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Showing posts with the label plumbing prevention

Prevent Basement Flooding: Prestige Plumbing

  Prevent basement flooding with these tips from Prestige Plumbing. They say April Showers bring May flowers, but the change in weather conditions is not all daisies and tulips for some. This is because, from here through summer, we're in the prime season for flash floods. That means potential basement flooding and repair costs, not to mention hours of cleanup. However, the good news is that there are a few preventative measures you can follow that might save you from the consequences of excess rain and thunderstorms.  First of all, if your basement has flooded, don't panic. Turn off your water valve and call an experienced plumbing service immediately . If this requires you to completely shut off your plumbing, make sure not to use your washer, dryer, dishwasher, or other machines that rely on water as the main energy source. Shut off electricity, but if the water in the basement is blocking your path, do NOT pass. There may be open circuits that could cause electrocution. If...

The Do's and Don'ts of a Clogged Drain

                   Clogged drains and pipes are no fun to play with. Whether it was food, hair, or grease that clogged your drain, getting it unclogged is the main goal. The good news is that you are able to DIY most clogged drain situations, how you do it is what counts. There are a lot of "home remedies" when it comes to unclogging drains that can either work, or cause serious damage to your pipes. Because of this, at  Prestige Plumbing  we thought it might be important to let you in on some do's and don'ts of having a clogged drain.      First we will start with the Do's. When your drain is clogged it is most commonly just grease and hair build up that's the culprit. Running boiling hot water down your drain can help to weaken and break down the caked-on grease and build up, fixing the clog. You can try to safely remove the blockage if you notice that it isn't too far down into your drain. In order to r...

Why Does My Toilet Keep Clogging?

    Toilet clogs are one of the most common plumbing concerns homeowners experience. Occasionally, you can DIY your way through a toilet clog, but some cases may require the help of an experienced plumber professional like those at Prestige Plumbing . Dealing with clogs requires knowing the probable causes and through prevention. Knowing what to and not to flush down your toilet. Are you tired of your toilet clogging? Continue reading to learn the possible causes of a clog and the steps on how to avoid it.      When clogging happens, there is usually an item that is keeping the waste from flowing down. Incidentally, there are several non-flushable items that people tend to keep on flushing. Feminine products such as tampons or pads are the main suspects. They expand whenever you flush them and they take a long, time to breakdown in the sewer system. Next, you have your paper towels and cleaning wipes. You may think it's safe to flush them since the packaging...

Plumbing Tips to Prepare for Winter

The calendar has turned over to September, and now cooler weather is on the horizon with winter weather looming behind that! This is time of year to get your plumbing in your home ready for the winter months, so here are some tips to keep you from costly emergencies! 1. Put away hoses. This means disconnect, drain and store your hoses in a place where they will be protected from freezing. If any water that didn't drain out freezes, it could ruin your hose! 2. Turn off the spigot. Stores do sell "frost-free" hose bibb, also known as spigots or outdoor faucets. Now is the time to install one if you don't have one. If you don't want to invest in one, make sure that you turn off the inside line that leads to the bibb. If freezing air gets to the water in the line and it's not shut off, you risk getting frozen and then busted pipes! 3. Get any necessary maintenance. Have your sewer checked. Some plumbers offer camera inspections of lines. Getting your water heater ...

Check on Your Water Heater!

Water heaters are something you kind of take for granted...until it stops working. You can picture taking a nice, hot shower when suddenly the water turns ice cold. Kind of made you shudder, didn't it? Checking out your water heater every so often can save you a world of trouble, so here are a few tips. Check the water heater for signs of leakage, rust or other problems. Look at the hardware and other parts and see if there is any corrosion. Use a bright flashlight to inspect underneath and around the bottom, and/or you can run your hand all around and under the base to see if you feel the water. A typical, tank-type water heater lasts 10-15 years depending on the model, level of maintenance and the kind of water running through it. Hard water can cause mineral deposits to build up and impede water flow, so it helps to clean off any accumulated materials occasionally. Sediment builds up on the bottom of the hot water heater tank but can be flushed out every so often by releasing a ...

How Plumbing Problems Can Add Up!

You are just going out to the mailbox on a nice day. You see that your water bill came. As you open it up, you see a number that could absolutely NOT be how much you owe!?!? What happened? Turns out, there are quite a few tiny problems and bad habits that you could have that add up to a lot of water being used (and wasted!). 1. Any tiny drip. Yes, so you have that faucet in the bathroom that drips, but how much water can it really be letting out? You would be surprised. A faucet that drips once a second will release over 5 GALLONS of water every DAY! If you are handy, change the faucet. If not, a plumber can help you with that. 2. Toilet leaks can be silent. Make sure that you have your toilet checked yearly to make sure there are no leaks. 3. Water is vital for your body, but you know what you do when you fill up the glass. You let it run a little bit so that it will get colder. Instead of doing that and wasting water, try filling up a pitcher and put it in your refrigerator ...

Spring Plumbing Tips

It is finally starting to turn the corner towards warmer weather and sunshine in Ohio. Spring cleaning gets on the minds of many. If that's you, don't forget about taking care of your plumbing too! Taking the time for these tips can save you a lot of hassle in the future! In the basement: Tankless Water Heater Check the temperature setting on the water heater . It should be set no higher than 120°F to prevent scalding and reduce energy use. Carefully drain several gallons from the water heater tank to flush out corrosion causing sediment, which reduces heating efficiency and shortens the life of the heater. Check your water heater manufacturer 's website for specific instructions concerning your make and model. Consider replacing a water heater more than 15 years old. (The first four numbers of the serial number represent the month and year it was made.) Newer water heaters are more energy efficient. Consider going tan...

Basement Flood Prevention

A flooded basement is one of the most common home emergencies, and many homeowners have said it's one of the most unexpected. Many times a flooded basement can cause issues with other home appliances, like the water heater, furnace, and potentially washer and dryer sets. Protecting your home from flooding risk is an investment that saves you a lot of stress later on. Understanding a few quick home flood prevention tasks can go a long way.  If you live in an area prone to heavy or prolonged rain, installing a sump pump is a great starting place. Automatic sump pumps protect your home as soon as water is detected. The pumps act as a drain and are angled in a low spot so water runs freely to them. When water enters the pump, it will push it out of the basement and away from the foundation of your home. We offer sump pump battery backup s at Prestige Plumbing so you can relax knowing your home in protected even if the power goes out.  Older homes are prone to water...

Frozen Pipe Prevention

With cooler temps getting closer by the day, it's important to make sure your home or business is ready for the dangers that come along with them. Frozen pipes are one of the most common plumbing emergencies despite only being a concern for a few months of the year. Frozen pipes lead to not being able to use your water, and can burst leading to flooding. Even if your pipes don't burst, there can be damage done from the ice expanding inside of them. We have a few simple tips to help keep your water flowing freely through your pipes.  Keeping your residential or commercial property warm can go a long way with avoiding frozen pipes. This might seem like a common sense answer however when people leave for holiday trips, they often times turn the thermostat up to save money on heating costs. This small temperature adjustment can be just enough to allow freezing to happen. Keeping the home about 55 degrees is recommended.  Allowing the faucet to drip can keep just enough...

Winter Plumbing Emergency Prevention

Ohio winter can be pretty harsh and unforgiving meaning we don’t like to think about it any sooner than we have to. It is almost August though, so maybe it’s time to start making sure your home and its plumbing is ready for the approaching cold temperatures. Beginning to prepare for a winter weather early can help you make sure you have all your bases covered and help prevent a plumbing emergency . Let’s talk about some ways you can get your home ready. Frost Free Sill Cocks Installing the frost-free sillcock will help water properly drain every time the pipe is used meaning there won’t be water left laying to freeze up. Unlike a typical faucet, the frost-free option’s valve, seal, and washer is found a little further back in the wall versus the standard faucet that is placed at the wall. Heat Cables Running heat cables along vulnerable pipes can be a wonderful solution. The cables do need to be able to reach a power source since they have a running internal thermost...