Choosing Your Kitchen Faucets

When constructing a new home in the Tacoma area, no item is too small to take time to research before making a solid decision. This includes everything from the roofing of your Tacoma home down to the kitchen faucets. Most Tacoma area homeowners may think this is just another part of selecting the kitchen sink, and while it’s true you should pair the two to work together, careful thought needs to go into each choice separately. After all, you put significant thought into building your Tacoma home down to the exact style you wanted.

The all-important budget needs to be set before your search for the perfect faucet can begin. A kitchen faucet can range from $25 all the way up to $2000. It is best to set a limit and only focus on the selection within your range. There are plenty of styles offered at every price point.

The vast quantity of kitchen faucets can be categorized into three basic types: centerset, widespread and mini-widespread. The centerset style is the most common and the least expensive. Most often, there is only one handle for both hot and cold water, but two-handle variations are offered as well. Widespread faucets feature spouts mounted separately for the hot and cold water. The flexible installation allows for extra features and the handles can be from 8-20 inches apart. Mini-widespread designs are similar to the widespread variety except the spouts are only 4 inches from center to center, making them less expensive.

If you are looking for a professional Tacoma plumber to install your kitchen faucets, please contact us today.

How To Avoid A Plumbing Emergency

It is a basic fact that if your plumbing system is not regularly serviced or routinely maintained you are 90% more likely to suffer breakdown, failure or blockage.

Most Tacoma homeowners will admit to ignoring plumbing problems until they develop into an emergency. But potential emergencies can be alleviated with a simple servicing and maintenance agreementthat is tailored to your Tacoma plumbing system.

If you want to avoid the stress and expense of a plumbing emergency then make sure you employ a regular servicing and maintenance agreement with your Tacoma plumbing company.

Rooter-Man of Washington is able to provide maintenance agreements for homeowners throughout the Tacoma area. Please feel free to call us at 866.700.5435 or complete our online request form.

Types of Plumbing Pipes

Plumbing is part of many remodeling projects, whether the plan is to install a small clean-up sink in a garage or the project is a bathroom addition or a complete kitchen or bathroom remodel. Whether you are doing the remodel yourself or you are hiring a contractor, you will need to make some decisions about pipes. If you have a contractor, s/he will be able to guide you in choosing the most appropriate pipe for your project.

There are many types of pipe, and some are more appropriate for specific jobs than others. To help you with the decisions, here is an overview of the main types of pipe used in residential remodeling.

Plastic Pipe

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) can be used only for cold water. PVC is most often used to carry water from the main supply to a home. If you decide to use PVC, be sure that the pipe you choose is approved for drinking water.

ABS (acrylonitrite-butadiene-styrene) is use for waste removal, drain and venting, primarily in bathrooms. It is a rigid plastic pipe that can be connected to several kinds of metal pipe. If you are considering this kind of pipe, you will need to check with your contractor or your local building codes office because ABS is not permitted in some localities.

PEX can be used to carry both hot and cold water. It is often used for interior water pipes in residential plumbing.

CPVC (chlorine-polyvinyl-chloride) is generally used to carry hot water, and is often used as a substitute for copper pipe.

Metal Pipe

Cast Iron is used in some parts of the country for drainage. It is very strong and very durable. The challenge in using cast iron is that it is hard to cut and it is very heavy. If your project involves replacing cast iron pipe, a good choice is PVC because it can be joined with cast iron.

Copper is a good choice for both hot and cold water supply lines, and is very corrosion-resistant. It is light and durable, but costs more. If you are replacing copper pipe, a good choice is CPVC.

Galvanized steel is not used much today because it will corrode over time and because it is hard to work with. It was used in the past for water supply lines.

If you are doing the plumbing work yourself, you might want to use plastic pipe because it is easier to work with. The key to using plastic pipe, which is also less expensive, is to wrap plastic pipes tightly to prevent the escape of noise because plastic pipe can be very noisy.

With this information, you should be able to make some informed choices about the type of pipe best suited for your specific project needs.

Do You Have Clogged Pipes?

Part of remodel planning for any room in your home that has pipes and faucets is to determine whether you have clogged pipes that need to be cleaned or replaced. Pipes can collect mineral build-up or rust over time. In some cases, this corrosion or mineral build-up can reduce the interior size of the pipe by half, restricting water flow. If this is the case, you probably should replace these pipes as part of your remodeling project. It will cost less to do all of the needed work on a room at once. It also makes a world of sense to fix the pipes before you install new plumbing fixtures, cabinets and flooring.

So how do you know if you have clogged pipes? The best way to make a preliminary decision is to evaluate the flow of water through your pipes and out the faucets. It is not unusual for homeowners to confuse water pressure and water flow. The water pressure should be consistent in all parts of your house. Water pressure should also be the same in your Tacoma area home as in other homes around you. Water pressure should also be the same at all times of the day and night. It is the flow of water through the pipes that is affected by corrosion or mineral build-up inside the pipes.

Check the flow of water – the amount of water coming out of the faucets – in several parts of the house. This should be the same, for example, in all faucets in the house. If you find that the flow of water from a specific faucet is less than other faucets, you need to do some further investigation. If you have noticed that the flow of water through faucets in your neighbors’ homes is much greater than yours, you should do further investigation.

Without adequate water flow – no matter what the water pressure – whirlpool tubs, spa showers, and even toilets will not work properly. It is important then to check the pipes before your install new plumbing fixtures.

If you will replace pipes, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Plastic pipe is usually easier to work with than metal pipe

PVC pipe can only be used for cold water. Be sure the PVC pipe you choose is approved for drinking water, if appropriate

ABS pipe can be connected to several kinds of metal pipe, but is used mainly in bathrooms for waste removal and drains.

PEX can carry both hot and cold water, and is a good choice for interiors

CPVC is mainly used for hot water; it is a good substitute for copper pipe

Galvanized steel was used for water supply lines, but it is susceptible to corrosion and mineral deposits. This might be what you are replacing

Clogged pipes cause reduced flow of water into and through faucets, shower heads, etc. Replacing old, clogged pipes will increase water flow in general. It will also improve the working of dishwashers, washing machines, spa showers, whirlpool tubs, and more. The most cost efficient time to replace clogged pipes is during a remodel.