theplumbersbride

Ok, so I had the opportunity to be a plumber’s helper this week in the field with Bear.  It was very difficult for me to sit in the passenger seat.  Riding to the job and then to lunch and then back to the office.  I guess I truly am a control freak.  I need to be doing something all of the time.   So what does a plumber’s helper do?  Well,  I was a gofer.  Go get the caulk, go get the silicone, go get some shims, unbox the toilet and take it upstairs.  Ok!!! Stop right there.  I will take the tank and the lid, but you are going to have to take the toilet.  Could I have taken it up stairs, sure I could have but at what cost?  I might have dropped it, (not likely), I might have hit the wall or the stair rail (more likely).

I was nervous, out of my element.  You see, this was not my first on the job experience but, my second trip on the job with Bear.  The first one did not go over so well.  I wanted to do a good job for him.  I wanted to impress him.  Married for 13 years this September and I still want to impress my man.  : )  He is a good man and I am so very blessed and proud of him.

Back to the story….  So we get to this job and we are installing 3 toilets at a machine shop.  We walked in to find out where the restrooms were that we would be installing the new toilets.  While Bear got started inside, it was my job to get the toilets off the truck and start bringing them outside the door and unboxing them.  I was, again nervous.  So I started stacking two boxes on the dolly to start rolling.  Let me, let you in on a little secret if you did not know.  Toilets do not come in a perfectly square or rectangle box.  They are kinda folded to fit so it did not really stack perfectly, but I was ready to pull back and press forward.  Right at that very minute Bear walked out.  I hurried,  so that he would not come to take over for me.  I wanted to do it!!!  I wanted to do a good job!!! he said WAIT not loud or angry.  Right then I pulled back and did not have my balance on the boxes and they toppled over.  I froze…. waited for it….WOW he could have exploded!!! but he didn’t.   I was embarrassed and all he did was shake his head.  He looked at me and said did you break them?  No, they are ok, I’m sorry I just wanted to do it on my own for you.  He of course took it from me.  I did the next two by myself, and took my time.

It’s not over the story gets a little better.  So we are inside cutting the wall and pipe (very loud).  He had some trash to get together so he had me pick it up and start taking it to the van and bring some tools back.  AGAIN, for whatever reason I was nervous.  I hurriedly picked up the trash bucket etc, and then tripped and dropped everything on the floor.  Can I tell you this office was very quiet……I giggled; it was all I could do….He said what are you doing?  I’m sorry honey, I am just so nervous.

That night we talked about it and he said it was hard for him to ask me to go and get things for him.  He said it did not feel right asking his wife to go get things.  His son it is ok, but his wife was unsettling for him.  We are a family business growing together, we are so very blessed.

When will the next on the job trip be?  Who knows?  Can Bear handle the help?   : )  Maybe it will be your home or business feel free to ask me to sit and chat over coffee while Bear does the heavy lifting   ; )

Not too long ago Jake was helping Bear install some new toilets at a day care.  He asked Bear if we could install these in someone’s home.  The answer is absolutely.  Below I have listed several options.  You will see that selecting a toilet is more complicated than at first thought, due to all of the choices you have to make.  There are so many options and we are only touching on a few today.

There is the primary also known as the kindergarten which is 10″ tall.  Toilets don’t get any more precious than this.

There is standard height which is 14-15″ tall, my personal favorite.

and finally we have comfort height which is 17 – 19″.  This one is a little tall for kiddos and short people like me : )

Now we get into seat shape.  Do you prefer round or elongated?  I must say that the majority in my home prefers round, however I do have a couple of guys who prefer elongated.  So, my answer is to this, is to have at least one of each……. sounds fair, right????? 🙂

The next two options for today are color and gallons per flush.   What color do you prefer?  If you can think of it, you can find it.  Remember the avocado green of the 1970’s  : ) 

Before 1980 you would have a toilet that flushed 5-7 gallons.  Between 1980 and 1990 you would have toilets that flushed 3.5 gallons.  Between 1990 & 2006 you would have toilets that flushed 1.6 gallons.  Today you have toilets that flush 1.0 gallons.

As you can see there are many options and we did not even get into the look and style of the toilet.  If you are in the market for a new toilet please be ready to answer some questions, or if you have pictures of something you have seen that is even better.

We have had several customers call us in the Spring area this week.  A neighbor’s home was sadly flooded by an older toilet.  The water supply line going to the tank of your toilet should be replaced at least every 8 years.  You all know I need pictures to explain what that means to me.  Bear can get so frustrated with me, but he will just have to get over it won’t he : )

So I had him show me today what he replaced.  Guess what?  He said don’t take a picture of this toilet it has a stainless line which is ok.  He said go upstairs to our daughter’s bathroom…..of course hers is the kind which needs to be replaced, and you guessed it.  Hers is creeping up on 8 years.  So I have both the good and bad.  So when will my water supply line get replaced????? Who knows?  I just hope I am home if it does start to break and does not do too much damage.

So here is the good…                                                                                                                                       and the bad…

OK is it just me or do these look the same?  BEAR …… dear, can you please tell us what is breaking and causing the flooding?????

 Here is the skinny from Bear on the difference and what is actually breaking.  Do you see the white plastic pieces under the tank on both of the pictures?  It is the plastic that breaks not the line; however that is how he was explaining it to me so I of coarse was looking at just the line.  He prefers the stainless steel line as opposed to the reinforced PVC.  If you have any questions or concerns please give Bear a call.  One day you can call me, but as for now it is Bear.

If you’ve had your floor or tile guy set your toilet, then that’s like having your mechanic fix your dinner. 

Not too long ago we reset a toilet.  The pipe in the floor was deteriorating and needed to be replaced.  This type of line issue can get costly.  Chances are toilets set by someone other than a plumber will have trouble.  Save time and money and have it done right the first time by using a licensed plumber.   You do not want to have sewer gas leaks in your home because your floor guy gets in over his head.

 A properly installed floor flange sits at floor level.  However, all too often floor flanges are installed incorrectly below floor level.  In this case, it may not leak right away but without a good quality seal it will begin to leak.

If you are doing some bathroom remodeling then make sure you seek the assistance of a licensed plumber.  You may be tempted by the half price offer of a non-licensed plumber, but you may end up paying double or more than you need to.  Call Bear’s Plumbing Services in Spring TX for all your plumbing needs.