Why an Automatic Shutoff Valve is a Good Idea

December 24th, 2018

bursted copper pipe with water leaking out, 3d illustrationWe get it—if you can avoid calling for emergency plumbing services, you will. Our professional plumbers in Kirkwood, MO are ready for anything of course, since we understand that plumbing problems don’t tend to obey schedules or calendars, nor do they care that you are sleeping or were just about to leave the house on vacation or to go to work. When you need a burst pipe or gushing broken faucet fixed, we’ll be there.

But, let’s talk prevention! Again, you don’t want to be in a situation where you’re calling up a 24-hour service plumber. We’re sure you’d also enjoy having peace of mind about plumbing problems when you can’t call for a plumber because you don’t even know there’s a problem (i.e. you’re away from home when a fixture breaks, spreading water throughout your home). In a case like this, there’s one very important component that will save you from property damage and unnecessary associated costs—the automatic shutoff valve.

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When to Schedule Repiping Services

December 10th, 2018

copper pipes and plumbing fixturesThroughout the years, there have been many different materials put to use for constructing plumbing pipes. During much of the 20th century, for instance, metals such as galvanized steel (this is steel coated pipes coated with zinc to prevent corrosion) and cast iron were most commonly used in residential settings.

Cast iron was rather quickly found to be ineffective at preventing corrosion, while galvanized steel was replaced around the 1970’s in favor of a more lightweight option—copper. In addition to being lightweight, copper has better corrosion resistance, as does the other two modern types of plumbing pipes you may see: PVC and PEX piping.

Homes today tend to use either one of these plastic pipes or copper exclusively throughout the property. However, if your home is one of the many in our area built prior to the 1980’s, then it may have piping, fixtures, or even elbows and joints made of the outdated material. And if this is the case, by nature there is a very good chance you need repiping. This is a service provided by our professional plumbers in O’Fallon, MO, and could do your home a world of good. But, how much repiping do you need?

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Call for Repairs if You Notice These Plumbing Symptoms

November 26th, 2018

leaking-copper-pipeWithout the right professional experience or plumbing equipment, problems with your plumbing system can definitely be hard to pinpoint. Most of the system is hidden from view, after all, and the issues that usually impact it are subtle to start. This is part of the reason we stress how important it is to schedule routine preventive maintenance with a professional plumber in St. Peters, MO each year.

However, even with maintenance, you may run into a plumbing problem, which is why it’s so vital for homeowners to know what signs to look for that indicate a problem. This way, if something does happen between maintenance appointments, you can get it managed sooner rather than later, which is always a good thing when it comes to plumbing and water damage! So, what symptoms should you watch for?

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When to Call for Drain Cleaning Services

November 12th, 2018

sink-drainingHow often do you think about your home’s plumbing system? Chances are, not a whole lot! Even though this is the case, when something goes wrong, you’ll sure be grateful for a highly trained and experienced plumbing company to come manage the issue.

This is particularly true if the problem is more than something simple like a drippy faucet or a pinhole leak in a visible pipe. Some problems extend deeper than this—literally—into your drain and sewer system. If this portion of your plumbing system isn’t properly cared for, then you could find yourself facing serious issues.

There’s good news, though! It’s easy to care for your drain system. You can do this by scheduling drain cleaning on a routine basis to ensure that your plumbing system is well maintained. Or you can schedule these services as needed, but, how do you know when they’re needed? A couple indicators are:

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Do I Need a New Water Heater?

October 29th, 2018

tank-water-heaterWater heaters can last a good long time, if you take proper care of them. They can’t last forever, though. Sooner or later, you’re going to need to replace it with a new one. It’s best if you identify as early as possible when your water heater is getting close to the end of its life. The earlier you can tell if your water heater is in need of replacement, the earlier you can have it replaced. The best way to tell whether or not your water heater is in need of replacement is to have a technician check out the system for you. If you’re not sure whether to call your technician yet or not, though, check out the following signs.

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How to Prepare Your Plumbing System for Winter

October 15th, 2018

PlumberWinter is coming, and you need to be prepared for it. You’re probably already making sure that your heating system is up to the task of keeping you warm this coming season, and that’s good. What about your plumbing system, though? There are still plenty of ways that your plumbing system could break down over the next few months, which means you should take the time to make sure that it is properly prepared as well. The following are a couple of the best ways that you can ensure your plumbing system stays healthy and reliable throughout the cold season.

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Call for Repairs if You Notice These Plumbing Issues

October 1st, 2018

Pipe-RuptureIt can be difficult to tell when your plumbing system is in need of repairs. A lot of plumbing issues can develop right under your nose without showing any obvious symptoms, until they end up causing some very obvious damage that is too late to stop. That’s why we recommend so strongly that you have preventive inspection and maintenance appointments conducted on your plumbing system at least once a year. While maintenance is helpful, though, it isn’t a guarantee of your system’s health. There are still plenty of ways that problems can develop in the system between appointments. For that reason, you need to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms that indicate a need for plumbing repair services. The following are just a few of the ways that you can tell if your plumbing system needs professional repairs.

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3 Things You Should Never Do When Remodeling

September 17th, 2018

BathroomRemodeling is fraught with all kinds of pitfalls, even if you’ve done it before and have a good idea of how it works.

Each room is different, and remodeling the bathroom in your current house might present an entirely different set of challenges than when you had it done at your last house. There are a lot of different things that you should do and be aware of when you embark on a remodeling project. It’s important to figure out the cost and make key decisions about your bathroom renovation before you start, as understanding your budget and options can help you avoid unexpected issues. Bathroom remodeling projects can include powder rooms, master bathrooms, guest bathrooms, or accessible bathrooms. Signature Kitchen & Bath offers a free consultation for homeowners considering a bathroom remodel, which can be a helpful starting point. There are also certain things that you should never do, if you want your project to go as smoothly as possible—homeowners often need to figure out their options and make decided choices to avoid common pitfalls. Let’s go over three of the things in that latter category below.

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Which Water Heater is Right for You?

September 3rd, 2018

tankless-water-heaterThere are a lot of water heater types on the market today, which can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s great that you have so many different ways to possibly provide hot water to your home. Not every home is going to get the most out of every water heater type, though. There are definitely certain water heater types that are going to be more helpful to you than others. If you’re not sure what water heater type will fit your needs best, we recommend reaching out to a contractor you trust to go over your home in-person with you. After an evaluation, they’ll be able to offer some good advice on picking the best water heater type for your needs. In the meantime, though, you should take a look below for some initial tips.

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Some Tips On Making Your Bathroom Remodel Go Smoothly

August 20th, 2018
Modern bathroom remodel featuring a glass shower, bathtub, double vanity, and elegant wall decor.

The bathroom is one of the most commonly targeted areas when it comes to remodeling services, and no surprise. Considering how much time the average person spends there, and the role it plays in the daily routine, of course you’d want it to be as comfortable as possible! Before you go speeding off to pick out new fixtures and the like, though, we’d recommend taking a look at some of our tips on making sure that your remodeling project goes as smoothly as possible.

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