Knoxville Plumber Blog

How to Prevent a Plumbing Emergency

PREVENTING A PLUMBING EMERGENCY

The plumbing structure in your home is very important to the function of your household. One of the best way to prevent a plumbing emergency is to keep up with plumbing and water repairs in Dallas, Texas.

We will provide you with a few helpful tips on how to prevent plumbing problems in your home.

1. Pay attention to your water heater

When you notice a water leakage, gas smell near the water heater unit, disturbing noises or you notice rusty water or your heater is not producing hot water then it is time to contact a water heater plumber immediately.

2. Reduce the load on your garbage disposal

As useful as the garbage disposal is to the kitchen, you need to be very careful with it. When you misuse this appliance, it can cause more harm than good. Avoid putting large food waste into the disposal or cutting them into smaller pieces before putting it in there or use the wastebin.

3. Be careful what you flush down the drain

Some products claim to be flushable but your plumbing system might not be able to handle them. So, screen these products well before you flush them down the drain.

4. Do not pour grease in your drain

Some stuffs are not meant to be flushed down the drain. As much as some people might be nonchalant about these things, it is important not to flush grease or cooking oil down the drain. It has the tendency to clog the pipes and then damage the pipes in the long run.

5. Do not hang stuffs from an exposed pipe

The pipes used for indoor plumbing are not meant to support weight so it is very wrong to hang clothes (wet or dry) on a pipe because it can cause a serious plumbing problem in your home.

6. Have a plunger in every bathroom in the house

Whenever you experience overflow in your toilet, keeping a plunger in the bathroom will enable you reduce the overflow as fast as possible instead of having to run all over the house to get a plunger.

7. Have a good relationship with a plumber

This is very important because if all preventive measure listed above fails then you can call your plumber to come and help you take a look at it. He would take a professional look at it and give you advice on what to do.

How Your Trees Are Affecting Your Plumbing

How To Remove Tree Roots From Your Plumbing Without Replacing

An experienced Knoxville plumber can repair plumbing pipes of all types with equal efficiency. However, there are certain types of pipes that they need to repair more frequently than the others. Do you have a tree root problem in your sewer drain? Like thousands of households, tree roots in your drain are a constant problem we can all do without. Blocked drains whether it’s a blocked sewer line or a blocked storm water pipe can be one of the most frustrating and inconvenient not to mention one of the most costly plumbing problems you can have at your home.

Replacement Of Pipes

Unfortunately, tree roots in the sewer line are an indication of damaged plumbing pipes and become an ongoing problem you could do without. The only permanent solution is a complete replacement of your old earthenware plumbing pipes with new PVC plumbing pipes, but if you don’t want to go to all the trouble and expense of replacing your old sewer pipes, calling a plumber has several cost effective options to keep your sewer line clear and free flowing.

Traditionally the use of the good old plunger and the electric eel were the weapons of choice in the constant fight against tree roots overpowering your sewer line; that was until now.

Drain Cameras

Regular maintenance using high-pressure water blasters are the latest technology in combating all, but the most severe tree root blockage found most commonly in household drains. The advent of drain cameras have added a new dimension to drain cleaning and have been a god sent to the plumbing professional and homeowner alike. This piece of high-tech equipment is used to take all of the guesswork out of drain cleaning.

Every nook and cranny can be thoroughly explored using a video camera, and a complete video diagnosis can be supplied to determine the best course of action required, not only that pipe tracing equipment can be used to locate the camera head and find the exact location and cause of the blocked sewer pipe.

Preventative Maintenance Program

A preventative maintenance program will combat the inconvenience of tree root blockages and raw sewage overflows that usually occur at the most unexpected times, like on weekends, the family BBQ or even Christmas day! As you know, this results in costly emergency call outs and your family being exposed to raw sewage overflow.

The roots you cut last year are the same roots you will cut this year and next year as well. Whatever may be the type of pipe installed in your home or office, you must maintain them properly. You are advised to call the plumbing expert even if you notice slightest of crack on the pipes. Additionally, get them checked by your Knoxville plumber once in every six months. The plumbing professional appointed by you will check the pipes thoroughly for cracks and other damages and do the needful to eliminate the defects caused by the tree roots.

If you have trees that you want cut call Smoky Mountain Tree Service.

Spring Cleaning? Don’t Forget Your Plumbing System!

Plumbing Spring Knoxville PlumberSpring Cleaning Tips for Your Plumbing System

Spring might be the start of warmer weather and longer daylight, but it is also the time of year that you start sprucing up your home. Spring cleaning around the house can entail many different things from getting rid of clutter to giving your plumbing system a good look-over. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, there are a few ways you can easily improve your plumbing system this weekend.

Here are the best spring cleaning tips for your plumbing system:

Try Out Your Sump Pump

Spring is known as the season that brings on the rain. This is especially true for most of April and May. It might be a good idea to check and see if your sump pump is functioning properly now to ensure that no big problems arise later. A great test for your sump pump is to see how dry it keeps your basement on rainy days.

Stop Leaks Right Away

Not only can leaky faucets cost you money, but they can also be incredibly annoying. Instead of just dealing with leaking and dripping faucets, it is time to fix your leak. The wear and tear that a leak can put on your sink basin and faucet isn’t worth it. Fixing a leak might not be fun, but this is one project you need to take on this spring.

Invest in New Fixtures

Chances are you haven’t splurged for new fixtures or faucets in a long time. Why not give your plumbing system an update with new fixtures that affordable and stylish. You can even purchase more energy efficient fixtures that will help you cut back on your energy bill.

Be Prepared By Installing a Flood Alarm

As a homeowner, you always want to be prepared for the unexpected. Having a flood alarm in your home is a preventative measure you can take to prevent flooding. This type of alarm will sound when it comes into contact with water. This means that you can limit the amount of water damage that occurs in your home.

Check All Outdoor Hoses

It is that time of year again, when you will be watering the flowers and caring for your lawn. This means that you need all of your outdoor hoses to be free of leaks and cracks that might have been left behind by the cold weather. Checking your hose takes a few minutes, but you save you a big hassle later on.

 

 

Tips To Do Before Selling Your House

Knoxville Plumbing House for sale

Here are tips for you to make sure of readying your house into the market and in ensuring the sale you deserve.

knoxville curb appeal plumbingKeep up the Curb Appeal

This can be considered as a bit cliché which happens to be true. In most cases, first impression is what for most homebuyer everything. Potential buyers can make up their mind and look for the features like quick drive. Make sure that the yard and even the landscaping has the presentable look which most buyers are looking for. Fresh coat of painting inside the house and make the front or the garage door appealing to encourage buyers.

Make a Price Lower than it’s worth

This tip may sound a bit counter intuitive. But the real deal here is that most experts in real estate believe the efficiency of this strategy. Lowering the home value can actually lead into more bids. The main logic was about to make people more motivated in getting the deal. If you prepared well your house by making it looking great and delivers reason for a reasonable price, then you are about to start a bidding scenario that will enhance the bidding possibility.

Fix all Outstanding Repairs (don’t go overboard)

Simple plumbing issues such as clogged drain, leaking faucet and other minor issues may become a big thing as consideration for people. Before making your home for sale, get the reliable plumber in Knoxville, like Knoxville Plumbing. They have expert team to resolve repair issues related to plumbing whether you are living near The Helms Bakery District or in Sony Pictures Studios. You don’t have to go overboard with remodeling of the bathroom, unless you want to raise the price and make more investment on it.

Emphasize the Storage

Envisioning in space are particular for most buyer of homes. For home buyers, lack of storage can be one of the cons when they are looking for a home affecting the expected sale. Empty the half of the closer for space and move the things into a more discreet or for storage. The closets have enough space are ideal for most of home buyers.

Hire a Professional Stager

The stagers are always necessary however more buyers are expecting for staged homes whenever they walk or look for an open house. If your budget can still afford, hiring a stager can be a good idea. The stager make the house feel like it is very personal and without making it look like very specific. Projecting their selves (home buyers) is what they should feel when they enter inside the house.

Be aware of the things you have to consider in the preparation of pushing through your house into the market. Get these tips and you will surely get your expected sales.

Before You Deck the Halls… Have You Considered Your Plumbing?

Before You Deck the Halls… Have You Considered Your Plumbing?

Most people are not thinking “plumbing” when the holly jolly rolls around. They are thinking about shopping, family, friends and getting their holiday meals together. Of course if you do not pay a little more attention to your plumbing during this joyous season you may not be able to cook that holiday meal because of plumbing issues.

We see a huge increase in plumbing problems during the holidays and while we like to make money we also hate to see the results of a family with plumbing problems during the holidays. There are a few reasons why people have to make that emergency call.

Before You Deck the Halls... Have You Considered Your Plumbing?

Potty Problems

Little ones love to throw little things down the commode. You will never know how many little drummer boys wind up stuck in the traps of commodes during the holidays. Little trinkets, ornaments and decorations find their way into the toilet by little hands.

Of course the one thing you can do to avoid this mishap is to keep the lid shut on all the commodes and make sure none of the little ones are able to sneak off on their own.

It is not only the little ones that are clogging up the toilets around the holidays, some grownups also need to take heed. Never pour grease down the toilet. It can be tempting but it can be a disaster as well. You can actually crack your commode by pouring hot grease down the toilet not to mention you can easily clog things up. Don’t put anything down the toilet but what is supposed to be down there.

The Drains

How’s about a clogged drain for the holidays? If that does not sound that attractive to you than you should take a little extra precautions to protect your drains during the holidays. Take care that nothing goes down the drains that is not supposed to. Grease, oil, food stuff and a full range of other items that wind up down the drain can easily put a damper on the holidays.

Have your drains inspected and cleaned before the holidays to reduce the potential for problems. Clean drains will be harder to clog up from excessive holiday use. If your drains are running slow right now, prepare for them to get worse once the guests arrive. Of course you can have a little professional attention now so that you do not have to prepare for anything other than fun.

The Holidays Are Coming Have Your Plumbing Ready!

Avoid Holiday Plumbing Mishaps With these Tips

Screen Shot 2015-10-26 at 2.53.17 PM

The holidays are a great time of year, stressful but great! You will likely be doing more cooking, having more company and using your plumbing a lot more. If you are having any plumbing issues right now, let us come out and take a look before the holidays are upon you.

The holidays mean that your plumbing is going to work harder. More guests mean more flushing, more showers and more use of the garbage disposal. If you are having some minor problems now, you can expect that they will get worse with the more wear and tear. The time to address any plumbing issues is before the holidays arrive.

There are some steps that you can take that will help to prevent any holiday plumbing issues:

  1. Your garbage disposal will be doing double duty with all the cooking and all the scraps that are going into the disposal. Be kind to your disposal by not putting any bones, hard shells from nuts or pits from stone fruits down the disposal. Avoid a high concentration of starchy foods. Throw some ice cubes down the disposal and let it run to help clean up the blades. Always run the cold water down the garbage disposal when you are grinding anything. Never throw grease down the garbage disposal.
  2. Your toilets are about to be assaulted by all the company prepare by having your sewer line cleaned. Be sure to never throw anything down your toilet other than what it is meant for. If you notice your toilet is moving slowly call a professional in before it gets worst.
  3. Be careful with your drains. It does not take a lot to wind up with a clog. Do not use over the counter drain cleaners, they can be dangerous and cause damage to your pipes.
  4. Be sure that you know where your shut off valves are before the holidays roll around, just in case.

Plumbing issues rarely resolve themselves. If you have an issue call us before it becomes a problem. Don’t wait, it is best to address any problems now before they become huge problems. It is less expensive to take care of any issues right away than it is to wait. It will only get worse and you do not want to have to deal with any plumbing issues once your guests arrive.

Live Healthier With A Water Filter

KNoxville Water Filter Drinking-Water

How Water Filters can Make You Healthier

The effects of pollution, heavy rainfall and overcrowding are several reasons why people are very much concern about the quality of the water that is flowing in their faucet. These are also the reasons why people in Knoxville are quite meticulous regarding their tap water. In fact, there is a regulation regarding this issue but the city doesn’t exactly know the essence of this regulation. As for many homeowner deals with this kind of issue, many residents of Knoxville find water filtration system as the best solution. The said systems serve as a good way of providing a better – tasting supply of water and avoid any health risk at the same time. Here are what water filter can provide to save your life.

Water Filter Sanitizes the Inbound Water

The Knoxville residents receive their water from the central supply. Since the regulation is requiring the water (H2O) to be treated and surely tested, it is supposed to guarantee safety. However, these guarantees are not making the residents confident about it. The Trihalomethanes, a term used for describing by-products that are formed when the chlorine is already added to the drinking water. It combines with natural organic particles in the water and can affect health negatively. If you are one of the resident in Knoxville who are being suspicious about water regulation process, filtration system can actually give you the assurance.

By calling in Knoxville for a skilled plumber, they can provide the service for installation in the household system. These skilled plumbers from Knoxville plumbing can actually providing the system both for residential and commercial consumers of clean and safe water.

Water Filter Remove Build Ups within Pipes

Copper Pipes have been commonly used in Knoxville for many decades, this type of piping is becoming suspicious for every home owner. While it stands as a better option for a pipe, it actually corrodes after some years. One thing that water filtration could actually do is to remove worries of homeowners about the corrosion of their copper pipe. The water filtration removes hazardous effect of pipe corrosion to the health of every members of the family.

Water Filtration as Protection from Water Main Breaks

Knoxville is fortunately safe from water main breaks. As a matter of fact, water contamination is considered as one of the main concern when some water main breaks occurred in houses. When the main pipes (providing the water to the community) burst, they may possibly become impure because of debris, oil, and other possible factors that come from the harsh environment. But reverse osmosis or the filter system can ensure dangerous materials to never affect the home tap water.

If you are not aware about this system, be confident to apply it too to your home. Just look for skilled plumbers and let them install the system either on the kitchen, bathroom, and other part of the room that needs it. Knoxville Plumbing can be the best plumbing provider for you.

 

Knoxville hydrojetting

Why Should You Give Hydrojetting a Try?

What Is Hydrojetting & What Are Its Benefits?

Have you been dealing with clogged sewer pipes for some time? Clogged sewer pipes can be extremely difficult to deal with and require not only the right equipment, but also specific skills. A hydrojetting system can be the most effective way to get rid of the clog in your sewer and have your sewer pipes functioning like new.

Knoxville hydrojettingWhat is Hydrojetting?

It is important that you learn what hydrojetting entails and how exactly it works to remove clogs within sewer pipes. A hydrojetting system essentially works using a high powered stream of water that has the ability to remove clogs caused by grease, tree roots and other debris. This means that the stream of water being used is at a very high velocity or speed to deliver real results. The entire sewer pipe is filled with this stream of water, which allows for all clogs to be removed rather quickly. Many people turn to hydrojetting whenever their sewer pipes become clogged. It is the safest and quickest method for sewer pipe clog removal.

Hydrojetting Grease

Grease clogs are incredibly common, especially for business owners. Over time grease builds up within your sewer pipes and can result in a large clog that causes blockage. Most people aren’t even aware of the vast amount of grease that finds its way in the sewer system. Grease causes clogs fairly quickly, but can be removed using a hydrojetting system. It can take only a few minutes to remove a grease clog using hydrojetting.

Hydrojetting Debris

Clogs within your sewer pipes can also be caused by debris. Simple daily tasks like washing the dishes or flushing the toilet can lead to debris clogging your sewer pipes. Over time the waste in your sewer pipes builds up until blockage occurs. In some cases, your sewer pipes can become completely blocked due to the buildup of debris. However, hydrojetting systems offer industrial power that can remove debris of all sizes. Even if the debris has been accumulating for years, a hydrojetting system can remove the problem completely.

Aqua cleaning high pressure water sewer cleaningHydrojetting Roots

Roots are the final cause of sewer pipe clogs, but can have devastating effects. Roots can sometimes find their way into sewer pipes and cause mitigation problems. This is a common occurrence for older homes. However, hydrojetting is powerful enough to flush out roots and clogs that have occurred as a result of root growth.

 

 

Emergency Plumber in Knoxville

First Time Experiencing a Plumbing Emergency?

Plumbing for emergency knox countyEmergency Plumbing for Beginners

Your plumbing system is an integral part of your home and is responsible for the flow of water into and waste out of your home. This means that having a properly functioning plumbing system is vital for having access to clean and fresh water that allows you to bathe, shower, drink and use a working toilet. If there is even a small problem with your plumbing system, you could be in for a big mess and quite a few headaches.

Small Problems Grow Quickly

Small issues with your plumbing system can transform into big problems in no time at all. The most common issues with your plumbing system include sewage flow that is restricted due to a clog. This starts out as a small issue, but can quickly result in lingering foul odors that spread through your home and a worsening clog. When the clog and smells get so bad and unsanitary, you don’t have time to waste. What you need is access to emergency plumbing services that will restore the function of your plumbing system.

Emergency Plumber in KnoxvilleKnoxville Plumbing Emergency Services

Knoxville plumbing services are convenient, because they are accessible 24/7 whenever a plumbing emergency arises. Even if it is after or before typical business hours, your plumbing emergency can’t be put on hold. Contacting an emergency plumber offers a variety of benefits and allows you to correct any problems before more damage occurs to not only your plumbing system, but also your home as a whole.

Timely Arrival and Expertise

Emergency plumbing services are beneficial because they are designed to be convenient and highly accessible, but they are also designed to deliver real results. This means that the problem will be addressed right away and repaired or replaced in a manner that solves the issue. It doesn’t matter what exactly is wrong with your plumbing system, an emergency plumber employed by Knoxville Plumbing can diagnose and correct any issue in the shortest amount of time possible.

Multiple Visits Might Be Required

When you take advantage of emergency plumbing services, there might be instances where multiple visits are required for the issue to be resolved completely. This is sometimes necessary to ensure that all future problems with your plumbing system are prevented.

If you have an emergency with your plumbing system do not hesitate to call Knoxville Plumbing right away! It doesn’t matter if it is day or night.

 

 

 

4 Crucial Plumbing Fixes You Should Complete Before Fall

This time of year is the time of year that you should be addressing some critical plumbing issues. The fall is a great time of year, the weather is cooling down and the holidays are right around the corner however the cooler temps may not mean great things for your plumbing unless you take some steps.

There are a few things that every property owner should be doing every year around this time to ensure that there are not any plumbing issues that they should be dealing with before the winter arrives.

KNoxville Plumbing Fall Autumn Pipes Fix

Take a look at the list below to see what you may be missing.

1. The Water Heater

Most people never look at their water heater until there is an issue with it. The colder temperatures mean that there will be a higher demand for hot water. It is a good idea to check out your water heater to ensure that it is running properly heating correctly and that there are no leaks. Check the temperature setting and the valves.

2. Have Your Drain Inspected

Have a professional inspection done of your drains. Having your drains inspected and cleaned out can save you some huge headaches down the road. The last thing you want for the holidays is a clogged drain-especially if it is your sewer drain.

3. Check Your Pipes

Do a spot check on all of your pipes. Look for drips, wet spots and leaks. It is far better to check now and have the repairs done than it is to find that the pipe has burst in the middle of a holiday meal.

4. Replace Old Fixtures

Everyone has done it at one time or another, the faucet drips a little if you turn it this way or that way. In other words the issue is ignored. It will eventually get worse and will get to the point no matter which way you twist or turn it, the drip will not stop. Now is the time to replace the fixtures in your home that are having small issues before they become huge problems.

Conclusion

Taking a few small steps can help you to identify any issues that you may not even be aware of and to improve the quality of the plumbing in your home. It is always far better to address any problems early on and face them head on than it is to take the “wait and see” attitude.

Knoxville Plumbing Hosting FPU

Knoxville Plumbing Hosting Financial Peace University

Knoxville Plumbing Hosting FPUOver two million families have positively changed their financial futures. It’s thanks to Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (FPU) and its course that helps set up families and individuals with the tools needed to foster a better financial future.

Updated during the summer of 2010, the nine-week Financial Peace University course is designed to help families and individuals learn how to secure financial success for the future. The course aims to help both groups gain control of their finances by utilizing different financial tools.

Knoxville Plumbing will have the honors of hosting FPU classes in July. The classes will start Thursday, July 2 at 7PM, hosted at the company’s location in Knoxville (6283 Clinton Hwy. Knoxville, TN. 37912). All Financial Peace University classes will be held in the Knoxville Plumbing meeting room.

The course is expected to meet once every week, where a different lesson will be taught by Ramsey (on DVD). Each lesson will be followed by a small group discussion. The lessons will cover the following subjects: relationships and money, budgeting, getting out of debt, emergency savings and investing.

Since the organization’s formation in 1994, Financial Peace University has continued to give people the tools they need to secure a better financial future. FPU relies on common sense principles and small group accountability to help group members regain control of their finances.

On average, families and individuals who complete FPU’s courses are known to pay off as much as $5,300 and save as much as $2,700 in their first 90 days. After taking the classes, about 94 percent of families and individuals start budgeting on a regular basis.

According to Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University ‘not only helps transform how people handle money, but it helps transform marriages and other areas of people’s lives.’ It’s also not a ‘boring financial class.’ FPU courses, according to Ramsey, make learning about money fun and say to understand. That helps people in any financial situation benefit from using the information shared in every class.

FPU Membership Kit

Ramsey is one of many people who have experience financial stress. After he built a net worth of $1 million at just age 26, he lost it all fast. After that, Ramsey built Financial Peace University to help other individuals and families avoid the financial pain that he himself experienced.

Financial Peace University’s lessons will also include guest speakers Rachel Cruze (speaker and daughter of Dave Ramsey), Jon Acuff (author of “Quitter” and the Stuff Christians Like blog) and Chris Hogan (counselor and speaker for the Dave Ramsey Organization).

After purchasing a membership, each participant will receive Dave Ramsey’s “Complete Guide to Money,” a workbook, an envelope system and their own audio CD library. They’ll also have access to MP3s recordings of all lessons and budgeting forms. To learn more information or purchase a membership, visit: bit.ly/knoxfpu15

Common Plumbing Mistakes

5 Common Plumbing Mistakes made by Home Owners

There are a few common plumbing problems that our plumbers have noticed in the greater Knoxville area. We don’t want to pick on the homeowners in Knoxville, we are just calling the attention regarding such issues as we are representing similar problems in the whole city. Here are the common mistakes in plumbing that many Knoxville residents are making.

Common Plumbing MistakesMaking their Toilet as a Trash Can

Some homeowners don’t really know how to look for the right trashcan and making their toilet as the trash can is their option. This is a common mistake that can make costly operations when clogging occurs. Plastic wraps of different products, toilet papers and even a simple shred of towel can be the reason of clogging. Because of these things, there can be a serious need for professional help.

Hiring the Cheapest Plumbers

The need of plumbing services requires professional plumbers. But the truth is that majority of homeowners consider hiring the cheapest option for a plumber and plumbing services. This is one mistake that most customers are getting to keep properly their budget with them. There is nothing wrong in selecting the cheapest option though. They are known as providers who have less experience that is needed in addressing your plumber issues. There are many options like Knoxville Plumbing that can provide plumbing services in Knoxville at a very reasonable price. Their technicians are who you should call to correct the plumbing job done.

Hazard Caused by Renovations

Home Renovation is really exciting. However, you must be sure about your plans before starting with the renovation. Whether you are planning to swap out the bathroom sink, replace the faucet or fully tear out the shower, you have to know exactly the steps involved, if the work of a contractor is needed and how much it would probably cost. Proper planning will guarantee the avoidance of hazards caused by renovations.

Ignoring the Small Leaks

Small leaks are not actually a big deal for most of homeowners. If the small leaks are just ignored, major problem can arises. These small leaks usually happen in plumbing pipes as well as a small hole of the roof. Any of these situations must immediately be addressed. If you cannot repair it by your own, then call for the professionals.

Failure of Freeze Proofing for your Home

Most people don’t consider the essence of freeze proofing of their home. We have really cold weather that drops well below freezing at times. If you forget to freezeproof your hosebibs you might have a floodout. Sometimes you will not know that there is a problem until the pipes are defrosted, and the water is flowing freely.

Avoid these common mistakes for plumbing when you want to feel at ease inside your home at all times. Hire the expert plumbing service contractors to avoid these common plumbing mistakes.

 

Ozzy Osbourne

These Famous People Were Once Plumbers and the List Will Surprise You!

These Famous People Were Once Plumbers and the List Will Surprise You!

Plumbing can be dirty work and we usually prefer to leave the job for someone else, but who that someone else used to be just might shock you. The following is a list of people that once rolled up their sleeves and worked hard to keep America’s pipes flowing smoothly! The history of plumbing is a fascinating one and equally fascinating is the number of unlikely figures that populate it.

Michael Flatley

Michael Flatley

Michael Flatley

Michael Flatley is famous for the riverdance that combines traditional Irish music with theatrical dancing and was very popular in the 1990’s. His father owned a plumbing business called Dynasty Plumbing where he worked before rising to fame as a dancing phenomenon.

Bob Hoskins

Bob Hoskins

Bob Hoskins

We can remember Bob Hoskins from movies such as, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and “Hook” and Bob Hoskin’s last film in 2012 “Snow White and the Huntsman.” Before Hoskin’s was a famous actor, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama in 1987, he was cleaning toilets and fixing pipes.

John Gotti

John Gotti

John Gotti

The infamous mobster John Gotti used a front to help him launder money and cover up large-scale crime. That front just happened to be a plumbing supply salesman. He probably got his hands dirty in more ways than one while trying to keep up his front as just a regular guy in the plumbing business and not a big time gangster.

Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne 

Before Ozzy Osbourne formed his band Rare Breed, which became Earth, which finally became what we all know today as Black Sabbath; and before he let a documentary crew film his family for the famous MTV reality show, Ozzy Osbourne was busy working as a plumber’s apprentice to try and help alleviate the poverty he suffered while growing up. He turned to crime when he decided plumbing wasn’t his cup of tea, and when he learned that jail was not for him either he went legit and became one of the most well known rock stars of all time.

Mario and Luigi

Mario and Luigi

Mario and Luigi

What could be more famous than Mario Brothers Plumbing, with Mario and Luigi stealing the show as famous plumbers using a pipe that connects to the magic mushroom kingdom and responding to cries for help like business calls from Princess Toadstool in desperate need of a plumber to help her unclog a toilet “plantastrophe” and keep everyone safe while getting the job done fast and without casualty.

5 Incredible Ways Plumbing Changed The World — And Your Life

5 Reasons Not to Take Plumbing For Granted

We don’t typically consider plumbing unless it breaks on us or we can’t find it when we need it. Take a minute to imagine what life would be like without running water, or hot water, or toilets that flush! We are lucky enough to live in a century with state of the art plumbing technology and we also get to enjoy the plumbing services of companies like Knoxville Plumbing that we can call to help us fix any plumbing problems that might arise. A little history lesson and you will truly realize why it’s important we don’t take plumbing for granted. You may even want to stop reading and go give your toilet and kitchen sink great big hugs.

A Toilet that Flushes!

Thomas Crapper did the whole world a service by dedicating his life to sanitary engineering and popularizing a toilet that flushes its contents after use. He is one of plumbing history’s most important characters and also the reason why we sometimes call toilets “crappers” unfortunately for poor Thomas. He deserved better considering his contribution, don’t you agree? But history is history.

outhouse-wideThe Water Closet

It wasn’t until the 1900’s that most households had a room in doors where people could have privacy when they conducted necessary business. Before the water closet, if you had to go then you literally had to go outside just like all the other animals on the planet.

Sewage Lines

New York City has the right to boast the very first underground sewer line installed in 1728. Before 1728 sewers remained above ground in a steaming, mountainous stench of horror that made residents physically ill if not perpetually disgusted at all times. Finally, after the most complaining that any number of people can possibly do the sewer line was installed.

Indoor Plumbing

Indoor plumbing is truly a complex network of pipes that perform incredible and miraculous feats of engineering everyday. It wasn’t until 1829 after a hotel adopted the amenity that people began to take notice. Even more surprising than that, the White House didn’t adopt indoor plumbing until thirty years after the hotel.

Hot Water

Before 1870 if you wanted hot water you had to either a) boil it or b) wait a very long time for the sun to make the water warm. Domestic life was revolutionized by the advent of the water heater and we haven’t looked back since (probably because it’s a frightening thought) Talk about a novel experience..Being able to turn on a faucet with running water that becomes hot on command is no longer a luxury it’s considered by most a necessity in today’s day and age.

Save Money on your Washing Machine with These Simple Tips

Save Money on your Washing Machine with These Simple Tips

washingMachinesAppliances can be cost efficient if you know what to choose, and prefer environmentally friendly domestic machines. Homeowners can keep their water bills at a minimum by choosing efficient showerheads and tankless water heaters among other things, but washing machines can get you in trouble every time if the plumbing doesn’t receive the proper maintenance it requires. In and of themselves, technological advancements have made washing machines more energy efficient, but all of that gets tossed aside when the machine fails to drain properly or gets clogged repeatedly. When this occurs you need the sophisticated technology of plumbing. The following information will help you save money on your washing machine by offering a few simple tips to keep your machine running the way it was designed to.

Consider adding an extra sink

To save money on washing machines and conserve space and water, some families choose to go with a smaller appliance. However, smaller laundry machines just can’t withstand the demands of a family of four and often a larger machine is the better option. The improved size will get the job done effectively but will inevitably put a much greater strain on the plumbing required for the job. This is especially true with older homes or homes with copper pipes. The increased water flow could lead to a small flood under these conditions, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune replacing your homes plumbing. Save money by adding a utility sink to the laundry room to catch excess water run off. This will give your pipes a break without the need for replacing them.

Prevent lint build up before it’s too late

Adding a utility sink will require the best plumber Knoxville has to offer and that means giving Knoxville Plumbing a call, but you can save money on your washing machine with some other useful DIY tricks as well. Lint eventually builds up in washing machines but you can prevent this by attaching a lint catcher around the drain with a plastic strip found at any major home improvement retailer.

Remember to always use the correct tools

If the cause of your washing machine clog is more involved than lint build up you might consider using a snake to help solve the problem. When you use a snake on a washing machine remember to first remove any lint possible, insert the snake and pull out debris. Soon you will be back on your way to saving precious money on your washing machine and not throwing it away.

 

Knoxville Plumbing Tagline Competition Winner

Congrats to the Winner of the Knoxville Plumbing Tagline Competition!

On October 16, 2014 we launched the Knoxville Plumbing Tagline Competition, asking you to create a catchy slogan for Knoxville Plumbing. Sorry for the delay, because we said we would announce the winner on January 1st.

This Tagline Competition has been tough to pick the winner, because we received so many good taglines! We received over 100 entries from Knoxville Plumbing fans within as little as couple months. Competition was fierce!

Some entries were hilarious; some couldn’t be printed on paper; others were straight from the heart. It took great efforts but little by little we managed to narrow down the contestents to a grand prize winner! Finally we agreed on one, being the very best and the winner…

We’d like to thank you all for participating in the contest and for contributing such amazing entries.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the winner of the Knoxville Plumbing Tagline Competition:

“Knoxville Plumbing, Where You Get The VIP Treatment!” ~Jim Fenway

Where you get the VIP Treatment Facebook Cover

Runner Ups:

“Knoxville plumbing – Unstoppable!” ~Connie Hostetler

“Plumbing Geeks in a World of Leaks” ~Doug Miller

“Knoxville Plumbing Gets It Running!” ~Jennell Vallance

“Satisfaction Guaranteed Without Exception Or It’s Free.” ~Jeremy Johnson

“Flush the rest, and call the best” ~Natasha Erickson

“Your Pipes, Our Priority” ~Samantha Miller

Sewer Pipes sometimes have stoppages that overflow

Dealing with Sewer Stoppages in Knoxville, TN

Dealing with Sewer Stoppages in Knoxville, TN

Sewer stoppages in Knoxville, TN (or anywhere else) can be a huge problem. It can mean potential backup of your sewer or drainage system. No one wants sewage coming back up through their pipes! There are several different reasons why a sewer stoppages in Knoxville, TN may occur. There are also a few different methods for detecting a sewer stoppage. That’s where we come in. We can help to detect and identify sewer stoppages in Knoxville, TN and beyond using our state of the art systems and old fashioned know-how.

Sewer Pipes sometimes have stoppages that overflowPossible Causes

There are several different causes for sewer stoppages in Knoxville, TN. Some of the more common ones include:

  • True root intrusions.

  • Broken sewer lines.

  • An older system that needs repair.

  • A full sewer system.

  • Failure to clean vents in the top of your house.

No matter what the cause of any sewer stoppages, most of them can be identified, dealt with, and/or repaired. In some extreme cases, backhoe work or even a system replacement might be in order. We can easily access the issue and let you know what would work the best.

How We Can Help

We use lots of different methods for detecting and assessing the severity of sewer stoppages in Knoxville, TN. One of the simplest and quickest methods is to use a camera inspection. After an initial camera inspection, we will let you know what sort of issue we are looking at. In many cases, the use of a hydro jet can quickly, safely, and easily clear your pipes. However, if you need a more involved service, like a replacement or repair on your sewage system, we can let you know that, as well. Then we can let you know a cost estimate, as well as what method will work best to remedy the issue.

Call Us Today

Are you experiencing any issues with sewer stoppages in Knoxville, TN? If so, call us today. We have been serving the Knoxville area for years. We can quickly have a professional staff member out to your home or property in only a matter of hours. All of our staff members have been trained in the latest sewer clearing and repair methods. You can rely on any and all advice they give you. So turn to the people you can trust. Visit us at knoxvilleplumbingllc.com to learn more about the services we offer.

Right Plumber For Me

Finding The Right Plumber For Me

Finding The Right Plumber For Me

Right Plumber For Me“Know any good plumbers?”

That might be your frantic lament if you have not checked around and found a plumber that fits your bill. Many people do use the yellow pages, calling around to find one that can come out today and will take a check. Some might even throw darts at the phone book to select whom to call.

Is There A Better Way?

There has to be a better way if you are using one of the above examples. A better way would be to start looking before a pipe breaks and floods your basement. You might see a plumber’s truck on the street, or in your neighborhood, and, after they leave, go up to the door and politely ask how they liked the plumber, and why?

Talking with your neighbors

Talking with your neighbors about their experiences and asking whom they would recommend is another way. If you are having any work done on your home, you might ask the contractors if they have someone they use and trust.

With these few names in hand, you can contact the Better Business Bureau and ask if they have any complaints filed against them. You can also check the yellow pages to see what kinds of plumbing they do, what days they work, and what areas they service. You do not want to be calling someone miles away and have to pay for travel time.

After you have narrowed the field, try one of your selected few the next time you need a small job done. This will help you assess how they operate; their clothes, tools, trucks, attitudes, prices, etc. If you like what you see, be sure to get the service person’s name, so you can ask for that person specifically.

You might try two or three different companies to see how they compare, perhaps even rate them. This way you will have a backup if the first is too busy to take you order.

Everyone knows that having to call a plumber to come to your house to repair something is not the highlight of your day, or even your week. This is why you should be ahead of the game, and have one or two selected plumber’s phone numbers by your phone.

When undertaking such a process we would encourage you to give us, your Plumber in Knoxville, a call asap!

Hot Water Heater in Knoxville Tennessee Plumbing

Signs That Your Water Heater Needs Maintenance

Signs That Your Water Heater Needs Maintenance

Hot Water Heater in Knoxville Tennessee PlumbingWater heaters are sturdy devices and they use state of the art technology. Collectively, the durability and the technology ensure that water heaters remain operational for many years without causing much headache to the homeowner. But water heaters also need some occasional maintenance, especially when they get old. It is not necessary that every need for maintenance is due to a severe problem or serious issue. There may be some very minor and considerably insignificant problems that may require some attention.

Ideally, you should have a maintenance schedule and have a plumber check your water heater at planned intervals. But if you don’t have such a practice, then you need to look out for the signs that your water heater needs maintenance.

  • If your water heater is not functioning, then it needs maintenance. In most cases, people believe that if a water heater is not running at all, then it may have to be replaced or the repairs that would be needed will be a lump sum amount. That is not always the case. At times, a nonfunctioning water heater can be revived with maintenance and some very little touch up repairs.
  • When you don’t get hot water from your water heater, you have to call in the expert. A water heater may fail to heat water for many reasons. The heating element may have malfunctioned, the thermostat may not be working properly, there may be some leaks, there could be an electrical issue or something else. You need to consult an expert if you don’t have hot water. Also, if you don’t get enough quantity of hot water, then too you should call in the maintenance guys. What happens is over time, deposits buildup inside a water heater and the space available for water to be stored and heated up gets reduced. This leads to short supply of hot water at a time. You may also have to wait for a long time to get adequately hot water. That should also signal the need of maintenance.
  • There are some obvious signs that will demand the need of maintenance. Loud noises or popping sounds, leaks and consumption of a lot of power will be signs that you cannot miss.

Most problems with a water heater can be attended to with maintenance and minor repairs. In worst cases, some parts may have to be replaced. If the parts are beyond replacement, only then you have to worry about a fresh investment in a new or pre-owned water heater in Knoxville.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

41 Facts About Knoxville That You Probably Didn’t Know

41 Facts About Knoxville – That You Probably Didn’t Know…

Knoxville TN has a lot more going for it than you probably realize. This little southern city is the home to some big events that you may not have even realizes came out of Knoxville. 

Musical Roots

BCM-Museum_Amelia-Spooner1.     Knoxville is considered the “cradle of country music” it is the place where country music first came down from the hills.

Dolly-Parton2.     Dolly Parton got her start in Knoxville as did the Everly Brothers.

Hank Williams Sr.3.     Hank Williams Sr. spent his last night alive right in Knoxville.

Elvis Presley4.     Elvis Presley did not get his start in Knoxville but he did get a nice sized push when a record exec heard his first song being played in a store in Knoxville on the radio and as they say the rest is history!

Kenny Chesney5.     Country singer Kenny Chesney grew up in Knoxville TN and calls it his home.

Strategically Located

Norris DamNorris Dam6.     It is a city that is very rich in history and has played a role in just about every aspect of American history from being the epi center for the Tennessee Valley Authority. Norris Dam was the first dam of the authority was built north of Knoxville in the 1930’s.

Knoxville, Tennessee River, UTC campus, aerial photo7.     The list of accomplishments and fun facts about this city is long and pretty amazing when you think that it is nestled in the middle of the state of Tennessee without access to many of the large ports although Knoxville can be considered an international port in its own right. If someone was so inclined they could travel to the Great Lakes and back down to the Gulf of Mexico on the Tennessee River, which of course runs right through Knoxville.

The Nicknames

Every famous city around the globe has its proper name and than its nickname. Like NYC is called the Big Apple, Knoxville has enjoyed some different nicknames through out the years. 

8.     It was called the “Marble City” for a while because of the rock that was quarried in the area (which was not actually marble but looked a lot like it).

9.     It was called the “Streaking Capital” thanks to an unusual streaking event in the 70’s.

10. The famous newsman Walter Cronkite also blessed the city with the “Underwear Capital” as a moniker in the 70’s thanks to the same streaking event.

11. Of course “The Cradle of Country Music” as explained above was also a name that is used to describe this rather diverse city.

Famous Folks That Hail From Knoxville

Johnny Knoxville12. Johnny Knoxville (celebrity and movie star) comes from Knoxville his actual name is Phillip John (PJ) Clapp.

peyton-manning-randy-moss-tenn13. Peyton Manning the star quarterback got his start at UT.

14. Author Kurt Vonnegaut was also born in Knoxville. He is best known as a counter culture writer that inspired a generation of hippies to question authority.

15. Adolph Ochs who would someday become the owner of the New York Times newspaper got his start in Knoxville as a junior typesetter at the ripe old age of 11!

Quentin Tarantino16. Quentin Tarantino the award winning movie producer was also born in Knoxville.

17. Admiral David Farragut was born in Knoxville and made his mark as a Union Admiral and is credited with coining the famous phrase “Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead”.

facts-knoxville-118. George Dempster was born in Knoxville and invented the first garbage dumpster. The Dempster Dumpster was considered an engineering marvel of the time. He also was the FIRST stems shovel operator to move earth for the Panama Canal project. Upon his return to Knoxville he became Mayor of the city but not without a bit of controversy. He is credited with getting “rid” of the old market square and building the new square. The newspapers of the day reported that there was a “suspicious” fire but while there were plenty of whispers no one outright accused Mr. Dempster of inappropriate behavior.

19. The famous poet/author Nikki Giovani was born in Knoxville as was the first black federal judge William Henry Hastie. 

jack-hanna20. Jack Hanna the world renowned zoo keeper often appearing on television shows like Good Morning America claims Knoxville as his birth place!

Famous Events

21. The first electric streetcar in Knoxville debuted in 1890.

22. It is also home to the Tennessee Power Authority which was instituted in 1933 to bring “electricity to all” by them president Roosevelt.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park23. Knoxville is credited with planting the seed of conservation for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as early as 1913 with the National Conservation Exposition that was held to raise awareness of the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains.

24. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park was opened in 1933 and is the nations most visited national park thanks to the efforts of the people of Knoxville that insisted on protecting the land.

Boomsday25. Knoxville has our own special way of celebrating Labor Day! Each year the “Boomsday” celebration is a work of art with one of the largest fireworks displays in the country over the Tennessee river! Boomsday is a huge event where people come from miles around to participate and enjoy the spectacle.

1940 Mountain Dew26. In 1940 Mountain Dew was born in Knoxville TN. It may not seem like a big deal now but it was a pretty big deal for the region than!

27. The Knoxville Gazette was the first newspaper in Knoxville TN. It was printed in 1791!

28. The University of Tennessee was founded in Knoxville in 1794 but not as the University of Tennessee but as Blount College. It was not until 1879 that the university became the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Butch Cassidy's29. In 1901 a member of the famous Butch Cassidy’s outlaw group was captured in Knoxville after shooting two sheriff deputies. He was incarcerated in the city jail and was able to shoot the sheriff and escape on the sheriff’s horse and gallop to freedom once again.

30. During the civil war Knoxville was a very much-divided city and even had its own radio station that supported the Union efforts!

The Worlds Fair

knoxville world's fair 198231. In 1982 Knoxville became the smallest city to ever host a worlds fair.

32. At this fair the first touch screen was introduced.

33. Bottles of Cherry Coke were revealed and generally speaking a good time was had by all attendees.

Screen Shot 2014-08-26 at 1.04.01 PM34. The Golden Globe of the Sunsphere (a giant gold globe that sits in the middle of down town Knoxville) houses offices not “old wigs” as mentioned in the hit TV shows the Simpsons.

105981-004-6630D97835. The Susphere is only one of two buildings that remain from the 1982 worlds fair.

36. The 1982 worlds fair is considered the last successful worlds fair the US hosted!

Random Fun Facts

37. It is completely illegal to lasso a fish in Knoxville!

38. Bowling was the number one sport in Knoxville and had more followers than any of the other sports of the time in 1859 largely because the other more common sports like baseball and basketball had yet to be introduced to Knoxville.

Henry Knox the first ever Secretary of War39. Knoxville is named after Henry Knox the first ever Secretary of War for the United States.

HGTV40. Knoxville is currently home to HGTV a home and garden cable/satellite network.

Knoxville skyline and Sunsphere41. In 1860 Knoxville had a population of about 3500 residents today the population is about 170,000, which does not include the approximately 25,000 students that attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. 

Knoxville is a diverse city that has a long and interesting history that has really played a tremendous role in how America was shaped!

Knoxville tn repipe

Signs That Your Home Needs to be Repiped

Signs That Your Home Needs to be Repiped

Knoxville tn repipeIt might not be as easy to spot, but an old rusty pipe in your home can act in much the same manner as thief in the night. This is due to the fact that they burst when you least expect it and cause extensive damage that ravishes your home. You won’t be able to believe your eyes when you see the amount of damage and destruction that a bursting old pipe can do to your home. However, we are a plumbing company that can help you avoid this type of damage and destruction by taking advantage of our repiping services. Repiping projects are quite complex and are best left in the hands of experienced and qualified plumbers that you can count on.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

The fact is that your day is pretty jam-packed with important tasks. This means that you have little free time to waste and hardly have a minute to give your pipes an extra thought. However, it is essential that you give your plumbing the attention that it deserves to ensure that you never have to deal with the damage left behind by bursting pipes. Plumbing is a convenience that you likely take for granted and just expect to be at your beckon call. Having a repipe in Knoxville is in the back of your mind.

When you turn on your shower faucet or flush your toilet, you hardly give your plumbing a second thought. However, when your pipes burst in your home you will have to pay attention and act fast. The best way to avoid bursting pipes is to be proactive and look for early warning signs that can help you avoid damage. Paying a little now for plumbing services is preferred to paying a lot later when your pipes actually burst.

Keep A Close Eye On Water Pressure

Water pressure is one of the main warning signs that you should be on the lookout for. If your water pressure becomes low or you notice that the actual color of your water is changing, you need to call on a plumber. If your water starts to look like the color of rust, chances are that your pipes are close to bursting and require immediate attention. If you notice leaky pipes this should also be a red flag. If you simply pay attention and look out for signs of aging pipes, you should be able to catch the problem before they burst.

 

 

Knoxville hot water heater vs. knoxville tankless water heater

How Different Is A Tankless Water Heater From A Tank Water Heater?

How is My New Tankless Water Heater Different From My Old Tank Water Heater?

You have made a wise choice by purchasing a tankless water heater. Your old tank water heater was probably located far away from where you use hot water, and you had to run the hot water for quite a while before any hot water came out the faucet. That was wasted water, just poured down the drain.

Your tankless water heater are designed to heat only the water you use, and may be a whole house unit or one designed to be located right where you need hot water.

Knoxville hot water heater vs. knoxville tankless water heater

Old Tank Type Water Heaters

Most homes use either a gas or electric tank water heater holding between 30 to 60 gallons of water. Even with good insulation around the tank, the water begins to cool, even if you haven’t used any hot water, and the gas burner or electric element will turn on to reheat that unused water, just because it got cool. When all the cool water is back up to the proper temperature, the heater or element will turn off until needed again, in an hour or so. This goes on all day and night, even when you are on a two-week vacation.

As you can see, you not only waste the water going down the drain while waiting for the hot water to arrive at your faucet, you have wasted all the energy to heat and reheat the water between your uses.

Your New Tankless Water Heater

A point of use tankless water heater is located right where the hot water is needed, in the bath, kitchen, or laundry. The tankless unit is usually electric power, but outside units may be powered by natural gas. When looking at tankless water heaters it important to include all the faucets that will be using the heater so it may be sized properly.

Even though your faucet or showerhead flows about two gallons of water a minute, the tankless unit does not need to heat two gallons right away. It only needs to heat a few seconds of water flow to begin, and then, be able to heat two gallons every minute after that. When you quit using hot water, the unit shuts off, and when off, no power is used.

When choosing a tankless water heater in Knoxville or just a tank type water heater in Knoxville, and looking for a Knoxville Plumber, we would encourage you to give us a call today!

Knoxville Plumbing-Inspections

Should My New Home Have a Plumbing Inspection?

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?

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

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

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?

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

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!

Repipe plumbing in Knoxville Tennessee

Does Your Home Need To Be Repiped?

Signs Your Home Needs To Be Repiped

Repipe plumbing in Knoxville TennesseePipes are sturdy installations. They are meant to last for years, unless a compromise had been made initially to install poor quality pipes. Plumbing installations are usually durable if the right brands and specs have been chosen at the right prices. However, everything has a lifespan and that holds true for pipes as well. Pipes are not meant to last forever. While some poor quality pipes may last just a year or few years, most pipes will show signs of ageing after several years. Also, the type of use and other external factors also play a role in determining the life of your pipes.

Ideally, you should attend to the maintenance of all your plumbing fixtures and that should include pipes. If you indulge in regular maintenance, which could be twice a year or at least once a year, then you will be safeguarded against some rude surprises. Else, you can refer to these signs that your home needs to be repiped.

  • If you find a major leak from any of the pipes in your home, then you obviously need to replace it. You can easily spot such leaks by looking for water damage. A serious leak springing a lot of water will cause damage to your property and that would be very hard to miss. A minor leak will also show signs of water damage or at least buildup of moisture in certain areas of the home which will also be hard to miss. If you find any such signs, then you should not wait any longer. Call an expert and get the pipe or pipes replaced. You should not think of repairing or sealing the leaks in these pipes. Sealing them will be a temporary solution and you will be spending money needlessly without any long term assurance that the leaks won’t recur.
  • You should keep an eye out for the water pressure in your home. If you see that the water pressure in the faucets or taps and showerheads has reduced substantially, then you may want the pipes to be checked. Leaks in the pipes, buildup of sediments, corrosion and other problems in the pipes can cause a drastic reduction in water pressure. You should also look out for water bursting through the taps in short spells. This also indicates obstructions or air gushing into the pipes, both of which are signs that you need repiping.
  • Another very helpful sign is colored water or water that tastes different. Buildup of chemicals, rusting, corrosion and sediments of various kinds will cause this problem. Repiping should be a wise choice at such a stage.

 

 

inspector-says-not-to-code

I Only Have a Home Project, Should I Hire A Plumber?

I Only Have a Home Project, Should I Hire A Plumber?

Plumbers do have a sense of humor. One had a slogan, “We fix what your husband broke!” After a while in the business, an experienced plumber has seen it all; the broken pipes, clogged toilets, leaky faucets.

inspector-says-not-to-codeShould I call the Plumber?

For a stopped up toilet that you might be able to fix with a plunger, maybe no. Everything else, YES!

What to Say When You Talk to The Plumber

Most of the time you will talk with an experienced call taker that schedules the workload for the plumbers. She, or he, will need to know, what is the problem?

Based upon what you tell them, they most likely ask you some questions about the situation, ask your name, address and phone number, and set a time for the plumber to arrive at your home. They might even give you some hints of what you can do before the plumber gets there, so the situation does not get worse, and how you may be able to work around the problem until it is fixed.

An Experienced plumber will arrive at your home with the work-order written by the call taker, and the tools and parts that their experience tells them they will need to complete the job. Usually, the more information you can tell them when you call, the better equipped they will be when they arrive at your home.

In addition to their experience, you should observe how they treat you, and your house. Plumbing is a dirty business, and some soiling of their cloths is to be expected, but they should not be dropping dirty rags and leaving dirty shoe prints as they enter. Nobody enjoys working with someone looking over their shoulder. However, a polite question about why it broke, or how not to do it next time, should bring a nice response.

Small projects sometimes have a way of becoming a serious emergency quite quickly. When changing a faucet, the shutoff valve may break off the copper pipe and you now have gallons of water flooding your kitchen. When attempting any plumbing jobs on your own, always start the job by shutting off the main valve into the house. In any case, you should know where that valve is and how to use it.

When deciding if you should hire a Knoxville Plumber, we would encourage you to give us a call today!

Knoxville Water Line Replacement

Why Install a Water Softener?

Why Install a Water Softener?

Knoxville Water Line ReplacementIf you are tired of dealing with hard water in your home, you can have a water softener installed by a Knoxville plumbing professional that you trust. At first, you might assume that the concept of a water softener is difficult to understand, but it is relatively simple if broken down into basic terms. The fact is that some of the groundwater that flows into your home is filled with dissolved minerals. This type of water is referred to as hard water.

Why Does Hard Water Matter?

When this hard water moves through the pipes in your home it can leave behind mineral deposits of calcium and magnesium in your water supply and even result in scale and lime buildup within your pipes. Having hard water in your home is not ideal and a water softener can get rid of it. If you let your pipes buildup with hard water deposits for too long, you will be left with restricted water flow and low water pressure. This means that the fight against hard water is a battle you want to join.

Why Opt for a Water Softener?

Over time, hard water does not allow soaps and grease to dissolve properly, which can lead to clogged drains. If you are looking to not only preserve your water pressure but also keep your clothes and skin from being washes properly you might want to invest in a water softener. Having a water softener installed in your home allows the amount of lime and scale buildup to be reduced substantially. This means that taking showers and washing your clothes can become so much more enjoyable and less harmful to your pipes and drains. You can count on about 75% reduction of soap use once you invest in a water softener. The lifespan of appliances in your home that function using water will also be extended as a result.

How Does it Work?

A hard water softener is specifically designed to remove certain chemicals from your water. The chemicals that it most commonly removes includes both calcium and magnesium. A water softener works in similar fashion to an air purifier. It uses ion charges to deplete water of these chemicals and keep your water from being identified as hard. Now you water flow should be maintained and you will not have to worry about your water pressure being lowered.

 

emergency-plumbers-in knoxville

How You Should Handle a Plumbing Emergency in Knoxville

What To Do In A Plumbing Emergency in Knoxville

emergency-plumbers-in knoxvilleAlmost every plumbing problem is an emergency, or can soon become one. It may be as simple as a dripping faucet, or as much as a broken pipe in the wall. What should you do?

If it is clear water from the water supply, it will be under a lot of pressure and spray a stream of water.

Step #1, turn off the main supply valve, usually located outside or in the basement.

Step #2, pick up the phone, and call Knoxville Plumber.

If it is waste water, sometimes called grey water, it is only under gravity pressure from an upper floor, so there is no spray, but more of a slow rising of waste water coming up the drain, into the a tub or shower.

Step #1, quit running water in sinks and baths, and do not flush toilets. That just makes it worse.

Step #2, pick up the phone, and call Knoxville Plumber.

In either case, the important thing is to stop the flow of water, whatever its source.

In the case of fresh water, shutting off the main valve for the house will stop all flow into the house. Once done, there will only be the water in the pipes, and if you open several faucets, that will slowly drain out until the pipes are empty. With the water shut off, you will have time to consider your situation, and what your options are.

In the case of wastewater, if only one sink or toilet is plugged, use a plunger to try to free the plug. If everything is plugged, it is probably in the drain line outside the house and underground. This will require a motorized “snake” to be sent down the cleanout trap, located just outside the house.

Now is the time to call a professional. The snake has sharp cutters to cut through roots and the debris that is probably piled up behind them. With the roots cut out, and the debris removed, the house drains will suddenly flow freely. To prevent this from happening, many people have their drain line cleaned yearly, especially if the pipe is old and there are trees in the yard.

After your emergency is under control, and you are looking for a Knoxville Plumber, we would encourage you give us a Call Today!

Why Is It Taking So Long For The Water In My Home To Heat Up

Why Is It Taking So Long For The Water In My Home To Heat Up

Water heaters can have various types of problems from time to time. You may have no hot water, inadequately heated water, leaky pipes, leaky water storage tanks, rust colored or metallic water, foul odors including that of rotten egg, popping or rumbling noises, whining and even a completely dead water heater that would respond to nothing that you do.

Cupped Hands Under Shower

Cupped Hands Under Shower

If you don’t have any hot water or it is taking too long for the water in your home to heat up, then there can be many causes for the same. It may so happen that there is a combination of different causes at play.

The first possible causes can be a tripped circuit breaker which will obstruct the power to run the water heater, a faulty thermostat or malfunctioning electric heating element. You may also have a blown fuse but that would not heat the water at all, instead of delaying or taking too long to heat the water. These problems can be easily attended to. You need to call in an expert and he can repair the water heater. Replacing the fuse or resetting the circuit breaker, ensuring the thermostat is working fine and attending to the heating element, including replacing it if required, will solve the problem. If any of the parts are not working and are beyond repair, then replacing them is the only remedy.

Water heaters can take too long to heat the water sufficiently in your home if you have a heater that doesn’t have the capacity to heat and deliver hot water to the number of outlets you have. Water heaters have capacity and it must be apt for your home. Another very common reason for this problem is too many cold water connections or faulty plumbing installations interfere with the flow of the hot water from the heater. Such installations need to be checked and attended to. These issues can be easily attended to by an expert. But if you have purchased a water heater that doesn’t have the capacity for your home, then you either have to let go off a few connections or outlets so the water can be heated quickly enough for certain connections. That would reduce the volume of water needed to be heated and naturally increase the speed of heating.

Low voltage or disruptions in the supply of power can make the process of heating the water much longer than usual.

 

Sewer Pipe Cleaning in Knoxville Tennessee

Why Take Advantage of Summer Drain Cleaning?

Why Take Advantage of Summer Drain Cleaning?

Sewer Pipe Cleaning in Knoxville TennesseeAre you beginning to notice that the drains within your home are flowing more sluggishly than normal? This is not abnormal in the least and is often caused by an inability to properly maintain your drains. If you let sluggish flowing drains turn into clogged drains, you will likely have a massive problem on your hands. Just one backed up drain has the ability to disrupt the flow of your whole home. Your drains will naturally become slightly clogged over time and if they are not maintained properly you will be dealing with clogs. This is due to the fact that hair, grease, food and other particles begin to build up over time. Both standing water and organic matter in your pipes can lead to foul smells emitting through your home. If you want to avoid major issues in the future, you should take advantage of professional summer drain cleaning services. This will ensure that your pipes are in good working order.

No Harsh Chemicals

When you choose the summer drain cleaning services of a professional plumber you do not have to worry about the use of harsh chemicals. Most plumbers prefer to clean your drains by snaking out the cause of the issue deep within your drains. Using this method to clean your drains allows for the removal of even the thickest blockage that is building up within your pipes. If you have a bad blockage within your drain this can be not only a time consuming process, but also pretty smelly too. Summer drain cleanings are so important because they not only get rid of any blockage issues, but they also expose potential problems including cracked or corroded pipes. Catching these potential problems early will save you headaches and money in the long run.

Don’t Try Summer Drain Cleaning On Your Own

It is never a god idea to try to snake out your drain on your own. You should always turn to a professional and experienced plumber when you are dealing with drain issues. Sumer drain cleanings are ideal, because having your drain cleaned during the summer by a professional plumber reduces the risk of pipe damage due to freezing. It is important that all homeowners understand how critical summer drain cleanings really are. You can save time and money by simply making it a priority to have your drains cleaned every other summer at least.

 

 

 

Knoxville TN Clogged Drains

How Can I Keep My Drains From Clogging?

How Can I Keep My Drains From Clogging?

Knoxville TN Clogged DrainsDrains are like the excretory organs of a property. If the drains work well, then all waste generated at home or at office can be got rid of easily. If the drains are not working well, then most of the waste generated will have to be specially attended to. While drains are usually very effective at flushing out all liquid waste, they don’t typically do well with solid waste or even semisolid waste. Drains have a tendency to get clogged. If there is anything that is not a fluid or even a liquid that doesn’t flow very easily, then it will clog the drains.

Clogged drains can cause a major headache for any homeowner. Apart from flooded drains being the favorite place for insects and thus diseases, they would be the source of foul smell and there can be flooding in unsuspecting areas in the property, including indoors. All the problems due to and emanating from the clogged drains are certainly undesirable but if you wish to avoid them, then you have to be cautious.

  • You can keep your drains from clogging, if you are conscious of what you are draining down. Soap water and general dirty water runoff from washing, cooking and bathing or cleaning don’t usually clog the drains, unless there is flooding outside. It is solid waste, semisolid materials and liquids such as grease or oil that lead to buildup in the drains. In other words, anything that can create a barrier of sorts in any part of the entire drainage system, till the time the larger underground drains are reached, can cause clogged drains. You simply have to be more careful of what you flush down the drains.
  • Regular maintenance can help you to avert clogged drains. Many homeowners don’t really care about the drains until and unless there is some problem. It is similar to most fixtures in a home that are not obvious to the eyes and are thus not cared for. Clean the drains as and when possible, hire a plumber to do it once in three months or twice in a year and you can avoid clogged drains.
  • You should consider buying a garbage disposal unit if you don’t have one. This will allow you to run down some solid or semisolid waste without the fear of clogging the brains. The garbage disposal unit will crush the waste and make drainage simpler and smoother.
Knoxville TN Water Heater Check with Plumber

How Often Should I Have My Water Heater Checked Out

How Often Should I Have My Water Heater Checked Out

Knoxville TN Water Heater Check with PlumberIdeally, you don’t need to have your water heater checked out if it is new. As the water heater gets old, you will come across signs that will indicate a need for some preventive maintenance or repairs. There can be problems with new water heaters and those problems will become obvious if you pay heed to the system and observe the kind of water the heater delivers. Unless there are visible or noticeable problems with new heaters, they don’t usually need preventive maintenance. Regardless of whether your water heater is new or old, here are the signs that you should be looking for.

  • The most obvious sign that your water heater is not working properly or optimally is if you don’t get hot water out of it. In some cases, you may get hot water but it may not be hot enough as per the capacity of the heater and the settings that you have programmed the heater to. In such cases, you should call in a technician.
  • There is another extremely obvious sign that you cannot possibly miss. If you notice water dripping out of the water heater, from any of its part, then you should obviously have the device checked out. There can be leaks due to malfunctioning valves, due to mechanical or structural problems in the system. There could also be a problem with the pipes that are connected to and from the heater. Regardless of the cause of the leaks, you should call in a plumber to have it checked out.
  • There can be two types of problems with a water heater, one is electrical and the other is mechanical. It is necessary to hire a plumber who would be able to determine the type of problem whether it is mechanical or electrical. For instance, not having hot water from the heater could be due to a tripped circuit breaker or due to a malfunctioning pilot light, blocked connections or heavy mineral deposits or something else.
  • If your water heater makes any noise or sound that is not ordinary, then you should have it checked out. Look out for loud cracks or not so loud popping sounds.
  • If you have rusted water flowing out of the taps or if you find a metallic smell or taste in the water running out of the taps, then there is a possible problem of corrosion inside the water heater.
  • If you hear banging sounds in the pipes then you should reduce the pressure in the water heater. You need not hire a technician for this purpose but if you want to be sure, then expert intervention is more recommendable.

 

 

 

Knoxville Repipe

Some Homes In Knoxville Needs to be Repiped… Is Your Home One?

Some Homes In Knoxville Needs to be Repiped… Is Your Home One?

They say nothing lasts forever, and the pipes in your home won’t either. Sooner, or later, you may be faced with the question of whether or not to have the pipes, the plumbing, in your house, replaced.

Leaking-galvanized-pipe | Knoxville RepipeIn very old Knoxville homes

The galvanized iron pipes came in nominal lengths and every joint, connection, elbow, or tee, had threads in all the outlets and may very well begin to leak. In addition, iron rusts and often clogs the pipe so you have very little flow.

In newer Knoxville homes

Copper pipe replaced the galvanized iron pipe, and used soldered joints to replace the threaded ones. When properly installed, they should last for the life of the house. However, due to ground settling, earthquakes, remodeling and other unseen happenings, copper pipe and fittings may  crack, or a solder joint fail.

When Copper is in Short Supply in Knoxville

Which happens from time to time, various replacement materials, usually plastic have been used. Plastic is also commonly used in mobile homes and RVs.

So, How Do You Know If You Need To Repipe your Home?

Before you face the situation, and have your whole house repiped, do some checking. Are you having more leaks, and have your plumber on speed-dial? Does the water flow slowly and have a weak stream at your faucets? Do your pipes bang when the faucets are shut off? Is there rust in the water? If any, or all, these things are happening to your water system, you may need to have your home repiped.

A Major Job

Repiping a home is a major proposition,  so think carefully about the plumber you have do the job. Be sure they are licensed, bonded, and insured. Check with the Better Business Bureau, to see if any complaints have been filed. Ask if you can contact any of their customers.

If the repiping will require walls, ceilings, or floors be removed, or opened up for access, you might want to consider doing a remodeling and rewiring during the same period. That way there is no need for each profession to close up and finish the openings. In addition, a permit will likely be required to do any of the jobs and a contractor can manage the job and coordinate the sub-contractors

When undertaking such a job, we would recommend looking on line to see what Knoxville Plumbing LLC has to offer. http://knowvilleplumbingllc.com

Tennessee Knoxville garbage disposal repair with plumber

Why Is My Garbage Disposal Not Working?

Why Is My Garbage Disposal Not Working?

Tennessee Knoxville garbage disposal repair with plumberA garbage disposal unit is usually a very sturdy device. It works brutally on the garbage and gets rid of a lot of trash that you would otherwise have to collect in a container and carry it out all the way to the front yard. When you have a sturdy device, it is not expected to malfunction or stop working. But given the kind of task it does, a garbage disposal unit may malfunction at times. When your garbage disposal unit doesn’t work, it is not always the fault of the system or the company that has manufactured it. Often, it is the nature of your use and what you have subjected the unit to which causes the problem.

There are many types of problems that you may come across with your garbage disposal. The device may simply not work, in which case there may be a fault somewhere. The device may just have jammed due to some erroneous use, in which case the jam will have to be attended to. Long periods of activity and not attending to its maintenance are usually the two most common causes of garbage disposal not working.

First, you should never try and check out the garbage disposal unit yourself, not unless you are trained. You should always hire a plumber, one who is trained at fixing such units. Don’t put in your hand or try anything experimental to know more about the problem. Your garbage disposal unit may just have jammed due to periods of use and owing to the buildup of sediments. Garbage disposal units can crush a lot of stuff but that doesn’t mean you can crush anything down the unit. Glass, hair, grease, rags and similar materials that are hard to get rid of and can jam the unit are the most common causes of a malfunctioning garbage disposal system.

The entire unit going kaput is unlikely. What you should do is turn off the system and call in a technician. A technician will attend to the device, inspect it, find the problem and offer you a solution. It usually doesn’t happen that a garbage disposal unit is beyond salvaging or repairing but if that happens, then you have to replace it with a new one or another old one.

You should try and use a garbage disposal unit according to the best practices. That will avert almost all potential problems.

Do You Need a Garbage Disposal?

Do You Need a Garbage Disposal?

Do You Need a Garbage Disposal?

Do You Need a Garbage Disposal?Making minor updates in your kitchen can not only make it more convenient for you, but also help you cut back on your waste. Installing a garbage disposal is a great way to make your kitchen more environmentally friendly. Having a garbage disposal installed underneath your kitchen sink is easy and affordable for all homeowners. This handy gadget works by grinding uneaten foods into miniscule pieces that can be passed through the sewage system. This makes an impact because it cuts down on the amount of waste that is disposed of in landfills.

Cut Back on Cleaning

A garbage disposal is so recommended, because it offers numerous benefits to homeowners. This kitchen appliance will come in handy on numerous occasions. The amount of time that you are forced to spend cleaning can be greatly reduced by simply having a garbage disposal installed. Now you do not have to spend tedious time moving between your trashcan and your sink scraping of plates. You can simply stay in one place and gently scrape all food from your plates into your sink. This makes clean up after each and every meal so much simpler. You will be amazed by how much time you can save by making such a minor adjustment in your cleaning routine. Operating your garbage disposal is also designed to be easy and only requires you to turn on a switch.

Impact the World You Live In

Not only will the installation of a garbage disposal make your cleaning routine simple and fast, but it will also have a positive impact on the world. This can be done by cutting back on the contribution of waste that you add to landfills. Sending your waste down the sewage system is ideal to having it lay in landfills around the world. Food waste accounts for about 20% of the total daily waste for every household, but having a garbage disposal installed in your home allows you to cut back. Reducing the trash that you send to landfills is a wide reaching benefit that a garbage disposal gives you access to.

No Inconvenience Associated With Noise Levels

If noise concerns are what is holding you back from having a garbage disposal installed, you can let go of your worry. Our garbage disposals are specifically designed to create only low noise and are a convenient kitchen appliance for any home.

 

 

Knoxville Drain Tennessee Cleaning

The Impact of Regular Drain Cleaning on Your Monthly Bills

The Impact of Regular Drain Cleaning on Your Monthly Bills

Knoxville Drain Tennessee CleaningYou might not realize it, but regular attention to drain cleaning can have a huge impact on your monthly utility bills. Drain cleaning is a simple and easy way to keep your utility costs low and it also ensures that your facets are functioning properly. Many homeowners are not completely sure of the best methods for drain cleaning, which leaves them searching for the right company to get the job done.

When you are looking for a drain cleaning service provider there are a few factors that are most important. Below are the most important things to consider when you are looking to hire someone to clean the drains in your home.

Experience

Crain cleaning offers many benefits, but it can be complex. This means that you need access to a drain cleaning service provider that has experience you can rely on to get the job done. Having experience in this industry will offer you some peace of mind and will enable you to rest assured knowing that your drain system is in good hands. The only way that drain cleaning can offer you benefits is if it is done effectively and thoroughly.

Credentials Matter

Not only is experience a priority in the drain service provider that you choose, but the right credentials should also be expected. You need someone that has undergone specific training in this industry. This will ensure that not only is the right equipment used, but also the proper drain cleaning techniques. Optimal results are only possible with a drain cleaning service provider that has the right credentials.

Keep an Eye on Your Drains

It is always a good idea to stay one step ahead of any drain problems. Keeping your utility costs low is only possible if you keep an eye on your drains and make sure that they are functioning properly. This can be done by performing a regular check of your drains each and every month. This allows you to know exactly when your drains are not working properly and get the assistance that you need in a timely manner.

Don’t Try it On Your Own

Drain cleaning helps you cut back on utility costs, but you should not try to do it on your own. If you do not have the right tools or know the right techniques, you will not get access to the best results. Leave your drains in the hands of the professionals that you can rely on.

 

 

knoxville water filter

Health Benefits Possible Through the Installation of a Water Filtration System in Your Home

Health Benefits Possible Through the Installation of a Water Filtration System in Your Home

knoxville water filterMaking sure that the water your family drinks, cooks with and bathes with is of the highest quality should be one of your main concerns. The quality of the water that you consume plays a large role in your overall health and well-being. A water filtration system installed in your home is a great investment in the health of those that mean the most to you. Shielding your family from harmful toxins and chemicals found in tap water supplies is possible with the installation of a whole home water filtration system. The benefits that you get access to with the installation of a water filtration system are well worth the initial cost investment. Keeping your family safe and their health as your number one priority should always be your main goal.

Your Hair Speaks Volumes About Your Health

Did you know that the look and feel of your hair says a lot about your health? Silky and shiny hair that is strong equates to good health. However, typical tap water is filled with chemicals that can damage your hair. Many water companies treat their water supply with chlorine, which can turn your hair rough and brittle. However, a water filtration system can remove chlorine and allow your hair to look healthier than ever before.

What About Your Skin?

The look of your skin is another sign of your overall health. You might not realize it, but bathing and showing in water that is filled with chlorine can have a huge impact on the appearance of your skin and your body. When you shower or bathe with hot water your pores are opened. This means that all of the toxins contained in the water you are bathing with can get access into your body. This can lead to not only digestive problems, but also potential risk of some forms of cancer. This doesn’t even take into account that your skin can also become dry and itchy due to eth chlorine exposure. A water filtration system can remove these toxins and the health risks that you are exposed to. It is much more costly in the long run to allow your body to continually absorb these chemicals and toxins.

A water filtration system can make a world of difference to your overall health. Your appearance will also benefit as a result. What more could you ask for?

 

Knoxville Water Heater Checked

Should I Get My Water Heater Checked More Often?

Should I Get My Water Heater Checked More Often?

Knoxville Water Heater CheckedA leaking hot water heater is one of the more common plumbing problems you may have. Depending on the age of the tank, you may have a slow drip, or an unending stream of water. The first is an irritation, and a warning. The second is an emergency.

The tank of the water heater is under the pressure of the city supply, usually from 30 to 90 pounds per square inch, or P.S.I. That means that the water main is supplying a constant flow of pressurized water to replace any that leaks out, and you will soon have a flooded, basement, garage, or laundry room.

When you purchase a new water heater, you should receive a warrantee for about 10 years. It may be more, or maybe less. Usually the warrantee is placed on top of the unit or tacked to the wall, next to it. Have your plumber who installs your water heater show you what the parts are and how they work.

If your unit is gas fired, have him show you how to light the pilot if the gas ever is shut off. If it is electric, have him show you the circuit- breakers that control the power, and make sure they are marked correctly.

Looking at the top of the unit, you will see two pipes coming straight out of the top. One is the cold-water inlet, being fed from the water main. There should be a shutoff valve between the tank and the house plumbing, to shut off the inlet water in case of a leak. The other pipe is the hot water outlet, going to the rest of the house.

There will usually be a safety blow off valve to release the pressure if steam builds up inside the tank. This valve is usually bronze and often has a pipe pointing down so the steam would not burn your face.

Now that you know what is there, you can periodically check your unit by looking for leaks, rust, or corrosion where the pipes are screwed together, and possibly stains on the floor. If you do not feel comfortable doing the check yourself, have a plumber check it every several years.

When looking for a Knoxville Plumber to check your water heater, 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

Clean Your Drains the Safe Way!

Clean Your Drains With Baking Soda and Vinegar – Surprise!

Remember when I was all, “You crazy kids. Don’t you ever use baking soda and vinegar together in cleaning. It’s just silly. Blah blah blah.” Won’t she ever stop being so dadgum bossy omigosh?

Well, here’s a surprise.

Like everything in life, cleaning with baking soda and vinegar comes with exceptions. And that exception is cleaning drains.

When you’re cleaning your drain, you want to see a little plop plop fizz fizz. You want something else to do the dirty work. Like baking soda avec vinegar. (That means scrubbing bubble monsters in French.)

Knoxville Drain Cleaning the safe way

How to Use Baking Soda and Vinegar TOGETHER to Get Great Cleaning Results

Unclog Your Drain With Baking Soda and Vinegar

But here’s how you do it the easy way (before your drain becomes a clog monster):

How to Unclog A Drain With Baking Soda and Vinegar

  • Pour a pot of boiling hot water down your drain.
  • Dump in about 1/2 c. baking soda. Let that sit for a few minutes.
  • Then, pour a mixture of 1 c. vinegar and 1. c very hot water down on top of the baking soda.
  • Cover with a drain plug (to keep the reaction down below the drain surface) if you have one and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
  • Flush one more time with a pot of boiling water.

Why this works: The baking soda and hot water treatment will loosen up any grimy sludge that’s hanging out at the bottom of your drain, and the explosive chemical reaction with the vinegar will jolt it all loose. Then one final super hot-water rinse will make all the bad stuff go bye-bye.acceptable

Baking Soda and Vinegar Garbage Disposal Magic

Tossing citrus peels in your garbage disposal keeps it smelling like freshly poured sunshine, but every once in a while, when someone puts onions in there and leaves them when they’re not supposed to, you might need a little extra help.

This is where you utilize the baking soda and vinegar goodness, as well.

How to freshen and clean your garbage disposal with BS/V:

  • Start by running hot water through your garbage disposal for a minute.
  • Pour about 1/4 c. baking soda into the drain.
  • Flip the garbage disposal on for 2 seconds, just to whirl the baking soda inside, and then leave it alone for 10-15 minutes.
  • Follow with 1 c. of vinegar. Watch the bubbles erupt out of your drain. (Yay!)
  • Rinse through one last time with very hot water and run your garbage disposal for 5 seconds.

Why this works: The baking soda and hot water (left in to soak for 15-20 minutes) will deodorize your drain like nobody’s business. And the vinegar volcano on top of all that will help dislodge any stuck pieces of food in the crevices, thereby releasing any potential future stinkiness.

The Baking Soda/Vinegar Issue In a Nutshell

The hard and fast rule to remember when cleaning with baking soda and vinegar:

Don’t mix baking soda and vinegar together, store them, and then expect them to work. But DO harness their explosive chemical reaction when immediate fizzy bubbles are needed to do some deep, impossible-to-reach drain scrubbing.

And I think that concludes everything we need to know about working with alkaline baking soda and acidic vinegar in cleaning.

Class dismissed.

Knoxville frozen pipes, burst repair prevention

What to do if your pipe’s Freeze:

If you have frozen pipes, before thawing, you are going to have to take some precautions.

First… turn off the water supply. Second…call a professional plumber, to assess the situation and determine the extent of the damage.
The plumber will be able to determine the cause of the frozen pipes and then devise a plan to thaw the pipes.frozen-pipes

It’s important that frozen pipes be thawed slowly and carefully to prevent bursting of the pipes.
If you already have a broken pipe, the plumber will need to make the necessary repairs.
As the plumber thaws or repairs your frozen pipes, he can address the lack of insulation that caused the problem in the first place. He may recommend foam pipe wraps or heating tape if the area is subject to severe cold.

While at your home, ask the plumber to inspect all of your pipes and other areas of your house so that future problems can be avoided.

Frozen pipes require a slow thawing process. It will be necessary to open a few faucets in order to allow the melting water to escape. It is very important not to heat the pipe until it is hot.
In order to prevent pipes from freezing during the cold winter months, you should shut-off the water specifically to the pipes that supply water to the outside faucets. The faucets and pipes that are closest to the outside elements have the best chance of freezing.

Also, if you allow a slow drip from some of your inside faucets, it will help keep water flowing through the pipes making it harder to freeze during the extremely cold weather.
And most important disconnect all hoses that are attached to your outside hose bibs. This will prevent freeze damage from inside the wall.