5 Modern And Innovative Toilet Designs

There are four important things that you should be concerned about when furnishing your bathroom; functionality, comfort, safety, and aesthetic appeal. The bathroom is one of the most visited rooms in the house. And it’s home to some of the most important fixtures and appliances in the home plumbing system. The first thing that you should ensure when furnishing your bathroom, especially during a bathroom remodeling project, is that all these plumbing fixtures and appliances are highly functional. This means that you should install high quality faucets, showerheads, bathtubs, toilets, urinals etc in your bathroom. You may want to install a tankless water heater for instant hotwater for showers and baths.

You should also ensure that your bathroom is as comfortable as possible. This means that you should upgrade to luxurious bathroom fixtures like walk-in bathtubs and smart toilets. Safety in the bathroom can be enhanced by installing slip-resistant tiles and floor mats and other safety features like grab-on bars in the shower. You should also mind the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom. Make sure that the floors and walls are beautiful. Bathroom cabinets should also compliment the overall decor of the room. And while you are implementing all these impressive changes, do not forget the toilet. This is one of the most important fixtures in the bathroom. Consider the following modern and innovative toilets when sprucing up your bathroom.

One-Piece Toilets

Most American homes feature the traditional two-piece toilet. A two-piece toilet comes with a separate toilet tank and bowl. These two essential parts are manufactured and installed separately. But nowadays we have the one-piece toilet that features a single unit with both the toilet tank and the bowl attached. The one-piece toilet has a classier sleeker design. Another advantage of the one-piece toilet is that it takes up less space than the two-piece toilet. However, one-piece toilets are a little bit more expensive than the two-piece models.

Wall-Mounted Toilets

Another impressive toilet design is the wall-mounted toilet. This toilet is mounted on the wall instead of being stuck to the floor. The floor-standing toilet is till very popular in the United States but people are looking for other options. The wall-mounted toilet comes in many stunning designs. The toilet bowl is hung a few inches from the floor and the toilet tank is hidden inside the wall. There is a control panel for flushing the toilet. This toilet saves a lot of space and offers a stylish look to your bathroom. The wall-mounted toilet is costlier than the floor-standing model. You will need a professional plumber who provides DC drain and sewer services to help you install this type of toilet.

Pressure-Assisted Toilets

Most of us are used to the traditional gravity-feed toilet that uses gravity propelled water to flush human waste. But now we have the water efficient and eco-friendly pressure-assisted toilets, such as flushometers and dual-flush toilets. These toilets consume very little water when disposing of human waste.

Comfort Height Toilets

While the standard toilet stands at about 14-15″ in height, a comfort height or seat height toilet is 17-19″ in height. These toilets are designed for comfort. They are ideal for people with limited physical mobility.

High-Tech Or Smart Toilets

Smart or high-tech toilets are very common in Japan and they are now gaining popularity in the West. They feature many luxurious features including heated seats, deodorizing seats, hands-free flushing, bidets, automatic overflow protection, toilet bowl nightlights, motion-activated lighting, self-cleaning wands, warm-air dryers, and many other tech-oriented features.

http://plumberindc.com/5-modern-and-innovative-toilet-designs/

Common Types Of Plumbing Remodels And Renovations Done In Washington DC

Plumbing companies in Washington DC provide all the standard general plumbing services that you might expect. This means that these companies handle all kinds of plumbing installations, repairs, replacements, upgrades, inspections, and maintenance. This applies to all types of plumbing fixtures for bathroom remodels, such as faucets, sinks, showerheads, toilets, urinals, bathtubs etc. It also applies to all types of plumbing appliances and devices including washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, sump pumps, garbage disposal units, and many more.

The more established plumbing companies in DC also provide gas plumbing services. This means that they offer both general plumbing services and gas plumbing services. Some of the most basic gas services include new gas line installations, retrofitting, gas leak detection and repair, gas line repair and replacement, and gas appliance installation, repairs, and maintenance. All these general and gas plumbing services are available to both residential and commercial plumbing clients in the city. But some of the most established plumbing companies take it an extra notch higher. They provide specialty plumbing services, such as remodeling and renovation services. Today we are going to look at the various types of plumbing remodels and renovations that are conducted in Washington DC.

Home Remodels

Home or residential remodels and renovations are requested by homeowners and other private residents in the city. These are some of the most popular plumbing renovations in DC and they are handled by professional remodelers or professional plumbers specializing in remodeling and renovation. Most home remodels are implemented in the kitchen and in the bathroom. These are the residential kitchen and bathroom remodels discussed below.

Commercial Remodels

Not all remodelers and plumbers handle commercial remodels. Commercial remodels are requested by business owners and other commercial clients in DC. These projects are usually large-scale in scope and very demanding in nature. They require vast resources in terms of money, highly trained manpower, and remodeling equipment and materials. Commercial remodeling and renovation services in DC are only provided by the biggest plumbing companies that offer commercial plumbing and the most established remodelers in the city.

Kitchen Remodels

Kitchen remodeling and renovation services are provided to both homeowners and commercial clients in Washington DC. These are some of the most popular remodels in the city. Kitchen remodels involve the implementation of various floor and wall ideas. The remodel also involves the upgrading of various kitchen fixtures and appliances including the kitchen sinks, faucets, garbage disposals, dishwashers, cabinets etc. One of the main objectives of kitchen remodels is to become more water and energy efficient. This means that high efficiency water and energy saving fixtures and appliances should be installed during the kitchen remodel.

Bathroom Remodels

These are the most popular remodels for residential and commercial clients in Washington DC. Bathroom remodels include various floor and wall ideas, such as new wallpapers and tile and matting floor ideas. And like kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels also involve upgrading various bathroom fixtures and appliances. Common upgrades include the installation of low-flow bathroom faucets and showerheads, low-flush toilets, high efficiency Energy Star-rated water heaters and so on.

Office Remodels

Office remodels are usually requested by commercial plumbing clients in DC. This involves giving a commercial office or office building a facelift. Some private residents in DC also remodel the private offices in their homes. Office remodels are quite resource-intensive and customized to suit specific client tastes and preferences.

http://plumberindc.com/common-types-of-plumbing-remodels-and-renovations-done-in-washington-dc/

Common Dishwasher Problems And Their Solutions

The home plumbing system features very many types of plumbing fixtures and appliances. All these fixtures and appliances play an important functional role in the home plumbing system. Plumbing fixtures like faucets and showers play an important role in delivering clean water to the user. Other plumbing fixtures like toilets and urinals dispose of human waste in a convenient and hygienic way. Plumbing appliances play more specialized functional roles than the aforementioned fixtures. For example, a washing machine is specially designed to clean laundry. A garbage disposal is specially designed to shred and dispose of solid food waste. The water heater is only used for heating water and so on. All these plumbing fixtures and appliances break down over time. And because they are so important in our lives, we usually require the services of a professional DC emergency plumber when any of these plumbing fixtures and appliances malfunctions.

One of the most important plumbing appliances is the dishwasher. This device is specially designed to clean and dry dishes. The typical dishwasher lasts about 7-12 years but some devices break down after only 4-5 years. You then have to spend a fortune in dishwasher repairs to keep the device working. That is why you need to know how to fix common dishwasher problems on your own to avoid hefty plumbing repair costs. Here are some of the most common dishwasher problems and their solutions.

Leaking

One of the most common dishwasher problems is leaking. Despite the fact that the dishwasher uses water to clean utensils, it should not spill even a drop on your floor. But if you start noticing pools of water under or near your dishwasher or a spray of water around the device, then you have a leak somewhere. Dishwasher leaks usually occur around the door, underneath the device, or at the water source. You can fix a door leak by replacing the rubber gasket. If the leak is at the water source, tighten the hose or replace the gasket. And if the leak occurs underneath your dishwasher, it could be happening at the water inlet or at the drain or at the seal around the pump. These leaks can be fixed by tightening or replacing the gaskets and/or hose clamps. You should also consider replacing the pump if it’s broken.

Unclean Dishes

If your dishwasher is not cleaning your dishes properly, there are several things that you should consider. There are several causes of this problem. You could be overloading your dishwasher. You should also ensure that you scrape of all food remnants from your dishes before putting them inside the device. The more technical cause of this problem is clogging in the door gasket, stain screen, or the spray arms. You can solve this problem by cleaning these areas.

Total Failure

You can put your dishes in your dishwasher and then try to turn it on only to realize that it’s not working. This could simply be a problem with the power source. Replacing a blown fuse can solve this problem. A dishwasher is also designed not to start if the door is not latched properly. And if there is no water in your dishwasher, you need to check and maybe replace the float switch.

http://plumberindc.com/common-dishwasher-problems-and-their-solutions/

How To Remove A Clog In Your Shower Drains

Drain clogs are nasty plumbing issues. Drain clogs occur when there is a solid foreign object blocking the flow of waste water in your drainage and sewer system. Drain clogs usually occur in your kitchen sink drains and in your shower or bathtub drains. We have already discussed how to remove kitchen drain clogs in this blog. That is why today we are going to focus on shower drain clogs. Shower drain clogs are usually caused by hair, soap remnants, and other bathroom products. These solid objects are usually deposited in your shower drain pipes. Over time, the hair becomes entangled into a fine mess. This fine mess traps all the tiny bits of soap and other debris that passes through your shower drains. This is the main cause of shower drain clogs. But you should also note that dental floss is another major cause of drain clogs. Dental floss is just like hair. One piece cannot cause a drain clog but when you bring together many pieces, you will have a serious problem on your hands. You can try to prevent shower drain clogs by installing a screen trap on the shower drain. But there is still a chance of hair and other debris passing through. That is why you need to know how to unclog your shower drains when the inevitable clog occurs. This article will teach you how to remove clogs from your shower drains.

Use A Drain Claw

A drain claw is one of the most effective tools for removing a shower drain clog. The drain claw is specially designed to catch hair and other debris that might be clogging your shower drains. The drain claw looks like a wire with an auger at one end. The auger has very many interlocking hooks. If you ever have a shower drain clog, you can use the auger to remove it. Just insert the end with the hooked auger inside your clogged shower drain. You have to remove the screen trap before inserting the drain claw. After inserting the drain claw, move it or maneuver it inside the clogged drain pipe to reach the clog. Twist it around in the clogged drain pipe until you feel that you have attached a lot of solid waste on the hooks. Remove the drain claw and dispose the solid waste properly to clear your shower drains.

Use A Plunger

You can also use a shower drain plunger to unclog your shower drains. There are two main types of plungers. There is a toilet plunger and a kitchen sink drain plunger, which can also be used to unclog your shower drains. Make sure that you always have the two types of plungers in your house. We all know how to use a plunger. Just place it on your clogged shower drain and do the up and down movement. The plunger might be able to dislodge the clog.

Call A Professional Plumber

If all these DIY solution fail to dislodge the clog in your shower drains, call a professional plumber for assistance. Request professional DC plumbing services to remove the clog from your shower drains. Remember that a serious shower drain clog can cause a sewer backup in your bathroom. Stubborn clogs should be handled by professional plumbers ASAP.

http://plumberindc.com/how-to-remove-a-clog-in-your-shower-drains/

Tree Root Intrusion/Infiltration In Sewer Pipes

The sewer system is one of the most functional parts of the home plumbing system. The sewer system receives all waste water and human waste from the drainage system. The sewer system is responsible for disposing of all this waste water and human waste. Your home sewer system either takes the waste water and human waste to the municipal sewer system or to your private septic tank. But like all other sections or parts of your home plumbing system, the sewer system can develop problems at any time. These problems are usually very serious and difficult to fix because the sewer system is usually burrowed deep in the ground. Most of your sewer lines are laid below the ground. That is why you need to request DC sewer and drain services any time you detect or suspect a problem in your home sewer system. One of the most common problems that affect many sewer systems in Washington DC is tree root intrusion or infiltration. Today you are going to learn everything you need to know about this serious but very common sewer line problem.

How It Happens

Tree roots live and thrive below the ground. And most sewer lines are laid below the ground. This means that tree roots and sewer lines are bound to interact in one way or the other. The problem of tree root intrusion or infiltration starts when young tree roots are looking for water and nutrients. The roots are naturally attracted to areas with a lot of moisture and nutrients. This is where they come into contact with your underground sewer lines. The underground sewer lines are always filled with sewage. And the sewage is very rich in nutrients and water. As such, the tree roots try to infiltrate the underground sewer lines as much as possible. Most of these underground sewer lines are constructed in such a way to prevent tree root infiltration. They have solid joints and very tough surfaces. But with time, the clay, iron, or concrete sewer pipes wear out with age. This gives the tree roots an advantage. They can now try to squeeze their way inside the old worn-out sewer lines. And that is how the problems described below occur.

The Problems

The main problem of tree root infiltration is clogging. The tree roots grow in size and block the flow of waste water and human waste in the sewer lines. This can cause a sever sewer backup in your house. You will need to conduct an underground sewer camera inspection to determine whether you have a tree root intrusion problem or not. As the tree roots grow bigger due to the massive intake of water and nutrients, they expand inside your sewer lines. This can cause the sewer lines to break, which will cause a serious leak in your home sewer system. This problem can only be fixed by replacing the broken sewer lines with new ones.

How To Prevent And/Or Solve

The problem of tree root infiltration can be prevented by regular lateral pipe cleaning. There are also effective root inhibition chemicals that you can flush down the toilet. Many professional plumbers use various tools to cut tree roots and remove them from your sewer lines. You should also remove or stop planting trees near your sewer lines.

http://plumberindc.com/tree-root-intrusion-infiltration-in-sewer-pipes/

5 Plumbing Emergencies That Require Emergency Plumbing Services

You can classify all plumbing problems as either minor or major plumbing issues. When we talk of minor plumbing problems, we are referring to those common plumbing problems that you can try to fix on your own. Examples of minor plumbing issues include slow leaking faucets and showerheads and the commonly occurring toilet or sink drain clogs. You can fix slow leaks with plumber’s tape or by tightening the leaking fixture. And you can try to unclog your toilet or kitchen and shower drains using a plunger. But we also have major or serious plumbing issues that require the services of a professional plumber. These serious plumbing problems are usually referred to as plumbing emergencies and they require DC emergency plumbing services. But you should also note that not all serious plumbing problems are plumbing emergencies.

Plumbing emergencies are those plumbing problems that necessitate instant plumbing services. In other words, you cannot wait for some hours before fixing them. Plumbing emergencies necessitate a call to your local plumber at any time of the day or night. Emergency plumbing services are provided 24/7, which includes weekends and public holidays. Here are several types of plumbing emergencies that require the services of an emergency plumber.

Water Heater Problems

All water heater problems should be treated like plumbing emergencies. Your water heater can develop all kinds of serious problems and you cannot manage to fix them on your own. Some examples of serious water heater problems that require the services of an emergency plumber are leaking, corrosion, temperature control issues, and total malfunction. You cannot survive without hot water in the house and you do not have the skills to repair a hot water heater. This means that you need to call an emergency plumber to fix your water heater when it’s faulty.

Gas Leaks

All gas leaks are plumbing emergencies. You should never attempt to fix a gas leak because you could be exposing yourself to very serious danger. The moment you detect or suspect a gas leak in your house, leave the house as soon as possible. You can try to shut off the gas at the main shutoff valve. But you should not stay in the house or even near the house. Call a professional gas plumber immediately to prevent fires and explosions in your house.

Water Leaks

Not all water leaks are plumbing emergencies. A slow leaking faucet or showerhead does not require the services of an emergency plumber. In fact you can try to fix such minor leaks on your own. But if you have a heavy leaking pipe in the house, call an emergency plumber immediately. A heavy leaking pipe can burst and flood the house if not fixed on time.

Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes are one of the most serious plumbing emergencies at home. Frozen pipes occur due to cold weather. A frozen pipe can burst at any time. It will also prevent water supply in the house. Request emergency pipe thawing services as soon as possible, if the situation arises.

Major Flooding

If your house starts to flood, call an emergency plumber immediately. Flooding can be caused by heavy rainstorms. It can also be caused by leaking pipes, fixtures and appliances. Whichever the cause, call an emergency plumber ASAP.

 

http://plumberindc.com/5-plumbing-emergencies-that-require-emergency-plumbing-services/

Luxury Features In Modern Toilets

Various plumbing fixtures and appliances have undergone many changes over the years. For instance, the faucet has been modified and re-modified in many since it was introduced many centuries ago. Now we have touchless hands-free faucet that turn on and off by detecting motion. Another plumbing fixture that has undergone a lot of improvements over the years is the toilet. We now have very many different types of toilets featuring all kinds of improvements. Many people still use the floor-mounted two-piece gravity feed toilets. But some people have now installed the wall-hung toilet due to space limitations in the bathroom. Eco-friendly homeowners that are undertaking bathroom remodeling are now opting for the pressure-assisted dual-flush toilet instead of the gravity feed toilet to conserve water.         

The Japanese are renowned for their many technological inventions. They have played a major role in developing the modern toilet. Modern toilets have many luxury features. They are also of very high quality, which means that they require less DC plumbing repairs. Let us now look at some of the luxury features that are found in modern toilets.

Comfort Height Toilets

Most of us are used to the standard toilet bowls, which are 14-15″ in height. But now we have comfort height toilets that reach 17-19″ in height. Comfort height or seat height toilets are more comfortable to use. They are highly recommended to people with mobility issues. Comfort height toilets are regarded as luxury toilets because they are installed as a matter of preference. They are more costly than standard height toilets but people like them because of the additional comfort.

Hands-Free Flushing

Many modern plumbing fixtures are touchless or hands-free. This means that you do not have to operate them manually. They turn themselves on and off automatically after detecting motion or sensing usage. One of the most amazing luxury features in the modern toilet is hands-free flushing, often found where commercial plumbing is necessary.  This toilet does not require you to flush it after use. It just detects you are done and flushes away the waste. This is a very hygienic toilet. It prevents the spread of germs when people are flushing the toilet. It’s also very convenient because you simply walk away after use without even having to look at the toilet bowl.

Heated Seats

Toilet bowls are usually made of ceramic. Toilet seats are usually made of plastic. The plastic can get really cold especially during the cold weather. One luxury feature in modern toilets is heated toilet seats. The seat remains heated throughout meaning that you will use the toilet comfortably without feeling cold. This toilet requires a power source to heat the seat.

Bidet Functionality

One very common feature in most Japanese toilets is the bidet. The bidet is a cleaning mechanism that is designed to clean your body after using the toilet. You do not have to use tissue paper in this kind of toilet. The bidet will clean you and even dry you up using warm vapor.

Automatic Overflow Protection

Most modern toilets have automatic overflow protection. This toilet cannot overflow because it’s fitted with this mechanism that prevents this kind of plumbing problem.

Toilet Bowl Nightlights

Some modern toilets have toilet bowl nightlights to guide the user at night. These nightlights will help you use the toilet properly even in the middle of the night.

Self-Cleaning And Self-Deodorizing Features

And last but not least, many modern toilets have self-cleaning and self-deodorizing features. This helps to keep the toilet clean and fresh at all times.

http://plumberindc.com/luxury-features-in-modern-toilets/