Frequently Asked Questions

How much is my plumbing problem going to cost?

On most of our basic services we can give prices over the phone. However, the plumbing industry is filled with unusual problems that need to be looked at and diagnosed. Once we look at the situation we can give you an accurate price. Our technicians are not paid by commission, so there is no incentive to sell you something you don’t need. Currently we don’t have any apprentices working for us. Our professionals have well over 100 years combined plumbing and heating experience. We will accurately diagnose the problem, give you options and pricing. You make the ultimate decision.

What can cause rattling pipes?

This is usually from a pipe not being installed or strapped properly. When something shuts off quickly like a toilet, washing machine, faucet or zone valve in a sprinkler system, the vibration can move a loose pipe causing it to rattle. In rare instances it can be caused from a water meter or a pressure reducing valve. We have the right equipment and knowledge to test and solve these problems.

What can cause a creaking or clicking noise in the wall?

This usually occurs when you are running hot water. The pipe is wedged tightly against the wall or wood framing, which often occurs due to house settling. This puts some stress or pressure on the pipe. When hot water runs through a cold pipe, the pipe expands and moves causing a loud clicking or creaking noise. If there is too much pressure on the pipe it can crack or break. Our experienced technicians have different methods of tracking down these problems and can correct them.

What causes water to suddenly be rusty or brown?

Usually this happens just before your water heater starts leaking. I have been replacing water heaters now for over 30 years. Most of my customers that call with a leaking or blown out water heater tell me the water had been brown or rusty for the last week or two. What most likely has happened is the inner part of the water heater has cracked letting water in between the glass lining and the steel tank. This causes the tank to rust out. About 90% of water heaters develop a small leak to start with, while only 10% crack open creating a flood. The average life on a water heater is about 12.4 years. If you have an older water heater that starts putting out brown or rusty water you should seriously consider replacing it. We do a lot of research and sell the best rated water heaters in the industry (Bradford White). Our water heater pricing is extremely competitive. We will give you options, so you can choose the water heater that best fits the needs of your situation.

What can cause kitchen drain problems?

In most cases its what you put down the drain. Heavy foods or foods that contain oil or grease are not good to put down the drain. When washing out pans soak as much of the oil or grease up with a paper towel. Start washing with cold water. This will keep the grease in a more solid state, which will wash through the line better. When you use hot water it liquifies the grease. When it hits the colder pipe in the ground it sticks to the pipe and hardens. If you have ongoing problems there could be a dip or break in the pipe. Time Plumbing & can video inspect your pipe with a camera to fnd the problem. We can also put you on a preventive maintenance program or get you started with Bio-Clean (a non–toxic enzyme cleaner that works very well).

Why doesn’t my toilet bowl fill up after a flush and how can I fix it?

Sometimes a Clorox tablet dissolves to a smaller piece and gets flushed from the tank to the bowl. This piece can get lodged in the 1” jet hole in the bottom of the bowl. If there is a piece in there you can usually feel it with your finger and get something to break it up with or wait until it dissolves.

If your toilet gets stopped up often and needs to be plunged, you could have a poorly designed toilet. There are many newer style low volume toilets that have flushing problems. You may consider replacing it with a better flushing toilet. We have thoroughly researched the best functioning toilets on the market. We can offer you different models, styles and colors to fit your needs and decor.

How can you increase water pressure at a faucet?

Low pressure can be caused by a number of things. First, check and clean the aerator on the spout of the faucet. If you find small white pieces of plastic when you are cleaning the aerator, it means your dip tube in the water heater is falling apart. This can cause serious damage to the faucets and plumbing system. The water heater should be replaced or inspected, flushed and repaired. It can also be from rusty pipes or a bad pressure reducing valve. Some of the newer faucets have water restrictors to help conserve water usage. We have numerous ways to test and correct these types of problems.

What can and cannot be put in a garbage disposal?

It will depend on the quality of your disposal. The better ones have a double grinding system and are stainless steel. Here are some rules of thumb to follow.

• Can be put in disposal: fruits and non–stringy vegetables.
• Don’t put in disposal: artichokes, celery, coffee, egg shells, chicken bones or any bones, grease or onions (these can smell for weeks).
• Keep all dirt of any kind from going in. This can ruin the seals and bearings.
• Get rid of smells quickly by grinding up a couple of lemons. Use Bio-clean for a longer term smell eliminator.

How do you keep roots out of the main sewer line?

Roots can be very strong and aggressive. Once they have gotten in they will do everything they can to feed and grow, which can damage your sewer or drain line. We can treat the line with a professional strength root killer that will last for a year. You can treat it yourself with store–bought solutions, but they need to be applied monthly to get the same result. A yearly program will help keep new growth and damage to a minimum.

If roots are getting in near your house and there is a break, offset pipes or a good–sized crack, the dirt around it can act like a sponge. The dirt can soften to a point that it will take away the support from under the foundation. This can cause serious foundation cracking and problems. We have camera equipment to video inspect your sewer line so you know exactly what is going on, how serious it is and what to plan for. If it needs to be repaired or replaced we can also take care if it.

How long does sewer or drain cleaning last?

There are many different factors involved. A good cleaning job can last 2 to 10 times longer than a poor one. Your system needs to be checked for broken, cracked, rusted out or offset lines. There can also be dips in the line, a line that flows backwards and lines with extremely heavy grease. Tree roots can be another problem. All of these items will affect how long a drain cleaning will last. If you have had ongoing problems the line should be camera and video inspected to discover how serious it is and to detect any other damage. Keep in mind our technicians are not paid on commission. You will get the best service and an extremely accurate evaluation.

What causes mineral deposits in my sink strainer?

If you notice these deposits near all of your faucet spouts, strainers, bathtubs, showers toilets, you probably have hard water. In this case a water softener can help. If it is just around your bathroom sink, this can be due to not rinsing the sink well after brushing your teeth. This can discolor or leave mineral deposits around the drain. Another reason could be the from the type of soaps or cleaners you are using.