That is our hope for all our family, friends and colleagues.

We genuinely hope all of those that have this year, or in years past, made Plumb Tite their plumber have a memorable time with family and friends regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas or not.

Our affection and well wishing is not derived from how much money you have spent with us this year, though we are extremely grateful for the trust our clients have shown in us in 2011. It’s not derived necessarily from our having so much in common – though we might.

Our wishes to you and your family are derived from our belief and reason many at Plumb Tite celebrate Christmas each year. It’s the belief that God in His grace, kindness and wisdom sent His Son, born of a virgin, to make a way for all to be reconciled to Him. That we may have peace with our Creator through a relationship with Jesus.

So regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas in your home we hope that you will accept our heart-felt THANK YOU and our wish of a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Having grown up in gorgeous Northern Kentucky, I have to tell you that Fall is one of my favorite times of the year in our area. I’m not sure if I love the smell in the air or the colors more. There is something to be said for the smell of falling leaves. Also, the crunch of leaves under bare feet is pretty cool too.

There are some great places in the 859 (or NKY for others) to see the colors of fall. Here are a few of the secret places you might want to check out:

Latonia, KY

Latonia? LA? Covington’s south side? Yep, that’s right…you want a great place to see a face full of fall foliage? Take yourself down to 43rd St. in Latonia just outside of the entrance to Twin Oaks Golf Course. Look across the course, over the Licking River into Campbell County. Right there on the hill just south of Southgate, KY and west of Ft. Thomas in Wilder, KY you will find John’s Hill Rd. As you drive up John’s Hill Rd., you can enjoy it a little, but nothing like taking it all in from Latonia.

Devou Park in Covington, KY

The establishment of Devou Park can be traced back to the year 1910 when William P. and Charles P. Devou donated 500 acres of property to the City of Covington for park purposes.  Little did Bill or Chuck know the view that they were ultimately promoting in honor of the their parents, William P. and Sarah Ogden Devou. When you stand near Drees Pavilion, on the northern tip of Devou Park you overlook all things Fall in Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. Once you have sufficiently inhaled, take a drive down from through West Covington to Wallace Woods to take in a bit of the city’s history.

Campbell County

A full frolic of fall colors would not be complete without a tour of Campbell County, KY. Start where you wish – Ft. Thomas, Southgate, Alexandria, Cold Spring or California…there is practically no bad view. Whether you are on 27 or the AA, you’ll find plenty of colors to distract your eyes. However, there is more reason than the colors you see in Campbell County; there are also the colors you taste…Red, White, Blush…

Before Napa Valley became known as America’s wine capital, there was Campbell County, KY.  During the late-Nineteenth Century, this region produced approximately one-third of the national wine output and its share was 40% of Kentucky’s wine production.  Modern wine-producers have reinvigorated the industry here.  The County’s rolling topography, proximity to water, and good climate make for ideal conditions.  Additionally, Campbell County maintains an abundance of farmland that produces locally-grown food, and as the northern gateway to Kentucky’s bluegrass country, it provides thousands of acres for horses, horse-riding and, at the risk of being repetitive, Fall colors.

Beautiful Boone County

Start at the Boone County Arboretum and you won’t be disappointed. Make your way to Boone County Cliffs State Nature Preserve situated along a tributary to Middle Creek. It  boasts rich flora, fauna and unique geological features. The preserve derives its name from the 20- to 40-foot conglomerate “cliffs” that rise above the valley slopes.

Wherever you end up taking in the colors of Northern Kentucky or Greater Cincinnati, we are certain you will agree with it is a privilege to live here at this time of year.

At Plumb Tite our licnesed plumbers can handle all of your plumbing needs from the municiapl water, gas and sewer service to your building. Plumb Tite will handle all of the excavation and repair that you need. Our areas of expertise: Roof conductors and down spouts, storm water runoff, sewer pipe maintenance, increase line capacity and sewage ejectors.

If you have any questions or would like a free estimate on your project please call us and we would be more than happy to assist you with your project needs.

Here at Plumb Tite we don’t want to be just any plumber we want to be YOUR plumber! We service NKY, Greater Cincinnati and the Southern IN areas. Please call us today to schedule your appointment with one of our licensed plumbers! We look forward to working with you!

Faucets and Plumbing Fixtures

Plumb Tite’s licensed plumbers can repair, replace or install your faucets and plumbing fixtures.  We service everything from your bathroom faucets, shower fixtures, kitchen faucets, laundry room faucet, wet bar/entertainment faucet, out door hose bibs or your water shut-off valve.  All faucets contain moving parts so they can wear out and eventually break over time.   One of our plumber’s would be more than happy to inspect, repair or replace your faucet.

Faucets and plumbing fixtures come in a wide range of styles, colors and materials that allow you to create the space you have always dreamed of.  Many manufactures have products that are also eco friendly or energy star rated that help you by conserving the amount of water that flows through the faucet or fixture.  If you are looking for more ways to help the environment one of these eco friendly, energy star rated faucets or plumbing fixtures could be just what you were looking for.  Let one of our plumber’s know and they will be more than happy to discuss your options with you.

Bathroom Faucets and shower fixtures

If you have a leaking faucet or fixture one of Plumb Tite’s licensed plumbers would be more than happy to repair it for you.  Or if you are looking to replace or upgrade your bathroom faucet or shower fixture Plumb Tite can help you select a new faucet that will create the look you have always envisioned. Whether you are looking for something with sleek modern lines or something with a softer more graceful appearance we can help you find what you have been looking for!

Kitchen Faucets

Kitchen faucets are probably the most used faucet in your home, which means these have a tendency to wear out quicker than any other faucet. If you have a leaky kitchen faucet call to schedule an appointment and we will be more than happy to come out and take a look at it for you so we can get it repaired right away.

If you are looking to upgrade your kitchen faucet there is a wide range of styles and colors to choose from.  From a single or double handle faucet or even the new touch faucet you will have several options to choose from to fit your style and kitchen needs.

Emergency water supply shut off if your faucet breaks

So what do you do if your water begins spraying all over your floor and walls?  First thing is don’t panic!  Look beneath the sink for the water shut off valves.  There is a cold and hot water valve.  They are usually chrome with a small oval or round valve handle.  Turn the handles clockwise until the water stops pouring out of the faucet.  Then call us and we will get you scheduled for an appointment so we can evaluate the problem!

Here at Plumb Tite we don’t want to be just any plumber we want to be YOUR plumber!  We service NKY, Greater Cincinnati and the Southern IN areas.  Please call us today to schedule your appointment with one of our licensed plumbers!  We look forward to working with you!

Laundry Room Plumbing Tip

One of the key laundry room plumbing issues that almost always get overlooked, even in high-end laundry rooms is washing machine floods.  Regular black washing machine hoses are cheaply made and prone to failure. Many home owners worsen the problem by not providing adequate clearance, which puts extra pressure on the hoses and forces the metal through the hose at the coupling.  These hoses can be replaced with a new updated version of the hose called a stainless steel braided hose.  The construction of this type of hose is more durable than the rubber hoses.  These should still be checked periodically as all things will wear out over time.  As a proactive maintenance you should replace your hose every 3 to 4 years.

Here at Plumb Tite we don’t want to be just any plumber we want to be YOUR plumber!  We service NKY, Greater Cincinnati and the Southern IN areas.  Please call us today to schedule your appointment with one of our licensed plumbers!  We look forward to working with you!

This post is simply our way to thank our friends in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati for the blessing of keeping us so busy. In a time when we hear plumbers throughout Greater Cincinnati are being laid off, we continue looking for quality journeyman plumbers. We would also be remiss not to thank the families of our entire team. We recognize that without your support, we could not fulfill our current need for overtime. Thank you!

If you know of a journey plumber that is either currently looking for work, or would rather work with a thriving company, please refer them to our website to fill out an application.

First, let’s begin with a quick semantics lesson. The device that is installed under your kitchen sink is a disposer not a disposal. (Whew! I feel better) Sorry just one of those plumber things that kind of drive you crazy. Personally, another one of those words is REALTOR. So many pronounce it REAL-A-TOR, but I digress. Perhaps we’ll have a word rant another day…

Are Garbage Disposers Good for the Environment?

Absolutely! Food scraps are a big part of our household waste. Whether it’s food leftover from dinner, or that greenish, sort of meat-ish thing in the refrigerator that looks more like a science project – there’s a lot of food waste to be dealt with on a daily/weekly basis.

Garbage disposers use less than fifty cents per year to operate and use less than 1% of household water usage, so from simply an energy perspective they are very efficient. The food waste you put through your garbage disposer is 70% water. By moving it through the disposer to the sewer system it gets treated at the water plant. Food scrap that ends up in the landfill has to decompose which creates methane gas. In fact, at capable wastewater treatment plants, food waste can be recycled into renewable energy and fertilizer.

Years ago the technology was so bad that disposers sounded like small lawnmowers and did little more than a Slap Chop. They would leave such large pieces that often they would simply clog the drain. Many 40 and older know exactly what I’m talking about and why we still are asked to remove the garbage disposer from under a customers sink.

Led by In Sink Erator, the industry technology has come a long way. Quiet? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Now some models can even handle bones.

Can I add a Disposal System if I have a Septic Tank?

Believe it or not, it would be preferred. Many on septic systems use some sort of enzyme treatment to keep the septic system healthy with good bacteria breaking down the waste. Disposers, like the one in my home, actually treats the waste every time it’s used. Therefore, instead of my septic system getting a bunch of enzymes once a month, it get a little every time we use the disposer.

If your disposer is properly installed, there’s no reason to be concerned with drains being clogged or other issues. If you have any other questions just give us a call at 859.727.8483.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” No doubt, if you grew up in Northern Kentucky or anywhere in Greater Cincinnati, you probably had a grandma that was fond of saying that. Frankly as a young man, I didn’t really understand the full wisdom of a statement like that. Now a husband, father, home and business owner – I get it!

Sump Pumps FOREVER!

Every home should have one! The water sump pump is the “ounce of prevention” your meemaw told you about. A sump pump can prevent your basement from potential flood damage and prevent the loss of valued possessions. Consider everything that you have stored down there – sports equipment, prized collections, family heirlooms, or your big screen TV – and then picture the whole swimming in an inch or two of water.

How does a water sump pump work?

Many homes are built with a sump pit in the basement (the word “sump” means a low point of collection). Essentially, the pit is a hole where water gathers, either from the foundation drainage system, or due to the fact that the basement is below the water table. It must be regularly emptied in order to prevent overflow.

Sump Pump w/Battery Back up

The water sump pump, which is installed in the pit, is automatically activated to drain the water out when its rising float device reaches a certain level. Sump pumps are often on a timer set to run at regular intervals, and for a certain length of time. This simple and efficient method keeps the water at a safe level in the pit at all times.

Where does the water go?

The water sump pump is equipped with a large drainage pipe that moves the collected water away from the house to another location, such as a swale, municipal drain or dry well. Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati have older homes which often have a sump pump that drains into the sanitary sewer; however, this is no longer allowed due to potential overload on that system. Inside the drainage pipe is a check valve that stops the water from running back down the pipe and into the pit once the motor turns off.

What are the advantages of a sump pump?

If your home is built on low terrain, an accumulation of water can occur after heavy rains, rendering the sump pump an essential tool for drainage. The ground water may make its way into the basement, and as it collects in the sump pit, it will be pumped away from the house, thereby reducing the risk of damage to your foundation. Even if your home is high on a hill, the eaves, trough and roof drainage pipes may not adequately direct the excess water away from the house. Having a water sump pump protects your home from flooding during rain storms and snow run offs.

What about a power failure or breakdown?

You can purchase a straight battery-powered pump for your secondary source of drainage in the event of a power failure. A marine deep cycle battery can be used, or the pump can be hooked to a charger or monitoring system. Be sure to check both systems on a regular basis for battery and power supply.

Do sump pumps need maintenance?

An important factor in maintaining an effective and long-lasting sump pump is cleanliness. On a regular basis, wash off any debris that could clog the pump, raise the float to make sure it triggers the motor, and check that the valve is not blocked. You should take proper care of your sump pump, especially if you have no backup system.

With a reasonable amount of expense and a small effort in maintenance, a water sump pump system will not only provide your home with protection from flooding, but will also reduce the strain on your foundation. Consider it a home investment and insurance against the loss of valuable possessions – an ounce of prevention.

If you’ve been paying a water/sanitation bill for a while you know how dramatically that particular utility cost has increased in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky (GCNKY) over the last several years. Recently, Kentucky State Senator Thayer was able to keep the lid partially on rate increases, but what can you do to help yourself even more?

Understand your Statement

Most of the district throughout GCNKY use a little known abbreviation “HCF” and then you’ll see the number of HCF’s that you used that particular billing period. They must have begun using HCF when people were freaking out about using so much water. An HCF is one hundred cubic feet of water. Have you ever spoken of water in cubic feet? A cubic foot of water contains 7.48 gallons of water, which means an HCF is…that’s right…748 gallons of water. We helped a customer recently decipher their statement and they discovered they were using about 13,000 gallons of water per month. That means they are using about 1/3 of a gallon of water every minute! That’s expensive, not to mention wasteful.

What Can be Done?

There are so many solutions today, and that can be the very problem – where to begin? Check your toilets for leaks -Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.
Duel flush toilet kits – You can find these a home centers but if you’re not handy by nature, they can be a little tricky to install for the average homeowner. Dual Flush toilets save up to 40% of the water used in flushing, or as much as 10,000 gallons a year for a family of four.  Push the handle one way for “one,” the other way for “two.”
Low flow shower head - They are not what they used to be. Time was, showering under a low flow shower head was like showering under a dripping faucet. That’s no longer the case. Plus, this is an easy install for most anyone.

Make Sure You Know the Facts

That’s the most important thing. The old adage that knowledge is power is certainly true when it comes to understanding your water and sanitation costs.

It never ceases to amaze me the number of homes we evaluate that have high water pressure. What many homeowners do not realize is that they may be voiding their fixture or appliance warranty as a result. Many manufacturers only warranty their products below 60psi. We have had homes throughout Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati test over 80 and even 90psi.

So What?

If the opening paragraph brought on a case of the “so what’s” read just a bit further. High water pressure is to your home plumbing system what high blood pressure is to your body – something eventually has to give. As your water pressure bangs against your faucets, fixtures and appliances seals and fittings are breaking down. That’s why in the middle of the night you might hear your toilet flow, or why you have to really crank the faucet down to stop the dripping. Just to be clear, you should not have to put new gaskets or washers in every 6 months. At 80psi, fixtures and appliances begin to fail.

Gauge connected to a exterior hose bibb.

Get a Gauge

As professional plumbers, we use the most accurate meters available, but you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get an idea if your water pressure is too high. Rain Bird makes pressure meter that you can pick up for $5-$10, all of us at Plumb Tite would suggest you get one and find out if your home is in danger.

If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, or just want a professional to take care of it give us a call.

For the entire month of March 2011, we’ll come out and test your home’s water pressure for FREE, so give us a call 859.727.8483