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One size toilets doesn't fit all!

Tall Toilets for Tall People

By bathroom remodeling, tall toilets, toilets No Comments

Did you ask for a “taller toilet?”

One of my customers is a large man, and now that he’s getting older, he just requested that we replace his old 15-inch toilet with a taller, 16.5-inch “handicap” toilet.

“My knees aren’t what they used to be,” he joked, “and so I’d really like to have a taller stool – one that isn’t quite so far down for me.”

While the 16.5-inch toilets are usually marketed to handicapped people, I could see how a taller toilet would be more comfortable for someone with his proportions. I could imagine his 6-feet, 3-inch, 300-pound frame would certainly benefit from the increased height of the taller toilet.

A few weeks later, I checked to make sure that he was still happy with our work. “I am,” he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. We talked a little while longer and he wrapped up the conversation with a great suggestion:

“You know, I should have upgraded to one of these [taller toilets] years ago, but I didn’t even think about it until my knees started giving me trouble. You should market toilets with the added height to guys like me – you know, bigger and a little older. I’m sure they’d appreciate one as much as I do – maybe more.”

The 16.5-inch toilet can be a great addition to any household with taller family members.
Let us know if City Wide Plumbing can help you with any of your plumbing requests! 

Call City Wide Plumbing today:  480-966-8795.

Toilet Parts Explode – Flushmate II 501-B pressure-assisted flushing system

By toilets

Now that’s a headline to grab your attention! We’re sorry it’s also a true headline.
There were 23 injuries reported and everyone’s safety is serious business. Please take notice of the recall.

Summary of Recall

Name of Product:  Flushmate II 501-B pressure-assisted flushing systems

Hazard:  The system can burst at or near the vessel weld seam releasing stored pressure. This pressure can lift the tank lid and shatter the tank, posing impact and laceration hazards to consumers and property damage.

Remedy: Replace  

Recall date: October 18, 2018

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Flushmate II 501-B systems, turn off the water supply to the unit and flush the toilet to release the internal pressure. Consumers should contact Flushmate to request a free Flushmate replacement unit and installation by a technician.

Read the full articles below for more information:

https://www.azfamily.com/exploding-toilet-parts-sold-at-home-depot-lowe-s-recalled/article_e668f4a9-3a72-5609-9467-8421fad68155.html

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/Flushmate-Recalls-Flushmate-II-501B-PressureAssisted-Flushing-Systems-Due-to-Impact-and-Laceration-Hazards

Consumers should contact Flushmate to request a free Flushmate replacement unit and installation by a technician.

You can reach Flushmate toll-free at 844-621-7538 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday, or online at www.flushmate.com and click on “501-B Recall” in the blue box on the top of the page for more information.

Flushmate II 501-B pressure-assisted flushing systems

Flushmate II 501B-Pressure Assisted Flushing Systems

How To Clear a Toilet Clog

By Phoenix Plumbing, toilet clog, toilets No Comments

If your toilet starts to back up don’t panic.

  1. You will want to remove the lid on the back of the toilet and push down the flapper to stop any more water from filling the bowl.
  1. Try using a plunger to clear the stoppage.
  1. If the plunger doesn’t do the trick, try a toilet auger. You can pick one up from most home improvement stores, for about $30. It may take a little practice to get the hang of it but it could save you some money down the road.

After you have the line cleared you will want to test flush several times to make sure all is flowing well. The toilet and the bath tub normally share a drain line so you will also want to run some water down the tub drain to make sure that is draining properly as well.

If you still have an issue then you may want to call a plumber. The clog may be further down the line which will take a longer snake to clear the problem.

As always, we are here to help you! Give us a call at 480-966-8795.

 

Things to Know About Low-Flow Toilets

By conserve water, Phoenix Plumbing, save money, toilets No Comments

Toilets use more water than any other appliance or fixture in the home, with older toilets using between 3.5 and 7 gallons per flush. Replacing your old inefficient toilet with a low flush toilet will not only conserve water but it could save you hundreds of dollars annually.

Since 1994 federal law mandates that new household toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. According to EPA figures, since 2006 American households have saved more than 4.7 billion dollars in water and energy bills by switching to more efficient toilets.

How Much Water do Low-Flow Toilets Actually Save?

One high efficiency toilet used by a family of four can save 8,760 gallons of water per year. Since 2006 low flow toilets have saved more than 287 billion gallons of water.

The EPA estimates that if all the inefficient toilets in homes were converted to high efficiency models Americans would save more than 640 billion gallons of water per year.

The average family of four will save about $20.00 a year by switching to a high efficiency toilet. Pair that with a rebate and you could save more than $100 a year. Check for your Arizona city specific water conversation rebates.

How do I get Low-Flow Toilets in my Home?

City Wide Plumbing offers many high efficiency toilets including American Standard, Gerber, Kohler and Toto. Based on extensive flush testing done by NAHB and The California Urban Water Conservation Council as well as personal experience and input from plumbing professionals, we can help select and install the perfect toilet for your household. Call City Wide today to schedule a free consultation. Conveniently servicing Scottsdale and the surrounding area for over 30 years we have all the expertise necessary to complete any plumbing project you are trying to tackle. Stop flushing money down the drain and let City Wide Plumbing help you upgrade your old toilets to new high efficiency models.

How to fail-safe your Thanksgiving Holiday?

By holidays, Phoenix Plumbing, Thanksgiving, toilets No Comments

Take care of your little plumbing problems before they turn into Big Trouble on the Holiday!

Step One: Recognize the possible problems.

If you are having more than a couple people over for a nice big Thanksgiving dinner, you are probably a little concerned about the way it’s all going to turn out.  Will the Turkey be fully cooked and juicy? Will there be enough side dishes and will the stuffing be too dry? The main course and dessert are not your only concerns; however. Anyone knows that when a group of people get together to eat, and to eat “big”, there are usually extra trips to the bathroom.
Can your toilet handle the extra usage?

Step Two: Access your situation.

Better be sure your plumbing is up to par this Thanksgiving. If you have any toilet leaks, you will want to get them fixed immediately before the guests arrive.

Step Three: Take Action.

Give City Wide Plumbing and Service Co. a call 480-966-8795! Now don’t be a turkey and wait til it’s too late. Plumbers like to eat turkey with their family too. Have you ever had a plumber stuffed on turkey dinner over? Probably not something any of us want to see. Be sure to call before your problem escalates to BIG Trouble!!  We are Here for you!!

Flushable Wipes are Toilet Terrors!

By home repairs, non-flushable wipes, Phoenix Plumbing, sewer, toilets No Comments

I’m sure many of you have heard in the news recently that “flushable wipes” are wreaking havoc

in sewer systems and water treatment plants in New York and throughout the United States.

Baby wipes: Although these may be used to wipe your baby’s bottom, they are not toilet paper. Baby wipes are thicker, sturdier, and do not break down easily, resulting in clogged systems.

Band-Aids: Made of non-biodegradable materials, they easily tangle up with hair and fat to create blockages.

Cat litter: Scoopable and flushable cat litter sounds sensible, but in reality, it causes problems. Flushing litter and feces down the hatch not only causes plumbing problems, but it’s possible that a parasite found in cat feces is killing sea otters and seals — and it could be coming from flushed cat waste.

Chewing gum: Flushing what is basically an adhesive down the toilet is not a sound practice, for obvious reasons.

Cigarette butts: Although they seem flushable, cigarette filters don’t easily biodegrade and they are filled with chemicals, which leach into the wastewater.

Condoms: Easy to flush, but not so easy on the sewer system. Condoms can inflate like balloons and cause fairly destructive obstructions.

Cosmetics: Your old moisturizer and other beauty care products can be potentially toxic and disruptive to wastewater treatment plants and septic systems.

Cotton balls and swabs: Cotton doesn’t break down easily, and although it may take a while for cotton products to accumulate into a clog, they are difficult to dislodge once they do.

Dental floss: Seemingly innocent, dental floss is non-biodegradable and wraps around small clogs and tangles them into bigger masses.

Disposable diapers: It’s hard to believe that one could even get a diaper to flush down the toilet, yet that hasn’t stopped sewage workers from finding systems clogged with disposable diapers.

Dryer sheets: It’s bad enough to tumble synthetic chemicals with your clothes, but flushing a dryer sheet afterwards is even worse. They retain synthetic chemicals that can get into the water system, and they are made from non-biodegradable materials.

Facial Cleaning Pads – Thicker than toilet paper and thus can cause problems.

Feminine supplies: The padding and absorbent nature of these products make them too thick for the plumbing.

Food fat: Grease and fat congeal once they cool down, turning into solid masses that block pipes and cause serious sewage problems. Sewer workers call the giant grease lumps “fatbergs.”

Food: Although food is biodegradable, it can still lump together and cause clogs.

Hair: After cleaning your hairbrush, deposit the clump in the garbage not the toilet. It tangles, catches things, and clogs like crazy.

Paper towels and napkins: Too sturdy for the pipes.

Pets: Yes, pets. Goldfish are commonly flushed, but small rodents (hamsters and gerbils) are also found in sewer systems. They’re sturdy and they create clogs; consider a proper burial.

Prescription medicines: No, no, no. Marine life does not need to ingest your old drugs, not to mention that flushed meds can work their way back into our drinking water. See the Food and Drug Administration guidelines for disposing of unwanted medications.

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