How to Choose Bathroom Plumbing Fixtures?

Back when there were only a few options to choose from in terms of bathroom plumbing fixtures making a decision was easy. But now, with so many different designs and types to choose from, you have to analyze things carefully. Take all the factors into consideration and, if it helps, make a list of pros and cons for each one.

Make sure the fixtures you’re about to install in your bathroom match the rest of the décor. For example, a modern and minimalistic home need fixtures with clean and simple lines. A traditional home could use something a little more ornate, etc.

Match them to the tub and sink.

Before you make a decision, take a good look at your tub and sink. The fixtures should match their styles and designs. A claw-foot tub with a vintage look needs something delicate to match its shape and design. A sleek, oval sink needs a fixture with the same shapes.

Decide on a budget.

Before you get kidnapped into fantasy land and dream about all sorts of fancy fixtures, decide on a budget you’re willing to give to this particular feature and be realistic. Then take a look at your options and see what that number can offer you.

Analyze your family’s lifestyle.

A large family with a lot of kids constantly using the bathroom sink could use a touchless faucet. They save you water, money and keep germs away. But if you’re a single couple that enjoys style and wants something that stands out, then focus more on the look.

Copper.

Plain, copper pipes can actually look very interesting in the bathroom. To make them stand out more, choose a dark background for the walls.

Chrome.

Polished chrome fixtures have a very clean and sleek look.  They’re usually very popular in modern and contemporary bathrooms and they can really make a quest bath pop without using color.

Matte black.

Matte black fixtures are a very interesting option. They stand out and emphasize their shape and you can use them to create eye-catching contrasts. For example, pick a black faucet for a white

White.

sink.

White.

On the other hand, a white faucet would be very interesting too. It can match the sink and the rest of the décor and it would look particularly clean and elegant. A very nice option for minimalist bathrooms.

Satin brass.

Choose satin brass bathroom fixtures to give the space a warm look. You can match it with some other décor accents. For example, you can have a brass mirror frame or you can mimic the finish with wallpaper.

Wall-mounted.

Wall-mounted sink faucets can be quite practical in the bathroom., depending on the design, shape and size of the room. You can also use them just to make a statement.

Traditional.

Traditional bathroom fixtures are easy to recognize. They’re usually more ornate than the modern ones and feature curved lines and more complex designs. They remain the perfect option for traditional bathrooms.

Bronze.

Although not particularly popular, bronze fixtures are one of the options if you want to impart a unique look to your bathroom. They stand out and have an imposing allure but they usually need to be complemented by a few matching elements.

Contemporary.

Contemporary bathroom fixtures are almost always minimalist and feature extremely simple designs. Everything is simplified and anything that’s not functional or absolutely necessary is eliminated.

Mirror-mounted.

Installing the faucet on the bathroom mirror is a very interesting idea. Whether you do it because it’s practical, to save space or for the looks, you’ll be a winner.

Side installation.

By installing your faucet to the left or right of the basin you can take full advantage of a narrow vanity and you’ll also get to try something different. Give your guests something to talk about by doing this for the guest bathroom.

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18 Essential Tools A Plumber Should Always Have In Their Van

As a plumber, you’re aware of the many different situations that can arise on a daily basis. Therefore, it’s important to be prepared for any event so that you can get the job done to the best of your ability. Carrying the correct tools also means you won’t be wasting time trying to source the right tools for the job.

Failing to have the essential equipment could mean that you lose out on jobs which can also affect your reputation as a plumber long term.

Here’s the top tools you should keep in your van during the working day, but remember to remove all tools at night to prevent theft.

1. Assortment of Channel Locks

This is another name for tongue & groove pliers and for many plumbers, channel locks have taken the place of pipe wrenches for many jobs. Its common for plumbers to use two channel locks at the same time:  one to stabilize the pipe with the other to unscrew it.

2. Quality Hacksaw and Hacksaw

Plumbing does not always come apart easy and a good hacksaw is useful when cutting any type of pipe, stubborn bolts, nuts, or screws. Also consider more that one type of saw for different repairs. A small one is popular for work on toilets.

3. Basin Wrench (tap wrench)

One of the most used tools for plumbers, the basin wrench is self-tightening and is used to replace or repair old taps.  More expensive models come with a telescoping shank that allows greater accuracy.

4. Pipe wrench

These are the staple of any good plumbers tool kit. There are lots of different pipe wrenches for lots of different applications, and each of them comes in different sizes.

5. Torch

As a plumber, you’ll often find yourself in attics, basements and under cupboards with minimum light. A good torch allows you to diagnose the problem and do an accurate job.

6. Bucket

The bucket is extremely useful and has multiple applications and uses. Probably the most simple but useful item a plumber could have, especially if you find yourself in a situation with lots of water!

7. Pressure Tester

Checking the pressure in pipes before you carry out work is essential. A simple pressure tester will help you assess the level of water in the pipes before you end up soaking wet.

8. Pipe Cutters

Also known as an Automatic Pipe Cutter, Pipe Slice and Single Handed Pipe Cutter – pipe cutter can cut through most piping with ease and produce a cleaner cut than using a hacksaw. They can also be used in tight spaces with hard to reach pipes.

9. Adjustable Spanners

Adjustable spanners are a fundamental tool not just for plumbers, but for every tradesman and are used to turn nuts, bolts and fastenings. Having a quality pair of spanners will mean you can adjust compression joints without damaging the pipework.

10. Blowlamp and gas

An essential tool for creating water-tight seals and joints, Plumbers use blowlamps for sealing and fixing copper pipes. It is important to purchase a good quality blowlamp that produces a fine flame at a high temperature to provide soldered joints that don’t leak.

11. Emergency valve

Because you never know what situation you’re walking into, an emergency valve is an essential piece of kit to stop the flow of water in a pipe.

12. Jointing Compound/ Putty

Plumber’s putty is used to make watertight seals around faucets and drains. Some of the most common uses for plumber’s putty include sinks and tub drains.

13. Pipe Bender

A pipe bender is the quickest and easiest way to bend pipes. They can be more costly than the manual spring alternative, however they get the job done fast – just what a busy plumber needs.

14. Plunger

Many people have these in their homes already and plumbers consider this iconic tool as their best friend. Plungers are cheap to buy and in often cases can be a simple solution to combat sink, toilet, drain or bath blockages.

15. Assortment of Allan Keys

Having a variety of Allan keys is important as many taps and shower heads are held on with screws that need Allan keys in order to be removed.

16. Radiator Key and Spanner

These tools can usually be found together in tool supply stores and are a crucial staple of any plumbers kit. The kay allows you to bleed a radiator whilst the spanner lets you adjust the valves.

17. Gas Meter Box Key

Because you’ll never know where the next job will be, a universal gas meter key is essential for accessing the gas meter.

18. Stop Cock Key

Another essential that is used for turning off mains water supply, especially in emergency situations.

Source: https://blog.constructaquote.com/18-essential-tools-a-plumber-should-always-have-in-their-van/

Kitchens have been the center of attraction for females. Each and every element in the kitchen counts i.e. be it a sink, kitchen countertop, wash area or simple kitchen cabinets, all the elements of the kitchen take equal part in beautifying the area.

Both stainless steel and porcelain sinks are a time-tested choice for a sink material. If you are renovating your kitchen area or just changing the sink; either way, you tend to spend some money to make your kitchen look beautiful. Lets us consider the best sink to choose for the kitchen area. A sink is an important element in the kitchen that handles the aftermath of your kitchen cooking and also serves as the center of attraction of kitchen too.

From a cursory glance, amongst the kitchen sinks both porcelain and stainless steel is the homeowner choice. Both are durable options, porcelain sinks has a lifespan of almost 20-25 years while stainless steel sinks are durable to 15-20 years. No matter which of the sink you choose proper care and maintenance is always required to make your sink last longer. The right choice for your kitchen totally depends on your needs, and your preferences.

Both the sinks have their own advantages and disadvantages, they differs in look, cleaning styles, durability and maintenance.

Let’s know feature and characteristics of each sink in detail and find which suits best in the kitchen.

Advantages of Porcelain Sinks

Porcelain sinks are totally fashion proof that means that will never lose their value. Porcelain sinks offer many advantages to the homeowner. It enhances the value of your kitchen in many ways.

It is robust, beautiful and gives a nice, smooth feel which many people finds appealing.

You don’t have to worry about the Porcelain sinks to match with your kitchen design and style. It suits best with any traditional or modern style and gives a complementary touch to your kitchen.

Porcelain sinks are available in wide range of shapes and colors such that they can be easily adapt by the homeowners to fit any design.

It adds a timeless beauty to your kitchen and goes perfect almost with any style and decor.

Porcelain sinks are budget friendly i.e. they require a less upkeep as compared to other sink options.

Advantages of Stainless Steel Sinks

Stainless steel sinks are improve and upgraded. The new 16 and 18 gauges sinks are less noisy and thicker.

They are unaffected by household chemicals. When it comes in contact with chemicals the luster of the stainless sink doesn’t fade with time making it the ideal choice for kitchen and bathroom areas.

The main advantage of using stainless steel sink is that it is a recyclable material. It doesn’t lose any of its properties while recycling making it a good green option.

Stainless steel don’t crack, fade or stain, thus making it more durable and perfect choice for homeowners.

With the eye catching looks and cool textures surround amazing patterns and colors, stainless steel sinks complement your kitchen decor for long years.

Drawbacks of Porcelain Sinks

Porcelain sinks scratches more easily than stainless sinks. As it is a brittle material the porcelain sinks can be chip or crack easily.

Stains can be easily develop on porcelain sinks this means you have to use bleach and cleaners more frequently to keep your sink area clean.

Porcelain sinks requires frequent repairs increasing your maintenance costs.

They gets easily affected by chemicals making its finish to fade in a time.

Drawbacks of Stainless Steel Sinks

You may notice fine scratches on the stainless steel sinks. Also if you allow regular drops of water to sit for a long time on the surface of the sink, these droplets may cause small imperfections in the sink over time.

The stainless steel is very thin as compared to other sink materials making it noisy. Higher quality stainless sink may have extra coating of steel to eliminate some noise.

If you have set your mind to pick any bold color for stainless sink, this may disappoint you as it comes in a variety of finishes and overall it always has a silver finish.

Now let’s see how Porcelain sinks and Stainless steel sinks differs in the characteristics.

Durability

Stainless steel sinks are not much affected by most chemicals. It doesn’t gets peel, crack or chip easily. Stainless steel sinks are the most durable option available to home owners. The thickness of the steel plays a major role in the sink’s resistance, the thicker the steel the higher the durability will be. The chlorine bleach, solvents and other abrasive cleaners can damage the finish of the stainless sink.

Porcelain sinks are not affected by any temperature changes but they get easily damage by sharp objects. If you drop any heavy object in the sink it may cause the sink to chip.

Cleaning

Stainless steel sinks are easier to clean than porcelain sinks. You can clean stainless sink wit any type of cleaning products but it is advised to use harsh cleaners or steel wool. These may damage the surface of the sink which can lead to rust.

Cleaning porcelain with any type of cleaning agents ultimately reduces the shine of the sink. This leads to surface dirt accumulation over time.

Noise

The thickness of the stainless steel is less as compared to porcelain sinks, therefore, stainless sinks makes more noise when objects are drop against the steel. Somehow, higher end sinks have an extra coating around the underside of the bowl to reduce noise, but still it is noisier than porcelain.

On the other hand porcelain sinks makes less noise when an object is dropped in the sink.  Porcelain sinks are thicker then stainless steel. Noise from the kitchen doesn’t entertain any of the guests.

Also Read –How Natural Stones Gives More Refreshing Look To Your Room Decor

Convenience

The major drawback of using stainless steel is it limits us to color options. When it comes in a range of finishes like glossy, mirrored or brushed nickel, the color of the sink will always be silver. However it fits best with different decorating styles and appliances. The polished finish of the sink never looks out dated.

While porcelain sinks comes in different shades and colors it fits best with any contemporary style and looks. It adds a timeless beauty to your kitchen and suits well almost with any decor. But if you choose any color that is bizarre like green or orange you are only limiting your decorating options. It would be better if you choose normal colors, so later if you renovate your kitchen you don’t have to change the sinks all the time.

Other Options

There are different options available for stainless sinks. The lower the gauge number the thicker the steel will be. Thicker steel always dents and won’t be strong as thinner steel sinks.

Porcelain sinks are also durable, you can fine porcelain sinks made of steel or iron that are coated with a porcelain enamel.

Cost

Stainless steel will cost you considerably less than porcelain, granite or cast iron. It doesn’t matter how thick the gauge or the configuration of the bowl is, stainless sink will always cost you less. It has higher durability thus saving your money in the long term.

While porcelain sinks costs you more money than stainless. They are robust and give a solid feeling of depth which appeals many homeowners.

Considering the look, feel and your choice both the sinks have their own benefits and drawbacks. It totally depends upon your budget and long term plans which sink you want in your kitchen.

Source: http://www.cosmosgranite.com/blog/stainless-steel-sink-vs-porcelain-sink-whats-the-difference

How Often Should I Replace the Filter in My Whole House Water Filter?   

Fortunately, once your whole house water filter is installed, there will be minimal maintenance needed over the course of its lifetime. The main maintenance requirement is replacing the filters in some of your whole house water filter components. Let’s take a look at how often you need to change these filters.

Why Changing Filters is Important

Certain whole house water filter components contain filters that need to be regularly replaced in order to continue functioning correctly. These filters are trapping sediments and debris, so they may become clogged with these substances after months of use. If they become too clogged, it becomes difficult for water to pass through. Being diligent about replacing your filters will keep your Whole House Water Filter operating at optimal performance.

Sediment Pre-Filter Replacement

The Sediment-Pre Filter comes standard in the Filter Butler FB-1000 Whole House Water Filter. This component is the first step in the whole house filtration system and takes care of removing sediment particles before water passes through the rest of the filter unit. Since this

How Often to Change Your Filter

We recommend replacing the Sediment Pre-Filter every 3 to 6 months. You can replace this filter sooner if you notice the water flow is slowing down or the water color becomes darker.

Sub-Micron Post-Filter Replacement

The Sub-Micron Post-Filter is an optional add-on for our whole house filtration system. It removes microscopic particles that the other water filter components may not filter out, including harmful protozoa such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia. This component is optional since the risk of having these particles in your water varies based on water source. Homeowners who wanted added peace of mind that their water is free from contaminants may choose to include this optional add-on regardless of their water quality.

How Often to Change Your Filter

We recommend replacing the Sub-Micron Post-Filter every 9 to 12 months.

How Can I Remember to Replace My Filters?

If you have trouble remembering to order new filters or change them out, try the following tips:

1. Mark it on the calendar. Add a note on your calendar to change your filter and purchase new filters based on the above timelines. For online calendars, such as Outlook or Google Calendar, setting a recurring event on your calendar is a great way to keep reminding yourself.

2. Buy multiple filter replacements at one time.By purchasing your filter refills in bulk, you will always have one on hand for quick replacement. We sell our Sediment Pre-Filter replacements in packs of four for added convenience.
3. Coordinate with other maintenance around your home.Pairing several tasks together can make it easier to remember. For example, if you are already in the habit of changing your air conditioning filter every few months, start changing your Sediment Pre-Filter at the same time.

Whole house water filters are low-maintenance workhorses but they do require some upkeep. By following these simple filter replacement recommendations, your whole house water filter will keep your water clean and safe for many years.

Source:  http://filterbutler.com/blog/how-often-should-i-change-the-water-filter/