Performance Plumbing Blog: Posts Tagged ‘St. Louis’

Have You Noticed These Signs of Hard Water?

Monday, April 26th, 2021

two-techs-working-on-outdoor-ac-unitYou may have heard the term hard water at some point, yet not really understood exactly what it was. That’s okay, we’re here to help! Hard water isn’t something that’s harmful to you or your family, so let’s get that out of the way. It simply describes water with a high level of minerals in it—namely magnesium, calcium, and iron.

While these minerals aren’t harmful for you, they can certainly be a threat to your quality of life through your plumbing system. The minerals turn into deposits, clinging to the lining of your pipes and leading to problems like leaks, blockages, and corrosion. Ultimately hard water can end up being a pretty costly issue—so how do you know if your home has this problem? Read on to learn some of the signs.

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How to Avoid Troublesome Drain Problems

Monday, April 12th, 2021

sink-drain-with-water-flowing-downIf we asked you what the #1 most common and annoying plumbing problem is, what would your answer be? Our answer would be a drain clog—that’s what we hear from most of our customers. Just about everyone has dealt with a clogged up or slow drain at some point in their home—and we certainly deal with a lot of drain clogs in the homes we serve.

We’d like to help you avoid this! If we could help you have as few plumbing problems as possible, then we’ve done our job right. Read on as we uncover some of the preventive steps you can start taking today.

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Ominous Signs of Sewer Line Trouble

Monday, February 1st, 2021

tree-root-in-pipeIf we were to ask you what the most important part of your plumbing system is, what would your answer be? If it’s “my sewer line,” we’d be inclined to agree! After all, it has a big job of removing wastewater from your home and moving it into the municipal sewer system, safely and hygienically away from your home. Sewer lines are typically buried beneath the ground, in the back or front yard, where they’re safe from damage due to inclement weather or wear and tear.

That doesn’t mean they’re indestructible, however. Landscaping like trees and shrubs can grow roots that infiltrate the line, for example. A shift in the soil can create instability and cause your pipes to shift and break, as well.

If any of this does happen, all you have to do is give our team a call! But first, you’d need to know you even have a problem. Keep reading as we go over some of the most common signs of sewer line leaks.

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What’s Wrong with Store Bought Drain Cleaning Solutions?

Monday, January 18th, 2021

If you’re like many homeowners, when you discover that you have a clog, your first instinct is probably to reach for that bottle of chemical, store-bought drain cleaning “solution” that you got at the grocery store.

The problem with this is… you’re probably doing more harm than good.

That’s right, these chemical solutions can actually hurt your drains and the rest of your plumbing system. While they may temporarily clear out the affected pipe, they do so at a considerable cost—one that most homeowners don’t realize they’re paying.

Read on to learn more about what you’re doing to your plumbing system when you use store-bought remedies and what you can do instead.

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Should You Upgrade to a Higher Efficiency Water Heater?

Monday, January 4th, 2021

pipes-and-water-heater-tankYour water heater is probably the most underrated appliance in your home. Think about it—you use it every day, but do you really think about it every day? Chances are, the answer to that is no. That is, no, until something goes wrong with it.

The fact of the matter is, no water heater lasts forever. But the good news is, if yours is getting ready to fail, upgrading to a new, higher efficiency model is only going to benefit you! Today’s water heaters are much more efficient than those of even 5-10 years ago, which means that when you replace yours, you’ll start saving energy and subsequently start saving money each month.

But, how do you know it’s actually time to replace this system? Many homeowners, after all, wait until it’s too late to upgrade theirs—meaning their water heater completely breaks down and they’re left without hot water for days. This doesn’t have to be your story! Read on as we uncover the signs that it’s time for you to make the upgrade.

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How You Can Boost Water Heater Efficiency

Monday, December 21st, 2020

water-coming-out-of-faucet-creating-steamThese days, with homeowners spending a lot more time in their living spaces than ever before, it’s easy to understand why home comfort has become a bit of a buzzword. Home comfort means a lot of things—having the right HVAC systems in place, addressing any indoor air quality issues you might have, and maintaining your plumbing system. A big part of that plumbing system? Your water heater!

Water heaters are one of the unsung heroes of any home. They’re an appliance we use every day and yet you likely take it for granted. Due to this, you may actually be using your water heater inefficiently, and paying more than you should have to in order to use it. The good news is, there are ways to boost your water heater efficiency. Read on as we uncover some of them!

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Water Heaters: Will Going Tankless Benefit You?

Monday, September 14th, 2020

tankless-systemIf there is any appliance that homeowners take for granted, we’d safely bet that it’s the water heater. You know, until something goes wrong with it! Water heaters are the most often used appliance in any given home, and when something goes wrong with it you’re typically faced with costly repairs or replacement.

Any water heater should be replaced when it has reached a couple of decades in age, or if it’s showing any signs of corrosion. Another reason to replace your water heater is if it simply isn’t working as efficiently as it used to.

Let’s say you’re considering a replacement, what should you replace it with? Many homeowners are only familiar with storage tank-style water heaters and tend to stick with that model. But going tankless has many benefits depending on your needs. Read on to learn if going tankless would benefit you and your home.

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5 Signs a Water Heater Is at the End of Its Service Life

Monday, August 31st, 2020

water-heater-leakingWater heaters look like sturdy devices. They should be: they’re essential parts of any home and must work almost every day of the year. As long as the water heater serving your household was professionally installed and receives routine maintenance each year, it should last more than a decade and possibly two.

But the end comes eventually for any water heater, and to head off possible loss of hot water to your house and other headaches, you want to catch the early signs that your water heater is in the final stages. Below are the five most common signs you’re ready for a water heater replacement.

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3 Common DIY Bathroom Remodeling Mistakes

Monday, August 17th, 2020

hands-poised-to-envision-future-bathroom-settingDIY projects are fun, right? Not only that, but they’re affordable! These are two great reasons for you and your family to engage in them. But when does a DIY project go too far? Well, potentially when it leaves you with more damage than remodeled parts, and a need to call in a professional plumber to fix mistakes that were made.

That’s not to say these mistakes were your fault, of course. But the fact of the matter is, our plumbers go through a lot of training and have extensive experience with jobs of this caliber, and they know how to avoid the most common of DIY mistakes. What are these mistakes, exactly? We have 3 to share below!

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What to Know about Your Kitchen Remodel

Monday, August 3rd, 2020

modern-open-floorplan-kitchen

American homes throughout the decades have been built with the kitchen serving as the central focal point, for the most part. For this reason, when folks move into an older home, it’s typically the first thing they want to remodel. That’s great! There are definitely some factors to keep in mind though.

Sure, you’ve considered the outward appearance of your kitchen. But what about the hidden plumbing components? The water line that runs to your dishwasher, the one that runs to your fridge, and of course, your kitchen sink and garbage disposal system? And let’s not forget to mention your gas lines, if you use a gas-powered stove!

As you can see, a kitchen remodel isn’t a job to just jump into without some thought. Fortunately, we’re here to help with the process. 

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