Posted in Plumbing Tips

Building a new home or replacing some of the plumbing in your existing home? It’s important to understand the differences in pipes before you attempt doing any plumbing projects. Two of the most common types of pipe used for plumbing systems are Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). While ABS and PVC share some common uses, they also have some key differences. ABS is always black and PVC is white is the easiest way to tell which piping it is. ABS ABS ...

Having problems with your toilet? Whether it’s not emptying properly, overflowing, leaking or struggling with low water levels, a toilet that won’t flush is often simple to repair. Here are some of the most common reasons why your toilet won’t flush the right way—along with some simple solutions to solve this annoying problem: It’s clogged. In many cases, a clog inside the toilet is the reason why it won’t flush properly. Toilets can only handle cer...

Are you getting ready to introduce the comfort and relaxation of a hot tub into your life? Installing a hot tub at home can be a big undertaking. While some hot tubs are “plug and play” models that don’t require much in the way of plumbing, others are a bit more complicated. Whether you’ve built a hot tub yourself or you want to enjoy the ease and convenience that comes with linking your hot tub up to your home’s plumbing, here are the steps you should take. Col...

If you own a cottage, lake house or other vacation home, you’re likely looking forward to warmer weather and relaxing summer days. First, however, you have to de-winterize your property if you’ve been away for the winter. Often, this is only a matter of reversing the actions you took to winterize the property before the cold weather seasons arrived. Here are all the steps you need to take to de-winterize your cottage correctly. Turn electrical circuits back on When it comes to w...

Noticing problems with the plumbing at your home? You may need to replace your plumbing, or you may just need a few simple fixes. Knowing when to replace plumbing is a big decision, and it starts by understanding the condition of your pipes and fixtures. Read on for some of the common signs that indicate when it’s time to call a licensed plumber for pipe replacement. When you notice discolorations in your water Whenever you turn on your water at home, you expect to see crystal-clear w...

Living with hard water is a hassle! Not only is hard water hard on your clothes, it also negatively affects your hair and makes it harder for you to clean dishes and fixtures around the house. Softening your water is the only way to get rid of hard water and the headaches that come with it. But, like most plumbing upgrades, it’ll come at a cost. Wondering whether you should invest in a water softener? Here are just five of the benefits you’ll enjoy when you have soft water in you...

If you’re a homeowner, a water leak can be a major headache. And often this occurs at night or on weekends – just what you need. The good news? There are a couple of ways you might be able to temporarily fix the leak yourself. A good patch could hold until a professional can visit your home and fix it permanently. More importantly, it could save significant property damage and inconvenience too. We’ll cover three methods: The first method is to use a gasket and hose clamp...

With things starting to return to a more normal, many of us are starting to plan some vacation time. While we can’t help you with what to see or do, we can offer you some tips about what to remember before heading out – plumbing wise. The PipeMaster Checklist includes: 1. Main Water Shut-off Turn off your water supply to ensure you do not return home to a flood in the event of a broken, frozen pipe. Going hand in hand with this to also shut off your hot water, gas or electric&nb...

Time for a new water heater? You may be wondering about tankless vs traditional tank heaters and which one is the right one for you. Both have their advantages and disadvantages – it’s all about what’s right for you.  You probably are familiar with that big tank of hot water in your basement, it is always on to keep your tank of 30-60 gallons of water hot and ready. Tankless heaters produce hot water only when you turn on the faucet, start a cycle on the washing machin...

Hot water tanks usually last about 7-10 years. When they do, often it’s leaking that you’ll notice. This can cause flooding and a host of other issues depending on how long before the problem is discovered. Having your tank checked/serviced regularly can help minimize this from happening. Emergency situations are beyond your control, knowing what to do quickly when your tank leaks is the best way to avoid costly damages. 1. Find the leak Determine the source of the leak. Hot wate...