How to Know the Difference Between a DIY Issue and a Serious Plumbing Problem

Water damage can wreak havoc on your home and your wallet. That's why it's essential to know which plumbing projects are do-it-yourself endeavors, and which should be left for an experienced plumber. To help you decipher between the two, we've created a helpful list that categorizes plumbing issues you can handle yourself and plumbing issues only a professional should take on.

A Dripping Faucet

After you turn off your faucet does it continue to drip? If the answer is yes, a worn out O-ring is a potential cause. Replacing the O-ring is not difficult and can be considered a DIY project. However, if the faucet continues to leak after you've swapped out the O-ring, faulty plumbing or a loose part is more than likely the issue, which means contacting a plumber is in your best interest.

Clogged Drain

No matter how careful you are, clogged drains are bound to happen, and in most cases they're not hard to fix. Simply using a natural remedy, such as baking soda and vinegar will help clear most minor obstructions. Chemical based drain cleaners you purchase at a store are not a good answer to your clog, and can actually end up eroding your pipes. A stubborn blockage that won't budge with a DIY solution indicates the clog is deep within your pipes or too large for normal efforts. In such a case, calling an experienced plumber is your next step.

Higher than Normal Water Bill

A water bill that suddenly jumps in price signals a leak has taken up residence somewhere in your home. Ignoring the abrupt increase in your bill can have serious consequences, such as, costly water damage to your house. If you believe your home has a hidden leak, hire a plumber to come out and inspect your property as soon as possible.

Water Heater Issues

A malfunctioning water heater can quickly turn into a serious safety hazard. Whether a strange odor is present or the appliance is leaking, attempting to fix the issue yourself is never a good idea. If your water heater is on the fritz, you will need to call a professional plumber to come out and have a look at it.

Burst pipes and a clogged sewer line are also plumbing issues that should be dealt with by a highly trained professional. If your home is experiencing a plumbing malfunction that is beyond your DIY expertise, please contact us today and we'll be happy to help you.

3 Common Toilet Problems You Shouldn't Ignore

If you're like most homeowners, as long as the toilet still works, you ignore its problems. Like in other aspects of life, it is usually a better idea to address issues head-on, before they turn into bigger problems. Below, we will be detailing some common toilet problems and the reasons you need to deal with these issues.

The Toilet Is Noisy

When your toilet makes noise when it's not in use, it's also wasting water and running up your water bill. Most of the time, a noisy toilet is leaking. If you don't see any signs of a leak outside of your toilet, it's probably leaking inside from the tank to the bowl. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a toilet leak can waste as much as 22 gallons of water a day, which may not seem like much. Yet, if you ignore the leak, that toilet will waste over 8,000 gallons of water in a year.

The Toilet Rocks

Simply tightening the bolts is never the solution when your toilet rocks. (Actually, making the bolts too tight can crack the toilet.) Since the toilet's movement can cause damage, it needs to be removed to inspect the area underneath it. Frequently, a rocking toilet wears down the wax seal. The resulting leak can rot the subfloor. A rocking toilet may also have a cracked flange. Your plumber can repair the damage, find out what caused the rocking, and properly reinstall the toilet.

The Toilet Is Really Old

Older toilets waste water. Government regulations require toilets made after 1994 to use 1.6 gallons per flush or less. If your toilet is over 25 years old, it probably uses between 3.5 to 5 gallons per flush. The Environmental Protection Agency says the average household could save 13,000 gallons of water annually by replacing an older toilet with an efficient one that meets the agency's WaterSense standards. 

If any of these common toilet problems are in your home, a professional plumber can resolve these issues quickly. At The Polite Plumber, we have served the area’s plumbing needs since 1948. Give us a call today to learn about how we can provide you with solutions!

5 Factors to Consider While Choosing a Plumbing Service

The truth is, at some point in life, your drainage system is likely to have hiccups and malfunction. It is a fact we can never run away from – as much as we may try! Having the right person to help with the issue is crucial. You ought to make the right choice in order to save you headaches in the future. 

We want to help you to make the best decisions for your home and family. Below are factors to consider while choosing a plumbing service.

License

Plumbing is a key factor in the health of a household. For this purpose, the state must ensure that each plumber is licensed. It is also encouraging to be sure that an expert is handling your issue.  Before a plumber is given the go-ahead to exercise his or her skills, they first go through a vetting process.  The licensing organization does a background check on the plumber to ascertain that you will be opening your doors to a reliable person.

Liability Insurance

With plumbing works, accidents and incidents are sometimes inevitable. So, you need to consider a plumber who is insured in case of any eventualities. That is a safe way of transferring any liability should an accident come about. In case a plumber causes any damage to your property, the insurance company will be liable.

Communication Skills

Communication is an essential factor in any industry. A professional plumber needs to own exceptional communication skills. As you scout and interview your potential plumber, engage them in a conversation. This way, you will learn more about their communication skills.

Materials Used

It is crucial to consider the materials being used for plumbing. That is so because, unfortunately, a few plumbers use materials that are substandard to get more cash from clients. If you are not keen on this matter, you might as well be a frequent client to dubious plumbers.

Good Reputation

A good name speaks for itself. A plumbing company with a good number of positive reviews is safer to go with. Plumbing services depend on word of mouth. A satisfied customer will always refer to another client. Visit your plumber’s website or social media profiles to see what kind of reviews they are receiving.

At The Polite Plumber, we take great pride in being a source of service that you can rely on. We’ve been a trusted source of plumbing solutions for over 70 years! Give us call today to learn how we can help you.

Why a Professional Touch is Needed For Kitchen Sink Clogs

The sink is the workhorse of your kitchen, and that made so glaringly obvious when you have a clog. Even if you have been very diligent in keeping your drain catch in and never pouring grease down your sink, clogs can happen. Over time, even small amounts of grease and food particles can build up into a clog that stops up your kitchen sink.

When your kitchen sink is clogged, you might first reach right for the chemical drain cleaner. Well, like every licensed plumber will tell you – put that bottle right in the trash. Chemical drain cleaners, while sometimes effective, are caustic to your pipes. Every time you use it, it causes a little more unnecessary wear to your plumbing.

Alternatively, you may look to grab your drain snake. Unfortunately, this won't do great either. It may break up the clog initially, but it will just come right back sooner rather than later. Drain snakes are super effective in bathroom clogs because they break up hair, but less so when it comes to grease. Unfortunately, kitchen sink clogs aren't made up of hair in most cases.

When your kitchen sink has started to clog, what you need is a professional plumber who can hydrojet it. What this does is essentially sprays water at a high pressure along the walls of a pipe. This strips the grease build up right off. It not only breaks up your clog, but it prevents it from coming back for a long time.

If you are diligent with keeping grease from going down your drain, you won't get kitchen sink clogs very often at all, but when you do, you need a hydrojetting because that build up is probably constricting the drain pretty badly. Hydrojetting by a professional company gets rid of all of it so you can have many more years of clog-free use.

Have a clogged drain – or any other questions about plumbing? Call us today for help!

What Can Be Done to Treat Frequent Water Hammers?

Do you often hear a hard thump in your walls when you turn water features off in your house? No, it is (probably) not a ghost or rodents scampering around in there. If it happens in conjunction with the washer changing cycles or turning the tap off somewhere in your home, that is a water hammer. That thump sound happens when there is an abrupt stop in flow or change in direction inside your pipes. Traditionally, air gaps are installed to cushion the blow of water stoppage to prevent a hammer. If there is no air pocket to cushion that blow, it creates the noise.

Water hammers are to be expected sometimes. Residential water pressure can fluctuate sometimes and results in the occasional water hammer in your home. However, if you hear them frequently in your home, something needs to be done. If water hammers are left alone, they cause damage to your pipes. It causes excess wear and can even be responsible for a burst pipe down the line. The older your plumbing is, the more dangerous every water hammer becomes to your plumbing.

Typically, the most common fix for a home with a water hammer problem is a water pressure regulator to control the water pressure that causes the water hammers. However, if you notice water hammers in just one area, they may be caused by something as simple as a loose pipe, or an air gap needs to be installed.

In some situations, the water hammer may not be caused by water pressure, but simply because an air gap could not be installed. Not every area of plumbing is appropriate for an air gap. When installed, a mechanical arrestor should have been put in place specifically to prevent water hammers. If one was not, a plumber will need to come out and put on in.

Contact our team today for more information!

How to Contain a Leaky Pipe as You Wait for Emergency Service

You've noticed that one of the pipes in your home is leaking and have called in an emergency plumber for immediate repairs. However, as you wait, you realize that the leak is getting worse. If left alone, it can flood your home and cause severe water damage to your valuables. What should you do to prevent extensive property damage as you wait for emergency help? Below are three useful measures that will help you to contain a leaky pipe as you wait for a professional plumber to repair the pipe.

Turn Off the Water
Depending on the location of the leak, you may have to turn off the water at the main shutoff valve. In fact, this is the safest option as it cuts water flow in the entire house. Do you know where your main shutoff valve is? If not, look in the following places:

• Look around your home's perimeter, especially on the side that's facing the street as this is where your water main line begins as it enters the home.
• Check the outside wall of your house, especially in a utility area.
• Look for the shutoff valve in the basement.

If you can't find the valve, look through your property inspection report. The valves usually come in two types: a gate valve and ball valve. In both designs, you turn the valve clockwise to cut off the water supply in the entire house.

Once the disaster is managed, ensure everyone in your household knows where the valve is and how to shut it off. This will save you from dealing with a catastrophe in the future if a leak occurs when you're not home.

Clamp the Pipe
Even after shutting off the main valve, the water left in the piping system will continue to leak. You can prevent this by trying to temporarily seal the crack. If you have some rubber sheeting around, it'll come in handy. Wrap the rubber sheeting around the leaking part of the pipe and use a C-clamp and some blocks of wood to hold it in place. This is a temporary fix and will only work for a short time; thus, don't turn on the water before repairing the pipe.

Patch the Pipe
If you have materials such as epoxy compounds and pipe wraps in the garage from your last renovation project, you can use them to contain the leaky pipe. Apply pipe wrap or epoxy compounds around the broken section of the pipe. These materials are effective as they can be used to contain any types of leaks and cracks. However, just like rubber sheeting, pipe wrap and epoxy compounds are also temporary solutions. They'll hold the pipes in place and prevent further leaks until your plumber arrives.

Contact us today for professional plumbing services.

3 Signs Your Drain Is In Need Of Professional Repair

The drains in your home are so important and it is essential that they function properly. If not, flooding issues are sure to follow, which can lead to other problems as well. If you are having drain issues, it is likely in your best interest to contact a professional to come and check out the problem. Here are three signs that your drain is in need of professional repair.

Drainage Is Very Slow

If it takes a great deal of time for water to go down your drain, this is a sign that your drain may be clogged. This could be due to build-up in your pipes or it may be because something was unknowingly stuck in your drain. In any case, calling a professional to come and inspect the issue is the best way to fix the problem in the quickest and safest way possible.

Bad Odor Coming From The Drain

Another sign that you may have a clog in your drain is a bad odor. This odor may be due to waste building up in your drain or it may be slime and sludge that also create an unappealing odor. In either case, this is not only gross to smell, but it can also be unsanitary in your home and should be taken care of by a professional immediately.

Gurgling Noises

If you hear gurgling noises when you are trying to drain water, this may also be a sign that your drain is clogged. The backing up of water and gurgling noises may indicate that there is air in the drain that is trying to work its way around clogs. These clogs generally get worse over time as more and more particles cause them to build up and they generally don't go away on their own.

If you are experiencing any of these issues, call us today at The Polite Plumber to get your drain repaired properly.