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31
Faucets: Kitchen | Bath | Laundry | Outdoor / Re: Kohler Shower Faucet Install - Straw Flower Court Independence Kentucky
« on: April 06, 2011, 09:28:47 PM »
The shower that is being worked on/remodeled is going through some major changes that the property owner will soon enjoy once the project is completed. A wall partition that was installed to separate the tub from the shower has now become a small 2X8 wall that is only 30" tall. Tall enough to provide an area for the tub faucet to be installed, as well as providing a short wall for the remainder of glass doors that will carry the elegant look up to 78", coming around the front with open view design. Dunbar Plumbing has taken numerous pictures of this job and the finish look is going to be remarkable when completed.

The shower faucet was moved from the wall that served the separation between tub and shower. The shower faucet is now placed back to back against an existing tub and shower in the adjacent bathroom. Connecting to the water lines as expected went relatively smooth and the installation of the valve went according to plan. The only problem we found with the roughing in of the faucet was trying to accomplish the 2-3/4" required for rough-in requirement. Given that the wall was already serving the same area for a tub and shower faucet opposite side, blocking was needed with some adjustments to get the proper reveal.

Our work tomorrow involves the rough in for the pvc drains and copper water lines that are on the same wall that the toilet sits against. 2 vessel sinks on top of wood cabinets with granite countertops will be a nice addition to the look of this bathroom when it is completed. We'll add pictures as they become available. :pics:

32
Faucets: Kitchen | Bath | Laundry | Outdoor / Kohler Shower Faucet Install - Straw Flower Court Independence Kentucky
« on: April 06, 2011, 09:18:20 PM »
Dunbar Plumbing returned to Straw Flower Court in Independence Kentucky to install a customer supplied Kohler single handle shower faucet in the second floor master bathroom. We are not particularly fond of Kohler faucets, only because they are very difficult to work on in the future. Repair parts are always difficult to find or locate, supply houses do not like to stock the hundreds of thousands of parts that kohler has for their models that might take years to replace eventually. Just because 'years' is involved in that statement does not mean that the product went flawlessly through time without any issues.

This isn't a hate rant about kohler, this is just a plain and simple statement. We like their toilets, no issues other than you have to use proprietary OEM products in the service point of view when working on them. Otherwise you'll be having callbacks when you should of bought the correct parts to begin with.

On the faucets, we ask that the customers supply us with the repair parts and we'll gladly repair their kohler product.

What we will not do:

Work without compensation in regards to identifying the problem with the kohler faucet, the time locating the repair parts online and the efforts to pay or have the product shipped.

The first statement from anyone reading these very words might think... "Why would a plumber not be willing to deal with this particular brand in this fashion?"

It's simple; years of experience of dealing with numerous products in plumbing over the years and knowing what faucets are the most involved in time consumption to get the product repaired. This is why we will charge for every aspect until the faucet is repaired, very unlike the other brands that are straightforward and easy to deal with after the sale.

Lots of customers really love their Kohler faucets due to their sleek designs, heavy brass bodies and attention to unique styles, following the latest technologies... but when years pass by, and the faucet goes into repair, that's when it becomes more effort than its worth.


 

33
Off Topic - Discussions / Re: Famous Mottos
« on: April 06, 2011, 12:32:37 PM »
"I'm living the dream, but YOU are living the lie."

34
National - International - Global News Around the World / Re: 9.0 Earthquake hits Japan - Tsunami Follows - Nuclear Meltdown in Fukushima
« on: April 06, 2011, 12:34:17 AM »
Latest article about the discussions that United States Engineers had to say about the disaster in Japan at the nuclear powerplant.

http://buyiodide.com/2011/04/06/united-states-sees-serious-threats-in-japans-nuclear-problems/

35
Northern Kentucky - Greater Cincinnati News and Events / Re: RYAN WIDMER - GUILTY OF MURDER
« on: April 06, 2011, 12:32:00 AM »
It has been some time since the conviction came in regards to this individual, and right now the current status is a recent denial of retrial as recommended by judge bronson, and now there is an appeal request to an even higher court system that might take months to come to a result. An update will soon come once the information about an appeal is made.

36
The Plumber's Musings / Re: How was your Work Day, Details of your Work
« on: April 06, 2011, 12:28:19 AM »
Did a toilet rebuild in fort wright kentucky, a toilet flange repair in piner kentucky, two opposite sides of the world. Not a profitable day (except for the plumbing supply house) and we hope to have a better day tomorrow.
A lot of work done on the internet in trying to get a lot done while time permits.

Hoping for warmer weather tomorrow to break free of the dreaded winter we just escaped from. Now, it's time for sleepy sleepy!  :bedtime2:

37
Toilets | Tubs | Lavatory Sinks | Showers | Bidets | Bidet Toilet Seats | Urinals | Showerheads / Re: Broken Toilet Flange Repair - Cruise Creek Road Piner Kentucky
« on: April 06, 2011, 12:22:32 AM »
Some of the products we had to resolve the issue:


Spanner Flange

Super Ring

Stainless Steel Ring


The above method we went with was the stainless steel ring. This allowed us to drill through the predrilled holes in the stainless steel ring and place the ring over top of the plastic toilet flange. Along with the flange, the existing toilet bolts or closet bolts were installed at the same time, with numerous screws holding down the new ring through the existing closet flange and into the existing wood subfloor. Once the screws anchored the flange down the closet flange was solid and secure, along with the new closet bolts that were ready to accept the toilet after the work was done to the floor.

Plastic, like all plastics over time become brittle with age, and the temperatures/variations of which can affect the longevity of the product. In relation to closet flanges, room temperature to cold (recently flushed toilet) and this constant back and forth temperature change can cause flanges to become hardened over time. Given that two stress points caused by the anchoring of the toilet by bolts through the flange, this creates the possibility of breakage quite easily. The actual setting of the toilet flange can achieve a 'stronger' design by either utilizing the two precut slots in the flange, or setting the furthest distance of the slots for the closet bolts to fit into the meat of the flange, at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock position. Too often when we see closet flanges are the slots set to catch the bolt pattern where it is at its weakest position in the flange. Why? I believe that answer follows the belief of fudge room to allow the toilet some give space if there is any tightness to the wall. In a lot of ways, this is a good way to allow for that room, but the sacrifice comes with the flange being subjected to a shorter life of usage.

The customer did not ask us to reset the toilet as a new floor was going to be installed at a later date. We explained to the customer to not use horned wax rings as they are not reliable. A discussion was created with this topic and I explained the many reasons why horned wax rings are more trouble than their worth. Dunbar Plumbing will soon provide an information blog discussion about these types of wax rings and why they become a liability to homeowners in their use.

Contact Dunbar Plumbing for all your plumbing needs. DUNBAR PLUMBING - NORTHERN KENTUCKY PLUMBERS 859-359-4833



38
Toilets | Tubs | Lavatory Sinks | Showers | Bidets | Bidet Toilet Seats | Urinals | Showerheads / Broken Toilet Flange Repair - Cruise Creek Road Piner Kentucky
« on: April 06, 2011, 12:07:16 AM »
A repeat customer of Dunbar Plumbing contacted us from over 4 years ago, needing some plumbing work down at their home. Cruise Creek Road is located in Piner Kentucky, about 8 miles south of Independence Kentucky. SR17 or Madison Pike is the road you take to reach this location. SR17 intersects with SR14 at a junction near Piner School. A well travelled road in the area that is mostly rural, with an old time store at the corner of Route 14 and 17 where they intersect. Only two old time grocery stores remain in this rural area and when the "new and improved" gas/grocery stores come to town, that will be the end of an era of history.

The plumbing problem the customer was having was a toilet flange that had cracked at both sides of the flange where the closet bolts attach to the flange. Further investigation of the flange revealed that the piping arrangement immediately leaving the flange showed numerous fittings and next to any or little piping involved. This removed the possibility of removing the flange from the piping and installing a new closet flange. We came prepared to repair the flange from up above, using numerous methods that have proven to be reliable in situations like these.

 

39
Plumbing Work Practices / Re: Leaking Basket Strainers - Plumbers Putty - Silicone Caulk?
« on: April 05, 2011, 12:36:52 AM »
Here is another video of where plumbers putty has degraded and caused leaks at a local restaurant in Independence Kentucky.




<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQuWd5CJxJA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQuWd5CJxJA</a>

40
Off Topic - Discussions / Re: How was your Day?
« on: April 04, 2011, 11:53:59 PM »
Busy as always but getting a lot done on the internet. Having many websites/forums is more than a full time job at this point.

 :sign0085: :sign0085: :sign0085:

41
Off Topic - Discussions / Re: Favorite Shows on Cable/TV
« on: April 04, 2011, 10:38:15 PM »
Pawn Stars is a really good show, along with Operation Repo, Southern Fried Stings (even though it's a little cheesy) World's Dumbest Criminals, Hardcore Pawn can be extremely interesting as well.  :PDT_Armataz_01_37:

42
The Plumber's Musings / Re: Continuing Education as a Plumber
« on: April 04, 2011, 10:34:55 PM »
On April 5th 2011 the second meeting for the Northern Kentucky Cross Connection Prevention Association will be held at the Marquise in Wilder Kentucky, 1016 Towne Drive in Wilder Kentucky. The doors open at 6:00pm but the meeting starts at 6:30pm and the guest speaker for this meeting will be Joel Berkley, Director of Education and Marketing for the KAPHCC.


The KAPHCC or Kentucky Association of Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors. This association provides information and membership to contractors in the profession that offers many benefits in the association.

Last month's speaker was a motivational speaker, putting emphasis on how we as workers, employees or business owners should stop and smell the roses from time to time, slow down the stress levels and realize how fast life goes by when we are so involved in our work life.

Family values as well, not to bring the stresses to work, or bring the stresses of work to the home. It was one of the best meetings that Dunbar Plumbing has attended.

43
Off Topic - Discussions / Re: Now Playing - Music Videos
« on: April 04, 2011, 10:26:25 PM »
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBeg7CZqSx0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBeg7CZqSx0</a>

44
Plumbing Work Practices / Re: Leaking Basket Strainers - Plumbers Putty - Silicone Caulk?
« on: April 04, 2011, 10:23:36 PM »
Here is a video of a recent garbage disposal replacement we


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu5eCcHD6zs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu5eCcHD6zs</a>


This garbage disposal wasn't even 7 years old from time of installation, and you can see where water already had start to deteriorate the putty underneath the flange. Also, the putty was nearly 80% gone or missing in some areas. A well known situation about plumbers putty:

One of the most problematic installer errors of using plumbers putty is the overuse of the putty, or putting too much under the flange of the drain assembly. When too much putty is used, tightening of the strainer basket or pop-up drain assembly will squeeze out a considerable amount of putty, but will later need to be tightened once again at a later time because the putty continues to squeeze out. Once that drain is loose, then the problems start with movement, which in turn allows the putty to get wet/contaminated with wastewater which leads to an eventual leak at the connection. This is what the majority of drains do over time when putty has been used in this way.

A couple years ago we had a customer that utilized home depot to install a kitchen sink countertop in their kitchen, and with that came the plumber who followed the contractor who did the countertops. In certain northern states like New York, New Jersey or others that follow the older types of workmanship, actual sinks, whether they are kitchen sinks, drop in vanity sinks, a rim of plumbers putty is used at the edge of the sink to provide a waterproof seal. In a lot of cases, this design works, even though the putty becomes very hard and brittle. Years ago, toilets were bedded in plumbers putty instead of wax rings that are so commonly used to make a water/sewer gas proof connection to the piping of the structure. The application of plumbers putty for toilets is a good one and it is still done in states like Illinois.

45
Plumbing Work Practices / Leaking Basket Strainers - Plumbers Putty - Silicone Caulk?
« on: April 04, 2011, 10:08:58 PM »
Over the course of time in our plumbing profession we have set 1000's of fixtures that require a waterproof type connection where the drain assembly connects to the fixture. For decades, the most common/sensible product used was plumbers putty. Plumbers putty is a pliable product, very similar to play-doh that is a kids favorite in their childhood growing up. With putty though, it's a product that works as a filler between the flange of a drain opening or basket strainer. Putty is also used for the installation of garbage disposal flanges as well.

But as time progresses forward, it has been more than obvious that plumbers putty has a limited life, and can lead to leaking under these flanges/strainer baskets as water can loosen/break down the once dry connection. With certain types of sinks, like Kohler kitchen sinks that are either cast iron or americast (spun polymer with hardened finish similar to porcelain) the angle of the opening where the strainers go can be quite large.

 

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