Home Services Plumbing

For many homes, it’s impossible to have a conventional sewage system. The most common reason for this is the fact that sewage services don’t reach their property. There may be situations where a septic tank cannot be installed on the property do to logistical or geographical issues. Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from if you’re facing this septic conundrum.

If there is one consistency about plumbing, it is that there is no such thing as a good leak. Should you notice water leaking from anywhere in your plumbing system, it is a real problem that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

When people take a shower and then use sinks and toilet facilities at home, the water appears to vanish, never to be seen again. If you’re wondering where that used shower water goes and whether it will be discarded or recirculated, you’ll be relieved to know that the majority of the water is reused and recycled. The forms of treatment are straightforward but fascinating.

Depending on the location of a home or vacation home, there may not be municipal water lines that run into the property. When this happens, there is usually a well system that is built to provide water to the home.

Your hot water heater is perhaps one of the most important things inside your home. Keeping warm water flowing, is essential, for living. If your hot water heater’s pressure relief valve keeps opening, we have some tips that will help you fix it.

Very few people volunteer to take cold showers. So when the water goes cold AND your power goes, that’s a double whammy. You reset your circuit breaker, but it goes out again, and you’re not sure what to do about it.

No one wants to deal with leaky pipes; it wastes water, makes a mess, and just looks bad. But, when you have connections that use fittings and threaded pipes, you can inevitably end up with leaks. Primarily, leaks occur because no one used the proper sealant (or no sealant) during installation or the sealant’s worn out.

The piping in your home or business will, for the most part, do its job quietly and efficiently. That is so long as it has been properly installed first. There are many aspects to the installation process, part of which is choosing between a pipe coupling or pipe union.

Water supply is not always plentiful in all parts of the country. In some places, service is unreliable and there’s a chance you’ll be greeted by a lack of running water in the morning.

You come home ready for a nice shower.  After a few seconds in the shower, you notice something just isn’t right.  What could be going on in your shower or bathtub?  What could cause your shower to work poorly or not work at all?  How do you know if the diverter valve on your tub or shower is bad?

It’s hard to miss the smell of sulfur; the scent is quite distinct and unpleasant. The smell is even more unpleasant when it’s in your neighborhood and even your home. So, why does my neighborhood smell like sulfur?

No matter what you use your basement for, an unpleasant septic smell makes you want to stay as far away as possible. Whether your basement is for storage, a workshop, or a bonus room, it becomes virtually useless if it smells like sewage.

Boilers play an important role in any home. These units work by heating water and the house with steam. The steam travels through the house in pipes and radiators. Boilers are expensive to install, but have a long lifespan and are energy efficient.

If you wake up in the morning and the first thing you smell is gas, that would automatically tell you something is wrong. Leaking gas is inevitably a serious situation that you need to handle as soon as possible. It is never ideal to stall when it comes to gas leaks.

A common question homeowners have before they start a home improvement project is: “Can I put insulation on hot water pipes?” The answer depends on the type of insulation you use.

We all seem to take clean water for granted. You turn on the tap and freshwater flows. If you live in a rural area and depend on a water well, you may have experienced a temporary lack of water when your well goes dry from overuse. You may wonder how long does it take for a water well to refill?

If you get your water from a well, you probably already know that when your power goes out, your water does not work either. As if it isn’t bad enough to have no electricity, now you have no water either. You should consider getting a generator for the well pump then.

There is nothing more annoying than a leaky fill valve in a toilet. Leaking fill valves are also water waters that can run up your water bill significantly if ignored. When the time comes to replace a leaky fill valve in your toilet, which fill valve should you chose, the Korky or the Fluidmaster?

If you are trying to connect a 1 ¼-inch tailpiece to a 1 ½- inch drain, you are most likely doing so because you need a longer tailpiece. The standard tailpieces that come with the drains sold at most hardware and big-box stores tend to be shorter than you may need. That being said, making the switch is not a difficult thing to do.

Water heaters are essential in modern homes, but they are as prone to problems as any other modern commodity. Nothing is worse than when your hot water tank won’t fill up when you need it most. So, why is your hot water tank not filling up?

Frozen pipes are an expensive nightmare. Your pipes may unfreeze quickly, but the anxiety that they may burst is awful. So, how long does it take for pipes to unfreeze?

P-traps are an integral part of plumbing, particularly when it comes to showers. They can prevent sewer odors and wastewater from seeping out and into your home. They aren’t always an option, so what are the best shower P-trap alternatives?

Many people who have a domestic water well system are confused about the difference in pressure switches. Pressure switches are at the heart of your water well system. Its purpose is to tell the water pump that delivers water to your home when to turn on and cut off. The question often comes up about which one is the right choice for your home, a 30/50 or 40/60 pressure switch?

Water heaters are fixtures that homeowners can’t live without. The days of bulky, cumbersome water heaters being the norm are long over, and now hybrid and tankless heaters have taken their place.

All homes and most businesses can’t do without a water heater, and this is because hot water is needed in homes and businesses for a variety of reasons. There are different kinds of water heaters available in 2021, as the days of 50-gallon-tank heaters being the norm are long over.

If you ask anyone who’s hip to the jive, going green is important. Everything from water conservation to creating new ways to be energy efficient is on the table. That’s why more people are starting to look at unusual ways to save money on the basics. That’s why people are starting to install hot water recirculating pumps. But, are they really worth it?

No hub couplings and flexible couplings may look a lot alike. However, the surface similarities mask the real differences between these two types of plumbing couplings. Flexible couplings and no hub couplings are different, with different applications and meeting different standards.

Plumbers grease is used in lubricating and protecting plumbing fixtures. Also referred to as faucet grease, since this is its most common application, it helps to lubricate O-rings and swivel points.

Working on sewage lines can be tricky. That’s why most homeowners hire professional plumbers. But can you put a 90 in a sewer line, or should you figure out something else? Here’s everything you need to know.

Modern plumbing is a wonderful convenience that allows us to live safe and sanitary lives. Many people rely on municipal sewer systems to help remove wastewater cleanly and efficiently from your home. Sewage usually safely travels through the sewer pipe connecting your home to the municipal waste plant. However, sometimes a leak can occur within your sewer pipe, leading to major plumbing complications.

Teflon tape, commonly referred to as plumber’s tape, is implemented when connecting metal plumbing pipes in order to reduce the risk of leaks. In general, Teflon tape is recommended to be used on most threaded connections that do not have a rubber gasket.

When you hear “money pit,” do you instantly think of the comedy classic starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long? (If not, it’s worth a peek for a lot of laughs -- or maybe a cautionary tale if you’re house hunting.)

When your A/C drain line becomes clogged, a plumber’s snake may be the most cost-effective option. With the right type of snake, snaking a drain line is a straightforward task.

Oil and electric water heaters are two common types of water heater, and each has its pros and cons. If you’re installing a water heater in a home or office, you should know what these are, as then you’ll be able to make a wise purchase.

Putting together your own plumbing setup is not something an amateur should do. But, some folks still give it a shot and get fairly decent success. Part of their ability to succeed is that they know which fittings to use to distribute their water flow adequately. In order to do this, you will need to know what a sanitary tee is, what a wye is, and how to use each one.

A water heater expansion tank is a safety feature that protects your water heater and pipes from extreme pressure. It works by accepting overflow water from the water tank anytime the pressure gets too high. An expansion tank is only mandatory in homes with closed-system water heaters, featuring pressure limiting valves or backflow preventers. Luckily, the cost to install a water heater expansion tank is not overly expensive.

Imagine the following scenario:  you are known for conserving water, and for as long as you lived in town, your water bills were $30 or so. Recently, a new family moved in. They have a pool, sprinklers, and everything else watery under the sun. The next month, you notice that your water bill shot up to $900. You look at your neighbors, who don’t make eye contact with you anymore. Could it be them?

A toilet is the most important plumbing fixture in your home, but that doesn’t mean that they always work perfectly. Everything from the flush power to the water level can tell you that something is wrong with your toilet. So, what does it mean when the water level in your toilet bowl keeps dropping?

A magnificent fire pit flame requires two things: enough gas and the proper rigid piping to deliver it. The size of the hard pipe is sometimes overlooked, and the resulting flame might be underwhelming. So, what size of a gas line do you need for the fire pit?

Water heaters can make all kinds of noises when something is damaged or not running properly. However, if you suddenly start hearing a hissing noise coming from your water heater, you may want to take care of it soon. A hissing sound may not be dangerous to you and your family, but it can eventually damage the water heater. 

Apartment buildings have taken over much of the United States and currently house millions of people across the country. What many people don’t think about is that every single apartment has to get their plumbing and electricity from somewhere. So, how does the plumbing work in an apartment building, and where does it come from?

Water heaters are not as simple as many people believe.  The controls and safety mechanisms built into modern water heaters prevent catastrophic accidents common in homes and businesses with older style water heaters.  Many people wonder what causes a water heater relief valve to open.

Water heaters can be vented in a variety of ways, but some systems require specific ventilation configurations. In this article, direct vent water heaters will be compared with standard atmospheric vent water heaters, as this way the reader will be able to select the best water heater for their home.

Hot water is something that all homes and most businesses need access to these days, and this is the main reason why hot water heaters are indispensable fixtures to both home and business owners. Just think about how many appliances depend on hot water in a home: the dishwasher, the washing machine, the shower, the kitchen and the bathroom sinks.

If your toilet is leaking, it can quickly create a disaster in a bathroom. Not only can a leaky toilet create a problematic situation in your bathroom, leading to mold and mildew, but it can be costly to waste water, which can cause sky-high utility bills. Luckily, most toilet leaks are easy to identify and simple to repair, requiring just a few standard tools that most DIY homeowners have.

Your shower is one of the most important parts of your home. You wouldn’t be able to keep yourself clean without one. That’s why it’s important to prioritize the maintenance of your shower.

Leaks have the potential to cause major problems and both water damage and mold can negatively impact your home for many years – especially if you don’t locate a leak as soon as possible. Fortunately, early intervention and professional leak detection services can help mitigate possible damage to your home or property caused by water.

Water heaters can be found in virtually all homes and businesses these days, and this is mainly because humans need access to hot water many times throughout a single day. Knowing the ins and outs of how water heaters work is very beneficial, as you’ll never be without hot water and your system will last a long time.

Depending on the water heater you have, it may use an igniter to ignite the gas. When you hold down the pilot switch on a gas heater and click the igniter button repeatedly, a small spark should ignite the pilot. However, if the pilot flame will not light after you click the igniter, you need to verify that a spark is happening inside the pilot.

In this crazy modern day, it seems like almost every single necessity is skyrocketing in price. This includes water. With water beginning to get scarce in certain parts of the country, it makes sense to take a look at ways to trim your water bill. One of the most common rumors mentioned among home improvement circles is that a bad water heater can cause a spike in your water bill.  Are you wondering if the rumor is true? We got some news for you…

Plumbing connections inside the home can be secured in a variety of ways. If the connections inside your home are relatively new, you may find that various kinds of PEX fittings have been used. That’s due to PEX emerging as a popular alternative in recent years.

When people get their first home, they almost always notice that the water heater has a singular location: the basement. I mean, that’s great and all, but if you’re like me, you don’t always want to have a big clunky thing inside your home. Many people have wondered if it’s possible to safely install a water heater outside. To find out, we did a little bit of research.

If you’re new to the world of plumbing, one of the first things you will probably learn about is P-traps. While they are common in toilets, they are also ubiquitous in showers, sinks, and more. The thing is, P-traps sometimes need to be replaced, especially if you’re looking to do an overhaul on your plumbing. So, what’s the deal here?

A sewer cleanout isn’t something that everyone is familiar with. In fact, many homeowners are unfamiliar with what a sewer cleanout is, what it does, where it’s located on your property, and how much it costs to install one. Oftentimes, a sewer cleanout only becomes a relevant topic when something goes wrong.

Whether you are building a home or remodeling an older home, you should understand drain configurations when deciding on plumbing. A licensed plumber is involved with the contractor or builder, but you should know what is up to code. Understanding the main differences between a P-trap and S-trap will help to ensure your home is a safe environment.

In finding the best water heater company, both Rheem and AO Smith are easy contenders for the top. Both of them have a couple of hundred years of experience under their belts. They have also produced an impressive line of products. But when comparing the two, which of these water heater companies is the best?

Plastic pipes are more prone to cracking up; thus, copper-based tubes are the go-to pipes for plumbing applications owing to their ability to withstand corrosion.

PVC pipes are an excellent choice whether you’re planning any kind of home DIY project or you’re a professional contractor looking to do a job well done within a budget. PVC is remarkably sturdy, yet it’s far cheaper than many alternatives, such as galvanized steel or copper.

A sump pump that runs continuously is the most common reason for sump pumps overheating and breaking down. If you discover that your sump pump is always running, address the issue promptly. This will prevent further damage to the sump pump and your basement.

Finding an unusual coloration, namely green, on your copper pipes can be disturbing. You may have questions racing through your head, which is an entirely typical response to this. So let’s answer this question: what is the green stuff on your copper pipes?