Water DamageWater damage is one of the worst things that can happen to your home. Not only can it damage certain rooms and furniture, it can also rot wood, spread bacteria and cause mold infestations. Unfortunately, water damage is inevitable for all homes and buildings. This is true regardless of where you live. Water damage can take the form of burst pipes, broken fixtures, floods, damaged water lines, rain-storms and any type of water-related accident that you can think of. You can remove the water on your own, of course, but that will only partially solve the problem. The moisture will still seep through the cracks, and the bacteria that came with the water will not go away once everything is dry. Also, certain parts of your home may begin to develop molds, and that’s something that you’ll definitely want to avoid. Mold damage can be just as bad as water damage if not worse. Dirty water can be inconvenient, but mold damage can cause diseases and ailments. So if you are having water and mold related problems then here’s what you need to know. What Causes Water Damage?Most people believe that water damages are the result of storms and floods, but this is rarely the case. Although natural calamities and accidents do cause such problems, most cases of water damage are caused by mundane factors, such as: Standing WaterStanding water refers to any body of backup water that’s concentrated in a particular area. A good example would be a small puddle in the basement that just won’t drain away. Another good example is a leaking appliance. If the water is not removed quickly, it will slowly become dirtier and dirtier, and then it will start to grow molds. So if you find any standing water in your home then call a plumber to look at it immediately. Water LeaksLeaking pipes and fixtures are another common cause of water damage. Even the smallest leaks can cause problems, especially if they are hidden. And as the moisture persists, molds start to grow in the area, in which case you will need to hire someone who can repair water damage and remove molds at the same time. Damaged Water FixturesDamaged water fixtures may occasionally cause water damage. Not only do they cease to work, they also create clogs and leaks in your plumbing system. When ignored for too long, these problems will slowly allow molds to grow in the affected areas. Dealing With Water DamageBefore you can deal with your mold infestation, you will first need to do something about the water damage to your home. The leaking pipes will have to be replaced and the sources of standing water repaired. A few renovations may also be necessary to prevent such problems from ever happening again. And of course, your property will have to be inspected to identify moisture concentrations and other areas where water damage can appear. If you are looking for this service then Knoxville Plumbing has you covered. We offer a comprehensive set of services to solve all kinds of water damage. We can repair minor leaks, damaged fixtures, broken plumbing, flooded basements and more. So if you have water problems in your home, just give us a call and we will do our best to repair them as soon as possible. Dealing With Mold InfestationsUnfortunately, fixing the cause of the water damage is not enough to completely fix your home. You will also need to dry your home home and restore those areas which have been infected by mold. Mold removal is more complex than you may think. Aside from removing the mold and moisture, the affected areas also need to be dried and disinfected several times to remove the potential health hazards. The mold spores will also have to be removed, so as to prevent the problem from happening all over again. If you need these sorts of services then Flawless Restoration of Powell TN has the services you need. Not only do they remove and disinfect all known mold infestations, they’re also adept at finding hidden ones. And once they’re finished, they will clean up your home to remove all traces of spores and odd smells. Water damage is their specialty. The post From Plumbing Leaks to Water Damage appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee. from https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/from-plumbing-leaks-to-water-damage/
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Your kitchen and bathroom sinks swallow a lot of things. Sadly, some of that stuff doesn’t always go down well. Even top-of-the-line, well-installed plumbing requires cleaning from time to time. A clean drain reduces stress from having backed up water in your sink or tub. It also prevents build-up of damaging residue in your pipes. Depending on what type of things normally go down your drains, you may need to clean and unclog them more often. But, don’t panic! Whether your drain is clogged or just needs freshening, we’re here to help with this handy list of 5 steps to a clean drain. SuppliesIf your drain is clogged, you’ll find these tools handy:Plunger Bucket or large bowl Rubber gloves Safety goggles Pipe wrench Hand auger Small plastic barbed drain-cleaning tool For cleaning the drain, you’ll need:White vinegar Baking soda Hot water Biological or environmentally-friendly drain cleaner Steps to unclog your drain1. Always start with your plungerYep, you can use a plunger in your sink. Just be sure it’s not the one you use in the toilet! Fill the clogged sink with enough water to cover the drain and the bottom of the sink. Press the plunger tightly over the drain. Once you have a secure seal, pump the plunger several times to dislodge the clog. If you have a double-sided sink or your sink has an overflow hole, plugging the extra drain or overflow opening will help create more pressure in the pipe as you pump the plunger. 2. Try the small plastic barbed drain-cleaning toolIf the plunger doesn’t work, the next thing to use is one of these nifty drain-cleaning tools. You can find these handy little gadgets in hardware stores and in the hardware departments of places like Walmart and Target. They are inexpensive and very effective on clogs close to the drain, above the P-trap. Simply remove the drain plug and slide the tool into the drain as far as it will go. When you pull it out, the backward angled barbs pull out hair and other debris that has balled up in your pipe. Steps for unclogging the tub drain are a little different. At this point, there are a couple more DIY things you can try.If you are not comfortable using more invasive plumbing tools, now’s the time to call in the professional plumbers.
3. The hand augerAlso known as a plumber’s snake, the hand auger drills a hole through the debris creating the clog in the pipe. This loosens the clog enough that it breaks apart and washes down when you flush the drain with hot water. If you’re not familiar with how to use a hand auger, we like the explanation and photos on this site: Family Handyman Once your drain is unclogged and water is flowing smoothly again, you can finish up by cleaning and freshening the drain. We recommend the following methods for keeping your drain clean and helping prevent the build-up of residue that could lead to another clog. 4. White vinegar, baking soda, & hot waterThe next step is to pour about ½ cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow the baking soda with white vinegar. Remember those school science volcanoes that erupted? Yep—that was the reaction between the vinegar and baking soda. Place a cover over your drain and let the reaction continue for about 15 minutes. Finish by pouring boiling water down the drain as a final rinse. (Note: Some people prefer to use biological or enzymatic, environmentally friendly commercial drain cleaners for this step. These are good choices also and won’t damage your septic system like chemical, corrosive cleaners. Just be sure to follow package directions.) 5. Clean the disposalThe final step to a clean drain is one most people don’t even think about the disposal as a something that needs to be cleaned. Disposals can be the source of pretty stinky odors, however. Food debris that doesn’t drain properly can lurk around the sides of the disposal floor where it decays. Cleaning your disposal is inexpensive and easy. Here are a couple of our favorite ways to keep the disposal clean and fresh-smelling. DIY fresh disposal and How Bob Vila cleans a disposal. Choose your favorite method and get that disposal scrubbed!
Well, there you have it. Five Steps to a Clean Drain.Hopefully, you were able to clear the clogs yourself and end up with a beautiful clean drain. If not, remember that using too much force can cause permanent damage to a pipe and lead to much greater expense. Whether you’re fighting a stubborn clog or just don’t have the time to deal with it yourself, we can help! Give us a call today!4 total views, 2 views today The post Clean Drain in 5 Steps appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee. from https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/clean-drain-5-steps/ It seems like simple enough logic. If you don’t seal your bathtub drain, you’ll get water damage that effects your home. You know the tub drain by the hole on the floor that water goes through during a bath or shower. We’ll make sure to show you all how to do it well in a step-by-step guide. USE A RUBBER SEAL IN YOUR TUB TRAINThe best method to use in sealing the drain is installing a rubber seal. If you use this method, you’ll prevent water from leaking out of the drain since it’s a water-tight block. You fit the seal between the tub drain and the wastewater drain by removing or lowering the floor drain pipe. You’ll need a wrench to unscrew it, put in the seal, and then screw it again tightly so nothing falls apart. YOU SHOULD ADD CAULKING: After fitting in the rubber seal, use caulking on the outside of the pipe to seal it in. You should buy specialized bathtub caulking, which is waterproof and costs around 5 dollars. If you see any exposed joints, make sure to add caulk onto it as well. There should be no water over the seal. YOUR LAST RESORT IS THE DRAIN ASSEMBLY KITIf you find that the rubber seal doesn’t fit, nor does your drain stop overflowing above your seal, you should use a drain assembly kit that will replace the old drain.
The post Tub Drain: How to Seal and Unclog a Bathtub Drain appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee. from https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/tub-drain/ It’s something we don’t really think about — until it stops working. When your shower gets cold, that’s when things heat up! Amidst cries of outrage about cold water showers and cold water dish washing, we scramble to figure out what caused the water heater to stop working. But, before we talk about things that can go wrong with water heaters, let’s take a look at their simple, yet creative design and discover how it is they do what they do to make our daily lives more comfortable.
WATER HEATER DESIGN The majority of residential water heaters are storage water heaters. They are basically tall cylindrical tanks–sort of like a tall metal drum. They vary in capacity from about 20 gallons to about 80 gallons of water. Even though traditional water heaters don’t present a very dramatic appearance, the principles they use to supply abundant hot water to your home are pretty interesting.
COMPONENTS Storage water heaters (diagram from US Dept of Energy) are comprised of the tank and a couple of tubes, a series of valves, and a mechanism for heating the water. Storage water heaters are either electrical or gas operated. Here’s how all these components work:
HOW IT WORKS Storage water heaters rely primarily on the scientific principle that hot water rises. Cold water enters the top of the tank through the dip tube or cold water inlet, flows through the pipe to the bottom of the tank where it exits the pipe, pushing the warmer water already in the tank upward. The thermostat setting is usually between 120 – 180 degrees Fahrenheit. The thermostat should be set nearer the lower end of this range in homes with small children to prevent potential scalding injuries. As the thermostat monitors the temperature of the water inside the tank, it regulates the function of the elements (on an electrical water heater) or the gas burner (on a gas water heater) to heat the water accordingly. Because heat rises, the hottest water is always closest to the top of the tank. When a hot water tap is turned on somewhere inside the home, the hot water exits the tank through the hot water outlet at the top of the tank and flows to the open tap. What’s next? Now that we have a basic understanding of the parts of a water heater and how it works, our next post will take a look at some things that typically cause water heater problems resulting in the dreaded cold shower. Whether you have a malfunctioning water heater or a leaking faucet or a clogged drain, Knoxville Plumbing is here for you! No views yet The post Water Heaters 101 appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee. from https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/water-heaters-101/ In our last blog post, we covered how to prepare your sink in order to fix it and how to repair a compression faucet. The blog post will include the instructions on how to fix ball faucet, cartridge faucet, and ceramic-disk faucet. HOW-TO: Fix a Ball Faucet
HOW-TO: Fix a Cartridge Faucet
HOW-TO: Fix a Ceramic-Disk Faucet
The post Leaking Faucet: How to Repair a Ball Faucet, Cartridge Faucet, and Ceramic-Disk Faucet appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee. from https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/ball-faucet-part-2/ It’s oddly painful to hear the drip of a leaking faucet. The sound can drive anyone insane, but your water bills hurt your wallet the most when excess water leaks out of your faucet. You have the option to pay a plumber to fix all your needs! In the case that you can’t afford a plumber or you want to learn to do it yourself, we’ve brought you a guide on fixing one of the most common faucet types. We’ll be covering the others in later articles! BEGINNING1. Turn off the water pipe that leads to your leaking faucet.You should look under your sink to find the handles, which are often along the pipes, to shut off the water. The next step is to twist them clockwise until they’re nicely tight. 2. Remember to plug your drain.If you have a plug or a rage, remember to use it on your drain. There is nothing more frustrating than having a screw, washer, or small item slip from your hand and fall down into those slimy depths. 3. Figure out what type of faucet you have.
If you don’t have a compression faucet, your sink has one handle that switches the water from hot to cold. If you can’t google the answer, this means an extra step where you have to take your faucet apart to understand what inner mechanism it’s using.
COMPRESSION FAUCET
The post Leaking Faucet: How To Repair a Compression Faucet appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee. from https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/leaking-faucet/ Your plumbing system abides by the laws of gravity, pressure, and water, in its attempts to maintain a natural level. If you understand the basics of plumbing, it’ll help you with the basics back home. Plumbing System: Two Separate Sub-Systems
Your plumbing system contains two sub-systems. There is one that carries the freshwater into your house and another that the carries wastewater out of your house. It’s important that these don’t overlap because they serve two different functions. The fresh water comes into your home pressurized so it can travel around your home. As you bring the water into your house, there’s a meter that keeps track of how much water you use. The main water shutoff, or the valve that your water runs through, is generally located close to the meter as a result. You must be able to locate your main water shutoff or your house can be flooded in a plumbing emergency. If you find that the water doesn’t go too far from a confined area, you could turn off the individual stop valves. When you need cold water, the system is ready. Your hot water, on the other hand, goes through a different process because a line carries it to the water heater. The thermostat on the water heater maintains a temperature between 120 degrees F and 160 degrees F based on the owner’s choice. The 120 degrees F is usually enough for most purposes. After the water heater warms the water, the water line sends the heated, pressurized water to the needed fixtures.
The drainage system doesn’t use pressure but instead uses gravity. Your waste matter leaves your house because of your drain system’s pipes all angling downward. Your waste, then, proceeds to either a septic tank or a sewage treatment facility. There’s more to the drainage system like vents, traps, and clean-outs. For example, the vents on your roof make air enters the drainage system. It helps the wastewater to flow properly and the traps to work well. You might wonder what is a trap? Your trap is a curved or S-shaped pipe located under a drain. If you ever want to have a peek at one, look under your sink or any other fixture. The water from a basin flows enough to pass the trap and enter the drainpipe, but some water remains in the trap, so sewer gas doesn’t return into your home. Your clean-out is a plug that gives you an easy way to take out any blockage that might back up a trap. To get the best out of your drain system, you have to make sure everything is working in proper order. You can examine your pipes better by entering your basement or crawlspace, but you can also save yourself the trouble by asking your local plumbing agency. The post Plumbing System: How Does It Work appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee. from https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/plumbing-system/
CLIMB Works in Sevier County has come under scrutiny for a recent string of stomach issues. Five hundred and forty-eight customers contracted these stomach issues. All affected individuals drank water from the zip-line during mid-June. Their symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting. The Tennessee Department of Health hasn’t released their official report. The preliminary results stated that there was E. Coli in the CLIMB Works well water around the course. Todd Keith, one of our own Knoxville Plumbing water quality specialists, informed WATE-TV and WBIR-TV how to prevent such tragedies from occurring in your home or business.
Your Home: Filtration System TestingIf your home isn’t under a mortgage, it’s unlikely you’re mandated to check your well water like in the municipal water system. Even then, municipal water warrants a filtration system, due to long-term health risk. It becomes your responsibility to maintain your water filtration system. There are health risks to neglecting your system, which isn’t worth the hospital time. You might not realize you’ll need more testing after you install your first filtration system, but tests adapt to the changes in your system’s surroundings. Our Knoxville experts examine variables in that specific moment. For example, our specialists look for ground conditions like run-off water, sewer leaks or breaks, and feces that are in your water filtration system’s current environment. The second issue your water system can face is how its surrounding changes over time. These events can be as small as an animal climbing into your well or an oil spill. These differences can occur in as little as two weeks. CLIMB Works is near an area where sediment, chemicals, bacteria, and PH has the capacity to shift over time, which could’ve affected their water filtration capabilities. The best choice would be to do once a year testing to make sure bacteria doesn’t enter through the system. CLIMB Works: Updated Filtration SystemCLIMB Works began installing a new water filtration system. They also offer free bottled water to thirsty patrons. If they upgrade their systems on a regular schedule, CLIMB Works will not have the same mistake again. Knoxville Plumbing: Our ServicesLastly, our company offers free at-home testing for certain minerals like iron or sulfur. We ask for a fee for testing for e. Coli because Knoxville Plumbing needs to send samples to a certified lab for detailed results. This is true for all water companies, so be wary if someone offers this service without restrictions. The post CLIMB Works: Outbreak of E. Coli appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee. from https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/e-coli-climb-works/ This article will outline what you should and shouldn’t store in your bathroom space, and some tips on how to maximize your tiny spaces. Do store toiletries, towels, showering products, hair tools, toilet paper, and a first aid kit in your bathroom space. Tip: Put the first aid kit in a bottom droor, because your upper droors will be hot property for everyday things and in the event of an emergency, you’ll be able to tell guests “the first aid kit is in the bottom droor on the left” and they will be able to easily find it without much clutter to go through. You can make all your typical bathroom supplies convenient and easy to access by using the following organizational tips. Get Unconventional Organizing your bathroom’s under-sink cabinet is going to take some creativity. You will be using items for things they weren’t created to do, but they sure make your morning ready routine easier for the whole family. First, you might want to get one medium sized, open container or basket that you can keep toilet paper in. Any cleaning products you use in your bathroom can be organized on a “lazy susan”, you know, those rotating “plates” that are usually found in kitchens. You can use a tension rod to maximize space by hanging your spray bottles from it, high in the back of the cabinet. This will also keep potentially harmful chemicals away from children. For little beauty things that are homeless, purchase a clear storage solution that has droors. Most homes have women, and once a month, they’ll need easy access to their sanitary products. Small and medium-sized shower caddies are great for pads, tampons, and other occasionally used items. Don’t forget the cabinet door! If your cabinets are not stuffed to the brim, you can utilize the inside of the door for things you want the easiest access to. Some people screw round PVC pipe to the inside, just big enough for their hot hair tools and their cords. You can also use adhesive 3M hooks to hang small plastic organizers for smaller items like nail polish and manicure tools. What Shouldn’t You Store In The Bathroom? Jewelry Jewelry, whether costume or more expensively made, can tarnish pretty badly when exposed to constant moisture and oxygen. The process of tarnishing is called oxidization and causes the material to look duller, corrode completely, or attract dirt and show signs of wear. Jewelry should not be kept in the bathroom but instead in a closet or designated chest. Reading Material Paper will warp when exposed to moisture and it doesn’t look visually appealing if its not well-organized. Prepare for any reading material to be ruined if kept in the bathroom or keep it in a covered container for protection. Medication Prescription medications, and even over-the-counter medications, can be expensive and they can be compromised with exposure to elements such as moisture. They should always be kept in a cool, dry place. Essential Oils Like medications, essential oils need to be kept in a cool, dry place as well. Exposure to sunlight and moisture can change the chemical makeup of the oil itself, possibly changing its effectiveness or even becoming harmful to you. This is why essential oil manufacturers put the product in dark blue or brown glass bottles, to maintain the integrity of the product. If you love essential oils, take care of them by keeping them in a cool and dry protected place. Non-Water Proof Electronics As you know, electricity and water can be an extremely dangerous combination. Don’t keep any electronic hazards near the bathtub or sources of water. If the item is not made for use in a bathroom, keep it stored in another room. Use best practices when using music playing devices and check out the latest water-proof technologies! The post What Should You Keep Under Your Bathroom Sink? appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee. from https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/keep-bathroom-sink/ There are several great reasons to make your home more handicap accessible or “disability friendly”. You might be considering selling your home one day, or living in it yourself long term, in which case you might wish to consider your needs in your own old age. You might also make your home easier to live in for guests you might have with limitations. This article outlines some permanent and semi-permanent solutions for you. Your Home’s Entrance Is your home currently easy for a person in a walker or wheelchair to get into? You might consider ditching your stairs and providing a disability friendly ramp. Depending on size and material, there are a wide range of ramp solutions at varying costs. If your door is on the ground level already, then your entrance should not rise above one-half inch and should be rounded for a wheelchair to easily roll over. Floors and Stairs Hardwood and tile floors without any rugs are ideals for wheelchair access, but you can also opt for a low-pile carpet. Stairs are also difficult for handicap people to use, so a lift that swivels will give your resident or guest a sense of independence they otherwise wouldn’t have if someone had to help them get up the stairs. You could also lessen their need to go up the stairs, by bringing anything they’d want there to the ground floor level. Doorways Recommended doorway widths for wheelchairs to access is 32”, but you can also provide a safer and more pleasant mobility without that cost by removing doors or by reversing the way in which a door opens. You can also lower the doorknobs for easier use. Kitchens Kitchens are often challenging to someone faced with living with a disability, but there are a number of solutions to make their life easier. First, you can make sure that all appliances are easy to reach, lower counter tops, and install a lower sink if at all possible. Roll-out storage units are best for those living with a disability and making outlets available to their height. Bathrooms Shower stalls are much easier for a handicapped person to use. Provide them a seat and multiple bars for their safety, inside and outside of the shower. You can also ensure they are safe from scalding water by setting the hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. I’m sure there are other ways you can discover how to best provide safety and independence to any disabled resident or guest you might have in your home. You can easily rent a wheelchair for a day and bring it home to see just how a person might feel touring your home in a wheelchair. Try to go about your usual routine and you will add plenty of things to your list of how to make life easier and your home more accessible! The post How To Make Your Home More Disability Friendly appeared first on Knoxville Plumbing | Plumber in Knoxville | Plumbing | Tennessee. from https://knoxvilleplumbing.com/make-home-disability-friendly/ |
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