Posts by Newman's Plumbing

What is the No. 1 issue consumers need to think about to keep their plumbing working?

One of the most common plumbing issues people face during the holidays is a clogged sink or malfunctioning garbage disposal. I always recommend being wary of the “FOG.” Fats, oils, and grease are your garbage disposals worst enemy. While this material is in liquid form when it’s initially poured into the disposal, it congeals into a viscous sludge as it cools. The FOG then sticks to the walls of the disposal chamber, as well as the walls of the drain pipe. This can gum up the impeller, as well as clog the drain. Don’t pour FOG down the garbage disposal if you want to avoid these issues. Throw it away, instead.

When closing a vacation home for winter in colder climates, you need to make sure that everything is set to withstand freezing temperatures. Failing to do so can cause large, costly problems for your sometimes home. If you’re winterizing a home for the first time, or just not sure how to proceed, these tips will help you protect your vacation property with proper winter precautions.
The main concern for winterizing any home is preventing pipes from freezing. This can be especially important in vacation homes, since there isn’t a full-time occupant to quickly react and prevent pipes from freezing at the earliest warning sign.
Pipes, especially those that are near the home’s outer walls or in exposed areas such as crawl spaces. Pipes in these exposed areas should be insulated, preferably with foam, to prevent frost build-up or freezing. Hoses should be disconnected from outdoor spigots or faucets, and in colder climates, frost-proof covers should be installed to prevent freezing.

Are you unhappy with the quality of the water in your home? Does your tap water have a weird taste or smell? Are you worried that your family may be ingesting or absorbing dangerous substances through your water supply? In an ideal world, everyone would have access to safe and clean drinking water, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Consuming contaminated water can cause many diseases that bring unpleasant symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, and pneumonia. In severe cases, consuming contaminated water can even lead to death.

The water heater is something most of us take for granted, until it suddenly stops working. As cold water imposes reality, we desperately dial a plumber or rush off to get a new water heater. All this might be avoided with some regular preventive maintenance.
Water heater maintenance is easy to overlook because the tank just sits there and has no moving parts to worry about. Inside though, two things are constantly attacking your water heater: sediment and rust.
Most steel water heater tanks are lined with glass to prevent rust, but the glass lining is never perfect and constant temperature fluxes cause minute openings. When water eventually penetrates the lining, the tank begins to rust.

It’s safe to say there are a lot of people who are afraid to mess with household plumbing – and we understand that. Plumbing can be scary if you don’t know what you’re doing, and nobody wants to be responsible for their house flooding, the toilet spewing sewage all over the bathroom, or pretty much anything else that involves large quantities of water or human waste being anywhere that it doesn’t belong. However, knowledge is power, and as a general rule, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The very best thing you can do for your home’s plumbing is also the easiest: maintain it.

While you are spending time at home, you might find that you are ready for some fixture upgrades across the house.

Kitchen
Lately, everyone seems to be doing more dishes than they would like. While a new faucet may not seem like a big change, the upgrade can actually improve the efficiency of your kitchen sink. Better pressure while using less water will save you money on your utilities bill. If you have been struggling with a leaky or worn-out faucet, it’s time for a change! Allow us to fit the perfect option for your home so you don’t have to deal with any other headaches in the kitchen.

While it is important to regularly keep an eye on your pipes, it’s even more critical to do so if you’re living in an older home. As a plumbing system ages, pipes will generally show indications of problems. If you don’t watch for pipe problems closely, you might miss the signs of issues that could result in extremely costly damage. Check areas of your home that you may not typically think about, places such as utility rooms, crawlspaces and basements, and look for the following clues that your pipes may need to be repaired or replaced. 

Everyone has done it. You take a nice long shower, and the water starts rising above your ankles. The drain isn’t clogged, it’s just slow. You can call a hydro jet plumber, or one of those rooter vans, but you want to take a DIY crack at it before you make that call.