Did you know:

The average person spends three whole years

of their life sitting on the toilet?

But the real question is: What would you do if you didn’t have a toilet…

The reality is that billions around the world don’t have access.

Flush toilets are unavailable to a majority of the developing world and over 3 billion people worldwide do not have access to any form of toilet or latrine system. Therefore, these people must result to urinating or defecating in public. Numerous health issues come from the lack of suitable toilets along with safety concerns especially involving women using a public form of bathroom.

Did you know lack of toilets and sanitation kills approximately 2 million people a year most of whom are children?

In order to bring safe, clean toilets to the developing nations the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation along with UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, African Development Bank African Water Facility, Water Services Trust Fund and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and WASH for Life are teaming together for a water and sanitation challenge to reinvent the toilet.

Over 8 different universities worldwide are currently underway to create technology that will reinvent the toilet as “a stand-alone unit without piped-in water, a sewer connection, or outside electricity—all for less than 5 cents a day” according to PRNewswire.

To learn more about the sanitation goals and the reinvention challenge click here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gates-foundation-launches-effort-to-reinvent-the-toilet-125802933.html

We are here to help you and your family be sure your toilet is safe while keeping you healthy, if you have any concerns please contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing or call us at 602-903-1672, to help you stay healthy.

As we discuss bathroom renovations one of the leading renovations that comes to mind is with the shower or bathtub.  However, even though the shower is one of the leading bathroom renovations, it is usually only a simple renovation of the showerhead fixture.

But if you are looking for a new showerhead consider one that gives you options… even if it is just two options between a rainfall or a waterfall

When it comes to renovations, most people are unaware how a shower, bathtub or even the combination of the two can be the definition of your bathroom and just how much you can actually do to renovate it.

First you must decide:

Are you renovating a shower or a bathtub?

If you a renovating a bathtub consider what material you would like to have your tub made out of. With customized homes come more options of a customized bathroom in which homeowners usually have more flexibility with design options.

However, you still have plenty of bathtub options that only vary depending on the size of the room you are fitting the tub in.

Your bathtub has the ability to fully define the room. Whether your bathtub is customized by you, or a designer the options for patterns and material are endless.

Technology has given us the ability to put a modern take on the shower bathtub duo.

But if you are looking for just a Shower Renovation…

Start with something like this..

and finish with something like this…

You can also try going green by installing a shower that is water conscious.

The Shower Brake is a water controller that designates an amount of water (when pushed up) that is sufficient for most showers. The controller descends while you shower to let you know how much water you’ve used.

Then there are also the shower options that are without plumbing…

The pocket shower easily folds up so you can take it on the go!

If your ready for a change in your Bathroom shower or tub area, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing can help you come up with just the right update for you!

Contact us today for a free estimate when mentioning this blog, call 602-485-111 or click www.benfranklinplumbingaz.com to make an online appointment.

Summer is a perfect time for home renovations. Whether you simply come up with the ideas and hire a trusted professional to install the renovations, or decide to make it a do it yourself project, either way, there are endless possibilities.

Over the next few days we will be discussing bathroom renovations from showers, sinks and even toilets, highlighting the top and over the top trends to make your bathroom one of a kind.

Whether you decide to fully renovate your sink, including what the sink dish resides in or just decide to switch the faucets there are several options for any bathroom theme.

A bathroom sink renovation could involve fully replacing the sink bowl or in the form of a do it yourself project you re-design the outside shell of the sink by painting it or using a graphic sticker.

The most popular form of sinks in bathroom design is a vessel sink. Offered in many materials, shapes and colors your vessel sink can either be the key accent piece or a complementary and charming accent to whatever theme you may decide.

If you would like to go fully modern, try an unusual shape for your vessel sink. For a list of the different materials offered in the form of a vessel sink look here.

If you want to start renovations with a small change to your bathroom, start by renovating your faucet. Switching to a sleek and modern silver design like the one above will make a noticeable difference in how you feel about your bathroom, whether it be a master bathroom or a hallway half bath.

If you want to try something fun and unusual when it comes to accent colors, try colors in an LED light. These one of a kind sinks are sure to be an eye-catcher for any guest and will be sure to keep your kids entertained.

Then of course there are also the bathroom renovations that to some are considered over the top

but can truly bring your bathroom theme to the next level.

So whether you choose to begin with bold…

…or subtle differences to your bathroom…

Or decide to take on an entire renovation be sure to contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, your guide to a flawless installation.

A leading problem when it comes to water flow actually occurs outside of the home. Although it’s hard to believe, tree roots are actually one of the leading causes behind clogged or broken sewer lines.

Tree roots usually navigate towards nutrients, which the pipes carrying sewage out of your home are full of.

Although most homes nowadays are built with plastic PVC or ABS pipes with glued joints for sewer drains, older homes in the Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa or Scottsdale area were built with sewer drains made of clay or orangeburg, a cardboard type pipe. The PVC or ABS pipes are more industrious and can tolerate the outside pressures that a tree root may exert.

With clay or orangeburg pipes, over time the clay or cardboard type pipe ages or the ground shifts and settles degrading the pipes in the process. If the older pipes even have a slight crack the roots of the tree can find their way in. Once inside the tree roots will grow thick and spread out eventually clogging your drain by their mass or the debris that is caught in the roots disposed from the home.  A complete blockage of the pipes will occur if it goes unchecked and eventually the pipes will completely break apart.

This current photo from a home here in Tempe that had continued problems with their drains backing up, until one day, the pipe just could not drain anymore, the roots took over completely.

So as we move into the hottest months of the year we urge homeowners to contact their local plumber as each homeowner is responsible for maintaining their sewer pipes. Remember even though the pipe is buried and out of sight, does not mean there is not a problem so make sure you schedule a regular cleaning and catch any problem before it’s too late.

• SAVE TODAY-MENTION THIS DRAIN BLOG WHEN BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT AND RECIEVE A FREE DRAIN CAMERA AND LOCATE WITH ANY OTHER PLUMBING SERVICE COMPLETED, A $200.00 value, not to be combined with any other discounts or specials, expires 09/30/11.

Known as the Fourth of July, we celebrate the declaration of our independence from Great Britain.

Whether you are celebrating the history and traditions of the United States or attending festivals and parades make sure you take advantage of the Independence Day plumbing specials from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.

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