Yearly Archives: 2017

The start of the new year is a time for hope that you can do things better in the coming year. Sometimes that to-do list for the start of the year can be overwhelming, but it’s important to start the year off as productively as possible. It can make the rest of the year easier. If you haven’t had a plumber check your system in a while, the new year is a good time for a plumbing inspection.

Plumbing Ready for the Year

Did you have any plumbing mishaps in the past year? Even small ones, like clogs, count as reasons to have your plumbing system evaluated. If you didn’t call a plumber to solve those issues, then you may not have solved them completely. Even if you were lucky enough to be plumbing-problem-free, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plumbing issues waiting to reveal themselves. Stop them before they start, or before they get expensive.

The longer you wait to have even small plumbing problems fixed, the closer they get to becoming large problems. If they grow, you could be facing more expensive solutions. When you call a plumber to fix the small things and inspect your plumbing, you take precautions to prevent major problems, even through the rest of the year. Call a plumber whether you have had plumbing trouble or not. Discuss all concerns with your plumber, including the minor ones that you fixed yourself. Request a drain and pipe cleaning as a preventative method, in addition to the inspection. All this could leave you problem-free this year.

Get your plumbing inspection and start your year off well in Dallas, TX. Call Tribeca Plumbing, Inc. at (214) 402-5454 for all your plumbing needs.

When water freezes, it expands. This a potential problem for your pipes in the winter. It puts pressure on them and they may burst, causing major damages and expensive repairs. Do your best to prevent frozen pipes this winter with some basic tips.

Preventing Water Pipe Freezing

Pipes exposed to the cold are the most susceptible. This includes outdoor hose bibs, water supply lines, sprinklers, and more. Before the temperature begin to drop to extremes, insulate your pipes. You can use heat tape and certain types of foam to do this. It is best for those pipes that are not aided by the heat in your home. Add some extra insulation to your attic, too. This will help maintain better heat in your home, and for your pipes.

Open the cabinets and other doors to places inside where you have water pipes. This may help circulate the warm air in your home around the pipe and prevent freezing. You can also leave just a little drip of water running overnight, but because about that; you don’t want that water freezing as it moves in your pipes outdoors in severely cold weather.

If you believe you have frozen pipes, you may be able to save them from damage. Check the pipes you can see for signs such as frost on their exteriors. Apply mild heat to the area. You can use a heating blanket or hair dryer on a low setting. Be cautious when doing this. When in doubt, always call a professional plumber.

Sometimes, no matter how hard we try to prevent them, water pipe repairs must be done. If you have frozen pipes, or pipe damage in Texas, call us at (214) 402-5454 and we will handle it for you.

Issues with a home’s sewer line can become exceptionally messy and expensive to fix. Like most plumbing issues, however, you can save yourself a great deal of worry if you catch a sewer line problem early. Pay attention to the following signs of trouble, and call for immediate service should they appear.

Bad Smells

Since sewer lines are both buried underground and totally sealed, any smells of sewage should warrant immediate attention. If you smell these in your yard, you likely have an underground sewage leak. Smells of sewer within your house can become even more worrisome. An obstruction within your sewer line may have caused sewage to back up. As it nears your drains, you can expect the smell to grow stronger.

Vibrant Yard

Unusual patches in your yard usually appear for a reason. Vibrantly green areas can suggest either an irrigation leak, or a problem with your sewer line. As sewage leaks underground, it will act as fertilizer for the grass above. Pests such as rodents and insects will also gravitate toward a sewer leak. If you suddenly find yourself with an infestation, look to your sewer line as a possible culprit.

Slow Drainage

All of the drains in your home empty into the sewer line. Because of this, if multiple drains around your home appear clogged, the issue probably lies with the sewer. Encroached tree roots and accumulations of grease and other debris can create clogs that worsen over time. Eventually, the clog will become severe enough to force sewage up through your drains.

At Tribeca Plumbing, Inc., we serve as your local solution for a sewer line problem in Dallas, TX. If you suspect you may have a problem, don’t wait to call us today at (214) 402-5454.

Your drains do a lot for you home. Mostly, they prevent wastewater from flooding your home. It is important to maintain your drains to keep them working properly. One of the primary methods of drain maintenance is cleaning the drains. Tribeca Plumbing, Inc. is here to help with all your drain cleaning needs. Give us a call at (214) 402-5454 to schedule your appointment soon.

The Positive Effects of Drain Cleaning

Aside from keeping your drains working the way you need them to, there are some great benefits you could experience from regular drain cleaning.

Fresher Air
Dirty drains have a foul odor. That odor filters through the drains and into the rest of your home. This unpleasant smell can, in some extreme cases, cause illness. Cleaning the drains, eliminates the bacteria causing the odor and keeps your home smelling fresh.

Cleaner Home
When you clean your drains regularly, your drains will work better. This means that you will experience fewer sewer back ups. As a result, your home will be cleaner and more sanitary.

Fewer Expenses
Since regularly cleaning the drains reduces the number of sewer problems you will have to deal with, it will actually save you a lot of money. Drain cleaning is significantly less expensive than removing a sewer clog or having to get a full replacement.

Contact Us

If you’re dealing with sluggish drains, or simply want to start enjoying the benefits of regular drain cleaning, call us at (214) 402-5454. We are here for all your plumbing maintenance needs.

Are you a homeowner in the Dallas, TX area? If you have ever noticed a spike in your water bills, it could be due to a hidden water leak in your bathroom. Tribeca Plumbing offers toilet repair services, as well as emergency plumbing services. If you think you have a bathroom water leak, be on the look out for these signs:

Deformed Walls

If the leak gets bad enough, it can cause deformities in your bathroom walls. Bubbles can appear on the surface walls, and cause the drywall to deteriorate. This sign calls for emergency plumbing services from Tribeca Plumbing.

Disturbing Smell

If you notice your bathroom consistently smells horribly, and cannot trace the source of it, it could be from a bathroom water leak. The smell should be distinct, and “musty” which indicates a lack of water evaporation.

Mold Growth

If you notice mold growth around your shower you could be suffering from a leak. Mold forms from the infiltration of water into the bathroom area. Of course, shower water can cause mold in itself, but if you see parts of your bathroom that normally appear dry, forming mold, you know a leak is probable.

Yellow Stains

Do you see yellow stains on the ceilings below your bathroom? This is one of the most obvious signs of a leak. The water is dripping from the bathroom to the ceiling below it, and can sacrifice the integrity of your home structure. Call (214) 402-5454 for emergency plumbing services!

In today’s economy, all of us are looking for better ways to save extra money each month. While every household in america uses water, not everyone is using it efficiently. If you live in an older model home, a few inexpensive updates can increase your efficiency, as well as increase your savings!

Until about 1992, American homes were allowed to have shower heads that put our about 5.5 gallons of water per minute, per federal regulations. With this allowance, a typical 10 minute shower could waste as much as 55 gallons of water! However, the federal regulation changed and only allowed shower head manufacturers to create shower heads that released up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute, knocking a 10 minute shower down to 25 gallons of water used. This is a significant amount of saved water, meaning that updating your shower head can really save you a lot, considering that about 17% of American water usage goes towards showers!

If you don’t have an outdated shower head, you can still save money by changing your shower head. While the regulations allow for up to 2.5 gallons per minute, you can find low flow shower heads that restrict usages to lower amounts, such as 2 gallons per minute.

Beyond water usage, many homeowners forget that each shower will cost them not only in water, but also in heating. Every shower is accompanied by a rise in usage of the hot water heater.  By taking showers that use less water, you are also saving money on energy that is typically directed at heating water for your showers. If you are interested in learning more ways you can save money with your plumbing or if you are in need of bathroom repairs, give us a call at ​(214) 402-5454!

Plumbing emergencies are a nightmare, and you’re very rarely expecting one to happen. However, when water is gushing all over the floor, you know that every minute matters if you want to prevent long-lasting water damage. Repairing a serious leak is generally above the skill level of your typical homeowner, but that doesn’t mean you can’t protect your home from additional damage while you wait for your emergency plumber to arrive! Below are a few ways you can stop the water from damaging your home and belongings.

Shut Off The Water

This may seem obvious, but if you are new to home ownership, or if you’ve yet to experience a plumbing emergency, you may not know where you shut off valves are. Pro tip: Learn where all of the emergency valves are around your home before you run into an emergency. For smaller emergencies like an overflowing toilet, you can find a specific valve for the toilet on the wall behind it. for a burst pipe in the wall, or a main water line break, you will need to shut off the water to your entire house. That valve is usually located outside of the house, in your front yard. 

 

Temporary Pipe Repair Options

Once the water is shut off, you have a few options. If you might have to wait awhile for the plumber to arrive, you can look into temporary solutions. Epoxy Compounds are a great temporary fix for cast iron pipes, and you can find them at hardware stores. The safest option is to replace, but the compound should keep the leak contained ell enough that you can go back to using your water until a professional can assess the damage. Another option is pipe wraps. The wraps harden around leaks and seal them, but this solution is best left for minor leaks and cracks.

 

When you need a reliable plumber in Dallas, TX, Call us at ​(214) 402-5454!

You should always be able to count on a toilet flushing properly when you need it to. However, things happen and toilets clog and overflow.  Here is what you can do to fix an overflowing toilet:

Turn Off the Valve

When a toilet is overflowing, the first call to action is to stop the flow of water in the bowl. It doesn’t matter what the cause of the overflow is. The best place to do this is typically at the toilet’s main shutoff valve.

You should be able to see a water line from your bathroom wall to the toilet, as well as a hand-crank valve in the same area. If you don’t see this, the toilet valve might be hidden behind the wall or floor tiles. If this is the case, you might need to talk to a plumber about modifications to gain access. The toilet valve is pretty much the only way to fully stop the flow of water, unless you shut off the main valve to your home.

Check the Flapper

If you are unable to shut the valve off and your toilet is continuing to overflow, then you will need check the inside of the toilet tank.

You will need to check the flapper first. It is typically a hinged rubber disc that covers a hole at the bottom of the tank. If the flapper is open, then close it manually. Closing this should stop the water flow.

Get Things Flowing

When you have prevented the overflow, the final step to unclog the toilet. If you have a toilet plunger, that should be your go-to tool. A plunger with a toilet flange would work best.

For clogs that you just can’t clear, or for any other plumbing emergencies, call Tribeca Plumbing in the DFW Metroplex at (214) 402-5454.

Many American homes use hard water as the main source of water in the house. Hard water is filled with natural minerals that it picks up as it travels through your pipes. Many specialists insist on the health benefits we can reap from hard water, but when it comes to your home, it can be pretty rough. Mineral laden water can cause corrosion in your plumbing, and buildup in water receptacles and faucets throughout your home. Many times, home owners turn to water softening treatments to address the issues caused by hard water. Read on to learn more about how water softeners can benefit your home!

Water Softeners: Benefits Across The Board

Appliances

Hard water can significantly damage your appliances, and shorten their lifespans with serious mineral buildup within the appliance components. Water softeners prevent mineral buildup, and thus prevent the hard water from wearing down your appliances.  This protects your appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators from unnecessary replacements!

Plumbing

Hard water minerals also cause buildups in your pipes. The minerals gathering in the pipes are bad enough alone, as a clogging agent, but to make matters worse, the shifting minerals also cause wear and corrosion. Rather than a pipe cleaning solution, you may need to replace many pipes completely if the problem is left unaddressed. Water softener reduces the minerals in the water, and prevents corrosion within your pipes.

Water Heating

The minerals in hard water also make it harder for your water heater to work. The minerals interfere with the water’s ability to transfer heat. Using water softener removes the minerals and allows your water heater to run smoothly, leading to faster access to hot water for you and your family.

Cleaning

Furthermore, minerals in hard water even prevent soap from foaming and bonding properly. This can be seen in soap scum, and rings around tubs and showers. This means that clothes and dishes with the home are also not being cleaned properly. Yuck! Water softener allows soap to do its job, and leads to a more hygienic home life.

Would you like to learn more about hard water damage and water softener options for your home in Dallas, TX or Fort Worth, TX? Tribeca Plumbing is the best source for expert plumbers in DFW. Call us today at (214) 402-5454 to schedule an appointment or speak to one of our professional plumbers.

 

Did you know that most residential water heaters only last about 10 years? When you have trouble with your water heater, it could be a simple fix or a sign of failure. If you have a traditional tank-style water heater, watch for these signs that you need a new water heater.

Unusual Noises

When you walk by the water heater, do you hear popping, gurgling, or whistling noises? You should never hear odd noises from your water heater, and this is a sure sign of a problem. Often resulting from the water boiling inside the tank or sediment burning, these problems often signal that your water heater is nearing the end of its life. You should drain and clean the tank to remove any sediment or mineral buildup. Also, check the thermostat to be sure it is not set too high.

Leaks

If you find a leak from your water heater, it is essentially done for. This means that various parts are failing, and, in some cases, replacing them can cost just as much as a new tank. Plus, you don’t want to risk a major water heater leak, or you could end up with a flooded area of your home and hundreds of dollars in damage.

Rust-Colored Water

Does the water from your hot tap appear orange or yellow in color? This could be a sign of your water heater rusting on the inside. Many tanks are lined with a ceramic coating, but some are not. Consider draining your water heater and inspecting it for a problem. If it is rusting, you should purchase a new tank. However, rust-colored water could also result from rusting pipes, another serious problem that should be addressed immediately.

If you notice any of these signs that you need a new water heater, call Tribeca Plumbing at (214) 402-5454! We repair and replace water heaters in Dallas, TX and the surrounding areas!