by Travis T. Fish

Okay, folks, it’s time to gear up for some simple do-it-yourself home repairs with the help of Cowan Supply’s crack team of experts! In this episode, we’ll deal with replacing your toilet’s fill valve. This is one of the easiest home plumbing repairs that you can do, and doing it yourself will save you time and money and keep you from having to bring in a plumber.

The first step in the process is to secure the incoming water to the toilet. Typically, there is a shutoff valve right at the bottom of the toilet. Just make sure that it shut off and secure and your good to go. Once you’ve done that, remove the tank lid and put it in a safe place. These can shatter if they fall, so take this into consideration tank lids vary by manufacturer and can prove to be very costly when they’re broken.

The next step is releasing all the water still in the tank and this is done by simply holding the tank lever down, letting out as much of the water as possible. Once the tank is been drained, remove the excess water with a sponge, shop vac, or towel.

Next we have to remove the supply line from the fill valve. After it’s removed, remove the shank nut from the fill valve. Now you should be able to remove the fill valve from the tank. There are a wide variety of different fill valves available, so your best bet is simply to bring the fill valve that you’re replacing to Cowan Supply – Atlanta’s most trusted name in plumbing supplies – and let us assist you in selecting the fill valve that’s right for you. In addition, we’ll be happy to help with any advice you might need in getting the job done. We can also help bathtubs, showers, faucets and more. Just stop and ask. Will be waiting for you.

Even though Cowan Supply – Atlanta’s most trusted name in plumbing supplies – enthusiastically supports people who love to tackle small plumbing jobs themselves, there are a few things to be concerned about before picking up that ranch. One of these is just what is covered in your homeowners insurance up plumbing failure due to construction or workmanship problems, for example, is typically something that will not be covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Take the time to read the fine print of your policy and you’ll see that there are workmanship exclusions by work done either by contractor or homeowner this is why licensed plumbers carry a separate general liability insurance policy.

As we’ve pointed out many times, and as most people already know, service calls with a professional plumber can get quite expensive. But you also got to consider that one of the reasons plumbers charge what they do is because of the extreme liability that comes with working on a highly pressurized system.

When you have a supply line that has a bad connection, joint, or foes it has the potential of creating devastating problems within minutes. An open water line runs at a much higher flow rate than any fixture throughout your home. Say you’re at work one day, and a pipe bursts on the second floor of your home. By the time you return, that one week can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Now, if the cause of this plumbing failure is a faulty hose connector, for example, the damages will be covered by homeowners insurance. If, however, the damage was the result of faulty workmanship, those damages will be coming straight out of your pocket. Sometimes, it’s not even a matter of having the ability or knowledge to make the repairs. Things can always go wrong. This is why it’s important to gauge the seriousness of your plumbing problems when making the decision as to whether to turn to a professional. Even master plumbers wouldn’t attempt serious plumbing repairs if there liability insurances did not specifically cover such situations.

At Cowan Supply, we can provide you with all the tools you need to create the kitchen or bath of your dreams, from tubs to sinks, toilets to showers, and everything in between, call on us to gear yourself up. But remember, don’t bite off more than you can chew when it comes to doing work!

While it’s not quite as essential an appliance in your kitchen as your refrigerator, kitchen sink, or faucets, a good garbage disposal can be a very handy tool in your kitchen’s arsenal. That said, your garbage disposal can be either your best friend or your worst enemy in the kitchen proper use and maintenance will assure that your garbage disposal remains a smooth operator. However, there’s almost nothing worse than a clogged or inoperative disposal. There are definite do’s and don’ts of operation and maintenance.

* Do keep your garbage disposal clean. After washing dishes, add a drop of dish washing liquid to your disposal and let it run with cold water for fumigants if you noticing and especially foul odor from the disposal, cut a lemon and dispose of this natural freshener to neutralize odors.

* Do run your disposal regularly. To avoid rust and corrosion on the blades of your garbage disposal, but it at least once a day.

* Do use only cold water. It is essential that you use only cold water when operating your garbage disposal. The reason for this is to solidify any grease or fats to allow for proper chopping before the matter reaches the trap.

* Do grind some hard items. Certain hard items in your garbage disposal act as scouring agents to clean your unit. Hard items that can be disposed of include small chicken bones, fish bones, eggshells, and small fruit pits. To be sure, check your manufacturer’s recommendations.

* Do cut large items. Rather than trying to stuff large items, cut them into manageable pieces. Dispose of smaller pieces one at a time, rather than forcing them all at once.

There are also some don’ts…

*Space don’t grind nonbiodegradable items. Your garbage disposal is intended for foodstuffs only. Never place anything but food scraps in the unit! This includes but is not limited to: metal, plastic, paper, combustibles, and cigarette butts.

* Don’t pour grease or fat into your garbage disposal. While small quantities of grease and fat will ultimately wind up in your disposal, repeated intentional pouring large quantities will congeal, accumulate and negatively affect the disposals operation. Additionally, this accumulation can clog your drains and the odor that accompanies fat and grease is highly unappetizing!

* Don’t grind fibrous items. Your garbage disposal cannot cut fibrous materials and the fibers will wrap around the blades causing the unit jam. Some examples of extremely fibrous materials include celery, artichokes, onion skins and corn husks. Again, check your manufacturer’s recommendations.

* Don’t stop grinding until the job is finished. Always be certain that all matter is thoroughly ground before turning the disposal off. You can hear when the disposal has finished its work; always turn disposal off first, then let cold water continue to run for 15 to 30 seconds longer to wash any fine particles down the drain.

* Don’t grind a large quantity of potatoes. The starchy potatoes and potato peels will turn into a paste that will jam the blades of your disposal.

* Don’t feed your disposal expandable foods. Pasta, rice and other dehydrated foods expand when water is introduced. This will cause undue expansion and cause jams and drink lots.

* Don’t grind coffee grounds. Coffee grounds can accumulate in pipes and cause clogs. While not harmful to your disposal, it is best not to invite trouble down the line.

* Don’t grind large animal bones. Large bones (pork, beef, etc.) Will splinter and jam the blades.

* Don’t use harsh chemicals. Bleach and commercial drain cleaners can damage the blades on your garbage disposal. Check your manufacturer’s recommendations were approved products.

And finally, one which should be common sense but still needs to be included:

* Don’t put your hand in the garbage disposal!!! Never, ever put your hand in a garbage disposal.

Stop by Cowan Supply to check out a variety of different garbage disposals. There’s no doubt you’ll find one that fits your particular needs. Or visit our website at www.cowansupply.com for more information on our 4000 ft.² luxury plumbing showroom.

There’s a reason we have our family physician: Going to a doctor you know – and who knows you – makes a lot of sense when it comes to dealing with health issues. In situations such as this, trust goes a long way. To homeowner, that same way of thinking should apply to your plumber.. To a lot of people, unfortunately plumbing services are one of those things that they usually only need in emergencies. When their sink or tub starts leaking or they find themselves swimming in their bathroom from an overflowing toilet, they often reach out and call the first plumber they find. But doing that can result in overpaying for poor plumbing repairs that can cause bigger problems down the road. A plumber may install a fix but only temporarily relieves an issue, but only worsens the fixed they’ll need down the road. It makes sense to find a reliable plumbing service in advance in your area. You can use a phone to do this, but the Internet is typically the better option and will provide more information.

It’s a good idea to make a list of five plumbers you think about using and begin finding out about them. Call these plumbing companies and ask some basic and necessary questions:

1. Are you a licensed plumber?
2. Are all of your technicians licensed?
3. Are you insured?
4. Do you offer 24 hour emergency service?
5. What is your normal response time after a call is made?
6. What are your service rates?
7. Do you charge for travel time or going to get parts?
8. Do you charge overtime rights?
9. Can you provide five references of clients I can talk to?

Additionally, you can often find customer testimonials on company websites. There are also websites that offer customer reviews that you can check to find out about the types of services that others have had with the service. It’s also important to share what you know with others. If you had a bad experience with a plumber repairing your toilet fixing your faucet or installing your tub, let others know. Disreputable plumbers give a bad name to the entire industry and people need to know about.

At Cowan Supply – Atlanta’s most trusted name in plumbing supplies – we believe in supporting you, the homeowners, when it comes to making sure your home improvements are done right, with a strong knowledge base leading the way. Our expert staff can help guide you towards making the right decisions. Whatever the task – from a simple shower head install to a major bathroom renovation, we can help provide the product and the know-how. Visit our website at www.cowansupply.com today, or stop by our 4,000 square foot luxury showroom to learn more.

By Travis T. Fish

Springtime is here at last! Although we had a pretty mild winter here in Georgia, it’s still wonderful to see the flowers bloom, green leaves on the trees and warm, springtime temperatures. In addition to doing your spring cleaning, springtime is also a good time to tackle those renovation projects you’ve been putting off all winter. And a great place to start is the bathroom! How about a new faucet? Is it time to change out that showerhead? And wouldn’t an upgrade to the luxurious garden tub be the perfect addition to your home? The cool thing is all of this can be done and more with just a little bit of know-how and a visit to Cowan Supply! Our 4000 ft.² luxury showroom has everything you need to create the bathroom of your dreams! We not only have everything that you’re looking for, we also have merchandise you never thought you could get! Come and check out a touch faucet, or one of our luxury, high-end toilets. You really don’t know what you’re missing until you come and give us a visit! But more important than having the merchandise, our staff has the experience to steer you in the right direction in making sensible choices and giving sound advice as to design and installation. Now there’s no doubt that some of these projects might be just a little above the head of the average do-it-yourselfer. At Cowan Supply,we will take the time to explain to you the difficulties of what you have in mind and give you a clear picture as to whether or not you can try it yourself, or whether you need to call in and experienced professional. As the springtime temperatures bring the earth back to life again let Cowan Supply bring new life to your home! For more information on how Colin can bring new life to your bathroom, visit our website atwww.cowansupply.com or stop by our showroom. Either way, you won’t be disappointed!