Ken's Plumbing | Blog

Want to hear a dirty joke? You deposited the wrong thing down your drain and now your septic tank is clogged.

Seriously though, your septic tank is one of the most important parts of your home; that’s why you need to take care of it as much as you do the rest of the house. So let’s talk about your septic tank's functions and why it’s important to care for it; because really, having a clogged septic tank is the last thing you want.

The bathroom rule is like the kitchen rule: if it isn’t clean, the house isn’t clean. And when you really step back and think of all of the unsanitary and down right gross things your bathroom floors, countertops, and showers experience, there's a good chance your bathroom isn't clean. So, before you offically start gearing up for spring-cleaning, let's discuss how to properly sanitize your bathroom.

Has it been a while since you've updated your plumbing, and now you're wondering if you're behind on some much needed replacements? Find out just how often your toilets, water heater, garbage disposal, washing machine supply hose, faucets, supply pipes, and drain lines need to be replaced — and the tale tell signs your plumbing fixtures are on the outs.

You've heard the terms "hard water" and "soft water." But perhaps you're not quite sure what those terms mean, which water type is safest for you to drink, or what kind of water should be flowing out of your faucets.

Let's explore the differences between hard and soft water as well as the potential problems and solutions associated with each of them.

Have you ever been minding your own business in the shower and then all of a sudden you find yourself wondering, "Hey, where is all this water going? Is this the same water I drink? How do they get the soap out?" We've previously touched on where your water comes from, but we've not yet discussed where it goes once it swirls down the drain...

When something goes wrong with your plumbing, you don't always have to reach for the phone to call in the pros immediately. With the right tools, you can take care of something as simple as a clog on your own. Doing so will not only save you money, but it will also give you a confidence boost and a little something to brag about.

So, pull out your shopping list and put these handy tools right at the top...

We take a lot of pride in helping Greenville area homeowners maintain healthy plumbing and recover from plumbing disasters. Did you also know we also work with local businesses? Not only can we help businesses with the sort of minor problems that could also happen in a home, but we're capable of so much more as a commercial plumbing service!

We work with several restaurants, and regularly receive calls to clean grease traps. For those of you who aren't in the restaurant biz, grease traps are installed to keep fats, oils, and grease from getting into pipes entering sewer lines. Grease traps are necessary because fats, oils, and grease will solidify and clog pipes, all while trapping food scraps and other debris which will only make the clog more serious.

Frozen pipes can be a homeowner's nightmare, especially during the winter months. If left unattended, they can lead to burst pipes, water damage, and costly repairs. But what if you didn't quite prepare your pipes for winter before a big freeze, or you didn't get around to checking your washing machine supply hose before your pipes and hoses just couldn't handle the workload? In a moment like that, it's important to know what to do so you can act fast and minimize damage.

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.