Posts by Brian Wear

You’ve come from a hard day at work and the only thing on your mind is a nice, hot shower before settling in for a relaxing evening. Rather than the stress relieving shower you were anticipating, it turns out to be little more than a trickling waterfall. Low water pressure is the likely culprit. Check…

It is always challenging to try to keep pace with the rising cost of living. Often, utility costs rise a few dollars here and there, which doesn’t seem too bad until homeowners pull out an old water bill and realize they are paying substantially more for their water than in years past. What can individuals…

As we prepare for a change of season, it’s important to make sure your sump pump is in good working order. When it’s functioning properly, it means the difference between staying dry and being up to your ankles in water. Because a sump pump is one of those invisible home necessities, most people don’t pay it…

Most toilets take about a minute after flushing before they return to their normal, silent state. Sometimes after a flush, the toilet simply keeps running and refuses to stop. If you’re lucky, slightly jiggling the toilet handle might stop the toilet from continuing to run; however, that is not always the case. Here are a…

Virtually every homeowner has experienced the inconvenience of having their day brought to a screeching halt by a clogged bathroom or kitchen drain. Clogs can damage and shorten the lifespan of your plumbing system. The best course of action is to prevent the clog from happening in the first place. Fortunately, most common drain clogs are…

 Refrigerators are a huge energy sink. They’re plugged in 24/7, people regularly open them to look inside, and anytime you pack away freshly cooked leftovers the fridge has to bring the temperature down. It seems like there’s no possible way to make a fridge more energy efficient short of buying a new model, but there…

If a pipe bursts or your water heater starts leaking, one of the first things you want to do is make the water stop gushing by finding the water shut-off valve. Depending on where the plumbing emergency is, you have a few options.  IS YOUR LEAK NEAR A FIXTURE LIKE A TOILET OR A SINK?…

Corrosion Copper is used in plumbing because of its resistance to rust. However, when copper encounters chlorine and formaldehyde in the air or soil, a slow breakdown occurs. This unnoticeable reaction is basically pipes being slowly “dissolved” chemically. Remember, this is not from the water your pipes transport. This erosion of copper pipes would occur…

In order to prevent your basement from flooding, there are actually several things you can do both inside and outside your home. In this post, we will discuss some tips and tricks that can help keep your basement and your possessions from incurring costly water damage. Your Home’s Exterior Your home’s landscaping and gutter system…

Trees are a wonderful addition to a home’s landscaping. They provide shade in the summer and afford at least some protection in the winter from cold, blustery winds. However, the roots from trees adjacent to your home can also do quite a bit of damage to your underground plumbing pipes. In this post, we will…