The Myth of the High Efficiency Toilet

When you hear the term high efficiency toilet, you may think, who wouldn’t want that? Don’t be fooled. Picking a toilet for your bathroom isn’t as easy as picking out the high efficiency model and walking out of the store. And, choosing the wrong toilet could lead to more hassle down the line.

Below are three things to remember when shopping for a new toilet:

• What you pay for is what you get. As with other household purchases, investing more money in this purchase might be the way to go. Inexpensive toilets will not operate as well as a higher-end toilet.
• Think about your desired toilet height! Studies have shown that 99% of consumers prefer a comfort height toilet. Comfort height toilets sit 2-3 inches higher than a standard toilet and are easier for a consumer to get in and out of.
• A toilet’s ability to flush increases with a 1- ½”, or better, trap way. You may not need a ‘high efficiency’ toilet to get the most efficiency out of yours.

Remember, even if you don’t know where to start, keep these three tips in mind. If all else fails, call The Polite Plumber at (973) 398-0875 and we won’t ask how it happened!

Garbage Disposal Care

One of the last things you want to happen in your kitchen is for the garbage disposal to break. A broken garbage disposal can cause your sink to clog AND you won't have the convenience of easily disposing of garbage.

Below is a list of the dos and don'ts for garbage disposal maintenance.

1. Keep the water running while using the garbage disposal, and for about 30-60 seconds after you've dropped the last of the garbage into the disposal. Doing this will help the waste go down easier, AND it cuts out the loud noise!
2. Do not put banana peels, corn husks, celery, coffee grounds, pits, chicken bones or other fibrous foods in the garbage disposal. It will just clog the system!
3. Is your garbage disposal stinky? Every once in a while drop an orange peel into the disposal to freshen it up!
4. Do NOT throw pasta and rice down the disposal. No matter how much the disposal chops it up the rice and pasta will swell when water logged, causing a clogged drain!

TIP:Use your garbage disposal in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Top of the line garbage disposals, which tend to be more expensive, provide grinding mechanisms that will dispose of waste that an inexpensive garbage disposal will not.

Questions? Just call The Polite Plumber at (973) 398-0875. We won't ask how it happened!

Do It Yourself Plumbing Tips!

We know, plumbing issues are a nightmare. The good news is some of them can be fixed by you, YES you! Below are a few tips on how to maintain a healthy plumbing system, along with tips on how to fix things when your plumbing goes awry.

1. Do you have a clogged toilet? DON'T PANIC! If your toilet becomes clogged just let it sit. Don't plunge, don't call us, just wait. The matter in the toilet will become softer after sitting for a few hours, this will help the toilet to unclog itself. Once you've let it sit for a few hours try flushing the toilet again.

2. Keep a grease cleaning product on hand. Periodically use it in the kitchen drain to help clean out the excess grease that has built up over time.

3. Put a strainer in each tub and shower in your home. This will catch all of the hair before it clogs up your bathroom drain. After each shower empty the hair out of the strainer.

4. DO NOT put banana peels, cornhusks, celery or other fibrous foods in the garbage disposal. It will just clog the system, and cause you major headache.

If all else fails, just call The Polite Plumber at (973) 398-0875. We won't ask how it happened!