Water Heater Wednesday: Standard Tank Water Heater Installation

Water Heater Wednesday: Standard Tank Water Heater Installation

The most common type of water heater in the American home is the traditional storage tank water heater. A storage tank water heater is a unit made up of a large tank and heating element. The tank stores water and the heating element heats this water up, so the water in the tank is hot and available for use all day. Cooler water moves to the bottom of the tank through the dip tube, where it is heated by the heating element and then rises to the top of the tank. The hot water at the top of the tank is sucked up for use by a pipe when a hot water faucet is turned on somewhere in your home.

For many years, the traditional storage tank water heater was the most up to date technology and was the best way to heat water. However, advancements in technology led to the development of the tankless water heater.

Tankless water heaters don’t store water, but instead they rely on a computer that is activated when you turn on a hot water faucet in your home. A tankless water heater uses either an electric or gas powered heating element, similar to a traditional storage tank water heater. The difference is that with a tankless water heater, the heating element only turns on when you need it and turns off afterwards.

While tankless water heaters have many benefits, the traditional tank storage water heater continues to be the most popular water heater option in the United States. Tankless water heaters have some disadvantages which may not make them the right choice for you.

Tankless water heaters do have several advantages- because there is no storage tank they don’t take up a lot of space. Also, they never run out of hot water like storage tank water heaters can. Also, they conserve more energy than storage tank water heaters.

Although these are some great advantages, there are some disadvantages as well. The initial cost of a tankless water heater is much higher than the cost of a traditional storage tank water heater. Traditional storage tank water heater installation is much more affordable than tankless water heater installation. Even with the monthly energy savings of a tankless water heater, it can take years for these savings to offset the high initial installation cost.

Another disadvantage of tankless water heaters is that sometimes there is a delay in getting hot water into your home. Also, you may need additional units to keep up with hot water demand for a larger family.

For standard tank water heater installation in Canton, GA call the trusted experts at Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095!

 

 

Leak Repair in Canton, GA

Leak Repair in Canton, GA

We’ve talked a lot about leaks on our blog. Leaks can cost you tons of money on your water bill and in repairs and can cause major structural damage to your home. Leaks always occur at the most inconvenient time and need to be repaired quickly. You can count on us at Masterflo Plumbing to respond to your needs promptly, any time, day or night. We’ve got years of experience repairing leaks, and can have your problem taken care of quickly and correctly. If you’ve got a leak make sure to call us immediately at (678) 822-7095 so we can get you the help you need.

In the meantime, check out this article from The Home Depot about the true cost of a leak.

 

Remember, for leak repair in Canton, GA, call (678) 822-7095!

Leaky Toilet Tips

Leaky Toilet Tips

At one point or another, every home owner has experienced a leaky toilet in their home. Leaky toilets are a super common plumbing problem that every one deals with. Not only is the sound of a leaky toilet annoying, but the added cost on your water bill is annoying, as well! Not all toilet leaks have the accompanying obnoxious leaking sound, though. In fact, most toilet leaks can go unnoticed for months because they aren’t quite large enough to produce the tell tale leaking sound. We’ve got good news for you, though! Follow our leaky toilet tips, and you won’t have any of those costly, unnoticed toilet leaks!

Did you know that for all you DIYers out there that there’s a test you can do yourself to find out if your toilet is leaking? Remember, if you can hear the water in your toilet constantly running, then there’s no need to run this test- you DO have a leaky toilet!

If you want to test your toilet to find out if its leaking, find some food coloring. Red or blue work best because they’re the most saturated and easiest to see. Before you go to bed, put several drops of food coloring in the water tank- not the bowl- of your toilet. In the morning, check the bowl of your toilet. If there’s any food coloring in the bowl, then you have a leaky flapper.

What if you’ve got a leaky toilet?

Fortunately, you can fix most leaky toilets yourself without spending a ton of money!

The two most common leaky toilet culprits are the flapper or floating ballcock. The floating ballcock is the floating ball in the water tank of the toilet. The purpose of the ballcock is to indicate when the water supply should shut off. If the ballcock is set too high, the water will simply keep running. By adjusting the float downwards, you can get the water to shut off before it reaches the overflow tube.

The flapper is the main cause of leaky toilets. Over time with normal use, the flapper warps and doesn’t seal as well as it did when it was brand new. Water pressure from the tank then creates a leak in any of the small gaps. You can find a replacement flapper at any home improvement store for just a few dollars that you can install yourself.

For major leaks or other toilet problems, give us a call at Masterflo 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (678) 822-7095!

 

Save Money On Your Water Bill

Save Money On Your Water Bill

Who doesn’t like to save money?? I’m sure there isn’t anyone out there who doesn’t. What if its money you can save consistently, each month? Even better, right? A great way to save some money every month is by looking at your utility bills and finding ways to cut back on them. Today we’re going to talk about ways to save money every month on your water bill.

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.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

Recycle your water

There are all kinds of creative ways you can recycle your water. For example, collecting rain water to water your house plants can save you money on your water bill each 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!

Bathroom Plumbing Tips

Bathroom Plumbing Tips

Do you want to avoid bathroom plumbing repairs? Of course….who doesn’t? Plumbing repairs can sometimes be costly, and are always inconvenient! Bathroom plumbing repairs in particular always seem to occur at the worst possible time. After all, if your bathroom plumbing isn’t working properly, its not something you can ignore. Most of us need our bathroom plumbing to be working in tip top shape every day! If you let your broken bathroom plumbing fester, you can end up with a huge sanitation disaster on your hands.

Bathroom Plumbing Tips Canton, GA

Because bathroom plumbing problems are such an inconvenience for any homeowner, we’ve compiled a list of helpful bathroom plumbing tips that can help you avoid needing repairs!

  1. Use a drain cover. The main cause of drain clogs in the shower or bathroom sink is too much hair. Hair can get stuck to pipes that are covered in sludge, or the hairs can gather in the the curved section of the pipe below your sink. Hair clog in the bathroom happen to all of us at one point or another! Having a drain cover that prevents all this excess hair from going down the pipes can save you some serious hassle.
  2. Don’t use store bought, liquid drain cleaner! Contrary to popular belief, these drain cleaners are not the answer to all your clog problems! Most of us try to solve the pesky clogged drain problem by going out to the store and buying one of the many liquid drain cleaners on the market. These chemicals are actually not that great at dissolving most clogs, and they can also damage your pipes which will lead to further costly repairs. Also, these cleaners can cause serious injury to your skin or eyes if not used properly. If you’ve got a tough clog that can’t be removed by a snake or plunger, it may be time to call in the professionals.
  3. Use a water softener. Using a water softener is another way to help prevent your bathroom plumbing from harm. Hard water has an excess of minerals, and these minerals can gather in your bathroom pipes and collect until your water pressure is significantly reduced. If this is allowed to occur, you’ll have to call a professional plumber to come descale your pipes, or if the damage is too significant you may need total pipe replacement.
  4. Schedule yearly plumbing maintenance. Scheduling a yearly visit from your plumber is a great way to keep your bathroom plumbing maintained and in good shape. A yearly maintenance visit from a plumber you trust will include a thorough pipe cleaning and inspection. This can prevent seemingly sudden, severe plumbing problems from creeping up on you!

Bathroom Plumbing Tips | Canton, GA Plumber Masterflo Plumbing

Following these bathroom plumbing tips can help save you a lot of time, money, and hassle! If you do happen to find yourself with a plumbing problem, call the trusted experts at Masterflo Plumbing! Remember- you can reach us any time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week no matter what kind of plumbing problem you find yourself facing. Call us today at (678) 822-7095!

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Garbage Disposal Tips

Garbage Disposal Tips

We’ve spent lots of time on our blog talking about your kitchen’s hero- the garbage disposal. You can check out our past posts about problems with your garbage disposal here and here. The garbage disposal is one of the most under appreciated appliance in your home- think about all the food and debris you’d have to fish out of your sink every day without it!

Today we’re going to run through a quick list of things you should and should not put down your garbage disposal so that you can keep your garbage disposal in working order!

Things you should be putting down your garbage disposal include:

  • citrus rinds
  • coffee grounds
  • eggshells
  • cooked meat scraps
  • fruit scraps
  • most vegetable scraps

Things you should not be putting down your garbage disposal include:

  • fruit pits
  • bones
  • shrimp shells
  • banana peels
  • nuts
  • grease
  • corn husks
  • onion skins
  • artichokes
  • potato peels
  • asparagus

These tips should help you keep your garbage disposal in working order! If you do notice that your garbage disposal is making a funny sound, not working, or leaking you should call a plumber right away to avoid further damage. At Masterflo we can diagnose your garbage disposal and repair it or replace it for you if it needs to be replaced. Contact us today at (678) 822-7095 for all your garbage disposal needs in the metro Atlanta area!

Canton GA Plumber | Masterflo Plumbing

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Leaky Sink: Do I Need A Plumber?

Leaky Sink: Do I Need A Plumber?

Do you have a leaky sink?? Is it really that important to fix it? Do you need a plumber? Read on to find out!

Leaky sinks are one of the most common plumbing problems all across America! Chances are, you have a leaky sink that you may not have even noticed! A leaky sink is sometimes not even thought of as a “plumbing problem” and goes ignored. Some of us are guilty of ignoring leaky sink for days, weeks, or even months! Other than the sound of dripping water, what’s the actual harm being done? In reality, a simple problem like a leaky sink can end up costing you thousands of dollars if its not fixed quickly and correctly!

Thousands of dollars wasted may seem extreme for something as small as a leaky sink, but its true! Read on to find out how your leaky sink can end up costing you so much money.

Wasted Water

First off, wasting water is bad for the environment! We all know that, right? But even if you don’t care, wasting water is bad for your wallet! I know we all care about that. For example- you’ve got a leaky sink, but its a pretty slow leak. We’ll say it drips once a minute. That’s over 1400 drips a day. That’s roughly 30 gallons of water a year. That may not seem like a lot, but what if it drips four times per minute? That’s over 130 galls of water a year. In actuality, four drips per minute would be an extraordinarily slow leak. Most leaks are at least double that. Wasted water can end up costing you tons of money each year on your water bill.

Water Damage

If your leak is coming from your faucet, chances are that you won’t end up with any water damage. Sinks are supposed to handle water. Where water damage can really start to affect you is if you have a leak in the pipes under your sink. Many of us think of a leaky sink as being a leak that only comes from the faucet. However, a lot of leaky sinks are actually leaking underneath the counter from the pipes. The most common complication from this is mold growth. The dark, moist area underneath a sink is the perfect breeding ground for mold. Sometimes, this mold can create health complications for those living in your household.

Another water your leaky sink can cause damage to your home is rot. If your leaky pipe goes ignored, the wood underneath your sink can being to rot, leading to structural damage. If enough rot occurs, you may end up having to replace your entire cabinet. If you repair your leaky pipe quickly, you can save yourself tons of time and money. The problem with leaks under your sink is that they can easily go unnoticed. Don’t forget to check under all the sinks in your home every so often for any signs of leaking or damage!

If you’ve got a leak, no matter how small, don’t ignore it! For an experienced, professional plumber you can trust, call us at Masterflo today! You can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (678) 822-7095!

Call today!

 

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Canton GA Leak Detection

Canton GA Leak Detection

Sometimes leaks are easy to spot- if you’ve got a leaky pipe under your kitchen or bathroom sink you’re bound to notice. Its hard to miss a large pool of water flooding your cabinets or floors! However, other leaks aren’t so easy to spot. Your plumbing system is a large, complex maze of pipes and drains so you may not notice every leak as soon as it starts. Your pipes can spring leaks anywhere- not just in obvious, easy to see places. This means that your plumbing system may spring a leak inside a wall, under your sub-flooring, under your yard, or in your ceiling! If this occurs and a leak goes unnoticed, you may be at risk for developing a mold or mildew problem, a disastrous flood, or a sinking lawn.

Canton GA Leak Detection Company – Professional leak detection is a great preventive measure that can save you time and money! Here are some signs that you should call Masterflo Plumbing for professional leak detection in Canton, GA:

  • Low Water Pressure- Low water pressure is a sign that you may have a leak in your plumbing system! Your water supply is pressurized so that it flows out of your faucets at a certain, optimal flow rate. If you suddenly notice that your water is flowing out of your faucets and shower-heads at a much lower rate than normal, you may have an undetected leak somewhere in your plumbing system.
  • Water Spots in Your Lawn- The pipes that connect the main water supply to your home as well as pipes that run the draining system to the sewer run underneath your yard. If you notice unusually wet spots in your yard, you may have sprung a leak in a pipe underneath your yard. Another sign of a leaky pipe under your yard is a patch of lawn that has suddenly become more lush than other places in your yard.
  • High Water Bills- If your water bill seems to be higher than normal, you could have a leaky pipe. Compare the water usage on your water bill to your past usage on your old bills. If you notice that your usage has gone up, but nothing substantial has changed in your home, you could possibly have a leak.
  • Old Pipes- If you have an older plumbing system that hasn’t been checked recently, you may want to schedule a professional leak detection service visit to make sure your pipes are still in good shape. Older pipes that are made of steel are more likely to corrode and spring leaks than newer pipes which are made of copper or plastic.

Canton GA Leak Detection Company – If you believe that you have a leak, call Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095 for professional leak detection in Canton, GA. At Masterflo we have a team of trusted professionals who have your best interest in mind. Don’t forget- if you have a major leak we offer emergency plumbing services and you can call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

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Water Heater Wednesday: Water Heater Repair

Water Heater Wednesday: Water Heater Repair 

Although water heaters are super sturdy and durable appliances, they work hard almost every single 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 call Masterflo for water heater repair 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!

Here are some common water heater repair issues:

  • 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, be sure to call us at Masterflo! 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!

 

 

Plumbing Statistics

Water Softener Installation Canton Ga

Plumbing Statistics

Its time for another one of our fun fact posts! Today let’s talk about some plumbing statistics that may blow your mind!

  • The average person spends approximately 3 years of their life on the toilet, so this post is completely applicable to every single one of us! That’s approximately 2500 visits to the toilet per year, or 6-8 visits per day.
  • 75% of us use our phones on the toilet. Mobile usage on the toilet is now the most popular bathroom pastime, surpassing reading.
  • On that note, 7 million cell phones are dropped in the toilet each year.
  • 40% of us fold our toilet paper and 60% of us crumple.
  • In America alone, we use 433 million miles of toilet paper per year. That’s enough toilet paper to stretch to the sun and back.
  • 85% of bathroom related injuries occur when someone falls because the toilet seat has been left up. Sorry guys, but this means the ladies are right and you should absolutely be putting the toilet seat down.
  • The majority of people like the toilet paper to hang over the roll, not under, and nearly a quarter of us get annoyed if its done the wrong way.
  • 70% of house guests snoop through other people’s bathroom cabinets. Maybe you should think twice about what you have in your cabinets!

Tune in tomorrow for Water Heater Wednesday!