We’re Still Here
As much of the world is being forced into a temporary shutdown as a result of the Coronavirus we want to let you know that All Star Plumbing and Restoration is still here. We appreciate the need for taking extra precautions during this time in order to keep everyone safe, but we also understand that there are emergency situations where our customer’s need us. Rest assured that we will be there. If you have a plumbing emergency please call anytime, we’re here to help.
Over the many years that we’ve been in business we have had the privilege of supporting our community through difficult times such as natural disasters and personal emergencies, we are here for the long haul. While we will definitely take all recommended steps to keep our employees and customers safe, we will do so while still meeting the needs our customers have to keep water flowing in and out of their homes.
Unfortunately, there are situations such as your hot water tank going out, or a leaky pipe bursting, or a sewage back-up that simply are plumbing emergencies. These are items that cannot wait for months when this situation eventually passes. While things such as bathroom remodels and washing machine relocations may get put on-hold, we would never want anyone in the Boise area to go without clean, running water. As schools and businesses close, your home’s plumbing is going to get far more use than is typical. This additional strain could take something that might not have shown itself as a problem for months, and shorten that timeline considerably. In these cases, there may simply not be anything you can do other than reach out to All Star Plumbing and Restoration to take care of the problem.
We love this community and we look forward to working with many of you again on non-emergency plumbing projects as the time is right. Please contact us as needed during this difficult time and we’ll do all that we can to make sure your home’s plumbing is in good working order.
Pros and Cons of a Wall Mounted Toilet
A “floating” toilet gives a sleek, modern look to any bathroom but as an expensive add-on it’s important for every homeowner to do their research before deciding whether this type of toilet is really the best choice for their bathroom. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons to a wall mounted toilet.
The obvious advantage of this type of toilet is the space-savings. The tank is now hidden within the wall which frees up nearly 10” of space. Anyone who has tried to add a half bathroom into a small area knows how huge 10” can be. In addition to the space savings, cleaning is a breeze. With absolutely nothing sitting on the floor, cleaning the area around the toilet is incredibly easy. Another perk is the adjustable height. A wall mounted toilet bowl can be mounted between 15-19” off the ground to be truly customized to the height of the homeowner.
So visual appeal, space savings and easy cleaning are definite reasons to consider one of these toilets, but what are the potential downsides? One con to the wall mounted toilet is the inaccessibility of the components. Should you need to replace a faulty flapper for example, you’ll have to cut open the drywall. Talk about turning a 10-minute job into a 10-hour job! Now you’re looking at hanging new drywall, mudding, sanding and painting. Yikes! Mounted above the toilet is the push bottom for flushing. The hole for this is also the access point to the tank. An adult hand should fit through here but you’ll be working blind and of course still have limited access. This will at least provide some option for down the road repair, but of course it has its limitations.
Another con is the initial set-up. Not only will you pay several hundred dollars more for this toilet, you will then have to hire a professional to install it. These are not DIY jobs. It’s also important to note that in some cases the installation will require adding or relocating studs, and moving plumbing lines. If you’re hearing the cash register running in your head – you’re right.
You should also take a look at your flooring. If the existing tile or linoleum was cut around the toilet than removing it may mean needing to also replace the flooring. This is no big deal if you’re doing a full remodel or a brand new build and you were planning on new flooring, but if you were just doing a toilet upgrade it might be a deal breaker. Now that you know the facts, there are definitely some great reasons to add a wall mounted toilet to your bathroom face-lift. Give All Star Plumbing and Restoration a call to help with the installation!
Commercial Cleaning Services
All Star Plumbing and Restoration knows that damage to a commercial property is different than it is with a residential structure. Our team is here for immediate response when calamity strikes. Every situation is unique and will require a different response, so you want someone with the experience to have seen it all before and confidently move towards a quick resolution.
You may not think of it as “cleaning” but if your building gets hit by a major storm - wind, heavy rain, hail and flooding are very real possibilities that will leave a colossal mess to clean up. All Star Plumbing and Restoration can get to your site immediately to assess the situation and come up with a plan. Our restoration experts know how to get your building back to its former state as soon as possible. We understand that every hour your business is shut down, is an hour of lost revenue. In these situations, minutes really can matter.
Mold remediation is another “cleaning” service you may find your commercial building in need of. It doesn’t take much for mold to grow – too much humidity or a small water leak and you’re on your way to a big problem. Mold can spread rapidly in as little as 48 hours and can lead to major health problems. If you suspect a mold problem, get one of our technicians on-site right away to inspect the property and make remediation recommendations. We know mold, and we know how to protect your employees and customers.
Maybe your business needs to recover from water damage, we can help. This can be anything from a bathroom flood that seeps out into the hallway, to a broken pipe or a failed sump pump. Regardless of the source, we can stop the damage and begin to help you recover. We are experienced with removing and replacing drywall as well as flooring. Water damage can lead to a need for some major clean-up efforts.
If your business gets hit by any sort of disaster, give All Star Plumbing and Restoration a call. We know how to handle the problem as well as how to help you navigate through insurance claims and the mountain of paperwork that will likely follow. Let us take some of the stress off your shoulders as you focus on helping your business move forward and get back to normal.
Ideas for Kid Entertainment
Thanks to the coronavirus every parent and grandparent out there is going to be exhausting their list of ways to entertain the kids at home without giving them constant screen time. Here are a few suggestions of ways you might keep them busy, without making yourself crazy.
Game Box – put together a box of items that they can play with independently. Things like coloring books, puzzles, cards, action figures, Barbies, and more. Tell them they’ll have 30 minutes every day to use the items in the game box for some independent play.
Floor Picnic – if it’s too cold to go outside you can still spread a blanket on the living room floor for a picnic. Remember the old school “tea party” – same idea. Encourage them to make it fancy by coloring placemats for each person, creating invitations, setting up stuffed animal guests, finding music to play, etc. Maybe even let them plan the menu by telling them to pick 1 fruit, 1 vegetable, 1 meat and 1 dessert. They could spend half the day getting ready for their fancy dinner party on the floor.
Crafts – this is the time to pull out the random left over holiday craft parts, combine Easter glitter with pumpkin stickers and green & red pipe cleaners all in one bag and let your kids use their imaginations to come up with something amazing. If they need help getting started, give them an idea like, “come up with an animal that has two special qualities” then let them create whatever they think of.
Household Help – many parents lament their lack of commitment to getting the kids involved with household chores, maybe all of this new found time at home is the perfect excuse to start a new routine. Come up with a daily chore, or several, and get them started. Look for things they enjoy like helping to cook or using the dusting tool and let them go crazy. Encourage older kids to teach a new skill to a younger sibling such as stripping the bed to wash everything, or caring for a pet. Most kids are more motivated if they’re in the teaching/expert role.
Hand Them Something New – kids need the chance to figure things out for themselves. Give them a tool and let them play with it and come up with various ways to use it. Of course we’re thinking safe things like flashlights, digital cameras, nuts & bolts, lock and key, binoculars, etc. not circular saws and machetes.
Past Plumbing Newsletters