Aug
6
Do you spend your weekends as a do-it-yourself handyman around the home? Some jobs are easier than others. While dipping a brush in the paint can may be fairly straight forward, other jobs can have serious implications if you make an error. Here are 7 mistakes a do it yourself plumber often makes.
1. Quickly get into overwhelm. Fixing a washer on a faucet may seem easy, until you’ve visited the hardware store five times, purchasing the wrong part each time. What should have been a one hour fix turns into an all day project.
2. Inaccuracy in measuring. When working with water, electricity or gas, even a fraction of an inch matters. Cut something short, and its not just a small error, it could have serious repercussions on the health of your family.
3. Not allowing yourself enough time. Trying to put in a new toilet before company arrives? Think again. People inexperienced to plumbing often misjudge how long a project can take, and something that you say, “Oh, it’ll only take five minutes” to may end up taking much longer.
4. Having the wrong part or tool. Head to your local hardware store, and you’ll find hundreds, maybe even thousands of parts to choose from. And half way through the job, you may find you don’t have the correct tool or right size wrench to finish the job. What started out as a quick job can quickly turn into an expensive one.
5. Create a mess. Working with water? Did you remember to shut off the main water valve before you begin? Soaking the carpet, furniture, drapes and floorboards can quickly escalate the time you’ll spend on your quick project.
6. Have to call in a plumber after hours of frustration. People choose do it yourself projects because they feel they will save money. But when a project extends into days or weeks, and you end up calling a plumber anyway, it will leave you feeling frustrated. Evaluate how much your time is worth, and consider hiring it out in the first place.
7. Don’t go beyond your limits. Never put in a new water heater before? Or converted a stove from electric to gas? Is now really the time to learn? Keep the do it yourself projects to things that are easy to research, and simple to do. If a project can go wrong and cause you or your family harm, it may be the best and simplest choice to call in a professional plumber.
Apr
1
8 DIY Plumbing Tips
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8. Keep your kitchen sink in top shape by watching what you put down the drain. Throw high concentrations of food items into the trash. Never pour grease or oil down the drain, as it tends to solidify and block your pipes. And flush your pipes with hot water periodically, especially after you’ve sent quite a bit down the drain.
7. Use green approaches to drain cleaning whenever possible. Green approaches to drain cleaning not only are safer for the environment, but can be safer for your plumbing system too.
6. Fix faucet leaks quickly. Did you know one leaky faucet could quickly waste thousands of gallons of water? While its sometimes easy to overlook the occasional drip in your bathroom sink, fixing it quickly can prevent further problems down the road.
5. Routine water heater maintenance. Just like anything that is used all the time, your water heater needs the occasional maintenance. Sediment can build up in the bottom of your tank, reducing the amount of hot water ready and waiting for you to use.
4. Watch for small leaks. Small leaks can quickly turn into big problems. Remember a small leak is an indication of the start of a setback. It’s giving you an indication to fix it now, or face more serious, costly issues in the near future.
3. Replacing isn’t just for old, worn out fixtures. With many of the programs featured by your local water or energy company, you can replace some of your most used fixtures for very low cost, and end up saving in the long run on your energy bills. Make sure you take advantage of these programs while you can – like the current Denver Water Rebate program for 2010.
2. The lowest cost item isn’t always the best. It’s easy to find a sale at your local hardware store that’s too good to pass up. Yet spend a little bit of time researching the product before you invest in new fixtures. Because you use these items daily, you’ll sometimes get more for your money by investing a little more the first time.
1. The problem with most DIY plumbing projects is seeing them to completion. If you have a new toilet sitting in a box in your garage, or a new faucet that you just can’t get into place, calling your local plumber in to finish the job will allow you to enjoy your new items sooner.
Feb
12
Are you trying to find ways to save money, and looking at trying to install a hot water heater yourself?
No matter what stage of do it yourself project you’re trying, don’t be afraid to call in an expert at any point, even if it’s just for a final check.
This past week we received a phone call from a person who went down to a big box store and purchased a hot water heater. He spent the weekend installing it in his home, and then spent even more time trying to fix a couple of leaks that just wouldn’t go away.
After several hours of frustration, he decided to give us a call and have us be his second pair of eyes in his do it yourself project.
When our technician evaluated the project, the water leak was the least of his problems. During installation, the exhaust ventilation pipe was hooked up incorrectly, and was allowing carbon monoxide to leak into the home. The potential of turning into a deadly situation was avoided, and the homeowner will be forever grateful to have that second pair of eyes jump in on his do it yourself water heater project.
If you have a situation, don’t be afraid to call in a professional. From finding a tiny leak, to replacing an entire system, our goal is to help keep you safe and efficient.
We’re there for you.
Feb
4
Want a simple tip to avoid a clogged drain?
Every day we cook three times a day. And if you’re cooking anything on the stovetop, chances are you’ve had cooking oil you drain off before you continue cookin
g your meal. What do you do with the excess cooking oil?
If you’re putting it down the drain, you could be doing more than clogging your drain. Grease actually begins to solidify fairly quickly, and will build up in a variety of ways. As you pour it down the drain, it combines with other particles in the wastewater, and begins sticking to the pipe walls that move through your home. Over time, this same buildup can attach itself to more that the pipes in your home – it can also move outside of your home and block the lines in and out of your home, resulting in a wastewater spill and potential hazard to you and the community around you.
Instead of creating a potentially expensive and chaotic situation, avoid the situation all together by keeping grease out of your drain. When cooking with grease, pour leftover oil into a jar or container and place into the trash. Wipe away any residue with a paper towel to avoid rinsing any down the drain.
image source
Dec
11
DIY Plumbing – Plumbing Gift Ideas
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Looking for gift ideas this year?
Here’s our list plumbing gift ideas that would make great stocking stuffers – and should be handy in 
every household for the quick jobs that pop up.
1. Adjustable Wrench Set. Just the tool for odd jobs all around the home.
2. Pliers. A complete pliers set will ensure you’re ready for any type of job, from grabbing and holding tiny pieces of wire, to cutting through metal.
3. Measuring Tapes. Ready to help you with all of your plans and fix-ups.
4. Screwdriver Set. Make sure you have all sizes and types available when you need it.
5. A Multi Position Ladder. Perfect for jobs all around the house, multi position ladders raise and bend to reach any height you need.
6. Wet/Dry Vacuum. Perfect for all kinds of uses, from garage messes to water cleanup.
Happy Holidays from Quality 1st Plumbing!
Nov
21
Times are tough all over. Instead of replacing home items with newer models, you may be joining millions of other homeowners and start thinking of a do it yourself project instead.
The top 7 do it yourself plumbing projects are: 
1. Fixing a leaking showerhead
2. Fixing a leaking bathroom or kitchen faucet
3. Clearing clogs from kitchen and bathroom drains
4. Repairing a toilet leak
5. Replacing fixtures in the kitchen or bathroom
6. Maintaining the hot water heater
7. Replacing or fixing the garbage disposal
For any plumbing project, the best way to get started is to have everything you need in place before you get started, and have the time available to complete the project.
As a professional plumber, I end up in countless homes finishing up projects that either took longer than anticipated, or were simply more difficult than the homeowner expected. While cutting costs anyway you can is important, its also important to fix the problem the right way the first time. Whether you have a problem you need help with, or would like us to finish up a project you haven’t yet completed, Quality 1st Plumbing is here as a resource to you.
Oct
8
Green Plumbing Tip: Converting To A Dual Flush Toilet
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Over the course of the last 30 years or so, we’ve seen a huge change in the amount of water used by a home toilet. Now thanks to the growing desire for green plumbing tips, many homes are installing low flow toilets, or even going to the next level of installing dual flush 
toilets.
According to the American Water Works Association, the average home uses 20.1 gallons of water per person for flushing the toilet. That amounts to about 30 percent of a home’s water usage. Upgrading from a 3.5 gallons per flush model to a 1.6 gallons per flush model will reduce one person’s annual water usage by about 15,000 gallons.
Low flush toilets were first introduced around 1994, and have since saved millions of gallons of water. But rumors still persist on customer satisfaction. Today’s low flush toilets are much improved over their older counterparts. And dual flush toilets can also contribute to cost savings.
Dual flush toilets are designed to handle solid and liquid waste differently, giving the user a choice of flushes. Most dual flush toilets use less than one gallon of water to flush liquid waste, and around 1.6 gallons to flush solid waste. The combined savings for using half flushes for liquid waste can result in savings of up to 68 percent or more over the conventional low flow toilet.
While dual flush toilets are widely used across Australia, Europe and Asia, they are now just catching on in the United States. The EPA is estimating by the year 2013, an estimated 36 states will experience water shortages; which means converting to water saving features is now more important than ever.
Sep
3
In every home, there are certain plumbing issues that come up that are more do it yourself in 
nature. From fixing a leaky toilet, to replacing a dripping faucet, when making minor repairs, buying the right replacement fixtures is the most important part of any project.
Step 1 – Find the problem
Sometimes the problem jumps out at you, sometimes it takes a little more research. Finding the source can help you limit the hours spent on the repair, and save countless trips to the hardware store. When you’re taking a part fixtures or piping, keep all the pieces together and in the right order so its easy to connect back together.
Step 2 – Match it
Even though you think you know what part you need to replace, looks can be deciding when you’re standing in the hardware store with dozens of choices. When in doubt, bring the actual piece with you to match up and compare, and ensure you are purchasing the right piece.
Step 3 – Get the right measurements
When replacing larger items like sinks or toilets, make sure you take accurate measurements for reinstalling. Sinks and toilets come in a variety of sizes, shapes and heights. Buying by looks alone could bring a big surprise when installation is complete.
Step 4 – Know your source
Different areas have different code requirements. Buying used or old, out of date materials can sometimes cause you to no longer meet code requirements.
Step 5 – Know your options
The hardware store may seem to be the best place to find new fixtures. But there are other options. In many areas the public has access to wholesale supply companies and can find unique supplies not found in the big box stores. You may even check with your local contractor or plumber for information – they often have tips on businesses or websites that offer things out of the ordinary.
Jul
24
Plumbing Products – Recognizing The Different Types Of Pipe
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Before working on any do it yourself plumbing project, its important to recognize the different types of piping within your home. Depending on when your home was built, you could have a variety of different types of 
piping, including some that may be no longer used within the industry.
Plastic
Most homes built since the mid 1970’s have plastic pipes and fittings. Plastic is inexpensive and easy to work with – the joints can be connected using primer and liquid cement.
You’ll readily find one two types of plastic pipe: ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or PVC (polyvinylchloride).
ABS pipe is the first plastic piping to be used in residential plumbing. Black in color, its easy recognizable, though many new construction areas no longer allow ABS because the joints have a tendency to come loose.
PVC pipe is white or cream in color, and is most commonly used for drain lines. It’s strong, indestructible by chemicals, and lasts indefinitely.
Copper
Copper pipe is commonly used for water lines because of its resistance to corrosion. It’s more expensive than the widely used plastic, but is great for long-term projects because of its durability. Copper pipe comes in two types: rigid and flexible. Flexible is often used for dishwashers, refrigerator icemakers, and other appliance that use a water supply. Rigid is thicker, and as its name implies, is more solid in form. It’s often used throughout homes, and in outdoor and drainage applications.
Cast Iron
Cast iron piping was typically used in homes built before 1960, and was commonly used for drain lines. Because of their tendency to rust over time, it’s important to call in a quality plumber to replace any existing cast iron piping.
Steel
Galvanized steel pipe is also commonly used in older homes. The average life of a steel pipe is around 50 years, so it’s better to replace existing piping instead of repairing.
PEX
PEX, or cross-linked polyethylene pipe is the newest pipe used in residential construction. It’s easy to install, flexible, and uses compression fittings. Currently it is more expense than copper or plastic.
Jul
17
DIY Plumbing – Fixing A Leaky Faucet
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One of the most common plumbing problems in any home is a leaky faucet.
Typically, a faucet can leak in one of two ways: a drip from the spout, or a water leak from the base of the 
handle. And because even the smallest of leaks can add up to thousands of gallons of water wasted each year, it makes sense to fix a leak as soon as you notice it.
The first step is to stop the water flow to the faucet. Some sinks have stop valves located under the sink. Bathtubs and showers often have integrated shutoffs near the fixture. Other homes have one main shut off valve to control the water throughout the entire house.
After shutting off the water, open the faucet and wait for the water to drain. Pry off the decorative cap (if any), remove the handle screw, and gently remove the handle. Use an adjustable wrench to loosen and remove and additional screws and packing nuts.
As you remove each piece, check for signs of wear. Common problems are:
- If water drips from the spout when the handle is off, you probably need to replace warn washers.
- If water seeps out below the handle, the O-ring is probably worn.
- If the seat looks worn, it probably needs replacing
When replacing parts, make sure you get an exact duplicate. Even the tiniest of differences can increase the leak instead of fixing it.
In some cases, if you can’t find the parts or if you are in need of a number of them, it may be better to simply replace the faucet. It allows you to update your look, and have the entire problem fixed and back in order in no time.
[Have several leaking faucets, or wonder how to convert to low flow faucets to converse on water? Quality 1st Plumbing can perform a water analysis in your home, and provide you with detailed ways to save on your next water bill.]
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