24 Hour Plumbing | Our Plumbing Blog

Thanksgiving creates more drain clogs than any other day

November 23rd, 2011 by pabrams

The day after Thanksgiving is the single busiest of the year for Roto-Rooter, nationwide and for our plumbers here in Atlanta. Why? Big holiday meal preparation and cleanup can lead to clogged kitchen sinks and garbage disposals. Extra guests mean more toilet flushes, extra laundry loads,

Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain

more showers, etc. But oddly enough, Thanksgiving itself is not such a busy day for Roto-Rooter. It’s the next day, Black Friday, that gets absolutely crazy! The day after Thanksgiving is the single busiest day of the year for Roto-Rooter plumbers. Incoming calls will jump 50% above an average Friday. We’ll be slammed but thanks to good planning, we’ve staffed up here at Roto-Rooter Plumbers of Atlanta (and nationwide). We know what’s coming and we’ll be fully staffed to deal with all the extra calls so we can still get to your problem FAST!

If you want to avoid having the Roto-Rooter man over for Thanksgiving Dinner (or turkey sandwiches the next day), pay attention to these important tips:

Never pour fats or cooking oils down drains. They solidify in pipes. Instead, wipe grease from pots with paper towels and throw them into the trash.
Avoid putting stringy, fibrous or starch waste in the garbage disposal.
Make sure disposal is running when you put food into it. Don’t wait until it’s full to turn it on.
For homes hosting weekend guests, wait 15 minutes between showers so slow drains have time to do their job.
Never flush cotton balls, swabs, hair or facial scrub pads down a toilet. They don’t dissolve and will cause clogs.

Finally, Roto-Rooter of Atlanta does not charge extra for nights, weekends or holidays. It’s true! So if you’re dealing with a big clog and are fearful of a plumber’s holiday bill, don’t worry! Call Roto-Rooter’s experienced Atlanta plumbers and you’ll pay the same rate on Thanksgiving that you would pay on any other day. And we are a 24-hour plumbing company. Give us a call at 404-209-0001 in Atlanta. Nationally, you can call Roto-Rooter at 1-800-ROTO-911.

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Commercial plumbing is almost half of our business

November 11th, 2011 by pabrams

Sometimes people are surprised to learn that Roto-Rooter is not only a full-service Orlando plumber but that we can handle any size commercial plumbing job. Commercial plumbing repairs represent almost half of our overall business. Think of movie theatres, hospitals, schools, manufacturing plants, restaurants, office buildings, theme parks and other commercial establishments here in Orlando and all the toilets, sinks, drainpipes, sewer lines and water supply pipes those businesses depend on. Not to mention backflow inspections and other services commercial businesses have to deal with. Yes, Roto-Rooter here in Orlando takes care of any and all commercial plumbing issues, not matter how big or small. Let’s face it, when the plumbing stops working, a lot of businesses ground to a halt. That means profits stop dead in the water too. Roto-Rooter’s Orlando plumbing professionals understand that, which is why we offer the Roto-Rooter Business Advantage Program to our commercial customers. It give priority service, discount coupons and 24/7 rush service no matter what time of the day or night. Check out the details of Roto-Rooter Business Advantage and ask yourself if this program might be right for your business. Or give us a call at Roto-Rooter of Orlando and we’ll be glad to tell you all about it . 407-886-7311

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Look behind your washing machine today

November 7th, 2011 by pabrams

Look behind your washing machine, and do it today. If you see black rubber hoses connecting your washer to the faucets in the wall, you’re looking at a time bomb. One of these days, and nobody knows when, those cheap rubber hoses could burst and if you are like 99% of us, you

Braided stainless steel hoses

probably leave those water supply lines turned on all the time. That means when one of those hoses bursts, the water will continue to run freely all over your house until you close the valve. As plumbers who have served Orlando for decades, we’ve seen this happen more times than we care to think about. And that’s why the best plumbing tip you’re going to get today is to look behind your washing machine and replace those rubber hoses with high-quality braided stainless steel hoses that are resistant to bursts and will last a long, long time.

Appliance failure is responsible for more household floods and water damage than weather of any kind. That’s a fact that your insurance agent will verify. Sometimes those old rubber hoses won’t come off without a fight so if you can’t get them off with your bare hands, you may have to use a good pair of channel lock pliars. Just be careful and use a reasonable amount of effort, don’t yank the faucet out of the wall and cause the flood that you’re trying to avoid. And if something does go wrong, remember that Roto-Rooter is a 24 hour plumbing company. We’re always available to help and Roto-Rooter of Orlando does not charge extra for service calls at night, on weekends or on holidays because we know plumbing problems and emergencies can happen at any time of day or night. How many Orlando plumbers won’t charge you extra for a 3:00 a.m. service call? The answer is not many. We’re always here when you need us. 407-886-7311

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Living with and Maintaining Cast Iron Pipes

November 4th, 2011 by pabrams

If you are thinking of buying a house with cast iron drain pipes, you should probably invest in having licensed plumbing specialists here in Atlanta camera the line. A fiber optic pipe inspection camera will show you the condition of the piping below the concrete. If there are plumbing problems, a camera inspection is your eyes and ears in the pipe and allows you to be in control of your residential plumbing and eliminate surprises. Once you know what you’re dealing with, it’s a lot easier to plan and maintain your pipes:

• Schedule maintenance - clean regularly to keep the piping from backing up

• Save money on repairs – if there are cracks in the pipe, low spots, and/or offsets that need corrected

• Root Infiltration – set up regular cleaning by Roto-Rooter of Atlanta and apply a root destroyer product.

If you maintain cast iron pipes, they will last for a long time. They are much quieter than plastic pipes and are more durable. The difference is they don’t have the same flow characteristics or ease of installation of plastic piping. Roto-Rooter of Atlanta is well equipped to advise customers and work on cast iron pipes and we’re a 24 hour plumbing company that can respond to any emergency at any time of the day or night.

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Is your plumbing ready for Halloween?

October 28th, 2011 by pabrams

Have you heard about the ways Halloween can impact your home’s plumbing? We’re not talking about chocolate or candy corn down the drain. We’re talking about pumpkin guts! Roto-Rooter reminds you never put pumpkin seeds or pulp down the sink or through the garbage disposal. We’ll bet you would be surprised how often we hear from people who just push that pumpkin muck down the sink drain and turn on the disposal! When pumpkin guts dry, they harden like concrete and can createall sorts of trouble in your drains.

Roto-Rooter’s Atlanta plumbing experts suggest instead that you spread out a newspaper and put the gooey guts and seeds on it, then separate the seeds. The newspaper and pulp are beneficial for the compost pile and the seeds are a tasty seasonal snack. You don’t even need to rinse off the good, a lot of people believe it adds to the flavor. And remember, Roto-Rooter is always working. We’re your 24 hour plumbing company so if you don’t get this information in time and your drain is jammed with pumpkin guts, we’ll send a plumber out to any Atlanta location immediately. Or you can reach us by phone at 404-209-0001.

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Halloween pumpkins may scare your garbage disposal to death!

October 21st, 2011 by pabrams

Halloween is a fun time for families, as they gather around the kitchen to carve pumpkins. But Halloween is scary too – for your sink and garbage disposal that is. Your experienced Orlando plumbers at Roto-Rooter want to remind you never put pumpkin seeds or pulp down the sink or through the garbage disposal. You would be surprised how often we hear from people who just push that pumpkin muck down the sink drain and turn on the disposal! When pumpkin guts dry, the harden like concrete and can creat all sorts of havoc in your drains.

Roto-Rooter’s Orlando plumbing experts suggest instead that you spread out a newspaper and put the gooey guts and seeds on it, then separate the seeds. The newspaper and pulp are great for the compost heap and those seeds are best for making a tasty seasonal snack. You don’t even need to rinse off the good, a lot of people believe it adds to the flavor. And remember, Roto-Rooter is a 24 hour plumbing company so if you don’t get this information in time and your drain is plugged with pumpkin guts, we’ll send a plumber out to any Greater Orlando location straight away! You can give us a call any time of day at 407-886-7311.

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When the plumber’s price seems too good to be true…

October 7th, 2011 by pabrams

Any little plumbing repair can turn into a big deal if it’s done wrong. If you’re thinking about cutting corners and using one of the many unlicensed ”handymen” or fly-by-night plumbing contractors here in Atlanta who may or may not have any real training, you may do well to reconsider and look for a plumbing brand that stands behind its work.

We all want a low price, especially in times like these with a tanking economy and a weak dollar. But it’s not just lip servicewhen I use the old saying, “you get what you pay for.” There is more to consider when hiring plumbing contractors here in the Atlanta area than just a low price.

Consider a few things that could go wrong. First, does the guy offer a warranty for his plumbing services? Will you be able to find him in six months if that pipe starts leaking again and floods your home? Does Joe Schmo carry adequate liability insurance just in case that gas pipe he ran to your water heater leaks and causes a fire or an explosion? Does he hold a plumber’s license? And will he get the proper local permits required by law? These are things you never have to worry about with Roto-Rooter. We do it right and by the book and we’re easy to find if something goes wrong. And we’re a 24-Hour plumbing company that doesn’t charge extra for nights, weekends or holidays. If you want an honest assessment and a free written estimate, call us at 404-209-0001.

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Conserving water is something we all should do

September 30th, 2011 by pabrams

Water is a precious resource, so it makes sense that we should all do our part to use less of it. As the top Atlanta plumbing company, know water is in short supply due to several very dry years. If your water bill seems higher than it used to be and you feel your house is using more water than it should be, hire a qualified Atlanta Plumber to do leak detection. Atlanta is an area that doesn’t get enough rain most of the time. Lately, we haven’t had an abundant water supply and our reservoirs could stand some help.

If you fix leaky faucets and toilets, you can easily save thousands of gallons of water per year. Don’t wait, do that faucet repair. If we all start fixing the leaks, we have the potential to save a significant amount of water. This can also limit the implementation of more extreme measures like lawn watering restrictions, which are never popular.

If you would like assistance with these plumbing problems, Roto-Rooter has the right plumber in every American city, including Atlanta. We are your 24 hour plumbing provider and can provide leak detection services, faucet repairs, bathroom plumbing solutions and any other necessary Atlanta plumbing and drain service.

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Hurricanes: Preparing and protecting your home’s plumbing system before the storm

August 25th, 2011 by pabrams

Home flooding, as a result of powerful storms, can be a devastating experience. However, good preparation before the storm arrives can minimize the impact on your home. Anyone living in flood prone areas should consider relocating to a safer area until the storm has passed. We recommend that homeowners follow these important guidelines before the storm arrives.

Hurricane Irene

Check all downspouts and roof gutters to ensure they are securely fastened, free of debris and draining properly.
Make sure yard culverts and street drains are free of debris and can carry water away as fast as possible.
Inspect basement sump pump, if you have one. Ensure it is discharging water properly and is not clogged with debris. Do this by pouring a few buckets of water into your sump pit. In a matter of seconds, the pump should discharge the water and shut itself off.
Consider installing a battery back-up pump that will operate in the event of a power failure.
Inspect all floor drains throughout the house, including those in the garage, driveway, basement and patio. Make sure the covers are unobstructed and the drains aren’t clogged.

If there is advanced warning of a major storm, the water in your home’s plumbing system can be protected from contamination and made available for use.

Shut off the main water valve coming into the home. This prevents contaminated water from getting into the house.
Open a faucet at the highest point in the house (such as an upstairs bathroom) to allow air into the system. Then draw water as needed from the lowest faucet in the home.
Water in the water heater or a pressure tank represents many gallons of safe water for use in an emergency.
If there is enough advanced warning of the emergency, assure the freshest water supply by flushing the tank and allowing it to refill with clean water.
Turn off electricity or gas to the water heater, so that there is no risk that the heating unit could come on while the tank is being emptied. Draw water as needed from the drain valve at the bottom of the tank.
Water stored in your home’s plumbing system is safe for a few days. After a longer time, it must be disinfected before it is used for drinking or cooking.
Sinks and bathtubs and can be filled with water for emergency use. Water stored this way is perfect for cleaning dishes, bathing or flushing toilets. However, due to the difficulty in getting tubs and sinks clean, this water is not recommended for drinking and cooking unless it is first disinfected

Water safety after the storm

Upon returning to your home after a hurricane or flood, tap water may be unsafe to drink. Bacteria, viruses, debris, or chemicals may have gotten into the water. Water treatment plants may be damaged and unable to clean the water. Here’s what you can do:

If you don’t know whether the water is safe to use, boil water before using it for any purpose (example: Bathing, brushing teeth, cooking, drinking).
Once your community declares its water safe, be sure to flush your home’s water system by opening all faucets for several minutes.

Specializing in Emergencies

As a 24 hour plumbing company, Roto-Rooter specializes in emergency service and is always on call and available 24/7. Homes and businesses that need help getting plumbing back on-line in the wake of an emergency can call 1-800-ROTO-911 or service can be scheduled by e-mail at rotorooter.com. If we are part of an evacuation, we will be part of it but we will return to work as soon as it is safe to do so.

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Roto-Rooter Assists Tornado Victims in Alabama

May 9th, 2011 by pabrams

Roto-Rooter’s Birmingham Branch is lending a hand to its neighbors in its 12-county service territory who were victims of the late April 2011 tornadoes. The tornadoes wrecked homes and businesses and displaced many local families and individuals who are now staying in local shelters until they can find new places to live and get back on their feet.

Often it’s the little comforts that can make a big difference in someone’s comfort. That’s why Roto-Rooter’s Birmingham service technicians and office staff made it their mission to help their communities. The team purchased lots of toiletry items like toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, wet wipes, baby diapers and other “comfort items” then put together more than 1,500 care packages with the items. Roto-Rooter service technicians then loaded the items into their service vans and delivered the packages to area shelters.

Almost every member of Roto-Rooter’s Birmingham plumbing staff has a friend or family member who was affected by the tornadoes. “I’m upset and heartbroken over what my aunt is going thru at this time with the loss of her home. ”I think its a good thing to give back to the community and to the people who really need all the help they can get,” said Maurice Butler who is a service technician for Roto-Rooter. Business slowed in the wake of the storm and Roto-Rooter general manager, Jason Eldridge, decided that the idle time could be put to good use helping the community. He called a staff meeting and discussed the idea with his team and was greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm. Vernon Cooper, another service technician for Roto-Rooter said his sister lost her entire house in Pratt City. ”I’m Devastated by what my sister is going through and at a loss myself because I’m so close to the tragedy. So I’m happy to be able to help my neighbors who are going through so much right now”
Roto-Rooter technicians are used to providing 24 hour plumbing, fixing kitchen plumbing problems and doing sewer cleaning jobs but they have a fleet of reliable vehicles and an army of employees who stepped up to make life a bit more pleasant for their storm damaged community.

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