October 17, 2016 Plumbing Services Newsletter

"I sure appreciated how quick and cost effectively you guys took care of my leaking copper pipes under the house this past summer. Highly recommend you to anyone I know who needs plumbing service!"

Andy Krivy, owner of Infinity Signs, Boise, Idaho

Trash Removal Service

During a home remodel or water damage restoration, a lot of trash can accumulate. Sometimes there’s too much for the garbage truck to pick up, making it difficult to dispose of. All Star Plumbing and Restoration can help. They offer a trash removal service for homeowners who are going through a home renovation or needing to get rid of water-damaged items.

After picking up and hauling away the remodel debris or water damaged items, All Star Plumbing and Restoration will take it to a landfill, incinerator, or a recycling center based on the content. Here’s the differences in how items are disposed of:

Landfill

After the trash is compacted, it is disposed of into a landfill where trucks dump dirt over the trash to bury it. Most landfills have a system of pipes within the pile of trash to extract the methane gas that is released when the material decomposes. The gas is usually used for energy to power the landfill.

Incinerator

Landfills can take up a lot of space. To reduce space requirements, garbage is often burned for energy. Doing this can create nearly 3,000 mega-watts of energy and only ash is left behind when it’s all said and done.

Recycling

Depending on the material, recycled items can be used in many ways. Yard waste and wood can be cut and chipped into mulch or compost for gardening. Glass can be liquefied and reshaped. Recycling gives new purpose to items that would unnecessarily take up space in a landfill.

All Star Plumbing and Restoration’s trash removal service is part of our complete service for remodel and water damage restoration projects. Home owners will have the peace of mind in knowing they won’t be stuck trying to figure out what to do with the items that can’t be picked up by the weekly garbage truck when their project has been completed.

 

 

Choosing a Bathroom Sink Basin

When remodeling a bathroom, one of the decisions the homeowner must make is what type of sink to install. There are a lot of options available, which can make it hard to pick just one. Here are some of the more popular styles explained:

1. Wall-Mounted Sink

This style of sink can make the bathroom seem larger than it is because it has no cabinets below it, leaving more floor space visible. This might require reworking the plumbing though. All of the plumbing needs to be positioned inside the wall for a clean look.

2. Washplane Sink

These are usually seen in upscale hotels or restaurant bathrooms, giving off a polished, stylish look. They don’t take up much room and come in porcelain, ceramic, glass, marble, granite, or stone. In a small bathroom they work well.

3. Vessel Sink

These sinks rest completely on top of the counter and make a bold statement. They are deep and can hold a lot of water, but add extra height to the counter. This means the counter will probably have to be designed to sit a little lower than usual.

4. Undermount Sink

Like the name suggests, this style of sink stays completely below the counter. There is no rim, making it easier to clean around the sink and sweep spills into the sink. This makes it a great option for family bathrooms.

5. Pedestal Sink

For people who want a wall mounted sink, but have a waste pipe that goes through the floor and can’t be moved, a pedestal sink is a good compromise. It conceals any pipes and gives the bathroom a classic look.

Bathroom sinks really only serve a few functions, so picking a sink style is mostly about aesthetics. No matter the sink style, All Star Plumbing and Restoration can assist in moving plumbing and installing a new sink during a bathroom remodel. 

 

 

Giant PVC Spider Decoration

Have some extra PVC pipe laying around? Use it to make a giant spider for a Halloween decoration. Here are the materials needed to make it:

  • 60 feet of ½ inch PVC pipe
  • 1 PVC “T” fitting
  • 3 PVC 4-way “Cross” fittings
  • 16 PVC 90 degree “Elbow” fittings
  • I6 PC 45 degree “Elbow” fittings
  • 8 pins to hold the legs to the body
  • 2-3 cans of spray foam insulation
  • Gloves
  • 2 cans of black spray paint
  • PVC pipe primer and glue
  • Duct tape

The tools needed are:

  • PVC pipe cutter
  • Drill with 3/16-inch bit
  • Sandpaper
  • Drop sheet
  • Ruler

This spider will be pretty big once completed and doesn’t cost too much in supplies. It can even be made bigger. Use up some of that PVC pipe laying around from odd projects with this decoration that can be used for years to come. For the directions, visit this website.

 

 

Prepping Hoses for Winter

The weather is getting colder in Boise which means it’s time to start thinking about disconnecting hoses and storing them for the winter. This will prevent split hoses, freezing pipes, and water damage to the house once spring rolls around.

If a garden hose is left connected to a hose bib when it freezes, ice can form building pressure in the water lines inside the house. The water line could break because of this and cause serious water damage

After detaching the hose, make sure to drain all of the water out of it. Water left in the hose can freeze, expand, and ruin the hose. Coil the hose up and screw the two ends of the hose together if possible. This keeps the hose clean and prevents unraveling. Store hoses in a garage or shed for the fall and winter.

Along with detaching hoses, homeowners need to shut off the water lines that run to outdoor hose bibs. To do this simply turn the shut-off valve. These can be located under sinks, in crawl spaces, or in basements. This will drain the water from the pipes leading to the hose bibs outside so it does not freeze. Not sure where these shut off valves are located? The experts at All Star Plumbing are happy to help winterize your home plumbing to avoid freezing pipes this winter.

If these things are not done properly, come spring homeowners could discover water damage in their home. If frozen pipes leak or break this winter, call All Star Plumbing and Restoration to repair the damage with their plumbing and restoration services. We are available 24/7 even on those cold winter nights and holidays for your plumbing needs.

 

 

Past Plumbing Newsletters

October 3, 2016

September 12, 2016

August 30, 2016

August 1, 2016

July 13, 2016

June 13, 2016

May 30, 2016

May 2, 2016

April 15, 2016

March 28, 2016

March 2, 2016

February 15, 2016

January 26, 2016

January 12, 2016

December 7, 2015

November 19, 2015

October 29, 2015

October 6, 2015

September 16, 2015

August 31, 2015

August 3, 2015

July 8, 2015

June 22, 2015

June 3, 2015

May 21, 2015

April 16, 2015

March 17, 2015

March 2, 2015

February 2, 2015

January 7, 2015