Marcin from ExpressRooter, the official contractor for Mike Holmes, is here to address some of the common questions that many homeowners ask. Five Questions to Ask When You Call a Plumber A question that home owners often ask is, what questions should…
Power flushing is a procedure done by a professional plumber to clean the inside of clogged drains and radiant heating systems. It is done with chemicals and high water pressure that ensure that the cleaning is thorough. When the cleaning…
Plumbing projects can be very simple fixes in some instances. For example, a dripping faucet or a clogged drain pipe are less delicate projects and are ideal for the homeowner to handle on their own. These types of plumbing problems are relatively easy to fix and are within the scope of the abilities of the average homeowner with modest mechanical abilities. However, there are more serious problems that require the skills and expertise of a professional plumber to make proper repairs that will not lead to further complications or damage. Some plumbing projects that require the intervention of a professional include:
Every homeowner should know plumbing basics so that there’s less mystery when water problems do occur. Gravity and pressure are two of the most fundamental concepts of plumbing, which is comprised of two separate subsystems. The supply system allows fresh water in, while the drainage system forces waste water out. Knowing that water seeks its own level helps demystify plumbing systems. Below are some of the most important plumbing basics for homeowners to know.
1. Main Shut-off Valve
It’s a good idea to know where the main shutoff valve is in case of an emergency. Water coming into your home is under pressure, measured by a meter, which is usually in close proximity with the main shutoff valve. Knowing how to shut off this valve quickly can save your property from a flood caused by a broken pipe.
If you’ve got a plugged drain, then one of the first things you’re likely looking for is how to snake a drain. While this can be a somewhat complicated process for someone who has never known how to snake a drain, once you get the hang of it you’ll find that it’s easier than you thought. Let’s take a look at the simple steps and then cover a few essential tips.
First, put the end of the snake into the opening of the drain. Then turn the handle on the drum that houses the coiled-up drain snake. This gets the auger working so it can work itself down the drain.
There is usually no reason to panic when your water heater starts leaking. It is a common problem faced by households and can be fixed without the help of a licensed plumber most of the time. When you find that your water heater is leaking, the first thing you should do is identify the source and cause of the leakage. It may be a worn out valve, faulty connection or corroded tank. Once you have determined what is causing the problem, fixing the water heater is a matter of changing the setting or repairing or replacing the faulty components. You may need a screw driver and an adjustable wrench for this job.
A blocked kitchen sink is a problem everyone faces at one time or another. For those who do dishes in the sink, it can be highly frustrating when the water refuses to drain away, or takes much longer than usual. It is often the result of large amounts of food scraps and other waste matters accumulating and getting stuck in the drainpipe. Clogged drainpipes are not the only kitchen sink plumbing issue you have to deal with from time to time. Other problems include leaking faucets, leaking drain baskets and broken garbage disposal units.
Even for professional plumbers, it can be difficult to detect what’s really going on in your plumbing system with the naked eye. How do you know what’s going on out of sight, below ground? That’s where plumbing camera inspection comes in. In order to diagnose the true cause of your plumbing issues, you need a plumbing company who has the right knowledge and the right technology to see what’s happening below ground level.
Drain cameras have a small camera and light mounted on a flexible cable, which is fed into a home’s drain system to help provide insight regarding the health of their pipes, as well uncover the source of any existing issues. Our cameras have video recording capability, so you have access to a real-time walk-though of your drain system.
The best part of using a camera inspection is that it is a non-invasive method of getting to the source of the issue. No need to dig unnecessary holes or damage walls; the camera cable is simply fed into your home’s “cleanout” which allows for sewer access. A plumbing video camera inspection can help uncover those hard to identify problems that can occur out of plain sight. Here are some of the problems that a drain camera inspection can discover:
A plumbing video camera inspection can help discover those hard to identify problems that can occur out of plain sight. Here are some of the problems that a video plumbing inspection can discover:
Few things can cause more inconvenience in the bathroom than a leaky toilet. It makes the floor wet, spongy and slippery. If left unattended for a long time, it can permanently damage the floor. People have been known to slip on such a floor and hurt themselves. A leaking toilet is usually the result of nuts, bolts, rubber gaskets and spud washers in the toilet tank, deteriorating over time due to the action of minerals present in water and oxygen present in the air.
Fixing a leaky toilet is not difficult if you don’t mind doing some manual work. It mostly involves fixing loose nuts and bolts or replacing the corroded or worn out components with new ones. The first step is to determine the point where leakage is occurring and then take action accordingly.
Depending on the exact details of the situation, unclogging a toilet can be one of the most unpleasant jobs you’re likely to come across as a homeowner. You could take the philosophical approach and say ‘begin at the beginning’ and then go from there, but most people want more direct instructions.
