Making a splash in the bath — while using less water — is increasingly the goal of “green-minded” homeowners embarking on a bathroom remodel. And with good reason: According to WaterSense, a voluntary public-private partnership program sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, each American uses an average of 100 gallons of water per day at home. By installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances, usage can be dropped by about 30% — which shaves an average of $170 per year off... more

With energy bills on the rise, water conservation is a major concern for homeowners. Did you know, toilets make up about half of a home’s water consumption? Americans flush nearly five billion gallons of water down their toilets each day. To help conserve water, years ago the federal government required builders to install toilets that used no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Although these new toilets met the government’s requirement, they often performed poorly. When low-flush toilets... more

There is something reassuring about being helped in a plumbing and electric store by a friendly salesperson who actually has knowledge and experience with the project you are about to tackle. This is the way it used to be in all building supply stores, and remains that way today at A-Boy Plumbing and Electric. The family-owned business is, at its roots, a neighborhood plumbing, electric, and hardware store.... more

This family-owned company has grown from a small retailer of plumbing and electrical products to a seven-store hardware and home center chain serving the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. John Dolan founded A-Boy Supply in 1960. He first sold plumbing fixtures, electrical supplies, and appliances from a former grocery store in Southeast Portland. Lighting products and supplies were added later. Steam bath display located at the Vaughn Street store. Ask for a demonstration. A-Boy... more

In all the years that I’ve worked as a licensed contractor, the single-most frequently asked question by homeowners is about the dreaded toilet hiss. One day I asked a journeyman plumber friend what caused it and how to stop it. The first thing I learned is that as simple a system as toilets are they are also notoriously finicky. It’s not unusual for a newly installed toilet or flushing mechanism to require some follow-up tweaking. I also learned that the loss of water related to these... more