Contrary to popular myth, plumber Thomas Crapper did not invent the flush toilet. One of his contemporaries, though, did create the first toilet that prevented sewer gases from entering the home. Englishman Joseph Adamson’s 1853 design — the siphon flush — eventually made obsolete both the chamber pot and the outhouse. Adamson’s invention, like all modern toilets, relies on the tendency of a moving liquid to continue flowing, even in defiance of gravity: The tank is kept full, and during a flush, the water rushes into the bowl, creating a surge over the weir (or dam). The flow stops when the bowl is empty, and the tank refills in preparation for the next flush.
Originally, tanks were placed high above the bowl to get water moving forcefully enough to clear the weir, but by 1915, narrower, smoother porcelain passageways allowed quieter, 5- to 7-gallon tanks to be mounted on the backs of bowls. The next giant leap in toilet technology came in 1994, when federal law restricted tanks to 1.6 gallons per flush, but to those who used the first generation of low-flow toilets, this leap seemed more of a stumble. “They often needed two flushes,” says This Old House plumbing and heating consultant Richard Trethewey. Manufacturers largely fixed that problem by further modifying the passageways to move a reduced amount of water more vigorously into the bowl.
Anatomy of a Low-Flow Toilet
FLUSH LEVER: Pulls the lift chain.
LIFT CHAIN: Opens the flapper. A chain float limits the flush to 1.6 gallons by closing the flapper when the tank has drained to a set level.
OVERFLOW TUBE: Protects against an accidental overfilling of the tank.
FLOAT: Shuts a valve on the supply line when the tank level reaches a predetermined depth.
FLAPPER: Releases tank water into the bowl. When released by the chain float, drops against the flush valve seat, sealing the tank so it can refill.
TRAP: Holds water in the bowl, blocking the entry of sewer gases, until the flow from the tank pushes the water over the weir.
SIPHON JET: Concentrates flow from the tank, jump-starting the siphoning effect.
RIM HOLES (not shown): Release water during the flush, cleaning the sides of the bowl.
You can easily integrate this water-saving fixture into your home. your Oklahoma City plumber can fill you in on the best low-flow toilet for your Oklahoma City home and can handle the installation of your low-flow toilet easily and efficiently.
Article Source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,213021,00.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.
The basic idea behind water-saving devices is to restrict water consumption rates where heaviest use occurs. Indoor Oklahoma City water usage runs at about 40 percent for toilets, 30 percent for baths and showers (more for baths), 15 percent for clothes washers and 15 percent for cooking and kitchen use.
TOILET WATER SAVERS
The first target for water conservation is the toilet. A number of devices are designed to reduce the amount of water used to flush a conventional toilet.
One such device is a dual-flush mechanism that allows about one-half tank flush for liquid waste by depressing the tank lever handle in the normal manner and full-tank flush for solid waste by depressing the lever and holding it down. These devices can save from 40 to 50 percent of normal water consumption.
There are also water-saving toilets that have smaller holding tanks and use less water to flush.
Leaks in the toilet tank can also be a source of excess water usage. These are usually due to worn out parts. Leaks can be detected by adding dark food coloring to the tank and checking about 20 minutes later to see if the toilet bowl water has turned the same color.
SHOWERS AND BATHS
Showers and baths are the next target for water saving. The most common devices are flow-control valves, flow restrictors and aerators that can be added to existing fixtures. New showerheads can also be installed that feature water-saving capabilities.
There is a distinct difference between a flow-control valve and a flow restrictor. The flow-control valve restricts the flow of water to about 2.75 gals. per minute, automatically making adjustments for water-pressure changes.
A flow restrictor does not make an automatic adjustment if the pressure changes. Therefore, more water is used as the pressure increases.
Some of these devices have manual controls to adjust water flow from flood to shutoff. Many include a weep to help prevent back pressure in the pipes.
Many of these showerheads also have manual controls to adjust the amount of water flow so less water can be used for soaping and more for rinsing.
These devices help restrict the flow of water from a typical rate of seven gals. per minute to about two to three gals.
FAUCETS
The third target for water saving around your Oklahoma City home is the bathroom and kitchen faucets. Like the shower or bathtub, water is consumed at the rate of about 7 gals. per minute. A restrictor (or aerator) can reduce the flow to 2- to 3- gals. Per minute.
There are models which automatically adjust the flow to 2- to 3- gals. per minute. There are models which automatically adjust the flow rate according to water-pressure changes and other models which do not make automatic compensations. Some have manual controls for the Oklahoma City homeowner to preset the amount of restriction.
Several states, such as New York and California, have code requirements on faucets and showerheads. Since these water-saving devices also control the proportion of hot water used, they have the additional selling point of being a fuel saver.
regardless of state mandated use of water saving devices, it is in your best interest to modify your water usage. Your Oklahoma City plumbing contractor knows the benefit of all these devices and can advise you as to which will be most beneficial in your case and will then gladly install any water saving plumbing fixture for you.
Article Source: http://www.acehardware.com/info/index.jsp?categoryId=1267597
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.
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.
If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City plumbing installation contractor, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.
What is an Upflush Toilet?
The upflush toilet is a great addition to any Oklahoma City home. It is also more cost effective compared to a standard toilet in terms of the amount of flushing water it uses. When the upflush toilet is flushed, the water level will be pressured so that it rises into the treatment tank. In the treatment tank, the grinder motor cuts the feces automatically so that it becomes macerated. The rotating blades will grind the contents in 3 - 4 seconds. The finely ground feces is pumped into a standard pipe which measures 0.75 to 1 inch in diameter. After that, the tank becomes empty so that the system can be reused.
The upflush toilet is designed to solve the problem of a standard toilet. The important feature in an upflush toilet is the macerator pump and small diameter pipe. The powerful macerator contains a sharp blade which can effectively shred the feces and toilet paper so that they become liquefied in the water. Once it is mixed with water, it can easily be flushed into the upward pipe.
The quiet electric pump generates the pressure for moving the slurry upward in the pipe. The narrow pipe which measure ¾ inch in diameter solves the structural problems in most homes. The finely grinded slurry will be flushed upward through the pipe into the septic tank.
Advantages of the Upflush Toilet
Upflush toilets offer many benefits. With an upflush toilet, the location is not limited to the drainage system. For example, if you have a child with special needs, you can install the toilet beside the bed.
The macerating pump can be installed in areas such as your Oklahoma City attic or basement. Furthermore, the unit is portable and can be moved to a different location. When you want to move the unit, you simply remove the four screws and move it to the desired location.
With Oklahoma City home remodels, there is the problem of the lack of drain line in the location where you want to install the toilet. The upflush toilet solves this problem by simplifying the toilet installation. The installation for the upflush toilet is less time consuming because it does not require you to remove the tiles on the floor of the bathroom. Due to its versatility, upflush toilet is suitable for making temporary toilets, especially for elderly or disabled people.
Conclusion
Upflush toilets cost more than the standard toilet. However, the upflush toilet can be installed anywhere in your Oklahoma City home for less. Compare with the standard toilet which will cost up to a few thousand dollars. If you have already installed the plumb lines, you will not want an upflush toilet. However, if the toilet is unplanned, the up flush design is the most economical option.
The power flush system has a higher cost than the standard system. Although power flush uses dual flush toilets to help the toilet to flush efficiently, the extra pressure is unnecessary. In addition, power flush systems cannot flush everything that the upflush system can handle.
When buying upflushing toilets, you can purchase unit that is specifically designed for your Oklahoma City bathroom. This allows all the waters in the unit in the bathroom to be plumbed through a single pipe. If you want to add a sink or shower in the room, this unit is the best option.
Consult with your Oklahoma City plumber if you are considering an upflush toilet for your home.
Article Source: http://www.squidoo.com/Upflush-Toilet
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.
Even though you can’t buy the Hang Fung gold toilet for your master bath, there are plenty of other fancy fixtures available to accent your Oklahoma City bathroom. But you’re going to have to shell out big bucks for them.
The Neorest 600 certainly falls into this category. The Neorest takes the cake as the most expensive commode available for purchase in the home. Produced by bathroom fixture manufacturer Toto, the Neorest 600 is a tankless, one-piece toilet. It may not be gold, but you could call it green: It’s a low-flow toilet, conserving water by sending only 1.6 gallons down the drain per flush. But you’ll be too busy sitting in awe of the Neorest to yearn for the water-frivolous days of the full-flow toilet. It’s also a bathroom dynamo, doing all of the work your old toilet used to make you do.
When the Neorest senses your approach, the toilet lifts its lid, inviting you to have a seat. Once you do your thing, a gentle blast of warm water cleans your bottom. This is followed by the toilet’s air-dry function. And after you get up, the toilet flushes the ionized, self-cleaning bowl and deodorizes the air [source: Toto]. With all of these features, maybe the $5,800 retail price for the Neorest 600 isn’t so much, relatively speaking [source: Forbes]. Plus, you can find them for sale as low as $3,159 [source: Buy Plumbing]. Of course, you can get a regular residential toilet in the U.S. and Canada for around $150, but these certainly don’t come with the bells and whistles the Neorest offers.
If you’re going to remodel your Oklahoma City bathroom, why not go all the way? How about some gold leaf inlay in the counter’s backsplash? And what about Italian marble tile for the bathroom’s floor?
Be sure to install the big fixtures first. There’s the Idrolux “L” shower, which retails for around $24,000. This freestanding shower includes UV panels, designed to give you a healthy, tanned glow while you bathe [source: Idrolux]. If you don’t like standing when you scrub down, you can opt to rest easy in 21 inches of warm water in Kohler’s Kallista Archeo bathtub. Before you sink into the tub, check the price tag: This freestanding copper bathtub goes for more than $66,000 [source: Forbes].
How about a nice sink, too? The Italbrass Mezz’aria dual basin sink might look nice reflecting the blue UV glow of your tanning shower — the wall-mounted floating sink is stainless steel. The nearly $7,500 price tag doesn’t include the complementary mirror to go above it, but you’ll want a mirror from another company anyway [source: Quality Bath]. Seura offers wall-mounted, over-the-sink mirrors as large as 45 inches wide that feature an LCD television embedded inside. You can get ready and watch the news at the same time. When turned off, the TV disappears, and the fixture looks like a normal mirror [source: Seura]. The mirrors and their frames can be customized per order, and they fetch around $5,000 for the 45-inch model [source: Home Annex].
Still, starting your day off in your Oklahoma City bathroom with all of these luxury features would probably put a pretty good spin on things. And who can put a price on that feeling?
If you do purchase a Toto, your Oklahoma City plumber will happily handle the toilet installation for you. Meanwhile, be sure to contact your plumber for any other plumbing repairs you may need help with. You may just find yourself in need of toilet repair services for your regular old Oklahoma City bathroom fixture.
Article Source: http://home.howstuffworks.com/most-expensive-toilet-in-world1.htm
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.
If you care about which way the toilet paper roll is installed, you apparently have plenty of company. Your Oklahoma City plumber does not wish to express an opinion concerning toilet paper orientation, but simply wishes to inform and entertain. Also be aware that should you, in your frustration, tear off entirely too much toilet paper and manage somehow to clog the toilet, your Oklahoma City plumber will happily take care of your clogged toilet.
According to a survey at The Toilet Paper Encyclopedia website, 68% of the people who took the survey prefer to hang toilet paper with the sheets coming out over the roll, with 25% preferring the sheets coming out under the roll. That adds up to 93%, so I’m not sure what happened with the other 7% who took the survey, since this would seem to be an either-or type of question.
Google search results for the phrase “toilet paper over or under” confirm that there are lots of people out there who have taken the time to think about and weigh in with all sorts of rationalizations on this issue:
- Installing the toilet paper “under” may prevent toddlers or cats from pulling all of the paper off the roll.
- Installing the toilet paper “over” lets it hang freely, making it easier to tear off.
- Installing the paper “under” makes it more difficult to get more than a couple of sheets at a time, thus conserving paper.
- Installing the paper “over” makes it easier to locate and restart a sheet.
- People who install toilet paper “under” are ignorant, imbecilic half-wits incapable of basic hygiene.
- People who install toilet paper “over” are anal-obsessive, addle-brained Neanderthals who can barely manage to wipe themselves.
Even weirder than people who take the time to think about this issue are those people who get militant about it. These Toilet Paper Nazis actually believe they have the God-given right to flip toilet paper that is not installed according to their preference.
When visiting friends or relatives, do you flip the toilet paper to conform with your preferred orientation? If so, I just have to ask: what are you THINKING? Are you completely INSANE? Do you also rearrange their furniture, make them put on different outfits, rename their children and pets? Where is your sense of propriety?
And do you have any idea how dangerous toilet paper flipping can be? There are a lot of weird people out there, and reactions can range from mild consternation all the way up to psychotic rage and violent attack. Is toilet paper alignment really worth dying for?
Apparently people have faced divorce, friendships have been ruined, and families have been torn apart over the “over” vs. “under” issue. Therefore, as a public service, here are a few suggestions to help you cope when a friend or loved one disagrees with you about toilet paper alignment:
- Recognize that it doesn’t really matter, let them have their way, and get on with your life.
- Don’t argue — just keep flipping the toilet paper every time you use the bathroom. Over a period of months or years, the situation will work itself out. Or not.
- Set up a monthly toilet paper schedule: “over” on even days, “under” on odd days.
- Install two toilet paper holders side-by-side in each bathroom; one for “over,” one for “under.”
- Rotate the toilet paper dispenser 90 degrees, so that the roll is installed vertically, thus eliminating the over vs. under debate. But realize that this will likely lead to arguments over “clockwise” vs. “counterclockwise.”
- Just get a bidet and be done with it!
You should also try to understand that, in the end, “over” and “under” are really just complementary opposites within a greater whole. Or greater roll. Or something…
Article Source: http://www.stuffweirdpeoplelike.com/2009/08/24/6-caring-about-the-toilet-paper-over-vs-under/
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.
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.
