Blog
Signs That It Is Time For You To Call In A Professional Plumber
As a homeowner, it is imperative to make sure that you are well aware of the signs that tell you that it is time to call in a professional plumber in your area. To help you with this, simply take a few moments to review the following points. You Are Noticing Water Stains If you are starting to notice water stains on the ceiling or wall in a room and that area is near the kitchen or a bathroom, you will want to give a plumber a call. For example, the pipes of an upstairs bathroom have to go down the interior of one of the walls until it makes it to the basement to connect with the main lines. If there is a leak, it could show up as water stains on your ceiling or wall in that area. Water stains can start off yellow in color and turn to a brown shade. There is a chance that mold can quickly start to develop both on the exterior of the wall or ceiling and on the interior of the walls so it is vital that you are taking action as soon as possible. Your Water Is Discolored If the local water company is not currently conducting work on the main water lines and your water is starting to become discolored, you will want the assistance of a plumber. The problem could be anything from bad pipes or a bad hot water tank that is starting to rust. Either way, you need to have a skilled plumber diagnose the problem so it can be resolved as quickly as possible. In the meantime, cook with and drink bottled water bought from the store because you do not want to ingest bits of rust. The Hot Water Is Not Staying As Hot As It Should If you happen to notice that whether you are washing dishes or taking a shower that the hot water is not lasting as long as it used to, it is time to call for professional help. The problem could be anything from a malfunctioning heating element in the water tank or a bad breaker if the tank is an electric one. Your reputable plumber will be able to solve the problem by closely checking out the tank itself. With just those three points in mind, you should be able to determine whether you are having a problem that requires the insight of a plumber like Allen...
read moreThree Questions And Answers About Water Heater Maintenance
A home’s water heater can be an essential part of the plumbing system. However, there are many homeowners that may not have the experience or knowledge needed to adequately care for this part of the plumbing system. To help you ensure that your home continues to have a steady and reliable supply of hot water, you might need to consider the following answers to a few common water heater maintenance questions. Why Is It Important To Keep A Water Heater Clean? Regularly removing dust from your water heater’s exterior can be an excellent way of helping to ensure that it works as efficiently as possible. This is due to the fact that dust can rapidly start to accumulate in the vents of the water heater. When this occurs, the unit may not receive the proper amount of airflow, which can contribute to it overheating or developing other performance issues. For this reason, you will want to make sure that you are dusting your water heater off every few weeks. Is It Normal For A Water Heater’s Performance To Gradually Decrease? Over the course of time that you own your water heater, you may notice that it will start to lose effectiveness when it comes to heating water. Unfortunately, there are many homeowners that assume this is simply part of the aging process. However, you should be aware that often this issue can be reversed by having the unit professionally serviced. As water flows through the water heater, it is possible for mineral deposits to start to form on the heating elements. These deposits will inhibit the transfer of heat from the heating element to the water. A professional water heater repair technician will have the tools needed to safely remove these deposits without damaging the heating elements, which will likely restore the effectiveness of your unit. What Can Be Done For A Rusted Water Heater? One day, you might make the discovery that the exterior of your water heater is starting to rust. This can be a particularly serious issue for your unit as the rust can eventually cause holes to form in the tank, which can lead to leaks. If your water heater has started to rust, it may be possible for a professional from a company like Johnny Pipewrench LLC to repair this damage by gently sanding away the rust before applying a sealant to it. However, if the rust has already severely weakened the tank of the water heater, replacing the entire unit may be the only practical...
read moreClogged Again? How To Avoid Three Common Clogs
Clogged drains are no laughing matter. Even a small clog can be tough to get rid of. Once you have a stubborn clog, you either have to use harsh chemicals to get things flowing again, or you have to contact a plumber. Luckily, there are some actions you can take to stop clogs from happening in the first place. Here are some suggestions that will help you avoid common clogs. Hair Balls Each time you wash your hair, whether it’s in the sink or the bathtub, strands of hair gets washed down the drain. While most of the hair will get flushed through to the sewer, some of the hair will get caught in the drains. Over time, you can end up with a large hair ball that’s clogging your drains. The easiest way to prevent hair clogs is to place a hair strainer over all your drains. The strainer will catch the hair and keep it from going down the drain. Be sure to clean the hair strainer after each use. Food Particles Even if you use a garbage disposal, small particles of food can accumulate in the drains. This is particularly true of sticky foods such as pasta or breads. While they might not be sticky while you’re consuming them, once they’ve combined in the drain, they can create a doughy paste that will adhere to the walls of the drain pipes. Over time, that sticky paste will impede the flow of water and other waste products. When that happens, you’re going to notice an increase in the number of clogs you have to deal with. Prevent problems by flushing your drains with boiling water at least once a week. The hot water will flush the sticky food through to the sewer. Bath Soap If you use bar soap for your baths, and you have hard water in your home, the combination can result in a nasty buildup of gunk that will clog your drains. If you have hard water, you can reduce the soapy buildup by using liquid bath soap instead. It’s also a good idea to flush your bathroom drains at least once a week to remove the buildup. You might think that bathing with hot water is good enough to rinse the soapy buildup away. However, boiling water will work better to break up the residue and clean out the drains. Clogged drains can be a real pain to get rid of. Use the simple steps provided above to help prevent clogs from occurring. Contact a plumber, like Maryland Sewer & Plumbing Service, for more...
read moreWhat You Can Do To Maintain Your Water Heater
Although your water heater may be tucked away in the corner of your basement or garage, it is undoubtedly one of the most important appliances in your entire house. Few things can throw a monkey wrench in your day like realizing that your water heater has gone out, since you’ll likely be relegated to taking cold showers until the repair person is able to come out to resolve the issue. However, a few maintenance measures may be sufficient enough to keep your water heater in good working condition. Use these tips to learn more about what you can do to maintain your water heater. Add Insulation To Your Water Heater If you want to maintain your water heater, insulating the device may be the way to do it. Insulating your water heater has a number of benefits that you may find to be incredibly advantageous. Insulating helps because it works to keep the water that is in the tank of your appliance warmer for longer periods of time. This is key, because if you don’t have insulation, your water heater has to essentially crank itself up each time hot water is needed. The harder your water heater has to work, the quicker it may go out. Insulating your water heater doesn’t have to take a lot of money. If you’re low on funds, you can purchase a fireproof blanket from a local hardware store and wrap it around your unit. An added benefit of insulating your water heater is that it could result in a substantial decrease in your monthly energy bills. Flush Your Water Heater Flushing your water heater is another technique that can help maintain your water heater. Flushing the holding tank removes the sludge and debris that builds up on the bottom of the unit, which can assist your water heater in operating at the manufacturer’s suggested level. It’s especially important to flush your water heater if you live in a part of the country with hard water. Hard water has trace amounts of calcium and other minerals in it. If you have hard water, the natural separation process that occurs when your appliance heats the water can mean that there is a large amount of buildup in your tank. Flushing it out helps to remove this so the unit won’t have to go into overdrive to combat the sludge. You can use a website like this one to give you instructions on how to flush your water heater. If you’re still a bit unsure, call in a professional to help get the job done. Keeping your water heater in good shape doesn’t have to be difficult if you know what to do. Start using these tips right away so your appliance can keep plugging along for as long as...
read moreOdor No More: Ways To Make Portable Restrooms Smell Better
If you are planning a party or event, a portable toilet is a convenient way to ensure you have enough facilities for guests. The problem is that some may worry about the odors that can accompany a porta-potty at a busy function. There are many ways to keep your portable restroom smelling fresh and sweet, and also some tips to make it more alluring for guests and visitors. Some ways to make your porta-potty smell better are: Essential oils. A shallow dish of your favorite essential oil is ideal for scenting the small space inside a portable rest room. You won’t need to warm the oil for it to diffuse the aroma throughout the bathroom quite rapidly. Some scents that are strong enough for use around a toilet are balsam, clove, mint, and lemon oils. Fresh flowers. Another way to make your portable toilet fragrant and classy is with a big bouquet of fresh flowers. Set them near the mirror or hand-washing station, and use blooms that are noted for being especially fragrant. Some great options that will scent the air and make the porta-potty smell lovely include: Lilacs. Gardenias. Roses. Jasmine Another option is to create a bouquet using fresh cut herbs; use stems of mint, lemon balm, basil, and sprigs of rosemary for a green arrangement that makes the space smell sweet. Tank deodorizers. When you rent your porta-potty, ask the vendor about tank deodorizing agents that will keep the chemical-smell out of your party or event. These are often offered in both liquid and powder form, which you add to the tank of the potty to cut down on odors. Tank deodorizers are found in a wide variety of scents, such as vanilla, cherry, pine, and citrus. A fan. A small battery-operated fan can help move the chemical smell of a porta-potty outside. This helps to circulate the air inside the rest room and will make stale odors move on more quickly. Fabric sheets. Fabric sheets can be a quick-fix when you want to make a portable rest room smell fresh. Tuck these around the potty, such as under hand towels or beneath a small throw rug on the floor. They will quickly bring a long-lasting fragrance to the porta-potty until you remove the sheets to throw them away. Portable toilets can save a lot of traffic in your home when you are planning a party or event; this also ensures that you have enough rest room facilities to accommodate your guest list. Make your porta-potty inviting by stocking it well with high-end tissue, soaps, and sanitizer, and make sure it smells fresh and clean with these suggestions. To learn more, contact a company like AAA Pumping...
read moreAbout Me
When I bought my first home, I had a love-hate relationship with my plumbing. Sometimes things would run along smoothly, while other times I found myself shaking my head at a stopped drain. It was a really frustrating ordeal, and I quickly discovered that things were a little easier when I could troubleshoot problems on my own. After taking a local plumbing class, I learned to love plumbing. I want you to learn how to quickly and easily diagnose trouble, which is why I have filled this blog with helpful tricks and tips. By learning a little more, you might be able to resolve issues in a jiffy.
