If you were to review your annual expenditure you will be surprised to see the amount of money that you are spending on plumbing repairs, maintenance and new plumbing installations. Every household invariably spends hundreds of dollars each year and you should be surprised only if you do not have plumbing repair bills on any given year. The skyrocketing plumbing bills harass homeowners. Amidst such situation some homeowners manage to keep their plumbing bills to the minimal. How do they manage to spend strikingly lower amounts on their plumbing repairs every year? You sure do want to know the secret, don’t you? Here are three important tips that will help you reduce your annual expenses on plumbing maintenance, repair and installations.
#1 Find A Reputed Plumber In Your Area And Establish Long Term Association
If not all, most of the homeowners that managed to keep their plumbing repair costs low called the same plumber each time when something went wrong with their residential plumbing system whether it is a leak repair or drain repair. How does using the same plumbing company for your plumbing needs help reduce the costs? When you use the same plumbing company, your plumber develops familiarity with your residential plumbing system and is able to deliver you more cost effective solutions because they know already what has gone into your plumbing system. The problems are diagnosed fast and the correct solutions are recommended by your regular plumber. Rather than providing temporary fixes when you call your plumber for leak repair or drain repair, they tend to provide lasting solutions that work out to be cheaper on the long run.
#2 Regular Plumbing Inspections
Regular plumbing inspection is another money saving habit that most of these homeowners had in common. Whenever there is a plumbing issue, we try to postpone our call to the local plumber for as long as possible meanwhile things get worse. What could have been a simple repair turns out to be a complicated repair job with a huge bill. Regular plumbing inspection helps you catch the problems in their early stages and address them effectively. You save yourself from huge plumbing bills. You too can adapt to this healthy habit. If you have a preferred plumber, you can sign up for monthly plumbing inspections and this will ensure that your residential plumbing system is in perfect working condition.
#3 The Use Of High Quality Plumbing Equipment & Genuine Plumbing Spare Parts
If there should be a need to replace any equipment or any spare parts, these homeowners always went for the best quality products and stayed away from cheap, second grade products. Initially, it might look like that they have spent more money on the equipment but what finally counts is how much you save on the long run. Cheap products resulted in frequent maintenance and repair issues. You end up spending more than what you actually saved by choosing the second grade products. Avoiding such mistakes will not only save you a lot of money but will also save you from unnecessary hassles.
Are you installing new water heaters or replacing the faulty water heaters in your home? Today there are multiple options for the homeowners when it comes to residential water heaters. Before you select your water heaters, you need to know your options, their advantages and disadvantages. Three main factors have to be taken into account when it comes to the selection of the right type of water heater for your home.
- Initial cost of the water heater
- Recurring costs / Energy or electricity bills
- Maintenance
You will have to assess each type of water heater carefully and select the most cost effective water heater. When you are making your decision, it is important that you do not decide just based on the initial cost. Two most common and popular types of water heaters include tankless water heater and hybrid heat pump water heaters.
What are the factors that one needs to take into account while deciding between tankless water heater and hybrid heat pump water heaters? The key factor to be taken into account here is your water consumption. Discuss your requirements with your local plumbing company and get their suggestions on selecting the most energy efficient option. When compared to the regular storage type water heaters, tankless water heaters can save you up to 30% on your energy bills. Hybrid heat pump water heaters can save as high as 60% of your energy bills.
Looking at the initial costs, storage type water heaters are less expensive when compared to tankless water heaters. Hybrid heat pump water heaters are pricier when compared to tankless water heaters. However, going for energy efficient options will pay up for the water heaters over the years through the cumulative energy savings that you enjoy month after month. However, you should not lose sight of another important factor that is the maximum life expectancy of each type of water heater. For example, tankless water heaters are said to last for ten to fifteen years. The question is will the energy savings compensate for the additional expenses that you are likely to incur while buying your tankless water heater. This is where your regular water consumption rate will play an important role. It is always best to get professional help while deciding what type of water heaters to choose for your home. Your plumbing company will also be able to give their input on the general maintenance challenges that very likely with each type of water heater.
You will find different types of even within the tankless options such as gas-fired and electrical water heaters. When you set out to explore different models of water heaters you are likely to be confused. The bottom line however is that you should choose the most energy efficient water heater with low maintenance hassles.
Try to obtain quotes for different types of water heaters for your residential requirements. When you are comparing the quotes make sure that the quote also includes the installation charges for each type of water heater.
Learn more about water heater repair and replacement in Charlotte, NC at Pathmaker Plumbing.
Plumbing emergencies can happen at any time to anyone. If you should find yourself in the midst of such emergencies, how do you deal with them? Here are few important residential plumbing tips that will help you handle emergencies effectively.
# Do not panic. Most people panic as soon as they realize that they are in a plumbing emergency. If you panic, you will lose the ability to think clearly. You will need to act quickly and correctly. Residential plumbing emergencies can take place in numerous ways.
# In most cases plumbing emergencies are not really sudden but they happen gradually and if you continue to ignore the signals, you will be faced with an emergency. So as soon as you see a leaky plumbing line, act on it immediately. Do not wait until those small leaks turn into a huge flooding issue. If it is something that you cannot handle call your residential plumbing company.
# If there should be a plumbing emergency, you need to immediately try to isolate the problem. Every minute that you waste will only aggravate the issue at hand. Do not every presume that the emergency will fade out on itself.
# Cut off the water supply to the problematic area. This will give you some time to think and to take necessary action. Depending on the plumbing lines, you may have to turn off the water supply to the faulty appliance or the faulty section of your house. If required do not hesitate to shut off the main water supply valve. You can restore the water supply once things come back to normal.
# Call a professional residential plumbing company for your assistance. You should get immediate help to save yourself from flooding damages and expensive repairs.
# When you are faced with an emergency, you may not have time to review multiple plumbing companies or to get quote from multiple service providers. It is therefore important to find reputed service providers in your area when things are still normal. Review multiple plumbing companies and ensure that your preferred residential plumbing company offers round the clock emergency service.
# When you are calling your plumbing company, try to explain the problem as clearly as possible so that they can come prepared. Time is of essence here and you cannot afford delays of any sort.
# Experienced residential plumbing companies will be able to identify the issues quickly and provide you with fast but lasting solutions. It is therefore important to work with an experienced plumber.
# It is always best to use preventive approach, as it will save you from unnecessary frustrations. Call your local plumbing contractor for regular maintenance visits. Let your plumbing company inspect your plumbing system at least once in six months. This will help you identify the problems well in advance and take corrective measures before the issues turn into emergencies.
# Without fail you should have your plumbing system inspected fully before winter. Make sure that your plumbing lines are well insulated to avoid frozen pipes which often results in cracks and leaks in the plumbing line.
A cursory search of Google will tell you that the average lifespan of a water heater is 8-11 years. While one shouldn’t believe everything that’s stated on the internet there is some truth to this statement. But only some. When I first started my plumbing career in the 90’s I remember removing water heaters that were installed in the 1950s and 60s.
Some of those were still heating water the day I removed them. I don’t see water heaters that are still working 30 or 40 years later anymore. Very rarely will I find one that is still kicking after 20 years. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Much to the chagrin of conventional wisdom water heater manufacturers haven’t cheapened the quality of the units produced these days. They really do still “make ‘em like they used to”. With the constant threat of lawsuits these days they may even be making them better. But the problem doesn’t lie in how modern water heaters are made. The problem lies with how they are installed and maintained, or more appropriately, how they aren’t installed and maintained. There are five layers of protection water heaters have against failure and leakage.
The first two are provided by the manufacturer
First, is the anode rod. The anode rod is a long piece of metal that runs almost the full length of the water heater and its job is to disintegrate from the reactive materials and electric current in the water BEFORE your tank does. In most areas and for many water conditions they last about five years before they are completely depleted. If you read the manual that comes with your water heater you will see the manufacturer recommend that the anode be inspected at least annually for deterioration.
Second is the glass lining. Just imagine the inside of your water heater tank being glazed like a piece of pottery. This is a similar process for protecting the steel of your tank. Once the anode rod deteriorates, this glass lining is the only thing preventing the tank from rusting out. On its own, this lining doesn’t last very long.
The other layers of protection are provided by the installer of the water heater and mandated by most plumbing codes.
The primary one is from proper piping connection. Dielectric unions provide a buffer zone between the steel of the water heater tank and the copper piping which connects the tank to the rest of the plumbing system. When steel and copper are connected and water run through them they begin to share electrons at a rapid rate. We refer to this sharing of electronic bonds as corrosion. Dielectric unions/connections are often overlooked or ignored by installers to the detriment of the water heaters longevity.
The fourth layer of protection is also provided by your water heater installer. In many scenarios a water heater is required to have a thermal expansion tank. If you have a pressure reducing valve, or a back check valve at your meter (most municipalities do) you are required by code to have a thermal expansion tank. This device gives a safe place for the extra volume created by heating water to go. Without this device, every time the water heater turns on to reheat the stored water, it will produce excess pressure/volume which is a stress on the water heater, water piping, and fixtures attached to it (toilets, washing machine hoses, ice maker, etc.).
The fifth layer of protection is provided by you, the operator of the heater. Again, referring to that handy manual which the manufacturer provided you will find all water heaters should be flushed out and drained to remove build up and sediment at least annually. Some manufacturers recommend this every six months! This not only keeps the water heater at full heating capacity, it also prevents minerals and deposits from attaching to the inside of the tank and solidifying causing future damage.Unfortunately most of the water heaters I see these days are improperly installed. BIg box stores and do it yourselfers just don’t have the know how of a licensed professional. As a result a water heater that should be running for 15 to 20 years is dead and gone in only ten. Just because its heating water and not leaking does NOT ensure a plumbing fixture is installed correctly, especially a water heater. The manufacturer recommendations and the municipal codes are there to not only keep people safe but also to ensure they get the full benefit of a properly installed unit.
Learn more about Charlotte NC plumbing services at Pathmaker Plumbing – 704-733-7507.
The holidays are upon us! With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner kitchens in Charlotte are abuzz with activity, and for us plumbers, that means just one thing; drain clogs. Often, homeowners rely on a caustic (acidic) drain opener to get them flowing again.These materials can be very hazardous to your health and the health of your loved ones (just read the warning labels). They can also take a toll on your pipes. When a caustic drain opener goes into a pipe and hits organic material (squishy drain gunk) it begins a chemical reaction that produces excess heat and pressure inside the pipe. Not good for plastic piping! If you have an older home with steel or cast iron drains, this acid can (and does) eat through the metal over time until eventually the bottom of the pipe is gone. The acid of chemical drain openers can also eat away at the finish of your sink connections taking the chrome, brass or oil rubbed bronze finish off and leave the metal with a flat looking, dull finish (not to mention without its protective coating).
So what is a homeowner to do?
Well, if your clog is just below the surface of the drain opening such as in the bathroom lavatory or tub drain you can try to clean it with a simple plastic device like this one .
These little devices are cheap, safe and if the clog is near the surface, effective.
Another good method is to keep your drains treated with a good enzymatic drain cleaner. These won’t open clogged drains, but rather if applied regularly when the drain is open, will eat away at the sludge before it builds up and develops a clog. Bio Clean is a good product and many reputable plumbers carry and sell it.
If you do come across a clogged drain this holiday season it really is best to let the pros handle it. A licensed plumber should have all the tools necessary to open a clogged drain in your home without using any materials which are caustic and dangerous to your family and your piping. A rotary cable machine is the tool of choice for most plumbers because it is safe, effective and, unlike chemical drain cleaners which can only poke a small hole through the gunk it gets the pipe clean all the way around the inner circumference of the pipe, so the drain stays open longer.
Jetting is also a good option that a licensed plumber can offer. This tool uses pressured water to safely blast away the gunk on the inside of a pipe; especially handy for greasy drains!
Also, a good plumber will inspect your piping in the crawl space or basement and under the sink to see that they are plumbed with the appropriate amount of downward pitch. A wide open pipe won’t drain well if it is running uphill.
Often times as an older home settles the walls and foundation shift causing the pipes to level off or even start running uphill. Unfortunately, it is not unheard of to see homes built like this from day one either. A shoddy plumbing subcontractor can (and often does) bring a lot of trouble to a home even years after he finished plumbing it.
If you need us, Pathmaker Plumbing can help get your drains open this holiday season. Whether you would like for us to come out and do a preventative cleaning or you’re already in full holiday swing, you can trust us to get you flowing again.
Learn more about Charlotte NC plumbing services at Pathmaker Plumbing – 704-733-7507.
Nobody wants to pay for expensive home repair bills. That is the reason why home warranties appeal to so many people. For a set fee each year home owners can have some assurance that whenever a mechanical problem occurs in the home, someone else will pick up the tab, right? …Sort of.
Plumbing contractors decide to do work for these warranty companies for a number of different reasons. The upside for the contractor is that they have a chance to build their customer base when first starting out. The hope is that after the warranty expires they will have built a rapport with the home owner and can count on getting calls from them for future repairs. If a repair isn’t covered by the warranty company the contractor has a chance to bid on the repair for the normal retail price. There are a few established companies who pick up warranty work as a supplement to their own customer base when things are slow.
The downside for the contractor is that the rates these warranty customers pay is usually well below market value. This means that a plumbing contractor has to honor his commitment to make a given repair at a low price while at the same time doing so in a quality manner so that it will last. If the repair fails, it’s the contractor who is liable for making it right, and on his dime. This puts many contractors in a difficult position.
At Pathmaker Plumbing we are home owners too. We believe the best person to make decisions about how a house should be repaired is the home owner. Our job is to empower home owners to make the best possible decisions by giving them good information. We take our time to properly diagnose problems. We put our experience to work for you by pointing out things that will lead to future problems. We put control of your home into your hands.
Below is a link to an article from Angieslist.com providing an accurate scope for the purpose of home warranty companies. It offers viewpoints from a number of different home warranty customers across the nation and highlights some of the pros and cons to having these contracts.
http://www.angieslist.com/articles/why-home-warranties-are-no-guarantee.htm
Learn more about Charlotte NC plumbing services at Pathmaker Plumbing – 704-733-7507.
Did you know that your typical tank style water heater should be drained and flushed every six months to a year? For most homeowners this is news. Almost every manufacturer of water heaters states that in order to keep your unit functioning at top efficiency and to help prevent damage, the tank needs to be drained and flushed of build up and debris on a regular basis. This relatively simple task can add years to your water heater if done regularly and keep it as efficient as possible. If you are not sure how to do this call us today to schedule an appointment. Once we show you how to do it you can take over from there. Or if you’d prefer, we can set up a regular water heater inspection date and come do it for you.
Contact our expert plumbers at Pathmaker Plumbing.
Learn more about Charlotte NC plumbing services at Pathmaker Plumbing – 704-733-7507.
You can take some precautions and watch for certain warning signs to decrease the chances of a plumbing emergency zapping the fun out of your summer. Some of these steps you can do on your own and some will require the help of a professional plumber.
Keep Your Drains Clean
You can avoid an emergency by keeping your drains clear of debris. Be careful if you decide to use commercial drain cleaning chemicals, since many can actually damage your pipes. Have a professional, who can use special equipment to safely clean your drains, visit your home often. Having your drains professionally cleaned can help you avoid emergencies like broken appliances and flooding.
Watch for Warning Signs
If you notice damp drywall, a wet floor or noisy pipes, you should contact a plumber. These signs can mean you have a bigger problem that should be addressed right away.
Maintain Your Appliances and Fixtures
Taking good care of washing machines, dish washers, sinks and toilets can help you avoid an emergency. Use these things as directed and if you notice something isn’t working properly, have a plumber perform any needed maintenance.
Locate and Know How to Use the Water Shutoff Valve
Find and label your water shutoff valve so that if you do have an emergency, you can quickly turn off all water flow into your home. In an emergency, the water shutoff valve can help you avoid further damage and give you time to contact a plumber.
We are here 24 hours to help if you need us!
If your looking for a plumber in Greater Charlotte, Concord, Harrisburg and… Contact the plumbing experts at Pathmaker Plumbing: 704-773-7507 – www.pathmakerplumbing.com.
Learn more about Charlotte NC plumbing services at Pathmaker Plumbing – 704-733-7507.
If your toilet clogs one safe option for unclogging involves using some liquid dish soap. Squirt a little in the bowl and let it settle to the bottom. Then, wait for a while to see if the clog loosens on it’s own. Be cautious while flushing as you don’t want to overfill the bowl.
Plunging the toilet is usually the first remedy homeowners try and it is sometimes successful. However what many people don’t know is that it is possible to break the water-tight seal under the toilet just by using a plunger. Once this seal is broken water can leak out underneath the bowl and cause damage. Sewer gas is also free to escape into the bathroom once that seal is broken.
If you don’t feel confident enough to handle this, or just don’t want the hassle, or if you suspect you might have a leak give the pros at Pathmaker Plumbing a call. We can professionally assess and correct any issues with your commode ensuring your health and property aren’t at risk.
Pathmaker Plumbing, residential plumber serving Charlotte and surrounding areas. 704 733 7507
