Smart Fixture Selections Free Up Bathroom Space

Q: We just bought an apartment in New York City and have discovered what many New Yorkers already know: The bathroom space is very small. It's just a toilet, vanity and shower with an old door.

We want to remodel the bathroom anyway, and we're wondering how we can make the best use of tiny bathroom space. - Charles and Jean, New York

A: For those of you who have never seen a typical New York bathroom, suffice it to say that when something is described as a New York bathroom, it usually means it is tiny by most everybody's standards. If you say your bathroom is tiny, I'm assuming it's a very tight fit indeed.

Still, there are some things you can do when remodeling without any major renovations to the plumbing water and drain lines. First, toilets come in two basic sizes, elongated and round. An oval, elongated toilet is usually the standard size for toilet bowls.

A round bowl is shaped more like a circle and will be a few inches shorter than the elongated bowl. In a small bathroom, where every inch counts, go with the round toilet bowl. The good news is that both bowls will fit the existing toilet drain and water piping, so there should be no need to do major plumbing within the floor or walls.

Another way you can gain some space is by replacing the existing vanity with a wall-hung sink. Vanities are nothing more than a big box that takes up space in a small bathroom.

Again, you can use the same water and drain pipes and install a wall-hung sink that will open up a lot more floor area under the sink. You will lose a little storage, but, remember, your goal here is space.

Finally, get rid of the shower door. Shower doors are great if you have the room to open them. Unfortunately, you don't have the room, so install a shower curtain or accordion-type folding door.

Q: My forced hot-water boiler pressure psi gauge is showing zero. I want to start my boiler, but without any pressure at all in it, I know I will have to call a repairman. I'm just worried about what I might be facing.

Do I need a new boiler? I'm very stressed about this. - DeeDee, Washington state

A: First, you're doing the right thing by not turning the heat on when your system has not been serviced this year.

I always know when fall is coming because my mailbag starts to get all kinds of heating questions. I'm sorry to tell everyone they shouldn't wait any longer; summer's over and it's time to get your heating systems checked for the winter.

The good news is that you might not need a new boiler, but you do need a service visit to confirm this. What you likely have is not an uncommon problem for a forced hot water boiler that has been idle all summer.

Forced hot water boilers systems are closed loops of piping and usually run at a pressure of about 15 to 20 pounds per square inch. If your pressure falls, most forced hot water systems have automatic refill valves that add the pressure for you.

This is called an automatic boiler feed valve and it very well might be stuck and need service or to be changed by a technician.

Heating equipment needs to be checked on a regular basis, and there are so many controls and codes you need to check and follow that only licensed heating companies should do this work.

So, you're on the right track. Have your boiler checked and serviced for the fall and you can take the pressure off yourself and have it put back where it belongs.

Master plumber Ed Del Grande is the host of Ed The Plumber on DIY Network and Contractor Stories on HGTVpro.com. Visit Ed at eddelgrande.com and send questions to edtheplumber@diynetwork.com.

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