News & Media

The 3 Most Common (and Frustrating) Plumbing Emergencies

Posted on October 7, 2021 | by Super Plumbers

Are You Really Ready for These Common Plumbing Emergencies?

Everyone always expects the worst to happen to others. And while a plumbing issue may not be the worst thing they can think of, it’s definitely not high on their list of things they want to happen. As such, it’s no surprise that most people don’t expect a plumbing emergency to sprout up. And these things often happen at the most inopportune times possible. This is why there’s no better time than the present for homeowners to familiarize themselves with the ins and outs of the three most common plumbing emergencies.

Clogged and Overflowing Toilet

The first and most common plumbing issue involves an overflowing toilet. Any home’s toilets work very hard every day to safely remove waste from the house, so it’s not a big surprise that toilets will clog once in a while. But clogs aren’t the only things that can cause a toilet to overflow. A malfunction can cause this, too, although it’s not as common as a clog.

If a toilet does overflow, the first thing homeowners should do is locate the water shutoff valve behind the toilet and stop the flow of water to the fixture. This will allow them to address the situation without worrying about further water damage. Most clogs can be remedied by a plunger, but tough clogs may need the help of a professional plumber who will probably use a plumber’s snake or a hydro-jet.

Sewer Line Backups

Next on the list are sewage backups. These mishaps can be hard for homeowners to identify because they happen out of sight and, as a result, out of mind. Residential plumbing systems include incoming lines for water to the house and outgoing lines for sewage to leave the home. But when obstructions clog those outgoing lines, they can cause sewage to back up into the home.

It’s important for homeowners to be aware of signs of a sewage backup. These signs include gurgling drains or toilets, foul smells coming from the drains, dirty water coming up from the drains, and multiple drain clogs. Continuing to use the plumbing when there’s a drain clog can simply make matters worse, so it’s a good idea for homeowners to call a professional if they think they have a sewage backup.

Broken Pipes

It doesn’t have to be freezing outside to make a pipe burst. High water pressure and weak joints can cause this, as can corroded pipes. Even a hairpin leak in a pipe can cause extensive damage to a home if it’s not caught early. Burst pipes are easier to notice because they generally make more of a mess than a pinhole leak. But since a burst pipe will drain massive amounts of water until it’s addressed, it can do as much damage as a pinhole leak in a short amount of time.

These three common plumbing issues can happen at any time in any home, old or new. But calling a professional plumber can help get things sorted quickly, which can help homeowners avoid costly damage to their home or plumbing system.

About Super Plumbers

The friendly techs at Super Plumbers have over 10 years of experience in Tyler, TX. They offer 24-hour emergency service and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. For expert plumbing service, call today.

How Your Water Heater Temperature Affects Your Household

Posted on September 24, 2019 | by Super Plumbers

Most likely, you’re already aware of the function of your home’s water heater. Basically, without it, you’d be left in the cold - literally! Your water heater has the important job of heating your water supply, enabling you to take hot showers and use heated water for cooking and cleaning.

Did you know that there’s actually a perfect water heater temperature? Having your water tank set to the right heat setting is actually pretty important, and as a homeowner, it’s a vital piece of information to know. We’ll discuss why below.

The Right Water Temperature Fights Bacteria

When it comes to the temperature setting for your water heater, 120F is the perfect temperature for your home’s water tank, and for very good reason - bacteria. The water in your tank is sitting motionless for much of the time.

Stagnant water is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which can present a dangerous health situation when being used. Luckily, when water is heated consistently at the right temperature, it not only kills bacteria present but prevents any more bacteria from thriving in the atmosphere.

One of the most dangerous bacteria that can form in improperly heated water is Legionella. This particular bacteria causes a severe strain of pneumonia when present in humans, called Legionnaires’ Disease. Each year in the United States, thousands of people contract this sometimes deadly bacteria. In 2017 alone, there were 7,500 cases of the disease.

Keeping your water heater at the proper 120F will ensure your water tank fights bacteria and doesn’t become contaminated with deadly bacteria such as Legionella.

Finding The Ideal Water Heater Temperature Can Help Your Pocket

While 120F is the optimal temperature for which your home’s water heater to be set, often they are preset at 140F. While 140F will kill bacteria, it is unnecessarily hot and can cause scalding.

If you have a baby in the home, for instance, you’ll want to lower your water temperature as soon as possible.

Keeping your water heater temperature set to 120F can also keep more money in your pocket from lowered utility costs; The less time it takes to heat your water, the lower the energy bill.

Always Have Available Water

In your home, your heated water is used for a number of different functions, and often by a number of different people; Bathing, showering, cooking, and cleaning - all of these functions use hot water from your heater.

When you have your temperature set higher at 140F, it can take longer to heat, which means your hot water will run out more frequently. When you have it set to the ideal 120F, you’ll have much more available water on demand.

Do you know where your water heater thermostat is in your home? Double-check to make sure it’s set to 120F. If you’re not sure where it’s located, or if you need help setting it up, don’t hesitate to call Super Plumbers. Our trained technicians can locate your thermostat and set your temperature quickly and easily.

What You Can Do to Stop Pipe Corrosion

Posted on August 22, 2019 | by Super Plumbers

Pipe corrosion is a major plumbing issue that homeowners want to avoid as much as possible. While corrosion is often associated with plumbing problems, leaks, and water damage, it also can lead to serious health issues, as corroded pipes can result in high levels of toxic metals getting into your home’s water supply, affecting your water quality.

While pipe corrosion generally happens in older pipes, it can actually happen within a matter of a few years if your pipes are not properly protected. A number of factors affect pipe corrosion, and there are lots of things you can do to slow down or stop corroded pipes. To help you do this, today we’ll talk about what causes pipe corrosion and what you can do to help avoid it.

What Causes Pipe Corrosion

In most cases, pipe corrosion is caused by a number of different factors. Some of the things that can cause pipe corrosion or increase the rate of pipe corrosion include:

Your water’s pH levels.
The presence of oxygen in your water, since oxygen, degrades metals.
Your water’s chemical makeup - the presence of certain minerals, for example, calcium can lead to builds that cause corrosion.
The temperature of water in your home - hotter water accelerates rates of corrosion.
The velocity of the water in your home - high levels of velocity or sudden changes in direction can increase the rate of corrosion.

By having a professional test the quality of your water and inspect your piping system, you can determine whether you are at a higher risk for pipe corrosion. If so, you can take steps to slow down or stop the corrosion of pipes.

How to Keep Your Pipes Clean

Keeping your pipes clean is one important step you can take to slow pipe corrosion. By regularly cleaning your pipes, you can clear buildups that would otherwise lead to problems.

If you have hard water - with lots of calcium - it’s especially important that you regularly clean your pipes.

You can do some pipe cleaning on your own. White vinegar is a good way to clear calcium out of pipes, as its acidity levels break down calcium buildups. To clean your pipes with vinegar:

Clear clogged or sluggish drains of excess water.
Pour white vinegar through the drain.
Wait 30 minutes.
Use a long pipe and brush to scrub pipes as much as possible.
Run water to thoroughly rinse pipes.

It’s also a good idea to have your pipes cleaned professionally. Doing this regularly will help to protect your pipes from buildups and to help stop corroded pipes.

Pipe Cleaning vs. Repiping

The great thing about thoroughly cleaning your pipes is that it can make your piping system function as if it’s been repiped. Without the expense or effort involved in repiping, a thorough cleaning can help to clear clogged, sluggish or blocked pipes.

This means that not only will regular cleanings help to make your pipes last longer, but they’ll also make them function better now. If you haven’t had your pipes cleaned recently, it’s a good idea to schedule either a cleaning or an inspection as soon as possible.

Call Super Plumbers today at (903) 630-6153 if you’re concerned that your pipes are corroded or if you need to schedule a checkup.

Install Low-Flush Toilets to Reduce Your Water Use This Summer

Posted on July 23, 2019 | by Super Plumbers

Even if you’re not a diehard camper, hiker, or outdoors enthusiast, you can appreciate the natural beauty of our world. The United States has incredible national parks all over the country, and most cities have local parks, big and small, for your enjoyment.

If we all work together, we can have a significant impact on the quality of the air, water, and landscapes in our communities. But don’t worry; you don’t have to devote your entire life to conservation to have a significant impact.

You make some simple changes like choosing reusable water bottles and travel coffee mugs, turning your thermostat down a degree in the winter and up a degree in the summer, or turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth. Many conservation efforts require small lifestyle changes, which are usually free or very inexpensive.

If you’re serious about water conservation and you’re willing to spend a bit of money, you could upgrade your home to low-flush toilets, which even lowers your chances of getting a clogged toilet. In this article, we’ll tell you all about high-efficiency toilets and how you can save money and the planet with every flush.

High-Efficiency Toilets

You’re probably wondering, what are low-flushing toilets? Low-flush, or high-efficiency, toilets are modern toilets that use much less water in each flush than older versions.

If you have old toilets, they’re very likely the biggest consumers of water inside your home. In the 1990s, toilet manufacturers started selling low-flushing toilets in response to US government policies that required them to create more water-efficient appliances.

Unfortunately, the first high-efficiency models were extremely inefficient. Many early models had a smaller water tank but no other design modifications. As a result, people had to flush multiple times to clear waste, which ended up using even more water than the old toilets. Some large cities experienced excessive backups in the city sewer pipes because the ratio of water to waste was too low.

How Modern Low-Flush Toilets Conserve Water

A chemical-free, easy solution to city-wide sewer backups was for toilet engineers to make appliances with smaller pipes. How do they work?

When you press the lever to flush, the flapper inside the toilet tank rises, and gravity helps the water flow into the bowl.

The flow of water creates pressure and having smaller pipes helps maintain adequate force throughout your plumbing so that solids don’t stick. Well-glazed pipes also help reduce friction to keep things moving.

Some high-efficiency toilets rely heavily on pressure to wash away waste. Inside the tank, these units have vessels that create an air pocket, so when you flush the toilet, the air pushes water through the bowl. When the tank refills, the air pocket does as well.

The combination of gravity and pressure is how toilets have historically functioned. Modern low-flush toilets do a better job of utilizing gravity and maintaining pressure than early models, so upgrading today will actually help you conserve water.

Reduce Your Water Consumption

Wasted water has a big impact on the environment, and low-flush toilets can do a lot to lower your water use. Old toilets can use up to 7 gallons of water in a single flush.

If you upgrade to a low-flushing toilet, you’ll use only 1.6 gallons per flush, which is a huge reduction. Since low-flush toilets use less water, it’s essential that you only flush bodily waste and toilet paper, which is specially designed to disintegrate in water.

If you put feminine products, wipes, or even facial tissue in the bowl, it’ll probably take multiple flushes to get it down, which consumes a lot of water. Plus, those materials do not degrade in the water and have to be filtered out manually at your local wastewater treatment plant.

Other than upgrading your toilet, there are several things that you can easily do to help the environment. Use electronic billing, only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they’re full, and maintain your vehicle regularly so that it runs as efficiently as possible.

You should also try to get your friends and neighbors on board with you. The best way for us to make a significant impact on the environment is to work together. So, how will you pitch in to help the environment today?

Have Some Family Fun on the World’s Longest Day!

Posted on June 21, 2019 | by Super Plumbers

How often do you get to experience the World’s Longest Day? Turns out, only once a year! This June 21st, you’ll have a wonderful 17 full hours of summer daylight; be sure to take advantage of every drop of fun, and water, with those you love!

Outdoor activities, especially those involving cool water, are the best way to stay cool and have fun this summer. So, if you’re looking for some tips to have fun with your outdoor plumbing and family that won’t break the bank, be sure to read on!

Use a Sprinkler and Slide to Amp Up the Fun

Using a sprinkler and slide right in your front yard will not only provide limitless fun for the whole family, but it also goes easy on your budget. A slip n’ slide requires minimal water to get it going and can provide hours of fun.

If you want to change it up or don’t want to spring for the slide, you can have just as much fun splashing in the sprinklers with your loved ones.

And as an extra bonus, your grass will love all the water too! This way, you’re doing yard work and having fun at the same time.

Water Hose Fights For the Whole Family

June 21st doesn’t have the reputation of being an especially cool day, so, if you and your family are looking for an inexpensive way to beat the heat, look no further than your front yard water hose.

Water hose fights are a fun way for everyone to cool off while having some fun and getting some exercise. Just be sure to keep an eye on how much water you’re using, or you could be surprised with a large water bill at the end of your next cycle.

If too much water usage is truly a concern, try tossing in some inexpensive water guns to constrict water usage a little more without constricting your family's fun.

Beat the Heat with Water Balloons

Not only are water balloons a fun outdoor summer activity, but they are also budget-friendly and water-usage conscious. Purchasing water balloons at your local store is generally pretty inexpensive, and filling them up is as easy as using your yard water spigot.

Temperatures can get pretty hot during the month of June, and the longest day of the year is no exception; family members will definitely appreciate this fun and cool way to have fun and beat the heat!

The water activities we mentioned are great ways to stay cool and make awesome memories with your family and friends, but it’s also important to remain mindful of water conservation while you’re splashing in the sun. Water conservation is an important way to do your part in helping to protect our Earth’s precious and limited resources.

By taking care to preserve water, it can offset increasing food costs, help to protect us from future drought, ensure our communities continue to look beautiful, promote positive and healthy living, and allow us to enjoy water-related activities throughout the hot summer months. The longest day of the year only rolls around once every 365 days; At Super Plumbers, we want you to make the most of it while being responsible with water use so we can all have fun!