Tips For Hiring A Great Plumber For Your Home Improvement Project

Home improvements and remodeling are costly projects for homeowners and keeping within a budget is a priority. When hiring contractors, it’s often more expensive to hire the cheapest option as you likely have to spend even more correcting mistakes. This makes it essential to hire the right person when you need professional help. Here are some great hiring tips for when you need a plumber.

• Only hire licensed plumbers: Always ensure that your plumber is licensed to do the work you need done in the state where you’re living. You can ask the contractor directly, but it’s also a good idea to do a quick search online for their credentials.
• Get word-of-mouth recommendations: If a contractor sounds great to you, ask to speak to previous clients to see what they had to say about the work they had done on their properties. Alternatively, speak to a local plumbing supply company for recommendations, as they’ll have a network of contacts in the area.
• Get multiple estimates: You don’t have to go crazy here, but it’s important to get at least 3 estimates for the work you need done. Unless you’re in the industry, chances are that you don’t have a good idea of what the work should cost – this will give you a much better idea of how to budget for the work and who offers the most reasonable rates.
• Ask about guarantees:Your plumber should be bonded and insured within the state where the work is being done, as this protects you in the event of the work not being completed for any reason. Your contractor’s work and the materials used should also come with a reasonable guarantee in the event of any issues down the line. A lack of warranty could be an indicator that they use poor quality materials or don’t have confidence in the quality of their work.

Visit Plumbing Wholesalers in New Jersey for All Your Supplies and Tools 

Crosstown Plumbing Supply is a wholesaler in a 3.5% sales tax zone, so we can make your repairs, remodeling and services the most affordable in town. Our sales consultants are highly experienced and happy to assist you with finding the right parts for your plumbing project and we work closely with reliable, affordable plumbing professionals we are happy to recommend to our clients.
To find out more about our products, please contact us or visit our website at http://crosstownplumbing.com/ today.

Original content posted on https://www.crosstownplumbing.com/tips-for-hiring-a-great-plumber-for-your-home-improvement-project 

5 Mistakes You Don't Want To Make In Your Kitchen Remodel

Remodeling a kitchen is a big project with lots of different elements to balance, so it’s no surprise that mistakes can easily happen! Here are some of the most common issues to watch out for from our kitchen remodel team, so you don’t end up in the same boat.

Mistake Number 1: Ignoring the Kitchen Triangle – The Kitchen Triangle is comprised of your fridge, refrigerator and stove, and getting this triangle wrong can severely disrupt the flow of your space. This might sound like a minor thing, but because these elements are often used at the same time it’s essential that you can move between them quickly, easily and unimpeded. The last thing you want is a kitchen island blocking you off from the sink or refrigerator when you’re cooking!

Mistake Number 2: Style over Function – Kitchens are a focus of the home, and it’s also become a heart of the design of a home, but that doesn’t mean that style should come first. Don’t spend all your time sourcing tiles and finishes, and end up with a kitchen where the dishwasher door blocks a doorway, or where you can’t open the refrigerator and a cabinet or pantry door at the same time. After all, the best kitchens are a pleasure to cook in as well as a pleasure to look at.

Mistake Number 3: Forgetting about Lighting – Unlike other rooms, proper lighting is essential for the performance of a kitchen, so you can’t just replicate what’s in the lounge or bedroom. The best kitchens combine types of lighting – general ceiling lighting, under-counter lighting (task-lighting) and feature lighting (for example, hanging lights over a breakfast bar) – to ensure that the space is perfectly lit whether you are working at the stove or entertaining.

Mistake Number 4: Not Maximizing Storage – Kitchens are workhorses, busy spaces that take a lot of household traffic, and where gadgets are king. This means two things – you need lots of counter space, and lots of storage. Every part of your kitchen should work to maximize this in order to create a highly functional space that’s clutter-free and easy to clean. So be sure to consider kitchen islands, breakfast bars and cabinets that reach to the ceiling.

And Mistake Number 5? Not Visiting NJ Plumbing Wholesalers! 
Want to save on your kitchen remodel? Visit your local plumbing wholesalers! At Crosstown Plumbing Supply, we offer a huge range of high quality cabinetry and countertops, as well as offering kitchen measurement services. In addition to stocking wholesale kitchen cabinets and supplies, we also offer special promotions on certain items throughout the year. These limited time offers are a great way to save even more on the costs of your renovation, as they often feature great discounts on solid wood cabinets, modern features and top international brands.

For more information on our wholesale kitchen cabinets, plumbing supplies and faucets in New Jersey, please contact us today or visit our website at http://crosstownplumbing.com/

Original content posted on https://www.crosstownplumbing.com/5-mistakes-you-dont-want-to-make-in-your-kitchen-remodel

What products are the best choice for your commercial or residential boiler replacement?

Choosing a replacement boiler for your New Jersey home or business can be a complicated process as there is wide range of options to choose from. Here are some tips from our plumbing supply company on how to get the product which best suits your needs.

• Capacity: The capacity of a boiler is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), which indicates the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Your house will have a unique BTU requirement based on it’s location, the climate, how well insulated it is and so forth. The best rule to follow is that your home will most likely require 50 BTU per square foot in a cold climate, 35 in a moderate climate and 20 in a hot climate.
• Energy use: The more efficient your boiler is, the less energy it’ll use and the more affordable it will be to run. Energy efficiency is measured through a rating system called the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating (AFUE). A rating of 85% or more is considered very efficient and these units generally receive the Energy-Star certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which can qualify your home for certain rebates from the State of New Jersey.
• Venting: How your boiler vents depends on your home. Some boilers can vent through chimneys while others require access to a roof or wall vent. The way in which your boiler vents also determines where it can be placed in your home – for example, power-vent boilers will need an open room rather than a closet or crawlspace.

Expert advice and affordable boilers in New Jersey

At Crosstown Plumbing Supply, we aim to assist our customers in making the most informed decision when it comes to purchasing a new boiler. Our sales team will work with you to find the product best suited to your needs and, with our wholesale prices and location in a 3.5% NJ sales tax zone, we can offer you an affordable solution. To find out more about our boilers and other heating systems, please visit our website at www.crosstownplumbing.com and contact us today.

This content was originally posted at http://crosstownplumbing.com/what-products-are-the-best-choice-for-your-commercial-or-residential-boiler-replacement

Your fall heating systems maintenance checklist

Fall is the ideal time of year to perform any maintenance and repairs on your HVAC or heating system in your New Jersey home or business. It’s cool enough to test your system properly and, if it needs any repairs or replacing, HVAC companies are able to get out to you quickly before the winter rush. Here are some tips from your local plumbing supply company:

• Invest in a top quality air filter: If you haven’t upgraded your air filter, now is the right time to get a high-efficiency pleated air filter. These filters are easy to install, come in standard sizes and are surprisingly affordable. They offer MERV ratings ranging from 11 to 14 and are energy efficient and environmentally friendly – a benefit to nature and your wallet.
• Clear the area around your HVAC unit: It’s a good idea to keep at least 2 feet of clear space around your HVAC unit. This helps to prevent blockages from grass, leaves, pollen and other debris.
• For humidifiers: If you have a furnace humidifier, replace the humidifier filter and turn the water on in fall. When summer arrives, remember to turn the water off again.
• Replace carbon monoxide detector battery: Carbon monoxide poisoning is dangerous, so it’s vital your detector is in good working order. Replacing the batteries annually in the fall is a good way to ensure the system is working.
• Inspect refrigerant and insulation lines: Look for damage and wear on the lines leading into your home and replace them if necessary.
• Clear the air conditioner condensate drain: This time of year is also a great time to ensure your HVAC system is in working order after a hot summer. Simply pour a cup of water mixed with a little vinegar into the air conditioner condensate drain to kill off any mold or algae that has developed over the warmer months.

Get all the heating system equipment you need at great prices

At Crosstown Plumbing Supply, we offer our customers a wide range of top quality heating systems, boilers, gas boilers, furnaces, water heaters and replacement parts. In addition to our affordable prices, customers and contractors also benefit from our 3.5% NJ sales tax.

If you’d like to find out more about our products or get assistance finding parts for your heating system, please contact us today or visit www.crosstownplumbing.com.

This content was originally posted at http://crosstownplumbing.com/your-fall-heating-systems-maintenance-checklist

Six plumbing maintenance tips from Crosstown Plumbing Supply

Though plumbing is a crux of modern day conveniences, it’s not until we have a plumbing issue that we realize just how dependent we are. Businesses and homeowners alike can avoid plumbing issues by following these six plumbing maintenance tips provided by the plumbing supply professionals at Crosstown Plumbing.

1. Prevent clogged drains: Clogged drains happen to every home, but they are easy to prevent using an environmentally friendly drain clearing solution which you can easily make at home. Just mix 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of salt and ¼ cup of cream of tartar. Simply pour an equal amount of the mix down each drain and follow that with 2 cups of hot water.
2. Keep drains grease-free: This is especially important in winter, when cold pipes are more likely to collect grease from cooking. All you have to do is run cold water for 15 seconds before and after using your garbage disposal and avoid pouring grease down your drains whenever possible.
3. Insulate all your pipes: Extreme changes in temperature are very wearing on pipes, valves and other plumbing fittings, so ensure your home’s insulation includes your pipes. Remember to have specialists check hot and cold water pipes, as well as pipes in drafty areas like crawl spaces, attics and garages.
4. Drain your water heater: It’s best to drain your hot water heater once a year to remove the sediment that builds up from use and keep it working at optimal performance. It’s best to undertake this task in the fall, before the weather gets cold. This gives you enough time to contact a plumbing specialist and do any necessary repairs before the busy winter season starts.
5. Monitor your utility bill: An unexplained increase in water use on your utility bill can be a sign of a plumbing problem in your home, so be sure to regularly track your water usage. Leaks, toilets that aren’t flushing properly and dripping showers can easily add significant waste water to your bill and the sooner these issues are resolved, the better – for your home’s plumbing and your wallet.
6. Watch out for leaks: Even small water leaks can lead to big problems including: mold and water damage on walls, floors and cabinets, and eventually even structural problems in your home. Avoid long term issues by repairing leaks as soon as they appear.

Affordable parts and great advice from New Jersey plumbing suppliers

At Crosstown Plumbing Supply, we focus on bringing our clients a complete service – from affordably priced brand name plumbing supplies to expert advice on any plumbing project, large or small. Thanks to our great relationship with industry professionals, we can also put you in touch with reliable plumbing companies that will deliver high-quality services.

For more information about our plumbing parts company and the stock we carry, please contact us or visit our website at crosstownplumbing.com today.

This content was originally posted at http://crosstownplumbing.com/six-plumbing-maintenance-tips-from-crosstown-plumbing-supply

What to do with a leaking toilet - Advice from plumbing supply wholesalers

Toilets are simple but effectively designed pieces of equipment, making it relatively easy to troubleshoot, if you know what look for. Below we will review common toilet issues and how to repair them with advice from leading plumbing parts supplier in New Jersey.

Condensation on the toilet water tank

• What to look for: While this isn’t a leak in the traditional sense, it is an unpleasant situation. Caused by a significant temperature difference between the warm, steamy air of a bathroom and the cooler water in the tank, this issue is fairly common in well-used bathrooms.
• How to fix it: Fortunately, there are a few quick and easy ways to fix this problem without spending a lot of money. You can install toilet tank liners, which will help insulate the tank water from the warm air to prevent the condensation or you can install an anti-sweat toilet tank valve, which mixes warm and cool water in the tank to reduce the temperature difference which causes the condensation to form.

Water leaking between the water tank and the toilet bowl

• What to look for: First, carefully remove your toilet tank lid when the tank is full of water (that is, you have not flushed it recently). Add some organic coloring, such as food coloring, to the tank water to stain it. After about 30-45 minutes, check the floor of your bathroom for any drips or pools of colored water. If you find any, you have this issue.
• How to fix it: These types of leaks are generally due to a worn tank-to-bowl sponge gasket or worn washers on the tank-to-bowl bolts. To replace these parts, you’ll need to empty and remove the tank from the bowl and replace exactly which parts are behind your leak. As this is a pretty time-consuming job, it’s usually best to replace all the washers and their bolts at the same time, since they are likely to have a similar level of wear.

A cracked water tank

• What to look for: Perform the food coloring test as outlined above. If drips or streaks of colored water appear on your water tank itself, you likely have a cracked tank.
• How to fix it: Unfortunately, there is no reliable way to fix cracked water tanks and the leak is likely to get much worse over time. The best solution is to replace the tank or the entire toilet itself.

A leaking shut-off valve

• What to look for: Many people who suspect their toilet is leaking actually have a faulty shut-off valve that has either come loose or become worn, causing water to leak out of it intermittently.
• How to fix it: Firstly, try to tighten the valve itself. It may have simply come loose or have been loosened by mistake. If this does not work or the valve cannot be tightened, it can be replaced with a new one.

Affordable plumbing equipment and parts from your local NJ wholesaler

At Crosstown Plumbing Supply, we’re able to offer our clients expert service and advice as well as high quality parts and equipment for a wide range of plumbing jobs at affordable wholesale prices. In addition to our great location in a 3.5% tax zone, we can also assist you with step-by-step advice or put you in touch with reliable plumbing specialists, whether you need to get your toilet repaired or want a complete bathroom renovation.

For more information about our plumbing supply company and the stock we carry, please contact us or visit our website at www.crosstownplumbing.com today.

This content was originally posted at http://crosstownplumbing.com/what-to-do-with-a-leaking-toilet-advice-from-plumbing-supply-wholesalers