When you hear the word, “plumber,” most people will naturally think of bathrooms and kitchens. While plumbing certainly encompasses more than just these two rooms, this is where a great deal of our work resides in the residential sector. Fixing leaks, installing new fixtures, clearing clogged drains, the list goes on. These are all examples of the various plumbing calls we receive throughout the year.
As is often the case here on the Stine-Nichols blog, we like to provide actionable advice capable of not only saving you money, but also preventing the headaches of constant plumbing issues! In this week’s blog post, we’ll discuss the bathroom in greater detail. We’ll touch on the items that’ll result in less plumbing problems, as well as some tips for sprucing up the general aesthetic of your bathroom! After all, who doesn’t want to embark on a fun bathroom remodeling project? With all of that said, let’s dive right into the blog to provide you with our favorite tips and tricks for creating an awesome bathroom!
Updating fixtures/products makes as big of a difference as any.
When homeowners approach us for a bathroom remodel, there’s a few items we start with in the initial conversations. First on this list is the realization that you don’t have to tear down walls and turn it into a major construction project to make a big impact. Nonetheless, if this is needed to create your dream bathroom, we’re more than happy to assist and build the bathroom you have envisioned.
However, plenty of homeowners are surprised by the difference that can be made with simply updating fixtures and products throughout the bathroom. This truly is the most cost-effective and easiest way to modernize your bathroom. Think of upgrades like installing new shower-heads, faucets, toilets or sinks. Trust us, you will notice a MAJOR difference! This is particularly true if most of your fixtures are already out-dated.
Installing new fixtures also allows you the opportunity to consider plumbing fixtures with the WaterSense label. These are all guaranteed to use much less water than their conventional alternatives and will result in monthly savings on your water bills!
While we’re on the topic of upgrades though, it’s always a good idea to replace old products throughout the bathroom as well! Bath mats, tooth brush holders and shower curtains can all be breeding grounds for mold, bacteria and germs. Plus, they’re all relatively inexpensive to replace and can be completed with one quick trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond!
Inventions designed to make your life easier!
It should come as no surprise that the entire plumbing world has seen its fair share of technological advancements over the years. Touchless fixtures, tankless water heaters and low-flow showerheads are a few that instantly come to mind! However, there’s also plenty of others that solve similar problems such as saving water, reducing the odds of potential plumbing problems arising and simply improving the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom. To add to it, each of these that I’ll link below are tools you can easily purchase from Amazon and install yourself!
Zircon Leak Alert – Water Leak Detector & Floor Sensor Alarm – As you might guess, it doesn’t take long for a small leak to create some major problems! This leak detector from Zircon is just about as easy as it gets when it comes to stopping water damage. You simply place it wherever there is potential for water damage (bathroom, around water heater, basement, etc.) and when it detects water, an alarm as loud as a smoke detector goes off for up to 72 hours. The reason for such a loud sound is intended to prevent any type of serious flooding from occurring. As a side note, feel free to browse around Amazon for other leak detectors. Some of the products have the capability to connect with your smartphone for easy alerts.
TubShroom – With over 33,000 reviews on Amazon, we’re certainly not the first ones to have found this genius invention! Looking to reduce the number of clogged tub drains you deal with each and every year? Well, it’s tough to go wrong with the TubShroom! Plus, it costs less than $15. As stated on their product listing, it is a “bathtub hair stopper that fits snug inside your shower tub drain, effortlessly gathering each and every hair that tries to make its way down your vulnerable drain. It’s the hero you deserve in your bathroom.”
Showerhead with Speaker Attached – Who doesn’t love listening to their favorite tunes while in the shower?! Check out this polished chrome showerhead from Kohler that comes with a magnetic, wireless speaker that can easily be detached when it needs charged. This particular model is available with either a 2.0 gpm or 2.5 gpm spray, so it is also water-efficient. Simply pair it with your bluetooth-enabled device and you’re good to go! As simple as that!
Cleaning vs Sanitizing vs Disinfecting
As briefly mentioned above, bathrooms can be particularly troublesome when it comes to germs and bacteria spreading. As a result, it’s extremely important to know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting. Doing so will not only extend the lifespan of your bathroom and keep everything looking fresh, it will also ensure no one in your household comes down with any illnesses. This is particularly important given the Covid-19 pandemic!
To accurately decipher the difference between each, we referred to the CDC as the expert source:
“Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.”
“Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.”
“Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements.”
Essentially, what this tells us is that you need a combination of each of these three activities. Simply cleaning is important to do on a routine basis. However, it’s never going to completely kill the germs. Disinfecting is going to be the one that’ll kill pretty much everything there!
Utilizing Your Exhaust Fan
Our next tip is something that tends to get forgotten. How often do you run the exhaust fan in your bathroom? Chances are it’s not enough. Most are surprised to hear that it’s recommended to run your exhaust fan for 20 minutes upon opening the bathroom door after taking a shower. The reason why this is so important is largely due to the moisture created from a shower. As you’ve likely witnessed after a hot shower, the mirrors can easily fog up. This, in turn, leaks into the walls. Before you know it, this can seep into the drywall, thus leading to mold growth. And we’ve all heard about the dangers of being exposed to mold, particularly for longer periods of time!
All in all, there’s a reason why nearly every household bathroom has an exhaust fan. Just make sure you’re utilizing it in the future!
Proactive, Not Reactive
This final tip applies to all areas of household plumbing, in addition to the bathroom. Having been in the plumbing industry for over 40 years, the best advice I can give to customers is to ALWAYS be proactive, rather than reactive. If you notice something like a drain starting to run slow, get it cleaned before it becomes a major problem. Trust me, it’s a lot more affordable to have a handful of drain cleanings in a year, than it is to replace pipes that aren’t readily visible.
Call Your Local Plumbers in Kansas City!
Thank you for stopping by and checking out our weekly blog post! We feel honored to have had the opportunity to serve hundreds of fellow Kansas City homeowners and businesses over the past few years! I hope this blog taught you a thing or two about your plumbing system that you can put into action. As always, you’re more than welcome to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 for any potential plumbing project you have in mind. Whether that be a complete bathroom remodel or just installing a new fixture, we have a plumber for you! We currently serve the entire Kansas City area, including all of the surrounding cities such as Liberty, Parkville, Overland Park, Gladstone, Lee’s Summit and more!