The hot and mostly beautiful summer is upon us. We will visit the beach, go swimming, maybe do some boating and basically do all the things that we love to do in the summer. It's part of the benefit of living in America's southeast. But, we all know with those benefits come some risks, like violent storms, for example. As you probably know, hurricanes are the biggest natural disaster Floridians face every year. The big swirling storms brings with them many billions of gallons of water and extreme natural energy. These intense storms can cause wind damage, flooding, lightning fires ...
Read MoreIt's a terrible feeling to be taking a shower and have to stand in dirty water that is not draining. In fact, it feels very counter-productive. You are cleaning your body at the same time you are standing in dirty water. Shower drains deal with the largest amount of water of any drain in your home. Showers typically last 10 minutes on average and the average shower uses 2 gallons per minute. That's 20 gallons of water per shower. The average household showers several times per day combined. It is not uncommon for 100 gallons or more of water to ...
Read MoreThe best part about modern plumbing is that we can take the nasty gross things about everyday life and literally wash them away in seconds. Carefully designed pipes which use gravity and water pressure whisk your waste away in a very efficient manner. Let’s dig further into what is going on inside your pipes. When plumbing pipes are new they are highly efficient. The smooth surfaces allow water and waste to flow freely with zero impediment. But over time, the flow within these pipes can start to degrade. Here are some of the reasons this happens: Damaged pipes - Tiny ...
Read MoreOne of the many conveniences of modern plumbing is the ability to get rid of waste in an easy fashion. Whether this is human waster or food waste, we can just flip a switch and wash it away. But it is important to remember that everything is not flushable or made to easily go down your drain. In this article we look at items which are better thrown away and not flushed or disposed of down your sink. Coffee Grounds People have been running these down the sink for decades. You will most likely not have any trouble getting the ...
Read MoreSome of us have drains outdoors. Whether it be on our patio, driveway, garden or outdoor shower area, this drain serves the same function as an indoor drain. That function is simply to remove wastewater. Outdoor drains get clogged as much (if not more often) as indoor drains. There are often all types of debris which end up in these drains and they need regular maintenance. In this article we would like to discuss what you can do to attack a clog. Wire Coat Hanger - Yeah I know, not very professional. But if you have a large object blocking ...
Read MoreFlushable wipes became popular on the market about 15 years ago or so. They offer "extra cleanliness" to the user. Many companies that make these products tout that they are just as safe as regular toilet paper to flush down your toilet. But are they? The bottom line is that regular toilet paper is made thin and is fully biodegradable. The flushable wipes are made thicker and have chemical additives that keep the wipes together and moist. They will eventually break down in the sewer or septic system but they do not break down right away. If there is a ...
Read MoreWhen you own a home you want to keep your expenses down anyway possible. This goes for the short and long-term. Pipes eventually go bad in a home and replacing them can be very expensive. In this article we will go over methods to keeping your pipes lasting as long as possible. Checking Water Pressure This is a big one. Too much water pressure is bad for your pipes. Just a few PSI above the recommended level doesnt seem like much, but over years time it can do serious damage. It is suggested that you keep your PSI below 85. ...
Read MoreA floor drain backing up can be very frustrating and annoying. They can be baffling too. People will run all types of drain cleaners and potions through their floor drain trying to get it to work properly. But it may not be the drain itself that isn't functioning properly. It may be your plumbing system. The floor drain is the lowest drain in the home so this will be the first place waste water will go if there is a problem with it exiting the premises. In other words, a clog elsewhere may be causing the floor drain to back-up. ...
Read MoreSummer is definitely upon us. The nights are warm and the days are hot. Daylight has been more and more abundant. In fact, we are only a week away from the longest day of the year, the summer solstice. That got me thinking: what are the most common plumbing problems this time of year? So, I put together a list below: Washing machine problems - The washing machine is used very frequently in the summer time. Kids make their clothes dirty all day and the laundry piles up. More use of the machine means more drain build up. Plumbers get ...
Read MoreYou probably have suffered from clogged drains before and were able to resolve it either using a commercial drain cleaner or by calling a professional plumber. We all know that drains get clogged, but what are they clogged with? Here is a list of the six most common reasons for the clog: Hair - Human hair is designed to protect us from sun and weather. But it is also designed to replace itself in a cycle over time. This means that your hair is constantly falling out. Most of the time this occurs in your shower and when you wash ...
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