Posts Tagged ‘Plumbing’

« Older Entries

Common Sewer Problems in Avon, OH

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

You rely heavily upon the integrity of your  sewer. Considering all the use that it gets, it’s no wonder that it may require repair at some point in its service life. Due to the complexity of your plumbing systems, there are numerous things that can go wrong within your Avon, OH home. In this post, we’ve devised a brief list of some common sewer problems to look out for. Call Pompeii’s today for comprehensive plumbing services.

Sewer problems can cause multiple clogs throughout your home, and can lead to backflow, which is the cross-contamination of your supply and wastewater lines. Let’s take a look at a few causes of these problems:

  • Tree root penetration: The root systems of trees exert an incredible amount of force as they move slowly underground. If they are small, then they can easily divert around the sewer line, but if they are large, they may begin to put pressure directly upon the exterior surface of the pipe. If this becomes too great, then it may actually cause your pipe to crack. If the pressure increases, then it may actually penetrate the pipe itself.  
  • Clogging: Hair, grease, and other organic matter can accumulate within your sewer line, and while they may not present any immediate problems, over time they can cause partial and total blockages. Such clogging can significantly reduce the effectiveness of your wastewater disposal system and lead to your drains becoming backed up, at which point you may have to stop using your plumbed fixtures and appliances entirely until you can get a plumber to visit your home.
  • Collapse: Over time, the stress of the weight of the soil above your sewer line may begin to take its toll, and sewer lines have been known to collapse because of old age. But this can also happen in the event of soil erosion or the shifting of soil density caused by nearby construction work.

These are just a handful of common sewer problems in Avon, OH. If you’re concerned about your sewer line, call Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today! 

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

Cleveland, OH Plumbing Tip: Signs of High Water Pressure

Monday, May 6th, 2013

Our home plumbing systems are comprised of two major parts. The water supply line that comes from a well or municipal water source is pressurized so that it can move against gravity and be turned on and off by the use of fixtures and valves. The wastewater line, comprised of drainpipes and the sewer line, operates by gravity alone, requiring no pressure to do its work, when correctly installed. You rely heavily on the correct water pressure in your home. Most residences have between 30 and 80 psi (pounds per square inch) of water running through your supply plumbing. While low water pressure can be irritating, especially mid-shower, high water pressure is also problematic. In this post, we’ve described a few signs of high water pressure to watch out for. For comprehensive Cleveland, OH plumbing services, call Pompeii’s today!

  • Multiple leaks: This is a characteristic sign of high water pressure because it shows systematically that your pipes are failing. While a single leak may indicate a local pipe failure, the onset of a more systematic failure in multiple locations indicates that there is something wrong with the entire plumbing system. High water pressure can place excessive strain on the piping in your home. Leaks within the walls and ceilings can cause significant damage to sheetrock and wooden framing, in addition to your belongings and furniture.
  • Toilets running occasionally: If you find that one or more of your toilets runs occasionally, then the water pressure may have caused a leak in the toilet valve that separates the tank from the siphon bowl. While this may not seem like a pressing issue, it can lead to problems down the line, especially if leads to a leak or high utility bills.
  • Hammering noises: If you hear loud hammering noises coming from within your piping, and not merely pipes banging against the walls, then that’s usually an indication of high water pressure. Your plumber may recommend installing or replacing your pressure regulator.

If you think you may have high water pressure, call the Cleveland, OH plumbers at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today!

 

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

Avon, OH Plumber Tip: How to Prevent Smelly Drains

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

When your drains accumulate organic waste, food, and other substances, they can often begin to smell foul. One of the common questions we hear concerns the prevention of smelly drains. Because of what goes down them, and the amount of use that they get every day, our drains are subject to all sorts of problems. In this post, we’d like to pass along a few tips on how to keep your drains fresh. However, don’t hesitate to call your local Avon, OH plumber if you have a serious blockage or you think your drains may benefit from professional cleaning. When you need an help with your drains, call the experts at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today!

  • Avoid putting grease, fats, and oils down the drain: Make sure you and everyone in the house avoids putting grease, fats, and oils down the kitchen drain. This is a frequent cause of blockages, as well as of foul odors.
  • Use food stopper or drain screen: Having a food stopper or drain screen in your kitchen sink is a must if you want to prevent smelly drains. When food scraps get caught in the trap, they will quickly rot and send that odor straight back up to the sinkhole.
  • Use vinegar: White distilled vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that you can use throughout your home. While often diluted with water, you can use undiluted vinegar to get rid of bad smells. Simply pour a small amount (about 1 cup) down your drains to kill bacteria and rinse with water.
  • Throw a lemon peel in the garbage disposal: If you have a garbage disposal, then you can freshen it up with a few pieces of lemon peel.
  • Hire a professional: Professional drain cleaning involves a comprehensive inspection process that can pinpoint any deep blockages or accumulations of debris that are causing foul odors to waft through your household. There’s no substitute for professional cleaning.

We hope you find these tips useful. For more information, or to schedule a service call, call the Avon, OH plumbers at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

Ask a Plumber in North Ridgeville, OH: How to Keep Drains Clear

Monday, April 15th, 2013

Your sewer system is an important part of your home. You need to keep your drains clear so that they don’t present problems to your home plumbing, such as clogging, backflow, and damaged piping. But how can you keep the drains clear, when they are deep within the walls and floors of your home? This is a common concern. We don’t expect you to perform serious maintenance on your plumbing—that requires professional skill. But with a few preventive actions, you can significantly reduce the chances of a major drain clog. For more information, or to hire a plumber in North Ridgeville, OH, call the drain cleaning experts at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today!

  • Avoid putting fats, oils, and grease down the drain: You probably know this already, but it’s worth reminding yourself and your family members: fats, oils, and grease can easily and quickly accumulate within your drainpipes. When hot, they are in liquid form, and look as though they would travel down the drains like the rest of our wastewater; but when cold, they become a gel-like substance that clots your home plumbing. When enough of this substance collects at a pipe joint, then you may have a serious clog.
  • Schedule drain cleaning: If you’ve never had a professional drain cleaning, or cannot remember the last time you had one, schedule one today, particularly if you think your drains are partially blocked. The use of harsh chemicals is not only bad for the ecosystem surrounding your home, but it’s also bad for your pipes. Professional drain cleaning uses a variety of techniques to remove blockages and materials from the interior of your drains safely.
  • Use a hair stopper in the shower: Hair is one of the most common culprits of drain clogs. By utilizing a hair stopper over your shower drain, you can eliminate a lot of drain problems before they start.

We hope you find these tips useful. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the sooner you address any drain problems, the better for the integrity of your home plumbing. For more information, or to hire a plumber in North Ridgeville, OH for your drain problem, call the experts at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today! 

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

A North Ridgeville Plumbing Question: Why Is My Toilet Flushing Very Slowly?

Monday, April 8th, 2013

We often take our plumbing systems for granted. We don’t think about the pressurized calibration of our water supply system, and the various piping, joints, and fixtures that supply our bathroom and kitchen faucets, dishwashers, and washing machines. However, when a clog occurs or our toilet flushes only very slowly, we start to think of our plumbing very quickly.If you need a plumber in North Ridgeville, OH, call Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today!

In order to drain wastewater out of your home, your drainage system needs adequate ventilation. There are a few reasons why your toilet may be flushing slowly:

  • Main stack blocked. The main stack is the primary ventilation pipe. If it is partially blocked, it may need to be rodded out so that adequate ventilation can take place.
  • Drain blockage. Over years of use, your drain system can accumulate hair, grease, and organic waste that will eventually block the passage to your septic tank or city sewer system. While local clogs can be typically dealt with by means of a plunger or augur, main drain clogs need professional care. The use of harsh chemicals can actually damage your plumbing.
  • Roof vent blocked. Occasionally, debris can block your main roof ventilation outlet, which connects to the main stack. This can seriously impact the efficacy of your entire wastewater system.

There are other possible causes, but we hope that these give you some idea as to why your toilet is flushing slowly. Consider a thorough drain cleaning or video camera inspection to allow your plumber to pinpoint the issue, and to get your home plumbing system back up and running once again. For more information, contact a North Ridgeville, OH plumber at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today! 

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

Lakewood, OH Plumbing Repair Tip: Common Water Main Line Repairs

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating  can take care of all your Lakewood, OH plumbing repair needs, including water main repairs. Whether you have a major break, leaks, or other issue, call us for prompt service. Our plumbers are trained to repair water mains throughout the area. We are here to serve you, so call any time if you have questions or concerns. First, we’ve put together some common repair needs for main water lines.

Incorrectly installed water lines that supply your home with fresh water can cause any number of issues.  Poorly-located lines can be susceptible to tree root intrusion and other problems with poor soil conditions. If the line isn’t insulated properly, then it could burst during freezing temperatures. Make sure you hire a plumber you can trust to install or repair water lines in your home.

Some signs that you are in need of a water line repair are pools of water in your yard, sudden high water bills, drips in water pressure, or other noticeable issues with your water system, you could have a broken water main. At Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating, we use the latest in technology to pinpoint leaks and repair any problems we find. While damages to your water lines are not always evident, call a plumber if you have any suspicion that your water line is broken. You can also call the water department to see if there’s been an issue with the municipal system outside your yard.

If you notice any of the above signs or having trouble with your plumbing system in general, give the Lakewood, OH  plumbers at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating a call. Our professional plumbers can take care of all your main water line repair needs.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

Avon Lake, OH Plumbing Guide: How a Water Treatment System Can Help Your Water Heater

Monday, February 25th, 2013

Whether you have a tank or tankless water heater, your Avon Lake, OH hot water system may benefit from water treatment. Not only will this make sure that your pipes, valves, and so on remain clean, it also gives you clean water for drinking and bathing. Let Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating come take a look at your water heater to see if a water treatment system might help to extend the longevity of your system. If you are at all concerned about your water heater, or if you have questions as to how to make it more effective, call Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today to schedule a consultation or repair service.

Hard water can be a serious problem for many homeowners. Water is determined to be “hard” when it has significant amounts of calcium, magnesium and other minerals. This is typically not harmful to consume, but it can present problems for indoor plumbing. Mineral deposits can grow on the inside of your pipes and one system that is especially prone to hard water damage is the water heater. Whether tanked or tankless, the minerals can leave extensive trails of lime scale and rock-hard deposits that can permanently damage your water heater.

There are many different types of water treatment options, from special cartridge filtration devices to reverse osmosis. It depends upon your location and your individual needs, but if you want to extend the life of your water heater or save it from contaminated water, then a household system is probably the best option. The treatment device will be attached to the main line of your water supply. The professional water treatment team at Pompeii’s in Avon Lake, OH will determine the most efficient type of treatment, whether a series of filtration devices or a reverse osmosis system. Reverse osmosis is a rapidly developing technology inspired by the natural biophysical process of osmosis, whereby water transfers across a membrane. Reverse osmosis treatment removes contaminants by trapping them on one side of this membrane, and allowing pure water to pass into your indoor plumbing to reach your water heater. Household systems like these treat water before they even reach your home. They are the most comprehensive systems.

If you are concerned about how hard or contaminated water can affect the water heater in your Avon Lake, OH home, call Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating to speak to a plumbing expert.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

What Causes Slab Leaks? A Cleveland Plumber’s Guide

Monday, February 11th, 2013

Slab leaks are one of the most dreaded plumbing repairs that homeowners in Cleveland  have to deal with. At Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating, we wanted to put together some of the more common causes of slab leaks. We hope that this will be able to help our customers be able to detect the signs and know when to call a plumber. If you do start to notice any of these signs, call a plumber in Cleveland. If you let a slab leak continue with intervention it can cause considerably more damage.

What Is A Slab?

For those that are unfamiliar, the slab is the cement block on which your house is built. You can see why the stability and structural integrity of your slab is critical to your home’s safety and health.

Common Slab Leaks in Cleveland

In most homes, the plumbing and sewer lines are buried inside the cement slab. Water leaks and the plumbing lines inside your slab are often the culprit for slab leaks. Here are a few of the common causes slab leaks.

  • Dented pipes – During the installation process, the copper water pipes in your slab can get dented. Over time, as water flows of the dent it will gradually wear away and form a small pinhole.
  • Pressure – If your water pipes weren’t installed correctly there can be unnecessary pressure on them. With time, the pressure can cause the pipes to crack and leak.
  • Corrosion – While copper is resistant to corrosion, it can still happen. The condition of the soil on your property can determine when your pipes will corrode.
  • Hard water – The mineral deposits that result from hard water can fill up your water lines. This can form blockages and clogs in your water lines that can build up pressure.

Signs of Slab Leaks in Cleveland

There are a few signs of slab leaks that homeowners should watch out for.

  • Warm floors – If you notice warm spots on the floor of your basement it could indicate that you have a water leak in your slab.
  • Water pressure – A sudden or steady drop in water pressure in your home can indicate that water is leaking out somewhere. While it doesn’t always mean that the leak is in your slab it still is something that a professional plumber should look at.
  • Puddles – If you see water spots in strange places, it could indicate that you have a water leak in your slap or in one of your other pipes.

If you suspect that you have a slab leak in your home in Cleveland, call Pompeii’s Plumbing and Heating.

 

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

Tank vs. Tankless: Which Water Heater is Right For You in Your Avon, OH home?

Monday, January 21st, 2013

If you’re in the market for a new water heater, you’ve likely come across people engaged in the tank vs. tankless discussion. There are a lot of different places to go for information so we decided help by talking about the benefits and disadvantages of each system. At Pompeii’s Plumbing and Heating, we’ve been offering comprehensive water heater installation and repair in Avon, OH  for many years. We have the experience and training to handle any kind of water heater project.

Tank Water Heaters in Avon, OH: The Pros and Cons

Tank water heaters typically use more energy than tankless systems because they have to keep a huge tank of water constantly warm—even when there isn’t a demand for hot water. However, because of their large capacity, tank water heaters are normally a good choice for homes with high hot water demand. This typically happens in homes with small children and teenagers.

Tankless Water Heaters in Avon, OH: The Pros and Cons

Tankless water heaters only start working when there is a demand for hot water. This allows them to use less energy than tank water heaters. However, they may not be able to keep up with periods of high demand. In homes that use lots of hot water, multiple tankless systems will be required to meet the demand. If you have the budget for this, it may not be a bad idea. But tankless water heaters are normally more expensive to install than traditional tank water heaters.

Water Heater Fuel Sources

Another thing to consider when you’re looking at getting a new water heater is the fuel source. While many electric water heaters have a higher efficiency rating than gas-fired ones, they normally require more energy to run. However, unlike gas-fired tank or tankless water heaters, they don’t require a flue to exhaust combustion gasses.

If you need any kind of help deciding which water heater is right for your home in Avon, OH, contact Pompeii’s. We have many years of experience working with countless customers to help them get a great water heater for their home. Call us today if you need tank or tankless water heater installation or repair in Avon, OH.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

Sump Pump Installation Process: An Avon Plumber’s Guide

Monday, January 14th, 2013

Most homeowners will admit that at least some of the contents of their basement are junk. However, there are likely a lot of items down there being stored for later use, and it is important that you protect such items, and the very foundation of your home, from the serious damage that water can do. If your home in Avon is prone to basement flooding, you need to call the experts at Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating right away. Our sump pump installation services can help you keep your basement and belongings dry, as well as protect the foundation of your home.

During a sump pump installation procedure, a sump pit will need to be excavated if one does not exist already. A few feet of gravel will surround this area. Water would rather travel the path offering the least resistance, so in the event of flooding it will travel through this gravel to the sump pit, right where you want it.

It is important that a professional service provider performs the installation of your sump pump for a number of reasons. There are a lot of factors that can affect the installation of your sump pump, including what type of materials are found beneath the concrete in your basement. Once the pit is excavated and lined, it is time to install the pump.

While the excavation of your pit may seem like the biggest part of the job, the actual installation of the pump itself is very important and, if not handled properly, can greatly reduce the effectiveness with which the pump works. Most homeowners will opt for a sump pump that is triggered automatically by a device such as a float switch. This will allow your pump to operate without needing to be activated manually. If the pit is not properly excavated, though, or if the pump is off kilter at all the float switch may get hung up or snagged on something. This will cause the pump to fail and lead to a wet basement.

For more information about the professional sump pump installation services we offer in Avon, contact Pompeii’s Plumbing & Heating today. We can help you keep your basement dry. Protect your home with a high quality sump pump installation.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Plumbing | Comments Off

« Older Entries