Common Types of Winter Plumbing Repair

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plumbing repair coon rapids all ways drainsIt’s winter and with it comes freezing temperatures and precipitation. When it’s this cold outside, you definitely don’t want to be dealing with burst pipes and other plumbing problems inside of your home. So what can you do to avoid some of the most common problems associated with winter weather and temperatures? Here are a few of our recommendations and a few of the problems we see the most often when doing plumbing repair in Coon Rapids and the surrounding areas.

Frozen pipes

This is such a common type of plumbing problem that we have already discussed it in another blog post: Four Tips for Winterizing Your Plumbing. When pipes are not properly insulated against the freezing temperatures, they can burst and flood your home. Make sure you take the time to insulate and winterize your pipes if you haven’t already. This is a great way to avoid expensive plumbing repair.

Hot water heaters

During the winter months, you need your hot water heater more than ever. And during the winter months, it has to work pretty hard to heat up your home’s water. You should have your hot water heater serviced before the cold weather sets in. Make sure you call us for plumbing repair at the first sign of trouble too. You don’t want the hot water to go out in the middle of your shower!

Septic tanks

If you have a septic tank, make sure it is cleaned out and serviced before winter. This helps prevent clogs and other drainage problems. Cleaning it out also helps keep the human waste and other materials in your septic tank from freezing, which can cause a host of plumbing repair problems.

Preventative maintenance

There are also a few other small chores you can do around your house to avoid plumbing repair. Make sure all outside water sources are turned off. If you have a garden hose, make sure the hose is fully drained so you don’t have to go out and buy a new one next spring.

With a little bit of preparation on your part, you can help prevent some plumbing repair this winter. Of course, if you need assistance, you can always call the pros at All Ways Drains!

For more information on plumbing repair in Coon Rapids or the surrounding areas, call All Ways Drains at 612-922-9422, or you can contact us to get a Free Estimate.

How to Talk to Your Plumber

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plumber st paul all ways drainsWhen you have to call a plumber to your St Paul home or business, it’s probably a stressful time. You’re either dealing with a needed repair or some type of remodeling project, and both of those situations can be a bit overwhelming. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to prepare for your plumber’s visit and to make it a little less stressful on yourself and maybe even a bit easier to resolve too.

When You Need a Plumber for Repairs

When your plumber arrives, give him as much background as possible about the problem. When did you first notice it was an issue? Has it progressively gotten worse? Have you tried anything to fix it? What brand or make/model is the fixture or appliance, and how old is it? Do you know anything about who installed it?

Our plumber will then take a look at the issue you are having and let you know if it can be repaired or if it should be replaced. We will srecommend a replacement when the cost of fixing it will be more than the cost of replacing it.

After the problem has been resolved, it is a good idea to ask your plumber about what can be done to prevent the problem in the future, if anything. You can also ask if the problem is something you might be able to fix on your own in the future.

When You Need a Plumber for Remodeling

You might need a plumber to help with a home improvement project, especially if it’s your kitchen or bathroom. We can help you figure out the best brand of water-using appliance or bathroom fixture or faucet to get if you’re still undecided. We can even give you recommendations on which ones will help you save water (and money).

You will definitely need a plumber for more complex plumbing-related issues during the remodeling process, like moving or installing drains, pipes and other fixtures.Your plumber will also be able to tell you about the latest plumbing trends and which appliances or fixtures will be the best bang for your buck, but he will also know which ones will best suit your budget too.

If you would like more information on hiring a plumber in St Paul or the surrounding area, call us at All Ways Drains at 612-922-9422, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Plumbing

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all ways drains plumber shoreviewWhile many plumbing projects involve calling a professional and licensed plumber, there are also some DIY plumbing projects you can do on your own. We specialize in plumbing in Shoreview and the surrounding areas, and we have a few suggestions on what you should (and should not!) do when tackling your next plumbing project, as well as a few basic rules about how to properly use your garbage disposal and other water-using appliances.

 

 

 

 

  • No matter what kind of plumbing repair you are working on, even if you are just trying to unclog your toilet, it is a good idea to shut the water off before you begin your work. You should shut it off at the main water valve or in the localized valves that are found near your toilets or sinks. You do not want water to come gushing out and possibly causing a lot of damage.
  • When working on your toilet or another type of plumbing appliance like that, it can be tempting to flush the trash and leftover waste down your toilet, rather than throwing it away in your trash can. Resist this temptation! The only two things that should be flushed down your toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Flushing anything else down your toilet can backfire and cause you to need to call in a professional plumber.
  • If you want to avoid having your garbage disposal repaired or replaced, follow a few basic rules: do not throw grease or fat down your kitchen drain, do not put “stringy” vegetables down there (celery for example) and do not put starchy foods down there either. When you run your garbage disposal, use cold water and run it for at least ten minutes at a time.
  • With winter coming, it is time to winterize your pipes to ensure they do not freeze. A frozen pipe can burst, and a burst pipe is definitely not a do-it-yourself plumbing repair!
  • If you try to tackle a plumbing repair on your own and you end up not being sure how to fix it, or if you somehow end up making it worse, do not hesitate to call us for plumbing help. Even jobs that look simple can end up being a bit trickier than you expected.

Do you want more information on plumbing in Shoreview and the surrounding areas? Call All Ways Drains at 612-922-9422, or you can contact us to get a Free Estimate.

Five Ways to Avoid Plumbing Repair

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all ways drains plumbing repair rosevilleWhile sometimes unavoidable, there are certain things you can do to prevent plumbing-related repairs and accidents. With a little bit of preparation and foresight, you can help avoid plumbing repair in your Roseville home.

Make sure you know where your water main shut-off is located, and make sure you know how to turn it off. Most of the time, these shut-offs are located behind an access panel of some sort, usually in your basement or on the lowest level of your home. You might need to turn the water main off if you have a burst pipe, and you will definitely need to turn it off if you are doing any work on your home’s plumbing system.

Remember that you should never flush anything down your toilet besides human waste and toilet paper. This includes hair, feminine hygiene products, diapers, wipes and paper towels. Make sure everyone who lives in your house knows this rule because flushing foreign objects is one of the best ways to clog your toilet. And if you can’t unclog your toilet on your own, then you will need to call us for plumbing repair.

Along the same lines as the tip mentioned above, there are plenty of things that should never be poured into your kitchen sink: cooking oil, grease or any other type of fat. The same rule applies for food like pasta and rice, fatty meats or anything that is “stringy” (think celery and vegetables like that). If you have to throw out cooking oil and grease, pour it into a glass jar and throw it out in your trash. Even if you have a garbage disposal, follow this advice to avoid plumbing repair.

Every once in awhile, you should have your water heater drained. This will allow you to get rid of any sediment that has gathered along the bottom, and this could also help increase the life span of your water heater.

Keep an eye on your washing machine’s rubber hose. These hoses can sometimes dry out and crack or burst, which could lead to flooding in your basement or wherever your washing machine is located. The hose should be replaced at the first sign of any problems with stainless steel braided lines that will not burst.

If, despite your best efforts, you do end up needing plumbing repair in Roseville, you contact call All Ways Drains for help! Call 612-922-9422 or contact us to get a Free Estimate.

What to Do If a Pipe Bursts

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residential plumber maplewood all ways drainsOne of the worst things that can happen during the winter months is a burst pipe. When there is water in the pipes of your home and the pipes are not properly insulated, the water can freeze and expand. When the water expands beyond the pipes’ capacity, it can cause the pipes to break. Any water that is in the pipes or flowing into them could end up flooding your home. If this happens at your house, your first step is to call a residential plumber. Maplewood residents have trusted us for years when they need help with a plumbing emergency. Here are other things you should do as well.

Make sure you try to collect the flowing water in some type of bucket or container if that is possible. Then go to your home’s mains and turn off the electricity if it is safe to do so. Make sure your home’s heat is turned off as well.

You should then go to your house’s stop tap and turn on the taps to drain the water system. This should keep any more water from flowing through the pipes and causing further flooding in your home.

Again, if it’s safe to do so, try to get your personal belongings out of the water and put them somewhere that they can start to dry out. You can start removing water with a shop vac or sump pump if you can. Please remember that your safety should come first. If there is any risk at all of an electrical shock, you should just leave your belongings where they are and wait for your residential plumber to arrive.

After a residential plumber from All Ways Drains gets to your home, he should be able to pinpoint where the pipe burst and repair it. You can start airing out the affected areas using a fan and a dehumidifier. Open as many windows and doors as possible too.

You can help ensure burst pipes don’t happen simply by making sure your pipes are properly insulated against winter’s harsh chill. If possible, leave kitchen cabinets open to help keep the pipes above freezing too.

We offer 24/7 emergency services, so there is always a residential plumber here to help you.

If you would like more information on a residential plumber in Maplewood, call us at All Ways Drains at 612-922-9422, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.