Some shady contractors wishing to cut corners in order to keep the bottom line low for their clients will leave out these options often, but pipe insulation is essential for the performance and long service-life of piping systems.

So it is often these kinds of additions that homeowners will want to consider doing themselves. Pipes and ductwork need insulation just as much as your exterior walls do.

Poorly insulated ductwork can lose heat, reduce air conditioning effectiveness and cost you money in heating and cooling bills. Not to mention the fact that if they freeze and burst, those repair bills are often astronomically high. Un-insulated pipes usually sweat, leave watermarks and make your water heater work overtime.

Naturally, pipe insulation is most important in areas where there is the potential for pipes to freeze and burst. But even in the southeast, where I live, we have days and nights below freezing and people’s pipes burst.

The cost of both piping and insulation is small relative to the damages when a pipe breaks. While it is obvious that outdoor pipes (under the porch, etc) need to be insulated, other pipes can still freeze even if they run in a temperature-regulated part of the house.

If the electricity goes out for several hours, or you go on vacation and don't expect the temperature to drop as much as it does, you may return to a huge mess. Proper pipe insulation can reduce, if not eliminate, the chance of your pipes freezing.

Insulation has a tremendous impact on your home's energy use. With rising energy prices, as well as environmental concerns, it is becoming even more important to pay attention to how you consume energy.

Proper insulation improves the thermal efficiency of your home, limiting heat transfer and providing a vapor barrier against moisture. Proper piping and insulation materials also eliminate condensation formation, which accelerates pipe deterioration.

Fortunately, insulating your pipes is a simple home improvement job that even someone like me can do.

To insulate your pipes, you will need:

• Pipe insulation
• Duct tape
• Rag
• Mild cleanser
• Scissors
• Utility knife
• Mask
• Gloves
• Safety goggles

Pipe Insulation Steps:

1. Begin by removing any dirt or grease from the pipes with a rag and mild cleanser. Make sure you allow the pipes to dry thoroughly before continuing with the installation.
2. Choose the insulation. Foam, foil or fiberglass insulation can be wrapped around the pipe with a 1/2" overlap. Secure each end of the insulation with duct tape. If you are working with Fiberglass insulation be sure to wear safety goggles and gloves.
3. Make sure to cover the entire pipe when wrapping around corners and bends and wrap with duct tape. When working with fiberglass insulation, wrap the fiberglass in plastic to keep the pipes from dripping condensation.
   The easiest pipe insulation to install is tubular sleeve insulation. It comes in a variety of sizes and is the easiest to install. Simply cut the sleeve to length and wrap it around the pipe. Be sure to duct tape the seam where the pipes meet.
4. When insulating around corners or T-joints, cut slits or make miter angles where necessary, and secure these areas with duct tape.

Insulating cold-water pipes will prevent them from dripping condensation, and insulating hot-water pipes will prevent costly heat loss and save on energy bills.

What to do if a Water Supply Pipe Bursts

The worst case plumbing emergency is when a pipe inside your house bursts and you have a flood on your hands; especially if the pipe is in an upstairs location. This is one reason it’s important to know where your water shut of valve is located; when you have water flowing down your hallway is not the time you want to be looking all over the house for the shut off valve.

Shut off the water supply as quickly as you can; what else can I say? You’re definitely going to be calling a plumber next and then your insurance agent after that. Hopefully you’ll never have to face this worst case plumbing scenario.

What to do when the Toilet Backs Up

There is no more annoying plumbing emergency than a stopped up toilet; most clogged toilets are caused by too much toilet paper or trying to flush something other than toilet paper such as paper towels, sponges or toys. Avoid these and you will be far less likely to need to follow these tips for unclogging a toilet:

1. First try clearing the toilet with a plunger; often if you’re lucky that does the trick!
2. If you can’t unclog it with the plunger a closet auger with a corkscrew point may do the trick; since this tool is flexible and can be turned inside the trap, you may be able to get at whatever is blocking the flow of water and dislodge it.
3. Be sure you remove as much of the bad stuff from the bowl before using a closet auger. Yah, major yuck!
4. Don’t push the blockage down into the trap; you have to get it out or you could end up making matters even worse.
5. If the closet auger fails and your toilet has a cleanout plug, your next step is to get a bucket, remove the plug and auger the pipe, letting all the bad stuff drain into the bucket.
6. If that fails or your toilet doesn’t have a cleanout plug, unfortunately it’s probably time to call Joe the Plumber.

How to Keep Drains Draining

Another common homeowner’s plumbing challenge is the clogged drain. Typically this is an unavoidable hazard we all encounter, but you can help keep it to a minimum with a little regular preventive maintenance.

Almost all bathtub and shower drains have strainers to keep soap and hair from getting into the drain. Simply keep these strainers clean to help avoid clogging and avoid letting large chunks of soap, hair or other debris from getting into the drain in the first place.

Lavatory sinks should likewise have filtering screens to keep the traps from clogging; regularly cleaning the filters will help prevent clogged traps.

Don’t treat your kitchen sink like its garbage can; yes you can throw large pieces of organic material in there and grind them up but don’t! Remember that even though the garbage disposal will grind it all up, it still has to go through your sink trap, so if you avoid putting anything more than necessary into the garbage disposal you won’t have as much chance of a clogged trap AND your garbage disposal will last longer too.

When you use your garbage disposal, be sure to use plenty of water to flush all that ground-up material through the disposal and not let it sit in the trap, where it will harden and stick to the sides … the beginning of a clogged sink trap for sure! And don’t pour grease into your kitchen sink; you’re just begging to have Joe the Plumber make a house call if you do.

What to do when a Bathtub, Shower or Sink Won’t Drain

Unclogging drains and traps are another fun plumbing nightmare. If your first inclination is to reach for the chemicals, think again. Not only are those chemical drain cleaners harmful to the environment, they can also damage your plumbing drain pipes. Try following these tips instead to clear a blocked drain:

1. Pour a quart of boiling water mixed together with one cup of ammonia into the drain and let it sit for thirty minutes
2. Use wet rags to plug all openings so you have created a complete vacuum in the drain and trap; block the overflow holes and any other openings in the sink, including the drain in the second basin if the sink is a double-basin model.
3. Time to try the old plunger; fill the basin with about 2 to 3 inches of water. You can put a little petroleum jelly around the rim of the plunger to help get a tight seal.
4. Put the plunger over the drain and push down and up, using a forceful motion to clear the drain; you want to keep that seal while you are stroking the handle of the plunger up and down.
5. If the plunger doesn’t clear the drain, you’ll have to try dropping and cleaning the trap.
6. If the trap is clear and the drain is still clogged, time to try clearing the blockage in the drain with an auger, running it down the drain hole and maneuvering it around the bends to clear whatever is causing the blockage.
7. If the auger doesn’t work, its time to call Joe unfortunately; you may have a blockage beyond the trap and that means you need a professional plumber.

How to Unclog Sink Strainers and Stoppers

If a drain strainer in your kitchen or bathroom sink is clogged, you can usually solve the problem yourself. Follow these steps to unclog strainers:

1. If the strainer is secured with screws, remove those and set them aside.
2. Carefully pry the strainer up with the tip of a screwdriver without bending or misshaping it in the process.
3. Clean the strainer, removing any debris, hair, etc. and replace it and secure it.

If your sink drain has a stopper, you can clean it by following these steps:

1. Some sink stoppers can be removed simply by turning the stopper by hand until it comes loose.
2. Other models have a pivot rod that must be unscrewed using pliers; pad the pliers with a cloth so you don’t scratch the finish.
3. Once you have removed the stopper, give it a good cleaning and replace it. Cleaning stoppers periodically will help keep your drains flowing strong.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

As winter approaches and colder temperatures set in most plumbers see a nice increase in business; good for Joe the Plumber but not so good for Joe the Homeowner. Frozen pipes are one of the most common and costly plumbing problems many homeowners face, but here are some basic preventive steps you can take:

1. Don’t leave a garden hoses connected to an outside hose bib if you expect temperatures to drop below zero; residual water in outdoor hoses can expand and potentially break faucets.
2. Insulate outdoor faucet bibs to prevent them from freezing; look at Home Depot or Lowes for simple kits that make this a cheap, quick do-it-yourself job. Also check your outdoor faucets for leaks or drips which could lead to cracks during a freeze.
3. If you expect a cold spell with below-freezing temperatures it’s a good idea to turn off the water to your outdoor faucets and sprinkler system if your home has shut off valves inside the garage, crawl space or basement. It may be worth having these installed if you live in a colder climate and your home doesn’t already have them!
4. Consider insulating pipes in areas of your home that are not heated such as crawl spaces and the garage with heat cables controlled by a thermostat (most effective, but more costly) or heat tape (cheap but less effective).

Personally, I have the upmost respect for Joe and his plumbing brethren; plumbing repairs are never fun and, as with most crafts, they make the job seem like magic. But really a plumber can unclog any drain or pipe, install or repair pipes and plumbing fixtures with ease because he has years of experience and know how.

Major plumbing repairs and renovations are best left to the pros, but hopefully these tips will help you prevent and handle the simpler plumbing challenges that are bound to occur in any home!

There was a time when a shower faucet was nothing more than a functional piece of bathroom hardware, but no more!

Today you will find a shower faucet to fit any bathroom décor from modern to Tuscan, in finishes from shiny stainless steel to brushed nickel, handheld faucets to showerheads with fluting and other decorative design cues.

Even the function of a showerhead has changed dramatically over the last 20 years; with multiple sprays and mists, thermostatic and scald controls available in the latest high tech shower faucet innovations.

From style to function, major brands and installation tips, Rafter Tales is pleased to offer you our shower faucet buyer’s guide to help you select shower hardware that meets your budget, functional and design needs!

Luxury Showers More Popular than Bathtubs

Many people have eschewed the bathtub in favor of larger and more convenient shower installations that provide the relaxing feel of a spa in their home.

Others, who once thought an outdoor hot tub or Jacuzzi would be nice have opted for the convenience of a large jetted tub in the master bath or combined their tub and shower to convert their master bath to a home spa!

Either way, the emphasis on design and function has taken shower and bathtub fixtures a whole new level in the home.

But they’re Only Plumbing Fixtures!

True, shower and bathtub controls and faucets are only plumbing fixtures, but they can make or break your bathroom décor; updating older faucets can save water and money while also adding style and completing the look of your master bath, kid’s or guest bathroom.

While chrome can look great in a contemporary style bathroom, you may want to step up to a nickel finish to complete the look of your traditional bath with a softer, more upscale look.

Showers are possibly the most popular ways to bathe and one of the most relaxing areas of the home. The water temperature can be varied, the soap is washed away, and you feel refreshed and rejuvenated from the water as it sprays over you.

Like most things in life, we all have different preferences when it comes to water speed, temperature, and pressure. So it makes sense to carefully consider the fittings that control your shower experience. If you design the perfect soothing shower for the morning, you’ll be improving your mood for the day.

There are two main aspects to consider when choosing your shower faucet; the type of shower head you prefer (which determines how your shower feels) and the faucet fitting (which must be considered in terms of how your shower has been designed).

Shower heads, Body Sprays and Mists

These days you can choose the standard shower head or surround yourself with mists and sprays galore. Some of the types of shower heads available include:

• Wall-mount shower heads are affordable. The shower head adjusts via a ball joint where it joins the neck. Models that offer varying spray types fit the needs of most users.
• Ceiling-mount shower heads work well in areas where the ceiling is too low to accommodate a wall-mount head. Some are also quite large and produce a waterfall-like feel. Because the spray comes from overhead, it is difficult to avoid getting your hair wet when washing in this type of shower.
• Handheld showerheads clip on to a 3- to 6-foot-long hose that lets you spray the water where you want it. It’s a versatile choice that makes it easy to wash your hair, rinse off, or scrub down the shower itself.
• Sliding bar showerheads slide up and down on a bar mounted on the wall. Because the spray height is extremely easy to adjust, it’s a good option when the users vary in height.
• Body spray and body mist shower sprays are installed in vertical rows on opposite or adjacent walls, creating a crisscross water massage between knee and shoulder levels that lets you wash up quickly without getting your hair wet.



• Body spa shower panels are installed against one or more walls of the shower stall. The panels are equipped with water jets arranged vertically from knee to neck level. Similar to the jets in a whirlpool tub, the water jets pump out and circulate large quantities of water for a powerful massage.
• The fittings for the faucet you choose will depend on the space you are working within. In the shower there are four main types to choose from. A main determinant of what you can use depends on whether you have a bath/shower or simple shower because single showers tend to simply have wall-mounted fittings.

Shower Faucet Types

• Single-handle faucets have one spout and one handle that control the flow of both hot and cold water. They are generally safer and more convenient to use than their two-handled counterparts. With practice you can find the temperature you want on the first try. You can also turn the water on with your elbow or wrist when your hands are full or dirty.
• Center-set faucets combine a spout and handle(s) in one unit. These faucets have either single-handle or double-handle controls. Most are designed for a three-hole basin, with the outside holes spaced 4 inches from center to center. However, some have a single-post design that requires only one hole.
• Spread-fit faucets separate spout and handles. The connection between them is concealed below the sink deck. Installers can adapt them to fit holes spaced from 4 to 10 inches apart. You can individualize them even more if they are mounted on a countertop next to the sink. For example you can place the spout on a rear corner and the handles off to one side. These faucets are handy for tight installations that lack the room. They also are ideal for whirlpool tubs, so that the handles are accessible from outside the tub for filling. This type of faucet offers a more traditional look than single-handle faucets and you can combine different style handles and spouts for a custom look.
• Wall-mount faucets are attached to the wall as opposed to the sink or the counter. These faucets are the most common for showers that don’t double as baths.

Shower Fixture Finishes

Most faucets are manufactured of brass, plated with one of four materials; chrome, nickel, stainless steel or brass. Chrome is typically the least costly finish and you’ll find plenty to choose from, including many with an enamel finish in white or other colors.

Nickel is quite popular, with a brushed finish that gives a more muted metal finish that will not show fingerprints and water spots as much as polished chrome.

For even higher quality and a bit different look, you can go with stainless steel. Stainless fixtures may be polished smooth for a highly reflective finish or brushed for a softer look that is easier to keep looking clean.

For the ultimate in luxury and longevity, a brass finished shower faucet and showerhead will give your bathroom a true designer look; many fixtures may feature brass and stainless steel or nickel to give them an even more unique design pattern.

Shower Valves

Dedicated shower valve bodies are commonly used today; these may have a rubber disc that closes against a metal seat or a more expensive cartridge-style system with a plastic or brass cartridge instead for added longevity. The best units feature a hard ceramic disc that is almost indestructible.

Temperature Control

If you’re looking for something really cool, try one of the shower faucet units that incorporate temperature control; these models allow you to set a temperature ring, enabling the faucet to automatically adjust to that preset temperature. Of course, you and your partner may not always agree on where to leave the temperature set for your ideal showering comfort!

Scald Protection

If young kids will be using the shower, you might want to consider a unit that provides scald control; in this case you set the maximum temperature to a safe setting, above which the shower faucet will never rise.

Shower Faucet Brands

While there are literally hundreds of makes of bath and shower faucets, a few of the leading brands include:

Danze – Danze has quickly become a leading US manufacturer of bath and shower faucets, with over 1800 products available in many styles and finishes manufactured with a vertically integrated supply chain, all backed by strong customer service and a drip-free warranty.

Delta Faucet – With several brands including Delta, Brizo and Peerless, Delta Faucet Company is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of faucets, valves and hundreds of other home improvement products. Brizo is their premium brand.

Grohe – Offering a complete product line of kitchen and bathroom faucets, Grohe offers an extensive range of products including faucets, showers and faucets for every style of interior, from classic period contours to sculptural modern designs.

Kohler – Long known as a premium brand, Kohler offers a wide range of kitchen and bathroom faucets through a network of over 31,000 associates worldwide. Introducing new and innovative products with superior function and form has been a tradition at Kohler for over 100 years.

Moen – Since introducing the world to the single-handle faucet, Moen has become known throughout the industry for many innovations including a washer-less cartridge system to replaces seals and washers to ease faucet maintenance, pressure-balanced shower valves to reduce the risk of shower shock, lifetime warranties and toll-free consumer help to assist with installation and replacement questions.

 » Go Back to The Complete Bathroom Decorating Guide

Having a filter for your drinking water or showers is a good step toward ensuring proper health.

Bottled water sold in North America often isn’t filtered and may not be any cleaner or safer than tap water, according to a study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The NRDC tested more than 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of bottled water and found about one-third were contaminated with varying levels of synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and in some cases, arsenic.

However, there are many other benefits to be had from filtering all of the water that you use in your house.

One of the benefits that you get from using the best whole house water treatment system is relative to budget. When you use a filtration system for your entire home you will discover that clothes last longer.

You will also find that you require less of your household cleaners, shampoos, soaps, and laundry detergents to be effective in your cleaning. This is because the chemicals found in city water and well water contributes to fabric wear, and decreases the efficiency of the cleaning chemicals we use.

Another benefit that you get from using the best home water purifier is relative to your health, and the health of your family. Using bottled or filtered water is an important step in contributing to the water health of your household.

A good whole house water treatment systems can reduce these health concerns. The chlorine that causes chloroform gases to be released into the home will be eliminated from every faucet in your home. This puts you and your family at lower risk for various types of lung cancer and asthma.

Quality water purifying systems uses a carbon-based filter. This type of filter has been found to be the most effective in eliminating chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and triahalomethanes (THMs). This type of filter is the kind recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in residential homes.

A high quality system will also use a multi-stage filtration process. It only makes sense that the more times your water is filtered, the cleaner and healthful it will be. It also makes sense that some types of filters will be more likely to clean water of certain contaminants than others.

For this reason, a high quality water purifier system will use a combination of carbon based filters that will process the water in multiple stages. There are typically at least two, if not three stages to the water purifier filtration systems.

Water purification system options available include:

Ultraviolet (UV) systems kill microbes by exposing them to intense ultraviolet light. UV systems don’t remove contaminants, so they are normally installed with additional filters. They need constant electricity and the bulbs must be changed regularly.

Distillation systems boil water to reduce contaminants, condense the steam, and then collect water in a storage tank. Some contaminants rise with the steam, remaining in the water. Distillation systems use lots of energy, produce heat, must be cleaned regularly and work slowly, producing only a low volume of water every day.

Filter pitchers and faucet-mounted filters improve the taste and odor of drinking water. The carbon filters in these products eliminate chlorine, sediment, calcium, and some metals, but do not kill bacteria or viruses. Filter cartridges must be changed regularly. Refrigerator filters aren’t any more effective than those in pitchers and on faucets.

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are probably one of the most effective ways to protect drinking water. RO systems are generally installed under the sink and use a semi-permeable membrane to reduce contaminants. Water is forced through the membrane, removing impurities.

Reverse Osmosis is effective against dissolved salts, suspended solids, dissolved chemicals, and other invisible contaminants. The systems do not remove bacteria or viruses and work slowly.

Whole-house (or point-of-entry) systems hook up to your home’s water main so you can use filtered water for bathing, doing laundry, and washing dishes, as well as for cooking and drinking. If your tap water contains corrosive sediments, a whole-house system can protect your appliances.

Distillation, ozonation, and UV light are the most proven systems for protection against microorganisms and waterborne pathogens from drinking water. Filtration and reverse-osmosis systems are less effective.

Have your plumbing system checked to see what kind of garbage disposal unit is compatible with your sewer and other plumbing hookups. Nothing is worse than buying a unit only to find out you can’t use it!

Choose the amount of horsepower you need in your garbage disposer. Usually, in-home disposals have 1/2 – 1 horsepower.

The former is fine for a small family with moderate disposal use, while the 1-horsepower garbage disposal is designed for larger families or more trash.

Be sure the disposal has a dishwasher drain connection. This will allow food from the dishwasher to be ground up and flushed out through the disposal system.

Look for special features such as overload manual reset, corrosion protection shield, sound baffles, self-service wrenches and anti-splash baffles. Many people are concerned about noise level, and some units and noise mufflers on them.

Make sure you check local regulations regarding garbage disposals. In some areas, disposals are not allowed because the town or city sewage system can not handle the additional garbage.

If you have a septic tank, make sure it can handle the additional waste generated from a garbage disposal. The best way to do this is to have your septic tank inspected by a professional.