Category: Uncategorized

As cold as it can get in the Mid-Atlantic region, frozen pipes are always a possibility, especially when temperatures drop below 32 degrees overnight or for a sustained period.

Should any of your pipes burst, it could mean costly damage to your home. For the best chance of avoiding damage, follow these tips for thawing a frozen pipe, what to do if a pipe bursts, and how to prevent frozen pipes in the first place.

How To Thaw Frozen Pipes

There are signs you have frozen pipes. Look out for areas with frost accumulation or condensation and foul sewage smells from your sink. If you lose water during a period of extreme cold, frozen water supply lines are the culprit. Use the following tips to attempt to thaw the pipes:

• Shut off the main water line
• Open the faucets to prevent excessive pressure in the water lines
• Thaw the frozen pipes using a hair dryer or space heater aimed at the pipe, starting from the side nearest the faucets and moving toward the main shut-off valve

Be prepared to call an emergency plumber if the pipes do not thaw easily or begin to leak.

What To Do if a Pipe Bursts

A burst pipe happens when the water freezes and expands, causing the pipe to split. This can result in large amounts of water spilling into your home, leading to significant water damage.

You need to act quickly if a pipe bursts, and you should shut off the main water supply valve as soon as possible. It is usually located near where the water line enters your home or just after the water meter. Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the flow of water.

After that, shut off the power if the electrical panel or any wiring is in danger of getting wet, and move any belongings near the burst pipe.

You’ll need to call an emergency plumber for pipe repair or replacement, so the sooner you call, the better.

How To Prevent Frozen Pipes

A little preparation can go a long way toward preventing frozen pipes. At the beginning of winter or before the weather report calls for a deep freeze, follow these steps to get your plumbing system prepared for the cold:

• Disconnect garden hoses and drain exterior hose bibs.
• Drain the irrigation system and blow it out with compressed air.
• Disconnect any pool heater or supply lines and drain them.
• Install pipe insulation on any pipes that are exposed to the cold, such as those in crawl spaces, unfinished basements, garages, or attics.
• Add heat tape to any pipes exposed to the outdoors or extreme cold.
• Keep your thermostat at a minimum of 55 degrees.
• Let your faucet drip and leave sink cabinets open during overnight freezes.
• Consider upgrading your home’s insulation if you’ve had frozen pipes before.

Choose Len The Plumber for Plumbing Repairs in the Mid-Atlantic Region

When you need help with frozen or burst pipes in the Mid-Atlantic region, Len The Plumber is ready to help. We serve Northern Virginia, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Delaware, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.

We offer plumbing repairs and replacements, along with emergency service. Our local plumbers are the best in the business, with extensive training, years of experience, and full background checks. Our company provides superior service backed by 25 years of industry experience, fully stocked service trucks, and honest, upfront estimates.

Give Len The Plumber a call today at (800) 950-4619(800) 950-4619 or contact us online to request frozen or burst pipe repair in the Mid-Atlantic region.

This post first appeared on https://lentheplumber.com

If you’re concerned about something in your home, you may be wondering who to call to get it sorted out, or just to find out more about your home’s systems. Our team is committed to helping our customers understand their homes and their needs as fully as possible because a knowledgeable customer will be better equipped to make decisions they’ll be happy with in the long term. A satisfied customer is more valuable to us than a big check, because satisfied customers keep coming back, and they also pass along the word that Modern Plumbing Industries is a reliable and trustworthy partner in home plumbing service in Orlando.

We’d like to explain what plumbing services we offer, and what is included in those services, so you’ll be better able to get the plumbing help you need.

Routine Maintenance

One service we strongly recommend is regular plumbing inspections. It’s all too easy to have something go quietly wrong in a place that’s hard to detect. With techniques like video pipe inspection, our skilled and experienced plumbers are able to actually look inside your plumbing. They can give you a lot of information about the age and condition of the piping throughout your home, pinpoint small concerns before they become big problems, and help you make a plan for any future repair needs. Maintenance service also includes drain cleaning, giving your home a fresh start free of clogs and buildup.

Installation and Replacement

Do you need to have a new home plumbing system or fixture installed? The first thing our plumbers will do is a thorough inspection. The layout of your home, the capacity of the plumbing system, and the needs of your family will all be factors in determining how to make this installation work as well as possible for you. Sometimes, the inspection will reveal that replacement is unnecessary and repairs will be an effective and less costly solution. As we said, we’d rather have a happy customer in the future than more money now.

We can install new water-saving equipment to lower your bills and benefit the environment, multiple fixtures if you’re adding a bathroom to your home, water heaters, sewer pumps, backflow prevention systems, and even new sewer lines or main water lines.

Repair

If a plumbing fixture in your home is broken, leaking, or just not working right, our team is qualified to handle it. We use sonar leak detection, which can pinpoint the source of a leak using just the power of sound, so we don’t waste time or do unnecessary damage trying to uncover where water is coming from.

We repair sinks, tubs, showers, toilets (including low-flow and dual-flush models), and much more. Whether you need emergency repairs on a Sunday night for a gushing leak or you want to schedule a time to get your garbage disposal working more smoothly, we’ve got your back.

Gas Services

Did you know that the pipes bringing natural gas into your home for your furnace or other appliances are also serviced and repaired by plumbers? It’s absolutely critical that amateur homeowners or DIY enthusiasts never attempt gas line repair. If you have any concerns about your gas system, we’d be happy to discuss them with you.

This post first appeared on https://www.modernpi.com

The winter weather seems like it’s here to stay. New Jerseyans either love or hate the cold and the snow. But if there’s one thing we can all agree on it’s this: being able to tolerate our cold winters depends on having a reliable furnace at home.

There’s nothing better than coming home to a warm, toasty home after a day of being out and about in the cold weather. A dependable furnace isn’t a luxury here; it’s a necessity.

Now that you’ve been running your furnace for several months, how confident are you in it’s ability to warm your home through the rest of the season?

Although we’re always available for any heating repair in Wayne, NJ, it’s best to avoid repairs in the first place. To avoid unexpected and problematic heater repairs during the time when you need your heater the most, follow these tips.

Be on the Lookout for Potential Problems

Luckily, your furnace will let you know when it’s struggling to do its job. Call us if you experience any of the following issues:

• Odd noises or bad smells coming from your furnace.
• Uneven heating or lukewarm heat coming from the vents.
• Increased utility bills (when you know they shouldn’t be rising).
• Short cycling.

Change the Filter Regularly

This simple task is one that homeowners can do themselves.

Changing your furnace filter prevents dirt and dust that circulate your home from entering the internal components of your furnace. Just like with any complicated piece of machinery, you want to keep out contaminants that can interfere with how well it runs.

It’s been proven that furnaces that have their filters changed regularly last longer than furnaces where the air filter is neglected.

Ideally, you should replace or clean the filter before the heating season starts and change it every 1-3 months for optimal performance.

Don’t Crank the Heat Up

Homeowners who experience lackluster performance from their furnace will often crank the heat up to make up for it. They assume that doing so will get their home to that desired temperature faster. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work that way.

Turning the heat up won’t heat your home more efficiently or any faster. It certainly won’t help a furnace that’s struggling to do its job. It’ll just make your furnace work even harder and longer than it needs to which could result in a complete breakdown if it’s pushed past its breaking point.

A more efficient furnace means less annual heating costs. That also boils down to less wear and tear on your unit, which will help you save money in the long run (and you’ll replace your furnace less often as well).

Schedule Furnace Maintenance

If you didn’t schedule furnace maintenance at the start of the heating season, it’s not too late to do so! Your furnace will benefit from maintenance any time of year, especially if it’s been a while since it was maintained.

Look at it this way: it’s easier to schedule maintenance now than it is to call us when your furnace needs a repair or even worse: has completely broken down on the coldest day of the year.

This post first appeared on https://margoplumbing.com

Discovering you have a burst water pipe on your hands is never fun. You have several options once this problem arises at your Sacramento home. You can repair the water pipe or you can replace it.

Your ability to simply repair it will be contingent on just how severe the condition of the pipe is in. Replacing water pipes in Sacramento can be costly, so evaluating the condition of your water lines is crucial when it comes to budgeting for plumbing systems.

Other factors will influence your decision as well. For example, if your plumbing pipes are many years old, then you may want to consider replacing it altogether rather than attempting to fix it.

Read More

Why should I hire a plumber when I can do it myself, you ask? DIY plumbing projects can be tempting, especially with the amount of online tutorials available today. However, there are many risks associated with DIY plumbing that make it more beneficial to hire a licensed plumber instead.

Here are the top reasons why you may want to think twice before engaging a DIY plumbing project:

1. Lack of Experience with plumbing:

DIY plumbing projects require a certain level of expertise and knowledge, which many homeowners do not possess. Without the proper plumbing experience and knowledge, attempting to complete complex repairs can be dangerous and potentially lead to costly mistakes. Licensed plumbers have experience in all types of plumbing systems, so they are better able to identify the underlying problems that may exist and recommend the best course of action for repair or replacement. If something happens while DIYing, it can be difficult to fix the issue without professional assistance.

2. Unsure about Code Compliance:

Plumbing codes vary from area to area and change over time, making it difficult for homeowners to stay up-to-date on local regulations. A licensed plumber will know all applicable codes and regulations in your area (e.g. Ontario Building Code for Plumbing and Drainage Systems), ensuring any repairs or installations are done correctly and safely with code compliance.

3. Risk of Further Damage:

Without the right tools and equipment, DIY plumbing projects can often lead to further damage that can be more expensive to repair. Licensed plumbers are trained in proper techniques and will have the right tools and equipment to get the job done quickly and correctly with minimal risk of further damage. Some of the damage that can be caused by DIY plumbing includes water leakage, broken pipes, and clogged drains. Save your precious time and money by investing in a professional plumbing service.

4. Increased Liability:

Some DIY plumbing tasks may increase your liability if something goes wrong. While a licensed plumber is responsible for any errors or problems discovered after the project is complete, you are liable for any issues caused by your own work or negligence when it comes to DIY plumbing projects.

5. Long-Term Issues:

DIY plumbing projects may seem like a quick fix, but they can often lead to long-term issues that are more difficult and expensive to address later on. Licensed plumbers will be able to detect any potential problems and recommend the best course of action for repair or replacement before it’s too late.

6. Poor Customer Service:

When you hire a licensed plumber, you can expect good customer service from start to finish as well as follow up support if needed in the future. When DIYing, you have no one to turn to if something goes wrong or you need help fixing an issue. Licensed plumbers are also insured which provides extra peace of mind.

As you can see, the benefits of hiring a professional plumber far outweigh any cost savings associated with DIY plumbing due to their experience, knowledge of local codes and regulations, the right tools and equipment, and limited liability. A licensed plumber will be able to complete the job quickly, safely and correctly with minimal risk of further damage or legal action. Investing in a professional plumber is the best way to ensure your plumbing project is done safely and up to code. 

What happens when a pipe freezes?

When a pipe freezes, the water inside the pipe expands as it turns to ice. This can cause the pipe to crack or burst. The damage caused by a frozen pipe can range from small leaks to complete pipe failure, depending on the severity of the freeze and the strength of the pipe. A frozen pipe can also cause a water hammer, which is a sudden jolt of pressure that can damage fittings and valves in the plumbing system. When a pipe bursts, it can cause significant damage to the surrounding area and lead to costly repairs. It can also cause water to flood the house which can lead to secondary damages like mold and rot.

What causes your pipes to freeze?

Cold temperatures:

When temperatures outside drop below freezing, it can cause the water inside pipes to freeze. This is especially likely to happen with pipes that run through unheated areas of a home, such as a garage, attic, or crawl space.

Poor insulation:

Pipes that are not properly insulated are more susceptible to freezing. Insulation helps to keep the warmth from the inside of the home from reaching the pipes, which can prevent them from freezing.

Wind:

Cold winds blowing against the side of a house can cause pipes to freeze.

Thermostat Setting:

If you set the thermostat too low, the temperature inside the house could be below freezing.

How do you unfreeze a frozen pipe?

If a pipe has already frozen, you can try the following steps to thaw it out:

Turn on the faucet:

Turning on a faucet that is connected to the frozen pipe can help to melt the ice. As the water starts to melt, it will begin to flow through the pipe and can help to thaw out the blockage.

Apply heat:

Applying heat to the frozen area of the pipe can help to melt the ice. You can use a hair dryer, heat lamp, or portable heater to apply heat to the pipe.

Wrapping the pipe with heating tape or towels soaked in hot water, can also do the trick.

Never use an open flame or torch to thaw pipes, it can cause fire hazard.

How do you keep pipes from freezing in the future?

To prevent pipes from freezing in the future, you can take the following steps:
Insulate:

Insulate any pipes that run through unheated areas of your home. This can help to keep the warmth from the inside of the home from reaching the pipes, which can prevent them from freezing.

Seal leaks:

Check for any leaks or gaps around the pipes and seal them with caulking or insulation.

Keep the heat on:

Keep the thermostat at a minimum of 55°F, even when you’re away from home or on vacation.

Keep cabinet doors open:

If you have pipes that run through your kitchen or bathroom cabinets, keep the doors open. This will allow warm air to circulate around the pipes, which can help to prevent them from freezing.

In conclusion, a pipe freezes when water inside it drops below freezing temperatures. It is caused by cold temperatures, poor insulation, wind, and low thermostat settings. To thaw a frozen pipe, you can turn on the faucet, apply heat, or wrap the pipe with heating tape or towels soaked in hot water. To prevent freezing, it is important to insulate pipes, seal leaks, keep the heat on, and open cabinet doors that contain pipes.

There is nothing like a nice hot shower on a cold winter’s morning! But there’s nothing like the wake-up call you get when your shower runs frigid! Here are a few simple tips for ensuring your water heater is properly maintained.

Why Should I Flush My Water Heater?

1. Increase longevity of the water heater: Over time, lime and other sediments from your home’s water can settle in your tank and disrupt its ability to work efficiently. The extra work required by the unit can also reduce its life span. Flushing your home’s water heater is easy and can prevent this sediment buildup that can cause problems for your water heater.
2. Reduce noise: When your water heater has to deal with buildup inside the unit, you may hear banging or crackling noises. While sometimes the noises resolve themselves, the sediment does not disappear.
3. Comply with the warranty: Your water heater is a big investment, and, in some cases, regular maintenance is a component of its manufacturer’s warranty. Check to see if failure to maintain the unit can void the manufacturer’s warranty.
4. Get hot water quicker: The more sediment your water heater must work through, the longer it takes to heat the water you want to use. That means you could be wasting water waiting for the water to reach the desired temperature, or you could run out of hot water, leaving you soapy and steamed.
5. Improve efficiency: Water heating can consume as much as 25% of your home’s energy. Anything like a sediment buildup that can force your unit to work harder can cost you more money in energy usage. A hard-working unit can put stress on its components leading to costly repairs.

When Should I Flush My Water Heater?

Experts recommend flushing your water heater every six months. However, if you live in an area with hard water, you may want to flush your water heater more often. You can find out about the water quality in your area by exploring the database at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This post first appeared on https://lentheplumber.com

Sometimes, homeowners aren’t sure whether or not repairs are warranted. A minor problem, or one that develops gradually, might be easy to overlook. While some things seem like obvious concerns, like a puddle of water below your water heater from a leak, other necessary repairs might be postponed because the problem isn’t as clear.

For the record, if your water heater is leaking, you definitely need to have it serviced.

Here are four subtler problems you might encounter that indicate that you should have a technician service your water heater.

1: Reduced Water Pressure

If you remember having a strong flow of water from your shower or faucets and you’re not able to get that pressure anymore, it’s time for water heater service in Winter Park, FL. The most likely cause is scaling, which is a buildup of minerals from the water lining the tank or piping of your water heater. This narrows the paths the water flows along, making it nearly impossible for as much water to reach your fixtures. The solution is pretty simple: your technician will flush your system with a descaling solution, which is non-toxic and dissolves the mineral deposits.

2: Discolored or Smelly Water

A reddish discoloration is usually caused by rust. An unpleasant smell generally means there is bacterial growth in your water heater. Either or both of these can be the result of a corroded anode rod because the job of the anode rod is to eliminate rust and bacteria. This is a component that can be replaced, and it’s important to do that as soon as possible. This can help stop the rusting and avoid the need to have your whole water heater replaced because of corrosion.

3: Strange Noises

Have you been hearing odd or surprising sounds from your water heater? Many sounds, such as gurgling, banging, popping, or whining, can be caused by that same mineral problem that also narrows your pipes and reduces your water flow. When minerals settle to the bottom of a tank water heater, they affect how the water moves around the heating element, resulting in odd noises. However, if you hear a sizzling noise, it’s more likely to be a water flow problem or a condensation issue.

4: Fluctuating Temperature

While you’d certainly consider a complete lack of hot water a serious problem, more minor difficulties in keeping a steady temperature are easier to ignore. Many issues can cause water temperature fluctuation, including a broken dip tube, a malfunctioning heating element, or even that same mineral scaling we keep mentioning. A qualified technician can properly diagnose the cause and provide you with a solution to resolve the problem.

If you have concerns about how your water heater is performing, it’s better to get prompt service and avoid having a small problem worsen. Repairs are always simpler and less costly than letting your water heater deteriorate until it needs to be replaced.

This post first appeared on https://www.modernpi.com

Sometimes a homeowner is hesitant to call for plumbing services out of embarrassment. There’s a problem with their plumbing and they think it’s their fault and want to try to fix it themselves to avoid having to call us

While these fears are unfounded, there have been instances where user error definitely caused the problem.

Every plumber has a story about a service call where they discovered something truly unusual clogging a drain. Here are some examples of items that are out of the ordinary, but that are unfortunately more common than you’d think.

By reading these cautionary tales, you can hopefully avoid the need for plumbing repairs and a potentially embarrassing moment.

Children’s Toys

Children’s toys are small and portable and kids love engaging with them in all sorts of imaginative scenarios. For example, sending those action figures down the sink on an adventure or flushing model cars down the unwinding road that is a toilet.

It’s great fun for the kiddos, but not so much fun for the grownup who ends up with a major clog in their drains. Luckily, professional plumbers can easily remove these items and hand them back to an adult who can then decide if they go back to the kids.

Smartphones

Speaking of things that often accompany us to the bathroom, many people have accidentally dropped a smartphone down the toilet, although few of us would care to admit it. A smartphone that’s been tucked into a back pocket can easily slip and fall into the toilet while taking care of business.

In some cases, the unlucky person doesn’t even know what’s happened until an attempt to flush is made. A plumber can unclog the toilet but there’s no amount of rice that’s going to save the smartphone. To avoid this type of plumbing problem, try to avoid taking your smartphone into the bathroom.

Bathroom and Kitchen Items

Our furry four-legged friends are adorable, but sometimes their behavior isn’t so cute. Cats in particular seem to have a penchant for knocking items off tables, desks, and countertops. They’re especially fascinated by bathroom and kitchen sinks because they’re drawn to faucets and flowing water. You know where this is going…

Plumbers have found odd items such as tweezers, nail clippers, Q-tips, jewelry, sauce packets, and mouthguards in bathroom and kitchen drains, leaving a perplexed customer wondering how on earth they got there. After a process of elimination, it’s determined that it had to be Mr. Whiskers who was to blame.

Cat Litter

Speaking of cats, another common culprit is cat litter. With litter boxes usually placed in bathrooms, their proximity to the toilet can be awfully tempting to cat owners who need to dispose of litter. But flushing cat litter or cat feces down the toilet is a bad idea.

Cat litter is designed to clump when it comes in contact with cat urine, but the same thing happens when it comes in contact with water. You should never flush anything other than toilet paper down the toilet.

This post first appeared on https://margoplumbing.com

New year’s resolutions are a chance for you to set new goals and develop new habits. While you may be thinking of your personal resolutions, and how you can take better care of yourself this year, why not think about how you can also take better care of your plumbing system? Here are the top 6 new years resolutions for your plumbing system.

1. Be Careful What To Flush Down Your Toilet

A toilet is designed to handle two things and really two things only: toilet paper and waste. Avoid flushing anything that’s considered “non-flushable”, like cotton balls, hair, toys, garbage, paper towels, diapers, and feminine hygiene products. You should also consider refraining from using “flushable” wipes because they don’t break down as easily in your sewer system and can clog your pipes.

2. Fix Leaks Right Now

Do you have a small leak you’ve put off fixing? Make the new year the time to have it fixed! A leaking faucet or weird sounds from your pipes can all be small signs of a much bigger problem. Fixing leaks and addressing problems, no matter how big or small, will help you avoid high water bills and water damage.

3. Throw Out Your Chemical Drain Cleaners

Start the new year off right by throwing away all store-bought chemical drain cleaners. These are no good! Most drain cleaners contain toxic chemicals that are not only harmful to your health, but can also be harmful to your pipes. No matter how tough your piping material is, these drain cleaners can eat through the pipe itself while trying to clear the clog. Instead, hire a professional for routine drain cleaning – like Cool Touch!

4. Flush Your Water Heater

Make sure you are flushing and draining your water heater frequently. This can help prevent malfunctions, costly repairs, and even breakdowns. Flushing your water heater can help remove any mineral, dirt, or sediment build-up that has accumulated over time.

5. Pay Attention To Your Water Quality

Do you notice your skin drier than normal? Your hands feeling cracked? Your hair not feeling clean no matter how much you wash it? Does your water taste funky, and do you notice stains on your dishes? You may be dealing with hard water and poor water quality. One way to resolve this problem this year is to invest in a water filtration system.

6. Be Kind To Your Garbage Disposal

Treat your garbage disposal better this year. It’s important to remember that garbage disposals aren’t a replacement for a garbage can. Refrain from putting items, such as coffee grounds, bones, grease, fat, oil, pits, fibrous vegetables, potato peels and more down the drain. These items can cause damage to your blades, or lead to clogs.

Add Plumbing Maintenance To Your New Year’s Resolutions List! Cool Touch Is Here For All Your Plumbing Needs In the Phoenix and Prescott Valley Metropolitan Areas

Ready to start making New Year’s resolutions for your plumbing? We are here for all your plumbing needs in the Phoenix and Prescott Valley Metropolitan Areas! For over 20 years, we have been your trusted home comfort specialists for all things HVAC, plumbing, and indoor air quality. Contact us today to schedule your plumbing appointment by visiting us online here.

This post first appeared on https://www.thetrustedplumber.com