Burst Pipes
A burst pipe is a common plumbing emergency. It can lead to significant water damage in a short amount of time. If you are dealing with a burst pipe in your home, contact us immediately. The longer the leak is allowed to occur, the more you will face in repair costs.
While fixing your plumbing problem should be left to the professionals, there are steps you can take before your plumber arrives. These initial steps help mitigate further damage.
- Turn off the main water valve immediately
- It is important to switch off the electricity to reduce risk of electric shock.
- Keep the affected area clear for repair and remove any valuables from the damaged area
Once we arrive, we will discuss our plan for repair.
Frozen Pipes
Common plumbing problems homeowners experience during the winter involve frozen pipes. Most frozen water pipes occur in areas where the pipes are not properly insulated, such as the garage, crawl spaces and non-insulated outside walls. This can cost thousands of dollars in damage if not caught in time. Fortunately, your 1-Tom-Plumber team is ready to assist in frozen pipe emergencies.
How do you know if you have this problem?
One of the most effective ways to determine if you have frozen pipes is to turn on the hot and cold water at the sink and note the water flow. If there is little or no water flowing from the tap, chances are the pipes are frozen. If you suspect this, shut off the main water valve to reduce pressure on the pipes, then give us a call immediately.
What can we do to help?
Using an electric pipe thawing machine is one of the ways we can quickly and safely repair frozen pipes and get them working like new again. With these machines, only a thin layer of ice inside the pipe needs to be melted in order to allow sufficient water flow to resume. Depending on the amount of pipe that’s frozen, it can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes to get everything thawed out. For homes with older copper pipes, it may take as much as one hour before all is clear.
Not only will we help you repair frozen pipes, but we’ll show you ways to prevent the problem from happening again.
For example, here are some ideas for pipes that regularly freeze over:
- Make sure the heat is no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit
- Open all cabinet doors under sinks in your bathroom and kitchen to allow heat to reach the pipes inside
- Let a small trickle of water drip from your faucets to keep the lines open
- Insulate all exposed pipes, or wrap them in heat tape
By following these tips, you can avoid the mess and inconvenience of frozen pipes. If you do find yourself with a burst pipe due to freezing temperatures, call us right away and we will dispatch a plumber to your property ASAP.
Garbage Disposal
Flipping a switch in your kitchen and discovering that your garbage disposal isn’t working can put a damper on your kitchen cleanup efforts. Before you buy a replacement, keep in mind that your garbage disposal can be repaired in many cases.
Several common problems can prevent disposals from working properly. Rust, build-up, and hard objects can easily jam a propeller, which prevents the disposal from grinding food scraps. A worn blade can contribute to inefficient food disposal. Improper or corroded motor wiring can cause disposer failure and can even cause electric shock hazards.
When you call us for service on your garbage disposal, you can have faith that our expert plumbers are trained to fix virtually any type of issue!
We can help you with any of the following issues with your garbage disposal:
- Ineffective garbage disposal
- Garbage disposal not turning off
- Strange noises from the garbage disposal
- Garbage disposal emitting an unpleasant smell
- Sink not draining effectively or at all
- Garbage disposal leaking water
Sewer Lines
A sewer line, also called a main line, is the line that carries sewage away from your home and out to the treatment plant in your city to be treated properly.
Common problems that we see with sewer lines are:
- Cracks
- Tree Root Intrusion
- Punctures
- Corrosion
- Misaligned Pipe Sections
- Grease Buildup
- Leaks
Problems in the line can only be found through a camera inspection. Camera inspections allow our technicians to use the cable with an LED light and camera attached to the end of it and run it through the line until the issue is visible.
Allowing a professional to handle an issue with your sewer line is best. Whether it is cabling or hydro-jetting the line, or even a complete pipe repair, we can do it all. Give us a call!
Sinks & Faucets
It’s common to use the faucets in your home daily. Therefore, faucets can become worn out just from normal use. Other common aspects we see are corrosion on the faucet along with mineral buildup inside the faucet.
Here are signs that you need a faucet replacement:
- Leaks
- Low water pressure
- Rust or corrosion
- Worn out faucet
You can install a new faucet yourself, but if you are weary of your ability to do so, it’s best to hire a professional to make sure it is installed properly.
In other words, give us a call and we’d be happy to help. You can even choose the style of sink or faucet that you like best. It’ll give your space a whole new look.
Sump Pumps
A sump pump is commonly used in the basement of a home to be able to remove the water from the foundation of the home. The purpose behind a sump pump is to be able to prevent your home from flooding, especially if storms or floods are common in your area.
Signs that it’s time to replace your sump pump:
- Age – if your sump pump is over 7-10 years of age
- Noise – if it’s making loud noises
- Non-stop running – no water in the pit, but it’s still running
- Breaks down often – not working properly
It’s important that you choose the right sump pump to cater to the needs of your home. Things like how large the sump pit is and how much water flows into the foundation of your home that needs to be pumped out are both important factors to consider.
If you feel that your sump pump is not working properly or needs replaced, feel free to give us a call! We’d love to help with the replacement.
Toilets
One of the most frequent issues in toilets is clogs or backups. This can happen when other material besides waste or toilet paper is being flushed down the toilet.
Other issues that can happen with your toilet include:
- Leaks
- Constant running water
- Crack in the toilet tank
- Weak flush
- Wobbling
- Filling up slowly
If you are noticing any of these issues arise with your toilet, it’s best to address them as soon as you catch them so you can avoid any further damage or issues in the future. We can help you with any type of toilet issue that you may have! Just give us a call.
Water Heaters
Water heaters play a critical part in every home’s plumbing system. A water heater provides us with the hot water we need in our homes for tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and bathing.
There are many common issues that take place with water heaters.
Let’s go over some of the most common that we see:
- No hot water
- Not enough hot water
- Leaks
- Unusual noises
- High energy bills
- Discolored water
It’s important to address water heater issues as soon as you notice them, especially if it’s forcing you to be without hot water in your home. Luckily, we can take care of that for you!
Give us a call, we’re 1-Tom-Plumber, the name is the phone number!
Water Lines
The water lines in your home allow you to have access to clean water. There are many different types of pipe that can be used within your home’s plumbing system.
While access to clean water is important for your home, it is also important to make sure that when problems arise with your pipes, you’re taking the necessary precautions to make sure that the issue gets resolved.
Some of the most common issues we see with water lines are:
- Low water pressure
- Leaks
- Old or worn out pipes
- Burst pipes due to freezing temperatures
- Corrosion
- Mineral buildup
It’s best to contact a professional plumber to address the issues that you find with your water lines. Fortunately, you can count on us! With 24/7 availability, we can be out to address the issue the same day.
Sump Pump Battery Backup
A battery backup sump pump is an essential device that kicks on during power outages or if the primary sump pump fails, providing an extra layer of protection to keep your basement dry and prevent flooding. At 1-Tom-Plumber, we specialize in installing and servicing battery backup sump pumps to ensure your home stays safe from water damage. Our expert team will evaluate your needs and install the system professionally to guarantee optimal performance when you need it most.
Showers
- Shower head installation and replacement
- Fixing low water pressure issues
- Leak detection and repair
- Clearing clogged shower drains
- Shower valve repair and replacement