Tonys Plumbing and Heating
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
Picture
Serving the Twin Cities East Metro & Surrounding Suburbs


651-340-1259


Call now

So There's a Chip In Your Porcelain Throne

1/19/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
There’s always a distinct feeling of dread when you notice a chip or crack in the porcelain at home. Commercial epoxy fillers, chip repair kits and refinishing products are available for easy and simple repairs to small dings and damage. These products are handy ways to keep the costs down as long as there are only minor issues. But, how do you know when it’s time to replace the toilet, or simply repair it? 

Toilets last a long time, and especially when cared for properly, you can’t look at a toilet and know how old it is. So, if you’ve started to have issues with your toilet there are a few signs to look out for that will show you whether you should replace or repair it. The first thing to contemplate when considering replacing a toilet, is the actual number of issues.  Write them out, and then think about the time you’ll need to invest in the toilet to repair it. If there are a couple of chips and the toilet set needs to be replaced, that’s one thing. But if there is a crack, the flip valve is busted and it’s leaking...maybe it’s time to consider giving Tony’s a call.  

Does your toilet shift when you sit on it? This is a clear sign the toilet needs to be replaced. Toilets should never shift if sat on, it could be a sign that the toilet is improperly sealed. You can attempt to tighten the bolts on either side of the toilet, but if this does not fix the issue contact a plumber immediately. 
If your water consumption is incredibly high, your toilet could be the cause. If you’ve noticed that your water use is high at home, it could be beneficial to invest in a low-flush toilet. Low-flush toilets use an average of 2 gallons per flush, while typical toilets can use somewhere between 3-5 gallons. Frequent clogs are also a sign that your toilet is getting on in age, which can be common in older or low-flush toilets. If you have to plunge the toilet weekly or more, it could mean that it’s no longer working efficiently. 
​

Being a homeowner comes with a laundry list of responsibilities. You need to think about things like energy efficiency, when the bathroom was last caulked and whether that eerie thud in the pipes is a problem worth fixing. Minor damages are bound to happen in any well lived space due to typical wear and tear, but sometimes minor damage crosses over to major fairly quickly, and almost always when we are least expecting it. Not everything requires a professional to replace, however, this laundry list can become expensive fast. If you’ve got questions about an ill functioning toilet not answered in this list, call us, your favorite local Minnesota plumbers Tony’s!  


0 Comments

November 13th, 2020

11/13/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Few people do this, but have you ever read the instructions on your cleaning products? If you’re using disinfectants, they need to sit on the dirty surface and soak to be effective. This means any time you have sprayed and swiped; you’ve actually just pushed the germs around! Cleaning high trafficked areas has never been more important than it is in today’s world. The busiest place in any given household? The bathroom.

Cleaning your bathroom is an important part of a healthy home. The toilet is something every person in your home will touch at one point or another, so it needs to be cleaned regularly, and properly. Using a strong disinfectant will ensure you are getting rid of any bacteria that might be hanging around. You need to make sure that your toilet is clear and free of any debris before you spray any disinfectants on and allow them to then soak. Lysol cleaning spray instructions state they need to soak for ten minutes to be effective! 
​
You need some important items to clean a toilet properly:
  • Gloves
  • Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Bristled brush
  • Towels

The first step to thoroughly cleaning a toilet is going to be clearing away any items surrounding the toilet. Remove all rugs and items that may be sitting behind it and clean them, as flushing the toilet will cause bacteria to spray outside of the bowl. It is unsanitary to keep items too close to the toilet. In small and large bathrooms alike, it is always a good idea to flush the toilet with the seat down, and make sure you clean any items that are spending time in the area. 

After removing extra items surrounding the toilet, use a rag or paper towels to do a cursory wipe down and remove any dust around the toilet. Spray the toilet, and surrounding area with your disinfectant and turn your attention elsewhere while your product does its job. Lift the toilet seat and pour in your cleaning solution allowing it time to soak as well. 

Once you have allowed the product to fully saturate the toilet, use the bristled brush to scrub the inside of the toilet. It is important to make sure you scrub under the rim inside the toilet bowl, as debris can build up keeping your toilet filthy no matter how clean the rest of it becomes. Sponges, old toothbrushes, and bristled brushes are great tools for getting into the cracks and grooves of any tile grout or crevices near the toilet. After you’ve scrubbed every inch, wipe the toilet down with a wet towel or some paper towels.

Cleaning the bathroom is not a glamorous chore, no matter how you spin it. We all know how nice it is to have a thoroughly cleaned bathroom. This is one of the most used places in the home, so it is important to clean all areas that are frequently touched. The toilet is a place everyone uses, and if you live in a home with multiple people it’s important to keep up on how often you clean both that toilet and bowl. 
 

0 Comments

The Things We Flush

4/16/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
The plumbing inside your home is a delicate system. It only works as well as you take care of it, and since it’s just some plumbing - it’s often easy to forget what proper care looks like. Take the toilet for example. You use it every day, right? That toilet is connected to piping, drainage, sewer or septic tanks depending on the waste management system. It’s a long process, and it’s important to know what you’re sending down the line.

Contrary to common understanding, there are numerous items that are thought to be appropriate to flush that are actually bad for your toilet. We see it in movies, on TV, and read about it in books. We flushed our first guppy after a moment of silence for their passing, and tossed a used tissue in the bowl, neither of which belonged there! This list is brief, but covers the most common items we’ve unfortunately found inside the pipes. 
  • Paper towels & Tissues. The only paper that should go down your toilet is toilet paper. Paper towels and tissues are both a paper substance, but they are not created to break down the same way as toilet paper. 
  • Wipes. These especially, are a much thicker material than toilet paper and are not compostable. It does not matter if you have all natural wipes, baby wipes or cosmetic wipes, they do not belong in the toilet. Wipes are one of the leading causes of major blockages in urban sewage systems, so please, for everyone’s sake - do not flush wipes!Tampons and cotton swabs. These two items are considered to have paper like qualities, but they still can’t be flushed down the toilet.
  • Tampons can cause sudden obstructions inside piping, and cotton does not break down well. Neither tampons or cotton balls belong inside the toilet, and do best thrown in the trash.
  • Condoms. These are not biodegradable, and do not belong in our waterways. If you need to dispose of a condom, throw it in the trash and not down the toilet!
  • Medication of any kind. This one is purely on account of the medication polluting the wastewater. They do not belong in our water, and if you do not need them dispose of them responsibly. 
  • Cooking oil. This one should not surprise you. Cooking oil belongs in the trash, it should not go down the sink drain, or shower drain, or down the toilet! The oil may be hot going down, once it’s inside your cold plumbing it will cool and solidify, creating a massive clog inside your pipes!

​If you’re flushing any of these items down your toilet, please think twice. The only things that should be flushed down the toilet are human waste, and toilet paper. Not only are you polluting your local water systems, but you’re actually damaging your own plumbing! Consider the environment, and your wallet the next time you flush. We know that people make mistakes, so if you’ve accidentally flushed something down the toilet and created a clog we are here to help. 


2 Comments

    Author

    At Tony's Plumbing & Heating, we offer outstanding residential and commercial plumbing and heating services in the East Twin Cities metro. With our blog, we hope to bring you useful tips and tricks for ever day life! 

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018

    Categories

    All
    Backflow Testing
    Bathroom
    Bathtub
    City Water
    Cleaning
    Clogged Drain
    Dishwash
    Dishwasher
    DIY Plumbing
    Emergency
    Entertaining
    FAQ's
    Faucets
    Garbage Disposal
    Hard Water
    Heated Floring
    Home Owner
    Home Tips
    Hot Water Heater
    Kitchen
    Leaky Toilet
    Mold
    Outdoor
    Plumber Tool Kit
    Plumbing
    Plumbing Myths
    Remodel
    RPZ
    Sewer Lines
    Sump Pump
    Things To Do
    Toilet
    Toilet Problems
    Water Damange
    Water Heater
    Water Pressure
    Water Softener
    What's That Noise
    Winter

    RSS Feed

Our Location:
​

661 Hayward Ave N
Oakdale, MN 55128


What Our Clients Are Saying:

"I have hired Tony's Plumbing for two significant projects at my home this year & have been very satisfied with the work. His team is experienced, friendly, arrives on time and the workmanship has been outstanding. I would highly recommend Tony's Plumbing for your next plumbing job!" Dan L. 

​"​Tony was extremely polite, worked with a sense of urgency, and went out of his way to give extra advice and help me understand what was going wrong with my pipe! Great job" Eddie C

Contact Us

651-340-1259
Site Map
Woodbury MN Services
Oakdale MN Services
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Blog