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Roto-Rooter: The Faucet Repair Experts

April 16th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

The big day is here. You are finally moving into your very own home. After years of renting, you are now a homeowner. When you are finished unpacking and everything is placed exactly where you want it, it is time to step back and think about the new associated responsibilities. Do you need faucet repair in Baltimore? It is up to you to get it taken care of. Whether you call Roto-Rooter or attempt it yourself, the decision is yours.

Are you handy with tools? Taking on home maintenance can be a challenge to tackle. As soon as you can, make a list of all the systems, appliances and other items you will need to regularly check. This also includes things like painting the trim and staining the fence. Regular attention will give your possessions a longer life. Take your list and put the tasks onto a maintenance calendar. Spread them out over time so that you don’t get burned out or run out of money. For seasonally check systems or equipment, like your furnace, air conditioning unit or lawn mower. Schedule their servicing for a month or two before you may need them, so you will be prepared for anything.

Your calendar will ensure you don’t forget to do vital tasks like, changing filters in your heating and cooling system, which will help keep you and your family free of allergens. Obviously, there will be times things unexpectedly break down and require immediate attention. If you need faucet repair in Baltimore, don’t wait to fix it until you get the garage cleaned and organized. Any type of water problem should become a priority. Whether you take care of it or call Roto-Rooter, get it done quickly.

Water is a force of nature and will cause extensive damage if left ignored. If you see water leaking, there is a good chance there is more somewhere you can’t see. When you have wet or damp areas, mold spores will develop. Black mold will wreak havoc on your respiratory system. Exposure to it over time will make you extremely sick, if you do not seek medical treatment. Get out of the house and stay somewhere else until the mold is completely cleared away.

 

 

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Roto-Rooter: Get the Pros to Fix your Plumbing Problems

April 6th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Are you having plumbing problems in Baltimore? Sometimes the responsibilities of homeownership are a pain. Backed up drains, broken pipes and overflowing toilets can become a burden. Don’t waste time running around attempting to fix everything yourself. You will end up spending a lot of money on tools and products you could have saved on by calling Roto-Rooter in the first place. They are on call 24 hours a day.

When pipes freeze, they can break. As they warm up, water could be potentially pouring into your home. It could be coming through the light fixtures, out from under a sink, anywhere is possible. Do you know where your water main shut off valve is? This is important to know, since quick action on your part will save you from a lot of damage and clean up.

If you are having plumbing problems in Baltimore and you have water starting to puddle on carpeting, turn off the valve and use a wet/dry utility vacuum to clean up the water. As soon as you have gotten out all the water, pull back the wet carpet and pad and put fans around the area to dry it out. If left wet, your carpet will quickly mildew and be ruined. The wet pad should actually be removed and replaced. If you get the carpet dried in time, you may be able to save it.

If the water comes through light fixtures or power outlets, you may have wet sheetrock, which will have to be removed. It is nearly impossible to dry it. Additionally, if left damp, mold and mildew will quickly begin growing. Black mold is something to look out for as well. It can be dangerous for you to breathe and will cause respiratory issues. If this happens, you must seek medical attention right away. You may have to stay somewhere else until all the mold is cleaned up. It is wise to either rent or buy an ozone machine to run in the house until any spores that may have been missed are dead. These machines should only be used when no one is in the house.

 

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Plumbing Repair Can be Easy to Perform

March 15th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Not everybody takes the same amount of time and care to better their homes. Some homeowners spend a great deal of their time and attention while others spend very little if any at all. While there really is no right or wrong per say, putting the effort into maintaining a comfortable home not only increases your quality of life, it also adds value to the property. One of the most important parts of a home that most people never think about unless there is a serious issue is the plumbing. Especially plumbing repair in Baltimore always a booming business, Roto-Rooter has had plenty of experience dealing with the many problems that homeowners face. Many of these issues while serious and out of control actually stemmed from very minor problems that could have been dealt with without a professional at all. With that said, gaining a little know-how and experience can go a long way.

What if you don’t know anything about your plumbing? Where do you start? One of the best things you can do as a homeowner is to familiarize yourself with the many different aspects of your plumbing. To do this, a full and comprehensive inspection is a great way to go. Roto-Rooter technicians will take a look top to bottom at your entire plumbing setup and go over a list of areas that need your attention now, soon, or areas that will potentially cause problems. They can also suggest courses of action on your part to stay ahead of these issues. It is always much cheaper to prevent a serious problem than deal with it after it becomes serious.

Always fix leaks quickly. Whether it is a pipe in the wall or a slow leak under the sink, water damage will cause a lot of problems. While most people associate water damage with serious flooding, the real danger is letting slow leaks go by. The water that seeps into your woodwork will create opportunity for mold to grow. As this mold grows, it can develop into dangerous strands like black mold, which can cause serious lung problem and even death. With this risk so easily averted, it is extremely important to know where these leaks are occurring so that they can be dealt with right away.

For more information about plumbing repair in Baltimore and how you can take better care of your plumbing, call Roto-Rooter today for information about our awesome products and services that we offer.

 

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Plumbing: DIY Tips for Better Care

March 12th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

You wake up in the morning, step in the shower, turn on the water, and feel the amazing feeling of a hot shower. There’s nothing better than starting the day off clean, relaxed, and completely satisfied before even having breakfast. Adversely, there’s nothing worse than waking up, stepping into the shower, turning on the water, and feeling razor sharp ice cutting open your back and freezing your mind. When the plumbing is on the fritz, it really affects your whole day. We take for granted the water that we have and completely forget to keep on top of regular plumbing maintenance. With plumbing in Baltimore keeping us in business, we here at Roto-Rooter find it helpful to educate our customers about the proper ways to use their plumbing and the best ways to maintain. As a leader in the industry for a long time, we’ve learned a thing or two are excited to pass some of that know-how onto anyone who wants it.

Frozen pipes are the absolute worst Christmas present anyone could get this year, yet, thousands of lucky recipients will deal not only with these ruined pipes, but the flooding that comes along with it. In order to prevent disaster in your home this winter, let’s learn a little bit about frozen pipes and what we can do to prevent it this time around. When water starts to freeze in pipes, it actually expands, unlike most substances that shrink in the cold. As the water freezes and expands, it starts to trap small pockets of air. With nowhere to escape the pressure, the air eventually bursts through the pipeline and either cracks or completely shatter the pipe. In order to prevent that from happening, the best thing to do is to beef up the insulation in your house. For pipes that run along the outer walls of your home, they are especially at risk of exposure to frigid temperatures. Along with adding more insulation to your house, pipes that run outside of your house that are exposed should be wrapped well with pipe insulation and this will have the same effect.

Clogged toilets are a pain when they happen, but are surprisingly easy to fix. Most issues can be fixed with a plunger and a little elbow grease. Don’t ever flush garbage, plastic, metal, or anything that was specifically designed to go down a toilet bowl. If you or someone in your house has done this, you will need to call a Roto-Rooter professional to come out and fix the problem ASAP.

For more information about plumbing in Baltimore, call Roto-Rooter today!

 

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Water Heater Repair and Maintenance with Roto-Rooter

March 9th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

There’s nothing like waking up in the morning and feel a warm shower massage your body. Adversely, there’s also nothing like waking up in the morning to freezing cold water hitting your body like a razor blade going for the kill. With water heater repair in Baltimore on the rise, we here at Roto-Rooter would like to help out with some tips and tricks for maintaining a well oiled machine. It will last longer, have fewer problems, and keep that water nice and hot in the morning so your shower is always reliably warm and cozy. While these tips might be considered “common sense,” for anyone who doesn’t work in the plumbing industry, there is always something to learn from Roto-Rooter professionals of value.

  • First off, water heaters break down easily. The large tank of water that makes noise in the basement, that piece of machinery that had that gas leak a few months back almost killing everyone in their sleep, that big bucket-o-fun need regular maintenance to function correctly. The average heater only lasts about 11 years, but in many cases much less. Replacements are expensive and can run you a few thousand dollars.
  • It is wise to schedule a yearly or bi-annual inspection of your home plumbing. A Roto-Rooter can scan your house from top to bottom from the front yard to the back and make sure that everything is working correctly. He or she can also take a look at your water heater and ensure that everything is ship-shape. Often times, they will provide you with a list of all the various things that need work done. Don’t skimp on the water heater. If there is something that will only cost a bit to fix, this is much preferable than ignoring the issue and having an even more expensive problem later on (like replacement, for example).  Regular maintenance can almost double the life of a water heater, if not more, so it is well worth the effort to put in the funds to do so.
  • Water softeners will protect your water heater. Hard water does a number on plumbing. You’ve probably seen the effects of hard water before with serious stains in showers and calcium buildup in faucets. This buildup will quickly render your heater nonfunctional. If you always make sure that your water softener has plenty of salt to keep the water normal, you should be able to avoid this issue altogether.

For more information about water heater repair in Baltimore, give Roto-Rooter a call today.

 

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Plumbing Advice for Common Problems

March 6th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Homeowners have a lot on their hands the minute they step into their first house. While even the newest homes come with a list of chores and responsibilities of their very own, the feeling of owning your own place outweighs everything else. Adding value to your home through sweat equity over the years not only helps protect the resale value of the house itself, but helps give you a set of skills that you can rely on for a lifetime. One of the most important systems that will give you plenty of heartburn is the plumbing. While it runs through the walls, under your feet, and over your head, it is easy to forget about it until something springs a leak or overflows. With so many plumbers in Baltimore arriving on the scene of some pretty nasty floods and serious water damage to homes, we here at Roto-Rooter have decided to shed some light on some of the most common plumbing problems and how to deal with them.

  • Clogged Toilets. We all deal with them, and often. While a toilet plunger can do the job for basic clogs, serious backups need the professional help of plumbers in Baltimore. For example, toilets are designed to take in human waste and a bit of toilet paper. Toilet paper can, if used in excess per flush, clog up. These clogs are not serious and are easily dealt with. However, if solids like plastic, garbage, stones, and food products are flushed, they will in no time have a toilet seriously backed up. In these cases, a professional will have to use tools like a snake to push through the backup and pull out the junk.
  • Frozen Pipes. Every winter, calls flood our offices about serious water flooding due to freezing pipes. What happens is an exposed pipe get so cold that the water inside them starts to freeze. It isn’t the ice, though, that causes the problems. It’s actually the air pockets that are trapped that make all the problems. As the water expands and turns to ice, the trapped air under pressure forces its way out any way possible. Eventually, the air will burst through the pipe wall either cracking or shattering the pip altogether. To avoid frozen pipes this winter, just makes sure to use insulation. In your walls where pipes are set against the outer part of the wall are at risk. Add some insulation between the pipe and the wall as a buffer and you will be in business. For pipes outdoors, just wrap them well in special pip-insulation to do the job.

For more information about plumbing issues in your home, call Roto-Rooter today.

 

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Plumbing Problems and Easy Solutions

February 21st, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

As a homeowner, you have the task of tackling problems as they come at you. Sometimes it seems like it’s one thing, after another. When the time comes that you think all is well, think again. Your plumbing is an important system in your home that gets used a lot each day. With the heavy use on pretty much every part of your home’s plumbing; including faucets, drains, waterlines and sewage dispensing, something is bound to need your time and attention. With the years of experience our company has in the plumbing industry, Roto-Rooter has been the trusted name to millions of people to help find solutions to their home plumbing needs. Through great service, excellent products and plenty of knowhow, our technicians set out each day to help calm another crisis. Take the following tips for DYI maintenance for a few more common plumbing problems in Baltimore.

  • Clogged Toilets. When your commode decides to stop working, what are you going to do? Most people rely on a good toilet plunger to get things working again. For most problems, a plunger works just fine. Once you get a toilet flushing again, it is a good idea to use some kind of cleaner to go through and strip away anything that lingers on the side of the drainpipe. It is important not to put anything in a toilet that is not designed specifically to be flushed. Shy away from flushing anything other than toilet paper and waste.
  • Clogged drains are another issue much like the problem listed above. Bathroom drains in the shower, bathtub and sink along with kitchen drains are constantly clogging if precautions aren’t taken to keep things clean. In a bathroom drain, hair is usually the culprit for clogging. Hair attracts soap and pulls in dirt and grime until it forms an impossible clog. Using a screwdriver, you can pull out the gunk and allow the water free passage. Kitchen sinks should always have a strainer to catch stray food particles. Using pipe cleaner or cups of boiling water is a great way to restore a drain back to normal functionality.
  • Frozen pipes are a very common winter issue. As water freezes in a pipe, it traps air and the pressure builds. Eventually the air bursts through, cracking or shattering a waterline. Boosting your insulation in the wall and even wrapping exposed pipes with extra insulation is a good idea.

For information about plumbing problems in Baltimore, call Roto-Rooter today for more information.

 

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Plumbing Repair and DIY Tips From The Pros

February 18th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

With the need for plumbing repair in Baltimore growing, Roto-Rooter has been on call 24/7 to arrive on the scene. In our many experiences, we have found that the bulk of serious damage to a home happens during a plumbing crisis, which typically cause water damage, mold, warped wood and property destruction. Many of these situations usually could have been avoided with simple DIY care and a little knowledge to get started. In order to help you take better care of your home’s plumbing needs, here is a list of easy DIY tips for simple repair and care.

  • Experiencing the Water heater blues. The large tank in your seller, basement, or bathroom that is responsible for comfortable hot showers can hit the fritz and leave you taking icicles in the shower. One of the easiest ways to keep a water heater running properly is to make sure that only water coming from a water softener passes through the system. The working parts of a water heater erode much faster with hard water and will breakdown more frequently. Keeping your water softener full of salt will also help keep the rest of the appliances and faucets in your home in better condition.
  • A clogged toilet catastrophe. There is nothing like a clogged toilet to make you realize how important flowing drains are. As water hits the floor and the smell hits your nose, remember that these events can be minimized and even avoided if you continually keep the following in mind. For one, using pipe cleaner every now and again is a great way to strip the sides of a drain free of debris and garbage. Also, minimizing the amount of toilet paper used per flush helps considerably lower the likelihood of a clog. Although toilet paper is designed for toilet bowl use, it can quickly clog up a toilet if too much is used at once.
  • Frozen pipes. Every winter, thousands of home get hit with frozen pipes and flooding. When water in a pipe begins to freeze, little pockets of air try to escape as the pressure builds. If the air is truly trapped, it will burst through a pipe making a crack or shattering it altogether. Flooding will usually quickly follow. Using more insulation, especially in the outer walls of a home will help minimize the possibility of freezing and save you a headache or two during the winter.

For more plumbing repair in Baltimore suggestions or information on how we can help, call Roto-Rooter today!

 

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Plumbing Tips and Tricks for Better Home Care

February 17th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Home care comes with a long list of important responsibilities. Keeping a house clean and orderly takes more than just a couple minutes everyday if you plan on doing most things yourself. In order to better take care of plumbing in Baltimore, we have compiled a few tips and suggestions for maintaining your plumbing. We are Roto-Rooter and plumbing is our expertise. Since 1935 we have made it a priority to provide excellent service and great products to cover any plumbing-related job. With the experience we have gained over the years, we are more than qualified to help educate anyone who wants to take better care of their plumbing. Doing so will save time and money in the long run as serious problems can be averted. Consider the following:

  • Leaky pipes are probably the most common plumbing issue on the planet, a drippy pipe is a nuisance. It can also be easy to fix. Using an adjustable wrench and a cloth to protect the faucet, loosen the nut holding the faucet head in place. Once the head is removed, take a look inside. Notice the washer sitting against the sit; its job is to act as a switch, sealing off the flow of water, or allowing it to flow as it moves back and forth. With this repetitive motion and the natural erosive effects of water, these washers become jostled or warped. If simply jostled out of place, simply wiggle it back into place and the job is done. If there are still issues, replace the washer and your faucet will function properly once again.
  • A clogged anything is terrible, and drains are no exception to that fact. Once a week, try performing some simple 5-minute maintenance procedures to keep your drains flowing free and easy. In the shower, use a screwdriver to pull out any hair caught in the drain. In the kitchen sink, make sure there aren’t copious amounts of food sitting in the drain. Use a filter to catch the stray food from dishes and throw it out regularly. Pour several cups of boiling water down both of these drains. The heat loosens up gunk and grime stuck to the side of the drain and pushes it along. Adding a bit of vinegar and baking soda can additionally make an even more potent mix to strip away stragglers.

For more information on plumbing in Baltimore and how we can help, call Roto-Rooter today.

 

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Water Heater Repair: Efficiency and Safety

February 11th, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Roto Rooter is the king of water heater repair in Baltimore and countless other cities all over the world. Since 1935, we have been the leader in water heater and general plumbing repair. Did you know that on average water heaters only last about 11 years? With such an expensive piece of equipment in your home, why not help it last longer with a little TLC. While some water heaters are gas, others are electric. Some have tanks, others do not. With the varying models to choose from, make your next water heater replacement an energy efficient one. Cut down on energy costs every month and make your new water heater last 20-25 years.

Energy Efficiency

 Tankless water heaters are far more energy efficient than the traditional electric or gas powered tanks that you find in most homes today. Tank water heater keeps a large supply of water heated at all times, even when it is not being used. Keeping water heated all day long means that energy is being used to keep water at a temperature so that it is ready the moment you turn the faucet on. Newer technology allows for tank less water heaters. They heat water instantly and only do it when the water is turned on. This incredible technology is available in an array of models from many different models. You can either buy a replacement from Roto-Rooter, or hire us to install anything you buy elsewhere.

Life Span

 Water heaters eventually die because of hard water residue. It can damage components inside and eventually leave the water heater unusable. It is important to have a water softener installed in the water line before it reached the heater. Making sure that only soft water runs through your water heater can add quite a bit of time to its overall life. Instead of the average 11 years, you can easily add 5-10 more years of use.

Safety

 Everyone likes water to be nice and hot for showers, baths, and washing. Problem is that many water heaters, especially older models, can get water extremely hot. The danger of leaving the max heating temperature of your water heater too high is the possibility of scalding. Burns from hot water are not uncommon and they happen when you least expect them. Make your max temperature a reasonable and protect yourself and your family from injury from water burns.

For more information on water heater repair in Baltimore or your area, call Roto Rooter today.

 

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