When you notice that a single drain is clearing more slowly than normal, it is time to take action and not wait for the situation to get worse. But that is not what most homeowners do. They might have good intentions, but a slow drain does not get the attention it needs to avoid becoming a clogged drain. And once that happens, a bottle of drain cleaner from the big box store is not going to be a viable solution. In fact, the harsh chemicals can actually cause damage to the pipes rather than removing the clog. The real solution to any tough clog is to call a professional plumber. 

The Small Artillery

If your plumber finds that the clog in your sink drain is right at the trap, the U shaped pipe under the sink, it is often easiest to just disassemble the pipe and remove the clog. But if the clog is a little further away, a plunger, snake, or hand auger are going to be the tools used to eliminate the clog. All of these tools are used to break up the clog and then water is used to flush the particles out to the main city sewer line. 

Continue reading “How Plumbers Safely Remove Tough Clogs” »

When you are in need of a new water heater for your home, it is very likely that you will be asked if you are interested in converting from the traditional style of water heater with a holding tank to a tankless water heater. These units are also sometimes referred to as on-demand systems because they only heat water when there is an immediate demand. But even knowing the basic premise of the newer tankless systems, many homeowners are asking what are the advantages of going tankless? And the simple answer is that there are several advantages that you might not initially think of. 

Life Expectancy

The average traditional water heater is expected to function for somewhere in the 8 to 12-year range. But that assumes that the owner is providing proper maintenance, including draining the tank each year to eliminate rust and build up. The on-demand style water heaters, on the other hand, offer a life expectancy in excess of 20 years. And it is also important to know that the two-decade mark can be extended with modest repairs as the parts on most tankless models are very easy to access and replace. 

Continue reading “What Is So Great About Tankless Water Heaters?” »

When you think about what goes down the drains in your home, the dirt that you wash off, the food particles, and debris in the kitchen sink, and last but not least the waste in your toilets, it’s not hard to imagine how filthy drain pipes can become. And while you never need to see them or handle them, they can begin to fill your home with a foul odor. But the worst by far is when a drain pipe becomes clogged, and that nasty waste backs up into your home. This is not only an expensive issue, but it also can have health implications due to the germs and bacteria in the waste. So how can a drain cleaning fix this issue? 

How Professional Drain Cleaning Really Works

The key to understanding this next paragraph is that we are only referring to a professional drain cleaning done with professional grade equipment such as a hydro-jet. We are not talking about a jug of noxious chemicals that you get at the store and dump into your drain. That might eat through the clog, but it is just a likely to eat through your pipes as well. So forget about a DIY bottle of “drain cleaner”. Professionally trained plumbers use a high-pressure nozzle on a flexible tube that they can insert into your drains to clean them. There are no chemicals used, it is just the pressure of clean water that breaks up clogs that are beginning to form, and removes all of the oily or greasy residue that is sticking to the inside of the pipes. The water then flushes all of the debris away to the city sewer line. 

Continue reading “Do Regular Drain Cleanings Really Save You Money?” »

Many homes in Texas have natural gas service for heating and cooking. And as a precaution, every homeowner who has a natural gas line should schedule regular gas line inspections with a licensed plumber. At Flow Plumbing, our customer’s safety is our number one concern and for that reason, we offer very affordable gas line inspections as well as same day service for all gas line emergencies. If you believe that you have a leak in the gas line in your home, evacuate your home immediately and then call Flow Plumbing at 214-388-8838 to schedule an emergency gas line inspection.

Continue reading “Important Information About Gas Line Repairs” »

Over time everything ages and sewer line pipes are no exception. The pipes can crack, become crushed by tree roots or settle to leave cracks or gaps between the sections of pipe. And when that happens, sewage can begin leaking into your yard or even worse, into your home. At the first sign of an issue with your sewer pipes, it is important that you call Flow Plumbing at 214-388-8838 or email us at service@flowplumbing.com to schedule an appointment. We use the latest technology to locate and repair sewer issues so that we can avoid digging up your property.

Continue reading “Did You Know About Trenchless Sewer Line Repairs?” »

You have a plumbing leak. Most property owners live in fear of hearing these 5 simple words when they are spoken by a plumber. Their first mental image is of heavy equipment tearing through your yard, mounds of dirt and a rather sizable bill when the destruction is completed and the elusive leak is finally located and repaired. But that is not what Metroplex Leak and Line Locators customers face when they are told that there is a leak on their property. Instead, a Metroplex technician will turn to technology to locate the issue rather than a shovel.

Continue reading “How A Plumbing Camera Inspection Can Save You Money” »

Everyone has experienced a drain that is clearing slower than it had in the past. And most homeowners will ignore this minor inconvenience until it becomes a major problem. However, at that point, pouring a bottle of drain cleaner down the sink is not likely to solve the problem. And in some cases, the harsh chemicals could actually cause additional damage to your plumbing pipes. The best solution for a slow drain or one that is clearly clogged is to call Flow Plumbing at 214-388-8838 to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed plumbers.

Continue reading “All You Need To Know About Clogged Drain Cleaning” »

Of all the innovations we’ve had in urban development and plumbing specifically, it’s kind of surprising that toilets still work the same way they always have. You begin by pushing down the flushing handle (or button) to allow water to fill the toilets tank. From there the water level rises, lifting the float, which in turn shuts off the water supply once a certain level is reached. When the handle returns to it’s original position a lever that is connected to the handle opens the flapper that is contained within the toilets tank. The opening of the flapper reveals a hole that leads to the bowl that allows for the “flush” to occur.

Since this process has remained relatively the same over the years, when we receive calls from customers experiencing issues with their toilets, it usually takes us all of a few minutes to figure out what is going on. The most common issue we hear about is the ever-so-annoying running toilet.  Below we have outlined 6 common causes of running toilets so you can troubleshoot like a pro!

Continue reading “6 Quick & Easy Running Toilet Fixes” »

In the era of DIY reality shows, YouTube instructional videos, and the boom in online content being provided by professional contractors it’s no wonder as to why there are so many handy-homeowners tackling repair work on their own. Although you may be amongst the group of handy land owners it is important to understand that some projects are better left to professionals. This is usually true when it comeas to most plumbing work. Sure, you can use a plunger or snake to clear stubborn clogs from a drain line or pop the lid off of the toilet tank to stop that running noise, but some tasks require special skills training that you just get from in front of the screen.

From proper training to specalized tools access, sometimes calling in a professional plumber is exactly what is needed to ensure your homes small plumbing problem doesn’t turn into a big one! Below is a list of the 4 most common plumbing issues that should be handled by a state licensed plumbing contractor.

Continue reading “4 Plumbing Issues Only The Pros Should Tackle” »

There are few things more relaxing that a nice, warm shower to end a long and stressful day. So if you imagine stepping into a should-be hot shower only to be sprayed with cold water, you can see how frustrating it could be. When hot water ceases to flow from the taps in your home, it is likely due to an issue with your hot water heater. In today’s post we are covering some maintenance tips to keep your home’s hot water heater functioning perfectly all year-round.

Continue reading “Aunnual Water Heater Maintenance Tips” »