Knoxville Plumbing-Inspections

Should My New Home Have a Plumbing Inspection?

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Should My New Home Have a Plumbing Inspection?

For most people, a home is the biggest investment they will ever make, and a home is more than just paint and shutters. We inspect for termite damage, so why not plumbing and electrical

Knoxville Plumbing-InspectionsHaving a trained and licensed professional inspect that important part of the house will give you the relief and security to move in and live comfortably. While he cannot see what is inside the walls, he can judge the condition of what is inside, by looking at the condition of what is visible outside the wall; by looking at how and where a pipe enters the wall, and the way it was constructed. Their trained eye will spot things that may look fine to you, but shows signs of poor practices and materials.

Outside – A proper inspection may start at the street to see if the piping, whether galvanized iron, plastic, or copper tubing, is of the proper size and up to current codes. They will insure the water shut off valve is accessible and working. At this time they will make sure the sewer drain line has the proper cleanout trap near the house.

While still outside they will check that there are the proper outside spigots for garden hoses and that they are in usable locations and working condition. They will look to the roof to ensure the vent pipes are in place for all drain locations.

Inside – They will inspect every water access location in the bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room, and accessories, such as water softeners and icemakers. They will determine that the faucets are new, or in excellent shape and not leaking. They will look under the sinks to ensure there are shutoff valves on all fixtures, and the fittings are tight and not corroding. They will be alert for loose pipes where they exit the wall, and check if there is a bang when the faucets are turned off, indicating the air cushion has been lost, or not installed properly.

These points, and probably a hundred more, are what they will be checking. Sometimes it may be that something is just not right, and should be looked at more closely.

When you are purchasing a new–to-you home, and looking for a Knoxville Plumber to inspect that home, we would encourage you to give us a call! 🙂

Knoxville Plumbing Garbage Disposal

Will A Garbage Disposal Be A Benefit To Me?

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Will A Garbage Disposal Be A Benefit To Me?

Knoxville Plumbing Garbage DisposalFirst used only in commercial applications, garbage disposals are now common in most modern homes. One of the few places you cannot use one is where you have a septic system, as the system cannot break down the material fast enough and it will soon stop working. A garbage disposal can take almost all food waste, except bones and stringy fibers like cornhusks and silk.

Installing a garbage disposal – Most modern sinks have a drain opening large enough to fit a disposal, as they are of a universal size and shape. While installing a garbage disposal can be a do-it-yourself job, many prefer to have a plumber do the installation, as the unit is heavy, and the space below the kitchen sink is cramped and dark. The drainpipe and “P” trap have to be removed before the disposal is installed, and then reinstalled after, and an electrical connection has to be either provided, with a power cord or hard wired in an electrical box.

Types of garbage disposals – Garbage disposals are one of two types, batch feed, or continuous feed.

  • A batch feed has a cap, or plug, that you place in the opening after you have filled the disposal with a “batch” of garbage. This is considered a safety feature, as foreign object like silverware, and human hands, cannot accidently fall into the whirling blades while in operation.
  • A continuous feed is just that. The opening is always open so you can continuously feed garbage into the disposal while it is operational. Sometimes the unit may vibrate a lot and giggle items into the sink and then the disposal.

DANGER: Never put your hands into the disposal to clear a clog. Some units will reverse direction each time they start, which helps clear clogs.

CLEANING TIP: Use ice cubes to clear clogs. If they lock up the blades they will just melt and do no damage.

What they can do – You can send just about any food waste down a disposal, except for bones, and stringy things like corn silk and husks. Always have the cold water on full while grinding the waste, and let them both run until it is clear and has a hum. Some units have a

When considering a garbage disposal, and looking for a Knoxville Plumber, we would encourage you to look in your phone book for Knoxville Plumbing LLC and check them out on the internet at https://knoxvilleplumbingllc.com

How TO Clean a Toilet

How To Clean A Toilet

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How TO Clean a ToiletHow To Clean A Toilet – Step by Step Instructions On Making a Toilet Clean

There are some household chores that some women really hate to do, but unfortunately, in order to have a clean house, some very unpleasant chores have to be done. One task that some women are not fond of is cleaning the toilet, but if it is done in the correct way, the chore does not become so bad. Here are the step by step instructions on how to make that toilet sparkling clean.

Cleaning a Toilet In the Best Way Possible

  1. Make sure the toilet and tank is clear: It is common for people to put things on their toilet lid like a cover, and also to use the back of the tank for bottles of beauty products. However, everything must be cleared from the toilet so it can be cleaned thoroughly.

  2. Add cleanser to the toilet bowl itself and scrub thoroughly: After the cleanser is added, gie the toilet around 10 to 15 minutes to the cleanser can start to break up the buildup and grime inside the bowl. After time is up, use a strong toilet brush and scrub around the inside of the bowl. Once the bowl has been scrubbed thoroughly, the toilet should be flushed.

  3. Cleaning the outside of the toilet: Some women prefer to put in the cleanser inside the bowl, then they simply close the lid and let thinks soak. The time that the cleanser is soaking can be put to good use, and a wipe away cleanser can be used to clean the outside of the toilet such as the lid, the top and sides of the tank, and the area between the toilet itself and the tank, which is often a place where grime and dust tends to settle.

  4. Be sure protective gear is used: The chemicals that are used to clean toilets can be very strong, and so strong, that it can cause irritation to the skin and eyes. Women need to use rubber gloves, and also need to protect their eyes by wearing goggles in case of splashes that may end up getting in the eyes.

  5. Tips for cleaning the toilet: The toilet is a place where germs can occur, and using sponges is not a good idea because sponges can also become germ infested, and those germs can then be passed on to other surfaces of the bathroom. Germs can make people sick, and using disposable wipes are a better way to clean the bathroom because once the task is done, they can be thrown away.

Knoxville Plumbing Remodeling

When Remodeling, Do I Need a Plumber

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When Remodeling, Do I Need a Plumber

Knoxville Plumbing RemodelingThen – I am remodeling; do I need a plumber, or not need a plumber, that is the question. In Shakespeare’s time, I would guess, ‘no,’ because in the 14th and 15th centuries, indoor plumbing was long overdue, but had not arrived. Now, in the 21st century, it has arrived, and what a selection we have.

Now – When remodeling, two rooms, the kitchen, and the bathroom get the most attention and cost the most money. When doing so much construction, in the two rooms with the most plumbing, you surely do need to hire a qualified and licensed plumber. These two rooms contain the fixtures and appliances that are being changed and updated the most, and fastest. They are also the first to become “dated.”

When remodeling these two rooms, it is more than simply replacing the fixtures and appliances. Most often, walls are removed, windows added, new lighting in the ceiling, and below, a grand floor. New plumbing in these areas will ensure that the plumbing will last trouble free as long as the new fixtures and appliances. How disappointing to have all the work done and then, discover a leak behind all the new everything else.

A thing to remember, remodeling is a rough time for an older house, with its structure being pushed and pulled every which way, and the old plumbing with it. All the old pipes and joints are twisted and stressed after years of comfortably settling in place, with only an occasional earthquake to awaken them.

When remodeling, the general contractor has to coordinate the work between all the subs, the plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. The contractor ensures that something does not go in before it should, and then needs to be removed to make room for something else.

Now after days, weeks, even months of dust and inconveniences, the remodeling is finished. Your new kitchen and bathrooms gleam and sparkle like the new star attraction that they are. Everyone will want to see what you have done, and compliment you on what wonderful new rooms you have.

Therefore, if you have not yet remodeled, we would hope that we have moved you enough to think about remodeling. Forget about the dust and inconveniences, think of the star.

 

Water Heater Leak in Knoxville Tennesee

Why Is My Water Heater Leaking?

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Why Is My Water Heater Leaking?

Water Heater Leak in Knoxville TenneseeA water heater is a much needed appliance. It is difficult to do without a water heater and thus if there are problems, then the days without the heater can be quite troublesome and painstaking. While a water heater is a sturdy device and can perform regularly without much tantrums or problems, it is still an appliance at the end of the day and it will have some problems from time to time. If you have a new water heater then you have your warranty and most common problems are taken care of. But if you have an old water heater, then not only would you have to brace for more problems but you will also have to attend to those problems without any warranty’s help.

One of the most common problems with water heaters is leaks. Water heaters can have leaks, regardless of their status of new or old.

There are many reasons why your water heater may be leaking.

The most common reason for leaks in a water heater is a malfunctioning drain valve. If the drain valve in the water heater is loose or not fully fitted into the heater, if it becomes loose due to the water pressure, if it is too tightened which has caused cracks to develop or some fissures to form, then water will seep through this type of valves. You need to check the valves and tighten them if they are loose. But the valves should not be too tightened that contributes to an abnormality. Absolutely unusable valves need to be replaced. Ideally, you should replace the drain valves of very old water heaters.

Another common reason for your water heater leaking is an excessive pressure inside the unit. Every water heater has a capacity, a certain volume of water it can heat in a certain period of time. This capacity is related to the pressure. Also, the pressure has a correlation with the temperature that you have set on the thermostat. If you set the temperature much higher than what the water heater can take and if you are not draining out the hot water, allowing cold water to flow in to the heater, then the pressure can build up inside which will force the water to gush out. In the absence of openings or vents, it will cause leaks. A similar problem can also occur if the temperature pressure relief valve is defective.

Water heaters can start to leak if they are too old. General wear and tear, corrosion and rusting can cause leaks.

You may find some water on the heater or beneath it due to natural condensation, which has nothing to do with leaks.

 

Knoxville Plumbing Emergency

How To React To a Plumbing Emergency

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How To React To a Plumbing Emergency

Plumbing Emergency #1

You walk into your kitchen and step into water on the floor. Looking around, you see it is coming from under the sink. What do you do?

Plumbing Emergency #2

You flush the toilet and the water swirls around and gets higher, but does not go down the drain. What do you do?

Plumbing Emergency #3

You get ready to take your shower. When you look in you see dirty water covering the floor of the shower. What do you do?

Knoxville Plumbing Emergency What You Should Do –

P.E. #1

Step 1 – Walk to the sink, open the door below and look in. There should be two small shutoff valves, one for the hot water, and one for the cold. Turn them off by turning the handle top edge to the right, or clock-wise. This should stop the water under the sink. If not, go to step 2.

Step 2 – Walk outside and turn off the main water valve for the house. This will stop all water from entering the house and stop a clean water leak.

Step 3 – Walk back into the kitchen, look under the sink to determine what is leaking.

Step 4- Fix the leak, or Call the Plumber.

P.E. #2 

Step 1 – Look under the toilet tank and locate the shut off valve. Turn the top of the handle to the right, or clock-wise. This will stop all water from entering the tank or the bowl.

Step 2 – Find the toilet plunger and try to dislodge the clog, pushing down several times. If it is still clogged, run water into the sink to see if that drain is also clogged. If the sink drains OK, the clog is in the toilet trap in the bowl. Keep plungering. If the sink also backs up, the main drain is clogged.

Step 3 – If the main drain is clogged, Call The Plumber.

P.E. #3

Step 1 The dirty water indicates that the water has backed up from a clogged drainpipe. DO NOT FLUSH the TOILET! To confirm that water is backing up from a clogged drainpipe, check the bath tub to see if it is also backed up. If both are backing up waste water, the main drainpipe is clogged. Call The Plumber.

When this happens, and you are looking for a Knoxville Emergency Plumber give us a call!