The Winterize Plumbing How To Labor Day is behind us and blessedly cooler temperatures are on the way. But the weather changes in autumn can bring about changes in your home’s plumbing system. Preparing for these changes can prevent damage to the pipes, protect your home from leaks, and save you thousands of dollars in the long run. The following tips will help you get ready for the coming cold weather.   Insulate Pipes Pipes that freeze overnight can burst, causing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage to your home and property. While there are many tricks that homeowners...

Are Plumbing Nightmares Keeping You Up? If owning a home has become synonymous with the American dream, plumbing problems are the nightmare that go hand-in-hand with it.  It’s scary knowing that your home’s invisible architecture could turn on you at any minute.  To ease the fear, we share with you below a few plumbing horror stories and what you can do to prevent them. Check Your Pump: In Manasa, Wisconsin, a homeowner named Kirby took pride in his fully furnished man-cave.  Kirby was a responsible homeowner, but neglected to test the sump pump quarterly or flip on the switch every...

What Causes A Slab Leak Along with sunburn and mosquitoes, slab leaks are the great scourge of summertime.  Insidious and invasive, they can be a headache for any homeowner.  There are four primary conditions that cause a leaky slab. Soil chemicals can lead to the corrosion of pipes and concrete. Hot water pipes, which corrode due to chemical and heat influences, are particularly vulnerable to this problem. Vibration of pipes that eventually causes them to wear down. Pressure problems that stem from improper installation or shifting ground. Improper construction practices on the part of a...

The Best Plumber For most homeowners, trying to find a good plumber can be boiled down to two issues—quality and location—that are often expressed in four simple words: “Best plumber near me.” Locating a plumber is almost always an urgent matter that doesn’t allow for extensive comparison shopping—an overflowing toilet won’t wait for you to compare Yelp reviews. That’s why it’s best for homeowners to know what they’ll need in a plumber before the emergency arises.   Near Me?  Based on Google searches, most homeowners consider the plumber’s proximity to their home to...

Pipes Needing Repair? A leaking pipe can cause more damage than you might otherwise believe. It can cause excessive damage to your home and increase your monthly bill exponentially. To protect your home, it is crucial to know the signs of a hidden leak. Your water pipes are located in your wall and under flooring that most homeowners can’t typically access. Potential leaking pipes are one of the most popular reasons homeowners call the expert licensed plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. To help you better understand if you have a mounting problem needing our attention, here are the top...

Is a Tankless Water Heater Right for You? Hot water represents convenience, relaxation and all too often heated family conflict when you run out. When it comes to energy use, the financial resources devoted to heating your water are second only to the cost of heating your entire home. Tankless water heaters continue to grow in popularity with home owners so Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Company will tell you what you need to know about them. Also known as instantaneous water heaters and on-demand water heaters, tankless models consist of a gas or electric heating unit. Optimally placed, the unit...

Gas Line Installation When you first moved into your home, there were several natural-gas outlets that dotted the walls. They were quickly hooked up to your current appliances and promptly forgotten. However, these gas lines may require some updates over the years, as you alter the home. If you're wondering who to call for gas service, your best resource is a certified plumber from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Tyler. A Natural Fit There's an industry misconception when it comes to plumbers. Water lines aren't their only service areas. Plumbers work with gas lines because it's a natural...

Are Plumbing Myths Costing You? Are you a homeowner who needs to learn about maintaining your plumbing system? If so, it’s important that you learn how to do so effectively without trying practices that may damage your system or your pipes. Here are five myths about home plumbing you’ll want to avoid. Myth 1: Running water with the garbage disposal helps all waste travel smoothly Many homeowners believe that they can put just about anything down their garbage disposals as long as they run water with it. The truth, however, is that some things do not belong in a garbage disposal no matter...

Professional Plumbers:Do You Need One? Sure, we like to do things ourselves in Texas! And yes, there are plumbing problems you can handle on your own. But others are just too big to tackle. Do you know when you really need to call in professional plumber to help? Some of these may surprise you! You’ve been putting off those little repairs too long. You wouldn’t be the first to drag your feet about calling a plumber for something you think will be a quick, easy fix. But, left alone, those “small” problems could add up to a much bigger, expensive problem. Go ahead and make a list of...

The Dollars and Cents Calculating the economic cost of a shower is pretty straightforward. The water costs and the cost to heat it. For the average household in Northeast Texas, it all washes out at just about $2.00 per 10-minute shower. For a family of four, that's $8.00/day. $240/month.  $2,880 per YEAR! So, just by cutting your showers in half - from 10 minutes to 5 - your family could have an extra $1,440 sitting around by this time next year. Here are some don't miss tips for saving even more! Slow Your Flow. The average showerhead dispenses between 2.5 and  3.5 gallons of water per...