AllTech Services, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

The Holidays + Your Plumbing = Disaster?

Monday, November 9th, 2020

two-small-children-flushing-items-down-toiletThat’s a scary looking equation, right? Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be your reality.

Look, the holidays are going to be different this year. Whether you are enjoying festivities with just your immediate family or having folks that are part of your “quaranbubble” over for small holiday parties, there are some factors to consider you might not think about. With everything going on this year and everything that’s probably on your mind, your plumbing system is likely low on the list of priorities.

That’s why we’re making it our job to bring it to the forefront of your mind. If you haven’t had plumbing maintenance done in a while, it might be a good idea to give us a call! But we’d also like to share some tips with you on how to make this a hassle-free holiday season—at least, when it comes to your pipes.

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Time to Test Your Sump Pump: Here’s How!

Monday, September 28th, 2020

sump-pumpSump pumps are a staple item in our area during the stormy season. They help prevent water infiltration into homes due to flooding or a plumbing pipe burst, working automatically as they gather excess water in a pit (the sump) and pump it out into either your wastewater system or a well.

Homes throughout Ashburn and beyond often have crawlspaces and basements. And when these areas suffer from flooding, it can lead to severe property damage and unhealthy mold and bacteria growth. The last thing you need to worry about is replacing drywall and wood support beams or even replacing appliances you keep down in the basement when you have poor weather. We recommend not only having a sump pump, but keeping it in good shape, too. How? By testing it to make sure it works.

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Is Your Toilet Continually Running?

Monday, August 31st, 2020

resolving-toilet-troublesWe have a question for you: Has your toilet been running nonstop lately? No, this isn’t the beginning of a bad joke, we promise. We are asking you this question because if your toilet is running for hours after it is flushed, or seems to be running all the time of its own volition, it is the sign of a problem. Always-running toilets are ones that will require professional toilet repair in Ashburn ASAP.

A toilet that is always running is a toilet that is leaking. This is not good for your home’s operation for one and your monthly water bills for another. If you are noticing that your toilet never quite seems to stop running, make sure you reach out to AllTech Services, Inc. for assistance sooner than later.

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Clogged Drain? Don’t Do This!

Monday, July 6th, 2020

hands-washing-head-of-lettuce-over-drain-in-kitchen-sinkWe have some bad news and some good news for you. The bad news is, your current drain cleaning method might be hurting your pipes. The good news is, there are better solutions!

If your current drain cleaning method is to use store-bought chemical drain cleaners to remove clogs in your sinks, bathtub, or shower drains, then we’re afraid this is the wrong way to go. And we get it, it’s frustrating to not be able to deal with a clogged or backed-up drain as quickly as possible.

Imagine you’re brushing your teeth and all of the sudden have an overflowing sink, or you’re taking a shower and find yourself standing in a puddle of water—you want a quick fix, right? But quick fixes are rarely fully effective and almost never permanent. You’ll be treating the symptom, not the actual cause!

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Can You Prevent Plumbing Problems?

Monday, April 27th, 2020

closeup-of-sink-p-trap-with-leakWhen it comes to home comfort problems, there are a few that you’re more likely to experience, with plumbing issues being at the top of that list. Yes, they’re inconvenient, and yes, they’re very common. This is particularly true if you live in an older home with as equally old pipes.

Fortunately, however, there are some steps you can follow to prevent plumbing problems. Investing in routine video pipe inspection, for instance, allows our plumbers to get a close look inside your pipes and make sure that there are no buildups that could lead to obstructions, pinhole leaks, or in the case of your sewer line, even tree root infiltration. Read on as we uncover a few of the most common plumbing problems we get called for, as well as some tips on how to avoid them.

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How NOT to Treat Your Plumbing

Monday, April 13th, 2020

pipe-with-blue-cloth-tied-on-itDid you know that the #1 plumbing problem plumbers get called for is drain clogs? Just about every homeowner, at some point, has dealt with a clogged up or slow-moving drain. Our professionals manage to unclog drains in homes all the time!

We know it’s tempting to reach for a bottle of store-bought, chemical drain cleaner when this happens. That’s the easiest and quickest solution after all, right? Well—let us give you a different perspective.

Chemical drain cleaners are caustic! Sure, this means they may eat away at your clog enough to restore water flow. But it will be temporary at best and will eat away at and corrode your plumbing at worst. This is exactly how not to treat your plumbing—and down below we’ve shared some other “don’ts” when it comes to how you’re treating those pipes.

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Signs Your Plumbing System Needs Help

Monday, March 30th, 2020

plumber-working-on-pipe-under-sinkThere’s something tricky about plumbing leaks and other problems. They tend to hide really well! They usually happen behind walls and sometimes even under the foundation of your home. Therefore, they’re pretty undetectable.

Sure, some plumbing issues are obvious, such as a clogged drain or a leaking faucet. You don’t really need to know any “signs” of these since they’ll be apparent.

But for your hidden pipes, a leak or issue can occur and go unnoticed for a long period of time and do some damage in the meantime if you’re not attentive to your plumbing system. For these issues, there are signs you can watch out for. Read on as we uncover some of them.

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How to Choose the Right Plumber for the Job

Monday, March 16th, 2020

technician-with-tools-in-pocketLet’s face it, it is cheaper to hire a general handyman to repair a leak or unclog a drain right? Better yet, why can’t you just do it yourself?

We know like these both seem as though they’re appealing options, but you may actually end up regretting this choice. An ineffective or incomplete plumbing repair job can leave you calling a professional plumber anyway, and costing you more than you would have ultimately spent, to begin with.

Our professional plumbers have been on the job for years, and we’ve seen what can happen when homeowners choose to go for the deal rather than the tried and true professionals. However, when you are ready to hire a professional plumber, how do you know what traits to look for? How do you actually choose the right plumber for your repair or even an installation job?

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Do You Need to Worry about Frozen Pipes?

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

pipe-with-iciclesTo give a quick answer to this question—yes, you should worry about frozen pipes. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it!

Let’s face it: when winter hits, you get consumed with staying warm during the chilly weather we get in our area. As a result, you likely don’t give much thought to your plumbing or how prepared your pipes are for that chilly weather. Unfortunately, as a result, your pipes can freeze, leading eventually to burst pipes—which is where the real problem lies.

Don’t let your plumbing become victim to the cold. Follow these simple tips to keep your plumbing system in great shape this winter.

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Have You Tested Your Sump Pump This Season?

Monday, November 25th, 2019

sump-pump-systemWhen you think of winter, what comes to your mind? Colder weather may be one, but you also probably think of rain, storms, and even snowmelt. Winter is quite the season for us here, and weather events can lead to flooding dangers that can lead to significant damage to homes in our area, including yours. Of course, you can protect your home against flooding with one very important system—the sump pump.

If your home already has a sump pump, you’re in good shape! But, you need to check and make sure it’s actually ready to do its job if needed. Since your sump pump only comes on occasionally, during an emergency, it’s important to know if it’s ready to do its job at any giving moment. Keep reading as we help you give your sump pump a short inspection and a test. You’ll learn ahead of time if you need sump pump repairs, or even if you should start looking into an upgrade.

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