Toilets

Bathroom odor, by any other name, is just as off putting, and possibly dangerous. When there’s a buildup of bathroom smells and your basic air freshener is not knocking out the bad odors then it may be time for either a deep clean, where every crack and crevice has been touched; this is one way to address that foul smell. There could also be a deeper plumbing problem that is causing the toilet odor and you’ll need more than a DIY solution like baking soda, bleach, lemon juice, essential oils, white vinegar or a cup of vinegar and hot water, and will need to be addressed by a professional. The odors could be from mildew  on the grout that you clean . What’s Causing the Foul Odor?  Unfortunately, we don’t have a definitive answer because there can be a number of causes and without being there, it can be difficult

There are numerous reasons that a toilet clog could be occurring, even on a daily basis. This could happen because of how the toilet is used, from problems in the toilet’s mechanics, toilet drain, sewer lines or main sewer line issues, or perhaps even problems with your water supply, water pressure or plumbing vents. There are some DIY solutions that are implemented like chemical drain cleaners, however those are almost always inferior to an auger – chemical drain cleaners will have no impact on tree roots or other large blockages in drain pipes. This post will cover several of these reasons a homeowner’s toilet could be clogged and provide some fixes, as well as offer plumbing tips to keep your toilet from clogging! Common Causes for a Clogged Toilet Low Flow Toilet Simply put, one reason that a toilet could experience frequent clogging is that too much is being asked

Shut off valves, or water shut off valves, are vital in your home’s plumbing system. It allows homeowners and plumbers alike the ability to cut off the water pressure when there is a plumbing emergency or while installing plumbing fixtures or performing plumbing repairs.  Shut off valves are like doors for water pressure, and allow plumbers and DIY’ers to stop the flow of water in your water supply line, or even your main water supply. . Types of Shut Off Valves  . As your home’s toilet, washing machine, icemaker, water heater and sink shut off valves are rarely used, when you do try to cut off the water supply, you may find that the valves no longer function. Whatever the reason, if you need to get a new shut off valve, you will need some basic info on water shut off valves in general, as well as main water shut

Do you have a toilet that’s rocking back and forth? Would you describe your toilet as “wobbly”? Are you worried that your toilet tank may start leaking on the bathroom floor because your rocking toilet moves so much? If so, will the entire wobbly toilet need to be replaced, or can it be fixed? Rocking Toilet Reasons Mounting Bolts Sometimes, all that’s necessary to stop a rocking toilet is to tighten the mounting bolts / flange bolts a little bit. However, make sure that you don’t crank the loose bolts down too tight, because doing so could crack the ceramic, which turns this easy fix into more than a trip to the hardware store. Flange / Wax Ring The flange at the base of the toilet is where the toilet is connected to the drain pipe in the floor. A wax ring is part of the connection at the bottom

Some people have a good grasp of plumbing, especially when they grew up with a father or a grandfather who was pretty handy around the house. If you were the kid who wore your Dad’s tool belt as he repaired a clogged garbage disposal or a leaky faucet, you may have a good understanding of how indoor plumbing works. On the other hand, perhaps you grew up in apartments. Whenever your single mom had a problem with the plumbing, the apartment manager would dispatch a handyman or a professional plumber to fix the issue. Or, perhaps your parents were very busy people with demanding careers. Your father was traveling all the time and your mom was always at the office, so you were cared for by your grandmother or a babysitter. In other words, your father didn’t have time to do work around the house so he called a professional

Are you designing a new home in Kansas City? Or, are you remodeling an existing one? Then again, perhaps you’re simply looking to upgrade a few appliances in your home. In all of these situations, you have an amazing opportunity to consider and invest in “energy-efficiency.” With today’s energy-efficient appliances and units, homeowners no longer need to sacrifice comfort, durability, or efficiency when they go “Earth-friendly.” Whether you’re in the market for a water heater, a dishwasher, a toilet, or clothes washing machine, there’s no better time than to consider upgrading to the latest energy-efficient models. If you’re in an existing house, the first step is to speak with a professional plumber about ways you can cut down on energy usage and related costs. On the other hand, if you’re designing or building a new home, or remodeling, the best way to optimize your home’s energy efficiency is to take

Most of our posts are written for homeowners who actually live in their homes, but this post is geared towards homeowners who rent or lease out one or more homes. It’s valuable for renters too! When you’re a homeowner who is living in your home, you’re fairly cost-conscious. You know that if there’s a leak in the roof, you have to call a roofer and take care of it. You have to make sure that the lawn looks good year-round so the neighbors don’t complain, and you have to replace the garbage disposal or dishwasher when they outlive their lifespan and breakdown for good. There’s no landlord or property manager to call when something needs to be maintained or repaired – it’s all on you. With the cost of repairs always in the back of your mind, you’re mindful about your property (inside and out), and you do whatever you

If you will be entertaining over the holidays the last thing you want is for a plumbing disaster to strike, and we all know that emergencies always happen at the worst times – like when we have a house full of guests! Whether the issue is a toy car clogging the toilet, turkey grease solidifying in the kitchen drain, silverware jamming the garbage disposal, or a broken water heater on Christmas Eve, plumbers are the superheroes over the holidays, that’s for sure! Many households see an increase in activity between November 23rd and January 1st, which places additional stress on the water heater, dishwasher, showers, bathtubs, toilets, kitchen sink drain, garbage disposal, and even the washing machine, which means household plumbing is put the ultimate test. While you can put in an emergency call to a plumber over the holidays, you’d prefer not to have to place a call on

You’re watching TV in your family room or checking your email on your laptop and you hear your child call, “Mom, Dad, there’s something wrong with the toilet!” with urgency in their voice. “Come quick!” your child exclaims. You get up and quickly run into the bathroom only to see dirty soiled toilet water pouring out from the toilet bowl and all over the bathroom floor, what do you do? Other than getting in a time machine to prevent the clog and overflowing toilet from happening in the first place, there are steps you can take to clear a clogged toilet and prevent further damage Steps to Fix an Overflowing Toilet The first thing you want to do is STOP the flow of water to the toilet by turning the water supply line shutoff valve. This is located at the base of the toilet, near the ground and on the

Big, mature trees are often welcomed with open arms by homeowners. They provide shade, they improve the aesthetics of a yard, and they make a neighborhood look splendid. Unfortunately, while they beautify our front and back yards, they can also wreak havoc on our indoor plumbing system. In order for trees to grow, they must have water. So, tree roots naturally seek water and they gravitate towards sewer lines. Roots have never found a plumbing leak they didn’t like! Whenever a tree root does find a leak, it won’t take long before the roots grow into the pipe, inhibiting the flow of waste. When tree roots grow into pipes in their continuous search of water, the roots cause broken pipes, blockages, and other plumbing problems for homeowners, especially problems involving sewage. As you can imagine, a sewage leak is not only messy, it’s unsanitary, and people are not supposed to