Ways to Plan for a Healthy New Year

Ways to Plan for a Healthy New Year

It’s not enough just to take care of your physical health. Taking care of the investment that you’ve got in your home is very important to you overall well-being too.

healthy-lifeJust like with your physical health, getting your home healthy means taking small steps every day to make sure that all the necessary components are working well.

When it comes to your home’s plumbing, here are some helpful hints to help you maintain a high level of health.

It is Time to Flush Your Water Heater

Flushing out your water heater once a year will prolong its lifespan and help it to heat as efficiently as possible. Both of these benefits will help you save money. The reason you need to flush is that sediment accumulates in your tank over time. The sediment speeds up rusting and prevents the heating coils from functioning well.

Always Clean Your Faucets

Another place where water residue accumulates is inside your faucets. The mineral deposits line the interior of the faucet, making it hard for water to flow. This can be inconvenient and costly because you end up using more water than you need.

To clean, remove the mesh aerator from inside the faucet and soak in white vinegar for a few minutes. This should be sufficient to loosen the residue.

Water Testing For Health

water-safetyGet your water tested on a regular basis to make sure that it is safe to consume. Contaminants like lead, chlorine, and bacteria can make their way into your water supply and then into your water glass.

If you determine that there are impurities, you can remedy this with a water filtration system, installed right at the source. The end result is clear, clean, good tasting water.

Prevent Hair Clogs

Some of the nastiest and most inconvenient clogs are the most common: those that are caused by hair in your pipes. If this is something that has plagued your plumbing, you can take care of this with a drain filter. It fits over the drain and catches hair before it falls inside. You clean it out manually as needed.

Drain Cleaning Removes Bacteria

It is an excellent preventative maintenance move to get your drains cleaned, but did you ever stop to think about how getting your drains cleaned can help your health too? Organic material (especially food particles from the kitchen) often gets trapped in the pipes and can quickly grow bacteria.

Not only does this smell bad, that bacteria could threaten your family’s health. Getting your drains professionally cleaned addresses your plumbing health and your physical health at the same time.

Questions about drain cleaning? When was the last time you flushed your water heater? Trouble with clogged pipes? No matter what your plumbing problem, we’ve got your solution. For help in Dallas, TX call (972) 247-3763.

DEFENSE: Protecting Your Pipes During Super Bowl LI

DEFENSE: Protecting Your Pipes During Super Bowl LI

Halftime Flush, Fact or Fiction?

If you are a Super Bowl fan, then you have probably heard that thousands of spectators who are watching the game at home will flush their toilets at the same time during Half Time. Some of these stories are true because several cities have noticed that water usage does increase during the Super Bowl’s halftime break.

halftimeflush2Many television viewers are in a hurry to get back to the television to watch the musical performance, and they also don’t want to miss any part of the football game. In many homes, people are in a rush to visit the bathroom during the Super Bowl’s halftime show so that they can also scurry into the kitchen to get more snacks and beverages.

While water usage may increase during this time, it won’t cause any widespread plumbing issues for an entire city. However, if you have a home with old bathroom fixtures, sewage lines and water pipes, then having numerous guests flushing toilets at the same time can overburden a building’s plumbing system.

If you plan to have a Super Bowl party in your home, then it is important to prepare ahead of time by making sure that your home’s plumbing system is in tip-top condition. Contact a plumber to have your home’s drainage devices cleaned and repaired to avoid having overflowing toilets.

Don’t Drop the Chicken Wings

dontdropthewingsWhen you have a Super Bowl party, make sure that your guests understand what they can put inside your kitchen’s garbage disposal. If one of your guests decides to drop the remains of their barbecue chicken wings down the garbage disposal, then a disaster will occur.

Before Super Bowl parties, make a written list to hang on the wall above your kitchen’s sink to prevent a broken garbage disposal.In addition to keeping chicken wing bones out of the appliance, don’t put hard or fibrous substances such as eggshells, potato skins or rice in the garbage disposal.

These items will break your garbage disposal’s blades or create a clog in the drain underneath the sink. If you do have a problem with your kitchen’s garbage disposal, then call a plumber!

If You’re Not Going Green, You’re On the Losing Team

Instead of spending a lot of money on huge cases of bottled water for your guests, have a water filtration system installed inside your home. When you are having a lot of guests at your home for a Super Bowl party, they will need to have more drinking water than you are normally used to and you may also use more water for preparing snacks. By using a filtration system, you can remove the impurities from your home’s water so that it has a fresh flavor.

Call Reeves Family Plumbing in Dallas, TX today at 972-247-3763 to learn more about garbage disposal safety, drain cleaning and water filtration systems.

4 Tips to Avoid Your Indoor Pipes from Bursting

 

winterize_your_homePicture this: you’ve just left for work in the morning, and someone has broken into your home dragging in your garden hose. The burglar drops the hose in the middle of the floor, turns the tap on full blast and leaves. Can you imagine what kind of mess you’d return home to later that evening?

It’s not a very realistic scenario, but the damage would be substantial. A more likely occurrence with the potential of delivering similar disastrous results is a burst pipe.

Fortunately, burst pipes are more predictable than a random garden hose-toting burglar. Here are a few easy tips that can prevent burst pipes from happening in your home.

1.    Inspect Your Pipes Regularly

Some burst pipes start out as a tiny leak, no bigger than the head of the needle. Over time, the hole grows bigger resulting in far greater damage.

With a flashlight, have a close look at all of your exposed pipe for any evidence of moisture or pooling water in your basement, under sinks, around your dishwasher, washing machine, and near your water heater.

Some pinhole leaks can occur in pipes that are hidden inside your walls, making them more difficult to detect. You may be able to identify a leak in your plumbing system by shutting off all of the taps in your home and ensuring that none of the appliances that consume water are currently on. Then, check your water meter. After 15 to 30 minutes, if it shows that water has been consumed in your home, you may have a hidden leak.

2.    Maintain Your Water Pump on a Regular Basis

Abrupt surges in the water pressure within your plumbing system can place a great strain on your pipes that can result in a burst. Such sudden increases in water flow, known as water hammers, can be caused by a malfunctioning water pump.

There are some DIY maintenance tasks that you can look after. These include checking the seals and lubricating the bearings on a monthly basis. You can also make sure that the water pump remains securely mounted on the base and hasn’t shaken loose.

3.    Seek the Help of A Professional, When Necessary

heating_efficiency_winterize_homeIf you have spotted a pinhole leak in your pipes, or if you suspect you have one hidden within your walls, it’s best to place your trust in an experienced plumbing professional to handle the repairs. With specialized tools, an experienced technician will be able to quickly locate the problem and repair it.

It’s also a good idea to seek the help of a qualified plumber to perform a more thorough inspection and maintenance of your water pump once a year. During this annual service visit, the technician can perform diagnostic tests, check vital components like bearings and belt drive, and complete any required adjustments.

4.    Keep the Heat on When You Go On Your Winter Vacation

While it’s true that the temperature in the Dallas / Fort Worth area rarely dips below freezing, you never know when an unexpected cold snap might occur. That’s why it’s still a good idea to keep the heat on in your home when you go on a winter vacation to make sure that your pipes don’t freeze.

If you’re ever faced with the unfortunate calamity of burst pipes in your home, or if you want to do everything you can to prevent it from ever happening, you can place your trust in the friendly experts at Reeves Family Plumbing in Dallas, TX. Call us today at 972-247-3763.

Home Cleaning Checklist for the New Year

Home Cleaning Checklist for the New Year

The New Year is an opportunity for a fresh start, and what better way to get a fresh start than to establish a quick but efficient way to clean your house. Sticking to a schedule for things that you do on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can help motivate you to keep your house looking like you spent hours cleaning it when it really only took a small fraction of your day. Use this basic cleaning schedule as a guideline to get and keep your home in order.

What to Clean Daily

Spend about 30 minutes a day doing the chores that need to be done around your home. These basic tasks might seem simple, but make a world of difference in how your home looks and feels.

  • cleaning_yourhome_tipsWash dishes at least once a day. If you can’t find the time to wash them all, at least make an effort to scrape excess food off and rinse them so the food doesn’t stick. Alternatively, throw a load in the dishwasher once a day.
  • Tidy up. Tidying up helps control clutter. Walk through your house one room at a time and put things that are out of place back where they belong. Do a room or two and then take a break.
  • Wipe off countertops to clean crumbs and spills

What to Clean Weekly

Some tasks do not necessarily need to be done every single day. Instead pick a day of the week where you will tackle these tasks. Which include:

  • Empty the trash in bedrooms, bathrooms, and the kitchen
  • Dust furniture and wiping down cobwebs
  • Clean mirrors and windows
  • Wipe down appliances in the kitchen, cleaning out the microwave and empty the crumb tray in your toaster
  • Mop the floor
  • Spray down and scrub the toilet, sink, and tub in the bathroom

What to Clean the First of Each Month

cleaning_forthe_newyearMonthly tasks are important and easy to forget. Don’t fall behind. Try to do these tasks at least once a month for optimal cleanliness.

  • Move furniture and vacuum or sweep under it
  • Clean outside windows
  • Disinfect and deodorize garbage cans
  • Run vinegar through your appliances to clean them
  • Dust your blinds, shades and lighting fixtures

 

Keeping your home clean is a great start to the year. Contact Reeves Family Plumbing, located in Dallas, TX at (972) 247-3763  for assistance with getting your home in order.

Have a Drain Problem in Your Home?

hydrogetting vs snaking

Have a Drain Problem in Your Home?

If you’ve experienced problems with clogged drains or the main sewer line backing up, you’ve likely tried snaking or hydro jetting as solutions. Both are methods to tackle stubborn clogs, but each has its advantages and disadvantages.

hyrojettingWhat Is Hydro Jetting and How Does It Work?

Hydro-jetting is a highly effective way of addressing slow running or clogged sewer lines. Professional plumbing contractors use it on both commercial and residential plumbing. It consists of sending a blast of high-pressure water into sewer lines. The pressure used by most hydro jetting systems varies between 3,000 and 8,000 PSI, though 4,000 PSI is the pressure most commonly used.

The main advantage of hydro jetting is that it cleans your drains far more efficiently than any other method. The powerful water stream gets rid of any buildup in the pipe, including grease, sand, hair, scale and even tree roots. Many homeowners hire a professional plumber offering hydro jetting services when they experience recurring clogs in their sewer lines. Hydro jetting is also an environmentally friendly solution, as it uses just water without any potentially harmful chemicals.

What is a Plumbing Snake?

A plumbing snake is a flexible auger specifically designed to eliminate clogged pipes. The tool is quite effective at tackling many kinds of clogs in sewer lines, as well as sinks and bathtubs. Toilets require the use of a specially-designed plumbing snake due to their larger drain pipes. A toilet auger also has a plastic boot at the end to protect the toilet’s finish from damage. Even though professional plumbers mainly use plumbing snakes, some homeowners have one and use it to clear minor drain problems themselves.

When Should a Plumbing Snake Be Used?plumbingsnake

A plumbing snake is most commonly used when experiencing a clog that can’t be fixed with just a plunger. If you own a plumbing snake and know how to use it safely and efficiently, it can be a handy tool to clear a slow running sink or bathtub drain. If you have a snake designed for toilets, you can use it if your toilet got clogged and the plunger isn’t helping.

If the problem is with your sewer line, it’s always a good idea to contact a professional plumbing contractor. Some plumbers may use a snake on your sewer line if the clog is relatively straightforward and there isn’t much buildup on the interior walls.

Hydro Jetting Should Be Done by Professionals Only!

Hydro jetting requires the use of professional equipment that is usually owned only by specialized plumbing contractors. A video inspection of the pipes needs to be done beforehand to find the source of the problem.

While hydro jetting is very effective, it can also damage older and more fragile pipes due to the high pressure of the water jet used. Professional plumbing contractors have the experience and knowledge to determine whether a pipe will be able to withstand the pressure without damage.

If you’re experiencing clogged or slow running drains in Dallas, TX, Reeves Family Plumbing is here to help give us a call at (972) 247-3763 today. We offer professional drain cleaning services, including hydro jetting.

5 Maintenance Tips to Get Your Water Heater Ready for the Chilly Winter

Water heater maintenance tips

 

When the colder temperatures of fall and winter arrive, most people know it’s time to get their homes in good working order. And when it comes to their plumbing system, there’s nothing more important in fall and winter than making sure the water heater is working properly.

prepare-water-heater-for-cold-weatherHowever, many people fail to do this, and often find themselves needing repairs on a cold winter night.

To make sure you don’t find yourself facing this situation, here are five maintenance tips you can use to ensure your water heater will be in great shape when the cold weather returns.

Insulate the Pipes and Tank

If you’re expecting a cold winter, be sure to insulate the pipes and tank. In doing so, you’ll ensure that the tank keeps working and the pipes won’t burst. For best results, use foam insulation made specifically to fit around pipes and tanks. But be sure to put the insulation in place prior to cold weather, since this will make the project much easier and ensure the pipes and tank stay warm.

Flush the Water Heater Tank

To make sure your tank doesn’t experience corrosion or a buildup of minerals, flush the tank before winter weather arrives. To do this yourself, simply complete the following steps:

  • Turn off power to the tank
  • Open hot water faucet for 10-15 minutes
  • Turn off cold water valve
  • Attach garden hose to valve
  • Drain water into bucket or lawn outside
  • Adjust tank temperature

checking-water-heater-temperatureIf the weather is expected to get extremely cold, adjusting the tank temperature will keep the tank from having to work too hard to heat the water. By simply adjusting the temperature up to 5 degrees higher, you should have hot water no matter how much the temperatures dip outside.

Inspect the Anode Rod

Designed to attract corrosive elements such as dirt and minerals, the anode rod is responsible for keeping the water in your tank clean. However, as with most anything else, eventually it may wear out due to old age.

Therefore, it’s crucial to inspect the anode rod prior to winter. If there are any problems with the rod, be sure it gets replaced. If it doesn’t, you may find yourself with a water heater that’s full of dirty water.

Inspecting the Pressure Relief Valve

servicing-a-water-heaterIf there is one part of a water heater that needs to work properly, it’s the pressure relief valve.

To make sure everything is fine, test it by raising and lowering the test lever. If the brass stem attached to it raises at the same time, all is well. If not, make sure it’s repaired as soon as possible to ensure your tank does not have a dangerous pressure buildup.

If you’re having problems with any of these water heater issues, now’s the time to schedule a service appointment. If you live in Dallas, TX or the surrounding area, please call Reeves Family Plumbing at (972) 247-3763 today to ensure your water heater is working properly.