Tips To Maintain Your Water Heater

One of the most used home appliance this winter or on any given day is the water heater. However, it is often disregarded as well as the need to have it maintained. For most people, they only think of having the water heater checked when there’s a problem with it. It’s basically a bad habit that everyone should drop like a hot potato. Like other parts of your home, plumbing requires maintenance too. Hiring a plumber to do a full inspection and perform preventive maintenance has a lot of long-term impacts. Here are insights on how a water heater is maintained:

Keeping the water heater in good condition is easy with the help of a professional plumber

Draining and cleaning the tank – this has to be done at least once a year. Doing so will prevent excessive sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank. After a year of operating your water heater, there will be a lot of sediments that have accumulated inside the tank. This sediment buildup must be removed to ensure that the maximum tank capacity is reached. Changing the anode rod – in general, the anode rod can last for more than 10 years even without cleaning. However, there will come a time when it needs to be replaced. Having the anode rod replaced is easy. All that needs to be done is to stop the inflow of cold water and unscrew the nut that suspends the anode rod. Afterward, the new anode rod is clipped on, the nut is tightened, and the water turned back on. It is recommended to have this done by a plumber if you are not sure how to. Replacing the heating element – this is only for electric water heaters. Other water heaters that use gas will have a different method of getting the water up to temperature. There are normally two heating elements attached to the tank. When the heating elements are not working properly, heating the water could be inefficient. You normally don’t do replacements on your own. You will need the assistance of a plumbing contractor to have it checked and replaced. Checking the pressure release valve – you will find that there’s a valve that is dedicated for pressure release. This is to remove pressure from the tank when needed. Normally, there is a pipe connected to the valve that leads away from the tank. This is attached so the hot water will not hurt the person operating the valve. It is always necessary to make these checks. Plumbing will require maintenance at certain times. Always have your plumbing maintained in the right period. There is a high chance of your plumbing failing due to the lack of maintenance or insufficient frequency of it. Also, when you have your plumbing maintained, it must be done by a professional. Plumbers like NMB Plumbing Pros have the right tools, experience, and the knowledge on repairs, maintenance, and plumbing upgrades. It is necessary to hire these professionals to ensure that every section of your plumbing is working accordingly.

In need of professional plumbing services? Call NMB Plumbing Pros today.

NMB Plumbing Pros North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 (843) 353-6409 http://nmbplumbingpros.com/

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Eco-Friendly Plumbing Tips

Nowadays, homeowners are becoming more conscious of how their decisions impact the environment. Everything from food down to plumbing, everything has an eco-friendly alternative. When it comes to plumbing, there are a lot of ways on how to be as eco-friendly as possible. The process is relatively easy and there’s minimal cost involved. Check out some of the things you could do to make your plumbing have a lot less impact on the environment:

Green plumbing isn’t hard to accomplish once all information about it is laid out

Insulated piping – one of the most common ways of going eco-friendly plumbing is to have your pipes insulated. Once the pipes have been insulated, heat will no longer dissipate the same as it would when it had no sheathing. Insulation is normally used on pipes that run hot water from the heater to the faucets or shower. Use on-demand water heaters – boilers are just fine. They deliver hot water when you need it. However, they use up a lot of energy to maintain the heat of the water when it is not in use. Ask your plumbing contractor how you can make the upgrade. On-demand water heaters take up a lot less electricity. They only generate hot water when you need it. That means it does not run on idle and automatically switches on when the stock water is going cold. Use low-flow faucets and showers – have you ever noticed the flow of water coming out of your showers and faucets? If you don’t really a clue how the internals of faucets and showers work, you should take time to learn. Low-flow showers and faucets offer a better alternative than the conventional ones you may know. As the name suggests, these kind of plumbing fixtures still give you the same functionality but with less water. You would barely notice the difference but in reality, low-flow fixtures save you a lot of water. Use low-flush toilets – these toilets use the same concept as with low-flow faucets and showers. In general, the conventional toilet uses 13 liters of water per flush. That’s a lot of water when you come to think of it. On the other hand, low-flush toilets use half of the water that conventional toilets take up. If you have a big family, you can easily add up how much savings you get. These upgrades generally provide the same functionality as with conventional plumbing fixtures. There isn’t really that much difference with how they function. On the other hand, when you talk about eco-friendly plumbing it refers to minimal energy and water usage. In general, conventional plumbing fixtures use up a lot of water. When you add it all up, it’s just like you’re pouring money down the drain for no reason. For these upgrades, you will need the assistance of a plumbing contractor in North Myrtle Beach. Of course, you will need to hire the experts for these upgrades. When you hire plumbers, look for the likes of NMB Plumbing Pros. They do a good job and ensure satisfaction every single time.

In need of professional plumbing services? Call NMB Plumbing Pros today.

NMB Plumbing Pros North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 (843) 353-6409 http://nmbplumbingpros.com/

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How Hiring A Plumber Prevents Plumbing Nightmares

There’s nothing more stressful than being with family and friends during the holidays and then all of a sudden your plumbing springs a leak. It’s quite a nightmare to deal with such problems in times when you’re supposed to be having fun. And it’s even more troublesome to find a plumber during such times. However, there are ways on how you could spare yourself the trouble and get on with enjoying the rest of the holiday season. Here are some of the things that you could easily do at home to keep plumbing issues away:

Aside from other preventive measures, maintenance is key towards problem-free plumbing

Go easy on your faucets – there are times where you might have tightened the faucet a little bit too much without even knowing it. Your faucets wear out even faster when you deliberately tighten them beyond their suggested limit. To prevent your faucet from going bad too fast, any plumbing contractor would suggest to only tighten them to the point when the water stops dripping. Keep cooking oils and grease away from the drain – as tempting as it may be to get rid of nasty oils the easy way, you shouldn’t. You might not realize it right there and then but pouring grease down the drain has repercussions. If you do make it a habit, you’ll find yourself calling the nearest plumber in North Myrtle Beach for help sooner than you might expect. Use baking soda as an alternative for chemical cleaners – you may have used chemical cleaners to give your drains and toilet a good scrubbing. However, you shouldn’t be too reliant on these products as they could potentially give you a headache in the future. Instead, use baking soda for cleaning the toilet, drains, and other areas in your plumbing. Baking soda is safe and is not corrosive to your pipes. Use drain screens – they are cheap but they are quite useful in terms of keeping your drain from being clogged. Drain screens are quite helpful in terms of straining small to medium objects that might be cause for blockage. They are easy to install and remove and they provide good value for money. Lastly, they keep you from costly plumbing repairs. Don’t go all out on your garbage disposal unit – a garbage disposal unit is such a wonderful tool for anyone who has to deal with table scraps and other food items. However, it can only take so much at one time. There’s also a limitation on the kind of items that it can process. Hard items like bones should not be dropped into the disposal unit as it could dull the blades. The same goes for fibrous foods that could get tangled in blades and cause the motor to fail. Keep your plumbing maintained – one of the most effective ways to prevent plumbing issues is to have your plumbing inspected from time to time. This is to ensure that everything is in working order and that there are no signs of wear that could lead to failure. Always call experts like NMB Plumbing Pros and schedule regular maintenance for your plumbing.

In need of professional plumbing services? Call NMB Plumbing Pros today.

NMB Plumbing Pros North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 (843) 353-6409 http://nmbplumbingpros.com/

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Steps You Can Take To Avoid Plumbing Emergencies

A plumbing emergency is definitely not a laughing matter. It’s a major concern that could transform your great day into a complete nightmare. However, there are plenty of easy ways on how you could prevent these issues. First of all, you could hire a plumbing contractor and have your plumbing system maintained. The easiest method, by far, is preventing the problem from emerging in the first place and that’s done through proper maintenance. Aside from that, there are other ways on how you could skip plumbing emergencies altogether.

Plumbing problems stem from either bad plumbing, wrong usage, or awful servicing

1. Don’t pour grease down the sink – one sure way of clogging your kitchen sink is to pour grease and other oily substances down in there. All puns aside, grease and oils can create a lining down your sinks which not only stinks but also creates clogs later on. The effects might not be evident right away but it will soon when you continue with this bad practice.

1. Don’t use those flushable wipes – they may be marketed as “flushable” wipes but they aren’t as friendly to your plumbing as you would like. Wet wipes, in general, are made of non-bio degradable materials. Although there are some brands that try to make a difference by using organic materials, you should still be wary. Only flush stuff down the toilet if they belong down there. If you still continue flushing down such products, expect to call your local plumbing contractor in North Myrtle Beach sooner or later.

1. Keep your exposed pipes clean – if you don’t want to give yourself and your plumber a hard time, avoid hanging anything on exposed pipes. Keep them as clean as possible. You will find that exposed pipes can be quite sensitive and easily damaged when not cared of properly.

1. Avoid caustic bowl cleaners – there are different kinds of toilet bowl cleaners. In general, you should avoid using chemicals on your plumbing. Harsh chemicals could eat away at your pipes and could even lead to more problems in the future.

1. Don’t abuse your disposal – your disposal unit isn’t a universal solution for all your food waste. There are certain limitation for your garbage disposal. Even the high-end models need to be operated carefully. Despite being able to process a significant amount of food waste, they do need to be carefully used to prevent nasty plumbing issues.

1. Don’t skip maintenance – skipping maintenance is the worst plumbing mistake you can ever make. Even if you have the most expensive piece of plumbing, it won’t last as long if you had it maintained by a professional. It’s always best to have professionals like NMB Plumbing Pros keep your plumbing in good condition. Always remember that maintenance is a key factor in keeping your entire plumbing system free from any issues. When you consider the frequency of using your plumbing deals with every day, it would be clear how often you should have it maintained. This is to be done not just to extend the longevity of your plumbing but also to prevent the worst plumbing issues around.

If you require expert plumbing assistance, call NMB Plumbing Pros immediately.

NMB Plumbing Pros North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 (843) 353-6409 http://nmbplumbingpros.com/

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How To Avoid Plumbing Mishaps After Thanksgiving

If you think your kitchen is quite busy this holiday season, wait until you see what goes on in your plumbing. With that in mind, there is more reason to be careful with what you throw into the garbage disposal. You don’t want to be having plumbing issues in the middle of the holidays. However, if you do find yourself in a pinch, always look for the best emergency plumber in your area. Here are some tips on how to avoid issues with your garbage disposal in the middle of the season where you need it the most.

Don’t abuse your garbage disposal unit to avoid a plumbing disaster

1. Be careful how much you throw in – your garbage disposal unit may work wonders during the holidays but it does have its limits. You simply can’t stuff everything down the disposal unit in one go. You need to gradually feed all the food waste to avoid clogging your pipes and overworking your disposal unit.

1. Be watchful of what goes into your disposal – there are those times that you just don’t notice what goes into the disposal. Not that it’s bad all the time but sometimes it can hurt your unit. Be careful of what goes into the disposal unit if you don’t want to spend the rest of the holidays calling a North Myrtle Beach plumber. If you want to get through the holiday season without your garbage disposal breaking down, keep an eye out on what goes into the disposal unit.

1. Avoid bones, grease, and fibrous food waste – it’s tempting to throw any sort of food waste into the garbage disposal unit. It’s for garbage, right? So why not put everything in it? While your garbage disposal unit may work wonders for you even in regular days, it has a number of limitations.

First of all, bones are not to be put in there. Bones can dull the blades or worse, damage them. Second, grease is not good for your disposal unit and the rest of your plumbing. While you may think that it’s fine, it’s totally not. Grease can stick to the inner walls of your plumbing causing clogs. Lastly, fibrous food waste should be avoided altogether. Fibrous foods like celery can tangle up your disposal unit and cause it to malfunction. If you don’t want spend most of your holidays dealing with plumbing issues, take good care of your disposal unit. This also goes for the rest of your plumbing. When calling a plumber, be sure that you have exhausted all of your best efforts. This is to minimize the amount of work that the plumber needs to do. Not only will this save you time, you will also pay less for the plumber. Do remember, that it is the holidays and hiring a plumber in this season would cost you more than regular days. Also, when you hire a plumber, be sure that you are hiring the professionals. Don’t go for those shady ads with the cheap prices. They will only lead to more problems. Always hire professionals like NMB Plumbing Pros to ensure your plumbing issues will be resolved accordingly.

In need of professional plumbing services? Call NMB Plumbing Pros today.

NMB Plumbing Pros North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 (843) 353-6409 http://nmbplumbingpros.com/

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Tips On Keeping Your Garbage Disposal Unit From Malfunctioning

Garbage disposal units are quite popular due to the fact that you don’t have to worry much about the food waste you may have. However, not all types of food could be processed through the garbage disposal. There are certain food items that should be avoided. Do bear in mind that your garbage disposal unit is still susceptible to damage especially when handled incorrectly. That’s why you should ask your plumbing contractor for tips on how to use it when you have it installed. For other useful tips, read the rest of this article.

Tip - Avoid pouring down foods that will give your plumbing and disposal unit a hard time

Make sure you use a lot of water - every single time you run your disposal, switch on the cold water while the food is being cut up. After checking if the sound of your motor has become soft, switch off the device and let the water remain for half a minute. The running water will certainly bring any kind of remaining fragments out of the disposal and will certainly better flush the pipelines. In case there are some fragments that are stuck, call a plumbing contractor in North Myrtle Beach to have it taken out immediately. Use cold instead of warm water - While warm water will not damage the components, cold water is better while running the disposal. Warm water will dissolve oils as well as fats. When they are in fluid form, grease sticks to the blades and which will cause problems later on. In the case of build-ups, call a plumber. Don't proceed with DIY repairs as this could further the damage to your unit. Don't put in hard or fibrous food – garbage disposal units are for foods that grind into little bits and also items easily. Hard seeds, bones, and other hard food items are not suited and your disposal unit will have a really hard time processing them if you continue pouring them down. The smaller items can get stuck in the blades causing them to malfunction. Foods that are loaded with fibers must be avoided altogether. In addition, fibers from different foods could get tangled up on the blades, which could cause the motor to stop. Give your disposal unit a nice clean – aside from keeping the rest of your plumbing clean, you should also make sure your disposal is in good condition. With time, it is all-natural for sludge to stick on the sides as well as blades of your home appliance. It is best to avoid utilizing harsh chemicals since they can damage the parts of your gadget. You can obtain a natural chain reaction by putting sodium bicarbonate down the drain as well as pouring vinegar in addition to it. One more very easy approach is to incorporate the honing with the cleansing by disobliging a cup of rock salt down the tubes when you grind up your ice. Never place your fingers in the disposal - When wedged food is gotten rid of, the sudden launch of tension can make the blades spring into action and create injury. Attempt utilizing pliers. If that doesn't function, call a plumber ahead as well as fix the device. Garbage disposal units can sometimes be a bit finicky. Even with certain precautions, you can still find yourself in tight situations. Although the chances are slim, the possibility of a breakdown is still there. That’s why it is best to have your plumbing, including your disposal unit, maintained by professionals like NMB Plumbing Pros.

In need of professional plumbing services? Call NMB Plumbing Pros today.

NMB Plumbing Pros North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 (843) 353-6409 http://nmbplumbingpros.com/

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Top 10 DIY Plumbing Mishaps

Most of the plumbing issues you have at home aren’t too serious. A lot of them could be fixed without having to call in a plumber. Of course, it would be best to have a plumber come over but if you can handle it on your own, there’s nothing wrong with it. However, this does not mean you aren’t prone to mistakes. Here are some of the most common plumbing mishaps that DIYers often make:

When things go wrong with your DIY plumbing repair, call a plumber right away

1. Over tightening connections – there’s a limit to how much torque you can put into bolts and pipe fittings. Making sure connections are tight is an important part in good plumbing. However, just how much is enough and when do you need to stop? Over tightening connections is one of the common mistakes that DIYers make. Unlike a residential plumber, most DIYers don’t know what the threshold is for tightening.

1. Using the wrong tape – there’s a certain kind of tape that you need to use when fitting pipes. The white tape that you often see is called Teflon tape. This is a special tape that is mainly used for plumbing. This tape helps in keeping the pipe thread watertight. The usage is quite simple. You need to wrap a certain amount of tape on the tread. However, there is one simply thing that most DIYers overlook. The tape must be wrapped in the same direction as the thread. If the tape is wrapped counterclockwise, it would unravel and defeat the entire purpose of using it.

1. Using drain cleaners – it’s not really a bad thing to use drain cleaners. However, consumers should be wary about what they pour down the drain. Despite what the products may claim, some often do more harm than good. Some drain cleaners are actually corrosive and may damage your pipes.

1. Having no spare parts – taking apart the broken plumbing is one thing and making replacements is another. In the event of failure, do you have spare parts available? Most DIYers don’t. If you are planning on making repairs, make sure parts are ready before taking apart your plumbing.

1. Not turning off the water – the main water valve must be turned off before any work could be done. It’s the basic rule but some people still forget to do this first.

1. Too much force – as with tightening pipes and bolts, it’s not also good to use too much force when loosening. This goes for shut off valves that are stuck. Use lubricant instead of shear elbow grease.

1. Not having the right tools – let’s face it, if you don’t have the right tools you won’t be making any repairs possible. Even if you have skills, not having the right tools will keep you from making any repairs or upgrades.

1. Not having enough know-how – if you are not familiar with the ins and outs of plumbing, you should not consider making repairs on your own. Instead, just call a residential plumber in North Myrtle Beach.

1. Using the wrong parts – you might get away with using parts that are not intended for certain parts. However, this is not a guarantee that problems will stay away for long. It’s always better to have the right parts for the repairs.

1. Not considering a plumber – of course, if you plan on DIY plumbing repairs, you would expect to make everything by yourself. However, not all cases end up well. It’s best to have a backup plan and hire a plumber like NMB Plumbing Pros when necessary.

In need of professional plumbing services? Call NMB Plumbing Pros today.

NMB Plumbing Pros North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 (843) 353-6409 http://nmbplumbingpros.com/

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