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High-Efficiency Toilets Reduce Waste and Conserve Water

January 10th, 2013 by

In an average St. Paul household, toilets are flushed an estimated 6 times a day accounting for around 30% of the use of water in the home. New technologies and toilet models labeled with Watersense, which is partnered with the EPA, have been developed so that waste can be reduced and water can be conserved. By retrofitting your bathroom with these newer models, it is estimated that around 2 billion gallons could be conserved per day. This would account for almost 11 gallons per toilet in a household.

Roto-Rooter is an expert for installing these new high-efficiency toilets (HET) and can order any model you would prefer. Below are some facts on why a Watersense labeled HET is the right choice for your home in St. Paul.

  • A Watersense labeled HET flushes with just 1.28 gallons of water
  • Uses 20% less water than 1.6 GPF toilets
  • Has as much flushing power as standard 1.6 GPF toilets, thanks to advanced toilet design

New Dual-Flush Toilet

  • Uses two buttons or handles to flush two different amounts of water
  • A low-volume flush (usually .08 gallon) is selected for clearing liquids from the bowl
  • A full-power flush (1.6 gallons) is selected for removing solid waste from the bowl
  • Saves a family of four up to 15,000 gallons of water per year over an old 3.5 GPF toilet

For more information and tips on green-friendly plumbing in St. Paul, visit www.rotorooter.com/rotogreen.

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Is Your House Ready for Winter? Some Tips for Winter Plumbing Maintenance

December 22nd, 2012 by

Winter Home Preparation Is Here!

Amidst the bustle of the holiday season, many forget to prepare their home plumbing for the winter season. Cold temperatures can cause plumbing issues that you can easily avoid by performing routine self-inspections of your plumbing and fixtures. Your local St. Paul Roto-Rooter has a few assessment suggestions for the cold weather:

 

Outdoor Plumbing Inspection:

 

-          It is important clear out any debris, leaves or sludge from the gutters, because clogged or leaking gutters can cause major problems with the roof and foundation, especially if they freeze and form ice dams that prevent drainage.

 

-          Check all outdoor faucets for leaks or damage and disconnect all garden hoses before the freezing winter comes. It is also important to be aware of where your main water line is in your house or yard in case a pipe bursts or something needs fixed in the future, you will know where to turn off the water to the house.

Indoor Plumbing Inspection:

 

-          Check for leakage in pipes under and around sink and toilet fixtures. Also make sure that the toilet is running properly (not filling too much or running too long).

 

-          Make sure that the connections with the dishwasher and laundry machines are still secure, not leaking or corroded. Double check for moisture build-up in these areas too, to avoid mildew in the future.

If this chore list seems daunting, you can always count on your local St. Paul Roto-Rooter to help get your cold weather plumbing preparation completed.        

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Roto-Rooter Solutions to Plumbing Challenges

December 14th, 2012 by

No matter what you hope for, nothing makes household problems and issues go away besides good old-fashioned hard work. With a busy schedule dedicated to work, family, and play, it is easy to pass on important responsibilities you ultimately have to your property. To stay on top of all the chores and repairs around the house, why not make a plan that covers everything in smaller, manageable increments. Life is busy so if you can’t keep up with all of the plumbing and drain tasks around the house, it’s always good to have Roto-Rooter of St. Paul on your side. For 77 years Roto-Rooter has provided fast, reliable service. They have all the resources home and business owners need and are available 24/7 to fix any plumbing problem or issue that may arise. Best of all, Roto-Rooter of St. Paul doesn’t charge extra for nights, weekends or holiday service!

Home Plumbing Inspections

Have you ever considered scheduling a home plumbing inspection with a qualified Roto-Rooter technician? Even if you are an experienced homeowner, chances are you are unfamiliar with a lot of the different areas of your plumbing because most of it runs out of sight. Calling in a technician to perform a thorough and comprehensive scan of your property will uncover the areas that should concern you most and give you the information needed to make a pro-active plan of action. After the technician has completed the inspection, he or she can sit down and explain their notes on the different areas of concern. After answering any questions you may have, the technician can also make recommendations about products and services most appropriate for the situation. This information will help you keep your home plumbing system in good repair and free from serious issues and problems.

Prevent Frozen Pipes

Every winter, especially here in Minnesota, thousands of people come home to discover their waterlines have frozen, cracked, and caused other serious problems. When temperatures start dropping, water trapped inside pipes starts to expand and freeze. If there are any air pockets, the trapped air under the pressure of the expanding ice will actually burst through the sides of the pipe wall, forming cracks, holes, and even shattering the waterline completely. To prevent that happening to you this year, have a professional come out and build up the insulation in your walls, especially around waterlines, to act as a buffer against the cold. Adding more insulation into the outer walls of your home will prevent waterlines from freezing over. But if your pipes have already frozen, Roto-Rooter has the tools to thaw them and fix damage before major damage occurs.

For more information, call Roto-Rooter today in St. Paul at 651-227-0098.

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Roto-Rooter Plumbers Repair Water Heaters

December 7th, 2012 by

Everyone enjoys having plenty of hot water when they are taking a shower, washing dishes, or doing laundry. You may take your hot water for granted until you hop in for an early morning shower and find that the water temperature resembles that of the Arctic Ocean.

When this happens, don’t panic because Roto-Rooter in St. Paul can help. Roto-Rooter is much more than a sewer and drain cleaning company, Roto-Rooter is the nation’s largest full-service plumbing company. They will restore your hot water quickly and with Roto-Rooter’s professional installation and repair work, widely regarded as the best in the plumbing business. You can be assured that it will be done right and will serve you reliably for years to come.

If you’re the do-it-yourself type and you want to examine your water heater yourself, there are a few ways you can tell if it may be due for a tune-up. If you have a gas water heater, your pilot light may have gone out. This is easily fixed but many of the new gas water heaters are equipped with electronic ignition and no longer have a pilot light.

If you hear rumbling noises coming from your water heater, this may be a sign that it needs to be flushed out because hard water has caused the build-up of calcium and other minerals in the tank. There is a specific procedure for draining the tank without doing damage to the water heater so don’t just open the drain valve without a thorough plan. Another sign of problems related to this is when you notice that the hot water supply just doesn’t seem to last as long as it should. On average, a water heater has an 11-year life span, no matter if it is gas or electric. Tankless water heaters are designed to last 15-20 years.

When a Roto Rooter technician is called, he will run a series of checks. Most likely he will begin by flushing your tank and examining the sacrificial anode rod to see if it needs to be replaced. There are a number of things your Roto-Rooter man can do to restore your water heater to good working order. If it turns out you do need a new water heater or other repairs, Roto-Rooter will service, repair, or replace your current water heater. The plumber will also be able to get any parts or materials that may be required to get your water heater operating optimally.  A free, written estimate of all parts and labor will be provided before any work is done.

Call Roto-Rooter in St. Paul today or visit the website at rotorooter.com for all of your plumbing needs in the Twin Cities.

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Proper Pill Disposal Should Not Involve a Toilet

November 28th, 2012 by

A common misconception is that it is safer to flush expired or unused pills down the toilet to avoid children or pets getting into them, but it is actually safer to dispose of medication in the garbage can. When pills are flushed down the toilet the chemicals are spread into the water that supplies the local community, which has become a major environmental problem the last few years.

A recent study done by the United States Geological Survey found that out of 139 creeks/streams sampled in over 30 states, 80% had low concentrations of chemicals found in common prescription medications. While these concentrations are low they can have a great effect on the environment and safety of the public water supply. Minnesotans are proud of their 10,000 lakes so it’s important that they don’t become contaminated by chemicals used in medication. St. Paul Roto-Rooter has some advice for properly and safely disposing of over-the-counter pills and prescription medications:

 

-       Remove all personal information from the bottle, by either peeling off the label or blacking out the information on the label with a permanent marker.

 

-        Whether there are pills left in the container or not, it is smart to fill it up with water and an absorbent material like cat litter or baking soda to show no intent for reuse or refill of the bottle. Once full, place a strip of tape over the lid to secure it and avoid future leakage.

 

-        If the bottle is fragile or glass it is best it put it into a reseal able container (such as an old margarine container), place into a plastic bag, zip it shut and dispose of it in the garbage can.

 

-        For expired over-the-counter pills and vitamins, it is best to place them all into a sealable plastic bag, secure it and toss it in the trash. 

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Don’t Ruin Your Disposal This Holiday Season! Tips on Preventing Garbage Disposal Problems

November 12th, 2012 by

With Thanksgiving right around the corner many homeowners are worrying about who is going to make the turkey this year and where to get the best pumpkin pie in town, but be aware that holiday feasts can cause major plumbing issues. During the holidays more food and drinks are poured down the drain and disposal than any other time of year and this causes major buildups and weakens the your drain system. To get your drain and disposal back to operating well, your local St. Paul Roto-Rooter has some tips for you to practice:

-          Run hot water and pour ice down the disposal and turn on the disposal, this sharpens and cleans the blades of the disposal for better performance.

-          To rid the disposal of bacteria and reduce the chance of odor, pour a mixture of ammonia and hot water down the drain and disposal and let it sit without getting washed out for 30 minutes. Baking soda is a milder alternative that will still get the job done.

-          Plug up your sink and fill it with hot water (suggested a gallon of water but it works if you just fill it close to the brim) and ¼ cup of baking soda, once the mixture is mixed, release the plug and turn on the disposal. The rush of the liquid under pressure will clean most of the bacteria out and flush any unwanted substances out as well.

-          It is good to practice disassembling your drains and cleaning the sludge out every 3 years to protect your appliances and relinquish any future problems. Also when purchasing garbage disposals it is important to buy one large enough for the loads you will put in it and the amount you will use it.

To get your drains and disposal checked and cleaned out after your big holiday bash or all year round, call your local St. Paul Roto-Rooter technician.

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A Home With Green Plumbing Can Save you Money

October 30th, 2012 by

“If one out of every 100 American homes was retrofitted with water-efficient plumbing fixtures, we could save approximately 100 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year – avoiding 80,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse gas savings would be equivalent to removing nearly 15,000 automobiles from the road for one year!” –EPA 2008

Roto-Rooter in St. Paul  is committed to helping you make greener, smarter changes in your home and your life. Below are some tips for how you can fix leaks in your toilets and ways you can update to conserve water.

  • A leaking or “running” toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day. That’s 73,000 gallons a year, or enough to fill four in-ground swimming pools!
  • Roto-Rooter can fix any leaking toilet but if you’re a do-it-yourselfer, try replacing the flapper valve. This will fix most toilet leaks.
  • Test your toilet for silent leaks by dropping a few drops of red food coloring in the tank. Wait fifteen minutes. If the water in the bowl has turned red, you have a leak.
  • Prior to the 1950s, mostU.S.toilets used about seven gallons per flush. By 1970, new toilets used about five gallons. The 1980s ushered in 3.5 gallon toilets. By 1993, 1.6 gallon toilets became the standard. Now, many states and municipalities favor 1.28 gallon toilets.
  • If your toilet was made before 1993, you are flushing money down the drain and using at least 3.5 gallons with every flush. Let Roto-Rooter replace your old toilet with a modern high-efficiency 1.28 gallon toilet. You’ll start saving immediately, up to $2,000 in water costs over the lifetime of the toilet.
  • And in case you haven’t noticed, water and sewer rates have been rising rapidly over the past several years, even here in Minnesota – The Land of 10,000 Lakes… and The Land of Sky Blue Waters, to quote our old local Hamm’s commercials.

Remember, if you are ever experiencing plumbing or drainage problems contact a Roto-Rooter professional in St. Paul immediately!

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Professional Sump Pump Replacement

October 24th, 2012 by

One of the hardest things you can possibly deal with as a homeowner is the flooding of your basement. A flood can create damage that can potentially compromise the integrity of your home. Therefore, it is important to prevent them from happening as much as possible. While every precaution can be taken, often homeowners overlook the location of their homes. Underground water levels rise and fall as the moisture saturation in topsoil changes. Basements become the obvious spot for rising water to collect. If this is happening in your basement, sump pump installation will help resolve the issue immediately.

Chances are that you already have a sump system in your basement but the sump pump may have failed. Like any appliance with moving parts, sump pumps will eventually wear out – usually when you need it most.

Test your sump pump by locating the sump pit, usually in the lowest corner of your basement. Dump a large bucket of water into the sump pit. The pump should automatically turn itself on, pump the water out of the pit then turn itself off again. The pump is triggered by a float switch that is designed to turn on the pump when the water level in the pit gets to a predetermined level. If your pump is not working or is humming and staying on perpetually, it may be time to replace it. Contact your neighborhood Roto-Rooter plumbers in St. Paul for a free estimate for repairing or replacing your basement sump pump.

 

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How to retrieve items that have gone down the drain

October 15th, 2012 by

Has your favorite piece of jewelry accidentally slid down the drain? Or is your sink clogged with hair, toothpaste or grime? Don’t worry because most items won’t make it past the P-trap, the plumbing drain pipe in the shape of a U at the bottom of your sink, which is normally the source of the clogging. Don’t call a plumber in St. Paul just yet! Roto-Rooter has some do-it-yourself tips so you can easily retrieve your jewelry or unclog your sink in a matter of minutes.

The P-trap can easily be removed by hand or with the use of a large wrench, but before you get started, you will need a pair of gloves and a bucket. Place the bucket beneath the P-trap and proceed to loosen the slip nuts on either side of the P-trap by hand or with a wrench. You will then be able to remove the contents blocking the plumbing into the bucket. If the item you have lost has traveled beyond the P-trap, then it is time to call a Roto-Rooter technician before the item makes its way all the way to the municipal sewer pipe. Remember to refrain from running any additional water while until one of the professionals arrives to use their state of the art fiber optic video inspection camera to search your residential or commercial drain.

Our Roto-Rooter machine, created in 1935, pioneered the modern method of cleaning drains and today our services extend to repair work and sewer line replacement services. We service any drain including shower and tub, toilet, downspout, and main sewer lines. Contact our professionals with any problems you may have for your residential or commercial drains in St. Paul at rotorooter.com!

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Roto-Rooter is There for Your Plumbing Repair

August 1st, 2012 by

Do you have a clogged toilet? Clogged toilets are a common household problem. Roto-Rooter in St. Paul can help you unclog your toilet with time to spare. Experts at Roto-Rooter say there are several steps to take when your toilet clogs. First you need to stop the toilet bowl from filling up and spilling over. You can do this by taking the lid off of the tank and closing the flapper to ensure no water can enter the tank or you can turn off the water supply valve beneath the toilet. The next step is to use the plunger. Roto-Rooter experts say having the right kind of plunger can make a huge difference; funnel cup plungers are the best for toilets. In order for the plunger to work correctly there needs to be a good seal over the exit hole.  With a few up and down motions the water will usually begin to drain out of the bowl. You can then try and flush the toilet again. If the water goes down, then your clogged toilet issue is solved.

How do you know when you need to call a Roto-Rooter plumbing expert? If you see water backing up in the sinks or showers when you flush, that’s when you know to call an expert. When this occurs you could have a clogged main line or at the very least, a branch line behind a wall. This type of issue cannot be solved with a plunger, Roto-Rooter plumbers in St. Paul will be there go get the job done.

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