Atlanta GA Plumber Archives - Page 3 of 6 - Masterflo Plumbing

Overflowing Toilet

If you’re reading this post, chances are that you’ve got an overflowing toilet. We all deal with toilet problems at some point or another- an obnoxious clog, a broken seat, a cracked bowl, a toilet that won’t stop running. The good news is that most of these problems are minor and can be fixed without having to call a professional plumber. Unfortunately, some of us have had to deal with a much worse toilet problem- a leaking or overflowing toilet.

If you’ve got an overflowing toilet, keep reading to find out what you should do next.

Turn off the water! This is the first step and perhaps the most important! Turning off the water source to the toilet immediately can prevent any further leakage which may help to prevent some damage. Usually you don’t need to turn off the water source to the whole house. There is a shut off valve specifically for the toilet just behind the toilet or near the base. If you can’t find this valve, you should shut off the water supply to the whole house.
Call a plumber! This is the next most important step. Unless you are a licensed, professional plumber, an overflowing toilet should not become your next DIY project. Contacting a professional plumber as quickly as possible is important. The longer your toilet problem is allowed to continue, the more damage you could have.
Move any nearby objects! Water damage is no joke- a small amount of water can create major damage. If you’ve got any furniture, household objects, or wall hangings nearby, you should move them away to keep them safe.
Clean up! Although the problem may not be completely fixed yet, if you’ve already shut off the water source to the toilet its safe to go ahead and clean up any water. Cleaning up standing water that has spilled from the toilet can help prevent more damage from occurring. It also helps keep the area safe for you and your plumber.

Now you know a little bit about what to do if your toilet overflows! If your toilet is leaking or overflowing and you’re in the metro Atlanta area, make sure to call the trusted professionals at Materflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095!

How Often Should I…?

How often do you find yourself wondering if something around your home needs to be replaced or how long its going to last? Similar to the groceries in your refrigerator and pantry, many items around your home have a “shelf life” or expiration date. In order to save yourself thousands of dollars in unnecessary replacement costs, make sure you are keeping up with all of your routine home maintenance. If you are up to date on all of your home maintenance, you can prolong the shelf life of many things around your home.

If you find yourself asking how often you should replace certain things around your home, read on to find out the average life span of things around your home.

Bedroom Items

Windows and window frames should be replaced every 20-30 years
Mattresses should be replaced every 8-15 years
Interior paint should be freshened up every 7-10 years
Real wood flooring should be replaced every 20-30 years
Screen doors should be replaced every 10-20 years

Bathroom Items

Bath tubs should be replaced every 15-20 years
Toilets should be replaced every 15-20 years
Linoleum or vinyl flooring should be replaced every 15-20 years
Grout should be refreshed every 3-5 years
Cabinets should be replaced every 20-30 years
Sinks should be replaced every 15-20 years
Faucets should be replaced every 15-20 years

Kitchen Items

Microwaves should be replaced every 5-10 years
Gas ovens should be replaced every 15-25 years
Dryers should be replaced every 10-20 years
Dishwashers should be replaced every 10-15 years
Refrigerators should be replaced every 10-20 years
Washing machines should be replaced every 10-20 years
Garbage disposals should be replaced every 5-15 years

Living Room Items

Carpet should be replaced every 10-15 years
Air conditioning units should be replaced every 15-20 years
Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years
Carbon monoxide detectors should be replaced every 10 years

Outdoor Items

Driveways should be replaced every 20-30 years
Exterior paint should be refreshed every 5-7 years
Wooden decks should be replaced every 20 years

For help with any plumbing maintenance, repairs, or replacements, contact Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095!

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2016 Tax Credits

Its April 1st, which means you’ve got just a few more weeks to get your taxes filed! Everyone files taxes hoping to get money back, and we’ve got a couple tips to help you maximize your tax return.

Did you know that you can qualify for tax credits based on having certain appliances installed in your home? If you’ve already upgraded your appliances you may be eligible for these tax credits this year. If not, you may consider making this changes in the coming year.

For more information, you can check out Energy.gov. There’s also a local database so you can find incentives specific to your state! Check it out and save yourself some money!

For other ways to put more money in your pocket, contact Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095 for an affordable, professional plumber in your area!

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Monday we talked about some of the risks of using natural gas as an energy source. We briefly touched on carbon monoxide poisoning. Today, we’re going to delve into carbon monoxide poisoning a little more and what you can do to make your home more safe for you and your family.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a gas that can result as a by-product of using natural gas as an energy source. It is tasteless, odoroless, and colorless and is often referred to as the “silent killer”. If it is inhaled, it can lead to death or other serious health complications.

Where is carbon monoxide found?

Carbon monoxide can be found in many places in your home including:

Chimneys- Blocked chimney openings, cracked flues, or buildup of soot can lead to carbon monoxide
Kitchens- If your gas oven, range, or cooktop vent is broken or improperly installed carbon monoxide may be found in your kitchen
Basement/laundry room- If your gas dryer or washer is broken or improperly installed, carbon monoxide may be found

What are the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Dizziness, loss of consciousness, headaches, nausea, fainting, shortness of breath, short term memory loss, speech problems, and other flu like symptoms are all signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.

What should you do in case of a carbon monoxide emergency in your home?

Open all the doors and windows in your home and go outside. Turn off all your appliances and have them checked by a licensed professional before using them again. Seek medical treatment. If you believe carbon monoxide is present in your home, don’t do anything (such as light a cigarette or match) that could start a fire.

How can you protect yourself and your family?

Installing a carbon monoxide detector in your home will drastically reduce your chances of experiencing complications from carbon monoxide poisoning. While 75% of homes in America contain a source of carbon monoxide, only 1 in 10 homes have a carbon monoxide detector. Approximately 72,000 carbon monoxide incidents occur in the US each year. Protect yourself and your family!

For gas line repair and maintenance, call the trained professionals at Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095!

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Gas Line Repair Canton, GA

Most of us are familiar with natural gas as an energy source in our homes. Natural gas is one of the most common and affordable forms of energy for homeowners throughout Canton, GA and its surrounding areas. Because of its popularity, affordability, and availability, its important that you know the potential hazards that can come along with using natural gas as an energy source in your home. If you are facing any problems with your gas lines, it is imperative that you call a licensed professional for gas line repair immediately!

Carbon Monoxide- Carbon monoxide is a by-product of using natural gas. Unfortunately, carbon monoxide can be very hazardous to the health of you and your family. If it is inhaled, it can cause major health problems. It is odorless and colorless, making it virtually impossible to notice on your own. If you have inhaled carbon monoxide, you may experience symptoms that are very similar to the flu.
Gas Line Leaks- Although gas line leaks are generally very rare, they are very dangerous. If natural gas has the opportunity to build up in an enclosed space, it can cause illness to those inhaling it, as well as an explosion. Leaks can happen inside or outside your home, and are very dangerous in either place. Before doing any landscaping or other outside work that requires digging, you should call your local utility company and have them come out and mark the gas lines in your yard. Natural gas smells like rotten eggs. If you notice this smell, make sure to shut off any gas valves at your home and call 911 and your local utility company.

Gas leaks and carbon monoxide can be extremely dangerous! Preventing these issues is as simple as having your gas lines inspected and maintained regularly by a licensed professional. At Masterflo Plumbing we have the skills and experience necessary to prevent gas line issues in your home. We are also able to do gas line repair in an emergency if needed! To schedule your routine gas line maintenance inspection or for emergency gas line repair, call us today at (678) 822-7095!

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Do I Need A Plumber?

No one likes spending unnecessary money, but we have all become accustomed to having modern, working, indoor plumbing. Chances are that at some point you’ve found yourself wondering “Do I need a plumber?”. Your local, trusted professional plumber may be able to do a lot more for you than you think. Sometimes spending a little bit of money with a trained professional can do a lot for the comfort, safety, and health of you and your family when it comes to plumbing.

Here are a few ways a professional plumber can assist you:

Kitchen- properly install your refrigerator so all water lines to the fridge and ice maker are working, dishwasher installation, new sink faucet installation, repair leaky faucets, repair clogged drains, and garbage disposal repair and installation

Bathroom- install water saving toilets, install new faucets for your tub, shower, or sink, repair leaky toilets, repair dripping faucets, repair clogged sinks, and repair clogged bathtub drains

Outside- repair slab leaks, repair broken pipes under your lawn, install new sewer lines and systems, repair existing sewer lines, repair frozen pipes, water heater repair, water heater installation, and leak detection

If you find yourself asking “Do I need a plumber?” and the answer is “Yes!” call the local professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing. Our large team of professional plumbers has the experience and skills necessary to take care of all your plumbing problems! Give us a call today at (678) 822-7095!

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Easy Plumbing Fixes

At some point, most of us will run into plumbing problems at home. If you are renting, this generally means you will call your landlord and have them take care of it. Unfortunately, if you own your own home and are not a professional plumber, this often means calling an experienced plumber out to your home to take care of the problem. Sometimes, this can result in you spending tons of money. Today we’re going to discuss some easy plumbing fixes that you can attempt yourself before calling for professional reinforcements!

Unblock Traps- Undo the sink trap, remove the blockage, and reassemble the trap. Although some clogs can be fixed by using a snake, oftentimes the best way to remove the clog and prevent future clogs is to remove it entirely.

Fix Pesky Sink Clogs- Remove the spring tab from the drain plug, remove the ball valve from the trap, remove the pop up plug, then thoroughly remove all debris in the drain. Sink drain clogs are super common, and contrary to popular belief, its NOT a good idea to use chemical drain cleaners.

Leaky Pipes- Check your pipes periodically for signs of rust or lime scale. This can indicate that you may have a small leak. If left alone, small leaks can turn into big leaks which can cause lots of damage.

If you have a plumbing emergency or have tried these easy plumbing fixes and still find yourself with a plumbing problem, call your local, trusted professional plumbers at Masterflo Plumbing today- (678) 822-7095!

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What is Daylight Saving Time?

We’ve all heard of Daylight Saving Time (DST), and we all know that its time to spring forward this weekend. Its that time of year when we can all enjoy an extra hour of daylight each day. DST is a common practice that most of us don’t put too much thought into, but its actually got a long, rich history.

Approximately 232 years ago, Benjamin Franklin suggested that towns should ring their church bells at sunrise so the citizens of the town could take full advantage of the sunlight. Rumor has it that he was only kidding, but two centuries later, we still participate in the practice. Twice a year, we change our clocks (and our sleeping habits!) to squeeze more daylight into the hours that we’re awake.

Although Benjamin Franklin is recognized in history as being part of the DST movement, British citizen William Willett is known as the godfather of DST. Willett used to go for horsebacks rides early in the morning and noticed no one else was awake enjoying the sunlight. He published a pamphlet called “The Waste of Daylight” and spent many years lobbying Parliament to adopt official DST laws.

Germany picked up on Willett’s ideas before England did and adopted DST laws in 1916 in order to conserve energy and resources during World War I. Soon after, many other nations in Europe adopted the DST laws, including England. Soon after DST laws swept Europe, the United States adopted similar laws during WWI and again during WWII. After WWII, Americans lobbied Congress to repeal the DST laws. However, President Wilson vetoed two separate bills to repeal DST laws. In 2007, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 went into effect. This Act extended DST in the United States by 3-4 weeks in the spring and by 1 week in the fall. Since then, studies have been taking place in the U.S. to see if increased use in air conditioning may be negating any energy saving benefits.

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed this Saturday!

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Slab Leak Repair

Any homeowner knows that any plumbing problem is an unneeded and unwanted hassle, but slab leaks are one of the worst possible plumbing problems! What makes slab leaks one of the worst possible plumbing problems to have is that even a small slab leak can end up causing quite a bit of damage. Unfortunately, slab leak repair can be quite costly sometimes. The amount of damage caused by a slab and the amount of money it will cost you to fix it can sometimes depend on the location of the leak.

So, what exactly is a slab leak? Your home sits on a concrete foundation called a slab. This helps to keep your home stable and prevent it from shifting over time as it settles. Underneath the slab are many pipes, including your water and sewer lines. If one of these pipes develops a leak underneath the slab, the water from the leak will travel up through the slab and into your home, coming up through the floor. This is a slab leak.

Slab leaks are a huge problem. Sometimes, they can be really large and can create tons of damage underneath your home. Also, they can go unnoticed for long periods of time. The longer a slab leak goes unnoticed, the worse it gets and the more damage it causes. Unfortunately, its next to impossible to recognize a slab leak before its had the opportunity to fester and create extensive damage.

As soon as you believe you have a slab leak, turn off your water! This will aid in keeping any more water from leaking out of the pipes and creating further damage. The next thing you should do is call a plumber in your area for slab leak repair immediately! A professional plumber will be able to tell you for sure if you’ve got a slab leak. If you do, a professional plumber will be able to pinpoint the exact location of the leak and will be able to begin working to fix it immediately.

For slab leak repair, call the trusted experts at Masterflo Plumbing immediately! The longer you allow a slab leak to continue underneath your home, the more damage you will have. For a Canton, GA plumber call Masterflo at (678) 822-7095 or send us a message!

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Tax Credits 2016

Don’t forget- tax season is just around the corner! Here at Masterflo Plumbing we’ve got a couple of hints to help you make the most of your tax return!

For more information, you can check out Energy.gov. There’s also a local database so you can find incentives specific to your state! Check it out and save yourself some money!

For other ways to put more money in your pocket, contact Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095 for an affordable, professional plumber in your area!

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