Archive for February, 2009

Even though the garbage disposal is designed to pulverize left over foods and other such materials, food particles often become trapped in the nooks and crannies of the garbage disposal and kitchen drainpipe. This provides the perfect environment for mold and bacteria to grow and create unpleasant odors, as well as unhealthy spores. Cleaning the garbage disposal at least once a week with one of the following methods will help to keep it free of nasty bacteria and unsightly mold, plus it’s a great way to keep your kitchen from smelling like the trash can.

Method 1: Pour one half cup of baking soda down the kitchen drain. Carefully pour one cup of white vinegar down the drain on top of the baking soda. Place the drain stopper in the sink to close off the drain. If you have a double sink, you should do this for both of them. The mixture will fizz and make a bit of noise or fizzing sounds. Allow this to work its magic for a few minutes while you boil some hot water. Use a full teakettle or medium size pot of water. Once this has boiled, pour it down the drain.

Method 2: Using a clean container, mix a gallon of water with one tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach. Carefully and slowly, pour the solution down the drain and allow it to sit for several minutes. Flush the drain thoroughly with cold water for several minutes.

Another thing you can do to freshen up your garbage disposal, keep your sink smelling fresh and your blades sharp is to take some ice cubes and citrus fruit rinds every now and then and run them through your disposal.

By taking regular care of this kitchen convenience with regular freshening and cleanings, you can avoid costly Plumbing Repairs, remodels, or even dangerous illness in your home.

There’s nothing worse than having a pipe burst in your home. From the damage to the frustration, a water leak can turn out to be both harrowing and expensive, especially for big breaks. To prevent such an event from happening in your home, it’s important to remember to check up on your pipes regularly to be sure that there’s nothing potentially wrong. If you happen to find a lead, here are a few tips on making a temporary repair. Remember, none of these are permanent fixes, but they will allow you to turn the water back on until you can get the pipe fixed more permanently.

1. Stick a pencil point into the hole and break it off, then wrap the pipe with electrician’s tape. Smear some plumber’s epoxy repair putty over the tape to make sure it doesn’t leak. Let it set for half an hour and turn the water back on.
2. Wrap a piece of rubber (like an old inner tube) around the pipe over the hole, and then use a C clamp and small blocks of wood to clamp the rubber wrap tightly in place. If you have them, hose clamps around the rubber covering the hole could also be used to keep water from leaking.
3. Don’t have any old rubber that can act as a repair? Cut a piece of garden hose long enough to cover the hole in the pipe plus two or three inches on each side. Slice the garden hose lengthwise and position it over the hole in the pipe. Once again, use hose clamps to keep it in place and stop water from leaking.

After your quick fix, be sure to replace the leaking pipe using Plumbing Supplies from SimplyPlumbing.com or by calling a professional plumber to take care of it. Left unfixed, your temporary repair could end up costing you more in the end as the result of a reopened leak and water damage.

If you’re looking for a magazine-style news site to stay current with plumbing industry news, we suggest that you click on over to MyPlumbingPortal.com.

MyPlumbingPortal has got an exhaustive amount of resources - industry news, a great Ask the Expert column, and some fantastic recurring columns in the How-To Corner and The Glitch And The Fix. Also worth checking out is the blog by the site’s editorial staff.

MPP is a great site to consult if you’re a professional or a do-it-yourselfer, and that’s why we’re calling it a Plumbing Resource.

If you are about to start any type of home remodeling project, we’ve found a great resource for you. We came across Construction-411, a site that offers a great deal of information and tips. They are ready to provide you with free quotes for almost any type of project. You can select from several home remodeling categories such as, bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, room additions and many more. If you aren’t looking for a total redo, browse their section of installs & replacements. There you can choose from kitchen counters, flooring, fences or electrical. Make sure to take a peak Construction-411 for a complete list of categories.

Browse through their blog entries to get the latest scoop on what’s happening in the world of construction. You’ll find these posts short and sweet but always pointing you to an informative source.

Number 1
Fixing a leaky faucet can save 20 gallons of water per day. Investing in a new faucet with low-flow water aerators can also be a great way to save. Aerators are the small devices that have a screen in them and are mounted to the end of your faucet. Low-flow aerators may be purchased separately for some types and brands of faucets. A typical low-flow aerator can save up to 30% of the water used by a regular aerator. When buying a new faucet, look for the EPA WaterSense label so you know the faucet is independently certified to perform and save water.

Number 2
Consider a water filtration system mounted to your faucet, or a free-standing system. One unit can annually purify enough water to fill up to 3,200 plastic water bottles. This will help reduce the number of bottles that are tossed out each year (which globally totals 38 billion annually).

Number 3
Invest in the environment, and replace your old toilets. With the savings on your water bills, a high-efficiency, low-consumption toilet will soon pay for itself. They use only 1.28 gallons per flush as compared to older models, which consume 1.6 gallons, and account for an average of 1/4 of the water we use in our homes.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about ways you can gift your spouse. If you still haven’t found the perfect trinket or treasure, why not consider doing a bit of handy work around the house? Maybe it’s time start thinking about turning that dream bathroom into a reality.

Get new faucets and turn on the love! SimplyPlumbing.com offers one of the largest selections of designer faucets and bathroom fixtures, including collections from Kohler, Delta, and Moen. Add them to your new tub or sink and you’ve got a true style statement about your bathroom. For more romantic types, choose curved designs with intricate details that deliver a luxurious appeal. Looking for a new tub or toilet? Opt to choose a color or style that you never had before. Try to update them for the size and usage habits of your bathroom. Just want something quick and easy? Adding a fresh coat of paint or new towels and shower curtains can be great update for any bathroom.

Let SimplyPlumbing.com provide you with the essentials you need to redo, revamp, and renew the romance in your bathroom – just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Although it’s easier than ever to “do it yourself” when renovating your home, accidents still happen, and issues crop up that are better left to the professionals. We always recommend letting a professional do complicated plumbing jobs, but if you need quick answers from an expert, AskAPlumber.com is a great place to start with a few different ways to find the know-how you’re looking for:

The Plumber Advice Forum is segmented into 3 broad categories – Residential, Fixtures, and Fittings, Pipes and Tubing.

Find A Plumber lets you search for a local expert by city or by zip code, and the results are broken down by service so you can find the right plumber for your job.

The site’s Plumbing Help section includes How-Tos and FAQs.

AskAPlumber also maintains a blog that also has some helpful advice on it.

At Simply Plumbing, we can help you get all the equipment you need for your next plumbing job, but we can’t help you with the work, which is why we recommend Ask A Plumber.