From time to time, you might encounter some problems with your plumbing that might cost you. If you’re lucky, you won’t have to experience plumbing emergencies that will cost you a fortune in repairs and restorations. Don’t worry, our plumber has effective tips to help prevent costly plumbing repairs. If you have questions, feel free to get in touch with us anytime.
Helpful Tips for All Homeowners
Do you want to save more money on your plumbing? Read the tips below:
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Know How to Maintain Your Water Heater
The first thing you need to do is to hire a licensed plumber when installing or replacing a new water heater. When the unit is incorrectly installed, you might start to have issues with your unit such as having fluctuating water temperatures or you keep running out of hot water. Hire a plumbing expert who can install different types of water heaters and who has experience with all makes and models of water heaters. If you need a plumber for water heater installation today, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us anytime. We are more than happy to help.
It’s also important to read the manual first before using your water heater for the first time. You can avoid costly water heater repairs if you actually know how to use the unit. If you have questions about how the unit works, don’t hesitate to contact a plumber immediately for assistance.
For a tank-type water heater, you need to drain the unit to get rid of the sediment building up in the tank. If you don’t remove the sediment, it’s going to accumulate and cause a lot of problems. In some cases, it might end up with a catastrophic leak and you will have no choice but to completely replace your water heater. Don’t hesitate to call a plumber if you need help with maintaining your water heater. You also need professional maintenance to ensure your water is clean and there are no issues with your water heater.
If your unit is more than 7 or 10 years old, we suggest you call a plumber for a thorough inspection of your unit. Our team can help you determine whether you should keep the unit or get a replacement. Inefficient units will cost you more money down the road; you’ll be able to save more by buying an energy-efficient unit.
Consider replacing your tank-type water heater with a tankless water heater because the latter is more energy-efficient. For installation though, ensure you only hire a licensed plumber in the area. Tankless water heaters don’t consume a lot of energy because you only use electricity or gas when you actually turn on the unit. You get to also avoid flooding in the basement with a tankless water heater. The only downside is that they are more expensive than the standard water heater but you do get to save more because of the energy savings. Do you need help deciding what type of water heater to install for your home? Call a plumber today for help.
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Take Care of Your Pipes
The first thing you need to do is check your water pressure. Get a water pressure gauge to check your home’s water pressure. It should be between 40-60 PSI. Low water pressure usually indicates a leak in your plumbing. Call a plumber for professional leak detection immediately especially when your water bill is also higher and you see signs of hidden leaks. When the water pressure is more than 60 PSi, we suggest you call a plumber right away to correct the problem. A water pressure that’s too high can severely strain the pipes and cause major damage.
When unclogging the drain, never use chemical-based drain cleaners as they are harmful to the pipes. Older pipes can easily break. You can also injure yourself if you’re not careful with chemical-based drain cleaners. Should you decide to really use them, please make sure your children and pets can’t reach them. We suggest calling a plumber for professional drain cleaning when dealing with a major drain clog. Licensed professionals are equipped with drain cameras to let them see the interior of the pipes and assess the damage.
Another thing you can do to protect your pipes is to upgrade to modern piping. If you live in an old home, you likely will still have galvanized pipes installed and they are susceptible to rust and damage. Call a plumber to inspect the pipes and recommend the best solution.
Most importantly, you need to protect your pipes when winter comes or when the temperature starts dropping. When the pipes are unprotected, the water inside them will freeze and your pipes will only burst. You’ll know the pipes are frozen when you can’t use the water. Call a professional right away to thaw the frozen pipes. If you wait long enough, the pipe can expand and this can cause even more problems. Call us immediately so we can assist.
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Never Ignore Your Plumbing
One good thing about a plumbing emergency is that it does not occur overnight. They only happen when the homeowner neglects their plumbing by postponing repairs. If you suspect something is wrong with the water heater or the pipes, we suggest you get in touch with a professional immediately so that they can thoroughly inspect your plumbing. You can prevent a more costly repair if you never postpone any repairs or inspections.
If you need plumbing service today, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us immediately. Our team of plumbing experts are more than happy to help. We also offer a wide range of plumbing services including emergency plumbing. You can call us at any time of the day or during emergencies and rest assured someone will be with you to resolve your concern.
When the water heater keeps acting up or you keep losing hot water, try to drain the water heater tank first to see if that will fix the problem. If it doesn’t, call us immediately so we can check the problem. We have experts who can thoroughly inspect your water heater and recommend the best solutions. If your unit is old, we might recommend you get a new unit to conserve energy and save money. Don’t worry, our team is experienced with all types of water heaters including tank-type and tankless water heaters. If you need help deciding what type of water heater to install for your home, we can help as well.
For homeowners that want to save money, we usually recommend they switch to tankless water heaters. The tankless unit lasts twice as long as the standard water heater. Although they are more expensive, it also means you won’t have to keep buying a new water heater every 7 or 10 years. And if you’re worried about flooding in the basement, buying a tankless water heater can resolve this problem. Just make sure you get a professional installation to ensure the unit is properly installed. This is where we come in. Our plumbing experts can install all types of water heaters. Call us and we’ll send someone over quickly.
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Install Safety Devices
Are you always away from home and is your home protected? If you have a basement, you must make sure to install a sump pump to prevent flooding in the basement. Call a plumber to help you install or replace your old sump pump. Sump pumps are submersible devices that protect your basement from water damage. Imagine how much it would cost you when the basement floods and your important belongings are stored there. You don’t have to worry about flooding when you have a sump pump installed in the basement. After installing the sump pump, make sure to test it first by pouring a bucket of water into the sump pit. Just make sure the water is enough to turn on the switch and the unit will drain the water. If there are issues, get in touch with a plumber immediately so they can correct the problem. Don’t forget to also properly maintain the unit to extend its life and to avoid buying a new one every few years or so.
Another safety device you can install is a shut-off valve. You need to turn this device off when there are leaks in your plumbing. You also already have this installed at home but what we’re suggesting is for you to install several shut-off valves to make it easy to turn off your water and to prevent further damage to your plumbing. Because when the basement floods, it might be difficult to turn off your water. We suggest installing shut-off valves near your water heater, garbage disposal, sump pump or dishwasher. Don’t forget to check the device to ensure it actually works. Call a professional if there seems to be a problem with the unit.
Lastly, you need to install leak detection devices in your home especially when you’re always out. Call a plumber to know your options. These safety devices will need to be connected to your phone or tablet so that you’ll receive alerts if there are issues or leaks with your plumbing. Don’t worry, a plumber can help you install a leak detection device into your home. Choose a device that also automatically shuts off your water and a device that can detect abnormalities in your home’s plumbing. If you need more information about this, please don’t hesitate to call us right away for assistance. We are more than happy to help.
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Get Professional Drain Cleaning
One of the many ways to ensure your drains stay healthy is to get professional drain cleaning. A licensed plumber is equipped with the right tool such as a drain camera to help him check the interior of the pipes and assess the damage. He can better give you a diagnosis if he actually knows what’s wrong with the pipes.
Why Choose Us
You need the right professionals to ensure the problem is resolved within the day. And this is where we come in. When you choose us, rest assured that our plumbing experts will do everything they can to fix the problem, whatever that is. When it comes to repairs, installation and maintenance, rest assured, we never cut corners. We always give it our best. We also offer 100% percent complete satisfaction because we believe in our work. You can trust us and rely on us for we always deliver what we promise to our customers. And that’s exceptional service on every appointment.
Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth
Do you need Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth today? We are here to help. Our plumbing experts can take care of any plumbing-related concern. We can take care of any plumbing issues, big or small. Our team can fix a broken water heater or pipe. Just call us at your earliest convenience and we will quickly send a plumber to your location at the soonest possible time.
Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth today for an appointment.
See our previous blog on this topic here.