Pipe Gripes - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

Plumbing Facts From Around the World

Americans traveling to other countries are often surprised to learn that everyday plumbing systems such as toilets are not the same as they are back home.

Europeans don’t use garbage disposals. If you’re staying with your French pen pal, it’s probably not a good idea to put your dinner scraps down the sink. Garbage disposals are not widely used in France and most other European countries because sewage treatment facilities in these countries cannot handle this type of waste.

Bidets are commonplace in many countries. While rare in the United States, the bidet — a type of sink to wash your private areas — is a common fixture in southern European countries and South American countries, including Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Bidets are also common in Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Not all toilets have seats. Squat toilets and seatless toilets are used in many parts of the world. While a squat toilet looks like a hole in a ground, a seatless toilet is simply a standard toilet without a seat. Such toilets may seem primitive to Americans. But toilets that require you to squat rather than sit actually have several documented health benefits, including faster and more complete elimination. Seatless toilets are standard in southern Europe, while squat toilets are common throughout Asia.

Americans are the world’s biggest water wasters. According to a 2006 United Nations report, Americans have the highest per capita water use, followed by Australia and Italy. U.S. water usage totals 152 gallons per day, with toilets, washing machines and showers representing the largest percentages of household water use. For comparison, Mozambicans use an average of 4 gallons per day. According to drinktap.org, if all U.S. households installed water-saving features, our water use would decrease by 30 percent.

To discuss installing water and energy-efficient fixtures and appliances in your home, contact Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

 

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Pipe Gripes is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Receives State Farm "Good Neighbor" Award

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9826101.htm

 

Cincinnati, Ohio (PRWEB) August 24, 2012

Cincinnati-based plumbing and HVAC systems contractor Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling received the State Farm “Good Neighbor” Award, an honor that recognizes local companies for their work in the community.

Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling received the “Good Neighbor” Award during a Pre-Game Onfield Ceremony taking place at the Great American Ball Park prior to the Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs game on Saturday, August 18, 2012.

Founded in association with Major League Baseball (MLB), the State Farm Go to Bat program is a nonprofit initiative. In addition to recognizing companies like Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for their charitable contributions to local communities, Go to Bat allows baseball fans to support their favorite charities, awarding $18,000 to a fan-selected charity each week.

Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has more than 80 years of service in the Tri-State area. Thompson bears the “Green Screened” and “Technician Seal of Safety” certifications and has won numerous national awards recognizing its professionalism and high-quality plumbing, repair and HVAC services. Among the organizations recognizing Thompson’s excellence is Airtime 500, the most forward-thinking organization of independent HVAC contractors in the industry today.

Thompson is an active member of multiple trade organizations with the best heating and cooling systems contractors in the country, granting them access to the most cutting-edge technology and the best training practices.

Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is dedicated to giving back to the community on both a local and national level. The company is a proud supporter of the Disabled American Veterans, raising more than $100,000 for veterans since 2009.

To schedule a service or to learn more information about the services offered by Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, visit 333HELP.com or call 513-333-HELP (4357).

 

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Pipe Gripes is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Testing for Toilet Leaks

Aside from your kitchen sink or showerhead, pipes involving the toilet might be some of the most important in your home. So what happens if it starts to leak? That’s a mess you don’t want to deal with.

To check your toilet for a leak, you can easily perform a dye test.

Start by cleaning the toilet so you don’t get any unclear readings. Next, purchase food coloring or dye tabs from your local hardware store. Make sure you use either of these types of dye. You don't want it to be water friendly and cause any additional damage.

Next, add the dye into the toilet tank. Wait at least 15 minutes. Be sure that no one uses the toilet in that span of time.

After 15 minutes, check the toilet bowl. If the dye is in your toilet, you have a leak. If not, you’re in good shape.

If you have a leak, chances are it’s the toilet flapper. A toilet flapper is the rubber piece that covers the hole in the toilet tank. Over time, it gets corroded. Other causes for the leak could be that the flapper has come off its hinges or that it’s misaligned. Make sure to double check before purchasing and replacing it.

If you don’t consider yourself a handyman, a dye test and a leaky toilet can be fixed by a professional. Once the problems are fixed, you should get back to seeing your usual low water bills. 

 

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Pipe Gripes is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

WIN A DINNER FOR TWO WITH MARTY BRENNAMAN

Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers contest to win dinner with the voice of the Cincinnati Reds.

CINCINNATI, OH — Legendary Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman is teaming up with the Tri-State area’s favorite plumbing and HVAC systems contractor, Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, to offer one lucky customer the opportunity to have a private dinner with this local legend.

All Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling customers who have service during the months of August or September will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a dinner for two with Marty. The winner of the contest will be announced at the Thompson Veterans Day Breakfast and Check Presentation, taking place at Thompson’s Headquarters on Monday, November 12, 2012 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Marty Brennaman has served as at the voice of the Cincinnati Reds as a broadcaster on the Cincinnati Reds Radio Network since 1974. Celebrated for his provocative, straight-talking style, Marty has been named Ohio Sportscaster of the year several times and was presented the Ford C. Frick Award by the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his contributions to Major League Baseball in 2000.

More recently, in July 2012, the broadcasting icon vowed to shave his head if the Reds achieved a 10-game winning streak. When the Reds reached this threshold with a 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on July 29, Marty had to make good on his promise. After challenging fans to donate $20,000 to the Reds Community Fund to see the haircut take place on the field, Marty publically parted with his famous white locks following the Reds’ August 3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fans ended up raising over $50,000 for the charity.

To schedule a service or to learn more information about the services offered by Thompson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, visit 333HELP.com or call 513-333-HELP (4357).

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Pipe Gripes is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

What’s That’s Sound?

Ever heard a whistling or banging in the walls of your house with no clue what the cause was? Don’t worry. You don’t have a ghost visiting. Chances are, it’s your pipes. And there is a solution.

Below are six common causes for loud pipes and some tips on how to fix them.

Inlet valves: Located underneath the toilet, sink and behind the washing machine and refrigerator. If there is a problem with the inlet valve, you’d hear a whistling sound when the water is running. If you hear this, check the valve to see if the connection is good.

Insulate pipes: A cold insulate pipe might give off a soft ticking or cracking sound when it’s filled with hot water. The temperature change is what causes this noise.

Faucet: Sometimes, the faucet will give off a soft rattling sound when the water is turned on. Replace the faucet’s washer to solve this problem and get rid of the noise.

 Pipes: Do you hear a banging noise when you turn on your water? It’s the pipes. The pipes causing the sound will be visibly moving when the water is running. To solve this, wrap the pipes with rubber or tighten the screws on the pipe clamps.

Hot water heater: You’ll hear a knocking sound when the hot water is turned on if the heater is the issue. If so, turn down the temperature setting. The knocking sound is a result of steam going through the system.

Air chamber: If you hear a loud bang when you turn the water on, it could mean that water has entered the air chamber. To solve this, you’ll have to drain the chamber by turning off the water from the main supply. Then open the lowest faucet in your home. Flush the toilets and turn on the washing machine and dishwasher so everything drains. Turn them all back off before turning on the water supply.

If you think the problem is larger than the ones described here, it's best to call a plumbing professional.

 

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Pipe Gripes is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

 

(Photo via Flickr)

Plumbing Technology: The Wonders of the Modern Toilet

The Roman aqueducts were one of the most astounding architectural feats of ancient days. But, of course, human ingenuity didn’t stop there. From the chamber pot and outhouse to the convenient apparatuses we have today, the modern-day toilet has become an extremely efficient waste removal system.

A giant leap in the evolution of the toilet occurred in Europe in the late 1800s with the chain-pull system. This consisted of a bowl and seat with a pipe stretching upward into an overhead water-filled cistern. This system worked by pulling a chain attached to the cistern which sent water rushing down through the piping and the bowl, carrying waste away through a structure’s plumbing. These systems were introduced to Americans soon after they were invented. They are still popular as “period pieces,” and regularly used in certain areas around the world.

Toilet Technology

Not long after the chain-pull system made its mark, overhead cisterns were replaced by “septic tanks” that offered handles — and eventually push-buttons— instead of chains, located directly behind the toilet bowl. This was generally considered to be more accommodating and sanitary, addressing a variety of plumbing problems such as irritating overhead leaks and the tendency of chains to wear and break.

The toilets of today are automatically-refilling systems that are basically made up of three sections: The bowl siphon, flush mechanism and refill mechanism. When the flushing mechanism is activated, water stored in the toilet’s tank is dumped into the bowl at a fast enough rate to force the bowl’s contents through the siphon pipe and down into the plumbing.

A “filler float” located within the tank responds to the sudden post-flush lowering of the tank’s water level by causing a device called the “flush valve” to open. This allows enough water to enter back into the tank to ready it for the next flush.

Contemporary toilets are simple yet sophisticated systems that are more dependable than ever. They have even been blended with infrared technology to operate automatically in many public buildings. Although the jobs of plumbers will never really be threatened — as leaks, clogs and other issues requiring plumbing repairs will always come with the territory — hats off to the “pioneers of porcelain” for making our lives a little more convenient!

 

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Pipe Gripes is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling