What To Do if Water Is Leaking From Your Ceiling

March 7, 2023. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • Bryan-College Station

A ceiling leak is a problem that no homeowner should ignore. If you see water dripping, brown stains forming or paint bubbling, these are signs of a ceiling leak, and you should address it as soon as you can.

Here’s everything you need to know about the issue, including the causes of leaks and what you should do. Contact a professional plumber to get to the root of the problem and find a solution before the damage gets worse.

There are two common reasons why water is leaking from the ceiling. It can be a plumbing issue, such as a leaking shower or damaged piping. Or, there is an issue with your roof, causing water to come in. Here’s how these problems can lead to a ceiling leak.

Damaged Pipes

Burst pipes are one of the most common causes of ceiling leaks in the winter. When temperatures get extremely low, the water inside the … Read Full Post »

How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal

January 20, 2023. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • San Antonio

Knowing how to clean a garbage disposal is necessary for the upkeep of a home. Like any kitchen appliance, garbage disposals need a thorough cleaning once in a while, or else bacteria can start to accumulate. Most of the food items you throw into it will disappear for good. But small chunks can get stuck in various parts of the garbage disposal and eventually rot. Oil and certain vegetables can also leave residues that can cause bacteria buildup.

To help you keep your garbage disposal grime-free, here’s an in-depth guide on how to clean it properly. We also include troubleshooting tips that can help address any issues. However, it’s always best to contact a plumber for severe problems so that you don’t cause further damage to your garbage disposal.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Garbage Disposal

Cleaning your garbage disposal isn’t a complicated task and should take no more than 30 minutes. … Read Full Post »

What Size Tankless Water Heater Do I Need?

December 2, 2022. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • Corpus Christi

Tankless water heaters have become popular as more homeowners look for energy savings and more sustainable appliances. Compared to traditional tank water heaters, tankless units save homeowners about 30 percent or more on their energy usage for such a unit.

Traditional tank water heaters use energy–whether fueled by electricity or gas–in standby mode. They hold the hot water in reserve, waiting for someone to need it. How does a tankless water heater work? Tankless models heat the water as needed. You will have a momentary delay while the hot water runs through your pipes, but generally, no more heating, depleting and waiting. But, how do you know what size water heater you need if you go tankless?

If you have a tankless unit that is too small for your needs, you will run out of hot water when you might need it the most. If you purchase a unit that is too … Read Full Post »

My Hot Water Heater Is Not Working

October 31, 2022. Posted by Jim Brant in Plumbing

Have you ever been in the middle of a nice warm shower or finishing a load of dishes and had the water turn cold? The first thing that probably comes to mind at such a time is “Uh oh! The water heater!” What isn’t as immediately obvious is why the heater isn’t doing its job.

You don’t realize how important a water heater is until it stops working. So, it makes sense that you want to get it functioning again as soon as possible. As with many appliance issues, there isn’t just one reason your water heater would stop warming up the water.

Thermostat

This part isn’t usually a big problem, but you should consider it when you have no hot water in the house. An issue with the thermostat in a single-element unit will mean that your home isn’t getting any hot water. In a double-element unit, the upper thermostat will shut … Read Full Post »

How To Fix a Clogged Shower Drain

October 20, 2022. Posted by Jim Brant in Plumbing

Everyone has likely experienced a slightly clogged shower drain at least once in their lifetime. Often, the clog isn’t severe, and you can take care of it yourself with little fuss. Other times, you will need to contact a professional plumber.

Let’s look at the best ways you can clear a clogged drain yourself first. Your clog might be from debris such as hair, grease or soap, or it could be from a buildup of minerals in the drain, depending on how hard your water is. It could even result from little tree roots pushing through the pipes. Start with the easiest method to get things moving again and progress from there if you don’t have success.

Take Off the Drain Cover

The first thing you will want to do is remove your drain cover. Some drains have a pull-up stopper that can be easily removed so you can access the larger opening. … Read Full Post »

Why Does My Garbage Disposal Smell?

October 18, 2022. Posted by Tom Riggs in Appliance Repair, Plumbing • Austin

Your garbage disposal is one of the most important appliances in your kitchen. It helps send any leftover bits of food left on plates or in containers down the drain smoothly. However, your garbage disposal can sometimes smell pretty bad.

So, what causes these smells, and how can you make them go away?

Common Reasons Garbage Disposals Smell Bad

When a garbage disposal is turned on, its blades spin and grind down food waste. This process produces small pieces of refuse and water that are pushed down a pipe to the drain. Over time, these small particles can accumulate and create an unpleasant smell in the garbage disposal.

The most common cause of this smell is grease or food particles gathered around the drain opening. If the disposal is not properly cleaned, this residue can also cause corrosion to the metal parts inside the unit.

There are a few other common causes of garbage disposal … Read Full Post »

What Is a Water Softener Salt Bridge?

October 3, 2022. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing, Water Quality • Austin

Hard water contains high levels of dissolved minerals in the form of ions, most often magnesium and calcium. These hard water minerals seep into our water supplies from the ground, and that water leaves behind mineral deposits known as scaling.

If you find a stubborn, whitish build-up on your faucets, drains or other areas that come in contact with your water supply, like shower doors or toilets, it’s likely to be mineral scaling left behind by hard water.

To help prevent issues from these mineral deposits, many homeowners install water softeners or water conditioners to treat the incoming water and reduce the impact.

What is a Water Softener Salt Bridge?

A salt bridge is a hard, crusty layer of salt that forms in your brine tank. What makes this problematic is that it gives the appearance that the tank is still full when, in fact, you may be low or even completely out of … Read Full Post »

I Have a Slow Flushing Toilet: What Should I Do

August 10, 2022. Posted by Jim Brant in Plumbing

Few things are as alarming to a homeowner as a slow flushing toilet. It certainly is not something you want to happen when guests are on the way! A slow-flushing toilet can be unpleasant to see and cause an unpleasant bathroom odor. Several things generally cause a toilet to flush slowly, and they are something you might or might not be able to handle on your own.

Lower Water Level in Tank

Your toilet’s tank needs to have just the right amount of water in the tank for it to flush correctly. Too little water in the tank means the toilet doesn’t have enough power to empty the bowl completely. If your toilet is only emptying part way or you notice that your toilet won’t flush at all, look in the tank. The water level inside should be about a half-inch below the toilet’s overflow pipe. It’s a quick and relatively simple … Read Full Post »

My Garbage Disposal Is Spinning but Not Draining

July 14, 2022. Posted by Tom Riggs in Appliance Repair, Plumbing • Corpus Christi

a thumbnail from the video featured in this blog

A garbage disposal is one of the most valuable conveniences in the modern kitchen. Mounted below the sink drain, the garbage disposal uses several blades that spin like propellers to grind solid food waste into bits. These small bits are washed away through a grey-water plumbing system.

The garbage disposal reduces waste odors and makes kitchen clean-up significantly quicker and easier.

Until it stops working, that is.

According to Michael Marugo, Plumbing Operations Manager at ABC Home & Commercial Services, if you’re dealing with a garbage disposal that is spinning but not draining, there is likely something stuck in the disposal itself or further down in the drain.

The first thing to check is whether the other side of your sink has water backing up. If water isn’t backing up on the other side of your sink, then the clog is either in the disposal or in the fittings right below it. For this … Read Full Post »

What Are the Benefits of Water Softeners?

June 14, 2022. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing, Water Quality • Corpus Christi

So what does “hard” water really mean?

When rain falls, it is pure water. Once it seeps into the ground, it picks up minerals like calcium and magnesium. Water that has collected a large amount of such minerals is called “hard.” In fact, about 85 percent of water in the United States can be classified as hard water.

Is a water softener worth it? It’s important to first see if you are noticing the signs of hard water. Seeing stains on your sinks and tubs or on your kitchen utensils? It’s a good bet you have hard water. Seeing scale deposits on kitchen appliances and plumbing is another sign. Are you having to use more soap than usual? Hard water doesn’t lather well, so you have to use more. Hard water will also face your clothing and make your skin and hair feel dry after a shower.

Water also has a continuum of … Read Full Post »