower stall instead of the old 2 diameter trap required in the old code. Tip: Plumbing Code Reference If you're doing renovations that will affect the plumbing in a new or existing non-residential structure, you should refer to the Uniform Plumbing Code as your guide to requirements the department of building and safety will uphold you to in order to

10 approve the construction you're doing. This comprehensive plumbing code reference comes out every three years and is available in a loose-leaf binder version as well as on CD Rom. The most recent version is the 2006 Uniform Plumbing Code. As the building industry standard for plumbing related construction, contractors, architects, and mechanical and plumbing engineers refer to this plumbing code reference for much of their work. Tip: Using The International Residential Code The International Residential Code is a comprehensive set of regulations covering the building of one and two family residences. Construction issues addressed include building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing areas of home building. Available in a loose-leaf binder, you can also obtain the International Residential Code (IRC) in a CD-Rom format, get the paperback version, or download it instantly as a PDF. Because of the great number of changes to the recent 2006 edition, a companion book has come onto the market, the 2006 Significant Changes to the International Residential Code, which helps users to interpret those codes frequently encountered and affected by the new IRC code changes. The authors of the companion book are part of the International Code Council, which produced the original 2006 IRC. Category: Plumbing Employment Subcategory: Plumbing Job Tip: A Plumber's Earnings By The Industry Plumbers have a large number of industries to choose work from, depending on their specialties and interests. As a plumber, you can find work in the construction industry, in the residential and commercial plumbing industry, or work for the government. Not all plumbers' earnings are the same in all industries. You'll find a wide distribution of wages depending on whom you decide to work for. These are some 2004 figures based on the U.S. Department of Labor: The highest plumber's earnings are made by those who work in the natural gas distribution industry at $23.86 per hour.a plumbing professional who worked in nonresidential building construction made $21.55 per hour.plumbers who worked for building equipment contractors made $19.85 per hour.a plumbing professional in the utility system construction industry made $18.29 per hour.plumber's earnings for those who worked for the government were $16.30 per hour. Tip: Employment In Plumbing Design If you're interested in the plumbing field, consider plumbing design. You can find work with a Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Engineer firm designing plumbing systems for new construction and remodeling jobs. To get into the field of plumbing design, you

11 should get a minimum of two years education in plumbing engineering. The range of duties you'll perform in plumbing design include the design and drafting of plumbing systems, review of shop drawings, writing specifications, and coordinating with related trades. You'll have to learn about plumbing codes as they relate to your project and you'll also learn to utilize software like AutoCad for the creation of plumbing layouts and drawings. Tip: Job Outlook For Plumbers If you're currently in the plumbing industry or thinking about entering the plumbing profession, there's good news for you. The U.S. Department of Labor says that the job outlook for plumbers is excellent. You can thank three reasons for the excellent job outlook for plumbers. There are more jobs available for plumbers than there are skilled and qualified applicants. People employed in the plumbing profession make up the largest group of workers in the construction field as well as the highest paid workers.from 2006 to 2016 a large number of folks in the plumbing industry will likely retire and open up new positions for others. Category: Plumbing Equipment and Supplies Subcategory: Plumbing Tools Tip: Plumbing Fixtures To Fit Into Your Half Bath If you're planning for a half bath, you don't have a lot of plumbing fixtures to contend with, but you do have some design and space considerations to take into account. You basically just need a sink and a toilet and you can fit both these plumbing fixtures into 20 square feet of space and still meet building codes for your half bath. In order to save space, you can select specific space saving plumbing fixtures like pedestal sinks, corner sinks, and wall-mounted basins. Choose a round toilet for your half bath over an oval one to save space as well. Tip: Wrenches And Pliers For Plumbing Wrenches and pliers are essential and basic tools to perform all kinds of plumbing tasks. Even if you think you wouldn't know the first thing to tackle a leaky pipe, try reading our guide to familiarize yourself with wrenches and pliers: Tongue and Groove Pliers This tool, also commonly called the plumber's pliers, open up big enough to tackle just about every size of pipe there is and gives you more torque due to its offset head. Crescent Wrench The smooth design of the crescent wrench makes it less likely to damage the finish on your nicer fixtures. If you want to be especially careful, just wrap a piece of cloth around your fixture before you put a wrench on it. Pipe wrench The pipe wrench comes with a long handle and works well

12 for threaded connections. This wrench works best if you keep the back of the jaw snug against the pipe while you're tightening it. Basin wrench It's a spring-loaded tool with a long handle and it's perfect for hard to reach areas when you need to tighten or loosen a pipe connection. Category: Septic Tank Subcategory: Installation and Maintenance Tip: Avoid Calling Your Orlando Plumber Septic System No No's Roto-Rooter Tip: Your septic system should be checked and pumped by your Orlando plumber every two to three years. Roto-Rooter Septic and Cesspool Treatment will help too maintain a heathly free flowing septic system. Tip: Five Things To Check If You Have Septic Tank Problems If your septic tank appears to have drainage difficulties, backflow problems, or is otherwise acting up, you can do a check to see if you can determine the problem. Here is our list of five things to check for septic tank problems. 1. Check the various fixtures in your house. Is only one fixture or drain clogged or is there more than one with problems? 2. Check the drain vent system. The building vent system might be blocked or not be installed properly. 3. Use a snake at the site of the building drain between your home and the septic tank to determine if a collapsed line, roots, or other obstruction is the problem with your septic tank. 4. Septic tank problems sometimes occur at the distribution box. Check the box and see if its levels are abnormally high. If so, you could be dealing with a failed or blocked absorption system. 5. Check the absorption field. If it appears wet or smells foul, your problem may be here. Tip: Five Ways To Avoid Septic Tank Problems Your septic tank doesn't have to fail or cause you drainage problems. If you follow these five steps, you'll be on your way avoiding septic tank problems. 1. Keep heavy weights like vehicles and livestock off of your septic tank. 2. Keep hazardous wastes out of your sinks and toilets. 3. Keep household items like dental floss, sanitary napkins, and cat litter out of your septic system. 4. Avoid septic tank problems by planting only grass over and near your system. Tree roots and shrubbery can infiltrate and damage your septic system. 5. Don't allow gutters to drain in or around your septic tank. Category: Sewer Line

13 Subcategory: Repair and Replacements Tip: Sewer Line Replacement Roto-Rooter Tip: If you can't bear the thought of tearing up your lawn or pavement, find out if trenchless repair methods of sewer line replacement are available in your area. Roto-Rooter's trenchless repair methods are less invasive and will have your plumbing running smoothly quicker and with less environmental impact. Tip: The Most Common Reason For Sewer Cleaning If you need sewer cleaning for your plumbing system, you might be among the people experiencing a blockage in your lateral line. According to the Department of Transportation in San Jose, California, a blockage in your lateral line is the most common reason people have back-up problems with their plumbing system. Toilets get clogged, drains get backed-up. There are two main parts to a sewage system - the main line and the lateral line. The main line carries your sewage to the treatment plant, while the lateral line runs from your home to the main line. Things like seafood shells and grease can clog up a lateral line, so avoid throwing them down your drain. In addition, tree roots can also enter and break the pipe of a lateral line. Tip: The Truth About Sewer Lines And The Easement If you're considering the purchase of a home with an easement over the sewer lines, make sure you find out exactly what you're getting into. Very simply, an easement is a legal right for someone other than the homeowner to use a part of the property for a specific use. This someone else might be your neighbor or it might be the government. A common easement occurs when utility lines and sewer lines run along your property line or perhaps your backyard. If it's a gas, electric, or telephone line along your property, you might see frequent trips from repair trucks to your property. A more disruptive situation might occur when you have sewer lines running through your backyard that require repair. You might have to have your lawn or pavement ripped up in order to facilitate the process. Many easements exist for an unspecified period of time and pass down from one owner to the next. Occasionally, an easement exists for a specific duration and may be renegotiated or may expire. So before you sign on the dotted line, consider any existing sewer lines and easements which affect your property line. Tip: Three Types of Sewer Pipe Problems If you have sewer problems, there could be a number of reasons why the pipes in your sewer are not holding up. Here are three types of sewer problems that could be occurring: 1. You have a bellied pipe. This means the surrounding soil has caused your sewer pipe to sink and now waste and paper are collecting in this section of the pipe. 2. The pipes in your sewer have leaking joints, allowing the water to flow out of those

14 areas. 3. You have a substandard pipe whose materials are not of high quality and therefore, the pipes are degrading or corroding. Tip: Trenchless Pipe Replacement Pipe Bursting One method of trenchless pipe replacement is pipe bursting. This non-intrusive method of repairing your pipes will have minimal impact on your landscape. Rather than digging out an entire section of your pavement or ground area, your plumbing professional will first create small holes at the beginning and end of the damaged pipe. Pipe bursting involves the use of a hydraulic machine. The damaged pipe will get broken up as new pipe is laid down. This trenchless pipe replacement method causes much less damage to the area surrounding the damaged pipe than the traditional method of pipe repair. Tip: When To Call In Your Baltimore Plumber Sometimes, a combination of weather, use, and normal wear and tear can cause your sewer pipes to become damaged. In that case, it's time to call your Baltimore plumber in to repair or replace your sewer pipes. Here are three scenarios where you should call your Baltimore plumber in to help you out: When shifting soil or cold weather causes your pipes to crack or break, you should call in your local Baltimore plumber.if your sewer pipe deteriorates and corrodes, restricting the flow of water, call your local plumbing professional to replace your sewer pipe.trees and shrubbery may enter your sewer line, blocking the normal flow of water. Your local plumbing professional can repair or replace the sewer pipes as needed. Tip: When To Call In Your Baltimore Plumber Roto-Rooter Tip: Roto-Rooter, your Baltimore plumber, is available to serve you 24 hour a day, 7 days a week. Call GET-ROTO ( ) or schedule online at Category: Toilet Repair Subcategory: Toilet Tips Tip: Five Steps To Installing A New Toilet Tank So you've taken out your old toilet, put in the new bowl, and now you're contemplating installing a new toilet tank. Installing a new toilet tank is easier than you might think. You can do it in five easy steps by reading our guide. 1. The bottom of your tank has an outlet. Install the large rubber gasket over the outlet. 2. Next, you need to place the rubber washers inside the tank and insert the mounting bolts from inside the tank through the bowl's mounting area. 3. You'll put the new toilet tank on next. Place your

15 new tank in position and secure it by alternately locking the nuts. 4. Check your manufacturer's instructions for specific directions on installing the toilet seat. 5. Installing the supply line will be your last step if you're putting in a new one. A flexible supply line will make your job easy. If you choose a rigid supply line, you'll have to bend it to for a proper fit. Tip: Nine Steps To Removing An Old Toilet Are you getting rid of your old toilet fixture, but not sure where to start? The process needn't be difficult. All you have to do is follow our how-to guide to removing an old toilet: 1. Before you start removing an old toilet, turn off the water supply, usually located on the supply valve below the left side of the tank. 2. Flush your old toilet fixture and remove any remaining water from the bowl and tank with a small plastic container. 3. Disconnect the old toilet fixture from the supply line. If you plan on installing a new supply line, you can remove it from the supply valve. 4. Remove the top of the tank and set it aside in a safe place where it won't fall and where you won't trip over it. 5. Where the bowl meets the tank, you will find a pair of bolts. Remove the tank from the bowl by unscrewing these bolts with a wrench and lifting the bowl off the gasket. You can use oil if the bolts have rust. 6. Remove the bolt caps and closet bolts from the base of the toilet fixture. 7. Release the bowl from its wax gasket by rocking it back and forth. You can use a large trash bag to contain the bowl and loose wax particles. 8. Plug the drain hole with a rag to keep gas from entering the room. Be careful to ensure the rag does not slip into the drain line. 9. Using a putty knife, scrape the remaining wax off the floor surface. Once the surface is clean and level, you can install a new toilet fixture. Category: Water Heater Subcategory: Installation and Repair Tip: Advantages Of A Tankless Water Heater Many older households use the traditional gallon water heater in order to supply hot water for their household. However, with the availability of the tankless water heater, some consumers might want to consider switching over. Here are some of the advantages of tankless over a gallon water heater: Compact size allows greater flexibility in a space saving unit. The tankless water heater is available as a gas or electric model, depending on your household needs.you have the flexibility of purchasing a smaller, less expensive unit to heat just a sink or a larger one in order to heat multiple fixtures in your household.some units allow for a great deal of costs savings in your utility bill. Tip: The Tankless Water Heater

16 A tankless water heater is a unit which typically mounts on a wall of your home. Some models are meant for outdoor mounting while others can be indoors. Compact in size, they make great space saving alternatives to the traditional water heater. They are available as either gas or electric models and can deliver anywhere from 4 to over 6 gallons per minute of hot water to your home. Some units can shave off 50% on you annual water bill. You can buy a model which will heat up just one sink in your home or the entire hot water supply for your house. Most tankless water heater units can replace the current water heater you own. Tip: Water Heater Repair And Replacement If you're considering either water heater repair or replacement, check out our handy guide to help you decide which way to go. 1. Check the manufacturer's recommended service life of your water heater. Consider water heater repair if your unit is well under the service life. Most manufacturers expect their products to last from 8 to 12 years. 2. Consider outside factors such as severe weather conditions, the integrity of the original installation, and amount of maintenance your water heater has received over the years. If your unit has weathered a great deal of inclement weather and neglected maintenance, it may be time to replace your unit. 3. Leaks around the tank or lack of reliability from your water heater mean it's time to replace your unit.