Most homeowners have a mental list of things they mean to deal with eventually — the dripping faucet, the slow drain, the toilet that runs a little longer than it should. Some of those things genuinely can wait. Others look minor on the surface but are silently causing damage that gets more expensive by the day. Here are five plumbing problems that should move to the top of your list. 1. A Running Toilet A toilet that runs continuously after flushing seems like a nuisance, no

Slow drains are one of the most common plumbing complaints we hear. And understandably, most homeowners try to handle them on their own first — grabbing a bottle of drain cleaner from under the sink or fishing around with a wire hanger. Sometimes that works. Often it makes things worse. Here's a clear-eyed look at what actually clears drains, what's safe to use on your pipes, and when DIY becomes a liability. Why Drains Get Slow in the First Place Most residential drain clogs

If you own a home in the Rochester area with a basement or crawl space, a sump pump isn't optional equipment — it's essential protection. Between our notoriously wet springs, the snowmelt from heavy winters, and the clay-heavy soils common across Wayne and Monroe counties, groundwater has nowhere to go but up. Yet every year, Rochester homeowners discover the hard way that their sump pump failed — usually during the first major storm of the season, when it matters most. What

Your water heater works quietly in the background — until it doesn't. Most homeowners don't think about it until they're standing in a cold shower at 6 AM, staring at a puddle on the basement floor. The good news is that water heaters rarely fail without warning. The bad news is that most people miss the signs until it's too late. Here's what to watch for — and when it's time to stop patching and start replacing. The Average Water Heater Lifespan A traditional tank water heat

If you've opened your sink or shower and notice that water trickles out slowly instead of spraying out at its normal speed and volume, you have low water pressure. Low water pressure can have many causes, and can sometimes indicate issues with your plumbing system. Here's a brief list of some of the common causes of low water pressure to help you fix the problem. 4 Common Causes of Low Water Pressure 1. Faulty Faucets and Fixtures When you turn on your faucet or shower and no

We all know the feeling of panic that comes with watching your ring or necklace fall down the drain. If you don't stop it in time, don't worry about losing it forever to your plumbing quite yet. There are several ways to retrieve your jewelry that just went down the drain if you move quickly and thoughtfully. Here are three tips that may help you retrieve your jewelry from the bathroom or kitchen sink, your shower drain, and even your garbage disposal. How Can I Retrieve Jewe

Clogged toilets are very common, and are usually very easy to fix. They can become a real problem, though, when they cause your toilet to overflow, which can indicate issues with your plumbing and cause damage to other parts of the home. Knowing what to do if your toilet overflows can be really helpful, so here are a few things you should and shouldn't do to fix the problem. Do: Shut off the water supply. If you've flushed your toilet and the water level rises, shutting off t

The lowest part of your home is the first place that will overflow with water when it floods. A sump pump is a pump designed to manage those overflows and force the water into a different draining area. A functioning sump pump is an important part of plumbing when you are looking to keep excess water from doing too much damage to your home. Below is a guide to help keep you on top of your sump pump and prepared for future floods. What Does a Sump Pump Do? Sump pumps are found

Your household's plumbing systems make life comfortable and convenient. While emergency problems are rare, they can happen and require plumbing repair immediately, even if it's in the middle of the night. Here are some examples of serious situations that require prompt assistance so you know what to look for and avoid major damage. 3 Time-Sensitive Plumbing Issues 1. Burst Pipes Regardless of what material it is made from, a water pipe is always susceptible to cracks. Metal,

The sump pump plays an important role in preventing flooding in your basement. This device collects water in a pit situated on the floor and discharges it outside the house. Sometimes, falling temperatures during winter can cause the discharge lines to freeze. This can be problematic because the water won’t discharge efficiently and the motor will work harder than necessary in its efforts to run efficiently. Here are three ways you can prevent it from freezing. How to Prevent

If you have recently moved to a home with a sump pump, you might wonder what these devices do and how they work. Essentially, they protect your home from flood damage by pumping water out of your basement or crawlspace to ensure it can safely drain away. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about this important part of your home's plumbing system. How Should You Maintain a Sump Pump? Your sump pump sits in a hole in the basement floor called a sump pit. If water reaches

While the ideal shower usually includes hot water and strong water pressure, there is such a thing as your water pressure being too high. Water pressure that’s higher than the recommended PSI can cause problems with your appliances and take a toll on your plumbing. Here’s how high water pressure affects your pipes and what you can do to fix it. What Are Signs of High Water Pressure? The first thing you may notice is an expensive or increasing water bill. The higher your water

The constant dripping of a leaking faucet can be a frustrating sound. Even worse, it can also drive up water bills and lead to damage in your home, including mold growth. Luckily, a plumber can often repair the leak quickly with a simple fix. Here are the steps that a professional plumbing service will take to repair your leaky faucet and restore normal water flow in your home. How a Plumber Will Fix Your Leaking Faucet 1. Shut Off the Water Most sinks have individual water

Pipes are necessary for circulating water in and out of a building. Many factors can damage them, and without completing a plumbing repair, busted pipes can lead to mold and water ruin your home’s structure and valuables. Here are the most common factors that lead to broken pipelines. What Causes Pipes to Burst? 1. Tree Root Intrusion The roots of trees look for sources of water and nutrients, so they often seek pipes. As trees grow, their rooting gets long enough to reach p

If a shower or sink in your home isn't draining as quickly as it should, there could be a clog somewhere in the pipeline. While it may be tempting to clear it yourself, plumbing is more complex than most people realize, and most clogs are best left to professionals. The following tips can help you avoid doing more harm than good when you have a clogged drain. Do: Install a debris catcher. It's wise to avoid using the fixture at all until it's cleared to keep the clog from ge

Perhaps you forgot to take your earrings off before getting into the shower, or maybe you accidentally knocked your wedding ring into the kitchen sink. Fortunately, jewelry dropped down a drain usually isn’t lost forever. Below are a few ways to retrieve your treasured pieces even if you don’t have plumbing experience. How to Get Jewelry Out of the Drain 1. Use a Magnet If you’ve lost a piece of jewelry in the kitchen or bathtub, you might be able to fish it out with a magnet

A sump pump helps keep areas of your home that are located below ground level dry. A malfunctioning sump pump can result in moisture buildup, damaging property, and causing mold and mildew growth. To avoid such costly consequences, you want to make sure your sump pump is functioning properly—especially with summer storm season around the corner. Here's how to make sure you're ready for wet weather. How to Prepare a Sump Pump for Summer 1. Check the Power Source A sump pump ru

The water heater is an essential plumbing appliance that provides your home with warm water for hand-washing, bathing, and cleaning. If you notice elevated hot water charges on your utility bills, you may wonder how to reduce this monthly expense. Here are a few steps that will conserve water and energy to keep bills reasonable. 4 Ways to Decrease Your Hot Water Bill 1. Upgrade the Fixtures Showerheads emit an average of 10 gallons of water per shower, while kitchen and bathr

Whether you're doing laundry or enjoying a hot bath, your water heater is working hard. As such, like all other household appliances, this one will eventually wear out. Failing to spot the trouble early on could leave you facing an unpleasant hot water shortage, so stay alert for these indicators that it's time for a water heater replacement. How Can You Tell When Your Water Heater Is Failing? 1. Rust When your running water is rust-colored, the interior of the tank might be

Although many people think their toilet can double as a trash can, this plumbing fixture is more sensitive than you may realize. To protect it and avoid messy clogs, review some of the items you might have flushed down the toilet before and learn why you should avoid doing it in the future. What Items Are Unflushable? 1. Wet Wipes Many baby and adult wipes say they’re flushable, but this claim is false. These items don’t break down like toilet paper, so they can contribute to