Garbage Disposal Trouble Shooting

Garbage Disposal Trouble Shooting

Garbage disposals are perhaps one of the most frequently used and most frequently underappreciated of our kitchen appliances! If you’ve ever had a sink without a garbage disposal, you’ll quickly realize how handy the little appliance really is! Even if you take great care of your garbage disposal, leaks can and will develop over time. Garbage disposals, although small, have several parts and it can take some trouble shooting to identify where the leak is coming from. If you tend to be a DIY’er, you may want to investigate the leak before calling a professional plumber. 

garbage-disposal-troubleshooting

 

We mentioned that garbage disposals have several parts. With most garbage disposal leaks, there are four main areas where they may occur-

  • The sink flange- The sink flange connects the top of the disposal to the bottom of the sink drain.
  • The dishwasher connection- This is usually a rubber hose connected to the side of the garbage disposal.
  • The drain pipe- This is usually a plastic or metal pipe that drains water and food away to the sewer.
  • The actual garbage disposal

If you want to try and identify the source of the leak yourself, you can do an easy test. Make sure to dry the outside of the disposal and all of its parts that you can see so that the leak will be easily visible to you. Next, stop up your sink and fill it with a few inches of water. After a few minutes, if you notice water coming from the disposal under the sink, you’re leak is probably coming from the sink flange. If, after a few minutes, the disposal under the sink is still dry, pull the sink stopper and watch the other three parts we mentioned above. You should notice water coming from the dishwasher hose, the drain pipe, or some other area of the disposal. 

Once you’ve identified the leak, you can decide whether or not to try and fix it yourself. Of course, the repair necessary will depend on where you determined the leak was located. Sometimes, fixes are easy and sometimes fixes that seem easy and simple will turn into large, complicated solutions. If the leak is coming from the sink flange, it may just need tightening. If simply tightening it doesn’t work, you may need to loosen it, apply plumbers putty to reseal it, and then tighten it back up.  If the dishwasher hose is the culprit, you may need to either tighten it or replace it depending on whether its just loose or if its cracked. The drain pipe may also be able to be tightened. If tightening it doesn’t fix the leaky drain pipe, you may need to replace the seal. Sometimes, the entire disposal needs to be replaced. 

For help with garbage disposal trouble shooting, repairs, or replacement, call the professionals at Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095!

 

 

Pipe Corrosion: What You Need To Know

Pipe Corrosion: What You Need To Know

Copper is now the main material used to make modern day plumbing pipes. Copper is sturdy and resilient and will last for a long time. Not only is it a great material, its also cost effective! If modern day copper plumbing pipes are maintained well, they can last for nearly 100 years! Fortunately, your plumbing system is built to last!
While copper pipes are extremely resilient, they aren’t fool proof. Pipe corrosion can drastically shorten the life of your pipes, threatening the lifespan of your plumbing system. With regular plumbing maintenance, pipe corrosion doesn’t have to be a threat to your plumbing system.
There are two main types of pipe corrosion. Hopefully, you’ll never have to deal with pipe corrosion, but let’s take a look at the two types that could threaten your pipes!
pipe-corrosion

2 Types Of Pipe Corrosion-

1. Formicary Corrosion– Formicary corrosion is more commonly call “ants nest corrosion”. This type of pipe corrosion is causted by the interaction of formaldehyde particles in the air coming into contact with your copper pipes. Formaldehyde can eat tiny tunnels through the copper, which weakens the metal. If the metal is weakened, it becomes susceptible to pinhole leaks and larger leaks. Formicary corrosion is nearly impossible to see, so keeping up with your annual plumbing maintenance is extremely important! If formicary corrosion has begun to occur in your pipes, catching leaks early is key. 
2. Pitted Corrosion– Pitted corrosion is focused on a much smaller area of the pipes than formicary corrosion. Pitted corrosion is caused by chlorine particles interacting with the copper pipes instead of formaldehyde particles. Because pitted corrosion affects a smaller area of pipe, it can lead to corrosion and leaks much more quickly than formicary corrosion. Pitted corrosion can quickly lead to pinhole leaks. If pinhole leaks aren’t caught early on, they can turn into larger leaks or cause rotting. Fortunately, pitted corrosion can be seen and detected! Its incredibly important to have your pipes inspected annually to check for this type of pipe corrosion. 
While pipe corrosion can seem like a scary monster just waiting to eat away at your pipes, having your pipes regularly inspected by a professional plumber can keep the problem at bay! If you haven’t had your pipes inspected this year for pipe corrosion, now is the time to act! Give us a call today at (678) 822-7095!

Annual Home Maintenance Checklist

Annual Home Maintenance Checklist

Fall begins in just a couple short weeks. With slightly cooler temperatures coming, its a great time to get started on your annual home maintenance. Keeping up with your home maintenance before the winter months is a great way to make sure that you and your home make it through the winter months unscathed. If your home isn’t ready for winter, you could end up facing some costly repairs.

With temperatures remaining steady in the 90’s this summer, we all know it was hard to get motivated to do anything. Cooler temperatures are on the horizon, and we’ve got your annual home maintenance checklist ready to go! Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibilities, but we’ve made this easy for you! Just follow our checklist below!

annual-home-maintenance-checklist

Here are some key things to check off on your annual home maintenance checklist-

  • After you cut your grass the last time for the year, drain all the extra gasoline out of your lawn mower and make sure any extra gasoline is properly stored.
  • Roll up your hoses and store them indoors. Nice hoses can be expensive, and properly storing them indoors and out of the elements can add years to the lifespan of your garden hoses.
  • Insulate any outdoor faucets and winterize your sprinkler system. This one is easy to forget, but frozen pipes can be very destructive to your home and property! Check out more about frozen pipes here and here.
  • Have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected before lighting it up for the year. Creosote can build up in the flue and cause a fire. Better safe than sorry!
  • Be sure to cut down any branches hanging over your roof. If the branches ice over during the winter, they may get too heavy and fall on your roof.
  • Clean your gutters and downspouts.
  • Check out the caulking and weather stripping around all doors and windows. This is an easy, cheap fix and can save you tons of money on your utility bills by making your home hold heat more efficiently during the fall and winter.
  • Have your HVAC unit checked out. If you wait till the first cold night to check it out and discover there’s a problem, you may have a hard time getting an HVAC technician to come out quickly as they’re sure to be busy.
  • Change your air filters. Old, clogged air filters can decrease the efficiency of your unity, which increases your utility bills. Also, its gross. Changing the air filter can help improve the quality of the air you’re breathing.
  • Drain your hot water heater. Sediment in your hot water heater can cause major problems. Read our post on draining your hot water heater!

Keeping up with yearly maintenance on your home is important and can go a long way in saving you money. Performing maintenance tasks can make your home run more efficiently, saving you money on utility bills, and can prevent you from needing major repairs throughout the winter or in the spring.

Follow our handy annual home maintenance checklist, and for help with plumbing maintenance or to get a head start on plumbing repairs, call the local professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing. We’re here for you 24/7 at (678) 822-7095!

Preventing Plumbing Emergencies

Preventing Plumbing Emergencies

Plumbing emergencies can happen to anyone at any time. Plumbing emergencies can be catastrophic to your home, property, and wallet as a home owner. While plumbing emergencies are generally rare, they can happen at any time and are usually unpredictable. Because plumbing emergencies can potentially have such devastating consequences, its important to learn all about preventing plumbing emergencies.

Although preventing plumbing emergencies is impossible, there are some steps you can take that may help reduce your risk of finding yourself faced with a plumbing emergency. Plumbing emergencies can have many unwanted consequences. Depending on the nature of the emergency you may potentially face health hazards, the integrity of your home may be compromised, you may find some of your possessions have been damaged, and you may find yourself shelling out thousands of dollars to fix the problem.

If you’re a new home owner, this post is especially important for you! Learn about preventing plumbing emergencies and try to familiarize yourself with the plumbing in your home. For example, know where your hot water heater is and know where all the water shut off valves are.


  1. Use drain covers in your kitchen to keep food and utensils from clogging your pipes or damaging your garbage disposal
  2. Use drain covers in your showers to prevent hair from clogging your pipes
  3. Avoid pouring grease or oil down your kitchen sink drain
  4. If you believe you have a leak or a serious clog, call a plumber immediately
  5. If you are aware that you have old pipes or fixtures, have them replaced and upgraded
  6. Have an experienced plumber check your whole plumbing system for leaks (including pinhole leaks)
  7. Keep up with regular home and plumbing maintenance 
  8. Have your hot water heater inspected every year
  9. If you have problems with your hot water heater have them repaired as soon as possible
  10. Winterize your plumbing if you live in an area with below freezing temperatures in the winter

While these tips can certainly help with preventing plumbing emergencies, there is never a guarantee! At Masterflo Plumbing we pride ourselves on being available to our customers. If you have a plumbing emergency, don’t hesitate to call us. We are available for plumbing emergencies throughout the metro Atlanta area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Call us now at (678) 822-7095 for all your plumbing needs!

Hot Water Heater Installation

Hot Water Heater Installation

Today we’re going to talk about why its so important to hire a professional for your hot water heater installation. DIY and money saving hacks are trending these days, but when it comes to your hot water heater installation, hiring a professional is a must. If you need to install a hot water heater, it can be very tempting to just Google it and try to follow a YouTube video and do it yourself. To make sure that your water heater is installed correctly and that it performs correctly and efficiently, its absolutely necessary to hire someone with experience.

Here are a few reasons why its important to hire a professional plumber for your hot water heater installation:

hot water heater installation

Size

Choosing the correct water heater for your home may sound like an easy task, but in reality it involves some advanced calculations about the flow rate and temperature rise that you will need for your home. You might also need to take into account information about the peak hour demand and the number of people who regularly use hot water in your home. If done incorrectly, these calculations can result in you purchasing the wrong hot water heater for your home. A professional plumber who has lots of experience working with these complicated calculations will be sure to get it right and get you the correct hot water heater the first time around. If the calculations are done wrong and you end up with a unit that is too small, you may find yourself lacking hot water on a regular basis. On the other hand, if you end up with a unit that is too large, you may use unnecessary energy, costing you more money up front and on your monthly bills.

Mess

Hot water heaters can be very large and complicated to install. If you don’t have experience installing a hot water heater, you could be in over your head. Professional plumbers know how to safely remove your old hot water heater and dispose of it, so you don’t have to think about it or have it sit around in your garage while you find a way to dispose of it. A professional plumber will also get your new unit safely installed and can ensure that your new tank fills properly and doesn’t leak into your home and foundation.

Less Maintenance

If you have your new hot water heater properly installed the first time around, chances are that you will need to repair it far less frequently than if it gets installed incorrectly. A professional plumber can make sure that all the valves are working properly, the heating element is functioning, and that there will not be any leaks! As long as you have your new hot water heater professional installed by a skilled, experienced plumber, you can rest assured that you won’t have to do any early repairs.

If you need a professional plumber for your hot water heater installation, contact the professionals at Masterflo today at (678) 822-7095! We’ll be there anytime, any day, to help you pick the correct unit and install it!

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!

Drought In Georgia: Water Saving Tips

Drought In Georgia: Water Saving Tips

According to the AJC, Georgia is in a severe drought that is continuing to expand. Most places in Georgia are down approximately 2″ in rain so far this year. You can always monitor the severity of the drought in your area by using the United States Drought Monitor. So far, there are no imposed water restrictions, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the fact that we are in a drought. Doing your part to conserve water is important all year long, but especially during a drought. Following some water saving tips can have an ecological impact and can also have an economical impact by saving you money on your water bill. Let’s all help fight through the drought in Georgia and follow some water saving tips this year!

drought-in-georgia

Water Saving Tips:

  1. Install water saving shower heads and try to keep your showers under 5 minutes each.
  2. Only run full loads in your washing machine and your dishwasher.
  3. Don’t use your toilet as a trash can as this results in extra flushes each day.
  4. Install a low flow toilet.
  5. Don’t leave the water running while you’re brushing your teeth, shaving, or doing dishes.
  6. Water your garden, yard, or other plants during the times when there will be minimal water evaporation such as early in the morning or late at night.
  7. Don’t let your tap run while you’re waiting for cooler water, instead keep some water refrigerated.
  8. Make sure to stay on top of your home’s plumbing system and check for leaks!

Do your part to try and follow these water saving tips during the drought in Georgia this year! If you check your plumbing system and find that you have plumbing leaks or want to learn more about ways you can install more eco friendly plumbing appliances, call the experts at Masterflo Plumbing today! (678) 822-7095!

 

Save Money On Your Water Bill

Save Money On Your Water Bill

Summer is halfway over, and if you’re like many parents, you may have noticed you’ve been spending more money than usual. Going on family vacations, taking your kids to participate in local activities, and summer camps all cost money! Keeping your kids engaged and occupied all summer is worth the extra spending, so today we’ve come up with some ways to help you save money in another area! Our tips all focus on ways that you can save money every month on your water bill. The only thing better than saving money is finding ways to save money consistently, every single month. At the end of the year you’ll be amazed at how much money you can save.

There are several easy ways for you to save money on your water bill each month, without compromising any safety, sanitation, or personal comfort for you or your family.

save-money-every-month

5 Ways To Save Money On Your Water Bill:

1) Install A Low Flow Toilet

Toilets now days are made to be super low flow, meaning they use less water per flush. If you’re doing some updating, renovating, or buying or building a new house consider installing low flow toilets. There are also ways to retro fit your existing toilet to make it use less water per flush. Also, don’t use the toilet as a trash receptacle and flush it each time you throw a piece of trash in it. Flushing the toilet uses approximately 5-7 gallons of water per flush, so less flushes = a great way for you to save money on your water bill.

2) Keep Up With Your Home Maintenance/Check for Leaks

We recommend having your plumbing checked yearly by a professional plumber. A professional is more likely to catch tiny plumbing leaks before they turn into large leaks. Catching leaks and repairing them before they get worse is a way to make sure you are consistently saving money on your water bill. Make sure to check your toilets, showers, and sink faucets for any sinks of leaks. Another great way to catch a leak is to check your water meter. Read your meter, then go two hours without using any water in your home. If after two hours your meter reading is different than it was before, then you’ve got a leak somewhere.

3) Consolidate your laundry loads and dishwasher loads

Only run your dishwasher or washing machine when you have a full load! Doing small, half loads that aren’t full can use tons of extra water. Also, skipping any pre-rinse cycles or additional rinse cycles can save you around 6 gallons of water per wash cycle. If you do have to run a partial load in your washing machine, make sure you change the settings to reflect the size of the load.

4) Take Shorter showers

Sometimes nothing beats a good, long, hot shower. However, limiting your shower to around 5 minutes is a good way to save money on your water bill every month. If you just love taking long showers and limiting your shower time isn’t an option for you, consider installing a water efficient shower head. Also remember that taking a shower instead of a bath is saving you approximately 50 gallons of water each day.

5) Be mindful of running water

Its a bad habit that many of us are guilty of- letting the water run. Try to be more mindful of wasting water by just letting the tap run. You may surprise yourself by how much water you are able to save just by turning off the faucet when its not absolutely necessary for it to be on. One great example is doing dishes- instead of letting the hot water run continuously while you’re doing dishes, try plugging up your sink and just filling it with hot, soapy water instead of letting the hot water run the whole time. Another great way to save money on your water bill is by turning off the water while you brush your teeth. Turning off the water while you brush your teeth can save you up to 25 gallons per month!

Follow these helpful hints to save money on your water bill every month! Don’t forget- if you need a trusted, professional plumber, Masterflo Plumbing is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Call (678) 822-7095!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

The 4th of July is, perhaps, the most patriotic of all American holidays! We often celebrate with fireworks, backyard BBQ’s, and parties. While most of us believe July 4th is the day we received our independence from England, this is not entirely true.

Before the USA was the United States of America, it was actually a group of colonies, an extension of England. As the colonies began to develop and change and differ from England, conflicts started to arise between the colonies and England. In 1764, Britain decided to impose new rules on the colonies. This did not sit well with the people in the colonies. Eventually, these disagreements led to the war we know now as the American Revolution.

During the course of the American Revolution, a Congress was formed in the colonies. The people who made up this Congress drafted the Declaration of Independence. On July 4th, 1776, this Declaration of Independence was officially approved and adopted by Congress. This is where the “4th of July” comes from. Even though the people living in the colonies officially declared their independence on that date, the American Revolution did not end until later.

4th of july

Happy 4th of July from all of us at Masterflo Plumbing! We hope you have a happy, safe, and relaxing holiday weekend. Remember, if you find yourself in need of an emergency plumber this holiday weekend, you can count on us! Contact us at (678) 822-7095!

 

Zika Prevention

Zika Prevention

Your home’s plumbing system 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. This year, plumbing leaks can present a new risk- Zika. The Zika virus, which is carried by mosquitoes, has been making headlines for months now. If you have a plumbing leak which has led to standing water in or around your home, you may be at an increased risk for having mosquitoes rapidly multiply around your home. Finding out more about Zika prevention is vital to your health.

The best way to avoid spending thousands of dollars on repairs from plumbing leaks and lower your risk of attracting mosquitoes to your property is to know what you’re looking for, know the implications, and fix any plumbing leaks immediately by calling a local plumber.

zika

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

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
  • Standing water can attract mosquitoes

Zika Prevention-

  • Get more information about Zika Prevention from the CDC

zika-prevention

If you suspect that you may have a plumbing leak, call the local professionals that you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing. You can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling (678) 822-7095!