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Archive for the ‘Plumbing Tips’ Category

Pipe Break Repair from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Charlotte, NC

Of all the problems that can occur within your plumbing system, pipe breaks are some of the most severe. Pipe breaks can grow from small drips to larger leaks rapidly, which is why it is essential they be handled in a timely and efficient manner. They can often come without warning and at the most inopportune times. This is where the Charlotte NC plumbers with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing come in to provide your home with the best quality plumbing services today.

During the winter months here in North Carolina, your pipes can freeze very easily. As any homeowner that has gone through this can attest, frozen pipes are something many of us never want to have to deal with. Frozen pipes can break extremely easily, which can pose you with a very large problem in your plumbing system. Pipe breaks can cause toxic mildew in your home, rust your cabinets or wood flooring, and destroy your prized possessions through excessive water damage. Our prompt plumbing professionals can make sure this common problem does not occur to you. And with a free evaluation on all your plumbing issues, you have nothing to lose.

For all your plumbing issues in Charlotte and the surrounding area, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is here to help. For additional information regarding pipe breaks, give us a call at 704-461-1700 or contact us online today.

Charlotte NC Drain Clog Prevention for the Holidays

Many large meals will be cooked over the holidays with family in town and it is important to keep in mind the strain one can put on drain pipes. Fat from cooking, oil, grease, leftover food, bone scraps, and many other thick and congealing substances will be tossed down the sink drain without a care. Your Charlotte NC drain cleaning experts at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing want to remind you of a few things before you scrape off your plate or dump your leftover oils into your drain pipes.

Much of the traditional holiday food menu contains fatty oils and grease. Items such as roasted chicken, pie, cookie dough, sauces and gravy, oils, butter, and steak juices have clog creating substance. Water can’t carry all of these substances down the sink drain pipes and too much of them will create a major backup.

Also, some of these oils are not environmentally friendly, aside from the danger of clogging your drain. In most cities and metropolitan areas, you can take up to 10 gallons to local landfill’s that have household and hazardous waste collection facilities. Check your local Charlotte NC city website to find where these landfills are located.  Oils are often reused in an environmentally friendly way and recycled to make another usable product.

Your local Charlotte NC plumber at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing most likely has family of his own in town over the holidays. And while emergency plumbing service is offered, following these simple steps to keep your plumbing draining smoothly over the holidays can’t hurt:

  • Do not dump cooking oils and grease into sink drains
  • Food scraps should be put into a plastic trash bag
  • Cooking grease should be cooled and then scraped into trash bags
  • “Unflushables” such as baby wipes, diapers, rags, paper towels, toilet bowel cleaning pads, hygiene products and anything that will not breakup or dissolve in water should not be flushed down the toilet

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, your Charlotte NC plumbing maintenance specialists, can provide you with drain cleaning service should you have trouble this holiday season. Give them at call at 704-461-1700 or visit them online to schedule plumbing service now.

Charlotte NC Drain Clog Prevention for the Holidays

Many large meals will be cooked over the holidays with family in town and it is important to keep in mind the strain one can put on drain pipes. Fat from cooking, oil, grease, leftover food, bone scraps, and many other thick and congealing substances will be tossed down the sink drain without a care. Your Charlotte NC drain cleaning experts at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing want to remind you of a few things before you scrape off your plate or dump your leftover oils into your drain pipes.

Much of the traditional holiday food menu contains fatty oils and grease. Items such as roasted chicken, pie, cookie dough, sauces and gravy, oils, butter, and steak juices have clog creating substance. Water can’t carry all of these substances down the sink drain pipes and too much of them will create a major backup.

Also, some of these oils are not environmentally friendly, aside from the danger of clogging your drain. In most cities and metropolitan areas, you can take up to 10 gallons to local landfill’s that have household and hazardous waste collection facilities. Check your local Charlotte NC city website to find where these landfills are located.  Oils are often reused in an environmentally friendly way and recycled to make another usable product.

Your local Charlotte NC plumber at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing most likely has family of his own in town over the holidays. And while emergency plumbing service is offered, following these simple steps to keep your plumbing draining smoothly over the holidays can’t hurt:

  • Do not dump cooking oils and grease into sink drains
  • Food scraps should be put into a plastic trash bag
  • Cooking grease should be cooled and then scraped into trash bags
  • “Unflushables” such as baby wipes, diapers, rags, paper towels, toilet bowel cleaning pads, hygiene products and anything that will not breakup or dissolve in water should not be flushed down the toilet

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, your Charlotte NC plumbing maintenance specialists, can provide you with drain cleaning service should you have trouble this holiday season. Give them at call at 704-461-1700 or visit them online to schedule plumbing service now.

24/7 Emergency Repair from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Charlotte, NC

When it comes to the plumbing in your home, there are many problems that can potentially occur within your system. Whether it is a backed up bathtub or a stopped up sink, there are many times you will need to rely on a licensed professional to get your systems back up and running. Oftentimes, these problems occur outside the typical 9-5 hours most businesses operate it. That is why our Charlotte NC plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offer 24-hour emergency repair, seven days a week.

With our 24-hour emergency repair services, you will never have to worry about a sudden system breakdown shutting down your plumbing. Our trained and knowledgeable plumbing professionals can make sure your system is running smoothly and efficiently, no matter what time of day or night. We are always available to answer the call, and possess the equipment, skills, and tools needed to handle any project effectively, large or small. And as part of our professional policy, all of our plumbing repairs come with a satisfaction guarantee.

When you find yourself in need of a sudden plumbing repair, you often don’t have time to wait until the morning. With the 24-hour emergency repair services provided by the reputable and reliable plumbing professionals at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, you won’t have to. For additional information regarding emergency plumbing repair in Charlotte and the surrounding area, give us a call at 704-461-1700 or contact us online today.

Clearing Clogged Drains in Charlotte, NC

Charlotte NC drain cleaningThere are many problems that can occur with your plumbing that put a stop to your everyday activities. A clogged kitchen sink or backed up bathtub is just one of these common occurrences.  A slow-draining sink can prove a major inconvenience in your home, and is not a problem to be put off for another day. Rely on a professional plumbing company to get your drain back to flowing freely in no time, meaning you’ll never have to be without proper plumbing. Our Charlotte NC plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing can clear your clogged drains, ensuring peak performance for your plumbing system today.

While there are many things that can clog your plumbing system, there is only one company to count on when it comes to clearing them. Using the latest technological advancements in drain cleaning, we can get your drain back to working order in no time. Clogged drains can become worse over time, often due to material buildup that continues to collect, so it is essential that you alleviate these issues as soon as they start. Our plumbing experts rely on various methods of drain cleaning, and we can diagnose the root of your clogging concern and devise the best plan for clearing it.

Oftentimes, the cause of these clogs can be material buildup, be it excess food and grease in your kitchen sink or hair and soap scum buildup in your shower drain. However, sometimes the issue is much larger, like a tree root growing into you sewer system causing a massive backup. This can be an emergency plumbing situation, which is why we are fully outfitted to handle such a situation and offer 24 hour emergency service.

When it comes to dealing with drain clogs in your home, do not hesitate to trust a plumbing professional to take care of this inconvenience today. With any comments, questions, or to schedule a drain cleaning service today, give us a call at 704-461-1700 or contact us online today.

Protect Your Plumbing with Preventative Maintenance

Charlotte NC plumberAs one of the most important components in your home, an efficient plumbing system is essential. In order to ensure this efficiency, proper maintenance for your plumbing is an absolute must. After all, nothing is worse than a sudden breakdown or malfunction, leaving you with water damage to your home or without water entirely. For peace of mind, rely on our trained Charlotte NC plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to provide your home with vital plumbing maintenance.

As any homeowner can attest, it is best to catch small problems before they become large ones. It is far easier to put a stop to something when it has just started, rather than when it has gone too far. With an inspection of your home and plumbing system, you can rest assured that a small leak will not grow larger, resulting in extensive and costly damage to your home.

For all your plumbing needs, it is important to count on a professional plumber to take care of them. Our professional plumbers can utilize their years of experience and knowledge of the intricacies of your system to effectively locate, diagnose, and alleviate your plumbing issue. With a professional inspection and plumbing maintenance program, however, we can catch problems before they persist, saving you the worry of a complete plumbing breakdown or having to replace your system entirely.

With any questions, comments, or to schedule an essential plumbing maintenance service today, give us a call at 704-461-1700 or visit us online today.

Saving Water in Your Shower

Charlotte NC plumbersWith so much emphasis on saving money in today’s economy and “going green,” your shower can be the first place in your home to start saving water. The average person in America uses 80-100 gallons of water daily, meaning the average American family uses around 300 gallons of water every day. The biggest water usage comes from flushing the toilet, with the second highest coming from baths and showers. Our trained Charlotte NC plumbers at Ben Franklin Plumbing can offer you solutions to saving water – and money – today.

The most obvious step to conserving water in your shower is to install a low-flow shower head. By cutting back on your showerhead’s GPM (gallons per minute), your home can decrease its daily water intake while still possessing all the pleasures of a pleasing shower. Cutting the flow down to somewhere 1-3 GPM can save you 2-4 gallons per minute when you’re in the shower, saving you money off your home’s water bill. Many low-flow shower heads now come with adjustable pressure restrictors, allowing you to adjust the water flow based on personal preferences. So if you like a stronger shower than your spouse, you two can still both be satisfied.

Other simple solutions to saving water would be to limit your shower time. The average American spends 10 minutes in the shower, wasting water in the process. Installing ashower timer can make you better aware of your shower duration, cutting down the length to a more reasonable time. Simply set your desired time, and an alarm will sound when you have reached your desired length.

Now more than ever, saving water and money is essential for your home. With these simple water-saving tips, you can do just that. For more information about low-flow showerheads and shower timers, contact our local Charlotte plumbing experts. We can assist you with all your plumbing needs today. Just give us a call at 704-461-1700 or contact us online today.

 

Charlotte Home Buyer’s Value Guide to Plumbing

It’s summer, and this is the most common time for home buyers to search the Charlotte real estate market. Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware of problems that may exist in a home that are not found by inspectors, especially plumbing leaks and poor plumbing systems. Before buying a home filled with plumbing repair needs, be sure to check out the various plumbing fixtures so you know what you’re getting yourself into.

In the bathroom, be sure to inspect the floor; look around the base of the toilet for water damage, and test to make sure there are no soft spots in the floor. These are signs of water leaks, typically existing. If you find black and white stains or rolled vinyl flooring, these are also clues that water leaks may have previously plagued the area or are currently a problem. Also be sure to press tiles on the wall to check for leaks and loose tiling. Before you move on, flush the toilet and make sure it works properly, not draining too slowly or causing water to leak.

To check for adequate piping and water pressure, turn on a bathtub faucet and the kitchen sink faucet. If the pressure is significantly reduced with both running, the piping may have a large amount of calcium and mineral deposits and need to be replaced. While you are in the kitchen, make sure the connections to the dishwasher and garbage disposal are tight and show no signs of leaks. Also, check within the cabinetry to assure there is no water damage, including stains, rotted corkboard, or sagging bottoms. Be sure to check the washing machine hose as well, since these can rupture and lead to extensive water damage.

The first four digits of the serial number on a water heater are the month and year of manufacture. If the water heater in the home is more than 15 years old, you’ll want to contact your local Charlotte plumbing company to replace it. You may also want to check for rust on the tank, as this is a sign of impending issues with the hot water heater. If you are unsure of problems you may find, you can get assistance with inspections from our Charlotte water heater technicians, available to help you assess the value of the plumbing system in your prospective home purchase.

 

Leak Detection and Plumbing Maintenance

Many times, water leaks aren’t noticed at first. Maybe your water bill is slowly on the rise so the difference isn’t as noticeable as a sharp change in cost, and you don’t stop to think there may be a bigger underlying issue. But a water leak left unchecked can lead to extensive structural damage to your property and expensive repairs. Slab leaks are especially problematic, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to the home.

Leak detection services are an important part of general inspection and maintenance on sewer and water lines and can help diagnose the issue early, saving time and cost of repairs, avoiding cleanliness issues, and conserving natural resources. With leak detection procedures, a small leak can be pinpointed before it becomes a major emergency and requires extensive repairs.

If you see a consistent change in your water bills, notice a lack of water pressure, or hear running water when none of your faucets or toilets are running, you may want to consider a water line inspection for leak location. Even if you don’t see the symptoms of a water leak, a regular inspection can help spot weak points in your water lines so that repairs can be made before you begin draining money from your wallet.

Our Charlotte plumbing technicians can assist in leak detection with high end technology that pinpoints the location of the problem quickly and without destructive procedures. Once a problem is identified, we can help repair and restore your plumbing, saving you money and preserving water, a natural resource that should be protected. Your home is one of your most important investments, and leak detection helps protect that investment from losing value. Call your Charlotte area plumbers today for fast, reliable service on your schedule, and save money while also being environmentally conscious.

 

A Plumber’s Snake for a Tough Clog

Plumber's SnakeIn most cases, a plunger – whether it be a regular-sized plunger (for toilets) or smaller-sized plunger (for sinks) can resolve any drain clog problem you have. There are cases, however, where the plunger just isn’t enough.

This is when a plumber’s snake becomes the tool of choice. Also known as either a toilet jack or an auger – or even an electric eel – plumber’s snakes remove clogs that are too difficult for plungers to handle. They consist of a coiled metal reel that is attached to a rotating crank, which works in a corkscrew motion to break down particles and grit that can cause a clog.

The most common plumber’s snakes are operated by hand (cranking), but some are motor-operated. The more high-tech plumber’s snakes come with a small camera to help a plumbing professional diagnose a problem. Plumber’s snakes come in all sizes (length and width) and operate with the goal of breaking down excess material that can slow down water flow in your pipes.

If a plunger isn’t doing its job, try using a plumber’s snake. Our Charlotte NC plumbing professionals are experts with plumber’s snakes and can offer quality residential and commercial service to you at an affordable rate. Call our Charlotte plumbing company today, or visit us online for more information.