Coffee Grounds?
Are you making your morning cup of Joe at home these days rather than grabbing it on the way into work? Many people have dramatically increased their home coffee consumption in recent weeks which has some asking, “Can I just dump these grounds down the garbage disposal?”
While the occasional coffee ground down the sink isn’t a huge deal, it’s definitely not something you want to be doing on a regular basis. This might be confusing because for many years garbage disposal manufacturer’s recommended putting coffee grounds down the drain to deal with any funky smells that might be coming from the disposal. It turns out that in new homes, with new garbage disposals, this doesn’t usually cause a problem but in older homes it can lead to major clogging.
Coffee grounds are different than other foods. They clump together when placed in water rather than breaking down. This means that over time the grounds will build up inside your sink, attach to built-up grease, and cause clogs. Given that your kitchen sink and your dishwasher use the same drain lines, a clog here could cause a huge mess and lead to an expensive repair if major water damage occurs. The best option is simply to discard coffee grounds in the garbage.
So what SHOULD you do if you have an odor issue in your sink? First try to address the potential source. Put a small amount of degreasing liquid soap down the drain and run the garbage disposal with the water running. This will help get rid of any built up grease which could be causing the smell. Avoid the citrus peel method for dealing with smells as well.
Really the best option is vinegar and baking soda. Put a good amount of baking soda down the drain and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then pour about ½ cup of vinegar in the drain and let that sit for another 15 minutes. It will bubble and work its magic to get rid of your odor in no time. Run some water down the drain after the 15 minutes is up and you should be good to go. It turns out that most odors are caused by the build-up of food particles and grease. Simply avoiding putting most food items down the drain will dramatically reduce the frequency of odors coming from the garbage disposal.
If you do end up with a clogged pipe, whether from coffee grounds or something else, give us a call at All Star Plumbing and Restoration. We’re working throughout this difficult time and will help you get the lines cleaned out quickly. With everyone staying home this is certainly not a great time to have a clogged kitchen drain line.
Commercial Plumbing Maintenance
While no one is thrilled about businesses being shut down at the moment, it might be an opportunity to get some things taken care of around your facility that you’ve been putting off. If you have commercial plumbing needs, All Star Plumbing and Restoration is here to help. Our team of professionals have years of experience in the commercial plumbing sector and can assist with simple upgrades or complex plumbing issues.
Many older facilities have plumbing items that are inefficient or require constant maintenance. Take that old boiler for example. Is it a regular source of headaches? Maybe it’s time for an upgrade. What about health and safety items? Maybe it’s time to upgrade everything in the restrooms and handwashing stations to hands free. When business resumes, there will be a new focus on keeping everyone healthy. Having hands free toilets and sinks could go a long way to reducing the number of potential places for germs to spread throughout your business.
There may be other maintenance items that you’ve simply been putting off. Is there a toilet that constantly clogs? Maybe a drain that’s been slow for months? Now is the perfect time for All Star Plumbing and Restoration to get in and address these items. You certainly don’t want to have to deal with these issues when you finally are able to get back to work. Now is the perfect time to tackle things that will just be a nuisance later.
Many businesses need to carefully monitor their waste water to ensure they aren’t putting pollutants down the drain. We can also come in and do an assessment of both your incoming and outgoing water. If you have machinery or equipment that uses water for cooling or other operations, it’s important to know exactly what’s in it and whether it needs any type of filtration or treatment to keep it from damaging equipment. In addition, your business is accountable to local water authorities for anything going down your drains so it’s always recommended to get it tested and checked periodically to ensure it’s safe. All of these items could interrupt your day-to-day operations so checking them off your to-do list during this unplanned downtime is the perfect option.
Our team may also be able to help you look through your facility for ways to reduce your water usage, add features that are more efficient, and lower your water bills. We are experienced in helping our customers find ways to save money. Give All Star Plumbing and Restoration a call today to get all of your commercial plumbing needs addressed.
How to Install a New Toilet Seat
While you are stuck at home, you may be thinking of some reasonably easy projects that you can check off the to-do list. Swapping out that stained or cracked toilet seat for a new one is the perfect DIY job. It’s simple but leaves you feeling satisfied with the results, and let’s be honest your toilet is probably getting a serious workout right now with everyone home.
First head to the hardware store and select a new seat. Make sure you know what shape your toilet is – - round or elongated – as well as what color it is. There are literally toilet seats at every price point. Our recommendation is to look for something middle of the road. The cheapest options will feel cheap and flimsy when you sit on them and this is something you’re going to use daily for years so you want it to feel solid. The extremely expensive options offer features such as easily removed hinges for quick cleaning, soft close, stain resistant, snap on potty training seats, and simpler installations.
Now that your back in your bathroom with your new toilet seat in hand, it’s time to get started. Begin by using a screwdriver to pop open the bolt caps on your existing seat. Next use the adjustable wrench to hold the nut which is located on the underside of the toilet seat. This will allow you to use your screwdriver to remove the screws from the top, which were under the bolt caps. After you get the screw and nut removed simply lift off the old seat.
Grab your new toilet seat and align the bolt holes with the holes on the base of your toilet. Slide the anchor bolts through the holes and then screw on the nuts from the underside of the bolts. Don’t overtighten yet. Check to make sure the seat is centered, adjust as needed. Now go back and use your adjustable wrench again to tighten the nuts more securely. No need to go crazy just a good snug fit. At this point you should be all set for a more pleasant bathroom experience for years to come.
Banana Cream Waffles
If your home looks like ours you’ve cooked more meals in the last month than ever before. You may well be running out of ideas. One thing our family always loves is breakfast for dinner. Check out these SUPER easy, incredibly delicious, banana cream waffles.
Ingredients:
Waffle Mix (possibly egg & oil if box calls for it)
Vanilla
Bananas
Instant Vanilla Pudding
Milk
Whipped Cream
Directions:
Make waffle mix as directed on the side of the box and for the quantity of people in your family (although any extras will freeze great). Add 1 tsp of vanilla to the waffle mix.
Make vanilla pudding according to the instructions on the box. Generally, 2c. milk for a 3oz box of pudding.
Slice bananas. Cook waffles in waffle iron. As each waffle comes out of the waffle iron top with ¼-1/2 c vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and whipped cream. No need for syrup with these already sweet waffles. Toss some bacon on the griddle and everyone in your family will come running to enjoy this tasty treat.
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