Ken's Plumbing | Blog

Tackling plumbing problems is an inherent aspect of homeownership. Whether it's a clogged drain, a leaky faucet, or a sluggish toilet, these issues, although common, can still be frustrating and disruptive. 

“This is the last thing I need before we go on our annual vacation,” a client told me last week, upset after dealing with a burst frozen water pipe.

Yes, a plumbing emergency can strike at any time, often at the worst times. Nonetheless, plumbing emergencies are always stressful situations that leave homeowners feeling frustrated and anxious about what to do next.

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?

Dripping tub faucet driving you crazy? Even if the incessant sound doesn’t keep you up at night, the constant drip can cause staining in your tub, plus waste water—up to 20 gallons a day!

Instead of letting that money go down the drain, take care of the problem right away. If you’re in the mood for a DIY project, grab your plumbing toolbox and get ready to do some work.

Your home’s water heater has a maximum temperature setting that controls how hot the water in your faucets may be at any given time. While most of us don’t think about this setting being customizable, it is actually something you can control.

A new water heater is typically preset to a maximum temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Some say that’s the ideal temperature, while others argue that it’s better to reduce the maximum temperature to 120.

There are two distinct schools of thought on this topic. Let’s take a closer look at them:

In our last post, we talked about natural bathroom cleaners that can help you keep your bathroom surfaces disinfected without using dangerous chemicals.

This week we’ll focus on how to unclog a drain without commercial drain cleaners such as Drano or Liquid Plumr.

Of course, the best step is prevention. To learn how to avoid problems in the first place, read our post on preventing clogs before they happen.

Why should I avoid chemical drain de-cloggers?

Using natural cleaners helps you remove unnecessary toxins from your home, plus avoid headache-inducing fumes. In the case of drain cleaners, however, there’s also another factor consider: Regular use of commercial drain cleaning products can actually damage your pipes!

Many households end up putting plumbing problems on the back burner when it comes to calling in a professional to help. Either other expenses come up and eat away at money saved to help take care of that plumbing bill or they just can't afford to take time off work to let the plumber in the house.

By getting caught up in every day responsibilities, it's easy to believe other chores take precedence over a leaky faucet. However, if you continue to neglect "small" repairs, you may find yourself looking at a much larger and costlier repair in the future.

Dealing with clogged shower drains can be a hassle, disrupting your daily routine and leading to plumbing issues. However, prevention is key to avoiding such nuisances. This comprehensive guide will explore effective strategies to keep your shower drains clog-free and your plumbing system running smoothly. Say goodbye to inconvenient backups and hello to uninterrupted showers!

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 already know the most basic water saving tips — "Turn the water off while you brush your teeth," and "Do larger loads of laundry."

These tips help, but there are a lot of other things you could be doing to aid in the conservation effort. We've pulled together a list of plumbing hacks you can adopt in order to save water as well as save yourself a little cash!