Category: Blogging

There’s never an appropriate time for your toilet to clog. Whether you’re at a holiday dinner or a neighborhood Bunco night, a clogged toilet can create an embarrassing mess. Clearing a clogged toilet can be tricky, and it’s even trickier when you don’t have a plunger. Don’t sweat it—we’ll talk you through clearing your clog, step by step.

Wield the Plunger

Get your clogged toilet back up and running again the good old-fashioned way—with a plunger and some serious elbow grease. Here’s how to restore your toilet to working order in just six easy steps:

How to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger

Today just isn’t your lucky day. Your toilet’s clogged, and you don’t have a plunger? Hang in there. There are still a few ways to work through this. If your toilet isn’t draining, you may not need a plunger to fix it. Here are three unconventional ways to remove a blockage from your toilet pipes.

How to Unclog Your Toilet with Soap and Hot Water

1. Manually remove some water from the toilet bowl, ensuring that there is space for adding a gallon of liquid. Remove the water with a small container—like a cup from the bathroom sink. Just make sure you don’t put it back on the counter when you’re done!
2. Lubricate the toilet bowl by adding some dish soap, shampoo, or a few slivers of bar soap.
3. Heat a gallon of water to very hot but not boiling. A drinkable tea temperature is just right. If the water is too hot, it could crack your toilet bowl. Pour the water into the bowl, and let it sit for 20 minutes.
4. Try flushing the toilet. If it flushes, you’re all set! If instead it starts to overflow, turn the water valve off behind the toilet—then start again at step 1 or try another method.

How to Unclog Your Toilet with Baking Soda and Vinegar

If the toilet remains clogged after a few attempts at resolving the problem, remove at least half of the water from the bowl. Then try pouring 1 cup of baking soda and 2 cups of vinegar into the toilet. The mixture will bubble excessively, which is why it’s important to first remove the excess water. Let the bubbles sit for at least 20 minutes before you try to flush.

How to Unclog Your Toilet with Coat Hanger

Still clogged? Here’s one last-ditch effort: Unravel a wire coat hanger, and put on a pair of disposable gloves.

Wrap one end of the straightened hanger with a cloth, and duct tape it firmly in place so it doesn’t scratch your toilet. Use the hanger to gently push debris down the pipe until you can flush. Twist and push the wire in a circular motion. If you can’t feel the wire hitting the obstruction, this task may be out of your reach.

Why Won’t My Toilet Unclog? Call for Backup

If, after several attempts at plunging your toilet, it remains backed up, it’s time to call for backup. Get help from the professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing. We make your plumbing emergency our top priority and will schedule service with you as quickly as possible to resolve your problem.

Need help cleaning around the home? Contact us for more information.…

Hold it right there! Don’t even think about pouring that bacon grease down the drain. We get it – it’s a hot, oily mess. But it can cause serious issues when poured down your kitchen drain. So, what in the world are you supposed to do with it?

Why Is Grease Bad for Drains?

The grease solidifies once it cools off. Sure, it might flow out of the pan and down the drain, but in a few minutes, the grease solidifies in the pipes and acts as a sticky trap for gunk and debris. Over time this blockage can clog the pipes or slow the drain. Grease also wreaks havoc on local sewer systems and septic tanks. Significant amounts of grease in sewers have even clogged neighborhood sewer systems.

What to Do with Leftover Cooking Grease

Bacon grease, duck fat, lard – any grease that is solid at room temperature should stay far away from your drains. Cooking oils that are liquid at room temperatures, such as olive oil, vegetable oil or canola oil, should also never be poured down the drain. Here’s what to do with both after you’re done cooking.

Grease – If the grease is still hot, simply pour it into a dedicated grease jar or can. A mason jar works well, or you can make a disposable grease can by removing the lid of a soda can with a can opener. When the jar or can fills up, simply scoop out the solid grease into the trash bin or throw out the entire can. You may also leave the grease in the pan, wait till it solidifies, and then wipe it out with paper towels.

Cooking Oils – Allow the cooking oil to cool off before you do anything with it. If there is less than a cup of oil, pour it into the trash can on top of a few paper towels. This may not be an option if you’re dealing with large amounts of oil. If you need to dispose of more than a cup, pour the oil into a container and reuse it next time you’re frying. Or you can save plastic jugs with screw tops to collect used cooking oil in and throw the entire container away when it’s full.

What If I Already Poured Grease Down the Drain?

Our plumbers recommend the most eco-friendly drain preventative there is! BioChoiceES® is the safe, natural alternative to caustic drain cleaning chemicals that helps prevent drain build-ups by degrading organic materials such as soap scum, fats, oils, and grease buildup.

Call Expert Drain Cleaners

If you’ve been pouring grease down your drain for years, then you might need professional help. This grease is likely holding on to debris that is clogging your pipes and requires professional cleaning. Call us to unclog your drains and clean your pipes. You can also request an estimate on our homepage. We are locally owned and operated company. Our plumbers understand that plumbing service is about not only your pipes but also your satisfaction. We won’t begin work until we give you a complete diagnosis and the best options to get it fixed, followed by an upfront flat rate price; that’s what we guarantee.…

In any construction project there are three main parties involved: the owner or client, the management team, and the contractor. The building contractor plans and coordinates construction activities, and must complete the project within the established time and budget. Contractors are responsible for the entire construction process, and must determine the best methods to finish the project as specified.

General Responsibilities of a Building Contractor

In general terms, a contractor is responsible for planning, leading, executing, supervising and inspecting a building construction project. The responsibility extends from the beginning to the end of the project, regardless of its scope.

Contractors accomplish their duties by planning activities, supervising workers, and ensuring the project follows local codes and laws. A contractor may hire subcontractors for specialized areas, such as electrical installations and HVAC systems.

Specific Roles and Duties of a Building Contractor

As mentioned before, a building contractor has multiple responsibilities, which may vary depending on the contract. There are many roles a contractor can assume during different stages of a project, and this section covers the most common ones.

Project Planning

Every project has a master schedule that describes all activities, along with their time distribution and planned budget. This schedule has a completion date that contractors must meet, and hefty penalties normally apply for missing the deadline. A late completion can only be justified if the project was delayed by external factors beyond the contractor’s control, such as extreme weather.

The first duty of a building contractor is creating a project plan to deliver it on time. Some responsibilities include:

• Planning all crucial project development and implementation details.
• Determining the construction equipment and material requirements, and planning their procurement.
• Predicting possible changes and creating risk mitigation strategies.
• Meeting any legal and regulatory issues.
• Establishing effective communication among all project participants.

The building contractor must establish a budget for the construction project, and follow it as closely as possible. The budget is a useful tool to track project costs, since contractors can detect waste by comparing their actual expenses with the planned budget.

Project Management

The contractor needs to complete the project on time, and this involves many construction management activities:

• Ensuring funds are available to keep the project moving
• Purchasing materials with enough anticipation for them to reach the site when needed
• Purchasing or renting the construction equipment required for the project
• Interviewing and hiring subcontractors to complete specialized work
• Creating progress reports to justify intermediate payments

Building contractors are also responsible for their personnel, making sure their staff has the right size and technical skills. Contractors also manage payroll for their own employees, and subcontractor payments.

Project Tracking

Project tracking is fundamental to complete the work according to contract specifications and schedules. In addition to tracking progress, contractors must prevent disruption. This involves several complementary activities:

• Quality control
• Using cost-effective construction methods
• Ensuring a constant supply of materials, and scheduling purchases well in advance
• Construction site safety

During the construction process, the building contractor is responsible for tracking progress and managing any necessary changes. Of course, contractors must always have the project scope, time and budget in mind when making decisions.

Legal and Regulatory Issues

Contractors have a handful of responsibilities in terms of legal and regulatory issues. They  must acquire all the necessary permits and licenses before starting the project, while covering any fees and taxes that apply. Also, the entire construction process must follow local legislation and building codes.

Being unaware of legal requirements is not a valid excuse in construction projects, which means that contractors must have updated knowledge. With the right construction permits and contractor licenses, the project can progress without disruption.

Health and Safety Issues

The contractor must guarantee health and safety in the construction site, by implementing adequate procedures and raising awareness among workers. The contractor is also responsible for the proper operation of equipment and preventing any accidents from misuse.

The contractor deals with any emergencies and unforeseen issues at the project site, and must report them to the client’s supervision staff.

Conclusion

Building contractors have many roles during the different stages of construction, and each role comes with different responsibilities. Contractors should be capable of managing uncertainty and taking decisions on a daily basis. The track record of a contractor is also very important, since those with ample experience can respond better to common issues in projects. Contact us for more information.…

There are two kinds of construction projects: those that run smoothly and those that don’t. A myriad of elements contribute to a smooth project, not the least of which is your relationship with the clients. A positive contractor/client relationship is one where communication remains consistent and organization and planning are a top priority.

In addition to making for a more fluid design and build process, your client relationships are also integral to your company’s brand. Positive relationships paired with a successful build-out yield invaluable word-of-mouth referrals, not to mention positive online and industry reviews, all of which add up to more jobs.

Successful contractor-client relationships have three things in common. If you review the most successful projects you’ve worked on, the ones in which you enjoyed the relationship and/or mutual respect of the client, you’ll see there were three factors that served as the foundation of the relationship.

CLEAR COMMUNICATION

Clear communication is a tenet of any relationship, be it personal or professional. In the case of construction projects, communication doesn’t start after the contract is signed. Rather, it begins from the very first time you meet with the clients to discuss the project so you have the ability to bid fairly and accurately, making sure you have a clear understanding of their expectations in regards to quality right from the start.

From there, relationship building involves at least one visit (typically several) to the job site to make sure everyone’s vision is united. Finally, unless the client has significant experience with construction, your team should be careful to use layperson’s terms, rather than construction jargon, so clients don’t have the sense that they are ignorant or feel too awkward or insecure to stop and ask you to explain or clarify things.

In order to streamline the client-contractor communication stream, it’s recommended that you:

• Choose one point of contact. The more points of contact there are, the easier it is for things to get lost in translation, or never translated at all. From the beginning, designate who the main points of contact will be – one for your construction firm and one of the client’s representatives. Having a primary decision maker on both sides streamlines the communication and, should there be a breakdown or mistake made, it will be easier to track the source to avoid “he said/she said” blame games.
• Select a primary mode of communication. Check in to see which mode of communication makes the most sense for the client. If the clients are older, odds are telephone conversations will be the preferred method whereas the younger generation typically prefers text or emails. If phone calls are the primary source, major decisions and/or changes should always be followed up with an email so there is a written record of the conversation/decision.
• Establish payment terms and conditions early on. Money and budgets; they are the sticking points and triggers for both you and the clients. Therefore, it’s essential that you clarify payment terms and conditions early on in the planning stages so nobody is caught unawares when invoices are sent out or if the budget needs to be adjusted with respect to economic fluctuations, change orders or other unexpected factors.
• Communicate via visuals. Visual communication is often as important, if not more important, than verbal communication when it comes to talking about a project’s scope and design. Many construction professionals forget how difficult it can be for non-industry professionals to read or makes sense of two-dimensional plans and elevations. Therefore, take advantage of 3-D construction technology so you can provide the client with a better representation of what you are talking about. The more clearly they can see what you are suggesting, the less confusion, disappointment and/or change orders there will be as the project progresses.

Open, clear and honest communication is the stepping stone for an organized project.

ORGANIZATION FROM START TO FINISH

Organization is essential to project fluidity. It begins by providing a detailed review of project’s scope and continues as you thoughtfully create your construction project timeline, schedule subcontractors, provide detailed project status updates and conduct a thorough review and analysis at project completion, so you can evaluate what went well and what – if anything – could have been done differently.

An organized relationship between a contractor and the client include:

A written, detailed description of the scope of the project. As much as  you can, provide a step-by-step process for the client to review. This helps them to understand behind-the-scenes complexities that aren’t always visible at the job site.

Provide regular status updates. Determine a regular schedule of project updates that makes sense based on the scope of the project. For smaller remodels and residential construction projects, daily and weekly status updates are a good idea. These updates serve as a way to communicate any unexpected delays or back-orders in a more immediate manner so pushed-back scheduling doesn’t catch clients unawares. Larger projects may require less frequent – but still regular – updates as you and the clients see fit.

Phase/Project wrap-up and reviews. Phase wrap-ups can be rather general unless there was something pressing that needs to be documented, such as a major delay or stoppage. At the end of the project, create a short to medium review that covers topics, like:

• Which elements of the project went well or exceeded expectations?
• What could have been communicated or executed more efficiently?
• Are there other approaches that could have been implemented to get things done faster, better or safer?

By creating this document with the client – even if they are worked on separately – you get to celebrate the project’s closure together, and you ensure clients feel included in the entire process.

ALLOW CLIENTS TO FEEL A PART OF YOUR TEAM

Ultimately, your clients should feel like they are a part of the process – and your team – even if they aren’t wearing a tool belt or operating the backhoe. Your efforts at providing clear communication channels, combined with sharing the project timeline and regular updates, are all steps that contribute to a feeling of collaboration and teamwork. The more connected the clients feel to your process, the more connected they will feel to your company, making it easier to weather any unanticipated storms together and with a modicum of conflict or tension.

It’s that feeling of, “we’re all in this together,” that fosters a sense of loyalty and respect from your clients. Those feelings will inspire them to refer your construction company to friends, leave heartfelt, encouraging online reviews and contribute positive, forward momentum to your company’s brand – all of which bring future contracts to your door.…

Consider these options for your next project.

Remember the feeling when you picked up your first iPhone? Taking off the plastic seal and feeling the sleek white box? By touching the box for the very first time you already felt the importance, quality & significance of this device. This is no coincidence! Apple meticulously strategized how they were going to package their product to align with their branding of providing top of the line product innovation & consumer experience!
It is clear that packaging plays a large role in the perceived value of a product and as a whole, the packaging industry really hasn’t changed too much in the past years, compared to the constant innovations made in portable technology. With all the packaging and box choices available in today’s market, it often becomes difficult to select the most appropriate packaging solution for your product. Let’s take a look at some of the different types of packaging options you can use to enhance your product & customer experience!

1. Paperboard boxes

Paperboard is a paper-based material that is lightweight, yet strong. It can be easily cut and manipulated to create custom shapes and structures. These characteristics make it ideal to be used in personalized packaging. It is made by turning fibrous materials that come from wood or from recycled waste paper into pulp, and then bleaching it. Paperboard packaging comes in various grades, each suitable for different packaging requirements.

SBS (or solid bleached sulfate) paperboard can be used for packing cosmetics, medicines, milk and juice, cosmetics, frozen food and more. Choosing kraft, or CUK (coated unbleached kraft) paperboard packaging are for those who prefer the natural and environmentally-friendly look of recycled paper, which can be used for similar packaging applications. Kraft is often seen to be less resistant to moisture, making it less suitable for food-related products, or frozen-goods packaging. With the right combination of design options, paperboard packaging can look high-end, without high-end pricing.

2. Corrugated boxes

Corrugated boxes simply refer to what is commonly known as: Cardboard. Corrugated boxes are the ones many probably consider as ‘cardboard’ as it produces the large shipping, shoe & storage boxes.  What a lot of people do not realize is that corrugated boxes also come in different types depending on the durability and strength of the box. Identifying a certain corrugated material, however, is easy. How do you determine the material? Through its corrugated medium (also known as fluting).  Identifying a corrugated material is easy. It consists of 3 layers of paper, an outside liner, an inside liner and a corrugated medium (also known as fluting). The corrugated medium that gives it strength and rigidity.

The main raw material that is used to construct the corrugated board is most recycled paper, made on large high-precision machinery known as corrugators. These type of boards can reused and recycled again and again as a source of pulp fiber. Corrugated boards are of different types, single faced, double faced (single wall), twin wall, and triple wall. They can be used to make packaging with different characteristics, performances, and strength. The board is cut and folded into different sizes and shapes to become corrugated packaging. Other applications of corrugated board packaging include retail packaging, pizza delivery boxes, small consumer goods packages, and so forth.

3. Plastic boxes

Plastic is used in a wide range of products, from spaceships to paper clips. A number of traditional materials, such as wood, leather, glass, ceramic, and so on, have already been replaced by plastic.

Plastic box packaging has many advantages in which they can be recycled, and generally they are much more durable than paperboard boxes. Airtight plastic packaging containers can help to preserve the quality of food and eliminate any contamination issues. Plastic packaging also does not break easily and can be stored with food under extreme conditions.

Another reason why plastic is a popular choice for packing material is because of its ability to showcase the product at any angle without necessarily opening the packaging. It is also flexible, lightweight and can be applied with films or coating to enhance packaging appearance.

Contrary to popular belief, plastic is in fact recyclable, in the sense that it takes less energy to produce new plastic, compared to glass, and other materials. Best of all, it is very cost effective!

4. Rigid boxes

I’m sure you’ve always wondered the type of box they used to package iPhones or those luxury retail products such as Rolex, Tiffany & Co and Marc Jacobs. You have a sense that it’s a type of cardboard but still wasn’t sure because of its durable and premium appearance. This type of cardboard material is called a rigid box.

A rigid box is made out of highly condensed paperboard that is 4 times thicker than the paperboard used in the construction of a standard folding carton. The easiest real-world example of rigid boxes are the boxes that hold Apple’s iPhones and iPads, which are 2 piece setup rigid boxes.

Compared to paperboard and corrugated boxes, rigid boxes are definitely among the most expensive box styles. The rigid boxes usually do not require dies that are expensive or massive machinery and are often hand-made. Their non-collapsible nature also gives them a higher volume during shipping, which easily incurs higher shipping fees.

These boxes are commonly used in merchandising cosmetics, jewelry, technology, and high-end luxury couture. It is easy to incorporate features such as platforms, windows, lids, hinges, compartments, domes, and embossing in a rigid box.

5. Chipboard packaging

Chipboard packaging is used in industries such as electronic, medical, food, cosmetic, and beverage. A chipboard basically is a type of paperboard that is made out of reclaimed paper stock. It can be easily cut, folded, and formed. It is a cost-effective packing option for your products.

It comes in various densities and strength is determined by how high the density of the material is. If you want images to be directly printed onto the chipboard, you can treat the chipboard with bleach sulfate, and with CCNB (Clay Coated News Back) which makes the material even more durable.

You cannot use chipboard packaging if your business deals with heavy items, since the chipboard sheet is a lightweight material, made for many grocery items such as cereal, crackers, tissue boxes, and so forth. Also, if the storage environment is heavy with moisture, chipboard can easily weaken, and result in discoloration and expansion.

6. Poly bags

A poly bag, also known as a pouch or a plastic bag, is manufactured out of flexible, thin, plastic film fabric. It is one of the common types of packaging and can carry a wide range of products including food items, flowers, waste, chemicals, magazines, and so on.

Poly bags are durable yet lightweight, reusable and flexible. Since poly bags are structurally simple to make, it can be fully customized in design, style & sizes but still remain cost-effective. Plastic recycling is also possible with poly bags, depending on the construction. Most of the poly bags are made with security features, tape attachments, hanging holes, and carrying handles to make sure the products are well secured and visually appealing to the customer.

7. Foil sealed bags

Foil sealed bags can be seen typically in most coffee and tea packaging. Why? It keeps the products dense to maintain the flavor, protects it from bacteria coming in and helps increase shelf life. Apart from food, foil sealed bags are also used to package bedding and clothing products. The process involves removing the oxygen from the bag to keep the fabric tight and secure in order to prevent the growth of fungi and other bacteria. Nuts, cereals, smoked fish, cheese and cured meats are also packaged with foil sealed bags to prevent from spoilage.

Contact us for more.