Tag: plumbing

Green Plumbing Tips for St. Patrick’s Day

3 Simple Ways to Go Green for St. Patrick’s Day and Save Water and Money

St. Patrick’s Day is this month, and what better way to get into the spirit of green than with a few eco-friendly plumbing tips! Whether outfitting the entire home with water-saving plumbing fixtures or just changing a few bad habits, following these simple tips can make a big difference when it comes to saving money on water costs — not to mention helping Mother Nature in the process. Read on for tips for making St. Patrick’s day greener this year!

Use Water-Efficient Fixtures

showerInvesting in water-saving plumbing fixtures can be a great way to go green. Water-saving fixtures look no different than traditional ones, but they use significantly less water for the same tasks, lowering monthly water bills and saving homeowners money. 

Examples of water-saving plumbing fixtures are low-flow showerheads and faucets. Low-flow plumbing fixtures are designed to reduce water use and save on water bills while still keeping good water pressure. Another example of a water-saving plumbing fixture is low-flow toilets like the dual flush toilet. Dual flush toilets feature two different flushes: one for solid waste and one for liquid waste. The amount of water used during each flush can be adjusted, resulting in significant water savings. Households can use at least 20% less water by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances.

Helpful Habits

Conserving water does not have to be complicated. Certain everyday habits can be adjusted to reduce overall water usage and save on water bills. For example, remembering to turn off the water while brushing teeth and shaving are easy ways to save water. Eight gallons of water can be saved daily by turning off the faucet when brushing teeth, and ten gallons can be saved per shave. Other easy ways to minimize water usage include only using the dishwasher and washing machine once they are full. 

Plumbing maintenance and inspections are also important habits that protect against wasting water by catching leaks. According to the EPA, a dripping faucet that leaks at one drip per second can waste over 3,000 gallons of water a year. To prevent leaks from spiking water bills, it’s crucial to catch them early.   

Prevent Toilet Clogs

toilet People should be mindful of what they flush to reduce toilet clogs and ocean pollution. This includes only flushing toilet paper and human waste. Additionally, avoid dumping any inorganic materials down the toilet, as these can cause serious damage to the environment. When inorganic materials are flushed, they can end up polluting the ocean. Inorganic substances like feminine hygiene products, wipes, paper towels, non-degradable diapers, and dental floss can damage marine habitats and ecosystems.

Not only do these materials threaten the health of marine life, but they can also clog plumbing systems and waste a lot of water, raising the water bill. A single toilet flush uses up to 7 gallons of water, and if a toilet is clogged, water will continue to run until the clog is cleared. If a toilet continues to be blocked over an extended period, it can waste a large amount of water and significantly increase monthly water bills, so it’s best to prevent them.

About Master Plumbers Heating & Cooling

Master Plumbers Heating & Cooling is a family-owned business serving Greensboro and the surrounding communities. They provide straightforward pricing, honest information, and membership plans. Call them today for clogged toilet repair or kitchen plumbing services in Greensboro, NC.

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Set a Resolution to Remember Plumbing Maintenance This Year

What is Included in Plumbing Maintenance?

The holidays can be challenging, but most people don’t realize that the home can get stressed by the holidays too. Extra loads placed on the drains and water heater can add stress to the plumbing system, causing headaches and stress for the homeowner.

This new year, homeowners should take care of their plumbing systems with plumbing maintenance. Here are a few recommendations to help homeowners understand what plumbing maintenance includes and why it is helpful.

Preventative Drain Cleaning

drain snakeDrain cleaning is an integral part of plumbing maintenance because water and waste need to be able to flow freely through the drains and pipes. Homeowners should not use chemical drain cleaners to perform drain cleaning. These cleaners are corrosive and can damage pipes, leading to bigger problems. Even if the pipe doesn’t corrode, the acid in these chemicals can erode rubber seals and gaskets, causing them to fail. Additionally, these substances can corrode metal fixtures, such as faucets and shower heads.

Professional plumbers use specialized equipment like hydro jets to clean drains without causing any damage to the pipes themselves. This is because professional drain cleaning can remove build-up more efficiently and prevent drains from becoming clogged in the future. Using a professional service ensures that the plumbing system will be safe and functioning correctly.

Professional Plumbing Maintenance

Homeowners should trust the experts for plumbing maintenance. Plumbers have the skills and tools to help make plumbing maintenance a comprehensive practice. Some things that plumbers can do during maintenance are:

  • Spot signs of corrosion in pipework
  • Clean sewer lines along with stubborn sink clogs
  • Test water pressure
  • Look for leaks and fix them
  • Perform comprehensive water heater maintenance

Professional plumbing maintenance can give homeowners peace of mind about their plumbing. Routine maintenance helps extend the life of the plumbing and prevents issues from occurring. Professional plumbers have the expertise to identify potential issues with a plumbing system before they become more serious problems. This can save homeowners from spending money on costly repairs in the future. Don’t hesitate to get an expert’s opinion to stay stress-free in the coming year.

Water Heater Maintenance

maintain the water heaterNo plumbing maintenance plan is complete without giving the water heater some attention, along with the rest of the plumbing system. Water heaters can become damaged throughout the year or, at the very least, suffer some wear and tear that can rob performance in the form of efficiency and make problems more likely. Water heater maintenance protects efficiency, lowers utility bills, extends the water heater’s lifespan, and lowers the risk of issues arising.

Some of the things that technicians will address during water heater maintenance are:

  • Draining the tank and flushing out settled solids
  • Checking anti-corrosion devices like the anode rod
  • Inspecting for signs of corrosion
  • Checking for leaks
  • Inspecting and cleaning burners and heating elements

Allowing a professional to complete these steps can lower utility bills associated with heating water. It can also help expand the longevity of the unit. Homeowners should invest in their homes by giving professional plumbers a chance to do plumbing maintenance every year, and there is no better time to start than now.

About Master Plumbers Heating & Cooling

Master Plumbers Heating & Cooling is a family owned business serving Greensboro, NC, and the surrounding areas. They provide flat rate pricing, prompt arrivals, and honest information. Call them today for maintenance, water heater maintenance, and drain cleaning in Greensboro, NC.

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