Low water pressure in the bathroom and kitchen is a common problem in New York City apartments. Sometimes there is low pressure just in one side of the apartment or it may be a problem throughout the whole apartment. At other times, it may be a problem in multiple apartments within the same building. Philip Kraus, President of Fred Smith Plumbing &Heating, has seen thousands of low water pressure problems in the residential condominium and cooperative buildings during his thirty year tenure as a New York City Master Licensed Plumber. Troubleshooting these problems can be tricky even for the most seasoned plumbing contractor. But, with patience and a life time of knowledge, these problems can usually be resolved without much fanfare.

Published in BrickUnderground.com June 2, 2009: Click to Read Full Article

Opportunities galore exist for unwanted particles to enter the water from its starting point at the reservoirs upstate. Sometimes, however, substances are deliberately added to the water.    Philip Kraus, owner of Fred Smith Plumbing & Heating and Culligan of New York City, notes that sodium silicate may be added to the water at the building in order to deter the rust in older buildings that have iron piping.  Also, newer buildings may use it too in an attempt to cut down on brown water.  Kraus notes that while the substance is approved by the FDA, some tenants may want to reduce it at the tap.  This can be done easily enough with the point- of- use drinking water filter.

Published in BrickUnderground.com May 19, 2009: Click to Read the Full Article

Click for information on the Culligan Aqua-Cleer Advanced Drinking Water System 

Brown water in NYC residential apartments is not an uncommon occurrence.  In fact, brown water happens a lot.  Philip Kraus, President of Fred Smith Plumbing & Heating and owner of Culligan of New York, discusses options available for water filtration systems for the entire building.  Kraus explains that “NYC water can be high in sediment and silt as it makes its way down from upstate reservoirs.  As the water passes through the city’s distribution of aged piping, corrosion byproducts and particulate matter are picked up along the way as well.”  All of this contributes to the brown water problem resulting in inconvenience to the tenants and stressing out the building’s mechanical systems. Through Fred Smith Plumbing & Heating’s affiliate – Culligan of New York – Kraus has been solving NYC brown water problems for many years with a variety of whole building solutions.

Published in Brickunderground, September 30, 2009: Click to Read Full Article

Philip Kraus, President, notes that while Fred Smith Plumbing & Heating has never been called to the rescue by a customer who has had a rat climb out of a toilet, he doesn’t rule it out as a possible emergency call in the future.  In fact, he has heard of it happening.  A NYC Licensed Master  Plumber for over thirty years, there isn’t much that surprises Kraus when it comes to odd things that can happen in the City’s sewer and water distribution systems.

Published in BrickUnderground.com, October 29, 2009:  Click to Read the Full Article