Slow Drains

If you’re like many of us, you may find the septic system a bit of a mystery. You probably have a vague understanding of how it works, and maybe you know that it involves a drain field and a tank, with the knowledge that it should be cleaned out every few years. If a clog happens, and the wastewater pipe leaks and backs up, homeowners with septic systems can sometimes not know what to do – and that can be exacerbated during freezing temperatures and the freezing problems that can come from the frozen ground and holding tanks.   Otherwise, you probably don’t think about the septic system much until there’s a problem. Fortunately, as a homeowner, you can prevent many mishaps or common issues through regular maintenance and care, but what about when the weather causes your septic tank problems? Does Cold Weather Affect Septic Systems? Yes. Cold weather

Homeowners know that a water leak, even a small leak or slow leak, no matter how insignificant, can eventually lead to major water damage, and being able to see the signs of a leak to know to call a professional plumber can be critical. Leak detection, and finding the plumbing problems that your plumbing system may have, can take different routes; from listening for hissing sounds, or sounds of water running, looking for water stains, or even simply keeping a close eye on your water usage and your water bill. There are also many different plumbing systems throughout your home that can be the culprit if you suspect you have a leak. Irrigation systems, toilet tanks and bad flappers, washing machines or washer/dryer combos, bad shut-off valves or even hidden leaks from cast iron water pipes and water lines behind the drywall of your home; all of these systems could

Maintaining a well-functioning septic system doesn’t happen by accident, but by homeowners knowing their septic tank needs, how their septic system works. They also know the correct additives to go IN the septic system, and keeping the correct things OUT of the sewer system. The other part of a properly cared for septic system is having the septic tank pumped on a regular basis. Septic tank pumping is also referred to as septic tank cleaning, and is the process of using a vacuum truck to suck the sewage out of the tank. When Should I Get My Septic Tank Pumped? How often a septic tank needs to be pumped depends on the size of the septic holding tank, as well as the number of people in the home and how much wastewater, liquid waste, solid waste, and water usage.  For most households, a septic tank should be on a pumping

Some people have a good grasp of plumbing, especially when they grew up with a father or a grandfather who was pretty handy around the house. If you were the kid who wore your Dad’s tool belt as he repaired a clogged garbage disposal or a leaky faucet, you may have a good understanding of how indoor plumbing works. On the other hand, perhaps you grew up in apartments. Whenever your single mom had a problem with the plumbing, the apartment manager would dispatch a handyman or a professional plumber to fix the issue. Or, perhaps your parents were very busy people with demanding careers. Your father was traveling all the time and your mom was always at the office, so you were cared for by your grandmother or a babysitter. In other words, your father didn’t have time to do work around the house so he called a professional

Most of our posts are written for homeowners who actually live in their homes, but this post is geared towards homeowners who rent or lease out one or more homes. It’s valuable for renters too! When you’re a homeowner who is living in your home, you’re fairly cost-conscious. You know that if there’s a leak in the roof, you have to call a roofer and take care of it. You have to make sure that the lawn looks good year-round so the neighbors don’t complain, and you have to replace the garbage disposal or dishwasher when they outlive their lifespan and breakdown for good. There’s no landlord or property manager to call when something needs to be maintained or repaired – it’s all on you. With the cost of repairs always in the back of your mind, you’re mindful about your property (inside and out), and you do whatever you

Big, mature trees are often welcomed with open arms by homeowners. They provide shade, they improve the aesthetics of a yard, and they make a neighborhood look splendid. Unfortunately, while they beautify our front and back yards, they can also wreak havoc on our indoor plumbing system. In order for trees to grow, they must have water. So, tree roots naturally seek water and they gravitate towards sewer lines. Roots have never found a plumbing leak they didn’t like! Whenever a tree root does find a leak, it won’t take long before the roots grow into the pipe, inhibiting the flow of waste. When tree roots grow into pipes in their continuous search of water, the roots cause broken pipes, blockages, and other plumbing problems for homeowners, especially problems involving sewage. As you can imagine, a sewage leak is not only messy, it’s unsanitary, and people are not supposed to

When we see standing water in the kitchen sink, we often think the sink drain is clogged or someone put orange peels or coffee grounds down the garbage disposal. Drains are often sluggish because of an obstruction, such as hair, sludge buildup, or tree roots, but that is not always the case. Sometimes the problem lies in clearing the plumbing vents, which must be accessed by climbing onto the top of the roof. Before immediately thinking you need to go onto the roof to fix your problem, see why there are other reasons a drain is running slowly first. Troubleshooting a Clog Before getting out your ladder, there are a few things you can do to determine if a clogged line is the cause of the slow drain or if other plumbing problems are causing the issue. Kitchen SinkThere are some do-it-yourself techniques to try with a kitchen sink drain.