​We’ve all been there, you’re brushing your teeth and the drain just can’t keep up with the faucet. This can be a sign of clogged drain lines in your homes plumbing.

As with most plumbing issues, repairing or clearing the lines before the problem gets worse is very important. If the problem continues it lead to significant plumbing damages and additional costs.

Clogged pipes can happen throughout the home and vary in severity. We recommend contacting a Local Plumber to give you an accurate idea of the plumbing problem.

​While there are the drain clearing formulas you can buy, we highly advise against these. They are great at breaking up clogs but can also cause damage to your drain pipes. A Local Plumber can scope the pipe with a camera giving you a clear picture of the problem.

while the bathtub or shower usually has a big enough drain to accommodate the water flow. Once in awhile it gets clogged or backed up with hair, built up soaps or kids toys.

​We recommend having a Professional Plumber near you look. It can likely be cleaned out with a snake or plumber’s auger if needed. Using the proper technique and equipment can save you from very expensive mistakes.  

Our sinks have a trap right under the counter it’s generally a U, P or S shaped pipe which creates an area that stops both big clogs from going down the pipe and gases from coming up through the sink.
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This can be the area of the clog or deeper in the drain line where a build up or larger item might have made it through the trap. You can remove the trap yourself with the right tools, be prepared for a little water to come out. If you don’t have the right tools it just might be best to call a Pro.  

We typically see a dual Kitchen Sink with one side having a garbage disposal. These sink basins are connected under the counter then flow through a trap. The dishwasher is also connected, usually above the garbage disposal.
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So, there is a lot going on in your Kitchen Plumbing and each part can affect the other. A clogged garbage disposal can back up the dishwasher and the sink. While garbage disposals often just need reset or a manual adjustment. A working garbage disposal in this type of setup is essential. 

We love modern times and running water the convenience of a flushing toilet. But what do you do when that toilet just won’t flush? The old standby, the plunger, is a great first step.
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If the clogged toilet still doesn’t free up or if the toilet is always getting clogged. This could be a sign of a more sever problem and a great reason to have a Licensed Plumber take a look. 

Your main sewer line feeds into either your septic system or the city sewage. While these are not the most common type of clogged drain lines, they do happen. Common reasons they happen are tree roots or a heavy vehicle driving over the landscape and large build ups of non-flush able items.

A video scope of the issue is the best way to identify the cause and develop a plumbing solution. You may need to repair the sewer line or replace it all together. While a snake or plumbing auger can clear blockages from within. Repairing or replacing the pipes may involve Hydro Excavation and other more advanced techniques.

While you can address some of these plumbing problems yourself. We always recommend contacting your Local Area Plumber for clogs that persist or can not be solved without chemicals.

​Ensure you Local Plumber is Licensed, Insured and Bonded before contracting any work. A great Plumbing Service will asses the clogged plumbing, free of charge, and have the proper equipment to handle all plumbing needs.
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In the Boise Area, Plumbing Solutions of Idaho is you Local Plumber of choice. Equipped to meet all Plumbing Repairs, Replacements and Installations.  

Tankless water heaters or “On demand” water heaters, may operate on natural gas or propane. They heat water when you turn on the hot water faucet instead of keeping a storehouse for use.
 
There are advantages and disadvantages to this system however.
 
A pro, is that they take up very little space and use up to 50 percent less energy than units with tanks. That continuous supply of hot water could be helpful for filling up a hot tub or spa bathtub.
 
Standard Tankless systems do a great job if the demand is moderate. When you have higher demand than normal you may need to upgrade to a larger unit designed for family usage.
 
Another problem is the need for a professional’s installation and maintenance calls for warranty purposes. Even if, as a homeowner you are fairly proficient in maintenance, this is not a DIY project.
 
Another Con’s is the fluidity of the tankless water heater market. The companies come and go at a quick rate, the product is oversold. The marketing is geared towards those who want to “keep up with the Joneses”, “be more green”, “be modern”, and so on. When the companies dry up, their customers have a tough time finding more parts or technical support. 

There is no set standard surprisingly for comparison.  Marketers of course want either one to look good to the consumer, and the movement to be more “green” has been gaining momentum for quite a while, enough to carry more questionable projects based on their claim to “green” fame.
 
For the cost conscious, an up to 50 gallon tank heater that provides 2 showers or appliance usages at once, costs around $350 compared to almost $1000.  Installation is a difference as well, the cost almost triples. Unless your usage is very high, to take advantage of the electricity savings, your cost conscious decision would be a traditional tank water heater.
 
A pro of the tank water heater is the ability to multitask. Dishes, and shower, wash, and bath. Depending on the size of the tank, possibly even 3 tasks using hot water at a time. However, the tankless heater cannot flex with that demand.
 
Another pro of the tank water heater is the ability to regulate the water temperature. It is set and maintained by the unit, and can even be set low for safety sake (young infants) or if your tank is small, it can be set higher to accommodate for usage. Unfortunately the tankless water heat can and does have water temperature fluctuations. Not a good thing when bathing an infant.

​Both types of hot water heaters do a great job. With pros and cons to both types it is important to consult a local plumber or expert.  A professional can help you evaluate your hot water needs and layout options that will work great.
 
For all your hot water heater questions, service or installation needs, Call us today.
 
Plumbing Solutions of Idaho is Boise’s trusted local plumber helping our neighbors for over 15 years

Building a home is a set of complicated tasks that involves various elements. One main task in making a new home is to estimate the cost of various things, such as estimated cost of the Plumbing Installation.  If you want to know the cost of plumbing for your new house, you will know the complexities in which you can run into.  

• Square Footage Cost: 

Costing of plumbing is much more than footage, but you can get a rough idea of your cost with the help of square foot area of your house. According to researches, in 2012, per square cost of plumbing in USA was about $4. It may be as high as $5/square foot in some states. If you have relevant license and experience, you can run the plumbing yourself and save up to 50% money.  

• Exact Estimate of Plumbing Cost: 

Every project is different, and the real cost of plumbing could be far more than the square footage average. For instance, if you are building a two story house, there would be almost double amount of work as compared to the single story. Professional installers usually add extra amount to cover the additional work. 

There are some simple tips that can save you a lot of money by preventing some minor plumbing problems. These tips are: 
 

• You should know the main source from where you can turn water off 
• Don’t ever use any sort of flushable wipes (baby or cosmetic) 
• Don’t hang anything on your water pipe 
• Always find a licensed plumber. Cheap non-licensed plumbers can seem easy, but you may end up in spending hundreds of dollars because mistakes or code violations. 

Follow these easy tips, and you can save a big amount of money on your Plumbing maintenance. 

Visit our home page for more information on Plumbing Installation in Boise. ​

One of the most important and most used home fixtures is the toilet. Although, toilets are a reliable part of the plumbing system in your home. Eventually all of us have to face some toilet issues.  
One of the most common problem regarding toilets is clogging, but obviously, this is not the only one. Good thing is that many toilet related problems can be fixed by do-it-yourself techniques.  
In this article, we will discuss some common toilet problems and will learn to solve them. 

• Clogged Toilet: 

The easiest way to clear a clogged toilet is the use of a plunger, which is sometimes known as a plumber’s friend. If the bowl of the toilet has enough water that can be covered by the rubber suction cup of the plunger, simply place the suction cup over the hole and move its handle up and down. If there is not enough water, do not flush, because you may end with an overflown toilet bowl. You can use any other pan or pot to supply enough water in the bowl.  
 
Some clogs are just too stubborn to be cleared with a plunger and may require a local plumber to assist you.  
 
                              Call Plumbing Solutions of Idaho 208-895-7969 for all those stubborn clogs which just won't clear. 
 

• Common Tank Problems: 

One common toilet tank problem is flow of too little water from the tank to the bowl. What could be the problem, and how can you solve it: 

• You should first check the water level on the tank. Most likely the water level is low. If the water level is below 1 ½ inches to the top of the overflow tube, bend the float arm slightly and let more water come in the tank. 
• If the water level in the tank is normal, and still you have the same problem, then there could be a problem with the flush valve seat. Possibly, the ball is dropping too soon and not letting enough water come out of the tank. This could be because of the guide being set too low. Raise the guide of the toilet, making sure that it is in alignment with the wire. If these two are not aligned properly, the ball will not drop in the seat valve opening, and the water may run continuously in the bowl. 

 

• Replacing the Toilet Seat: 

Sometimes, your toilet seat has to be changed. This is probably the easiest toilet repairing job that you can do. You can easily find the style of the replacement seat in the market that matches your bathroom’s color scheme. Now days, toilets are available in two different standard sizes, and replacement seats are also available for these two. 
 
Once you get the right size of your replacement seat, simply loosen and remove the nuts on the hinge and lift your toilet seat. Sometimes, the nuts can be corroded and you are unable to remove them easily. If this is the case, use a penetrating oil and give it enough time to get soaked. If you can’t access the nut, use a wrench. But make sure that you don’t use too much force, as it damage the bowl or the water tank of your toilet.  
 
Toilets are simple and easy to understand mechanisms. You can keep your toilets in running and good condition with just a little maintenance each year. 

​Maintaining a water heater only requires a beginner skill set and a couple of hours. A few simple steps are all it takes to extend the life of your water heater.
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​Boise is known for its active outdoor lifestyle, and this attitude tends to translate to a community that wants to reduce their impact on the environment. Anyone can contribute to a greener city, and it can begin with household plumbing.

As Boise gets through this cold Winter, the last thing you want to worry about is your water heater. If you are concerned about the efficiency of your water heater, there are signs to look for that point to trouble
 If you have found that it is time to replace your water heater, the following steps will assure that you find exactly what you are looking for.