The reason that Franklin Drain cleaning is an easy thing to cross off your to-do list is simple: all you have to do is call your Franklin plumber! There are two kinds of drain cleaning.  Sewer drain cleaning empties out the pipes that connect your home’s toilets to the municipal sewer system or your own private septic system. Regular drain cleaning addresses all of the other drain pipes in your home, including kitchen drain pipes, utility room drain pipes, and laundry room drains.

Drains clog for any number of reasons.  When we talk about why sewer drains clog, your Franklin plumber can list a litany of causes: improperly flushed items, such as hand towels or baby diapers, can easily clog the sewer drain. Many times, sewer drains clog as a result of naturally occurring sediment accumulating inside the pipes over the course of time. Another reason Franklin sewer drains clog is when tree roots grow into the drain pipes, seeking the nutrient rich water inside.  Your Franklin plumber can perform a visual inspection to determine the location and nature of your sewer drain clog.

Regular drain cleaning is an important household maintenance task. By removing the naturally occurring sediment as it accumulates, your Franklin plumber can prevent clogs before they form! Having your drains cleaned also makes the house smell better.  Often times, that foul smell coming from your sink is a result of dirty drains.

Ready to learn more? Contact your Franklin plumber to schedule drain cleaning today! It’ll be the easiest task you cross off your Honey-Do list!

Worchester MA: Adding a Second Bathroom

“This whole house has only one bathroom. That’s just crazy. Our Worchester MA plumber helped us add a second bathroom.  We converted a portion of the dining room we never use into a kid-friendly attractive bathroom that gets used everyday.” Marianna smiled. “It’s nice to be able to take a shower without having to take all the Barbie dolls out of the tub first.”

Completing a bathroom remodel on a budget is easier when you work closely with your Worchester MA plumber.  “Some of the ideas I had for the second bath would have been very expensive to install,” Marianna explained. “But our Worchester MA plumber showed me how just moving some items around made the whole project much more affordable.

Marianna’s Worchester MA plumber also helped her select energy efficient water saving fixtures, including a low-flush toilet and a metered faucet for the bathroom. “We’d been having a problem with the bathroom sink ‘mysteriously’ flooding after two little girls were playing in there,” the mother of two laughed.  “That’s not an issue anymore.”

Your Worchester MA plumber is your money saving resource when you need to add a second bathroom, install a master bath, renovate an existing bathroom, upgrade plumbing fixtures, replace the water heater, install a water softener, install a sump pump, or more! Contact us today to get started!

Leonardo da Vinci penned those words hundreds of years ago. Today, we don’t worry as much about standing water stagnating. Water heaters have evolved from those ancient, energy-wasting behemoths that stored dozens of gallons of water perpetually warming for us. Today, high efficiency and tankless water heaters are among the options your Worchester plumber can install when you need hot water heater replacement.

There are a number of reasons hot water heaters stop working. The first reason, and among the most common, is that your hot water heater has reached the end of its useful life.  Water heaters have an expected life of ten to twenty years, but it’s not at all uncommon to discover that a family has been operating with a hot water heater many years older than that.  Mechanical devices wear out. It happens. You’ll see hot water heaters fail faster in an environment where they are used heavily, or the water quality is not so great, or surrounding environmental conditions are harsh, such as a damp basement.

Signs that your hot water heater may be failing include a lack of hot water, water that takes longer and longer to heat up, puddles of water at the base of the hot water heater, and strange noises coming from the water heater.  Another trouble signal is a sudden spike in energy or water usage that you can’t explain for any other reason.  If you see any of these signs, it’s time to talk to your Worchester plumber about water heater replacement.

Another reason to consider Worchester hot water heater replacement is the fact that replacing your water heater for a more energy efficient model can save you some serious cash.  Talk to your Worchester plumber about your options in energy efficient hot water heaters.

Let’s start with the sump pump.  Your Worchester plumber can tell you that the sump pump is your home’s first, best defense against rain and flood waters.  Positioned in the lowest point in your basement, your sump pump quickly and quietly removes water as it accumulates to prevent structural damage to your home and possessions. You can test your sump pump by pouring a few gallons of water into the sump pit (the depressed area your sump pump sits in)  Your sump pump should come on immediately and quietly remove all of the water, shutting off again when the job is done.  If that doesn’t happen, contact your Worchester plumber.  It may be time for Worchester sump pump installation.

The next issue that comes up at this time of year is drain cleaning.  Every home needs the drains cleaned periodically, to remove the naturally occurring sediments that accumulate in pipes as part of normal operations.  You have kitchen drain pipes, bathroom sink drain pipes, bathtub or shower drains, and laundry room drains in your home.  You also have sewer drains that connect your home’s toilets to the municipal sewer system or your home’s septic system.  If you don’t have your drains cleaned regularly, your drains can clog.  This results in sinks and toilets that overflow – talk about a nasty mess!

If you have a clogged toilet or slow draining sink, call your Worchester plumber for drain cleaning service.

Other reasons that your drains may clog include tree root penetration – that’s where tree roots grow into your home’s septic drains, searching for water and nutrition – and physical damage to your home’s drainage system.  This type of damage can happen if you experience extremely heavy rains or flooding, earthquakes, landslides, or other events that disrupt the landscape.  To avoid costly exploratory excavation, your Worchester plumber will perform a visual inspection. This allows them to find the damage from the inside, saving you time and money.

Water Heater Replacement is one area where you can really save some money! Many older water heaters, particularly those that are more than 10-15 years old, aren’t as energy efficient as they need to be. These older water heaters use far too much energy to heat up your family’s hot water supply.  You have options for water heater replacement, including tankless water heaters. Talk to your Millbury plumber about what the best choices are for your family.

If your water heater breaks, you will need to have it repaired, or if it cannot be repaired, you will need water heater installation. Your Millbury plumber can perform water heater installation. Installing a water heater is definitely NOT a do-it-yourself job unless you a very, very skilled do it yourselfer! In many cases, the water heater manufacturer requires professional installation or you void the warranty.  Protect your largest investment – your home! – by having your Millbury plumber install your new water heater.

Signs that your water heater may be failing include a total absence of hot water, the fact it takes longer and longer for water to heat up, puddles near the water heater, a sudden spike in water usage rate or energy bills when you haven’t been using remarkably more hot water than usual, and strange noises coming from your water heater. If you see any of these signs, call your Millbury plumber!

When pipes burst, icy water cascades out, flooding the surrounding area. This could be your basement, crawl space, or inside your home. This water can do a great deal of damage to your personal possessions. Estimated water damage losses for a typical family can go as high as $9,000!

What To Do If Your Pipes Burst in Auburn

Once you discover that your pipes have burst, you need to move fast. It’s critical to get the water shut off: this will stop the flood of water that is currently filling your home. Shut your water off at the water shut off valve. This may be located in your basement or crawlspace; in some homes, the water shut off valve is near the water heater. Turn the handle until the valve is completely shut.

If you can safely shut off the power to the flooded area, do so. Do not enter any flooded areas yourself: the risk for shock and injury is extremely high. Take steps to keep animals and children out of flooded areas.

The pipes that have burst will need repair. The surrounding plumbing will need to be inspected to ensure it was not damaged or compromised. While your pipes are burst and your water supply shut off, you will have no water in your home. This means you can’t get a glass of tap water, take a shower, or flush the toilet. You will not be able to use your washing machine or dishwasher. Obviously, this is a situation you need to get fixed fast. Call your Auburn plumber!

You see, every home needs regular drain cleaning.  Through the course of time, particulate matter, waste, and unpleasant residue from many sources will accumulate on the inside of your home drain pipes. Once this accumulation reaches significant levels, the result is clogged pipes.  How can you tell when the time is right to clean your drains?

Here are three signs you need Franklin drain cleaning:

Franklin: Clogged Toilets

Clogged toilets can overflow, causing a stinky, inconvenient mess. Clogged toilets are caused by sewer drain clogs, where an obstruction blocks passage of water and waste material through the sewer drain pipes. These obstructions can be improperly flushed items (baby diapers, hand towels, potted plants…), the result of natural accumulations over time, tree roots which grow into sewer drain pipes, or damage to the pipe itself. Your Franklin plumber will perform sewer drain cleaning which removes these obstructions and gets your pipes working again.

Franklin: Slow Draining Sinks

If your kitchen, bathroom, or utility room sink is draining slowly, you may need drain cleaning. Kitchen drain pipes are especially vulnerable, as food residue, grease, and soap scum can accumulate quickly. If you notice your sinks draining slowly after you pull the plug, or a foul odor coming from your kitchen sink drains, call your Franklin plumber! It’s time for drain cleaning.

Franklin: Laundry Room Clogs

Laundry room clogs happen when the dirt, grease, hair, and clothing fibers that are cleaned off of the clothes by the washing machine accumulate in the laundry drain pipe. While this type of clog is not as common as kitchen sink clogs or clogged toilets, a laundry room clog can result in an inconvenient mess. For a busy family, it’s essential to keep the washing machine running! If your washer drains extremely slowly, you need to call your Franklin plumber. Drain cleaning can fix the problem fast.

Many Central MA homeowners have a sump pump in their home. This pump is the first line of defense against flooding and water damage.  Usually installed in the basement, a sump pump removes water before it can accumulate to depths where it can damage your home or possessions.  It doesn’t take much water to permanently damage furniture, home heating equipment, or your home’s foundation.  It’s essential to get water out quickly.

Many of us don’t even think about our sump pumps until something goes wrong.  Unfortunately, the way you *might* discover your sump pump isn’t working is a flooded basement costing you thousands of dollars in damages! There are two types of sump pumps: pedestal and submersible.  The expected useful life span of a pedestal sump pump is 10-15 years, depending on how often the pump is used.  With heavier usage, your sump pumps will wear out faster.

To test your sump pump, pour several gallons of water into the sump pit.  If you’re not sure how to do this, ask your Central MA plumber.  They will be able to tell you that the sump pit is the shallow hole dug to contain the sump pump. Once this hole is full of water, your sump pump should come on, quickly and quietly removing all of the water.  If your sump pump does not come on during this test, or fails to remove the water quickly or quietly, it’s time to have your Central MA plumber inspect it.  It may be time for Central MA sump pump installation.

One of the neat things about New Year’s Eve is the tradition of making resolutions. The promises we make to ourselves in order to make life better for ourselves and our loved ones don’t have to be limited to pledging to lose weight or quit smoking. As homeowners, we can make choices that will help us have homes that are more beautiful and comfortable – and save us money! Here are some tips from your Worchester County plumber:

Worchester County Furnace Service: Once A Year!

One of the best ways to keep your family warm and comfortable while you save money is to have your Worchester County plumber perform an annual furnace service call. This call is critical. During this time, your Worchester County plumber will inspect your home heating system, and make sure all the components are functioning properly. Cleaning and replacing filters, nozzles, and other furnace components keeps your family safe and increases the efficiency of your home heating system. You’ll save fuel and money!

Worchester County Drain Cleaning: Keep Your Home Looking (And Smelling!) Great!

Keep your home looking and smelling great all year round by having your Worchester County plumber perform regular drain cleaning. Worchester County drain cleaning removes the waste materials that slowly accumulate on the inside of drain pipes – the pipes that connect our sinks, bathtubs, and toilets to the sewer system. This accumulation can become so severe that it blocks the passage of water through the pipes. When this happens, your sink can back up. So can your toilet – talk about an unpleasant, nasty mess! Drain cleaning removes the accumulated waste material that lines drain pipes. It eliminates any objects that have been improperly flushed down the pipes.

Not many people know that problems with your home heating system can cause you to use more fuel and energy than necessary to keep your home warm.  Clogged filters, worn belts, dirty fuel nozzles and other common issues cause your furnace to run inefficiently. Cracks or damage to the fuel supply lines or associated gaskets can contribute to wasted fuel.  Any damage to your home heating system can contribute to serious threats to your family, including the risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

If your fuel or energy bills have spiked without an accompanying stretch of extremely cold, sub-zero temperatures, call your Worchester MA plumber.  They can check your home heating system to see what’s causing the problem.  Other signs that your furnace needs repair include the furnace not providing heat; the furnace provides heat only sporadically or unevenly;  strange noises or sounds coming from the furnace.  If your home carbon monoxide detector has been activated, have your Worchester MA plumber inspect the furnace.

Having a reliable source of heat is extremely important during these cold winter nights.  If your furnace stops working, contact us for Worchester MA emergency furnace repair.  It is not safe for older family members and young children to be exposed to extreme low temperatures – yet that’s exactly what’s in the weather forecast. Our team of trained plumbing professionals are ready to work on all types of home heating sytems, furnaces and boilers.  We’ll get the problem fixed- and we’ll do it fast!