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Chemical drain cleaners are one of the most popular methods for cleaning residential drains, however, not all chemical drain cleaners are safe for pipes. Many chemical drain cleaners can do damage to pipes. Understanding the potential problems with chemical drain cleaners and what can be used as an alternative to chemical drain cleaners can help you take better care of your pipes. Chemical Drain Cleaners Can Harm Pipes Chemical drain cleaners are caustic or oxidizing. When these drain cleaners are used enough in old pipes they can cause the pipes themselves to degrade. Used in plastic pipes, chemical drain cleaners cause […]
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Spring is here! At this time of year, many homeowners find themselves doing more chores and maintenance around the house. If you’re a homeowner who likes DIY projects, spring is also a good time of year to take care of repairs to your home’s plumbing. At Terry’s Plumbing, we recommend that homeowners across the city perform a few basic chores and maintenance tasks to keep their home’s plumbing in proper working order. Fill Unused Drains Every drain has a P trap filled with water. This water in the P trap creates an airtight seal that prevents sewer gas from wafting […]
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One of the great decisions that many homeowners must make at some point is whether or not to repair their plumbing or to replace it. In many homes, plumbing repairs remain a viable option for years. Clogged drains and the occasional leaky pipe are acceptable and expected, and can be repaired by a knowledgeable plumber or even a capable DIYer. However, at some point pipes become more trouble than they’re worth. Replacing old, leaky, brittle pipes can save homeowners hundreds of dollars wasted on repairs. Know the Lifespan Of Your Pipes Pipes don’t last forever. Copper pipes may last anywhere […]
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The New Year is coming! If you haven’t made your resolutions yet, the staff at Terry’s Plumbing can give suggestions for keeping your plumbing in good shape for 2017. The following tips will help you maintain the pipes and plumbing-related appliances in your home. Ultimately, this advice can help you increase your home’s property value and keep your home in good condition. Prevent Clogs Preventing clogs in your pipes is easy! Using all natural household products you can keep your pipes clean and can prevent plumbing backups. To start, pour vinegar down the drains and leave the vinegar to sit […]
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Halloween is a time of year when many people experience plumbing problems. Sometime late in October, plumbers start to get phone calls from distraught homeowners who claim that their garbage disposals are backed up or their pipes are clogged. Why? It’s all because of the pumpkins. Carving pumpkins is a fun family activity that can spell disaster for your pipes at home. The issue occurs when homeowners try to dispose of their pumpkin seeds in the garbage disposal. Pumpkin guts may feel soft and mushy when they’re fresh from the squash, but once they’re left to dry in your pipes, […]
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Pipes bang sometimes. They bang, rattle, knock, whine and hammer. While these noises might occur because of a very minor plumbing problem, over time the banging can get annoying and destructive, doing damage to pipes and causing leaks. In this post, we’ll walk you through the potential causes of your noisy issue, and then we’ll suggest potential solutions. If Your Pipes Bang While the Water is Running Potential Solution #1: Loose pipe Here we start with the simplest explanation first. Suppose the problem is a pipe that has become loose and needs to be secured to the wall. While a […]
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Everything sweats when temperatures rise in the summer, and cold water pipes are no exception. It may sound trivial, but sweating pipes can cause serious water damage, and can lead to mold and structural rot. Luckily, pipe sweating is a relatively simple fix and can be taken care of by DIYers. What Causes Pipes to Sweat? Pipe sweating occurs because cold air holds less water vapor than warm air. When a cold pipe touches the hot, moist air around it, the temperature around the pipe drops and the air reaches its dew point. This causes the water vapor in the […]
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Yes, pipes can freeze overnight. The lower the temperature outside and the more unprotected the pipes are, the more likely the pipes are to freeze. As a homeowner, you may have many questions about the consequences of frozen pipes and what can be done to prevent this problem from occurring. In this post, we’ll address some of your concerns and suggest a few methods for preventing your pipes from freezing. At What Temperature Will My Pipes Freeze? This is a complicated question that has been thoroughly explored by experts. There is no simple answer. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but […]
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Winter can be long and boring and frozen pipes are hilarious. This weekend when you’re looking for something fun to do, we’ve got the perfect solution: make pipe popsicles in your house. You’ll need to start by freezing your pipes. Here’s how. Pipe Freezing Process Refrain from insulating your pipes, and go ahead and rip out any pre-existing pipe insulation. Pipe insulation will thwart all efforts to freeze the pipes in your home. Pay careful attention to the pipes that run along the outer walls of your home and through your cold basement–you definitely don’t want any insulation there. When temperatures outside drop […]
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With Winter almost here, many homeowners are finding themselves worrying that their pipes will freeze. At best, frozen pipes are an inconvenience because they cannot deliver water to the faucet. At worse, the pressure from expanding water inside the pipes can cause the pipes to burst, leading to terrible water damage when the water inside finally thaws. Homeowners who are worried that their pipes will freeze may have fun making a “frozen pipe alarm.” This alarm alerts homeowners when the air around the pipes drops to a temperature near freezing, indicating that it’s time to turn on a slow trickle […]
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