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Roto-Rooter Flushes Super Bowl Halftime Myth

February 3rd, 2012 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Every winter, football and TV commercial fans alike gather for Super Bowl game viewing. No matter which teams compete, this tradition represents a day-long party complete with super fan gear, plenty of snacks, beverages and, of course, an age-old myth.

Since the commercial breaks are nearly as anticipated as the game itself, when halftime rolls around it means the first bathroom break for super bowl fans. At this time, the masses head to the bathroom and flush the toilet. According to the myth, the excessive flushing causes substantial sewer main breakdowns and subsequent rumors of plumbing horror stories year after year.

The plumbing and drain cleaning experts at Roto-Rooter would like to clear up any concerns. While it is true that a large number of individuals use the bathroom and flush during halftime, this is not something that causes widespread damage to sewer systems.

“The plumbing definitely gets a workout on Super Bowl Sunday but problems are usually confined to stuffed garbage disposals, clogged kitchen sinks and toilets. While the mass flushing phenomenon during half time represents a significant surge of water, the municipal sewer pipes are built to handle it so there is no real danger of public sewers failing,” said Paul Abrams, Roto-Rooter spokesman.

However, if you find yourself worrying about what may happen as you push down the silver handle, a surefire way to avoid any issues is to have a drain inspection and cleaning prior to game day.

If you find yourself in a bathroom quandary on Super Bowl Sunday, call your local Roto-Rooter plumber, available 24/7. Myth or not, problems still occur and with a house full of people for the big game it can’t hurt to have a plumbing expert on speed dial.

Visit the Roto-Rooter Website to contact your local branch and get more tips on keeping your plumbing system working year round.

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What to do Today to Avoid Frozen Pipes Later

December 12th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now because we’re enjoying warmer temperatures but thinking about your pipes and how to prevent them from freezing when the temperatures drop is important any time of the year.

There are three basic reasons that pipes freeze. They are: quick drops in temperature, poor insulation, and thermostats set too low. You can prevent this catastrophe by protecting your home, even during the summer months. Follow these guidelines to assure a winter that is free of frozen pipes.

Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic, even if you live in a climate where freezing is uncommon. Exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember that the more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be. The fringe benefit of adding insulation to your attic is a savings in your heating bill. By adding insulation you are preventing warm air from escaping and thus, needing to heat it less often.

Heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products approved for intended use, either exterior or interior. Closely follow all manufacturers’ installation and operation instructions.

Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes, and use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze. Again, this is also a measure that will include savings on your heating bill.

Before winter hits, disconnect garden hoses and, if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

These are good ideas for anyone, no matter where you live, but if your area has many days of freezing temperatures in the winter, you should be especially careful to prevent frozen pipes. Taking the proper steps today to insulate, protect and seal leaks will help you experience a worry free winter.

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Our Austin Plumbers Do Video Camera Line Inspections

December 8th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

If you are in need of a video camera line inspection, the Austin plumbers of Roto-Rooter are more than willing and able to provide you with this service. What does a video camera line inspection involves you ask; video camera inspections have become one of the most valuable tools for diagnosing a number of plumbing problems. We use fiber optic cameras to visually inspect underground sewer lines and other piping to determine the condition of the inside of a pipe.

A flexible rod with a camera at the tip is inserted into the pipe, the video images are then transmitted to the operator and are recorded and can be saved for permanent record. There are also radio transmitters on the camera, which provide the depth and physical location of a defect or obstruction. Once the problem is located, it can then be addressed based upon the gathered information in the most cost-effective manner. Video cameras can also be used to locate lost jewelry and other valuables, even animals that have become lost or trapped inside of pipes.

If you would like to schedule service in the Austin area, we can be reached at (215) 345-5212 or visit our Austin plumbing Website for more information and online scheduling.

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A Plumbing Repair: When to Call the Pros

December 5th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

No one likes to get in over their head with any project they take on, but in particular, a plumbing repair can be especially inconvenient. It’s likely that the main water valve has been shut off and you and your family are coping without running water while you take on the issue. If you are stuck, before you go any further, consider what you are trying to fix and whether it’s a good time to call a professional.

If you are in the middle of an emergency situation, for instance if the pipes are burst and you have water flowing freely, you should call a plumber immediately. Of course shutting off your water, if you haven’t already, should be done first.

For less obvious situations, where you thought it was a simple fix, but found yourself in the middle of a hectic mess, a plumber can also help. He may not be able to come out immediately, so you’ll have to live with your half-finished mess until he can make it. On the other hand, if you are able to reassemble the fixture you took apart, you can simply explain the obstacles you ran into and let the professional take it from there.

Often a clog is obvious but despite your efforts you have not been able to dislodge it. In this case a plumber will be able to use his industrial strength tools and cleaners to reach the clogs that are far away from the drain. If you are savvy enough, you could rent an electric auger, but most likely a plumbing service will do the job better and faster than you could.

If you feel that you have exhausted all your resources and current skills, and still can’t resolve your plumbing problem, it’s probably in your best interest to call a professional. He will assess the problem, prevent further damage and have your plumbing back on its proverbial feet in no time.

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Kitchen Maintenance Tips from Our Austin Plumbers

December 2nd, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Roto-Rooter’s Austin plumbers recommend these simple tips to keep the plumbing running efficiently in your kitchen.

Run cold water down the drain for 15 seconds before and after using the garbage disposal to thoroughly clear out the waste from the line.
Never put dense, stringy or fibrous waste down the drain, which would include things like poultry skins or vegetable and fruit peels.
Dispose of liquid grease in the trash. If consistently poured down the drain it will eventually cause a plumbing problem.

These precautionary measures should prolong the longevity of your kitchen’s functionality and can ultimately protect you from potential problems which may arise. If you have any further questions about kitchen plumbing or any other plumbing or drain cleaning service, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. Visit our Austin plumbers Website or call us at (512) 258-3008 and we would be happy to assist you.

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Has your Garbage Disposal Stopped Working?

December 2nd, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

We use garbage disposals on a regular basis and typically don’t encounter many issues along the way, but if you do, here are a few preliminary steps recommended by our Denver plumbers to try.

What to do when the disposal stops working:

All disposals have an overload protection sensor, which determines if the motor is overheating. This sensor has the ability to shut off the disposal and occasionally your disposal will shut off during this process if there is a broken electrical connection. To assess the situation follow the steps provided below.

Do not put your hands or any object down the drain or you could end up creating more of a problem than you started with.
Turn the disposal off and make sure the appliance is plugged in properly.
Press the reset button, which should be located on the front or bottom of the disposal.
Restart the disposal and it should begin to function as it normally would.

If you are still experiencing an issue with your garbage disposal and would like to schedule service, call us at (303) 666-0045 or visit our Denver Plumbing Website for online scheduling.

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Which Drain Cleaner is Best for You?

November 29th, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Like most dilemmas in life, there is not an easy answer for finding out what drain cleaner is best. It depends on many variables. Before this question can be adequately addressed, we must first be able to say where the clog is and whether or not the source of the clog is known. Once these things are established, reference the following list for the best drain cleaners for your stickiest jobs.

Bathroom Drains

For the bathroom, the main problem is usually hair. You can also get a buildup from soap, gels and bath products, but hair is still the most common problem for bath drains.

The nice thing about this type of clog is that it can be cleared with a drain cleaner tool, so no chemicals are involved. There are a few different drain cleaner tools, but the best one is possibly the drain claw. It is a small wire looking drain cleaner with a tip that has a hundred interlocking plastic hooks. You can work the tip into the opening of the drain and with a twisting motion and grab the hair that is slowing the drain. It is much more flexible than the other drain cleaner tools and it doesn’t get stuck in small areas.

Kitchen drains

For kitchen drains, the most common problem is grease, a buildup of food particles and soap. For these types of problems, the best antidote is a chemical drain cleaner available at most big box stores. Products such as Liquid-Plumber or Drano are a base that attacks the junk that has accumulated in the kitchen drain and will slowly eat it away to allow for faster flowing water. Sometimes multiple applications may be required to dislodge the stubborn clogs. In any case, you need to avoid pouring the chemical cleaner in the side of your sink that has the disposal. The aluminum parts of the disposal will react with the base of the cleaner and cause serious problems. Instead, slowly pour it into the side of the sink without the disposal and wait for several minutes before flushing it with hot water.

Toilets

A toilet is most commonly clogged by what is most commonly put in it: human waste. A toilet can be cleared with a commercial product or tools, but it’s important to first establish what system your toilet is connected to. If your toilet is connected to a septic system, you can use toilet drain cleaners but if you’re hooked to a city sewer system, your choices may be more limited. In either case, your best bet may be to add specific enzymes and bacteria that are used for clearing toilets. These products are safe for the environment and are used to eat at the organic matter and keeping clogs at bay.

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Thanksgiving creates more drain clogs than any other day

November 23rd, 2011 by pabrams

The day after Thanksgiving is the single busiest of the year for Roto-Rooter, nationwide and for our plumbers here in Atlanta. Why? Big holiday meal preparation and cleanup can lead to clogged kitchen sinks and garbage disposals. Extra guests mean more toilet flushes, extra laundry loads,

Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain

more showers, etc. But oddly enough, Thanksgiving itself is not such a busy day for Roto-Rooter. It’s the next day, Black Friday, that gets absolutely crazy! The day after Thanksgiving is the single busiest day of the year for Roto-Rooter plumbers. Incoming calls will jump 50% above an average Friday. We’ll be slammed but thanks to good planning, we’ve staffed up here at Roto-Rooter Plumbers of Atlanta (and nationwide). We know what’s coming and we’ll be fully staffed to deal with all the extra calls so we can still get to your problem FAST!

If you want to avoid having the Roto-Rooter man over for Thanksgiving Dinner (or turkey sandwiches the next day), pay attention to these important tips:

Never pour fats or cooking oils down drains. They solidify in pipes. Instead, wipe grease from pots with paper towels and throw them into the trash.
Avoid putting stringy, fibrous or starch waste in the garbage disposal.
Make sure disposal is running when you put food into it. Don’t wait until it’s full to turn it on.
For homes hosting weekend guests, wait 15 minutes between showers so slow drains have time to do their job.
Never flush cotton balls, swabs, hair or facial scrub pads down a toilet. They don’t dissolve and will cause clogs.

Finally, Roto-Rooter of Atlanta does not charge extra for nights, weekends or holidays. It’s true! So if you’re dealing with a big clog and are fearful of a plumber’s holiday bill, don’t worry! Call Roto-Rooter’s experienced Atlanta plumbers and you’ll pay the same rate on Thanksgiving that you would pay on any other day. And we are a 24-hour plumbing company. Give us a call at 404-209-0001 in Atlanta. Nationally, you can call Roto-Rooter at 1-800-ROTO-911.

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Water Temperature Advice

November 23rd, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

Our Denver Plumbers have recently handled several inquiries related to water temperature and thought they would share their advice. Usually, people are comfortable with the hot water temperature set at 120°F in their homes, which is the new manufacturers’ pre-set standard. On an older thermostat this temperature would be equivalent to a medium setting. On gas models there should be a dial on the front of the gas valve and on electric models the thermostat is most likely concealed behind two panels on the side of the tank. (CAUTION: Turn off the electricity before removing panels due to high voltage)

If you are having problems running out of hot water in your home, it typically will be due to one of two things. One possibility is that your dip tube has broken off. A dip tube is the tube that directs incoming water to the bottom of your tank so hot water will be initially drawn from the top. When the dip tube breaks, it can allow cold water to mix with the hot water, thus decreasing the overall water temperature.

The other, will be due to the type of water heater you have. If your water heater is electric, the lower unit that heats the water may not be functioning properly. This usually linked to a faulty thermostat, which should be evaluated by one of our skilled Denver Plumbers.

To schedule service with Denver plumbing service with Roto-Rooter please call (303) 666-0045 or visit our Website for online scheduling.

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Tackling Foul Odor Issues

November 23rd, 2011 by Roto-Rooter Bloggers

The Austin plumbers of Roto-Rooter would l

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