Homemade Cleaning Solutions for Drain Maintenance

If you want to save a lot of money by using some homemade sink and drain cleaning solutions to maintain your home's drains in between professional cleanings, you can! Maintaining your drains is a lot more than just tossing chemicals down the drain. Chemicals can damage your drain system and plumbing and are toxic, as well. Chemical drain cleaning can cause burns, blindness and even death.

If your kitchen sink is draining slowly, boiling water is the best thing for it. It sounds simple and it is. If you pour a couple kettles of boiling water into the sink, you will probably save your drains from being blocked up. If you have a lot of grease accumulated in the drain, you may need more than just 1 or 2 kettles of water. After you unclog the drain, you can do this every couple days and you will be able to maintain your sinks and drains from clogging.

Salt water is also a great way to clean your drains and sinks. Take 4 liters of water and mix ½ a cup of salt with it. Pour it into a pan, put on the stove until it becomes steamy. Don’t let it come to a boil. Just before the water boils, pour the solution down the sink to maintain cleanliness and unclog drains.

Baking soda and vinegar is a great way to unblock drains and keep your sinks clean. Take some baking soda and pour ½ cup down your drain. Behind this pour a ½ cup of vinegar. Cover your drain and leave it alone for about an hour. Flush the soda and vinegar mixture down the lines with 2 pans of boiling water. Be aware that when you combine the baking soda and water, there will be a bubbling effect that is produced which may cause some splattering. This is a great way to eliminate drain odors as well.

Homemade cleaning products are much safer and less toxic which is all the more reason to use these in your homes.

Time for your home's professional drain cleaning or have a clog that needs to be cleared? Contact Plumbing For Less, your experienced Atlanta Plumber, today at (404) 753-9191.

4 Signs You May Need to Replace Your Plumbing

Plumbing problems in the home can create a lot of damage if they are not taken care of right away. Some leaks or cracks are obvious and can be fixed without much cost to the job. Other problems are not seen so easily and may take longer to find and fix. Any water dripping from a faucet may cause other problems such as mold or mildew in your home. These problems should not be ignored as they may cause health problems to the family. Professional plumbers are well trained to find leaks and replace broken lines for the safety of everyone concerned. Following are 4 signs you may need to replace your plumbing:

1. If your kitchen or bathroom faucet makes a high pitch screech sound when you turn it on, it could be coming from the bleed-off structure in the pipe that is not working properly. The screech noise is caused by air that is getting into the pipes and keeping the valve from shutting down.

2. Water pressure is another sign that will tell you that the plumbing fixture needs replacing. A number of different problems can cause pressure problems. Your pipes may be old and have a leak somewhere down the line or the pipes may be of the wrong size and are causing insufficient water pressure. You may also have a clog in your pipe. Some of these problems can be fixed and sometimes the line needs to be replaced. Professional plumbers will have the proper tools and knowledge to replace your pipes in a timely manner.

3. Toilets that are backing up all the time may have problems of tree roots growing somewhere in the lines. Plumbers have lines with small cameras on them to help them locate the problem. The pipes that have been invaded with tree roots would need to be replaced professionally.

4. The best time to replace any plumbing in your homes is when you are going to remodel that room. Remodeling a room without updating your plumbing fixtures may cost you more in later years. While your kitchen or bathroom is torn apart for its new appearance, the plumbing is easier to get to and replace. If you had to tear up your kitchen or bathroom after remodeling, it would cost you more in money, stress, and time.

If you notice any of the above four signs, it may be time to replace your plumbing. Contact Plumbing For Less in Atlanta today at (404) 753-9191 to schedule an in home consultation by your expert plumbing specialist.

Should You Repair or Replace Your Septic System?

Trying to figure out if you need to repair or replace your septic tank can make you feel like your trying to play psychic. Many times, a damaged septic tank can keep working, then one day it suddenly fails. Next thing you know, you’re stuck with all kinds of repairs and will probably need to call a septic tank service.

Septic tanks are pretty hardy, and they can last over three years before they ever need pumping. A septic tank that has been damaged can be difficult to repair. If the septic tank has years and years of wear on it, it may make much more sense to purchase a new one.

If you aren’t quite sure if you need a new septic tank or if you may just need repairs, there are some symptoms that will help you figure out when you need to call a professional.

Most septic tanks should not have to be pumped out more than every three years. If you continually have to have the tank pumped out, it may be time to consider replacing it with a new septic system. It could be a sign that the family has grown out of the old septic tank system.

Go out in your yard where the septic tank is located and examine the grounds. Do you see any puddles that have collected around the septic tank area? Does the ground feel wet and moist all the time, even when it has not rained? This is a big sign that the septic tank may be leaking water. If the leak happens to be around the ports, a professional septic tank technician can probably fix it. However, if the water leak is on the tank itself, you probably have to buy a new septic tank system. Some repairs would be more costly and time consuming than it would be to purchase a new septic tank.

Trying to figure out what is wrong with your septic tank yourself is hard; that’s why it is really a job for professionals. If you suspect you have a septic tank problem, call your local professional.

Noticing problems with your septic system? Contact Plumbing For Less, your Atlanta Plumbing Professionals today at (404) 509-6866.

The 29th Annual Fall Atlanta Home Show on September 21st - 23rd, 2012

Don't miss Georgia's grandest Fall Home Show this year! For all the latest and best in home fashion, technology and ingenuity, the 29th Annual Fall Atlanta Home Show will be held in the Cobb Galleria Centre on September 21-23, 2012. You don't want to miss these three days: the event will bring together Vern Yip (from TLC's Trading Spaces), Tonya M. Williams (from HGTV's Designed to Sell and Bang for Your Buck) John Gidding (from HGTV's Designed to Sell and Curb Appeal), Joe Washington (from HGTV's Ground Breakers), along with hundreds of exhibits from products and services organizations for the home.

With solutions and soft touches that complete your modern bathroom or spa, the Fall Atlanta Home Show will showcase hundreds of fabulous options. You and your family can browse the dazzling array of streamlined faucets, pipes and accessories. Get ideas and gain information for your next bathroom remodeling project. Better than photos and diagrams, displays and demonstrations show tricks of the trade and explain installation and function of new and improved home products.

Parking is free and general admission tickets can be picked up at the Show Box Office for $10 per adult, children 12 and under are free, and senior citizens 65 and older are free with valid ID. Multi-day tickets can also be purchased for $15 per adult, that allows a 2-day pass. Also, to honor First Responders as well as active and retired military personnel, the expose offers "buy one adult ticket, get one free (with ID)". Complimentary Friday admission is also available for all members of the following organizations: ASID, Georgia Professional Real Estate Agents, HBA, NARI, NKBA, and GaREIA by providing your business card.At the show, you can also enter the Home Show Grand Prize to win a premium outdoor centerpiece fire pit. The Show hours are Friday, September 21st from 10am - 6pm, Saturday, September 22nd from 10am - 6pm, and Sunday, September 23rd from noon - 6pm at Atlanta's Cobb Galleria Centre across from Cumberland Mall. For more information on attending the Home Show, go to www.atlantahomeshow.com or call (770) 798-1997.

Have questions or need help with your bathroom remodeling project? Contact Plumbing For Less, your Atlanta Plumbing Specialists today at (404) 753-9191.