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For Plumbing Repair and Clogs, Call Roto-Rooter

October 3rd, 2012 by

Does your kitchen sink drain very slowly or not at all? Have you used all the retail drain-clearing products, only to have the drain clog again? These occurrences are frustrating and can disrupt your life. It may be time to call an expert Roto-Rooter technician who is experienced in plumbing repair in Winnipeg.

The technician will arrive at your home when he is scheduled. You can be sure he will wear shoe coverings when he walks into your home and he will sit down with you and discuss exactly what your expectations are. The important thing to remember is that Roto-Rooter technicians will never do any work that is not first discussed with you and approved with a signature on a written estimate. All costs associated with a fix or installation will be provided beforehand on a formal estimate. The labor and cost for parts will be included. You can take comfort in knowing there will be no hidden costs.

Unclogging a drain may be simple or involved, depending on where the clog is located. A clogged kitchen drain trap is relatively easy to repair if the trap is easy to access. A clog that is located deep inside the drainage system will take longer to clear and will require the use of a mechanical Roto-Rooter machine that cuts through even the toughest clogs.

Elbows, joints, and low spots in pipes can attract food products and other items pushed down your drains. When enough sludge collects, it becomes impacted in one section and that is when you notice the water backing up in your sink or bathtub. Perhaps you attempted to remove the clog by using drain cleaner or you may have resorted to using the toilet plunger. Those methods usually work well. If they don’t, it is probably because the clog is too impacted or because the clog is located too far into the system.

Something you may consider that might reduce long-term costs for plumbing repair in Winnipeg, is to use your food disposal unit only for soft food rinsed from dishes before going into the dishwasher. All other waste food products, especially grease, rinds, and peelings should be placed into your trash, not in your disposal.

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Roto-Rooter Plumbing Inspection Recommendations

September 26th, 2012 by

Did you know that most homeowners don’t know very much about their plumbing? This is evidenced by the fact that clogs, leaks, and other problems (due to poor plumbing care) are plentiful in our area. To make sure that your plumbing is in good working condition, give Roto-Rooter a call today to set up an inspection of your property. With the aid of a Roto-Rooter technician, plumbing in Winnipeg can be as clean and functional as the day it was installed. Going top to bottom, a thorough and comprehensive inspection reveals all the small details of your home plumbing. This information will help you make the appropriate choices for service repairs and maintenance in the areas that need your attention the most.

Did you know that slow leaks are extremely common in homes? Your house may have a few slow leaks that you haven’t noticed yet. What we find is that water supply lines running throughout a property experience stress over time as the structure settles. As the pipes start to seep water, the woodwork of a structure quickly soaks up the moisture. This makes it especially hard to notice until leaking develops into full on flooding. While the warped or rotted wood is a problem that results from slow leaks, it is actually the potential mold growth that should worry homeowners the most.

The humid and damp conditions behind walls or beneath floors create opportunity for mold to grow and release spores into the air. This can be detrimental to your health and cause respiratory and allergic reactions. Black mold, for example, causes serious lung problems after extended exposure and can even kill you. If you are worried about the possibility of mold growth in your house, a full inspection can help pinpoint possible areas and connect you with the appropriate services to remove the mold.

During your next inspection, make sure to ask the technician to go over your plumbing fixtures to make sure they are in good working order. Water heaters especially benefit from regular cleaning, repair, and maintenance because they take a beating after years of use. Even if your system hasn’t experienced any failures up until now, it is quite possible that your water-heating unit is functioning less than optimally. To fix this, consider making your water-heating unit a part of each inspection that you schedule. Keep in mind that the average lifespan of a water heater is eleven years.

For more information about plumbing in Winnipeg, call Roto-Rooter today to speak with a friendly representative and set up an appointment with a technician for your first inspection.

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The Reasons Behind Faucet Repair

August 28th, 2012 by

Have you ever wondered what happens to a faucet that causes it to need to be repaired? Is it something that you have done that has caused the need for the repair? In most cases the answer is, “no.” Usually, the issue is simply that the parts have worn out over time and that is why it now leaks and needs to be repaired.

At Roto-Rooter, we have done many a faucet repair in Winnipeg . We have these down so well that we could do them blindfolded. In nearly every case the reason for the leak is a matter of a gasket, washer or O-ring that has simply lost its “spring.” In other words, it used to fit tightly and prevent the water from leaking but it no longer fits as tightly as it once did, and thus the leak. This is something that is going to happen over time, no matter how careful you are. Parts wear out with time and use.

It is common for homeowners to let leaky faucets go for a long time before repairing them. However, that is not a wise thing to do. First, in some cases the water is leaking down into the cabinet below. This means that the wood is becoming warped, damaged or moldy. Eventually you will need to fix or even replace the cabinet because of your delay in having the leak fixed.

Second, standing water under a kitchen cabinet is simply inviting mice or insects to the oasis. There will be costs associated with taking care of your pest problem as well.

Third, the amount of water that you lose each month through a leaky faucet may account for a lot of extra water usage, which means a more expensive water bill. One drop per second equals 3000 gallons of water a year. That’s enough water to fill three large fire truck reservoirs! Having a leaky faucet fixed right away will more than pay for itself in a short time just from the averted “other” needless costs associated with a leaky faucet.

To be proactive on this matter, call your Roto-Rooter plumber as soon as you find that you have a leaky faucet, pipe or toilet. We have done a lot of faucet repair in Winnipeg and can give you a pretty good estimate on the repair cost so that you know exactly what you are facing.

 

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For Sink, Toilet, or Faucet Repair Call Roto-Rooter

August 13th, 2012 by

Our homes need regular attention. All homeowners understand that if a steady preventive maintenance program is not followed, it will not be long until things will fall into disrepair. This causes lives to become disrupted as appliances may stop working, the heating and cooling systems stop working and serious problems, like water leaks or floods, may occur. Seemingly innocuous problems, like faucet repair in Winnipeg, should not be overlooked as they could lead to further damage that is extensive and more expensive.

Preventive maintenance is a simple but important matter. The planning phase should involve a calendar. Sit down for a few minutes at the beginning of each year and schedule your program. You may not think it is an important matter, but you can never be too careful with your home’s security or those valuable amenities that you rely on, like fresh drinking water and a comfortable living environment.

Here are some useful maintenance tips that you should consider implementing into your home preventive maintenance program.

  • Drains: Slow draining sinks should be fixed as quickly as possible. Food particles from the disposal system or grease that was accidentally flushed down the drain can collect in low spots in a drainpipe. After awhile, that collection of sludge can become compacted and completely stop the drain process. When that occurs, it then becomes necessary to clear the drainpipe with a special snaking or flushing tool.
  • Water Heater: Your water heater is an appliance that often gets overlooked because day-in and day-out, it just sits and does its job. However, it is necessary to check the heater periodically to make sure there is no debris or other potential hazards nearby. Depending on whether you have hard water or not, you may want to contact Roto-Rooter to flush your water heater. Deposits can build up inside your system and prevent it from working efficiently. Mineral buildup inside the tank will also shorten the life of the water heater. For complete water heater installs and repairs, our experienced technicians are on standby to help.
  • Toilets: This fixture is very reliable, especially for how often it is used. However, there are some things you should check periodically. Open your toilet tank and make sure that the float is adjusted correctly. Check the rubber stopper located at the bottom of the tank for wear. If you experience hard water buildup, you may consider pouring a commercial product into the tank that will dissolve calcium deposits. All moving parts should be free of corrosion or calcium deposits.

Your friends at Roto-Rooter will assist with anything like a toilet, sink, or faucet repair in Winnipeg. Call anytime, day or night.

 

 

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What Plumbers Hate about Their Jobs

August 6th, 2012 by

Okay, we are never one to complain as plumbers, but there are some things that bug all plumbers in Winnipeg. In particular, we do not like going into a home or a business and finding a lot of strange bugs living under the sink. We want to fix the sink, not become a person who studies bugs. Nobody wants to battle insects while they are trying to repair your plumbing. Here are some things that you can do to solve this issue.

  1. First, make sure that there is no water leaking under the sink. Check this from time to time. If you do find a leak, use a towel to soak up the water as it leaks and have it repaired quickly. Water is going to attract bugs and mice.
  2. Clean out from under the counter from time to time. Sweep it out and wipe it down. If there is anything for bugs to feed on under there they will.
  3. Spiders and ants are the most common bugs under there. Use insect spray to kill the bugs from time to time. Again, if there is nothing under there for them to feed on then you will have a lot better chance of keeping them out of there.

We understand when we get under sinks that we are likely to encounter a few gross things and one of the main annoyances that we will face are the bugs.

I have met many different plumbers in Winnipeg over my years as a plumber and one of the things that they always tell me  are the stories about the largest bugs they have found under the sinks that they were working on. It is just one of the stories that plumbers share with one another. The other types of stories that plumbers share is the nasty conditions under which they work all of the time. While bugs are a part of that conversation it will go much deeper than that. It’s scary the things that plumbers have to face each and every day, bugs, filth, rodents, snakes, etc. Most of you would protest to have to work under these conditions and yet we do it each and every day.

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Do Preventive Maintenance To Avoid Plumbing Problems

July 30th, 2012 by

Do you enjoy the amenity of fresh water coming into your home? Can you remember a time when that water was shut off for some reason?  Did that occasion completely disrupt your day and cause you to feel upset? Having fresh, clean water is a luxury that makes our lives pleasant and we often take it for granted. Clean water helps to keep our homes sanitary. We use it for drinking, washing clothes, keeping our dishes clean, and keeping ourselves clean, too. However, when plumbing problems in Winnipeg occur, our routines become disrupted because that fresh water may get turned off in order fix the problem.

All of the plumbing fixtures we find in our homes are mechanical and prone to breakage or malfunctions. That is a fact of life we cannot avoid. However, there are simple maintenance tasks we can perform in order to assure that all our fixtures are in good working order. Performing these tasks will reduce the risk of having a major break or problem that would compromise the use of those amenities. Here are a few suggestions that you should consider, compliments of Roto-Rooter.

  • Faucets, tubs, and toilets: Check each of these fixtures when you use them. There should be no leaks around the base of the tub or toilet and all caulking should be free of cracks. If you notice any dark mold forming behind your caulking, then it must be replaced. Mold can potentially pose a health risk. When running your faucet, the water should pour out of the spigot with normal pressure. If you notice any leakage around the faucet handle or if the water will not completely shut off, you should call us.
  • Sump Pump: Your sump pump, if your home is equipped with one, is located in the basement of your home. Look for it in a utility room. It will be installed in a recessed area in your flooring at the lowest part of the basement. Remove the cover and examine the pump and float valve near the top of the unit. Raise the float and make sure the pump turns on.
  • Food disposal: Your food disposal or garbage disposal should be inspected frequently for leaks and proper operation. Be sure to always operate your disposal with plenty of water to ensure that all food particles are whisked away completely. Run the unit long enough that all contents can enter the drainage system. Never put potato skins or any other large fibrous food waste into your disposal.

For any plumbing problems in Winnipeg, you know you have friends in the plumbing business. Call Roto-Rooter.

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Is it a Plumbing Repair Weekend?

July 23rd, 2012 by

Are you the kind of man that has to work through his wife’s honey do list each weekend? Is there something on there about getting some sort of plumbing repair done? Maybe a faucet leak or toilet problem? If that is the case, why don’t you try something new this time. Rather than do the repairs yourself, find a good company that does quality plumbing repairs in Winnipeg and give them a call. Ask them to come and make the repair.

While this may not be the thing that your wife had in mind when she put that on her list of weekend chores, she will not be at all disappointed that you took care of the problems. All she really wants is the plumbing fixed and by calling in a professional you will be making sure it is fixed right. In addition, if you choose a respected plumbing company like Roto-Rooter of Winnipeg, the work will be covered under a warranty and done by a licensed professional so your wife will rest easier and she will not worry and nag you about whether you got it done correctly or not.

Your weekends are going to be a lot easier once you have figured out that you can rely on Roto-Rooter to handle any and all plumbing and drain problem. Roto-Rooter is internationally known and respect and should be the first company you call to handle the plumbing repairs in Winnipeg.  We are happy to help you with your weekend list and freeing up some time for you to get some game time over the weekend.

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No Hot Water – You May Need Water Heater Repair

July 16th, 2012 by

There are many disappointing things in this world and taking a cold shower in the morning because you have no hot water is one of them. If you have no hot water and it is not because you have simply run it out, you should be calling a plumber that does water heater repair in Winnipeg. Fixing a water heater is not something that the average Joe can do.

It is possible that the pilot light or burner unit has gone out and you can look for that as an issue and try to relight it, but if you cannot easily get it started again you will want to call a professional plumber and not mess around. High voltage electricity and flammable natural gas are not things you should toy with if you don’t know exactly what you are doing.

Sometimes the plumber will have some bad news for you and tell you that the water heater cannot be repaired and you need to replace it. This can be a hard pill to swallow because there is virtually nothing you can do but do it.

However, there are times when they will be able to fix the water heater that you have. You will not know until you call them and they come over to fully inspect your water heater. Call your plumber as soon as you know that you have problems so that they can get you in the schedule and come as soon as they can. If you wait you are risking that they will not be able to come over in the same day or they may come so late in the day that if they need anything that they may not have the right part on their truck to repair your water heater you will have to wait until the next day to repair it. Of course, that will mean another day of cold showers. Once you have found the right plumber for you who does water heater repair in Winnipeg and you have called them to come to your home, be sure to find out what kind of guarantee they offer on their service.

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So Many Plumbers to Choose From

July 9th, 2012 by

When you have a plumbing problem and you need to call a plumber, but you are new to Winnipeg, how are you going to know which plumber to call? There are plenty of plumbers in Winnipeg to choose from, so that is not going to be an issue. The issue is going to be how to choose one. Here are some steps you can take to determine which plumber to choose from. Of course, you can skip all steps and go straight to choosing us at Roto-Rooter if you like. That is much quicker and you’re sure to be happy with your choice, although we may be a bit biased.

Find all of the plumbers in the area. – This is the first step. What you are really doing is identifying what your choices are. In order to do this I would recommend several mini steps. First, using the internet, find a locally driven site, such as city search, and search on the topic of plumbers. Second, again using the internet, do a search for plumbers in the Winnipeg area. Lastly, ask friends, family, and neighbors who they have used and know of. This last step will also give you a little bit of a head start into steps 2 & 3.

Eliminate the obvious ones. – Essentially, you want to eliminate as many as you can from the list as quickly as you can. This may be because family and friends have told you to never use a certain plumber or perhaps you have determined that some on your list are too far away to be efficient in reaching you when you need them. Find out if they do free estimates, charge a trip charge for coming to look at your problem and ask about their guarantee.

Learn as much as you can about the plumbers. – The goal with this step is to gather as much information as you can from their website, online reviews, the feedback you got from the neighbors, and anywhere else that you can gather information about each of them. The more you know the better the choice you can make. Of course, this comes with some balance because you do not want to spend a lot of time at this. One step is to call the ones that you identify as the most likely for you to hire and get a feel for them and their customer service.

Make a decision. – Once you have done all of this it is time to pick one from your list of plumbers in Winnipeg. Once you have made a decision, get them coming to handle that plumbing problem. Hopefully, you will have chosen one you can rely on for the future.

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A Roto-Rooter Water Heater Repair Guide of Tips and Suggestions

May 25th, 2012 by

It can be a moment of ecstasy, slipping into a hot shower and getting a massage from the showerhead. You may not realize it, but the average shower uses anywhere between twenty to thirty gallons of water. If you have several people taking showers all at once, your sixty-gallon water heater will quickly fail you and instead send up freezing water. If sixty gallons isn’t enough to hold you and your family over, maybe you need another water heater installed in your home. Often times, however, water heaters are fully equipped to handle the load that you throw at them, but just need some maintenance to tune-up the heating mechanism. With the help of Roto-Rooter technicians, water heater repair in Winnipeg is stress-free.

  • One of the easiest and best ways to keep your water heater working is through a water softener. Without one, hard water quickly claims your water heater. Did you know that hard water leaves behind calcium residue that clogs up your water heater, faucets, and drains? By simply keeping up with a water softener, you will easily cut your water heater problems in half.
  • Water heaters typically last about ten to eleven years on average, depending on the level of use. Most water heaters are functioning all day and all night so that there is always hot water ready right when you need it. This incredible waste of energy is happening all the time and can take a toll on a unit. The system gets bogged down when repairs and regular cleaning are ignored. If ignored for too long, you can quickly find that your water heater is beyond repair.
  • Even the best efforts can’t keep a water heater from eventually biting the dust. When you purchase a new unit, you should consider investing in a tankless water heater. These units work on demand and save energy and money on utility costs.
  • If you have a gas water heater, make sure to take the proper safety precautions against gas leaks. Installing gas leak detectors in the vicinity of the water heater will ensure that any time a problem arises, you will be the first to know about it.
  • A regular inspection of a water heater, even when it is working, is a great way to keep up on the regular maintenance the system needs to function properly. These tune-ups make sure that the water heater is working the way it should, that it is completely clean and free of clogs, and provide information on any failures in the system.
  • Since there are so many components that can affect the performance of a water heater, a simple repair can go a long way towards more efficient functionality and longer life overall. In addition, it is important to follow official guides and instructions printed by the manufacturer before attempting any repairs of your own. If you are ever unsure about a step, stop what you are doing and find someone who knows better.

For more information about water heater repair in Winnipeg, call Roto-Rooter today to speak with one of our friendly representatives about the various options available to you.

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