Top Signs Your Water Heater Needs Repair or Replacement in Canton

Signs that water heater is failing

Top Signs Your Water Heater Needs Repair or Replacement in Canton

Signs that water heater is failing

Top Signs Your Water Heater Needs Repair or Replacement in Canton

In Canton, Georgia, where both chilly winters and hot summers put constant demand on your water heating system, it’s crucial to keep an eye on the health of your water heater. At Masterflo Plumbing, we understand the importance of a well-functioning water heater in your home. Here are the top signs that indicate your water heater might need repair or replacement.

1. Inadequate Hot Water Supply

If you’re consistently running out of hot water or your water isn’t getting as hot as it used to, it’s a clear sign that your water heater may need attention. This could be due to a failing heating element or a buildup of sediment in the tank.

2. Unusual Noises

Loud rumbling or banging noises coming from your water heater tank are not a good sign. This often indicates a buildup of sediment at the bottom of the tank, which can lead to inefficiency and increased damage over time.

3. Water Leaks

Any signs of water around the base of your water heater are a red flag. Leaks can lead to significant water damage in your home and are often a sign of a corroded tank or loose connections.

4. Rusty Water

If you notice rusty or discolored water coming from your hot water taps, it could be an indication that the inside of your water heater tank is corroding. This is a serious issue that often requires replacement of the unit.

5. Age of the Water Heater

The average lifespan of a water heater is about 10-15 years. If yours is in this age range, it’s wise to start considering a replacement, especially if you’re experiencing other issues.

6. Frequent Repairs

If you find yourself frequently calling for repairs, it might be more cost-effective in the long run to invest in a new water heater.

7. Inefficiency and Higher Utility Bills

An inefficient water heater can lead to higher energy bills. If you notice a significant increase in your utility bills, your water heater’s efficiency might be declining.

Quick FAQ's About Water Heaters

How often should I have my water heater inspected in Canton?

We recommend having your water heater inspected annually to ensure it's operating efficiently and safely.

Can a water heater be repaired, or does it always need to be replaced?

Many water heater issues can be repaired. However, if your unit is old or experiencing multiple problems, replacement might be more cost-effective..

What are the benefits of upgrading to a newer water heater model?

Newer models are more energy-efficient, which can save you money on utility bills. They also often come with improved technology and better performance.

Are tankless water heaters a good option in Canton?

Yes, tankless water heaters are a great option for many Canton homes. They provide hot water on demand and are more energy-efficient.

How do I know what size water heater I need for my home?

The size depends on your household's water usage. Our professionals at Masterflo Plumbing can help determine the right size based on your needs.

The Masterflo Plumbing Advantage in Woodstock

Don’t let a failing water heater disrupt your daily life in Canton. If you’re experiencing any of these signs, it’s time to call the experts at Masterflo Plumbing at 678.822.7095. We’ll help you decide whether repair or replacement is the best course of action and ensure your new water heater is installed for optimal performance and efficiency. Your comfort and satisfaction are our top priorities!

Covid-19 Precautions

During this difficult and unprecedented time we would like our current and future customers to know that we take your safety and the safety of our employees very seriously. At Masterflo Plumbing, we are committed to continuing to serve our residential and commercial customers with the same level of expediency and quality our customers have come to know and value.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security lists plumbers as essential workers who are obligated to maintain service as usual. As we continue to work and serve our customers, we have taken extra precautions to maintain the health and safety of our employees as well as our customers. At Masterflo Plumbing we are continuing to monitor this rapidly changing situation and are complying with all CDC recommended guidelines.

Our certified plumbing technicians are equipped with the following:

  • Sanitary Masks
  • Sanitary Gloves
  • Hand Sanitizers
  • Sanitary Foot Covers

We take your safety seriously and will take every precaution when in your home or business to ensure the health and safety of you, your family, and your employees.
Thank you for your continued business and support of Masterflo Plumbing. To schedule service please call 678-822-7095 or email [email protected].

 

 

Top 4 Summer Plumbing Problems

Top 4 Summer Plumbing Problems

Summer is still going strong, which also means potential home issues that pop up in the summer can also still be in full swing! Typically, summer related plumbing problems may not cross your mind when you think of potential summer home maintenance issues. If you’re facing plumbing issues with your home this summer, you’re not alone.

Here are the top 4 summer related plumbing problems:

  1. Garbage disposal issues. Although garbage disposals can make rinsing off dirty dishes easier, you still have to be careful about what you put down your disposal. Any type of produce generally isn’t good to put down your garbage disposal and can cause some major clogs. If you’re having lots of backyard cookouts with things like corn, watermelon, and other types of fruits, make sure to dispose of those in the trashcan before putting your dishes in the sink. Its also important not to dispose of cooking oils from the grill down your disposal. Always make sure to run cold water down your disposal for a few seconds after you’ve used it to make sure any waste is properly cleared.
  2. Sewer problems. Spring and summer rain and thunderstorms can lead to major problems for your sewer lines. If excess rain gets into your sewer pipes, you can be facing a sewer line back up. Signs of sewer line problems include toilet water backing up into your bathtub, slow drains, and foul odor. If you notice any of these issues, its important to call a plumber right away. Sewer line problems can cause extensive damage to your home if left unaddressed.
  3. Toilet problems. Because your children are out of school during the summer and are home more often, you may be more prone to having toilet problems. These problems can include persistent clogs, leaks, constant running, or a tank that won’t refill. Some toilet problems you may be able to solve yourself, but if not, its always a good idea to call for professional help before you find yourself without a toilet.
  4. Sprinkler problems. Before the start of the season its a good idea to check your lawn sprinklers to make sure all the heads are in working order. When you’re mowing the lawn also be sure to watch out for the heads so you don’t damage them!

For help with your summer plumbing problems give Masterflo Plumbing a call today at (678) 822-7095!

 

 

 

 

10 Pool Safety Tips

10 Pool Safety Tips

Spending time at the pool is a great way to keep your kids active during the summer and can help prevent your kids from uttering those two words every parent dreads hearing- “I’m bored!”. Hanging out at the pool is always a family favorite and is a great pastime for all members of your family no matter how old they are.pool-safety-tips
Although spending time at the pool is the perfect family friendly summer activity, it does come with certain risks. Nearly 400 children drown each year in the United States, and 58% of those drownings occur in pools. This is a scary statistic, but it shouldn’t keep you from soaking up some sun and enjoying your family poolside this summer!
Today we’re bringing you some pool safety tips that can help keep you and your family safe all summer long. Whether you have your own pool or you’re hanging out at a neighborhood pool or a public pool, its important to take all the necessary precautions and safety measures. 

10 Pool Safety Tips-

1. Swim lessons! Swim lessons are a great way to keep your kids safe at the pool. A child who knows how to swim is at a significantly lower risk of drowning than a child who can’t swim. You can start swim lessons with babies as young as 6 months!
2. Supervise, supervise, supervise! Always make sure there is at least one set of responsible eyes on your kids when they are in or near a pool! While one set of eyes is a must, two sets are even better! You can never have enough supervision when it comes to pool time.
3. Know CPR! This is a life saving tip that everyone should know! Check with your local county rec center, fire department, or Red Cross chapter to find a CPR class.
4. Create physical barriers. If you have your own pool, installing fences and other physical barriers is a great way to prevent young kids from accidentally falling into your pool.
5. Create pool time rituals. If you create a process your child has to go through before entering the pool (swim diaper, swim suit, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, life vest, etc.) it can hinder them from making impulse decisions and jumping into the pool on a whim.
6. Teach your kids to swim without flotation devices! Flotation devices definitely serve an important purpose, but when you’re actively trying to teach your kids how to tread water, stay afloat, or swim, its important that they learn these skills without the assistance of flotation devices.
7. Forget the goggles. This may seem counter intuitive, but teaching your kids (and yourself!) to be comfortable looking around under water can be crucial. If your child is comfortable opening his or her eyes under water, it will help them feel less disoriented if they do accidentally fall into the water.
8. Blow bubbles! Teach your kids to put their face underwater and blow bubbles in the bathtub. This encourages your kids to not inhale or drink the water in the pool.
9. Set some rules. You should always have pool rules that your kids are familiar with. If you have guests over, no matter how old your guests are, you should make sure your guests are familiar with your pool rules, too.
10. Use proper flotation devices. If you and your kids are on a boat or any other type of watercraft or are in an open body of water, life vests are a must!
Following our 10 pool safety tips can help ensure that you and your family have a safe, fun filled summer at the pool this year. Don’t let plumbing tasks around the house take the fun out of your summer. Relax with your friends and family at the pool and contact Masterflo Plumbing today for all your residential plumbing needs! Give us a call at (678) 822-7095!

Fire Safety Tips

Fire Safety Tips

Earlier this week, we talked about the drought in Georgia and ways you can save water and reduce your monthly water bill. Along with the drought comes a higher risk for fire. Fire safety tips are generally drilled into us in elementary school through demonstrations by the local fire department, but how many of us still remember what we learned all those years ago? The risk of you and your home being involved in a fire increases during the summer due to things like drought and fireworks during the 4th of July. Did you know that if your home catches on fire you may have less than 2 minutes to escape?

fire-safety-tips

Today let’s go over some quick refresher points so that you’ll be prepared in case of a fire in your home!
Fire Safety Tips-
1. Make sure you and your family members have a fire escape plan and that you practice it a couple times a year. Try to seek out two ways to escape from each room in your home. You should also have a designated meeting spot outside of your home so you can account for all family members if you do have a fire in your home.
2. If your home does catch on fire, get out immediately and don’t go back in. 
3. Teach all your family members to stop, drop, and roll in case their clothing catches on fire. This one is basic, but it can be life saving!
4. Check your smoke detectors once a month. If they aren’t working, replace the batteries. All of your smoke detectors should be completely replaced every 10 years.
5. Make sure your home is equipped with enough smoke detectors. You should have at least one on each level of your home.
6. Know the difference between a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector. Both are important and life saving and neither can be substituted for the other!
7. Ensure that everyone in your family- especially young children- is familiar with the sound of a smoke detector! The high pitched sound can be scary, especially to children, so making sure that everyone is familiar with the sound is crucial.
8. If you use space heaters in your home, make sure all flammable objects are at least three feet away from the heaters. If you leave your home, make sure all heaters are turned off.
9. Having a portable fire extinguisher handy can be key to stopping a fire before it gets out of control. However, you should be properly trained in how to use it!
10. The word PASS can help you remember how to use a fire extinguisher. 
       -Pull the pin and hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointed away from you.
       -Aim low. You should always point the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire.
       -Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
       -Sweep the nozzle from side to side.
Make sure to review these fire safety tips to help keep you and your family safe this summer and all year long! If you have experienced a fire in your home and need plumbing restoration help, call the local professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (678) 822-7095!

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and is a day for us to remember the men and women who have died in service to the USA. There are many cities across the United States that claim to be the birth place of Memorial Day, but in 1966 Waterloo, New York was officially declared the birthplace of the holiday.

Memorial Day originally came from the Civil War as a way to honor the dead and was proclaimed a holiday on May 5, 1868. General John Logan named it a holiday by saying  “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.” The date was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any Civil War battles.

New York was the first state to recognize the holiday in 1873, and by 1890 all northern states recognized the holiday. Southern states began officially acknowledging the holiday after World War I. In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act making Memorial Day a Federal holiday.

MoinaMichaelStamp

In 1915, Moina Michael penned a poem that inspired her to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving our country during war:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

Moina was the first to wear the red poppies and she began selling them to her friends and co-workers and donated the money to servicemen in need. In 1922, the VFW became the first veterans  organization to begin selling the poppies. Later, the Buddy Poppy program began selling artificial poppies made by disabled war veterans. In 1948, the USPS honored Moina Michel by issuing a red 3 cent stamp with her face on it.

In December 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed. This resolution asks that at 3p.m. local time all Americans pause for a moment of silence out of remembrance and respect for those who have died serving our country.

All of us at Masterflo Plumbing wish you a very happy, safe, and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

How To Drain A Hot Water Heater

How To Drain A Hot Water Heater

Do you know how to drain your hot water heater? Most home owners don’t know that draining a hot water heater is an important step to maintaining your hot water heater, and even fewer home owners actually know how to do it! One of our most important yearly home maintenance tips is to drain your hot water heater twice a year. If you’re not a professional plumber, draining a hot water heater may sound like a daunting task. 

Don’t panic! Today we’re going to run through a few easy steps on how to drain a hot water heater. You may be wondering if this is truly important or necessary. Your hot water heater is possibly the most used appliance in your home. Over time and through normal use, sediment builds up in your hot water heater. This can lead to energy inefficiency, clogs, or eventually no hot water in your home! We can’t stress enough the importance of draining your hot water heater each year as part of your yearly home maintenance.

how-to-drain-a-hot-water-heater

 

How to drain a hot water heater-

  1. Turn off the water supply- If its electric, turn off the power at the breaker box. If its gas, turn the thermostat to the pilot setting. Connect a drain hose to the valve near the thermostat and turn off the cold water supply.
  2. Drain the water- To prevent forming a vacuum, turn on one of the hot water faucets in your hosue (the tub, the sink, etc.). Open the drain valve on the hot water heater. Make sure the end of the hose that the hot water is draining out of is far away from anything that could be damaged by hot water.
  3. Get rid of any remaining sediment- Once all the hot water has drained out of the water heater, turn the cold water supply back on to flush out any sediment that remains in the hot water heater. Once all sediment has been washed out, close the drain valve and turn off the faucet inside your house. Make sure to read all the warning labels and instructions that go with your hot water heater- some hot water heaters need to remain full in order to prevent any damage.
  4. Check the pressure release valve- Turn your power supply back on once your tank has refilled. Once the temperature has come back up, check your pressure release valve by using the instructions that came with your hot water heater.

Remember, if you don’t feel comfortable draining a hot water heater yourself, at Masterflo Plumbing we will be more than happy to come out and do it for you! We boast a large team of qualified, experienced professionals who would love to come out and see you for a hot water heater maintenance visit. Draining a hot water heater is an important step in prolonging the life of your water heater. For all your hot water heater needs contact us today at (678) 822-7095!

Easy Plumbing Fixes

Easy Plumbing Fixes

Plumbing problems are never a good thing and can give many homeowners heat palpitations! Often, plumbing problems result in calling a professional plumber and sometimes spending hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars for a solution. Fortunately, we’ve got some easy plumbing fixes for you! 

While its almost certain that you will face a number of plumbing problems throughout your life time, the good news is that there are many common plumbing problems that can be solved fairly easily and without a plumber. If its not a problem that can be solved completely on your own, there are some things you can do to prevent the problem from worsening and causing further damage.

Today let’s take a look at some easy plumbing fixes!

easy-plumbing-fixes

Hot Water Heater Problems

No hot water? Or do you have luke warm water? Are you running out of hot water too quickly?

  • Make sure your pilot light is lit
  • Double check your temperature setting
  • If you’ve got a big family or you use unusually large amounts of hot water, you may need a larger hot water heater or a second hot water heater installed

Clogged Drain

Is your drain clogged up? Is the water backing up into your sink?

  • Try not to pour hot grease or oils down your sink drain
  • If its already backed up, try to use a different sink
  • Don’t use chemical drain cleaners that you find in the store
  • Try using a plunger to move the clog

Stinky Drains

Do you cringe every time you’re near your sink? Are there foul odors coming out of your drains?

  • If you have a garbage disposal run it every time you put food in it
  • Try pouring vinegar and baking soda down the drain and flushing it with hot water

Leaky Pipes

Do you see water damage on your floors, walls, or ceilings? Do you hear a leak coming from your pipes?

  • Leaky pipes occur due to age
  • If you notice a leak shut off the water supply to that area
  • Pipe repair should only be done by a licensed, professional plumber

easy-plumbing-fixes

If you live in Marietta, GA and are facing any of these common plumbing problems, call us today at (678) 822-7095! At Masterflo Plumbing we have a huge team of professional plumbers who have the knowledge, training, and experience necessary to deal with your plumbing problems correctly the first time!