The 5 Rules to Avoiding Plumbing Disasters

Posted on September 8, 2016 by weilhammerplumbing

Whether the sink, toilet, tub, or drain, when you take on a DIY home plumbing job, it can go from “manageable” to full-on “disaster” in a matter of minutes. Many homeowners will start a plumbing project, but quickly end up over their heads in tools, parts, blueprints, sludge, and water. So it is important to protect yourself from plumbing catastrophes like this with proper knowledge, practice, and assistance. Continue reading to learn the top five rules to avoiding do-it-yourself plumbing mishaps and regrets.

Avoid Direct Copper-to-Steel Connections

Indianapolis Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

When replacing parts of your plumbing pipe, avoid connecting copper pipes and galvanized steel pipes directly. And a thin layer of thread sealant or Teflon tape won’t cut it either. Steel plumbing pipe can begin to corrode as soon as the connection to copper is made tight. Instead, use a fitting device called a dielectric union to connect copper plumbing pipes to galvanized steel plumbing pipes. It is essentially a metal collar that uses isolation brushings, one half steel and the other half copper. That way, each part is kept separate.

Know the Proper Plumbing Code for Big Projects

There are rules to home plumbing and construction, namely codes. These codes are very complex, with meticulous and detailed rules that dictate how, what, and where you can do plumbing work. For instance, you must know how far you can place certain fixtures from a drain waste vent-line according to its pipe diameter and other specifications. These details are important to know if you want to ensure the safety and integrity of your residence and all its utility systems. Purchase a copy of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and a book called Code Check before attempting any major DIY construction projects.

Know the Exact Location of Your Plumbing Pipes

Before taking a hammer or drill to your drywall, it is important to make sure you know what you are drilling or hammering into. A common mistake homeowners make is rupturing copper or plastic supply or drains inside walls. Purchase a stud sensor to check your walls before any sort of demolition. This device will detect both pipes and electrical wiring.

Always Perform a Water Leak Test Before Finishing Up

At the conclusion of your plumbing project, it is important to always check for water leaks before sealing everything back up. If installing new valve components, you’ll want to check that it opens and closes, and also run hot and cold water through it to see that it drains properly. In fact, you’ll want to check drains and faucets like this. You can purchase a leak detector detergent at a hardware or home improvement store to check for gas line leaks as well.

Never Over-Tighten Plumbing Connections and Components

Since you cannot always trust the fit or quality of all plumbing components, you may be tempted to over-tighten connections to ensure a good fit. But this is not only in-effective, it is detrimental to your plumbing components. A simple half-turn past the tension point is all you need to properly tighten and close up all your connections. Things like brass copper gas fittings are more susceptible to wrench damage than steel plumbing pipes, but in all cases, proper tension should be used.

Weilhammer Plumbing Company

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for professional plumbing advice and plumbing service in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner and master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, is eager to help you find affordable and effective solutions to your plumbing problems. Our licensed, bonded, and insured plumbers provide a wide range of residential and commercial plumbing services at the most competitive prices in town. Call 317-784-1870 to speak with a licensed Indianapolis plumber, today.

How to Retrieve Items that Fall Down the Sink Drain

Posted on July 28, 2016 by weilhammerplumbing

Plumbing Drain Repair 317-784-1870

When you drop something valuable into a sink, you instinctively let out a huge gasp of fear while simultaneously rushing to grab it before it falls down the drain. This is a common reaction for most people because no one wants to lose something of value, especially if that “something of value” is a diamond earring, gold cuff link, or worse, wedding ring! And unfortunately, plumbers get a lot of calls about lost jewelry items like these. But even when you drop something down the drain that is not necessarily “valuable”, it is only natural to want it back.

So if you are someone with clumsy hands, a small bathroom counter, or a lost item down a sink drain, then this blog is for you! Continue reading to learn an easy method to retrieving lost items that have fallen into drain pipe abyss.

Professional Drain Retrieval Services

We only lead with this because there is no shame in calling a plumber for help with retrieving lost items in your sink drain. Even if you could do the task on your own, sometimes it is more efficient to let a professional manage the problem for you. They retain the proper tools and knowledge, and of course hands-on experience, which allows them to get the job done quickly and safely. This way, you won’t have to worry about accidentally damaging or jeopardizing your home’s plumbing system in any way, and you can avoid the trouble you would experience in the case that you run into larger plumbing problems as you open up your drains and dive into the process.

But if you are confident that you are equipped and capable of doing it on your own, you should still consider contacting a local licensed Indianapolis plumber for free plumbing drain advice. Trusted and honest plumbers will happily provide free advice upon request.

What You’ll Need:

• Slip/Lock Nut Wrench
• Rubber Gloves
• Old Bath Towel
• Flashlight
• A Partner (optional)

Getting Started:

Locate the water valve under the sink and turn it clockwise to shut off the water supply. You may need to use your wrench to turn it. If you cannot turn it manually, try your main water shut-off valve for the whole home.

Clear out all the items from under your sink. Place your old towel under the sink pipes to control any leakage or mess.

Locate the pipe catch. Also called the “P trap”, “J bend”, “J pipe”, or U valve”, this pipe piece is curved and has two slip nuts at each end. Since this part of the sink piping is bent, most lost items are found there.

Note: In the picture above, you can clearly identify both the slip nuts and the pipe catch. The wrench is on the vertical slip nut, and the hand is on the pipe catch.

Remove the pipe catch. To do so, loosen the slip nuts by turning them counter-clockwise, either with your hands or your wrench.

When opening plumbing valves, it is helpful to remember the popular phrase, “Lefty-Loosey, Righty-Tighty”, which means counter-clockwise opens and clockwise closes.

Once you have the pipe catch off, you can inspect the contents inside to look for your lost item. Depending on how clean your pipes are, there could be a lot of gunk and bacteria inside. So be sure to wear your rubber gloves for safety, and use your flashlight for a better view.

If you found your item, then congratulations! If you did not find it, then you at least put in the effort to find out whether or not your item was still there. And for that, great job! Now move on to the last step.

Reattach the pipe catch by holding it in place and turning the slip nuts clockwise. You may need a partner to assist you with this step. This can be anyone capable of holding the pipe catch in place, so feel free to appoint your inquisitive 3 year old for help! What a great learning experience!

Be sure to catch next week’s blog for a guide to retrieving lost items in the shower drain!

Plumbing Service and Repair in Indianapolis

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for free plumbing advice from a state-licensed master plumber in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner and master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, is happy to answer your questions about plumbing problems. With more than 50 years of experience, you can trust him for accurate and honest plumbing advice. Our family-owned and operated plumbing company has served Hoosiers with residential and commercial plumbing repair for more than 100 years! So you can feel confident that we are the right choice for plumbing service and repair in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. Call 317-784-1870 to speak with a friendly plumber, today.

Get Free Plumbing Advice From a Master Plumber When You Call Weilhammer Plumbing Company!

Posted on July 19, 2016 by weilhammerplumbing

Plumbing Advice, Tips, and Guidance – All At No Charge!

Weilhammer Plumbing Company knows that sometimes homeowners just have questions or concerns about their plumbing and need professional guidance to gain a better understanding of their plumbing operation and options. For this reason, we gladly and warmly provide free plumbing advice for commercial and residential property owners! At no charge, our state licensed master plumbers will answer your plumbing questions and address your plumbing concerns. We never use confusing industry jargon, and explain our answers and advice in a language you can clearly understand. So you can trust that you are receiving trusted information you can comprehend and use in the future.

Indianapolis Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

Ways We Can Help

There are several scenarios that can be addressed over the phone, without the need for a plumber to come out and make a visit to your house. For instance, if you have a clogged toilet, our plumbers will give you step-by-step directions on ways to unclog it, as well as, tips for preventing toilet clogs down the line. Or if you have a water softener that won’t go through it’s rejuvenation cycle, we will tell you what to check for and how to manually start the rejuvenation cycle. And if your water heater is not working, we will explain why this could be happening, and work with you over the phone to decide what needs to be done to fix it.

Not only is all of this free-of-charge, it allows you to avoid a service fee, which is even greater for problems you can fix yourself! As a family owned and operated plumbing company that has been in business since 1901, you can trust that we have an esteemed reputation among the surrounding Hoosier communities, and provide effective and reliable plumbing services at an honest price.

Indianapolis Plumbers

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 to get free plumbing information and advice from an Indianapolis plumber you can trust. Owner and master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, is happy to answer your questions and provide the best plumbing advice for you. We offer a wide range of commercial and residential plumbing services, including repair, inspection, cleaning, maintenance, replacement, and more. Call 317-784-1870 when you need reliable and affordable plumbing repair in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding locations, today.

The Advantages of Hiring a Licensed Plumber

Posted on July 12, 2016 by weilhammerplumbing

Indianapolis Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

When a homeowner comes across a plumbing issue, even a major one, they can sometimes feel the urge to correct the problem themselves for the sake of saving a few dollars. But all professional plumbers know that this is never a good plan, because most often, they are called to fix these DIY mistakes. There are several reasons why you should not attempt to repair a plumbing problem on your own, unless it is a very minor one, like a running toilet (in which case you would just open the back, un-kink the chain inside the tank with a simple flick of the finger, and then the toilet tank should fill with water again). Minor cases of clogged drains are also acceptable and feasible DIY plumbing repairs for homeowners. But when it comes to real plumbing problems, always hire a professionally licensed plumbing contractors. And here’s why:

Education and Training

Licensed plumbers are not self-taught, especially master plumbers. It is a very serious vocation that requires extensive formal education and training, strenuous state testing, and an in-depth understanding of plumbing systems. If you do not retain these qualifications, then you should not try to repair your own plumbing problems. Your plumbing system is very complex and sophisticated, and although a plumbing problem may appear to be isolated at one fixture or area, it could be something much deeper. And only a trained plumber knows the intricacies of your plumbing system, and how to locate the underlying problem.

Tools and Equipment

To accurately diagnose and resolve plumbing issues, you don’t just need knowledge and experience, you need the right equipment too. The proper plumbing tools and equipment are necessary for accuracy, efficiency, and safety. A professional plumbing company retains the necessary tools and equipment to manage any plumbing project the first time around, regardless of size or scope. Not only do they have the right tools, they have the industry connections to get materials and parts from the best and most cost-effective suppliers on that market.

Peace of Mind

When you have a licensed and insured plumber working on your home’s plumbing issues, you have peace of mind knowing that your home is in the hands of a qualified professional. You can relieve yourself of the stress and anxiety that comes with DIY home improvement and repairs, and get back to focusing on work, family, and friends instead.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 when you need a licensed plumber in Indianapolis, Indiana or its surrounding counties. Owner and Master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, and his team of licensed and insured plumbers, are happy to help you resolve your plumbing problems fast, and at a price you can afford. We offer free estimates, free plumbing advice, and even free haul-away for old plumbing appliances like water heaters, water softeners, sump pumps, and more! Choose a family owned and operated plumbing company that has served the Hoosier communities for over 100 years! Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for more information about our Indianapolis plumbing services, today.