Household Tips – Is It Time For A Plumbing Upgrade?

As your plumbing ages, it becomes susceptible to damage. This is quite evident in older homes where the plumbing has been working for several decades. There will be some occasional leaks and other issues that are tied with aging plumbing. But how will you know when it is time to replace your plumbing? How can you tell if you should wait a couple of years more or it’s the right time for an upgrade? If you do decide to go with an upgrade, you should look for a reputable plumbing contractor Florence. If you’re uncertain, here are a couple of insights on when and why you should change your plumbing:

Check the materials used

There are different plumbing materials used among homes. Contractors could have used certain materials during the time your home was built. Determining what type of material was used for your home would give you a clear idea of the specifics. This information is available in the inspection report when you purchased your home. Copper can last up to 50 years or longer, brass can have a lifespan of 40-45 years, galvanized steel can last anywhere from 20-50 years, and cast iron being the most durable lasting anywhere in between 75-100 years. Although these materials take very long to degrade, certain factors like joints and other fittings come into play which could lessen the overall service period of these materials.

Check for any signs of plumbing failure

There are common issues that your plumbing could have and it may include leaks, cracks, and or corrosion. These are the more obvious signs of failure. There are also other indicators of faulty plumbing like low water pressure, clogged drains, rust, and slow moving drains. These are just to name a few issues that you might encounter. Although some issues may not warrant a plumbing upgrade right away, you should always call in your plumbing contractor to have issues fixed. Letting these problems sit for a while could cause major issues later on and costs to fix them could pile up.

Should I just repair or replace?

It will take more than a few minutes of eyeballing to gauge whether your plumbing is ripe for an upgrade. The best thing that you could do is to hire a plumber and do the checks for you. Have him check the overall condition of the plumbing in your house to see whether you can get away with just repairs or if you need to start setting a budget for an upgrade. The decision-making part is critical. After all, plumbing is a necessary part in your home that it needs to function. After all, you do need to bathe, cook, and wash the dishes every day. Newer homes may be spared from this dilemma but older houses may not have much of a choice. Plumbing problems come in all shapes and sizes as well as costs for repairs. In the end, it will all boil down to the inspection results and whether you have the cash to upgrade.

Need a plumbing upgrade for your home? Plumbing Experts Florence is only one call away.

Plumbing Experts Florence Florence, SC 29501 843-536-4568 www.plumbingprosflorence.com/

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Plumbing Tips New Homeowners Should Know

First time homeowners have a lot to learn a lot of things when it comes to home maintenance. In terms of your plumbing, there are several ways you could do to protect your house from potential costly and disastrous problems. Listed below are a few things you can do to become a responsible owner as recommended by an expert plumber Florence. Plumbing and Heating Inspection Plumber Florence usually offers plumbing and heating inspections at prices you can afford. Homeowners benefit from a plumbing inspection since it is one good way of finding possible plumbing problems at their early stages, making them cheaper to fix compared to when they have already ballooned into expensive plumbing problems. Some of the issues discovered may be pressing while others could be held off on for a bit. When the inspection is done, the plumber will give you a list of the things that need to be changed or repaired. This lets you budget for the appropriate repairs that should be done by a professional plumber. Find Your Water Main Shut Off Valve In case of a plumbing emergency, you have to know where the shut off valve is. The last thing that you will need if you are facing an emergency leak is to be going back and forth trying to figure out where the shut off valve is. Clean Your Shower Drain Routinely It may appear like the creature from the black lagoon but disregarding your shower drain can clog your drain. Spend some time to take out the hair and debris from your shower drain. Your plumbing pipes as well as your pocket will thank you down the road. Establishing a routine maintenance a few times every year could be very beneficial. You could likewise install a catch all so you can stop hair as well as other things from going down the drain where they would pileup and cause clogs eventually. Don’t Use A Liquid Drain Cleaner Using a drain cleaner is not advisable. What you should use instead is a snake or call a professional like Plumbing Experts Florence. You can buy cheap snakes at your local home improvement stores and using one can help keep your drains clear and free of debris. A few reasons why you should not use drain cleaners is that they can cause more damage to your plumbing system instead of helping you get rid of problems. Prevent Frozen Pipes During Winter During winter, it is important to keep your outdoor pipes covered and don’t forget to detach your garden hoses to avoid having problems with frozen pipes. Frozen water pipes could cause it to burst. This could be a big problem especially if you are not at home or you have gone on a vacation. When you return, you will see a house that is flooded. A plumber Florence can help winterize your home before the winter season comes and visit you again to help you dewinterize before the hot summer season starts. Taking the necessary precautionary measures can help you save a lot of cash down the road. Nobody wants to wake up in the morning just to find a house that is flooded, a problem that you could have been prevented in the first place.

Be sure to have the phone number of your plumber Florence ready all the time. If you are still looking for one, don’t hesitate to call Plumbing Florence Experts now.

Plumbing Experts Florence Florence, SC 29501 843-536-4568 www.plumbingprosflorence.com/

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Choosing A Backflow Prevention Device

To those who do not have the skills of an experienced plumber, backflow and backflow preventers are considered jargon. Several people have not heard either one and in case they did, there is no guarantee that they know what it was. However, you need to understand what these are before you encounter problems with backflow or the device that protects your home from it. Listed below are some points that will help you get to know your plumbing system a bit better. Backflow: The Definition Before knowing what a backflow preventer is, you have to understand what is backflow. It is the reversal of the water flow that can cause contaminated substances to come in contact with potable water. The contamination commonly occurs if there is a drop in air pressure that is way below the pressure in the tank. Backflow preventers are installed to stop these contaminants from getting mixed with your water, thus keeping your family safe from gases, bacteria, as well as sewage. Backflow Preventers: Air Gaps Even though defining what backflow really is can be quite simple. Given that, an air gap that serves as the backflow preventers is much simpler than it appears. It is the gap that is placed intentionally between the faucet and spigot, at the spot where the wastewater runs through. Imagine a kitchen sink, it has a faucet where water runs. The water that is not used will flow into the drain. In case the drain will clog and the sink is filled up with water, it will just spill over and not flow back into your faucet. Even though this might sound a bit exaggerated, it is not an over simplification either. An air gaps is just what it is, an air gap that is between the non potable and potable water sources, preventing contamination. Pressure Vacuum Breakers Another kind of vacuum preventer that will work well with your irrigation system is the pressure vacuum breakers. It is a bit more complex that an air gap. It is comprised of an air inlet as well as a valve. This device needs to be installed near the water source and at the highest part of the yard to ensure optimum functionality. The valve will allow water to go through during regular conditions and if the air pressure is much greater than the water pressure, then the chamber will open and the valve will close. This procedure stops any unwanted water from flowing to your potable water supply. Finding The Best Backflow Preventer In case you your house do not have a backflow preventer of if you are not sure if it is working properly, it might be the perfect time to purchase your first one or get a replacement. There are several backflow preventers in the market today and many of them are offered at different prices. There may be some homeowners who prefer a certain brand over another. Even though it is a good idea to get opinions from your friends and neighbours, it is still much better to hear what a professional plumber Florence has to say. You can also choose an option that fits your budget. However, the best and most suitable back flow preventer is the one that works for both your wallet and your home.

Call Plumbing Experts Florence for more information about backflow and backflow preventers.

Plumbing Experts Florence Florence, SC 29501 843-536-4568 www.plumbingprosflorence.com/

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Questions To Ask When Hiring A Plumber

You need to address any plumbing emergency right away. However, hiring an unlicensed or unqualified plumber can result in expensive mistakes eventually. The most effective defense is to know a plumber you can call even before a disaster strikes. If you have decided to look for a plumber who is always ready to lend you a helping hand even before a plumbing problem comes up, here are a few questions you need to ask to make sure that you are hiring a reputable one. License and Insurance Among the most important things you need to ask a potential plumber that you are interviewing is if he or she is licensed. Plumbing contractors who are licensed are required to pass a test that shows if they have the knowledge and experience to fix an issue. They should also know the existing building codes and are always updated whenever changes are made. Failing to hire a licensed plumber might mean the job won’t be up to national, state, or local codes. Because unlicensed plumbing contractors cannot pull the needed permits, the job might be illegal, and that means you might pay extra fees. Once you know that the plumber is licensed, don’t forget to ask about their insurance, since this will protect you and the plumber against mistakes and accidents. Even though mistakes are extremely rare with a licensed plumbing contractor, they do occur, and they could be quite expensive. Without an insurance coverage, the homeowner is going to be responsible for repairing or replacing anything that may have been damaged during the repair. Estimates You also need to ask if they charge for estimates. There are contractors who charge for a service call fee whenever they are asked to check a problem and provide an estimate. Usually this fee is non-negotiable and that means you have to know how much they charge first before the plumbing contractor comes to your house. Some plumbers also charge for travel time to get to your business or house, especially if it is a bit far. To avoid this, you should consider hiring a local plumber Florence. Response Time Plumbing emergencies do not always happen during normal business hours. You have to ask the plumber if there is a specific time frame when he takes emergency calls. As we all know, the response time during an emergency is crucial. Leaks can cause thousands as every minute goes by, so be sure to choose an emergency plumber who is known to have a quick response time. Specialties You also need to know if the plumber has any specialties. They will not only be better suited to address your problem but also reduce the costs as well as hasten the plumbing repair.

Call Plumbing Experts Florence if you are looking for a reliable and reputable plumber in your area.

Plumbing Experts Florence Florence, SC 29501 843-536-4568 www.plumbingprosflorence.com/

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