How to Install Chandelier Lights

How to Install Chandelier Lights

A chandelier helps bring your entire kitchen and dining room together. It becomes the main source of light for the dining room. Many family dinners, laughs, and memories will be had under this fixture. Choosing a chandelier is, of course, a hard choice. However, installing that chandelier does not have to be as hard as choosing it. Follow these handy steps to install the chandelier of your dreams to complete the dining room you’ve always wanted.

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Save With These Energy Tips

Save With These Energy Tips

With the rising cost of energy, we are always looking for ways to save both energy and money. When purchasing our appliances, central units, and water heaters we look at the energy labels, we add more insulation to our homes during remodels or a new build because every little bit counts. But did you know there are little things that you can do to help reduce your energy bill and save money throughout the year?

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Planning Your New Bathtub

Planning Your New Bathtub

Buying a bathtub may seem easy. It may seem a no-brainer- just pick a color, choose the size and shape, and you’ll be walking out of the store with a designer bathtub. But this is not always the case. Know what you are looking for before making that purchase. At PlumbTile, our online Bath and Tile Design Showroom, you will be presented with a variety of products that will go well with your bathroom requirements. The site will help you consider different options, and not limit you to just the shape or color of tubs.

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Easy Steps to Install Your New Sink

Easy Steps to Install Your New Sink

Your shiny new bathroom sink, along with a new faucet and countertop, will jazz up your bathroom design as much as new flooring and accessories, and for a lot less money. Before you start the installation process though, make sure you have all the measurements you need to connect the sink to the drain including the inside the pipe fittings and how much space there is underneath your sink.

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It is Time to Replace Your Faucet

It is Time to Replace Your Faucet

Is it time to replace a faucet in your kitchen or bathroom?  While some people may think that it is a challenge replacing a leaky or outdated faucet isn’t always as difficult as you may think. You can easily tackle the project with a basin wrench and a few other common tools. Usually, it will only take about an hour. The same steps will apply if you are installing a new faucet onto a new sink.

Newport Brass Kitchen Faucet

Removing the old faucet:

Step 1: Turn off the water supply. The valves are typically under the sink. If not, turn the water off at the main valve. Then turn on the faucet to relieve any water pressure left in the lines.

Step 2: Disconnect the supply lines from the faucet. Use a basin wrench if you can’t reach the connections with your hands.

Step 3: Disconnect the lift rod, and then remove the nuts from under the faucet.

Remove the drain:

Step 4: Unscrew the slip nut on the P-trap. Put a bucket underneath to catch water in the trap.

Step 5: Disconnect the drain flange from the tailpiece. It should unscrew.

Step 6: Clean the old drain and faucet holes. Mineral spirits can help to remove old silicone sealant.

Install the New Faucet:

Step 7: Follow the manufacturer’s directions for specific installation instructions. Most installations begin with installing the gasket on the bottom of the faucet. Some require sealant of plumber’s putty. Then put the faucet through the mounting holes in the sink and tighten the mounting nuts.

Step 8: Not all faucets come preassembled, so you may have to attach the handles. It is relatively easy. Slip the guide ring onto the bottom of the handle, position it on the faucet base, and secure with the setscrew. A setscrew is a tiny screw on the underside of the handle. Your faucet probably came with a hex wrench to tighten it.

Step 9: Next move onto the drain. Screw the nut all the way down on the drain body and push the gasket over it. Some gaskets are threaded and simply screw into place.

Step 10: Apply just a little bit of silicone under the flange. Position the drain body on the bottom of the sink- making sure the pivot hole is facing the back- and screw the flange on from the top side.

Step 11: Underneath, tighten the nut and gasket. On the top, use mineral spirits to clean up excess silicone.

Step 12: Install the drain rod next. Unscrew the pivot nut on the drain body, insert the horizontal rod through the hole in the stopper, and replace the nut. Push the horizontal rod down and secure the lift rod to the strap with the screw. Test the lift rod.

Step 13: Reconnect the supply lines to the faucet. If your sink is already in place, use a basin wrench to reach the faucet shanks.

Step 14: Flush the faucet by removing the aerator. This gets rid of debris or sediment in the faucet. Some faucets include a handy little tool to unscrew the aerator. When you’re done, keep it inside your vanity or with the rest of your tools. Turn on the hot and cold water for about a minute. Check all of the connections for leaks and retighten if necessary. Screw the aerator back on and you are done.

If you are in the market for a new kitchen or bathroom faucet, contact us at Plumbtile and we can help you pick from many options of quality kitchen and bathroom faucets for your home.

Get Your Bathroom Ready for Holiday Guests

Brizo bathroom

The holidays are a time of togetherness, and togetherness means guests.  Whether they be guests staying from out of town or simply guests visiting for a dinner party, their presence will not be confined to the family room or dining room.  They will be traipsing in and out of your bathroom as well.  Why not dress up your bathroom and make a great impression? Continue reading →

Easy Steps for Laying Tile

Porcelanosa outdoor tile

Every DIY project comes with a level of difficulty- and laying a stone patio is one of those tasks high on the complexity scale. This job requires heavy lifting, cement mixing, and crawling on the ground all day. If you are up for that kind of challenge, here are some helpful tips to make your work a lot easier. Setting patio stone is comparable to laying bathroom tiles. The major difference is the weight. While setting bathroom tiles can be done by one hand, it takes a lot of strength and brawn to move heavy stones. The simplest of projects can take up to four days, while large-scale ones can take months to complete. Continue reading →