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Your typical household plumbing emergency will not happen at noon on a Wednesday when the plumbers are readily available, no, your emergency will happen at midnight on a holiday in a snowstorm. The important thing is that you are prepared so the emergency is held at bay until your plumber can get out to you to fix the problem, saving you headaches, frustration and money.

Emergency Preparation Kit

Nobody anticipates an emergency. You never know when or where it is going to happen or how but that does not mean you can’t be prepared for everything. All you need to do is put together a few items that will help subside any plumbing emergency. Some of these items include:

• Bucket— A bucket has more than one purpose. The main purpose is to be something that you can place under the leak so the water is not going all over your floor. The second purpose is to hold all of the other tools in your emergency kit

• Wrench— A crescent wrench is a good all-around tool that will help to loosen or tighten any bolt on any pipe. Since it is adjustable, you do not have to waste time by finding the right size wrench that you need.

• Plunger— Your plunger will help to release clogs or cover openings where water can come out. Another excellent, all-around tool with multiple uses.

Educate Yourself

Another way that you can prepare yourself for a potential emergency is to educate yourself, not only on your home but on your plumber as well. First of all, you should know where every water shut-off is located in your home. This way, if you have a leaky toilet you can shut the water flow off to the toilet, not the entire house. At the same time, you should also be aware of the main shut off valve that shuts off the water to the entire home. You should also check the main valve at least once a year to ensure that it is still functioning and easy to turn off and on.

In addition to educating yourself where all the shut off valves are, you should also have the number of a plumber close by so you are not stuck with the first one you find during an emergency. When finding a plumber you should think of a few things like if they offer 24 hour emergency service, online reviews, complaints with the BBB and if they are licensed or bonded.

You should always have a licensed plumber to fix any plumbing emergency but if you are prepared and educated, you can at least stop the emergency until the plumber arrives; this can sometimes greatly reduce the cost of plumbing repairs and the damage that is done due to the emergency.

Looking for an emergency plumber in Salt Lake City? Call Valley Plumbing at 801-341-4222 for quality service you can trust!

As in the years previous, the top trends for remodeling your bathroom all center around making your space more open, contemporary, utilitarian, and some times more high tech.

Open Showers

With an open and doorless shower you not only get more room but more light is let in as well. Frameless or walk in showers are easier for the elderly and anyone with mobility problems. Smaller bathrooms can be better optimized for space with a doorless shower. Shower heads can feature controls to change your water pressure and temperature, making a shower more like a spa in your home.

Gray Color Scale

The color gray works well because it pairs well with other popular bathroom colors like white and blue. It's neutral and contemporary and lets you update the space easily whenever you want. Gray was popular in 2014 and looks to be as popular if not gaining in popularity in 2015. Tiles are available in the gray color scale in everything from ceramic and glass to granites and other stones.

Freestanding Tubs

Although the bathtub is slowly being phased out, either due to the greener culture we live in, or because people might be too busy to take a long soak in a tub, if you want to keep a tub in your bathroom, the choice more pleasing to the eye is a tub that stands alone.
This will also help you keep your larger, more open shower separate. This will also help work your tub into your bathroom, and not have it as an immovable fixture at the wall. They don't have backsplashes and aren't waterproof so look at some neutral tile to go around it to keep from ruining your bathroom.

Lighting and Technology

Your lighting can be used to change the experience in your bathroom. With brighter lights you give your room a clean or sleek feel, with dimmer lights you can transform it into a relaxing spa feel. When you cut for your lighting your choice is pretty final, so make these decisions beforehand.
Technology in all rooms of the home has really stepped its game up the bathroom being no exception. Waterproof radios and televisions with touch led screens can really liven up your newer open shower. There are also control panels for your shower heads to get exactly what you want out of your shower experience. The options are pretty limitless.

Call Valley Plumbing at 801-341-4222 for top-tier bathroom remodeling services in the Salt Lake City area.

Because the plumbing is one of the most expensive systems in a home, finding ways to extend it's life is imperative. To ensure that a plumbing system is in top shape, there are several things that need to be monitored, one of which is the age and condition of the entire system.
When plumbing gets some age on it, it can start to decline. The walls inside the pipes will begin to wear due to corrosion. Pipes that have age issue need to be treated differently than those that are brand new. For instance, if there is a clog, the types of tools that are used to work on the system will need to be altered.

Consider The Repair History

Another thing to consider when dealing with a plumbing system is the repair history. This will be a good indicator of maintenance issues to come. Pipes that haven’t been properly maintained could have years of issues building up inside them. Anyone that wants to extend the life of their plumbing needs to do one thing, clean them out often.

Why Drain Cleaning Works!

Drain cleaning is not just for the business that has extra money to spend. Drain cleaning will remove years of build-up which can cause the pipes to erode. Removing the sediment inside the pipes will make water flow freer and will make it have a different appearance and taste.
Ever seen discolored water come from a plumbing system? This is because the pipes are usually old and have a build-up that is leaching into the water.

Drain Cleaning is Not A Luxury

Whether a home has an issue, or there needs to be preventative maintenance doesn’t matter drain cleaning is essential for every plumbing system. Having a periodic inspection, by a qualified plumbing professional, will ensure that the system is functioning properly. They can identify any leaks, pipes that are about to break or other potential problems.
When and if it does become necessary to replace the pipes, having a company that can give advice on what types of pipes to use and ways to save money is advantageous.
Drains and plumbing systems are the heartbeat of the home. Without functioning pipes, a family cannot live in their home and enjoy the luxuries of things like cooking and laundry. From sewer pipes to sink drains and everything in between, ensuring they are cleaned periodically will extend their lifetime.

Keep your Salt Lake City plumbing system in top shape with a little help from Valley Plumbing & Drain Cleaning. Call us at 801-341-4222 today!

The modern toilet is one of the most useful innovations known to man. The history of the toilet is one that dates back to 3,000 B.C. Scotland. During this time period, people lived in stone settlements with drains built into the walls, which historians believe were used for toiletry purposes. In 1,700 B.C. Crete, earthenware pots were used as toilets. These latrines were connected to a plumbing system with water being carried through terra cotta pipes. Toilet technology this impressive wasn't seen again until the 16th century.

Toilets in Ancient Rome

The bathhouses of ancient Rome were spectacular for their time period. Here, 1,600 people could use the facilities at one time. When it came to answering the “call of nature,” Romans were a bit more barbaric. Despite the city's 144 public bathrooms equipped with rudimentary toilet benches, the majority of citizens simply tossed their bodily waste into the street.

The First Flushable Toilet

The world's first flushable toilet was invented in 1596 by John Harrington, the godson of Queen Elizabeth I. Harrington only made two prototypes — one for the queen and one for himself. Unfortunately, Queen Elizabeth believed the sound of the flushing would alert the palace of her toileting habits and was too embarrassed to ever use the invention. Harrington was mocked by his peers for his innovation, and the world didn't see another toilet with flushing capabilities until about 200 years later.

Toilets in the 18th and 19th Century

Many people attribute the modern porcelain toilet to John Crapper, a man whose surname has become synonymous with the lavatory. Although Crapper was a plumbing supply store owner who purchased a patent for a porcelain toilet system, he was not the inventor of this innovation. Watchmaker Alexander Cummings is actually the one to thank for inventing the modern flush toilet in 1775. During the Victorian Era (1837-1901) the working class sat on holes cut into wooden benches and positioned over an ash-filled pit to relieve themselves, with one or two of these benches available per street. The Victorian upper class enjoyed cisterns with siphonic flush pans in their home lavatories.

The Future of the Modern Toilet

What does the future hold when it comes to the humble toilet? Japanese toilet manufacturer Toto hosted a recent exhibition at the London Design Festival showcasing self-cleaning toilets with germ-killing technology that are also designed to conserve water. In California, a movement to recycle once-wasted flushed water into drinking water hopes to provide a solution to the drought problem. While the future of toilets remains to be seen, one thing is certain — the toilets of the future will be more luxurious, yet more efficient, than ever before.

If you're ever having toilet troubles in your Salt Lake City home call Valle Plumbing & Drain Cleaning at 801-341-4222!

When you have a clogged toilet in your home, all activities stop until the problem is resolved. Homeowners must often rely on the services of a reliable plumbing company to take care of the problem. You can avoid these clogging issues if you pay attention to the top five causes of toilet clogs that professional plumbers often find at fault:

1 – Unsuitable Toilet Paper

The supermarket aisles are full of toilet paper choices, but some of these products may contribute to toilet clogs. Professional plumbing contractors recommend the simplest kind of one-ply tissue, which will break down easily in the water. Using “extra-thick,” “quilted,” or other luxury paper products are more like to contribute to clogging problems.

2 – Fallen Objects

Another common cause of toilet clogs is random objects that fall into the toilet bowl. These objects may fall into the bowl unnoticed, and then get flushed into the system.
Some homeowners soon learn that their vanity sinks present a troublesome trajectory that bounces objects directly off the counter and into the toilet. Alerting family members to the problem, and removing all objects from the vanity counter after use can help to eliminate this problem of random objects falling into the toilet. Another problem in households with children is toys that somehow find their way into the toilet. Keeping a basket under the sink specifically for bath toys can help to resolve the problem of toys falling into the toilet.

3 – Toilet Bowl Cleaner Products

Consumers have a number of new toilet cleaning and deodorizing products available in stores. However, these products can be the cause of frequent toilet clogs. Many of these products have a gel consistency that does not dissolve completely as it goes through the drain system. The gel can collect on small turns and irregularities on the lining and can obstruct the normal flow of water and debris. Removing these clogs may require the services of a professional plumber.

4 – Feminine Hygiene Products

The instructions on the packages of feminine hygiene products may say that they are flushable, but in fact, they may not dissolve sufficiently for your drain system. Always provide a separate container for these products and inform household members about proper disposal.

5 – Wiper Sheets

The market also offers a number of wiper sheets for babies, as well as adults, that substitute for ordinary toilet paper. These wiper sheets often do not break down in the water and easily snag on any small irregularity in the toilet drain. Disposing of these sheets in a suitable receptacle, rather than flushing down the toilet, will help to prevent toilet clogs.

Avoid the embarrassment of an untimely toilet clog, call Valley Plumbing at 801-341-4222 to keep your Salt Lake City throne flushing!