Spring time is here and in full swing and for many people that means increased pollen and subsequently allergies.a We love plants, or we should, because they provide nutrition and convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into Oxygen. aNot only do flowers and plants provide beauty, as well as a hobby for many they also must pollinate. aAnd it is this pollination that not only allows for plants and flowers to multiply they also wreak havoc for allergy sufferers.

Pollen, as many of you may know, is the small "seedy" part of the plant anatomy. aIt is either scattered about by pollinators (bees and other insects) over longer periods of time, or in the short-term by the wind (sometimes only lasting a week or two per year). aThe latter is a cause of aggravation and suffering for many individuals who on an ongoing basis suffer from congestion, sinusitis, and a reduced ability to breathe. aAside from the destruction of all plant life on the planet (this of course is not an option); the only alternative is to be indoors as much as possible.

Simply being inside a shelter one is protected from the seasonal onslaught of innumerable and varied kinds of airborne bodies intended to make plants propagate, and their indoor concentration is generally lower than outdoors due to the protection from meandering air currents. aFor a reduced presence, one can use a stand-alone air filter unit, which will reduce the particulate concentration in one or more rooms. aWhen that shelter is additionally equipped with a central air mover and distribution system, the indoor concentration will be considerably lower than outdoors.

Unfortunately, not everyone has a central air system and if they do they often are not properly maintained or serviced, so when the most irritating pollen producers such as ragweed are in full season allergy sufferers retreat indoors for relief only to be attacked by indoor allergens. aThat is why it?s so important to have your central air/heating system serviced and maintained at least two times a year or more by a certified Arlington HVAC technician.

For those who suffer severe allergies it might be a wise choice to invest in aawhole-house air purification system.a Installing a whole house air purification system also helps all but eliminate (99%+) of common infectious diseases as well as mold in the fall and winter to pollens and high humidity in the spring and summer.

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There are a lot of "solutions" for a clogged drain in the bathroom sink that homeowners will attempt with little to no success. In most cases, things like liquid pipe cleaner or a plumbing snake are only putting off the inevitable a little longer, as big clogs require that you actually attack them at the source. In most bathrooms, the sink will get clogged at the bottom of the U-trap that connects the basin to the rest of the home's plumbing system. Homeowners who aren't confident in their plumbing skills should always contact an Arlington plumber like John C. Flood to address the pipes in their home, however, minor things like removing the trap in your bathroom sink to clean a clog is a task that requires just some professional skill.

Equip yourself with an old toothbrush and an empty bucket. Position the bucket beneath the trap to catch the excess water that is sure to fall out. Be prepared for some unfamiliar smells when you actually go about untwisting the trap, as the main function of this piece is to literally "trap" water in a way that will block unpleasant plumbing odors.

The washer may need the help of a wrench or pliers to loosen at first, but avoid putting too much pressure on itaso you don't strip or break the piece. Once you have removed the trap, soak it in a bowl with water and use the old toothbrush to help work out any clogs until the pipe is clean. It's a good idea to soak the trap for an extended period of time to guarantee that you don't run into clogs in the future.

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If you?ve tried everything suggested above and you haven?t been able to find the source of the leakaor fix the leak, this is a good time to get professional help. At Terry?s Plumbing, we help people just like you to maintain their home?s plumbing and avoid costly disasters. If you live in or around Pittsburgh and need help with your plumbing, or if you have a leak you just can?t seem to fix, contact us today. We can help you determine the source of your problem and can also make repairs.

The bathroom rule is like the kitchen rule: if it isn?t clean, the house isn?t clean. And when you really step back and think of all of the unsanitary and down right gross things your bathroom floors, countertops, and showers experience, there's a good chance your bathroom isn't clean. So, before you offically start gearing up for spring-cleaning, let's discuss how to properly sanitize your bathroom.

What Type of Surface Do You Have?

• How to Clean Granite & Marble: These two surfaces have a lot in common, so the methods by which you'd go about cleaning them are identical. First and foremost, it's worth mentioning that if you clean either of these too much, they'll lose their shine (which nobody wants). To keep everything shiny, useaa stone cleaner or mild detergent, and be sure the products you choose don't contain dye. Dye can transfer onto the surface, resulting in a big mess that could have been easily avoided. Also, stay away from powdered cleansers, steel wool, metal scrapers, andacolored scrub pads, all of which will also have an adverse reaction with both granite and marble. If you choose to protect grantite or marble flooring with a floor finish, remember that the finish must be buffed or burnished first to protect the surface.
• How to Clean Stone & Tile: Both tile and stone can be cared for the same wayaand need to be cleaned regularly so dirt and dust won?t wear them down.aIf you have stone or tile flooring,ause aasoft mop or a vacuum that doesn?t use a rotating brush; neither of these will damage your floors. Whether you're cleaning your floor or your countertop, be sure to avoid liquid soft scrubs and anything acidicaas these willadull tile and stone surfaces.
• How to Clean Laminate: Laminate floorsacan also easily be cleanedawith a vacuum or mop. Just don'tacompletely soak your mop in detergents: doing so is likely to leave a film on the floor which will dull theafinish. In fact, you can skip the detergent alltogether, as research suggests mopping with plain water is the best way to clean laminate floors! Avoid waxing, polishing, sanding, or refinishing your laminate flooring, and spot-clean nail polish, markers, or tarastainsawith acetone or nail polish remover.
• How to Clean Porcelain: When cleaning porcelain, all you need is a mop and someaporcelain tile cleaner. Before you jump in with the mop, it?s a good idea to vacuum or sweep the floor first to pick up anyaexcess dirt. Then, be sure to mop in small sections to make sure the cleaner is applied and removed from your floor after it has had a chance to set in. Don't let any cleaneradry on your porcelain; doing so means riskingastains and streaking. Once you've mopped with the porcelain cleaner, rinse thoroughly with water.
• How to Clean Vinyl & Linoleum: Vinyl and linoleum floorings can get a quick clean with sweeping or vacuuming. When mopping, all you'll need is a mild soap - but don't forget to sweep these floors a couple of times a week to avoid dirt and dust from settling in. Avoid waxing vinylafloors at all costs. However, linoleum floors love a good wax with liquid acrylic floor polishes.

It?s so easy to feel like you need to rush in and start cleaning like crazy, however you need to make sure your cleaning products are able to do their job on the surface type you wish to spray. Some cleaning products have extremely toxic chemicals. You also want to make sure the chemicals in the products you own don?t harm or destroy your surfaces. This is a lot to comprehend; but no worries! The "Picky Peoples? Plumber" is here for you through every step of the way. Give Ken's Plumbing a callatoday at (864)-242-5511 or schedule a service today.

Be sure to check out other posts on our blog and join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ to see why people call us "The Picky People's Plumber!"

When you need to fix a problematic pipe that's deep in the ground or under an object you don?t want to dig up, trenchless plumbing technology can be a great solution.

With trenchless technology, it?s possible to repair many common pipe issues or even completely replace a pipe without having to disturb you landscaping.

Two popular trenchless plumbing repair solutions are:

Pipe bursting involves destroying the old, busted pipe and replacing it with a completely new pipe.

A steel bursting head is inserted into the pipeline at one entry point. A chain is run from the head to a designated exit point. Once in place, the bursting head is used to fracture the old pipe.

New pipe is attached to the back of the bursting head, and immediately replaces the busted pipe as the bursting head travels.

CIPP lining reinforces existing pipe and repairs gaps, cracks, and other faults by feeding an epoxy-coated liner into the existing pipe and curing it to the walls of the pipe using an inflatable bladder.

Basically, it?s like installing a brand-new pipe inside of the existing pipe.

In many cases, pipe bursting would be considered the better process.

First, with pipe bursting, there is no loss of internal diameter for your pipes. The replacement pipe being dragged into place by the bursting head will be the same size as the original pipe. This means that there will be less risk of restricting water flow in the pipe after the operation is finished.

Second, because the old pipe is being destroyed and replaced, the condition of the old pipe has almost no effect on the replacement process. Unless the pipe is completely collapsed and filled in (blocking the path of the chain dragging the bursting head), damage to the pipe wall will not affect the replacement process.

With CIPP lining, buildup in the pipe walls can further reduce the diameter of the new lining?meaning the pipe needs to be cleaned of such buildup prior to lining it.

One advantage of CIPP lining over pipe bursting is that the old pipe can act as an extra layer of protection for the new lining. Also, for simple problems like cracks and small gaps, CIPP lining may be less costly than pipe bursting.

Which solution is better for fixing your particular plumbing problem? Contact an experienced plumber today to find out!

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