Plumbers gear up for toilet month
October is National Toilet Tank Repair Month, and in the coming weeks, master plumber Mike McLaughlin expects to be busier than a barman on New Year's Eve.
"Business begins to pick up right after Labor Day," said McLaughlin, the Salem franchisee of Mr. Rooter, a plumbing and drain-cleaning company. "Vacations are over. People are thinking about winter heating, and everybody wants their homes nice and tidy for the holidays."
Indeed, only a surfeit of fruitcake or a surprise visit from Mr. Scrooge and the Grinch can be less welcome at Christmas than a bathroom emergency that can hydrate the premises with water unfit for filling a swank Sigg canteen.
Throw in the region's old housing stock, aging sewer systems, and winter weather that can freeze pipes, and plumbers rarely enjoy much downtime during the fourth quarter, said McLaughlin, who's keen on regular maintenance and same-day service as ways to combat the malodorous malaise of a dysfunctional bathroom.
"We're always available when you need us - that's our mantra," he said during a telephone interview yesterday.
Cars and pianos may not be the only things that need periodic tune-ups; when it comes to toilets, McLaughlin said, valve seal balls and flappers require regular replacement.
With many consumers interested in protecting the environment these days, there are added dividends to having a well-tuned toilet - a leaky one can waste 200 gallons of water a day, plumbers claim.
After 25 years in the business, McLaughlin knows a thing or two about American Standard and Toto, two popular toilet brands.
As he sees it, innovation is a constant in bathroom technology as scientists seek relentlessly to re-engineer the loo and transform a once-humble venue into a luxurious comfort zone replete with state-of-the-art bells and whistles.
Among marvels that McLaughlin has witnessed was a demonstration of an American Standard toilet model capable of sucking down 30 golf balls with a single flush.
Then there's a high-end Toto.
"It will wash your backside with a warm water rinse," he said.
Such best-in-breed solutions aren't confined just to the high-concept toilet; there are also high-tech ways for plumbers to install pipes outdoors.
When it comes to replacing 50-year old drain systems that link a home to a community sewer system, less invasive techniques, similar to angioplasty and arthroscopic surgery, lessen the need for excavation equipment and earth movers.
One of these methods, called "trenchless pipe replacement," uses cables equipped with video cameras and transmitters to snake new pipe into space previously occupied by old pipe that rotted out or was damaged by tree roots, McLaughlin said.
Plumbing, he noted, isn't just about guys with shovels and backhoes anymore.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)
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