ROCHESTER, NEW YORK — Nick Parlet, who has over 15 years of experience as a plumber with Union Local 13, now owns Tidy Pipes Plumbing, a thriving business established in 2023. Through social media and building relationships within the industry, Parlet discovered a renewed passion for his craft. As the sole owner and operator of Tidy Pipes Plumbing, Parlet primarily specializes in residential service plumbing, offering leak repair, camera drain inspections, fixture installs, sump pumps, hot water tanks, and more.
Parlet says he frequently encounters situations where a customer’s bathtub takes too long to drain. A blockage in the plumbing system usually causes the problem. However, for one recent project, the problem related to the location of the drain, which was below and slightly shifted from its intended position. In other words, the P-trap was not dead center with the actual strainer connection on the tub.
This type of positioning can lead to several issues:
- Potential leaks leading to water damage, mold growth, and costly repairs.
- Disruption of the proper wastewater flow, causing clogs and backups.
- More challenging maintenance and repairs.
In this case, Parlet sought a product solution that would not require him to cut the drain to reposition the P-trap and other materials. Parlet decided to try a Dearborn® True Blue® FLEX Bath Waste Kit, noting that its flexible pipe is excellent for realigning drains.
“The flexible pipe allows me to easily navigate obstructions, such as floor joists, without additional fittings or solvent welded joints,” he explains.
Parlet adds that he likes that the kit comes with an overflow gasket. The latter helps create a more reliable seal that will rebound and prevent leaks — the overflow cover locks with a simple clockwise turn, requiring no additional tools or screws for installation. With depth adjustability, it can accommodate various tub styles and thicknesses with an additional clockwise turn.
“Service plumbers like me typically don’t have a second guy helping us,” says Parlet. “So to have a product with a rubber washer connecting to the fitting, locking the drain in place is huge.”
Since his first installation, Parlet has purchased several more True Blue FLEX kits to keep handy on his truck. He continues recommending products to thousands of people on social media through his content, demonstrating his plumbing knowledge and skills and which products work best on the job.
