Today, there are many products you can use to make your child safer when it’s bathroom time.

This article is dedicated to reminding you of some of the dangers your children face in the bathroom and the measures you can take to ensure their safety. We also know how hard it is to get your kids to take a bath sometimes, so there will also be some fun ideas to make the bathroom a fun place for even the fussiest toddler.

Toilet Safety Tips Accessories

Hide the Toilet Paper and Lock the Cabinet Doors

I think every kid decides one day to take a roll of toilet paper and have a ball. Even teenagers think toilet paper is fun.

Obviously, you can’t hide all the toilet paper in your home.  I do recommend keeping an eye on it during potty time. Consider a paper holder or dispenser that only lets you roll a sheet or two at a time.

Secure Your Toilet Brush

You should secure the toilet brush and obviously the cleaners out of plain sight. The last thing you want is your 3-year-old play fighting with the toilet brush, just like Thor swinging his hammer.

Toilet brushes are full of bacteria and need to be kept away. Consider purchasing cheap ones at the Dollar Store or Walmart and change them frequently.

Non-Slip Mats

Water can get everywhere after a bath with a toddler, making the bathroom potentially dangerous for your toddler and yourself.

Slip and fall in the bathroom and you could easily wind up in the hospital with a concussion or worse.

Bath mats also create an opportunity to add some color to your child’s bathroom. Get a bath mat for inside the tub and make sure the floor mats absorb moisture and don’t slide.

Toilet Shut Lock

Now don’t get the wrong idea here, I’m not saying your child will take a dip in the toilet, but I am thinking about them putting their toys or your valuables in the toilet. Why risk it when you can lock it down?

This is also a great way to keep your pets out of the toilet.

Don’t go overboard with these. You can easily find one under $20 online or the next time you’re in Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Summary

These tips and products are the bare minimum you need to make your bathroom kid-safe. We aren’t recommending any brand because the market changes so much. Amazon is a great place to find exactly what you’re looking for. Make sure you read the reviews on each product and consult your local plumber or home improvement guru for tips on the best products for kids.

As always check out our blog and we’ll see you next month.

Your Friendly Neighborhood,

Fix It All Plumber, Kevin Sipes

The post Kid-Proofing Safety Tips for Toilet Time first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

Rule #1: Don’t Panic!

This can be pretty tough, right? Well, I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to worry anymore because this article has a tip you can take with you to every party you attend.

A Close Call At A Graduation Party

Everything was going fine, except when my wife came up to me after returning from the bathroom. She said she clogged the toilet and it’s going to overflow. Me being a plumber, I ran to that bathroom to save my wife from the embarrassment. I ran as fast as I could to see if I could stop the overflow.

When I got there I could see it was luckily not overflowed but at the brim. Thank you, Lord!

I found a plunger, carefully fixed the clog and went back to the party. I assured my wife there was nothing to clean up and everything was fine.

When we got home I told her there was something I wanted to show her. She gave a cheesy look and I said “in the bathroom.” Not knowing what to expect, she slowly inched into the bathroom.

That’s when I showed her there wasn’t much she could do about not clogging the toilet. At parties, it’s obviously more likely to happen. However, I showed her a trick to stop the overflow.

“I wish I would have known this…”

If you run into this situation again, look behind the toilet for the main shut off valve.

Sometimes these are hidden behind a wall, but in many cases, they are not. Simply close the valve (righty tighty, lefty loosey) to stop the flow of water into the bowl.

My wife was astonished at how and said, “I wish I would have known this. Thank you!”

“But wait! There’s more,” I said.

If you can’t move the valve by hand, because it’s stuck, you can remove the toilet tank lid and see if the flapper is open. If it is, close the flapper. If it’s not or won’t stay closed when you close it, grab the float ball and lift it to the surface of the water.

“You now have the tools to go to a party. Haha,” I said. LOL.

Don’t forget about Rule #1: Don’t panic. Then use this trick to save your bathroom or someone else’s.

Just Your Friendly Neighborhood

Fix It All Plumber, Kevin Sipes

The post “Please Stop!” Toilet Overflow Quick Fix first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

All of us have one main line that comes into the house with fresh water, Then we have another one that takes our used water to the sewer. A clog in your supply line means you will have low water pressure. A clog in the sewer line causes backups in all of your sinks and toilets.

If your shower and bathroom sink are backed up, but your toilet flushes just fine, the clog will be in one of the smaller lines that branch off from the main line. Before you call us, check out all of your drains to see if you can locate the part that is clogged.

The number one cause of sewer line drains is tree roots – particularly in older houses. Sometimes we will have to dig up the sewer line and saw off the tree root, or replace the sewer line around the major roots. Not taking care of this right away can lead to some major damage to your house and your landscaping.

If you suspect you have a major clog, give us a call. We will dispatch one of our expert technicians to diagnose your problem and get your drains running free again.

The post Gurgling Pipes first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

Don’t let this happen to you. With freezing weather in the forecast, take steps now to prevent frozen pipes. Preventative measures now can head off a multitude of problems.

Preventing Frozen Pipes Plumbers’ Checklist:

1. Examine all pipes supplying water to your home.

a. Wherever water is found, look for the piping that supplies it. This includes sinks, toilets, and any built-in water supply like ice makers or fish tanks.
b. Note any pipes in the attic, basement, garage, or crawl space. Pipes in the basement will probably be fine, as most basements retain an even temperature year round. However, pipes in unheated areas are very vulnerable to freezing.
c. Also note any piping that is located in an exterior wall. Make sure the wall is well insulated.

2. Insulate any exposed pipe that is in danger of freezing.

a. This could include a foam sleeve, “heat tape” or “heat cable”, all available from your home improvement or hardware store.
b. Even wrapping pipes with ¼” of newspaper, sealed with duct tape will help keep exposed pipes safe.
c. If pipes are located inside a wall, check for water damage, mold, or dampness. This could indicate that a pipe has burst in the past, and that the wall is inadequately insulated.
3. Make sure you and every member of your family knows where your water shutoff valve for the whole house is located. If a pipe bursts, quickly shutting off the water supply will cause the damage to be minimal.
4. Drain the water from swimming pools, hot tubs, water sprinkler systems, or outdoor kitchens. Freezing water exerts an enormous amount of pressure on reservoirs, causing them to crack. Do not use antifreeze in outdoor tanks and pipes. This is harmful to the environment, and is dangerous for pets, wild animals, and even humans if it leaks into the yard.
5. Drain and store yard hoses. Undrained hoses will crack when frozen, and having an attached hose allows freezing water to enter your interior pipes.
6. Cover all outside faucets with insulating products specifically designed for their protection. Even wrapping them with an old towel and duct tape is better than leaving them exposed.
7. For extra protection, close off the water supply to the outside faucets using an interior valve. Leave the faucet open to allow any water left in the pipe to expand as it freezes.
8. Keep garage doors closed in the winter to protect pipes located inside them.
9. On very cold nights, or if you plan to be away from home for an extended period, leave cabinet doors open under all sinks to allow the warmer air to reach the pipes inside.
10. Leave your heating on, even if you plan to be away for a long trip. Do not let the room temperature get below 50 degrees – knowing that it can get even colder in closets, cabinets, and rooms that do not have heating vents.

Taking steps now, can help to keep your home safe in the coldest weather. If you need a local plumber or simply have a question, please call Fix It All Plumbing, LLC 615-568-5051.

Blog by Kevin Sipes,
Master Plumber
Nashville, TN

The post Preventing Frozen Pipes: How to Keep your Home’s Pipes from Freezing first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

I personally have found things like broken glass, paper clips, and small metal pieces. Other plumbers have found GI Joe figures and wedding rings.  There is a common joke among plumbers that goes like this….

”What sounds like a bottle cap in a disposal, and cost $100.00?    Answer: “A bottle cap”

Adding the wrong things down the disposal can definitely be costly.

Top 5 Things to Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

1. Potato & Carrot Peels (Really any peels can clog it).
2. Pasta, especially spaghetti (Pasta expands when wet and will clog the disposal or fill up the disposal trap).
3. Rice (Avoid putting rice down the disposal for the same reasons as the pasta).
4. Grease (During cooling process, it solidifies and causes blockage).
5. Fruit Pits (This one may be obvious). The disposal can’t chop these up and they will damage it. Examples include peach, avocado, plum pits, and even watermelon seeds.

If you do happen to need a plumber to repair your disposal or anything else, call us at 615-568-5051

Blog by Kevin Sipes,
Master Plumber
Nashville, TN

The post 5 Things Not to Put Down the Garbage Disposal first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

• Convenience. The biggest reason most folks opt for a tankless water heater is the promise of endless hot water. Regular storage-type water heaters heat only the water that is in the tank. So, if you are running both the dishwasher and the clothes washer, chances are you will not get a hot shower until the tank refills and is heated again. Tankless models heat the water as it comes into the house, providing almost instantaneous* hot water that will last as long as you need it.

• Good for the Planet (AND your wallet). While tankless water heaters cost more up front, they use far less energy than conventional water heaters. A tankless unit only runs when you ask for hot water; a conventional one runs 24/7, just so you can have hot water when you want it. Using less energy means less dependence on fossil fuel, and lower energy bills.

• Space. A conventional water heater takes up the space of a small refrigerator, while a tankless one is about the size of a suitcase. In most houses, the water heater needs its own closet, but with a tankless heater, you can turn that extra space into linen storage!

• Flexible. You can purchase a small tankless heater for a single bathroom. There are also outdoor heaters just perfect for your outdoor kitchen or a pool house. You can also control the temperature for your tankless heater so that you can have a moderate temperature when you run a bath for children, but a higher temperature when you are sterilizing laundry or dishes.

• Dependable. Because no water is stored in a tank, there is no problem with rust or leakage. And tankless models usually last for 20 years or more, compared to 10 years for a conventional water heater. Plus, most tankless models have easy-to-replace parts that will extend the life of the heater.

If you are considering buying a new water heater, give us a call at 615-568-5051 and let us help you find the best water heater (electric, tankless, or gas) for your home.

*While most tankless water heaters advertise “instant” hot water, any water stored in the pipes between the heater and your shower or appliance will likely be cold, giving you a momentary burst of cool water.

We hope to have the chance to earn your business.  Call our Nashville office anytime 615-568-5051

Blog by Kevin Sipes,
Master Plumber
Nashville, TN

The post The Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

So you’ve got a clog in your drain and plunging doesn’t seem to do any good. What do you do? Should you call a plumber or use that commercially prepared drain cleaner (Drano®/Liquid–Plumr®) hiding under your sink? Here are some things to keep in mind….

Metal vs. PVC Pipes

• Plumbing put in before 1974 used metal pipes.
• Drain cleaners contain chemicals that eat away at metal pipes.
• If your home was built before 1974, you must assume that the pipes are metal, unless you, yourself had them changed.

Slow Drains & Efficiency

• If you have a slow drain, a drain cleaner may help to clear the clog.
• But if your drain is completely clogged, drain cleaner will not budge the clog.

You need professional licensed plumbers.

Drain Cleaner Safety

• Drain cleaners are extremely caustic, and need to be used with care.
• Wear rubber gloves and be careful not to splash.
• If you have pets or small children having noxious chemicals around is really not a good idea.

So bottom line – if you have a slow moving drain that will eventually let all the water drain away, AND your house is relatively new – feel free to use the drain cleaner to help move things along in your drains. But if nothing is moving in that sink, or you have an older home, call for help.

We hope to earn your business and become your plumbers for life.  Call us at  615-568-5051

Blog by Kevin Sipes,
Master Plumber
Nashville, TN

The post When to use Drain Cleaner & When to Call The Plumbers first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

Rental Home with Leaking Bath Faucet

A customer called with a leaky bathtub faucet in a rental property that she owned and managed. The
problem was so severe the water supply to the entire house had to be turned off. To save money,
the customer had used an unlicensed contractor that does cheap work for apartment complexes. The
person had “fixed the faucet”” and had provided a temporary fix that quickly failed. She could not reach
this person, who had taken the money and run, so to speak. They would not answer the phone or return
voicemails.

Replacing the entire Faucet versus a Hard to Find Faucet Part

The faucet was out dated and the proper part to repair it was not available and would have to be
ordered online. Sometimes it is really best to simply replace the whole faucet. In this case, the best
choice was to replace the faucet. I understand money can get tight but at the same time, paying a low
price for a quick fix often turns out to be a waste of money.

Common Faucet Issues & Repairs

Plumbers Should be Licensed & Insured

Had she called a licensed and insured plumber, he would have correctly let the plumber diagnose the
problem. He then would have explained the proper way to make the repair. In the long run, this would
have saved her money. Simply put, if you have a heart problem, visiting a general practitioner would be
a waste of time and money. You would want to see a heart specialist.

Here at Fix It All-Plumbing we are plumbing specialists. We will not repair your drywall or pull wires for
a new electrical switch. But we will help you get it done by recommending a good company that would
specialize in that kind of repair work. We only do pipe. We will stand behind our work. We answer the
phone. If we’re not available, we will return your call by the next day

We welcome all your plumbing questions 615-568-5051

Blog by Kevin Sipes,
Master Plumber
Nashville, TN

The post When it comes to Plumbers, “You get what you pay for.” first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

Here are the top three shady practices that could turn your plumber interaction into a nightmare:

1. Plumber doing business without being licensed or insured

There are two skilled trades that always require licensure and insurance and those are plumbers and electricians. Why is that? Because their missteps could cost you and your family vast amounts of money, or even worse. Although a plumber that does not have a license or insurance may have a cheaper price for his/her visit, what comes after could cost you much more. Damage to your plumbing could result in catastrophic damage to your home. In some cases, plumbing damage has caused a home to be condemned. Saving a few dollars in the short term is certainly not worth the loss of your greatest asset, your home.

2. Estimating a job sight unseen

Knowing how much a job will cost is not something that can properly be done over the phone. It is simply not possible. The most a plumber can do is give you his hourly rate and perhaps a ball park of the price of a small predictable task like installing a shower head. But even then, small jobs often involve much more than they initially seem.

The right procedure is for a technician to come to your home and talk with you about your needs and expectations. Then the technician will inspect the work area and determine what needs to be done. Once an estimate has been determined, the plumber should put it into writing, explaining all the work and all the parts and equipment that will be needed.

3. Asking for cash payment, without a proper receipt, once the job has been completed

If your plumber wants you to pay in cash and wants to forgo the receipt, locating a new plumber should be on your to-do list. This means he is trying to hide income and cheat on his taxes. It may not seem like a big deal but if he is cheating the government, chances are his morals leave something to be desired. He is likely to be dishonest in other areas as well. Also, you want to be sure there is a proper paper trail to protect yourself and your home.

Most plumbers are decent and honorable but it is important to protect yourself against the ones that are not. You, your family and your home deserve the best and selecting the right craftsman to care your home is an important part of that.

We welcome all your plumbing questions 615-568-5051
Blog by Kevin Sipes,
Master Plumber
Nashville, TN

The post Top 3 Shady Practices Plumbers Use first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.

If you are not happy with your water pressure, would a new shower head help?

Would a new shower head improve the water pressure? Certainly, there are many models of new shower heads available for purchase at your local home improvement store that would change the pressure in your shower for the better. The shower head does get clogged with hard water and putting in a new head will release the flow of water, giving you a stronger shower.

What is psi and what number should it be in my home?

PSI stands for pounds per square inch and water pressure is directly dependent upon the weight of water.  Basically, the greater the weight of the water, the faster the water will flow.  The water in your home should be at least 50 psi. to a maximum of 80 psi.

Every plumbing fixture in your house is manufactured for maximum of 80 psi.

What happens if the pressure is too high?

Pressure that is too high it could cause your faucet to drip, make your pipes rattle, or even break a water pipe.  Some areas around Nashville and Mt. Juliet have very high water pressure, as high as 125 to 155 psi. While it is the homeowners’ responsibility to regulate each individual home’s water pressure, the city has to provide water pressure strong enough to provide adequate pressure to service that last house up on top of the hill that has a bathroom on the third floor.

Extreme high water pressure could cause the T and P (temperature and Pressure valve) on the water heater to leak or open.

Is my water pressure always going to be the same?

If your house’s water pressure is 50 psi. at 6:00 p.m., hours later,  at 2:00 a.m. it could be as high as 80 psi. If no one in town is using water the city pressure will go up.

What can I do?

This problem could be taken care of with a simple valve (P.R.V.) installed on your water line. This will regulate your house water pressure all the time. If you have a P.R.V. and it is six years old or more you should check the pressure. The P.R.V.  will not last forever and should be checked every year after six years.

If you are concerned about the water pressure in your home, give us a call.  We can answer your questions and we would be happy to help you out with that or any other plumbing problems you might have.

Call with any plumbing questions 615-568-5051

Blog by Kevin Sipes,
Master Plumber
Nashville , TN

The post The Water Pressure in Your Home first appeared on Fix It All Plumbing.