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Shopping for a garbage disposal?  Whether you are looking to reduce your impact on the environment, or just looking for an easier way to deal with dinner remains, you want to make sure you get the right disposal the first time.  So, here are a few tips to help you shop smart.

1. Size - When comparing garbage disposal units, one of the first things you will need to consider is size.  Since the unit will be held within the area under your sink, you will want to find a disposal that can fit in the available space.  Depending on your layout, this might eliminate several options already.

2. Power - Garbage disposals can vary in power from 1/4 hp to 1 hp.  The power you want will depend largely on what you intend to use it for.  It may surprise you to find that the most difficult food item for a disposal to process is stringy vegetables.  The more leafy greens you dispose of, the higher you will want your disposal’s hp to be.  For the average family home, a 3/4 hp disposal is sufficient.

3. Timing - Garbage disposals have two ways of grinding and disposing of waste.  Some are triggered by the presence of food, while others are not activated until you apply electricity.  Families with young children especially should consider going with the garbage disposal that gives you more control.
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Frozen pipes are an inconvenience at best.  At their worst, they can be a damaging, time consuming, and a costly problem.  The good thing is, this difficulty can be circumvented with a few advance preparations and a little attention.

1. Locate the likely freezers – As you winterize your home, take a good look at your plumbing.  You need to figure out which pipes are most likely to freeze in cold weather.  For instance, your main water pipe is the greatest freeze risk.  Similarly, pipes that are close to outer walls, especially non-insulated walls, are likely to freeze.
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Whether you have a leaky faucet that needs replacing, or you’re looking at updating one of your bathrooms, choosing new bathroom plumbing fixtures can be an overwhelming experience. Head to your local hardware store and you’re likely to find hundreds of different fixtures on display. Head online and you’ll quickly find access to thousands of styles at varying prices. What should you do?

1. Review your needs. If its been awhile since you’ve updated your fixtures, start by thinking about your likes and dislikes with your current design.

2. Plan for the future. Many companies are developing aging in place products, or universal design products, to allow ease and safety as we grow older. Instead of using difficult knobs, single handled designs may be easier to turn on and off. Or showerheads may be flexible and adjustable, using hand held extensions for ease of use.

3. Look at colors and finishes. With so many styles and options available today, matching any color and décor is easy to do. You can also stretch into antique finish, and even find custom designed fixtures for a truly unique look.

4. Look at your options. Just because you’ve always had a certain type of faucet or showerhead in the past doesn’t mean that’s the best choice. Ask for suggestions, and find out what makes each style unique. Can something give you more flexibility for the way you live? Be willing to give new things a try.

5. Don’t forget your best resource is an expert. You don’t have to use an interior decorator for modest changes to your bathroom. Instead, rely on your plumber to make suggestions. They have resources available to give you a wide variety of options at the best price possible.

You just bought a house. It’s 40 years old, great neighborhood, beautiful landscaping – and it needs a little TLC. Where do you start?

The best place to start is with quick fixes that can give you the biggest return for your investment.

Many of the older homes on the market still have old toilets in place. Old toilets use about 5 gallons per flush. Considering a normal person flushes a toilet around seven times per day, a family of four can quickly consume 140 gallons or more every day.

Because your toilet is the biggest user of water in your home, it makes sense to start there.

Due to today’s standards and laws, the typical water saving toilets now average 1.6 gallons or less per flush – significantly less than previous standards. Because of the savings in water usage, it’s easy to see that with a simple replacement, you can begin reaping the benefits immediately.

Add in the current rebates offered by Colorado’s local water companies, it becomes an even easier choice.

Denver Water Rebate
Castle Rock Water Rebate
Aurora Water Rebate
Colorado Springs Water Rebate

[Ready to upgrade to water saving toilets? Quality 1st Plumbing is here to help you conserve water, and help you with all your plumbing needs.]

1. Fix or replace? If you have a leaky faucet, fix or replace it as soon as possible. A leaky faucet with a drip of about 1 per second equals about 5 gallons of wasted water every day.

2. Solid brass faucets last the longest and require the least care, especially with hard water that corrodes other softer metals.

3. Faucets with die cast zinc alloy bodies cost less than their solid brass counterparts, deliver good durability, but may need replacing more often due to corrosion.

4. Different sinks require different sized faucets. Faucets can be mounted with one, two or three holes in the sink, and can have a span of anywhere from 4 to 12 inches between the holds. Your faucet has to match the style of sink in order to be properly connected.

5. Discount stores may offer a wide selection, but they can’t provide customization. Your local plumber can help match any style or theme within your home, and may have suppliers that can provide unique faucets at low prices. Your plumber will also have insight as to the quality of certain faucets, and help you choose the right fixture for you lifestyle.

6. Handles come in many style, including single and double handle models. Choose one that’s right for your lifestyle, and feels good to the touch.

7. Faucets have many different options. From spray in spout models, to antique finishes, to filtered water possibilities, the ideas are endless.

8. Most of today’s faucet designs are of a ceramic disk valve construction. Two ceramic disks control water flow: one is stationary; the other moves to open or block the water flow. The disks form an airtight seal when locked together.

9. Faucets with the WaterSense label can save you around 500 gallons of water per year over traditional faucets.

10. Consider installing a faucet that delivers instant hot water. It’s great in the kitchen for cooking, and for coffee and tea.

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In Colorado, we use a variety of methods to heat our homes. A hot water boiler is an appliance used to heat water, and send it through a hydronic heating system. The hot water is then distributed through the home in pipes, either through a radiator system, or through a baseboard convector system.

While using a hot water boiler system is an efficient way to heat your home, like any appliance, there are occasional needs for maintenance and repair.

Poor Heating Performance
Occasionally the system may appear to not heat up to temperature properly. Sudden changes are often caused by improper water levels in the boiler, while a more gradual problem may be due to mineral deposits in the boiler or heat exchanger. The system may need to have water added, or to have the system flushed and cleaned.

Water Leakage Around The Boiler
This could be caused by a faulty pump, a faulty pressure relief valve, or leaking in the water pipe connection. Most of these repairs can be handled easily by your local plumber. Your plumber will determine the root cause of the problem, and correct it to eliminate further water leakage, and return your system to normal function. 

Noisy Pipes
Noise in the pipes is a sign of a growing problem, one that should be fixed quickly to avoid further damage. Possible problems include a faulty circulator pump, or water trapped in the return lines. The circulator has a spring-loaded coupling that connects the pump to the motor. When the pump jams, this coupling may break, causing a load noise as the motor runs. Over time, the pitch in the return lines may change, causing the water to become trapped. Adjusting the pitch of the return lines or the radiator will usually fix the problem and stop the noise.

Should I fix my current faucet, or should I  replace it with a water-conserving fixture?

I’ve heard the newest water-saving toilets don’t work well, is that true?

Should I attempt to replace my current bathroom fixtures myself, or hire it done?

When it comes to plumbing questions, we know you face a variety of situations throughout the year.

For many plumbing fixtures, they can be replaced in an hour or two, depending on your level of experience and providing you have the proper tools and supplies on hand. It all comes down to how much time you choose to dedicate to doing your own home repair.

What is the pay back for water-conserving fixtures?

If your water comes from a municipal system, you’ll reap the rewards fairly quickly. With some plumbing fixtures, you can save a substantial amount of water in a very short period of time. If your water supply comes from a well system, you will see savings both in the amount of water you consume, and in the wear and tear on your pump.

Payback depends on how often you use your various plumbing fixtures throughout the day. Reducing a toilet from 5 gallons to 1.6 gallons per flush can save many gallons per day, especially for a larger family. Shower heads and faucets can reduce the flow from 5 gallons per minute to 3 gallons and less. Quickly do the math, and you can see your savings is substantial.

Talking about water conservation and actually implementing it are two different things. If you aren’t sure where to start, have questions about the best equipment, or just don’t have the time for installation, your local plumber can help. They’ll provide all these services and more.

image source fotoJENica

A faucet that drips just once per minute will waste over 4 gallons of water every month, and over 52 gallons per year.

While once per minute may not seem like much, its easy to see how it adds up over time.

Faucets come in two different designs, washer-type or compression, and washerless.

To repair a washer-type faucet, first turn off the water supply either through the shutoff valve beneath the fixture, or at the main shutoff valve for the house water supply. Take the faucet apart. Washer type faucets work with a rubber washer that closes onto a metal washer seat. This rubber washer can harden or worn, causing the faucet to leak. Check for signs of damage and replace if necessary. Another common cause of leakage is the stem of the faucet. If the threads are badly corroded or worn, it may be time to replace it.

A leak in a washerless faucet usually means the faucet needs replacing. It is a sign that the parts aren’t working properly, and simply need to be replaced. In some cases, a prepackaged repair kit may be available, depending on the type and style of faucet you have.

If you have noticed a leak, finding the time to fix the problem can also be a chore. A plumber can assist you in finding the problem. Or if you’ve purchased a new faucet, and can’t find the time to install it, a plumber can have it quickly installed for you.

In 1995, the National Energy Policy Act mandated that all new toilets installed were required to use 1.6 gallons of water or less. As water efficiency and green initiatives continue to be a top concern for many, other plumbing fixtures have also been adapted to conserve water.

• The toilet continues to be at the top of the list for efficiency. Reducing a flush from as high as 7 gallons down to the 1.6 gallons of water can save thousands of gallons per year.
• Conventional water faucets increase water usage with the amount of pressure you desire. With new technology, you can now receive the same amount of water pressure, regardless of the amount of water used. Low flow faucet aerators can cut water usage from as much as 4 gallons per minute down to around 2 ½.
• Showerheads use similar aerator technology, and often have multiple flow settings, allowing you to control the amount of water used in each shower. A low flow shower head uses around 2 ½ gallons of water per minute, compared to up to 5 gallons per minute used by conventional shower heads.

The key to conserving is being aware of how much water you use, and controlling your usage as much as possible. A green plumber can help your home function at a much lower water rate. Call for your energy audit today.

You hear about the disasters on television, or from your friends and family. As a plumber, it’s amazing some of the things we see. This past weekend I went searching through photo sharing sites like Flickr to see what I could find on broken faucets. This is a collection of photographs that showcase broken faucets.

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Quality 1st Plumbing provides you with quality plumbing services, and a green approach to plumbing within your home or commercial location. If you are in the Denver Metro region of Colorado, Quality 1st Plumbing can help you with your broken faucets, repair and upgrades, or even help you go green with your plumbing.

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