Plumbers Corner

One of the most common plumbing problems that a homeowner will face is a slow draining bathroom sink. Here is Don Kennedy of Promaster Home Repair & Handyman of Cincinatti showing how to fix a clogged or slow bathroom sink. Transcript for how to fix a slow draining bathroom sink: Hi Don Kennedy with Promaster Home Repair and Handyman of Cincinnati as part of our ongoing how-to series today we want to take a look at how to fix a slow draining bathroom sink. You know, many of us have had this problem one time or another. We go to wash our hands or brush our teeth and the sink just simply fills up with water because the drain doesn't seem to want to do its job. Now this is a job that most homeowners can fix on their own it simply involves getting underneath the sink cleaning out the p-trap and pop up plug and I'm going to show you how to do that next. So join me as we climb under the sink together and we take a look at the plumbing that's underneath yo

When it comes to maintaining your home, few things have more beneficial impact on your bottom line than a little preventative maintenance with your home's plumbing.  Many of these things only take a few minutes to complete, but the payoff is huge. It's a good idea to build them into a routine seasonal schedule so that you don't miss them. Check for leaks around your fixtures Estimated savings: $100 - $300 That little drip that runs down your faucet handle when turning it off. Seems innocuous enough, right? Well, what happens when that little drip is multiplied times the hundreds of times you use the faucet each month? It means that the moisture is accumulating below the fixture, potentially where you can't see and won't notice damage until it is too late. Here's a video of how to inspect a bathroom sink for leaks. Fix a running toilet estimated savings: $300 - $400 A toilet that won't stop running has the potential to waste up to 200 gallons each day

For the layperson, it can be difficult to decide what plumbing repairs you should try on your own, and which ones you should leave to the professionals. After all, a lot is at stake either way. What if you make a mistake that causes damage and results in higher costs? What if I call a local plumber near me and pay the service fee only to find out that the problem was something that I could have easily handled on my own? If this sounds like you, then these DIY plumbing tips are for you! If your life is like mine, I can find it hard to find the time to read. You might guess that I spend a lot of time driving, and you'd be right. It is often easier for me to absorb information by listening to it instead of reading it. In that line of thought, here are some tips from the plumbers at Roto-Rooter who have some experience with fixing lots of things that the homeowner could have probably done themselves. In this short clip, they deliver advice on dealing with a jammed garbage disposal,

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It is pretty common for water bills to go up a little during the summer months because we are watering our lawns more often; but there are some simple things you can do inside your home to use less water and, in turn, spend less money. The first thing you can do is put down that dish rag. Did you know washing dishes by hand uses way more water than just running the dishwasher? And talk about waste, you could be wasting water every time you flush. The EPA says toilets account for about 30 percent of the water Americans use in their homes. "When your gaskets are bad inside your toilet, most of the time, it'll just run," said James York, owner of Southern Plumbing. "You'll be using water and you won't even know it." York showed consumer expert Amy Davis how to do a dye test. Just add a few drops of food coloring to your toilet's tank and wait at least 15 minutes.  If you've got a leak, you'll see that food coloring in the toilet bowl after a

We’ve gathered a list of vacation plumbing tips to avoid plumbing problems while you’re out of town! 1. Check your laundry machine hoses Believe it or not, the life expectancy of a laundry machine hose is roughly 3 years. Before you leave for vacation, make sure you visually inspect the hose for any cracks or a major calcium deposit build up. 2. Leave your heat on if you live at high altitudes Make sure your heat is set to at least 60 degrees to prevent any pipes from freezing. 3. Visually inspect your water heater If you see any water on the floor before you leave, make sure to call your plumber. This could be a sign that your water heater needs to be replaced or repaired. If there are no visible signs of a leak, you can always turn your water heater off or put the system in vacation mode if possible. 4. Is your sump pump working? And do you have a backup system in case it fails? They say “April showers bring May flowers.” Make sure you’re ready for the first part! Follow thes

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Lead in your drinking water Anyone with children will shudder at the thought of having lead in their drinking water supply. Lead is a known neuro-toxin that can reduce the IQ of children who are exposed. Long term studies have found that children who are exposed to lead tend to have lower prospects when it comes to education and earning potential. Lead persists in the body, meaning that we have difficulty getting rid of it once ingested. All the more reason to prevent lead from entering the body in the first place. With the situation in Flint, Michigan that garnered national news coverage for the lead crisis there that isn't over yet. Flint mayor says water switch 'too risky' after lead crisis - ABC News Schools have also begun to look more seriously into the possibility of lead getting into their water.  A bill that aims to test the water supply of aging Colorado public schools for lead over the next three years is advancing in the state legislature, despite worries th

Last time, we discussed seasonal plumbing tips . We've all had the unpleasant of a clogged drain. Whether it's a slow drain or a fully stopped up one, a clogged drain is usually something that the resourceful homeowner can take care of themselves. Here are some of the most common clogs that you might experience and how to handle them. The reason I like this is because much of the commercially available drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that emit poisonous fumes and discharge toxins into water treatment systems and streams. Not a good luck for the DIY plumber. Sometimes, the clog is too much for even the most effective drain cleaner and requires manual intervention.When that happens, turn to the advice of a professional plumber... If even that doesn't fix things, you've probably guessed that the problem may be beyond a DIY solution. A professional plumber is the answer. You know what to do - find plumber in your area . This content first appeared on http://if