Tile Ready Shower Pans in Oklahoma City

November 29, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Bathroom Remodeling 

Tile ready shower pans are a modern alternative to traditionally built shower pan liners for ceramic tile showers. Traditional pans require masonry skills and some art for several of the construction steps. Tile ready pans require skill too, but not as much skill. Also the newer designs go in faster since there is no cure time for masonry liners.  Your Oklahoma City plumber is capable of installing either and will gladly advise on which is better suited to your needs.

The new design shower pans are ready for ceramic tile setting as soon as they are installed. The drain is built in to the base pan and the slope is built into the pan. Check Oklahoma City building codes for approval of whatever system you choose.

The traditional shower methods work great if done properly and are especially suited for custom sizes. But the newer systems are perfect for custom sizes too and are especially good for multi-unit installations like apartments or hospitals. The disadvantage of tile ready showers is cost. Installation is faster but cost is consistently higher. In most cases you can get a traditional shower pan built for just the cost of the ready-made shower pan material. So look carefully at cost.

Consider these three systems.

The Tile Redi system includes a polyurethane pan with a built-in drain. Standard pan sizes come with built in curbs and side shields. The pan sets in a mortar base supplied by the builder. Level the unit and attach all the pieces and it’s ready for tile installation. Check the prices!

The Schluter system has a pan with material for foam curbs and sealing material for the shower wall plus matching adhesives. The Schluter also includes a matching drain. This system is better suited for odd size locations and has the large advantage of sealing the entire wall. The pan sets in a mortar base and after installation is ready for tile.

Lastly, the Wedi system from Germany uses foam panels with adhesive to build any size shower. Foam boards make up the walls for a completely waterproof shower. The pan is set in a mortar base and is ready for tiling the morning after installation in your Oklahoma City bathroom.

Conventional masonry construction of shower pans builds ceramic tile showers that will last for decades at a reasonable cost. Tile ready shower pans do have advantages in some situations.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_Bullington

If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City bathroom remodeling contractor, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.

Backflow and Scaling and Filters - Oh My! Oklahoma City Plumbing Woes

November 21, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: plumbing services 

 

Many Oklahoma City homeowners and families rely on clean, pure water from a safe water supply. In addition to water, all homeowners rely on a complex sewage system to eliminate waste water from a home. While most plumbing problems in the home produce noticeable problems, some can go undetected for years. These problems can create an environmental hazard, endanger a families’ health, and raise a utility bill.  It is important to consult with your Oklahoma City plumbing contractor should you suspect any of the following issues are occurring in your home.

One of the most common problems seen in many homes is the lack of residential backflow prevention equipment. Backflow is usually only a problem when using a commercial or municipal water supply. If water pressure outside a home drops to less than water pressure in a home, water can flow out of a home into public pipes. This backflow can often contaminate a public water supply, leading to a potential health hazard.

A residential backflow prevention unit will stop water from flowing backwards in a pipe. It acts as a one-way valve to prevent water traveling in the wrong direction. In addition, a one way valve can provide Oklahoma City homeowners with temporary water pressure if a municipal water supply is under maintenance.

Another common problem for many Oklahoma City homeowners is water scaling in interior pipes. While most municipal sources are treated to prevent hard water, well water can often have a high mineral content. These minerals are deposited on the inside of pipes as water moves through a home. Over time, this mineral buildup can cause a loss of water pressure, leading to the need to replace home plumbing.

A great way to prevent water scaling in a home is with a water softening unit. These help filter out excessive levels of minerals in a pipe, and help keep water flowing smoothly to all parts of your Oklahoma City home. Since water scaling usually isn’t noticeable until it’s too late to repair, it’s essential to install a softener before any problems arise. There are many commercial tests that can determine the hardness of well water.

While it may seem obvious, many Oklahoma City homeowners forget to change the water filter in their home. A clogged filter can reduce water flow, increase the pumping cost for well owners, and reduce the quality of water. A good rule of thumb to follow is this: for every 3 months of use, change the water filter in a home. In a vacation home, a filter should be changed at least once a year, dependent on usage.

While some of these tips may seem obvious, it’s essential to properly maintain a home’s water supply. Over time, unseen problems cause lasting damage, requiring expensive plumbing repair and maintenance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Gladious

If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City plumbing repair contractor, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.

Don’t Let a Leak in Your Oklahoma City Slab Cost You

November 16, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Leak Detection 

One of the most hazardous plumbing problems you can face in your Oklahoma City home is a slab leak. Even a small slab leak can cause havoc with your foundation as well as inside your home. Early detection and prevention of slab leaks can help save you a great deal of time and money.

A slab leak occurs when underground pipes burst within the confines of a concrete foundation beneath a permanent, fixed building. It is most often caused by a factors including:

• Galvanized steel piping not properly insulated
• Water leaking through the foundation
• Acidic soil causing rust and corrosion on plumbing pipes
• High pH value of water
• General wear and tear

Slab leaks require special care and early stage detection. To limit damage to your Oklahoma City property, locate the exact source of the leak. Seek out a qualified Oklahoma City plumber that can fix your problem with minimally invasive technology. Expert plumbing technicians must be able to manage and handle any residential or commercial job, large or small through advanced leak detection techniques. From drain and sewer cleaning to trenching and tunneling, plumbers must be able to meet all your plumbing needs. They must be able to handle kitchen, bathroom and laundry room problems efficiently.

The best Oklahoma City plumbers are able to scan and test the plumbing system to let you know if your slab has a leak. It the leak is there, they can locate it and find the best possible way to repair and fix it. There are many ways to repair a slab leak, including making a hole in the slab or by tunneling under your foundation. By using this type of method, you have no flooring to replace, no broken foundation, and you minimize the inconvenience of having a plumbing crew inside your Oklahoma City home.

For complete satisfaction, it is essential that your plumber is expert, experienced, fully licensed, bonded and insured and is available 24/7 to meet all your plumbing needs. They should be able to provide flawless plumbing service including, but not related to gas leak detection, gas pressure test, and gas service replacement, install gas lines and fixtures, gas water heater repairs, gas leak repairs, smoke test to locate leaks, annual gas tests and other relevant services at the most affordable prices. Their knowledgeable technicians must be there to answer all of your plumbing related questions. Hence, you must consider an Oklahoma City plumber that can guarantee the following vital things for their services:

• Quality Work and Parts
• Reliable Plumbing Service
• Customer Confidence

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abi_Winder

If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City plumbing company, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.

How Often Should You Have Your Oklahoma City Drains Professionally Cleaned?

November 14, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Drain Cleaning 

If you want to keep your drains clean and working, regular drain cleaning is a must. For sewer lines and basement drains and other bigger drains, your Oklahoma City professional plumber recommends regular inspections approximately once every two to three years depending on the proximity of typical clogging culprits like roots and the age of the system. It will greatly help you to ensure the longevity of your drains and drain pipes.

Drains can become clogged for many reasons most often due to an accumulation of things like grease, hair, scale and dirt.

The most common remedy used by Oklahoma City homeowners for attempting to unclog drains is the chemical drain cleaners. Most homeowners see it as the most convenient way to relieve clogged pipes. This method just requires that you pour a solution down the drain and leave it alone for a while. Please be advised this method poses many health risks for anyone who uses it. Chemical drain openers are very corrosive by nature and present the risk of damage to any part of the skin or the body that will come in contact with it. The fumes from these chemicals are very potent and can cause severe damage to the respiratory tract. This damage to the respiratory tract can be permanent and can happen easily without you realizing it.

An emergency drain cleaning situation is a nightmare for most Oklahoma City homeowners. Your main sewer line can also become clogged from debris the other household drains wash into it and also by tree roots that penetrate pipe joints from the surrounding soil. Of course, if there is a recurring issue with one of the smaller drains in the house, like a toilet or a garbage disposal, this could be a sign of a more troublesome blockage in the sewer line that needs immediate professional attention.

Like many other things today, drain cleaning technology has also become state-of-the-art and highly efficient. High pressure water jetting equipment sometimes is needed for your home, but more often for commercial businesses and municipalities and isn’t owned by many drain cleaning businesses. Because the equipment is so expensive and potentially dangerous to use, it’s important to find a professional OklahomaCity plumber that has a good reputation, professional workers, and fair prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sybil_Richardson

If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City plumbing company, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.

Reasons to Call an Oklahoma City Plumber

November 10, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: plumbing services 

When it comes to spending money hiring a plumber, it can be a hard thing to budget for, particularly in the current economic climate. A lot of people will decide to do the work themselves, which is all well and good if you have the necessary tools, skills and experience, but the rest of us are left requiring the services of a professional Oklahoma City plumber. Here are a number of scenarios which may lead to you requiring the services of a professional plumber:

- Your toilet is blocked. This is not beyond the realms of the average person being able to fix. If you have a plunger in your home then you can certainly have a go at unblocking the toilet, just don’t flush the toilet in an attempt to shift the blockage as you will end up with water everywhere. If, after using a plunger, the toilet is still blocked you will need to call in a plumber.

- Your plumbing knowledge and skills are poor. There is no shame in it, the vast majority of people lack the knowledge and experience to be able to adequately deal with plumbing problems in the home. If you are someone who does not have the necessary plumbing experience then you would be better off not attempting any DIY plumbing in the home, leave it to a professional plumber. Trying to fix something yourself and making a bad job of it will likely end up costing you a lot more than just getting a plumber to come out in the first place.

- Water is not draining away from your sinks. If the water is struggling to drain away from your sinks the likely cause is a blockage in the pipes. You can buy chemical solutions that when poured down the sink are supposed to dissolve the blockage but be very careful when using chemicals and don’t over use them. Your best bet would be to get an Oklahoma City plumber to come out and clear the blockage.

- Home improvements and new plumbing installations. Whenever you are planning home improvements like a new bathroom, new kitchen or installing a new en-suite bathroom into your Oklahoma City home, you will want to do so with the help of a qualified, professional plumber. Water and waste pipes need to be plumbed in correctly, if they are not you could end up with a financial nightmare later on.

From the few points above you should be able to see why it sometimes necessary to hire a professional plumber. There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of plumbing catastrophes in your home:

- Ensure your toilet is not being used to flush away things it was not designed for. If your toilet is blocked then there is a good chance that someone has been flushing something they shouldn’t, toilets should only be used for human waste and toilet paper. Speaking to all members of the family to ensure they understand this could save you money in the long term.

- If you are planning a trip away for a prolonged length of time it might be wise to shut off the water supply to the house. This will get rid of the risk of you returning home to find it flooded due to a leak while you were away.

- Try not to let waste food and cooking grease go down the kitchen sink. Grease will solidify when it cools causing it and any waste food to begin clogging up the pipes.

- Make everybody living in the property aware of where the water shut off valve is located. Shutting off the water as quickly as possible in the event that something goes wrong could save you a lot of money.

At some point everybody owning a home will be presented with some form of plumbing related problem. It is therefore important to know what you can do to in such situations and when to call in a professional Oklahoma City plumber.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Wheater

If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City plumbing company, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.

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