Questions to Ask Your Plumber

Pipe Wrench Plumbing

865-583-3957
Same Day Service Guaranteed! 

Asking the right questions can help you better understand your upcoming plumbing project.  Here are a few questions to ask your plumber before any work begins.

Questions to ask:

1. How much will the project cost? – The cost of a plumbing project depends on the needed materials, the complexity of the job, and the time it will take to complete.  Always make sure you know how much your project is going to cost you.
2. How long will the job take to complete? – Aside from unforeseen difficulties, your plumber should be able to calculate a timetable for the completion of your project. 
3. Will the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room be useable if work continues over several days?  Many home improvement projects can be completed in a single visit.  However, you should always ask your plumber if you will need to have your water shut off for an extended period of time.
4. Is your plumber bonded, licensed, and insured?  You always want to make sure that your plumber is insured.  If you have a reoccurring problem, you want to make sure your plumber is bonded.  If you discover that you are going to need a permit to complete your project, you want them to be licensed as well.
5. Do you have any references?  This is a common question.  A good plumber will gladly supply you with references.

For more information on essential questions to ask your plumber, visit this website.  You can also contact our office with all of the questions you have about our plumbing technicians or the services that we offer.  The technicians at Pipe Wrench Plumbing are experienced in all aspects of plumbing repair and installation.  Call 865-583-3957 to contact Pipe Wrench Plumbing for service today!

Don’t forget to add us on social media:

Facebook - Twitter - Google+

Check for Home Plumbing Leaks

Pipe Wrench Plumbing

865-583-3957
Same Day Service Guaranteed! 

Even a small home plumbing leak can be costly.  Fortunately, there are a few simple techniques that can help you detect leaks at home and avoid a high utility bill.

Places to Check:

• Pressure Relief Valve – Check the pressure relief valve on the hot water tank.  Sometimes these valves are plumbed directly into a drain and may be leaking without you even realizing.  If you can’t remove the drain pipe, check for a hissing sound.
• Toilet Tank – Remove the top of the tank and listen for a hissing sound.  If you don’t notice any leaks, add some food coloring into the tank and wait several minutes.  If the color seeps into the bowl, you have a leak!
• Meter Line – Check the line running from the meter to the house by shutting off the valve to your house and checking to see if the dial on the meter turns.  If it is still turning, the leak is likely between your meter and the house.
• Hose Bibs – Hose-bibs are the pipes that hook your hoses on to.  Each house typically has one hose-bib in the front and one in the back.

Other common leaks include garden hoses, shower heads, and swimming pools.  If you aren’t sure where your leak is coming from, contact our office.  The technicians at Pipe Wrench Plumbing are experienced in all aspects of plumbing repair and installation.  Call 865-583-3957 to contact Pipe Wrench Plumbing for service today!

Don’t forget to add us on social media:

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

Water Saving Tips for the Kitchen

Pipe Wrench Plumbing

865-583-3957
Same Day Service Guaranteed! 

Looking for ways to reduce water use in your home?  Conserving water can help save you money on your utility bill and reduce your environmental impact.  Here are a few tips to help you limit everyday water use in your kitchen!

Kitchen Water Saving Tips:

• Wash dishes by hand in a wash basin or plugged up sink.
• Use the dishwasher only when it is fully loaded.
• Scrape the plate instead of rinsing it before putting it in the dishwasher.
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge, rather than waiting for running water to get cold.
• Thaw food in the refrigerator overnight rather than letting the faucet run.
• Add food waste to a compost pile rather than the garbage disposal.

For more tips on how to save water in your home every day, visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s website.  They offer tons of great tips!  You can also contact our office for all of your plumbing needs. Call 865-583-3957 to contact Pipe Wrench Plumbing for service today!

Don’t forget to add us on social media:

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

Plunging Advice

Pipe Wrench Plumbing

865-583-3957
Same Day Service Guaranteed! 

Want to master the art of plunging?  Here are a few tips to help you unclog the sink, toilet, or bathtub in your home.

Plunging Tips:

• Choosing Your Plunger – There are two main types of plungers.  A cup plunger works best for sinks, tubs, and shower clogs.  A flange plunger looks like a cup with a nozzle on the bottom.  This is a good option or older toilets.
• Mastering Your Technique – When you use your plunger, make sure that there is water all around it.  It may take five or six times before you get the suction you need. 
• Unclogging Toilets – Take off the tank lid to manually flush.  If the clog is not gone, you can stop the water before the toilet overflows.
• Understanding Parts Replacement – Sometimes, a toilet won’t flush because calcium deposits restrict water flow, rather than a clog.  Try pouring a bucket of water into the bowl.  If it flushes easily, clogs probably aren’t the problem.

If you are still having trouble unclogging your drains, contact our office!  The professionals at Pipe Wrench Plumbing can help you tackle any of your plumbing problems. Call 865-583-3957 to schedule an appointment with our professional plumbers or complete an online request form.

Follow us on social media: 

Facebook – Twitter – Google+ - YouTube

What Can You Clean In Your Dishwasher?

Pipe Wrench Plumbing

865-583-3957
Same Day Service Guaranteed! 

Your dishwasher can clean a lot more than just dishes!  It is a great way to clean a number of household items.  Some of the items you can clean in your dishwasher might even surprise you!

Things to Clean In Your Dishwasher:

• Exhaust Filter – Keep your kitchen exhaust filter clean by cleaning it in the dishwasher once a month!  Use a high temperature and good detergent to get read of the grease.
• Sponge – Your dish sponge can be a breeding ground for bacteria.  Use a heated dry setting to kill germs.
• Plastic Toys – Cleaning small toys in the dish washer can help kill germs fast.  You can wash pet toys too.
• Hairbrushes & Toothbrushes – Place plastic hairbrushes and toothbrushes in the top rack of your dishwasher and make sure they are secure before starting the cycle. Don’t forget to remove all the hair from the hairbrush first!
• Dish Racks – Wipe out any grimy buildup and place your dish rack in the dishwasher to get rid of any bacteria.

For more tips on what you can wash in your dishwasher, check out this Good Housekeeping article.

We offer dishwasher repair and installation services at our office.  Learn more about the plumbing repair services that we offer on our website.  We offer 24/7 emergency services for all of your plumbing needs.  Call 865-583-3957 to schedule an appointment with our professional plumbers or complete an online request form.

Follow us on social media: 

Facebook – Twitter – Google+ - YouTube

Lost Jewelry? Here's How To Get It Back

Pipe Wrench Plumbing

865-583-3957
Same Day Service Guaranteed! 

Have you ever lost a piece of jewelry down your sink?  This is a common plumbing problem!  Here are a  few tips to help you retrieve it.

Sink:

• Use a Magnet – See if you can capture your jewelry with a strong magnet.  Tie it to a string and lower the magnet into the drain.  If your jewelry is silver or gold – which aren’t magnetic – this will not work for you.
• Turn off Your Water – Turn off the shut-off valves under the sink for the hot and cold water, as well as the main water supply to your home.
• Take Apart the P-Trap – This u-shaped pipe under the sink generally has a drain plug.  Place a bucket under the p-track and remove the drain plug to release the water.  Take apart the trap by loosening the slip nuts and dumping out any remaining water.  You should be able to find your lost jewelry!

Garbage Disposal:

• Turn it Off – Always be careful when working with your garbage disposal!  Turn off the power before you try to retrieve anything.
• Retrieve the Item – If your jewelry is visible try retrieving it with tongs, wooden spoons, or even a magnet.
• Call a Plumber – If the item is caught in the grinder, it has likely damaged your garbage disposal.  Give us a call!

Shower Drain:

• Remove Drain Cover – Most drain covers should come off pretty easily.  After removing the cover, check to see if you can remove the jewelry with a flexible tool.
• Vacuum – Try sucking the jewelry out of the drain with a wet-dry vacuum!

For more tips, check out this Angieslist article.

As always, we are here to help you with all of your plumbing needs!  Give our office a call if you have lost a piece of jewelry or you are experiencing any plumbing problems. Learn more about the plumbing repair services that we offer on our website.  We offer 24/7 emergency services for all of your plumbing needs.  Call 865-583-3957 to schedule an appointment with our professional plumbers or complete an online request form.

Follow us on social media: 

Facebook – Twitter – Google+ - YouTube

photo credit: ashley rose, via photopin cc

Common Bathroom Plumbing Problems

Pipe Wrench Plumbing

865-583-3957
Same Day Service Guaranteed! 

Simple plumbing problems can be easy to overlook.  However, you should always repair plumbing problems early on, before they become an issue!  Are you experiencing any of these common bathroom plumbing problems?

Common Bathroom Plumbing Problems:

• Trap Blockage – Basin traps are one of the most common areas for blockages to occur.  You try using a snake, but the sink usually needs to be dismantled to remove the blockage.
• Clogged Sink Drain – Clogs in bathroom sinks are common and usually occur near the pop-up assembly of the drain.  Remove the spring tab, ball valve and pop-up plug to remove the debris clogging your sink.
• Stopped-Up Toilet – When your toilet trap or drain is blocked, water will rise to the rim and drain very slowly when flushed.  First, try using a plunger.  If this doesn’t work, try using a snake or calling our office for help!
• Low Water Pressure – Reduced shower water flow is usually due to limescale buildup.  Try removing the buildup with a descaling product.

Read this article for more information on how to fix common bathroom plumbing problems.

Learn more about the plumbing repair services that we offer on our website.  We offer 24/7 emergency services for all of your plumbing needs.  Call 865-583-3957 to schedule an appointment with our professional plumbers or complete an online request form.

Follow us on social media: 

Facebook – Twitter – Google+ - YouTube

photo credit: -mrsraggle- via photopin cc