Fall Home Maintenance

Fall Home Maintenance 

This past Thursday, September 22, was the first official day of fall! Although the temperatures don’t feel very fall like, fall is definitely on the way. When most of us think of fall, we think of pumpkins, hot chocolate, plaid, colorful leaves, and Halloween! Did you know that you should also be thinking about home maintenance in the fall? Fall comes with its very own set of fall home maintenance tasks that shouldn’t be ignored! Fall gives way to winter and if you aren’t on top of your home maintenance, the harsh winter weather can be damaging to your home and property. Today we’re going to talk about some easy fall home maintenance tasks that you should make sure to get done this year!

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Fall Home Maintenance-

  1. Clean your gutters and your downspouts, and make sure your downspouts have plenty of room to drain.
  2. Check all your outside doors for weather stripping. This can make all the difference with the inside temperature of your home and can save lots of money on your utility bills.
  3. Check the grading around your house and walkways. This can keep your basement or your foundation dry in case of lots of rain or melting snow.
  4. Pull weeds and hidden debris in and around your yard and flower beds.
  5. Shut off the water taps and make sure all your outdoor taps are drained.
  6. Trim your trees to make sure none of them are hanging over your home. If your tree branches ice over during the winter and become heavy, they could fall on your home.
  7. Mulch any young or vulnerable plants and trees. This can help them survive the harsh winter temperatures.
  8. Pack up all your outdoor furniture and decor. Winter temperatures and precipitation can be harsh on outdoor furniture.
  9. Check all your outdoor lighting to make sure it works. Winter means colder temperatures and less daylight hours!
  10. Make sure any outdoor trash cans or recycling receptacles are easily accessible. No one wants to trudge through ice, slush, or snow to take out the trash!

Following these 10 easy fall home maintenance tips can get you and your home set up for success throughout the upcoming fall and winter seasons. If your home’s plumbing needs maintenance or any repairs, or if you need an emergency plumber this fall, contact the professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing. We’re available for any of your plumbing needs 24/7 at (678) 822-7095!

Leaky Pipes 101

Leaky Pipes 101

Earlier this week, we talked about the different types of pipe corrosion that can affect your plumbing system. The biggest danger of pipe corrosion is ending up with leaky pipes! Now that you know more about pipe corrosion, we’re going to move on to talking about leaky pipes and why this issue is so important to you if you’re a homeowner! 

leaky-pipes

Your home’s plumbing system is something that is vital to the comfort, health, and safety of you and your family. We’re all familiar with plumbing leaks- that annoying dripping sound coming from your toilet or kitchen sink. While leaky pipes may seem like just a minor annoyance, leaky pipes can actually turn into huge, disastrous, expensive problems. 

The best way to avoid spending thousands of dollars on repairs from plumbing leaks is to know what you’re looking for, know the implications, and fix any plumbing leaks immediately by calling a local plumber.

Signs you may have plumbing leaks-

  • an unexpected increase in your water bill
  • visible mold or mildew
  • warped, sagging, or stained spots on your ceilings or walls
  • warped, cracked, or sagging floors
  • sporadic wet or lush patches in your yard

Most common places you may have plumbing leaks-

  • bathrooms
  • kitchen
  • laundry room
  • basement
  • underneath your foundation

Dangers of plumbing leaks-

  • If you suffer from allergies, mold can further irritate your allergies or cause chronic allergies
  • Mold inhalation can lead to chronic dizziness, headaches, and respiratory issues
  • If you have a sewer leak, toxic bacteria can leak into your home
  • Mold can destroy your drywall
  • If you have extensive mold damage, you may need major home renovations to reverse the effects
  • Potential flooding

Ways of detecting plumbing leaks-

  • radar
  • gas
  • video 
  • geophone

If you haven’t had your home’s plumbing system inspected this year, call us today to schedule your appointment! If you suspect that you may have some leaky pipes, don’t hesitate to call! Leaky pipes can affect the health of you and your family and your home’s structural integrity! Call us today at (678) 822-7095!

Pipe Corrosion: What You Need To Know

Pipe Corrosion: What You Need To Know

Copper is now the main material used to make modern day plumbing pipes. Copper is sturdy and resilient and will last for a long time. Not only is it a great material, its also cost effective! If modern day copper plumbing pipes are maintained well, they can last for nearly 100 years! Fortunately, your plumbing system is built to last!
While copper pipes are extremely resilient, they aren’t fool proof. Pipe corrosion can drastically shorten the life of your pipes, threatening the lifespan of your plumbing system. With regular plumbing maintenance, pipe corrosion doesn’t have to be a threat to your plumbing system.
There are two main types of pipe corrosion. Hopefully, you’ll never have to deal with pipe corrosion, but let’s take a look at the two types that could threaten your pipes!
pipe-corrosion

2 Types Of Pipe Corrosion-

1. Formicary Corrosion– Formicary corrosion is more commonly call “ants nest corrosion”. This type of pipe corrosion is causted by the interaction of formaldehyde particles in the air coming into contact with your copper pipes. Formaldehyde can eat tiny tunnels through the copper, which weakens the metal. If the metal is weakened, it becomes susceptible to pinhole leaks and larger leaks. Formicary corrosion is nearly impossible to see, so keeping up with your annual plumbing maintenance is extremely important! If formicary corrosion has begun to occur in your pipes, catching leaks early is key. 
2. Pitted Corrosion– Pitted corrosion is focused on a much smaller area of the pipes than formicary corrosion. Pitted corrosion is caused by chlorine particles interacting with the copper pipes instead of formaldehyde particles. Because pitted corrosion affects a smaller area of pipe, it can lead to corrosion and leaks much more quickly than formicary corrosion. Pitted corrosion can quickly lead to pinhole leaks. If pinhole leaks aren’t caught early on, they can turn into larger leaks or cause rotting. Fortunately, pitted corrosion can be seen and detected! Its incredibly important to have your pipes inspected annually to check for this type of pipe corrosion. 
While pipe corrosion can seem like a scary monster just waiting to eat away at your pipes, having your pipes regularly inspected by a professional plumber can keep the problem at bay! If you haven’t had your pipes inspected this year for pipe corrosion, now is the time to act! Give us a call today at (678) 822-7095!

Annual Home Maintenance Checklist

Annual Home Maintenance Checklist

Fall begins in just a couple short weeks. With slightly cooler temperatures coming, its a great time to get started on your annual home maintenance. Keeping up with your home maintenance before the winter months is a great way to make sure that you and your home make it through the winter months unscathed. If your home isn’t ready for winter, you could end up facing some costly repairs.

With temperatures remaining steady in the 90’s this summer, we all know it was hard to get motivated to do anything. Cooler temperatures are on the horizon, and we’ve got your annual home maintenance checklist ready to go! Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibilities, but we’ve made this easy for you! Just follow our checklist below!

annual-home-maintenance-checklist

Here are some key things to check off on your annual home maintenance checklist-

  • After you cut your grass the last time for the year, drain all the extra gasoline out of your lawn mower and make sure any extra gasoline is properly stored.
  • Roll up your hoses and store them indoors. Nice hoses can be expensive, and properly storing them indoors and out of the elements can add years to the lifespan of your garden hoses.
  • Insulate any outdoor faucets and winterize your sprinkler system. This one is easy to forget, but frozen pipes can be very destructive to your home and property! Check out more about frozen pipes here and here.
  • Have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected before lighting it up for the year. Creosote can build up in the flue and cause a fire. Better safe than sorry!
  • Be sure to cut down any branches hanging over your roof. If the branches ice over during the winter, they may get too heavy and fall on your roof.
  • Clean your gutters and downspouts.
  • Check out the caulking and weather stripping around all doors and windows. This is an easy, cheap fix and can save you tons of money on your utility bills by making your home hold heat more efficiently during the fall and winter.
  • Have your HVAC unit checked out. If you wait till the first cold night to check it out and discover there’s a problem, you may have a hard time getting an HVAC technician to come out quickly as they’re sure to be busy.
  • Change your air filters. Old, clogged air filters can decrease the efficiency of your unity, which increases your utility bills. Also, its gross. Changing the air filter can help improve the quality of the air you’re breathing.
  • Drain your hot water heater. Sediment in your hot water heater can cause major problems. Read our post on draining your hot water heater!

Keeping up with yearly maintenance on your home is important and can go a long way in saving you money. Performing maintenance tasks can make your home run more efficiently, saving you money on utility bills, and can prevent you from needing major repairs throughout the winter or in the spring.

Follow our handy annual home maintenance checklist, and for help with plumbing maintenance or to get a head start on plumbing repairs, call the local professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing. We’re here for you 24/7 at (678) 822-7095!

Preventing Plumbing Emergencies

Preventing Plumbing Emergencies

Plumbing emergencies can happen to anyone at any time. Plumbing emergencies can be catastrophic to your home, property, and wallet as a home owner. While plumbing emergencies are generally rare, they can happen at any time and are usually unpredictable. Because plumbing emergencies can potentially have such devastating consequences, its important to learn all about preventing plumbing emergencies.

Although preventing plumbing emergencies is impossible, there are some steps you can take that may help reduce your risk of finding yourself faced with a plumbing emergency. Plumbing emergencies can have many unwanted consequences. Depending on the nature of the emergency you may potentially face health hazards, the integrity of your home may be compromised, you may find some of your possessions have been damaged, and you may find yourself shelling out thousands of dollars to fix the problem.

If you’re a new home owner, this post is especially important for you! Learn about preventing plumbing emergencies and try to familiarize yourself with the plumbing in your home. For example, know where your hot water heater is and know where all the water shut off valves are.


  1. Use drain covers in your kitchen to keep food and utensils from clogging your pipes or damaging your garbage disposal
  2. Use drain covers in your showers to prevent hair from clogging your pipes
  3. Avoid pouring grease or oil down your kitchen sink drain
  4. If you believe you have a leak or a serious clog, call a plumber immediately
  5. If you are aware that you have old pipes or fixtures, have them replaced and upgraded
  6. Have an experienced plumber check your whole plumbing system for leaks (including pinhole leaks)
  7. Keep up with regular home and plumbing maintenance 
  8. Have your hot water heater inspected every year
  9. If you have problems with your hot water heater have them repaired as soon as possible
  10. Winterize your plumbing if you live in an area with below freezing temperatures in the winter

While these tips can certainly help with preventing plumbing emergencies, there is never a guarantee! At Masterflo Plumbing we pride ourselves on being available to our customers. If you have a plumbing emergency, don’t hesitate to call us. We are available for plumbing emergencies throughout the metro Atlanta area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Call us now at (678) 822-7095 for all your plumbing needs!