Plumbing Bids for County Jail Rejected

The Randolph County Commission in Alabama has rejected, by vote, a plumbing bid that had been sent to it for the Randolph County Jail. Atlanta plumbers bring you plumbing related stories. We Atlanta plumbers work to keep you informed and entertained.

Complete Re-Plumbing

Commission Chairman, Lathonia Wright, said that he did not feel comfortable having to put $70,000 into the county jail. On the other hand, he said that it was possible to reject the bid as the specs it turned in were not for a full re-plumbing; but the contractor had already bought fittings that had a cost of about $10,000.

In discussing what could be done now that the bid had been rejected and some fixtures already bought by the plumbing company, Richard Fetner, a commissioner, suggested that the commission see what the company could return. If that were not possible, then the commission would have to work out an arrangement with the contractor. One of the suggestions was to use the purchased fittings in the new county jail.

New Jail

Sheriff, David Cofield, said that the County Commission would possibly return the plumbing fixtures directly to the company and ask for a refund to be made. The sheriff said that for the new jail he had wished to have more up-to-date plumbing fixtures installed. The commission plans to build a new jail. It has approved the architects, who will conduct a study that will assess the new jail’s needs. The cost of the study however, is not to surpass the $12,500 limit the Randolph County Commission has set. 

Alcohol Licensing Review Board

The commission also discussed having an alcohol licensing review board, but this was rejected. The meeting of the commission was to make a decision on having such a review board to work in such county matters. Wright said that they would be getting applications for alcohol licensing and that any commissioner who had thoughts on the review board was welcome to share them with the workshop. Wright stresses that the ultimate decision of the commission had to be consistent. 

Fetner said that in the end, the commission would be responsible if anything happened and not the licensing review board. A motion that the board be appointed was made by Terry Lovvorn, a commissioner, but the motion did not pass as no one seconded it.

Get plumbers who are professional in their work and who will perform their duties with care and work to give you the best service possible. You can trust your Atlanta plumbers to always get the job done right the first time, and at a reasonable cost.

The Truth About Green Drain Cleaners

The buzz word these days is “green” which means that we're all looking for new and different ways to make our world a better, safer place for the next generations. And we can start saving the planet simply by changing the cleaners and chemicals we use around the house... most of the time.

Green drain cleaners. Seems like this is either a really great idea or a terrible one. So let's take a peek into environmentally friendly green drain cleaners along with some do-it-yourself ways to clear a nasty  clogged drain.

How Do Green Drain Cleaners Work?

It's safe to say that using enzymatic drain cleaners to bust clogs is a safer, more eco-friendly way to clean your drains. These green drain cleaners use either enzymes or bacteria that naturally feast upon organic waste; such as the things you'd find in your clogged drain (hair and food). These microscopic organisms work by digesting the waste in your clogged drain WHILE reproducing, which means that these helpful bacterial then spread throughout our pipes to continue their work. Originally, in fact, these enzymatic drain cleaners were used to keep septic tanks and water treatment facilities.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Green Drain Cleaners?

While green drain cleaners are much more environmentally friendly, these drain cleaners do come with some disadvantages. Many stores don't sell these types of cleaners, which means you may have to special order them from the Internet. Also, these green drain cleaners don't work as quickly as their chemical counterparts – it can take many hours to clear a clogged drain using these environmentally friendly cleaners. The last downside is that these green cleaners may not last as long as their chemical counterparts, which means that you shouldn't buy them in bulk.

DIY Drain Cleaners:

Because the world is full of people who love to tinker around with homemade items, drain cleaners are no different. And there are types of drain cleaners you can make using ordinary household products. These include:

Take half a cup of baking soda and dump it down the clogged drain. Take half a cup of vinegar and pour it down the drain, too. Wait about fifteen minutes, then pour hot tap water down the drain.

Take half a cup of salt, half a cup of baking soda and pour the mixture into the drain. Flush with hot water.

Mix together equal parts of salt, baking soda, and vinegar and pour it down your clogged drain. Wait about an hour, then pour hot water down the drain.

And if none of these eco-friendly tips and tricks manage to bust up your clogged sink? Don't hesitate to call a professional plumbers in Atalnta.

Cold Weather Affects Plumbers Jobs

Effect of bad weather on pipe systems

The bad weather condition has made the jobs of plumbers in Atlanta more difficult this week. They said that the increase in temperature is affecting the condition of pipes in commercial and residential buildings around the state. According to the plumbers, the freezing temperature could freeze the pipes and this condition could make the pipes explode resulting in leaks anywhere in the building’s pipe system. In turn, the leaks could cause flooding and serious damage to property. 

Preventive measures for commercial building owners

Plumbers in Atlanta advises building owners to make sure to monitor the weather condition in the next couple of days to allow them to plan ahead to prevent leaks and flooding in their buildings. They say it is best to make sure to turn off the water system especially during the night when the building is not in use to protect them from leaking incidents caused by the freezing of the pipes. They explained that water could freeze under extreme weather condition. When it freezes the pipes expand and could explode and could cause flooding in the building. Another advice recommended by the plumbers in Atlanta is for building owners to ensure to turn on the heaters in their buildings most especially at night when no one is in the building to monitor leakage.

Preventive measures for homeowners

Residential building owners are not spared from making these precautionary measures as well. Plumbers in Atlanta said frozen pipes can cause flooding inside the homes. However they say that this can be prevented. Some of the preventive measures suggested include covering the pipes with cardboard if the pipes are exposed. For pipes that are not exposed, plumbers in Atlanta advise homeowners to close cracks or openings near the pipes to keep the cold air away from the pipes.  They likewise say homeowners can open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to prevent their pipes from freezing as warm air inside these cabinets can protect the pipes from the cold.  

Recent water main break

Plumbers in Atlanta blamed the bad weather condition for the water main break that caused floods on Clairmont Road in Chamblee, Georgia over the weekend. They say that the cold weather condition caused the ground to move causing the pipes to shift and then eventually break. However, they say that the extreme weather condition may not be the only cause for the water main break. They say that the condition of the pipes could be considered the cause of the incident stating that the cold temperature will not break the pipe easily if the pipe were still new and sturdy.

Replacing Your Bathtub? No Problem!

Ah, bathtime. One of the best, most relaxing times of day. In your bathtub, you can relax and unwind, letting all the cares of your day melt slowly into the hot water. During those hot Atlanta summers, you absolutely want to be able to use your bathtub to cool down, too! Bath time is so important, in fact, that you want the very best sort of tub you can afford (and can fit in your bathroom!). Here are some tips for planning out a brand new tub to soak in!

Tips For Replacing Your Bathtub:

First things first, before you get all excited and try to rip the tub out of the bathroom, you have to take a step back, a deep breath and tell yourself, “slow and steady wins the race.” It's the truth, right? And the very last thing you want to do is to ruin your of a brand-new tub! Get a notebook and start planning.

Begin by measuring the tub down to the centimeter. Before picking out a new bathtub, you want to make sure the tub will fit in your bathroom.

Decide which fixtures you'll need to replace. If you have a grimy faucet or a shower that sputters all over the place, you'll probably want to look into replacements for those. Get measurements of ALL of these things so you know what you're up against!

Once you've done all of this, you should head over to the home improvement store, pick out the items that you'd like for your new bathroom. Be sure to talk to the head of the department so that you are able to purchase the correct items. Ask around to see what other tools a bathtub replacement may need.

Now it's time to take out the old bathtub! Yay! This may mean that you have to remove other things in the bathroom, like the toilet, or the vanity. If you're unable to, or afraid to, do this, go ahead and call a professional plumber from Atlanta to make sure that the bathtub installation goes as smoothly as possible.

When it's finally time to get rid of the old bathtub, you can begin with disconnecting the bathtub strainer, the bathtub drain, and flange, and removing the overflow cover plate and any of the drain tubing that may be anchored to it.

Take use a pry-bar and pry off any screws or nails that connect the tub to the wall. Then use your pry-bar to pry the old bathtub away from the back wall. Get your buddy and have him or her help you get the bathtub out of the space it's in and down to the garbage.

If, at any point, you see water leaking or any signs of water damage to the floor or walls, stop the project and call a professional Atlanta plumbers so that these professionals can assist you in this plumbing job.

Before you put in the new tub, you're going to want to fix up any damaged, cracked or missing bathroom tiles. Double check that all of the new components of the bathtub are going to fit before assembling the new drain and attaching it to the new tub. Then be sure to have your buddy help you out by putting the tub in the right spot and making sure the tub is level on all sides.

If at any time during the tub installation, you have problems or concerns about replacing your bathtub, don't hesitate to call a professional plumber!