Water Heater Repair Atlanta GA

Water Heater Repair Atlanta GA

Do you need water heater repair in Atlanta GA? Keep reading to find out!

water-heater-repair-atlanta-ga

Although water heaters are super sturdy and durable appliances, they work hard every single day. Your hot water heater is, perhaps, the most hard working appliance in your home. Its also the least thought about appliance in your home because its not appliance that you see every day. This daily use can and does cause them to develop problems and small malfunctions over time. This is totally normal! If you notice a problem with your hot water heater, its important that you contact an experienced plumber for water heater repair in Atlanta GA immediately! We have the experience, skills, and tools necessary to fix your hot water heater before it becomes irreparable. The longer a problem with your water heater is allowed to continue, the worse it will get. If the problem goes on long enough, you may have to replace your entire unit!

The top two most common water heater repair issues are:

  • Leaks- Leaks are a very common water heater repair issue. There are many areas of your hot water heater that can spring a leak. Bad valves and loose pipe junctions are the most common cause of leaks. If your hot water heater springs a leak in the main tank, this can be a huge problem! A small leak in your hot water heater can quickly turn into a big disaster. A leak in the main tank is usually caused by rust and can eventually lead to your whole tank exploding. If you see any leaks- even a small one- have it repaired immediately!
  • Low output- If your hot water heater is suddenly not keeping up with your demand for hot water, it could mean a variety of things. You could have a dirty burner assembly that is having trouble igniting all of the jets. This would significantly lower the temperature of the water in the tank. You could also have a large buildup of sediment in your tank. Because the cause of low output is hard to determine, its important to call a trust professional immediately to pinpoint and fix the issue.

If you have any of these water heater repair issues in Atlanta GA, be sure to call us at Masterflo Plumbing! You can trust us to accurately correct your water heater problem the first time around! With years of experience repairing and replacing water heaters, we can take care of all your hot water heater needs. Call us today at (678) 822-7095!

water heater repair atlanta ga

Atlanta GA Plumber: Leak Detection Services

Atlanta GA Plumber: Leak Detection Services

If you believe that you may have a leak and need an Atlanta GA plumber, read on to find out more information….

Plumbing leaks should be easy to detect- you see water dripping from a pipe and you know you’ve got a leak, so you call a plumber. Right? Sometimes it is that easy, but what about when you have a tiny pinhole leak? Or what about if you’ve got a leak in a pipe that’s not exposed?

atlanta-ga-plumber

Most of your plumbing system is hidden. Nearly all of the pipes that supply fresh water to your home or remove waste water are hidden behind drywall, studs, floorboards, concrete, or dirt. Fortunately, this means you don’t have to look at your plumbing system. However, it also means that you may have a hard time detecting some leaks. Even small leaks can turn into big problems, so its important that you make sure you know about any and all leaks and have them taken care of.

The first sign of a leak is an increase in your water bill if you haven’t knowingly increased your water consumption. There may also be some outward signs such as discolored spots on your walls, warped floor boards, or an increase in the humidity in your home. If you notice any of these signs, call a plumber immediately as it may be time for some professional leak detection. Leaks that are occurring in hidden pipes have to be detected and repaired by a professional Atlanta GA plumber before they cause major damage to your home or property.

While some of the outward signs of a leak may give you a general idea about where the leak is, actually reaching the pipes can be problematic unless you’re a professional plumber. Sometimes, in order to reach a leak, you may have to cut through drywall, break through concrete, or dig through large amounts of earth. This can cost tons of money and could also create more damage than the leaky pipe. In order to avoid large amounts of excavation, its best to have a professional come pinpoint the exact location of the leak. If the leak is small enough, even if its hidden, a professional plumber may be able to fix it without doing any excavation.

Plumbers can perform leak detection in a variety of way. Most of these ways employ the use of technology such as acoustic listening devices, ground microphones (these can detect the sound of water leaving the pipes) and pressure detectors (these find areas of rising pressure coming from leaks).

Perhaps the most effective way to find a hidden leak is by using video pipe inspection equipment. Video pipe inspection equipment uses miniature cameras mounted on the ends of fiber-optic cables that can be run down a water or sewer line. The image from the camera is then fed back to a monitor so your plumber can find the exact location of the leak. Being able to view the leak will also allow your plumber to determine its exact size and magnitude.

Trying to detect and fix a hidden leak on your own can be tricky and can result in further damage. If you’ve got a hidden leak, your best choice is to call the professionals right away! At Masterflo Plumbing we have the technology, skills, and experience necessary to find your leak and find a solution for you.

Contact an Atlanta GA Plumber today at (678) 822-7095, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, for all your plumbing needs!

Emergency Plumber in Atlanta GA

Emergency Plumber in Atlanta GA

While many minor plumbing issues can be handled by a homeowner, there are many more plumbing issues that can’t. Sometimes these issues aren’t pressing and can be handled by your plumber during a routine appointment, but other plumbing issues may require an emergency visit from your plumber. Although its rare to need an emergency plumber, its important to have the number of a trusty worthy and responsive plumber on hand, just in case! 

Knowing when to call an emergency plumber is crucial! Plumbing problems can cause a wide variety of problems for homeowners. A plumbing problem that may seem minor to a homeowner could actually cause serious complications. Plumbing problems can affect the integrity of their home and property, affect the health of the occupants in the home, and can affect how high your water bill is.

emergency plumber in atlanta ga

Because its not always completely obvious when you need to call an emergency plumber, we’ve put together a list for you.

  1. Flooded basement: This one is pretty obvious! A flooded basement is usually caused by burst pipes. Without immediate attention, your house and property could be subject to even further damage.
  2. Clogged drains: Clogged drains are fairly common place, so this one isn’t as obvious! If your drains do not unclog when you use baking soda, a plunger, or commercial drain cleaner (which we do NOT recommend using), you should call a plumber immediately. Stubborn clogs can lead to burst pipes and are unhygienic.
  3. No water from the faucet: This generally occurs during low temperatures when pipes have frozen. When water freezes and becomes ice, it expands which can cause burst pipes. If your pipes have frozen, call a plumber immediately to avoid burst pipes and even more damage.
  4. Bad smell: If there is a bad smell coming from your drains, this is a sign that your sewer pipes may be leaking. Leaking sewer pipes can cause damage to your property and is also a huge health risk to humans and pets.
  5. Exceptionally high water bill and/or the sound of running water: If you don’t believe that your water consumption has gone up (be sure to take into account if you’re doing any outdoor watering!), but your water bill has increased or you can hear running water even when all faucets are turned off, you may have a slab leak. A slab leak can lead to extensive damage and repairs can be costly. To avoid any further damage, you should call an emergency plumber as soon as possible.

At Masterflo Plumbing, we pride ourselves on being extremely responsive and available to our customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! If you need an emergency plumber, or even if you think you may need an emergency plumber, don’t hesitate to call us any time of the day or night! We’ll come out immediately to assess the problem, determine your needs, and find a customized solution just for you!  If you need an emergency plumber in Atlanta GA, call your dependable, local emergency plumber today at (678) 822-7095!

emergency plumber in atlanta ga

5 Facts About Water Heaters

5 Facts About Water Heaters

Your water heater is, perhaps, the most important appliance in your home! Although you may not think about it every day and you may not see it every day, chances are that you use it every day. Most of us never realize how vitally important our hot water heaters are until they break! Without a hot water heater, small things like cooking pasta, washing your hands, or doing laundry become daunting tasks.

Here are 5 fun facts you may not know about hot water heaters-

  1. Nearly 25% of the energy you use in your home goes towards heating your water. Because this is such a large portion of your energy bill, many people are opting to use more energy efficient models.
  2. Doing laundry and bathing use the most amount of hot water out of all the tasks hot water is used for.
  3. Using an electric hot water heater costs more than using a gas or propane powered one. You can speak to a professional plumber about making a change from electric to gas.
  4. Your hot water heater should be maintained on a regular basis in order to extend its life, as well as make sure its running as efficiently as possible.
  5. Many people assume tankless hot water heaters don’t leak or don’t need to be maintained like traditional hot water heaters. However, this is not true! Tankless hot water heaters can spring a leak, just like a traditional model.

tankless water heater repair

For all your hot water heater needs, call Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095! If you’re in need of a new hot water heater, we can help you choose the right water heater for your needs and install it for you. If you’ve found yourself with no hot water and need an emergency visit, we’re available to come fix your hot water heater 24 hours a day 7 days a week. And finally, if you want to extend the life of your existing hot water heater and schedule a hot water heater maintenance visit, we’ve got you covered!

 

 

 

Sewer Line Repair Atlanta, GA

Sewer Line Repair Atlanta, GA

All of the drains and drain pipes in your home eventually go to the same place- they all connect to one big pipe called the sewer drain. While most of us never even give it a second thought, the sewer drain is perhaps the single most used piece of plumbing in your home! It gets so much use because it has to handle every single drop of waste water coming from your home. In most homes with modern day plumbing, the sewer drain is buried underneath your property. While this means you don’t have to see it, it also makes it hard to detect small leaks. When these small leaks go undetected, they can fester and turn into large leaks. Large leaks from your sewer line can produce disastrous, expensive problems for you.

sewer-line-repair

Today we’re going to talk about a few signs you can look for that can be indicative of a leak in your sewer line. If you notice any of these signs, you may need sewer line repair and should call an experienced plumber as soon as possible!

Signs you need sewer repair:

  • Soggy patches in your yard- If your sewer line is leaking, then a ton of extra water is going to be getting leaked out underneath your yard. All this extra water will create soggy patches in your yard, even if it hasn’t rained recently.
  • Lush patches in your yard- All the extra water underneath your yard will help your vegetation to flourish. If you notice patches of grass, flowers, or other plants that are growing rapidly it may mean that there is extra water underneath from a sewer line leak.
  • Odor- This one is a no brainer! If you smell any noxious odors in your yard or around your property it could possibly be a sign of a sewer line leak.
  • Stubborn drain clogs- If you have multiple drains that are clogged and you’ve tried all the typical drain clog solutions and the clogs are still there, you may have a major clog in your sewer pipe. Like we mentioned above, all your drains lead to the sewer line. If there’s a major clog in your sewer pipe, it will eventually affect all your other drains.

If you believe you may have sewer problems, don’t hesitate until you have a plumbing disaster on your hands. Call the trusted experts at Masterflo Plumbing today. We’ll come out quickly and assess your sewer line. If you have a sewer problem, we’ll check it out and determine the best course of action to get your sewer line repaired quickly.

If you need sewer line repair contact us immediately at (678) 822-7095!

Water Heater Maintenance

Water Heater Maintenance

Finding yourself with no hot water or with a leaking hot water is every homeowner’s worst nightmare! Unfortunately, water heater problems generally plagued every home owner at some point. Winter has arrived, and its definitely not the time to find yourself without hot water. Water heater repair can be costly, and sometimes a broken water heater can cause additional damage to your home. Scheduling a regular water heater maintenance visit can ensure that you don’t find yourself without hot water this winter. It can also increase the lifespan of your hot water heater.

water heater maintenance

At Masterflo Plumbing we’d love to save you the hassle, headache, and expense of a broken water heater by conducting your water heater maintenance visit. So, what happens during a water heater maintenance visit?

Sediment Flushing

If you have a traditional storage tank water heater, you have a large storage tank that holds all of your water. As time goes by, sediment can build up along the bottom of the storage tank. After this sediment has had the chance to build up, it can become harder for the heating element to penetrate and heat the water. This can result in a very inefficient water heater, and you may end up with no hot water at all! During a routine maintenance visit, we’ll flush out the storage tank to get rid of any built up sediment before it has the opportunity to cause problems.

Anode Rod

The anode rod is a piece of your unit that protects the hot water heater from rust by degrading over time. If the anode rod is not replaced before it has the chance to degrade completely, its protection will be gone and your water heater will be subject to rust. During each routine hot water heater maintenance visit, we’ll check your anode rod to make sure its still functioning properly and doesn’t need to be replaced.

These are just a couple of things that will happen during a hot water heater maintenance visit. To learn more, call your local, trusted Canton, GA Plumber at (678) 822-7095. At Masterflo Plumbing, we’ve got the skills and experience necessary to keep your hot water heater maintained and repaired! Contact us today to schedule your visit.

water heater maintenance

Remember- the best way to prevent a broken water heater is to schedule regular water heater maintenance visits with your local, trusted Canton, GA plumber!

 

What To Do For Frozen Pipes

What To Do For Frozen Pipes

We’re waking up this morning in Cherokee County to frigid temperatures, blustery winds, and patches of ice on the roadways! Now that traditional winter temperatures and conditions are starting to show up, that may mean that your home is at risk for frozen pipes!

frozen pipes

Here are a few easy ways to prevent frozen pipes-

  1. Insulate any pipes exposed to cooler air. This can include pipes that run outside your home, in your basement, or in your attic.
  2. Use an insulating dome to cover outdoor faucets and spigots.
  3. Let your indoor faucets drip. This can reduce pressure in the pipes, which drastically lowers your chance of your pipes bursting.

frozen pipes

Although these prevention measures can greatly reduce your risk of frozen pipes in your home, these steps are not fool proof! Sometimes mother nature (and your home!) have others plans. In case your pipes DO freeze, here are some steps you can take to prevent damage to your home-

  1. Even if your pipes have frozen, keep your indoor faucets open. Once the pipes do begin to melt, allowing water to flow out of the faucets will reduce pressure in the pipes and allow them to melt more quickly.
  2. If you know the location of your frozen pipes, you can help speed up the melting process by applying heat with an electric heating pad applied to the pipes or by aiming an electric hair dryer at the pipes.
  3. Use an electric space heater aimed at the frozen pipes. Remember, if you choose to do this, do not leave the space heater unattended and keep it away from anything flammable.
  4. If you don’t know where your frozen pipes are or believe you may be at risk of damage to your home, call a professional plumber immediately!

For help with your frozen pipes or any other plumbing emergency this winter, call the trusted experts at Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095 or send us an email! No matter what the weather is like outside, we’re on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

 

8 Winter Home Maintenance Tips

8 Winter Home Maintenance Tips

Getting your home ready for the winter is important for homeowners in most parts of the United States. Even here in Georgia, we can see some low, freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and sleet. Staying ahead of the bad weather and making sure you’re prepared for it can potentially save you tons of money in costly repairs each year!

Here are 8 winter home maintenance tips that can help you avoid home damage this year:

  1. Get your furnace or boiler checked out and serviced by a contractor before winter heats and you need to use your heat! Turning up the heat in your home during frigid temperatures can help you avoid other costly repairs to your home.
  2. If you plan to use your fireplace during the winter, have it checked out by a professional before you build your first fire of the year!
  3. Keep all interior doors open to help even out the temperature throughout your home. This can help prevent your pipes from freezing.
  4. Adding extra insulation in your attic can help prevent freezing pipes. Also, if you’re in an area of the country that sees a lot of snowfall and winter precipitation and extra heat escapes into your attic, it can warm the snow and ice on the roof. If the warm snow and ice refreeze, it could cause an ice dam which can cause water damage inside your home.
  5. Check the weather stripping and caulking around all doors and windows. This simple step can help better insulate your home and can save you money on your utility bill.
  6. Have a professional plumber come out and inspect your pipes for potential leaks before any bad weather hits. Small leaks can turn into potentially huge plumbing disasters if left un-repaired during winter weather.
  7. Make sure you know where the main water supply valve is located. In case of a burst pipe, turning off the water supply can stop the leak and prevent more damage.
  8. Before winter weather hits, make sure all your gutters and downspouts are cleaned out and can drain properly. If snow and ice builds up in your gutters and downspouts and can’t drain, you could face potential water damage.

For any assistance getting your plumbing ready for winter, contact us today at (678) 822-7095!

 

 

Choosing A Tankless Water Heater

Choosing A Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters aren’t right for everyone, but a lot of people are making the switch and loving it! You can read our post here on the benefits of tankless water heaters and how they can save you money. If a tankless water heater is the right fit for you, you can save yourself tons of money on your utility bill each year! Today we’re going to talk about choosing a tankless water heater so that you can make the right selection for you and your family!

There are several things to consider when thinking about purchasing a tankless water heater for your home- fuel type,  demand, and purpose.

Fuel Type

Tankless water heaters can be electric or gas. If you’re going to purchase an electric tankless water heater, you have to consider voltage, amperage, and your circuit breaker.

  • Voltage- Most units sold will accomodate 110V, 208V, 220V, and 277V.
  • Amperage- Different units will have different requirements. Make sure you can support the electrical demands of the unit you choose.
  • Circuit breaker- Make sure you have a circuit that will support an electric water heater. You may have to put your water heater on its own circuit.

If you’re going to purchase a gas tankless water heater , there are also a couple of things to consider.

  • Gas type- You need to determine if your gas type is natural or propane. Make sure you have thoroughly checked out your current gas line to determine whether or not it meets the requirements of the new water heater you plan on buying. The requirements of your new gas tankless water heater may exceed those of your old water heater.
  • Venting requirements- Venting is very important and these requirements should not be overlooked. Make sure to purchase Category III stainless stell (UL1738 certified) venting for your new gas tankless water heater. Type B venting accessories are not ok! Its also a good idea to check out your local building code for any specific needs. Some tankless water heater manufacturers sell gas venting kits. While these kits are handy, make sure you’ve checked out the specific installation requirements for the tankless unit you’ve purchased to ensure that kit will meet all your needs. There are many things to consider when installing a gas tankless water heater such as the vent route, where the discharge will go, access to air for combustion, etc.

Demand

When you’re choosing a tankless water heater, its a good idea to think about how many fixtures you’re trying to heat water for. Are you looking for a unit to heat water for just one sink? A whole bathroom? An apartment? A whole house? You may need to do some research on the typical flow rates for all the fixtures you are going to be heating water for.

Purpose

When shopping for a tankless water heater, you may have a specific purpose or need in mind. Here are some examples of the most common purposes and which model may work best.

  • Single Point Application- This is when only one fixture (one sink, one shower, a washing machine, etc.) will need to have water heated by the tankless water heater.
  • Thermostatic- A thermostatic tankless water heater boosts the temperature of the water if it has cooled off due to a long pipe run or for sanitation purposes. These units are great if precise temperature control is needed.
  • Whole House Use- Large tankless water heaters are designed to heat water for whole houses where many fixtures will need hot water.

choosing a tankless water heater

For more information on choosing a tankless water heater and installation, contact us today at (678) 822-7095! At Masterflo Plumbing, we’ve got the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to help you make the best choice for your family!

Plumbing Fun Facts

Plumbing Fun Facts

Although modern day plumbing and advances in sanitation technology are fairly new, plumbers and the plumbing industry have been around forever. Many of us don’t spend too much time thinking about plumbing or plumbers, and don’t realize that the plumbing industry actually has a long, rich history. To get the new year kicked off, we’re going to go through a few, fun plumbing facts!

canton-ga-leak-detection

  • The Egyptians were skilled in plumbing drainage construction as far back as 2500 B.C.
  • In 1700 B.C. the Minoan Palace of Knossos on the isle of Crete featured four separate drainage systems that drained into giant sewers made of stone.
  • Aqueducts to supply water to the Roman Baths were first built in 312 B.C.
  • In 800 B.C. the first Roman sewers were constructed.
  • In 1738 JF Brondel introduced the first valve type flush toilet.
  • The Tremont Hotel in Boston became the first hotel to have indoor plumbing in 1829.
  • The National Public Health Act was passed in England in 1848. It became the world’s first model for a plumbing code.
  • In 1870, Thomas Twyford designed the one piece toilet.
  • Toilet paper was first used in China. The Chinese were also the first to mass produce it
  • 10 million trees are used worldwide each year to keep up with toilet paper demand
  • Splinter free toilet paper wasn’t introduced until 1935
  • Americans use approximately 8.6 sheets of toilet paper per bathroom trip
  • 75% of the world’s population does not use toilet paper due to cost or insufficient plumbing
  • During Desert Storm, the military used toilet paper to camouflage their tanks
  • The average person will spend about 3 years of their life on the toilet
  • The Pentagon uses almost 700 rolls of toilet paper every day
  • Americans used 50% more toilet paper than other Western countries
  • Toilet paper wasn’t introduced in the United States until 1857
  • The United States is the largest exporter of toilet paper in the world!

We hope everyone’s new year is off to a great start. Remember, if you need residential plumbing services in the metro Atlanta area, contact us today about any of our services at (678) 822-7095!