Brooks Plumbing Co. Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

Drain Cleaning: Why Professional Services Are Better Than DIY Attempts

Monday, June 6th, 2022

drain-with-water-going-downChances are, you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the drains in your home all that much. That’s okay! Most homeowners don’t. However, it is important that you know that if you don’t keep your drains and pipes in good shape, it can cause a number of issues for you in the long run.

It’s important to know when to call for professional drain cleaning, to keep your plumbing as healthy and efficient as possible. Professional services outweigh DIY attempts like chemical drain cleaners because it’s healthier for your plumbing. Chemical drain cleaners you can buy at the store are quite caustic and can cause corrosion and more clogs over time, defeating their purpose.

Read on to learn when it’s time to call a professional.

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7 Signs You Have a Leak

Monday, May 9th, 2022

leaky-pipe“I never saw it coming!” 

That’s what many homeowners say when their busy lives are disrupted by plumbing leaks. Chances are high that most never smelled it coming, either. That’s because many leaks are silent and odorless until they become severe enough to cause visible damage to your property. 

You don’t want to wait for a waterfall to pour out from under your kitchen sink or a floor to get soggy and cave in. Now is the time to check your home for seven common signs of an indoor leak. Keep these signs of a leak in mind to increase your chances of quickly catching any leaks that may break out in the future. 

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How to Choose the Right Plumbing Repair Service

Monday, April 4th, 2022

contractor-at-homeowners-front-door-giving-them-business-cardHaving been in this industry for quite a while now, we have seen what can occur when you have the wrong contractor for the job, whatever that job may be. In the case of plumbing, while some jobs may be relatively simple to complete, others can be much more complex, and really need a plumber’s expertise. But how do you find the right plumber–you know, one who has the proper licensing, insurance, and experience for the job?

It is important that you hire an actual professional and not just a general handyman. Sure, you may be saving some money upfront with the latter, but if they don’t do the job well, then you might be paying for more repairs later on! Read on as we uncover how to choose the right plumbing repair service, and why this is important.

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Why You Should Only Trust a Pro for Your Drain Cleaning

Monday, March 7th, 2022

plumbers-hand-using-drain-snakeWhen you find yourself faced with a clogged drain, it’s easy to look for a “quick fix” and hope that it will resolve the issue. Sometimes, a “quick fix” may work–but will it give you long-term results?

There are definitely some home projects that lend well to DIY attempts. There are other times, however, when it is best to leave the job to a professional… and drain cleaning is typically one of those jobs.

Why? Because the most common “quick fix” homeowners tend to use for drain clogs–store-bought, chemical drain cleaners–are really caustic and actually really bad for your plumbing system. Read on to learn why, and why you should only trust a pro for your drain cleaning!

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How to Tell If Your Pipes Need Replacing

Monday, February 7th, 2022

hands-holding-corroded-pipesHave you ever heard of repiping? This is the plumbing process where all your faulty piping in your home is stripped down and replaced with all new pipes. In most cases, this doesn’t mean that your professional plumbers can just pop into one section of your home and replace a small length of plumbing–if all your plumbing is aging, chances are we’ll have to replace all your pipes.

Repiping, then, isn’t one of those services you want to just jump into. First, you want to know that you actually need it! We can confirm this for you, but in the meantime, we have some signs for you to watch out for that indicate you may in fact be in need of this plumbing service. Read on to learn more!

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Signs That It’s Time for a New Water Heater

Monday, January 10th, 2022

water-heaterIf it’s the middle of summer and you’ve just been outside, then there is no better feeling in the world than a nice, cold shower–especially if your outdoor activities included any kind of exercise.

However, being surprised by a cold shower when you were expecting a hot or at least warm one is another story entirely.

In the first scenario, you probably wouldn’t be concerned at all about the state of your water heater, while in the second scenario you’d probably be rushing to find a new water heater!

Of course, we don’t want you to wait around for this unpleasant surprise before starting to shop for a new water heater. We think it would be nice if you knew with plenty of warning that your water heater is starting to fail, so you can replace it sooner rather than later. The good news is, there are actually plenty of symptoms you can watch out for to get this prior warning. Read on to learn what they are.

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How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Monday, December 6th, 2021

frozen-and-burst-pipeIf you’ve lived here for even just a year, then you know that even though we don’t get the bitter weather that our neighbors in the Midwest get, our winters still pack a punch! We’re still likely to have below-freezing temperatures when winter is upon us, at least at night. This of course means you want to be set up with an effective and efficient heating system to keep you and your family warm. But what about keeping your plumbing warm?

Take a moment with us to consider this–is your plumbing system ready for freezing temperatures? It’s easier than you might realize for your pipes to freeze up in cold weather. And the problem isn’t necessarily that they freeze, but what happens when they begin to thaw–they burst. Fortunately, it’s not winter yet, and you have plenty of time to prevent this problem from happening. That’s right, it is preventable!

We want to help you avoid a plumbing mishap this year, read on for some tips on how to do so.

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How to Avoid One of the Most Common Plumbing Repair Calls

Monday, November 8th, 2021

family-gathered-around-kitchen-table-for-holiday-mealFirst, you’re probably wondering, after reading the title of this blog post, what the most common plumbing repair calls are. Clogged drains top the list. And the most likely time for us to get this kind of call is over the holiday season. So while you’re making plans to have family and friends over for Thanksgiving or any other holiday festivities, it’s important to be aware of your plumbing system.

Whether it’s clogged drains, jammed up garbage disposals, clogged bathroom plumbing, or overwhelmed water heaters, we get a lot of calls throughout the holiday season as homeowners welcome more people into their households at once than any other time of the year. So, before Thanksgiving approaches and you have your next big family meal, read this blog post, and learn at least one way to avoid a holiday plumbing mishap.

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Does Your Commercial Plumbing System Need Repair?

Monday, October 11th, 2021

commercial-bathroom-sinksWhether you just started your own business within a commercial space or bought some commercial property, there is a lot to consider to keep your business successful, right? You need to work with many different people to keep your business running smoothly, and it can be stressful. The last thing on your mind is likely the commercial plumbing within your building. Unfortunately, not considering this important aspect could leave you with problems.

It’s important to think about your commercial plumbing. It’s so much more vast than residential plumbing and therefore the things that can go wrong have bigger consequences. Read on as we uncover what type of repair needs you might face, and why you need an experienced commercial plumber for the job.

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Here’s the Reason Your Tankless Water Heater Needs a Tune-Up

Monday, September 13th, 2021

tankless-water-heater-on-wallThe typical water heater type found in most modern homes is the tank water heater–large and noticeable, sometimes even a little noisy. In other words, it would be pretty hard to not pay attention to it, right? So, you probably already know that it would need an occasional tune-up. After all, it can suffer from scaling–which is a buildup of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and sometimes iron. This scaling can create problems with water pressure, corrosion, and the temperature of the water. As a result, tank water heaters need to be flushed out once a year.

It may seem to you, then, that a tankless water heater doesn’t need maintenance. This just isn’t the case though. In fact, much of the maintenance done for conventional tank water heaters is actually pretty close to what is needed for a tankless system. Read on as we uncover why your tankless water heater needs tune-ups just as much as a tank water heater would.

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