Plumbing Tips For Fall

Plumbing Tips For Fall

Fall is here, and there are a few things every homeowner should do each fall to keep their plumbing system in top shape. Not sure what you’re supposed to do each fall? Masterflo’s got you covered.

Here are Masterflo’s top plumbing tips for fall-

  1. Winterize your sprinkler system. Chances are you paid good money to have your sprinkler system installed, so don’t ruin it by failing to winterize it. There are some great YouTube tutorials out there, or you can check out The Family Handyman’s guide to winterizing your sprinkler system.
  2. Clean out your gutters. If your gutters are clogged, water can freeze in your gutters causing them to expand. This can cause damage to your gutters as well as your eaves and your roof. Using a leaf blower carefully aimed across your gutters is a great gutter cleaning hack.
  3. Drain your garden hoses, roll them up, and store them inside for the winter. Good hoses aren’t cheap, and leaving them outside during the winter is a sure way to ruin them.
  4. Insulate any exposed pipes. This will help safe guard your pipes against freezing.
  5. Schedule your yearly hot water heater maintenance visit. You don’t want to risk losing your hot water during the frigid winter months!
  6. Know where your main water valve is. In case of a broken pipe which can cause flooding, you’ll want to know where your main water valve is so you can shut it off ASAP!

Our final and most important fall plumbing tip is to contact Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095 for help with all your fall plumbing needs! We service all of metro Atlanta, so don’t hesitate- call today!

 

Frozen Pipes: Part 1

Major home maintenance problems seem to come at the worst time and can often turn into major disasters! Every winter nearly a quarter-million families in the US have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted every winter due to frozen pipes.

Here in north Georgia we’ve had some chilly nights lately, meaning that winter is on its way! Any pipe inside or outside your home can freeze during the frigid winter weather that we get in Georgia. Frozen pipes can turn into an expensive, ongoing ordeal that can end up costing you tons of money. The good news, though, is that frozen pipes are preventable!

Today we’re going to go over a few tips to help out with frozen pipes.

  1. If there are water supply lines in your garage, keep your garage door closed during cold weather.
  2. Open your kitchen cabinet and bathroom cabinet doors. This will allow warm air from your home to circulate around your plumbing.
  3. Let cold water drip from faucets that are served by exposed pipes. Letting water run through the pipes will help prevent them from freezing.
  4. Keep your thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and night.
  5. If you’re going out of town, don’t set your thermostat lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Come back on Monday to learn how to thaw frozen pipes! In the meantime, if you’ve got a plumbing emergency on your hands, make sure to call the experts you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing! Call (678) 822-7095 today!

 

 

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!

Homebuyer’s Checklist

Homebuyer’s Checklist

Buying a home can be (and usually is!) very stressful. There are so many steps in the process, so many things to check up on, look at, finish, etc. It seems like there’s always one more thing to do, find out about, or look into before you actually sign those papers and get your keys! Inevitably, the second you get your keys and move in you discover something that you forgot to check or you see something you didn’t see before.

The plumbing system is a vital component of any home that often goes unnoticed or overlooked. This is because the plumbing system is mostly hidden from view so that we don’t have to look at our plumbing system on a daily basis. Although the plumbing system is hidden from view, it is an incredibly important thing to take a look at before buying a home. An average family of four uses nearly 400 gallons of water each day and more than 25% of that comes from flushing the toilet!

Here is a helpful homebuyer’s checklist specific to plumbing:

  • Flush the toilet in each bathroom to make sure they’re in working order (no pre-existing clogs or leaks).
  • Check the size of the pipes. To get proper water pressure the pipes from the water source to your home should be at least 3/4″ and the pipes to your faucets should be at least 1/2″.
  • Check the water pressure in all the showers.
  • Look at the hot water heater to check for signs of damage or corrosion. Ask about its age and when it was last serviced.
  • Ask about the pipes and avoid homes with lead piping.
  • Check out the basement or crawl space for any signs of leaks or water damage.

Hopefully this homebuyer’s checklist can help you if you’re in the market for a new home. If you’re trying to sell a home or have recently purchased a new home and need a plumber you can trust call Masterflo today. Our plumbers are available to you for all your plumbing needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

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Water Heater Wednesday: New Hot Water Heater

Water Heater Wednesday: New Hot Water Heater

Is it time for you to get a new hot water heater? This week for water heater Wednesday we’re going to be going over a few points that can help you determine if your home is ready for a new hot water heater.

Modern day hot water heaters are built to last a long time- generally somewhere between 10-20 years depending on what kind of hot water heater you’ve got and how well its been maintained. However, no matter how well maintained your hot water heater is, it will eventually need to be replaced! Your hot water heater is one of the most hard working parts of your home, and its also something that is absolutely vital to every day life. Its not something that can be ignored or put off if it breaks- your hot water heater is crucial to your personal comfort as well as your health and sanitation.

How do you know if its time for a new hot water heater? Read on to find out!

  1. Age! The majority of hot water heaters begin to break down between the ages of 10-15 years. If properly maintained (and if you’re fortunate!) your hot water heater can last up to 20 years. If your hot water heater has reached its tenth birthday, you don’t necessarily need to run out and replace it. Just keep an eye on it for any signs that it may be breaking down.
  2. Efficiency! Because your hot water heater works so hard nearly every single day, the parts that make up a hot water heater undergo a lot of wear and tear. Just like in an old car, as the parts of your hot water heater age and get more “miles” on them, they’ll begin to wear out and become less efficient. As the individual parts wear down and become less efficient, the entire unit as a whole will also become less efficient. If your hot water heater doesn’t seem to be supplying as much hot water as it always has and it isn’t keeping up with demand, it may be time to replace it.
  3. Repairs! Repairing your hot water heater once every couple years is really no big deal and is actually pretty normal. However, if you find yourself needing to repair it more frequently, it may be time for a new hot water heater. As parts of your hot water heater begin to wear out and get replaced, they can cause a chain reaction of failing parts that need to be replaced. Eventually, your hot water heater will be basically beyond repair (for safety reasons), which will necessitate a new hot water heater. Once you notice that your hot water heater is needing repairs every few months, you may be ready for a new unit!

Remember, going without hot water is not pleasant or sanitary, so don’t put off having your hot water heater checked out! If you suspect you may need a new hot water heater or if you’re just not sure, call the experts at Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095. We’ll come out and check out your existing unit. At Masterflo we’ve got your best interest in mind- if you don’t need a new unit or its something a simple repair will fix, you can count on us to be honest with you. If you do need a new hot water heater, we can walk you through the process of selecting the best unit for you and we can install it for you.

Call Masterflo Plumbing for all your hot water heater needs!

 

 

 

 

Home Maintenance Checklist

Home Maintenance Checklist

Summer is coming to a close, and fall is just around the corner! Fall is a great time to do some routine maintenance around and in your home. Unfortunately, a lot of times we fall behind on home maintenance. Much like your car, though, your home needs some general maintenance done on it periodically so it can keep running smoothly and efficiently. When we have the oil changed in our car, the mechanic puts a little sticker in the windshield so we’ll remember when to come back. Our homes don’t come with little reminder stickers, so its up to you to remember! With the kids back in school and the weather beginning to cool off, fall is a great time to work on some home maintenance.

Here are some key things to check off on your 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 is properly stored.
  • Aerate, fertilize, and reseed your lawn. It may seem counter intuitive, but fall is the perfect time to get a jump start on a beautiful lawn for next year.
  • 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 life of your 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!
  • 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!
  • Check out your roof and repair any loose shingles and replace any missing nails. Many roofing companies offer free inspections, so call around if you’re uncomfortable going up on the roof yourself.
  • 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.
  • Insulate any exposed water pipes to avoid burst pipes inside your home.
  • 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.

If you need help with any of your home maintenance plumbing tasks, call Masterflo today at (678) 822-7095. We’re family and locally owned and operated and we have your best interest at heart! Call the plumber you can trust!

 

Drain Cleaning in Cherokee County, GA

Drain Cleaning in Cherokee County, GA

Drain cleaning- I’m sure the word evokes sighs in many of you accompanied by the words “yuck”, “gross”, or “ew”. Drains are a vital part of the modern day plumbing system that allow our waste water to escape our homes. This is a crucial part of maintaining our comfort, health, and sanitation in the home.

In an ideal world, our waste water would escape down the drain and we’d never have to give the process a second thought. However, this isn’t realistic for most of us. 99% of us have dealt with a clogged drain before- whether in the bathroom or kitchen- and some of us deal with recurring clogged drains on a semi regular basis. To combat clogged drains, we’ve all done a little DIY drain cleaning. Who hasn’t attempted to use a chemical cleaner or snake purchased at the store or a homemade baking soda remedy? Chances are, if you’re using one of those methods your clog keeps coming back. Drain cleaning is serious business!

Think about how much you put down your drain everyday- soap, hair, food waste, etc! Because we put so much down our drains, its important to have a professional drain cleaning scheduled as part of your annual home maintenance. If you’re dealing with tough clogs or recurring clogs, you’re past due for your professional drain cleaning! If you aren’t dealing with these pesky problems yet, schedule your professional drain cleaning to head the problems off before they start! When tackling drain cleaning, a professional plumber will take into account the age and location of your plumbing, as well as the nature of the clog (if there is one).

Not convinced, yet? Here are some reasons why you need a professional drain cleaning in Cherokee County, GA!

  • Commercial drain cleaners- Commercial drain cleaners are widespread, readily available, and affordable. But did you know that they’re also dangerous and not always effective? Store bought drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can be extremely dangerous. They’re also “one size fits all”. These chemicals aren’t custom designed for the nature of your clog. Every clog is different and won’t respond the same to commercial drain cleaner.
  • Roots- While many clogged pipes are caused by debris washed down the drain, some clogged pipes can be caused by plant roots. Plant roots can slow or prohibit the flow of water making repairs necessary! Oftentimes if you have pipes that are being clogged by roots, its more than a simple DIY fix. A professional, experienced plumber can clear the roots causing the clog quickly and without causing unnecessary damage.
  • Maintenance- The main reason to have a professional drain cleaning is to prevent any future problems! Clogs don’t happen overnight; they build up over a long period of time. If left to fester, clogs can cause a lot more damage than just slow water drain. Having your drains professional cleaned once a year can keep you from having to shell out money for repairs that could have been avoided. Eliminate the problem before it starts!

If your drains are clogged or if you’d like to stay ahead of the curve and prevent them, contact us today for your professional drain cleaning in Cherokee County, GA. At Masterflo we have years of experience doing drain cleaning and guarantee we’ll get your pipes in working order and keep them that way. Remember, you can call us any time, day or night, seven days a week!

 

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Kitchen Plumbing Maintenance

Kitchen Plumbing Maintenance

When you think of your home’s plumbing system, what’s the first room that comes to mind? Probably your bathroom, right? The word “plumbing” often gets associated with bathrooms, but how often do you associate it with your kitchen? Sure, we all know that there are pipes in the kitchen, but most of us don’t realize that the plumbing in our kitchens does a huge amount of work every day! The plumbing in your kitchen brings fresh cold water to your tap, brings fresh hot water to your tap, carries out waste water containing food parts from the sink, and supports appliances like a dishwasher and a garbage disposal.

With all the hard work that your kitchen plumbing does, it should come as know surprise to you that your kitchen plumbing is at a high risk to break down and potentially cause huge problems for you! Problems with your kitchen plumbing can get quite costly. To help avoid a costly kitchen plumbing repair, its important that you schedule a kitchen plumbing inspection and maintenance visit with Masterflo Plumbing. Annual kitchen plumbing maintenance and a check up will help safeguard you from potentially huge problems.

During an annual check up from an experienced plumber, your whole kitchen plumbing system will be thoroughly inspected. This includes checking all pipes for leaks (including small, hard to detect pinhole leaks), sagging or raised spots in your cabinets or floors that could indicate a leak, and a thorough drain cleaning to prevent debris from building up and causing a clog.

Here are some reasons why kitchen plumbing maintenance and an annual check up benefit you-

  • Early leak detection- Some leaks, like pinhole leaks, can be hard for homeowners to detect before they become large, problematic leaks. If a minor leak is not repaired quickly, it can become a huge leak and cause many other costly problems. During an annual maintenance visit, an experienced plumber can catch these small leaks early and fix them before they can cause any more damage or cost you any more money!
  • Clogs treatment and prevention- No matter how careful you are at your kitchen sink, a certain amount of organic debris will make its way down your kitchen sink drain. Over time, this organic debris (fat, grease, food waste, etc.) can build up in your kitchen pipes and cause a major, problematic clog. During a maintenance visit, our plumbers will clean out all the debris in your pipes, leaving you with better water pressure and a much lower risk for those aggravating, and potentially hazardous, clogs.
  • Appliance maintenance- All those expensive appliances in your kitchen- your dishwasher, garbage disposal, sink faucets, etc- are at risk if you don’t have your kitchen plumbing regularly inspected and maintained. By having kitchen plumbing maintenance done, you can drastically decrease the odds that something will go wrong with your appliances and increase their lifespan.
  • Lower water bills- In the end, we all really just want to save some money and have some extra cash in our pockets, right? An annual maintenance visit will keep your kitchen plumbing working efficiently! If your kitchen plumbing isn’t being maintained chances are that its working inefficiently. If its working inefficiently, that means its costing you extra money!

Call Masterflo plumbing today to schedule your annual kitchen plumbing maintenance visit! If you’re having an emergency kitchen plumbing problem, we are available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! We boast a team of highly skilled, experienced plumbers who can find a solution for you right away!

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Do You Need A Plumber in Canton, GA?

Do You Need A Plumber in Canton, GA?

Because your modern day plumbing system is designed to be “out of sight, out of mind”, its sometimes hard to know if you need a plumber. There are, of course, some obvious reasons why you would need to call a plumber in Canton, GA. We all know that major leaks require a plumber, as well as having a broken hot water heater. There are some other, less obvious reasons, why you would also need a plumber in Canton, GA. Are you happy, overall, with your plumbing system? Do you have a problem with hot water supply or low pressure? All these things are vital to the functioning of your home and your personal comfort. Everyone remembers to keep their house pressure washed or their grass cut because those are things that are seen everyday, but your plumbing system can sometimes become an after thought. Keeping your plumbing clean and in tip top shape is crucial. A working plumbing system is key in your personal comfort, health, cooking, cleaning, etc.

Here are a few reasons why you may need to call a plumber-

  1. Leaks. This one is probably fairly obvious. All leaks should be taken care of immediately! If a leak is allowed to continue on, it will more than likely get worse and can lead to further damage, costing you more money! There are pipes running all underneath your house as well as your yard, so oftentimes small leaks can go undetected. Sometimes leaks can only be found by a professional plumber. To prevent damage from leaks, its a good idea to have an annual plumbing inspection.
  2. Low water pressure. While most of us think that low water pressure is simply a minor annoyance, the truth is that it can be a sign of a much larger plumbing problem. If you’re on well water, it could be a well pump issue. If you have a municipal water supply pipe, you may need to call a plumber in Canton, GA to test your pressure. Low water pressure can also be a sign of a leak.
  3. Reoccurring or tough clog. Clogs that can’t be taken care of by using a plunger or clogs that continue to come back quickly definitely require a visit from a plumber! Professional plumbers have tools and are knowledgeable about other drain cleaning techniques that can take care of your problem and keep your drain pipes safe.
  4. Energy efficient appliance installation. Low-flow toilets, faucets, and shower heads can save you tons of money each month! If you’re not 100% positive you know how to install these appliances, its a good idea to call a plumber so you don’t accidentally cause any damage.
  5. Water heater maintenance. If you find that you’re suddenly having a hot water supply issue or that your water heater is making a strange sound, call a plumber immediately! Oftentimes these issues are minor and can be repaired. However, if you notice these issues and don’t call a plumber, the situation can fester and turn into a huge issue, resulting in a costly repair or the need for a whole new unit.
  6. Strange sounds. Its not just your imagination, those strange gurgling noises from your sink drains, screeching sounds from your faucet, or rattling pipes can be an indicator of blockages or trapped air.

If you have any of these plumbing issues and are in need of a plumber in Canton, GA, contact us today at (678) 822-7095 so we can find a solution for your plumbing problem!

Why Should You Have A Plumbing Inspection?

Why Should You Have A Plumbing Inspection?

The modern day plumbing system can be a tricky thing. Your plumbing system is (fortunately) designed to be “out of sight, out of mind”. 99% of the time this is a great thing- no one wants to look at their pipes! However, if something is wrong with one of your pipes, you may not know about it until its caused a lot of damage. Oftentimes, problems with your plumbing start small. When they go undetected and are able to persist, they become larger and can eventually cause huge problems.

Having a plumbing inspection on a regular basis can save you a lot of headache- and money! Here are a few common plumbing problems that can go unnoticed unless you get a plumbing inspection:

Pinhole Leaks

Pinhole leaks are holes in the pipe caused by pitting corrosion. After the corrosion begins, these leaks can occur quickly. However, because these leaks begin with one or two drops at a time, they can go unnoticed for quite some time. After a few months of dripping one or two drops here and there, these leaks can rot out your insulation, studs, and sheetrock. The only way to prevent extensive damage from pinhole leaks is to have a plumbing inspection once a year! If a small pinhole leak is detected, repairing it early is much cheaper than repairing the extensive damage it can cause later.

Clogs

We’re all familiar with clogs, especially those in our shower drain or sink drain. Contrary to popular belief, clogs don’t form spontaneously! Clogs form slowly as debris gradually builds up from the inner walls of the pipe towards the center. If you pay really close attention over a period of time, you may be able to notice clogs starting to form because your water may begin to drain more slowly. Clogs are common occurrences and usually can’t be helped. An annual plumbing inspection is a great way to catch clogs as they start to form, instead of after they’ve already formed and caused you a big headache.

Lime Scale

Water with a high mineral content is known as hard water. Hard water is common to many areas of the country, as evidenced by this map, put out by the US Geological Survey. Hard water is more common in areas that have high amounts of certain mineral deposits. As hard water flows through the pipes in your home, it deposits small amounts of these minerals on the walls of your pipes. As the years pass and this process continues, these mineral deposits grow into lime scale. Lime scale is a substance that can restrict the flow of water through your pipes. If this process is allowed to continue, lime scale can harden and can no longer be removed. At this point, entire pipes in your plumbing system would have to be replaced. If you have your plumbing inspected regularly, lime scale can be caught early and removed before it does any serious damage.

Routine plumbing inspections can keep your plumbing running smoothly and can help you avoid costly repairs. For help with a plumbing repair or for your annual inspection, contact us today at [callout add_button=”no” button_text=”Learn More” button_url=”#”]

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