Ken's Plumbing | Blog

One of the perks that our Diamond Club members enjoy is annual plumbing services and repairs — but plumbing systems can benefit from preventative maintenance throughout the year.

That's why we've created a little to-do list that will help you keep your toilets, drains, garbage disposal, pipes, and washing machine running at peak performance all year long.

Put on your rubber gloves, and let's go!

When it comes to large, expensive home appliances, it's easy to leave well enough alone and not mess with things until you notice a problem. With regular checks, you can often spot small problems before they become big ones — let's look at your washing machine for example.

Your washing machine is able to fill with water and clean your clothes thanks to its attached supply hose. The hose is less than an inch wide, but is able to dispense water at a rate of about 650 gallons per hour. Because of how small it is in comparison to how hard it works, it can only last for so long. If left unchecked, the hose can give out, burst, and very quickly flood your home costing thousands of dollars in damage.

Have you ever been at somebody else's house and asked for a glass of water? When you took a sip, you couldn't help but notice it tasted very different from your water at home. You may have thought, "That's weird, I thought water was just water," However, the taste says otherwise.

There are several differences between well water and city water, including the source, quality, reliability, taste, and even how you pay for it. Even city water varies from city to city, so water is certainly not "just water."

Short, mild winters are just one of the many things that make living in Upstate SC great! Not only can we usually get through November without having to wear anything heavier than a sweater (if that), but we don't have to deal with several feet of snow and all the inconveniences that come along with it.

While we have it easier than our friends up north, we aren't completely immune to winter weather — if you've been in the Greenville area for a while, you know that we're prone to ice storms, and where there's ice, there can be frozen pipes that can burst and leave your home a soaking nightmare.

To avoid bursting pipes, we're covering how you can keep your pipes from freezing and your water flowing all season long.

Are you in the market for a new water heater? Whether you're looking to upgrade, remodel, or start from scratch, you have a lot to consider with all the different options available today.

You may already know that traditional and tankless models are available, but do you know what sets the two of them apart? Let's take an in-depth look at the differences and similarities of tankless and traditional models, along with two other popular water heater options on the market today. 

The Upstate has experienced boil water advisories before, and it could happen again. Just in case it does, we wanted to share a guide on all the ways to make your water safe to drink when it's not. 

There's always a chance that something out of your control can affect the quality of your water — floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and broken pipes can all render your water undrinkable. In these situations, it is important to listen to local officials, media outlets, and your water company for updates, instructions, and alerts that will keep you from coming into contact with severely tainted water.

If you are under a boil water advisory and the water in your area is declared unsafe, avoid drinking anything other than bottled water or water you have taken the steps to properly purify until it has been officially announced that the water in your area is safe to consume again. But how do you properly purify your water...

Flushing your water heater is just like changing the oil in your car — you flush out buildup that keeps it from running at peak performance. 

While it's never good to discover an empty water heater because of a leak or serious problem, there are times where purposefully draining it is necessary, even tankless models!

Learn why you should flush it out, how often, and how it's done.

Why should I flush out my water heater?

When you turn on your faucet to wash dishes or take a shower, do you use hot or cold water? What about for laundry — do you do separate loads with different water temperatures, or do you throw everything in with some soap and call it a day?

Believe it or not, there's a time to use hot water and a time to use cold water. Fortunately, we know when to use which and want to let you in on the water "secret" so you can be a pro when to comes to washing clothes, dishes, and even you!

You always hear that your home should have a checkup once per year to make sure everything is in proper working order, but what does that even mean? Does your home really need a check up? What do they even check?

We can assure you that yes, your home does need a checkup — those yearly maintenance visits allow professionals to find and fix tiny problems before they become big, expensive disasters! Not only can you save money with preventative maintenance, but you can save big by signing up for a preventative maintenance plan that guarantees several different services performed at one flat yearly rate. But just what services are you getting?

Is your bathroom overdue for an update? If you're tired of the same view day in and day out but aren't sure how to start over, allow us to fill you in on popular trends with bathroom fixtures, design choices, and storage options.

Bathroom Redecorating Trends You'll Love

You heard it here first, ladies and gentlemen: The easiest way to bring your bathroom into the current decade is to follow these tips and tricks: