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This may seem like an odd topic with the holidays just around the corner, but if you’ve ever seen National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation,” you know sewer gas is nothing to laugh about—unless your last name is Griswold. For those of you unfamiliar with the scene, Clark’s hillbilly cousin Eddie decides to empty his RV’s toilet tank into a storm drain. Later, when Uncle Lewis lights his cigar, the sewer explodes, sending the holiday decorations blasting into the sky. So what does this have to do with your home? Well, sewer gas unpleasant and probably indicates a bigger problem. Knowing what […]
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When it comes to clogged pipes, hydro-jetting is nuclear option. After liquid uncloggers, plungers and snakes fail, it’s this process that will finally get things running again. The best part about hydro-jetting is, it not only unclogs your pipes, it cleans them as well. But how t does the hydro-jetting process work? Is it right for your situation? Hydro-Jetting is the Best Way to Unclog Pipes Just short of actually replacing your pipes, there’s no better way to unclog your pipes than with hydro-jetting. This process works best when it is done regularly. A yearly hydro-jetting service ensures your pipes […]
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It’s almost here. 2019 is just around the corner. With a new year comes new possibilities, goals and challenges. However, when you’re in the remodeling business like we are, a new year means new design trends. Bathrooms are one of the most important rooms in the house, and keeping yours up-to-date makes it that much more inviting and attractive when you’re ready to sell. If you’re planning a bathroom remodel in the near future, here are a few trends to keep in mind. Vintage Decor is Back In If you’re a follower of trends, then you know history has a […]
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There are plenty of myths associated with plumbing. Whether urban legends or just plain lies, most of these stories are total bunk. We’ll dispel a few of them below. Who knows, it might just be the perfect small talk around the holiday dinner table. Do Toilets Flush the Other Way in Australia? This is an oldie but a goodie. A lot of people think that toilets flush in the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere. It’s believed that toilets in the northern hemisphere flush counterclockwise, while southern hemisphere toilets flush counterclockwise! This myth has to do with something called the […]
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With the holidays approaching, many homes will play host to tons of family and friends. If your home is the one being invaded, you’re probably going to want some alone time sooner rather than later. What better place than the bathroom? It’s designed for one person and there’s a lock on the door. While you’re in there, we’ve got the perfect light reading for you. Learn how the modern day toilet came to be. The Dawn of Indoor Plumbing In a world of chamber pots and outhouses, getting rid of waste wasn’t the easiest task. However, Sir John Harrington aimed […]
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If you’re hosting family or friends this holiday season, you’ve probably already started preparing. Cleaning and preparing your home can feel like a fulltime job, and the bathroom always feels like the steepest mountain to climb. With a few of these tips, you’ll not only have a perfectly clean bathroom, but one that will have your guests wanting to come back year after year! Clean, Clean, Clean! This probably goes without saying, but no one ever wants to use a dirty bathroom. You’ve probably already scrubbed, wiped and sanitized every surface possible, but there are often a few things we […]
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For most people, hot water is precious. From bathing to laundry to doing the dishes, hot water keeps us clean and healthy. However, it just never seems like there’s enough to go around. While your hot water heater does its job, there are always ways to make it more efficient to stretch the warmth a little longer. Another benefit is reducing your energy bill. Who doesn’t love saving money? Insulate Your Pipes As hot water leaves your heater and travels to your faucet or shower head, it will inevitably lose a little of its heat on the way. Taking the […]
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Even if you’re not the handiest person around, maintaining a small toolbox is a good idea. Some jobs can be done in minutes if you have the right tools for the job. At the very least, you can mitigate the issue until a professional arrives. This is especially true for plumbing-related issues. Having some of these specialized tools could very well help you keep things shipshape in your home. Pipe Wrench The classic plumber’s tool, a pipe wrench is a fairly large and heavy piece of equipment, but it’s well worth lugging around. The pipe wrench is typically used for […]
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Every once in a while, or perhaps too often, in some cases, the tranquility of our time at home is interrupted by a strange sound we just can’t place. There are the usual suspects, of course. Things like houses settling or that one creaky floor board. But oftentimes, these sounds come from plumbing. Learning to identify them could help you determine if there’s a problem. Or if these sounds are normal. Rattling Pipes Water moving through your pipes will always cause some vibration. However, if this rattling becomes audible enough to notice, it might be an issue. If you can […]
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Throughout Allegheny County and the surrounding areas, older homes contain a quirky little secret in their basements. To longtime residents, it might seem perfectly normal. However, newcomers to Pittsburgh might be a little taken aback by the (often working) toilet sitting right out in the open. Maybe you’ve never given these out-of-place pieces of porcelain a second thought, or maybe you’ve always wondered where these subterranean toilets are doing in an unfinished basement. Just like French fries on sandwiches and parking chairs, the “Pittsburgh toilet” makes our region the special place it is. Why do Houses in Pittsburgh Have Toilets […]
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