Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

What Can Cause a Burst Pipe?

Monday, October 17th, 2022
burst-copper-pipe

Homeowners often have understandable questions about their plumbing, especially when they hear scary phrases like “burst pipes.” We have a bit of good news though. There is really only one thing that can cause a pipe to burst, and it’s completely preventable. What’s that?

Frozen pipes!

When the temperatures dip below freezing for too long, it can cause the water flowing through your pipes or resting in your pipes to freeze. As the ice thaws, it creates a negative pressure inside the pipes, and this leads to them bursting. We are here to provide quality repairs when this does happen, but as you read on, you’ll see tips we’ve provided to help you avoid this problem.

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Why You Should Always Hire a Pro for Your Plumbing Services

Monday, September 26th, 2022
Plumber unclogging a tub drain with an electric auger.

Most homeowners are likely used to dealing with minor household problems and tasks on their own, and that can easily extend to certain plumbing issues. We’ve all at one time or another had to unclog a toilet with a little “elbow grease” and a plunger, or had to fish a clog or two out of a sink. This can lead many homeowners, especially those on a budget, to attempt bigger plumbing repairs.

However, in most cases, this can be a big mistake. Formal plumbing problems require proper licensing and training, like our professional Waterloo, IA plumbers receive, in order to perform plumbing repairs and services the right way. Even seemingly simple problems like a stubborn clog can benefit from the attention of a professional. In fact, your efforts to save a little money could actually end up costing you more, or at least can become a pretty big headache. Here’s why:

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4 Common Plumbing Issues in Older Homes

Monday, August 8th, 2022
family-standing-in-front-of-older-home

Buying a “new” home is very exciting. But what if the home that’s “new” to you was actually built decades ago? While we don’t think it’s haunted or anything, there is still a very good chance you could be dealing with some structural repairs when you move in. It may impact your home’s wiring, HVAC efficiency, and plumbing.

Plumbing is especially important here. The material that was previously used for plumbing pipes corrodes faster than what is used today, which can pose a problem.

Fortunately, you have our team on your side, ready to help. We’re here for any and all of your plumbing needs. Read on as we uncover some of the common plumbing problems owners of older homes run into.

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Plumbing Considerations for Your Bathroom Remodel

Monday, March 14th, 2022
hands-working-on-shower-head

Springtime is just around the corner, and with temperatures warming up, many homeowners are considering remodeling projects in their living spaces. Chances are that if you’ve come across this blog post, you’re one of these homeowners! Remodeling your bathroom is very popular, and can be a very fun, project. But a mistake that homeowners make far too often is trying to do this project completely on their own, with no help from a professionally trained plumber.

Trying to tackle a bathroom remodel on your own could possibly damage your plumbing system, or you could accidentally do part of the installation wrong because of improper measurements. But when a qualified professional, you’ll have a team who is happy to share with you some of the most important considerations to make when planning a bathroom remodel.

Reach out to our team when you’re ready, and in the meantime, consider these factors before jumping in.

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How to Prevent Frozen and Burst Pipes This Year

Monday, October 25th, 2021
frozen-and-burst-pipe

If you’ve lived in Idaho for even just a year, then you know we’ve had some pretty cold winters! And when winter comes along, you’re likely pretty consumed with staying warm in your home. 

But, are you ensuring that all areas of your home are staying warm? Specifically, have you given much thought to your plumbing system? 

When temperatures dip below freezing, the water in your pipes–especially exposed pipes–is likely to freeze as well, without proper precautions. The problem isn’t so much the freezing, but what happens as the pipes thaw… it creates a negative pressure that eventually leads to the pipes bursting. 

The good news is, this damage can be prevented! Read on to learn how to avoid your pipes falling victim to cold weather this year. 

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Why Store-Bought Drain Cleaning Solutions Are No Solution

Monday, April 12th, 2021

sink-drain-with-water-rushing-downWhen you have a clog in a sink within your home, your first instinct is very likely to reach for a plunger… or that bottle of store-bought drain cleaning solution you keep on hand.

A plunger is always a good start. If the clog is superficial enough, you may very well be able to relieve your drain pipe with the plunger and a little bit of “elbow grease. The latter option though—the store-bought drain cleaning solution, is no solution at all.

We’ll dive into the “why” behind this a bit more below, but for now, we’ll just say that store-bought drain cleaners have a lot of caustic chemicals in them, meaning they eat through the clog, then keep on going to eat through the lining of your plumbing pipes over time. Read on as we uncover some more reasons this is no solution.

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How to Choose the Right Plumber for Your Home

Monday, March 1st, 2021

woman-looking-under-sink-at-leaking-pipeOur professional plumbers have been in the trade for a long time, and we have seen what can happen when you have the wrong home services “professional” in your home, whether it be for your HVAC, electrical, or plumbing needs.

Plumbing, especially, can be quite complex, and even something as seemingly simple as unclogging a drain can bring up unexpected surprises that you’ll only want a trained professional to manage (trust us). Still, we understand the temptation to hire a general handyperson, or to even take the offer to help from a friendly neighbor.

We can’t stress, though, how important it is that you choose a licensed and insured plumbing contractor when you need any kind of work on your pipes or plumbing appliances. You may think you’re saving money but in the long run, hiring the wrong person for the job can cost you more.

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Can Drain Clogs Be Prevented?

Monday, September 28th, 2020

sink-drain-with-water-running-downThink you don’t have to worry about drain clogs? Figure that when one happens you can just reach for a bottle of store-bought liquid drain cleaner? Think again!

Unfortunately, these harsh chemical “solutions” are anything but a solution for clogged drains. Sure, they may temporarily relieve a clog like a build-up of hair or soap scum. But in the long run, they’re going to do more damage to your pipes than they are good. This is because of the caustic ingredients they’re made up of.

When you do have a drain clog, the best thing you can do is call on our team for professional drain cleaning, which we will elaborate on below. In the meantime, read on to learn how to prevent drain clogs to begin with.

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What Should You Avoid Putting Down Your Garbage Disposal?

Monday, July 6th, 2020

hands-washing-head-of-lettuce-over-drain-in-kitchen-sinkIf you’ve been using a garbage disposal in your kitchen sink, you likely can’t picture cooking and cleaning up without it, right? Whether it’s an unfinished meal, cooking scraps, or spoiling leftovers, it’s so convenient to just swoosh it down the drain instead of throwing it in the trash and risking a smelly kitchen until you or another member of your household get around to dumping the bag.

However, some homeowners are often over-dependent on these devices and that attitude can lead to unpleasant surprises, such as an urgent need for garbage disposal repair in Waterloo, IA.

Homeowners may sometimes find themselves getting frustrated by a garbage disposal that keeps getting jammed up or the fact that they’ve had to call a plumber more than once to get something out of the mechanisms. Read on as we uncover some of the problems garbage disposals and kitchen sink drains face due to what people put down them.

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Before You Start Your Bathroom Remodel, Consider This!

Monday, February 17th, 2020

beautiful-bathroomIf you’re reading this post, chances are that your bathroom doesn’t look the way you want it to. Maybe it’s not as functional as it could be, or you’re having trouble getting around it with ease.

Depending on your particular circumstances, a bathroom remodel can definitely be the answer. After all, bathrooms are the most used rooms in the home next to kitchens, and remodeling can give you a whole new space.

For a job of this caliber, it pays to work closely with a plumbing contractor you can trust. Preparation and planning make a world of difference in the results you’ll achieve with your bathroom remodel. In fact, there might even be factors you haven’t considered yet, if you were thinking about tackling this bathroom remodel on your own. These considerations include:

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