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Leaking water under the sink can be caused by a number of problems. At Terry’s Plumbing, we encounter leaks under the sink all the time, but find that the reasons behind these problems can be varied. In this post, we’ll cover some of the most common causes of water leakage under the sink and suggest solutions that can help. Diagnosing the Problem Looking under your sink, you’ll see multiple potential sources for a leak. Water supply lines usually run at the back and may cross over to the dishwasher, if you have one. Coming down from the sink, you’ll see the […]
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So, you need to turn off your water shut off valve. This sounds like it should be an easy task, but for many homeowners, turning off the water can be a challenging. Finding the valve alone can be difficult, if you’re not sure where to look. The location of the main shut off valve may depend on the location of your home and its construction. Know Where to Look First Look in the front of the yard, close to the street. In your yard, you’ll see a plastic or metal plate in the ground, like a small manhole cover. This […]
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Spring is a time when many homeowners engage in maintenance tasks like spring cleaning and home renovation. It’s also a good time for homeowners to check up on their plumbing system to protect their home from clogged drains, leaks and water damage. Keeping up with this basic maintenance on a yearly basis can help keep your home functional throughout the year. Perform a Water Heater Check Up You may have turned up the temperature on your water heater when the weather got cold this last winter. As a general rule, professionals recommend keeping your home’s water heater set to 120 […]
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It may be winter now, but spring will be here soon! When the weather changes, the experts at Terry’s Plumbing recommend checking and maintaining your home’s plumbing. Many of these suggestions are best done when the winter is finally over and temperatures are almost certainly not going to drop below freezing again. Test Sump Pump Functionality Your home’s sump pump may have been inactive in recent weeks or months. When spring arrives and rain starts to fall, sump pumps tend to see more action. Now is the time to test your sump pump and ensure that it has lasted through […]
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At Terry’s Plumbing, we talk to a lot of homeowners who have misconceptions about plumbing. Belief in some of these myths can cause breakdowns, leaks and other plumbing problems. We do our best to educate our customers about these problems. Understanding how your home plumbing system works can help prevent maintenance problems and plumbing emergencies. It’s a Good Idea to Put a Brick in Your Toilet Tank It’s true that putting a brick in your toilet tank can displace water, saving water with every flush. However, bricks deteriorate with time, especially when submerged. As the brick in your toilet tank […]
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Do you find the holidays stressful? So does your plumbing. The arrival of holiday guests means that the plumbing in your home will be used more often. Heavy use of your plumbing can cause problems like leaks, clogs and breakdowns. These issues can ruin your holidays, so we want you to be prepared and proactive. Following these tips can help you avoid plumbing problems this holiday season. Keep Your Drains Clear Slow drains can be a big problem when visitors come to your home. With extra people using your sinks and showers, slow drains can quickly become completely clogged. Clearing […]
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The rumors are true: the day after thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for plumbers. At Terry’s Plumbing, we spend the day after Thanksgiving unclogging drains in households all across Pittsburgh. Why Do So Many Plumbing Problems Occur at Thanksgiving? Too many people using the facilities. Often homeowners don’t realize their drains are slow until extra people start using the bathrooms, showers and sinks. House guests don’t realize there’s no garbage disposal. Sometimes house guests trying to help with cleanup make problems by putting food down the drain without realizing there’s no garbage disposal. People overload […]
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Smelly bathroom drains make life unpleasant for everyone, so fixing this problem will no doubt be a priority for you. Unfortunately, smells in bathrooms can come from a variety of sources, so finding the cause of your smell may be a challenge. Starting with the simplest fix and working your way up to more challenging solutions may be the best way to combat this problem. Check the P Traps Look under your bathroom sink. The pipe that runs from your sink drain into the floor or wall should be curved in an S shape. This curve is called the P […]
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Buying a new home is a big investment, so it’s important to inspect a property well before signing on the dotted line. When looking at homes to purchase, we recommend inspecting the following parts of the plumbing system. Good plumbing inspection practices can help you avoid falling in love with a property that has major flaws. Toilets Toilets have a way of developing problems like leaks and clogs over time. You can determine whether or not a home’s toilets are functional and in good condition by doing the following: Flush the toilet. When a toilet is flushed, the water should […]
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With school starting again, your home’s schedule will soon be in an uproar. In a family of school-aged children and working adults, competition for the bathroom in the morning can be fierce. Shower backups, humidity and mold can all be a problem when the bathrooms see heavy use by multiple people day in and day out. At Terry’s Plumbing, we think it’s a terrible shame when bathrooms lose functionality because of scheduling problems. These back to school tips will help you get the most use out of your bathroom without creating problems for your plumbing or your family. Stagger Shower […]
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