Replacing a drum trap to a PVC P-trap

Stop living with leaks and start living leak free.

Lets just start off and say drum traps were a terrible design. Most the time bathtubs would get clogged after the drum trap. Cleaning the drain though the drum trap would create headaches with broken pipes and drum trap covers that wouldn’t recreate a tight seal. It’s important to have that tight seal because otherwise the water would leak out from the drum trap cover. As drum traps got older and older plumbers started to slowly replace them with PVC p-traps. PVC was discovered in the 1800’s but never really used until the 1900’s. PVC is known to be stronger then cast iron and galvanized pipes. PVC has it’s own issues flaws as well. For instance if you install PVC in a very cold space make sure you insulate properly just in case.
P-traps are now what every new house installs. Even though cast iron lasted over a hundred years, the bottom line is that PVC is cheaper and gets the job done faster.
My personal opinion is that we would still be using cast iron pipe if it weren’t so expensive and hard to install. Buy as every contractor knows it’s all about price and quality work.
Call Hiawatha Plumbing today to help you unclog, or install your bathtub p-trap.

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Average cost to clean your main sewer line

Calls come in everyday to clean clogged main sewer drains. First off, know that each and every sewer line is different. Never can two sewer lines be identical. The average cost of cleaning a main sewer line is normally under $140. There are a couple different ways to clean a main sewer line and I think it’s wise to talk briefly about them. If a house or commercial building has a proper floor main sewer line clean-out near the front of their foundation you could get a sewer line cleaned for around $130 for under 90 feet. Companies do charge more per foot after 90 feet. If one can only clean a sewer line through a stack pipe it could take a little longer. Note: that some stacks have smaller opening to clean a sewer line. If a stack line has a smaller opening we always suggest in the future to increase the size. getting a bigger blade through ones sewer line will be more beneficial to them. For the most part sewer lines never have to be jetted. If a company offers to jet your main sewer line before cleaning it with blades be hesitant to way they want to proceed that way. 95% of sewer lines can be cleaned with blades. For ones that don’t know what jetting is, it’s high pressure water that cleans ones line. We suggest getting lines cleaned by blades before water ever is even introduced. Number one, jetting costs more and number two jetting again isn’t always needed. If one knows that their line needs a jetter you should go ahead an proceed.
Most the time the average sewer line costs under $150 to clean. We suggest to clean and maintain ones sewer line every 12 months. Also, after receiving a main sewer line cleaning think about cleaning your floor drain at the same time. Debris is always left in there and will back up your drain soon after and if not will harden in your line. By cleaning sewer line every 12 months you will get the best results from roots and all other sorts of debris from growing and spreading worse in ones main sewer line.
If you must go about cleaning your sewer line through your toilet the price is higher for pulling/resetting your toilet. Toilet lines are the LAST WAY we want to clean your main sewer line. Cleaning a sewer line is all about the size of the blade we can get through the line
Call Hiawatha Plumbing for any questions.
We look forward to hearing from you!

Instant hot water system

Having instant hot water is one of the most convenient items to have in the kitchen. Who wants to take time to heat up water when it’s at our fingertips. Since you don’t have to keep water constantly heated, its more cost efficient and will save you on energy in the long run. Having one will put a major savings on your monthly water bill. Go out and buy an instant hot water system and call us today to install it.

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Dual Flush Toilets Pros and Cons

Some countries make dual flush toilet mandatory. Dual toilets are also known as “Green” toilets. These toilets flush no more then 1.6 gallons, compared to the standard toilets that flush 3.5 gallons. Most dual toilets are designed to use gravity to remove waste through a large trapway. Older toilets use pressure siphoning. The larger trapways are to reduce the amount of toilet clogs. The cost of the dual flushing toilets start at $250 and can go up to about four times the price. Dual toilets have a very modern look to them so they can match with a variety of bathroom styles. These toilets can be purchased in one or two piece sets.
Some cons to the dual flush toilets is that there harder to install. Each model is different and requires a professional plumber. These toilets also may require more cleaning due to the lower volume per flush. The buttons on the top of the unit may be confusing at first cause there not marked well. In most cases the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. A dual flush toilet in the long run will save you money on your water bill.

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How to fix a scratched cast iron bathtub

Don’t panic when it comes to fixing a scratched bathtub. Before crying and telling yourself it’s time to replace the entire bathtub try fixing it first. When replacing a bathtub damage to the walls and floor are common and don’t be surprised when it happens. Be prepared for the worst. Make sure you budget right when it comes to replacing a bathtub. Hope the link below helps, if not ask friends and family if they ever have come across this problem. Make sure to call a plumber when taking out a bathtub. Making sure all the plumbing is in order and not damaged during the demolition.

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-repair-scratch-cast-iron-6923904.html

Copper Water Leaks.

Copper Water leaks can be easy to handle or a nightmare depending on when you catch them and decide to fix the problem. Couple things to you watch for on copper pipes. When you see them changing color to a blue or green you should replace that section of pipe. Some people think when you replace copper pipes you have to replace the entire line. Just so you people know, that’s not true at all. Whenever you see a pin hole leak make sure you know where your main water shut off valve is. Then turn your house water off and call a plumber ASAP. Houses can be fun and enjoyable to live in, but by ignoring the major problems, it can turn owning a house into a nightmare.

http://www.croberts.com/erosion-corrosion.htm

What faucet should i buy?

When purchasing a faucet remember that price isn’t always the top seller. A faucet that costs more doesn’t mean its gonna last longer or be more practical for your daily use. As a plumber we go in many homes and see many different types of useless faucets. I’ve asked many of my clients, why did you purchase that specific faucet? Every time they answer they say “because we liked what it looked like”.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/faucets/buying-guide.htm

If your a faucet fanatic, this is for you.

http://www.nowthatsnifty.com/2010/04/16-cool-facets.html#.T0RQhYePWcw

What did we EVER do before toilet paper?

“Since the dawn of time, people have found nifty ways to clean up after the bathroom act. The most common solution was simply to grab what was at hand:”

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/40088

Don’t look the other way when it comes to a plumbing leak

The key to mold control is moisture control. If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem.

http://www.nachi.org/mold.htm

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