The bathroom is one of the most visited rooms in a home. So, an effective remodeling of the bathroom can increase the value of the home along with providing more comfort to the people using it. In order to ensure that the cost of bathroom remodel doesn’t cross the budget, a person needs to carefully develop the budget before starting the remodeling work. You need to decide the amount of money you can allocate comfortably for the bathroom remodeling work and allow 20% extra in case of any unexpected developments. You need to allocate ample time for planning before the work begins. If you do so, you will actually be surprised how smoothly everything goes on. If a person really wants to remodel their bathroom within their budget and if they plan properly then they can not only remodel their bathroom within their budget but they can also give a beautiful and elegant look to their bathroom. Below are a few tips on how you can save money on a bathroom remodel:

Multi-function

An excellent way to save money, while remodeling a bathroom is to buy a few things which can provide you with more than 1 function. One of the costly things found inside a bathroom is storage. Some people have hidden storage under their sink while others have them separately. The key here is to ensure that the storage area can be used for multiple things. You don’t require a separate space for hygiene products and another for towels. However, the storage space needs to be well designed in order to make the most out of it. Moreover, if you are considering buying a new sink then you can buy a big one and maximize the storage space beneath it.

Affordable plumber

There are many kinds of plumbers available these days offering different rates for different plumbing work. You need to ensure that the plumber you are choosing doesn’t charge you a huge amount for the services. You also need to ensure that they are highly skilled and provide high-quality plumbing services. You need to keep in mind that you don’t hire someone merely because they are charging you a very less amount for their services. Someone who is charging less might provide inferior quality services that won’t last long and you would have to get the work done again. If you research well about the plumbers then you might find someone that provides high-quality services and still be within your budget. While looking for a plumber, you need to keep in mind that someone who is expensive is not necessarily a great one. You might come across someone who is highly expensive and still provides inferior quality services.

While choosing a plumber for a bathroom remodel work, make sure that they provide you with a detailed written estimate. This is very important in order to avoid any kind of disagreements or hassles in the future. If you choose a reputed plumber then they would not only provide you with a well-written estimate but also high-quality services within your budget.…

Is it necessary to insulate your water pipes? Many homeowners don’t have a clear idea when it comes to answering this question. Are you one of them? Let us discuss this topic in detail to help you make an informed decision.

Should you insulate your water pipes? You should insulate hot water pipes to reduce water-heating expenses. It is also essential to insulate cold water pipes to avoid pipe sweating and eliminate mold issues. Overall, pipe insulation is an excellent investment that brings long-lasting benefits.

Don’t Let Frozen Pipes Cause Issues

You should protect your plumbing system during colder months. The winter season makes water pipes highly vulnerable to freezing. Uninsulated water pipes freeze in the winter to interrupt the smooth flow of water. Further, the impact of damage is often irreversible.

Frozen pipes burst or crack to make things even worse. This situation causes critical damage to your home. You need to opt for a costly replacement when this problem remains unattended for a prolonged time. If you insulate your water pipes, you can prevent freezing efficiently.

As you know, prevention is better than cure. An experienced plumber gets the job done with clinical precision to help you save money in the long run.

How does Insulation Work?

Insulation generates an air pocket around the pipe exterior. The tape keeps the air inside the pocket warmer than the exterior area to prevent heat loss. So, you don’t need to worry about freezing and bursting pipes.

Different Types of Insulation

You can come across different types of insulation methods nowadays. The most popular choice is to use pipe insulation sleeves. These sleeves can be fitted around water pipes to insulate them. Consequently, the cold walls on the exterior part of your home fail to create a negative impact on your water pipes.

Applying heat cables or tapes is another option that a plumber uses to provide insulation. This method is effective for pipes that stick out of the ground. For example, basement and crawl space pipes.

The heat tapes or cables are good enough to deliver the much-needed warmth to water pipes.

Benefits of Insulating Hot Water Pipes

Hot water pipe insulation reduces heat loss and helps you save energy. Various studies show that it offers energy savings of up to 3% to 4%. Moreover, hot water pipe insulation keeps water temperature 2 to 4 Degree Fahrenheit hotter than uninsulated pipes can offer.

This situation lets you reduce your water temperature setting. The wait time for hot water gets shorter. What does it mean? There is no need to run the shower for an extended period to heat water. So, you can preserve water substantially.

Advantages of Insulating Cold Water Pipes Temperature drops in colder climates often lead to the freezing of cold water pipes. A humid environment makes pipes highly vulnerable to condensation. Insulation does not allow water pipes to gather moisture on the surface. It resists thermal energy movement considerably to avoid freezing. These benefits make water pipe insulation a highly profitable investment. The best insulation methods make your plumbing system more functional, efficient, and durable. It is essential to hire an experienced plumber to perform insulation tasks efficiently.…

If you notice that your water bill is a little higher than it should be, there may be an underlying issue. Trees are a common culprit for invading the sewer drain. They start from the roots and make their way to the pipes, where they will further grow and irritate any pipe openings and clog up the opening.

Here are ways on how you might detect and prevent tree roots.

Bad smell

A sewer line with roots will give out a bad smell. Once you notice this, you should call in professionals before the tree roots make their way to your house and damage your home.

Slow drains

Another sign of roots in the sewer line is a slower-than-usual drain. This plumbing issue may appear after heavy rain and windy conditions. A tree root blocking your main will slow the flow when it enters the pipes. This can be easily fixed by digging and clearing the area in front of your main pipe.

Backed up drains

If you keep noticing backed-up drains, you have roots in your sewer. A tree root will cause backups because they block the main sewer line completely when they grow.

How to prevent tree roots in your sewerage line

Here are a few tips to help you prevent tree roots from your sewer drain.

Conduct inspections

You should make it a routine to have inspections done to prevent the roots from entering the sewer line. It’s best to have a professional do this so that they can detect any potential problems early on.

Protect the main

Keep the inlet protected by placing caps on it to prevent any blockage. If you have caps, ensure they are securely placed so that debris can’t make its way there.

If you notice any of these problems, contact a professional to fix the plumbing issue.

Use chemicals

In some cases, when tree roots are detected, you may be forced to use chemicals in the sewer line. These chemicals will effectively dissolve the roots and kill them, thus preventing the sewer line from clogging up.

Remove the roots mechanically.

If the problem is too severe, you must physically dig up your main line and remove the roots. Doing so will help protect your home and prevent future issues with roots in your sewer drain.

Let the plumber check for the tree roots. If you have a serious tree root problem, let the plumber check for the tree roots in the sewer drain. A common check for roots is for your plumber to pressurize the line, which forces water and air out through the joints of the pipe. If the joint is blocked with roots, air bubbles will form, and pressure cannot escape through that section, thus indicating the existence of roots. The plumber will be able to detect roots and give you the best possible solution to help solve the issue. This will save you a lot of money in the long run.

With the above tips on how to detect and prevent tree roots in the sewer line, you must have all your plumbing issues fixed before it becomes a problem in your house.…

The dishwasher is one of the best inventions for a busy, hectic lifestyle. It can take all that daily dishwashing and turn it into one simple task, which is nice on days when you’re feeling too lazy to scrub. But if your appliance isn’t functioning properly or draining water from the bottom, you’ll be cursing that invention in no time. This blog explains things to do when your dishwasher doesn’t drain properly.

1. Run the disposal Water will not drain out of the dishwasher if there is a clog in the line that carries it away. If your sink is a garbage disposal, you could check to see if it’s clogged. If it is, you might need to call a plumber to take care of that problem. You should also check the pipes underneath your dishwasher to ensure they’re not obstructed. If they’re clogged, call in a plumber.

2. Clean the filter The filter inside your dishwasher can become clogged with dust, hair, and lint. If that happens, the water will not flow through it and might not drain properly. To correct this problem, remove the filter and scrape out any debris or lint buildup. After rinsing the filter in hot water and drying it thoroughly, you can replace it before you begin to run your dishwasher again.

3. Check for blockages A dishwasher can get blocked if it is not properly cleaned. Food particles, rust, or mold in the pipes that deliver water to the dishwasher can obstruct it. You might need to go through your dishwasher and remove any blockages you find for effective drainage.

4. Load the dishwasher correctly If you’ve cleaned your dishwasher, but it’s not draining, loading it correctly might be a bit of good advice. When you first load your dishwasher, make sure that every item is facing forward. If there are specific spots where water can accumulate, load the items there first.

5. Inspect the drain hose Every dishwasher has a drain hose that drains water out of the bottom. If something is stuck in it, the water will not be able to flow out and might cause clogs or suds in the dishwasher. You can inspect the hose by taking a long-handled container and placing it underneath your sink drain pipe. Pull up on the hose and inspect it to see if there’s anything stuck there.

6. Try vinegar and baking soda If none of these fixes work, try DIY tips like mixing water and vinegar in your dishwasher. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the bottom of your dishwasher and 1 cup of baking soda. Run it with the regular cycle and see if that helps to clear anything out of the pipes.

7. Check the drain valve When you run a dishwasher, water is supposed to flow through the drain pump and drain into your plumbing system. If it’s not draining, the problem could be with the drain valve. You can check this by opening the cabinet beneath your dishwasher and checking the hose beneath it. See if the hose is clogged with debris or lint. If so, clean it out so that water will flow correctly again. As you can see, there are several reasons your dishwasher might not be draining, but that doesn’t mean that it’s beyond repair. Each of these steps can help you to troubleshoot the problem and find a quick fix to get water flowing again.…

If you have not pulled out the rake this season, the odds are that it won’t be long. The leaves are currently falling and leaving behind a colorful, crisp mess for you to clean up. However, the job is not done as soon as you have tied off the last bag of leaves which you got from the ground. There is certainly going to be a lot more trapped in your home’s gutters.

Cleaning out gutters may feel like stress, but doing it twice a year is going to go a long way in helping you circumvent water damage in your home, most especially in your basement and at your roof-line. Get in touch us at AC Plumbing Construction and continue reading this article to learn about what can go wrong and ways which one can avoid serious difficulties.

What is the Worst thing That Can Happen?

All types of debris can land inside your gutters. Ordinarily, it’s the leaves, seeds and twigs, but wind-borne garbage like plastic bags can simply end up jamming up the works. 

Should this happen, the region of your home that’ll likely be in danger of water damage is going to be your roof. Pooling water from your gutters can deteriorate your shingles, fascia and the edge of your roofline. 

During heavy rains, the water will in due course spill over the gutter and hit the ground next to your home. This might cause trenches to form alongside the edge of your house, affecting the growth of grass and leaving behind a wet, murky mess. During summer, this can even entice insects and mosquitoes that breed in water.

However, the biggest issue with over-topped gutters is that the water will drench the soil right next to the foundation of your home. This can put immense pressure on the foundation and walls of your basement, initiating cracks that will grow with time. Floods and Basement leaks can result directly from these cracks. If it occurs, get in touch with AC Plumbing Construction as soon as possible. 

Cleanup Time

Some homeowners take care of their trenches by cleaning it twice a year. One in the fall and the other during spring. But homes with numerous nearby trees might need more than one cleaning in the autumn, and it is significant always to observe your gutters when it rains to spot signs of overflowing or clogs.

Cleaning your gutters is easy but somewhat messy. It involves standing on a ladder, so it is not an enormous task for those with flexibility issues or those scared of heights.

To clean out your gutters, start by spotting ladder safety — Ensure that your ladder placement observes ladder safety — ensure that your ladder is positioned on a level ground and correctly locked in place. Wear relaxed non-slip shoes.

Hook an unfilled bucket to the top of your ladder to collect debris as you remove them. Wear work gloves, and deliberate on taking along a handheld garden apparatus like a hand rake or trowel. These can be useful for scraping waterlogged mud from beneath the gutter.

When the drain is clear, make use of a hose to wash it spotless and ensure that it is flowing freely over the downspout. If it is not, then you have a clog in the downspout that requires clearing. Make use of your garden hose in full force to hose out the downspout from beneath. You may need to take out the bottom part of the downspout to get this done. If the hose does not work, a plumbing snake will always get it done.

If gutter difficulties end up triggering moisture issues within your basement, don’t wait to address the situation – it’ll simply get worse. Reach out to your qualified local plumbers at AC Plumbing Construction as soon as possible…