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When you go to a football game, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about the plumbing. A toilet is a toilet, right? Wrong! At Terry’s Plumbing, we’re awed by impressive plumbing fixtures and systems, and during football season, we like to reflect on the amazing feat of engineering and design that makes up the plumbing system of an average football stadium. When you’re building a stadium that holds as many as 69,000 spectators in one event, it’s not enough to simply supply a few bathrooms for all the people inside. Quantity of toilets makes a difference, and in the […]
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As we reach the end of September, now is a good time to reflect upon the plumbing trends of the year so far. At Terry’s Plumbing, we see a lot of changes in bathroom designs as homeowner tastes and priorities change. In this post, we’ll explore some of the common bathroom trends we’re seeing in homes in Pittsburgh. Water-Efficient Fixtures Environmentally-friendly fixtures are popular for multiple reasons. To begin, it’s very personally satisfying to be eco-friendly. It’s also financially smart, because low-flow fixtures help reduce utility bills. If you’re specifically looking for eco-friendly water fixtures in your home, look for […]
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Wet rooms are becoming more common in bathroom remodels and new home constructions, but they’re not for everyone. Knowing the difference between a wet room and a traditional bathroom, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each option, can help you decide which type of bathroom is right for you. What’s the Difference Between a Wet Room and Traditional Bathroom? A wet room is a bathroom that contains a shower with no threshold. Typically a wet room will have a single wall blocking the shower area from the rest of the bathroom. A slope in the floor helps direct […]
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Buying a new home is a big investment, so it’s important to inspect a property well before signing on the dotted line. When looking at homes to purchase, we recommend inspecting the following parts of the plumbing system. Good plumbing inspection practices can help you avoid falling in love with a property that has major flaws. Toilets Toilets have a way of developing problems like leaks and clogs over time. You can determine whether or not a home’s toilets are functional and in good condition by doing the following: Flush the toilet. When a toilet is flushed, the water should […]
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The type of bathtub you own can greatly influence how happy you are with your home’s bathroom. Some bathtubs are luxurious and expansive, others are more compact and practical. Knowing the difference between these types of bathtubs and the type of bathtub materials that are available can help you pick the kind of bathtub that will make you most happy. Different Types of Tubs Everyone is familiar with the standard alcove-shaped bathtubs that are found in homes across the country. These bathtubs are familiar, serviceable and inexpensive, which makes them the bathtub of choice in homes and apartments. Still, there […]
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Weather changes in autumn can bring about changes in your home’s plumbing system. Preparing for these changes can prevent damage to the pipes and protect your home from leaks. The following tips will help you get ready for the coming cold weather. Insulate Pipes Pipes that freeze overnight can burst, causing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage to your home and property. While there are many tricks that homeowners use to prevent their pipes from freezing (like leaving the tap running overnight), installation of pipe insulation is one of the best methods that you can use to help […]
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With school starting again, your home’s schedule will soon be in an uproar. In a family of school-aged children and working adults, competition for the bathroom in the morning can be fierce. Shower backups, humidity and mold can all be a problem when the bathrooms see heavy use by multiple people day in and day out. At Terry’s Plumbing, we think it’s a terrible shame when bathrooms lose functionality because of scheduling problems. These back to school tips will help you get the most use out of your bathroom without creating problems for your plumbing or your family. Stagger Shower […]
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Many renters live in blissful ignorance of their rental home’s plumbing system. Still, unless your landlord lives next door and responds to all phone calls within milliseconds, knowing a thing or two about the plumbing in your rental home could save you a lot of trouble and expense in the event of a plumbing emergency. Some types of plumbing problems are so urgent that they must be dealt with immediately. Having the ability to prevent these problems or stop them when they start can save your home from a flood. Know Where the Shutoff Is For the sake of convenience, […]
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The Salt Institute reports that almost 90% of households in the U.S. have hard water. But what is hard water, what can it do to your plumbing, and how can it affect you in normal everyday life? In today’s post, we’re going to explore these questions and their answers. What is hard water? Hard water is water that contains dissolved minerals, most notably calcium and magnesium. These dissolved minerals are invisible, generally tasteless, and also harmless to the human body—but not harmless to your plumbing. How can you tell if you have hard water? Hard water leaves behind a film […]
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Drain cleaning seems like the easiest thing in the world, and in terms of plumbing projects, it can be pretty easy. That said, many homeowners who take on drain cleaning for themselves will make mistakes. Mistake Number 1: Using Chemical Drain Cleaners Chemical drain cleaners are hard on pipes, bad for the environment and they’re not even very effective. While it is possible to clear a clogged pipe with chemical drain cleaner, most chemical drain cleaners will only eat away a small portion of the clog, allowing the water to run for a short time only. Often the clogs will […]
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