AllTech Services, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

When Is It Time to Call a Plumber?

Monday, April 26th, 2021

pipe-leaking-water-and-homeowner-looking-at-it-while-on-phoneIt can be difficult to determine if your plumbing system is in good shape at any given moment. Most homeowners don’t even think about their plumbing systems much at all, as long as the pipes keep working for them the way they always do. After all, “out of sight, out of mind”! Unfortunately, this is not a great attitude to have with your plumbing system.

At one time or another, your pipes are likely to develop some type of problem, whether it’s a minor leak or clog or something worse. When this does inevitably happen, it’s important that you have it managed quickly, so you can avoid the worst of the damage. Read on to learn about some of the warning signs that your system is in trouble and it’s time to give our team a call.

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Clogged Drains? Here’s When to Call a Plumber

Monday, March 15th, 2021

sink-drain-with-water-flowing-downIf we had to guess, we’d imagine that you don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about the drains in your home, or the rest of your plumbing system for that matter. That is, you don’t think about them until something goes wrong—like a clogged drain.

Sometimes it’s possible to resolve clogged drains on your own. No, we aren’t talking about reaching for that bottle of store-bought chemical drain cleaner you keep under the sink—that’s bad news (more on that in a bit). We’re talking about superficial drain clogs you can relieve with a plunger and a little bit of “elbow grease.” Another step you can take if your drain clog results in a smelly drain is to wash a little baking soda and vinegar down with hot water to help alleviate it.

If you’re still experiencing problems after these steps, that’s when it’s time to call us for professional drain cleaning.

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Do You Have a Plumbing Leak? Here’s How to Check

Monday, December 21st, 2020

blue-cloth-tied-around-white-pipeIt kind of goes without saying that if you have a leaky pipe in your home that’s in a spot you can’t see or access, it’s a problem. Some plumbing issues do make themselves known fairly quickly, such as a clogged toilet or a dripping faucet. But the pipes tucked away in your home—in your basement, under the sinks, behind the walls—are far less noticeable.

A problem can occur with these pipes and go unnoticed for quite a while, causing problems all that time. If you aren’t attentive, then you could wind up wasting a lot of water, spending extra money, and winding up with property damage. So, how can you tell if you do have a hidden plumbing leak like this? By looking for the following signs:

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The Holidays + Your Plumbing = Disaster?

Monday, November 9th, 2020

two-small-children-flushing-items-down-toiletThat’s a scary looking equation, right? Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be your reality.

Look, the holidays are going to be different this year. Whether you are enjoying festivities with just your immediate family or having folks that are part of your “quaranbubble” over for small holiday parties, there are some factors to consider you might not think about. With everything going on this year and everything that’s probably on your mind, your plumbing system is likely low on the list of priorities.

That’s why we’re making it our job to bring it to the forefront of your mind. If you haven’t had plumbing maintenance done in a while, it might be a good idea to give us a call! But we’d also like to share some tips with you on how to make this a hassle-free holiday season—at least, when it comes to your pipes.

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Time to Test Your Sump Pump: Here’s How!

Monday, September 28th, 2020

sump-pumpSump pumps are a staple item in our area during the stormy season. They help prevent water infiltration into homes due to flooding or a plumbing pipe burst, working automatically as they gather excess water in a pit (the sump) and pump it out into either your wastewater system or a well.

Homes throughout Ashburn and beyond often have crawlspaces and basements. And when these areas suffer from flooding, it can lead to severe property damage and unhealthy mold and bacteria growth. The last thing you need to worry about is replacing drywall and wood support beams or even replacing appliances you keep down in the basement when you have poor weather. We recommend not only having a sump pump, but keeping it in good shape, too. How? By testing it to make sure it works.

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Is Your Toilet Continually Running?

Monday, August 31st, 2020

resolving-toilet-troublesWe have a question for you: Has your toilet been running nonstop lately? No, this isn’t the beginning of a bad joke, we promise. We are asking you this question because if your toilet is running for hours after it is flushed, or seems to be running all the time of its own volition, it is the sign of a problem. Always-running toilets are ones that will require professional toilet repair in Ashburn ASAP.

A toilet that is always running is a toilet that is leaking. This is not good for your home’s operation for one and your monthly water bills for another. If you are noticing that your toilet never quite seems to stop running, make sure you reach out to AllTech Services, Inc. for assistance sooner than later.

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Clogged Drain? Don’t Do This!

Monday, July 6th, 2020

hands-washing-head-of-lettuce-over-drain-in-kitchen-sinkWe have some bad news and some good news for you. The bad news is, your current drain cleaning method might be hurting your pipes. The good news is, there are better solutions!

If your current drain cleaning method is to use store-bought chemical drain cleaners to remove clogs in your sinks, bathtub, or shower drains, then we’re afraid this is the wrong way to go. And we get it, it’s frustrating to not be able to deal with a clogged or backed-up drain as quickly as possible.

Imagine you’re brushing your teeth and all of the sudden have an overflowing sink, or you’re taking a shower and find yourself standing in a puddle of water—you want a quick fix, right? But quick fixes are rarely fully effective and almost never permanent. You’ll be treating the symptom, not the actual cause!

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Can You Prevent Plumbing Problems?

Monday, April 27th, 2020

closeup-of-sink-p-trap-with-leakWhen it comes to home comfort problems, there are a few that you’re more likely to experience, with plumbing issues being at the top of that list. Yes, they’re inconvenient, and yes, they’re very common. This is particularly true if you live in an older home with as equally old pipes.

Fortunately, however, there are some steps you can follow to prevent plumbing problems. Investing in routine video pipe inspection, for instance, allows our plumbers to get a close look inside your pipes and make sure that there are no buildups that could lead to obstructions, pinhole leaks, or in the case of your sewer line, even tree root infiltration. Read on as we uncover a few of the most common plumbing problems we get called for, as well as some tips on how to avoid them.

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How NOT to Treat Your Plumbing

Monday, April 13th, 2020

pipe-with-blue-cloth-tied-on-itDid you know that the #1 plumbing problem plumbers get called for is drain clogs? Just about every homeowner, at some point, has dealt with a clogged up or slow-moving drain. Our professionals manage to unclog drains in homes all the time!

We know it’s tempting to reach for a bottle of store-bought, chemical drain cleaner when this happens. That’s the easiest and quickest solution after all, right? Well—let us give you a different perspective.

Chemical drain cleaners are caustic! Sure, this means they may eat away at your clog enough to restore water flow. But it will be temporary at best and will eat away at and corrode your plumbing at worst. This is exactly how not to treat your plumbing—and down below we’ve shared some other “don’ts” when it comes to how you’re treating those pipes.

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Signs Your Plumbing System Needs Help

Monday, March 30th, 2020

plumber-working-on-pipe-under-sinkThere’s something tricky about plumbing leaks and other problems. They tend to hide really well! They usually happen behind walls and sometimes even under the foundation of your home. Therefore, they’re pretty undetectable.

Sure, some plumbing issues are obvious, such as a clogged drain or a leaking faucet. You don’t really need to know any “signs” of these since they’ll be apparent.

But for your hidden pipes, a leak or issue can occur and go unnoticed for a long period of time and do some damage in the meantime if you’re not attentive to your plumbing system. For these issues, there are signs you can watch out for. Read on as we uncover some of them.

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