We take a lot of things for granted, from electricity at the flip of a switch to having water at the turn of a faucet. When that water isn’t there, or worse when it is coming out of the faucet and won’t stop, we know there is a plumbing problem. That’s when the call goes into your plumbing service in Haslet, TX.
Plumbers are good people to call when you have a faucet that is causing you trouble. Many times that’s an easy fix for an expert. But plumbers are trained to do so much more than fix a faucet. When you call your plumbing service you’re tapping into the knowledge and ability to provide a wide range of services.
What’s available from your plumbing service in Haslet, TX?
Plumbing work involves items such as gasfitting, fire protection, and drainage. However, when most people think of plumbers, they are thinking about one of two things: water leaks or clogged pipes, both of which are part of indoor plumbing.
Leaks and Clogs
You wouldn’t have been able to contact your plumbing service in Haslet, TX 100 years ago because plumbing didn’t exist. The sanitary plumbing we have today, flushing toilets in homes using water to carry waste into the sewer system, became common in the 1920s and 1930s. Until then, flushing toilets were limited to the wealthy. Medical professionals and local, state, and federal lawmakers began developing, and turning into law, the plumbing codes and hygienic guidelines in the 1930s.
A note on toilets: the flushing toilet was NOT invented by someone named Thomas Crapper. The first toilets were invented by the Greeks around 1500 B.C. They weren’t flushing toilets; they simply emptied directly into a drainage system with running water. The first flushing toilet was invented by an Englishman named John Harrington in 1596 for Queen Elizabeth I. The first patent issued by the U.S. government for a flushing toilet was in 1775 to Alexander Cummings.
There’s no record of who, or what caused the first clogged pipe.
When you do have a clogged pipe, don’t use an over-the-counter drain cleaner. These might provide a temporary solution to your problem but they don’t eliminate the problem. And they can result in corrosion in your pipes, which will eventually lead to leaks and the need to replace the damaged pipes. Call your plumbing service to eliminate the clog. If you have used an over-the-counter product, tell your plumber. They will want to be warned in case anything splashes on them while clearing the clogged drain.
This advice about so-called drain cleaners especially applies to clogged kitchen sinks. These blockages generally come from fatty foods, which congeal and solidify. The only way to completely eliminate the clog is by using an auger or by snaking the pipe. The rotting food is one reason why kitchen clogs can smell worse than bathroom clogs. It’s also why many plumbers would rather deal with a clogged toilet than a clogged kitchen sink, especially one in a restaurant.
Leaking faucets are a big difference from a leaking pipe. There could be many reasons for a leaky faucet: broken, loose, or worn-out parts, too much water pressure, corroded valve seat, broken cartridge, or a bad O-ring. The good news is that the leak is limited to the faucet and once the faucet is repaired or replaced the leak is fixed.
Leaking pipes are a bigger issue. Pipes can start leaking because of corrosion caused by rust as your pipe system begins to age. Other reasons for pipe leaks are bad or damaged seals, damaged pipe joints, temperature changes, high water pressure, untreated drain clogs, or damage caused by using an over-the-counter drain cleaner.
When you find a leaking pipe, call your plumbing service in Haslet, TX right away. One leak can be just one leak or it can be a sign of bigger problems. Your plumbing expert will be able to repair the leak and determine the extent of the problem. Left unattended, leaks can result in structural damage to your home and the growth of mold. It’s a good idea for you to check your pipes twice a year. Simply look at the visible pipes for leaks or collected moisture. If you see water or moisture or if you start to notice the smell of mildew around your home, call your plumbing professional.
Sinks and Toilets
Your plumbing service will provide you with expert service in replacing sinks or toilets. Both can be heavy, difficult to handle, and are easily breakable.
Porcelain sinks are especially difficult to handle, primarily because of their weight. A new sink going into a bathroom vanity must be properly seated with the holes for the faucet and drain correctly aligned. Faucet gaskets have to be correctly installed and drain pipes securely fastened to the sink. There’s caulking to be done and you have to be especially careful when seating the sink if you have marble or quartz countertops. One mistake and you’ve ruined your sink and your vanity.
Free-standing sinks, also known as pedestal sinks, are best installed by your plumbing service in Haslet, TX. These sinks are heavy and require accurate placement for access to your water lines and drain. These types of sinks are perfect for smaller bathrooms and half-baths.
The important point to remember is that one call to your plumbing service can take care of your sink problem. You won’t have to go buy a sink, take it home, get it in the house and then work on the installation.
The professionals at your plumbing service work on more than porcelain sinks. They can install any type of sink you need.
Toilet issues are also best left in the qualified hands of professional plumbers. As with sinks, toilets are heavy and difficult to move. Remember, you’ll be moving two of them; the old one and the new one.
Replacing a toilet is a job that requires attention to detail. The pros at your plumbing service know how to dispose of your old toilet and the proper way to install the new one, from a correctly installed wax ring to proper alignment with the drain and floor bolts. They will make sure the flush valve and fill valve are installed correctly and caulk around the base of the toilet.
You’ll want an expert working on your sink or toilet because, with porcelain, there isn’t any margin for error. One slip and you’re off to buy a new one. Trust this to the experts.
Shower Repair
There’s a lot to a working shower. There is the faucet, showerhead, drain, and shower enclosure. Your plumbing service can make sure each of these components is working properly. The most common issues with showers are low water pressure and clogged showerheads. Your plumbing experts can fix either of these problems, as well as any issues you might have with slow drains or leaks in the shower enclosure. They can even show you showerheads that use less water but have greater pressure.
Garbage Disposals
Not everyone has a garbage disposal but those that do appreciate the convenience. When a garbage disposal stops working, it can result in clogged kitchen drains. There’s a lot that can go wrong with a disposal, including clogs within the disposal unit, little to no grinding when the motor is turned on, a louder than normal unit, and water leaks beneath the unit.
When your garbage disposal begins to show one or more of these symptoms, don’t stick your hands in the unit to try to determine what is wrong. Use your hands to call your plumbing service.
Sump Pumps
These are placed in the lowest point in your home, usually the basement, because their job is to keep your home from flooding. The pump will be activated by a float switch when water reaches a predetermined level and will then send water through a hose or pipe out of and away from your house. Because of their location, many homeowners don’t think about them when it comes to maintenance.
There are several things that can negatively impact your sump pump: clogged intakes, broken or improperly set float switches, or a lack of backup power. Your plumbing service will make sure that your sump pump will work when you most need it.
Hot Water Heaters
There aren’t too many things worse than expecting to enjoy a nice, hot shower and getting nothing but cold water. When this happens, you are looking at one of two options: water heater repair or replacement. Either is a job best left to your plumbing service.
Repairing a water heater likely means replacing the heating element or the ignition. Water heaters have a life span of roughly 12 years which means you won’t want to repair one that’s nearing the end. Newer water heaters are much more efficient and they will save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs. If you do have a relatively new water heater, replacing the failed component is a good option.
Installing a new water heater is definitely a job for a plumbing expert. Water heaters are bulky because of their size and weight. And as with replacing a toilet, you’ll be moving two of them; the old one and the new one.
Your plumbing service knows how to install water heaters, from the water pipes to the gas pipes. This is not something you will want to try on your own.
Other Services Available from Your Plumber
Your local plumbing service can help you get rid of stormwater, make sure your yard is properly irrigated, and take care of any plumbing work associated with water purification.
Water Softeners and Purifiers
Hard water doesn’t hurt you, other than drying out your skin and hair and not tasting as good as soft water. Water purifiers will filter out the chemical taste of chlorine that local water systems, like Haslet, TX, use to improve water quality. The chlorine doesn’t hurt you but it doesn’t taste good, either.
Stormwater Plumbing
This can include a design for the disposal of stormwater away from your home and into your local sewer system or for the collection of stormwater for later use at your home. For example, stormwater from your roof’s gutters could be directed to rain barrels for collection and later use in your garden or on your lawn.
Irrigation
Your plumbing service can help you in the design of an irrigation system to provide water to your garden, flower beds, and lawn. This will involve connecting the irrigation to the water supply coming onto your property and making certain the water pressure is right. The experts will also make sure your system has the proper control valves and sprinkler heads.
Fire Protection
Domestic fire protection is becoming more prevalent. In-home sprinkler systems are connected to the water supply that is already running throughout your home. The sprinkler system is triggered by the heat generated by a fire. All sprinkler heads do not go off at once; they are triggered individually. The only heads triggered are those in the area of the fire. Your plumbing professionals will make certain that your fire protection system is fed by pressurized water coming from outside your home.
Plumbing issues don’t have to grow into major problems in Haslet, TX. You have 24-hour access to a plumbing service with the skills and experience to handle any type of plumbing issue you might have. Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth if you have an emergency or would like to schedule an inspection or installation.