Common Plumbing Issues

Dripping Faucets

Don’t wait on a leaky faucet, it can damage the rest of your drain system and possibly fill your cesspool! Dripping and running faucets should be fixed because they can create other leaks. This is a very common occurrence, something that plumbers come across very frequently. Often, while at customers’ home we will see a waste pipe that has worn thin and has a hole in it. Then we’ll go upstairs and see the tub water running/leaking. We then explain that the first plumbing issue to be fixed is the running or leaking tub spout, as this leak has lead to further damage. After successfully repairing or replacing the drip or leak we can move on to fixing the drain pipe damage caused by the running/leaking spout.

Emergency Shut Off Valves Not Working

Some things in life are not worth learning before it’s too late—like the locations of your water and gas shutoff valves. Check to make sure that they’re functioning properly, and it will ensure that you can depend on them to work if the need ever occurs. Working emergency valves on all your home’s services can protect you, your family and your home.

Leaky Pipes

Leaking water pipes that are old, corroded or maybe installed incorrectly are an obvious plumbing concern. The hidden dangers associated with leaking water pipes are property damage and mold. Most leaking pipes do not happen directly over a drain and end up soaking your sheet rock or 2x4s, making the corner of your basement wet, damp and sooner or later moldy. What begins as a harmless fresh water leak can have a devastating effect on your health and your property. From a small minuscule misting hole to a constant drip, fixed immediately and correctly it becomes a non-issue.

Running Toilets

The running toilet is the Crux of the plumbing trade. Most toilets installed in homes today have been standardized to a degree, which makes finding the correct parts relatively easy for an experienced service plumber. Usually, a running toilet is a quick and easy fix. There are always a few lemons in every bunch and the toilet fruit basket has some lemons of its own. It’s important to have an experienced master plumber work on your bathroom. A running toilet can and will fill up a cesspool and in the worst case scenario, cause other leaks….(read “dripping faucets”). We provide the best possible, hassle free service for your running toilet.

Leaking Hose Bib

Leaking hose bibs are a very common plumbing problem. Sometimes they can be serviced, and sometimes they can not. Luckily, the cost associated with replacing them is low, so you can enjoy watering your lawn or washing your car when you want without an issue. We usually install “Frost Free” hose bibs. When installed properly, it can provide years of hassle free operation. These valves need to be installed pitched to drain out when they are shut off so they do not freeze. When installing or inspecting work ensuring that the hose bib is installed correctly and pitched is another small but important reason why we are the best in the business.

Slow or Clogged Drains

To prevent a clogged drain or toilet, never throw paper towels or wet naps down the drain or flush them down the toilet. A clogged drain caused by dropping something in the toilet, or using too much toilet paper, can be generally easy to fix. First, we use a toilet or hand auger, if that doesn’t work we use a bigger machine, usually accessing the pipe through a clean-out plug or by removing the toilet. We keep snaking the clog until it is clear. The kitchen sink drain can be quite different, A lot of the time we see un-vented kitchen sink drains. Over time this creates a slower and slower drain that in the end is completely filled with a mash potato-like substance. The only remedy is replacing the pipes and adding the necessary venting. Whatever the case may be at your home, we can and will fix your problem to your greatest possible satisfaction.

Water Heater Repair

There are many different types of water heaters. If you have a water heater that works with a circulator connected to your boiler then you have an “Indirect Water Heater.” If it is not leaking and appears in generally good condition these can almost always be serviced and repaired as most of the working parts are easy to locate. On these units it is usually the circulator, or an easily replaceable electrical component and most of the time, we are able to get you up and running in no time. There are also Oil-Fired Water Heaters. Again, if the unit appears in generally good condition, most of the time a tune up and cleaning is all that is needed. Gas-Fired Water Heaters commonly require a simple thermo-coupling repair. After replacing the thermo-coupling, if we see the gas valve needs to be replaced it usually can be ordered via warranty from the manufacturer. However, depending on the age of the water heater and time constraints, sometimes it is just easier to replace the unit. Whatever the case we can always get our customers the hot water they need.

Sump Pump Failure

If toilets are the crux, then sump pumps are the scourge. These are one of the only mechanical items used in sewage treatment, and all things mechanical can break down. There are a number of things that can cause your sump pump to fail. Sometimes it’s the float that is broken, which is an easy (albeit dirty) task. Sometimes, there is something lodged in the pump, when a pump wants to run but can’t, it creates a dead spot in the pump. This dead spot can cause another breakdown in the very immediate future. When this is the case, there is only one answer and that is to replace the pump with a new “Little Giant” or “Liberty” pump. These pumps are the best in the industry.

Low Water Pressure

A bad water main valve or a valve that is only half open is sometimes an easy fix to low water pressure problems in a home. If the low pressure is in the whole home it usually points to the water main or the pressure from the local town, but if it is confined to one faucet, or just the hot or cold then most likely the problem exists in your home’s plumbing. When the problem is at one fixture, the first action is to see if the strainer on the faucet is clogged. This is the little screen at the tip of most modern faucets. It can easily get clogged by sediment and is about 80% of the time the cause of low water pressure issues. Other times It may be the pieces of rubber from the old main valve lodged and stuck in the valves underneath the sink causing low water pressure. If the low water pressure is limited to the hot water, it can mean an upgrade to the hot water piping is needed. Another possible issue is an improperly sized hot water heater or coil, this can cause water pressure problems in the shower because of today’s anti-scaled shower bodies. Whatever the cause, rest assured that we will fix your poor water pressure.