Do you really need to get in touch with an experienced plumbing contractor right this second?

It’s possible that you, like a lot of homeowners, would rather take care of any plumbing issues that arise on your own. On the other hand, it is recommended that an expert plumber handle the majority of the repairs. Finding and fixing plumbing problems can be a challenging endeavor for anyone who has the appropriate training. And if something does go wrong, you can find yourself dealing with a costly problem that your insurance might not cover.

Employing a licensed and professional plumbing contractor is an investment in your home that should not be overlooked. If you observe any of these warning signals, it is in your best interest to contact a professional as soon as possible to save yourself time, stress, and money.

 

Water Leaks

Simple plumbing repairs, such as tightening a connection or exchanging the washer and gasket, are often sufficient to fix even the most insignificant of water leaks.

But if your water leaks can’t be fixed with a simple solution, you’ll have to call in a licensed plumber for assistance. Taking the time to repair dripping fixtures like faucets, showerheads, toilets, and pipes not only helps save water but also prevents future damage to your home and plumbing system.

 

Clogged Pipes

Plungers and sewer snakes are two common tools that can be used to unclog pipelines when other methods have failed. There is some evidence that home treatments can be successful.

Chemical drain cleaners, on the other hand, are unable to clear the majority of clogged drains, and the harmful components in them can cause damage to your plumbing system. If you have a hard clog, you should bring in a professional plumbing contractor to clear the lines in a safe and efficient manner. This will help you avoid future problems as well as expensive repairs.

 

Drop in Water Pressure

A rapid drop in water pressure is an unmistakable indication that there is an issue with the plumbing system in your home. There is a possibility that one of your pipes has developed a slow and undetected water leak. Alternatively, the flow of water from your main water line may be impeded or clogged due to mineral deposits.

Finding out what’s causing this bothersome issue can be difficult, and it’s likely not something you can fix on your own once you’ve identified the root of the problem. Therefore, if you discover that the water pressure in your home has suddenly decreased, it is important to get in touch with an experienced plumbing specialist.

 

Rust-Colored Water

The presence of iron in your water is indicated by the formation of rust. The fact that the water has a rusty tint does not ordinarily pose a concern because it is generally recognized as being safe for consumption and other uses.

On the other hand, rusty water almost always indicates that some of the pipes in your home’s plumbing system need to be replaced. It’s also possible that this is a sign that your water heater needs to be replaced. In extremely unusual circumstances, it may also be an indication that there is a concern with the water’s quality or safety.

In any event, you shouldn’t put your faith in chance. If the water that comes out of your faucet has a rusty hue to it, you should not delay in hiring a professional plumber.

 

Sewer Odors

Do you suddenly sense a sewer odor, either indoors or outside? In that case, you should get in touch with a qualified plumbing contractor as soon as you can because this is typically an indication that there is a significant issue.

The presence of a sewage odor is frequently an indication that there is a problem with the sewer line. You run the risk of having raw sewage back up into your home if the problem is not fixed quickly and professionally.

 

Soggy or Extra-Green Patches in the Yard

If it hasn’t rained in a while but there are still wet spots in your yard, you shouldn’t just ignore them and hope they go away. Unexpected pools of water could indicate that there are issues with the plumbing. In a similar vein, if you find that one particular area of your yard is noticeably greener than the rest of it, investigate further.

Whether you have a drip irrigation system, the first thing you should do is check to see if there is a leak in that particular area.

If that isn’t the issue, it’s possible that you have a broken water or sewer pipe buried underground somewhere. In either scenario, you will have no choice but to hire a qualified plumbing contractor to handle the necessary repairs; the sooner you do so, the better.

Homeowners can get free quotes on repairs from Atlas Plumbing & Heating, a reputable industry leader that has been in business for more than a decade. In addition, our highly trained plumbers are always available to assist with any urgent repair needs that may arise. Make sure to get in touch with our business as soon as possible for all of your expert plumbing contractor needs.

In the plumbing business, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but proactive maintenance can save homeowners money on costly repairs and utility bills. Here are seven simple plumbing preventative maintenance tasks for your home.

1. Potty Prevention

Even if your toilets are used on a daily basis, it is not very often that you remove the tank cover in order to inspect the inside components.

Checking the fill, supply, and flush values, in addition to the supply line, for corrosion and ensuring that they are still functioning properly is a smart idea. Toilets that leak water can be difficult to detect but can quickly become expensive.

 

2. Don’t Get Heated Over Your Water Heater

Ever feel like your water heater is giving you the cold shoulder? It could be because sediment has built up in your water heater, making it work less well.

Every year, you should drain and flush your water heater to get rid of the sediment. This will help your water heater work better and last longer.

An annual check of the shut-off valve and pipes on your water heater can let you know if a problem is about to happen.

 

3. Checks For Slow Drains

Slow drains can be a sign that there are bigger problems going on. How well do your showers, sinks, and tubs drain?

If your drains are slow, try pouring a mixture of vinegar and hot water down them. If they are still moving slowly, you might have a blockage and need to call a plumber.

If you try to get rid of a clog with chemicals or force, you could break the pipes and cause bigger problems. Clear out the P-traps under your sink and use screens or drain baskets in the tub and shower to keep debris from getting stuck and causing a clog.

 

4. Fix Leaky Faucets & Showerheads

If you want to save money and help the environment, fixing your leaky faucet and showerhead is a good place to start. The Environmental Protection Agency says that leaks in the home waste an average of 180 gallons of water per week for a family of four.

Check that your faucet handles don’t leak when you turn off the water, and look for leaks under the sink or from showerheads. All of these can be signs of a corroded valve, a worn washer, or an O-ring that has broken down.

 

5. Signs Of The Season

Outdoor faucets, pool lines, and sprinkler systems work fine in the summer, but if they aren’t ready for winter, they can stop your plumbing in its tracks.

As part of your preventive maintenance, turn off the water supply to outdoor fixtures and wrap them in insulation before the weather gets cold. Before your landscaping goes to sleep for the winter, you may need to do a full winterization of your sprinklers.

 

6. Under Pressure

Outdoor faucets, pool lines, and sprinkler systems work fine in the summer, but if they aren’t ready for winter, they can stop your plumbing in its tracks.

As part of your preventive maintenance, turn off the water supply to outdoor fixtures and wrap them in insulation before the weather gets cold. Before your landscaping goes to sleep for the winter, you may need to do a full winterization of your sprinklers.

 

7. Missing Caulk

Caulking is important in your bathroom because it keeps your walls and floors from getting wet. If you don’t have enough caulk, water and moisture can get into your floorboards and behind your walls, making the perfect place for mold and mildew to grow.

Check the tiles around your sink, shower, and tub for caulk that is missing or has worn away. With DIY caulking tubes and guns, it’s easy to fix and replace things.

 

Repair & Maintenance: Atlas Plumbing & Heating

Emergency plumbing situations are difficult to ignore, but routine maintenance is simple to put off. You may save money by planning out your home’s preventative maintenance.

Our plumbers at Atlas Plumbing & Heating can do preventative maintenance on the plumbing system in your house. Or, if you run into a problem while completing your plumbing examination, our experts can provide first-rate service in response to your need for assistance the same day.

 

Call Atlas Plumbing & Heating right now if you require a dependable plumber!

If you want to keep your kitchen plumbing repair expenditures low and your kitchen running smoothly, it is necessary to have basic kitchen sink plumbing maintenance, as any experienced homeowner will tell you. If you want to keep your kitchen plumbing running smoothly. The fundamentals of plumbing a kitchen sink include being familiar with the operation of the faucet, the removal of common obstructions, and the maintenance and repair of the garbage disposal. 

If you are aware of what to look out for, you will not only be able to resolve the most fundamental problems that occur with the plumbing of your kitchen sink, but you will also know when to contact a professional kitchen sink plumber like Atlas Plumbing & Heating.

 

Kitchen Faucet Tips

There is a wide variety of shapes, sizes, styles, and finishes available for kitchen faucets. If you are in the market for new kitchen plumbing fittings, the plumbing that is located under the kitchen sink is the first item you should become familiar with. Every kitchen sink is distinctive. Some of them have one, while others have all four mounting holes. You should also take note of the water shut-off valve that is located under the kitchen sink. If you have an older home, the valve connection may be a different size from new kitchen plumbing fixtures. Because of this, you may need to repair your water shut-off valve in addition to your kitchen sink if you want to avoid flooding your home.

When you are looking at the apparently endless selections of kitchen plumbing fixtures that are available on the market today, make sure to take both the aesthetics and the practicality into mind. In general, you want your new fixture to match the hardware that is already installed in your kitchen. Be sure to select a kitchen faucet that has a finish that is compatible with the one already installed in your kitchen, unless you want to replace all of the drawer pulls and other hardware in your kitchen. When shopping for a new kitchen faucet, functionality should take precedence over all other considerations. Because it is used so frequently, the sink in the kitchen needs to be one that is simple to operate. It is essential that you pick one that meets these requirements. If you don’t want to have to lean over the sink basin every time you need to operate the sprayer, you might want to look into getting a faucet that already has the sprayer built into it. This way, you can simply pull down on the faucet to spray your dishes instead of having to lean over the sink basin.

Chrome is the most user-friendly and low-maintenance option for the fixtures in your kitchen’s plumbing, both in terms of cleaning and maintenance. Not only does it appear shiny with very little effort, but it also appears cleaner and lasts longer since unlike some other finishes, it does not disclose as many fingerprints or wet spots. Ceramic valves are now the best option available on the market for minimizing the amount of water that drips from a faucet’s spout, and their cost is often comparable to other similar options.

 

Kitchen Clog Tips

The likelihood of your kitchen sink becoming clogged at some point in the future is extremely high. However, not all plumbing issues with the kitchen sink drain necessitate an immediate visit from a professional plumber. Before calling for assistance from a professional, there are a few things that you can do to unclog a clogged kitchen sink. The quickest and easiest solution is to flush boiling water down the drain of your kitchen sink. If there is water pooling in your sink basin, remove as much of it as you can before proceeding, and then pour at least four cups of boiling water down the drain. If the problem persists, replace your sink strainer. If the blockage is really obstinate, you can try pouring roughly a half cup of salt down the drain first, followed by the boiling water, and finally flushing the entire thing with hot water to clear the pipes.

If pouring boiling water down the drain does not do the trick, you can try using a plumber’s snake to loosen the clog. A plumber’s snake, which consists of a long strip of plastic with small arms covering the sides, is an essential tool for the plumbing of a kitchen sink drain. It does need a bit more effort since in order to begin, the plumbing that is located beneath the kitchen sink will need to be disassembled. After that is finished, you can just slide it up the drain, and as you carefully bring it back up, the arms should either dislodge or capture whatever is causing the clog in your drain.

 

Keeping Your Waste Disposal Unit Clean

Maintaining the efficiency of your garbage disposal requires frequent cleaning, which should be done in order to keep it working properly. This doesn’t have to be a difficult undertaking; all you need is a basic understanding of science from elementary school. You may use the knowledge you gained in elementary school when you created a volcano to good use now. After pouring baking soda and white vinegar down your disposal in equal quantities, cover the drain and wait for the fizzing to cease before removing the cap. The chemical reaction helps to break up any oil or food particles that have become lodged on the inside of your disposal, allowing it to function more efficiently. After the bubbling has stopped, switch on the garbage disposal and pour hot water through it to flush out the contents of the disposal.

In addition, it is advisable to pay attention to the rubber drain cover that is located on top of the disposal. After turning off the disposal, use a sponge dipped in soapy water to scrub the underside of the rubber flaps in order to remove any leftover odors of food. A fantastic method to revitalize the plumbing in your kitchen sink is to run a handful of citrus peels that have been sliced into little pieces through the garbage disposal.

 

Garbage Disposal Repair

Repairing a garbage disposal takes a little bit more work, but you don’t need to know how to plumb a kitchen sink to perform some of the most fundamental troubleshooting.

Humming

If your garbage disposal is making a humming sound, this is a sign that something is lodged in the disposal, which prevents the blades from turning. After you have made certain that the power supply to the disposal has been cut off, proceed to the plumbing for the disposal that is located under the kitchen sink and attempt to dislodge the object that is jammed inside.

Drains Sluggishly

A sign of a blockage in the disposal is typically a slow draining disposal. Check for a clog in the drain trap after first ensuring that the power has been turned off. If you are unable to locate one there, you can try using the snake that comes with your plumber’s toolkit to clean the drain line that leads into the wall. It is imperative that you NEVER put chemical drain cleaner down your disposal because doing so might corrode the pipes and render your warranty null and useless.

Leaking

There are multiple points in your garbage disposal that have the potential to develop a leak. The most typical locations for leaks to occur are the hose that links the garbage disposal to the sink, the hose that connects the garbage disposal to the dishwasher, and the hose that connects the garbage disposal to the drain system. In most cases, the only thing that needs to be done to fix a leak that is caused by a hose is to tighten the clamp or bolts that are holding the hose in place. Applying some new plumber’s putty to the connection between the sink and the faucet is usually all that is required to rectify this classic problem with the kitchen sink’s plumbing.

 

It is not necessary to continue to be mystified about the plumbing that is located under the kitchen sink. One of the best ways to feel accomplished and to take ownership of your home is to become familiar with the fundamentals of the plumbing in the kitchen sink. It is not necessary to have plumbing experience in order to solve the more straightforward issues that may arise. You will know when it is time to call Atlas Plumbing & Heating because when the plumbing in your kitchen sink has more than just a simple problem, it is time to call them.

Most homeowners may need emergency plumbing repair at some point. Water leaks, basement flooding, broken pipes, and sewage backups are just a few of the issues that can arise at any time.

Many plumbing problems, fortunately, may be avoided with some basic preventive maintenance. Our best plumber advice will help you prevent expensive emergency plumbing repairs.

 

Keep an eye on what goes down the drains.

The purpose of drains is not to accommodate anything that can fit. A number of things, such as coffee grounds, grease, and the peels from potatoes, can cause damage to your plumbing system. In addition, pouring bones, shells from seafood, and other non-food objects down the toilet is a surefire way to cause difficulties.

 

Take Care of Your Toilets

It is not appropriate to throw rubbish in the toilet or utilize it as a trash can. It is not necessary to flush something just because you have the ability to do so. Flushing rubbish like baby wipes, feminine napkins, cotton balls, and other types of garbage can easily result in the need for urgent plumbing repairs.

 

Avoid Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

Drain cleaners that contain chemicals are not on your side. They may be able to clear minor obstructions, but at the expense of your pipes’ integrity, they should be avoided. If you reach for chemicals too frequently, you might find yourself reaching for the phone instead to contact a plumber to fix the plumbing.

 

Protect Your Pipes

It is imperative to take preventative measures to avoid having pipes become frozen. You may reduce the risk of pipes bursting by installing additional insulation, running cold water when the temperature drops below freezing, and keeping your cabinet doors open during cold snaps.

 

Find the main water shutoff valve in your home

In the event that your plumbing develops a significant leak, you will need to shut off the flow of water as soon as you possibly can. In order to prevent floods and serious water damage in the event that leaks occur, it is important to locate the main shutoff valve in advance.

 

Check Your Water Pressure

Always keep an eye on the water pressure. It is possible that silt has built up in the pipes if you have observed a decrease in the water flow coming from your showerheads, faucets, and spouts. Also, check to see that the pressure isn’t set too high, as this could put unnecessary strain on the plumbing system.

 

Watch out for your septic tank

It is a good idea to inspect the septic tank for overflows, water leaks, and mechanical problems after intense rainfall and storms have passed through the area. Installing a backup sump pump that is powered by a battery is another option for dealing with plumbing emergencies.

 

Prioritize preventive maintenance

Water heaters, garbage disposals, and other appliances require routine maintenance to keep in good working order. Regular preventative treatment allows you to discover and correct problems before they become severe.

 

Repair Drips and Leaks Right Away

Do not ignore dripping and leaking pipes in the ceiling or walls. If you choose to ignore the issue, you will not only see an increase in your water bill but also an undue strain placed on your plumbing system.

 

Call in a Professional for Plumbing Repair

Do not begin a project that requires you to fix plumbing if you are unsure of what you are doing. You might feel more comfortable handling the situation on your own, but if you lack the appropriate training, you run the risk of making things even more difficult.

 

The emergency plumbing repair experts at Atlas Plumbing & Heating can address your problems promptly, expertly, and at a price that won’t break the bank.

Consultations with a member of the Atlas Plumbing & Heating team are provided free of charge. Get in touch with our office as soon as possible to either arrange an appointment or receive experienced plumbing emergency repair around the clock.