Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween Safety Tips

Happy Halloween from all of us at Masterflo Plumbing! We want to ensure that all of you have a safe and fun filled Halloween! Today we’re sharing some of our best Halloween safety tips!

Walking Tips

  • Cross the street at the corners or in the crosswalks where possible
  • Make sure to look both ways before crossing the street and while crossing the street
  • Don’t text or look down at your cell phone while crossing the street
  • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road in front of them
  • Always use sidewalks

Have a plan

  • Kids under the age of 12 should always trick or treat with an adult
  • Children who are old enough to go without an adult should go over their plan with an adult first
  • Children going trick or treating without an adult should only go to well lit areas that they are familiar with
  • If your children are going trick or treating without you, make sure you know where they’re going and who they’re with

Costume Safety

  • Costumes and bags should have reflective tape or stickers on them
  • Face paint is safer than face masks, which can obscure vision
  • Glow sticks or flash lights can help your children be seen by drivers
  • Make sure costumes are the right size

Drive Safely

  • Drive extra slow in neighborhoods and residential areas
  • Make sure to triple check for children before driving through an intersection
  • Back out of parking spaces and driveways cautiously
  • The most popular trick or treating hours are between 5:30-9:30 so drive extra cautiously during those hours
  • Make sure you are not a distracted driver!
  • Don’t drink and drive

We hope you all have a great Halloween! And remember- plumbing emergencies can happen anytime, even on holidays! If you need an emergency plumber this Halloween weekend make sure to call the experts you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing! (678) 822-7095

 

 

 

Water Heater Wednesday: No Hot Water

Water Heater Wednesday: No Hot Water

As a homeowner, not having any hot water is a huge stressor! If you’ve ever been in the middle of a shower or washing dishes and suddenly only have freezing cold water you know what we’re talking about! You probably panicked, wondering why you didn’t have any hot water and, of course, how much money its going to cost to fix it. There are a couple reasons why your hot water heater may have stopped putting out hot water. Unfortunately, unless you’re a trained, experienced plumber, you generally can’t fix a hot water heater on your own. Its still a good idea to know a little bit about what’s going on, though. Let’s take a look at why you may have no hot water.

Sediment Buildup

Sediment buildup is generally not a problem that presents itself suddenly. Its also one of the most common (and irritating!) reasons why your hot water heater may not be putting out any hot water. Sediment buildup occurs by sediment building up on the bottom of your water heater tank. This usually occurs due to hard water. If enough sediment is allowed to build up on the bottom of your tank, it can keep the heat from the heating element from getting to the water inside the tank to heat it. It will be impossible for the heat from the heating element to penetrate through all the sediment to reach the water inside. Fortunately, flushing the tank is an easy way for a professional plumber to fix this problem!

Broken Dip Tube

The dip tube is a long tube that runs from the water line to the bottom of the water heater tank. Cold water runs from this tube into the tank, where it is then heated by the heating element. If the dip tube is cracked or broken, the cold water in it will leak right into the water in the tank that is already heated. If you have hot water that is interrupted by intermittent bursts of cold water, you may have a broken dip tube! This is another easy fix for a professional plumber.

 

If you’re struggling with no hot water at your house, don’t hesitate- contact the trusted professionals at Masterflo Plumbing today! We have the skills and experience needed to repair your hot water heater today! To get hot water back into your home call (678) 822-7095 today!

Frozen Pipes: Part 2

Frozen Pipes: Part 2

Last week we talked about frozen pipes and how to prevent them. Because water expands as it freezes, frozen water in your pipes can cause serious problems. The expanding water puts pressure on whatever its inside of- in this case, your pipes. This can cause pipes to break and leak, which can cause tons of damage. Pipes that are most likely to freeze are those that are exposed to the cold like swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and water in pipes that are in unheated areas like your basement or garage.

With the cold Georgia winter weather fast approaching, we’re going to talk about how to thaw your frozen pipes. Although preventing frozen pipes is the ideal course of action, no matter how many precautions you take its not 100% possible to always prevent your pipes from freezing.

Here are some tips on dealing with frozen pipes.

  1. If you turn on a faucet and only a small trickle comes out, its likely that you have a frozen pipe.
  2. Keep your faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe, the water will begin to melt and flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help it melt more quickly.
  3. Apply heat to the frozen section of pipe. You can do this by wrapping an electric heating pad around it, using an electric hair dryer, using an electric space heater, or wrapping the pipes with towels soaked in hot water.
  4. Continue applying heat to the pipes until your full water pressure is restored.
  5. Remember- if you find one frozen pipe it is likely that you may have others as well. Check all your faucets!

If you are unable to locate or treat your frozen pipe, call a professional plumber immediately to avoid damage! You can call the trusted professionals at Masterflo 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Call (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!

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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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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Signs of Sewer Repair

Signs of Sewer Repair

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 from your home. In most homes with modern day plumbing, the sewer drain is buried underneath your property. Fortunately, this means you don’t have to see it! Unfortunately, this can make it hard to detect small problems before they become large, disastrous problems. Today we’re going to talk about a few signs that you can be on the lookout for to let you know if you need sewer repair!

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 call us at (678) 822-7095!

 

Easy Plumbing Tips

Easy Plumbing Tips

Today we’re going to run through a few plumbing tips. The best part of these tips is that they’re easy and can save you a ton of time, money, and stress. Plumbing problems can hit you at any time and are usually unexpected. And of course- they usually occur at the most inopportune times. Its important to be prepared and have a few tricks up your sleeve so that you are more prepared to deal with the inevitable plumbing problem that pops up. The more prepared you are, the more likely you are to avoid a huge disaster.

Here are some plumbing tips every homeowner should know-

  • Make sure you know how to turn off the water to your sink, toilet, and main water source. If you’ve sprung a leak it is vital that you know how to turn off the water to prevent further damage. And don’t forget- righty tighty lefty loosey.
  • Be familiar with the different types of plungers and which ones to use where. For inks you should use a bowl shaped rubber plunger. Plungers that should be used for toilets have an additional piece of rubber that allow it to get inside the opening of the toilet.
  • Don’t use an auger if you aren’t a professional plumber so that you can avoid damaging your pipes. On that note, don’t do any fancy DIY plumbing if you aren’t a trained professional! While trying to save money you can inadvertently cause additional damage costing you additional money.
  • Don’t use the chemical drain cleaners sold at the store as they are harmful to your plumbing system! Instead, if you’ve got to use something, use an all natural combination of baking soda and vinegar. Pour in half a cup of baking soda followed by a half cup of vinegar. Once the fizzing stops, pour hot water down the drain to flush it. If this doesn’t work, try plunging. If you still can’t clear the clog, its time to call a professional plumber.
  • Keep up with your septic tank maintenance. Its one of those things that gets forgotten about, but if your septic tank backs up you’ll end up with a major problem on your hands! Have your tank checked out by a professional yearly and don’t plant anything with roots over or near your lines.
  • Lastly- make sure to find a plumber you can trust BEFORE you have a problem and keep their number handy! Plumbing problems can escalate quickly.

Following these tips can potentially save you time, money, and keep you from dealing with a huge headache! For a trusted, experienced plumber in the metro Atlanta area call Masterflo today at (678) 822-7095! Remember, you can call us anytime day or night- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

 

 

Sewer Line Repairs

Sewer Line Repairs

Chances are the title of this blog post make you cringe! Being a homeowner comes with many responsibilities and can, at times, be daunting. Add in some sewer problems, and you’ve got yourself a highly stressful situation! No homeowner wants to deal with sewer problems and sewer line repairs. Even electrical problems or heating and air conditioning problems sound more appealing! If sewer line problems and sewer line repair has got you stressing out, don’t worry. Sewer line repair doesn’t need to cause a nervous breakdown if you call a professional plumber. Calling a professional plumber skilled and experienced in sewer line repair can take the hassle out of it for you. At Masterflo we have the skills and experience necessary to repair your sewer line quickly and correctly the first time!

 

While we can take care of any problems you may have with your sewer line, only you can spot problems! Keep an eye out for the following signs that you may need sewer line repair:

 

  • Slow drains- If your sinks, tubs, and showers are draining slowly, you may not immediately be alerted to the fact that there’s a problem. In fact, a slow drain may be nothing more than a small clog that you can fix yourself. However, if you begin experiencing slow drains around your entire home that don’t respond to quick fixes, it may be time to call a professional plumber! You may simply have a tough clog that needs professional attention, but slow drains all around your home can also be a sign that you need sewer line repair. Slow drains may indicate that your sewer line has developed a break or a clog. If not repaired quickly, this can lead to major damage. If you have slow drains, don’t try to live with it or you could end up costing yourself lots of money in repairs!
  • Changing water levels in toilets- If that water levels in your toilets changes, you may simply chalk it up to a strange, random occurrence or you may not even notice! How much time do we really spend looking into our toilet bowls? Similar to slow drains, varying water levels in your toilet may result from a simple clog or a small object that has been flushed and gotten stuck in your pipes. However, varying water levels in your toilets may also be a sign of a much larger problem with your sewer line. If you notice changing water levels in your toilets, you may need sewer line repair!
  • Bad smells- If you’ve got foul odors coming out of your sink drains, don’t ignore it! This is one of the main signs that you have sewer drainage and are in immediate need of sewer line repair! Bad smells, particularly in the bathroom, often go ignored. However, bad smells coming out of your drain should definitely be taken seriously!
  • Water stains and foundation damage- Sewer line damage can cause major damage to the foundation or basement of your home, which can mean you may have to spend major bucks! Its always a good idea to regularly inspect your basement or foundation for signs of damage. If there is a problem, catching it early is key to minimizing damage and costs. Things to look for include excess moisture or water stains, an increase in bugs or rats. If you notice any of these signs, call a plumber immediately!

 

 

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Garbage Disposal Problems

Garbage Disposal Problems

The garbage disposal is the hero of the kitchen. Think back to the last time you had to dig bits of old food out of a kitchen sink that wasn’t equipped with a garbage disposal- this memory surely makes you appreciate your garbage disposal! We often don’t think of our garbage disposals until they have problems, but your garbage disposal is a hard working plumbing convenience that you definitely don’t want to be without. Garbage disposal problems need to be dealt with quickly and professionally or a small problem could turn into a much larger one. Calling a trusted, professional plumber is your best bet for getting your garbage disposal fixed correctly and promptly.

Here are three garbage disposal problems that are, unfortunately, quite common:

  1. No power. Most of us never stop to think about it, but garbage disposals run on electricity similar to many other kitchen appliances. If the electrical supply to your garbage disposal gets interrupted, it won’t work. Your garbage disposal can also become overloaded by a power surge. If this happens, your garbage disposal will automatically shut off to avoid burning out. Most garbage disposals have a red reset button on the bottom. If you press your reset button and your garbage disposal begins working again, you don’t need a professional plumber. If it doesn’t, call a plumber right away!
  2. A jam. Most of us take full advantage of our garbage disposals by sending anything and everything down them without a second thought. There are some things, however, that should never be put down a garbage disposals. This list includes chicken bones, peach pits, vegetable peelings from carrots and potatoes, and kitchen utensils or other foreign objects. If any of these things make their way down your garbage disposal, you can find yourself with a serious clog that will result in a jam. Although its tempting, you should never try to dislodge a jam yourself because you can seriously injure your fingers. A professional plumber is trained to adjust the masher plate and safely dislodge the jam.
  3. Leaks. Just like any other piping in your home, your garbage disposal can spring a leak! Sometimes these leaks come from breached hoses, loose fittings, or faulty seals. Its imperative to call a plumber right away if you notice a leak coming from your garbage disposal. A small leak can quickly turn into a larger one and can cause major damage to your home resulting in costly repairs.

If you have any of these common garbage disposal problems, call the experienced professionals at Masterflo Plumbing immediately at (678) 822-7095! Continuing to use your garbage disposal if you have noticed a problem can result in the whole unit needing to be replaced, so don’t hesitate to call us! Remember, we’re always available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! We’ve got the skills and experience necessary to restore your garbage disposal to working condition!