Kitchen Nightmares

By Billy Aldridge

We’ve all seen Chef Gordon Ramsay’s TV Show Kitchen Nightmares where he travels the highways and  byways of the USA looking to help struggling restaurants keep their doors open.  While a fan of the show myself, I want to talk to you about another kind of kitchen nightmare that I run into all too often in my line of work.  That’s the one where people try to save money when they redo their kitchen by either attempting to do the work on their own, or by hiring unqualified contractors who promise to do the work for less than a licensed and bonded professional.

During the past few years I have been called in to repair everything from leaking fixtures and crumpling cabinetry to cracked countertops and at least one hole in the floor that was caused when an ill-supported kitchen sink fell with a thud taking the PVC pipe to which it was attached and ramming it straight through the bottom of the cabinet.  I have also been regaled with stories from homeowners about work that was started and never completed, as well as the occasional tale of woe about a contractor who was paid in advance and was never heard from again.

Before you subject yourself to a lot of unnecessary grief, allow me to share with you my list of the top 5 things you need to do before you remodel your kitchen.

      1.       Remodeling is a lot like surgery.  When it comes to doing major work on your home, trying to cut 

      costs is a lot like trying to save money on having your gall bladder removed.  Would you rather have the cheapest or the best surgeon perform the operation?  That being said, just as there are some quacks in the medical field, there are also a number of slipshod contractors in the kitchen remodeling business.  Just as in an operating theater, you are going to need to work with a number of people in order to get your kitchen redo done.  These can include everyone from a designer and cabinet installer, to a tile layer, a plumber and an electrician.  Therefore you need to have a protocol that will allow you to weed out the chaff from the wheat.   So the first thing you will want to see are the contractors credentials, including such things as their license and insurance, to examples of their work and references that you can call.  You should also ask how long they have been in the business and check out any contractor online to see if complaints have been filed against them.  Just as with physicians, never hesitate to get a second opinion.

Another TV Show called This Old House offers these helpful hints on questions to ask when checking up on

This Old House (Photo credit: eschipul)

 a contractor’s references: 

1. What were the contractor's work habits? Did he show up on time and prepared to supervise the subs?
2. Did he stick to the scope of the work and cleanup plan as outlined in the contract? Were any unauthorized changes of materials or details made?
3. Did your project stay on or close to budget? Did materials arrive on time? Did he keep you up to date on his progress or potential delays?
4. Did anything go wrong? And if so, how — and how quickly — was the crisis resolved?

      2.       You only get what you pay for.  At least that’s how the story goes.  Before you start cutting checks you need to establish what your budget is going to allow and you need to find people willing to work within your budget.  This is also another way to determine whether you are working with contractors who have your best interests at heart.   Any contractor who starts a conversation by trying to upsell you is probably not the right one for the job.  Just bear in mind that remodeling the kitchen even at its most economical is going to set you back some folding green.  It can cost you as much as buying a new car.  In an excerpt from a blog by Consumer Reports entitled , “10 cost-saving tips to a great kitchen,”

“Get ready for sticker shock: Even a minor kitchen remodel now costs more than $19,000, on 

average, according to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value report. The average for a midrange major remodel comes in at more than $57,000, while an upscale redo with all the trimmings costs a whopping $110,938. Those are rich figures by anyone’s reckoning. But you can pay far less and still get the kitchen of your dreams. You simply have to know how and where to cut.” 

      3.       The Internet is your friend.  Speaking of the web, one sure way to save money is by taking your search for cost savings online.  On the web you can comparison shop for appliances, including prices and reviews, download handy apps (such as those profiled on http://kitchen-design-software-review.toptenreviews.com/), as well as perusing helpful articles, blogs and videos from those who have been there and done that.

      4.       They’re here!!! Once you bite the bullet and get on with the show, you need to prepare yourself to work around and with the crew hired to do the deed.   This first means you need to get out of the way so they can get on with it.  Hovering like a hawk is one of the best ways to slow down a process that is going to take more time than you might think to complete. 

Three R's of Keeping the Crew Happy (Also from This Old House)
1. Refreshments: You don't have to cater three squares a day, but at least offer a thermos of coffee or a cooler with soft drinks. They'll appreciate it.
2. Responsibility: The crew can't work efficiently if you're in the way. Ask questions, but don't overwhelm them with chatter. And teach kids and pets the meaning of KEEP OUT. 
3. Respect: Say good morning, good night, and good job when appropriate. And, please: Don't ask if they've met any desperate housewives lately. The appliances can be top-of-the-line, the finishes the most expensive around, but if the space doesn't work, it's money down the brand-new In-Sink-Erator.

       5.       Who you gonna call?  One of the other things you need to ask from every contractor you hire is whom should you call if a problem does crop up or a crew fails to arrive.  Most of the time the smiling person that hands you the contract is not going to be the person that performs the work.  Hopefully the company has a well-oiled customer service person tasked with handling any issue that arises from a crew in the field.  The last thing you want to do is call with a problem only to get shuttled directly to voicemail.  Then the wait begins. 

Investing in a kitchen redo is not only a way to add value to your home but it is also something that you and your family will be able to enjoy for years to come.     It is also one of the most complicated and potentially perilous undertakings in which you are likely to engage.  So before you wind up buying into a kitchen nightmare of your own take the time to plan the work and find people who are committed to working the plan to its timely completion.

Billy Aldridge is one of the Doctors of Plumbology at Aldridge and Sons Plumbing in Jacksonville, Florida.  See more of Billy’s helpful how-to videos at http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com

How Smart are Smart Homes?

By Billy Aldridge

Like it or not, the computer has invaded everything from your office to your car.  Now it has designs on your home.  While many praise the coming era of smart appliances, I for one am not so certain that this is going to be such a blessing.  Granted, saving resources including power and water is essential to the future of humanity.  And the quickest way to accomplish greater efficiency is to make dumb appliances smarter.  In fact there are now examples of “Smart Homes” being designed and built that are touted as the best thing since sliced bread.  These structures can do everything from turn off the lights in rooms where nobody is present to learning about your habits in order to save resources.  These houses can even be remotely accessed via your smartphone so you can keep an eye on things when you are away.

Sounds good, doesn’t it?  And some of the innovations offered by the first wave of smart appliances is interesting to say the least.

Smart Fridge

For instance, Samsung’s T9000 Smart Fridge sports everything from a “Grocery Manager” that helps you keep track of what’s in your fridge to recipes and coupons that can be accessed via the fridge’s built-in 10 inch tablet that comes preloaded with apps.  The apps let you do everything from setting termination dates on the food in your fridge to drag and drop shopping items.  You can even tell the fridge what items you have inside and then let it surf Epicurious to find a recipe that can be cooked using these items.

Smart Thermostat

There are actually several smart thermostats to choose from, including those made by Nest, Ecobee, Rheem and Honeywell.  What these devices are designed to do much more than simply regulate your home’s temperature.  To quote Ecobee:

“Unlike all other programmable thermostats, ecobee thermostats have built-in DataRhythm Technology that uses a complex set of data points including your HVAC equipment type and historical run-times, weather, and the ongoing energy performance of your home to make intelligent, unique and personalized heating and cooling decisions for you - resulting in more energy and cost savings! Now that’s smart.”

Of course being wifi enabled also means that there is a potential for these and other wifi devices to get hacked.  In a blog on Atlantic Monthly, writer Christopher Mims points out some of the vulnerabilities inherent in online capable devices:

“As with the internet itself, we will in time become ever more reliant on the internet of things. Baby and pet monitors, home automation systems and even our cars will send us information in ways that will make our lives easier but also encourage our dependence on these systems. In this way, hackers do not even need to figure out how to harm us or damage our connected devices to cause mayhem: They simply need to send us false readings from the sensor systems we're using.

This could allow hackers to set up scenarios in which users would be the agents of their own undoing. For example, a smart thermostat set to keep a house at a certain temperature for pets while an owner is away could send false readings to the user, encouraging them to send instructions to it remotely, perhaps to make the house warmer, without realizing that the home's heating system is already at full blast.” 

Other web-enabled devices such as home surveillance systems and nannycams can be turned against thei

r users by wily hackers who are all too eager to seize the opportunity to eavesdrop on families who employ these devices.  These kinds of surveillance systems also provide an opportunity for technically savvy burglars to not only case a home or business from a distance, but they could also be used to conceal the perfect crime by showing the owner a still frame or video loop as the burglary was taking place. 

Smart Oven

Like the smart fridge, Dacor’s Android-powered oven which debuted at this year’s Home Electronics Show is internet-enabled and designed to provide cooking assistance to novice chefs.  By keying the weight of a round roast into the unit’s built-in 7-inch LCD screen the oven will set the temperature and cooking time for you. 

There’s an App for That

Whirpool’s 6^th Sense Live app lets you control your kitchen via your smartphone.  It can do everything from

 set your smart fridge’s temperature to run your smart dishwasher remotely.  Speaking of apps, the same

 company that makes LG smartphones has introduced several new smart appliances this year at CES, including a smart washing machine, a refrigerator, an oven and even a robotic vacuum cleaner, all of which are capable of being controlled by an Android device.

While energy efficiency is a worthwhile benefit, whether the high cost of remotely controlled appliances added to the risk of being hacked will prove worthwhile to the average consumer is anybody’s guess.  Time alone will answer the ultimate question of how smart are smart houses?

As a plumber Billy Aldridge has remodeled many a kitchen.  He is one of the doctors of Plumbology at Aldridge and Sons plumbers in Jacksonville, FL.  For more helpful hints and how-to videos, go to http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com

More Plumbing Tech: Will You Soon Be Able to Print Plumbing?

By Billy Aldridge

I know in the past we have discussed how high tech has been steadily making its way into the bathroom with

English: Image of HCC MakerBot Cupcake CNC printing of spikey gear and raft in the MakerBot 3D printer. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 everything from singing shower heads to computerized commodes.  Well now it seems that the next wave in 

3D printers may soon make it possible to print everything from knickknacks and plumbing fixtures to an entire room.  While 3D printers have been a staple of the aerospace and automotive industry for years, they cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase.  This puts them out of the reach of mere mortals.  However, the past couple of years have seen the costs of these machines drop into the one to two thousand dollar range and even less as the technology begins to become popular with hobbyists and small manufacturers.  There are even several startup companies that offer tabletop models for $500 or less.  Even the shipping giant UPS has gotten into the game (at least in southern California) by offering 3D printing at their stores.

An article on slate.com states that, “Trialing first in the San Diego area, with plans to soon expand to other states, UPS stores will allow customers the opportunity to upload their designs online, have them printed on the Stratasys uPrint SE Plus printer, and then offer pick-up or have the results delivered to the client. UPS says it will be able to produce “items like engineering parts, functional prototypes, acting props, architectural models, fixtures for cameras, lights and cables.” l

As this technology becomes cheaper, popularity is surely bound to grow by leaps and bounds, especially when consumers realize how quickly the units can pay for themselves.  In fact a study just released by Michigan Technological University claims that the average homeowner could save up to two thousand dollars per year by owning one of the units.  This means that it would take less than half a year for a 3-D printer to pay for itself.  Try getting your plasma TV to do that.

Of course, as with any new technology there is always a learning curve.  Fortunately the industry has already taken this into consideration.  Just as with smartphones, there are a number of online programming resources that offer 3-D printer designs on the cheap.  That’s right, there’s an app for that.    

As far as what these babies are capable of producing, that is dependent upon the size and scope of the 

Sintermask - fabbster - 3D-printer v11 (Photo credit: Creative Tools)

machine.  Just as with early inkjet printers, the higher the resolution, the higher the price. Even the “toner” used in 3-D printers can vary. Some of the materials currently used in 3-D printers include ABS plastic, PLA, nylon, glass filled polyamide, epoxy resin, wax, polymers and polycarbonate.  The biggest drawbacks to consumer models are processing time (it can take hours or days to print a 3D model), resolution (hobbyist models sometimes produce finished products that sport somewhat jagged edges) and size constraints (consumer models can only produce items that are only about 12” across or less).  Of course as the technology continues to improve the bugs will be worked out, the bells and whistles will become more refined and the units will decrease in cost.  Anyone remember dot-matrix printers? (For more info and videos goto  http://www.3ders.org/3d-printing-basics.html)

Some of the commercial units are built on an industrial scale, including one in Oakland, California that can construct entire walls.  Below is an excerpt from an article on TechHive.com:

“Emerging Objects co-founder Ronald Rael explained to TechHive. “We saw a limitation in what a machine can make because of the medium, and so we wondered if we could reformulate that media to suit our own architectural agendas to print big.” 

The company's latest star project is an impressive curved wall that stands about three feet tall. It’s constructed out of centimeter-thin 3D-printed salt tiles that get their strength from their multi-angular structure: The thinner tiles will allow Emerging Objects to produce many more parts in a short amount of time than it otherwise could. The wall you see is just a representation of what Emerging Objects can build in a week with a couple of machines. Still in the midst of construction, the planned salt wall will be three times taller when it’s finally complete.”  

There is even talk of using 3D printers to create entire homes, as well as build structures in space.  So take it 

3D printer (Photo credit: Indiana Public Media)

from me that it won’t be long before consumers can skip the ride to the big box store when they need plumbing fixtures and other household items.  Of course how long it will be until they can print the plumber to actually install the fixture is anybody’s guess.  But I for one would never bet against technology. 

Billy Aldridge is one of the Doctors of Plumbology at Aldridge and Sons Plumbing in Jacksonville, Florida.  For even more helpful hints and how-to videos, visit their site at http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com

The Plumbing Detective - Part 2

By Billy Aldridge

In our last episode of the Plumbing detective I told you how to find and fix hidden leaks that commonly occur in the bathroom.  Today I am here to show you the ins and outs of detecting leaks that occur outside of or under your home. 

Has your water bill suddenly gone sky high for no rhyme or reason? Ever notice a persistent wet spot in the yard or adjacent to your home’s foundation?  Or, have you lately begun to hear a subtle hissing noise that you can’t quite put your finger on?  Either of these clues is trying to point the finger at a water bandit that if left undetected could potentially cost you thousands of dollars to repair.

If your suspicions have been aroused by any of the above, run do not walk to the nearest phone and call your friendly neighborhood plumber.  We are experts when it comes to running down a hidden leak in swimming pools and water supply lines, beneath concrete slabs and inside sewer pipes.  If the leak is subtle it could take a bit of technology to track down the culprit.  If it is more pronounced you should first find and close the water shutoff valve to the house. (see video below)

What you don’t want to do is start tearing up the pool deck or begin digging up your front yard looking for a hidden leak.  That can not only cause you to anger your neighbors, but it could also cause more harm than good.  In order to find hidden leaks, plumbing professionals use a host of modern equipment including fiber optic scopes, electromagnetic pipeline locators and other devices that are designed to be able to detect leaks non-destructively.  Once located, it may be a matter of simply pulling up a floor tile or two or open up a slab at the precise location of the leak in order to repair a pipe.  Either way, a professional is going to be able to find and repair a hidden leak much faster and with minimal disruption to property.  Some of the equipment that can be employed to detect hidden leaks is listed below.

·         Electromagnetic Line Locators operate by locating either a background signal or by locating a signal introduced into the utility line using a transmitter.  EM utility locators are used for tracing metallic pipes and utility cables and clearing drilling and excavation locations. These utility locators consist of a separate transmitter and receiver. The transmitter emits a radio frequency EM field that induces secondary fields in nearby metallic pipes and cables. The receiver detects these fields and accurately locates and traces the pipes, often to distances over 200 feet from the transmitter. Modern utility locators are also capable of providing approximate depth estimates of the pipes and sweeping areas for 60 Hz signal emanating from electrical lines. /

     

          

      The Gen-Ear is a simplified, more economical tool with stronger sound amplification than other systems. Use it to pinpoint water leaks in residential and commercial water lines, whether they are under concrete slabs, in walls, swimming pools and hot tubs. The compact amplifier fits easily in the palm of your hand. It provides noise-free amplification with built-in preset audio filters, so you don’t have guess what settings to use. And the high performance headphones with noise cancellation features block out interference from surrounding ambient noise. The ground sensor listens for the gurgling or hammering of water escaping from a cracked pipe under concrete, asphalt, or tile. For soft surfaces like grass or carpet, use the probe rods. Or, for above ground pipes or hydrants, you can use both the probe rods or the magnet attachment. For especially hard to find leaks, the Sound Amplification Module adds air to the line, increasing water pressure. This amplifies the leak sounds, making them easier to locate. 

·         Inspect impossible to reach places with the ProVision Fiberoptic scope—the ultimate hand tool for diagnosis and exploration. The flexible cable fits in openings as small as 1/2-inch in diameter allowing you to look behind walls, down into drains, inside engines, or hundreds of other inaccessible places without costly demolition or disassembly. Adjustable focus, omni-directional cable bends in every direction and the light switch is pressure activated making the PV100 functional and simple to operate. Sealed lens and cable are submersible making them perfect for plumbing applications. 18-inch flexible cable affords great range while the powerful lamp illuminates dark crevices.

      Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical

      method that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. This nondestructive method uses electromagnetic radiation in the microwave band of the radio spectrum, and detects the reflected signals from subsurface structures. GPR can be used in a variety of media, including rock, soil, ice, fresh water, pavements and structures. It can detect objects, changes in material, 

      and voids and cracks. GPR uses high-frequency radio waves and transmits into the ground. When the wave 

      hits a buried object or a boundary with different dielectric constants, the receiving antenna records variations in the reflected return signal. The principles involved are similar to reflection seismology, except that electromagnetic energy is used instead of acoustic energy, and reflections appear at boundaries with different dielectric constants instead of acoustic impedances. The depth range of GPR is limited by the electrical conductivity of the ground, the transmitted center frequency and the radiated power.

The old adage “out of sight, out of mind,” can come back to haunt homeowners from time to time, since the majority of their wiring and plumbing is located inside walls, as well as under lawns, foundations and driveways.  Once sprung, a leak typically starts slow and then gains in momentum until it makes its presence known, sometimes in a dramatic fashion.  It is not uncommon for a plumber to be summoned to a home only to find water shooting several stories into the air from the front yard.  When this happens it’s time to bring in the backhoe and start digging.  For those who heed the warnings a bit sooner, other less expensive options can many times be employed. 

Think that leaks are a small problem?  According to recent studies as much as thirteen percent of all the water used in this country is lost in leakage.  That equates to hundreds of billions of gallons lost each and every year in the USA.  While costly this doesn’t take into consideration the collateral damage caused in terms of water damage and erosion caused by leaks. It also isn’t uncommon for leaks to cause mold inside walls and under floors that are not only expensive to eradicate but can also be a health hazard.

So if you suspect that you have a hidden leak, don’t wait until it causes untold damage to your home.  Call out your friendly neighborhood plumbing detective and stop water bandits in their tracks.

Billy Aldridge is one of the Doctors of Plumbology at Aldridge and Sons Plumbing in Jacksonville, Florida.  For more helpful plumbing tips and how-to videos, go to http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com

The Plumbing Detective

By Billy Aldridge

Being a homeowner means sometimes having to make like a gumshoe, especially when it comes to hidden leaks.  Most leaks around the home are relatively easy to find.  Look for a wet spot or discoloration or listen carefully for a persistent drip, drip, drip behind a wall until the leak is located.  Other leaks, particularly those associated with shower enclosures can be particularly difficult to localize.  That’s when you need to call in the Plumbing Detective. 

Shower Power

Showers can be one of the worst offenders when it comes to leaks.  This is due to the fact that there are so 

many places from which a shower can spring a leak. Everything from the door, to the drain to the tile backsplash can develop nearly imperceptible leaks that can cause real damage behind the wall or to the subfloor.  If left unchecked this can also be a chief source of mold in the home. 

Signs of a leak can include such things as loose tiles, peeling paint, obvious signs of mold and any standing water on the floor after using the shower.  Once it seems that water is making its way beyond the shower enclosure, then it’s time to start doing a little detective work.  If the source of the leak appears to be emanating from the periphery of the enclosure and you see standing water on the floor every time the shower is used, then the likely culprit is the shower door or frame. 

Round Up the Usual Suspects

Sealing this kind of leak is one of the simplest fixes since all you need is a tube of caulk.  The hard part is localizing the leak itself.  To do that, splash a little water around the door and frame.  If you don’t see water oozing out the other side, wait a minute or two.  Water has a way of working its way through the tiniest or gaps.  But sometimes it takes a little time to do the deed.  Another source of door leaks can be a faulty gasket.  If the door has a rubber gasket or door sweep check these for cracks or gaps.  Once you determine the cause of the leak, simply replace any worn gaskets and/or cracked caulk and then test for water intrusion a second time just to make sure you haven’t missed anything.  Sometimes the shower could have multiple leaks, particularly if it is more than ten years old.

Down the Drain

Drain leaks can be even more insidious to detect, simply because the source of the leak is ought of sight and mind.  .  Even in prefabricated plastic or fiberglass shower stalls this kind of leak is not at all uncommon.  However, these leaks can be quite costly to repair if left unchecked.  It is not unusual to have to tear out a shower enclosure and replace the subflooring in homes where these leaks have been left to their own devices for months or years.  If the bathroom in question is on the first floor which happens to be on a concrete slab, it isn’t unusual for the leak to create water intrusion in adjoining rooms, all of which will need to be repaired once the leak is found and sealed.  If the bathroom in question is on the second floor, the ceiling on the room below may also need to be ripped out and replaced.  So any way you slice it, water won’t be the only thing going down the drain if your home has one of these leaks.

Detecting these leaks can be kind of tricky, since it isn’t always possible to see beneath the stall.  If the shower has an access panel, sometimes it is possible to see beneath the shower, or at least snake a fiber optic viewing scope beneath the drain. If it is impossible to see beneath the shower stall then the second way to detect if you have a drain leak is to plug the drain and then add just enough water to form a puddle around the drain.  Delineate the boundary of the puddle by placing a tube of toothpaste at the edge of the puddle.  Then walk away for five minutes or so and return to see if the water is still touching the tube.  If it is not then you have a leaky drain.  (Make sure the plug is fully engaged so that it doesn’t leak before you attempt this test.)

Replacing a leaking drain isn’t all that difficult.  To remove the existing drain, simply unscrew the flange that is located above the drain.  Remove and clean the flange.  Then set this aside.   Next, remove the drain and gasket and take the flange to any hardware store, plumbing supply house  or big box home center .  While your there, pick up a tube of silicone caulk.  You will want to apply a bead of this below the flange when you reassemble the drain.  Then it’s just a screwdriver job.

The Trouble with Tile

Last but not least on our rap sheet of leak perpetrators is tile, or more likely the caulk surrounding the tile.  If your bathroom has tile and the tile is anywhere in, on or under the tub, then it can and will deteriorate over time causing unwanted water intrusion.  Whether it is the thin-set holdiog the tile to the wall or the grout between the tiles, these need to be checked and sealed every now and then.   Loose tiles are a dead giveaway that you need to remove the tile and re-grout.  If a number of tiles are loose in any given area, or if the wall feels spongy to the touch beneath any removed tile, then it is time to replace the backer board before replacing any loose tiles.

While leaks are problematic, they don’t need to be catastrophic, provided that you catch them early and correct the situation.  Leave them to their own devices and these fleeing felons can cost you and your family much more than correcting a simple leak.  So don’t let these little leaks rob you blind.

Billy Aldridge is one of the Doctors of Plumbology at Aldridge and Sons Plumbing in Jacksonville, Florida.  For even more helpful plimbing tips and DIY videos, go to http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com