Home Buying Tips: Plumbing

Home Buying Tips: Plumbing

Spring is here, and many people are buying and selling homes! The housing market in Cherokee County is booming, and you may be looking at purchasing a home here and settling down. Buying a home is an exciting process, but it can also be a stressful and daunting one! There are so many steps to take, documents to get in order, checklists to go through, and things to look at. Once you’ve purchased a home you can’t simply return it like a pair of shoes, so its important to do your due diligence before you sign on the dotted line. Before buying a home, its a good idea to check out some home buying tips to make sure you’re completely ready to say yes to your dream home.
Buying a home with pre existing plumbing problems could turn into a huge headache for you. Fortunately, even if you’re not a professional plumber there are a few home buying tips that can help you out a lot when it comes to your home’s plumbing system. Today we’re going to talk about a few of these tips.

Home Buying Tips:

  • Foundation problems. Cracks in the foundation or basement don’t always mean there’s a plumbing problem, but it could be a possibility! Cracks in the foundation can mean there’s a leak somewhere and can greatly compromise the integrity of your home, putting your family’s safety at risk.
  • Bug problems. Here in north Georgia, its nearly impossible to get away from the bugs! However, too many bugs can be a sign of a problem. Some bugs breed and thrive near standing water. If you notice bugs, particularly mosquitoes, that seem to be thriving at your new home, double check for any odd sources of standing water. Standing water can indicate a leak or poor drainage.
  • Random patches of fresh paint. Sometimes random patches of fresh paint can indicate that the homeowner has simply painted over a small nail hole. Other times, it can be the first sign of a larger problem. If there has been a water leak in the ceiling or walls, it may take more than fresh paint to completely repair all the damage.
  • Foul odors. Some bad smells can be a passing fluke, but others can indicate a larger problem. Pre existing plumbing problems like leaks, septic tank problems, or sewer problems can cause foul odors. These problems should not be overlooked as they can be quite costly to fix.
  • Poor drainage around the home. Its important to try and check out a home you’re thinking of buying after its rained. Poor drainage around your home can potentially cause problems for your landscaping and your home’s foundation. Its important to make sure that the grading of the lot allows rain water to drain away from the home. Its also important to check out the gutters and make sure they’re installed and working properly.
  • Mold. Mold doesn’t always come from a plumbing leak, but it certainly can! If you notice mold its crucial to find out the source to see if it will be a continuing problem that needs to be addressed.

If you’ve recently purchased a new home and need a professional plumber that you can count on day or night, make sure to call Masterflo Plumbing! We’re locally owned and operated and are here for your plumbing needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Give us a call at (678) 822-7095!

How To: Unclog A Toilet

How To: Unclog A Toilet

No doubt about it- toilet clogs happen to all of us, and they’re always a nuisance! Toilet clogs are a fairly common plumbing problem that can happen with some frequency to everyone. Although you can always call a professional plumber, generally toilet clogs are a problem you can fix yourself. Here are a few helpful tips on how to unclog a toilet.

 

  1. Use a plunger. Whether you own or rent your home, you should always own a plunger! Plungers are readily available and are cheap, and having one can save your toilet from overflowing and causing water damage to your home. If you don’t have a plunger or you need a new one, purchase a sturdy, rubber plunger with a flange. These are the most effective at plunging clogged toilets. If its time to unclog a toilet and use your plunger, you can add some petroleum jelly around the rim of your plunger to make for an even better seal inside your toilet bowl. Plunge as vigorously as possible, but try not to splash! Usually, a few good plunges will have your toilet unclogged and working again. 
  2. Try the volcano. This isn’t as hard or as scary as it sounds. Baking soda and vinegar- ingredients that most of us already have on hand- are great for fixing a clogged toilet. Boil a large pot of water, then allow it to cool for a few minutes. While your water is cooling, add one cup of baking soda and two cups of white vinegar to your toilet. Then add the cooling water. If possible, let this mixture sit in your toilet for a few hours. This concoction should clear the clog. 
  3. Use some dish soap. Similar to the volcano method above, dish soap can also help unclog a toilet. Boil a large pot of water and allow it to cool. While the water is cooling, squirt a large amount of liquid dish soap into the bowl of the toilet. Once your water has cooled some and the dish soap has settled in your toilet bowl, pour the water into the toilet bowl. Try not to splash, but pour the water from approximately a foot above the toilet. The idea is to use the force of the water and the slipperiness of the dish soap to move the clog along.
  4.  Call a plumber. If these methods don’t work, call a professional plumber! No one wants to go too long without a working toilet.

If you’ve got a tough clog, don’t hesitate to call the professionals at Masterflo Plumbing today! We can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (678) 822-7095 for all of your plumbing needs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lower Your Water Bills

Lower Your Water Bills

Its no secret that your utility bills tend to climb during the winter months, even in the south! Colder temperatures generally find us cranking up our heat and using more hot water. This usually equates to spending more money on utility bills, but fortunately that doesn’t have to be the case! There are a few things you can do to lower your water bills this winter and all year long! 

lower-your-water-bills

How To Lower Your Water Bills-

  1. Keep up with regular maintenance. Leaks are the number one cause of higher water bills! Keeping up with regular maintenance can help you catch small leaks before they become large and costly. Regularly maintaining your hot water heater can also keep it running more efficiently and cheaply. By keeping up with your plumbing maintenance you can prevent leaks, wasted water, and higher water bills.
  2. Get your repairs done quickly. A great way to lower your water bills is by staying on top of repairs. No one likes to spend money on household repairs, but getting your repairs done quickly can actually save you money. If you let a plumbing problem fester, it can get worse and cause extensive damage to your home and property. Getting your repairs done quickly can minimize any damage and the amount of money you’re putting out. 
  3. Don’t be afraid to replace old plumbing or appliances. Although modern plumbing pipes and appliances are designed to last a long time, everything will need to be replaced eventually! Outdated plumbing appliances can cost more to run than it will cost you to replace them with newer appliances. Replacing your outdated equipment can help to lower your water bills and prevent any plumbing catastrophes. With even colder temperatures on the horizon, its a good idea to replace any old equipment now before you find yourself with sky high water bills or no hot water!

Take charge of your money and lower your water bills today! If you need any plumbing maintenance, repairs, or replacements done, call the professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing by dialing (678) 822-7095! 

 

 

Quick and Easy Plumbing Fixes

Having a plumbing problem is always an inconvenience. No one ever wants to be faced with plumbing problems- especially near the holidays! Generally plumbing problems result in calling a professional plumber and sometimes spending hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars for a solution. 

While its almost certain that you will face a number of plumbing problems throughout your life time, the good news is that there are many common plumbing problems that can be solved fairly easily and without a plumber. If its not a problem that can be solved completely on your own, there are some things you can do to prevent the problem from worsening and causing further damage. 

In an effort to save you some time, money, and frustration this holiday season, we’re going to talk about some quick and easy plumbing fixes! While there are hundreds of plumbing problems that can plague a homeowner, these are some of the most common. 

quick and easy plumbing fixes

Hot Water Heater Problems

No hot water? Or do you have luke warm water? Are you running out of hot water too quickly?

  • Make sure your pilot light is lit
  • Double check your temperature setting
  • If you’ve got a big family or you use unusually large amounts of hot water, you may need a larger hot water heater or a second hot water heater installed

Clogged Drain

Is your drain clogged up? Is the water backing up into your sink?

  • Try not to pour hot grease or oils down your sink drain
  • If its already backed up, try to use a different sink
  • Don’t use chemical drain cleaners that you find in the store
  • Try using a plunger to move the clog

Stinky Drains

Do you cringe every time you’re near your sink? Are there foul odors coming out of your drains?

  • If you have a garbage disposal run it every time you put food in it
  • Try pouring vinegar and baking soda down the drain and flushing it with hot water

Leaky Pipes

Do you see water damage on your floors, walls, or ceilings? Do you hear a leak coming from your pipes?

  • Leaky pipes occur due to age
  • If you notice a leak shut off the water supply to that area
  • Pipe repair should only be done by a licensed, professional plumber

If these quick and easy plumbing fixes don’t solve your plumbing problem, you need to call a professional plumber. At Masterflo Plumbing we have a team of professional plumbers who have the knowledge, training, and experience necessary to deal with your plumbing problems quickly and correctly the first time! Don’t let plumbing problems add to your stress just before Christmas, give us a call at (678) 822-7095!

8 Steps To Prevent Frozen Pipes

8 Steps To Prevent Frozen Pipes

Plumbing problems never seem to come at a convenient time, but not having hot water during the harsh winter months is the ultimate in inconvenient plumbing problems. Besides being inconvenient, frozen pipes can present serious compromises to the health, safety, and integrity of your family and your home and property! Frozen pipes plague millions of Americans each year, and if you live in an area that sees freezing temperatures during the winter, you are at risk of having frozen pipes. Although north Georgia sees milder winters than some places in the United States, many homeowners here still end up with frozen pipes. 

Don’t get stuck with frozen pipes and no hot water this winter, just follow our 8 steps to prevent frozen pipes!

frozen-pipes

8 Steps To Prevent Frozen Pipes- 

  1. Insulate pipes that are in colder areas of your home with foam.
  2. Wrap pipes that are at risk of freezing with heater tape.
  3. Seal any gaps in insulation near your pipes.
  4. Replace older plumbing.
  5. Call a professional plumber to reroute plumbing that is exposed to the elements.
  6. During particularly freezing temperatures, allow warm air to circulate around pipes in cooler areas of your home. This may mean opening cabinet doors or opening the door to your basement or your garage from your main living space.
  7. Consider keeping the temperature in your home slightly warmer than normal overnight when outside temperatures drop the most drastically.
  8. Turn on your faucets to allow a slow drip overnight. This will ensure that water continues to flow through your pipes.

While these 8 steps can surely help prevent frozen pipes, nothing is guaranteed! If you find that your pipes are frozen and you are without hot water, call a plumber immediately! Many times frozen pipes can be fixed easily and without resulting in any problems, but sometimes frozen pipes can cause major damage to your home and property.

For more information about the safety of you, your family, and your home during freezing winter temperatures, read more from the Red Cross.

For an emergency plumber in your area, call Masterflo Plumbing immediately at (678) 822-7095! We’re on call for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Winterize Your Home

Winterize Your Home

We’re a week into November, and for those of us in Georgia, we’ve had some mild temperatures so far! Don’t be fooled, though! December, January, and February are just around the corner. January and February are traditionally the harshest of the winter months and can bring freezing rain, sleet, ice, and snow. Getting your home prepared for winter is important for the safety and comfort of you and your family! Knowing how to winterize your home is important, even in the south! Learn how to winterize your home and get started early so that you can rest easy during the winter months! 

winterize your home

Follow our winter home prep checklist to learn how to winterize your home and make sure that you, your family, and your friends stay safe and warm this winter!

  • Invest in a new door mat. During the course of the year, your doormat can get worn down and is no longer functional. A new door mat will encourage guests to wipe their feet and will help to reduce slips and falls.
  • Stock up on outdoor supplies. Make sure you have a snow shovel, and an ample supply of salt or sand BEFORE winter weather hits. If you wait till harsh weather hits your area, stores are likely to sell out of the supplies you need.
  • Pay attention to your home’s humidity. Dry air that occurs in your home during the winter can be damaging to your health and the health of your children. Consider purchasing a humidifier if you don’t already have one. If you do, make sure its clean and ready to be used.
  • Get your fireplace professionally cleaned. If you have a fireplace that you plan to use to heat your home during the winter, make sure you have a professional chimney sweep clean it for you first! This small step can drastically reduce your risk of having your home catch on fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Clean your gutters and downspouts. Having your gutters cleaned before winter weather hits will keep that winter precipitation flowing and can prevent clogged gutters. Clogged gutters can eventually lead to siding damage, gutter corrosion, and foundation damage.
  • Fix all the leaks in your home. If you’ve got a leaky roof, a drafty window seal, or worn out weather stripping on a door, now is the time to fix all those leaks! Fixing all those holes can help keep you warm and will cut down on your winter utility bills.

Know how to winterize your home and follow these tips to help keep you safe and warm this winter! For any winter plumbing emergencies, make sure to contact Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095!

Buying A Home: Plumbing Warning Signs

Buying A Home: Plumbing Warning Signs

Buying a home is an exciting process, but it can also be a stressful and daunting one! There are so many steps to take, documents to get in order, checklists to go through, and things to look at. Once you’ve purchased a home you can’t simply return it like a pair of shoes, so its important to do your due diligence before you sign on the dotted line. 
Buying a home with pre existing plumbing problems could turn into a huge headache for you. Fortunately, even if you’re not a professional plumber there are a few plumbing warning signs you can look for as you walk through your home. Today we’re going to talk about a few of these warning signs and the potential implications they can have.
buying a home
k

Plumbing Warning Signs:

  • Foundation problems. Cracks in the foundation or basement don’t always mean there’s a plumbing problem, but it could be a possibility! Cracks in the foundation can mean there’s a leak somewhere and can greatly compromise the integrity of your home, putting your family’s safety at risk.
  • Bug problems. Here in north Georgia, its nearly impossible to get away from the bugs! However, too many bugs can be a sign of a problem. Some bugs breed and thrive near standing water. If you notice bugs, particularly mosquitoes, that seem to be thriving at your new home, double check for any odd sources of standing water. Standing water can indicate a leak or poor drainage.
  • Random patches of fresh paint. Sometimes random patches of fresh paint can indicate that the homeowner has simply painted over a small nail hole. Other times, it can be the first sign of a larger problem. If there has been a water leak in the ceiling or walls, it may take more than fresh paint to completely repair all the damage.
  • Foul odors. Some bad smells can be a passing fluke, but others can indicate a larger problem. Pre existing plumbing problems like leaks, septic tank problems, or sewer problems can cause foul odors. These problems should not be overlooked as they can be quite costly to fix.
  • Poor drainage around the home. Its important to try and check out a home you’re thinking of buying after its rained. Poor drainage around your home can potentially cause problems for your landscaping and your home’s foundation. Its important to make sure that the grading of the lot allows rain water to drain away from the home. Its also important to check out the gutters and make sure they’re installed and working properly.
  • Mold. Mold doesn’t always come from a plumbing leak, but it certainly can! If you notice mold its crucial to find out the source to see if it will be a continuing problem that needs to be addressed.

If you’ve recently purchased a new home and need a professional plumber that you can count on day or night, make sure to call Masterflo Plumbing! We’re locally owned and operated and are here for your plumbing needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Give us a call at (678) 822-7095!

Leaky Pipes 101

Leaky Pipes 101

Earlier this week, we talked about the different types of pipe corrosion that can affect your plumbing system. The biggest danger of pipe corrosion is ending up with leaky pipes! Now that you know more about pipe corrosion, we’re going to move on to talking about leaky pipes and why this issue is so important to you if you’re a homeowner! 

leaky-pipes

Your home’s plumbing system is something that is vital to the comfort, health, and safety of you and your family. We’re all familiar with plumbing leaks- that annoying dripping sound coming from your toilet or kitchen sink. While leaky pipes may seem like just a minor annoyance, leaky pipes can actually turn into huge, disastrous, expensive problems. 

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

Signs you may have plumbing leaks-

  • an unexpected increase in your water bill
  • visible mold or mildew
  • warped, sagging, or stained spots on your ceilings or walls
  • warped, cracked, or sagging floors
  • sporadic wet or lush patches in your yard

Most common places you may have plumbing leaks-

  • bathrooms
  • kitchen
  • laundry room
  • basement
  • underneath your foundation

Dangers of plumbing leaks-

  • If you suffer from allergies, mold can further irritate your allergies or cause chronic allergies
  • Mold inhalation can lead to chronic dizziness, headaches, and respiratory issues
  • If you have a sewer leak, toxic bacteria can leak into your home
  • Mold can destroy your drywall
  • If you have extensive mold damage, you may need major home renovations to reverse the effects
  • Potential flooding

Ways of detecting plumbing leaks-

  • radar
  • gas
  • video 
  • geophone

If you haven’t had your home’s plumbing system inspected this year, call us today to schedule your appointment! If you suspect that you may have some leaky pipes, don’t hesitate to call! Leaky pipes can affect the health of you and your family and your home’s structural integrity! Call us today 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!