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How To Prevent Frozen Water Pipes As winter creeps in and the weather gets colder, one of the things you need to think about is frozen water pipes. Having frozen pipes is not only inconvenient because you can’t get water from your faucet, but it also creates a lot of pressure. Should that pressure build-up, it could cause your pipes to burst. When that happens, you have a significant problem on your hands. Listed below are some things you should consider doing to reduce the chances of your pipes freezing and breaking. 1. Have Water Pipes Inspected The first thing you should consider doing to prevent your pipes from freezing is to have them inspected by a professional. They’ll be

How to Winterize Your Home Cold weather is a joy for skiers and people who plow and shovel snow. For the rest of us, it can be intimidating and downright nasty. To stay prepared, you must winterize your home before that time of the season rolls around. Contacting the right professionals to winterize your home is a fundamental part of home maintenance. Your home value and the long-term durability of home HVAC and plumbing heavily depend upon annual maintenance and preparing for the cold snaps ahead. Let’s consider some of the critical aspects of winterizing your home below. #1: Home Energy Audit The first step is to conduct an energy audit. You want to be sure that your home is

Ways To Prevent Home Water Damage No one wants to walk into their home and find their basement or other rooms flooded. Not only does it make the area contaminated with bacteria and viruses, but it leaves behind water damage. One of the most expensive fixes that you can ever have to deal with in your home is water damage. It can rot right through structural supports that can make your home an unsafe place to live. You shouldn’t ignore water damage either. The longer it’s left to rot, the worse the cost is going to be. When it comes to water damage, the best-case scenario is to prevent it before it can happen. Here are a few ways that

How To Use A Plunger Properly Today, your friends here at Benjamin Franklin Plumbers are going to teach you how to use a plunger. Although it may seem like a no-brainer, there is a specific refined technique for people who think they know a thing or two about how to use a plunger. We often hear stories of customers who failed to unclog drains because they didn’t know how to use a plunger, so it only makes sense to publish information that is as detailed as possible. Types of Plungers Like any job, having the right tools makes things a whole lot easier. When it comes to plumbing, there is more than one type of plunger to unclog a drain.

 5 Step Process Your hot water heater pilot light can go out for several reasons. The lack of a pilot light may indicate a problem with the heater itself, but a hot water heater pilot light can go out for other reasons such as fluctuations in the gas pressure. If your pilot light is out, there will usually be cold water coming out of your hot water valves. The good news is that you can follow these 5 easy steps to reignite your hot water heater pilot light: 1. Turn Off the Gas The first thing you want to do is to make sure the gas is turned off. To do this, locate the gas regulator valve. This valve is

My Dishwasher Will Not Drain! Since their invention in the late 1800’s, dishwashers have become a time-saving appliance that’s expected in your average, modern-day home. Like any frequently used home appliance, dishwashers require occasional maintenance and troubleshooting. There is nothing more unpleasant than opening up the dishwasher and seeing the bottom filled with soapy water and food residue. You may question if your dishes are even clean. Check out a few reasons as to why the dishwasher might not be draining below. Clogged Drain Pipe If you have noticed that your dishwasher is not draining, the cause may be a clogged drain pipe. It can be almost impossible to know since the drain assembly has to be taken apart before

Garbage Disposal Tips: 10 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Disposal Your garbage disposal is one of the most commonly used appliances in your home. There are good practices to keep in mind that can help extend the life of your garbage disposal, and minimize the maintenance needed. Our plumbers wanted to offer these garbage disposal tips to help keep your kitchen running smoothly.   Tip 1: Use Hot Water While Grinding Food   Using hot water while grinding food in the garbage disposal can help homeowners avoid having problems with grease and clogs that can stick to the sides of the appliance and the pipes underneath the sink. While this might seem wasteful, it is one of the

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

Clearing a Clogged Bathtub Drain The bathtub or shower is probably one of the most frequently used spaces in your home, and it’s noticeable whenever something isn’t working properly, especially when its a clogged bathtub drain. No one wants to get clean while murky water pools around their feet. There are many factors that can contribute to a clogged bathtub drain, but there are several quick solutions you can try before you might need to call a plumber. Check Strainers and Stoppers Most bathtub or shower drains have some kind of drain stopper or strainer the help keeps large pieces of debris from entering the drain. These stoppers also catch hair and soap as it drains from the tub, and