Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Bathroom Plumbing’

4 Common Bathroom Plumbing Problems

Monday, April 10th, 2023
little-boy-in-bathtub-dad-with-bubbles-on-face

There are some bathroom plumbing issues that are easy to ignore. A running toilet and a leaky faucet are some things you may be tempted to put off having fixed for as long as possible. 

However, there are some types of problems with your bathroom plumbing in Olympia, WA that shouldn’t be ignored. Unless they’re addressed soon, they can quickly become big problems. Let’s look at four of the most common bathroom plumbing problems so you’ll know which can wait and which should be fixed as soon as possible.

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Is It Time to Replace A Toilet?

Monday, March 6th, 2023
two-small-children-looking-at-toilet

There’s a reason why the toilet is commonly referred to as “the throne.” The toilet is an essential plumbing fixture in your home. You need your home’s toilets to function properly because their failure to do so can result in worst-case scenarios such as an overflowing or leaking toilet.

The nickname “throne” conveys durability and stability, but just like any other household fixture or appliance, toilets don’t last forever and will need to be replaced. The question to be answered isn’t, “Does my toilet need to be replaced,” but “When does my toilet need to be replaced.” How do you know when it’s time to take this step with your bathroom plumbing in Tumwater, WA? Let’s take a deep dive into the answer.

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How to Give Your Bathroom Plumbing an Upgrade

Monday, July 19th, 2021

lady-looking-under-sink-at-leaking-pipeSpring and summertime are often popular seasons for homeowners to make upgrades to their homes. Have you been considering one yourself? Maybe you’re tired of the dated look in your bathroom, or you want to start using more efficient plumbing appliances. Whatever the case, you’ve found the right blog post, and the right plumbing team to help you out.

When it comes to remodeling your bathroom, you want to ensure that all aspects of the remodel are overlooked by a trained and experienced professional. This is the best way to avoid mistakes and get the most out of your bathroom area.

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The Top 3 Bathroom Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid

Monday, January 4th, 2021

concept-drawing-of-new-bathroom-fixtures-with-hands-held-up-in-forefrontYour bathroom either doesn’t function or doesn’t look the way you want it to, right? That’s why you’ve decided to read a blog post dedicated to bathroom remodeling, we’d guess. Bathroom remodels are big jobs, and can be really fun when you start seeing the results! As the most used room in the house next to the kitchen, it makes sense that you want to spruce up the space.

But when it comes to the plumbing fixtures within your bathroom, it really pays off to work closely with an experienced and qualified plumbing contractor. The level of care we can help you take in planning and prepping for your remodel will make a huge different in the results. In fact, it can ultimately help you save money.

Homeowners who forgo the professional route for a DIY method unfortunately tend to run into a few problems if they’re not well prepared. Read on as we uncover the top 3 mistakes we see folks make when it comes to their bathroom remodeling job.

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Ready to Remodel Your Bathroom? Here’s What You Ought to Know!

Monday, May 25th, 2020

kids-in-bathtubDeciding to remodel your bathroom can be both exciting and stressful. You are excited to have a beautiful, new bathroom, but you might not be sure how to get there. Hiring the right contractor for your home project can make a world of difference in saving you both time and money. We understand that doing it yourself might seem like the cheaper route, but trust us, a major project such as a remodel is best left to the professionals.

We recognize that you want your bathroom to be functional and comfortable, which is why we are here to help make that possible. Below, we have outlined some tips to help make remodeling a breeze! All you need to do is keep reading to find out more, and of course, remember to call us when you need a plumber in Olympia, WA. 

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The Holidays Are Coming! Protect Your Plumbing!

Monday, November 11th, 2019

professional-plumber-plumbing-preparationIt’s hard to believe that the Holidays are just around the corner! Before you know it, you’ll be gathering around the table with friends and family, fighting strangers for the ultimate shopping deals, and eating lots and lots of food!

Of course, all this excitement can take quite a toll on your home, specifically your plumbing system! But don’t worry just yet — we are here to help! Below, we have given you some tips on how to protect your plumbing system throughout the Holiday Season.  All you’ve got to do is keep reading to find out more and of course, remember to call us when you need a plumber in Tumwater, WA!

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Bathroom Remodel: Factors to Consider

Monday, February 20th, 2017

bathroom-remodel-factorsHome plumbing projects are high up on the list of home remodeling projects that you shouldn’t attempt on your own—and that’s because you could end up doing more harm that good, however well-intentioned the project may be. However, bathroom remodeling projects are becoming more and more popular, and with good reason.

While your bathroom may not be the first room you consider when you’re thinking of undergoing a home remodel of any kind, it’s easy to understand how you’d want to make this room as functional as possible, for your comfort and the comfort of your family, and perhaps even your guests. When you are ready to undergo an Olympia, WA bathroom remodeling project, we are the team to call. In the meantime, however, we have many factors for you to consider.

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What Can Cause Your Toilet to Overflow?

Monday, June 27th, 2016

It goes without saying that no homeowner ever wants to deal with an overflowing toilet. Not only is this very often a messy issue, it is inconvenient and can even be costly should the water travel to other rooms in your home.

In most cases, you can either solve this problem with a plunger to remove an offending clog, or by calling a professional plumber. However, knowing what the common causes of overflowing toilets is can help you too, as you may be able to avoid running into this problem again in the future. No matter what the cause, it’s vital that you call a professional plumber to get to the root of the problem.

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Benefits of a Low-Flow Toilet

Monday, April 6th, 2015

If you’ve been looking for ways to save water in your Olympia, WA, home, we may have a very easy solution for you: consider the installation of a low-flow toilet. Why? It all comes down to water usage, and if you have a toilet or toilets that aren’t low-flow, then these toilets comprise over 25% of your home’s total water usage. Putting this another way, if you have a toilet that is a 5 or 7 gallon toilet, and you average 5 flushes a day, your toilet uses between 9,000-12,000 gallons of water per year. Low-flow toilets use a maximum of 1.6 gallons, cutting this amount down to just over 2,900 gallons of water per year – an amount 3-4 times less that of 5-6 gallon toilets.

How do low-flow toilets manage this? First, they have some simple yet key design differences from higher-flow toilets, starting with the bowl outlet hole. In a regular toilet bowl, the outlet hole is located toward the back of the bowl; in a low-flow toilet, the outlet hole is located in the center of the bowl so that waste can more easily and directly exit the bowl. Another modification that you’ll find with a low-flow toilet is that the balance of the water in the bowl is toward the front of the bowl; this helps move waste quickly and effectively. The last difference you’ll find between a low-flow toilet and a regular one is that the flush valve is larger. Having a larger flush valve creates a stronger flush, which helps push waste out of the bowl and into the outlet pipe.

Now that you know the differences between a low-flow toilet and a regular one, let’s take a look at the benefits:

  • Water conservation – as we discussed in the top paragraph, you can save a great deal of water by switching to a low-flow toilet
  • Space-saving – because low-flow toilets use less water, most are smaller in size, particularly the tank area
  • Easier installation – a smaller toilet means a less cumbersome toilet, so low-flow toilets can be easier to install

Interested to see what a low-flow toilet can do for your home? Call the plumbing experts at Brooks Plumbing today!

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Plumbing Items to Consider When Remodeling Your Bathroom

Monday, January 19th, 2015

People choose to remodel a bathroom for many different reasons.

While some homeowners just want a new look and feel to the room, others remodel for practical purposes, making fixtures and storage space more accessible or installing money-saving appliances. Others remodel to take advantage of upgrades that will make their bathtubs or showers seem more relaxing and luxurious. Regardless of your reasons for upgrading, you should remember to work with a trained plumber every time you make major changes to the room.

Bathroom remodeling usually involves some level of plumbing work, and, no matter how small it may seem, it takes a professional to determine the proper placement and sealing of your new fixture and to decide if any pipe reconfigurations must be made. You may decide, for example, to install a new pedestal sink, which involves reposition the pipes so that they are fairly hidden from view. Or, you may choose to switch to a single handle design over a separate hot and cold lever for the sink, another decision which involves some plumbing knowledge for installation.

Low-Flow Toilet Installation

Another plumbing item you might consider is a low-flow toilet. If your toilet is more than a couple decades old, it probably uses more water than it needs to for a single flush. Modern low-flow toilets use only half of the water needed for flushing of older toilets because they rely on a lot of pressure to get the job done instead of high volumes of water. Some toilets also have dual flush options for liquids and solids, and the single flush setting uses even less water per flush. Installing a toilet is a big job, requiring careful sealing and knowledge of valves as well as a bit of strength to pry the old toilet out.

Finally, if you’ve decided on a new bathtub, be sure to have a plumber work with you throughout the process so that you can get the right size and shape for your bathroom remodeling project. A plumber may need to reinforce the floors, reconnect drain pipes, and hook up the new tub to the main water supply, all while checking that the new installation is in compliance with local building codes.

The friendly people at Brooks Plumbing can work with you on your Olympia bathroom remodeling project and help everything to go as smoothly as possible. Give us a call!

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