Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Plumber’

Plumbing Emergencies 101: Do You Need Immediate Help?

Monday, August 19th, 2024

Any plumbing issue can feel like an emergency in the moment, and we’d argue that no matter what you should call for help. Our team has expert plumbers on call who can provide relief whenever you need it, even if the situation is not an emergency.

But we get it, if you’ve got plans or a busy day, you don’t necessarily want to ruin everything just because of a pesky leak or a drain clog. In that case, we’ve decided to give you some tips on how to determine if your plumbing issue is an emergency or not.

Keep in mind–plumbing problems still should be repaired, even when they’re not emergencies. But we’ll describe why certain issues are emergencies and why others aren’t. Just make sure you schedule plumbing in Cedar Rapids with our team of master and journeyman plumbers.

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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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The Best (and Worst) Ways to Treat Your Plumbing System

Monday, June 20th, 2022
lady-getting-glass-of-water-in-kitchen-sink-for-child-sitting-on-counter

We don’t mean to say that the most underappreciated system in your home is the plumbing, but let’s face it, it probably is.

It’s one of those modern conveniences we rely on each and every day without ever really thinking about it. But in not thinking about it, we could be making big mistakes that have dastardly consequences later on. Read on as we uncover some of the best and some of the worst ways to treat your plumbing system. And don’t hesitate to reach out when your system needs some professional help!

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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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Heed These Signs It Is Time to Call a Professional Plumber

Monday, June 25th, 2018

woman looking under sink in panicFor the average homeowner, and even for an inexperienced plumber, plumbing problems can be hard to detect without the right equipment. Most of your plumbing system is hidden from view, after all, and the problems that usually affect plumbing are subtle in the beginning. For this reason, we recommend scheduling preventive maintenance for your plumbing at least once a year.

But it’s equally important to familiarize yourself with any warning signs that your plumbing system is experiencing some sort of problem. On the rare chance that a problem does occur between maintenance appointments, you can detect it quickly it and schedule repairs with a professional plumber in Waterloo, IA. Keep reading to learn more about these signs.

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“Help! My Pipes Froze, What Do I Do?”

Monday, April 2nd, 2018

Icicles hanging from a brown pipe. Frozen water and metal surface, winter time concept. selective focus shallow depth of field photoOverall, our winter was relatively mild this year, with the coldest of temperatures lasting just a few days at a time. Still though, we did have freezing temperatures, and with freezing weather comes frozen pipes.

Hopefully, you did what you could to prevent this problem from affecting your household. For example, one preventive step you might have taken was to open any outdoor faucets used for sprinklers and hoses, and turned off all water flow to these points. After all, the pipes located outside are, understandably, the ones most susceptible to freezing, and leaving the faucets opened helps water to drain from them.

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