Bathroom Remodel Archives - Bee & Jay Plumbing & Heating

Category: Bathroom Remodel

Time for a New Toilet

Posted on April 19, 2016May 9, 2016 by beeandjay

If it’s time to buy a new toilet and turn that old one into a planter, but you don’t have a clue where to start… I’m here to help. Working in the plumbing industry for over 25 years and also being married to a plumber, I can be a little bit of a snob when it comes to my plumbing fixtures and where to purchase them; with that being said; If I needed to replace my toilet I would first measure from the wall to the first set of bolts at the base of the toilet, depending on how old your house is, the rough measurement is most likely 12”. Older houses may have a 10” or 14” rough. Once I have that information I would see how much space my current toilet takes up, take that information to the nearest bath showroom and pick out my new toilet. But what if you wanted to just pick a toilet online or go to your area home improvement center. I am going to assume here you have a 12” rough toilet. You need to figure out if you want a one piece or a two piece toilet, a round or elongated toilet, comfort height or standard height and last what kinda flush. What you ask does all that mean, let me try to help you

Toilet Piece

A one piece toilet integrates tank and bowl into a seamless design that is easy to clean.

A two piece toilet features the traditional design of a separate tank and bowl.

Toilet Height

A standard height toilet bowl is about 14-1/2” and is also good for small children.

A comfort height toilet bowl is about 16-1/2”, which is about the height of a chair. Most people find it to be more comfortable and easier on the knees.

Toilet Shape

An Elongated bowl is about 2″ longer then a round front bowl and provides added room and comfort for adults. Some manufacturers offer a compact elongated bowl, which will enable you to fit an elongated bowl in a tight space.

A round front bowl requires less space, so if space is an issue this is your toilet and tends to be good for small children.

Once you have figured out the type of toilet you want you need to figure out the flush.

Gravity flush, assisted flush, how many flushing options do you want, do you want touchless or even a bidet feature. (Bidet Feature a whole another blog)

A gravity flush toilet is your standard toilet flush.

An assisted flush toilet moves water from the tank to the bowl and out of the trapway using electricity or pressure. I have a pressure assist toilet and it can be a bit loud, commercial toilet sounding and when we first moved into our house my girls where young and refused to flush the toilet because it scared them.

Some toilets offer a dual handle for your water gallons per flush option to save water and money.

Touchless technology allows you to flush your toilet by placing your hand over the senor, thus minimizing the spread of germs around the bathroom.

Kohler’s Nightlight Toilet Seat

Posted on April 4, 2014August 31, 2021 by beeandjay

Another great product I found while checking out Kohler’s newest Products. The Nightlight toilet seat with two unique LED light displays that illuminate your toilet in a soft glow. Perfect for anyone who needs to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

The guiding light, located in the seat’s hinge, is visible with the lid down. It projects a gentle glow onto the toilet’s tank so users can easily see the toilet area when entering the bathroom. No need to flip a switch and brace yourself for the harsh bathroom that wakes you up and makes getting back to sleep that much harder.

Nightlight runs automatically on a seven-hour cycle so you don’t have to worry about leaving it on during the day or turning it on every night. With just the push of a button, you program the first cycle, and the Nightlight will activate at the same time every night. The slim, low-profile toilet seat runs on four “AA” batteries for up to six months, so you don’t have to deal with messy cords or wires that add clutter in your bathroom.

Not only does it guide you in the middle of the night, the Nightlight comes with the Quiet-Close™ feature that prevents those rude awakenings commonly caused by a slamming seat, and Quick-Attach® hardware and Quick-Release™ functionality let you easily install the seat and remove it for a thorough cleaning.

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How to avoid freezing pipe Headaches

Posted on January 8, 2014March 9, 2016 by beeandjay

With temps plunging into record lows, the potential for frozen pipes can create a headache for homeowners. Here are just a few things one can try to avoid this from happening.

In basements and crawl spaces, pipes touching an outside wall or located outside need to be properly covered. There is an insulation that is available at most home improvement or plumbing stores that is the shape of the pipe (usually 1/2″ copper), has a slit down the middle and wraps around the pipe.

Remove any hoses in the backyard from the hook up, shut off the valve and open the valve outside so all the water drips out.

I know this one will go against your conserve water side, but turn on your taps. There’s pressure built up in the pipes, and if water’s not moving and that pipe is exposed to cold then it could Freeze, so just turn that faucet on a little bit. Moving water will not freeze as rapidly as it could just sitting in the pipe.

In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off the main shut off valve which controls water coming into the house and then open all the faucets and let the water run through. This way you have no water in the pipes for freezing.

You can also drain your water heater during an outage to avoid damage. Usually above the water heater there are two valves, one for hot water and one for cold water, shut off the water there. On the bottom of the water heater, there is a spout and that is where you will drain the water.

Sometimes even after taking measures to avoid a freeze up it happens. If you have no water and suspect your pipes are frozen, we strongly recommend not tampering with them and call a plumber. There have been instances of consumers trying to heat pipes on their own, which can, in turn cause more damage.

If a pipe has burst, the first thing to do is automatically go to the shut off valve and turn the water off. That will stop the water from making any more damage. Then call in a plumber to fix the pipe.

Singing in the Shower

Posted on February 25, 2013March 9, 2016 by beeandjay

Here is what’s new in plumbing product that I came across on the Kohler web site that makes singing in the shower a little easier.

shower-head-music-with-moxie — *Moxie Showerhead and Wireless Speaker*

The Moxie showerhead and wireless speaker delivers up to 7 hours of music and more by pairing wirelessly with your Bluetooth enabled device. Just sync your device with the wireless speaker from up to 32 feet away and you’ll be singing in the shower. The Moxie speaker plays wirelessly in or out of the shower, so you can charge it up and use in the kitchen or even take it to the beach.

VibrAcoustic panels broadcast sound waves that travel through the water and gently resound in the body. Strategically positioned throughout the bath to provide the most beneficial effects to the entire body, these panels are concealed under the shell of the bath for a smooth, uninterrupted bathing surface. Music and chromatherapy are choreographed to work in unison with the VibrAcoustic panels for a holistic approach to profound relaxation.

stereostik_newprod_hero_v1 — *StereoStick Audion Add on for Kohler’s CL series medicine cabinets.*

StereoStick Audio Add on for the Kohler’s CL series medicine cabinets let you connect your personal audio devices via the auxiliary input jack or find your favorite station on the AM/FM tuner.

speaker-tile — SoundTile waterproof speakers

Among the Numi’s many ultra cool features such as a motion activated lid, bidet function, and heated seat just to name a few is an audio system with AM/Fm radio and auxiliary input.

Sound tiles can be used with any audio system and also integrated with the DTV II Custom Shower Experience.

Kid’s Bath

Posted on June 20, 2012March 9, 2016 by beeandjay

Is it time to update your kid’s bathroom? Do you want to make it fun for your kid’s and easy for you? Check out the children’s FunBath tub conversions kit from American Standard. The Funbath fits over an existing standard 60 inch bathtub. The kit features a kid-friendly acrylic tub deck, a strong powder-coated aluminum frame, decorative front apron, and a chrome hand-shower with an integral on/off switch that ties into existing plumbing.

The Pretty Princess, Fierce Firetruck or Customizable Flat Panel are sure to make any child ask “Is it tubby time yet”?
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Signs you need a water softening system

Posted on May 11, 2012March 9, 2016 by beeandjay

Do you ever wonder if you need a water softening system? Here are a few signs around your house that it maybe time to give Bee and Jay a call for a free water analysis.

You begin to notice scales forming in your shower heads, boiler, and bottom of steam irons, dishwashing machines and pipes.
You notice low flows through kitchen faucets and showerheads.
You begin to see excessive buildup in your bath tubs.
You use more shampoo or laundry soap than you think you should.
Your dishes and glasses becoming spotted when dry.
You may see staining on your sinks, tubs, showers, and clothing.
Your hairs feel sticky when washed with hard water.
Your Domestic water heater begins to plug, volume/pressure slows to a trickle.

Bathroom Upgrades

Posted on March 6, 2012March 9, 2016 by beeandjay

Thinking about what to do with your tax refund this year? How about a bathroom mini facelift? Let Bee & Jay help you go from drab to fab, with a few simple and inexpensive changes like a new faucet, vanity top, sink and accessories.

Still have an old 3.5 gallon per flush toilet? Upgrade to a new 1.6 water saver and cut costs across the board. How about a comfort height toilet with a removable toilet seat for easy cleaning?

Is your tub stuck in the 70’s or peeling, but you’re afraid of being without a shower for a week? How about installing a new Sterling tub and shower walls? Most installations can be done in a day or two. While you’re at it treat those tired muscles to a long hot massage in the comfort of your own home with a new multi- function shower head and/or handheld. Handhelds make bathing the kids or animals a breeze. Even the dreaded cleaning of the tub can be made easier with a handheld.