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

What to Do When You Have a Plumbing Emergency

Monday, July 1st, 2019

worried-homeowner-mopping-up-water-from-floorWe’re sure you’d agree that no plumbing problem happens at a convenient time—so to you, any plumbing problem may seem like an emergency. So, you want to work with a plumber that offers emergency services!

Fortunately, you can call us when you do have an emergency—we’re here for your plumbing needs whenever you need them. Sure there are some instances in which your plumbing problem isn’t actually an emergency, but for times of crisis, we’re here.

But what do you do while you wait for your plumber to get to your home? Surely you shouldn’t just sit there and watch water cascade through your kitchen or seep through your carpet in the case of a slab leak. Read on for what you should do when you’re facing a plumbing emergency.

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Common Plumbing Mistakes: Are You Wasting Water?

Monday, June 3rd, 2019

white-pipe-with-blue-cloth-tied-around-leakWasted water—it’s not something many homeowners give a lot of thought to. But what if we told you that you may be spending considerably more than you should have to on your utility bills because of that wasted water? Then would you want to change your water use habits?

The good news is, you probably don’t need to change your day-to-day habits much to make a significant difference. The even better news is that we have some solutions available for you that are guaranteed to help in this water-saving and subsequently money-saving endeavor.

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How Do You Test a Sump Pump?

Monday, April 22nd, 2019

sump-pump-installed-in-basementSump pumps are a staple device in many homes across the country, but especially in our area. They help prevent water damage due to flowing from storms and plumbing mishaps, and go to work automatically, as they gather excess water in a pit (the sump) and then pump it out into either the wastewater system or a well.

People often don’t think of massive home flooding as an issue, until it happens to them. Sump pumps absolutely have their place and your crawlspace and your basement can suffer from severe flooding that a simple drainage system won’t be able to handle. Water in your basement can result in severe property damage such as rotting wood and so on. It also raises the humidity in your home and promotes the development of mold and mildew, If you don’t already have a sump pump in place, we absolutely recommend having one installed.

If you do already have a sump pump in place, we encourage you to test it this spring to ensure it’s ready for whatever the next few months might bring weather-wise.

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How Can Video Pipe Inspection Save Your Sewer Lines?

Monday, April 8th, 2019

plumber-looking-at-screen-using-video-pipe-inspectionLet’s talk about your sewer lines. This is one of the most important parts of modern plumbing, and yet not a lot of homeowners think about it very much. We wouldn’t really expect you to, to be honest. However, never thinking about your sewer lines put you at risk of problems you may never think about either.

There’s a part of routine plumbing maintenance that’s become more popular in recent years, and that is video pipe inspection. Video pipe inspection involves the use of a video camera to inspect your pipes, and then we take the appropriate measures afterward to determine what can be done to resolve any problems we may find. Ultimately, a professional video pipe inspection could save your sewer lines, and save you a major headache. But how?

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Why You Should Only Trust a Pro for Your Drain Cleaning Needs

Monday, March 11th, 2019

plumber-using-drain-snakeDrain clogs are one of those unfortunate things that just about every homeowner has to deal with at some point. But they are also one of those drain issues that most people deal with incorrectly. When a drain clog forms in the average home, it is instinct to reach for some type of store-bought drain cleaning solution to manage the problem. This is actually not a great way to deal with it, which we’ll get into more below.

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Is Your Sump Pump in Good Working Order?

Monday, December 17th, 2018

A sump pump installed in a basement of a home with a water powered backup system.Or rather, is it ready for winter? Sump pumps aren’t something that other parts of the country need—they don’t have the potential for flooding due to heavy rains and snowmelt like we do. Your sump pump is vital to your home during this time of the year—being able to pump water out of your basement or crawlspace as needed.

First off, we have to say that if you do need any service work done on your sump pump, it’s important to trust the work to a professional plumber in Chatham. Attempting the job on your own could do more harm than good, and leave you with an ineffective sump pump. However, there are some steps to take to ensure your sump pump is in good working order for the change in seasons.

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The Time to Prevent Frozen Pipes Is Now

Monday, November 5th, 2018

Icicles hanging from a brown pipe. Frozen water and metal surface, winter time concept. selective focus shallow depth of field photoIt pretty much goes without saying that it gets pretty cold here in our area! As a result, frozen pipes are certainly a threat. While we don’t have to worry about them quite yet, the time to prepare for them and avoid this problem in the winter is now. Frozen pipes lead to other issues, such as burst pipes and subsequent damage, which we assume you’d like to avoid!

And remember, if you run into this problem in the coming months, or any other type of plumbing emergency, you should call a professional plumber in Union, NJ, versus trying to fix it on your own or hiring a general handyman. The plumbers on our team have extensive experience and you can rest assured that when we are on the job, the job will be done right!

So, what exactly can you do to prevent this problem? Read on!

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Plumbing Emergency? Here’s What to Do

Monday, July 16th, 2018

woman with rubber gloves on looking at leak under bathroom sinkWe probably don’t have to tell you how integral to the functionality of your home your plumbing system is. Still though, even though you know this, you probably don’t think about this home component very much—that is, until something goes wrong. The fact of the matter is, things like leaks, clogs, and other plumbing issues very rarely happen at a “convenient” time, and when they do occur you may very well need the assistance of a professional Kenilworth emergency plumber.

But how do you know what constitutes an emergency? When does a problem need to be addressed right away and when can it wait? This, of course, is dependent on your specific situation. For instance, if you have a drip coming from a faucet in the home, you’re not going to be concerned, but if water is gushing out of a burst pipe on your kitchen floor, then you have an entirely different scenario on your hands. So, what do you do?

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Why Liquid Drain Cleaning Solutions Are No Solution

Monday, July 2nd, 2018

Plumber unclogging a tub drain with an electric auger.Drain clogs. They’re one of those unfortunate parts of being a homeowner, no matter where you live.

Drain clogs are also one of those things that most homeowners deal with incorrectly.

What we mean is that many people believe that all they need for a good drain cleaning in Scotch Plains is a bottle of store-bought, liquid drain cleaning solution. But we couldn’t think of a worse way to deal with this particular plumbing problem.

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How NOT to Save Money on Plumbing

Monday, May 7th, 2018

white pipe with blue cloth tied around itWhen you have a major plumbing problem, you need help fast. Most plumbing issues come as a surprise, and chances are you don’t want to spend a lot of money to manage this one. Fortunately, you know someone who knows someone who is a handyman! They can do things like fix loose mounts, hang shelves, and unclog a sink with a plunger. He doesn’t have any formal training, but that’s okay, right?

Well, if you don’t want to save money on your plumbing repairs, then sure, that’s just fine. Read on to learn about the difference between most “handymen” and professional plumbers in Chatham, NJ. Be sure to call our team when you want us to prove to you the invaluable experience of highly trained and experienced plumbing contractors.

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