Recent MN Plumber News
What are you flushing down your toilet?
Monday, July 18, 2011
Did you know that you shouldn’t flush anything besides human waste and toilet paper down most toilets, even products that say they are “flushable”? Most toilets are now a 1.6 or 1.28 gallons per flush, which isn’t enough water to carry most personal wipes, contraceptives, feminine products and even food particles all the way down your sewer line to the city main or your septic tank. Therefore, they build up and end up plugging your main line. A pressure assisted toilet is made to flush heavier weight particles farther down the sewer line.
Whole house shut off valve
Friday, July 8, 2011
Every house has a whole house shut off valve, which is a valve that shuts off the main water supply to your whole house. It is usually used in an emergency or to shut off water when you leave for extended periods of time to prevent any water related damages. There are 2 types one for your house and one that attaches to the main supply from the street.
Elevance Rising Wall Bath - ADA approved
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
A rep from the Kohler Company in Kohler, WI, and the local Kohler rep came into our office to train and certify our technicians on installing the Elevance Rising Wall Bath tub which is ADA approved. What a remarkable product this is. It’s a great alternative to the walk-in tubs with improved style, accessibility and comfort.
The style is designed so you can recline and relax in the tub similar to a regular bath tub. It also comes in a BubbleMassage.
The side of the tub has a 44” opening and lowers to 19” from the floor to the seat, has a very durable seal, and is only 5 lbs to lift. If you can lift a half gallon of milk, you can lift the side. This tub is so easy to access, if you can get into bed, you can get into this tub. Other great features include: it drains in 2 minutes or less and the state-of-the-art sensors prevent the door from opening when the bath is full and also keeps the footwell from overflowing. Best of all, our aging population can stay at home longer because they are able to bath themselves longer.
Do You Drink Bottled Water????
Friday, April 29, 2011
We strongly believe in continuing education. We recently took our staff to Soderholm & Associates Inc, in Ramsey for updated training on their quality water filtration products and environmental friendly water softeners along with their PS-5 series RO (Reverse Osmosis) units (water filtering), which have a 5-stage filtration process designed to reduce the amount of waste water down the drain by 25% over the typical RO unit, saving a family approximately 400 gallons of water a year. This can have a great impact on our environment.
When you take into consideration that some RO units use as much as 7 gallons of water to generate 1 gallon of filtered water, the extra costs can really build up. Most homes also pay extra sewage charges for their water consumption. Some cities calculate this by up to 5 times the water usage charge. The savings can by very significant. It’s a win win situation to use the higher quality RO unit and have great water in your home for drinking and cooking without having to deal with all those plastic bottles.
We are excited that we can get such a great quality product for our customers and buy locally!!
Stay tuned for future blogs on the health benefits of using an RO unit in your home.
Is Your House Going to Flood This Year????
Friday, March 25, 2011
We believe that everyone who has a sump pit should be sure they have a working sump pump and backup unit. As we keep hearing on the news, this is going to be a record year for flooding. Lots of homes that have never flooded before could flood this year. If your pump is old, you should consider replacing it now before the possibility of it failing when the flooding starts.
Things you can do would be to check your sump pit to see if it is holding more water now than usual. If you have a sump pump, pay attention to how often and the duration that it is running. Is it more than what you’re use to seeing?
Some things to consider would be: Do you have a backup unit? Does your backup pump have an alarm?
You want to make sure you have a high quality unit. Protecting your home is not something you should skimp on.
The newest pump is the water powered backup sump pump that runs off of your city water lines. You don’t have to worry if the electricity goes out. For every gallon of water that goes through the unit, it removes 2 gallons.
We hope you escape the flooding, but if you don’t, be prepared.
Jetta Whirlpool Air Jet Tub on Innovation Avenue
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
We have been gearing up for the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show at the Convention Center Downtown for the last few weeks, which is a major production for us as we have a 40’ x 10’ booth.
For the second straight year, we have scored a major recognition at the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show.
Terry Overacker Plumbing, Inc has participated in the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show for the past three years. For the second straight year, one of our products was chosen to be among just 20 to be featured on Innovation Avenue. Items displayed on Innovation Avenue are considered the newest and most unique in home décor, kitchen & bath, outdoor living, and environmentally friendly.
Our product that was chosen this year is a Jetta whirlpool airjet combinationtub. Jetta tubs have many unusual features, including an acrylic shell 25% thicker than most bathtubs, custom designs with as many as 28 jets in a whirlpool, and they use a rebar and corner posts to strengthen the bathtub deck.
“But the unique feature that separates a Jetta bathtub from others is that the bathing water is guaranteed to stay within two degrees of its original temperature after 30 minutes of use, without the need for an inline heater.”
This is due to a system that quietly recirculates warm air from the spa motor back to the bath water through the jets. Not only are these tubs designed to save energy, but they’re manufactured in the U.S. with 100% wind-generated power.
Quality Bath Tub and Wall Units
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Kohler Sterling has high quality Vikrell bath bays. They are not like the old flimsy tub and wall units that didn’t hold up. These units are unique in that they are a 4-piece bath bay that have a heavier acrylic fiberglass wall and require very little to no silicone to join together. You don’t have messy silicone seams to deter from the quality look. They come as standard depth, soaker and whirlpool. Also available are handicap units with aged-in-place backer boards for stability in adding future grab bars or you can order them with the grab bars already attached. Some of these tubs have as much as a 20” tall apron. They also have shower units of various styles and sizes with custom made quick install frameless doors which can also be used on the tubs.
Terry Overacker, Sr., toured the Kohler Sterling plant in Huntsville, Alabama, where he saw how they made these units. He was very impressed with the quality and would recommend them to anyone who is looking to replace their bathtub or shower and want a fiberglass unit. He even put one on display in his showroom.
Prevent Costly Frozen Pipes
Friday, January 21, 2011
It’s a lot less expensive to take preventive measures against your pipes freezing than to pay to fix the broken pipe and any water damage that is done to your house after they freeze. Here are some general tips to help prevent freezing:
When the temperatures are less than 10 degrees: On faucets that are against an outside wall you want to leave a small trickle of warm water running. If you don’t have any faucets on the outside wall and the temperatures are really low, and you have more than one level to your home leave one faucet on the top level and one on the bottom level trickling. Or at the very least, leave a faucet trickling in your home.
Anytime the temperatures are below freezing: Open the doors to the vanity or sink below the faucets and turn up your house heat a few degrees if you keep it low.
When the wind is blowing it increases the chances of pipes freezing. Also, if your pipes have never froze before that doesn’t mean they won’t this year. Houses get very fine hairline cracks in the foundation that will allow the extremely cold air to filter in and cause freezing.
If you are unfortunate enough to have your pipes freeze, don’t leave them frozen and wait for temperatures to rise. Frozen pipes can expand and crack, which will cause water damage when they thaw.
If you have any questions or concerns give us a call.
Purchasing Water Heaters
Monday, December 27, 2010
We are really disappointed when we get a call from someone who has a water heater manufactured by Rheem for a retail store (aka big box store) giving them problems that they purchased from someone other than a plumber. The local supply houses aren't going to give us warranty parts for free for people who aren't purchasing their water heaters through them. Therefore, they have to contact the manufacturer, who tells them to go to the store they purchased the heater from, who in turn tells them to contact a plumber. It's a crazy circle going nowhere. Therefore, if you're going to purchase a new water heater, it really pays to buy one from a plumber who is going to stand behind the warranty and take care of any problems you have for you.
Customer Service
Monday, December 27, 2010
I think I learned a lot more about the quality of customer service during this last month of shopping for Christmas. I was very surprised at how many companies really don't care if you're happy with their products or services. I can remember when the saying was, "The customer is always right", or "The customer comes first". Even though I don't believe the customer is "always" right, I do believe they need to be listened to when there is a problem. Every Company should be required to stand behind their products and their service. Everybody makes mistakes sometime, and some products fail for reasons beyond the seller's control. But that doesn't mean the person selling the product shouldn't have to stand behind what they sell. Good Customer Service sets apart the great companies from their competitors. These companies will continue to survive.
Neighbors Do Still Help Neighbors!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
I was touched by a Senior Customer who was helping his Senior neighbor, who had broken a brush in her toilet while cleaning it. The Customer pulled the neighbors toilet out and called and asked if he brought it in, if we could help him get the brush out. Terry was able to get the brush out for him. It's great to see neighbors helping neighbors and we were glad we could help too.
Thanksgiving
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tomorrow many will sit down to a nice meal with their family and/or friends and maybe reflect on what they are thankful for.
With all the negative news we hear every day and the rough economic times, it is hard to take time to think of things to be thankful for. But when we take the time to reflect, we can all find something to be thankful for.
Terry and Gina Overacker want to let everyone know we are truly thankful for the support of our faithful customers. Without you, we wouldn't be able to stay in business. It is our passion to help others with their plumbing problems, find solutions to complex issues or to design a new bathroom to give them happiness.
We are also thankful for the wonderful employees we have. You are there when we need you and we can count on you to do a great job for our customers. To show our appreciation, we are giving each one of you a turkey to enjoy for your holiday as a small token of our appreciation.
Friends and family are very important to us and we give thanks for having such a wonderful family and great friends.
May each and every one of you find happiness in the things you are thankful for. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.
BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS!!!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
We have Black Friday Specials. Friday, November 26 only. $50-$100 off selected in stock faucets, toilets, pedestal lavatories, vanities and vessels. Limited quantity. Doors Open at 8:00 a.m. and we close at 4:00 p.m.
Avoid Clogged Drains over the Holidays
Monday, November 22, 2010
Over the holidays we tend to misuse garbage disposals and plug drain lines. Mrs. Overacker, years ago, put too many potato peels down the disposal too fast. Thankfully, the Insinkerator garbage disposals grind more with less noise. With the right model, you don’t have to worry. Some are quieter and specific for septic systems. Because Terry Overacker Plumbing is part of a Pro Circle Installation Club, we can extend the warranty on some models up to 3 additional years for a total of 10 yrs.
Terry highly discourages you from using any kind of over the counter drain openers in your sink drains when they are plugged up. They rarely work for a backed up drain and when you end up calling a plumber or using a small hand auger yourself, you can splash the water which is harmful when making contact with your body, face, or eyes because it contains acid. You can also damage your sink and your floor and it can corrode your pipes.
THANK YOU VETERANS
Thursday, November 11, 2010
I really like the following that they are posting on Facebook. I feel blessed that we have so many wonderful men and women in the USA that are willing to do this for us. We too have family members and good friends who either have served or are currently serving our country. God Bless you ALL!
A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank checkpayable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. That is beyond honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact. Copy and paste this as your status if you are a Veteran, know a Veteran, Love a Veteran, or Support the Troops. Happy Veteran's Day Vets!
Terry is Deer Hunting
Monday, November 8, 2010
All our deer hunters, except Terry Sr, are back at work today. Terry will be back tonight. We sent them out to jobs quickly this morning, so haven't heard the reports of how successful they were. We had 4 of our plumbers out hunting this weekend. Luckily no reports of any accidents. Sad to hear there were several injuries this weekend, but thanksful no fatalities.
Dr. Oz on Chlorine filtered Shower Heads
Monday, October 4, 2010
Here is what Dr. Oz had to say: "Drinking water isn't the only water that should be free of toxins. You should also shower and especially bathe with toxin-free H2O. Instead of squirting yourself with Evian, remove chlorine by adding a charcoal filter to your shower or bath. Chlorine - which isn't just found in swimming pools but also in tap water - dries out the hair (as well as the skin). It's especially important if you take 10-minute showers or baths rather than a quick rinse. The problem isn't the straight chorine but what it turns into - stronger toxins called trichloromethanes. These can irritate your skin and eyes, but may also cause other health problems in higher concentrations."
Chlorine Filtering Shower Head - As Seen on Dr. Oz???
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Did anyone see the Dr. Oz show where he talked about chlorine in our bathing water or clorine filtered shower heads. A customer came into our showroom and said that she had seen our chlorine filtering shower head on Dr. Oz. I'm interested in getting more information so maybe I can find out what Dr. Oz actually said about the shower head. Unfortunately, I don't get to watch Dr. Oz.
Showroom Changes Coming!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
We are in the process of making some changes to our showroom. We love having as many items out of boxes and on display as we can so our customers can actually "See and Feel". When purchasing products it's nice to be able to really look them over without having to open packages or look through a cellophane wrapper.
