There are two styles of washerless faucets available (single lever or two-handled) and three types of washerless faucets (ball, disc, and cartridge).

BALL FAUCETS
Having a free-moving handle that attaches to a rotating ball inside the faucet body, a ball faucet works when the rotation of a ball stops at a position where the ball aligns with the water flow of your hot water or cold water inlets to dispense water.  When the handle of one of these type faucets leaks, a tightening of the ring or replacement of the cam washer usually solves the problem.

DISC FAUCETS
Disc faucets have a ceramic disc assembly at their core.  These handles rarely wear out but leaks do develop when any of the faucet’s rubber seals become corroded.  With three rubber seals for hot, cold, and mixed water flow, you’ll need to remove and replace all three seals when leaks occur.

CARTRIDGE FAUCETS
Most cartridge faucets are of the single-handed variety and are easily identifiable by their narrow metal or plastic cartridge sitting inside its faucet body.  Cartridge faucets develop leaks when their O-rings or cartridge assembly becomes worn.  To alleviate these leaks, you’ll need to replace either or both of these parts.  The main thing to remember with a cartridge faucet is to make sure you replace the O-ring or cartridge assembly with an exact duplicate part; otherwise, you’ll still have a leak when you finish your repair job.

If you have a more extensive leaky faucet problem that isn’t solved by the above suggestions, contact qualified plumber contractor to take care of that leak for you.

Blog Post provided by:  Marietta Licensed Plumbers

Many homeowners dream of a bathroom make-over.  You need more space, more lighting, a larger bathtub or shower, or a new look.  Bathroom improvements don’t have to be costly to be worthwhile.

Some ideas that may prove useful in transforming your old bathroom into a stylish new one that won’t break the bank include:

· Freshen up your bathroom with a new coat of paint on walls and ceiling.  This is by far the least expensive bathroom make-over strategy.
· Remove old cracked, aged, and dirty caulking around your shower and/or tub with new caulk. 
· Purchase and install a new toilet.  With lots of toilet colors available, you’ll be able to coordinate your new toilet with other bathroom décor to create a new look.  Get a dual flush toilet and you’ll also be contributing to the preservation of the environment. A licensed plumber can help with the purchase and installation.
· Replace your old vanity with a new one.  Or, if that is too expensive, consider replacing the top of your vanity or sink.
· Add stylish new taps and a matching showerhead for a quick modernization of your old bathroom.
· Upgrade your light fixtures with some new, energy efficient and more stylish models.  You may have a hard time deciding on this one if you haven’t looked at light fixtures lately as the variety is almost overwhelming.
· Replace your worn and probably dulled shower door with a new clean door.  If you coordinate it with your new fixtures, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the result.
· Replace towel bars, your toilet paper holder, and shower rod.  These are available in multiple styles and materials so you’re sure to find one that will improve your bathroom’s appearance.
· Finish any upgrade or improvement with new towels, bathmats, and accessories to pull your room together.

Try some or all of these suggestions.  You’ll enjoy the process and the new bathroom.  Should you need the services of a qualified, licensed plumber during your bathroom make-over project, contact one of our plumbers at www.find-plumbers for an estimate.

Blog Post provided by:  Atlanta Bathroom Plumbing Specialist

If you are remodeling your kitchen or bathroom and are considering flooring tiles, you’re options will probably be narrowed down to ceramic or porcelain.  Which to choose depends on your personal preferences and the function of your floor covering.  Ceramic and porcelain tiles are manufactured by using the same process.  The difference in the final produce has to do with the fact that the material used in porcelain tiles is more refined than that of ceramic tiles.  Consequently, being subjected to higher temperatures than ceramic, porcelain tiles are denser, creating a tougher tile. 

CERAMIC FLOOR TILES
Ceramic tiles are less expensive that porcelain ones.  Ceramic tile comes in a variety of colors, styles and designs.  Also ceramic tiles give you some versatility options for bordering your floor.  Ceramic tile lends itself to being combined with wood and carpet to create a unique look, and may be installed in outdoor and indoor areas.
On the negative side, ceramic tiles are subject to wear and tear because they absorb water, are subject to breakages in high traffic areas, require regular maintenance, and are quite slippery when wet.

PORCELAIN FLOOR TILES
With its high resistance to moisture, porcelain tile is a great choice for bathrooms and kitchens.  Because of this moisture resistance, porcelain is less susceptible to stains than are ceramic tiles.  Porcelain tile is durable and resistant to allergens and bacteria.  Porcelain requires a minimum amount of maintenance and is durable when subjected to heavy foot traffic.

Cons of porcelain floor tiles are that porcelain tiles cost more than ceramic, are cold and hard on bare feet, and heavy.

While both ceramic floor tile and porcelain floor tile are both attractive, considerations of which to choose for your bathroom or kitchen remodeling project should take into consideration how hard you and your family are on flooring.  While less expensive, ceramic floor may not be your ideal option as the cost of future repairs and maintenance expenses may prove to be a more costly in the long run. 

Whichever route you go, contact a licensed Atlanta plumbing contractor for an installation estimate of your ceramic or porcelain tile floor project.

Blog Post provided by:  Atlanta Bathroom Plumbers

Below you’ll find several ways to lower your monthly, hot water bill and conserve energy.
· Conserve – Just use less hot water.  Use cold water to wash clothes as much as you can.
· Turn your hot water thermostat down.  Many hot water heaters are set at 150 degrees F which is probably hotter than necessary.  You’ll make your hot water heater run more efficiently if you reset the thermostat to 115-120 degrees F.
· Insulate your hot water tank.  Insulation will help prevent a lot of energy loss.  Make sure you don’t cover up the gas heating elements or you may have a fire on your hands.
· Purchase an energy-efficient hot water heater.  Water heaters have a life expectancy of 15 years.  When yours needs replacing, consider investing in an Energy Star certified hot water heater to increase the energy efficiency of your home.
· Insulate water heater pipes.  All that’s necessary here is insulation of the first six feet of your hot and cold water pipes that connect to your water heater.
· Remove all sediment from your water heater tank.  Sediment obstructs heat transfer; removal of this sediment every three to four months will increase the efficiency of your hot water heater.
· Install heat traps.  Heat traps will prevent heat loss from stored hot water in your tank.
· Install a drain water waste heat recovery system. These systems are known to save 25 to 30 percent on water heating energy when installed on your hot water heater.

With a bit of effort, you can easily improve the energy efficiency of your hot water tank.  Contact a licensed plumbing contractor for help, more information or an update on suggested ways to conserve water.
 
Blog Post provided by: Alpharetta Hot Water Heater Plumbers

THE BASICS
When you flip the switch on your garbage disposal, blades start to spin to pulverize the food and debris you have thrown into it. Once pulverized enough, these articles flow downstream through your plumbing system as liquidized waste.  Since the blades of your garbage disposal are very fast and strong, an odor problem may arise when you try to grind up some item that gets stuck against the walls of the disposal. If allowed to remain in the disposal long enough (a few days), you’ll have quite an unpleasant odor on your hands.

CLEANING A STINKY GARBAGE DISPOSAL
Once odor has invaded, the simplest way to rid your garbage disposal of that odor is to fill the disposal with soap and water and flush it out.  To accomplish this task, stop up the sink where your disposal is located, fill your sink with enough soapy water to fill up the disposal, and then release the stopper while turning on your garbage disposal to have the disposal’s submerged blades spin the mixture around and hopefully dislodge the odor-producing gunk in your disposal.  If this is a successful procedure, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in the odor.

IF SOAP AND WATER DON’T WORK
If soap and water don’t clear the odor, try the same flushing procedure and use baking soda and vinegar (½ cup of baking soda plus ½ cup of vinegar added to water) to partially fill your sink.  Immediately following the last gurgle of the water going down the disposal, follow the mixture with boiling water. 

If the above measures are unsuccessful, contact experienced licensed plumber for a guaranteed solution to that garbage disposal clog or odor problem.

Blog Post provided by:  Marietta Garbage Disposal Plumbing service

Common contaminants found in drinking water around the country include iron, manganese, sulfur, bacteria, nitrates and low PH.  In certain areas, chlorine, fluoride, sediment, heavy metals, hydrogen, sulfide and radon should be added to your list. 

Typically, the most common filtration systems utilize activated carbon filters to filter the widest variety of contaminants.  Other water filtration treatments include ultraviolet light treatment, effective against living organisms in drinking water, and reverse osmosis treatment, which removes a wide range of contaminants by forcing water through a membrane.

If water in your area is heavily contaminated, you may want to consider installing some or all of the following devices:

· refrigerator water filters,
· whole house water filters,
·  water bottle filters,
·  shower water filters,
·  portable water filters,
· facet water filters,
· under-sink water filters,
· well water filters,
·  countertop water filters, and
· pitcher water filters. 

Pitcher and faucet water filter systems cost from $10.00 to $275.00 or more.  Reverse osmosis systems will run you $150.00 to $500.00, with under-the-sink and countertop systems being anywhere from $50.00 to $400.00.  Whole house systems depend on the size of your home and can be as inexpensive as $100.00 or can run into thousands of dollars.  With this large variance in price, you’ll want to investigate your options for which water filtration systems suit your budget; also, make sure you factor in the cost for replacement filters as well as warranties and/or system replacement expenses.

If you feel lost in your search for the perfect water filtration system or you just want some expert advice, contact an experienced licensed plumber.

Blog Post provided by: Marietta, GA Plumbers

When considering the perks a shower offers, you want to carefully choose what type you want in your house to produce maximum satisfaction for all your showering needs.  Depending on your budget, you have the choice a prefabricated shower or a custom-built one.  For the most part, showers differ in size, material, construction and configuration.  They range from one-piece, prefabricated, stall-type showers to large, custom-built, steam showers, with the custom-built ones capable of being constructed from a number of waterproof materials in any size and shape and prefabricated ones being constructed of fiberglass.

Prefabricated Showers
Single-piece synthetic marble, laminate, or molded fiberglass showers are your least expensive choices in prefabricated showers.  Simple to install, easy to clean, and watertight, they are usually square, rectangular, or shaped to fit into a corner.  Most prefabricated shower stalls have pre-formed shelves, grab bars, and/or benches.  One-piece prefabricated showers are popular choices in new construction since they are quick to install and don’t have seams, but, they aren’t as popular for bathroom remodeling as they are often too large to fit through doorways.

Custom Showers
Custom showers, on the other hand, are constructed from the ground up, making them a versatile choice if you have a budget to accommodate the expense.  Options for a custom shower are limitless and can be designed as a small and compact or as large and elaborate as you wish.  A custom shower can be enhanced with luxurious seats, multiple showerheads, full-body massagers, and steam-shower generators.

Regardless of your shower project budget or type of shower you choose, or whether the new shower is for new construction or a remodeled bathroom, a licensed plumber can install your shower and have it ready for your first shower with a minimum of work on your part.  

Blog post provided by:  Atlanta, Ga Bathroom Remodeling Specialists

For most of us, the first decision about any appliance purchase will be a cost-effective one. However, don’t just consider the cost of a given washing machine; investigate the energy efficiency characteristics of your new purchase as the energy efficiency capabilities of it will determine future expenses of using the machine on a daily basis.   Front-loading washing machines are the most energy efficient type of washing machine, but they also come with a much higher price tag than a top-loading machine.

Space is another factor in choosing your new washing machine.  For a home with limited space, consider installing a stacked washer/dryer set-up.  And, if you have room for a side-by-side washer and dryer, make sure you purchase a washer that has the same size capacity as the dryer you plan to match it with so you don’t find yourself with wet clothes lying around waiting to be dried because you can’t fit them into your dryer. 

Lastly, you’ll want to decide what type tub you need and what gadgets you want on your machine.  Frequency of clothes washing will determine what type tub you need.  If you wash a lot of clothes, you’ll want to purchase a machine with a stainless steel tub, otherwise a porcelain-coated steel tub or a high-grade plastic one will suffice.  As for the gadgets you want on your washing machine, the sky is the limit.  You’re only limitation for gadgets will be your budget. 

Once you’ve purchased your new washing machine, make sure it is installed properly and is in working order for your first load of laundry by contacting licensed plumber to install your new appliance.

Blog post provided by:  Alpharetta, GA Plumbers

Open the lid on your toilet tank, flush, and watch to see if any of the parts in the tank are catching on each other.  If that is the problem, you can easily untangle the catching mechanism and your problem may be solved.

Next, try adjusting the length of the lever chain and check the ball cock to make sure it isn’t waterlogged.  To do this, lift the ball cock out of the tank and shake it to determine if water is lodged in the ball.   If it is, empty the water if you can, and if that doesn’t work, you’ll need to replace the ball cock.

Should you still have a leak, you’ll need to investigate further, using more sophisticated methods of identifying your toilet tank problem.  First cut the water supply to the toilet tank and mark the water level inside.  Re-check the water level in about 20-30 minutes to see if the water level has decreased or increased.  If it has increased, your flush valve is probably broken.  To repair the flush valve, replace the rubber flapper that seals the tank after flushing and you’re done.  If the water level decreases, your refill valve is most likely defective, a simple replacement of this valve will probably solve the leak.

For other leaks you may need a plumber.  Not all leaky toilet tank problems can be solved by the simple procedures discussed here.  If you find that you need help with a toilet tank leak or any other plumbing problem, contact a local, licensed, experienced plumber to solve the problem.  Don’t leave that leak until you’re water bill increases or other damage occurs. 

Blog Post provided by: Marietta GA Toilet Repair Plumbers

Periodic septic tank cleaning is important for the proper working of your septic tank system.  Your septic tank needs to have a significant amount of liquid space in its tank so the waste that gets dumped into it can break down unencumbered.  Unfortunately, if your tank begins to fill with sand, silt, gravel, or any other solid objects, the water is displaced, causing disruption of the breaking-down process.  If your tank is allowed to remain too full for long, you could risk permanently damaging your leach field, a very expensive septic tank system replacement.  

To extend and protect the life of your septic system, make sure you have it professionally cleaned on a regular basis.  Also, watch what you put into the tank in between cleanings (obviously human waste and anything you would eat or drink is okay) as well.  Avoid putting chlorine bleach in your tank as it will kill the beneficial bacteria that must exist in your septic system for it to work properly.

Blog Post provided by:  Atlanta GA Septic Tank Cleaning Specialist