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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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Is your sump pump making a loud noise, and you don’t know how to stop it? If so, you might also wonder why it’s making such a racket. Learn the different reasons why your pumping equipment makes so much noise, and find a way to fix the issue. Types of Noises and How to Fix Them Every type of noise has a different cause. Therefore, you need a different repair method for each associated sound: When you hear excess vibration: This usually happens when the discharge pipe makes contact with the pump basin. It also might occur when the […]
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Some of the worst problems are the ones you don’t find out about until it’s too late. Unfortunately, when it comes to plumbing, that tends to be the norm. When something goes wrong, warning signs aren’t always apparent, and a cursory glance around your property won’t tell you if your system is up to code, which is necessary if you plan on selling your home at some point. Dye testing is a great way to take some of the guesswork out of these tricky situations, and in Pittsburgh, it’s absolutely necessary if you want to sell your property in the […]
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Summer months can bring heavy rainfall, and with heavy rainfall comes the risk of basement flooding. This can happen for a number of reasons, but it’s usually the result of water following the path of least resistance. That path often leads right to the exterior walls of your basement, where it can saturate the ground and eventually make its way inside. There are several precautionary steps you should take to prepare for flooding, but there are also ways you can prevent it from happening in the first place. Prepare for the Worst The only thing worse than standing water in […]
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If you use your garbage disposal with any kind of regularity, you know that clogs are inevitable. Learning to dislodge clogs yourself can save a lot of time and money. These methods will help you clear away multiple types of clogs such as the type that occurs inside the unit (superficial clogs) and the type that occurs inside the pipe leading away from the unit. Superficial Clogs Superficial clogs happen all the time. These are the types of clogs that occur when something undesirable enters through the garbage disposal opening and ends up inside the unit. Most commonly, these types […]
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Plumbers provide a service to the public that isn’t easily picked up or learned off of the streets. Plumbing is tough work, but it is also incredibly rewarding. If you’re thinking of getting into the profession, you’re likely well aware of this and the fact that it can be an incredibly lucrative career. But how do you start down this path? Like any profession that requires a high skill level, you’ll need to receive some type of formal training and education before you can become a licensed plumber in Pennsylvania. There are some key decisions you’ll need to make before […]
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