Ken's Plumbing | Blog

Frozen pipes are never convenient and usually end up costing you a pretty penny. While we do live in Upstate, SC and don't often experience the same weather as New York or Michigan, we have still been called out to homes in regards to a frozen pipe issue. We've also discussed what to do if your pipes burst, but let's talk about a few things you can do as a homeowner to prevent yourself from getting into this predictament in the first place. 

Pipes are a nutrient oasis for tree roots. Why? They contain oxygen, nutrients, and water, things the roots naturally seek. Vapor from the pipes escapes to the outside soil and the roots grow toward the moisture in the pipe. If it can, the root will find a crack or small hole in the pipe and then grow—which widens the hole in the pipe and makes things worse.

Once inside, the root will continue to grow which then acts as a collector of toilet paper and waste, causing blocks to the line. Eventually, the clog will completely block the flow and make a big mess as well as a costly fix.

Fortunately, there are four ways to help prevent these problems before they start. Here are tips for how to protect your plumbing from tree roots:

Spring time is here! Spring means flowers, sun, baseball, warmer temperatures as well as... spring cleaning. And guess which room is the least favorite and the most ignored? Your bathroom! Although we don’t want to associate spring with cleaning our bathrooms, once you have a method of attack, it’s really not so bad. Here are some tips on how to properly clean your bathroom:

Although our children love to explore many rooms in our homes, the bathroom is almost irresistible, especially the toilet where a kid could flush and flush for hours, watching all of that water spin down the drain. Toilets can also be good storage devices for aquatic toys—or any toys for that matter. On top of that, the bathroom is the mandatory site for potty training, making the toilet not just a recreational object that stores toys, but also part of the rite to becoming a “big kid.”  Besides that, where does all that water go?

Our shower habits causing damage to our plumbing is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you turn the knob to get the shower going, but the way we get ready every morning can have a big effect on our plumbing system. So, what are those things we do that can cause unwanted trouble? Here is a list of bad shower habits that can ruin your plumbing:

As spring approaches, it's time to think about a little more than just cleaning. The season is also a good time to assess and maintain your plumbing system. Regular maintenance can help to decrease the chances of serious problems with your system and prevent costly damage and a visit from a professional. Here is your spring plumbing maintenance checklist:

Although keeping your bathroom clean is always necessary, did you know that it will not prevent mold? Mold is a function of high humidity, not cleanliness, and since the bathroom is one of the most humid rooms in our house—with the exception of the basement, perhaps—it is no surprise that our bathrooms are a haven for mold growth.

No doubt that we love our pets! They are part of the family, and like any family member, sometimes they can be a little bit of a handful. They can chew on a favorite toy or shoe, or they can scratch our floors and furniture. Although our furry friends don’t mean it, they can also cause a few issues with our plumbing if we are not aware. This happens because the effect they have on our system is not readily apparent. In order to keep our pipes and pets happy, we put together a list of tips to pet-proof your plumbing.

Ice dams are a common winter phenomenon that causes damage to your home when the combination of warm air leaking from poor ventilation in your attic melts snow on your roof which then leaks and refreezes on your eaves. The ice dam can be even more dangerous if your gutter system is clogged. It is important to understand what ice dams are and learn how to prevent them because unchecked they can cause serious damage to your roof, gutters, interior drywall as well as paint and insulation on any exposed surface.

In short, yes.  Even in dry weather it is important to stay on top of any possible plumbing issues, but when the weather gets wet, it’s even more important to understand how rain, especially heavy rain, can affect your plumbing. This is the first step to avoiding and correcting issues as they arise—even preventing basement or crawl space flooding. Here are some ways that rain can affect your plumbing.