Sunday, July 15, 2012

The Benefits Of Hiring A Licensed Plumber

Plumbers do various jobs around residential and commercial properties. When hiring a plumber to perform a job it is very beneficial if the plumber is licensed. Some of the benefits include better knowledge of the related problem, proper insurance regulations, the proper use of equipment and the overall safety of the home when installing.
Differences Between Licensed Plumbers and Unlicensed Plumbers? 
The licensed plumbers can be found in the yellow pages or in various ads. When you get into contact with the plumber you can ask him or her if they are a licensed plumber. If the plumber says yes you can ask to see their business license, or you can contact your local county clerk of court to verify if the plumber is licensed. Licensed plumbers have taken the proper education classes and have past State and National tests to become licensed. This shows that the licensed plumbers are well knowledgeable in their field of trade. Un-licensed plumbers have not taken the proper educational classes or test that licensed plumbers have. Licensed plumbers are always bonded and have a form of liability insurance. These methods are very important because if a mistake is made on the job than the plumbing company can pay for the damages with their insurance. Un-licensed plumbers usually are not bonded or insured, which can create troubles if a mistake is made.


Cost Effective
Most homeowners will hire un-licensed plumbers because the un-licensed plumber will charge cheaper for the job than a licensed plumber. This method sounds great at first, but many problems can be associated with this. If an unlicensed plumber uses poor equipment and performs the job below average; than the homeowner will have to hire someone else to fix the problem. This means that the cost of the job will double. Studies have also shown that un-licensed plumbers generally use cheaper materials that will not last as long as the materials that licensed plumbers use.


Continuous Education
In order for licensed plumbers to keep their license they must stay constantly educated about their trade. Many licenses require general education classes every few years to keep a plumbers license active. This shows that licensed plumbers are continuously learning more techniques about their trade to make their jobs easier and beneficial for the people they work for.


When hiring a plumber for work in your home or office you should always be looking for a licensed plumber, contact the pros at Plumbing For Less, Atlanta's premier Plumbing company 404-509-6866.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Hire A Plumber For Bathroom Leak Repairs

For homeowners, the kitchen and bathroom tend to be the most important rooms in the home, and for obvious reasons. You cook, wash, bath, and take care of daily needs in both of these rooms. When the homeowner encounters a problem with either, it may be time to consider a professional plumber to address any needed repairs.
The bathroom, as compact and simple as it may seem, can pose a challenge when fixtures develop problems at any level. As much as some homeowners would love to classify all of these problems as DIY projects, it may not be the case. Even a homeowner with an aptitude for plumbing may want to consider a professional. Timely repairs are critical when dealing with plumbing related issues, in either the bathroom or kitchen. Homeowners that are pressed for time due to long work hours and other commitments may not have a enough time to set aside for repair projects.

Depending on the age of your bathroom, the skills of a professional plumber may be necessary to complete any repairs. Traditional installations that rely on materials such as copper pipe will require experience with preparing and soldering joints that will be long lasting and leak free. Combining copper plumbing with more modern solutions such as cross-linked polyethylene pipe, or PEX, will also require professional knowledge in order to ensure that unions are fashioned correctly.

The repair of fixtures used in tubs and showers offer a unique challenge to any professional. Depending on construction methods, access to plumbing may be difficult and may even require opening walls, and restoring them to original condition after the plumbing repair has been completed.

As much as sinks and toilets seem very straight forward, a plumber with years of experience will be armed with tips and tricks that will effect quick and efficient repairs. These types of repairs may not be obvious to the homeowner, who typically assumes the worst. It is not uncommon for a DIY project to escalate into a major repair simply because the obvious fix was unfortunately overlooked.

Knowing that you can reach a professional plumber to handle both general repairs and emergencies offers the homeowner piece of mind knowing that help is only a phone call away. It is very true what they say. Some things are best left to the professionals.


For complex bathroom or kitchen leaks contact the pros at Plumbing For Less, serving the entire Atlanta and surrounding areas. 404-509-6866

Friday, June 29, 2012

Unclog A Toilet Using A Toilet Auger

The toilet is one of the most important parts of a house. Toilet hygiene should be maintained and this includes avoiding toilet clogs. Toilet clogs are among the most common problems that affect the toilet. When the toilet is clogged, waste material cannot be flushed to the sewage system and if the situation is severe, the water and other waste products spill off and flow to other places in the house.
Unclogging a toilet can be quite tasking depending on how severe the clog is. It is therefore important to ensure that you avoid having a clogged toilet. First of all, you should never flush heavy product papers down the toilet drain. These include polythene papers, photocopy papers and manila papers. The type of toilet paper used should be easy to disintegrate in water. Avoid having too much paper in the toilet as it might lead to clogging. The type of paper thrown into the toilet should be safe for the septic tank and plumbing systems.

You should only flush a small amount of toilet paper at a time to avoid clogging. The non-paper materials like toys, stones, metals and cloths should never be thrown down the drain. These will definitely clog the toilet. Lastly, children and people who are new to using flush toilets should be taught how to use them to avoid clogging occurrences.

If you happen to have a toilet clog, there are several ways to go about it. One of the toilet clog removal methods is using a toilet auger. A toilet auger is basically a tool with a long sleeve handle and an offset hand crank. It also has an auger bit at the tip that is used to unclog a toilet and remove obstructions like a piece of cloth. It is about 3 feet therefore long enough to go deep into the toilet. It is the most effective way of unclogging the toilet therefore it is usually the last option when all the others have failed.

The toilet auger can be purchased at hardware shops or special plumbing shops. It might be quite challenging using the toilet auger for the first time. It is therefore important to have a plumber do the unclogging for you. It is very easy to find a professional plumber in Atlanta. Plumbers in Atlanta can be found online. Before settling on one, it is wise to read reviews on the plumber you are interested in in order to make a wise decision.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Replace and Repair Water Heater Heaters

Many do not know it, but the biggest aspect of your home plumbing system is your hot water heater. This tall cylinder, normally hidden in closet, garage or attic, heats and stores hot water for home consumption.
A hot water heater uses electricity or gas to heat elements inside the tank that in turn heat the water to an appropriate temperature. This temperature is normally well above 120 degrees and is hot enough to severely burn someone. Herein lies part of the danger of a hot water tank system.

Hot water heaters mix electricity and water; two things that do not mix well. For the average homeowner, a clogged toilet may present a serious challenge. Replacing and repair hot water heaters, on the other hand, require the services of a professional plumber.

There are a myriad of things that can go wrong with a hot water system. Commonly, the thermostats that control the temperature of the water will die and need replacing. The average homeowner may have the tools necessary, but not the correct part. A professional plumber will have the tools, parts and most importantly the knowledge to make the repair quickly and safely.

Another common problem is the element itself will burn out. This will require the entire tank drained of water and the element replaced with a new one. Homeowners who lack knowledge of draining tanks and turning off water valves to the tanks should contact a professional for this service. If you do not turn the water off, you stand a good chance of flooding your home.

If you live in an area with extremely hard water or use a water softening system, your tank will eventually need full replacement. This will mean draining the tanks, removing them and replacing them with new systems. Since an average tank holds 50 gallons of water, the homeowner who attempts such a task must have somewhere for the water to drain, or a catastrophe could occur. A professional will be able to drain and replace the tank easily and dispose of the old tank as well.

If you are a real do-it-yourself person, then by all means attempt to repair or replace your hot water tank. When an accident happens and there are pools of water on the wife’s floor, call a professional plumber to come and repair what you have fixed.


In need of a new hot water heater or just need the old one inspected. Contact the pros at Plumbing For Less, Atlanta's premier hot water heater replacement plumber. 404-509-6866

Thursday, May 10, 2012

How To Save Money On Your Water Bill

It’s easy to take water for granted - at least until the bill comes. The good news is there are several ways you can decrease the amount you have to pay for water.
• Check for leaks – Turn off all water using devices insuring none are dripping. Check the position of your water meter. Wait 15 minutes then check your meter again. If it hasn’t moved you can feel assured you have no leaks. If your meter has moved, a leak exists somewhere. Now you just have to find it.

• Locate leaks - check hose connections, faucets, shower heads, toilets for water leaks. Make sure to check all pipes that are accessible. If a leak exists have it fixed as soon as possible

• Find unseen leaks – If you’ve checked every every accessible potential source for a leak and have found nothing yet your meter is still moving with everything turned off you may have an underground leak. Call a plumber to see if this is the case.

• Check the amount of water you are using for your lawn – Most States have water conservation programs that provide recommendations regarding how much water should be used for watering purposes per month. Check the amount you are using based on the amount listed on your bill and this amount to the recommended usage guidelines. Adjust water usage to match the recommendations.

• Change shower heads – Change all your showerheads to low flow showerheads. These shower heads can reduce water usage in the shower by 50%-70% and decrease the amount of energy needed to heat the water as well.

• Shorter showers – Aim for 5 minute showers instead of 15-20 minutes.

• Faucet Aerators – Aerators reduce water flow without reducing water pressure so you won’t even notice the difference.

• Turn off water when brushing or shaving - Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving. Turn it on only when you will be actually using the water to rinse your mouth or face.

• Replace toilet flapper – replace your toilet flappers once a year even if they say they last longer. A few dollars a year per flapper will save you much more than this on your water bill.

As inflation is hitting most Americans hard especially when it comes to utility bills, try these tips for saving money on the amount you pay for water usage each month.


Call anytime 24 X 7 at 404-753-9191 to schedule an Appointment or click here to have some from our staff reach out to you.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Tank Or Tankless Water Heaters Which is Really Better?

There are new options available, if you are in the market for hot water heater installation. There is the old familiar standby of a tank water heater, however there are now tankless water heaters available, for both electric or gas hook-ups. With both options available, it is best to explore the features of each type, so that you may make an informed decision and share it with your local Atlanta Plumber . Most people will combine two or three of a products best features in order to make a final decision. Those are typically efficiency, cost and climate of where the resident lives.

Standard tank hot water heaters vary between manufacturer, and oftentimes the model, but they share many common features, and possible problems that might arise down the road. Tank heaters will have fewer costs as they're the simplest to install, and replace. They can also be placed anywhere in the home, like a basement or even an attic. If you lose electricity for a long period of time, you can drain your tank for a supply of water. However, your tank can run out of water, and there are more costs involved, down the line with energy bills due to heat loss, usage, and unstable temperature controls. You also have the possibility of leaking 30 gallons or more of water if it breaks leading to not only water loss, but your tank will attempt to refill and reheat the water.

As with tank heaters, tankless hot water heaters will vary slightly depending upon the model, or make you are currently looking at. Tankless hot water heaters will offer the user more energy savings over time by reducing energy bills by as much as 40%, though most average savings are slightly less. You are also given an endless supply of hot water, as it is heated on demand, no one will need to take a cold shower. Since it only runs when needed, this is where the owner can save the most money, and of course energy. Tankless models are also wall mounted, and require very little space. However, tankless heaters are not without faults, and first is the upfront price. This is because you will need to have an all new set-up installed by your Atlanta Plumber , since hook-ups were all designed for tank hot water heater installation . Also most models will require electricity to operate, and improperly treated water can cause damage that leads to scaling, which can slow water flow.

Both tank, and tankless models have pros and cons, so it will be up to each individual to know what better suits them. Some consumers love the fact that a tankless heater is very eco-friendly, while other consumers view a tank heater to be more time tested choice. If you have any questions about which is better for your home, you may also consult your local professional plumber for more information.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012