Let’s face it, most of us know nothing about sewer line cleaning. If you are included in this group, don’t fret, your questions will be answered today in this follow up article to sewer line jetting. We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions regarding sewer lines. Here they are:
What exactly is a sewer line? What does it do?
Sewer lines are the system of plumbing pipes in each home. They move waste water from the home to the sewer mains. Each homeowner is responsible for sewer line pipe that connects the pipes in their home to the main sewer line, which is usually in a street. Because the pipes that connect their home are buried and out of sight, homeowners usually don’t have any clue to potential problems until it’s too late. And, when it’s too late it creates a very expensive job.
When should I clean my sewer line?
Generally, sewer lines should be cleaned as needed. But, it is important to note that neglected sewer lines can lead to a clogged system. A clog will eventually cause a backup of the line and raw sewage to spill into your home. A backup can cause a lot of damage and you will have to repair the sewer line or replace it. To prevent any issues, it’s important to have your sewer lines inspected by a professional about once a year.
When should my sewer line be inspected?
Your sewer line should be inspected if it’s over forty years old. But, this may need to be done sooner if any of the following factors apply to you:
You suspect tree roots may have penetrated your underground sewer lines
Mature trees add beauty and shade to landscapes, but their roots can cause extensive damage to sewer pipes. Roots grow into the pipes because they like it there! Sewer pipes contain water, nutrients and oxygen-the essential elements for trees to grow.
How can I tell if my sewer line is clogged?
Before a clogged sewer lines back up, it provides clues that alert the homeowner that something is wrong. In this way, it is possible to get help before disaster occurs. Some of these clues include:
A raw sewage smell coming from your drains
Your toilets and drains start to make gurgling/percolating sounds
Water pooling around or backing out of toilets or drains.
I’ve heard so much about high-pressure cleanings. What is it and how does it work?
One of the best ways to clean your sewer line is with with high-press water jetters. This method is more effective than a drain auger, also known as a snake or cable, because it cleans the lines instead of just removing blockages. In fact, when a high pressure cleaning is performed by an extensively trained plumbing professional, it will remove food, hair, mineral, deposits, grease, and other blockages.
How can I keep my lines clear and avoid plumbing problems?
You can keep your lines clear without using harsh chemical-based drain cleaners. Simply, fill your sinks with water once or twice a month and drain them. The water pressure will remove any waste that’s in the line and will make sure that water can flow through your pipes properly.
Important Considerations
If you decide to get your sewers cleaned professionally, call two companies, at the very least, to help you find the best deal for your needs. Also, do a little bit of research to make sure that the plumber that you hire is insured, has a good reputation, and has the proper license to work in your area. And, if you have any questions, we are here to help. Just give us a call.
Great customers are taking the time to actually send us emails praising our service. These are customers that make an extra effort and take time out of their busy schedules to write us a personal email thanking us for our professionalism.
Here’s one from Patrick in early July:
“My name is Patrick and I just had to let the supervisor of Ms. Heather know that she was very, very, very professional and kind!!!… when she came to fix my air conditioner unit on July 9 in Clinton, MD. Keep up the Excellent work Ms. Heather. YOU GO GIRLLLLLLL.”
Check out this email we received from Demetrice in Upper Marlboro on July 21:
“I am reaching out to you to inform you that the HVAC service I received on Saturday from Heather was wonderful. From the beginning to the end she showed impeccable ability and professionalism. She quickly assessed our problem and got to work restoring our Air Conditioning to our home. My husband and I were very pleased.
Thank you for the wonderful experience; and if we need our unit serviced again in the future, we know exactly whom to call.”
Marvin in Upper Marlboro also took the time from his busy schedule to send us this awesome email review in late July praising our service:
“I am writing to recognize your HVAC technician Heather for her hard work and diligence in resolving my problem with my HVAC system. After making arrangements with my warranty company to initiate service with your company, Heather was called in to make it her number one priority to solve our problems. She listened when I knew I wasn’t making any sense explaining my problems. She was patient and actually tried different configurations with the system when previous technicians basically looked at it, and said there was nothing they could do.
My family thanks her for her outstanding service and to you for hiring her to represent your company.”
This great email review was received from Dave and Nancy in Leonardtown, MD on 5 August:
“Good morning Stephanie (our super customer service rep). All is well at the moment! Just to let you know that the new Pump-Motor & Holding Tank and associated plumbing installed on 23 July has been working fine and keep up with water demands since we had the new 20 Amp circuit breaker installed on 30 July. The breaker is no longer tripping. We sincerely appreciate everything Jerry’s Plumbing and Heating has done to help us out with this problem. Your Senior Technician, Doug, did and absolutely outstanding job throughout the entire and check-out the pump system. He stood by us all the way until the system was working properly. We will call on your technical assistance for our future plumbing problems. And, we will highly recommend Jerry’s to our neighbors and friends.
Appreciate all your help with this problem.”
Here’s another fantastic review from Bobby C in Waldorf, MD.
“Good morning. I like to express my extreme pleasure with the service I received from Heather. Her professionalism, enthusiasm and love for her job was unlike anyone I have ever seen. Totally impressed! I will definitely recommend Heather/Jerrys to all my family and friends should they require your services. She should be promoted!!!
Warm Regards,
Bobbie”
Our management team recognizes the accomplishment of all our techs, but there is no better recognition then those received from our satisfied customers praising our service. And, for that we thank all our customers!
When your old hot water heater stops working, you will either need to repair or replace it. However, with hot water heater technology evolving at such a rapid rate, it can be hard to pinpoint which option is best for you. The information below discusses three of the most popular high tech hot water heaters to help you find the right balance between efficiency and performance for your particular home.
Tankless Hot Water Heater (see picture above left).
Like the name suggests, these water heaters do not contain a water storage tank. Instead of keeping 40 or 50 gallons of heated water in a reservoir 24 hours a day (which is a waste of energy and a drain on your utility bill) a tank-less unit heats the water as you need it.
Pros:
Never run out of hot water
Saves about 30-50% in energy costs, when compared to conventional gas heaters
Takes up less space
Cons:
Takes about 3-8 seconds to heat the water to the desired temperature
Not easy to install
Must be flushed with special chemicals every year to maintain energy efficiency and remove scale
Hybrid Electric Heat-pump Hot Water Heater
This type of hot water heater works by pulling heat out of the surrounding air and pumping it into the storage pump. It has conventional heating coils but, they only activate when the heat pump cannot sufficiently warm the water by itself.
Pros:
Lowest operating cost of any electric water heater on the market, especially if you live in a warm climate and it is installed in your hot garage or attic
Potential tax incentives and/or rebates (check with your state and electricity provider)
Cons:
Costly price tag
Takes up a lot of space
Air filter must be cleaned on a regular basis to maintain operating efficiency
Condensing Gas Hot Water Heater
Instead of wasting energy by sending hot exhaust gases out of the flue, a condensing gas hot water heater blows them through the coil at the bottom of the fan to heat the water to the desired temperatures.
Pros:
Most energy-efficient, gas powered water heater on the market
High first hour recovery rate virtually guarantees that you’ll never run out of hot water
Cons
Expensive price tag
Require venting and gas line reconfiguration
Important Considerations
Regardless of the model that you choose, there are a couple of ratings that you must check before you buy your new heater:
Energy factor (EF): Indicates how efficient the unit is; the higher the number the more efficient the heater.
First hour recovery: This is for storage tank heaters and indicates the amount of hot water that you will get within the first hour after opening the spigot.
Flow rate: This is for tank-less heaters, that use incoming winter water temperatures to provide the flow rate that you want.
Before you put down a ton of money for a new high tech hot water heater, it is important that you take some time to understand the pros and cons of each. To learn more about hot water heaters, see 5 Facts About Hot Water Heaters. The information above will help you narrow down your options so that you make the right investment for your needs. However, even though all the new models are more energy efficient, that doesn’t mean you’ll find them the most cost effective for your family. Plus, we are always ready to answer your questions and provide you with the facts you need to make an educated decision to meet your particular needs.
Without hot water heaters, we would all have to heat water on the stoves to have hot baths; a tedious and time consuming chore, and not a very pleasant thought.
Thankfully, in this day and age, there are appliances that provide us with readily available hot water with just the turn of a faucet. After a trying day, a hot bath may be all that you need to wash the stress away. While many of us appreciate the feeling we get when we take a hot shower, most of us hardly ever think of how this luxury is provided.
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Types of Hot Water Heaters
Most hot water heaters consist of a drum-shaped tank with a stand on the end but, there are tankless versions as well. The tanks hold a reservoir of hot water so that when the faucet is turned on, the hot water is available to meet your needs. Because of their large size and general aesthetic reasons, the heater’s tank is usually kept out of sight, in the laundry, basement, or a special cupboard.
There are three main types of hot water heaters:
Electric Heaters: Electric heaters are powered by electricity and use a thermostat to help them maintain a comfortable temperature. If the water temperature happens to fall below the preset level, the electric current will raise it to the desired level. These tanks tend to be about 93% efficient; the highest among heater models. (See diagram above)
Gas heaters: Gas heaters operate under similar principles as their electric counterparts. The main difference being that, as the name suggests, they utilize gas for energy. Their level of energy efficiency is largely dependent on their age and size. For instance, models made before 1990 tend to be anywhere from 45% 61% energy efficient. Newer models tend to be at least 62% energy efficient.
Tankless water heaters: As the name suggests, these heaters work without the benefit of a water reservoir; instead they heat the water as needed. They are available in both electric and gas models and are typically about 82% energy efficient.
5 Little Known Facts About Hot Water Heaters
Hot water heaters are essential to your total home comfort. However, there is much that we don’t know about them. Take a look at the following 5 facts
Approximately 25% of the energy is used in your home is used to heat your water. Because they use such a large amount of energy, it is important that you purchase a unit that is energy efficient.
Most of your hot water usage comes from doing laundry and taking baths.
The typical hot water heater with a tank lasts anywhere from 10 to 13 years.
Tank water heaters should be drained and filled every 3 months so that they remain in optimum working condition.
Tankless water heaters don’t provide instant hot water when the faucet is turned on.
The Bottom Line on Hot Water Heaters
The hot water heater is an essential appliance for every home. Regardless if you are buying your first water heater or your fourth, knowing the facts about water heaters will help you make an informed decision.
A water powered sump pump back-up offers you a low cost solution to basement flooding problems.
A water powered sump pump is commonly used to supplement a primary, electric powered sump pump in your home. This article describes its many advantages.
It’s that time of year in Southern Maryland. Spring is coming and that means the frozen ground supporting our homes is going to thaw. And, when it thaws, that frozen water is going to become drain water. Depending on your home construction and drainage, a lot of that water is going to drain below your home and cause additional pressure or workload on your sump pump.
Here’s the problem! A lot of our customers have sump pumps. Obviously, that’s not the problem. The problem is that their primary sump pump works on electricity. So, without electricity, their sump pump simply fails to do that critical job of protecting their home against damaging water . Consequently, when their electricity stops, which is rather common during a major storm, their sump pump stops working and water just pours into their finished or unfinished basements.
This is when the hassle really begins. You can pump out or soak up the water yourself if you have the right equipment. You can file insurance claims and potentially face higher insurance costs. And, you can miss work to handle your misfortune that you could have avoided.
We have found a great way to solve these problems that our customers face in Southern Maryland and do it at a comparatively lost cost to other solutions.
If you already rely on a sump pump to protect your home against water damage, then consider installing a backup. There are two types of back up sump pumps; battery and water powered. Battery backup pumps require annual maintenance and have a limited battery capacity. And, if the water is persistent enough, the battery will eventually die. By the time you re-charge it, you could have a serious basement flood. On the other hand, a water powered sump pump will operate for as long as they need, provided you simply maintain your connection with your municipal water supply.
We highly recommend you consider a water powered sump pump as a back up for your electric powered sump. They do not require maintenance or a power source. All they need is a municipal water connection. However, they do not work well with wells. So, if you have a well and do not use municipal water, a water powered sump pump is probably not your best choice. If that’s the case, you are probably better off using a battery back-up sump pump. A water powered sump pump is only used as an emergency to back up to your existing electric powered sump pump. And, they do not use any water except in an emergency. Water powered backup pumps are much simpler than battery powered backup pumps, and since they require essentially no maintenance, there is less to go wrong.
7 Advantages of a Water Powered Sump Pump Back Up:
1. Takes over seamlessly when your primary sump system fails.
2. No electricity required.
3. Works during power failures
4. No battery to charge.
5. On guard 24 hours a day
6. Helps eliminate flooding in basements
7. Can be used with any existing brand of sump pump
So, if your home is threatened by water, now’s the perfect time to call us for help in shoring up your defenses with new or replacement sump pumps, expertly installed and repaired by the our plumbing professionals. In particular, a water powered sump pump provides an easy, cost-effective, no hassle and worry free back-up solution.
To learn more or to schedule installation,contact us.
Summer is winding down. However, we can still expect some hot days. The continued heat means you’re bathing more, watering plants, watering the grass, washing your cars and making lots of cold beverages.
The purpose of this article is to provide some easy ideas to help you reduce your water bill by following these simple tips, as we move forward to the Fall and Winter months.
Check all your faucets for leaks. A month of drips can add up to anywhere from 200-250 gallons of waste water. Also, be sure to check your toilet.
The Environmental Protection Agency suggests putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank and waiting 15 minutes before flushing. If any food coloring appears in the bowl before flushing, you have a leak.
If you decide to buy a new toilet, look for one with the EPA WaterSense label. They use at least 20% less water than a standard toilet. This could save a family of four hundreds of dollars per year in reduced water utility bills.
The EPA reports showering saves significant amounts of water. A bath tub can use 30 gallons or more, depending on the water depth. If you DO soak in the tub, use the bath water on your plants.
Try to limit your showers to 5 minutes or less. Also, consider a water-efficient showerhead to reduce your water bill even more.
3. Go Easy on the Dishwasher to Save Money
Run the dishwasher only when it’s fully loaded and use the economy setting. Newer models run on different cycles, so check your manufacturer’s recommendations for the most efficient setting.
Also, scrape dishes rather than rinsing them before placing them in the dishwasher.
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Air Conditioning Needs (240) 530-0458
The EPA estimates that more than 50 percent of landscape water is lost due to evaporation, wind, or over-watering.
4. Garbage Disposals can Mean Money Down the Drain
Garbage Disposals can use as much as 4 gallons of water per minute! Consider disposing of food waste by composting or by wrapping it and placing it in the trash.
5. Conserve on Outdoor Water Use
It’s okay to let the soil dry out between waterings. Water your vegetables and annuals as soon as they start to wilt. Perennials are tougher and only need water when they get droopy.
Water during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation. The EPA estimates that more than 50 percent of landscape water is lost due to evaporation, wind, or overwatering. If you water during the hot and humid part of day, as much as 30 percent of the water will be lost to evaporation alone.
Make sure your sprinkler is only watering plants and grass, not your sidewalk. Check hoses for leaks, and collect rainwater in barrels to water plants. The EPA suggests using soaker hoses because they use less water than sprinklers.
Another great idea is to use that water you might have sitting in the kids’ swimming pools. This is the water that you may have accumulated via rain, not the filtered chlorinated water associated with built in swimming pools.
Call Us for All your Plumbing, Heating and
Air Conditioning Needs (240) 530-0458
In summary, using these simple tips will help you reduce your water bill. And, keep your eyes posted for other simple techniques.
I saw a commercial on television that was both funny and informative. During a nice rainfall, a very intuitive family was using this as an opportunity to wash their cars. So, look for other ways to use this free water to help you save on your water bills.
As always, give us a call if you need help with any leaks you might have around your house or if you need any toilets replaced. We always recommend that when you call us, have one of our technicians fix as many little problems that you may have on one service call. This will also save you money!
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Sewer lines are the system of plumbing pipes in each home. They move waste water from the home to the sewer mains. Each homeowner is responsible for sewer line pipe that connects the pipes in their home to the main sewer line, which is usually in a street. Because the pipes that connect their home are buried and out of sight, homeowners usually don’t have any clue to potential problems until it’s too late. And, when it’s too late it creates a very expensive job.
