Archives: Plumbing

Pumping A Septic Tank Out

By Todd Fratzel on Maintanence, Plumbing

Pumping Septic Tanks Out Warning: Nasty Photos below! Today we had our septic system tank pumped out. The other day I wrote an article about when you should pump a septic tank out. After three years in our new home today was the day to finally get the septic tank pumped out and inspected. Septic…

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DIY PEX Plumbing

By Todd Fratzel on Plumbing

Do-It-Yourself PEX Plumbing PEX is cross-linked polyethylene tubing used for both domestic water supply tubing and hot water heating systems. As you can see in this photo our new home was built with PEX tubing for all the hot and cold domestic water supply lines throughout the house. PEX water lines offer many benefits compared…

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Household Water Conservation

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Plumbing

Water Conservation Tonight while reading the local annual water report I was reminded of the need for homeowners to be concious of water conservation. So as summer approaches and we use more water with lawns and gardens I thought I’d share some tips on water conservation. Check your toilet for leaks. Most household water leaks…

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Great Bathroom Faucet Types

By Todd Fratzel on Bathrooms, Feature Story, Interior Decorating, Plumbing

Whether you’re building new or remodeling an existing bathroom there are lots of great bathroom faucet types to choose from. Before you make a bathroom faucet selection it’s important to know what types are available and what limitations and benefits they offer. Faucet Color & Finish Faucets come in so many different colors and finishes.…

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Replacing Plastic Toilet Seat Hinge Bolts

By Todd Fratzel on Plumbing, Product Reviews

Yesterday I wrote about the Defective Plastic SoftClose Toilet Seat Bolts on our Toto toilet. Below you can see a photo of the plastic bolts after I removed them from the toilet. The head of the bolts totally deteriorated and fell apart causing the toilet seat to become loose. I was wondering all day today…

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Defective Plastic SoftClose Toilet Seat Bolts

By Todd Fratzel on Plumbing, Product Reviews

That’s not a dirty toilet in the photo! Those bits and pieces are from the plastic toilet seat bolts that have disintegrated! This is an expensive Toto toilet that I happen to like very well. However, I’m less than thrilled with this defect that has occurred less than two years since we bought it. Toto…

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Plan Your Future Basement Bathroom Before You Build

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Bathrooms, Plumbing

If you’re getting ready to build a new home then you should be planning a future bathroom before you begin construction. Today more than ever people are building living space in their basements to increase the available living space and value of their home. Having a basement bathroom is a huge bonus for the functionality…

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Take Photos During Construction To Document Hidden Utilities

By Todd Fratzel on Plumbing

Construction Photos – Document Plumbing and Electrical One of my biggest pieces of advice for anyone building a new home or under going an major renovation is to take as many photos as you can during construction to document hidden utilities. Every house contains hundreds if not thousands of feet of wire, piping and duct…

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