Emergency plumbing service will be available to our contract customers in Myrtle Beach and The Grand Strand on Friday, December 31, 2010. If you are not a contract customer, emergency service is subject to availability.
The office will be closed Friday and will re-open on Monday, 1/3/2011.
Kohler's Contemporary Line
What new bathroom trends will emerge in 2011? Each year designers, interior decorators, manufacturers, and builders come out with what they believe will be hot trends for the bathroom. As anyone who has ever seen pictures of runway models in outlandish outfits can attest, what creates buzz does not necessarily make it to main street.
We get updated catalogs and monthly publications detailing new products. Many of the new offerings only appeal to a small segment of the local population here in Myrtle Beach, SC. Most of our customers look for value. As a result, they focus on long-term return, rather than short-term satisfaction.
This coming year, the attitude of focusing on long-term return and value will spread throughout the country, to become the latest trend. With the recession holding on for more than two years, homeowners are getting back to being practical. Affordability is in and opulence is out. Homeowners are living in their homes longer and planning their bathroom remodels around the fact that they are aging.
We expect several trends to continue through 2011 and beyond. Comfort height toilets remain the toilet of choice because homeowners realize what is a ‘nice to have’ now, will be necessary down the road. Another trend we see continuing is bathtubs being converted to large showers. Grab bars and pull-out body sprays will also continue to be hot items. One trend we just started seeing this year is the pebbled shower floor and we expect the trend will last a bit longer. Adding pendent lights, wall sconces, and faucets with LED lights has picked up on a national level, though we are not seeing it too much here.
The biggest trend to follow? Your own trend! You will be the one who has to live with your bathroom. Above all, when you remember to put function before design, you can’t go wrong. If you are thinking about a bathroom remodel, we can help you start the process of creating the bathroom of your dreams at a price you can afford.
Pink staining in bowl
Customers have asked us why there is a pink ring in their toilet bowl and what can they do to get rid of it. Often they are concerned that something must be in the water. However, the pink ring that develops at the water line in the toilet, around drains, in the tub/shower area, and in bathroom drinking cups is actually caused by an airborne bacteria known as Serratia Marcescens. The airborne bacteria thrives in moist environments, which is why it is commonly found in some bathrooms.
Serratia Marcescens cannot survive in chlorinated tap water, but when water sits for a period of time, the chlorine is dissipated into the atmosphere. There are several things you can do to prevent the pink stains from developing. Drying wet surfaces after use will prevent the bacteria from growing. For toilet bowls, you can add a little bleach to the water in the bowl. We do not recommend bleach tablets in the tank because they tend to speed up the deterioration of most flappers.
To remove the slimy pink stain, you can use regular household bleach and a soft bristle cleaning brush to gently scrub the affected area. An old toothbrush or nail brush works great. For more stubborn stains, you can use plumber’s grit cloth and lightly rub the stain. Rubbing too aggressively with grit cloth will scratch the porcelain surface, so please exercise caution. To remove the stain from shower curtains and liners, wash them in hot water with a little bleach. For patterned shower curtains, use a color-safe bleach.
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What is thermal expansion? The word thermal comes from the Greek prefix therm, which basically means heat. The Collins English Dictionary defines thermal as “relating to, using, producing, or caused by heat.” Thermal expansion is a term used to describe the concept that when solid, liquids, or gases are heated, they expand.
In residential service plumbing, when we refer to thermal expansion, we are usually referring to the heated water from the water heater expanding. When water is heated, it’s volume increases and adds pressure to a closed plumbing system. A closed plumbing system is one where a check valve or backflow preventer is installed to keep potable water from re-entering the public supply. Since the hot water takes up more space, provisions need to be made to accommodate the extra volume. This is achieved by installing an expansion tank or expansion valve. Both relieve the pressure in the plumbing system.
If you live in Myrtle Beach or the surrounding area, you should have an expansion tank or valve to control thermal expansion as plumbing code requires that thermal expansion be controlled. Typically they are installed in very close proximity to the water heater.
Many of our Myrtle Beach plumbing customers have asked us “What is a Thermal Expansion Tank?” A thermal expansion tank is a small tank used to control excess water pressure from thermal expansion in a closed water heating system (radiant heating) and/or domestic hot water system. The International Plumbing Code (IPC), Standard Plumbing Code, and Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) all require that thermal expansion be addressed.
The outside of the tank is metal and the inside is divided in two by a rubber diaphragm. One side of the tank is connected to the piping and allows excess water to enter. The other side contains air under pressure which is compressed when water enters the thermal expansion tank. Relieving pressure in the system with a thermal expansion tank has many benefits including the following:
When installing a thermal expansion tank, it is important that the right size tank is selected and installed properly. If you live in Myrtle Beach or The Grand Strand area, Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co. stocks expansion tanks and can usually install one for you the same day you contact us. We can be reached at 843-651-2880.
According to the extended weather forecast, it looks like our freezing temperatures in Myrtle Beach will linger for a few more days before warming up a little over the weekend. The weather man expects temperatures to fall into the low 20′s overnight. Yes, you read that right – low 20′s.
There are a few things you can do to help insure that your pipes don’t freeze and burst. Outside pipes should be insulated, outside showers should be drained down, and attic pipes should also be insulated. We also suggest out-of-town property owners keep their heat on in the winter months as well.
With temperatures in the twenties and the brief warm-up tomorrow afternoon, your measures of protection will be put to the test. If your pipes do burst, remember we are only a telephone call away. Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co., Inc. 843-651-2880.
Myrtle Beach has definitely felt the recession and this Plumber is especially thankful to all our customers who have supported us during these rough times. Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co. still offers the best service and quality at a competitive price. As The Plumber Who Cares, we attribute our success to our commitment to providing our Myrtle Beach customers value.
We understand that a good value is not always the lowest price, but a combination of quality and price. Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing has always delivered high-quality plumbing services at a good value. We comparison shop just like our customers. What we have found is that comparisons can be deceptive. Some manufacturers with very good reputations are starting to offer their products to the DIY market. Please be careful when shopping for your own plumbing fixtures as the devil is always in the details. There are many products on the market that appear to be identical; however, they are only identical in appearance. Internal parts are not being manufactured to the same standards which mean that the less expensive version will not last as long. The short term savings in most cases is minimal.
Here is an example: #mce_temp_url# Notice that is has Stainless Steel Grind components? Sounds impressive, but let’s look a little closer. #mce_temp_url# Under specifications it lists grinding component material and grinding chamber material as galvanized steel. To understand the impact, read a few of the reviews from consumers who bought this garbage disposal. #mce_temp_url# A common complaint is that it leaked! Galvanized steel will rust, unlike stainless steel.
KillerJ describes it as the worst disposal made. – “Installed this to replace a badger 5, lasted 1 year and then began leaking. Warranty was not honored in spite of registering product (partly my fault as i could not locate original receipt). Warranty registration is for “marketing purposes” only!”
We install Insinkerator garbage disposals all the time with no problems or complaints. There is no way we would ever recommend the above garbage disposal to our customers. Upfront, the customers who bought the disposal saved a little money, but now they find themselves replacing it again. If they had spent $75.00 more, they would have had a much better disposal with a better performance rating. The garbage disposal we install most often is not offered at any home center and comes with an incredible ‘We Come To You Warranty.’
Many of our customers love their garbage disposals and use them quite often. Disposing of food in this way keeps rotting food odors out of the kitchen. But, what do you do when your garbage disposal starts smelling like rotting food?
Our customers will call us assuming that the smell is related to sewer gases. However, rarely is this the case. The p-trap located below the disposal is filled with water which keeps this from happening. Most often the smell is related to a build-up of food debris in the disposal itself, as well as the drainpipe leading to the trap.
There are a few things you may try prior to calling a plumber:
1. Fill the sink with hot water and add 1/4 cup of bleach. Drain sink with the disposal running.
2. Put a cup of ice cubes in the drain and run the garbage disposal. It will be noisy. The breaking down of the ice helps clear the blades and the inside of the disposal of food debris.
3. Cut up a lemon, lime, or orange in quarters and run the garbage disposal. The citrus acts as a natural cleanser.
After trying all of the above, if the smell still persists, you may want to call the plumber. If you are in Myrtle Beach or the surrounding areas, please call Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing at 843-651-2880. Our professional plumbers in Myrtle Beach can assist you in eliminating the odors and tell you how to prevent odors from returning.
Myrtle Beach plumbing companies are preparing for what we all know is only weeks away. Our temperatures are dropping and the incoming water temperatures will be dropping too. The good news is that we will get cold water directly from our faucets. The bad news is that the drop in temperature will push some water heaters over the edge and they will start to leak. A busted water heater cannot be repaired. It must be replaced.
If your water heater is over 10 years old, we suggest checking the drain pan periodically to make sure it is dry. Water in the drain pan may indicate that your water heater tank has ruptured. Checking the pan is even more important when your water heater is located in an area that would sustain damage, if the water heater pan overflowed.
We have stocked up on water heaters to meet our customer’s demand during this peak time of year. If your water heater happens to go on a weekend, rest assured we are ready to serve you. All of our existing customers appreciate our 24/7 Emergency Plumbing Service.
As a courtesy to our existing customers, Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co. is offering a FREE water heater inspection. This offer expires 12/30/2010.
