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

Time for Those Summertime Honey Dos

By Billy Aldridge

The heat is on in North Florida in July and August.  We’re talking flame broil here, with temperatures in the nineties most days.  That means that most of us guys are busy crowding the golf course at first light or lighting out before sunrise with rod and reel in hand.  Anything to avoid the heat of the day.  Of course on weekends this means spending way too much time indoors with nothing for your significant other to look at but you.  And you know what that inevitably leads to: The dreaded honey dos.  So to help you keep the peace at home during the dog days of summer, I have pulled together some simple plumbing DIY projects that can not only save you money, but also keep you off the wife’s radar.  You’ll thank me later.

      1.      Exercising Your Cutoff Valves – There are actually two types of cutoff valves in your home.  The first is the cutoff for the entire house and the second are the valves behind every sink, toilet, washing machine and dishwasher, as well as the ones atop the water heater.  The ones inside the home need to be exercised from time to time to keep them from jamming when you need them.  It’s a good idea to turn them on and off every couple of months to keep them in proper working order.  To do this you need to support the valve with one hand while turning the cutoff off and then back on.  If the valve is hard to turn or will not turn at all, do not attempt to use brute force, since this can break off the valve.  Simply grab a can of WD-40 or some other lubricant and give the valve a spritz.  Then wait for at least thirty minutes before trying to turn the valve once more.  If it still stubbornly refuses to budge you can have someone support the valve with their hand while you gently apply a wrench to try and free it. (And I stress gently.)  If that fails to do the trick you will need to have the valve replaced by a plumber.

      2.      Is your toilet a water hog? Utility bills being what they are, the last thing you want to do is donate any more of your hard earned money to the utility company. Since the toilet can be one of the thirstiest water hogs in the house, you need to be aware of the fact that if the system has a leak or the flapper is old and out of shape, then you are wasting water and with it your money.  There are two ways of detecting for leaks: by sight and by sound.  The way to see if your toilet is not sealing properly is to grab some food coloring from the kitchen and put a few drops into the toilet.  Do not flush it, rather walk away for ten minutes or so and then return to see if the water is clear.  If it is still tinted, then you don’t have a leak.  The other way is to flush the toilet, let it refill and then stand there for a few minutes to hear whether the water runs intermittently, indicating a poorly seated flapper.  Changing a toilet flapper is one of the simplest DIYs in the plumbing trade.  Below is a video designed to take you step-by-step through the entire process.

      3.      The Thing in the bathtub – It’s big, it’s hairy and it lives in your bathtub drain.  It likes nothing better than to hunker down and slow the water attempting to flow down the drain to a crawl. It will stop the flow altogether given half a chance.  While this bathroom menace might be gross, it’s also fairly easy to tame.  Due to the architecture of the standard bathroom drain, it has a propensity to gather and trap hair and soap into a ball that slowly but surely impedes the flow of water.  If you have noticed lately that it seems to take forever for the tub to empty after a bath or shower do not panic.  Most likely the trap just needs to be cleaned.

To accomplish this you will need a pair of needle nose pliers.  Start by removing the drain cover.  (See the video below for more details.) Once you have used the pliers to unscrew the cover, turn it over and clean it since it tends to be a collection point for gunk.  Then lay it to one side.  Next you should use the needle nose pliers to reach down the drain to fish out the hairball that has been causing the clog.  Throw the hairball away and with the cover removed, run the water to make sure that the drain is now clear.  Reassemble and go have a beer, you’ve earned it big guy.

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

Is Your Toilet Getting You In Hot Water?

Four-inch cast-iron plumbing pipes (and at lower left center the three-inch down-pipe from a toilet) in the basement ceiling of a Seattle home. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Billy Aldridge

A number of years ago I lived in a house built in the 1950’s.  While there is a certain amount of charm to 

older structures, the one thing that was less than charming was the plumbing, which had not been upgraded since it was originally installed back in 1954.  So there were a number of things that needed to be dealt with in order to bring the plumbing in the house up to snuff.  The first thing was the toilet, which wasted water with every flush.  Back in the 50’s it was common for toilets to use as much as 7 gallons per flush.  By 2001 when I bought the house, the norm on water usage had been halved.  So the first thing I did was replace the toilet.

However, the toilet in this particular house did something else that quickly got on our nerves.  Every time someone was in the shower, a toilet flush was usually accompanied by a scream as the water temperature in the shower rocketed upward along with the shower’s occupant as the cold water was usurped by the commode.   While newer homes come equipped with a thermostatic mixing valve that prevents this from happening, many older homes can still deliver a jolt to anyone taking a shower whenever a toilet is flushed.

The reason for this is due to the fact that household plumbing is based on the trunk and branch system where a large bore pipe runs the length of the home and smaller pipes branch off to the various rooms, such as the bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room and garage.  Since the system relies on supply and demand, whenever a tap is opened, a toilet is flushed, the dishwasher or the washing machine is running, this effects the amount of water available to the remainder of the system.  

If the water coming out of the shower and taps fluctuates wildly whenever the toilet is flushed, the solution is to either:

      1.      Installa Thermostatic Mixing Valve – If you are a capable DIYer who has experience at soldering and is not averse to complying with local building codes, the steps necessary to install one can be gleaned by going to eHow.com .  Thermostatic Mixing Valves attach to both the cold and hot water lines in order to keep water temperature coming out of the tap at safe levels.   Since water temperatures of 120 degrees or more can cause scalding, these valves are one way to maintain safe temperatures at the tap.  

Toilet water shutoff valve, used to cut off the flow of water into the tank when repairs/maintenance need to be conducted. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

      2.      If the toilet is the chief culprit, the other way to deal with the problem is to simply close the supply valve 

      partially.  This will mean that the toilet fills more slowly, but it could also keep anyone in the shower from getting scalded when the toilet is flushed.  To tighten the valve, you will need to support the supply line that comes out of the wall with one hand while tightening the shutoff valve ever so carefully with the other.  The last thing you want to do is break off the shutoff valve and cause a flood.  Warning: If your home is more than 20 years old, it is quite possible that the shutoff valves will be locked tight.  If this is the case, you can attempt to replace the valve yourself as demonstrated at FamilyHandyman.com.  

   

      The other option is to call a licensed and bonded plumbing professional.  While it will cost you a few dollars to hire a pro, you can rest assured that the job will get done right the first time, which will not only save you money on your utility bill, but it will most definitely keep you out of hot water.

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

Springtime Means Time for Spring Cleaning

By Billy Aldridge

They say that April showers bring May flowers.  But what they don’t tell you is that they also bring with them clogged drains, corroded hose bibs and backed up toilets that if left unchecked can cause a lot of damage to your home.  So springtime is a good time to do some preventive maintenance on your plumbing, before the summer heat takes its toll.  Below are five items that you should attend to in May.

   1.      Is Your Toilet a Water Hog? – Utility bills being what they are, the last thing you want to do is pay for wasted water.  The toilet uses a significant amount of water when it is working properly.  When it leaks it can be a real water hog.  There are two ways to check for leaks in the toiled: by sight and sound.  The first is to add six drops of food coloring to the tank.  Don’t flush, just walk away for five or ten minutes and then return to see if the water in the bowl is clear or colored.  If it is tinted, then you have a leak.  The other way is to flush the toilet, let it fill and then listen for a minute or two to hear if the water continues to run intermittently, which happens if the flapper valve is not working properly. (Check out the video below to see how to correct this issue.)

   2.     The Heat is On – Due to minerals in the water, the water heater has a tendency to lose efficiency over time.  To help alleviate this problem, it’s a good idea to drain your water heater once a year.  To do this all you need is to connect your garden hose to the drain knob (which acts like a spigot).  Next, turn the power to the heater off.  (If you have a gas heater you may need to seek professional assistance, unless you are completely comfortable reigniting the pilot light.) Once you have led the opposite end of the hose outside, turn off the water inlet to the tank so that it won’t fill and then open the knob that drains the tank. (If the water refuses to drain, turn the water back on in order to blow the sediment out.) Once the tank drains completely, turn the water back on for thirty seconds or so to allow the flow of water the opportunity to knock off some of the deposits that have built up inside the tank.  Then close the drain, disconnect the hose and turn the water on to let the tank fill back up. (Note: if an air lock should occur during the process, simply open the hot side of the faucet to allow the system to breath.)

   3.      Don’t Get Hosed  – Even though we don’t have much in the way of winter frost in North Florida, that   

IMG_2525 (Photo credit: UGA College of Ag)

doesn’t mean that your outdoor spigots don’t take a beating from the elements.  Before you waste any water during the long hot summer, you need to check the hose bibs for cracks, corrosion and leaks.  If you find that the tap is difficult to turn or that you detect a leak at the hose bib when you attach a hose, this is the time to perform maintenance, as opposed to  the middle of July when the thermometer hovers at ninety five degrees.

   4.      Down the Drain – Springtime is also quick time for root growth.  Roots have a tendency to make a beeline for water and as a result can clog drains and sewer lines.  Any crack or crevice that provides ingress will allow roots to grow inside your sewer lines.  This will slow and can eventually stop the flow of water to the sewer.  If you notice standing water near sewer drains, call your local plumber to inspect the line before the flow stops and water manages to backup into your home.

   5.      Keep Your Mind Out of the Gutter – Gutters and downspouts also need to be checked and if necessary flushed out to prevent water from backing up.  This can result in everything from ceiling leaks to mold. 

By performing periodic preventative maintenance on your plumbing system you will mitigate more serious problems, prevent damage to your home and save yourself time and money.  Ignore these items and the first gulley washer of the summer might leave you hot and bothered as you reach for the phone to call your local plumber. 

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