How To Fix Frozen Pipes

How To Fix Frozen Pipes

Although summer seemed to last forever and our drought this year made the temperatures seem even more sweltering, winter has finally arrived. We’re starting to see some temperatures dip below freezing here in Cherokee County, and although for some of us its a welcome change, it also poses some plumbing risks. Now that traditional winter temperatures and conditions are starting to show up, that may mean that your home may be at risk for frozen pipes! 

frozen pipes

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The ideal situation is to prevent your pipes from freezing. Here are a few easy steps you can take to try and prevent your pipes from freezing-

  1. Insulate any pipes exposed to cooler air. This can include pipes that run outside your home, in your basement, or in your attic.
  2. Use an insulating dome to cover outdoor faucets and spigots.
  3. Let your indoor faucets drip. This can reduce pressure in the pipes, which drastically lowers your chance of your pipes bursting.

frozen pipes

Although these prevention measures can greatly reduce your risk of frozen pipes in your home, these steps are not fool proof! Sometimes mother nature (and your home!) have others plans. In case your pipes DO freeze, here are some steps you can take to fix your frozen pipes and prevent damage to your home.

Fix frozen pipes-

  1. Even if your pipes have frozen, keep your indoor faucets open. Once the pipes do begin to melt, allowing water to flow out of the faucets will reduce pressure in the pipes and allow them to melt more quickly.
  2. If you know the location of your frozen pipes, you can help speed up the melting process by applying heat with an electric heating pad applied to the pipes or by aiming an electric hair dryer at the pipes.
  3. Use an electric space heater aimed at the frozen pipes. Remember, if you choose to do this, do not leave the space heater unattended and keep it away from anything flammable.
  4. If you don’t know where your frozen pipes are or believe you may be at risk of damage to your home, call a professional plumber immediately!

For help with your frozen pipes or any other plumbing emergency this winter, call the trusted experts at Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095 or send us an email! No matter what the weather is like outside, we’re on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Water Heater Replacement

Water Heater Replacement

How often do you think about your hot water heater? Probably never…until you don’t have any hot water! Giving your water heater the proper amount of love and maintenance can greatly extend its lifespan, but water heaters don’t last forever. Eventually, you will need to replace it. By knowing what to look for, you may be able to realize you need water heater replacement services before your hot water heater completely gives out and leaves you with no hot water. With the colder temperatures as of late, running out of hot water could be very uncomfortable! 

Let’s take a look at three signs that may indicate you need water heater replacement services.

  1. Age. How old is your hot water heater? If you put it in yourself, you will know this. However, if the hot water heater was already installed in your home before you lived there, you may not know for sure how old it is. By doing some routine maintenance to your hot water heater, you may be able to keep it running way past its projected lifespan. Maintenance can get expensive, though, and eventually it may be cheaper to simply replace it. As your water heater gets older and older, you’ll need more and more maintenance to keep it running properly.
  2. Efficiency. As your water heater gets older, it may begin to run less efficiently even if you’re keeping up with routine maintenance. New water heaters run much more efficiently than old ones, and there are all kinds of energy efficient options for you to consider when purchasing a new water heater. If you notice that your water bills are rising each month but you aren’t using any more hot water than normal, it may be time to replace your water heater. Running out of hot water more quickly than normal is also a sign it may be time for a new one.
  3. Repairs. Water heaters are not invincible and needing a few small repairs every couple years is fairly standard. As your water heater ages, more and more parts will begin to fail and you’ll need repairs much more frequently. Repairs can be quite costly, and it may be much cheaper for you to replace it than continue to fix it. 
If you’ve noticed any of these signs, you may need hot water heater replacement services. At Masterflo Plumbing, we have  large team of trained plumbers who have the experience necessary to replace your hot water heater quickly and correctly! Don’t face this holiday season without hot water. Give us a call today at (678) 822-7095!

Water Line Issues

Water Line Isues

The water line is the main pipe that brings water in from your municipal water source into your house. This is a vital component of your home and is key in providing safety, sanitation, and comfort to you and your family. Generally, water lines will last a long time as they are designed to last up to a hundred years! While modern water lines are designed to last a long time, they aren’t invincible and under certain circumstances they can encounter problems. These problems can severely limit the lifespan of your water line. 

There are two main water line problems that you can encounter as a home owner. Let’s take a look at those two problems today so that you can be aware of what to look for. 

Water Line Issues

  1. Tree Roots– Tree roots are always growing and looking for water sources. Usually, these water sources are natural, but not always! Tree roots seek out any water source they can find, and sometimes this can be your water line. Once tree roots find their way into your water line, they will continue to grow and expand and can eventually cause some major water line problems. Eventually, this can affect the flow of water through your pipes and can even poke holes in the pipe. Fixing this problem can be costly. The best way to avoid this problem is to have your pipes inspected every year by a professional plumber
  2. Corrosion– While modern pipes are designed to resist corrosion, they are not completely immune to every type of corrosion. Formicary and pitted corrosion can still occur in your water line. These kinds of corrosion can significantly weaken your pipes, which will eventually lead to holes and leaks. Again, the best way to combat corrosion in your water line is to have an annual inspection of your home’s plumbing system. If corrosion is caught early, it can be repaired and you can avoid having to replace your water line. 

    Water line issues plague many home owners, but with the right knowledge and the right plumber, you can successfully combat water line problems in your home! To schedule your annual plumbing inspection, call the professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing at (678) 822-7095!

How To Caulk A Toilet

How To Caulk A Toilet 

After a long, hot, dry summer, cooler, rainy weather is finally here! Here in Cherokee County it seems as though we’ve gone straight from summer to winter, so many of us are spending less time outdoors. Since we’re all spending less time outside, its time to turn our focus indoors. More time indoors sometimes equals more DIY plumbing projects. Today we’re going to make your DIY plumbing list a little bit easier by talking about how to caulk a toilet. 

toilet-repair-services-canton-gaToilets should always be caulked to the floor in order to prevent any movement of the toilet. When a toilet moves, the wax seal could get broken and water can collect under the toilet and rot the floor. Oftentimes, homeowners will set a toilet and then caulk around the outside edge. This method generally isn’t strong enough to hold and it also leaves a large, visible line of caulk. Read on to find out how to caulk a toilet!

How To Caulk A Toilet

  • Set the toilet in place, making sure its square against the wall
  • Use masking tape to make an outline of the toilet on the floor
  • Remove the toilet and lay it on its side
  • Measure the depth and width of the gluing edge of the bowl
  • Use your caulk gun to apply caulk directly to the floor using the depth you measured in the previous step
  • Install the wax ring
  • Lower your toilet onto the floor
  • Stand on the toilet to make sure its properly adhered to the wax ring
  • Use a paper towel to clean up any extra caulk

If you find yourself with extra time on your hands and want to tackle a DIY plumbing project, our post should make it easy for you to learn how to caulk a toilet. For any plumbing projects you don’t want to tackle yourself or for any emergency plumbing problems, call Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095!

Hydro Jetting Solutions

Hydro Jetting Solutions

Winter is creeping up on us here in Woodstock, GA and inclement weather may be just around the corner! If you’ve got clogged pipes or sewer lines, hydro jetting solutions may be the answer you’ve been waiting for! If you’re not familiar with hydro jetting, read on to find out more about this great solution.

hydro jetting solutions

What is it?

Hydro jetting is a highly effective method used by professional plumbers to clean out clogged sewer lines. A blast of water at an extremely high pressure- usually about 4000 psi- is sent into the lines. This blast generally removes any and all clogs, blockages, and buildups.

What happens first?

Oftentimes your plumber will do a video inspection of your lines to determine what has caused your clog and exactly where the problem is located. Even if tree roots are the cause of your problem, hydro jetting will usually cut right through them. Sometimes, if the tree roots are extra heavy and thick, your plumber may need to run a snake through the line first. Video inspection prior to hydro jetting is also a good idea to check for broken pipes or weak areas. Hydro jetting weak pipes can wreak havoc on your plumbing system.

Who can benefit from hydro jetting solutions?

Hydro jetting solutions can be used in residential or commercial settings. For residential purposes, hydro jetting can clear out sand, silt, lime scale, and even hair clogs. Yearly hydro jetting can help maintain your plumbing system in a way that routine snaking can not. Hydro jetting not only breaks up clogs, it also completely clears the pipes of any residual buildup. Its also very environmentally friendly as no harsh chemicals are used!

Why should I opt for hydro jetting solutions?

Hydro jetting solutions are a great way to maintain your plumbing system and get rid of pesky clogs or slow pipes. It should only be done by a trained professional in order to avoid causing any damage to your plumbing system. A trained plumber will know exactly how to use the hydro jetting system in order to maximize benefits and prevent damage.

If you find yourself with frequent clogs or a generally slow plumbing system, our hydro jetting services may be right for you. This service can greatly improve older plumbing systems and is great for sand, silt, and limescale buildup. Contact the local professionals at Masterflo Plumbing today to discuss our hydro jetting services. You can call us 7 days a week at (678) 822-7095!