Today’s Do It Yourself Project is a Holiday Wreath.. and it happens to be made with plumbing materials! If you’re looking for one of a kind holiday decor or just a fun holiday do it yourself project then this is for you! Most of these things you can either find lying around your house, tucked into holiday decoration boxes in your garage or pick up at the store for under ten dollars.
Click HERE for some Christmas music while you CRAFT!

The Square Christmas wreath is assembled out of:

5 – 6 feet of thick garland or 12 feet of cheap, sparse garland (double up the cheap stuff)

66 inches of 1/2 ” plastic plumbing pipe

4, 1/2″ 90° plastic elbows

(The plastic pipe will run you about $5
and the elbows around 50 ¢ each.)

Twist ties

Holiday Decor add on’s (pinecones, glittery leaves, feathers, etc.)

Mini lights

First start with the piping. Cut your plastic pipe to 4 lengths of 16.5 (if you don’t have the tools to do this at home you can have the hardware store cut them for you)

Then insert the pipe into your 4 elbows

After you connect all the pieces you should have a square frame for your wreath.

Next you’ll need your garland. We took the traditional green, but feel free to experiment with glitter garlands or even feather boas if you plan on using it for inside holiday decor in a kids room. You can even skip a step by getting garland that already has lights woven in. (But technically your garland should not have the lights on it at this point so that the lights are easier to replace if broken later on) Next, lay your garland around your frame. Remember you can double up on the garland if needed!

After you lay the garland around the frame, attach it to the plastic frame with wire. Twist ties work best because they’re pre-cut and fairly inexpensive. Do this all around the wreath until all of the garland is secured.

From here, all you have left is to add the lights (if your garland didn’t come with them) and your add on holiday do-dads.

TIP: It’s easier if you hang the wreath up to do this. That way you can see exactly how it’s going to look. You can hang it with an old wreath hanger or pick one up at the dollar store.

NOW you can put your mini lights on. Instead of running them around and around the wreath, lay the lights on top in a zig zag fashion. That way if your lights need to be replaced you can easily remove them.

Once the lights are on you can add in your birch twigs, leaves and pinecones. To attach the pinecones, just hook some wire around the pinecone and then tie it to the wreath.

You can also pick up wreath add ons at your local super store or craft store for a few dollars that already have wire ties attached to them.

The best thing about making your own wreath is you can reposition things if they don’t look good. You can also reuse the base year after year, and just switching out the add ons if you want!

And then for the final product….TADA!

A huge thanks to Theartofdoingstuff.com for today’s inspiration!

Did you know that more than 90 million American’s will be traveling over the holidays. Homeowners can expect on average 12 guests at their dinner table for holiday celebrations.

Toilets will have extra use over the coming weeks as we approach Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas and New Years. Everyone thinks of baking desserts, making beds and dusting fans but no seems to think about giving their toilet a check up before guests arrive.

The average person uses the restroom between six and eight times each day. Homes with 12 or more guests can expect an increase in toilet traffic during this peak travel season, as many as 96 extra flushes per day.

Plumbers across the country celebrated National Toilet Day on November 19th and Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber was no exception.

In honor of National Toilet Day we wanted to share 19 interesting toilet related facts.

1. The toilet is flushed more times during the Super Bowl halftime than at any time during the year.
2. The toilet is the home appliance that uses up the most amount of water.
3. The most expensive toilet in the galaxy is found in space. Each toilet in space costs about 19 million dollars.
4. Most toilets flush in the key of E flat.
5. The first time male and female toilets were separated was in Paris during a high-class party in 1739.
6. The first toilet ever seen on TV was on “Leave It To Beaver”. The first movie to show a toilet flushing was in the movie “Psycho”.
7. An average person visits the toilet 2500 times a year, about six-eight times a day.
8. The average person spends three whole years of their life sitting on the toilet.
9. The average life expectancy of a toilet is 50 years.
10. Over $100,000 US dollars was spent on a study to determine whether most people put their toilet paper on the holder with the flap in front or behind; the answer: three out of four people have the flap in the front.
11. Every year, there are more than 40,000 toilet-related injuries in the US. The odds are 1 out of 10000 that you will get a toilet-related injury this year.
12. There are 333 squares of toilet paper on a roll.
13. On average, consumers use 8.6 sheets per trip – a total of 57 sheets per day. That’s an annual total of 20,805 sheets!
14. The White House has thirty bathrooms. The Pentagon uses about 636 toilet paper rolls per day.
15. Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.
16. The first toilet cubicle in a row is the least used (and consequently cleanest).
17. The average desk harbors 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat
18. Car steering wheels carry more than twice as many germs as a toilet seat
19. Lack of suitable toilets and sanitation kills approximately 1.8 million people a year, many of them children.

For more fun facts and information about Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber please visit: http://www.benfranklinplumbingaz.com/.

Thank you for reading my blog, if your toilet is needing some extra attention to make it through the rest of the year, please use our easy real time online booking system or call us at 480-812-1855, mention this blog to receive $39.00 off any toilet repair this week.

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.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naiH5_o_hxU[/youtube]

All plumbing, just like a home itself, needs repairing with age.

As water pipes age they become weaker and the chance of a crack is greater, leaving you as a homeowner with the uncertainty of how much damage even a small leak could cause.

Today, water is still mostly transported in metallic pipes or systems, especially in older homes.  Homes with these galvanized iron water supply lines eventually clog with deposits, or become brittle and prone to fractures. With these pipes, the simpler the iron, the greater the risk of corrosion resulting in lower water pressure.

Pipes can corrode because of age or even by wear and tear from natural elements like a mixture of soil and water. The combination of the two will wear against the exterior of the pipes eventually making its way into the pipe itself. This not only leaves the pipe weakened but can also affect both your water supply and your wallet if the pipes crack and burst. The easiest way to check for corrosion with Iron is in the form of rust.

Another thing that could affect your water pipes is water pressure.

Weakened pipes can cause low water pressure, but a problem within your water pump could actually have the opposite effect, building too much pressure in your pipes causing them to rupture.

So take the proper precautions to make sure that your pipes are clog free, crack free and at a well-balanced water pressure. Working at a fast and efficient pace, we will make sure your pipes are properly working. If you need a replacement we will make sure to install high quality pipes, checking that the joints are tight and sealed properly. So make sure to have regular checks by your trusted plumber, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing who in the case of an emergency will make repairs, clean ups and restoration easy and stress free.

Looking for some Do It Yourself Projects for around the house this weekend?

You might find some inspiration here. Below are some modern twists on plumbing equipment made into furniture, decorations and even jewelry.

Here is an easy fixer-upper. Trying to make your kitchen cabinets more accessible? Try adding handles. Whether you are looking for a particular color scheme or are thinking of trying a modern take on your kitchen; start with small accents like these pipes. Not only will they make your kitchen one of a kind, but also some accents are even more affordable than other traditional store bought handles. Best part of these pipes – no repair necessary!

If you are looking for modern but simplistic shelving with a touch of rustic – you might have just found it. Although this is a do it yourself, make sure that the piping and wooden slats are properly planted to the ground and wall before putting storing anything too heavy on them.

Wanting an ultramodern bedroom set?

How clean is your plumbing… Clean enough to eat off of? This is a great simple table that shows your pipes are definitely clean enough and strong enough to eat off of. Might even remind you to call up your local plumber to make sure your real pipes look this good! 

Reading the Daily Plumber? Well we don’t have a book out yet… but here is a great idea for a modern bookshelf!

Talk about Modern— This is a Do It Yourself Lighting Project to the Extreme, taking old plumbing fixtures and routing a light through them – into the hand blown glass.

But then again, you could always just stick with candles…

Does your home need something bright and funky to spruce up the décor? For a few dollars at your local hardware store you could buy a few pieces of PVC pipes, and after painting them, turn them into one of a kind flower vases.

Today’s artists are constantly coming up with new ideas and methods for turning everyday items into wearable art. Here are two easy examples of Do It Yourself Jewelry that is sure to be easy, affordable and one of a kind. We’d love to see your DIY plumbing inspired decor! Share a picture with us on our Facebook page so everyone can admire your work!

– Enjoy this weeks Do-It-Yourselfs!