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...

Leaky water faucets may require an experienced plumber.  Sometimes, it can be hard to tell if your faucet needs attention, and this is especially the case with laundry faucets, which are built differently than the average system. You may be wondering if it's appropriate to repair or replace the unit; where's the line, and when should you call in a professional? Take a look below as we expose two areas of evaluation: Water pressure When water releases, does it come out slow and weak? Or does it shoot out with high pressure? Whatever the case, neither are good scenarios. Abnormal water pressure can have many causes and is not always a faucet issue. You'll first want to decipher the cause. Doe the pipes need tightening? Do you need to check your pressure regulator? If you evaluate these concerns and the results are still unsatisfactory, you may need a plumber to address seam and fixture issues. You will also need to contact a plumber should the direction of the water point at ...

                   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...

Is your home or business constantly in need of plumbing attention for clogs, leaks or slow drains? Have you called a plumber, but no matter how many times the problem is looked at no one can seem to find an effective solution? Sounds like it's time to bring out the high-tech problem solvers for your issue in the form of a video inspection of your drain or pipes!  Video inspections start with a professional plumber coming to your home with a specially designed waterproof camera that will be inserted into your water or sewage lines. This will allow your service person to be able to visibly see any problems in your drains that would have in the past been completely inaccessible, apart from tearing up parts of your building. This can include pipes that run under cement or even plumbing that runs underneath the foundation of your residence or business. Catching on to how this can truly help you find the root of your plumbing issues ?  After the plumber receives and inspects the vi...

    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...

Chemicals can be extremely harsh on your drains, so it's important to manage your  plumbing drains  in different ways. How are you supposed to take care of your drains when they become clogged or you just want to do a little preventative maintenance? Today we’ll be focusing on three of the most common problem areas and how to deal with them. The bathroom is home to showers, sinks, and toilets, which are three of the most  common plumbing problem  sites, and the fourth being the kitchen sink. 1. The Kitchen Sink Kitchen sinks see a lot of things they shouldn’t necessarily see. Focusing on keeping excess cooking grease out is one of the top ways to keep your drain in working order. Ensuring you have a drain plug with a catch while doing dishes is vital to keeping food that doesn’t belong in the drain, out of the drain. Things like eggshells, leafy vegetables, and stringy vegetables (like celery) are some of the most common culprits of food clogs. If you are one of thos...

Did you know that you’re 3.5 times more likely to experience water damage than theft in your home? And water leaks can cause more damage than burglars can. Just imagine a home security system that would not only let you know when there is an intruder, but could also stop that intruder in their tracks — that’s how leakSMART® works when water threatens your home.  There are 4 main components to the leakSMART® system, and we'll explain those in a little bit. First, how does the system work? The system detects water leaks throughout your home, shuts off the water at the first sign of a leak, alerts you with both audible and visible alarms, and sends you an app notification on your smart device — all in less than 5 seconds.  The first part of the leakSMART®  system are wireless, waterproof and reusable leakSMART® Sensors that monitor both moisture and temperature and will signal your leakSMART® Hub at the first sign of a leak. These sensors are placed strategically througho...

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 ...

One of the most common calls plumbers get is to "get rid of this clog." So this blog is here to help you know what not to put down your drains so your pipes will run clean and you won't have to call a plumber! Your toilet is the last thing you want to have clogged and backed up, so avoid flushing these things: Baby Wipes Cotton Swabs Feminine Hygiene Products (even if they say they are flushable) Paper Towels and Facial Tissues Diapers Medication Kitty Litter Cleaning/Disinfectant Wipes Your garbage disposal is something that is so useful, you can sometimes forget that it does have limitations. Many of these things will gum up the gears (or break them), clog your pipes, or stick everything and the rot will cause a horrible smell! These things are a "no go" when using your disposal: Grease & Oil Rice, Pasta, Anything That Swells Egg Shells Non-Edible Food Items Animal Bones Harsh Chemicals Fibrous Vegetables like celery, asparagus, etc. Coffee Grounds  This o...

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 is just around the corner! In fact, it’s only 40 days away. We all know that along with spring comes rainstorms. Some spring days seem like it might never stop raining. This constant rain will create a very real risk of your basement flooding. Prevent basement flooding with an emergency sump pump from Prestige Plumbing, LLC!  Imagine this. You are coming home in the wee hours of the morning from a long vacation. You are exhausted from traveling a long way. You head downstairs to put your dirty laundry from the trip in the washer. You’re almost to the bottom of the stairs when you realize your basement is completely flooded. This is probably the last thing you want to happen. You were hoping to take care of the essentials and get some sleep. Now, you must call the electrician, plumber, and insurance. You’re sitting up making these calls for emergency services and hoping that someone is available to help. Prestige Plumbing, LLC knows how to help you avoid thi...

You woke up to find that you have frozen pipes... now what do you do?! Frozen pipes aren't all that uncommon during the winter months but that doesn't mean they are any less stressful. Outside of preventative measures, there are a few things you can do to help speed up the thawing process. The first step can be a little tricky, you'll need to locate where the freeze is actually at. The most effective way to do this is to test each faucet. If no water or a very small amount trickles out, chances are the pipe leading to that spot is frozen. A majority of the time if one pipe is frozen, there are others also affected. If you are able to see pipes, like in the basement or under sinks, you may be able to identify it that way as well. Frozen plumbing will oftentimes result in a white frost and bludge at the problem area. If you are able to access the frozen area, you're in luck and have easier thawing options.  Once located, you will want to open both the hot and co...

Water pressure is the strength at which water is pushed out from your faucets and showerheads. The water pressure psi should be somewhere between 40 and 45 psi and should not exceed 60 psi. Most pressure regulators are adjusted by turning the screw on top of the adjuster. Dealing with an unusually low water pressure can affect daily tasks like showering and washing dishes. A lighter flow can be quite annoying, especially if you have tried to make a pressure adjustment. There may be an underlying cause if you are noticing extended periods of dropping water pressure. One of the most commonly fixed culprits is a leak somewhere along the line. Even a small leak can cause a sudden drop in pressure since not all the available water is making it to the tap in use. If you think you have a potential leak, you can check around your home and basement for sudden wet spots. If you aren't seeing any new moisture but are still concerned you can turn off all taps in the home, record the water ...

We here at Prestige Plumbing understand how frustrating plumbing repairs and issues within your home or business can be. Sometimes they aren't as severe as they initially seem to be. Plumbing something that every home has, but not every homeowner fully understands. We're here to help clear up some questions we hear a lot when working in our customer's homes. 1. What should I do if my faucet is leaking? Often times we hear, " Well I tried to tighten the faucet and knobs, but it is still leaking." Most of the time a leak comes from a worn-out internal seal. Once we have the faucet apart we have a better understanding of if more than just a seal or two needs replaced. 2. My drain is clogged, how can I fix it myself next time? Prestige Plumbing really recommends having a professional deal with a moderate to severe clog. Drain cleaners can damage your plumbing, and a professional can fully clear the clog quickly and completely. There are a lot of different re...

Toilets are one of the most used, if not the most used, plumbing fixture in a home. When they start to malfunction it can be a big pain to deal with. If you notice your toilet isn't draining all the contents, isn't filling up all the way, or is even making some weird sounds when flushed, chances are there's one of 3 common toilet plumbing issues going on. Sometimes the water level in your tank can be set a little too low, and thankfully this isn't a super serious problem. Your toilet uses a lot of water for a proper flush. If your toilet tank level is set too low, it can lead to your toilet not getting as much water as it needs and not properly filling after flushing. If you check out the inside of your toilet tank, you should see a line that indicates where the water level should be. Most toilet floats in the tank allow you to adjust the water level. Float balls or float cups are the most common styles in modern plumbing. A large portion of our plumbing repair...

Keeping the little pieces and parts of your house in running order is not only important for the longevity of your home, but it can also help you cut costs on utilities and repairs. Things like appliance malfunctions and small leaks in your plumbing can go undetected until they become a large issue. You can help save your plumbing and your checkbook with a few quick fixes. Checking your water meter is often overlooked, but actually very important. The water meter runs from the water main into your home and through a second meter that controls the water flow. The first meter can give you an idea of if you have a leak. By looking at it when there is no running water in the home, and you see the meter moving, it is a good indication that you have a leak. So now you’re asking yourself where but don’t worry, you don’t have to figure that out yourself. Prestige Plumbing can inspect your home’s plumbing to figure out just where the problem lies. Replacing your water heater can be...