Slab Leaks 101

Slab Leaks 101

Owning a home is a source of pride and a goal for many of us, but its also a huge responsibility and can sometimes be a huge headache! There are all kinds of problems that can affect your home, and even a home in pristine condition will probably have a few small problems here or there. Plumbing problems are some of the worst problems that can affect your home. Plumbing problems aren’t always cut and dry or easy fixes. They are often hard to detect and can manifest themselves in other ways causing more damage to your home.

Slab leaks are one of the worst problems. Slab leaks are often very hard to detect, are hard to repair, and if a slab leak goes unnoticed it can really wreak havoc on your home. A slab leak can greatly impact the integrity of your home’s foundation, potentially putting the safety of you and your family at risk. After a long dry spell, we’ve had tons of rain so far this spring, and we’re projected to get even more! With all this rain after such a long drought, the ground can quickly become over saturated, and any extra water will quickly make its way into your home through any method possible. If you’ve got even the tiniest beginnings of a crack in your slab, you can bet the rain water will make its way in. Let’s take a look at the basics of slab leaks and what you can do to be proactive if you’ve got a slab leak!

What is it?

A slab is the concrete foundation that your home sits on for stability. Underneath the slab are numerous plumbing pipes, including your water and sewer lines. If one of these pipes beaneath your slab begins to leak, you have a slab leak! The water from these pipes then travels up through the slab and, eventually, into your home through the floor. Because these pipes are buried and not visible to you, leaks can go unnoticed for long periods of time. This allows the leak to cause much more damage to your home than a leak that gets detected early on. Spotting a slab leak before its had the chance to cause major damage to your home’s foundation is nearly impossible.

What can you do?

If you notice that you may have a slab leak, make sure to turn off your water to try and prevent any additional damage. Next, call a professional plumber and have the slab leak fixed ASAP! The longer it festers, the more damage you’ll have and the more money you’ll have to spend to get it fixed. 

At Masterflo Plumbing, we have the skills and experience necessary to fix your slab leak quickly and correctly the first time! If you suspect you have a slab leak, don’t hesitate, call us today 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!

Annual Home Maintenance Checklist

Annual Home Maintenance Checklist

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

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

annual-home-maintenance-checklist

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

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

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

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

Hot Water Heater Installation

Hot Water Heater Installation

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

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

hot water heater installation

Size

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

Mess

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

Less Maintenance

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

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

10 Pool Safety Tips

10 Pool Safety Tips

Spending time at the pool is a great way to keep your kids active during the summer and can help prevent your kids from uttering those two words every parent dreads hearing- “I’m bored!”. Hanging out at the pool is always a family favorite and is a great pastime for all members of your family no matter how old they are.pool-safety-tips
Although spending time at the pool is the perfect family friendly summer activity, it does come with certain risks. Nearly 400 children drown each year in the United States, and 58% of those drownings occur in pools. This is a scary statistic, but it shouldn’t keep you from soaking up some sun and enjoying your family poolside this summer!
Today we’re bringing you some pool safety tips that can help keep you and your family safe all summer long. Whether you have your own pool or you’re hanging out at a neighborhood pool or a public pool, its important to take all the necessary precautions and safety measures. 

10 Pool Safety Tips-

1. Swim lessons! Swim lessons are a great way to keep your kids safe at the pool. A child who knows how to swim is at a significantly lower risk of drowning than a child who can’t swim. You can start swim lessons with babies as young as 6 months!
2. Supervise, supervise, supervise! Always make sure there is at least one set of responsible eyes on your kids when they are in or near a pool! While one set of eyes is a must, two sets are even better! You can never have enough supervision when it comes to pool time.
3. Know CPR! This is a life saving tip that everyone should know! Check with your local county rec center, fire department, or Red Cross chapter to find a CPR class.
4. Create physical barriers. If you have your own pool, installing fences and other physical barriers is a great way to prevent young kids from accidentally falling into your pool.
5. Create pool time rituals. If you create a process your child has to go through before entering the pool (swim diaper, swim suit, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, life vest, etc.) it can hinder them from making impulse decisions and jumping into the pool on a whim.
6. Teach your kids to swim without flotation devices! Flotation devices definitely serve an important purpose, but when you’re actively trying to teach your kids how to tread water, stay afloat, or swim, its important that they learn these skills without the assistance of flotation devices.
7. Forget the goggles. This may seem counter intuitive, but teaching your kids (and yourself!) to be comfortable looking around under water can be crucial. If your child is comfortable opening his or her eyes under water, it will help them feel less disoriented if they do accidentally fall into the water.
8. Blow bubbles! Teach your kids to put their face underwater and blow bubbles in the bathtub. This encourages your kids to not inhale or drink the water in the pool.
9. Set some rules. You should always have pool rules that your kids are familiar with. If you have guests over, no matter how old your guests are, you should make sure your guests are familiar with your pool rules, too.
10. Use proper flotation devices. If you and your kids are on a boat or any other type of watercraft or are in an open body of water, life vests are a must!
Following our 10 pool safety tips can help ensure that you and your family have a safe, fun filled summer at the pool this year. Don’t let plumbing tasks around the house take the fun out of your summer. Relax with your friends and family at the pool and contact Masterflo Plumbing today for all your residential plumbing needs! Give us a call at (678) 822-7095!

Drought In Georgia: Water Saving Tips

Drought In Georgia: Water Saving Tips

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

drought-in-georgia

Water Saving Tips:

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

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

 

Zika Prevention

Zika Prevention

Your home’s plumbing system is vital to the comfort, health, and safety of you and your family. We’re all familiar with plumbing leaks- that annoying dripping sound coming from your toilet or kitchen sink. While plumbing leaks may seem like just a minor annoyance, plumbing leaks can actually turn into huge, disastrous, expensive problems. This year, plumbing leaks can present a new risk- Zika. The Zika virus, which is carried by mosquitoes, has been making headlines for months now. If you have a plumbing leak which has led to standing water in or around your home, you may be at an increased risk for having mosquitoes rapidly multiply around your home. Finding out more about Zika prevention is vital to your health.

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

zika

Signs you may have plumbing leaks-

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

Dangers of plumbing leaks-

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

Zika Prevention-

  • Get more information about Zika Prevention from the CDC

zika-prevention

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

Drain Cleaning In Woodstock, GA

Drain Cleaning In Woodstock, GA

Drain cleaning isn’t always the most pleasant subject to talk about or think about. Many of you probably immediately think “yuck”, “gross”, or “ew”. However, 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 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!

drain cleaning marietta ga

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).

easyplumbingfixes

Not convinced, yet? Here are some reasons why you need a professional drain cleaning in Woodstock, 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 Woodstock, GA. At Masterflo Plumbing, 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- (678) 822-7095!

5 Summer Home Maintenance Tips

5 Summer Home Maintenance Tips

Summer is here, the kids are out of school, and here in north Georgia we’re  seeing recording breaking high temperatures! Summer is a great time to get outside and get active with your family, but its also a great time to do a little home maintenance. No one likes adding to their to do list, but as a homeowner you can save yourself lots of money by doing a little preventive maintenance. Keeping up with regular home maintenance can also help keep your house safe for you and your family!

At Masterflo Plumbing we like to help you keep your life simple. 

Today we’re bringing you 5 summer home maintenance tips–

  1. Test your smoke detectors. You should test your smoke detectors at least twice a year! During the summer there are lots of cook outs! Grills and smokers can increase your risk of having a fire in or around your home. Make sure your smoke detectors are working so that you can keep your family safe.
  2. Touch up the exterior paint on your home. This includes siding, doors, trim, and shutters. Now that its warm outside, its the perfect time to touch up the pain on the outside of your home. Touching up your home’s exterior paint each summer can keep you from dropping thousands of dollars on having the entire exterior of your home professionally repainted. Plus, once the touch ups are done, your home will look great for all those backyard cook outs!
  3. Clean your air conditioner filter. This is an important tip that is often overlooked by most of us! During the summer when your air conditioner is working the hardest, you should try and clean the filter every couple of weeks. This will help your unit to run much more efficiently, saving you money on your power bill. You can clean the filter by using warm, soapy water or a vacuum cleaner. Some newer air conditioner units may have a self cleaning option.
  4. Check your furnace filter. Changing your furnace filter is another great way to save money on your energy bill by keeping the appliance working as efficiently as possible. If the filter needs to be cleaned or replaced, turn off the power and locate the filter. You may need to unscrew and remove a couple of panels. If the filter has a cardboard frame, you’ll need to purchase a replacement. If the frame is not cardboard, you can clean it with warm, soapy water.
  5. Check your hoses. This includes all the hoses to your dehumidifier, washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker, toilets, refrigerator, and any outdoor garden hoses. These hoses should all be visually inspected for any signs of cracks, leaks, or wear and tear. Generally, these hoses will need to be replaced every 3-5 years to prevent any major leaks. 

Follow these 4 summer home maintenance tips for a safe, sunny summer! For any help with plumbing maintenance or emergency plumbing problems contact us at (678) 822-7095. We service all of metro Atlanta and north Georgia 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

DIY Plumbing Repair

DIY Plumbing Repair

At some point, most of us will run into plumbing problems at home. If you are renting, this generally means you will call your landlord and have them take care of it. If you own your own home and are not a professional plumber, this can mean calling an experienced plumber out to your home to take care of the problem. Sometimes, this can result in you spending tons of money. Today we’re going to discuss some DIY plumbing repair tricks that you can attempt yourself before calling for professional reinforcements!

DIY plumbing repair

Unblock Traps- Undo the sink trap, remove the blockage, and reassemble the trap. Although some clogs can be fixed by using a snake, oftentimes the best way to remove the clog and prevent future clogs is to remove it entirely.

Fix Pesky Sink Clogs- Remove the spring tab from the drain plug, remove the ball valve from the trap, remove the pop up plug, then thoroughly remove all debris in the drain. Sink drain clogs are super common, and contrary to popular belief, its NOT a good idea to use chemical drain cleaners.

Leaky Pipes- Check your pipes periodically for signs of rust or lime scale. This can indicate that you may have a small leak. If left alone, small leaks can turn into big leaks which can cause lots of damage.

If you have a plumbing emergency or have tried these easy plumbing fixes and still find yourself with a plumbing problem, call your local, trusted professional plumbers at Masterflo Plumbing today- (678) 822-7095!