Solvent Cements For Plastic Pipe-No. 2
Over the years Black Swan has manufactured a tremendous amount of solvent cement for plastic pipe. We can't even begin to guess how many joints have been put together with our products.
Black Swan has had very few complaints over the years about the solvent cements not working.
But, every year we do get a few complaints. We usually ask to get a sample of a leaking joint so we can evaluate the joint and see why there was a failure. It is a very rare moment when the cement has been the cause of the problem. The problem generally has been that the person making the installation has made an error.
Below we will list the most common reasons why a solvent cement joint has failed. If you can avoid these problems, you will surely be able to make a good solvent cement connection:
1. Make sure the solvent cement is in good condition. The cement should be liquid and not
of a jelly consistency. If the cement has a jelly consistency, this means the cement is going bad and will not be able to do it's job. The cement will not be able to attack the plastic and allow the end user to make a good connection.
2. Make sure the pipe is cut square and not at an angle. If the pipe is cut at an angle, you will be reducing the bonding area. The less bonding area you have, the greater the chance of having a leak.
3. When you cut the pipe, make sure there are no burrs at the end of the pipe. If there are burrs at the end of the pipe, these burrs will scrape away the solvent cement on the inside of the fitting. If there are areas that contain no cement (because the burrs wiped away the cement), you will have no connection being made and you will have leaks.
4. Make sure the pipe and fittings are clean and that there is no grease, dirt, moisture, etc. on the pipe and fittings. If there is grease, moisture or dirt on the pipe and fittings, the cement will not be able to make contact with the plastic and will not be able to do it's job.
5. Make sure that there is a good fit between the pipe and the fitting. If the fitting is too large or the pipe is too small, the cement will not be able to connect the two together. Too large a gap between the two pieces of plastic and you will never be able to make a connection.
6. When using solvent cement to connect the pipe and fitting, you have to make sure that you do apply the cement. Yes, you heard correctly. There have been many complaints that the cement did not work and upon inspection you find that no cement was ever applied.
7. You also have to make sure that you apply enough cement to make the connection. If you apply too little cement, there will not be enough cement to attack the plastic and bond the pipe and the fitting together. You also have to apply enough cement to fill any gaps between the pipe and the fitting.
8. You also have to make sure that you do not apply too much cement. By applying too much cement, you can weaken the structure of the pipe and the fitting. This could cause leaks in the future.
9. When you apply the cement to the pipe and the fitting, you only have a short time to work before the cement will dry and will no longer be able to bond the pipe and fitting together. The amount of time you have depends on the temperature and other weather conditions. The cement must be wet in order to make the connections. So, you have to apply the cement quickly and then put the pipe and the fitting together quickly. Again, if you wait too long and the cement dries, there will be no connection.
If you use too small an applicator, by the time you apply all of the cement to the pipe and fitting, the first cement applied may already be dry. Make sure you have the correct size applicator.
If it is extremely hot outside, the cement will dry very quickly. And, if the cement dries quickly, you will not be able to make a connection.
10. When you apply the cement and you push the pipe into the fitting, you should give the pipe a slight turn and hold the pipe for 30 seconds. If you don't do this, the pipe will push out and you will not have enough area being bonded together. You will have leaks. The slight turn helps spread the cement around to improve your chances of a good connection.
11. And last, it is always a good idea to use a Primer when working with plastic pipe and fittings. The Primer will clean the pipe and then it will start softening the plastic in advance of the cement being applied. Many problems can be avoided if the end user would just use a good, strong Primer.
Black Swan is a leading manufacturer of solvent cements and primers. Always ask for our products when you are getting ready to connect plastic pipe and fittings. If the wholesaler or retail store does not carry our products, immediately walk out and never return to that location until they start stocking Black Swan products. That is our advice to you.
Thank you for reading this article and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Black Swan directly. We will try and help you as best as we can.
And remember, Black Swan has over 200 other products in our line. Always use Black Swan for all of your plumbing chemical needs.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Solvent Cements For Plastic Pipe-No. 1
Solvent Cements For Plastic Pipe
No. 1
There are many things to discuss on solvent cements and primers for plastic pipe. You can discuss directions on how to make a good connection, special directions for making a good connection in hot or cold weather, set times, cure times, warnings for working with solvent cements, shipping information, and much more. In this particular blog, we will discuss none of the above. Today we will answer the most popular questions that Black Swan is asked every week. Hopefully this information will be helpful.
1. Why are there different thicknesses of solvent cements?
Generally there are three different thicknesses of solvent cements-regular bodied, medium bodied and heavy bodied. Solvent cements work by attacking the plastic, connecting the pipe and fitting, and then the solvents evaporate. These solvents evaporate very quickly. On small diameter pipe (up to two inches), you can apply the cement very quickly because you do not have a big area to apply the cement and primer. Thus, you can use a thin (regular bodied) product and you can make a good connection. On larger diameter pipe, you will need more time to apply the cement. A slightly thicker cement will dry slower and allow you time to make a good connection. On pipe up to six inches in diameter you can use a medium bodied cement. On pipe sizes larger than six inches, you should use a heavy bodied cement. This cement will dry the slowest (because it is the thickest) and you will have enough time to apply the cement and primer properly to make a good connection.
The other feature of cements is that the cement does fill the voids betweent the pipe and fittings. On smaller size pipe, the voids are small. A regular bodied cement works fine to fill these voids. As the pipe size gets larger, the voids are larger and a thicker cement fills these voids better. Medium bodied cements works great on the pipe sizes between two and six inches and the heavy bodied cement works great on pipe sizes from six inches and twelve inches.
2. Questions are asked if a certain cement can be used with a certain ingredient running through the piping system.
Solvent cements are basically solvents with a resin. PVC Cement contains PVC resin which is the same resin as the PVC pipe and fittings. CPVC Cement contains CPVC resin which is the same resin as the CPVC pipe and fittings. The same concept for ABS Cement. After the cement is applied and the connection is made, the solvents evaporate. The only thing left of the cement is the resin.
So, the question should not be will the cement be able to be used with a particular ingredient running through the system. The cement is gone and only the resin is left. The question should be will the pipe and/or fittings be acceptable for a particular ingredient. That is the question.
3. Does primer need to be used to make a good connection?
There is no question that a good connection can be made without using a primer. Many professionals use this technique with great success. We know this because Black Swan sells a lot more cement than primer. However, you will have a much better chance of making a good connection if you use a primer. A good primer will clean the pipe and fitting and will soften the pipe and fitting prior to applying the cement. With a clean pipe and fitting and a softened pipe and fitting, the chances of making a good connection have improved dramatically.
Black Swan's advice-use the primer and avoid problems later. Also, remember it is usually important to use a primer if you want to follow the local plumbing codes.
4. What can I do if I spill purple primer on the floor, bathtub, etc?
This is a very difficult question. The purple dye is very difficult to get out. Some suggestions are to use clear primer and apply it to the purple stain. This does work in many situations. Sometimes using water and baking soda works. Sometimes a good household cleaning agent will work. It really depends on the surface that the purple primer has been dropped on.
The best advice is to be very careful in advance of using the purple primer. Cover up the area where you will be using the primer. Also, if you can use Clear Primer and not have to worry about the local code, definitely use the Clear Primer.
5. Can PVC Cement be used on CPVC pipe and fittings?
The answer is negative. The strongest (or hardest plastic) is CPVC plastic. The next step down is PVC plastic. The weakest plastic is ABS plastic. So, the strongest cement is the CPVC Cement. This product has the most THF (the main ingredient that attacks the plastic). The next strongest cement is the PVC Cement. This product has less THF. The weakest cement is ABS Cement. This cement has no THF in it.
So, the CPVC Cement could be used on CPVC plastic and PVC plastic and even the ABS plastic. The reason is because it is a very strong cement. The PVC Cement can be used on PVC plastic and the ABS plastic. But, this cement can not be used on the CPVC plastic because it is just not strong enough to attack the CPVC resin.
These are the most popular questions regarding solvent cements that Black Swan answers. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us and we will get the answers.
Good luck in making your next plastic pipe connection.
No. 1
There are many things to discuss on solvent cements and primers for plastic pipe. You can discuss directions on how to make a good connection, special directions for making a good connection in hot or cold weather, set times, cure times, warnings for working with solvent cements, shipping information, and much more. In this particular blog, we will discuss none of the above. Today we will answer the most popular questions that Black Swan is asked every week. Hopefully this information will be helpful.
1. Why are there different thicknesses of solvent cements?
Generally there are three different thicknesses of solvent cements-regular bodied, medium bodied and heavy bodied. Solvent cements work by attacking the plastic, connecting the pipe and fitting, and then the solvents evaporate. These solvents evaporate very quickly. On small diameter pipe (up to two inches), you can apply the cement very quickly because you do not have a big area to apply the cement and primer. Thus, you can use a thin (regular bodied) product and you can make a good connection. On larger diameter pipe, you will need more time to apply the cement. A slightly thicker cement will dry slower and allow you time to make a good connection. On pipe up to six inches in diameter you can use a medium bodied cement. On pipe sizes larger than six inches, you should use a heavy bodied cement. This cement will dry the slowest (because it is the thickest) and you will have enough time to apply the cement and primer properly to make a good connection.
The other feature of cements is that the cement does fill the voids betweent the pipe and fittings. On smaller size pipe, the voids are small. A regular bodied cement works fine to fill these voids. As the pipe size gets larger, the voids are larger and a thicker cement fills these voids better. Medium bodied cements works great on the pipe sizes between two and six inches and the heavy bodied cement works great on pipe sizes from six inches and twelve inches.
2. Questions are asked if a certain cement can be used with a certain ingredient running through the piping system.
Solvent cements are basically solvents with a resin. PVC Cement contains PVC resin which is the same resin as the PVC pipe and fittings. CPVC Cement contains CPVC resin which is the same resin as the CPVC pipe and fittings. The same concept for ABS Cement. After the cement is applied and the connection is made, the solvents evaporate. The only thing left of the cement is the resin.
So, the question should not be will the cement be able to be used with a particular ingredient running through the system. The cement is gone and only the resin is left. The question should be will the pipe and/or fittings be acceptable for a particular ingredient. That is the question.
3. Does primer need to be used to make a good connection?
There is no question that a good connection can be made without using a primer. Many professionals use this technique with great success. We know this because Black Swan sells a lot more cement than primer. However, you will have a much better chance of making a good connection if you use a primer. A good primer will clean the pipe and fitting and will soften the pipe and fitting prior to applying the cement. With a clean pipe and fitting and a softened pipe and fitting, the chances of making a good connection have improved dramatically.
Black Swan's advice-use the primer and avoid problems later. Also, remember it is usually important to use a primer if you want to follow the local plumbing codes.
4. What can I do if I spill purple primer on the floor, bathtub, etc?
This is a very difficult question. The purple dye is very difficult to get out. Some suggestions are to use clear primer and apply it to the purple stain. This does work in many situations. Sometimes using water and baking soda works. Sometimes a good household cleaning agent will work. It really depends on the surface that the purple primer has been dropped on.
The best advice is to be very careful in advance of using the purple primer. Cover up the area where you will be using the primer. Also, if you can use Clear Primer and not have to worry about the local code, definitely use the Clear Primer.
5. Can PVC Cement be used on CPVC pipe and fittings?
The answer is negative. The strongest (or hardest plastic) is CPVC plastic. The next step down is PVC plastic. The weakest plastic is ABS plastic. So, the strongest cement is the CPVC Cement. This product has the most THF (the main ingredient that attacks the plastic). The next strongest cement is the PVC Cement. This product has less THF. The weakest cement is ABS Cement. This cement has no THF in it.
So, the CPVC Cement could be used on CPVC plastic and PVC plastic and even the ABS plastic. The reason is because it is a very strong cement. The PVC Cement can be used on PVC plastic and the ABS plastic. But, this cement can not be used on the CPVC plastic because it is just not strong enough to attack the CPVC resin.
These are the most popular questions regarding solvent cements that Black Swan answers. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us and we will get the answers.
Good luck in making your next plastic pipe connection.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Pipe Joint Compounds
PIPE JOINT COMPOUNDS
There are many different types of piping systems in the market place. There is steel pipe, copper tubing, plastic pipe, soil pipe, and more. Depending on which system you are using will determine how you connect the piping sytem together.
When the pipes are threaded (meaning that you connect the pipes by screwing the fitting onto the end of the pipe) there are two things to be aware of. First, if the threads are not made perfectly, there is a chance that there could be a leak. Threads could be imperfect if the cutting dies used to make the threads are imperfect. The second thing to be aware of is that the tighter you can screw the pipe into the fitting, the better chance you have to make a leak-free connection.
This is where pipe joint compounds come into play. Pipe joint compounds are generally a soft paste. The compound can be applied to the male threads of the connection and will serve two purposes. First, if there are any imperfections in the threads, the pipe joint compound will fill these imperfections and will hopefully prevent any leaks. If the threads are really bad, pipe joint compound will not help. But if the imperfections are not too bad, the pipe joint compound should prevent a leak.
The second purpose of the pipe joint compound is that the compound will serve as a lubricant and will allow you to tighten the connection as tight as possible. This will also help prevent leaks.
Now we know the purpose that pipe joint compounds serve. The next thing you need to know is how do you choose which pipe joint compound to use.(Of course, you always need to use a Black Swan pipe joint compound. That is the only intelligent choice.) The end user needs to know what type of pipe is being used and what product will be running through the piping systems.
Threaded pipes are usually made of metal or plastic. Most pipe joint compounds can be used on metal. However, many pipe joint compounds can not be used on plastic. The reason is because these pipe joint compounds have ingredients that will soften the plastic and cause the pipe and fittings to deteriorate. This is not a good thing and leaks will follow. Always read the label to see if the pipe joint compound can be used on plastic.
The next concern is what ingredients are running through the pipes. The ingredients that run through the pipe could attack the pipe joint compound and cause the product to deteriorate. If you have ammonia or an acid running throught the pipes and these ingredients cause the pipe joint compound to deteriorate, you may have leaks. This will not be pleasant. Make sure the pipe joint compound you choose will work with the ingredients that they will have contact with.
Black Swan currently has five different pipe joint compounds. The first product is PIPE JOINT COMPOUND. This is our basic, inexpensive product. It can be used on metal only and should be usd with air, water, steam and natural gas. The other four pipe joint compounds are ALL PURPOSE PIPE DOPE, SWAN SEAL, BIG BLUE, and BIG WHITE. These four products can be used on metal or plastic and can be used with a wide variety of ingredients running through the pipes. These four products are all outstanding.
For more information on the Black Swan pipe joint compounds or any of our other 200 products, please go to our web site at www.blackswanmfg.com. Or call us at 1-800-252-5796. Ask for Jeffrey Lichten. He is a really, really great guy.
There are many different types of piping systems in the market place. There is steel pipe, copper tubing, plastic pipe, soil pipe, and more. Depending on which system you are using will determine how you connect the piping sytem together.
When the pipes are threaded (meaning that you connect the pipes by screwing the fitting onto the end of the pipe) there are two things to be aware of. First, if the threads are not made perfectly, there is a chance that there could be a leak. Threads could be imperfect if the cutting dies used to make the threads are imperfect. The second thing to be aware of is that the tighter you can screw the pipe into the fitting, the better chance you have to make a leak-free connection.
This is where pipe joint compounds come into play. Pipe joint compounds are generally a soft paste. The compound can be applied to the male threads of the connection and will serve two purposes. First, if there are any imperfections in the threads, the pipe joint compound will fill these imperfections and will hopefully prevent any leaks. If the threads are really bad, pipe joint compound will not help. But if the imperfections are not too bad, the pipe joint compound should prevent a leak.
The second purpose of the pipe joint compound is that the compound will serve as a lubricant and will allow you to tighten the connection as tight as possible. This will also help prevent leaks.
Now we know the purpose that pipe joint compounds serve. The next thing you need to know is how do you choose which pipe joint compound to use.(Of course, you always need to use a Black Swan pipe joint compound. That is the only intelligent choice.) The end user needs to know what type of pipe is being used and what product will be running through the piping systems.
Threaded pipes are usually made of metal or plastic. Most pipe joint compounds can be used on metal. However, many pipe joint compounds can not be used on plastic. The reason is because these pipe joint compounds have ingredients that will soften the plastic and cause the pipe and fittings to deteriorate. This is not a good thing and leaks will follow. Always read the label to see if the pipe joint compound can be used on plastic.
The next concern is what ingredients are running through the pipes. The ingredients that run through the pipe could attack the pipe joint compound and cause the product to deteriorate. If you have ammonia or an acid running throught the pipes and these ingredients cause the pipe joint compound to deteriorate, you may have leaks. This will not be pleasant. Make sure the pipe joint compound you choose will work with the ingredients that they will have contact with.
Black Swan currently has five different pipe joint compounds. The first product is PIPE JOINT COMPOUND. This is our basic, inexpensive product. It can be used on metal only and should be usd with air, water, steam and natural gas. The other four pipe joint compounds are ALL PURPOSE PIPE DOPE, SWAN SEAL, BIG BLUE, and BIG WHITE. These four products can be used on metal or plastic and can be used with a wide variety of ingredients running through the pipes. These four products are all outstanding.
For more information on the Black Swan pipe joint compounds or any of our other 200 products, please go to our web site at www.blackswanmfg.com. Or call us at 1-800-252-5796. Ask for Jeffrey Lichten. He is a really, really great guy.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Plumbers Putty
Plumbers Putty
Most people would agree that the world is a better place because of the existence of plumbers putty. Black Swan invented plumbers putty. Thus, the world is a much better place because of the existence of Black Swan. Please remember this when you go out next time to purchase any of your plumbing chemical needs.
A quick history. During World War II the federal government came to Black Swan and described
a product that was needed. They asked if Black Swan could manufacture this product. Harry Lichten, the owner of Black Swan, responded, "Yes!" Of course, Harry had no idea how he would be able to accomplish this. But, a few months later, the first batch of plumbers putty was made.
Black Swan never knew how this new product was being used. But, for a few years, this new proudct was a very big seller. After the end of the war, the government no longer needed this new proudct. But, Harry Lichten knew he had a great product but he did not know what he could use it for.
After doing extensive research, Harry Lichten realized that the world had no good method for setting a toilet bowl. Plumbers were using linseed oil and powder, mixing them together by hand and then using the end result to make a seal between the toilet bowl and the floor. This was a very sloppy operation and the end result was not very good.
Harry Lichten sold this new putty into the plumbing trade to set toilet bowls and it became an immediate success.
Today plumbers putty has many different uses. It is used wherever a watertight seal needs to be made. This includes setting toilet bowls, fixtures, faucets, stainers, basin cocks and sink frames.
Always be careful where you use plumbers putty. Plumbers putty does contain some petroleum oils and it could soften or discolor some surfaces including marble, granite, plastic, etc.
Remember, always ask for Black Swan's Stay Soft Plumbers Putty when you have a need for plumbers putty.
Jeffrey Lichten
President
Black Swan Mfg. Co.
Most people would agree that the world is a better place because of the existence of plumbers putty. Black Swan invented plumbers putty. Thus, the world is a much better place because of the existence of Black Swan. Please remember this when you go out next time to purchase any of your plumbing chemical needs.
A quick history. During World War II the federal government came to Black Swan and described
a product that was needed. They asked if Black Swan could manufacture this product. Harry Lichten, the owner of Black Swan, responded, "Yes!" Of course, Harry had no idea how he would be able to accomplish this. But, a few months later, the first batch of plumbers putty was made.
Black Swan never knew how this new product was being used. But, for a few years, this new proudct was a very big seller. After the end of the war, the government no longer needed this new proudct. But, Harry Lichten knew he had a great product but he did not know what he could use it for.
After doing extensive research, Harry Lichten realized that the world had no good method for setting a toilet bowl. Plumbers were using linseed oil and powder, mixing them together by hand and then using the end result to make a seal between the toilet bowl and the floor. This was a very sloppy operation and the end result was not very good.
Harry Lichten sold this new putty into the plumbing trade to set toilet bowls and it became an immediate success.
Today plumbers putty has many different uses. It is used wherever a watertight seal needs to be made. This includes setting toilet bowls, fixtures, faucets, stainers, basin cocks and sink frames.
Always be careful where you use plumbers putty. Plumbers putty does contain some petroleum oils and it could soften or discolor some surfaces including marble, granite, plastic, etc.
Remember, always ask for Black Swan's Stay Soft Plumbers Putty when you have a need for plumbers putty.
Jeffrey Lichten
President
Black Swan Mfg. Co.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Wax Toilet Bowl Rings
Wax Toilet Bowl Rings
Setting a toilet bowl is not one of the most exciting events in a person's life. However, if your toilet is not working properly your life will soon be very exciting-and filled with many problems.
Would also like to point out that prehistoric people did not have toilet problems. They never used a toilet and they never had a need for a Black Swan wax bowl ring. Those poor people!
Black Swan is a manufacturer of plumbing chemicals and accessories. One of our most popular products is wax bowl rings. So, we will share with you our thoughts on the wax bowl ring part of the toilet installation and we will not discuss toilets themselves.
First, you need to know a little about a wax ring. The purpose of a wax ring is to make a seal between the bottom of your toilet and the floor. The wax ring will prevent water from leaking from the toilet and the wax ring will prevent sewer gases from coming back into the household. Both purposes are extremely important.
Second, when do you need a wax ring? Of course, when you are installing a new toilet you need a wax ring. But, you will also need a wax ring when your existing toilet is having problems or you are doing work around a toilet. If water is leaking from the bottom of your toilet, you might need to replace your wax ring. If sewer gases are coming into your household, you might need to replace your wax ring. If you are installing a new floor in your bathroom, you might have to move your toilet and then you will need a new wax ring. If your toilet moves or rocks back and forth, you may need a new wax ring.
You should also keep in mind that all toilet problems are not always the wax ring's fault. There could be other causes like damaged pipes or broken flanges.
Black Swan offers a variety of wax bowl rings. We need to give our customers different options.
1. Swan Wax-the basic wax ring.
2. Flange & Gasket-the basic wax ring with a plastic flange. This plastic flange makes a wax ring easier to handle and it does help control the flow of the water from the toilet to the piping system.
3. Wax Rings With Brass or Brass Plated Bolts-part of the toilet installation process involves bolting the toilet to the floor. Black Swan offers two kinds of bolts and offering the wax rings with the bolts together is a nice option for our customers.
4. Jumbo Wax Rings-a thicker version of the basic wax ring. Some people believe that more wax will make a better seal. Also, in some situations where the floor is uneven, a thicker wax ring is needed to make a good seal.
5. Wax Rings With Urethane Foam-the urethane foam adds strength to the wax ring and should improve the useful life of the wax ring.
Black Swan is one of the few manufacturers remaining in the United States. We produce high quality wax rings at very competitive prices and we give outstanding service.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to give us a call at 800-252-5796.
Setting a toilet bowl is not one of the most exciting events in a person's life. However, if your toilet is not working properly your life will soon be very exciting-and filled with many problems.
Would also like to point out that prehistoric people did not have toilet problems. They never used a toilet and they never had a need for a Black Swan wax bowl ring. Those poor people!
Black Swan is a manufacturer of plumbing chemicals and accessories. One of our most popular products is wax bowl rings. So, we will share with you our thoughts on the wax bowl ring part of the toilet installation and we will not discuss toilets themselves.
First, you need to know a little about a wax ring. The purpose of a wax ring is to make a seal between the bottom of your toilet and the floor. The wax ring will prevent water from leaking from the toilet and the wax ring will prevent sewer gases from coming back into the household. Both purposes are extremely important.
Second, when do you need a wax ring? Of course, when you are installing a new toilet you need a wax ring. But, you will also need a wax ring when your existing toilet is having problems or you are doing work around a toilet. If water is leaking from the bottom of your toilet, you might need to replace your wax ring. If sewer gases are coming into your household, you might need to replace your wax ring. If you are installing a new floor in your bathroom, you might have to move your toilet and then you will need a new wax ring. If your toilet moves or rocks back and forth, you may need a new wax ring.
You should also keep in mind that all toilet problems are not always the wax ring's fault. There could be other causes like damaged pipes or broken flanges.
Black Swan offers a variety of wax bowl rings. We need to give our customers different options.
1. Swan Wax-the basic wax ring.
2. Flange & Gasket-the basic wax ring with a plastic flange. This plastic flange makes a wax ring easier to handle and it does help control the flow of the water from the toilet to the piping system.
3. Wax Rings With Brass or Brass Plated Bolts-part of the toilet installation process involves bolting the toilet to the floor. Black Swan offers two kinds of bolts and offering the wax rings with the bolts together is a nice option for our customers.
4. Jumbo Wax Rings-a thicker version of the basic wax ring. Some people believe that more wax will make a better seal. Also, in some situations where the floor is uneven, a thicker wax ring is needed to make a good seal.
5. Wax Rings With Urethane Foam-the urethane foam adds strength to the wax ring and should improve the useful life of the wax ring.
Black Swan is one of the few manufacturers remaining in the United States. We produce high quality wax rings at very competitive prices and we give outstanding service.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to give us a call at 800-252-5796.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
DRAIN PIPE OPENERS
DRAIN PIPE OPENERS
04/04/10
Clogged drains are always a very unpleasant situation for any homeowner. Not being able to use your sinks or drains or showers makes life very difficult. And, when the drains are finally reopened, life is good.
What causes clogged drains? There are many culprits-hair, soap scum, grease, food, tree roots or even clothing, toys or other man-made objects.
There are several ways to treat clogged drains. The two main choices are to call a plumber or handle the problem yourself. Black Swan's opinion is to handle the problem yourself.
There are three types of products to use to keep your drain lines running freely-acid type drain openers, caustic type drain openers and bacteria/enzyme type drain openers. Will discuss each type of product below.
1. Sulfuric acid is probably the strongest type of drain pipe opener on the market. When sulfuric acid is poured down a drain and mixes with water, a tremendous amount of heat is generated. This heat will dissolve many blockages and allow your drain to run smoothly. Sulfuric acid drain pipe openers are probably the most effective and most popular type of drain pipe opener.
However, there are problems with sulfuric acid drain pipe openers. First, they are very dangerous. Sulfuric acid is an acid. Acids can cause severe damage to skin, eyes and damage anything that it comes into contact with. Be very careful when using this product and follow the directions on the package. Second, you do not want to mix sulfuric acid with any other chemicals.
Mixing sulfuric acid with any other chemical can cause a violent reaction or explosion. This, of course, is not a good thing.
Black Swan offers two different sulfuric acid drain pipe openers. The first product is "Zap". It comes in three sizes-quarts, 1/2 gallons and gallons. The second product is "One-Shot". This is a sulfuric acid that is packaged in a pint size only. This product has another ingredient packaged in the bottle that serves a few different purposes. The first purpose is that this other ingredient serves as an odor blanket. When you use regular sulfuric acid,when the acid is working you get a rotten egg smell. This is rather unpleasant. The other ingredient sits on top of the sulfuric acid and forms an odor blanket and you do not get this smell. Another purpose of this extra ingredient is that it also is a drain pipe opener. There are some ingredients that sulfuric acid will not dissolve. This other ingredient will dissolve some of those ingredients. One other nice feature of the "One-Shot" is that you usually use the whole bottle at one time. This means that you do not have a partial bottle of sulfuric acid in the house waiting to be spilled or handled by children.
2. The next type of drain pipe opener is caustic drain pipe openers. Caustic products are on the opposite end of the pH scale from acids. These can also be very effective drain pipe openers. Generally these type of products are not as strong as sulfuric acid. And, many of these caustic drain pipe openers are diluted with water which might possibly make them very weak and less effective in opening up clogged drains. Caustic drain pipe openers also work on the concept of generating heat and dissloving any blockages.
Black Swan sells four different caustic drain pipe openers. We offer "Liquid Drain Pipe Opener" which is a liquid drain pipe opener and is about 15% active ingredients and 85% water. Then we have "Heavy Duty Liquid Drain Pipe Opener" which is a liquid and is about 45% active ingredients and 55% water. Then we offer two different powdered caustic drain pipe openers.
The first is "Power Crystals" which contains a few different ingredients including some aluminum chips to make the chemical reaction hotter and last longer. Then we have another powdered product by the name of "Power Flakes". This is 100% caustic soda which is an excellent drain pipe opener.
3. The third type of drain opener is probably the safest and certainly the most environmentally friendly. This is the bacteria/enzyme type of product. Bacteria products cling to the sides of the pipe and digest the soap scum and grease on the pipe walls. These bacteria liquify the blockages and then they flow away naturally. This type of products works very slowly and very safely. This is a great product to use for preventative maintenance and is not really recommended when quick action is needed.
Black Swan offers three different products in this category-"Liquid Build-Up Remover","Heavy Duty Liquid Build-Up Remover" and "Powdered Build-Up Remover".
Remember, it is always better to use the above products for preventative maintenance. Also, never use these products together. You never want to mix a caustic drain pipe opener with a sulfuric acid drain pipe opener. And, if you have toys or clothing blocking your drain line, that is a great time to call a plumber.
By the way, if the problem is tree roots growing in your drain line, then use Black Swan's "Root Destroyer". This is a great product and works extremely well. The main ingredient is copper sulfate.
Call Black Swan any time you have questions on drain pipe openers at 1-800-252-5796.
04/04/10
Clogged drains are always a very unpleasant situation for any homeowner. Not being able to use your sinks or drains or showers makes life very difficult. And, when the drains are finally reopened, life is good.
What causes clogged drains? There are many culprits-hair, soap scum, grease, food, tree roots or even clothing, toys or other man-made objects.
There are several ways to treat clogged drains. The two main choices are to call a plumber or handle the problem yourself. Black Swan's opinion is to handle the problem yourself.
There are three types of products to use to keep your drain lines running freely-acid type drain openers, caustic type drain openers and bacteria/enzyme type drain openers. Will discuss each type of product below.
1. Sulfuric acid is probably the strongest type of drain pipe opener on the market. When sulfuric acid is poured down a drain and mixes with water, a tremendous amount of heat is generated. This heat will dissolve many blockages and allow your drain to run smoothly. Sulfuric acid drain pipe openers are probably the most effective and most popular type of drain pipe opener.
However, there are problems with sulfuric acid drain pipe openers. First, they are very dangerous. Sulfuric acid is an acid. Acids can cause severe damage to skin, eyes and damage anything that it comes into contact with. Be very careful when using this product and follow the directions on the package. Second, you do not want to mix sulfuric acid with any other chemicals.
Mixing sulfuric acid with any other chemical can cause a violent reaction or explosion. This, of course, is not a good thing.
Black Swan offers two different sulfuric acid drain pipe openers. The first product is "Zap". It comes in three sizes-quarts, 1/2 gallons and gallons. The second product is "One-Shot". This is a sulfuric acid that is packaged in a pint size only. This product has another ingredient packaged in the bottle that serves a few different purposes. The first purpose is that this other ingredient serves as an odor blanket. When you use regular sulfuric acid,when the acid is working you get a rotten egg smell. This is rather unpleasant. The other ingredient sits on top of the sulfuric acid and forms an odor blanket and you do not get this smell. Another purpose of this extra ingredient is that it also is a drain pipe opener. There are some ingredients that sulfuric acid will not dissolve. This other ingredient will dissolve some of those ingredients. One other nice feature of the "One-Shot" is that you usually use the whole bottle at one time. This means that you do not have a partial bottle of sulfuric acid in the house waiting to be spilled or handled by children.
2. The next type of drain pipe opener is caustic drain pipe openers. Caustic products are on the opposite end of the pH scale from acids. These can also be very effective drain pipe openers. Generally these type of products are not as strong as sulfuric acid. And, many of these caustic drain pipe openers are diluted with water which might possibly make them very weak and less effective in opening up clogged drains. Caustic drain pipe openers also work on the concept of generating heat and dissloving any blockages.
Black Swan sells four different caustic drain pipe openers. We offer "Liquid Drain Pipe Opener" which is a liquid drain pipe opener and is about 15% active ingredients and 85% water. Then we have "Heavy Duty Liquid Drain Pipe Opener" which is a liquid and is about 45% active ingredients and 55% water. Then we offer two different powdered caustic drain pipe openers.
The first is "Power Crystals" which contains a few different ingredients including some aluminum chips to make the chemical reaction hotter and last longer. Then we have another powdered product by the name of "Power Flakes". This is 100% caustic soda which is an excellent drain pipe opener.
3. The third type of drain opener is probably the safest and certainly the most environmentally friendly. This is the bacteria/enzyme type of product. Bacteria products cling to the sides of the pipe and digest the soap scum and grease on the pipe walls. These bacteria liquify the blockages and then they flow away naturally. This type of products works very slowly and very safely. This is a great product to use for preventative maintenance and is not really recommended when quick action is needed.
Black Swan offers three different products in this category-"Liquid Build-Up Remover","Heavy Duty Liquid Build-Up Remover" and "Powdered Build-Up Remover".
Remember, it is always better to use the above products for preventative maintenance. Also, never use these products together. You never want to mix a caustic drain pipe opener with a sulfuric acid drain pipe opener. And, if you have toys or clothing blocking your drain line, that is a great time to call a plumber.
By the way, if the problem is tree roots growing in your drain line, then use Black Swan's "Root Destroyer". This is a great product and works extremely well. The main ingredient is copper sulfate.
Call Black Swan any time you have questions on drain pipe openers at 1-800-252-5796.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Pennies for Plumbing - How a Chicago Sophomore is Making a Difference in her School
Sabrina Lichon, a sophomore at Benet Academy started Pennies for Plumbing at St. Ann Catholic School. Her goal is to raise $15,000 to bring functional water lines to the upper floors of the school - bringing health and safety to the students and staff.
To donate by credit card call Saint Ann School 312-829-4153 and ask for Benny Morten (principal) or Frankie Beechcroft (assistant Principal).
Or you can send a check made out to Saint Ann Catholic School with note on the memo line for "Pennies for Plumbing" and mail to:
Saint Ann Catholic School 2211 West 18th Place Chicago, Il 60608-2595
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