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Do I Have a Gas or Electric Water Heater? If you have hot running water, your home has a water heater. This appliance would be difficult to live without. There are many types of water heaters and odds may be that you aren’t sure what kind of hot water heater your home is using. The most common types are gas and electric water heaters. Less common types are the propane, solar and oil water heaters. An electric water heater uses electric resistance coils, while a gas water heater utilizes natural gas for heating water. Fortunately, there are easy ways to determine the type of water heater you have in your home. This information can help you better maintain your water

Can I Pour Grease Down the Drain? Pouring grease down the sink drain is never acceptable. Doing so can cause major plumbing problems that can affect the entire sewer system in a home. Not only can grease cause backups and clogs, but it builds up over time and coat pipes. This coating of sludge prevents water from smoothly flowing through and continuing down the drain. Unsmooth flowing creates a plumbing nightmare for homeowners that can be very inconvenient and expensive. Prevention begins with not pouring grease and oils down the sink drain. The key is to find an alternative to pouring grease down the drain. Since kitchens do not have the luxury of using a grease trap as restaurants do,

In the ABS vs PVC pipe debate, the short answer is this: ABS is tougher and handles cold underground runs better, PVC is more flexible and quieter indoors, and your local plumbing code often makes the choice for you. Both materials are lightweight, corrosion resistant, and affordable, they don’t collect condensation the way other pipes do, and they hold hot water temperatures well, which is why they dominate residential drain and waste lines. Our licensed plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing work with both materials every day and explain the trade-offs with upfront pricing before any project begins. Key Points ABS is black, bonds in one step with cement, and resists shock and cold, making it best for underground runs. PVC

A dripping faucet at 11 PM is not worth a service call, but it is worth owning the right plumbing tools. Five of them handle most of the small leaks and clogs a house throws at you. Keep them in one place and you stop waiting on a hardware store run every time something drips. Key points Plumber’s tape seals threaded joints and buys time on a minor leak An adjustable wrench fits round and hexagonal nuts of different sizes A basin wrench reaches fittings a standard wrench cannot Flange plungers are for toilets, cup plungers are for sinks and tubs Augers and snakes take over when a plunger fails Why keep plumbing tools at home? Professional plumbers exist for

7 Ways to Lower Your Water Bill If you are looking for simple ways to lower your water bill we compiled a list of simple steps you can take today. Utilities like electricity and the internet stand out on a monthly bill. And while your water bill might be lower than the others, there’s still room for you to save a significant amount of money. Our experts have identified seven tips you can use to save on your next water bill. Shorten Your Showers to Lower Your Water Bill Dishwasher vs. Handwashing Stop Your Dripping Faucet to Save on Your Water Bill Lower Your Water Bill and Patch Up Your Leaks Don’t Wash a Few T-Shirts at a Time Turn