Plumbing Blog & News From Performance Plumbing

Does Your Tankless Water Heater Need Maintenance?

September 30th, 2019

The short answer to this is going to be “probably!” But we promise to elaborate.

When it comes to standard storage tank model water heaters, it’s clear why they need maintenance. They have several moving parts that work together to ensure the water that enters your home is safe for drinking, bathing in, cooking with, and cleaning with. There is one part in particular—the anode rod—that must be visually checked by a professional each year to ensure that the water heater isn’t about to fall victim to rust and corrosion.

But this is all because this type of water heater stores water, whereas a tankless system doesn’t. So does it really need maintenance? Well, if you have hard water in your community and/or your water heater is set to a high temperature, yes, yes it does.

Prepping Your Pipes for Winter (It’s Not Too Early!)

September 16th, 2019

Winters are no joke in Missouri, with temperatures dropping to frigid temperatures. So the question we have for you is, do you know how to prep your plumbing for the change in the weather? Sure, summer’s not even officially over quite yet, but when temperatures turn they do so quickly, and you’ll be grateful for taking precautionary steps with your plumbing.

The thing is, it’s very easy for your pipes to freeze in cold weather. Frozen pipes lead to burst pipes. Our team is here to help with any plumbing repair needs you have, even emergencies, but we’d like to help you avoid problems to begin with, if at all possible! One way we can do that is by alerting you to winter problems and how you can prevent cold weather from impacting your plumbing this year. Read on!

Plumbing Problem vs. Emergency

September 2nd, 2019

Reliable plumbing companies know that emergencies never happen a convenient time, and therefore are there for you when a plumbing problem just can’t wait. As much as we like, sudden leaks, clogs, or other problems don’t make themselves known during “regular business hours.” The plumbing system is integral to your home, and we understand you may not be able to just sit idly by until you can call and schedule an appointment.

But, when is a plumbing problem actually an emergency? When do you need to incur the cost of an emergency after-hours call? That’s a question that can really only be answered on a case-by-case basis, as it depends on the specific circumstances. For instance, a small leak in a single faucet—while over a long period of time will wastewater—isn’t much of a cause for concern. But water spreading across your kitchen floor with no way to shut off the source is a much different problem.

There are a few steps you can take though, to determine if you really do need to call for emergency services:

How to Choose the Right Water Heater (for Your Home)

August 19th, 2019

If we were to name an appliance you probably take the most for granted, what would it be? Assuming you got the hint in the title of this blog post, you know that it’s your water heater.

Water heaters are those systems that we all use every day, and we honestly don’t think much about them, until something goes wrong, that is. But choosing the right water heater for your specific home and needs can make a huge difference in efficiency, and therefore a difference in water bills.

Interested in learning more? Read on!

Signs You Have a Plumbing Problem

August 5th, 2019

Without access to the right professional equipment (and experience), it can be very difficult to detect a plumbing problem. After all, most of your plumbing system is hidden from sight, and the problems that usually impact it are subtle to start out with.

This is a big part of the reason we recommend you schedule preventive plumbing maintenance on an annual basis. But, even that doesn’t mean a problem can’t happen between maintenance sessions. Beware the symptoms we’ve listed below, and should you notice any of them in your home, be sure to give our plumbers a call right away.

Drain Cleaning: Are You Doing It Right?

July 22nd, 2019

The short answer to this is, if you’re using store-bought, chemical-based drain cleaners to relieve clogs, then no, you’re not doing it right.

Using these chemical “solutions” is no solution at all and can actually do more harm than good to the health of your plumbing system. Sure, it may solve the problem in the short term, however, it will only exacerbate the problems you’ll face later.

Read on to learn more about why you shouldn’t use store-bought chemical drain cleaners, and how to clean drains the right way.

Beware These Potential Tankless Water Heater Woes

July 8th, 2019

The tankless water heater has become a preferred choice for many homeowners today. They keep up with the demand of the majority of households in our area—so long as they are properly sized for your home. They also help you cut down on energy bills, and won’t “run out” of hot water in the way that standard storage tank water heaters do.

Another very big benefit of choosing a tankless system for your water heating needs is that they typically require far fewer repairs over their lifetime than storage tank water heaters. This doesn’t mean yours will never need any repairs, however. Any type of water heater can encounter operational issues that require the assistance of a professional to fix. We’ll take a look at some potential water heater malfunctions below.

How to Optimize Your Kitchen Design in a Remodel

June 24th, 2019

As we progress into summer, it’s a great time of the year to start on home remodeling projects. It’s important to remember, of course, that remodels take a lot of work, and some of this work may require the assistance of an experienced professional.

This is especially true when that remodel includes something like your kitchen, which in addition to beautiful cabinetry and new flooring you also have your plumbing to consider. And to address the title of this blog post, the best way to optimize your kitchen design in a remodel is with your plumbing! What do we mean? Read on!

Do You Detect a Plumbing Leak?

June 10th, 2019

::drip, drip, drip::

This is the sound of a rather obvious plumbing leak, probably coming from somewhere like your kitchen or bathroom sink. In the middle of the night, when you’re trying to sleep—but all you can concentrate on is that noise.

This is one of those cases where you clearly know you have a plumbing leak. There is no detection needed. You can call a plumber and ideally have it repaired right away as it’s likely a loose valve failing to shut off the water flow.

Not all plumbing leaks are so… “visible,” though. Given that the majority of your plumbing system is hidden behind walls or beneath the slab of your home’s foundation, you could actually be suffering from plumbing leaks you don’t even know about until it’s too late and you have an emergency on your hands.

How Hard Water Impacts Your Plumbing and Quality of Life

May 27th, 2019

You’ve likely heard of hard water before, but do you know what it is?

This is what occurs when there is a high level of minerals in your tap water—namely magnesium, calcium, and potentially iron as well. These minerals are not unhealthy to ingest, so that’s not a concern. However, they can definitely have a negative impact on your plumbing, and subsequently your quality of life!

With the right plumber in St. Charles, MO, we can assess your water treatment needs, whether it is installing a water softener or determining what other problems might exist with proper water quality testing. Since today we’re focusing on hard water, we’ve outlined below some of the signs you should watch out for that indicate your home is suffering from this issue.