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What is a Hot Water Heater Blanket? Do I need a hot water heater blanket? This is a question many often ask themselves. To accurately answer this question, a simple understanding of what is a hot water heater blanket is vital. A hot water heater blanket is a an insulated sheet that wraps around a water heater to make it more efficient. The insulation blanket also helps the water heaters maintain a steady temperature consistently. A hot water heater blanket saves a significant amount of the energy that water heaters would generally waste, which saves a considerable amount of money that would have been spent on energy bills. Insulation blankets are rated on their thermal resistance, R-value. The R-value of

There’s nothing more frustrating than a water heater pilot light that won’t stay lit. Not only does this prevent the furnace from running efficiently, but it prevents hot water from being readily available. Many factors contribute to why a pilot goes out and why it won’t stay lit. As soon as an understanding of why these factors are occurring, it can help future outages and save money. Here are some potential reasons why a water heater pilot light won’t stay lit. Thermocouple Obstructions The purpose of a thermocouple in a water heater is to help tell it if it’s on or off and most operate with them. The gas is shut off by the thermocouple as a precaution if it

Sewer Line Problems Strike When sewer line problems strike, you can count on the crew at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. As dedicated sewer technicians, we use special tools and tactical methods to pinpoint and resolve the most common problems that impact plumbing lines above ground and underground. Because customer satisfaction is important to us, we help locals protect their sewer lines by sharing information about the most common problems that affect vital sewer components. If you need a guide that can simplify the process of maintaining a sewage system, our advice and knowledge can be very beneficial. Although, it is very important to give a call to your Benjamin Franklin plumbing for any sewer issues you are having. Clogs Clogs are

How To Remove A Shower Drain Cover A shower drain cover is great for preventing things like loose pieces of jewelry, hair clips, bathroom razor blades, and shampoo caps from slipping down into the drain. They aren’t great at stopping hair though. Over time, hair accumulates down inside the drain, which creates a clogged drain. The clog eventually causes the water to drain slower. When that happens, it’s time to take the cover off and remove the debris that caused the clogged drain. First Step to Removing a Shower Drain Cover Do a quick glance over it before removing it. Examine how it’s attached. A standard shower drain cover is attached with a screw in the center. Other drains snap

How Do I Stop My Leaking Toilet? You might have noticed that your water bill continues to rise, despite your best efforts to conserve water. This is troubling if you already time your showers, use a water-efficient washer machine and have succulents in your front yard. The problem could be coming from a leaking toilet that you have unnoticed. Check out these helpful tips from Ben Franklin Plumbing about leaking toilets and how you can lower your bill. The Cost of a Leaking Toilet You’ve probably checked your pipes and had inspections done on your roof and elsewhere. If you don’t have pipe leaks and no other evidence of excessive moisture, there is a strong possibility that you have a

The P Trap You’ve probably noticed curved shape pipes, also known as P Traps, connected to each sink and open drain in your home and have thought nothing of it. However, as it turns out, these U shaped pipes actually serve an important purpose. In fact, without a P Trap, sewage gases would make their way up through your pipes and into your home where they can be hazardous to your health. A P trap is a curved shaped pipe that connects to the drain pipe in a way that it resembles a sideways letter p, hence its name. It works by confining water in its curve, which eliminates any gaps for air or gasses to flow back up through

How Does A Water Softener Work? Hard water is a reality that many of us live with in our homes. Even though, is soft water really important? Hard water leaves dishes splotchy and quickly wears away the softness of clothes. Is there a way to get rid of these irritating splotches and provide your home with soft water? Yes! A water softener can be installed in your home’s plumbing system and eliminate the unsightly effects of hard water. What makes water “hard?” Hard water contains a high content of minerals, generally calcium and magnesium. These minerals have dissolved from the soil and seeped into the areas water supply, which means that some areas have harder water than others. Whenever this

Spring Has Sprung and its Time to Clean! The yard and garage, are all ready for a refresh, but what about your plumbing? Keeping up with home plumbing maintenance is important to avoid costly and inconvenient malfunctions and plumbing emergencies. Every year your pipes, faucets, drains, and appliances should be inspected! Here are several highlights that should always be on your annual home plumbing maintenance checklist to ensure that you get the most out of of your plumbing and your home’s appliances: Garbage Disposal Your garbage disposal should be checked annually to ensure that blades and drains are tight and functional, and not causing problems further down the drain line. You can do a lot during the year in your