Reasons to Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaning Solutions to Unclog Your Drain

Need a drain cleaning?

 

Nearly everyone has seen the commercial, the stressed-out homeowner’s sink is clogged. However, a bottle of store-bought drain cleaner instantly and miraculously clears it. This is mostly fiction, chemical drain cleaners do help in some cases, but in other cases they can cause more harm than help.

Why? One reason is because chemical drain cleaners contain harsh ingredients such as sulfuric and hydrochloric acid. Both of these destroy plastic pipes, creating holes and cracks after constant use. Even metal piping can corrode if exposed to store-bought chemical drain cleaners over a long period of time. This creates an added expense.

Even if a chemical drain cleaner clears a clog, all the chemicals don’t always wash away. The same chemical that dissolved the clog remains in the pipe causing damage over time. Also, if you use chemical cleaners constantly the left-over residue will build up and itself cause a clog. It’s not just pipes you should avoid using chemical drain cleaners on. Using chemical drain cleaners in toilets can also cause problems. When you add chemicals to water in a toilet bowl, there’s a chance the chemicals will heat the water. This can cause the bowl to crack – a dangerous incident that’s also expensive when factoring the cost of a new bowl.

There is also the issue of damage to fixtures and pipes. The hydrochloric acid in liquid drain cleaners can destroy enamel on sinks and bathtubs. The acid also dissolves metal, making holes in pipes and creating leaks. The added expense of replacing pipes or fixtures isn’t worth it.

At the same time, chemical cleaners can be dangerous to your health if not used properly. Sulfuric acid, for example, emits poisonous fumes that irritate the skin, eyes and throat.Chemical drain cleaner bottles typically list these warnings.

Finally, chemical cleaners are not all what they are cracked up to be. No chemical, not even sulfuric acid, can clear every clog. For every simple hair clog there is also an instance of roots invading pipes. Call for professional help rather than use chemical drain cleaners and risk damage to your home and health. Is your Atlanta home in need of a drain cleaning? Call us at 404-753-9191 and schedule an appointment today!

Signs Your Sump Pump Needs To Be Replaced

Does your sump pump need to be replaced?

 

Most homeowners don't give much thought to their home's sump pump until there is a threat of flooding. The sump pump is the house's best defensive against water damage. Flood waters can cause catastrophic destruction resulting in costly repairs and a decrease in the home's value.

The first sign that a sump pump is not working correctly is the presence of water in the basement. The equipment should take care of any excess water and there should never be water on the basement floor with a sump pump that is in good working order.

If a musty or other bad odor is coming from the basement, it may be a sign of a poorly working sump pump. Water that is stagnant quickly becomes a home for mold growth and other unpleasant microbes such as bacteria. Sometimes water that hasn't properly drained through the pump can hide behind dry wall and other unseen areas. Stagnant water in the basement can create a humid enough environment to allow mold to form in the vents and duct work. Whenever air from the furnace or air conditioning unit is pushed through the vents, the moldy air is spread throughout the house.

Sump pumps should run smoothly and quietly. Any unusual or loud noises coming from the appliance indicates a problem. Many times sump pumps are too small for the area they are intended to cover and quickly wear out.

If a home's sump pump does not have a battery, it is important to replace it with a pump that has a back up battery. If a flooding event occurs and a home's sump pump relies solely on electricity, it will be useless in the event of a power outage.

It is wise for homeowners who live in areas with a high water table and other factors that leave them prone to flooding to keep a backup sump pump. Sump pumps that are working overtime to clear water can quickly fail and cause the house to flood. Having a backup sump pump ready for installation can save homeowners the expense and grief caused by flooding.

Need a new sump pump for your Atlanta home? Call us at 404-753-9191 and schedule a service call today!

What To Do In The Event Of A Plumbing Emergency

Are you ready for a plumbing emergency?

 

Discovering a plumbing problem such as a leak, the first thing you should do is find the water shutoff valve. If left untreated, a leak can result in thousands of dollars of damage to your home. If the problem is the toilet or a faucet, find the turnoff and shut down the water. In a worst case scenario, if you can't find the shutoff, look near your water meter and you should be able to turn off the main water supply to your home.

Without panicking, take a look and see how much damage has been done, before you call the emergency plumber. Give accurate and clear information over the phone when speaking to the person. Your problem will be fixed quickly when the person you are talking to has a good understanding of what is going on.

It would be a good idea to call your water company to explain to them that you are and are not responsible for the water that's been wasted. Your water company may send out a plumber rather quickly to take a look at the problem to see if it's a blocked sewer or a water line. If there is a problem with the main sewer, this may be covered also.

Your best bet would be to call a 24-hour emergency plumbing company. The plumber will need a rundown of what you have done to temporarily fix the problem, and give the plumber as much information as you can about what pipes may need repair. Doing all of these things will be of great help to the plumber.

Regarding cost, the plumber may not know over the telephone what the charge will be until he assesses the potential problem. There will, however, be a service charge, and he should be able to give you that information over the phone. At best, the plumber may be able to give you a ballpark cost of the problem you are calling about.

Are you prepared for a plumbing emergency in the Atlanta area? Give us a call at 404-753-9191 and let us handle your plumbing needs.

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Differences Between Tankless Water Heaters And Tank Water Heaters

Need a new water heater?

 

When deciding on what kind of water heater is best for your home you must carefully consider and research information regarding each the tankless water heater and tank water heaters. Both have very distinct pros and cons. You must look at these pros and cons and take into account your specific needs in order to make the best decision possible on the water heater for your household.

Tankless water heaters have grown in popularity because of some advantages that they have over tank water heaters. The biggest selling point is that you would not run out of hot water as you would if you were running water for an extended period of time from a tank water heater. This is because the water is heated as it is used which is different from the method of heating from tank heaters. This is better suited for larger families as you will not have to wait a period of time for the water to reheat as you would with tank water heaters. The Pros however, don't absolutely mean that this kind of water heater is the better overall choice. It does have it's fair share of disadvantages. If you are trying to convert from a tank to tankless heater than you will have to contend with some problems. The gas supplied to tank heaters often isn't sufficient enough to support a tankless heater. You will also have to rework venting for the conversion. Lastly there is the issue of price. Even when installing new, a tank water heater is noticeably less than a tankless.

Tank water heaters are the more traditional hot water heaters and are still quite useful despite the rise in popularity of tankless water heaters. The big advantage that tank water heaters still have over tankless is the low usage of gas and electricity. This along with the lower cost of installing tank heaters in the end make them much more cost effective. With the tradeoff of cost you will still have to deal with how quickly the hot water will run out and waiting for the tank to refill and reheat the water. These are the biggest facts that must be considered when deciding on the best option for a hot water heater.

Looking to get a new water heater installed in your Atlanta home? Give us a call at 404-753-9191 and let us help you out!

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Benefits Of An Annual Leak Detection Service Call

Annual leak detection service calls are worth it!

 

Having your pipes and plumbing detected for leaks every year can save a lot of hassle and money later on. Leaks can often go undetected and cause damage to the home for months or even years. Getting an annual leak detection will help to promptly identify, fix and prevent any leaks that you may have throughout your home. It is important to choose a professional that will be able to accurately detect any leaks.

When an annual leak detection is performed, the plumber or professional will go through the home and check all the pipes and drains for any leaks or cracks in the pipes. They will be able to let you know if there are any current leaks or if there is a potential for a leak through a crack or weak spot in piping.

If a leak is found in the home, the professional inspecting it will be able to accurately identify what is causing the leak. They will be able to discuss with you different options for correcting the plumbing problem. Some problems that could cause a leak are too high water pressure, old or rusty pipes and problems with the bolts and connections of the pipes. When they find any of these, they will be able to fix them through their company or refer you to someone who can fix it.

A good plumber will be able to prevent problems before they happen. When they do an annual leak detection, they can check to see if there is anything wrong with the piping that may need to be corrected before it can turn into a devastating leak. A professional will also explain to you how to keep pipes that they have just fixed from leaking and causing any major problems again.

Whether you are a new homeowner or someone who is trying to improve their quality of their home, a leak detection service is a great prevention method to begin. It will only take a small amount of time and is not extremely costly but can save hardships and money throughout the life of your home.

Is your Atlanta home in need of a leak detection service call? Call us at 404-753-9191 and schedule an appointment today!