Jim Jennette is HRG’s resident plumbing expert of our popular “Ask the Experts” section, regularly answering the plethora of plumbing questions sent in by our readers. With more than 20 years of plumbing experience, Jim’s extensive knowledge and resources give him the tools to tackle any plumbing issue or question. Jim Jennette works at the Mr. Rooter Corporation now coaching Mr. Rooter franchise owners in every aspect of their businesses as a franchise consultant, a position he’s had for over five years.  Jim is also skilled in garbage disposals, water heaters and boilers as well as pipe bursting and relining, which is new technology to replace broken underground piping without digging up yards and sidewalks.

Here is a round up of some frequently asked questions, which may be of great help to you!

QUESTION: My wife accidentally dropped some coins down the bathroom sink and I would like to know the simplest way to get them out.

You can get the coins out by disconnecting the trap, which is located below the sink and is directly connected to the drain. The trap can hold on to heavier items such as coins or jewelry that are dropped down the sink drain. Using a wrench, you can detach the trap by disconnecting the top and bottom fittings holding it on to the pipes and then unscrewing them. If the trap is chrome or copper, it may have deteriorated over time and could crumble upon removal. If this happens you will need to replace the trap. You can get a replacement trap at a home store or local plumbing supply store. You simply put it back on as it came off. If you are unsure, you may want to call in a plumbing professional. You can always call a plumber to recover the coins if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.

QUESTION: My toilet bubbles when I flush it, and the water level rises to the top, almost overflowing and finally sinks back down, but sometimes doesn’t clear what is being flushed. Sometimes the water level stays high and when I plunge it, it’s better but after awhile the same thing happens. Do I need a plumber or can I just get stuff from the store to get it flushing normally again?

No, there is not a simple drain opener you can buy from the store. Since there are a couple different scenarios that could be causing the problem you describe, I would recommend you call a plumbing company. A plumber has the knowledge and tools necessary to repair this problem in a safe and proper way.

The bubbles generally indicate the toilet is gasping for air as it attempts to flush. Your toilet is connected to a house stack, which is a pipe that runs from your sewer line in the opposite way, up through the roof of the building. This allows the pipe to “breath”, allowing an escape for air and creating the partial vacuum that allows the toilet to flush down the sewer pipe. If something has lodged itself in this stack pipe it can prohibit a good flush. The object will need to be removed, usually by a ‘snaking’ operation of the pipe, which a plumber can easily do.

The other possible problem is rare, but on occasion an object can become stuck in the throat of the toilet (the portion you do not see as the flush passes to the sewer line). This may be the reason your plunging will work on occasion. It may dislodge the object for a few flushes but it then reverts back to its former location, blocking the flush again. This can usually be remedied by removing the toilet from the floor and searching for the object from the underside of the toilet. I’ve found small toys and action figures, large plastic caps and even credit cards that can act as a cantilever and lodge permanently in the toilet. Removing any of these objects that cannot be found once the toilet is lifted from the floor may require breaking the toilet and then installing a new one. The toilet would have to be reset to the floor with a new wax seal to prevent leakage. Again, a plumber can do this for you.

QUESTION: the nuts under the sink connected to the water lines are stripped, and my tap wrench cannot grasp the nut, how do I remove them?

I would use a basin wrench, which has a long arm that allows you to reach high into the under sink area. It has a set of ribbed jaws (much like a large wrench) that can grasp a stripped nut or one in a difficult location. You can buy a basin wrench at a local plumbing supply house or a home improvement store.

QUESTION: Over the last few weeks, we have been getting a nasty odour from the kitchen drain. We’ve tried flushing it with Drano, vinegar, baking soda, etc but to no avail. A friend tells me that because the kitchen drain is not vented, the odour is probably sewer gas. We have been in the home 1.5 years so I asked him why we would only be having the problem recently. He stated that because there have been a lot of new homes in the area, there’s likely more pressure on the overall system now and therefore the gas is being forced back through the water in the trap. Any thoughts or suggestions?

The first issue may be rather serious because all waste systems in houses and commercial property must have proper venting. If the line in question is NOT vented, this needs to be corrected immediately. Venting helps provide air to be introduced into the system, assisting in the removal of waste water down drain lines and preventing foul odors.

The other device that is important is the trap under the sink. This device develops a water seal that prevents gases from entering the dwelling and is a critical part of any plumbing system. If the line is vented and there is a trap seal, there is another possibility in cold climates called “hoary frost’ that can develop. It occurs when the venting exiting the roof of the dwelling has ice and snow buildup, and it freezes solid, preventing the house gases from exiting and creating gurgle sounds and possible foul odor in the system.

If you are unsure about which of these effects are taking place, consult a qualified plumber to check it out.

QUESTION: We are getting septic odours from 2nd floor bathroom sink especially in very cold weather. Is water being pulled out of the trap?? What is the fix? No issues with tub or toilet.

Water is being pulled out of the trap. This sort of problem usually occurs in the northern parts of North America, and it usually involves a heavy buildup of snow on the roof. A simple solution would be to cut the vent pipe in the attic area and insert a new longer piece of vent pipe up through the roof. Be sure to reconnect the vent pipe and seal it in. It should be above the deepest anticipated snowfall lines. The only other option would be to defrost the pipe every time it snows, but that is not too practical.

QUESTION: We are planning to renovate our basement bathroom. The existing plumbing pipe for the sink comes up from the floor and it seems that a full vanity is required just to hide this black pipe. The contractor has advised that there is nothing that can be done to change that, and that a pedestal sink or a vanity that is open at the base are not options. There isn’t really enough room for a vanity - one of the cupboard doors on the previous vanity wouldn’t open fully because the toilet is too close. We presume that the plumbing could be changed, but is the contractor really saying that it would be very costly to do so?

The line can be rerouted to accommodate a pedestal sink, but I can’t tell you how much it will cost without looking at it. I would get an estimate from a plumber. How much time and money are you willing to devote to this task? A “false” wall could be constructed and the floor jack hammered up to make the proper moves to accommodate the new fixture. The pipe could then be run up the false wall to the proper height to the rough, which is the point where the pipes protrude from the wall to where the sink will be attached, in the pedestal sink. Remember that the line must be vented to provide air supply to the system and to be in code compliance.

QUESTION: My Bathroom sink takes up to one hour to drain. I have disconnected the trap and cleaned properly. As soon as I unscrew the trap it drain very quickly. But as soon as the trap is reconnected there is no suction to drain the water out of the sink. Please help.

The drain is probably clogged downstream from the trap. It will need to be cleaned out using an electromechanical snaking machine or a high velocity water jetter machine, which is even better. Only a trained professional should use the second choice as other damage may occur if not operated properly.

For more handy tips and info, check out the new “Mrs.” Rooter blog, MrsRooter.com, which will officially launch in September, written by the company president Mary Kennedy Thompson.

by Chris Johnson

With energy-efficiency gaining in popularity among consumers and businesses, Pegasus Associates Lighting has created a new section on its website dedicated to its energy-efficient lighting products. This new section makes it easier for visitors to find the energy-efficient LED light fixtures, fluorescent fixtures, metal halide light bulbs, and air tight recessed housings that the company offers. Additional energy-efficient lighting offered by the company includes metal halide light bulbs, air tight recessed lighting housings, California Title 24 compliant lighting products, and a number of ENERGY STAR® light fixtures.

LED lighting is probably the most discussed energy-efficient lighting product on the market today and for good reason.  Dr. Thomas E. Farin, President and founder of Pegasus Associates Lighting explained how switching can make an impact . “LED lighting is really exciting. For example, the 6-inch LED downlight module uses 85% less energy than a conventional incandescent downlight, and 50% less energy than comparable fluorescent downlights. This, obviously, amounts to considerable savings on an electric bill.”

While LED lighting may be the most discussed energy-efficient lighting product, fluorescent is still a very good choice for many applications and uses. Fluorescent lighting is currently the most energy-efficient for the given amount of light that the fixture produces. Moreover, fluorescent lighting has made great strides with light bulbs that provide warmer color temperatures and good to excellent color rendering, very efficient, instant start, electronic ballasts that turn on instantly with no flickering, and lower profile fixtures that generate very little heat.

Dr. Farin and his company are committed to providing homeowners with similar products, “We look forward to offering our residential and business customers an ever growing line of energy-efficient lighting in the near future.”

About Pegasus Associates Lighting
Founded in 1993, Pegasus Associates Lighting is a lighting distributor with a strong Internet presence selling “unique lighting products for your special needs.”  The company, based near Pittsburgh in Beaver Falls, PA, attracts both individual and corporate shoppers who value a learning experience in lighting, competitive pricing, and an easy-to-use, intuitive website.  For more information, visit  www.PegasusAssociates.com.

By Janice Clements

image from www.clementsinteriors.com

As a professional interior decorator, I am constantly on the hunt for new and fabulous finds for my clients. I regularly help them replace unwanted items in their homes with the latest-and-greatest decor trends available in what seems to be an ever expanding home fashions industry.

Typically on a renovation site I am presented with the question of what to do with the materials removed during the demolition process. In the course of doing business, our company has made many trips to the local dump to dispose of unwanted materials. Recently, some on our crew carefully removed and chose to reuse some cabinets from a site which were destined for the dump but where in perfect condition. Though this may sound elementary to some, I was thrilled to see the materials were not going to waste and were in fact being put to good use elsewhere, and I was even happier to know that there were people who saw the intrinsic value in these items. It made me begin to question my own role in the cycle of wastefulness, one that goes far beyond the extent of my personal recycling and composting habits at home.

Since that experience, I have begun to ask myself some tough questions: Does my role as a decorator unnecessarily overshadow my role as a member of the larger society who should be making more of an effort to protect the environment and avoid needlessly adding to landfills? Do I as a professional have a greater opportunity and responsibility to be lending a helping hand to those in our community who are in need and simply want to build a home of which they can be proud?

So, I turn the tables on myself to see what I am made of, and I look to the wonderful charitable organization Habitat for Humanity to help me consider what impact I can make by learning to creatively “re-purpose” old building materials and household items; to help with looking away from the home decor trends laid out like an all-you-can-eat-buffet by the industry around me and towards setting my own trends which will ensure that I avoid unnecessarily contributing to the growing wastefulness problem. I cannot vow to be perfect in this endeavour, but I do vow to do my best.

If like many, you’ve already heard of Habitat for Humanity, here’s what you may already know:

· Habitat consists of over 35,000 volunteers and 72 affiliate organizations from coast to coast.

· Habitat Canada is a member of Habitat for Humanity International which is now building a new home for a needy family every 21 minutes.

· Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live.

· Habitat’s mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.

If like me, this is where your knowledge about this organization ended, here’s what you’ve been missing:

· Habitat for Humanity has building supply stores open to the public which accept and resell quality new and used building materials.

· In addition to building materials, some of the Habitat ReStores carry items like furniture, appliances, fabric, lighting, window coverings and other household items.

· The sales made at Habitat for Humanity Re Stores generate funds to support Habitat’s building programs – the dollars you spend in the store help ensure that new homes will be built for those in need in your local communities.

· When you purchase something from a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, you reduce the amount of used materials that are headed for overflowing landfills

I have challenged myself in my own life and where possible in my professional life, to make a habit of regularly visiting the Habitat ReStore to search out useful building materials that when purchased, will be reused and not dumped into an already crowded landfill while simultaneously ensuring my money goes to a worthwhile organization, and equally importantly – will save me money!

I hope you will accept my challenge to drop by your local ReStore and to discover this untapped resource in your local community, and I encourage you to visit www.habitat.ca and click on ReStore to find a store near you!

About the Author

Janice Clements is the president of Clements Interiors and her 11+ years of experience includes not only fully managed renovations in Toronto and the GTA, but also custom designed furnishings in her most of her clients’ homes. Janice is active within the Toronto and York Region design community. With appearances on CityLine with Marilyn Denis and published in Canadian House & Home, Janice’s designs are decidedly clean-lined and focus on both form and functionality. Janice’s background in customer service creates the foundation for her work. “We go beyond the call of duty to ensure that every client feels that renovating and decorating their home has been valuable, efficient and enjoyable.”

Despite the huge advertising blitz province wide on the “proposed” home renovation tax credit, it’s just slightly discomforting that the changes are not yet in fact set in stone. However, despite that small glitch, homeowners are still being encouraged by government leaders to go ahead with renovation projects and it’s believed that there will be a surge of last minute spending as we get closer to Dec. 31st.

For more information, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website: (click the icon for English)

et en Français

While most people enjoyed one of the last weekends of summer doing something fun like going up to the cottage, perhaps catching the finals of the Rogers Cup, or sunning at the local beach, I stayed in to take care of some much needed de-cluttering.

One of the most annoying little items I hate to deal with is cable & wire storage - where to put my various chargers and USBs that’s not tangled and uggo? There are some cute DIY ideas from Better Homes and Gardens for cell phone cubby and a ladder shelf.

Summer time isn’t usually when we’re thinking about energy efficiency for our windows, but with our air conditioners on full blasts during humid August, it’s just as important offset high energy costs. Windows and doors company JELD-WEN is offering a special “bailout” for the worst utility bill Stateside. In a recent PR blast, the company issued a release about how homeowners can submit an online entry form to win a complete window & door makeover and be featured on the “Emmy-nominated television show, Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford®.”

Another US contest is the HGTV’s Front Door, My first home sweepstakes that gives first time homeowners a chance at $2,500.

Winnings would be helpful if you were someone who decided to spend a little less on a house with an intent to fix up the kitchen. But take note that may be a considerable investment not just money-wise of course, but will most likely also be very time consuming and intrusive for your day to day.

Things to consider:

* Dust everywhere!

* a big mess; meaning you may not be able to use your kitchen. consider making some batches of home cooked meals to freeze that can be easily nuked because there will be days you’ll be sick of takeout.

*  delays or long wait times for parts to be shipped

* unexpected costs; some older homes have to be completely rewired while other components need to be brought up to code

These are just some issues you should be aware of. If these don’t deter, and you are ready to go, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has a great article on the right questions to ask prospective contractors published on their website. Rather than the “wrong” usual questions that homeowners are prone to ask, these are more in-depth and valuable considerations that first timers might not think of. Have you considered little details like checking if the contractor is going to smoke on the job inside your house and would you be ok with that? Or if the person you are interviewing is actually going to be doing the work, or will there be a different trade/sub-trade (stranger) there everyday?

And don’t forget the people next door. It might be a good idea to be neighborly and let the Joneses know that there will be banging, pounding and a bright green portalet on the front lawn for the next six months.

Maybe such a disturbance will lead them to want to move. And speaking of moving companies,  ABF U-Pack Moving® recently held their “What Moves You” contest, where the winning entrant won free moving services. See the U Pack Contest videos and the winning entry that was a romantic ode from a man about his girlfriend (now, fiancee). They plan to make good use of the prize once they find a new home to buy.

With all the bad news that makes the headlines, it’s nice to hear a happy story to start the work week off.

The Home Renovation Guide helps with your remodeling planning not only with many home solution directories of businesses, but also offers an easy to use Get a Free Quote service. All you need to do is fill a quick online form which gets sent to 5 contractors who will contact you by the means of your choice, via email or by phone.

Get a Free Quote North American Cities include:

San Jose
Seattle
Springfield
St. Louis
St. Paul
Stamford
Tampa
Tucson
Tulsa
Ventura
Virginia Beach
Washington, D.C.
Westchester
Wichita
Worcester

Truro
Vancouver
Victoria
White Rock
Windsor
Winnipeg

Want to renovate your home but don’t feel you can afford it? Well, many homeowners are turning to “phased remodelling”. The National American Remodeling Industry (NARI) recently published a press release that showed homeowners are completing their dream homes step by step. That is, instead of one intensive single project renovation, they are redoing perhaps one room at a time over a longer period. It’s a less intrusive way of remodeling your home and more friendly for the wallet because renos always tend to bring up unexpected costs. A smaller project would be more predictable in terms of following the projected estimate.

So great, if you’ve decided start with redoing either the  kitchen or bathroom first, make sure that any new plumbing is installed correctly.  The City of Toronto has recently put out a new ad campaign blitz regarding water sanitation in renos (well, recent as it’s a month delayed due to the strike). Interested in Green building and energy efficiency? Well, imagine the impact of a “cross connection”. That’s right, it’s integral to make sure not to mix any pipes and you might require certain building permits.  “Sanitary pipes” should be directing any household waste water to the treatment plant and not into stormwater pipes that channel rain water back into the lakes or rivers. For more information, visit the Toronto Website. On a side note, please don’t litter in our local sewer drains because that goes back into Lake Ontario! Not a Toronto resident? Check out your local city regulations.

Serious about eco-building or seriously interested? What about going so far as to make a “solar ventilator” for a doghouse?  In a recent Treehugger.com interview, Steve Thomas, former host of This Old House and now on Planet Green’s Renovation Nation, talks about his kookiest project and other green build topics. Recaps of previous Renovation Nation episodes here.

image from www.ceilume.com

Want to leave your old tiles in place, but have a whole new look?

There is no quicker, easier, DIY room makeover than replacing your old suspended ceiling tiles, and Ceilume’s 60 second videos show you exactly how.

Visit Ceilume’s Customer Photo Gallery to see these smart ceiling tiles in action and hear from the customers who installed them, and for the DIY nitty-gritty, be sure to visit the their blog.

Calling all reality show star hopefuls, here are updated lists for HGTV (US) and HGTV Canada shows that are holding casting calls.

Descriptions are from the HGTV.ca website — visit for more information.

Time to leave the nest?

In Toronto, the show For Rent is casting for its second season and looking for renters to be guided by a real estate expert to find just the right space and then give that space a fabulous, but budget makeover. Interested individuals should email: forrent@nextfilm.ca. “Please include your story, preferred location, budget, a photo of yourself and your contact information.”