When paying for water, a running toilet can sock it to your pocket book.

Toilets are the super-fantastic-bubble-plastic of modern plumbing. And when the toilet isn’t working properly, it’s a bad, bad, bad, bad world.

Our focus today is on fixing a toilet that runs constantly. A running toilet stealthily increases the water bill and jiggling the handle quickly wears thin.

How to Repair a Running Toilet
1. Determine the type of flush mechanism on your toilet – gravity flow or pressure-assisted. FWIW, most residential toilet are gravity-flow, where the water in the tank drives the toilet flush. If you have a pressure-assisted toilet, discuss your situation with a licensed plumber. In a gravity-flow toilet, there are two main parts: the fill valve and the flush valve. The fill valve enables the tank to fill with water, while the flush valve (a.k.a. the ‘flapper’) releases the water from the tank and into the toilet bowl.

2. Assuming you have a gravity-flow toilet, remove the tank lid, set it carefully aside and flush the toilet.

3. Observe the flush as it progresses through the tank. Keep an eye out for the flapper failing to seal properly while the tank refill takes places. Flappers don’t last forever.

4. Verify that no objects in the tank (a water-displacing brick, a cleaner tablet, or mineral deposits are blocking the valve’s ability to close.

5. The most pro-active approach to a flapper or fill valve problem is to replace the entire unit. The parts are inexpensive and widely available at any hardware store. Typically, the parts come as a kit.

To perform the replacement, follow these steps:
1. Shut off the water to the toilet tank.
2. Flush the toilet (to empty the tank).
3. Carefully remove the old parts.
4. Install the new parts, following manufacturer’s instructions. Adjust the pull chain as needed.
5. Turn the water back on.
6. Test by flushing and observing the water the tank refills. With a successful fix, the tank should refill and the water will clearly stop entering when the tank is full.

Water You Waiting For? If your toilet trouble is more serious than flapper or flush valve replacement, the trained professionals at Allied Reddi-Rooter are at your service within 2 hours of your call. Call Ray and his team today for a free over-the-phone quote. (513) 396-5300, or Contact us. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.

Everything will be on sale soon. Buy now! Install Later! It’s out-of-the-box thinking, but one of the easiest ways to dress up your home or business for a holiday party is to do a little makeover on your bathroom, kitchen or bar area. With Black Friday sales coming up fast, a good deal on a new toilet, bathroom sink, instant hot water dispenser, garbage disposal, kitchen/bath faucet or ice maker can really improve your home life and impress your guests.

Allied has a “BYOP” Policy
At Allied Reddi-Rooter, you supply the parts, we supply the labor and professional installation. When our “Bring Your Own Parts (BYOP) policy is coupled with our “2-hour Arrival Policy,” it’s possible to take your Big-Box-Store deal home in the morning and have it installed by supper time.

Jump Start Your Home Improvements – Buy Now
Shopping the major retailers for a new vanity, kitchen sink, faucet, showerhead, lavatory or stool is an easy way to jump-start a home improvement project. Getting the materials is only half the battle – installation is where the dirty work begins. Iif you’ve ever begun a tub, toilet, or shower installation in an older building and unexpectedly found the trap rusted through… well, that’s where a professional plumber comes in handy. Like the Boy Scouts, professional plumbers are always prepared.

Team-Allied understands – and fully supports — that many people enjoy the shopping, research and purchasing process but may be intimidated by the plumbing installation process. Our skilled plumbers have everything needed to safely, quickly and professionally install kitchen and bath materials purchased elsewhere. In most conditions, we can complete an installation that might take a home or business owner an entire weekend (or more) in just a few hours.

Water You Waiting For? If plumbing improvements are getting ahead of you, call us today and explain your situation. Estimates are free. 513-396-5300 or Contact us. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.

Q: I have a clogged drain. Should I look for a Master Plumber or will a regular plumber be just as good?

A: Plumbers, like many professions, come with varying levels of training. Traditionally, there are three levels of plumbers:

Level 1: Apprentice
An Apprentice Plumber is at least 18 years old, has a high school diploma (or equivalent) and works under the mentorship of a Journeyman Plumber for 4-5 years in order to obtain the experience needed to progress to the next level.

Level 2: Journeyman
When an Apprentice Plumber is skilled enough has completed formal training and passes a licensing exam, they then work under the tutelage of a Master Plumber.

Level 3: Master Plumber
This is the pinnacle of plumbing skills/plumbing project management. In order to achieve Master Plumber status, Journeymen Plumbers are required to continue their formal education and specific plumbing coursework. Additional licensing tests are required. Master Plumbers are strategic thinkers, familiar with local building codes, blue prints, and available for consultation on large plumbing installations.

According to Plumberman.org:
“A master plumber will have years of experience and advanced skill levels. They will have a complete understanding of what can and can’t be done to keep your plumbing projects in compliance with local building codes and budget. If it is a large project they can create and offer a plumbing blueprint and make suggestions about what is best for your plumbing project. Most journeyman plumbers are very skilled craftsmen and can handle your plumbing installations and repairs very well. But, if you are facing a large commercial or particularly challenging project you may want to seek the services of a master plumber.”

To answer your question, if your job is a repair – a toilet replacement, clogged drain, water heater installation, or faucet replacement – your best approach is to seek Apprentice or Journeyman plumber. Budget-wise, they are your most economical plumbers and are skilled at repair jobs.

On the other hand, if your needs are commercial or new construction/large installation, then the services of a Licensed Master Plumber a good investment. A Master Plumber can guide you through permitting, codes, inspections, and overall plumbing strategy.

Water You Waiting For? At Allied Reddi-Rooter, Ray offers the right type of plumber to meet your needs. Call today for a quick, over-the-phone consultation: (513) 396-5300 or Contact us. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.

a.k.a. “How to Jump-Start an Overdue Basement Makeover”

Note: Janet Murphy is the monthly blog writer for Allied Reddi Rooter. After years of writing about water heater replacements, she finally has one of her own. Below is her blog-a-monial.

Sunday, October 8, 2017
11:47 am
• Notice water leaking from under the water heater tank.
• Verify the pilot light is still lit (it is.
• Clear a path on the basement floor, so the water leaks into the basement floor drain.

12:22 pm
• Google “cost of new water heater”
• Identify worse-case scenarios:
• The tank can “let go” and dump 40 gallons of water onto the basement floor. Uggggh.
• The pilot light can go out, creating a gas leak.
• Call a family meeting to show the kids how to locate/use the gas line shutoff valve (in case the leak causes the pilot light goes out).

1:30 pm – 11:00 pm
• Recheck leak – still leaking.
• Identify best-case scenarios:
• We get a plumber first thing Monday morning.
• Our 20+ year old water heater will be replaced.
• This is the beginning of basement makeover.
———
Monday, Oct 9
8:30 am
Called Allied Reddi-Rooter. In accordance with their policy, they scheduled an appointment for arrival between 9:00 am – 11:00 am.

9:20 am
Jason from ARR arrived, made an assessment and suggested a like-for-like water heater replacement, for about $1,000 – about what we anticipated, cost-wise.

9:30 am
Discuss alternatives/consult further with Jason. When our water heater failed, it created two home improvement opportunities:

1. Our old water heater was venting through an old chimney. Over the years, the moisture from the water heater vent caused flu collapse and crystallization in the chimney brickwork. Over time, the crystallization
began leaking into the interior walls, under the paint, causing blistering. To address the issue, we chose to install a ‘power vent’ water heater, that vents directly outside, through a hole in the foundation wall.

2. By choosing a power vent model of water heater, we needed to change the water heater location, which allowed us to re-configure our washer dryer setup. Goal: Swap the placement of the dryer and the water heater, which will get the washer and dryer side-by-side.

3. After conferring with Jason, we landed on the plan illustrated in the picture below.

10:00 am
Jason provides detailed estimate, including the 10% off coupon from the website. The cost of our project doubled – which we were prepared to hear — but it provided a much-needed jump start to an overdue “old house basement” makeover.

10:05 am
We agreed to the estimate, Jason ordered the new water heater and materials and left with a promise to begin work early the next day.

Tuesday, Oct 10, 2017
8:15 am
Jason returning to complete the job (an all-day affair – this was a big job).

5:15 pm
Jason completed the installation, tested the new water heater, cemented the new power vent into the foundation wall quite nicely, and cleaned up his work area.

At the end of the job, the invoice matched the estimate, including the 10% discount from the Web. Jason did what he said he would do, and he did it professionally. We could not be happier with the results. Are you read to to start your own project? Give the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter a call or Contact us. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.

We can’t thank our customers enough for their trust… Well, maybe we can thank you a little more though. Going on through November 22, 2017, when you hire Allied for any plumbing repair, you will receive a $25 Kroger Gift Card (just in time for Thanksgiving).

It’s simple to get your gift card > Call Allied: 513-396-5300 > Get an instant quote > Hire Allied because of our great low price and quality work > Important: Be sure to mention the $25 Kroger Gift Card offer when you call.

Your card will then artrive via mail 2-3 days after our work is complete. That’s Allied Easy!  Give the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter a call or Contact us. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.

wFew things are better than a hot shower on a cold morning. As e head into the cooler months, a little water heater maintenance can go far to keep your hot water flowing. Note: The information below only applies to standard, tank-style water heaters. If you have a tankless water heater, contact a qualified professional for maintenance tips.

A mini-flush clears away the crud
Over time, sediment can accumulate in the bottom of the water heater tank. By performing a “mini-flush,” you can remove standing sediment and improve the heater’s efficiency. Mini-flushes are fairly easy and don’t require you to shut down the water heater (which is needed for a full flush). Mini-flushes can be completed while the water heater is running.

NOTE: You will need a 3-5 gallon plastic bucket, perhaps a sturdy screwdriver, and potentially, good work gloves.
CAUTION: Water coming out of the water heater is HOT. Take care not to get burned.

1. Turn off the power to the water heater.
2. Locate the water heater drain valve (near the bottom of the tank).
3. Turn the drain valve counter-clockwise, either by hand or by using the screwdriver.
4. Fill the bucket
5. Close the valve.
6. Carefully, empty the bucket.
7. Turn the power back on.

If you notice a large amount of sediment in the bucket, a full-flush and a heater inspection may be needed, especially if the tank is over 10 years old.

One more thing…check the TPR valve
After completing the mini-flush, consider doing a quick inspection of the heater’s temperature-and-pressure-relief (TPR) valve. The TPR valve is critical to the safe functioning of your water heater. The experts at heatinghelp.com suggest this approach for testing the valve:
“Lift up the lever for a few seconds, release it and let it snap back to place. If you hear a gurgling noise coming from the pipes, the water is escaping into the drain tube and the valve is working. If the sound does not occur, however, you may need to have a professional examine the valve and replace it if necessary.”

Water You Waiting For? The professionals at Allied Reddi-Rooter are “reddi” to assist with all your hot water heater needs. From installing one you’ve purchased elsewhere or ordering/installing one for you, our guys will make sure your hot water is flowing and steamy. Call Ray today for a free quote or consultation. 513.396-5300 or Contact us. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.

From toilets to pipes and drains, a little Fall preparation is crucial to successfully avoiding frozen pipes this winter.

It looks like another beauty of a weekend.  Seems like a good time to tackle a few plumbing winterization items.

Prevent frozen water pipes — minimize your risk with a few steps:

Winterize exterior faucets.

Perform sump pump maintenance

Fall is a good time of year to give your sump pump a quick maintenance check.

Plumbing/bathrooms in unheated garages

Is your man-cave or she-shed unheated during the winter?  If it has a toilet, don’t let it freeze and crack the porcelain.

Leaving Ohio for a warmer climate? Winterize your water heater. 

There are excellent tutorials on the Internet that explain how to winterize your water heater.  Keep in mind that water heaters can operate under pressure; our recommendation is to
have a plumbing professional assist with water heater winterization and/or maintenance.

Water You Waiting For? If winterizing your plumbing to prevent pipe freeze ups is low on your to-do list, Allied Reddi-Rooter can assist.  Call Ray today for a free estimate: 513-396-5300 or Contact us. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.

This is the third installment in our 3-part series entitled “This Old House has Charm but This Old Plumbing Stinks” that explores the old house plumbing in a modern world. 

Kitchens are the heart of every home; a cheery and well-functioning kitchen brings joy to all who enter.  For kitchens that are 15 or more years old, a makeover is money well-spent.

Below are a few thoughts on bringing a dated kitchen into the 21st century.

1) Add (or upgrade) a dishwasher – A recent report from dishwasher.com (June 2017) shows that less than 70% of American homes have a dishwasher.  Of those that do, “nearly 20 percent use their dishwasher less than once a week. That’s despite proof that washing dishes by hand uses more water and energy than an automatic dishwasher.”

2) Add an instant hot water dispenser – In a contemporary kitchen, gadgets rule.  Our favorite is the instant hot water dispenser.  Perfect for making tea, oatmeal and a host of other uses, having instant hot water gives one a real sense of privilege.

3) Add horsepower to your garbage disposal – In a busy kitchen, food waste can be a real challenge.  A good garbage disposal shreds the problem in seconds – literally.  Caveat:  Avoid wimpy disposals – a good one may cost more but is well worth the investment.  Look for a minimum of ¾ horsepower and upgrade to the full 1 horsepower option if it’s in your budget.  A good disposal liquefies old chicken bones, peelings, dinner scraps and coffee grounds in seconds, keeping your garbage area clean and odor-free.  Tips:  Grease and stringy vegetables (e.g., celery) are not disposal or drain-friendly.  Always run an ample stream of cold water before, during, and after the disposal process.

4) Update the fixtures – Vintage kitchens love a fixture upgrade – from a new sink in steel or porcelain to a modern faucet, new fixtures really make a kitchen look appealing.  FaucetMag.com developed an easy-to read comparison of today’s top 5 kitchen faucets. See table below:

5) Update the design – A kitchen design update is a rewarding home improvements.  Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint or a complete design overhaul, updating a tired kitchen is a good investment and can add value to your home.   A sound kitchen design is well-organized (plenty of counter and cabinet space), functional (modern, energy and water-saving appliances), and user friendly.

6) Find a plumber that will work with your budget/design ideas – Good plumbing is more about “good quality”  than “brand new” – one way to upgrade on a budget is to “bring your own fixtures” to the project.  It’s common for vintage plumbing fixtures to be re-purposed in modern homes, especially when the fixtures have been well cared for or lightly used. A reputable plumber will advise you on how to make this approach work for your project.

Water You Waiting For? The professionals at Allied Reddi-Rooter are top-notch at kitchen plumbing upgrades, installation and repair work.  For more information, call (513) 396-5300, or Contact us; visit our web site for more information and coupons http://alliedreddirooter.com/.  We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.

This is the second of a 3-part series entitled “This Old House has Charm but This Old Plumbing Stinks” that explores the struggles of old house plumbing.

When bathrooms came in from the cold, they were basic: small and with few design amenities – a sink, a toilet, a tub, and a metal medicine cabinet. Most homes had one bathroom, maybe an additional toilet in the basement. Today, bathrooms are a luxury point in our homes – whirlpool bathtubs, bidets, designer fixtures, and rain forest shower heads are common. Americans love their bathroom time.

Old bathroom plumbing can present a number of challenges – cast iron main drain pipes, leaky faucets, crusty toilets, and galvanized steel water supply lines spring to mind. A thoughtful bathroom makeover can increase the value of your home by several thousand dollars. And, a nice bathroom experience is a good way to start each day.

If you have an old bathroom situation, small repairs and fixture upgrades can make a world of difference. Below are a few thoughts on “how old is too old?”

Piping (water supply lines)

• Copper: 60-80 years (copper vent stacks, however, usually last about 40 years)

• Galvanized steel, CPVC and PVC: 40-50 years . Over time, it rusts from the inside-out. As the rust breaks free, the particles clog up faucet fixtures and reduces water flow.

• Pex: 40 years

Drain Lines

• Cast Iron: 50-65 years. Cast iron piping in Cincinnati is everywhere. When used as the main drain line from the house to the street, it’s common for tree roots to invade the pipes, creating drain clogs. Over time, cast iron pipe will eventually rust way – especially in floor drain applications.

• PVC: 50-70 years

• Galvanized Steel: 50-70 years

Fixtures/Valves

• Sinks, tubs, toilets: 40-80 years (the finish, however, usually lasts about 10-20 years

• Water heaters: 10-15 years

• Faucets: 5-40 years, depending on quality of the brass castings and homeowner maintenance.

Water You Waiting For? If you own (or are considering) a house with old plumbing or poor plumbing, a plumbing inspection by a reputable plumber is a sound investment. Allied Reddi-Rooter can assist with bathroom renovations or replacement of existing old plumbing. Call Ray today for a free over-the-phone quote. (513) 396-5300 or Contact us. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.

This is the first of a 3-part series entitled “This Old House has Charm but This Old Plumbing Stinks” that explores the struggles of old house plumbing.

Cincinnati’s residential charm is a heritage of stately old brick homes that are the crown jewels in our Queen City. We have one — a 1920’s English Tudor that we love…mostly. If you are in the market for a vintage home (or already have one), below are a few laundry area thoughts to keep in mind.

In a 21st century world, the unfinished basement-with-a-coal-room has a functional appeal of zilch. Our old house laundry area is not designed to handle the load and doing laundry is a vicious cycle (see what I did there?). If our laundry area were a baseball game, it would strike out on all fronts.

Strike 1: Double bay, 4-foot concrete laundry sink. Perfect for a wringer washer, not so much for a modern Maytag. The drain connections are not up to code, and the sink consumes the space needed to arrange our washer/dryer into side-by-side setup. That’s correct – our antique plumbing prevents us from having a side-by-side washer dryer. Ugghhh.

· Foul #1: Electricity Shortfalls. Old houses are notorious for outdated wiring and few power outlets. Our old house basement has 4 walls, 8 outlets and knob-and-tube wiring. The lack of outlets and the wiring makes washer/dryer placement a real challenge. See Strike 2, below.

Strike 2: Clothes dryer hookups are an afterthought. Clothes dryers were invented in 1938, 12+ years after our house was built. As a result, the gas/electric dryer hookups are poorly positioned, at the bottom of the basement steps. Ipso facto, the dryer is poorly positioned, at the bottom of the steps. Talk about tight spaces.

· Foul #2: Old Pipes and leaky vent stacks. According to one home inspector, “Any plumbing from the ’60s or older is on its last legs.” In some cases, a whole-house re-piping may be needed to replace galvanized pipes, corroded and leaking copper vent stacks, and to address other old pipe issues.

· Foul #3: Rusted floor drains. In an older home, odors coming from basement drains are a sign that the trap has rusted away over the years, allowing sewer gas to escape into your basement.

Strike 3: Very old water heater, improperly vented. Our water heater is over 20 years old and the vent pipe runs up through a small chimney. Inside the chimney, the vent sweats and the moisture is absorbed by our brick, which then encourages some kind of crystalline growth on our brick.

So, What’s the Game Plan for Improvements?

Although our laundry area looks bad in black and white, a few “almost DIY” improvements can be made for a relatively low cost:

The DIY Activities:
• Remove the concrete sink
• Fix the rusted drain with a “floor drain trap seal” kit (we did this and it’s an awesome DIY repair)
• Buy a new water heater that vents directly outside
• Unhook the dryer (NOTE: turn off the gas valve) and move it next to the clothes washer

The Professional Activities (not DIY):
• Move the gas line/electrical connections to a better position
• Install/pressure test the water heater
• Connect the new gas line to the dryer

Water You Waiting For? The professionals at Allied Reddi-Rooter are available evaluate and advise on upgrading your old house plumbing. In cases where the upgrade is a large project, Ray and his team can help prioritize the upgrades to be easier on the wallet. For more information, call (513) 396-5300, or Contact us ; and visit our Deals page.  We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.