Category: Uncategorized

Plumb Panicked: What is a Plumbing Emergency and What Can Wait

Your home’s plumbing system is out-of-sight and out-of-mind. That is until there is an issue.

An overflowing toilet or a backed-up sink drain can throw you into a tailspin. But before you panic over your plumbing, check out these tips to determine if you have a true plumbing emergency or if you have a plumbing problem that can wait.

Can You Stop the Flow of Water?

When it comes to overflowing toilets or a sink leak, simply shutting off the water source to that fixture can immediately stop any damage and buy you some time to schedule a professional to fix the problem.

Is the Leak a Trickle or a Flood?

For leaks that are more of the drip variety, grab a bucket and catch the water so you can hold off to make a scheduled repair.

If your leak fills the bucket quickly, it’s better to call that emergency number and get a plumber out quickly.

Is There a Health Issue?

Water is essential, especially when health-compromised people are living at home.

When access to water is diminished due to a plumbing issue or your water heater is malfunctioning, those issues can be considered emergencies.

Can You Do Without the Plumbing Fixture?

While inconvenient, broken toilets or clogged sinks can be marked “out of order” until you can schedule a plumber to take a look at the issue.

Did Your Pipe Burst?

Burst pipes can release thousands of gallons of water and cause massive damage to your home.

If you cannot stop the water supply to the burst pipe, or you have to shut off the main water supply to the entire house, it’s time to call in an emergency professional.

Do You Smell Gas Coming From Your Water Heater?

If you smell gas, respond immediately as this is an emergency situation.

Water heaters can explode if the water pressure is too high or the relief valve is broken. Call in a professional.

Is Your Water Heater Leaking?

In this case, turn off the power source and shut down the water supply to the water heater.

Start to drain the tank and call a professional to make an appointment for a repair.

Are Multiple Toilets Backed up at the Same Time?

Multiple toilet backups can indicate a blockage in your main sewer line. A blockage can force raw sewage back into your home.

This is a plumbing emergency and should be addressed immediately.

Did Your Sump Pump Stop Working?

Sump pumps are designed to automatically turn on when needed to remove excess water from the home. Without proper maintenance, they can malfunction.

However, this is not an emergency unless you are in a flooding situation. Turn off the pump and try some simple sump pump maintenance tasks.

Are You Hearing Knocking or Banging Noises Coming From Your Pipes?

Pipes and plumbing can make some strange noises that might scare you but most often aren’t an emergency.

Check out this list of strange plumbing sounds and what they mean.

Solve Your Plumbing Problems With Same Day Service

Knowing the difference between a plumbing problem and a true emergency can save you money and anxiety. At Len The Plumber, we can help determine if you’re having an issue that needs to be addressed right away or if you can schedule a more convenient service call.

Contact us online or call (800) 950-4619(800) 950-4619 for fast, same day service seven days a week!

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

Why Your Toilet Is Always Running

toilet-with-button-flushYou flush your toilet, wash your hands, walk away, and you don’t think much of it. You walk by your bathroom again later on and it still sounds like the toilet is still flushing… what’s going on?

Your toilet should stop running after its normal flush cycle. If your toilet is still flushing and no amount of jiggling the handle or messing with the toilet makes it stop, then it’s time to enlist the help of a professional. 

It’s time to improve your plumbing in Orlando, FL. The first step to fixing your toilet is figuring out the source of your problem. The second step is finding a reliable HVAC company that can perform the repair. Let’s get into everything you should know below…

What’s Causing Your Toilet Problem

There are a few problems that may contribute to a toilet issue like this. You should check for the following:

A Problem with the Float

The water level inside of your home’s tank is controlled by an adjustable float. The problem comes when the float isn’t where it’s supposed to be. If the float is too low, you’re going to notice that you have a weak flush. If your water is set too high, this is when you’re going to notice that your toilet starts running continuously. 

It’s easy and low risk to figure out if you’re dealing with a water imbalance. Just flush your toilet and see where the water stops. Once you realize you have a definitive problem, our professionals can come out to your home and fix your float problem.

The Flapper is Leaking

Your toilet’s flapper is what’s in charge of sealing the drain. If the flapper is dirty, broken, or even warped, then it means that you’re going to deal with continuous flushing. If you look up this problem online, you’re going to see a lot of articles and even videos instructing you to DIY. Quality toilet repair needs to be handled by a professional. We know it might seem simple, but professional service is always worth it.

The Chain is Broken

Your flapper chain connects your flush lever and your flapper. If the chain is compromised or disconnected, your toilet isn’t going to be able to perform its job. Our professionals can pinpoint the problem and solve it ASAP.

Where Can You Find a Professional You Can Trust

It’s incredibly important to find the right plumber who can perform your toilet repair. Figuring out what’s gon=ing on is half of the equation, but finding the right professional to make your repair worthwhile is the crucial other half. Our professionals are ones you can rely on. We’re trained, licensed, and we have the experience necessary to make sure that your toilet is in proper shape. 

We understand that DIY attempts and amateur work are tempting. They both promise to save you money and a considerable hassle. In reality, this type of work is only going to cause you ongoing problems. Professionals will get you the work you deserve. 

Contact Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. to schedule an appointment for your toilet care.

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

Late Season Maintenance Is Still a Great Idea

It’s been a minute since we talked about maintenance! Truth be told, our phone lines have been constantly lit up by calls for repairs, so maintenance tends to take a backseat during this season of heavy heater usage. We get it, you just want to make it through the rest of the heating season unscathed and keep your home comfortable for the foreseeable future, right? Well, depending on how new and effective your heating system is, maintenance could be the best call right now.

We understand, late maintenance doesn’t sound like much of a good idea for your heating in West Orange, NJ, does it? If you skipped an appointment this year, you might as well wait until next year, right?

Well, this blog post is here so that we can show you why that might not be as good an idea as you think!

Late Maintenance Is Better Than No Maintenance

The first and most important point we need to tackle today is the fact that late maintenance is always better than no maintenance at all. It’s estimated that we lose up to 5% of our heating efficiency every year we skip maintenance, which can compound to a pretty substantial amount you might end up paying on your utility bills. Basically, maintenance is the only proven way to avoid this kind of increase in energy consumption.

Also, it’s important to think about the longevity and condition of your system. The more consistently the system is maintained, the better off it will be for the long term. This means it will last longer and provide your home with better results.

A Reminder of the Benefits That Come From Maintenance

If that wasn’t enough to convince you to call us for maintenance, then here are a few other great benefits that come from contacting a professional team for a tune-up!

  • Higher efficiency levels. Maintenance helps keep your heating system efficient. This will result in lower utility bills throughout the years and more savings in your pocket!
  • Minor repairs being made. Every maintenance appointment allows our professionals to make some minor adjustments and repairs before they become serious problems. Nope, we don’t charge extra, it’s all part of the service unless we have to replace a part or provide extended repairs beyond the appointment.
  • Addressing upcoming problems. If we notice something wrong, we’ll say something! This can help you prepare in the future for a repair need that will need to be addressed. We can even schedule your future repair that moment and give you an estimate as to how much it will cost!
  • Better system performance. Well-maintained heating systems perform better than ones that are neglected. This means you’ll get more powerful heat from your air vents.
  • Peace of mind. Sleep easier every night knowing that a professional has given you the green light on your heating system. This peace of mind is almost worth the cost of maintenance itself!

Ready to get maintenance done on your system? Then call our team and schedule an appointment.

Contact MarGo Plumbing Heating Cooling Inc. for effective HVAC results.

The post Late Season Maintenance Is Still a Great Idea first appeared on MarGo Plumbing Heating Cooling Inc..

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

Don’t Let The Cold Weather Cause A Plumbing Disaster

iStock_000026685182Large-300x199-1

This week has brought our first taste of that cold, winter weather and it looks as if the cold temperatures are here to stay for a little while. Add in a small layer of snow on the ground and it will make the air even colder letting those temps to continue to dip below freezing- now that’s cold!

Last year we saw an abundance of frozen pipes, and while we’re here to fix any plumbing issue we wanted to provide you with some tips for our first major cold front.

  1. Make sure you insulate your pipes located in areas such as your garage, crawl space, attic, and any other areas that aren’t heated.
  2. Seal up any air leaks that are near outdoor pipes. If these air leaks aren’t sealed correctly, the cold air could get inside and freeze your pipes.
  3. Put your garden hose(s) away and shut off your outdoor water supply. Follow these instructions to properly do this.
  4. If you’re planning to head out of town, do not set your thermostat below 55 degrees.
  5. Lastly and most importantly, make sure you and everybody in your home knows where the main shutoff valve is. If a pipe does burst, your first to-do should be to shut off the water to your house to prevent further damage!

We know accidents can happen, so if you end up having a frozen pipe follow some of these simple tips.

The snow and cold weather doesn’t stop our technicians from servicing our customers in need, so give us a call today or schedule your service online if you need us. We’re here for you 7 Days a Week and remember… there’s never an extra charge for weekend, evening, or holiday service!

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

What Are Those Odd Smells From the Heating System?

What Are Those Odd Smells From the Heating System?

One of the key ways you can identify when your heating system is starting to malfunction is when it begins to make strange sounds: banging, clattering, hissing, clicking, etc.

What about your other senses, though? When you start to notice unusual odors coming from the vents in your house when the heater is running, you may need to call our team for heating repair in Glendale, AZ.

We’ll go over a list of some of the strange odors you may detect and what they could me.

 

Dusty burning smell

If you have a gas furnace, you’ll probably notice this odor when you first turn on the heating system for the season. There’s likely nothing wrong with the furnace: what you’re smelling is the dust that has accumulated over the heat exchanger during the summer and fall burning off. The odor should go away in under an hour. If it doesn’t, you may wish to call on professionals to see what’s wrong.

Acrid burning smell

This is a more alarming odor than the dusty one, and it can point toward several serious problems. It can indicate a motor is burning out (you may hear a grinding noise along with it). It also can mean melting wires in the control board or the other electronic components of the heating system. (Yes, gas furnaces use many electric components.) No matter the cause, it’s not something you want to continue, so first shut down the heating system entirely at its breaker and then call for professional repairs.

Musty or moldy smell

Here’s an unpleasant odor that you don’t want drifting around your house. This problem is often called “dirty sock syndrome,” and it’s well named. The source of the odor is bacteria and/or mold inside the HVAC system. This can occur because of mold growing inside an air filter that hasn’t been changed in too long. If you have a heat pump to warm your house, the odor is possibly coming from mold growing along the indoor evaporator coil. You’ll need to call experts to clean out the HVAC system.

Rotten egg smell

Natural gas doesn’t have any odor on its own, but gas manufacturers place a chemical called mercaptan into it so that it exudes a sulfurous smell like rotten eggs. This makes it easier for people to detect when there is a natural gas leak. If this odor starts coming out of the vents in your house, you need to shut off the furnace immediately at the furnace switch (its dedicated circuit breaker) and call our technicians. A gas leak in a furnace can be a serious hazard, and you don’t want to turn the system back on until we’ve given it a thorough check and made any necessary repairs.

You can depend on us any time of day or night to help with your heating system—we have 24/7 emergency service.

Rely on Cool Touch Air Conditioning and Heating for your comfort needs around the year. Kick back and relax—we’ll keep you cool.

The post What Are Those Odd Smells From the Heating System? appeared first on Cool Touch Air Conditioning & Heating.

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

Do You Have a Plumbing Leak?

blue-question-markOne of the most frustrating problems that you can run into concerning your plumbing system is a hidden plumbing leak. We meet many homeowners when they know something is going on with their plumbing system and they think it’s a plumbing leak, but they just can’t be sure. We understand how frustrating this can be and we want to help you with the process.

We understand what you need when it comes to your plumbing in Paradise Valley, AZ. It’s why we have a full team of professionals who are ready to work with you. We know how to make things easy for you. We also have what it takes to inform you throughout the entire process. 

Key Signs That You Have a Plumbing Leak

These are a few signs that you have a significant leak going on with your home’s plumbing system. 

Damage on Walls or Ceilings

Are you noticing weird spots on your walls or ceilings? You might even notice these spots on your floors depending on how the pipes run through your home. Damage here can indicate a water leak that’s still currently leaking. Our professionals can pinpoint where this leak is coming from and then fix it for you. 

Mold or Mildew

Have you noticed that there’s visible mold or mildew in your home? This is bad anywhere you see it in your house, but it’s especially bad in places that aren’t even that moist normally. Mold or mildew show up most commonly in the bathroom so anywhere outside of this should be a major red flag. Mold or mildew is something that you should contact a professional about as soon as possible. Both of these things can be bad for your health. 

An Increase in Your Water Bills

If you’ve noticed that your water bill costs more this month and you really haven’t done anything different in your home, then a sneaky leak might be the culprit. High water bills are your plumbing system’s way of crying out for help. Make sure that you heed this warning by contacting a professional.

Foul Odors

There’s a weird smell in your home and you can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from. If you’re smelling something funky, it might be the scent of mold or mildew. You might even smell the scent of stale, stagnant water standing somewhere where you can’t see it due to a plumbing leak. All of these scents are cause for concern. If you have our professionals on the job, we guarantee that we can sniff out the problem in no time. 

Low Water Pressure

Has the water pressure in your home decreased? Low water pressure is a problem even if it drops off just a slight amount. Your water pressure should be consistent and have a steady stream. If you’re struggling to get your water pressure to the way it needs to be, then we recommend you get in touch for plumbing repair. A plumbing leak might be the thing that’s decreasing the quality of your home. 

Contact The Trusted Plumber for your plumbing repair in Paradise Valley. 

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

flex: auto !important;

Sean Kavanaugh

Life has taken given me quite a few curve balls but one thing is constant. Plumbing! I started my career in 1993 with T.H. Litvin one of the premier high-rise contractors in the Chicagoland area. From there I moved to Abbott Industries where I had the pleasure of working for the Abbott family as a purchasing agent and project manager. In 1997 my father and I founded Kavanaugh Plumbing Co. We specialized in commercial and industrial plumbing as well as plumbing service. After closing in 2012 I decided to spread my wings and dive into content marketing. in 2019 that ended abruptly and I am now the vice president of Houseal Plumbing a medium sized commercial, industrial and service plumbing company.

This post first appeared on http://www.theplumbinginfo.com

Why Won’t My Toilet Flush?

A toilet that won’t flush is frustrating, but here’s the good news: It’s probably an easy fix.

Our team of experts at Len The Plumber has put together the following guide to the most common reasons a toilet won’t flush. Depending on the issue with your toilet, you may be able to solve the problem yourself without needing to call a plumber.

The Lift Chain Has Too Much Slack

If you push down the handle and feel no resistance, the lift chain inside the tank, which connects to the flapper and releases water, has probably shifted, resulting in too much slack on the chain.

Solution: Remove the tank lid and shorten the length of the lift chain until there’s no longer slack between the flapper and the handle.

The Toilet Is Clogged

If someone in your family used too much toilet paper, dropped an item like a toy into the bowl, or flushed a sanitary product, a clogged toilet is almost inevitable.

Solution: You might be able to fish out items like toys on the surface. However, for absorbent materials, such as sanitary products or diapers, try to plunge out the clog or use a toilet brush to clear it.

The Water Level Is Low

When there isn’t enough water in the bowl, your toilet can’t flush. The float ball in your tank might have been misadjusted — signaling to your toilet that there is not enough water to flush properly.

Solution: Lift open the tank lid. The float ball should be floating 1 to 2 inches below the overflow tube and fill valve. There might also be a line etched into the porcelain indicating what level the float ball should stay at. Adjust the float ball to remain at that level.

The Flapper Is Warped

If you notice your toilet is running often, the flapper might be warped. The flapper is connected to the lift chain and opens when you press the toilet handle. Over time, a rubber flapper can bend or warp, making it unable to seal the flush tube hole and release water to flush the toilet.

Solution: Purchase a new flapper at a hardware or home improvement store. They are inexpensive and easy to find. Turn off your water main, drain the toilet tank, and replace the warped flapper with the new flapper. Turn your water back on and try flushing the toilet again.

There’s a Drain Line or Sewer Problem

If you’ve tried all of the above fixes and your toilet still won’t flush, it’s probably time to call a professional to check your plumbing and sewer system for major backups. The biggest sign that you have a drain line or sewer system issue is when there are clogged drains throughout your home, not just in your toilet.

Solution: Call a licensed plumber who has the tools and expertise to find clogs without needing to remove pipes. When there’s a drain line or plumbing issue, the problem is no longer something that a DIY solution can fix. Your plumbing professional will probably use video pipe inspection as well as long-reaching augers to make the necessary repairs.

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

If you live in the Mid-Atlantic region and would rather a professional take a look at your toilet, contact Len The Plumber. Our expert, licensed plumbers have the experience and expertise to provide same day service, seven days a week.

Call Len The Plumber today at (800) 950-4619(800) 950-4619 or contact us online, and we’ll send a certified plumber to fix your toilet as soon as possible.  

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

+1-877-959-3534