Express Rooter Plumbing

If you find your drain pipes rusted, damaged, burst or leaking, they should be replaced as soon as possible. Not only are you leaving your home open to water damage, but a damaged drain pipe could also allow sewer gases to build up in your bathroom or kitchen. These gases are a health hazard and can be extremely harmful to you and your family. Replacing or repairing broken drain pipes is essential for preventing damage to your home.

Over time, drain pipes can become worn or damaged which will require a repair or replacement. Owners of older homes are at an increased risk of encountering damaged drain pipes. Many older homes have cast-iron or galvanized drain pipes which eventually wear out. Years of water and waste passing through can cause cast-iron drain pipes to deteriorate, leaving you with an inefficient drain system or a mess from leakage. Although cast iron pipes are very durable and known to be quieter when water is flowing through them, they are quite difficult to work with and will cost a great deal more than their modern plastic equivalents. You can replace your old cast-iron pipes with new polyvinyl chloride (PVC) drain pipes for a long-lasting drain system. PVC pipes are very durable and are easier to work with. PVC (white) is installed below ground level, ABS (black) is installed above ground. Cast iron is usually above ground, so we should mention ABS more than PVC.  Small portion of underground sewer system is composed of cast iron. 

Plumbing is a very important aspect of any household. Most of the people who try repairing their own plumbing problems end up making the problem worse. This forces them to incur a higher cost when they consult the services of an expert.  A good plumber is one who will take care of their client’s repairs without engaging in any foul play.

It is very important for a homeowner to hire someone who is qualified to handle the job at hand. Once in a while, every household needs plumbing repairs and it is better to find qualified plumbing services before the need for it actually arises. Making use of the available emergency numbers cannot guarantee someone that they will get the best service in the area.

There are a number of things that need to be taken into consideration when searching for an expert who will handle your plumbing.  Most of the people working in the plumbing industry have negatively affected its reputation by failing to abide by the regulations. During the consultations, instead of solving the client’s problem they end up aggravating it. There are certain rules that have been set to ensure that practitioners in the plumbing industry act as professionals.

The best time to choose plumbers are before you actually experience any type of plumbing emergency. When you face an emergency you will have very little time to find someone and therefore you might end up making a poor selection. Follow these basic tips if you want to find a plumber who you can call up whenever any type of emergency arises.

Start by calling up a few plumbing contractor’s who live in the local area and who you trust. The majority of homeowners will at one time or another, have required the use of a local plumber and therefore you can ask them about the service that they used. If you trust their opinion then you can certainly trust that the plumbing service they have used will do a good job.

Consider the option of calling up a building contractor who you may already know and trust. Building contractors will deal with plumbers on a regular basis and therefore they should have several different options that you could go to. Again, as long as you trust the opinion of the contractor there is no reason why you shouldn’t choose their recommendation.

If you are in the midst of purchasing a new or resale home, condo or cottage, we highly recommend you having the plumbing system professionally inspected during your home inspection.  Plumbing inspections are not typically inspected in-depth and can lead to expensive repairs soon after you take possession.

Several questions that you should ask your plumbing/home inspector should include:

• Are you licensed?
• Are you insured?
• Do you have a quality guarantee for your work? If so, how long am I guaranteed for?
• Are you a part of the Better Business Bureau?
• Can you give me an estimate?
• Do you have 24 hour service?

It is best to use cold water — NOT hot water — when you run your disposal. Let the cold water run as long as the motor is running, and be sure to avoid overloading the disposal. Corn husks, artichokes,…

There are several ways to find out if your water bills are higher than they need to be.

• Check faucets for dripping water. Fix a leaky faucet promptly. Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or leaks.
• Periodically check your toilets for leaks:
  • Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank – not the bowl. A couple of tablespoons of instant coffee or Kool-Aid will work too.
  • Check the toilet after about thirty minutes. If the water in the bowl has some of the color in it, the tank is leaking and the stopper and valve seat may need to be replaced.
• Check for underground leaks or undetected leaks in the home:
  • Turn off the main water valve inside your home and then go outside and check your water meter. If it is still turning you may have an underground leak.
  • Alternatively, write down the numbers on your water meter at the beginning of a period when your home is going to be unoccupied for a few hours. Check the meter when you return; if the numbers have changed, they may be a leak somewhere inside the home

If your toilet is stopped up and if the water level is low, there is an alternative if a plunger doesn't work. Fill a bucket or plastic wastebasket with warm water and pour it into the bowl from waist level…

Don’t let your outdoor faucets freeze up in the winter. Unattach your garden hoses before freezing temperatures arrive in the fall. Then close the shut-off valve on the pipe(s) which lead to your outdoor faucet(s). Then open the outdoor faucets…