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What To Do If You Fail A Dye Test


Are you struggling to sell off your house because it failed a dye test? Well, you are not alone; many U.S. homeowners find themselves in the same situation every year. A dye test is conducted to determine whether or not your home plumbing is properly connected to your city’s sewer system. There are two-types of sewer systems: sanitary-only and combined sewer. If you live in a sanitary sewer area, your sewer is only meant to handle steady, consistent waste flow from your house. Improperly connecting your drains or downspouts to the sewer system can create rapid and sudden surges in […]

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Natural Methods For Unclogging Pipes

Natural Methods To Unclog Pipes


You may have heard that chemical drain cleaners are terrible for your pipes. Harsh chemicals that dissolve clogs can also wreak havoc on your plumbing–particularly if your pipes are made of plastic or galvanized steel. What you may not have heard is that many homeowners have been clearing their own clogs for years, without the use of harsh chemicals. These natural solutions will dissolve clogs, clean your pipes and keep them clog-free without the use of expensive drain cleaners. Materials used to Clean Drains There isn’t a single recipe for natural homemade drain cleaner. There are many recipes, and most […]

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Common Spring Plumbing Problems

More Springtime Tips: Solving Common Spring Plumbing Problems


Plumbing problems can be a scourge year round, but they often seem to rear their sludgy heads in the Spring time. Warmer weather brings thaws, and many of the plumbing issues that went unnoticed in the Winter can suddenly become very noticeable. Luckily, many Spring plumbing issues have simple fixes. Check out below to find out fixes for common plumbing issues that often show up in the Spring. Drizzle Is for Syrup and Pancakes, Not for Showers! There are few things more irritating than the slow drip and drizzle of the lazy stream of water that crawls out of your […]

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Springtime Plumbing Tips

Springtime Plumbing Tips For Our Beloved Pittsburghers


April showers bring…the plumber? You haven’t heard that one before, have you? That very well may be the song you end up singing when it comes to your home’s plumbing system if you don’t get it ready for spring. That drip-drip-dripping sound that you’ll hear as winter turns to spring won’t be the tinkling sound of a cascading brook going through a spring thaw, but instead the sound of some neglected leak in your house that’s decided to make its debut just in time for the spring weather. To avoid springtime plumbing mishaps, there are things that you can do […]

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How To Unclog A Shower Drain

How To Unclog A Shower Drain


Showers take some of the highest abuse in a home. With gallons of water going down them during an average shower, along with hair, dirt, grease and other gunk, it’s not surprising when it gets backed up. But how do you fix it? The best way to clear a clogged shower drain isn’t by using the latest and greatest chemical fix, it’s by physically removing the hair and gunk. Here’s how to do it: Step 1: You can start by sizing up the drain opening. In shower-only units, there are a couple types of drain strainers. They can be removed […]

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No Hot Water In The House

Honey! There’s No Hot Water In The House


“Honey, there’s no hot water!” Though you never want to hear those words, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll run across this at some point. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to troubleshoot a hot water supply problem. Here are a few to try when you’re water is not so hot. What Kind Of Water Heater Do You Have? Water heaters heat water using different methods, so here is an overview of some of the most common: A conventional storage tank water heater is one of the most common, storing a certain number of gallons and keeping it hot. […]

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Why Are My Water Bills So High And How Can I Reduce It

Why Is My Water Bill So High And How Do I Reduce It?


It could be that you’ve received your latest water bill from the utility company and you’ve found a rather unwelcome surprise. If your water bill has seen a sharp spike in price, you may be wondering what caused it and how to prevent having such a high bill in the future. In this post, we’ll discuss common causes of high water bills and how to reduce your usage. What Are Common Reasons Your Water Bill Would Exceed Your Expectations? Your water bill is calculated by multiplying your usage by a set dollar amount per unit. The only way that your […]

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How To Freeze Your Pipes This WInter

What To Do With Frozen Pipes


Frigid winter weather can be a real doozy on the pipes in your home. Freezing temperatures can cause your pipes to freeze and sometimes even rupture, preventing water flow from the fixtures in your house. There are many preventative measures that help fight against frozen pipes. But if you’re like most people, you doubted that this kind of problem would happen to you. So don’t fret, this hassle can be dealt with calmly as long as you know what to do. If you find yourself with no running water on a cold winter day, I hate to break it to […]

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Toilets From Around The World

Toilets Around The World


A toilet is something you use multiple times during the day. However, you may not realize how different toilets are made across the world. If you’ve ever been out of the U.S., you know that toilets in foreign countries can look peculiar. Whether they flush in the opposite direction, are comprised of different shapes, or contain a simple hole in the ground in place of a seat; toilets around the world vary in numerous ways. The American toilet, otherwise known as the porcelain throne is only one of the many designs of toilets around the world. In addition to design, […]

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Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs

Eliminate That Rotten Egg Smell From Your Water


Do you notice a particularly nasty smell when you start to run your tap water? Could the water be described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur? If this has happened to you, don’t worry, we’re here to help. Surprisingly, this is a very common problem in many households and isn’t as devastating as you might think. Contrary to what you might be thinking now, this may not cost a lot of money in plumbing repairs as you might actually be able to fix the problem yourself. Let’s take a deeper look as to why your water smells like rotten […]

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