Tureks Plumbing Services Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Appleton WI’

Good Plumbers Vs. Mediocre Plumbers

Monday, March 6th, 2023

We’re not here to knock anyone down a peg. In fact, most mediocre plumbers are just plumbers who could use a bit more training and expertise on the systems that they work with. But to customers, they might not understand that.

A bad plumbing experience can easily lead a potential customer to start trying to fix things on their own, which is always going to end up badly.

So, we want to tell you about some of the expectations we put on our employees and the company as a whole. There’s a big difference between a good plumber and an average one, and we want customers to keep this in mind when they’re researching for professional plumbing in Appleton, WI.

We guarantee that you’ll notice the difference in several different ways. This blog post will help keep the bar high and get you the most out of your plumbing experience.

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Watch Where You Dig! Our End-of-Winter Tips

Monday, February 6th, 2023

Hopefully, by the time you’re reading this, winter is almost over. March is only a few weeks away and the temperatures are only going to get warmer and more comfortable, which means all of those outdoor projects can begin!

If you’re an avid gardener, then you’re probably looking at the calendar with bated breath for the last freeze.

If you’re really into home improvement, then this might finally be the year that you finish building that fence or doing the repairs on the garage.

However, we need to talk about a few guidelines that homeowners should be aware of when temperatures inevitably start to warm up.

Even if things get warmer earlier, which is always a possibility, you don’t want to start digging in your lawn or working on your home plumbing until you’ve done your research and you’re ready to go.

Take it from your local plumber in Appleton, WI, and make sure you’ve learned everything you need to before getting to work!

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5 Tips for Your Drains This Holiday Season

Monday, December 12th, 2022
home-during-winter

The holidays are quickly approaching, which means your home needs to be prepared for some serious cooking, cleaning, and handling the needs of various family members. Even if you’re not having any family over, you still want to make sure that you can make it through this season without a hitch.

Drains can come under a lot of stress this time of year, from more people using them to the food waste that inevitably ends up down the kitchen drain. It can be stressful, and there’s nothing quite like experiencing a drain clog on Christmas Eve or New Years Day, especially when you’ve looked forward to relaxing a bit on those days.

So, we’d like to remind customers that there are some things they can do to clear out their drains in preparation for the season. But our team is also always available for drain cleaning in Appleton, WI.

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Expert Tips on Preventing Frozen Pipes

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021

Preventing Frozen Pipes in the Winter 2021

Iexpert tips on preventing frozen pipesn Wisconsin, winters can be fairly pleasurable; snow days provide the ideal setting for a range of entertaining outdoor activities. Extreme cold weather, on the other hand, may cause issues; many houses must deal with keeping frozen pipes from restricting the water supply, but it can also cause pipes to break, and will then be in need of Pipe Repair Appleton WI. It’s a good idea to understand how to protect your pipes from ice up when temps dip into the negatives to save additional costs and hassles, as well as to prevent your pipes from busting. The following are some of the most important recommendations from your Plumber Appleton Wisconsin

Install insulation in attics and crawl spaces where pipes run through. 

Pipe insulation can be purchased from local hardware stores or home centers. Don’t be quick to buy just any type of insulation, however; get professional advice from plumbing maintenance Appleton WI on how thick the material should be to effectively prevent your pipes from freezing up when the weather turns unexpectedly cold.

Heating cables and tapes would be good alternatives to insulation foam. 

Fox Valley plumbers say that the best choice is a heating cable with a built-in thermostat and UL label. This cable will automatically turn the heat on when it’s needed; that means you don’t have to worry if you’re out of town or fast asleep when temperatures suddenly drop.

Open Doors

On days when it’s unusually cold and there’s a real risk of pipes freezing, opening the doors to the cabinets under the kitchen and bathroom sinks will help. Sacramento Plumbing Contractors at Gilmore Heating and Air, states the conditioned air provided by your home’s HVAC system will allow warm air to circulate around the pipes. That warm air will help neutralize the cold a bit so you don’t have to worry about your pipes freezing. Drain the exterior pipes — especially if you’ll be going away for a few days.

Place some insulation sleeves around your exterior pipes.

Allow faucets to drip slowly to keep water flowing through the pipes. Movement will prevent the water from turning into ice. Just keep the faucet open — this way, you’ll be able to monitor if water has frozen inside and you need to introduce heat to the pipes to melt it (a hair dryer with a high heat setting will do the trick). Also, keeping the faucet open will ease the pressure inside the pipe that can cause it to burst.

Contact Tureks Plumbing Today For Frozen Pipe Repair

Apply these tips to your home and you can be sure that the harsh cold of winter will translate to savoring hot cocoa by the fireplace, sledding down the hills, and building snowmen instead of arranging for costly repairs due to frozen or burst pipes.

Be sure to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in March, 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Tankless Water Heaters – Pros & Cons

Thursday, February 13th, 2020

tankless water heaters wisconsinThe invention of water heaters helped shape the way people heated water in their homes. It was now possible to heat water without using a stove and without wasting too much energy in the process. This invention would later develop into a tankless water heater, from the conventional storage water heater.

Homeowners are increasingly adopting this method of heating water. Such an instantaneous supply of hot water is viewed as a great addition to any home. However, like any invention, tankless water heaters do have their merits and demerits. It is important to explore these pros and cons, before getting a plumbing company in Appleton Wisconsin to install a water heater in your home.   

The pros include:

They are instant 

Unlike with storage tank water heaters, tankless water heaters are able to provide hot water on demand. You will not have to wait for the water to heat up as they are usually fast. This works well for homes with many occupants. 

They last longer 

Tankless water heaters are known to last longer than storage-tank water heaters. A typical tankless water heater is likely to last for more than 20 years, unlike their storage-tank counterpart which only lasts for 10-15 years. This added durability will save you money in the long run. 

They come with lower operational costs

Tankless water heaters have a lower operational cost than their storage tank counterparts. Given that they come with fewer components, and a longer lifespan, you are less likely to spend a lot of money carrying out a water heater repair, for example. This allows you to comfortably maintain your water heater without spending too much money. 

Reduced Risk of Water Damage 

A tankless water heater is less likely to cause damage to your property than a storage-tank water heater. This is usually because the tankless water heater has no tank to leak. While both can leak, a tankless water heater will not flood your house as a storage-tank water heater would. 

They save on Space 

A storage-tank water heater will require plenty of space since the tank has to go somewhere in your house. On the other hand, a tankless water heater requires no additional space making it an ideal pick for anyone with a smaller home. 

All these benefits come with their disadvantages too. The Cons include:

They come with a high initial cost 

Tankless water heaters are not only expensive to buy, but also come with added installation costs. For example, a gas water heater requires that you reroute gas lines in homes whose initial design had not accounted for such. You might also need to install new wiring systems to account for the water heater. This adds to the initial cost of the setup. 

They can’t fully cater to multiple users 

A tankless water heater might not be able to fully provide your entire household with hot water if you have multiple appliances using hot water at the same time. This leads to inconsistency in water temperatures. To counter this, you might be forced to install additional water heaters which are bound to cost more money. 

They can be affected by electricity outages 

Tankless water heaters do not work if there is a power outage. Regardless of whether your water heater uses electricity or gas, the control unit of both systems uses electricity. Therefore, this leaves you at the mercy of your power company. 

A water heater is an important addition to your home in Appleton Wisconsin. Whether you decide to pick a tank water heater or a tankless one, ensure to have Tureks by your side. We will provide you with the best plumber in Appleton Wisconsin for the right advice and installation. Contact us if you have any additional questions. 

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Signs your Kitchen Needs a Remodel

Wednesday, November 27th, 2019

Signs your Kitchen Needs a RemodelSigns your Kitchen Needs a Remodel

Your kitchen can be more functional today than when it was originally designed. The kitchen is often said to be the heart of your home. Most families use the kitchen for more than just preparing food and cleaning utensils. It is a gathering place where some of the most important moments in your family take place. This makes the kitchen one of the most important rooms in your house.

Over time, however, kitchens can become less functional than originally designed, especially if your family gets bigger. To ensure that your kitchen space can accommodate all these uses without you having to expand the space is a science we have perfected. When it comes time to remodel of your kitchen you will know, but just in case here are a few hints.

How can you tell that your kitchen needs remodeling?

There are a number of factors you need to consider before having an Appleton Kitchen remodel. They include:

Traffic Overflow in the Kitchen

You might have an easier time running your kitchen at the beginning if you have fewer people in it or if you are alone. But if you keep bumping into one another in the kitchen as your family grows, it is probably time to call in a Fox Cities Kitchen Remodeling Company.

Faded Counters and Cabinets

Kitchens are supposed to be inviting for everyone. They should have inviting colors and good lighting to create a cheerful ambiance. These tend to fade with time, so if you find your kitchen feels depressing, it might be time to remodel. Replacing faded countertops and outdated kitchen cabinetry might be the kitchen makeover boost you need to love the space again.

Wear and Tear on an Outdated Kitchen

Broken kitchen cabinet doors, failing taps, peeling paint, failing built-in kitchen appliances. All these can deprive your kitchen of the level of efficiency you used to enjoy at the beginning. They could also cause accidents. Such damages are a good reason to remodel your kitchen.

Have Your Kitchen Floors Become A Cleaning Menace

Cleanliness is one of the most important things you need to maintain in your kitchen. It is also important to ensure that your kitchen can be cleaned easily. However, if you find it increasingly hard to clean it, especially because of the wear and tear, or because there is too much clutter, it could be the best time to think of remodeling. Kitchen floors that are worn down and not easy to clean tend to be an issue for many.

Kitchen Functionality Issues

Kitchens tend to lose their functionality with time. Equipment and appliances that used to work a few years ago might be outdated and less effective. You might also find yourself with a kitchen that cannot accommodate your newest additions due to its interior design. Your remodeling company will offer you great services.

Pantry Storage Problems

Does it take you ages to locate things once they get into the kitchen? This is usually caused by a crumpled up kitchen. It affects efficiency and makes it harder to clean. Remodel your kitchen so that there is more storage space.

Before embarking on a remodeling exercise, have a kitchen remodeling checklist to go through to help you make a decision. This helps you decide the minor and major changes to effect in order to make your kitchen more comely. Feel free to consult with Tureks Plumbing services as well for professional plumbing services.

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How to Prevent Mold in Your Home

Wednesday, May 30th, 2018

Molds are the last thing you want to have in your home. They are health hazards and do nothing good to the look of a house. Worse, they are hard to remove, especially if your home is already teeming with them.

In such instances, you will have to hire professionals to get rid of your mold problem.

You can avoid all the health concerns and other issues that come with having molds in your home by preventing their growth in the first place. Here are some tips on how to prevent molds in your home:

Identify possible problem areas

It can be hard to have a mold-proof home. But you can start doing this by inspecting all areas of your house and finding out which ones are often damp and wet.

The most common rooms and parts of your home where molds will likely grow are the:

  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Basement
  • Ceiling

If there are leaks, or if these areas are often damp or wet, have the issues fixed immediately to prevent future mold problems.

Make cleaning a priority

To keep molds at bay, always vacuum and keep your home clean, especially the areas that generate a lot of moisture such as the bathroom and kitchen. Use disinfecting cleaning products on non-porous surfaces such as tiles and stones to discourage mold growth.

De-clutter

When you have a tidy room, your cooling system will have an easier time circulating air. The opposite happens when you have a messy room. This is because clutter obstructs airflow and prevents your HVAC system from circulating air. This, in turn, allows the room to accumulate moisture which encourages mold growth.

As such, get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore. Consider rearranging your furniture as well if they are positioned near vents and grilles, or covering them, to keep air circulating.

Keep your home well-ventilated

Poor ventilation in damp spaces like bathrooms and kitchens can leave moisture behind that can encourage mold growth. As such, wipe the kitchen sink after using it and keep the bathroom door open after bathing to speed up the drying of surfaces.

You can also use fans to ensure proper ventilation in these rooms. However, make sure the fans take moisture outside and not into attics. Our friends at Gilmore Solar, Heating, & Air, recommend searching for an HVAC company near me for professional help.

Handle water leaks and flooding issues immediately

Lastly, have water leaks in your roof, windows or any other part of the home repaired by experts as soon as possible. Keep in mind that constant leaks cause moisture to build up and enable molds to grow.

If you encounter any flooding problem in your home, make sure you have this issue fixed immediately. Thoroughly wash, disinfect and dry soaked carpets, padding, and wet upholstery before using them again. Contact Tureks Plumbing Services if you need assistance.

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3 Ways to Deal With Popcorn Ceiling

Monday, May 28th, 2018

There are things that can date your home, and one example is “popcorn ceiling.” This pertains to bumpy ceiling surfaces with a sprayed-on texture that may include glittery sparkles. They are also hard to clean, difficult to repair, and can easily catch dust.

Despite these cons, popcorn ceilings became popular in the late 1950s since they made easy work of hiding imperfections in the finishing.

When it is time for you to move on to a different look, there are three ways to deal with popcorn ceiling. But before taking on the challenge, learning whether they contain asbestos or not should be done first; this way, you’ll know how to deal with it.

Asbestos fiber, when inhaled in large quantities, may cause lung disease, scarring of the lungs, and lung cancer. Once your ceiling has been confirmed to contain asbestos, appropriate precautionary steps must be taken, and only the experts must deal with your popcorn ceiling.

Here’s an overview from Tureks Plumbing Services of the three ways of dealing with popcorn ceilings.

  1. Scrape off Popcorn Ceiling

Scraping the popcorn ceiling off is probably the easiest way to remove it. The process is similar to getting samples for testing, but this only works on unpainted ceilings.

All you have to do is wet the ceiling and scrape the dampened texture off with a large knife until you are left with a clean, smooth surface. But instead of doing the entire ceiling at once, you have to complete small areas at a time.

Once everything has been removed, and the ceiling is dry, use joint compound to fill in the holes. After that, sand it to achieve a popcorn-free ceiling.

  1. Cover Popcorn Ceiling with drywall

If your ceiling is not at risk for asbestos but is painted, it might be impossible to scrape off. The porous popcorn material had soaked it up, so covering it with drywall is a better option. This is also recommended if your ceilings contain asbestos since the harmful substance will be trapped instead of being sent into the air and atmosphere while scraping.

This method involves affixing ceiling-grade gypsum board over the existing popcorn ceiling. You have to screw it into the framing. For a seamless job, you must be proficient at taping and mudding.

Hiring a team of professionals will ensure that the job is completed in no time.

  1. Skim Coat over Popcorn Ceiling

Another way to deal with popcorn ceiling is to skim coat over the ceilings using a different texture. This method will involve cleaning and preparing the current substrate with quick-set drywall mud. After that, a bonding agent like joint compound will be applied.

A finish compound may also be applied to create a new texture. But often, this method leaves the ceiling still bumpy, which might not be beneficial to your home decorating endeavor.

Determining which of these three methods to use to get rid of popcorn ceiling will depend on the condition and age of your ceiling. But remember that all these routes are quite messy, so make sure to cover all your exposed body parts and wear a respirator during the project. Also, remove furnishing, relocate your pets to another room, and cover the flooring. If you have any questions or concerns, please give Tureks Plumbing Services a call!

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How To Install An Outdoor Faucet

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018

If you love spending time outside your home, you will find having one or more outdoor faucets really handy. With an outdoor faucet, you will have an easier and quicker time watering your garden. It will also be highly useful whenever you cook outside and clean your outdoor space.

Placing an outside tap is something you can do as a DIY project. If you want to know how to install an outdoor faucet,  Tureks Plumbing Services provides the steps and tips you need to follow (take note that if any part of the process becomes too challenging, or if you don’t have the time or skills to do it, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals — they’ll be happy to get the job done for you).

 

  • Choose the location of your tap. Start by looking in your basement or crawl space for an area near a pipe where you can install your faucet. If there is no cold water line near the location where you’d like to install the faucet, you’ll have to run the pipe to a water supply line elsewhere.
  • Select your pipe. For an underground pipeline, plumbers recommend using PEX tubing. This is because PEX tubing is easier to install and cheaper than copper pipe. You can also make a continuous run from your house and make turns without installing a single fitting when you choose this type of pipe. However, if you choose this material, be prepared to buy a PEX crimping tool as well.
  • Prepare to dig a trench. In case you will have to run a pipe underground, call 811 several days before you dig so that a utility company can locate buried pipes and cables in your yard. Once you’re given the go-signal, dig your trench. A plumber in Appleton, Wisconsin says that you only need to bury the water line about six inches deep.
  • Protect the water line. Once you’re done placing the pipe underground, cover the tubing with at least two inches of soil and pour in about two inches of dry concrete mix before backfilling the trench. This will protect the water line from shovel attacks or any external force.
  • Install the post and faucet. You can use a hollow PVC fence post or any material you have or want to use as the post for your faucet. Run the PEX run inside the post to protect it from sunlight since UV rays can reduce its life. Set the post at least 18 inches deep. Screw the sillcock flange to the post; make sure it is tight and secure.  Afterward, install a screw-on backflow preventer.

 

If you will be installing the faucet on a wall, follow the steps below:

 

  • After choosing the location for your outdoor faucet, drill a hole through the wall. Once you’ve chosen the right water supply pipe for your outdoor faucet, clean the pipe and turn off the water.
  • Cut through the current pipe and solder the old pipe together with the new line. Run the pipes all the way up to the spot where you will install the faucet in the wall.
  • Install the faucet using plumber’s putty around the back of the faucet piece. Next, insert the faucet into the hole from the outside of the house. Push the faucet against the wall of the house so that the plumber’s putty squeezes out and spreads through the sides of the faucet. Wipe off any excess putty that squeezes around the edges of the faucet
  •  Lastly, connect the faucet piece to the pipe inside the house. Solder these two parts so that they are completely connected and secure as well.

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Water Conservation Tips to Save You Money and Do the Environment Well

Thursday, July 27th, 2017

Water is essential to human life and its shortage can result in problems of a major scale. This is why everybody is encouraged to conserve water. With smart practices, water shortage can be prevented and quality of human life protected.

A reputable plumbing company trusted by Applegate and Fox Valley residents has a collection of water conservation tips that can help. So, if you wish to do your bit in doing the environment well and helping sustain its ability to provide water to us all, and at the same time, slash your household’s water bill, you can implement these tips from the pros.

Eco-Friendly Products

Don’t go overboard with detergents, bleach, and other chemicals to get your clothes and house clean. Not only do they contribute to water pollution but they also cause routine cleaning to consume more energy and water.

Switch to eco-friendly soaps and detergents. They are much easier to rinse and don’t contribute to water pollution.

Lawn Care & Water Conservation

Improve your lawn care. Watering frequently is actually counterproductive; water deeply just twice a day (ideally before the sun goes up and when it’s setting) instead. You’ll use less water by watering wisely.

Contact your local water authority to make sure that the water pressure on your street is less than 60 pounds per square inch. Pressure that is any higher than that is too much for plumbing systems and will always result in excessive water usage.

Plumbing Leaks

Make sure that there’s no leaky plumbing in your home. Leaky toilets consist of more than 40 percent of your total water usage. Meanwhile, leaky faucets that drip once per second waste as much as eight gallons of water a day. To make sure that you’re not dealing with a leaky plumbing system, check your water meter when no water is being used. If the meter continues to move even when no one’s using water, that’s a clear indication that you have a water leak somewhere. Call professional plumbers to find where the leak is and repair the problem.

Collect Water

Wisconsin gets a lot of rain and you can fill rain barrels with rainwater that you can use as a resource for the future. It can be used for gardening and cleaning your home.

Plumbing Fixtures

Replacing some plumbing fixtures, such as an old showerhead with a more water-efficient design, can actually save you up to 7.5 gallons of water per minute without compromising spray pressure. You can also look into low-flow toilets and faucets. Call us to schedule your appointment today!

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