Toilets, The Good, The Bad , The Ugly.

Toilets, the good, the bad, the ugly.  Years ago, there was a television commercial about tires.  A man named Stanley, would yell out, tires ain’t pretty, to get you to come to his tire store to buy tires.  Some toilets aren’t pretty either.  Toilets are a necessity, but why can’t they be modern looking and flush well too?

I was vacationing with my wife this summer and since toilets are a necessity, we were using the ones in the house we had rented.  Wow, these toilets were not pretty, nor did they flush well.  Not to mention they were water hogs.  Being a Plumbing Contractor in the Sarasota/ Bradenton area, I see a large variety of toilets.  As I flushed the toilets in this house, I first noticed that the handle squeaked when I pushed it.  Second, the toilet sounded like a dying man sucking air for his last breath.  Then it just kinda swirled around and around using a bunch of water.  I had to stand there and wonder if I was going to have to mop up water, if and when, this toilet overflowed.  Also, it was a round front bowl toilet.  For men, the elongated bowl of a toilet is a much better solution.  Also with comfort height toilets readily available, these toilets seemed and were very antiquated. As my wife mentioned to me, they were ugly too.  That made me think of the tire salesman from years ago on television.

Are you thinking, hey he’s describing my toilet?  If so, you should call Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air.  We will talk toilets to you.  As a professional Plumbing Contractor we know the difference  between the good, the bad and the ugly.  Toilets don’t last forever.  Find out how to save money every time you flush your toilet.  Let us help you bring your bathroom up to the 21st century.

Toilets can be pretty, modern looking, flush well and save you money.  Call 941-322-1911 and let us help you pick out the toilet that is right for you!  Or schedule on line at www.Loveyourplumber.com for an estimate.

Home Inspection By a Plumber.

Don’t let your dream home you want to buy, become an unexpected money pit. Let Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air in Sarasota, give you a free evaluation of the plumbing system. Here is an example of a house we inspected for our client in Bradenton last week.

Summary of findings:

Upon inspection, we found original plumbing waste and water lines through-out the entire three bathroom house.  The home was built in 1957.  This makes all of the plumbing 58 years old.  The waste and vent lines are cast iron pipe and the water lines are copper.  Both of which have exceeded their life span.

None of the plumbing fixtures have been updated, except for the lavatory valves and water heater.

We attempted to run a sewer camera down the 3” cast iron stack to view the condition of the waste lines.  The cast iron was so full of sludge, rust, scale and corrosion that the camera would not go through it.

The water pressure is slightly restricted, when opening more than one faucet at a time.  This may be due to a corroded main water line from the meter to the house, which would need to be replaced.

We saw evidence of at least one repair of a pin hole leak on the copper line at the water heater.  The water heater needs to have a pan drain installed to the outside as per code.

We highly recommend all new pvc waste, vent and sewer lines for the entire house, due to age.
Also, the copper water lines need to be replaced through-out, due to age.
All plumbing fixtures and valves need replaced, due to age.

The approximate cost to install new plumbing is approximately $30,000.00, plus owners choice of fixtures and valves.

If you are not prepared for this type of expense before you buy, this type of plumbing expense can be quite a burden and put a huge damper on the joy of owning a home.  We want you to love your new home and Love Your Plumber!  Let Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air help make the right decision for you.

Camera the waste lines before you buy!

Call 941-322-1911 or schedule online at www.Loveyourplumber.com.

Sewer Line Stoppage, Do I Need To Replace the Sewer Line?

Sewer line stoppages are not supposed to occur if everything is working properly.  Do you need to replace the sewer line?  This is where getting an honest, professional Plumber in Sarasota, can save you money.

So many different variables can take place that will cause your sewer line to back up.  Different types of pipe material over the years, that back when they were installed was the best thing ever and people thought that they would never fail.  We now know that with the test of time and different environments that the pipe is in, makes a huge difference concerning the life span of different pipe.

Today, with the sewer cameras Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air uses, we can not only tell you why your sewer line stopped up, but also show you where you are having sewer line blockages.  Because Wimpy’s is one of the most honest Plumbers in Sarasota, we can then give you several options on how to make sure a stoppage won’t happen again.

Your options could be to snake out the line to clear the blockage with different size sewer cables and a variety of sewer cleaning heads that we have, or you could have the line hydro-jetted with our Mongoose Hydro-jetter or dig up the old line and put in new pipe.

If you are having stoppages in Sarasota, you should call Wimpy’s.  We have all of the technology, state of the art equipment and all the different types of digging equipment from tiny excavators to large backhoes and Bobcats. We even still have and still use shovels.

Your stoppage could be very minor and you can trust us to tell you that.  Ask your neighbor if they love their Plumber.  Chances are they have used us and will tell you yes, they love their Plumber.  Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air.  941-322-1911 or schedule on line, www.Loveyourplumber.com.  A family Plumbing business, established 1973 in Sarasota, Fl.  That’s over 42 years of treating people like we want to be treated.  Call us today for an estimate.

Well Water, No Water, Wimpy’s Does Well Water Work.

Well water, no water, Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air in Sarasota works on getting your well water back on.  If you are on a well, chances are you have woken up or went to bed with no water.  So many things can happen to a well system that can cause the, I have no water service call.  Sometimes we can walk you through the problem over the phone.  Other times, you might need a professional Plumber from Sarasota to repair your well or pump problem.

Wimpy’s Plumbing, stocks their trucks with everything you might need to get your water back on.  We can also answer all of your questions on how to make sure that your water stays on.  Sometimes it is a minor issue.  You can depend on us and trust that we have your best interest at heart.

Wells, above ground pumps, submersible pumps, areators, softner systems, pressure switches, pressure gauges are all things that need maintenance.  A little bit of care and cleaning can prevent system failures.    No one likes it when they have no water.  If you have animals or livestock, the situation of no water is affecting them also.  Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air realizes the severity of this and will come to your rescue.

If you find yourself with no water in the Sarasota area, call the Plumber who truly cares and is dependable. Call Wimpy’s.  After all, Dependable is our middle name.  941-322-1911, or schedule on line at Loveyourplumber.com.

Water Heater Leak or AC Leak, How do You Know?

Sometimes we will get a call from a customer and they tell us that their water heater is leaking. So we come prepared to change out the leaking water heater.  Upon arrival and a close inspection we find that it is not the water heater leaking, but the AC condensate line from the air conditioner that is sitting above the water heater and requiring AC repair in Sarasota – not water heater repair!

This is one of the reasons why you want an honest, professional Sarasota plumber that can properly diagnosis your water leak. It is better to use a company with people that care about fixing your problem and taking the necessary time to make sure that they are taking care of the issue that is causing your Sarasota water leak or plumbing problem.

To some folks, keeping things in working order is just a way of life to them. Others don’t understand the benefits and cost savings of proper care for their home. And when something doesn’t work, they find out it could of been prevented with a little care. Your home and everything in it needs to be cared for like your car.

When you buy a new car, the owner’s manual  tells you when and what needs to be done to keep your investment running smoothly. By doing these things you prevent major, costly problems.

The same with your house, only no one gives you an owners manual!  Imagine that. Probably the largest purchase you make and no one tells you how to take care of it.  Take time to ask questions of the service companies that may come to your house. If you feel that they don’t have time to answer all of your questions, or don’t know the answer, you need to find a company that cares about you. One that will inform you of ways to care for your home, so you don’t have major issues or surprises.

Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air, is a company that cares about its’ customers. We want to answer your questions, take the time to inform you and be there when you need us.  We want you to Love your Plumber!

Call today to get your questions answered or schedule your next Sarasota plumbing or AC service.

Why Do Toilets Overflow?

Why do toilets overflow?  When people search the internet for Loveyourplumber.com, they find Wimpy’s website.  This will get them to the Plumber in Sarasota that will find out why their toilet overflows.

There are numerous reasons for toilets to overflow and what a mess it becomes when it does happen.  So let me help you nip this problem in the bud.  Below are some reasons why toilets overflow.

1)  There is not enough water in the tank, to create the proper siphon action in the bowl.

2) The refill tube is not properly positioned in the overflow tube. This will cause the bowl not to fill.

3) The tank does not fill fast enough between flushes.

4) The trap way of the bowl is calcified and catching paper and causing bowl stoppages.

5) A guest using way to much paper.

6) A change in medication, creating hard stool.

7) A poorly designed toilet. Not all toilets are the same.  Some flush a whole lot better than others.

8) Older homes with cast iron waste lines could be the cause due to rust, scale and sediment build up.

9) Roots can infiltrate the waste piping system, searching for water.

10) Newer homes will have pvc waste piping, but are still stopping up and causing the toilets to overflow.

11) We find the lack of the proper pitch or bellies in the pipe, causing paper to build up and toilets to overflow.

12) An extremely long run of waste piping, with very little fall.

13) Toilets today, are all water savers, this does not mean that they will carry the waste from point A to point B without a problem.

If you are having are having problems with your toilets overflowing, call Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air. We are Sarasota’s expert Plumbing Company, that will find the source of your toilets overflowing.

We give estimates and second opinions.

Log on today at Loveyourplumber.com and schedule an appointment on line.  Or call 941-322-1911 to speak to the friendliest person on the phone, who can schedule one of our professional plumbers to take care of your toilet that is overflowing.

Cheap Plumber, Cheap Plumbing Is It The Right Choice?

Cheap Plumber, Cheap plumbing, is it the right choice?  Just the other day I was working on a house that was eight years old.  The new owner had just bought a new washing machine, and wanted Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air to hook it up, along with a few other repairs.

When our Plumber went to turn off the washing machine valves, the stem assembly broke in his hand and water started flooding out from the washing machine valve.

Feeling like the kid with his finger in the hole in the dike, the owner was able to shut -off the main house valve to prevent water damage.  What if his main house valve didn’t work or he couldn’t find it?  Do you know where your main house valve is? And does it work?  Could your wife or daughter turn it off?

Upon inspection of what actually broke, it was the valve stem assembly that was made, you may of guessed it, in Taiwan.

Now when this house was built and the plumbing was put in, the plumber had a choice to buy a good set of washing machine valves or save a few cents and buy the cheaper ones.  There is always a reason the same item costs more.  And the difference is usually the material that it is made from.

Cheap ain’t good and good ain’t cheap, is the motto of a plumber in the Sarasota area.

Why see how cheap you can build something?  Why not see how good you can build something instead?  Plumbing used to last without even having to think about it.  It is the heart of your home.  Now, to save a few dollars, builders and plumbers don’t even give you a choice of quality.

Not Wimpy’s.  We will show you and explain the difference in plumbing fixtures and plumbing valves.  We want you to be informed.  We want your plumbing to last like it did years ago.

Call us if you want  a Plumber that cares about quality.  Quality doesn’t cost, it pays!

Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air, a family business serving Sarasota for over forty two years.  941-322-1911, or schedule on line, www.Loveyourplumber.com.

Toilet Seats, Cheap, Good, Better, Bells & Whistles, Wimpy’s Is The Expert.

Toilets seats, cheap, good, better, bells and whistles, Wimpy’s is the expert.  There are a lot of options for toilet seats that were not available years ago.  Back when the only option was just how big to make the hole for your outhouse seat.

Toilet seats can be purchased from $4.99 to $1,800.00.  That’s a pretty wide range of pricing.  What do you get and what is the difference.  Wimpy’s is the expert, to ask about  your toilet seat options and why they are different.

The material the toilet seat is made of makes a difference in the cost of it.  There is a painted wood seat or there are plastic composite seats.  In the plastic line, the difference is how thick the material is.  Have you every sat down on the lid of a toilet seat and it flexed so much that you were afraid you might fall through?  That would be a very inexpensive toilet seat.

Or was the toilet seat moving around on the toilet so much that you felt you were on a rodeo bull?  Sometimes the seat is just not secured properly, however in a lot of cases it is the plastic hinges and plastic nuts and bolts that  are moving , no matter how tight you get them.

Today, we have many choices in price, quality and options.  Some of the options can be a soft close seat.  This style eliminates the slamming of the seat on the toilet.  This is great feature if you have small children who might get their precious little fingers caught under the seat.

If you would like to say goodbye to bathroom odors, the Purefresh toilet seat from Kohler will neutralize odors using a carbon filter for up to six months.  It also has a nightlight that is programmable.  No more fumbling around in the dark, if you don’t want that bright bathroom light on.

Another feature is an overhanging lid that conceals the seat ring, for a clean modern look.  And for those of you that really like to keep things clean, (you know how hard it is to clean around the hinges of a toilet seat) there is the quick release hinges that allow the seat to be removed very easily for cleaning.

If you have children in the potty training age, the best idea for a child’s toilet seat combined with an adult toilet seat is the seat by Kohler called the Transition.  Don’t you dislike moving that portable child’s seat when you want to use the toilet?  The transition seat has it built in.  It’s only a matter of raising another seat.  Quite simple, yet very clean looking.

Now for Father’s Day how about a heated seat that automatically raises itself when you walk up to it and flushes itself and closes the lid when you walk away from it.  It also has a bidet feature and a night light.

Call Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air to ask the expert which toilet seat is right for you. 941-322-1911 or schedule an appointment on line at www.Loveyourplumber.com.

Water Leak at Meter. Sarasota Plumber or Sarasota Utilities? Who Do I Call?

Water leak at meter.  Sarasota Plumber or Sarasota Utilities?  Who do I call?  When you see water coming out from your backflow device or you see water coming up from the ground around the water meter, it could be both a Sarasota Plumber and a Sarasota County Water Utility problem.

The first thing to check is to see exactly where the water is coming from, or call your plumber in for Sarasota leak detection.  If the water is coming from the big brass thing above ground, called a backflow device, you will need to call your plumber for plumbing repair. The backflow device is ahead of the water meter and it is up to the property owner to maintain the backflow device.

The backflow device has seals inside of it that will fail.  This is one of the reasons that Sarasota County Utilities wants you to have it certified once per year.  Your plumber is the one to call for this.  He can maintain it for you and insure that it is certified.

If the water is not coming from the backflow device, but coming up around the meter box, pull the cover off of the water meter and determine if the water is coming from behind or in front of the meter.  If the water is coming out in front of the water meter you will need to call your plumber in Sarasota.  If the water is coming out behind the meter, you will need to call the Sarasota County Water Utility Department.

If you do have a leak at the backflow device or in the ground at the water meter, you will want to get this repaired as soon as possible.  Repairing it promptly will save you money. All the water that is leaking on your side of the water meter is being charged to your water bill.

Save money, save water.  Call a Sarasota Plumber when you have a leak.  If you don’t have a Plumber, call Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air.  We can save you money.  As our customers say, I Love My Plumber!