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Our Austin Plumbers Do Video Camera Line Inspections

December 8th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

If you are in need of a video camera line inspection, the Austin plumbers of Roto-Rooter are more than willing and able to provide you with this service.  What does a video camera line inspection involves you ask; video camera inspections have become one of the most valuable tools for diagnosing a number of plumbing problems. We use fiber optic cameras to visually inspect underground sewer lines and other piping to determine the condition of the inside of a pipe.

A flexible rod with a camera at the tip is inserted into the pipe, the video images are then transmitted to the operator and are recorded and can be saved for permanent record.  There are also radio transmitters on the camera, which provide the depth and physical location of a defect or obstruction. Once the problem is located, it can then be addressed based upon the gathered information in the most cost-effective manner.  Video cameras can also be used to locate lost jewelry and other valuables, even animals that have become lost or trapped inside of pipes.

If you would like to schedule service in the Austin area, we can be reached at (215) 345-5212 or visit our Austin plumbing Website for more information and online scheduling.

 

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Kitchen Maintenance Tips from Our Austin Plumbers

December 2nd, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Roto-Rooter’s Austin plumbers recommend these simple tips to keep the plumbing running efficiently in your kitchen.

  • Run cold water down the drain for 15 seconds before and after using the garbage disposal to thoroughly clear out the waste from the line.
  • Never put dense, stringy or fibrous waste down the drain, which would include things like poultry skins or vegetable and fruit peels.
  • Dispose of liquid grease in the trash. If consistently poured down the drain it will eventually cause a plumbing problem.

These precautionary measures should prolong the longevity of your kitchen’s functionality and can ultimately protect you from potential problems which may arise.  If you have any further questions about kitchen plumbing or any other plumbing or drain cleaning service, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. Visit our Austin plumbers Website or call us at  (512) 258-3008  and we would be happy to assist you.

 

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Tackling Foul Odor Issues

November 23rd, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

The Austin plumbers of Roto-Rooter would like to provide some tips to address foul odor issues. Foul odors can occur due to a number of reasons. A common place for foul odor to arise is your kitchen sink, which is typically linked to your garbage disposal. To eliminate odor coming from your sink, try putting  ice cubes and lemon or orange peels down your drain while running the disposal for about 30 seconds. Then, follow up this process by squirting liquid dishwashing detergent while the disposal is running as well. Lastly, run cold water down the drain to clear leftover debris and your sink should be left odor free.

Basements can also house  foul odor smells. If you are getting a foul odor coming from a basement bathroom, it is most likely caused by trapped water in various fixtures of your plumbing system. Plumbing systems are designed to prevent foul odors from entering your home, but occasionally, the water seal of a trap can evaporate and allow odor to enter your home. This plumbing problem has an easy solution, which can be done by dumping a bucket of water down the shower, sink or floor drain within your basement.

If you would like assistance with this or any other plumbing or drain service in the Austin area, feel free to call us at (512) 258-3008 or visit our Austin plumber Website for online scheduling and additional information.

 

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Suggestions for Sump Pump Setbacks

November 18th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

The Austin plumbers of Roto-Rooter have addressed a number of sump pump issues and have provided, some advice below to diagnose some of the more common sump pump problems.

If your sump pump is starting and stopping over and over again or surging, it is most likely due to a few problems.

  •  The pressure switch may need to be replaced.
  • The expansion tank may have no air inside.
  • There may be a blockage of the opening of the impeller pump.

The best advice would be to do a bit of investigation on your own. Check the expansion tank to see if water is coming out of the top of the air bleed valve. If there is, this is a sign that the diaphragm, which separates the water and air has failed and the tank will need to be replaced. To test the pressure switch you will need to call in an electrician and go from there. Lastly, you may need to pull and check the submersible pump.

If you would like Austin plumbing assistance, call Roto-Rooter at (512) 258-3008, or visit our Website for online scheduling.

 

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What causes a black ring under a toilet?

November 15th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Our Austin plumbers of Roto-Rooter have encountered this black-ring issue many times.  Additionally, they are able to assess and ultimately provide you with a solution to this common plumbing problem. When a black ring starts to appear around the base of a toilet underneath the surrounding linoleum, it generally means there is a leak in the wax ring that seals the toilet.

The blackish color can come from bacteria, mold or sewage. The only solution  is to pull the toilet off the floor and replace the wax ring gasket. Our Austin plumbers also suggest making sure the drain line is cleared under the toilet while you have it off the floor. If your toilet cannot flush properly, then the water will build up and put pressure on the wax ring, which causes it to leak. If you’re not familiar with this kind of work, it may be in your best interest to call one of our plumbers who would be more than happy to assist you.

You may visit our Website to schedule service or call (512) 258-3008, and remember our Austin plumbing services are available 24/7 at your convenience.

 

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Some Background on Backflow

November 4th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

What is a backflow? Why do you have to pay to have your plumbing system tested for backflow or cross contamination? A backflow preventer is high hazard prevention device.  It prevents toxins from one part of a water system from flowing into your fresh water supply line.

Example: Chlorine or E Coli bacteria from a pool getting into the water supply and contaminating drinking water.

Water lines need to be tested because there are plumbing codes and standards the state of Texas upholds to keep our local fresh water supply safe from contamination. If you have a backflow device at your home or business, you will recieve a letter stating that your device needs to be tested periodically.

Roto-Rooter of Austin Plumbers are licesened to test your backflow preventer devices and ensure they are preventing cross contamination and your potable water supply is safe. If there is a problem, our Austin plumbers can fix the issue or provide you with an estimate for any repairs needed. If everything is working properly Roto-Rooter will forward your test results to the appropriate city officials to let them know you’ve complied with backflow inspection requirements and your system is safe.

Contact Roto-Rooter of Austin at 512-258-3008 if you would like to schedule a backflow inspection, or vsit our Website for online scheduling.

 

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A Couple Plumbing-Related Cooking Tips

October 30th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Our Austin plumbers of Roto-Rooter offer a wide variety of drain cleaning and plumbing services. We work holidays and weekends 24/7. Due to economic conditions, more people are staying at home and cooking instead of going out, which has caused more clogged kitchen sinks, especially in the Austin area. The Roto-Rooter Plumbers of Austin and surrounding areas have offered these helpful tips, so all your Austin plumbing problems go down the drain:

  1. Don’t pour fats or cooking oils down drains. Just throw them away in a trash can.
  2. Avoid putting stringy, fibrous waste (poultry skins, celery, fruit and potato skins) down your garbage disposal. Some disposals are not able to sufficiently grind those items and you may end up with an unwanted clog.
  3.  Make sure your garbage disposal is running when you put food in it. It’s important not to wait until it’s full to turn it on.

For more plumbing information and online scheduling visit our Austin Plumbing Website or call 512-258-3008.

 

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We do Water Heaters

October 27th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Our Roto-Rooter Plumbers in Austin can repair or replace your water heater. We have a staff of qualified plumbers who are experts in all areas of plumbing. If you are having an issue with your water heater, Roto-Rooter’s experienced Austin plumbers can send a technician to your home to give you a free estimate to repair or replace your water heater.

If your water heater needs to be replaced, Roto-Rooter will pull all the proper plumbing permits and set up and inspection for you with the local regulatory authority to ensure everything is done professionally and above board, so you won’t have to worry. Water heaters should not be worked on by the inexperienced. They are simply too dangerous for novices to play around with.

Remember If you are having trouble with your water heater, Roto-Rooter is the Austin plumbing company to call when you want any and all commercial or residential plumbing problems solved.

Whether your water heater is electric or gas, tank-less or conventional, call Roto-Rooter – your water heater experts. Schedule online or call 512-258-3008 for service.

 

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Camera Line Inspections, an Economical Diagnosis Method

October 24th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Roto-Rooter of Austin has very experienced plumbers who are always  equipped to diagnose a wide range of plumbing problems. Probably the single most important tool our plumbers use is a fiber optic sewer line inspection camera. These sophisticated video cameras can be dropped into a line to perform sewer line inspections,  which can reveal the condition of a pipe from the inside.

Line cameras help Roto-Rooter’s Austin Plumbers determine exactly what (if anything ) is wrong with your sewer or drain lines.  Additionally,  our customers are invited to see the inspection for themselves in real time through the camera’s monitor.  This fantastic tool can easily identify root intrusion, collapsed sections or bellies (dips or sags in the pipe), and ultimately eliminates the guesswork and potential for unnecessary repairs.

So remember, if your sewer line routinely backs up, the best and most economical way to find out exactly what is happening is to call the most experienced Austin plumbing company, Roto-Rooter. We are here to help 24/7. Visit our Website for more information or online scheduling or call us at 512-258-3008.

 

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Plumbing Tips for Pumpkin Carving

October 20th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

It is pumpkin carving time and here at Roto-Rooter, your Austin plumbing company of choice, we have a few key tips to avoid costly repairs or damage from a drain back-up. The ideal scenario would be to not carve directly over your sink. If you need or want to carve your pumpkin in your sink to avoid the mess, make sure you use some sort of a strainer device.

If all of your avoidance efforts don’t go exactly as planned,  there are a few actions you can take to remedy your plumbing problem. If you have pumpkin seeds and guts go into your disposal DO NOT run it,  this can make matters worse.  Schedule service with one our Austin Plumbers to come and clear the unit for you. If the guts just go down the drain, run as much water as you can to force the debris down the line. The last thing you want is a clogged drain.

Be sure to run the water for an extended period of time, you are trying to get it all the way out of the house, not just out of that sink drain. If your drain starts to back up during this process immediately shut of the water and give us a call, you are probably clogged and in need of an auger to clear your clog. A little caution and advanced planning will help keep your Halloween festivities from going down the drain!  Happy Carving!!!

For more information call 512-258-3008 or visit our Website to schedule service online with an Austin plumber of Roto-Rooter.

 

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A Common Sink Plumbing Fix

October 14th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Roto-Rooter’s Austin plumbers can handle any kitchen sink plumbing job. A common issue is due to build up  of debris in the water.  As debris flows through the aerator at the end of the faucet it begins to block the tiny holes to mix the air and water, which creates a soft stream of water.

Below are a couple of suggestions to alleviate this:

  • Try removing the aerator from the end of the spout and clean it out.
  • Installation of a sand filter on the supply lines to the faucet/ house.

Aerators are little strainers screwed into the end of faucets. They can be removeded by unthreading counterclockwise. At the back end of the strainer there is a very small opening designed to restrict the flow of water to conservation standards and to insert air to help prevent water from splashing. They commonly can get clogged, which reduces the pressure available to the faucet. It is a good idea to clean the aerators annually to improve the functionality of your faucet.

As always, you may call  512-258-3008 for Austin plumbing assistance or visit our Website to schedule service online.

 

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A few Washing Machine Maintenance Tips

October 13th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Our Austin Plumbers recommend these simple tips below to keep your washing machine running smoothly and your laundry room in order.

  • Run the washing machine only when it is fully loaded.
  • Inspect washing machine hoses for signs of wear. Replace rubber hoses with stainless steel braided hoses if possible. They tend to last longer and are more resistant to leaks and cracks.
  • Ensure that all drains have strainers to keep hair, soap and debris from entering and clogging the drain lines.
  • Check exposed pipes under sinks for signs of leaks.
  • Applying Roto-Rooter Pipe Shield® to laundry drain lines once each month can reduce the amount of lint and detergent scum from building up and causing clogs.
  • Make sure your water heater is not set above 1200 °F for a medium setting on an older model washing machine to conserve energy and prevent scalding.

Visit our Website or call  512-258-3008 to schedule service with one of our Austin plumbers.

 

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Roto-Rooter Austin plumbers provide plumbing & drain services anytime at no extra charge

October 7th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Our Austin plumbers are licensed plumbing specialists and take pride in the services they provide.  With dedication through the holidays, our around the clock service is just another day for Roto-Rooter's  Atlanta plumbers.Customers, take advantage of their long hours, 24/7 is what we're known for! In addition to our availability, we also do not charge an extra fee for nights, weekends or holidays!

Don’t hesitate to contact us for any problem, any time at 512-258-3008 or visit our Austin plumber Website to schedule service.

 

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Getting rid of Garbage Disposal odors

October 4th, 2011 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
Our Austin Plumbers can provide advice when dealing with terrible garbage disposal odor in kitchens. Bacteria can grow and buildup in your garbage disposal and it is the bacteria that causes the odor. First, do not put orange or lemon peels in your garbage disposal. They will gum up the line and eventually cause a backup in your sink. The best solution to beat the odor, is to use Roto-Rooter Pipe Shield. Simply pour a small amount of the concentrated solution down your drain and your odors will disappear. This green product uses natural "good bacteria" to eat away at the gross grease and food buildup that causes slow drains. All of our Roto-Rooter Austin Plumbers carry Pipe Shield and all of our other drain care products aboard thier service vans. If you have Roto-Rooter Plumber doing service at your home or you just see one in public somewhere, ask him about Roto-Rooter professional drain care products. He can sell you some on the spot! You can also call 512-258-3008 for more information.

 

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Roto-Rooter of Austin Clears Clogs

September 30th, 2011 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
It's a great time to talk about all the different Services Roto-Rooter in Austin provides. Your Roto-Rooter plumber can take care of any plumbing or drain problem from a toilet clog to a full main sewer pipe replacement. Our Austin Plumbers can get any clog out of a sewer line using a cable machine. If your plumbing problems are more serious than a simple clog that can't be remedied with a cable machine, we offer a top notch sewer pipe repair and replacement crew. Our Austin plumber will drop fiber optic cameras into pipes to do a sewer line inspection to locate where and what the problem is.  Then your line will be repaired with expert efficiency. So Remember if you have a plumbing problem , Roto-Rooter is the plumbing company in Austin to call! No other company can match our service experience. Call us today at 512-258-3008 or visit our Website to learn more about our services.

 

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Leaks should not be ignored…

September 28th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

All Austin plumbers will concur, when you have a leak the best thing to do is fix it right away. Leaks are sure signs of plumbing problems. Leaking water can lead to a number of issues including, black mold and rotting.  Also. wet wooden walls are the perfect environment for termites, carpenter ants and rotting in general.

For instance, many things can leak on a bathtub...

The faucet can leak inside the wall or externally from stems, the shower head or the spout. The drain can leak from the gasket on the back of the waste and overflow and the trap under the tub. The surrounding tile can also become affected by a leak at the joints to the tub around the faucet spouts and in the corners.

When you suspect a bathtub leak test it immediately. Fill the tub till it reaches the overflow tube. Then open the access panel  behind the tub and examine the overflow. If water is not coming out of the gasket or riser the overflow is not leaking.

Then let the water drain and check the bottom of the tub for leaks. Once the tub is empty you can also turn on the spout  faucet and switch it to the shower head and once again check behind the access panel for signs of a leak.Once you determine the problem, you can then proceed with a solution with some plumbing repair, but my best advice would be to act fast. Do not let a little leak linger.

For more Austin plumbing tips visit our Web site's Ask the Plumber  or call 512-258-3008 for more information on other plumbing services.

 

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Tankless Water Heater Replacement

September 22nd, 2009 by Roto Rooter Bloggers
If you are looking for an Austin Plumber to replace your water heater with a Tankless Water Heater, Roto-Rooter is the one to call. We will send a Master Plumber to your home to give you a free estimate before any work begins. We'll give you options and discuss the project and its benefits. Our work is guaranteed! For Austin plumbing services call 1-800-ROTO-911. And tankless water heaters will save you money on both your energy bill because the heater doesn't store water in a big 40 or 50 gallon tanks. Look at it this way, imagine if you kept a pot of water on your stove and you had to keep it hot. You would be turning that burner off and on at regular intervals just to keep that water hot 24/7. Your conventional water heater does the same thing - but tankless heaters use a burst of energy to flash-heat the water as you need it. And they never run out of hot water.
 

 

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