Tureks Plumbing Services Blog: Posts Tagged ‘plumbing inspection’

Plumbing Problem Prevention In Appleton WI

Monday, May 9th, 2022

Plumbing Problem Prevention In Appleton WI

Plumbing Preventive Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

We are all aware of how critical it is to keep the water flowing and the pipes in our houses in good operating order. Unfortunately, every now and again, a plumbing issue will develop. If you’re handy, you can make your own solution. If the issue is beyond your competence or you are downright unhandy, you may contact your Appleton plumber for assistance. However, there are numerous steps you can take to avoid such plumbing issues from arising in the first place. Here are some tips for Plumbing Problem Prevention In Appleton WI.

Here are five suggestions for avoiding plumbing issues in your home:

The proper technique to flush. Of course, there are many items that you already know should not be flushed down the toilet, such as your child’s stuffed animal and your mobile phone. However, there are several products that seem to be safe for flushing but are not, such as:

  • Tissues – even though they are made of paper, they are not meant to degrade in the same way as toilet paper does.
  • Baby wipes — any sort of wipe, including those labeled “flushable” — are not meant to degrade and may even get “trapped” in pipes if little roots have entered them.
  • Hair (and dental floss!) – although seeming to be innocuous, it may build a net that becomes entangled in the pipes and never disintegrates.
  • Medication — may disintegrate and enter the water system, causing negative environmental impacts.
    Cigarette butts are loaded with harmful chemicals and are notorious for clogging drains.
  • Bleach – if you’re using it to clean your toilet, you may be astonished to hear that it’s too harsh for your septic systems and pipes.

When it comes to flushing, a basic rule of thumb is to limit paper products to toilet paper alone and to use vinegar or commercially available items intended exclusively for cleaning toilets.

Make use of the proper plunger

A plunger is the “old faithful” of drain unclogging, but did you know there are three distinct varieties of plungers, each with its unique use?

  • The plunger for the cup. This is the most common sort of plunger and the one you’re most likely to recognize. It features a rubber cup for a handle. The cup plunger works best on things like flat surfaces, creating a suction effect that helps to release obstructions. It is mainly beneficial for sinks and tubs in bathrooms and kitchens.
  • The plunger with a flange. Like the cup plunger, this plunger has a cap on the end of a handle, but it also includes a rubber flap that folds out from within the cup. This cup/flap combination fits snugly over a curved toilet drain, providing the suction required to dislodge a blockage. The flap may be folded within the cup to provide a flat plunger if necessary.
  • The plunger of an accordion. This plunger seems to be exactly what it sounds like: a plunger with accordion-style pleats. This plunger is made of hard plastic and can provide a lot of suction, but it may also damage surfaces. Therefore, it is solely appropriate for toilets.

Look for any leaks

A little drop might quickly grow into a larger, more expensive leak. Water leaks may reduce your water pressure and cause structural damage to your property, such as wood rot and pipe corrosion. Check your home’s plumbing for drips and leaks regularly – the bathrooms and equipment that requires water (dishwasher, washing machine, water heater). Paying attention to leaks as soon as they appear might save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

Take care of the kitchen sink

Foreign objects cause most blockages in the kitchen sink and disposal. Never pour oil, fat (which may congeal), or fibrous food debris down the toilet. You may also place a screen over the drain to capture food that has to be thrown away. Before pouring food to the disposal, switch on the water and the unit; let the water run for 15 seconds after that to guarantee all food waste has been flushed down the line.

Understand how to turn off the water

If you have a significant leaking pipe, frozen pipes, or other water calamities, you must know where your main shut-off valve is. The valve is usually always positioned near the exterior boundary of your home, and it is always on the ground level, basement, or crawl space. If your house is constructed on a slab, the shut-off valve will likely be near the water heater or under the kitchen sink.

Contact Tureks Plumbing Today

There may be occasions when you just need a professional plumber to complete the work, so make sure your list of repair professionals includes a certified, dependable local plumber. Tureks Plumbing provides excellent, dependable plumbing services in the Appleton WI region. We are completely licensed, insured, and bonded. We provide affordable prices as well as a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Allow us to assist you with any plumbing issues, large or small. Call us immediately to arrange a repair service or a full plumbing inspection.

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What to Expect During a Plumbing Inspection

Thursday, December 24th, 2020
What to Expect During a Plumbing Inspection

What to Expect During a Plumbing Inspection 

As most of us may know, it’s easy to fall behind home maintenance, from plumbing to electrical and HVAC and appliances. There’s a lot to take care of as a homeowner, which is why many people only fix things until it’s broken. To ensure appliances in your home run smoothly and to also save you from extra costs incurred due to breakdowns, you need to be aware of different systems in your home and how they’re functioning. To do this, you can schedule a plumbing inspection by a Fox Valley plumbing company at least once a year. Below, we explain what to expect during a plumbing inspection.

Why Are Plumbing Inspections Important?

While you can perform these inspections on your own, having a professional inspect your home has various benefits. First and foremost, you can rely on the expertise and experience of a Fox Valley plumber from Tureks Plumbing Services to locate and fix any problems that your plumbing system has.

Additionally, hiring a professional to perform a plumbing inspection for your system means that you don’t have to do it yourself. That way, you can spend your Saturday relaxing after a long week instead of housework. Having a professional inspection done also makes sure that all issues, both big and small, are fixed, from having your outdoor pipes insulated properly to prevent freezing over the winter to having your water heater flushed and tested regularly. 

This saves you a lot of time and leaves you with peace of mind. What homeowner wouldn’t want that?

What Should You Expect During an Inspection?

A plumbing inspection done by our plumbing company in Appleton, Wisconsin, will include:

  • Discharge and sump pump inspection
  • Shut-off valve inspection
  • Video camera inspection of your sewer pipes and subsurface drains. Locating any misalignment and cracks and getting them fixed may prevent future pipe blockage or collapse
  • Inspection of your tankless water heater or storage water tank. Your water heater will have its pipes and pressure relief valves tested, then get its water temperature checked before it’s flushed.
  • An inspection of your laundry room, kitchen and bathroom venting, and drainage systems
  • Inspection of toilets, showers, and sinks. Here, toilets will get their filler mechanisms, flappers, and water levels checked
  • Examination of any and all exposed plumbing. This includes traps beneath the laundry room, bathroom, and kitchen sinks as well as shut-off valves
  • Inspection of the water filtration system
  • Checking your hydrants for leaks

Benefits of Having Your Plumbing Inspected

  • You get to save water and money by repairing any small leaks before they develop into big issues.
  • You lower your risk of plumbing emergencies. However, if an unanticipated plumbing emergency does arise, contact an emergency plumber in Appleton, Wisconsin, for assistance
  • Like everything else, plumbing systems have lifespans. Having an inspection done extends your system’s lifespan. Locating any faults in pipes and repairing them will keep your pipes from clogs and leaks, thus lengthening their lifespan
  • You can present your most recent inspection report to your Fox Valley plumber, making it easier to fix any issues without spending extra time searching for the sources   
  • You get to maintain the value of your home. Your plumbing system’s condition plays a very important role in the home appraisal. Well-maintained pipes (with an inspection report as proof) gives you the upper hand in negotiations when selling your house
  • You identify pipes that are broken or cracked.

Should I Hire a Residential Plumbing Company?

If you already had your house inspected, but you have noticed leaks, you should contact a professional plumber at Tureks Plumbing Services as soon as possible. Leaks are destructive hence the need to address the issue quickly. 

Despite not noticing any problems with your plumbing but you haven’t an inspection done, you should hire a plumbing company for annual plumbing maintenance services. McQuillan Bros, a Minneapolis plumbing company, agrees that this will save you time and money in the long run. If you decide not to get an inspection despite our recommendation to do so, you should be on the lookout for any issues that might arise and draw up a plan on how you wish to handle any problems if an issue arises or something breaks down. 

Furthermore, having a home inspector carry out an inspection is no different from you doing it yourself. This is because they do not possess the technical knowledge to advise you on any issues your plumbing may have. 

Contact a Fox Valley Plumber

If you have any concerns that you would like addressed, Tureks Plumbing Services can help you with your residential or commercial plumbing needs. Just give us a call today!

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How Often Should You Have a Plumbing Inspection?

Thursday, June 9th, 2016

Plumbing Inspection

How Often Should You Have a Plumbing Inspection? 2021

As you know, your plumbing system is a crucial part of your home. It can be extremely frustrating when plumbing problems arise. To avoid any plumbing emergencies, we recommend hiring a professional plumbing company for a plumbing inspection. It’s important to have the system inspected regularly, even when there’s nothing wrong with it yet. In the article below, we answer “how often should you have a plumbing inspection?”

Why Plumbing Inspections Are Important

The Fox Valley plumbers that residents turn to say that a plumbing inspection is a must. Your plumbing system is constantly exposed to all kinds of elements that can corrode or create clogs in the system. Over time, this constant exposure can reduce the plumbing system’s efficiency and create problems for your household. Common plumbing problems include a toilet that won’t flush and leaky pipes that waste excessive water. Clogged drains could be breeding bacteria harmful to your family’s health. From an inspection, not only will you learn the current state or condition of your plumbing system, but you’ll also get to implement the right preventive measures to keep it in tip-top shape to serve your household well.

Q: How Often Should You Have a Plumbing Inspection?

Once a year is good enough, according to the plumbers in Fox Valley. But more often (say, seasonally) would be better, especially in Wisconsin where weather changes can really affect the efficacy of a household’s plumbing system. Over the winter, in particular, a plumbing system takes a serious beating because extreme temperatures force the system to work harder than usual, and it becomes prone to damages.

Yearly Inspection by a Plumber

With a yearly inspection, you’ll already be able to avoid big issues with your plumbing that could potentially set you back by thousands of dollars on repair and replacement. The inspector will provide you useful information on what needs to be done in order to keep the system running smoothly.

Most people decide that spring would be the perfect time for a plumbing inspection, but any other time of the year would be good as well. Basically, people often set it for spring due to concerns that winter may damage the plumbing system. If you’ve never had a plumbing inspection, our friends at McQuillan Bros, a St Paul Plumber, recommend getting on a plumbing inspection schedule immediately. 

However, if you sense something wrong with your plumbing system, don’t waste time in setting a schedule for an inspection. Are you hearing banging, rattling, tapping, and squealing noises from your pipes or drains? Call your Fox Cities plumber at Turek’s Plumbing right away for a plumbing diagnosis. This will help prevent the issue from becoming a bigger problem that would be more challenging to resolve. We also offer residential plumbing services, commercial plumbing services, and drain and sewer services.

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

 

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