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Do I Need A Plumber?
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!
5 Things To Do At Daylight Saving Time
5 Things To Do At Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time is this weekend! Earlier this week, we ran through a quick history of DST. Today, we’re going to go over 5 things to do when you set your clocks forward each spring. Remember, keeping up with your home’s maintenance will ensure that your home is working efficiently and can prevent major maintenance issues.
- Replace the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. Don’t forget, these are life saving devices that are installed in your home, but they will only work if they are properly maintained!
- Schedule a professional furnace inspection. This will ensure that your furnace is working as efficiently as possible, and that there are no major safety issues with it.
- Have your chimney professionally cleaned. This is especially important if you use your fireplace regularly. When soot and other debris builds up inside your chimney, you could be facing a major fire hazard.
- Replace the filters in your heater and air conditioner. This should be done several times a year in order to ensure maximum efficiency from these units, but at the very least change them out when you set your clocks forward.
- Drain your hot water heater. This can prevent sediment buildup and can help prevent other hot water heater issues. For other plumbing maintenance services you should call your local professional plumber.
Keeping up with your annual home maintenance can cut down on your utility bills, as well as save you money in costly repairs. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed this Saturday, March 11, 2016! For any plumbing maintenance issues, contact us at (678) 822-7095!
What is Daylight Saving Time?
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!
Slab Leak Repair
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!
Kitchen Appliance Maintenance
Kitchen Appliance Maintenance
Earlier this week we talked about some easy yearly home maintenance tips. Today we’re going to focus in on kitchen appliance maintenance! Before spring comes and the warm, sunny days are here to stay, get caught up on your home maintenance items indoors! Once spring comes, you’ll be able to enjoy the outdoors and be able to rest assured that your home is in excellent condition and is running in top shape.
Refrigerator
- Check the gasket on your refrigerator to ensure that it is sealing properly. Place a dollar bill between the gasket and the door. Once the door is closed, you should be able to pull the dollar bill out, but there should be tension.
- Check the interior shelves for cracks or to see if they are ill fitting. If they are cracked or shaky, replace them to avoid a collapse inside your fridge.
- Clean the back panel of your refrigerator and the coils.
Dishwasher
- Check the door gasket for any water leaks while a cycle is running.
- Make sure to rinse large scraps of food off your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to prevent clogs and smells.
- Load your dishwasher carefully with larger items around the exterior of the dishwasher so that you don’t block the spray arm.
- Put knives with the blade down. For other utensils, put the handles down for maximum cleaning.
- Check the spray arm to make sure there are no clogs in the tiny holes.
Stove and Oven
- Clean your drip pans periodically to prevent food buildup from causing a fire. If your drip pans are extra dirty, you can replace them.
- Clean the interior of your oven to prevent food buildup on the bottom of your oven.
- You can use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean your drip pans, as well as the inside of your oven.
These easy kitchen appliance maintenance tips can keep your kitchen running more efficiently and can greatly extend the life of your kitchen appliances. When performing your kitchen appliance maintenance tasks, if you notice a leak or any other plumbing issues, make sure to call the trusted experts at Masterflo Plumbing! (678) 822-7095! Our professional plumbers have the skills and experience necessary to get the job done right the first time!
10 Yearly Home Maintenance Tips
10 Yearly Home Maintenance Tips
We all know that our cars need regular maintenance to keep running smoothly and efficiently, and our homes do, too. If you do some regular maintenance items each year, you can help prevent damage and stave off costly repairs. You’ll also keep your home running in tip top shape. Your home provides comfort, safety, and security for your family. Keeping it running well should be a top priority for you.
Here are 10 (easy) yearly home maintenance tips:
- Replace your furnace filters. This should be done 3-4 times each year to help reduce dust and allergens in your home and keep your furnace running more efficiently.
- Clean the condenser coils behind your refrigerator. This should be done once a year. It can be done easily with a vacuum cleaner. Not only will it keep your fridge running efficiently, it can also reduce your risk of a fire hazard.
- Replace the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector yearly. This is an easy tip and is vital to the safety of you and your family.
- Check your water heater for leaks, cracks, or rust. Many problems with your hot water heater can be repaired if they are detected early enough. If left to fester, you will have to replace your entire unit.
- Check your furnace for any signs of wear or rust. Furnaces can also be repaired if problems are detected early enough at a fraction of the cost of replacing your entire unit.
- Clean your oven. Most ovens are self cleaning. Cleaning your oven can help eliminate obnoxious odors while you cook and can lower your risk of a fire hazard.
- Check your toilets and faucets for signs of a leak. Leaks can cause major damage to the integrity of your home and your home’s foundation if they are not caught and repaired.
- Clean your gutters. Depending on the amount of surrounding foliage and the area in which you live, this should be done at least once a year and as many as 4-5 times per year!
- Have your chimney professionally cleaned. This is particularly important if you plan to use your fireplace during the winter. Using your fireplace can be a huge fire hazard if your flue has not been cleaned out.
- Check your flashlight for batteries. Even if you don’t see any major natural disasters that affect the power where you live, power outages are common and can occur anywhere. Don’t get caught in the dark!
Remember to follow these 10 year home maintenance tips to keep your home safe and running efficiently for you and your family. For help with any plumbing maintenance around your home, don’t forget to call the trusted professionals at Masterflo Plumbing. Contact us at (678) 822-7095 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Common Plumbing Problems (And Some Solutions)
Common Plumbing Problems (And Some Solutions)
Hearing the words “plumbing problems” is never a good thing. No one wants to deal with plumbing problems. Generally plumbing problems result in calling a professional plumber and sometimes spending hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars for a solution.
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 common plumbing problems and their solutions. Chances are that you’re not alone!
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
If you live in Woodstock, 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!
All About Plumbing Leaks
All About Plumbing Leaks
Being a homeowner is something that brings satisfaction to millions of Americans every year. Owning a home is something most of us aspire to as it can bring peace, stability, and comfort to us and our families. However, being a homeowner means that when home maintenance issues arise, there is no landlord or maintenance crew to call! You’ve got to take care of all your maintenance issues yourself.
Your home’s plumbing system is something that is vital to the comfort, health, and safety of you and your family. We’re all familiar with plumbing leaks- that annoying dripping sound coming from your toilet or kitchen sink. While plumbing leaks may seem like just a minor annoyance, plumbing leaks can actually turn into huge, disastrous, expensive problems.
The best way to avoid spending thousands of dollars on repairs from plumbing leaks is to know what you’re looking for, know the implications, and fix any plumbing leaks immediately by calling a local plumber.
Signs you may have plumbing leaks-
- an unexpected increase in your water bill
- visible mold or mildew
- warped, sagging, or stained spots on your ceilings or walls
- warped, cracked, or sagging floors
- sporadic wet or lush patches in your yard
Most common places you may have plumbing leaks-
- bathrooms
- kitchen
- laundry room
- basement
- underneath your foundation
Dangers of plumbing leaks-
- If you suffer from allergies, mold can further irritate your allergies or cause chronic allergies
- Mold inhalation can lead to chronic dizziness, headaches, and respiratory issues
- If you have a sewer leak, toxic bacteria can leak into your home
- Mold can destroy your drywall
- If you have extensive mold damage, you may need major home renovations to reverse the effects
- Potential flooding
Ways of detecting plumbing leaks-
- radar
- gas
- video
- geophone
If you suspect you may have any plumbing leaks and you live in the Woodstock, Georgia area, don’t hesitate to call the experienced professionals at Masterflo Plumbing today! Call (678) 822-7095! Waiting to call can potentially impact your health and the health of your family and the integrity of your home. At Masterflo Plumbing we’re available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
5 Must Know Winter Tips For Homeowners
5 Must Know Winter Tips For Homeowners
Winter is here and we’re all feeling the winter blues. We’ve been cooped up inside due to frigid temperatures and have only had a small dusting of snow to show for it. Good news- we’ve got a few tips to cheer you up this winter!
Here are our 5 must know winter tips for homeowners:
- Keep an eye on your thermostat. Of course we all love to be nice and toasty when its cold out, but try to achieve that by using methods other than running up the thermostat. Dress in layers and snuggle up under some blankets. If you leave the house, don’t forget to turn the thermostat way down. Also, you can turn it down at night when you go to bed since you’ll be under the covers all night.
- Change your fan setting. That’s right, ceiling fans can be useful during the winter as well as the summer. Flip the switch on your ceiling fan to make it run clockwise. This will help force warm air that has risen back down. This is especially useful if you have high, vaulted ceilings.
- Check out your windows. Windows need maintenance, too, and most homeowners forget about them! Windows account for most of the heat loss in your home. Having your windows replaced or reglazed can save you tons of money on your utility bill each winter by preventing or lessening heat loss.
- Don’t forget about your attic! When was the last time you checked out the insulation in your attic? Many attics are not insulated at all and some haven’t been insulated in years. Insulation can wear out and break down over time and become ineffective. Having your attic properly insulated is another great way to keep heat from leaving your home.
- Double check the temperature your hot water heater is set to. A normal setting is generally 120 degrees. If your temperature is set higher than this, you could be spending unnecessary money to heat your water each month.
Make sure you’re following our must know winter tips for homeowners!! If you need a plumber this winter in metro Atlanta, contact us at Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095!