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Every once in a while, or perhaps too often, in some cases, the tranquility of our time at home is interrupted by a strange sound we just can’t place. There are the usual suspects, of course. Things like houses settling or that one creaky floor board. But oftentimes, these sounds come from plumbing. Learning to identify them could help you determine if there’s a problem. Or if these sounds are normal. Rattling Pipes Water moving through your pipes will always cause some vibration. However, if this rattling becomes audible enough to notice, it might be an issue. If you can […]
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Throughout Allegheny County and the surrounding areas, older homes contain a quirky little secret in their basements. To longtime residents, it might seem perfectly normal. However, newcomers to Pittsburgh might be a little taken aback by the (often working) toilet sitting right out in the open. Maybe you’ve never given these out-of-place pieces of porcelain a second thought, or maybe you’ve always wondered where these subterranean toilets are doing in an unfinished basement. Just like French fries on sandwiches and parking chairs, the “Pittsburgh toilet” makes our region the special place it is. Why do Houses in Pittsburgh Have Toilets […]
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We all love our fur babies. They’re part of the family, after all. However, every pet owner knows their furry friends come with some unique challenges. Hair, unexpected messes and chewed up household items are all part of the pet experience. Yet, one aspect of your home you might be overlooking is your plumbing. We’re not just talking about dogs drinking from the toilet or your cat jumping in the shower. Let’s explore some ways to make your pets more plumbing-friendly. Wash Your Pets Outside If your pet sheds, you know that hair gets just about everywhere. It should come […]
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When it comes to home plumbing, you probably give a little more thought to sinks, baths and showers. However, one piece of equipment many of us ignore is the sump pump. What does it actually do? Where is it? Do I even have one? These are a few questions heard a lot. With fall approaching, rainy days are here again. Many areas of Allegheny County are prone to basement flooding, and if your sump pump isn’t up to snuff, you could find a new swimming pool beneath your feet. What is a Sump Pump If you live in an area […]
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There’s nothing more frustrating or inconvenient than dealing with drain clogs. Not only can this type of plumbing issue pop up unexpectedly, it can be hard to determine what to do once it has occurred. That said, it is always better to prevent an issue from happening before one takes place. Here are three tips for keeping your drains clean. Tip #1: Don’t Dump Cooking Grease Down the Drain One of the biggest plumbing mistakes most people make is dumping cooking grease down the drain or directly into the garbage disposal. While it isn’t a big deal when the grease […]
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At Terry’s Plumbing, we know how tempting it can be to save a dollar or two on plumbing repairs by tackling the project yourself. However, there are certain tasks that are better left to the professionals due to safety or difficulty concerns. In fact, there are certain scenarios where attempting a repair by yourself can lead to bigger and more expensive issues than the initial problem! Here are three plumbing projects you shouldn’t do yourself. Project #1: Installing or Repairing a Hot Water Heater Hot water heaters don’t get nearly enough credit for making our lives comfortable and convenient. But […]
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When you have a basement, unless you have the perfect situation and wall system, you’re going to occasionally have water in it. Though you could make some plans to make your basement space more resistant to water damage by going with hard surfaces and similar approaches, there are ways to get unwanted water out of your basement and keep it out. Here’s how to get it done. Generally speaking, there are a couple different ways to get rid of water in your basement: by removing it or by keeping it from coming in in the first place. Keeping the water […]
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When Old Man Winter is knocking at your door, and the north wind is biting at your nose, it is clearly NOT the time you want to have to figure out how to winterize your home’s plumbing. Frozen pipes can cause not only inconvenience, but actual damage as the ice forming inside them can cause leaks and breaks. Here’s a quick look at how to winterize your home’s plumbing to prevent these problems for a lower-stress winter. Steps to Winterize Your Home’s Plumbing Start with an assessment. Generally speaking, you should be concerned about pipes found in crawl spaces, exterior […]
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If you’re like most homeowners, you want to be able to perform minor household repairs and maintenance tasks for the sake of convenience as well as to save a little money, but it’s important to be aware of common mistakes in order to achieve these goals. Let’s take a look at four of the common pitfalls homeowners encounter concerning DIY plumbing projects. Using Too Much Drain Cleaner Homeowners are often too quick to reach for over-the-counter drain cleaner products, but too much exposure to the caustic chemicals these products contain can cause erosion on the insides of your pipes. Purchasing […]
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Is your bathroom starting to look a little dated? It’s an easy fix. Most of the things in a bathroom that we find antiquated are really fixtures. Unless you want to rip out the tile and replace the tub, updating a bathroom could be as simple as purchasing some new handles, faucets and shower heads. Here’s how to get started. Make a List of Your Current Fixtures When you change out your fixtures, it’s best to change them all out. After all, you don’t want a bunch of mismatched drawer pulls. Begin by making a list of all the fixtures […]
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