DIY plumbing Tips and Tricks

DIY Drain Cleaning Made Easy

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By Eva Sparks

Dealing with clogged drains isn't something you can put off for long, but many people don't even know where to begin. Other are worried that strong chemical cleaners may be harmful for their health. The good news is that, with just a bit of baking soda, vinegar, and some very hot water, you'll be able to get all of your drains working like new again.

Baking soda and vinegar are the perfect drain cleaning agents for three main reasons. First, they don't pose any risks to your health or to your drains. Second, when the two are mixed, they create carbon dioxide and sodium acetate, both of which can easily dissolve the grime and gunk that has built up in your plumbing. Third, the foaming bubbles they create further work to give your drains a thorough scrubbing.

Enough with singing the praises of using baking soda and vinegar to clean your drains; let's go through the steps you need to take to actually do it.

Step 1 - Prepare 2 cups of baking soda, 1 cup of vinegar, 4 cups of boiling water, and bring them to your target drain.

Step 2 - Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by about half of your boiling water.

Step 3 - Pour your second cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by your cup of vinegar.

Step 4 - Quickly plug the drain to trap the bubbles in the pipe, allowing them to clean more effectively. You should be able to hear the mixture working.

Step 5 - When the sound of the bubbles begins to quiet down, open the drain again and pour your remaining hot water inside. This should clear away any remaining debris.

Step 6 - If your drain still doesn't seem to be running as smoothly as it could, you can repeat steps 1-5 as many times as it takes for water to flow through it unimpeded.

Some particularly grimy drains may also call for the use of a sink plunger. If the baking soda and vinegar doesn't seem to be able to clear away all of the gunk, you can be sure that it has at least loosened it all up. After filling your drain with water you should seal it off with a plunger and quickly plunge up and down a few times. This should be enough to dislodge any remaining grime.

To keep your drains in tip top shape you should try not to let them get so clogged again. Clear them periodically with some baking soda, vinegar, and water, and you'll save yourself from having to deal with many future drainage problems.

After that if your drain still doesn't seem to be running as smoothly, you could have a bigger issue. Call your trusted local plumber.

Try These Plumbing Repair Projects Even If You’ve Never Picked Up a Wrench

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If you had to call a plumber in every time something dripped or clogged up, you might wait too long. Having the right plumbing tools on hand is an excellent way to get to a problem as soon as it occurs, and to make sure that it doesn't get out of control.

Certainly, some kinds of DIY plumbing repair projects aren't for beginners (you should probably look up a professional plumber before you do extensive damage to your drainpipes trying fish out a lost wedding ring with a straightened-out wire hanger, for example). Many smaller problems are perfect for the DIY beginner, however. This simple home servicing guide should help you with the right ideas.

A non-working flush lever

If you have an old flush tank sitting on your toilet (rather than a wall-mounted flush lever), you should be able to handle the common loose handle problem. All you need to do is to take the lid off the tank and look inside. Often, the lever will have worked itself loose from the flapper, or from its metal chain. You may be able to simply screw any loose parts together, or visit a hardware store for broken parts.

Unclog the toilet

Some toilet clogs can be complicated and need a plumber. Before you look on Ask Doss for a professional, however, it would make sense to see what you can do with a plunger and an auger. You should first visit a home improvement store for the right tools. It takes a toilet plunger, rather than a sink plunger. A dozen strong thrusts should clear up any minor clogs. If this doesn't do the trick, you need to send in an auger and crank away. It should attach to whatever foreign object is clogging up the works, and help you pull it out.

Correct a leaky sink drain

Leaky pipes are one of the simpler DIY plumbing projects. When you look under the sink, you should find some attachment that delivers waste water to the drain in the wall -- a P-trap or bottle trap. You need to put a large basin under the drain to catch any splashes and use a large wrench to undo the nut that holds the trap in place. You can rinse the trap out, and replace the washer. Not only will the drain flow more freely now, but the new washer should also keep the water in, where it belongs.

Stop that drip

If you have a dripping faucet, you don't have to keep using more force each passing day, to tighten it. Instead, you only need to replace the washer. Whether you have an old faucet that takes many turns to open and close or one of the newer ones that take a simple quarter-turn, it's easy to do the work yourself. It does take patience, however. You need a small plumber's wrench and to find an assistant to help you. While they hold the faucet from above, you go below and carefully unscrew the nut that holds it in place.

Once you have the faucet out, you can take it to a home improvement store and have them give you a replacement washer or cartridge. You want to take a video of yourself taking the faucet apart, however. Faucets contain many washers and other small components, and you want to make sure that you know how to put them back in the order that you find them.

One of the most important skills that the DIY plumber possesses is knowing when a project is too complicated. Venturing forth with a job that requires a greater level of skill and you possess a recipe for flooded floors and big bills. When you take baby steps, however, DIY can be nothing but rewarding.

Raleigh's-Most-Trusted-Plumbers

Hydro-jet, Pipe Cleaning

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The Difference Between Snaking and Hydro Jetting

 At some point in time, most homeowners will experience a clogged sewer line. This issue can be quite a nuisance, so it is essential to prevent it before it happens. Regular cleaning is an excellent preventative measure, and it is effective when it comes to eliminating soap residue, tree roots and hair, the biggest culprits of serious clogs. The two most common cleaning methods are snaking and hydro-jet pipe cleaning. If you want to choose the best option for your home, it is important to learn about each. Poole’s Plumbing can help you decide which method will be most beneficial for you.

How Hydro Jetting Works

What exactly is hydro jetting? Basically, this method utilizes a powerful water stream to get rid of any debris stuck in the sewer line. The primary tool is a hose equipped with a specialized nozzle that releases water pressurized anywhere from 3,000 to 8,000 PSI. This level of water pressure is typically sufficient to blast out debris lodged in the line. Hydro jetting has several benefits, including:

  • Versatility: This method is useful for cleaning both commercial and residential sewer lines.
  • Effectiveness: Hydro jetting is highly effective at doing its job. It ensures the pipes remain clean as well.
  • Water Only: There are no chemicals involved with hydro jetting, meaning your pipes will not have to be subject to harsh chemicals just to get rid of clogs.

It is important that hydro jetting should be left to the pros, as older and more fragile pipes can be damaged by the powerful method.

Snaking

Snaking is different than hydro jetting in that is uses a steel cable called an auger with a special tip designed to penetrate tough clogs. While this method may not be as effective as hydro jetting, it is beneficial in that it does not cause damage to pipes.

If you need your sewer line cleaned and want plumbing done right the first time, contact us at Poole’s Plumbing today. We are experienced professionals who know how to get the job done. If you are a restaurant owner or have commercial needs, see our Commercial Services. One call does it all.

5 Plumbing Tasks You Should Leave to Professionals

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Being able to make repairs around the home is a valuable skill to have, saving both money and time, and also giving a sense of satisfaction. Many domestic plumbing tasks can be carried out by anyone who's reasonably good with their hands -- leaking faucets, malfunctioning toilets, blocked pipes -- you feasibly can fix all of these yourself, especially in this age of instant information and tutorials over the internet. However, there are some types of repair that should definitely be left to the plumbing experts, and here are five examples.

Water Heaters
Aside from routine cleaning, anything involving a water heater is probably a job for professionals. When working with a heater, you'll be dealing with water, electricity, and probably gas or oil. If you make one mistake, the consequences can be severe. Also, an amateur is unlikely to have all the right tools to ensure safety, such as those needed to detect gas leaks or carbon monoxide emissions, and your home insurance may not cover any damage caused by faulty DIY repairs.

Sewer Repair
Not only is this an unpleasant job that you might prefer to give to someone else, but you could easily make things worse by tackling it yourself. What may seem like a simple leak could in fact be caused by a blockage or other problem deeper within the system. Without the right tools, such as cameras and other inspection devices, you might only apply a band aid with your fix. If you don't address the main problem, you risk a more severe issue at a later stage, possibly involving the expense and disruption of digging up your whole yard.

Pipe Repairs or Replacement
Tightening a loose joint is one thing, but tackling anything more complicated is risky. A pipe system is only as strong as the weakest part. Without the right tools to ensure a proper job is done, you risk failure when the system is brought up to pressure. With water pipes, this can be a damaging leak that's quickly noticed and fixed. With gas pipes, you might not even realize there's a problem until disaster strikes.

Major Leaks

If you're faced with a pipe spraying water across the room, it's time to turn off the main supply and call in a professional. It might seem a simple matter to fix the obvious fault with a replacement joint or a spot of soldering, but this might only be the tip of the iceberg. If a major leak has occurred, it's likely that other parts of the system are also in a similar state of wear and tear, and could be close to failure, possibly in a much more damaging and hard-to-fix location. A plumber will not only deal with the immediate problem, but also will check on the health of the rest of your pipework to prevent future failures.

Multi-Occupancy Buildings
In most jurisdictions, amateur plumbing repairs are illegal in buildings where other families also live, and so a certified professional needs to be used. Whether this restriction would ever be enforced over a simple leaking tap is of course your judgement to make, but certainly for any more major work, then it's a point to be aware of if you want to avoid legal problems down the line.

Many plumbing repairs are fairly simple, and easier and quicker to carry out yourself rather than call in someone else. However, if you're at all unsure, and when the consequences of a mistake can be serious, it pays to consult a professional. With most good plumbers now offering free call-outs and estimates, you've nothing to lose by getting an expert opinion.

Souther Ideal Home Show

Visit the Triangle’s Most Trusted Professional Plumbers, Poole’s Plumbing, at The Southern Ideal Home Show Raleigh

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Souther Ideal Home ShowWith hundreds of experts representing the most trusted names in landscaping, decorating, remodeling, and home building, the Southern Ideal Home Show Raleigh is the Triangle’s Largest Home and Garden Event of the Fall Season. Stop by the “Kitchens and Bath” section at Exhibit #2310 and visit the Raleigh plumbing experts from Poole’s Plumbing for some helpful tips and ideas as well as some fantastic deals.

Southern Ideal Home Show Raleigh

Poole’s Plumbing

Exhibit #2310 in the “Kitchens and Bath” Section

Friday, September 23th — Sunday, September 25th

North Carolina State Fairgrounds

1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh NC, 27607

raleigh-plumber-interview

Tankless Water Heater External Maintenance

Going with the Flow: Tips for Tankless Water Heater External Maintenance

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The Raleigh professional plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing are the number one water heater specialists across the Triangle area, however, even if you have been enjoying the water savings and convenience of a tankless unit you had installed by us, to ensure you keep your hot water flowing, here are several things that you can do at home to perform important Tankless Water Heater External Maintenance.

As noted in a series of articles which include video instructions at the official Noritz website that can be found here, the first step in your Tankless Water Heater External Maintenance is to do an inspection, visually around the unit. Take a good look to make sure there are absolutely no combustible materials present can help to avoid a future hazard. One thing to look for is any type of discoloring on the outside of your tank and its remote control. Wipe this outside surface first with a wet cloth and then be sure to dry it, as despite being water resistant, your water heater is not waterproof. In cleaning the remote control never use oil or fatty detergents or benzene, as either of these can and will be harmful to it.

Tankless Water Heater External Maintenance

Much like the first simple step above of Water Heater External Maintenance, next, simply listen to your water heater to be certain that you don’t hear any abnormal sounds as the unit is operating. If you do hear something that you find abnormal, it is best to troubleshoot this type issue with one of the water heater specialists at Poole’s.

Checking for leaks in the pressure release valve may seem obvious, but this too is a part of Tankless Water Heater External Maintenance that can help to avoid a larger issue down the road. You will want to open the valve to make sure that it turns off correctly and that everything is working as it should. If you do find a leak or drip in the pressure release valve, it will need to be replaced. A thorough check of all connections to the water heater to make sure everything correctly fits can also help to detect leaks and save on a much larger problem occurring down the road.

If your water heater is a DV condensing model you will want to regularly check for dust or soot that has collected in the exhaust. To do this, you will want to use the end of a screwdriver to remove the screen from the intake valve and check for any type of debris. Before putting it back in, thoroughly clean both sides of the screen with a brush and some water, then allow it to fully dry before placing it back in. This will help to ensure that there can be proper airflow into the system.

Tankless Water Heater External Maintenance is crucial in keeping your flow of hot water steady and plentiful and by following these simple at home tips you will be more likely to catch a potential problem or issue before it becomes disastrous and costly. Our next post will be a second part in doing Tankless Water Heater Maintenance with a focus in that entry on how to maintain the internal area of your unit.

Inside-Fall-Plumbing-Tips

More Household Water Conservation Tips for the Kitchen and the Rest of Home

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In the initial posting offering up tips on how to become smarter about conserving water in the bathroom, the Raleigh professional plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing listed several ways in which you could be smarter about not only your usage of water, but by doing so, save money on costly bills by simply being more observant and making sure all is running properly. The same applies to Household Water Conservation throughout the kitchen and the rest of your home, just by making a few simple adjustments and keeping a close eye on the functionality of your appliances.

Household Water Conservation

Starting out in the kitchen and laundry room, there are many simple steps that can be taken to start you on the road to savings and to avoid being wasteful through Household Water Conservation. Three major areas around the house where you can conserve are when using your faucet in the kitchen, while washing dishes, and when doing laundry. The following simple steps can be done by anyone to start your Household Water Conservation.

Faucets

  • Look for any leaks and if found, fix them immediately. (A faucet that leaks just 60 drops in a minute wastes over 190 gallons of water over the course of a month, this is the equivalent of over 2,300 gallons in a year’s time)
  • Install a faucet with the WaterSense label. Any aerator or faucet containing the U.S. EPA WaterSense name uses a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute.
  • An obvious step that sometimes is overlooked is to simply turn your faucet off if washing hands or scrubbing dishes while lathering.
  • Do not run the water to thaw out frozen foods. Being mindful and thinking ahead to simply put these items in the refrigerator to thaw overnight is an easy way for Household Water Conservation

Dishwashing

  • As noted above under faucets, if washing by hand fill the sink with water to use and then shut the faucet off rather than keeping he tap running.
  • When running a dishwasher, only wash when it is completely full. This will cut down on the number of times you use the machine and thus help with your Household Water Conservation efforts.
  • Use the dishwasher as opposed to washing by hand when possible. Especially if you are mindful of water usage during “pre-rinsing,” the dishwasher will use considerably less water than running the tap as you scrub.
  • Lastly, if you have an older model dishwasher, look into a new, more efficient model. With technological advances, Household Water Conservation can be had easily, as most newer models will tell you the amount used per washing cycle.

Laundry

  • Just as stated above with the dishwasher, maybe the most simple way to achieve Household Water Conservation is by only doing full loads of laundry as opposed to starting up a half full washer.
  • If you have an older model washing machine, adjust the water level for the amount needed in each load. Many of the newer models will do this automatically
  • Once again, updating your older model may be the most efficient method of Household Water Conservation in the laundry room. Units built prior to 2011 on average use about 40 gallons per load, while the newer models use as little as 15 gallons per load.
  • Finding an EnergyStar model or checking when selecting a new unit for the lowest possible “water factor” will help you maximize your per load conservation.

Household Water Conservation

 Much like the conservation tips offered in our previous article touching on the bathroom, following these simple tips for Household Water Conservation can put you well on your way to avoiding wasteful water usage as well as starting on the road to savings.

Unclog a Shower Drain

Simple Household Spring Plumbing Tips Can Help to Save

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As the changing of the season from Winter to Spring is even more apparent with the recent change in temperature, the second part of our Spring Plumbing Tips from the most trusted name in Raleigh NC plumbers, Poole’s Plumbing, has several more simple things that you can do around the house to help prepare and avoid major issues as the heavy rains of the season approach.

These basic check up and repair techniques are Spring Plumbing Tips that any home owner can follow and they not only get you ready for the changing of the season, but also is a safe way to avoid more significant damage in the case that you have actually developed some type of plumbing issue during the cold winter months.

To begin with these Spring Plumbing Tips, thoroughly check all faucets in both the kitchen and bathroom of your home. This can help you to conserve water and money, as can checking your toilets to be sure there aren’t any leaks. An easy way to do this would be to place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and if a leak has developed you will see the coloring in the bowl with in 30 minutes time. Checking for leaks or cracks in the toilet bowl also is a good idea when doing this.

Before moving along from checking your toilet, another of our suggested Spring Plumbing Tips is to be sure the units are flushing correctly. If by chance you need to shake or wiggle the handle, certain parts will need to be replaced. This can be done inexpensively and can not only fix the toilet but also save you money on water costs.

Spring Plumbing TipsChecking for clogs is next on the list of Spring Plumbing Tips. Beng certain that you have a filter on all of the drains in the house will prevent buildup such as soap, hair, or a variety of other substances from creating some type of blockage. Shower heads are another area that can easily become clogged due to mineral deposits. A simple solution to this is to fill a zip-lock bag with white vinegar and using are rubber band to secure it, wrap the full baggie around the head. Leaving this on the shower head for 24 hours will break the deposits down and have it completely clog-free and clean.

Lastly, you should check your water supply valve on occasion and turn them on and off. By doing this regularly, you can prevent the valve from sticking, which can lead to much more serious issues down the road.

By following these simple Spring Plumbing Tips and staying on top of these items around the house, in addition to checking each of the items detailed in Part One of our tips that can be seen here, you can with little effort have the plumbing in your home ready for the Spring and free and clear of any minor damage caused through the winter before it becomes more costly and a much bigger problem.

Spring Plumbing Tips

Following Spring Plumbing Tips Can Help Avoid a Costly Fix

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As the colder weather here in the Triangle area starts to secede and give way to the warmer temperatures of a new season, the trusted Raleigh NC plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing want to remind you that there are many things to remember as you check around the house and look for possible repairs that may need to be done as part of our Spring Plumbing Tips.

By simply going through your bathroom, kitchen, appliances, and plumbing equipment in your home’s common areas and following these Spring Plumbing Tips early on in the season, you can avoid or at least lessen the likelihood of major and potentially costly repairs.

With the increase in rainfall that we are already experiencing one thing you for sure want to check up on is that all drains, gutters and downspouts are clear of any debris. Likewise, on top of the list of Spring Plumbing Tips and check points should be to make sure all vents and plumbing pipes are clear as they could be hindered or clogged from leaves, sticks, bird nests, or a host of other items after the winter “thaw out.”

Spring Plumbing Tips

Another very important item on your Spring Plumbing Tips checklist should be checking your hose bib. First look at the faucet to be sure there are no leaks. This is a somewhat common problem after the colder months when a hose has been attached to the hose bib for the entire winter. If it was hooked up for the winter, it could have lead to the water supply pipe freezing at some point and this in turn may have seen the pipe expand and crack. If you do discover this is the case, call your trusted Raleigh NC plumbers at Poole’s and have the pipe replaced before major water damage can occur.

Keeping your plubming system safe should be a top priority during any of the four seasons, but the most important Spring Plumbing Tip you can follow as the winter cold turns to the warmer months is to make sure your sump pump is ready to endure some hard work in the upcoming season. Checking this is as simple as pouring a few buckets of water into the sump pit for starters. It should then start up with in a few seconds and then after the water flows, it should turn itself off automatically. If this does not occur once again, you should contact the professionals at Poole’s Plumbing to come and see your sump pump first hand before it burns out completely and once again requires a much more costly remedy.

Taking just a little time to go through and around the house to check on these items and follow up on each of these Spring Plumbing Tips as the cold air begins to warm with the change of the season could be the difference between major plumbing issues and water damage at your home, not to mention some unnecessary damage to your wallet. In part two of our Spring Plumbing Tips, we will discuss some other simple ways around the house to conserve heading into the Spring.

High Efficiency Toilets

Conservation is Just a Flush Away with Sterling’s High Efficiency Toilets

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With several models of High Efficiency Toilets to choose from, the most trusted name in Raleigh NC plumbers, Poole’s Plumbing can deliver exactly the water conservation that you have been looking for with the installation of a Sterling “Dual Force” toilet.

High Efficiency Toilets

Providing an unparalleled combination of water conservation and exceptional performance, the “Dual Force” technology of Sterling’s High Efficiency Toilets is exactly what you may be looking for in trying to keep the water usage down in your bathroom, while still getting the quality, look, and comfort you’ve come to know from any Kohler brand bathroom appliances.

Offering two separate models with its revolutionary “Dual Force” features, the Karsten and the Rockton, Sterling gives you the option on both of either having a round front or elongated bowl.

The Karsten model, is described at sterlingplumbing.com, saying that this model “excels at saving water without compromising tremendous bulk flushing capabilities.” Continuing on to speak of its stylish design, it explains, “The contemporary style of Karsten makes this toilet a perfect choice for baths inspired by sleek, streamlined decorating schemes.”

The website likewise speaks the praises of the Rockton model High Efficiency Toilets, complimenting this model for its “unprecedented water conservation and reliable performance” as well. As with the aforementioned model the Rockton also offers consumers a great design that “with a clean and understated aesthetic…compliments any bathroom décor.”

Both of these “Dual Force” High Efficiency Toilets are very user friendly and simple to operate. Utilizing a two-button actuator that is integrated into the id of the tank these High Efficiency Toilets flush either 1.6 gallons or .8 gallon. The .8 gallon “Dual Flush” option is for light waste or liquid is estimated to save the average household up to 25,000 gallons of water per year, while in being assisted by a flapperless valve and a large trapway for the removal of bulk waste in a single flush, the 1.6 gallon setting completely eliminates water being wasted by needing to repeatedly flush.

The most trusted name in Raleigh NC plumbers, Poole’s Plumbing, can offer you tips on water conservation in addition to installing your new High Efficiency Toilets like the Sterling models detailed above. For more details on “Dual Force Technology” and all the other great Sterling products, visit www.sterlingplumbing.com.

Tips from the most trusted Raleigh NC Plumbers to Avoid Winter Plumbing Issues

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Raleigh NC PlumbersWith the temperature in the area beginning to drop as the fall months wind down and the cold of winter approaches, the most trusted Raleigh NC Plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing have some tips that can help you to not only conserve but also to be sure to avoid issues that are somewhat common in the colder weather.

Some of the more frequent plumbing issues that come about in the winter months are running out of or having no hot water for showers, flooding, leaks, broken radiators, and frozen or cracked pipes. In this first of two parts on avoiding winter plumbing issues, you can follow the easy tips listed below by the Raleigh NC Plumbers at Poole’s, to help avoid and at minimum make these problems less likely to occur as the temperature outside drops.

Clogged Drain Prevention

There are a few ways to help avoid your drains getting clogged and thus avoid extra strain on them as the winter months bring about the possibility of freezing. The first way is to treat your tub and sink drains using a mixture that can easily be made at home on a regular basis. Use 1 cup of baking soda, mixed with 1 cup of salt, and a ¼ cup of cream of tartar. Follow this mixture by pouring two cups of boiling water in each drain. Another thing to remember in keeping drains unclogged, especially around the holidays with all the extra cooking around the house is to avoid the dumping of any oils and grease or stringy object down your drain or into the garbage disposal. Likewise, run cold water through the disposal for 15-20 second both before and after using it and always turn it on before putting any food or debris in.

Insulate your Pipes

Using foam padding sleeves or insulation tape, this is a simple way to help avoid both your hot and cold water pipes from freezing up. Using a space heater that is set at a safe distance from any exposed fixtures or pipes to keep them warm is another way to avoid them from freezing up. Also, check basement and not often used pipes throughout your home regularly for ice or frost accumulation once the temperature has hit freezing to be sure they have not started cracking.

Running Water

This one is very simple. Be sure to run water from all valves and spigots in your home regularly throughout the winter. Especially in the case of those not used so often, this can avoid the issue of them freezing up.

Unattach Outdoor Hoses

Remember to unattach garden hoses that are outdoors before the temperature drops to freezing levels. Also, be certain to drain any residual water from the outside spigots and hoses and close the shut-off valve on any pipes leading to these.

Spreading out Showers

This is somewhat self explanatory, but having at least 10-15 minutes between showers helps to maintain proper pressure and consistent hot water levels. When the temperature outside drops, you may want to increase the temperature level on your water heater as well, but never put it higher than 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

These simple tips from the Raleigh NC Plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing are ones that you can do personally in your own home to help stay away from plumbing issues and possible disaster this upcoming winter. In the follow up to this post, we will continue to discuss how to protect your pipes as the cold weather hits, in addition to the steps to take in the case that your pipes do freeze, burst, or crack this winter. To view that post, check back here to the blog section at www.poolesplumbing.com.

 

 

Visit Poole’s Plumbing at the 2015 Fall Downtown Raleigh Home Show

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Gain a Fresh Perspective— Friday, September 11-Sunday, September 13, 2015 at Booth 519

pp-2015-fall-home-show

Stop by and visit the Raleigh Plumbing professionals at Poole’s Plumbing and get some helpful tips and ideas, see all the newest products, and get some fantastic deals at the “Fall Downtown Raleigh Home Show.” Find Poole’s at Booth 519, right in the center of the main showroom at Raleigh’s Biggest Home Show Event of the season.

Fall Downtown Raleigh Home Show
Friday, September 11th-Sunday, September 13th
Raleigh Convention Center
500 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh
Visit Poole’s Plumbing at Booth 519

Join the Raleigh plumbing experts from Poole’s Plumbing alongside top professionals from all fields representing local, regional, and national companies in all areas of remodeling, home improvement, outdoor, and design. For three days, come experience, compare, and purchase the latest and most innovative products and services offered for the home and garden. With professionals and experts in a variety of fields representing the top local, regional, and national companies, you won’t want to miss the Triangle area’s Biggest Home and Garden Event of the season.

Celebrity appearances will be made throughout the weekend at the Home Show, as the host of the popular PBS series, “This Old House," Kevin O’Connor will be at the show on Friday and Saturday, and the 2015 Home and Garden Trendsetter of the year, “the Diva of DIY,” Leanne Lee, of the DIY Network, appears on all three days.
In addition to over 200 exhibitors to be on hand at this year’s Fall Home Show, there are several demonstrations and special attractions you won’t want to miss, including:

THE ULTIMATE TREE HOUSE
Certainly not the treehouse you remember from your childhood, you don’t even have to be outside to take a walk through this impressive feature designed by RB Landscaping.

DRAB TO FAB
The Go Girl Shoppe will be showing you how to turn “flea market finds” or old items found in your home from “Drab to Fab” as they are showcased both before and after the transformation.

OUTDOOR OASIS
Giving you a glimpse of the creative design that has made them one of Raleigh’s premier landscapers for over a decade, Luxury Living Scapes Inc. the “Outdoor Oasis” will be built inside the convention center in aisle 100 of the show.
GARDEN MARKET
Flowers, plants, and another unique home décor will be available in the Garden Market. You can’t miss the spectacular presentation of The Flower Pot, which will be located in the lobby of the convention center.

HERO DAY
A special thanks to “the troops,” as on Friday, September 11, all active and retired military personnel get into the show for FREE.

Website: www.raleighfallshow.com

Selecting a Well Pump

Constant vs. Conventional : Selecting a Well Pump

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When calling upon the Raleigh NC plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing for replacement or installation, it is essential to know the facts and both the pros and cons of both Constant Pressure and Conventional models when Selecting a Well Pump.

Constant Pressure Pump Selecting a Well PumpIn Selecting a Well Pump, it is essential to know which model best suits you and your needs as to not waste your money on a pump that may give you either too much or too little. The Constant Pressure Pump operates using a variable speed motor that is built in to the unit that allows the pump to speed up or slow down depending on your level of water usage. Thus, when you need more water, the Constant Pressure Pump runs faster, and when less water is used, it runs at a slower pace. Benefits of this type model include:

  • Better water pressure when taking a shower
  • More “city-like” water pressure coming from all faucets
  • Higher powered lawn irrigation
  • A smaller, low cost tank that takes up less space
  • Several built in features to prevent any damage to your pump
  • Convenient push button pressure selection

Conventional Pump System Selecting a Well PumpThe conventional or traditional system is your other option in Selecting a Well Pump. These units operate at only two speeds, on and off. A pressurized switch controls the Conventional Pump System, turning the unit on when a certain pressure level is reached and likewise, shutting it off once the necessary level is reached.  Benefits of the Conventional Pump System include:

  • A larger tank model produces longer cycles
  • Overall length of the pumping cycles being determined by the varying size of tank which you need
  • The pump not running while you are consuming water
  • Due to its “on” or “off” cycles, helps to conserve water and avoid unnecessary or wasteful usage.

Germ Free and Flushing Clean: American Standard’s New Toilet Innovations from the professional Raleigh Plumbers at Poole’s

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professional Raleigh PlumbersWhen most people think of their toilet, the words “germ free” and “clean” may not be exactly the first terms that come to mind. However, with the latest toilet innovations in American Standard's products available through the trusted professional Raleigh Plumbers, Poole’s Plumbing, that is exactly what you can get.

Possibly the most innovative of the features that the professional Raleigh Plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing can bring to your bathroom in a new American Standard toilet are the models featuring their “ActiVate Touchless Flush Technology.” Advertised as a “germ free, no- touch flush,” the toilets featuring this technology have a system powered by 4 AA batteries that are warrantied for up to two years based on an average of 12 flushes or less per day. With a sensor located on the upper right side of the toilet, there is literally no contact needed to be made in order to flush your unit. For convenience and as a backup, there is also a button that would allow you to manually flush the toilet as well. Another great feature to the “ActiVate” models is a power-off mode, that allows you to turn the sensor completely off for easy cleaning without having to worry about unwanted flushes .

professional Raleigh PlumbersAmerican Standard has also raised the bar in keeping your toilet bowl clean with the introduction of its “VorMax” Flush technology. Basically, the “VorMax” technology has reinvented the way that your toilet is cleaned, by taking away the rim holes around the inside of the bowl that conventionally have produced the water during a flush. In its place is just one high powered stream of water that self scrubs your entire bowl from top to bottom, without you even having to raise a finger or a brush. The “VorMax” jet stream even cleans the difficult to reach spots in your bowl that has given people fits in cleaning for years upon years.

These are just a few of the cutting edge technological advances in the latest products from American Standard that can be installed to your bathroom by the professional Raleigh Plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing. To see more on the full line of their newest products, go to www.americanstandard-us.com.

“Smart Solutions” Installed by the Smartest Choice for your Raleigh NC plumbing needs

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Raleigh NC plumbingContinuing to make the lives of their consumers more convenient through offering the latest technological advances in plumbing, Delta offers a line of “Smart Solutions” products that can be installed for you by the “smartest” choice for all your Raleigh NC plumbing needs, Poole’s Plumbing.

Some of Delta’s more popular “Smart Solution” products, that can be installed for you by the most trusted name in Raleigh NC plumbing, Poole’s Plumbing, offer you not only an easy way to conserve and save, but also convenience you might not have imagined possible in your sink or shower. For example, the “Touch2O Technology” that is available on several of their faucet models. This allows you to simply touch the spout or handle of the faucet with your hand, wrist, or forearm to turn it on or off. On a similar premise, Delta offers “Temp2O Technology” in several of their showerheads. This eliminates any guessing as to “too hot” or “too cold” when getting in to rinse off as an LED display show s the actual water temperature and three color indicators make it easy to differentiate between temperature ranges.

These are not the only innovative “Smart Solutions” products that Delta has introduced for the shower, with another being the “ActivTouch” showerhead. This allows you to choose from eight different spray options with an easy one handed push of a button.  The “Palm Shower” also offers you the convenience of one handed operation with a rubber grip that securely hugs to your hand, working as a solution to hard to grip handles and soapy hands. Possibly the most innovative piece in controlling your water flow in the showere is Delta’s "In2ition Shower Dual Showerhead.” This gives you two streams of water at once, which allows you to use the hand shower and integrated head at the same time, or separately to get your water stream, wherever you need it most.

The innovative showerheads are not the only “Smart Solutions” that can be installed for you by the top name in Raleigh NC plumbing, Poole’s, as the “TempAssure” Thermostatic valve allows you to both monitor water temperature and automatically adjust the mix to keep a safe temperature at all times. The “Delta Monitor” is another safe feature to consider. This helps to avoid problems such as unsafe, sudden temperature changes in water while you’re in the shower, due to the flushing of a toilet or a dishwasher or washing machine being turned on.

For information on all of the "Smart Solution" products and more from Delta, visit there website at www.delta.com.

 

Raleigh plumbers will help you “Lower the Flow”

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One of the many energy conserving methods that the Raleigh plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing can help you to achieve is through their installation of low flow shower heads, which can help to cut your costs, while still giving you the comfort in a shower head and pressure levels you desire on any of these fixtures you may choose.

With the low flow showerheads, for the maximum in water efficiency, it is recommended to choose a fixture with a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm. Many older showerheads, whether they are aerating, which mixes air with water or laminar-flow, which form individual streams of water had flow rates more than twice that recommended figure. With the low flow heads being able to be had at $10-20 for some of the units, it is worth looking into, as they can save you on your water costs by an estimated 25-60 percent.

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Energy.gov offers several tips on how to decide if your shower head is costing you too much, suggesting a quick and simple, three step test to determine if a switch to low flow would be worth your while. First, they suggest you simply place a bucket, which is marked in gallon increments under the shower head. Next, simply turn on the shower at the normal water pressure you use. Lastly, time how many seconds it takes to reach that one gallon mark. The site goes on to explain that if it takes less than 20 seconds to reach the one gallon mark that you could stand to save money on water costs with the switch to a low flow shower head.

If conserving water, cutting costs and saving energy is something you are looking to do, this is just one of the many ways that the Raleigh plumbers at Poole’s can start you on your way to lowering those water bills.

Water Heater technology : The future has arrived with iCOMM Elite

Water Heater technology : The future has arrived with iCOMM Elite

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The expert Raleigh NC plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing specialize in water heater installation, offering you the latest technology in the field from the best names in the industry, including State Water Heaters, who with their iCOMM Elite models give you the latest in innovative Water Heater technology. Water Heater technology : The future has arrived with iCOMM Elite The iCOM Elite featurs an interactive remote monitoring system unique to the State brand units. According to their website, “It’s the latest technology in commercial water heating that allows you to interact with, privately manage, and monitor your State water heaters or boilers from anywhere in the world via the internet.”OMM Elite features an interactive remote monitoring system unique to the State brand units.

According to their website, “It’s the latest technology in commercial water heating that allows you to interact with, privately manage, and monitor your State water heaters or boilers from anywhere in the world via the internet.”

A few of the innovations the iCOMM Elite afford to you as a customer are the ability to access current and historical water heater data, monitor “live” water heater status using a web browser, respond instantly to leak detection notifications, manage fault alerts sent by text or email, and monitor your fleet of water heaters from anywhere you night be.

For more information on the iComm Elite and all the latest products available through the Raleigh NC plumbers at Poole’s Plumbing you can check out the State website at www.stateconnect.com.    

Hydro-Jett: How It’s Done

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Our new Hydro-Jett Clear & Clean service blasts through built-up soap scum, sediment, sand, scale, grease, mineral, leaves, hair and roots in even the most troublesome commercial lines and grease drains. How do we do it?

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1. Hose insertion. Our Poole’s Plumbing technicians insert the Hydro-Jett hose with its cleaning head into your clogged line. This cleaning head will be what provides the powerful blasts of water that will eliminate your problem.
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2. Initial inspection. Our technicians use our video camera to inspect the initial state of the clogged line in question, allowing us to quickly take stock of the exact situation and the severity of the clog within your drain. This camera equipment is already attached to the end of the inserted Hydro-Jett hose, and as always with Poole’s, you’ll never pay extra for our camera services.
3.  Activation of the cleaning head. Once we feel initial inspection of your backed-up line has been sufficiently performed, we activate the Hydro-Jett system’s cleaning head. At the end of the hose is a cleaning head which delivers the power-packed cleaning punch desired: A 3500 PSI stream of water that attacks the build-up in your drain at a variety of angles.

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4. Advancing the hose. We run the hose along the drain, taking extra care around areas with particular amounts of build-up. We may make several passes using the high-pressured streams of water in order to completely clear your clogged line. Unlike cable or “rooting” services in the past, use of the Hydro-Jett in this manner ensures that not only is the clog in your drain removed, but that the drain is completely cleared and the walls of the pipe are cleaned. It’s a full service that we’re so confident of we offer a 90 day warranty following the Hydro-Jetting process.
5. Final inspection and removal of the hose. We again use the attached video camera to perform a once-over of your drain following Hydro-Jett cleaning. Once we confirm that all build-up and debris have been removed and that your drain is operating at its highest possible capacity, we remove the Hydro-Jett hose from your line.

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Knowing When Your Water Heater Needs Replacement: An Interview with Poole’s Plumbing

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raleigh-plumber-interview By Kristen Bosse
Please describe a little bit about your company and the services you offer?
Poole's Plumbing, Inc. is a fully licensed and insured residential and commercial Raleigh plumbing contracting company created in 1999 by Robert K. Poole. With two men, a truck, and a dream, Robert started this journey by doing new construction and renovation work. By 2007, Poole's Plumbing had 60+ employees and plumbed approximately 1,300 new homes per year. Poole's Plumbing, Inc. maintains a client portfolio that includes some of the largest national tract home building companies as well as some of the most well-respected custom home builders in the triangle area. We offer full-service turn-key new construction, remodeling, & repair services. The moral/ethical position of Poole's Plumbing is to create an environment of Honesty and Integrity and to maintain a high level of service without compromising quality or craftsmanship. Our desired public image is "plumbing done right the first time" at the best possible cost.


What is your position at Poole's Plumbing?Robert (Bob) K. Poole
Owner/President

Joseph Favara
Operations Manager

What are some eco-friendly services you offer?
Tankless Water Heaters, High Efficient Tank Type Water Heaters, Electric Heat Pump Hybrid Water Heaters, Low-Flow Faucets & Fixtures, Dual-Flush & High Efficient Toilets.

What are the dangers of hard water?
Hard water, unlike softened water, features a buildup of mineral content. This buildup usually consists of magnesium and calcium ions as well as a collection of other dissolved compounds. This high mineral count in hard water leads to a number of potential negative effects.

Film. Hard water affects the quality of your shower or bath. Hard water and soap can make removing body cleansers more difficult, leaving a film on your skin called soap curd. Soap curd is responsible for dull looking hair and can also cause irritation to your skin. Further, soap curd collects as a film on shower walls and along with your bathtub.

Washing Problems. Other problems can occur when washing dishes or clothing as a result of hard water. Hard water often makes clothes feel rougher and more irritable following a wash than they may normally due to the mineral density of the water. Hard water can also cause your clothes to wear out more quickly over repeated washes. These same minerals in hard water also leave a residue when washing dishes, making it more difficult to clean your plates, cups, and utensils in just one normal wash.

Efficiency and Limescale. Hard water can impact the efficiency of hot water heaters. There is a greater amount of sediment in hard water, and this can build up inside water heaters and make it more difficult for the device to heat the water. This causes a greater amount of energy usage, leading to higher energy bills over time. Additionally, other appliances that are used to heat water can become clogged with minerals that are found in abundance in hard water. This limescale buildup will also cause the devices in question to suffer from poor energy usage.

How do I know if it is time to receive maintenance on my water heater?
Performing maintenance on your water heater is highly unlikely to be on the top of your weekend to-do list, but proper maintenance at critical junctures in the life of your water heater can often save the headache of complete replacement- not to mention spare you the task of some serious water cleanup.

Signs your water heater is "under the weather":

    • Water coming from the heater that appears rusty or brown is typically an indicator of impending water heater failure. Similarly, if the water smells unusual or "metallic" it is another giveaway that your water heater has seen better days. Check the water emerging from your water heater and determine whether its quality has been affected in the aforementioned ways. If you're wary of tasting the water, a sniff test should suffice.
    • Sediment within your water heater's water is another indicator your heater's condition is rapidly deteriorating. This often occurs from mineral build up over time on the bottom of the heater's tank.
    • Loud pops coming from your water heater are not normal. Also, be sure to monitor for any sounds that crop up that did not previously emanate from the device. Such sounds should be treated as anomalies and may be a symptom of the aforementioned mineral buildup. This buildup will usually lead to failure in the short-term.
    • A symptom of internal water heater failures is leaking water. If water begins noticeably leaking from your heater, disconnect the unit and consider immediate replacement. Do not hesitate to replace your heater in the event of leaking water, as any delay will likely lead not only to a cessation in its operation but also a serious mess that can impact other aspects of your home's interior, causing associated repair costs to spiral upward.

What areas of my home should I look out for when it comes to plumbing issues?
Plumbing runs throughout the entirety of your home, and where there is plumbing, the potential for plumbing problems arises. The four main areas of the house that often encounter plumbing issues include the kitchen, bathroom, hot water heater and septic system. A licensed plumber provides professional service that can extend the life of your home's plumbing system.

Kitchen: As one of the most used areas of the home, the kitchen plumbing sees a great deal of wear and tear every single day. This includes everything from leaky faucets to busted pipes. Appliances, such as dishwashers and ice-makers, can pose all kinds of threats that may not be noticed until water damage has already occurred. Keeping up with regular maintenance and repairs is critical to preventing such disasters. Always have a licensed plumber do renovation, remodel and repair work to ensure that the job is done right the first time.

Bathroom: As another commonly used room that is full of pipes and fixtures, plumbers often get called upon to service this area of the home. Clogged drains and toilets are among the more minor repairs. However, small problems can grow into larger ones posing a new set of problems, such as mold and mildew.

Hot Water Heaters: This metal tank cycles through a large amount of water each day and is rather prone to leaks due to corrosion over time. Six to eight years is the general lifespan before the unit begins to deteriorate or experience electrical problems. Even things as simple as the heating element or thermostat can wear out rather quickly. If extensive repairs are needed, consider installing a tankless or solar water heater as a replacement.

Septic System: This crucial but often overlooked component is responsible for carting waste products away from your home. Regular maintenance is essential, and a licensed plumber can inspect the system as needed. Repairs and remodeling projects serve as a perfect opportunity for your plumber to assess the overall function of your septic system.

Please describe a water softener and how it works.
Water softeners perform an "ion swap" procedure within the water in order to achieve softening. The harmful excess calcium and magnesium ions that create water hardness are swapped out with sodium ions, restoring the quality of the water. Sodium most often works for this purpose because sodium "plays nice" with soap and doesn't react poorly when other elements are introduced. Generally, the amount of sodium that accumulates within your water as a result of this softening process is of no concern and lies far below the FDA's "very low sodium" classification.

How Ion Swapping Works: A tank full of negatively charged polystyrene beads are bonded to the positively charged sodium ions. The sodium ions "swap" with the harmful magnesium and calcium ions as the water rushes by the beads. Eventually and after numerous cycles however, the sodium within the polystyrene beads is completely replaced by the calcium and magnesium, and the water softening unit can no longer perform its duties without a regeneration cycle. Salt is added back into the water softener to begin this cycle, and the beads are soaked in this solution of salt and water. The beads are regenerated with the proper levels of sodium and any excess solution flows out of the water softener through a drainpipe.

While most home water softeners utilize polystyrene beads, not all determine when it's necessary to regenerate in the same way. Some water softeners utilize a mechanical water meter that begins the regeneration cycle only when the ratio of existing water to sodium requires activation. Other water softeners operate on a regular, timed schedule due to electric timers, and some instead simply use a computer that begins the regeneration cycle when it deems enough water use has transpired.

What are the advantages/disadvantages to tankless water heater systems?
Traditional water heaters consume large amounts of electricity or natural gas and can only supply enough hot water for two or three showers. Because of these issues, many energy conscious homeowners are making the switch to tankless water heaters to save money and avoid headaches.

    • Unlimited Hot Water: With a tankless water heater, you will enjoy an unlimited supply of hot water. Instead of heating dozens of gallons of water in a large tank and maintaining it at a certain temperature, a tankless water heater simply heats water as it passes through the heating elements. You'll receive water at your desired temperature within seconds, and you could leave the hot water running for a whole week without running out.
    • Size: A water heater tank can fill up an entire closet by itself, which limits where it can be placed in the house. A tankless water heater is small by comparison, often measuring as tiny as two cubic feet. Because it doesn't store water, it is lightweight and can easily be mounted to the wall. Even if you place it inside of a closet, you will still be able to use most of the closet for storage however it must be placed on an outside wall so that it can be properly vented to the outside.
    • Energy Savings: Tankless water heaters are incredibly energy efficient. Although they can use 15 to 30 kW of electricity, they actually end up using less energy than water heat tanks. Remember that tankless water heater only turns on when you need them, but water heater tanks can take hours to warm 50 gallons of water to the target temperature.

Manufacturing processes have improved over the past few years as tankless water heaters have become more popular, and they now cost little more than some traditional models. However, the energy savings will quickly make up for any extra installation costs. Depending on your family's hot water usage, you will save 25 to 40 percent off of your hot water heating costs every year.

Disadvantages: The only disadvantage that we could see is that if you lose power, you will have no hot water. But then again you could invest in a whole house generator to solve that problem.
What's the best way for people to get in contact with you?

There are many ways to contact us. You can simply call us at 919-661-6334 or use our contact form located at: https://www.poolesplumbing.com/contact-us

Dual Flush Toilet Advantages

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The advantages of a dual flush toilet versus a conventional toilet can be summed up concisely: Environmental impact, cost savings and upkeep.

Environmental Impact. Dual flush toilets bear their namesake because of the two (dual) setting mechanism that drives their operation. This two setting mechanism is usually a button or a lever on the toilet that allows you to flush either a low volume flush or a high volume flush. Low volume flushes are designed for liquid waste, while high volume flushes are designed for solid waste. Unlike standard toilets designed with only one flushing option, the low volume flush of dual flush toilets allows for the conservation of water when using the liquid waste setting. As such, dual flush toilets are high efficiency toilets (HET) and are in compliance with the National Energy Policy Act of 1994, using no more than 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) compared to older toilet models that use as much as 3.5 to 5 gpf. Lower volume flushes on new dual flush toilets do not use more than 1.1 gpf.

Cost Savings. A dual flush toilet drives lower water usage in your home, thereby saving money on your monthly water bill. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 4,000 gallons of water can be saved annually in a residential household that employs dual flush toilets.

Low Upkeep. Older, “one flush” toilets simply use a pressure siphoning system to dispose of waste. Dual flush toilets are generally designed to utilize gravity to dispose of waste down a large trapway. This design typically cuts down on clogging and saves you the headache of an undesirable plunging expedition.