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A slab leak is a break in a pipe that runs beneath the concrete foundation of your home. When the pipe breaks, water seeps into the ground and your home’s foundation. Slab leaks can occur in either water or sewer lines. Slab leaks cause costly damage, so early detection is important. To catch this problem at the onset, homeowners with concrete foundations must know what warning signs are indicative of this type of leak. Symptoms of a Leak A typical slab leak can resemble other plumbing problems, making this issue difficult to diagnose. The following symptoms are common of slab […]
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Your septic tank is a large, waterproof, concrete tank in the yard of your home. The septic tank collects wastewater that has been flushed down drains, showers and toilets. Inside the septic tank sits a layer of sludge on the bottom, scum on top, and relatively clear water sandwiched between. With all that bacteria, grease and other waste from your home buried on your property, you’ll probably notice a variety of smells coming from your septic system over time. Some of these odors are expected, but in general, your septic system should not fill your house with a scent. If […]
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Refrigerators are ubiquitous appliances in modern homes, and well constructed units are generally low-maintenance products that can serve you well for many years. However, as with all appliances, things can and do go wrong from time to time. One such problem is that refrigerators could develop a leak on the inside. Fortunately, this issue is often possible to identify and correcting the problem on your own is possible, following these basic steps. Step-by-step Process Self-defrosting refrigerators have drainage tubes that carry water away from the refrigerator and into a drainage pan. Sometimes these tubes become clogged, causing a leak. Often these drainage […]
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Cleaning the main drain of your sewer line is something that many homeowners need to do on a regular basis. This type of maintenance prevents sewer backups, removes tree roots from the pipe and is a good way to keep tabs on the state of the sewer line. There are two standard methods for cleaning the sewage line: hydro jetting and snaking. Both methods are a common service offered by plumbing and drain cleaning companies. Understanding the differences between hydro jetting and snaking can help homeowners pick the right method for their sewer. The Hydro Jetting Method Hydro jetting is […]
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Air conditioner failure always seems to happen on the hottest day of summer. Blowing hot air is common complaint when an air conditioner is no longer properly working. But what causes this problem, and what can you do about it? How Does My A/C Work? Before you can try to fix your air conditioner, it helps to know a little bit about how the unit works. Air conditioners function like refrigerators. They take hot air from inside a room, remove the heat, and this produces cool air. There are three main parts to an air conditioner: Compressor Condenser Evaporator It works […]
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An article recently posted in the TribLive reported that heavy rainfall in Pittsburgh have left many unfortunate homeowners in a desperate situation. Following a series of storms and flash floods, many homeowners in Carnegie and Scott Pennsylvania are now dealing with basements full of mud and sewage. The Cause During heavy rains, sanitary sewer system mainlines can become overwhelmed by the massive influx of rushing water. Homes with a connection to the sanitary sewer system by means of a footing drain, sump pump or downspouts may experience backups as water from the sewer system fills the lines with nowhere to go. This isn’t the only […]
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As a homeowner, you know that things can and will go wrong in your home. And sometimes those things couldn’t possibly have been foreseen. Which is quite often the case when it comes to your sewer lines. Your sewer lines are hidden; therefore, it’s hard to recognize when and if there’s a problem. This makes it even more important that you have some knowledge about what signs to look if you want to prevent a potential disaster, and quite possibly, higher repair or replacement costs. Learning how often to have your sewer lines cleaned, the signs that indicate you may […]
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A hissing toilet is not at all uncommon and is usually an indication that water is leaking from the tank into the toilet bowl. In many cases, the hissing noise is related to an issue with the parts inside the toilet tank, known as the flush valve assembly. Fortunately, many homeowners are able to fix issues with the flush valve assembly on their own without the help of a handyman or a plumber. Water Draining Into Overflow Tube When your toilet flushes, water empties out of the tank and into the bowl, then the tank fills again. The fill valve […]
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It’s no secret that when plumbing goes bad, it can go really bad. And often the price of correcting even trivial problems can stretch way beyond most people’s budget. In Pittsburgh this is especially true since around 77% of homes in the city were built before 1960. Older homes mean older plumbing, with terra cotta pipes held together with a bit of cement. For example, The TribLive recently reported that when sewage started backing up into Diane Mikulan’s 100 year old home, the price of fixing her broken clay pipes could have cost up to $10,000. Few people have that […]
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Washing machines need regular cleaning to stay in working order. Without regular cleanings, washing machines can develop mysterious “black stuff” that can contribute to the degradation of the machine’s internal parts like hoses, gaskets and more. Literally, the black stuff can rot the machine from the inside out. It can also cause an unpleasant odor, and if located around the seal on the door to the machine, may cause the machine to leak. What Is That Black Stuff In Your Washing Machine? Basically, it’s bacteria, grease and mold. According to the website White Goods Help, this build up of grime […]
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