Archive for February, 2012

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Media Plumbing Repair Guide: What’s Causing that Leaky Toilet?

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Most Media homeowners have been there. You go into the bathroom in the morning, still a little bleary-eyed from sleep, and are shocked to find that the floor is wet. Then your realize your toilet is leaking. The tricky part is determining where that leak is coming from in order to fix it. Try these simple methods to diagnose the problem quickly.

 Sweating Toilet

One possibility is that your toilet is not leaking at the base itself, but that the toilet is sweating and the liquid is pooling at the base. It is easy enough to make this distinction; just check the toilet throughout the day to see if there is any moisture on the outer surface. If so, your toilet is sweating.

“Sweating” is caused by humid air condensing on the cold porcelain. The only way to fix this problem is to insulate the toilet.

 Bad Tank Seal

Another possibility is a bad seal. There are two main seals on your toilet that can leak: the tank seal and the wax seal.

To check for a bad tank seal, put some food coloring in the tank. You don’t need a lot, just enough to noticeably change the color of the water. Then, let the toilet sit without being used for a few hours. If the water on the floor is colored, then the tank seal on your toilet needs to be replaced.

 Bad Wax Seal

The other seal that can leak is the wax seal that is located at the actual base of the toilet. Diagnosing this problem is similar to the tank seal method above.

Again, add food coloring, this time to the water in the bowl. Then flush and repeat. After adding coloring the second time, let the toilet sit like in the steps above. If the colored water starts collecting around the base of the toilet after a few hours, the wax seal needs to be replaced.

Remember that Resolve Rooter is available 24 hours a day to help fix your broken toilet or any other plumbing problem.

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Maplewood Plumbing Repair Guide: Why is the Sewer Line Blocked?

Friday, February 24th, 2012

If you have dealt with a blocked sewer line in Maplewood, you know all too well that it can be a nightmare. Sewer lines are made out of especially sturdy materials for a reason: because we collectively want to keep their contents inside. So, when a sewer line gets blocked and starts backing up or seeping — or even cracks under the stress — it can be a real mess.

If you have never had encountered a sewer line block, count yourself lucky.

Whichever category you fall into, it is important to know about causes of sewer blocks lie, so that you have an idea what you are up against should you ever encounter (another) one, as well as being able to take some reasonable prevention measures. Read on to learn about some of the common culprits that block up sewer lines.

 Flushed Objects

The most preventable common cause of a blocked sewer line is the flushing of objects that should not be flushed. Sewer lines are not meant to handle solid objects like diapers, sanitary napkins or other garbage, so if these get flushed down the toilet — either intentionally or by accident — it can cause an ugly block.

Even smaller objects or bits of debris that seem to move fine through the sewer line can build up over time to cause a block. Paper towels, hair, grease or dirt can collect on the walls of the line and cause a block as well.

 Tree Roots

It may seem like nothing happens beneath the ground of our lawns, where the sewer line runs. But the root systems of the trees in your yard are growing quite a lot. These roots can grow right into your sewer line, infiltrating it and causing a blockage.

 Defect

The last main cause of a sewer link blockage is shoddy materials. Although sewer lines are meant to be made of high quality material because of the stress they perform under, it is still possible for one to collapse or bulge with use.

Repairing a blocked sewer line calls for a Maplewood professional’s assistance. If you need any help with sewer line repair or replacement, give Resolve Rooter a call!

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Clinton Plumbing Repair Question: Why Is My Garbage Disposal “humming”?

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Ah, the garbage disposal: one of the great conveniences of the modern kitchen in your Clinton home. When it is working well, it makes cleaning up after dinner so easy. But when it is on the fritz, there is nothing more annoying.

One common occurrence is the “humming” garbage disposal. You flip the switch to turn the disposal on, but instead of spinning up and sucking those coffee grounds away, it just makes a humming noise and doesn’t do anything. Definitely frustrating. The good news is that since it is making that humming noise, you may be in OK shape. Read on for an explanation.

There are two basic causes of the humming phenomenon. Let’s discuss the simpler one first.

 Stuck Flywheel

Most of the time, the problem is as simple as a stuck flywheel. Usually this problem is identified by the brevity of the humming sound, as the garbage disposal will either reset itself or the circuit breaker will trip and the whole thing will shut down.

To fix a stuck flywheel, follow these steps:

  1. Shut down the power to the garbage disposal by shutting of the circuit breaker or pulling the fuse.
  2. Using an offset wrench (it came with the disposal unit, but you can buy a replacement at the hardware store), turn the flywheel clockwise to dislodge it.

If the problem is just a stuck flywheel, that should take care of it. Remember to call a professional plumber if you do not have a lot of experience fixing plumbing problems on your own. But there is another, more complicated explanation for the humming sound.

 Seized Motor Bearing

If your efforts to free the flywheel did not get the disposal working again, then you may have a seized motor bearing on your hands. A disposal with a seized motor bearing needs to be replaced. It’s as simple as that.

However, before you go ahead and assume the worst, it would not hurt to have a professional look at it. It is possible that the flywheel is just quite stuck and needs the touch of a pro. If not, he can go ahead and install a new unit for you. If you are having problems with your garbage disposal, be sure to give Resolve Rooter a call!

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Happy President’s Day from Your New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania Plumbers!

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Everyone at Resolve Rooter wishes you a happy President’s Day! Today we appreciate all of the great leaders that helped shape our nation. Whether you have the day off today or not, it is a good time to think about how you can help make community a better place. From volunteering to recycling, helping improve your town can be pretty simple. Remember that upgrading your plumbing fixtures can cut down on the amount of water you use, and making your home more environmentally friendly is something that helps everyone.

Here is some great trivia about our presidents in honor of this day:

  • The only president who never married
    •  James Buchanan
  • Number of presidents who never attended college
    • Nine (Washington, Jackson, Van Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, A. Johnson, Cleveland, and Truman)
  • Number of presidents who died in office
    •  Eight (Harrison, Taylor, Garfield, Lincoln, McKinley, F.D. Roosevelt, Kennedy)
  • Presidents Portrayed on US coins
    • Lincoln (penny)
    • F.D.  Roosevelt (dime)
    • Kennedy (half-dollar)
    • Eisenhower (dollar coin)
    • Jefferson (nickel)
    • Washington (quarter)
  • Presidents Portrayed on US Currency
    • Washington (one dollar bill)
    • Jefferson (two dollar bill)
    • Lincoln (five dollar bill)
    • Hamilton (ten dollar bill)
    • Jackson (twenty dollar bill)
    • Grant  (fifty dollar bill)
    • Franklin (one hundred dollar bill)

Have a great President’s Day!

 

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Woodbury Plumber’s Guide: Common Kitchen Plumbing Problems

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Considering how often your use your Woodbury home’s kitchen sink – i.e., many times per day, every day – and all the grimy business that it usually has to put up with, it’s kind of amazing that your don’t experience headaches with your kitchen plumbing once a week. Chalk that up to the marvels of modern engineering and design.

That does not mean that kitchen plumbing is perfect, though, and all homeowners face problems with their kitchen plumbing from time to time. Fortunately, many such problems are fairly common and routine and therefore are easily remedied.

Below are 3 common kitchen plumbing problems and some possible solutions for each:

  1. Clogged drain
    Probably the most commonly aggravating of all kitchen sink problems is the clogged drain. If you have never had to deal with one, first thank your lucky stars and then brace for impact, because you’ll probably have to soon. This is usually caused by some piece of food or other deposit obstructing the sink. Try plunging it out, or breaking it up by pouring boiling water or white vinegar down the drain. This may take several attempts. If none of that works, you can resort to a commercial drain opening product.
  2. Leaky faucet
    Got a dripping sound keeping you up at night? Often, leaky faucets are caused by an obstructed aerator, which is that little screen thing on the end of your faucet. Unscrew that, clean it with water and put it back on. If the faucet still leaks, there may be a loose fitting somewhere further down the line, in which case you may need to call in a plumber. (Bonus tip: To quiet the dripping noise until the leak is fixed, tie a length of string to the end of the faucet. The water will run down the string silently instead of clanging into the basin all night.)
  3. Garbage disposal won’t run
    The quickest and most common solution to this problem is the reset the garbage disposal by pressing the button on the unit under the sink.

If these tips don’t work to solve your kitchen plumbing conundrum, then it is probably best to call in a Woodbury professional. Plumbing is a tricky thing – and garbage disposals can be dangerous – so sometimes it is best to leave it to licensed and professional plumber Resolve Rooter!

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Happy Valentine’s Day from Your Greater Philadelphia and New Jersey Area Plumbers!

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Everyone at Resolve Rooter wishes you a very Happy Valentine’s Day! We hope your day is full of love and laughter.  Valentine’s Day is a time to really appreciate all of the wonderful people in your life, including your significant other, your family, and your friends. Take a moment today to let each of them know how special they are to you. Even something simple, like a handmade card, can really make someone’s whole day!

While your plumbing system might not seem like the most romantic place to start your gift giving, a few simple upgrades can make your house more green, which is something your whole family will appreciate! A low-flow shower head will save a lot of water, and a new water heater can provide better your your family’s hot water needs and cut down on your energy usage. An upgrade to your  plumbing system is truly a gift that keeps on giving!

For more information about easy ways to improve your home, give Resolve Rooter a call! And to help make your Valentine’s Day as happy as it can be, here is a recipe for Chocolate Covered Strawberries:

“This is the simplest version of chocolate covered strawberries I know. Paraffin was originally used instead of shortening. Turn the strawberries upside down and insert by the toothpicks into a piece of styrofoam for easy cooling, or simply place them on a sheet of wax paper. White chocolate may be drizzled over the milk chocolate for a fancier look. They are perfect for weddings when decorated with frosting bow ties, bells, butterflies, roses, etc.”

INGREDIENTS:

16 ounces milk chocolate chips

2 tablespoons shortening

1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.greater Philadelphia and New Jersey area
  2. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.
  3. Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.

For more details, visit allrecipes.com.

 

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Allentown Plumbing Repair Service: Troubleshooting Plumbing Problems

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Plumbing may seem like a complex mystery, but some common plumbing problems you can investigate yourself before calling in an Allentown plumber.

Drainage Difficulties

Whether it’s a slow drain, a backed up drain, strange gurgling sounds emanating from a drain or unexplained wet spots on the lawn along the path of a drainage pipe, no one wants to deal with a messy drainage debacle.

However, if you are experiencing one of those problems, here are some steps to try in order to get to the bottom of it:

  1. Explore the extent of the problem. If it is just your kitchen sink that runs slowly or backs up, then you know it is localized, but if all your toilets are backing up, then that is probably a different kind of problem.
  2. If there is just one offending drain — as in the kitchen sink example — flush it with boiling water and/or white vinegar. If necessary, you can also try a commercial drain clearing product.
  3. With a more general plumbing problem, it helps to determine the route along which the water is draining. See if you can figure out where the drain pipes run through your home, which can help you determine if the problem is somewhere along the drainage line.

Wasted Water

Has your water bill gone through the roof lately? This could be due to wasted water that you don’t even know about. Below are some  causes of wasted water and how to determine them.

  1. Dripping faucet or running toilet. This can be pretty obvious because they make noise, so listen up! Especially pay attention if the toilet runs sporadically at unexpected times.
  2. A leaky pipe. This culprit is trickier, so look for signs of water along your base boards, on the floor near plumbing fixtures and underneath sinks.
  3. If you still can’t find the culprit, check your water meter and note the reading. Then check it again in an hour to see how much was used. This piece of information can at lease clue you in to the extent of the problem.

These techniques aren’t foolproof and won’t help you determine 100% of problems, so don’t be afraid to call a Allentown professional if need be. If you need any plumbing repairs, remember that Resolve Rooter has plumbers available 24/7!

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Camden Water Line Replacement – $250 Off!

Friday, February 10th, 2012

A broken water line is a big problem for any Camden homeowner. Your main water line is one the most important parts of your plumbing system, so a leak or break is a huge inconvenience. Not to mention the damage it can cause to your home or yard!

Some symptoms of a broken water line are lower water pressure, water pooling in your yard, or higher water bills. If you notice any of these problems, you should call Resolve Rooter right way. We have the technology to replace your water line with minimal damage to your yard, and we can do it quickly so you won’t be out of water for long. As a special incentive, we are offering $250 off Full Water Line Replacement! A problem with your water line is not something you should ignore, so if you suspect that your line is leaking or breaking, give us a call right away! We are available 24/7, and our trenchless technology experts are ready to help!

Call for details!

 

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Bathtub Replacement: Why You Should Call a East Brunswick Contractor

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

A bathtub replacement in your East Brunswick home is not something you will have to worry about every day. However, there will likely come a time when you do need to get rid of your old tub and put in a new one. Whether your old tub is simply beyond repair or you just decided that it was time for a change, putting in a new bathtub is a significant undertaking.

Even if you have considerable plumbing skills, you would do well to hire an outside contractor to take care of a bathtub replacement or installation project. There are a lot of factors to take into account when you are installing a bathtub in your home, and experienced contractors know what to look for and how to adjust to the various situations that can arise.

For one thing, you will probably have a very hard time physically moving both the old tub being replaced and the new on that needs to go in. And even if you are physically capable of moving this type of heavy equipment, you will still run the risk of damaging other parts of your house in the process. A skilled contractor with a team can much more easily get an old tub out and a new tub in place.

Plus, when you hire a contractor for this type of work, you will most likely not have to worry about how to dispose of your old tub once you are done with it. The majority of contractors will take care of this type of disposal for you, which is a big help since you probably do not want an old bathtub sitting in your yard indefinitely.

Another thing to consider is that the plumbing work needed to properly put a bathtub in place is rather complicated. You need to have relatively advanced plumbing skills in order to carry it out properly. And if you do not manage to complete a proper installation, you will have no end of problems later on. It is well worth the investment to have Resolve Rooter come in and install your bathtub when the alternative is paying for more costly repairs later on.

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Stroudsburg Plumbing Repair Guide: Common Toilet Problems

Monday, February 6th, 2012

The toilet is one of our most important parts of your Stroudsburg home’s plumbing. But it also prone to its fair share of problems. Let’s take a look at some common toilet problems and how to fix them.

  1. Running
    Perhaps the most common of toilet annoyances is the constantly running toilet. Not only is the sound irritating, but it can result in high water bills and cause your septic tank to overflow.  Fortunately, it is simple to diagnose and fix. Just look into the tank at the flapper. If it is not seated properly, adjust the chain to give more slack. If that doesn’t solve the problem, the flapper may be worn and need to be replaced.
  1. Slow draining bowl
    A weak flush is usually caused by clogged flush holes, which are underneath the rim of the bowl. Clearing these holes will fix the problem.
  1. Phantom flush
    Although it won’t actually flush, sometimes you may hear the tank spontaneously start to refill as though someone has just flushed. This just means the water is leaking out of the tank, which can usually be fixed with a new flapper, as with problem #1.
  1. Suction sounds
    If you flush the toilet and hear sucking or gurgling sounds emanating from the tub or sink, that usually indicates a clogged vent pipe. Such clogs usually originate in the roof, such as a dead bird falling into vent pipe up there. You may be best served by calling a plumber to fix this one, in order to avoid making the problem larger.
  1. Clogged or overflowing
    Lastly, of course, is the clogged or overflowing toilet. While wearing gloves and holding your nose, use a plunger or pipe snake to clear the drain. If that doesn’t get it done, the clog may be too large to handle without professional equipment, so you had better call a plumber.

For any problems with your plumbing, call Resolve Rooter today for expert plumbing repair!

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