These Bad Habits Can Cause Plumbing Problems at Home

Posted on April 15, 2015 by weilhammerplumbing

When it comes to residential plumbing, a professional would advise against a long list of bad habits that lead to costly repairs and problems. Among this long list of bad habits, there are a few that tend to cause the most issues with a home’s plumbing. Continue reading to learn which bad habits your plumber wants you to stop!

Bathroom Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

Toilets

So many of us are guilty of using the toilet as a garbage receptacle. The occasional goldfish is not going to cause any problems with your toilet and plumbing, however, actual trash or garbage is not a good idea. Cotton swabs, cotton balls, feminine hygiene applicators, razor cartridges, toilet paper tubes, hairbands, shower caps, paper bags, newspaper, plastic materials, and more are common items flushed down residential toilets on a daily basis. All of this trash can clog the toilet, as well as, cause major blockages in your home’s plumbing, leading to costly repairs and replacements. Do not use your toilet as a trashcan! Simply place a trash can near your toilet to thwart you from this bad habit.

Garbage Disposals

Another area that we tend to use as a trash can even though we shouldn’t is the kitchen sink garbage disposal. Yes this appliance can shred soft, non-fibrous foods, but that doesn’t mean it’s an industrial shredder that can manage all your other garbage as well! Items like plastic wrap, fruit peels, egg shells, flowers, fruit and vegetable cores, and more are commonly tossed down residential garbage disposals, only later to cause major damage to the appliance and the home’s plumbing.

Drains

Aside from trash, people tend to have a bad habit of pouring harmful or toxic chemicals down bathroom and kitchen sink drains. Bathtubs, showers, outdoor sinks, kitchen sinks, and bathroom sinks have drains that can clog, but this does not mean reach for the harsh drain cleaning solution right away. Try other forms of clog-clearing before resorting to toxic drain cleaners, such as drain snakes. These chemicals can cause plumbing pipes to corrode and deteriorate, leading to leaks and major damages.

Outdoor Hoses

Forgetting or neglecting to disconnect your garden hose from the outside spout before wintertime can cause some major problems with your home’s plumbing as well. This allows moisture from the inside of the hose to enter the home, eventually freezing, leading to frozen or burst plumbing pipes. This is not an easy or inexpensive fix, but can be avoided with a little annual reminder and initiative.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 the next time you need a master plumber in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner, Mark Weilhammer, is a state-licensed master plumber with over 50 years of experience in the plumbing industry. He and our team of licensed plumbing contractors are eager to answer your questions about plumbing repair and more. We offer residential and commercial properties a wide range of plumbing services, including septic tanks, water heaters, sump pumps, water softeners, slab leaks, and more! Call 317-784-1870 for superior plumbing repair services in Indianapolis, IN today.

How to Stop Water Knocking in Your Plumbing Pipes

Posted on April 8, 2015 by weilhammerplumbing

Indianapolis Plumbers 317-784-1870

Every time you turn your faucet off, or decide to take a shower, are you hearing a knocking-like noise coming from the floor or walls? This is called water-knocking and happens to be a frequent nuisance plumbing problem for homeowners. This sound can start out as faint and barely-there, and later grow into a deep banging or rocking noise. It can sound like a squeaky rocking chair, an animal growl, or a hammer hitting the wall. It can also sound like tummy rumbles, rushing water, and more.

But most often, people describe it as a knock-like sound. It is important to solve a water knocking issue in your home’s plumbing pipes as soon as you notice its presence. Otherwise, a small plumbing problem can quickly turn into a large costly one. If water knocking is a current problem for you, continue reading to learn why it’s happening and how to make it stop.

Knocking Pipes

The most common cause behind water knocking in pipes is irregular water pressure within the main water supply for your home. Air is used to pressurize water within plumbing pipes, but when the air leaks or depletes, it causes a disturbance in water flow, which can lead to rushing water. This forceful movement of water through your pipes is what creates the knocking sounds. This pressure must be corrected if ever inconsistent to ensure proper water flow from the main supply, through the pipes, and to your faucets.

Here’s How to Correct Water Knocking:

1. Turn Off Main Water Valve
2. Open ALL Faucets
3. Flush All Toilets One Time
4. Once Water Stops Flowing, the Lines are Clear and Empty
5. Now Slowly Turn the Main Water Valve Back On
6. The Knocking Sound Should Be Gone

It really is that simple most of the time! But if the sound persists even after you flush your water lines, you may need to contact a plumbing company for professional assistance and service. Remember, addressing a small problem right away can prevent major costly problems in the future! For questions about water knocking problems and plumbing repairs, be sure to ask a licensed master plumber for trustworthy answers and solutions.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 and speak with state-licensed master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, for Indianapolis plumbing services you can trust! He and our team of skilled plumbing contractors are happy to answer your questions about plumbing pipes, water lines, repairs, replacements, advice, and more. Call 317-784-1870 for prompt and professional plumbing repair in Indianapolis, IN today.

Does Your Kitchen Sink Stink?

Posted on April 2, 2015 by weilhammerplumbing

Indianapolis Garbage Disposal Repair 317-784-1870

Have you begun to notice a mysterious odor in your kitchen? Does it seem like it’s coming from the sink? If so, there could be some problems with your sink or disposal that require swift solutions. One of the most dangerous causes of smelly sinks is bacteria growth. Bacteria is harmful to our health and can easily contaminate food prepared in the kitchen.

Even harmless bacteria is undesirable, and cooking in a smelly kitchen is too. For these reasons and more, it is important to address any issues your kitchen sink or garbage disposal might be having, and what solutions are best.

Continue reading to learn about the possible reasons your kitchen sink smells, and what to do to remedy each problem.

Bacteria

As mentioned, one of the most dangerous causes behind a smelly kitchen sink is bacteria. Food particles over-accumulate and clog kitchen drains, causing the formation of a nasty sludge. This sludge prevents water from free-flowing through the drain, leading to bacteria growth. And furthermore, mold only needs darkness and moisture to grow, making the kitchen drain a perfect incubating ground. Mold and bacteria are harmful to our health and can contaminate our food, causing food-borne illnesses and more. To eliminate bacteria from kitchen sink, pour any of these items down the drain:

• Bleach
• Vinegar
• Baking Soda (Post-rinse heavily with hot water)
• Store-Bought Kitchen-Safe Drain Cleaner

Garbage Disposal

Grease is often a problem for garbage disposals. When greasy foods are eliminated down the kitchen sink, the grease generally tends to linger behind and stick to the blades of the disposal. These greasy-leftovers decay overtime and then start to smell, causing an unpleasant odor in your kitchen sink. To remove this issue, simply pour hot water down the drain, multiple times, until the odor is gone.

Another option is to grind ice and kosher salt in the disposal, followed by some citrus rinds, to dislodge the grease, clean the blades, and eliminate smells. Or you may also choose to use any of the above listed items to further eliminate a decomposed food issue or lingering smell.

Roof Vents

If there seems to be no end to the smell in your kitchen sink, even after you’ve exhausted all other efforts and options, it might come down to a vent problem. There is a vent that goes from your kitchen sink, all the way up to the roof (in most standard homes). If these vents become clogged, use a snaking-device to clear the obstruction in the vent, or use the hot water approach. The best solution for this problem is to simply contact a licensed master plumber for assistance with clogged vents and kitchen sink issues.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for superior plumbing repair and kitchen plumbing services in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner and master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, and our team of licensed, bonded, and insured plumbing contractors, are eager to help solve your kitchen sink and plumbing problems. We offer a wide range of high-quality plumbing services at the most competitive prices in town. That is why we have been in business for more than 100 years! Call 317-784-1870 for information about our Indianapolis plumbing services and kitchen plumbing repairs we offer for residential and commercial properties.