How to Prevent Frozen Plumbing Pipes This Season

Posted on November 24, 2021 by weilhammerplumbing

Temperatures are dropping fast, and winter is just around the corner, so it is a good idea to get your plumbing systems under control now, before the peak of the season is upon us, and your options are more limited. Frozen pipes are one of the most common plumbing mishaps among homeowners, and one of the most common repairs done by plumbers in the spring. You do not want to deal with the aftermath of frozen or burst pipes, and you won’t have to as long as you get prepared.

Continue reading to learn how to prevent frozen plumbing pipes this winter season, and what to do if you suspect you might already have some plumbing issues that need professional attention.

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Problems Caused By Frozen Plumbing Pipes

Although your plumbing pipes are likely insulated, as most are here in the United States, they can still be prone to freezing in extreme temperatures. This is bad news because water expands and contracts as it freezes and thaws. Ever notice those huge potholes in the spring after all the snow melts away? This is due to water seeping into pavement and expanding and contracting as it freezes and thaws. This causes pavement damages like cracks and holes, and the same can happen to your plumbing pipes.

If the frozen water within plumbing pipes creates too much pressure build up, it can actually cause the pipe to rupture, which leads to unexpected water leaks and flooding after the ice melts. It also causes water and energy bills to skyrocket. Not as costly or invasive, but equally frustrating, frozen pipes can also lead to faucet problems, slow water, poor water pressure, and similar water quality issues.

How to Protect Your Pipes From Freezing Over

Inspect your walls and ceilings for any cracks. Seal them up.

Inspect your basement and crawl space for any gaps or openings, and seal them up.

Apply weatherstripping and caulk around your basement windows, and also around your crawlspace door.

Have your home insulation inspected and repaired as needed.

Locate all unprotected pipes and insulated them with pipe sleeves. Be sure they are tightly secured together. Seal up any openings or joints with duct tape.

Consider thermostat-controlled, UL-listed heat cable technology for your plumbing pipes. This keeps them warm during the colder seasons.

Install storm windows over any basement windows.

Replace your windows with energy-efficient models.

Have your plumbing systems inspected and serviced annually by a licensed plumbing professional.

Is your place experiencing issues with the plumbing or water heating system? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for Fall and winter plumbing services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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Why Your Bathroom Sink Has Low Water Pressure

Posted on November 17, 2021 by weilhammerplumbing

Depending on the number of occupants and bathrooms in your home, your bathroom sink likely sees a lot of action. Whether you live alone or have a full house, single faucet bathroom sinks can begin to experience a decrease in water pressure over time. Although there are many things that can cause low water pressure in your bathroom sink faucet, the number one culprit is typically a clogged aerator.

Continue reading to learn how to inspect and clean a faucet aerator all on your own, but also, what to do if the underlying issue seems to be pointing toward something else.

Bathroom Sink Repair Indianapolis IN 317-784-1870 — Sink Repair Indianapolis IN 317-784-1870

Bathroom Sink Faucet Aerators

Most single standing faucets are equipped with a piece known as an aerator. However, bathroom sinks are almost always fitted with them. An aerator is a screw-on hardware fitting that connects to the underside of a faucet spout. They are designed to break up the solid stream of water from a faucet by adding air to the stream. So, rather than having water spewing out of the spout like a garden hose, water is gently and evenly balanced during dispersal. If you took the aerator off, the water would gush out of the faucet spout.

Another benefit of faucet aerators is water preservation. It is suggested that aerators can reduce water consumption by up to 30% in the average household.

Aerator Clogs

Aerators are well-known for accumulating solid debris and particles over time. As a result, faucets tend to lose water pressure value. Grit, mineral buildup, so residues, hair, and more can obstruct the air and water flow in an aerator, which first presents as reduced water pressure. Typically, a quick cleaning is all it takes to get your water pressure value back to where it was before the aerator clog developed.

In order to determine if your bathroom sink aerator is clogged, you will have to examine it, and possibly clean it if necessary. In some cases, you will need to replace the aerator, but this is usually only necessary if the metal screening is damaged or warped.

How to Clean Your Faucet Aerator

If you take your finger and touch the area of your bathroom sink faucet where the water comes out, you should be touching the aerator. Sink aerators are screw-on plumbing devices, so you should be able to remove it by simply twisting it off. Although the same lefty-loosey righty-tighty rules apply when it comes to threading, keep in mind that you are looking from above rather than below the spout. So, you will twist right to remove the aerator from the faucet spout.

If the aerator is not screwing off by hand, you can use a pair of pliers, however, be warned that this approach can be permanently damaging to your plumbing fixtures. If you cannot remove the aerator on your own, it is recommended to contact local Indianapolis plumbing service for professional assistance.

Once you have removed the faucet aerator, it is important to keep track of all of the separate parts. They need to be kept in order when you reattach them. As for cleaning, you have some options. You can soak it in distilled white vinegar and then gently scrub it with baking soda. Or, if the clog is more substantial, you can soak the aerator parts overnight in a limescale-dissolving cleaning solution.

Are you experiencing plumbing problems like low water pressure or clogs? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional plumbing service and repair in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We serve residential and commercial clients.

How to Fix a Leaking Water Heater

Posted on November 11, 2021 by weilhammerplumbing

It is never a good sign to see pooling water around any major appliance in your home. When the standing water is found around your hot water heater, it is even more disconcerting. Standing water suggests a leak, which can lead to serious water damage, making time of the utmost essence.

Continue reading for some tips on how to detect the source of a water heater leak, how to stop the leak on your own, and what to do if you have a more serious water heater leak problem than you originally thought.

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Detecting the Origin of a Water Heater Leak

Typically, a puddle of water around your water heater means leakage. Fortunately, there is probably a simple solution for this leak. Before calling your local Indianapolis IN plumbing company, try to put a stop to the leak on your own. The sooner you can do this, the less water damage is likely to occur. Plus, you don’t want higher water and energy bills because of wasted water. You will need to examine where the water is coming from to better gauge the underlying issue.

Is the Leak Coming From Under the Water Heater?

There is a valve located at the bottom of the water heater, called a temperature and pressure relief (T&PR) valve. In most minor water heater leaks, this is the culprit. You see, water heaters only have three connecting lines, the hot water outlet line, the cold water inlet line, and a third water line that is attached to a brass valve with a lever on it. When there is an accumulation of water around the water heater, it usually means the T&PR valve is doing its job. It is a safety mechanism that is designed to relieve the excess water pressure inside the appliance, which prevents water pressure from overheating and causing an explosion.

So, if you see a leak coming from under your hot water heater, it usually suggests that the temperature and pressure relief (T&PR) exceeds the appliance design limitations. Generally, the heat limit is 120 degrees. At this point, the T&PR valve is designed to release this excess water and pressure. It is a sign that your water heater is reaching unsafe temperature levels. If you know how to refute this problem yourself, then do so with this newfound information, otherwise, call a professional plumber to take a look and fix the problem.

Side of Tank Leaks

If you notice that the leak is coming from the side of the water heater tank rather than from beneath it, you may have a shell rupture. In this case, you would need to call a plumber for emergency water heater service to plug the leak and repair the water heater shell.

The Importance of Annual Water Heater Inspections

Once a year, you should test your T&PR valve by simply lifting the lever attached to the third connecting line, as mentioned earlier. Once you release some water by lifting this lever, let go to see if it closes back up and stops the hot water flow. This simple test that only needs performed once a year can greatly reduce the need for repairs and reduce the cost of repair altogether by discovering water heater issues early on.

Is your hot water heater in need of service or repair right now? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for Indianapolis Indiana plumbing services for water heaters, today. We provide residential and commercial plumbing services all throughout Central Indiana.

Frequently Asked Questions About Repiping Your Home

Posted on November 4, 2021 by weilhammerplumbing

Repiping your plumbing is not something the average homeowner is well-versed on. In fact, it is typically only professional master plumbers who know the ins and outs of re-piping, including when and how it should be done. If you are wondering about the current condition of your home’s plumbing or think that a re-piping job might benefit the quality and performance of your whole-house system, your first step is to get the facts.

Continue below to review some frequently asked questions about repiping your home, including how to tell if you need to re-pipe, whether it can be done on your own, and what to expect from the process.

Plumbing Pipe Replacement and Reconfiguration

Re-Piping FAQS

Why Did My Plumbing Pipes Go Bad?

There are several reasons why plumbing pipes go bad. It can be due to old age, poor installation, incompatibility, material quality issues, corrosion, external structural damages, and much more. Only a licensed Indianapolis master plumber will be able to detect and diagnose what happened to your plumbing pipes in the case that you need re-piping services.

What Signs Suggest I Need Re-Piping Work?

The signs pointing towards re-piping needs are not always evident. The first thing you want to take into consideration is the age of your plumbing pipes. Although many plumbing pipe materials are designed to last up to 50 years or more, there are several external factors and variables that can reduce the lifespan of plumbing pipes.

The most common sense to look for when determining your need for re-piping work include water quality issues, water related appliance performance issues, increased utility bills for water and energy, noisy plumbing, and plumbing that is older than 15 years.

Should I Repipe or Repair the Plumbing?

In many cases, plumbing pipes do not require replaced, but rather repaired. If one or two plumbing pipes burst or incur some sort of damage, they can simply be replaced through trenchless piping or other repair techniques. However, there are other cases in which the whole house plumbing system should be re-piped. Talk to in Indianapolis plumber to determine the best course of action for your plumbing pipe renovation needs.

Can I Re-Pipe on My Own?

Absolutely not. It is imperative to hire a licensed and permitted master plumber for re-piping plumbing services to ensure that your house is up to code and safe. Professionals retain the proper resources, including training, equipment, and permits, to perform master plumbing work like re-piping and trenchless pipe repair. Never attempt to perform your own plumbing repair at this level of complexity.

Can I Live in My House While it is Being Re-Piped?

In order to re-pipe a home, walls will have to be torn down and removed. In many cases, plumbing companies work well to isolate areas of the home that are being worked on by organizing a calendar of scheduled work and utilizing safety-focused materials like plastic tarping and ventilation fans to mitigate work runoff. However, the job will be done much faster in homes that are being built or renovated since walls are not constructed yet. In most cases, it is recommended to coordinate alternative living arrangements if your home is being refitted for piping.

Do you have more questions about plumbing re-piping work in Indiana? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for plumbing repair and installation services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve both residential and commercial clients and offer free advice anytime!

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Monthly Archives: November 2021