Blog

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

Should I Hire Professional Water Heater Installers? When it comes to installing a heating unit, the process may look simple. However, there have been many changes in designs and regulations over the years. Hiring a professional water heater installers is a must when you find yourself needing a new unit. Here are ten good reasons why this should never be a DIY project. 1. Properly Ventilating Your Home One of the most dangerous aspects of DIYing instead of hiring professional plumbers, is the risk of causing backdrafting. Backdrafting occurs when the exhaust from a gas-powered unit does not ventilate and ends up in the home. The right water heater installers have to deal with many factors to avoid this situation.

Low Water Pressure Problems A low water pressure problem in your plumbing system reaches a tipping point when it affects your ability to accomplish daily activities, including the ability to take a shower, launder clothes and wash dishes. Many homeowners have experienced the frustration of a low water pressure problem -at least once. It’s a common issue that can sometimes be indicative of a plumbing system with serious problems. Possible Causes of  Low Water Pressure Problems If the pressure in your plumbing system seems to be low, the first step is to determine the cause. This will require troubleshooting, because several factors can cause low water pressure. The following are the most likely issues:   A clogged fixture may be