Why Is Water Backing Up Into My Bathtub?

February 13, 2019. Posted by Jim Brant in Plumbing

Perhaps it happened when you decided to hop into the shower one evening after a long day. Just as your stress began to recede, you noticed you were standing in water up to your ankles, and it was still rising—and suddenly, what was supposed to be a relaxing way to unwind became a new stressor in your life as you wondered why you might have water backing up into the bathtub.

Since kitchens and bathrooms are high-traffic areas in most houses, most people depend on their plumbing to function properly, day in and day out. When any part of the bathroom is suddenly out of commission, it causes a big disruption in the daily routine.

It’s a relief when there is an easy fix to the problem, but unfortunately, this is often not the case when it comes to water backing up into a bathtub. The most likely culprit for this particular … Read Full Post »

How Long Do Garbage Disposals Last: Appliance Repair 101

February 1, 2019. Posted by Tom Riggs in Appliance Repair, Plumbing • Austin

Garbage disposals are the backbone of your kitchen. These electric powerhouses shred away food waste within a matter of seconds, making clean up a much easier-to-complete task. But if these machines are so important, why do many of us go blank when someone asks “how long do garbage disposals last?” And what should we do if we wake up one morning to find puddles of water under the sink? Or perhaps even worse, what if our garbage disposal was not working with no noise at all indicating that you flipped the switch to the “On” position?

While garbage disposals are part of our daily routine, their operation remains foreign to many of us. This not only makes garbage disposal troubleshooting difficult, but also can make it harder to know how to properly care for and maintain this important kitchen appliance.

If you came to this post to find out how long disposals last, … Read Full Post »

Water Heater Making A Popping Noise? What You Can Do

January 21, 2019. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • San Antonio

One of the last sounds you want to hear when you’re in the garage or laundry room is your water heater making a popping noise. While anything audible coming from your unit is a cause for concern, you should know that this sound often indicates a sediment buildup in your tank—something you’ll want to take care of sooner, rather than later. Once you troubleshoot what your issue is, you’ll be faced with a decision: whether to try to fix the problem on your own, or call in a professional.

Similar to when you take your car in for a suspicious sound and a mechanic asks you to describe it, you’ll discover as you do your homework that different noises can indicate different problems. Maybe you’ve noticed your water heater making a noise like running water, or you hear something coming from your water heater only when the hot water is turned … Read Full Post »

Garbage Disposal Humming: Quick Fix Or Big Problem?

January 2, 2019. Posted by Tom Riggs in Appliance Repair, Plumbing • San Antonio

We tend not to think much about our appliances. That is, until something goes wrong.

One evening, as you are going about your normal routine, you scrape your leftover food from your dinner plate, turn on the disposal and wait for that familiar and gratifying noise of food heading down your garbage disposal.

But something’s not quite right. What’s that humming sound? There’s supposed to be roaring. Grinding. Not a soft little purr.

But that’s all you’re getting.

What does it mean? Is there some kind of quick fix? Or is your disposal ruined?

We rely on our garbage disposals after pretty much every meal. We expect these appliances to take whatever we throw at them and keep on going, even when you don’t notice and a spoon slips down your drain or your children put eggshells in the garbage disposal.

Unfortunately, these kinds of common plumbing mistakes—as well as just general wear and tear—can cause … Read Full Post »

Water Heater Burst: Why This Happens And What To Do Next

December 12, 2018. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • Corpus Christi

When a water heater bursts in a home, it is a shocking event, not to mention a messy one, and it could potentially cause a lot of expensive damage. If your hot water heater burst, you’re probably wondering why this happens and what to do next.

In general, the basic reason why hot water heaters burst is that there is corrosion within the tank, which can lead to the tank bursting at its seams. Unfortunately, there are several possible underlying causes that can contribute to water heater explosions, and it’s not always apparent which one is the culprit.

Sometimes there are risk factors or warning signs that could indicate a water heater explosion is imminent, but not always. In order to understand the risk factors that could contribute to a water heater exploding, it’s important first to understand the type of water heater that you have in your home.

Types Of Water … Read Full Post »

Why Am I Running Out of Hot Water Faster Than Before?

October 15, 2018. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • Austin

a thumbnail from the video featured in this blog

Running out of hot water faster than normal is extremely frustrating. Typically, this issue happens more often with tank style heaters, but it can still happen with tankless heaters. According to Michael Marugo, Plumbing Operations Manager at ABC Home & Commercial Services, homeowners start to run out of hot water faster than normal when there is sediment in the bottom of your water tank.

Unfiltered water can have sediment in it which, overtime, can settle into the bottom of your tank water heater. You can remove this sediment by having your water heater flushed annually. If you water heater isn’t flushed, this debris and limescale can build up on the bottom of your tank. If you have inches and inches of this sediment, it takes away from water that could be heated by your water heater. You may be running out of hot water faster before because there’s less space for … Read Full Post »

Solving A Common Austin Plumbing Problem: Clogged Drains

July 20, 2018. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • Austin

You’ve had a long, stressful day. All you could think about for the past few hours is slipping into your bathtub to let all that tension flow away.

That’s your only thought as you come in the door. You’re barely paying attention as you turn on the hot water, grab a towel and step into the bath. That’s when you realize you have a problem.

There are three inches of freezing cold water in the bath. What happened?

The faucet water is steaming hot, so that must mean there is an issue with the drain.

You’d thought it was draining more slowly lately, but you never imagined it would completely stop. Well, you’re not about to sit in day-old dirty water, so your bath is going to have to wait.

Hopefully, unclogging the drain wouldn’t take too long, you think to yourself.

Whether it belongs to a sink, shower, tub or toilet, clogged drains are among … Read Full Post »

San Antonio Plumbing Problems And Solutions

July 2, 2018. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • San Antonio

There are so many ways to enjoy a day in San Antonio, whether it’s walking around the Pearl, spending an afternoon on the Guadalupe River, seeing a new exhibit at the McNay, letting the kids burn off steam at the Hemisfair or carb loading at the Magnolia Pancake Haus.

No matter how you decide to spend your free time in San Antonio, there is one thing we can all agree on: the last thing you want to do is waste an afternoon, a day and even a weekend trapped inside trying to fix a plumbing problem. Unfortunately, plumbing problems tend to spring up at the worst times, including when your kids are in the car and you have packed the car for an all-day outing.

As locally based San Antonio plumbing experts, the licensed plumbers at ABC Home & Commercial Services have encountered nearly every plumbing malfunction and mishap you can imagine. … Read Full Post »

Galvanized Plumbing: What is It, and Why Should I Care?

December 6, 2017. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • San Antonio

Many homes built after World War II, but prior to the 1960s, used galvanized steel pipes for indoor plumbing. Some galvanized plumbing was still being installed as late as the 1980s. Although there are benefits to using galvanized steel, your plumbing problems may be linked to these types of pipes. Learn more about why you may need to upgrade your home’s plumbing, how long galvanized pipes last, whether these pipes contain lead and how to determine which kind of plumbing you have.

What is Galvanized Plumbing?

Lead was once the most common metal used to make pipes to transport water. By 1900, over 70 percent of larger cities used lead-based pipes in municipal drinking water systems. After increased pressure to curb lead poisoning, builders began looking for an alternative to lead pipes. By the 1960s, galvanized steel had replaced lead as the building block of choice for plumbing.

Steel pipes are galvanized when they … Read Full Post »

Common Plumbing Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

September 11, 2017. Posted by Tom Riggs in Plumbing • Austin

We’ve all been there: something gets dropped down the toilet, your disposal or toilet gets clogged, your bathroom sink gets backed up or the hot water heater starts leaking. Your first thought may be to call a plumber. Immediately, you may find yourself thinking, “That’s expensive. Maybe I can fix it.”

Some plumbing fixes are more difficult than others. If you decide to take on a plumbing repair yourself, you’ll want to make sure you avoid the most common plumbing mistakes so you don’t cause more problems than you solve.

Common Plumbing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Before you start looking online for how-to videos, you may wonder which problems you can fix yourself and when to call a plumber. Many home DIY projects can be pretty straightforward—and even satisfying—as you learn something new.

But, then there is plumbing.

How easy is it to fix your own plumbing? Which fixes are manageable … Read Full Post »