Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. Blog: Archive for November, 2013

3 Reasons People Opt for Bathroom Remodeling

Monday, November 25th, 2013

Is it time to remodel your bathroom? And we don’t mean a cosmetic remodeling: new cabinets, shower curtains, drapes, and towel holders. We mean a full remodeling of your bathroom’s plumbing, water heater, sink, faucets, shower fixtures, etc. It sounds like an immense task—and it does involve a great amount of precision labor—but you will find it much easier with a professional remodeling company handling the bulk of the work. Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. can guide you through the process, step by step, starting with fixture and faucet selection. Contact us today to start your Orlando, FL bathroom remodeling.

Here are three reasons people decide to have a full bathroom remodel done:

  1. Greater water efficiency: Low-flow water faucets and sinks can provide tremendous savings on water bills. According to studies by the EPA, low-flow faucets can reduce a sink’s water flow by 30% or more, going from 2.2 gallons per minute to 1.5 gallons per minute. The average family can save 700 gallons of water per year, which is equal to the water used in 40 showers. The lower water flow will also reduce the stress on water heaters. You can also have a low-flow toilet installed to increase the savings.
  2. Upgrade outdated, worn down plumbing: For people living in an older house, the plumbing in the bathroom might be made from outdated material that is coming near the end of its service life. A full repiping of old corroded pipes will give less trouble from leaking and provide an extended life for all the plumbing.
  3. Change the layout: Altering the layout of the bathroom allows the installation of a new shower or bathtub. It can also supply more space.

When you make the choice to remodel your bathroom, you need to speak to a professional remodeler to discuss your priorities. This way, the remodeler will know where to focus his or her efforts. Are you primarily interested in water savings? Do you want to benefit from a new water jet bathtub? The professional will weigh all these considerations and come up with a design that fits your needs.

At Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc., we go to great lengths to work with you coming up with a design for your bathroom remodel that will live up to the high standards you set. We will involve you in the process at every step, so you will see that we’re creating the bathroom you always wanted.

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What Can Damage a Drain?

Monday, November 18th, 2013

The drains in your plumbing do an immense amount of work for you each day, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms. If you take good care of them, your drains should last for many years without the need to replace them. However, there are a number of ways drains can suffer damage that you should watch out for. Some you can prevent through a few basic steps, others will require the assistance of a plumber.

To help keep your drain in Orlando, FL undamaged, contact the professionals at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. We’ve compiled a list of the causes of drain damage that we see the most often to help guide you in keeping your drains healthy:

Oil, grease, and fat

This is the most common error people make regarding their kitchen sinks and disposals: pouring liquid oil, grease, or fat down the drain. They may seem harmless, but when these liquids cool, they congeal into thick solids. Even if they do not cause blockage, they will start to line the inside of your drainpipes and restrict water flow.

Garbage and debris

Do not think of your drains as if they were trash cans and toss things down in them that can lead to blockage and damage. Keep food particles in the disposal (or the trash) and avoid letting paper products wash down the drainpipes.

Hard water

If your municipal water supply has too many minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, suspended in it (“hard water”), it will lead to calcite deposits along your drainpipes. This will also start to restrict water flow, and will look unattractive on your fixtures. You may need to have a professional install a whole-house water softener to alleviate this issue.

Chemical drain cleaners

They’re sold as way to “clean” your plumbing, but few things can cause as extensive damage to your drain as a bottle of acidic cleaning chemicals getting poured down it. The caustic action of these cleaners is terrible for the interior of your pipes—and it isn’t good for your health, either. Rely on a plunger or the work of a plumber to assist you with clearing out clogs.

Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. offers 24-hour emergency service to help you with damages to your drains. If you’ve got a slow drain, leaks, or a complete clog, get on the phone immediately with one of our trained technicians and we’ll put our expertise to work on the problem. We also have regular drain maintenance that will clean your drainpipes once a year and check for potential problems.

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Different Types of Drain Snakes

Monday, November 11th, 2013

When people think of trying to clear out drain clogs on their own, three methods come to mind: the plunger, the liquid drain cleaner, and the drain snake. The first is generally a safe way to get rid of a clogged drain, and does an effective job of eliminating minor blockages. The second is an absolute “don’t.” The chemicals in store-bought drain cleaners can harm your pipes and they are also highly toxic and can leave fumes in your home that you definitely don’t want there.

The third, the drain snake (also known as a drain auger), is the best way to clear out clogs, especially tougher ones a plunger can’t affect. However, there are different types of drain snakes and you should trust to professionals, like the skilled staff at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc., to handle operating them. For a plumber in Winter Park, FL who can fix your drain clog troubles, contact us right away.

The different kinds of drain snakes professional plumbers use

  • Manual cable drain snakes: This is the basic kind of auger; it’s essentially a corkscrew that a plumber manually turns to make the opposite end of the cable drill into the clog. Then the plumber reverses the motion to pull the clog out.
  • Flat tape snakes: Similar to a cable snake, but much flatter and capable of fitting into smaller pipes less than 2” in diameter. Sometimes they are used to push a clog through rather than pull it out.
  • Power snakes: These snakes don’t rely on manual power, but are hooked to motors. The operation is essentially the same as a standard cable snake, except they can handle far tougher clogs.
  • Toilet closet snakes: These are designed specifically for toilet clogs, and can be either manual or powered. They have extremely flexible cables capable of navigating toilet plumbing.

Get professional assistance

You can purchase drains snakes—either manual or motor-powered—through hardware stores and numerous websites. However, if you find that you can’t clear a clog using a plunger, you shouldn’t rely on the drain snake, especially a powered one. Instead, get a trained plumber with the best drain auger equipment available so you won’t risk damaging your plumbing.

Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. has served Central Florida with expert plumbing since 1975. Trust us, there isn’t a drain clog we haven’t encountered before, and we have all the tools necessary to clear whatever blockage is plaguing your drains. For a plumber in Winter Park, FL who can solve your troubles, give us a call.

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Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. Honors Veterans with 25% Off on Veterans Day

Friday, November 8th, 2013

VetImageSmallIt is an honor and a privilege to give back to those that have served our great Country. This Monday, November 11, 2013, Modern Plumbing Industries will increase it’s Veteran’s Discount from 10% off to 25% off all plumbing services.

Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. is an active participant and proud supporter of Building Homes for Heroes.

Thank you for your willingness to sacrifice to keep our freedoms alive and our nation great.

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3 Vital Components of Your Water Heater

Monday, November 4th, 2013

Your water heater is one of those silent household appliances that many of us take for granted. It tirelessly does its job day in and day out: providing hot water for cooking and bathing without any work on our part. Only when problems arise do we think about it and the job it does. In order to function effectively, water heaters require a number of smaller components to work as they should. Here are 3 vital components of your water heater in Orlando, FL:

  • Dip tube. The dip tube allows cool water to enter the heater tank without diluting the hot water that’s already there. It sends the cold water to the bottom of the tank to be heated, leaving hot water at the top of the tank ready for your to turn on the faucet.
  • Anode rod. The anode rod is usually made of steel, with magnesium or aluminum wrapped around it. It serves to retard corrosion inside the water heater tank, keeping the walls of your tank intact and reducing rust and similar corrosive elements. Anode rods slowly disintegrate over time, which means they periodically need to be replaced.
  • Pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve is just what it sounds like: a device intended to release pressure inside the tank if it ever gets too high. This is a key safety component in the water heater. Without it, your heater runs to risk of exploding if the pressure gets too high.

In terms of water heaters, Orlando FL residents know better than to monkey with an unqualified repair service. Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. knows how to address problems with these 3 vital components of your water heater, and with any other heating problems you may be experiencing. Give us a call today to talk about your options; you’ll be glad you did!

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