Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

Is Your Sump Pump Working Properly?

Monday, August 24th, 2020

sump-pump-in-basementIf you have a basement and live around Scotch Plains, then having a sump pump system is essential. Sump pumps are tasked with preventing water damage due to flooding and automatically go to work as excess water is collected in the sump. The water is then pumped out to either a wastewater system or a well.

You might not think that you need such a preventive device, but with the rainy season here it’s vital that you have this system professionally installed and serviced, and that you test it every quarter or so to make sure it’s still in good shape and functioning as it should. How do you do this? Read on!

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Keep Your Lawn Green This Summer: Here’s How

Monday, July 27th, 2020

sprinkler-systemDid you know that even the smallest leak can lead to gallons of wasted water each year? Not only is this environmentally-unfriendly, but it means you’re paying for water that you’re not even benefiting from. One culprit of water leaks is lawn faucets, otherwise known as outdoor faucets. And unfortunately, the annoying side effect of this is a patchy or brown lawn, since lawn faucets and sprinklers can’t do their job if they’re leaking!

What causes these leaks? Oftentimes it’s leftover damage from winter–your pipes may have froze, and as those frozen pipes thaw it creates pressure inside your plumbing system, which can lead to cracked and even burst pipes. If you’ve noticed your lawn faucets and sprinklers aren’t quite doing their job this year, or if you’re chalking up your brown yard to the high summer temperatures, it’s time to consider if you have a leak. How can you check for this? Read on! 

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Watch Out for These 4 Mistakes When Remodeling Your Bathroom

Monday, June 29th, 2020

father-washing-infant-son-in-tubMaking the decision to remodel the bathroom or bathrooms of your home can be really exciting, but also really frustrating and stressful. Of course you long to have a beautiful new space in your home, but things can happened that were totally unplanned.

Of course, one way to reduce the risk of mishaps is to hire a professional plumber to help with the process. This can save you both time and money—sure, a DIY project may seem cheaper, but if you make the mistakes we’re about to outline, then ultimately you could wind up paying more than you planned to.

For a functional and comfortable bathroom, you need the right contractor on your side, to help avoid these 4 common mistake when doing a bathroom remodel:

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Should You Hire a Pro for Your Commercial Plumbing Needs?

Monday, June 15th, 2020

commercial-building-bathroomOf all the things you think about in terms of running your business or managing your commercial space, we’re going to assume that the building’s plumbing is not at the top of your list. However, it would likely cause considerable problems if your commercial plumbing stopped working correctly, right?

And unlike residential plumbing systems, which just cause a temporary inconvenience when in disrepair, a malfunctioning commercial plumbing system could mean lost business and costly repairs. Of course, there is a way to keep your commercial plumbing in good shape and reduce the risk of running into unexpected commercial plumbing repair needs. What’s the secret?

Hiring a professional to perform commercial plumbing maintenance. Read on to learn more!

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What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency

Monday, May 4th, 2020

pipe-with-leakThere are many times where a plumbing problem simply cannot wait for “normal business hours,” and in those cases, you need to be able to get in touch with a plumber right away.

But, do you really know what constitutes as a plumbing emergency? When should you really bite the bullet and call for emergency plumbing services, and is it worth incurring an additional cost? For the most part, that’s a question that only you as an individual can answer, and it’s also dependent on the exact scenario. For instance, a small leak in a single faucet isn’t likely a huge cause for concern, but if there is water spreading across your kitchen floor, that’s a different situation entirely. What should you do if that’s the case? We’ll get to that in a moment…

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Do You Need Professional Drain Cleaning?

Monday, January 27th, 2020

plumber-cleaning-drain-with-drain-snakeThe holidays may be over but they could still have their lingering effects, and no, we don’t mean on your credit card bill.

We’re talking about your plumbing! If you hosted any big meals this past holiday season, you likely made a lot of use of your kitchen sink and garbage disposal system. As such, you may have a buildup of FOG (fats, oils, and grease) and other food items.

Kitchens aren’t the only victim of the holidays, either, when it comes to your plumbing system. Visiting guests means excessive use of your bathrooms as well, where clogs are just as likely.

But how do you know if you need professional drain cleaning? Read on as we uncover some of the signs.

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Frozen Pipes: What to Do to Prevent and Treat Them

Monday, December 30th, 2019

frozen-pipe-with-iciclesWe won’t go as far as saying frozen pipes are inevitable, but if you don’t take the proper steps to prevent against them then they may very well be inevitable. Unfortunately, they can cause quite a bit of damage if they’re not dealt with the right way. This is because as the water in the pipes thaw, a negative pressure buildup occurs, putting pressure on the walls of the pipe and leading to cracks or even burst pipes.

To protect your plumbing from freezing in this way, there are a few steps you can follow. Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to prevent this in the first place, and be sure to contact our team if you do wind up with damaged plumbing.

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How to Test Your Sump Pump

Monday, November 18th, 2019

sump-pump-systemCan you believe that in some parts of the country, people have no idea what a sump pump even is? You practically have to know here—if your home is ever in a position that flooding is likely, the sump pump will be what saves your property, and your wallet.

There’s no denying that an expertly installed and well-maintained sump pump is necessary for our homes, and with winter coming, we are approaching the time of the year where they’re often needed. Is your sump pump ready to work if needed?

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This Holiday Season, Care for Your Kitchen Plumbing the Right Way

Monday, November 4th, 2019

plumber-working-on-kitchen-sink-faucetCan you believe that the holiday season is right around the corner? There are so many things for you to start thinking about as November begins—will you be taking any vacations? Did you have your heater maintained yet so it’s ready to get you through the chilly temperatures? Are you hosting Thanksgiving or any other holiday parties this year?

This last one is what we’re going to talk about today. Hosting holiday parties can be a whole lot of fun, but they can also be a whole lot of trouble if you aren’t properly prepared. Part of that preparation is ensuring you avoid certain plumbing problems that are pretty common this time of the year. Keep reading to learn more.

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Store-Bought Drain Cleaning Solutions Cost More Than You Think

Monday, July 15th, 2019

animated-drain-with-arrows-showing-direction-of-water-flow“Wait, what?” you might be wondering. Store-bought chemical drain cleaners cost nothing at all! That’s why you buy them in the first place—they’re affordable and easy solutions to drain clogs, right?

Well, sure… but we’re talking about a different kind of cost. The cost of using these cheap alternatives to professional drain cleaning is much higher than you might realize, by way of plumbing repairs and potentially even whole-home repiping if you use them for too long.

Did this get your attention? Read on!

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