Harbor Plumbing Supply

Water conservation is a serious issue throughout the country, particularly in the West in places like Las Vegas and Los Angeles. You can limit the amount of water used in your home by installing low flow toilets, saving about 30 percent on water use for the year.

What do a potato and a toilet flush have in common? An effective low flow toilet should be able to flush least 350 grams of waste effectively. That's described at about the volume of a medium sized potato.

Did you know that nearly 85 percent of the country has hard water? Hard water gets its name because it contains minerals such as magnesium and calcium that can slowly build up in your appliances and pipes.

What is one of the top mistakes that DIYers often make when joining pipe fittings together? Over tightening. For most fittings, only a half turn with a wrench torque is necessary to seal the deal especially when working with softer brass or copper fittings that are more prone to damage.

When you replace old pipe with new copper piping, be careful with the placement of hot water pipes. Copper will expand when hot water runs through it and if the pipe is resting against wall studs, it will emit a squeaking sound as it expands and rubs against the wood.

Have you ever heard of water-free urinals? If you have a business with urinals, it’s possible to drastically reduce your water bills with urinals that require no water. It’s possible to save between 15,000 and 45,000 gallons of water per urinal, depending on the how much use each urinal gets.

In older homes, you can make plumbing work easier by installing water stop valves at individual fixtures. This eliminates having to turn off the water to the entire structure while working in one particular area of the house.

There are a number of fairly inexpensive changes to the plumbing in your home that can save money on the water you use in a year. One change is to install low-flow fixtures on the faucets and showerheads in your home.

Did you know that the average homeowner uses about 14,000 gallons of water a year for every toilet in the home? If you are interested in lowering your water bill, as well as conserving water, have your plumber install a low flow toilet to reduce that water consumption up to 80 percent.

Care to guess which faucet finish outsells all others? If you guessed chrome, you're right. Although chrome is definitely popular, newer style finishes like oil-rubbed bronze are gaining in popularity for their sleek looks and easy care features.

How good a product is the copper piping used in plumbing lines? It has been the preferred material since the ancient Egyptians began using it almost 4,000 years ago. Some archaeological digs have uncovered ancient copper plumbing pipes that are still functional.

What were the main uses of galvanized iron pipe before the invention of PVC pipe? Galvanized iron pipe was once widely used throughout residential homes for water supply and drain lines. Many older homes today still have their original galvanized iron pipes, but when these break they are replaced with PVC.

Did you know that most types of pipe joints need added sealant? The only two types of piping joints that will perform well without added sealant are joints that have been soldered or glued all other joints should be secured with sealant tape.