Faucet Aerators can become clogged over time, causing problems with the water flow. Mineral deposits from within the water can accumulate in the faucet aerators in the kitchen and bathroom sinks. Common signs of a clogged aerator are changes in water pressure and uneven flow. For the best results, routinely clean this part of the faucet. How often it will be necessary depends on how many minerals are present in the city’s water.

Cleaning a faucet aerator is a very simple process that the home owner can do themselves. Protect the aerator with a rag to avoid any damage or scratching. Use pliers over the rag to unscrew the faucet aerator. Take the piece apart once it has been removed. There are usually three separate pieces in a standard aerator, the housing unit, main body, and the screen. Keep in mind how it comes apart to make reassembly easier. Let all pieces soak in a dish of white vinegar overnight. The next day, scrub each piece with a tooth brush to remove debris. Reassemble the faucet aerator and screw it back in place. At this point the water should run evenly and at full pressure.

In most situations this will be enough to solve the problem with the water flow. In case there is still low pressure or uneven flow, call a professional to investigate for further complications. The professional staff at All About Pipes Plumbing, Inc. can help you get your water flow back on track. Serving the Charlotte North Carolina area, we are a Better Business Bureau member and have received a super service award from Angie's List. All of our parts and labor are backed up with a two year warranty. Home owners can trust All About Pipes Plumbing. Every plumber is insured, licensed, and bonded for your peace of mind. The Charlotte Weekly Magazine rated us Best of Charlotte for exceptional service and quality work. We can help with all plumbing problems and routine maintenance, saving the homeowner time and hassles.

Are utility bills eating up most of your budget? In these difficult economic times, every penny counts. You want to enjoy long, hot showers, but at the same time you also want to reduce your water consumption. The solution is to install a recirculating pump for your water heater. How does a recirculating pump help you save money?

• No more waiting for hot water to emerge from your shower. The instant you turn on the tap, you will have hot water within seconds. Without a recirculating pump, you turn on the tap and waste several gallons of water just waiting for your water to finally heat up.

• Your home can save as much as 31 gallons a day or 11,000 gallons a year! That amount of water is enough to fill up a 14’ x 30’ swimming pool. With this amount of water you can save per year, imagine also the amount of money you can save on your utility bills.

• Although recirculating pumps run on electricity, they don’t consume much energy. There are also ways to reduce its energy consumption even more. For instance, you can install a timer to the pump so that the pump will just turn on just before you take a shower in the morning or when you return from work in the evening.

This Comfort system is what you need all throughout the spring season so you can continue enjoying long, hot showers. Save both time and money this spring. Check with All About the Pipes Plumbing, Inc. now and get a free estimate and avail special sales and discounts.

Chances are that if you own a home, you are going to encounter some plumbing problems. One common problem that often happens in the bathroom is that the drain stopper in your bathtub gets stuck. There are many reasons this can happen, and there are simple ways to fix it.

Some things that may cause your bathtub drain stopper to get stuck could be that there is hair clogging the drain, or some other type of obstruction such as a buildup of personal care products, or just plain soap and mildew buildup.

This can be easily taken care of by yourself, but the method you use is going to depend on how much hair is stuck in the drain. First of all you will need to go to any hardware store and buy a snake. Depending on how much hair is clogging the drain, will determine if you need an electric snake of if you can use a manual one. Most manual snakes get the job taken care of quite easily. You will then need to remove the drain cover by getting a flat head screw driver and remove the 2 screws that hold the drain stop in place. You can remove the drain stop by pulling the face plate towards you, and remove the center of the drain. Remove the hair that is visible, and then use the snake to finish the job.

If you do not own a snake, you can try unclogging the drain by using a plunger. If all else fails, you will need to contact a professional plumber, like All About the Pipes plumbing, to help you with the drain.

If you want to prevent another clog, simply buy a bathtub strainer. They are inexpensive, and will prevent hair and other objects from going down the drain.

All About the Pipes Plumbing, Inc. is a great plumbing company to consider for all your plumbing needs. All their work is guaranteed, and all of their plumbers are licensed, bonded, and insured. All About Pipes Plumping, Inc. is also a member of the Better Business Bureau. If you need any professional plumbing done give us a call, we service the Charlotte, North Carolina area.

If you are a homeowner, knowing where your whole house clean out pipe is situated is important. It could save valuable time and money in a plumbing emergency. Drainpipes, sewer pipes, sewer lines - they are all the same and can become clogged resulting to raw sewage seeping up into your toilet, basement, or yard. When this happens the lines should be cleaned out by a professional. And if you know where the whole house clean-out pipe is, the plumbing professional can easily get to the clog.

• Finding the clean-out pipe will be easy if you know where the septic tank is located or at least if you know which side of the house the septic tank is on. However, your clean-out pipe might be connected to the city sewer and therefore, may not be connected to the septic tank.

• Now look under the house for the main sewage pipe that goes from the house to the septic tank. It will be about 4 inches in diameter and will be either white PVC or metal usually black. Follow the pipe to where it begins to go underneath the ground. Once you have located this, you will know which side of the house the clean out pipe is located. 

• Begin your search on that side of the house. Usually it is located about 2 to 4 feet from where the main sewage pipe goes under the ground. The clean-out pipe will be white PVC or steel pipe sticking out of the ground with a cap on it that can be removed for cleaning out the drains or for inspecting the drains with a camera to find clogs.

Finding a home’s clean out pipe is fairly easy to do, but it may take a few tries. Hiring a professional plumber to come out and find the clean-out might be a good idea if you have a hard time locating it. Some homes don’t have clean-out pipes that are easy to find and sometimes they don’t have them at all.

If the clean-out pipe isn't located fairly soon, take your search all the way to the septic tank or the street. If you still can’t locate a clean out pipe, then the chances are good that you don’t have one. It is not uncommon for a home to not have a clean-out pipe, but it is not good to not have one either. In an emergency situation when dangerous raw sewage is backing up into your house or yard, finding that pipe is the key to quickly eliminating the problem.

Hiring a professional plumbing company like All About the Pipes Plumbing, Inc. can locate or install a sewage clean-out pipe in less time than you can imagine and at a better price too. They have a camera and locating device that will help easily locate the clean-out pipes. Call us today and let us help you protect your family against the dangers of a sewage back-up into your home or yard.  

Blocked drains are a big problem at any time of year. They can be even a bigger problem during the winter months. Clogged drains are often caused by items like hair and food. Pipes shrink during colder weather. Debris can get trapped in smaller pipes. A clogged plumbing pipe with stuck or even frozen material is difficult to fix. This can result in expensive repairs down the road if ignored for too long. The best way to avoid blocked drains this winter is to contact a professional plumbing company. All About the Pipes Plumbing, Inc. is the complete source for affordable repairs. Trained and certified plumbers will dispatch immediately to get things back to normal. They have the tools and expertise to get the job done right.

Clogged pipes during the winter are a big inconvenience. Pipes can accumulate residue over the course of the year. This material becomes a problem because of the contraction of pipes during cold weather. It only takes a small amount of extra debris and then disaster strikes. Such problems occur deep within the plumbing system and can only be reached by professionals using specialized equipment. This is especially true when the blockage is frozen in place or impacted. The normal household remedies and store-bought products do not work. Just call the best plumbing professionals in the area. The experts will be glad to prepare your system and keep it running smoothly throughout the year.

Winter does not always just bring cold weather. It can also bring a big repair bill for people that neglect regular plumbing maintenance. It is easy to avoid common plumbing problems this winter. A professional plumber can inspect your entire system and spot issues before they become a serious problem. The most trusted plumbing company is all about saving customers money. Take advantage of everything that experienced and knowledgeable experts have to offer. All About the Pipes Plumbing, Inc. can prepare your plumbing for extreme weather. Let us save you from inconvenience and expensive plumbing problems. Contact us today and have peace of mind the next time you use the faucet.

You need hot water more in the winter than any other time of year. The last thing you want is for your water heater to fail in the winter and leave you without hot water for your morning shower. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your heater and help it run strong throughout the winter.

Consider the Heater’s Location
If your heater is in the main house in a closet or heated basement, then you won’t have to worry about it freezing. However, the cooler temperature in a garage or unheated crawlspace can leave water heaters struggling. The structure around the water heater can be warmed up marginally with better weather stripping and possibly insulation. It’s also wise to wrap the heater in a special insulating blanket to reduce heat loss and help if function better.

Line Distance is Important
The longer you have to wait for hot water to arrive at your shower, the further this fixture is from your water heater. As water travels through the lines, it loses heat and that forces your heater to work harder. In addition to wrapping the water heater itself, consider wrapping any long runs of hot water pipes to improve efficiency and prolong the life of your heater. Special wraps are available from your local home improvement store.

In addition to wrapping the pipes, a recirculating pump will also help you save money on hot water. A pump like the Grundfos Comfort System allows you to move cold water through the line, so you only receive water once it is hot and ready to enjoy. The average home saves more than 11,000 gallons of water a year with these systems. That's enough water to fill a 14-foot by 30-foot swimming pool, so you should add one of these to your wish list.

Check the Dip Tube
Hot water heaters work by delivering cold water to the bottom of the tank through a dip tube, warming the water and allowing it to rise to the top for use. If the dip tube is cracked, then cold water will invade the hot water space at the top and leave you dealing with tepid showers. The good news is that the dip tube is replaceable in many models, so you may not actually need a new heater.

Don’t wait for your water heater to break down and leave you with cold water this winter. All About the Pipes Plumbing, Inc. can check your system for damaged dip tubes, defective thermostats and other common problems. With the right inspection and repairs, you can rest assured that you won’t run out of hot water this winter.