Do You Have Low Water Pressure Problems? A low water pressure problem in your plumbing system reaches a tipping point when it affects your ability to accomplish daily activities, including the ability to take a shower, launder clothes and wash dishes. Many homeowners have experienced the frustration of a low water pressure problem -at least once. It's a common issue that can sometimes be indicative of a plumbing system with serious problems. Possible Causes of  Low Water Pressure Problems If the pressure in your plumbing system seems to be low, the first step is to determine the cause. This...

One of the worst sounds that you could hear in your home is a running toilet. Whether it’s a leak or a clog, there could be several toilet problems that you might want to have checked by a professional, such as your local Benjamin Franklin Plumber. There are some minor issues that you may be able to repair on your own, but it's usually best to leave major plumbing work to someone who has the proper tools necessary to solve the problem. The most common issue that causes a running toilet is a broken flapper. If the flapper isn’t sitting correctly in the tank or isn’t raising when the...

Have A Clogged Sink? There’s never a good time for a clogged sink or pipe, but during the holidays they can be downright catastrophic. No one wants to deal with blocked drains while also dealing with a packed house of guests and a fridge packed with leftovers. Below are some tips from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing on how to keep plumbing problems out of the picture this Thanksgiving. It’s Not Dressing That’s Stuffing Your Pipes The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shipping day of the year, but did know that it’s also the busiest day of the year for plumbers?  When homeowners begin...

Plumbing Facts Plumbing, we can’t live without it, but how much do we really know about how our plumbing works?  Here's a fun list of things you maybe didn't realize about the plumbing in your house. Why do we call them plumbers? The word “plumber” is derived from the Latin word for lead – Plumbum. Before modern plumbing, lead use to be the primary material of pipe works used to carry water into cities and towns. As time has gone by, the word has changed into what we now call our mighty plumbers that help keep the water flowing in our homes. Who invented the modern toilet? The flush...

Tips for Halloween Plumbing Safety It’s technically not even fall yet, but the bags of candy are on display and stores are covered in orange and black decor. Halloween isn’t just about the last week of October anymore. Halloween is to fall what Christmas is to winter.  So you need to start your preparations now.  While we here at Benjamin Franklin can’t help with your homemade costumes, we can help keep your home’s plumbing safe so that this Halloween will only be the good kind of scary. Pumpkin Pulp With the millions of carved pumpkins being made this season, Americans will scrape...

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...