Pine Valley Plumbing » Maintenance

Wait! Read This Before You Use Those Flushable Wipes!

admin — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 17:33:14 +0000

Although toilet paper is becoming easier to find, some may still be regularly using alternatives such as flushable wipes. Remember, the package may say that these wipes are “septic safe” and “flushable”, but they take longer to break down. This makes it easier for clogged pipes and blockages to occur often requiring a professional plumber to unclog. So before your plumbing system begins to back up, head to the store and stock up on some regular toilet paper!

Emergency Water Leak?

admin — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 17:18:04 +0000

Is it the middle of the night and you notice a pipe just burst? Is your toilet overflowing, and you don’t know how to get it to stop? Everyone should know how to turn off the water when these things happen. For something as simple as an overflowing toilet, there is a shut-off at the base on the wall that can be turned to shut off the water flow until you can clear the clog yourself or get someone to come repair it for you. For larger emergencies such as a burst pipe, you should shut the water off to your home. The water valve to your house is not located in the same location for every home. You will need to find out if it is in your crawl space, in your flowerbed, or in your garage. While you can always call your local fire department in an emergency, it’s the best course of action to learn these things before you need them!

Keep Your Plumbing Protected!

admin — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 21:36:52 +0000

Well, it looks like Punxsutawney Phil may have lied. Keep those foundation vents closed, and if you leave town, don’t turn off the heat to your home. You don’t want your pipes to freeze! Also, if you use your hose bibs, take the hose off when you are done. This will allow the hose bib to drain properly and not freeze.

Football Games and Foundation Vents

admin — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 16:59:38 +0000

Fall isn’t just about colorful leaves, football games, and Halloween, it’s also time to prepare your house and yard for winter. Now is the time to make sure all of your pipes are insulated, close up your foundation vents, repair any leaking hose bibs, and blow out your sprinkler system. This will keep your plumbing system from freezing when winter hits and prevent any unwanted surprises when it warms up next spring!

Trick or Treat?

admin — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 17:11:05 +0000

Halloween is in a few weeks, and people are going to be carving up their best looking jack-0-lanterns. Treat yourself to a working garbage disposal this fall by remembering to put any pumpkin seeds you don’t toast into the garbage. It would be a real trick getting them out of there and could potentially ruin the disposal altogether.

Plumbing Prep for the Holidays

admin — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 18:09:50 +0000

Summer is officially over, and there is a little time before the holidays begin and your house fills with friends and relatives. Prepare now to take care of your small plumbing problems that may arise. Make sure you have a plunger, pipe wrench, and consider a small drain snake to combat small clogs. Don’t hesitate to call a professional for problems that are too large to handle, but the cost of few tools now will all prove to be cheaper than calling out your plumber for a clogged drain on Thanksgiving Day!

To Flush or Not to Flush?

admin — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 18:37:36 +0000

That is the question! Even though those flushable wipes say they are flushable, are they? While cleaning, make-up removing, and baby wipes definitely should not be flushed, even wipes that state they are flushable can take longer to break down and can end up wreaking havoc on your plumbing system. The additional time it takes them to break apart can lead to clogs, sewer back-ups, city sewer issues, and can require you to pump your septic system more often. What may seem like a great invention to some, may not be as advantageous for your plumbing system or your bank account!

Don’t Leave For the Holidays Until You Do This!

admin — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 19:08:27 +0000

If you plan on going out of town for the holidays, remember to make sure you don’t turn off your heat before you go! Often people try to save a little money by turning off their heat when they leave, but this can cost you big bucks when your pipes freeze. Make sure your foundation vents are closed and your home is warm enough to keep your pipes from freezing, so water damage repair isn’t the first item on your to do list for the new year!

Protect Your Pipes This Holiday!

admin — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:10:00 +0000

The holidays are here along with all the delicious food we love to eat this time of year. Remember, that fat and grease that can clog your arteries can clog your home’s pipes as well. Watch how much fat and grease are going down your drains and save yourself from having to deal with a clogged pipe this holiday season!

Fall Plumbing Maintenance

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 17:26:28 +0000

The kids are back in school, and fall is in the air. As you put your outdoor furniture away and close down your yard, don’t forget to disconnect your garden hoses and inspect your hose bibs. Garden hoses can freeze and prevent your frost-free hose bib from fully draining. This can cause your hose bib to freeze and break. Inspect for drips as well and have any dripping hose bibs repaired before winter arrives. A broken hose bib can cause expensive damage to your interior floors and walls. A few minutes of maintenance can save you the headache of an easily preventable repair.