By ED DEL GRANDE, HGTVPro.com
Plumber: Value-increasing building trends of the future
Q: I'm a builder and I never miss a chance to read your column. With the slowdown in construction, I've been doing research on new building trends so I can be ahead of the curve once I get back into action. What do you see for the future as far as new trends that builders may want to include in new home construction? - Don, Kentucky
Plumber: Reader wants to wash hands of 'snooty' friend's attitude
Q: Fortunately, I don't have a plumbing problem with my house. But I am having a problem with a snooty friend who always tries to act smarter than me, even when it comes to plumbing. This friend is installing a new bathroom, and she had to brag that they are getting a "console tabletop"-type sink.
Plumber: An electric toilet sparks interest
Q: Dear Ed, I never thought I'd get hooked on a plumbing column but here I am every week waiting for my next lesson! The good news is that I don't have a plumbing problem, just a plumbing question. I have heard that now there are electric toilets you can buy for your home, is this true? Also, how do they work? Jane, Pennsylvania
Plumber: Get your home ready for winter
Normally when summer ends here in New England, I try to put off thinking about the upcoming winter for as long as I can. Weather wise, there's usually a nice seasonal fall buffer for picking apples, enjoying the foliage and watching the New England Patriots play football while everything is still nice. Well, not this year.
Plumber: Don't throw good money at a bad faucet
Q: You seem to be the voice of reason when it comes to plumbing problems. My wife and I have a bathroom faucet (about 5 years old) that came with the house when we bought it new, and recently it has started to drip. I called my plumber, and he said I was better off to have him install a brand-new, high-quality faucet.
Plumber: Installing your way to 'shower power'
I was recently watching one of the major network morning shows, and they did a story on old, crusty showerheads and how it may be a good idea to replace your present, dirty old showerhead with a new, clean, high-quality showerhead.
Plumber: Pedestal vs. vanity sinks
Q: We're doing a minor bathroom renovation that will include a new toilet, shower door, sink and faucet. The problem is with the new sink. I want a pedestal sink, and my husband wants to stay with a vanity sink. He claims that the pedestal sink will put us over budget, but I don't agree. Can we install a pedestal sink for about the same price as a vanity sink? -- Jennifer, Utah
Plumber: Saving 4,000 gallons of water a year
Q: I never thought I'd get hooked on a plumbing column, but I guess there's a first for everything. In the past, you have talked about the benefits of HET toilets. I know they're new to the market, and since I'll be needing a new toilet soon, I want to know more. What exactly is an HET toilet, and how does it differ from a regular toilet? -- Betty in Alabama
Plumber: Floored by U.S. toilets ... Cold is hot
Q: I'm new to this country and a new fan of your column. In Europe we have wall-mounted toilets everywhere in homes and public places. In my N.Y. apartment building, the toilets are all floor-mounted. I miss my wall-hung toilet. Could you please explain to me what is required to change from a floor-mounted unit to a wall-mounted one on a sheet-rock wall in a multiunit apartment building?
Plumber: Hot response for hot-water system
Q: Ed, we love reading your column down here in Florida. Your recent article on "re-circulating hot water" systems for residential use has sparked a lot of interest.
