Frozen pipes in your home can limit or even prevent the use of water in your home until the pipes are thawed. In some cases, frozen water in pipes will cause pipes to break, and this can cause significant repair cost as well as the possibility of water damage. By following a few key tips, you can take steps to prevent your home’s pipes from freezing and bursting even on the coldest days and nights.

- Check Your Main Shutoff Valve: Before the winter season kicks into full gear, locate your home’s main shutoff valve. This is the valve that supplies water to your home, and it typically is located outside the home. Turn the valve to ensure it functions properly. If you do discover a burst pipe, knowing where this valve is located and ensuring that it can function as needed to shut off the water supply to your home can prevent unnecessary water damage.

- Store Your Hoses: Before the first freeze of the season, remove the hoses from your exterior faucets. For homes that have a shutoff valve for exterior faucets, turn off the water supply for these faucets, then drain the faucets of water. By removing the hoses and draining water from these faucets, you can prevent these exterior pipes from freezing and bursting.

- Service Your Hot Water Heater: When the temperature is frigid outside, your hot water heater must work harder to heat the water your home demands. By servicing your hot water heater and flushing it of deposits, you can minimize the need for repairs and extend the life of your hot water heater.

By following these useful winter plumbing tips, you can protect your home’s plumbing fixtures, prevent pipes from freezing and bursting and minimize water damage to your home if a pipe does burst. But remember, if you are still experiencing problems; remember to call professional plumbers like All About The Pipes Plumbing Inc.
 

The hectic lifestyle that most lead can be overwhelming enough. Add a plumbing emergency to your busy lifestyle and you have the makings of one of the more frustrating situations a homeowner can face. Since a major plumbing emergency typically happens at the most inopportune time, why not think ahead and get the contact information of All About the Pipes Plumbing, Inc.?
 
The gas leak is one of the most dangerous home emergencies a person can face. As the smell of rotten egg wafts through the air, you could perhaps ignore the severity of the problem for a while but not an extended amount of time. That smell serves as an indicator that there is a gas leak that needs to be thoroughly investigated by a plumbing emergency professional, like All About the Pipes. As soon as such this smell is detected, you should seek out an immediate consultation. 
 
A sewer backup is another example of a plumbing emergency that could cost thousands in repairs. While the city may be responsible for the sewer lines they maintain, they are not in any way responsible for any damage done to the foundation, landscaping or basement of a property caused by a sewer blockage tied to the homeowner’s internal plumbing. When called, the guys at All About the Pipes Plumbing can inspect your lines carefully, identifying the source of the blockage. If a backwater valve is required, an expert plumbing professional can definitely handle the installation.
 
Lastly, your aging water heater can break at any time. When the minor annoying leak occurs, having the heater inspected by plumbing professionals, like All About the Pipes, is something most people put off doing for an indefinite amount of time. There are often telltale signs that a water heater may be on its last leg, and it’s up to you to take notice of this before it becomes a major problem. When the minor leaks becomes a larger one and the water begins to seep into the home and saturate the carpet the problem becomes a costly, urgent matter. The water damage, the carpet restoration fees, cleaning costs and labor for all of these services can add up rather quickly. We can check the health of the water heater as soon as a leak is detected.
 
When it comes to residential plumbing, minor problems can quickly become costly. It is better to get the contact information of All About the Pipes Plumbing, Inc. on hand to contact in case of an emergency or when inspection work is promptly needed.

 

Frozen and broken water pipes are among the most claims and the highest claims paid by insurance companies in the U.S. With the winter chill full steam ahead, here are just a few tips to keep you vacation property plumbing systems in tip -top shape: 

• Insulate your pipes - Foam sleeves are an excellent way to avoid having your pipes accumulate frost or even worse having them split from the expansion of ice.

• Disconnect hoses from outside faucets - This prevents hoses from freezing, expanding, and leaking. If your house has interior shut-off valves for outdoor faucets, shut them off and drain the water from the faucet. If you don't have interior shutoffs, the installation of a shut-off valve or a frost-proof faucet may be a great investment to prevent water damages.

• Flush your water heater - Since your water heater works harder during the colder months, by flushing your water heater, you can remove deposit build-up that shortens the life of your water heater. A typical water heater last between 8 to 12 years.

• Make sure your main shutoff valve is in good operating condition - This allows you to turn off your water in a timely manner in case of an emergency. Locating and turning off shutoff valves in your vacation property can save you thousands in case of an emergency.

• Check to ensure snow and ice are not restricting water drainage or vents from your vacation home - This is important because if the water discharge (i.e. sump pump) is blocked by snow or ice, freezing could occur as well as water backing up in your home. Also, make sure your water heater vent is clear of any restriction of snow or ice to maximize the efficiency of your water heater.

By utilizing these tips for your vacation home during winter, you can save time, money and energy for costly repairs. If you are still experiencing frozen and broken water pipes, it may be best to contact plumbing professionals like All About The Pipes Plumbing to do the job for you.

Most home owners spend little time thinking about their drains, but when a stoppage occurs, it can be frustrating. You don’t know how it happened, nor do you know how to fix it.

There are a variety of reasons that a drain can become clogged, and much of it depends upon where the stoppage occurs. Unlike plumbing pipes, drain pipes have no pressure. They are slightly inclined and use gravity to move the waste. They begin at a specific point such as the kitchen or bathroom sink. The drain pipe then extends to the main drain line that extends out to the street. This is where the main sewer line of the city is located.

When you see only one drain clogged, it is because the stoppage occurs before the drain pipe connects to another pipe. Sometimes all the drains will be clogged. This will mean that there is a stoppage that occurs in the main line to the street.

There are different ways to clear the stoppage. The most common is the use of a drain cleaning machine. These consist of long flexible rods that rotate as they are pushed through the drain. They have cleaning fixtures on the ends to ensure the drain is cleaned as well as the cleared of the stoppage. 

There are large versions of these machines designed to clear the main line. Often this line is clogged because of the roots of trees nearby. Over time the roots grow through small seams in the piping connections and debris collects on the roots causing a stoppage. These drain cleaning machines can be equipped with cutting blades to break through the roots.

Most stoppages occur simply because drains need to be cleaned from time to time. Build up of waste in the line will occur, and you will need the drain pipe cleaned. The main line, however, is another issue. A persistent problem can be from trees and other vegetation. If this is the case, the trees will have to be removed, or a cleanout can be installed.

If you are experiencing a slow or clogged drain, do not attempt to clear it yourself. Simply contact All About The Pipes Plumbing, and they can clear the drain as well as make future recommendations for your drainage system.

You might have the very best heavy gauge stainless steel kitchen sink on the market. You no doubt take good care of it and avoid using caustic cleaners or scratchy scouring pads to clean it. As a result your sink will look good and last for many years.

But what about the plumbing underneath the sink? Out of sight out of mind you say? Shame on you. We have a better solution. You can make the unseen plumbing last for years with just a minimal amount of care. Let's start at the beginning. Start with the best plumbing fixtures you can get your hands on.

The next thing you should be sure to avoid doing is using hard-core, extra strength drain cleaners to clear a completely clogged drain. You know what kind of clog we are talking about. We mean a drain that does not allow any water to flow on through. When you pour some of that nasty lye based caustic cleaner down your drain, it will sit there and work at corroding not only your pipes and traps, it can also eat away at your sink. You don't want to replace your plumbing so early in the game.

The other under counter element you must protect is your garbage disposal. Never pour drain cleaner into the side of the sink where your disposal lives. Bad things can and usually will happen. Don't put in things like corn silk, onion skin, bananas and anything else you could not easily digest yourself into the disposal. Run plenty of cold water through the disposal after you use it to flush out all the bad stuff. The best option for under sink care is to call the guys at All About The Pipes Plumbing Inc. when faced with a major clog. They know how to use a snake or a vacuum device to remove the sitting water. One call and it is done, quickly and economically.

 A relaxing vacation can feel like a dream but coming home to a flooded house is more than a brutal nightmare. Even while the water is not being used, a risk still remains. In order to truly enjoy your vacation to the fullest, take the necessary steps to safeguard your home from flooding. Preparation is absolutely crucial when it comes to protecting your property and the valuable within.

Prevention vs. Repairs

Having a qualified and professional plumber ready is the smartest way to prevent a flood. Since pipes are not clearly visible, there is almost no telling when a rusty or damaged pipe will break. It may seem like a waste of money but before leaving for vacation, especially for a long period of time, make sure to have a professional assess the current condition of water pipes and structure. A small investment is well-spent to avoid spending potentially thousands of dollars on repairs.

Protecting Against Floods

Flooding can occur in several areas of your house even when there is no torrential rain or other precipitation. Water damage is often contributed by a busted hose from a washing machine, frozen pipes that crack, or even a flooded toilet. Particularly if you expect extremely cold weather in the area, make sure to leave your faucets with a tiny trickle of running water. This will prevent freezing and therefore keep the pipes from cracking. A great alternative to decrease wasting water is to have a neighbor or friend you trust turn on the faucets when the temperature is close to freezing point.

Common Mistakes

Often times, flooding occurs because of the simplest mistakes. It may seem logical to leave the sinks, toilets, dishwasher, and washing machines idle. However, there is still water leftover even if you cannot see it. Instead of minimizing the use of water, drain pressure from an outdoor faucet. Then turn off any sprinkler system or otherwise automatic water distributor. If the forecast calls for fair weather, shut off the water supply in your home completely.

When to Start Securing

Start securing the water system in your home at least several weeks before leaving. If necessary, this will leave enough time for any last-minute repairs. Do not wait until you are planning a vacation to call professionals to do regular maintenance and checks. Worrying about flooding in your home should never be a concern during vacation.

The most important step in securing your home from flooding during a vacation is to call a qualified plumbing company such as All About the Pipes Plumbing Inc. several weeks before your vacation to ensure that everything is checked before you leave.