One of the biggest trends in bathrooms right now is the freestanding tub. In the past, there was talk about Jacuzzis and whirlpools as the place to relax after a long day. Or even taking a trip to the spa. What the freestanding tub can do is give you the relaxation and spa-like oasis in the comfort of your bathroom. A freestanding tub is accessible from all sides (depending upon placement) so there is ease in cleaning and entering the tub. These tubs can become show pieces and focal points to the bathroom, so they are a way to truly show off your style as well.

Material/Design/Color

It seems for freestanding tubs that the decorative options are endless. One thing to keep in mind is to consider the amount of free space that you have in your bathroom. Because the freestanding tub will be accessible on all sides, the plumbing will need to be addressed. Most of the time in bathrooms, the plumbing is hidden. With a built-in tub, the option is easy; the plumbing is in the wall attached to the tub. With a freestanding tub, more consideration needs to be given. The plumbing could be below the tub, hidden in the flooring.

Material

It is important to determine the strength of the floor relative to the weight of the tub. Some materials available for tubs can be acrylic, stone, porcelain, fiberglass, copper, brass and cast iron. A cast iron tub will be considerably heavier than a fiberglass tub.

Placement of the tub is another factor. You can put the tub off to the side, possibly make a little alcove for it, or you can put the tub in the center of the room. This option might be decided better when you consider your design choices.

Design

Consider the shape of the tub you desire.a How does the shape fit into the current space available? Does it work as is, or do you need to make more room? Would you have the tub sit directly on the floor, or would you prefer to lift it by adding claw feet? Were you looking for an oval, square or round tub? These questions will help you figure out where best to place your tub in the room.

Colors

The color that you choose can depend on the material used for the tub. Other than that, you are limited only by your imagination. You can choose a matte color to complement your current color scheme or choose a bright color to draw the eye straight to the tub.

We Can Help You

Have questions regarding the best options for your bathroom remodel project? We can review your space and discuss options with you regarding your choices for your available space. We can help you pick out a tub and install it for you to get you relaxing and soaking in no time. Give us a call at (440) 884-4600 or email at customerservice@littsplumbing.com.

Be honest: do you use your toilet as a backup garbage disposal? Perhaps you?ve flushed away old, leftover chili or held a few fish funerals in your bathroom. If your toilet doesn?t clog after those actions, you assume it can handle the waste.

But despite what your previous experience taught you, some things should never take a trip down the toilet. The list below details the top 10 items not to flush.

1. Feminine Hygiene Products

Many women assume that if the tampon box says ?flushable,? you can dispose of these products in your plumbing. That?s a common misconception. By design, feminine hygiene products absorb liquid and expand. This property makes them prone to getting stuck in your pipes-especially pipes with grime already built up on the edges.

Rather than flush them, wrap feminine hygiene products in toilet paper and throw them in the garbage.

2. Medicines or Vitamins

Anything pharmaceutical should stay out of your toilet. If you flush expired pills, old vitamins, or other medications, they contaminate whatever water supply they end up in. There, they harm fish and other marine life. They may even reenter drinking water supplies in trace amounts.

3. Baby Wipes and Similar Cloths

Baby wipes seem similar to toilet paper, so what?s the harm in flushing them? But since these cloths are thicker than toilet paper and more resistant to disintegration, they can easily ball up and get stuck in your plumbing.

You shouldn?t flush the following disposable cloths either:

Disinfectant wipes

Facial cleansing cloths

Moist towelettes

4. Napkins or Paper Towels

People flush napkins and paper towels for the same reason they flush baby wipes: they seem so similar to toilet paper. However, these paper products are also too bulky to pass through pipes without problems.

5. Fats, Oils, and Grease

You?ve heard that cooking oils and excess fat should stay out of your kitchen drain. Apply the same rule in your toilets. Leftover cooking grease might be warm liquids when you pour them down the toilet, but they quickly cool and stick to the pipe walls. Pipes lined with grease and oil act like sticky bug traps. Items try to pass through, but they can?t escape. A clogged toilet is the unfortunate result.

6. Hair

You take care not to let your hair flow down your shower drain. You know all that hair builds up over time, creates huge clogs and leads to standing water. The same problem can occur in the pipes beneath your toilet when you flush unwanted hair. Hair tangles, gets caught on debris, and creates a clog.

Next time you pull extra hair off your brush, throw it into your trash can, not your toilet.

7. Dental Floss

Dental floss causes problems similar to those created by flushed hair. This fiber forms knots and can easily get stuck in the plumbing. Although it frays effortlessly when you pull it between your teeth, floss is quite strong. Even a thin string of floss could block larger waste from passing through pipes freely. Plus, dental floss is not biodegradable, so it won?t disintegrate over time.

8. Plastic, Rubber, or Latex

Many common consumer products contain these materials, including many goods that add simplicity and convenience to your life. But those products are anything but convenient when they end up in the sewers. For example, condoms can inflate and obstruct waste disposal pathways.

Other consumer products to keep out of your toilet include the following:

Cotton swabs

Plastic wrap

Rubber or latex gloves

Bandages

Candy wrappers

9. Kitty Litter

These tiny particles seem harmless. After all, pet waste would be similar to human waste, and these small bits of sand or stone shouldn?t accumulate too much on pipe walls. Some litter manufacturers even advertise that their product is flushable.

However, ?flushable? remains a myth with kitty litter, too. Cat waste contains a parasite that may be dangerous to other animals. Some scientists have discovered that parasite in ocean-dwelling animals, including Hawaiian monk seals, California sea otters, and humpback whales.

10. Food

Food might seem okay to flush because it?s biodegradable and doesn?t contain the dangerous components found in cat litter or medicine. But as rule you shouldn?t dispose of food in your toilet. Larger chunks could become caught and cause clogs. Even some smaller pieces, such as egg shell bits or coffee grounds, can be problematic.

Smells are another reason to keep food out of your toilet. Food that gets stuck in the pipes under your toilet could create unpleasant odors as the food decomposes.

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Now that you know what not to flush, promise you?ll never to put these items in your toilet again. Teach your family members and houseguests to do the same, and you?ll avoid clogged toilets and costly plumbing repairs.

And if you already have a problem toilet that clogs or overflows often, bring in a licensed plumber to evaluate it.

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In recent years the exploration and development of natural gas from shale has led to extremely low prices, especially when compared to heating oil costs. So changing your heating system from heating oil to natural gas could be a no-brainer depending on your present system and availability of gas in your area. The difference is so great in many cases thatathe costs for a typical residential conversion to natural gas could be re-couped within five years and sometimes even sooner.

There are other benefits derived from converting to natural gas besides the money saved in long-term energy consumption. These benefits include:

?aFuel is payed foraas you use it and not before.

? Gas is readily available and not stored in a tank.

? Natural gas is better for the environment as they reduce green-house gases and other pollutants.

? Converting to natural gas isaadvantageous for the country ? all the gas you will consume is produced in the United States.

? In the home, natural gas can also be used for cooking, producing efficient domestic hot water, drying clothes and powering your fireplace and/or outdoor BBQ.

? Your home will be less drafty and cleaner as high-efficiency gas heating equipment uses outside air and doesn?t waste heat up a chimney.

So get rid of that old oil tank and call your Heating, Cooling and Plumbing experts at ServiceMark and let usaexplain to you all the benefits of switching to natural gas today.

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Unless your very comfortable with DIY home improvement, it?s best to call a professional to fix your leak. Residents of the Pittsburg area can contact Terry?s Plumbing to repair their leaking pipes. Our professional and courteous staff are standing by to help?and we also have a 24 hour plumbing emergency hotline!