Toilets

If your toilet is stopped up and if the water level is low, there is an alternative if a plunger doesn't work.

• Fill a bucket or plastic wastebasket with warm water and pour it into the bowl from waist level or higher.
• Repeat if necessary after the water level is once again low.
• Periodically check your toilets for leaks:
• Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank — not the bowl. A couple of tablespoons of instant coffee or Kool-Aid will work too.
• Check the toilet after about thirty minutes. If the water in the bowl has some of the color in it, the tank is leaking and the stopper ("flapper") and/or flush valve seat may need to be replaced.

Do not use your toilet as a wastebasket. Do not flush facial tissue, sanitary products or diapers as they do not dissolve and can clog the lines. Keep a trash container in each bathroom.

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Clogged Drains

Unclog a drain mechanically rather than chemically when possible.

• Use chemical drain cleaners sparingly, especially if your pipes or traps are brass, steel, or cast-iron; some chemicals may corrode metal pipes. Try this instead: pour a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down your drain every month.
• The drains in showers and in bathroom sinks typically need extra care; pour two or three gallons of boiling water down each bathroom drain about once a month to clear out hair and greasy particles.
• Every week or two remove sink and tub pop-up stoppers and rinse them off.
• Every three or four months remove the overflow plate on the tub.
• Then pull up the pop-up assembly to reach the spring or rocker arm.
• Remove accumulated hair and rinse thoroughly.

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If your shower drain is plugged up:

• Try a plunger first.
• If the plunger doesn't unplug the drain, insert a plumber's helper ("snake") down the drain.
• Prevent drain clogs by putting a lint trap on your washing machine discharge hose.
• Place a strainer over kitchen and bathroom drains if they do not already have one; this will prevent hair, pieces of soap, and other debris from clogging drains. Clean the strainer as needed.

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Faucets

• Repair or replace a leaky faucet promptly.
• Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or leaks. Even a slow leak can waste as much as 15 or 20 gallons of water a day. But a leak not only wastes water; it can eventually ruin your faucet or even your cabinets and floors.
• Leaky faucets are ordinarily caused by seals, which are dirty or worn. You may either clean or replace the worn parts, or you may want to install a new faucet.

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Don’t let your outdoor/indoor faucets freeze up in the winter.

• Unattach your garden hoses before freezing temperatures arrive in the fall.
• Then close the shut-off valve on the pipe(s), which lead to your outdoor faucet(s).
• Then open the outdoor faucets so that any residual water can drain.

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If your indoor faucets sometimes freeze in very cold weather:

• Try leaving the cabinet doors under the faucets open so that they can get a bit more heat.
• In extreme cases let the water trickle very slowly into the sink.
• Insulate water pipes, which may be exposed to freezing temperatures or wind.
  
• Water pipes, which are not being used, should be drained for the winter in areas where there may be severely cold weather.
• If there is plumbing in your garage, be sure to keep your garage door closed when it is very cold. Pipes in unheated garages or basements should be insulated.

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If your pipes do freeze:

• Turn off the water at the main shut-off valve so that you don't have problems as the ice melts.
• Leave the faucets on to relieve pressure as the ice melts.
• Use a blow dryer to thaw frozen pipes.
• Don’t even think about using a blowtorch! It's too dangerous.

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Garbage Disposal

It is best to use cold water — NOT hot water — when you run your disposal. Let the cold water run as long as the motor is running, and be sure to avoid overloading the disposal.

• Cucumber skins, Banana peels, large amounts of pasta, asparagus, onionskins, celery, and other high-fiber material can clog your disposal.
• Do not pour fats, bacon grease or cooking oils into your sink. Liquid fats can harden in cold drainpipes, trap food particles, and clog the drains.
• Do not put coffee grounds down the drain.

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If your disposal is clogged, turn off the motor and the water:

• Reach under the sink and insert the service wrench that came with your disposal — or a ¼ inch Allen wrench — into the hole on the bottom of the disposal. Turn it back and forth until it can turn freely in complete circles.
• Then use pincers to remove whatever caused the disposal to jam.
• Finally, press the red “reset” button on the bottom of your disposal in case the disposal needs to be reset.
• Food particles, which remain in your disposal, can cause odors. Put a combination of ice cubes and lemon or orange peel in the disposal, run it for about forty-five seconds, and then run cold water through the disposal.
  
• Disposal cleaner or degreaser may help too.
• Baking soda occasionally in the drain or while you are away will help prevent odors.

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Hot Water Tanks

Your water heater consumes energy! If your water heater is larger than you need, you may be spending more money on gas than necessary. But of course if your water heater is too small, you may run out of hot water during peak use periods.

The following chart will help you to determine the size of the water heater you need in your home. Simply estimate how many gallons of hot water you will need during the course of the hour when there is maximum demand for hot water in your home:

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If your water heater displays an ASHRAE / EIS rating of 90, it is energy-efficient and you do not need additional insulation.

To keep your water heater running efficiently, drain the sediment that accumulates in the bottom of the water heater at least twice each year.

• Open the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater and drain it into a bucket until the water runs clear (maybe four or five gallons).

There are many ways to find out if your water bills are higher than they should be.

• Check for underground leaks or undetected leaks in the home:
• Turn off the main water valve inside your home and then go outside and check your water meter. If it is still turning you may have an underground leak.

Write down the numbers on your water meter at the beginning of a time when your home is going to be unoccupied for a few hours. Check the meter when you return; if the numbers have changed, they may be a leak somewhere inside the home.

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Items rarely looked at, but very important...

• Be Certain... that you know where the main water valve is, normally located by the water meter, and that it is in good working order. Keep it available.
• Be Certain... that the fresh air inlet to the sewer line is not damaged, above the grade, properly sized and is fixed firmly.
• Be Certain... piping under and around the floor drains and laundry trays are not clogged or leaking.
• After your visual inspection, if any problems are located - CALL US Kwiatkowski Plumbing.

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In case of an emergency...

In the event of a water pipe break (water pouring), go immediately to the main water valve located at the water meter and turn it off. Then go to the laundry tray and open the hot and cold faucets. Leave them open and CALL US ~ Kwiatkowski Plumbing day or night.

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Backflow prevention and water pressure...

We are licensed to install and do maintenance on any size or model of backflow prevention devices. Water pressure over 80 PSI can cause damage to faucets, valves, water heaters and circulating pumps. Pipes may also bang and clatter. Have us install a pressure-reducing regulator.

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What are the effects of clogged downspouts or sewer piping?

The problems are that the ground washes out or erosion to your homes walls and foundation. In the winter, freezing and expansion causes increase erosion. As soon as you see water over-flowing or draining slowly, CALL US as the sewage water escapes, around the home may be a danger to your health and property damage to your home.

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Taking a trip and your water heater...

Turn the water heater control to the vacation position when you are away or on vacation. This setting will keep the water temperature below or around 90 degrees and will prevent high levels of thermo-expansion or force building up from accumulating ~ eliminating the potential of a faucet or pipe breaking.

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Winterization of outside hose faucets...

1. Turn off the inside control valve.
2. Open the drain bleeder to let the excess water out.
3. Open the outside hose bib and leave it open.
4. The Allegheny County Plumbing Code calls for backflow prevention devices to be installed and maintained on the outside faucets. It's the law!

We own our excavation equipment to provide you quick service.

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Minor to Major Plumbing Repairs

• Gas Service / House Lines ~ DOT CERTIFIED
• Backflow Prevention & Testing
• Water Service / House Line ~ Repair or replacement
• Sewer Service / House line ~ Repair or replacement
• Clogged Drain Services
• Water Heaters
• Sump Pumps
• French Drains
• Hydro-Jet Sewer Line Cleaning
• Leaking Pipes
• Garbage Disposals
• Laundry tray
• Dishwashers
• Tubs & Showers
• Faucets 
• Toilets
• Sinks
• Complete Bathrooms
• Free Sewer Camera or see-snake Inspection with Sewer Line Cleaning

Call Kwiatkowski Plumbing ~ to unclog your sewer, and ask about our free camera/ video inspection.
Are you having Sewer problems caused by roots, bellied, or broken piping? Find out what the problem is straight away with our Inspection/Location System. 

Kwiatkowski Plumbing can diagnose the problem and allow the customer to see what and where the problem lies. As a result, making the problem more affordable to fix, by only making the necessary repairs. 

At Kwiatkowski Plumbing we have UP-FRONT PRICING. We do not believe in games or gimmicks just honest pricing with dependable service.

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Why should we have to wait three days before my plumber can dig?

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG ~ KATHY ONE CALL!  1-800-242-1776

This is a three-day mandatory call that any service company or private homeowner is responsible in calling prior to any digging in their yard. When this call is made the representative will ask you questions regarding the location of the dig and the property owner. Once this call is completed the representative will give you a dig number and the date that you can begin digging. As well the representative will ask you whether or not you want the list of utilities that are going to be notified. Then they notify all the utilities in that location to come out and mark the property. The utilities have three days to comply. If they do not comply within those three days you should call back the one call system and re-notify them that you have not heard form that particular utility and when you will being to dig. This protects you the homeowner as well as any responsible plumber regarding the possibility of damaging your utilities and causing more expense, lost utility service, injury and work.

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Why does my plumber need to be DOT certified and what does that mean?

D.O.T. ~ Department of Transportation

This is who sets the guidelines and requirements for the certification of gas service lines. The plumber must comply with all of the following requirements to be certified with a D.OT. Certification.

• DOT Operator Qualification ~ 3 year license, Must renewed every three years by taking updated classes.
• Annual Mechanical Joining of Plastic Pipe.
• D.O.T. Approved Drug & Alcohol Program listed with a National Compliance Management Service ~ NCMS or Verifore.

Each person who works as on Operator Qualified Plumber must be individually qualified and have their own Unique ID (U-ID). It is not acceptable for an employee of a company to use the U-ID of their supervisor/boss or another employee.

This is a requirement for all gas companies ~

• Columbia Gas
• Dominion-Peoples Gas
• Equitable Gas

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What’s the difference between a standard hot water tank and a tankless?

You don't use hot water 24 hours a day, but you're paying to heat water 24 hours a day. With a standard water heater, you heat and reheat the same water…even when you're sleeping. The tankless water heater is a more efficient way to heat water. A tankless water heater that heats water quickly and delivers an endless supply of hot water for as long as you need it. With the tankless water heater, you only pay to heat water when you need it and for as long as you want it.

The tankless water heater is up to 50 percent more energy efficient than a traditional natural gas water heater and up to 70 percent more efficient than an electric water heater. Unlike antiquated hot water tanks that heat and reheat the same water 24 hours a day, tankless water heaters on-demand water heater technology is more efficient because it only heats water when it is needed. When a hot water source is opened, it senses the demand and starts delivering continuous hot water. When the hot water source is closed, the tankless water-heating unit shuts off. That means no more heating water when you don’t need to.

Exclusive to the tankless water heater is a digital control pad installed separately from the wall-mounted heating unit, allowing users to control the temperature of their water for various needs around the home. Once the temperature is set, the tankless water heater constantly delivers hot water at that desired temperature. This feature has great utility in households with small children and seniors to help prevent scalding accidents.

The tankless water heater also offers flexibility in its wall-mounted locations. Should the user prefer to mount the unit indoors, it safely uses no indoor make-up air and vents directly to the atmosphere. Because it is roughly the size of a breadbox, and can be mounted on the exterior of a home freeing up valuable floor and closet space. The unit can be placed in a recessed box, flush-mounted and painted or textured to match the exterior of the home. If you’re in the market for a water heater or looking for a replacement for your worn out hot water tank, make the move to the tankless water heater today. Do you need hot water for your business? The tankless water heater is perfect for your restaurant, hotel, school, or business! Contact Kwiatkowski Plumbing for more information

From refrigerators to furnaces, air conditioners to washing machines, the Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings can help you find energy-saving products in order to maximize energy and dollar savings in your home.

Every time you buy a home appliance, tune up your heating system, or replace a burned-out light bulb, you're making a decision that affects the environment. You are probably already aware that most of our biggest environmental problems are directly associated with energy production and use: urban smog, oil spills, acid rain, and global warming, to mention a few. But you may not realize just how big a difference each of us can make by taking energy use into account in our household purchasing and maintenance decisions.

For over a decade, the Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings has helped people who care about their budgets and about the environment to find energy-saving products.

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What Is The Tax Credit for a tankless hot water tank?

Home Heating & Cooling Equipment Purchasers of highly efficient heating, cooling, and water heating equipment can take tax credits of up to $300 for purchasing qualifying equipment, as detailed below. These credits are available for systems placed in service from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2007. There is a $500 cap on the credit per home, including the amount received for insulation, windows, air and duct sealing.

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What types of equipment qualify and for how much?

• High-efficiency gas, oil, and propane furnaces and boilers: $150
• High-efficiency central air conditioning units, including air-source and ground-source heat pumps: $300
• High-efficiency fans for heating and cooling systems: $50
• High-efficiency water heaters, including heat pump water heaters: $300

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Where must the equipment be used?

Exact rules will be developed by the IRS. Our understanding is that equipment is eligible if installed in a new home or an existing home used as the taxpayer’s principal residence. If installed in a new home, the IRS likely will not allow the taxpayer to “double-dip” with the new homes credit; however, if the builder qualifies for the new home credit without the use of the efficient furnace, air conditioner, or water heater, the homebuyer likely may take the additional credit.

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What are the efficiency requirements to qualify for the credits?

Manufacturers and retailers should be able to help you tell whether a specific product qualifies.

For more information, see:
www.gamanet.org 

The Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP)
www.engerytaxincentives.org

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What is a Plumbing Code?

The Allegheny County Health Department Code outlines the best and most modern methods to be used in plumbing installations. Since the plumbing in any private or public building is a part of the community water and sewage disposal system, it is vital that such installations should not be left to the discretion of irresponsible individuals. The establishment of sound code provisions must maintain the protection of the public health and safety.

A plumbing or sanitation code is not a plumber's code. It is rather a set of Rules and Regulations imposed by cities, counties and states on anyone who undertakes any work involving the installation of drinking water, sewer or toilet facilities in homes, offices, factories, schools and hospitals. Regardless of who might do the work, plumbing and sanitation codes require that it be done in a specific, safe manner because it was found that failure to do so caused widespread disease, which can be crippling and deadly-to the community.

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What is the value of a Plumbing License and how does a plumber become licensed?

Plumbers must demonstrate their expertise as installers of plumbing procedures to an official executing board prior to being issued a license. A plumbing code, which is technically perfect, is insignificant if in requirements are not observed and imposed. The issuance of a license specifies that the possessor is qualified both theoretically and practically and that their technical knowledge is sufficient to maintain the standards of the code.

An apprentice plumber is a person that is in attendance of a trade school. An apprentice must attend four years of a trade school two nights a week and work for a Master plumber to get the required hours for that apprentice to qualify to take a Journeymen’s test at the end of the four years of schooling. If that apprentice plumber passes the test with the required hours and schooling he or she then becomes a Journeymen plumber. To become a Master Plumber which is required to run a plumbing company and to sign off on plumbing permits the Journeyman plumber must continue with another year of required working hours with a Master plumber and at then end of that year may take the Masters test.

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Is licensing intended to prevent anyone but a plumber from doing plumbing work?

NO... Licensing excludes the negligent and inept person from jeopardizing the health and safety of your family and your community. Any person may do the work that has sufficient knowledge to do it in a safe manner, so long as the Rules and Regulations of the plumbing code are observed. However, those wishing to do such work must demonstrate their ability by passing an examination and working the required hours with a Master plumber.

The State requires that, like a physician, hospitals or pharmacist, anyone whose work affects the public health and safety shall have sufficient understanding and training. No one wants an "incompetent physician " to minister to his loved ones or a "child" to fill their prescriptions. For exactly the same reasons, one does not want a “friend” or "handyman" to do work in his home or office, which can adversely alter the health of family, employees or neighbors. Done incorrectly this work would probably need to be corrected at the time the property would sell which, means paying twice for the same work.

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Why would I need a plumbing Inspection or Permit?

Through the issuance of permits and the requirements of public inspection, a community can assure itself of proper plumbing code enforcement. The permit allows the plumbing inspector to protect the customer by assuring plumbing installations are done accurately. The inspection of such plumbing work protects that the installation is being completed in accordance with code requirements. Not all jobs require an inspection or permit but it is always a good idea to ask the plumber if one is necessary for your job.

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Why it Pays to Take Care of Our Plumbing?

The average household plumbing system represents an investment of about fifteen percent of the value of the house. No part of the house is more important. A smoothly functioning plumbing system is important to health and adds to the convenience of modern living. The sale value of a house with sound plumbing is far greater than that of a house where plumbing is in poor repair.

There are many things that an owner can do; there are many things that should be left to an expert-the plumbing contractor and his staff of journeymen plumbers. Minor repairs should be made promptly. Such annoyances such as a clogged drain, dripping faucet or a leaking toilet, are more than a mere bother - they usually waste money.

Major repairs, replacements, and new plumbing installations should be left to the supervision of a plumbing contractor. His working methods are based on years of experience - and his guarantee is promise that all materials and methods are of the highest quality.

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