All HET Up

Tear Down That Wall!

Opening up, modifying, or entirely removing one or more walls is relatively easy but guaranteed to make a mess. In addition, you must patch the floor, walls, and ceiling.

Before you remove any wall studs, you must determine whether or not the wall is a bearing wall—part of your Oklahoma City home’s structural system

Be aware that plumbing, wiring, or other mechanical equipment within a wall can make removal far more involved. Rerouting plumbing, in particular, can add significantly to the work. If this proves too difficult a task, your Oklahoma City plumber is trained to quickly and efficiently remove walls.

To prepare for demolition, mask off the area with plastic sheeting to prevent the dust from permeating your home, and protect the floor with drop cloths. Turn off the electrical circuits that supply power to receptacles, light switches, and wires in the wall. Pry off any moldings.

To remove gypsum wallboard (drywall), punch through the center of the panel with a hammer and use a prybar to extract the pieces. To dispose of plaster and lath, smash the plaster with a sledge hammer and then pry off the lath.

1. Pry any remnants of surface material off the studs of the wall you intend to take out. On the walls that adjoin it, remove the surface material back to the first stud. Pull any remaining nails from all exposed studs.

2. Make sure water and electrical circuits are turned off and then remove any wiring or plumbing from the wall; properly cap pipes and terminate circuits. If you’re unfamiliar with this type of work, call an Oklahoma City electrical or Oklahoma City plumbing contractor.

3. Knock out any fire blocks between the studs. Cut through all the studs except the end ones a few inches up from the floor. Pull and twist the upper lengths of the studs to free them from the top plate. Using a hammer, knock over the short stud blocks at the base and pry them up. Pull out or cut off any remaining nails.

4. Make a diagonal cut through each end stud at a downward angle and then pry out the two pieces, beginning with the lower half. Pull them free from the top and bottom plates and the anchoring studs in the adjoining walls.

5. If the top plate goes through the adjoining wall, cut it flush with that wall’s top plate. Remove the top plate by making a diagonal cut across it and then wedging a prybar between the two halves and pulling downward. Pull out any remaining nails.

6. As with the top plate, if the bottom plate goes through the adjoining wall, cut it flush at the end first. Then make an angled cut across it, taking care not to cut the floor. Pry up the plate and pull out any remaining nails.

Article Source: http://www.hometips.com/diy-how-to/wall-open-up.html

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

The Sumpiest Pump in Oklahoma City

Sump Pump Basics

 

­A sump pump usually stands in a sump pit — a hole with a gravel base about 2 feet (60 centimeters) deep and 18 inches (45 centimeters) wide — dug in the lowest part of your Oklahoma City basement or crawlspace. As the pit fills with water, the pump turns on. It moves the liquid out of the pit through pipes that run away from your home to a spot where the water can drain away from your foundation. The pipe usually has a one-way valve called a check valve at the pump end to keep the water from flowing back into the pit.

Most sump pumps turn on automatically through a float activator arm or a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor works just like its name suggests: Water exerts more pressure on the sensor than air does, which causes the pump to activate. The float activator works a lot like the one in your toilet tank. A buoyant ball floats on top of the water, manually moving the arm as the water level rises. You can also buy a manually operated pump, which works only when you decide to turn it on, but these aren’t as common because of their lack of convenience. Automatic pumps also have an option for you to activate the pump if the float arm or sensor should fail to work.

The typical home sump pump uses a centrifugal pump to move water. When the motor is on, it causes a screw- or fanlike device called an impeller to turn. Using centrifugal force, the spinning impeller forces water toward the sides of the pipe, creating a low-pressure area at its center. Water from the pit rushes to fill the void, and the impeller’s spinning action pushes it out through the pipe.

Sump pumps for Oklahoma City home use are powered by electricity and use standard household current, so they don’t require specialized wiring beyond a grounded outlet. Since the pump is always in or near water, it’s a good idea to have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on the outlet to prevent accidental electrocution.

There are two primary sump pump designs, both of which are about 2 1/2 to 3 feet (76.2 to 91 centimeters) high. A submersible pump rests in the water. It’s encased in a waterproof housing, with the pump itself at the bottom and the outlet pipe near the top. A flat screen or grate covers the bottom of the pump to keep out debris. When the pump turns on, water is sucked up through the grate and routed into the pipes and out of your home.

The other common type of sump pump is the pedestal pump. Pedestal pumps look something like a long stick with a fat head. The pedestal keeps the pump out of the pit, away from the water even when the pit is full. An inlet pipe reaches down into the bottom of the pit to draw the water out. Since the motor and pump are out of the water, pedestal pumps are usually louder — but less expensive — than submersible pumps.

Read on to learn whether you need one of these pumps in your home and what to do to keep it working once it’s installed.

Choosing a Sump Pump

­Depending on the laws in Oklahoma City, you may not need a sump pump. For example, if you’ve never had standing water in your basement and it’s consistently warm and dry, a sump pump probably wouldn’t do you much good. However, if the area under your house floods occasionally or feels damp and smells musty, there’s a good chance y­ou have an issue with moisture entry. Along with other waterproofing steps, a sump pump would make your basement a healthier space and protect any possessions and appliances you store there.

One way you can check whether moisture is getting into your Oklahoma City home through your basement floor or walls is by taping a 2-foot-square (61-centimeter-square) piece of plastic onto surface and leaving it in place for a day or two. If you’re not sure where the moisture may be coming in, it’s a good idea to do this in multiple spots. After a couple of days, check under the plastic — if it’s wet, you have a moisture problem.

The first step in dealing with basement moisture is to air it out and run a dehumidifier. Since most moisture that ends up in a basement comes from water draining around your foundation, check to see that your gutters and downspouts are in good repair and directing water at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from your foundation. In a couple of weeks, repeat your plastic sheet test — if it shows moisture, a sump pump may be a good idea.

Since sump pumps have many options available, when choosing one, you need to make some decisions:

• Manual or automatic: Although manually operated sump pumps are available and slightly less expensive, an automatic pump is far more convenient.
• Horsepower: Sump pumps are commonly one-quarter to one-third horsepower. More powerful motors will pump more water, but you don’t need to go overboard if your moisture problem is minor.
• Head pressure: Head pressure is the height a pump can raise water. For example, a pump with head pressure of 12 feet (3.7 meters) can raise water to that height, minus about 10 percent for physical limitations like bends in pipes. The pump you choose must be able to lift water out of the sump pit and up to the outlet pipe.
• Cord length: You n­eed to be able to plug a sump pump directly into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet — you shouldn’t plug one into an extension cord.
• Voltage: Most sump pumps for use in U.S. homes operate on standard 110-volt circuits. Pumps with 220 or 4690 volts are available but are more commonly used in industrial applications.
• Backup and alarm systems: Choose the alarm notification and backup system that fits with your personal lifestyle.

Sump Pump Installation

 

You can have your professional Oklahoma City plumber install a sump pump in your home, but if you’re a reasonably handy person, it may be a job you can take on yourself. Here’s an overview of how to install a sump pit and pump in your basement if you should decide not to have a plumber install your sump pump.

1. Determine where water, sewer and utility lines enter your home. You want to put your sump pit away from this ­  existing infrastructure at the lowest point of your basement (you can use a laser level to determine this point). The pump should be at least 8 inches (20 centimeters) away from an outside wall and close to a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet.
2. Figure out how you are going to route the outlet pipe — usually 1 1/2 inch to 2 inch (3.8 to 5 centimeter) PVC. Running it up through a rim joist is usually the easiest way to get the pipe to the outside.
3. Purchase your sump pump and liner together. The liner, essentially a heavy plastic tub with slits to allow water to enter, will determine the size of the hole you dig. You want to dig the hole at least 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) wider than the liner and about 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) deeper. You can use the liner as a starting template and enlarge your outline by 3 inches (7.6 centimeters).
4. Dig the hole to the depth recommended by the sump pump manufacturer, then level the bottom. The easiest way to cut through the concrete is to use a jackhammer.
5. Put the liner into the hole and fill around the outside with coarse gravel. Also put about 6 inches (15 centimeters) of gravel in the bottom of the pit. Tamp it down firmly to ensure the bottom stays level.
6. Attach the discharge pipe to the pump, and place the pump into the pit, making sure it stands upright and level.
7. Cut a piece of PVC drain pipe 1 foot (30.5 centimeters) long. Drill a hole in the rim joist to accommodate the discharge pipe and install it in the hole.
8. Measure and cut pieces of PVC pipe to run from the pump to the inside of the pipe through the rim header. Dry fit all the pieces, and when you’re sure they are right, cement them together.
9. On the outside, fit a piece of discharge pipe onto the pipe protruding through the rim header. Run it to the discharge area, then cement the pipe in place. The discharge pipe shoul­d have a small vent hole that’s out of the water but drains into the pit. This vent hole is designed to prevent an air lock from forming in the lower part of the pump.
10. Finish up by caulking around the hole in the rim header both inside and outside and supporting the discharge pipe inside the house by attaching it to walls or joists.
11. Finally, adjust the float valve on the pump following the manufacturer’s directions. Check the operation by pouring in two or three buckets of water, then plug in the pump.

Sump Pump Maintenance

 

­Most sump pumps are equipped with water level or flood alarms, usually battery powered, that alert you if the pump isn’t working properly and water is backing up. More sophisticated systems can notify your alarm company or call your cell phone if the water starts to rise. Fortunately, this shouldn’t happen often. Sump pumps on the whole are quite reliable. But as with any other important piece of equipment, regular maintenance is always a good idea. Spend a few minutes every couple of months, when heavy rains are forecast and in early spring to ensure reliable sump pump operation. Basic sump pump maintenance is usually as simple as doing these few jobs.

• Make sure the pump is plugged in to a working ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet and the cord is in good shape. In damp areas, GFCI ­breakers may trip, effectively shutting off the sump pump. Check in on your sump pump periodically so you can reset the GFCI if necessary.
• Ensure the pump itself is standing upright. Vibrations during operation can cause it to fall or tilt onto one side. This can jam the float arm so it can’t activate the pump.
• Periodically pour a bucket of water into the pit to make sure the pump starts automatically and the water drains quickly once the pump is on. If the pump doesn’t start, have it serviced.
• Physically remove a submersible pump from the pit and clean the grate on the bottom. The sucking action of the pump can pull small stones into the grate, blocking the inlet or damaging the pump over time.
• Ensure the outlet pipes are tightly joined together and draining out at least 20 feet (6 meters) away from your foundation.
• Make sure the vent hole in the discharge pipe is clear.

Another important point is the sump pump’s power supply. The fact that sump pumps rely on electricity to operate does make them vulnerable in the event of a power outage. Fortunately, there are backup options available. For some people, at least those on municipal water systems — and assuming the city water system is still functional — water-powered sump pumps that don’t need any electricity are an option. These pumps literally use the pressure of flowing water to pump water out of the sump. The downside to this design is that the pumping process uses virtually the same amount of city water as the quantity of water it pumps out. So, while water-powered pumps aren’t necessarily a good choice for a main pump, they offer a viable option for a short duration backup pump.

Sump pumps with backup battery power are also commonly available. The backup power comes from a car battery — or even better, a deep cycle boat battery. Most of the systems charge the batteries while the power is on, ensuring the battery is fully charged in the event of a power outage. Alternatively, a trickle charger used for car batteries is also an option.

Some Oklahoma City homeowners use backup gasoline or diesel generators to provide their own electricity in the event of a power outage. Since a small sump pump needs 800 to 100 watts to operate and can draw up to 1,800 watts when starting, a backup generator needs to be sized properly and, of course, well maintained.

 

Article Source: http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/plumbing/sump-pump4.htm

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

 

 

Old Greywater, Keep on Rolling!

Are you tired of costly septic system maintenance?

Are you looking for ways to economize your Oklahoma City household budget, better protect the environment and reduce septic system load? A greywater system is your answer. This is cutting-edge technology designed to safely recycle water from inside your Oklahoma City home for reuse outside the home, taking pressure off septic systems. Read on to learn how greywater saves you money and water.

No more worrying about the need to increase or replace stressed septic systems. No more burnt landscaping because of drought-inspired water restrictions. Greywater is simple-to-use and provides ample water to keep the garden thriving and the maintenance man away.

How does it work?

Simple – the greywater system is easily installed by your licensed Oklahoma City plumber. The small, inoffensive unit resembles a recycling container and recycles the water from your washing machine, bath and shower for outdoor irrigation use. The unit serves as a filtration system and does not store any water, so its capacity is unlimited.

How do I save money?

Easy. Every time you do a load of laundry, you’re also irrigating your garden. Plus, you cut the amount of water being deposited into septic systems: greywater will reduce the amount in half during the spring and summer months.
A family of four can reduce their water consumption by up to 40,000 gallons annually while protecting their septic systems. Greywater is used by many families to complement their septic systems. With greywater, you have the benefits of a larger septic without the cost. You can easily find affordable greywater systems.

Seems Like a Good Deal. What about maintenance?

Minimal maintenance of most greywater systems is required. Generally, greywater filters need to be cleaned every six months … a short, simple task. Some systems require maintenance every two months.

Is it safe?

Absolutely. Greywater is defined as water from showers, baths and washing machines. The greywater system filters out lint and debris. Soap levels are retained in the greywater as they add nutrients to the soil. All that is needed to safely reuse the recycled greywater from your washing machine is to switch to a detergent with low or no phosphorus. That’s it. Black water, which originates from kitchen sinks, dishwashers and toilets, is never used with the greywater system.

 

Article Source: http://www.elocalplumbers.com/blog/protect-septic-system-grey-water-5498

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

Beware the FOG

Families these days are eating healthier diets with less fried foods and fatty meats.

Yet many people don’t realize we must remain diligent in preventing fats, oils and grease discharges down our drains.

Cooking fats, oil and grease (FOG) are leading causes of clogged drains, back-ups, and sewage spills.

 

Keeping FOG out of your drains will keep the plumber away, save you money, prevent embarrassing backups, and inconvenient messy cleanups.

So where’s the grease? How can we trim the fat from our sewers and keep our pipes running smoothly?

Below is a list of many typical pipe-clogging foods to avoid washing down Oklahoma City drains:

• Oil and butter
• Mayonnaise and sour cream
• Cheese
• Sauces and dips
• Salad dressing
• Cake frosting
• Pie dough
• Gravy
• Turkey and chicken pan drippings
• Fat remaining on plates from BBQ steak

Eating a healthy diet, low in fat is great for our bodies.

By also placing our drains on fat-free diets, we help protect the environment and do our part to keep city costs down. Now that’s got to make you feel good all over!

Tips for fat-free drains:

Scrape food and grease from plates into the trash – garbage disposals don’t remove grease.

Place a strainer in your sink drains.

Pour off cooking grease from pans and bake ware into a resealable can. Let it cool before placing it in the trash.

Collect turkey frying oil and take it to a Oklahoma City household collection facility for free. The tallow company picks it up and recycles it.

Of course, we are all human - and being such may forget or overlook some of the offenders and wind up with a clogged drain. If that’s the case, rest assured that your Oklahoma City plumber can have your drains cleared in no time.

 

Article Source:  http://www.elocalplumbers.com/blog/clog-prevention-tip-5461#more-5461

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

 

Look! I Did It Myself!

Are you the type of homeowner who thinks he can fix anything and everything? Do you make it a habit of repairing any plumbing mishaps in your Oklahoma City home?

If so, and you don’t know what you are doing, you may end up causing thousands of dollars in damage before you know what hit you.

Hopefully, this will make you think twice before grabbing your wrench next time!

Of course, there are some plumbing jobs that you can try on your own without any risk. For instance, a leaky faucet is a small job that you may want to tackle before you call in your professional Oklahoma City plumber.

If you know what you are doing you will probably be able to stop the leak, and avoid paying a professional for their services. This is not something you can make worse, in most cases.

But what about more extensive plumbing projects? These are tasks such as running new piping through your walls or replacing an entire bathtub.

Oklahoma City plumbers know exactly how to handle these large jobs. You, on the other hand, are probably less experienced and will be moving forward without all the knowledge that you need.

If you make a mistake during a large do-it-yourself plumbing project it may end up costing you more than you ever imagined. What would happen if the new piping burst? Or if there is a leak underneath that new tub you installed?

Soon enough the water would begin to cause major damage to the walls, flooring, and other areas of your Oklahoma City home.

This does not mean that you should always hire an Oklahoma City plumber. If you are confident you can handle a task without the slightest problem, go for it. But any job that is too big should be passed onto a professional plumber instead.

Article Source: http://www.elocalplumbers.com/blog/diy-plumbing-mistakes-1000s-damage-606

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.

Wasted Water is Money Down the Drain

Conserving water is a fantastic habit to get into to because it saves water and reduces waste-water treatment costs. Conserving hot water can even save you money on your Oklahoma City heating and cooling bills.

Let us start by explaining how conserving water can result in potential cost savings. Basically it’s a simple process in which all the water that drains away from showers, sinks and toilets ends up in the sewage treatment plant. The more water that the sewage plant has to process, the higher the costs are. So the more water generated by a toilet flush, the brushing of your teeth, washing of your hands, showering, etc., the more waste water ends up at the sewage treatment plant. If you could reduce the amount of water being generated, by perhaps having a 3.5 gallon toilet installed instead of a 5 or 7 gallon toilet or even just using water efficient fixtures installed, you could cut down on the costs of treating the water.

When trying to conserve water, the water meter is your best friend. If you are on a public Oklahoma City water system, it should be easy to find your water meter because it will be located either on your property or very close to it. The water meter will tell you how much water you are using and it can help you detect leaks. To read a water meter you need to take the second reading and subtract the first reading from it. The answer will equal how many cubic feet of water you have used. Keep in mind; there are 7.5 gallons of water in one cubic foot of water. It should also help to know that a family of four uses about 1500 gallons of water per day maintaining an average Oklahoma City household and a garden.

Water meters can also be used to detect leaks. All you have to do is turn off every plumbing fixture in your house for a couple of hours and take a meter reading. If the reading changes, a leak exists. Keep in mind; you mustn’t forget to shut off the built-in icemaker or the reverse osmosis water filtration system because they turn themselves on automatically.

Bathrooms are the rooms that use the most amount of water. On estimate, toilet use adds up to about 40% of your water use. If you are looking to conserve water you should definitely use a 3.5 or 1.6 gallons per flush toilet. Simply converting from a 7 gallon toilet to a 1.6 gallon toilet can reduce your overall water use by 25% or more. Furthermore, a leaky toilet will waste 50 gallons of water or more per day regardless of the size.

If you think your toilet might have a leak, there is an easy way to find out for sure. It’s called the food coloring test! Simply place a few drops of food coloring into the tank and allow the toilet to go unused for about15-20 minutes. When you return to your toilet you should check to see if the water in the toilet bowl has a tint of the food coloring in it. If so, you are the lucky winner of a toilet leak. The leak is usually the result of loose fittings or worn washers. Try installing a new washer or tightening the fittings. If that doesn’t work, have your Oklahoma City plumber fix the problem right away.

Another way to conserve water is to install low-flow water fixtures. These are especially useful for shower heads. Traditional shower heads allow a flow of seven gallons per minute which for a five-minute shower equals to 35 gallons of water. By switching to a low-flow shower head, using 3.5 gallons per minute, you can reduce the water used in a shower by half. Also, if you are using less hot water, it will reveal itself each month when you get your Oklahoma City gas and electric bill. Your plumber can have a low-flow shower head installed in no time.

Lastly, you can conserve water by keeping an eye on the kitchen and laundry situations. Dishwashers and clothes washers use 17 to 35 gallons of water per load so it would be a good idea to run full loads at all times. Also, during the summer, you might want to watch how careless you are with your outdoor water use. Simply washing an automobile can use 100 gallons of water and watering the grass can add up to even more.

Article Source: http://www.plumbingkey.com/conserving-water.html

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.

Questions for the Prospective Plumber

Answers to some basic questions will give you a sense of whether or not you could work comfortably with a particular Oklahoma City plumber. Below are some questions to ask:
 
Questions about the Plumber
How long have you been a plumber?
Were you formally trained or did you learn through an apprenticeship?
Do you belong to any professional associations?
Are you licensed and registered with the state of Oklahoma?
Are you insured?
Do you have any references in Oklahoma City that I can contact?

Questions about Your Plumber’s Work
Do you give written warranties?
Will this project require a permit?
Can you estimate how long this will take?
Will you provide options for different materials?

Interview Question for References
Were you happy with the plumbing project?
Was the job completed on time?
Were there any unexpected expenses?
Would you use this Oklahoma City plumber again?
Would you recommend this plumber?

Read more: http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Checklist-Recommended-Questions-to-Ask-a-Plumber.13001.html#ixzz1qu0r8PH1

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

Conserve H2O, Save $$ With Dual Flush

Dual flush toilets are exactly what they claim to be: toilets that give you the option to choose from two different flushes. Why? Because, to put it plainly, it doesn’t take as much water to send number one packing as it does to get rid of number two. By purchasing a toilet with both a low and high volume flush, you’ll cut the water your toilet uses by more than half, not only saving you a bundle of money over the course of the toilet’s lifetime, but doing some good from an environmental standpoint as well.

How Much Difference Can Two Separate Flushes Make?
The answer to this question is shocking. Studies of dual flush toilets show that using a dual flush system as opposed to a conventional one can reduce water consumption by up to 67%. In fact, the water savings are so substantial that several nations, such as water starved Australia, have passed laws requiring that all new toilets installed are of this variety. There are even municipalities in the United States, all from areas where drought is a major concern, where similar statutes have been passed in an effort to conserve dwindling water resources.

Growing Industry
Dual flush toilets are only just catching on in the United States and the rest of North America. The double flush idea is relatively new technology to start with (these toilets first hit the international market little more than a decade ago), and these innovative bathroom fixtures haven’t been so easy to turn up in the U.S. until recently. However, a growing concern about the state of our environment, coupled with the widespread occurrences of drought that have plagued many areas of the United States, have prompted a slew of companies to dive into the business, making these pioneering toilets fairly easy to track down for the wise Oklahoma City homeowner looking to save money and natural resources.

 

Cutting Edge Designs
The other plus of dual flush toilets is their innovative design and appearance. Because they are a relatively new product, and because this soon to be booming market is a highly competitive one, companies are scrambling to make them as comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to use as possible. They come in a variety of cutting edge styles, including different styles of flushing mechanisms. Newer models with two buttons, one for each flush, are highly recommended over the push/pull models, mostly because they cut down on inadvertent “misflushes,” or choosing the high volume flush when it isn’t needed. Sounds crazy, but if you’re making a midnight trip to the bathroom or still groggy early in the morning, you don’t want to have stand there and contemplate whether to push or pull the handle in order to do right by your pocketbook and the environment.

Tricky Plumbing
The only drawback of these toilets is the plumbing required to facilitate a dual flush system. It’s much more complicated than your average toilet installation and over the head of your average do-it-yourselfer. When you choose to have a dual flush toilet installed in your Oklahoma City home, it’s best to contact your professional Oklahoma City plumber in order to ensure that your new water and money saving toilet operates exactly the way it’s supposed to and is problem free for years to come.