If you are currently having a plumbing emergency, call Brenneco Plumbing 24/7 at (765) 448-6190!
A plumbing emergency can be extremely costly, stressful and even potentially dangerous. It’s important to know what constitutes an emergency, who to call and who not to call.
A clogged drain is a nuisance, no doubt. A toilet that won’t flush or a sink or tub that won’t drain can certainly put a damper on your day. Before we look at home remedies to clear a clog, let’s discuss ways to prevent a clog in the first place:
1. Place a strainer over each drain. This will catch food, hair, and other items before they enter the drain.
2. Keep drains and pipes clear of buildup by running hot water after every use. This will help wash away any residue and keep water flowing freely!
3. Baking soda and vinegar are great natural cleaners. Add these to your drain, followed by hot water, to keep it free of clogs.
Sometimes, though, despite our best efforts, we find ourselves standing ankle-deep in water when we step into the shower, or scrambling to shut off the water when the toilet is about to overflow. Here are some simple ways you can try to clear a clog without using potentially harmful chemicals or hiring a professional: Read more →
Basements can flood at any time. There are those who know the moment the forecast shows torrential rains heading towards Lafayette, Indiana that they must roll up their sleeves and get ready for battle against the incoming water that never drains properly. We also have the overconfident homeowner who stands firm that their home has never flooded and never will. If you have a basement, you’re at risk. Don’t be fooled.
We know basements can flood during large rainfalls or when snow melts rapidly. Basements can also be at risk in the driest of weather. Storm sewer backups, clogged drain lines, foundation leaks and groundwater can all cause unwanted water to make its way into your basement. Since they occupy the lowest level of the home, basements are below ground level and, by nature, susceptible to flooding. Sometimes, the slope of the land your home is built upon can allow water to accumulate and have nowhere to go but let gravity take over. Read more →
Plumbing in Lafayette, Indiana has gone high tech. Say goodbye to the days of guessing where a drain line or sewer blockage might be. No more random hole digging in your yard leaving the neighbors to take bets on if you’re going to make their day and install a swimming pool. Plumbers can now utilize high resolution video cameras for video drain inspections. These offer a real-time look at the drain lines throughout your home and offer a view inside pipes buried under your house or embedded in a cement foundation.
The genius behind the camera is your best asset. Our trained Lafayette, Indiana area plumbers can diagnose the issues as they appear onscreen. The flexible video tube allows the camera to easily turn corners, snake through tight spots, and see existing or potential problems. If there is a blockage present, and the camera can break through it, you may be able to see as far as the city sewer lines. Read more →
Tankless water heaters are the newest advancement in water heaters. While they aren’t as new as they used to be, many still don’t know if their home is the right place for one. As a Lafayette Plumber, we see so many types of homes and families. There is no way to give a blanket answer to the question.
The best we can do is walk you through the good, the bad, and the ugly of choosing a tankless water heater.
The Good
Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient and cost less to operate.
Tankless water heaters only use energy when they heat the water. Traditional water heaters use gas to heat water even if you’re not using it. This wasted energy costs you money! Water heaters that use tanks are programmed to keep the water in the tank ready at all times. This means you pay for “stand by” heat. Read more →
Hard water is typically pretty easy to diagnose. It leaves signs and symptoms everywhere you use water. Hard water is the term we use for water that has more minerals such as calcium, magnesium carbonate, and manganese than normal. These minerals are, more often than not, introduced at the water source.
Does it seem like your dish washer has a hard time getting your dishes clean? Are you seeing staining in your toilet or tub? Does it seem hard to “lather” your soap in the shower? Does it seem like your coffee maker or other appliances that depend on water seem to malfunction or quit working efficiently?
While these minerals are natural and may not expressly represent any health concerns, they can wreak havoc on your skin, clothes, dishes, plumbing, and appliances. Hard water is HARD on everything it comes in to contact with.
The good news is this, it’s not a new problem. According to the US Geological survey, 85% of homes deal with hard water.
The quickest and easiest way to tell if you have hard water is to do a water test. It’s fairly easy to get a water test, you can even do it yourself. You can buy one, online, here. Read more →
Many homes in the Greater Lafayette, Indiana area utilize sump pumps in their basement or crawlspace. Sump pumps take water that collects around the home’s foundation and transfers it away, keeping your basement dry. Sump pump failures are not pretty. When a sump pump fails, you could be facing property damage, precious and expensive contents in your home could be ruined, and mold can begin to grow in your home, causing illness, long term health issues and even more damage.
Sump pumps are usually installed into homes during construction. If your home does not have one, and a pump would be of great benefit, they can still be placed by a professional plumber. A drain pipe is installed around the perimeter of the foundation. A long pipe is connected that leads into the basement. The pump itself is lowered into a specially constructed pit. Water collects in the sump pit via the drain pipe or due to natural collection. When the water reaches a certain level in the pit, the pump kicks on and pushes the water from the pit, away from your home, keeping your basement or crawlspace dry. A one-way valve, called a check valve, prevents water from flowing back into the sump pit. Read more →
The quick answer is yes, in some cases!
If your water heater isn’t performing to your expectations, it might be time to have it checked out. You are probably wondering if there are any repairs you can do yourself. While there are definitely problems that have simple solutions, you should seriously consider having a professional plumber assist you. There are many different things that can happen if you water heater happens to malfunction or ultimately fail.
If you do decide to do some problem solving before calling a lafayette plumber, the first step is diagnosing what might be wrong.
The most common complaint we see in regards to water heaters is that they aren’t heating the water to a high enough temperature. If you haven’t adjusted the temperature setting on the water heater, that might be the place to start. If you have already carefully adjusted the heat setting up to a safe temperature and it’s still not hot enough, you may have a bigger problem. Read more →
So, your hot showers don’t last quite as long as they used to? The hot water takes a little longer to get to you than it used to? We get it. At Brenneco Plumbing, we got a lot of questions from people in Greater Lafayette about when to replace their water heater.
As a Lafayette Plumber, we see water heaters that run on Lafayette or West Lafayette city water and we see water heaters that run on well water. Either situation can be just fine as long as proper maintenance is taking place. However, since your water heater is a piece of equipment, it will only last so long.
So how do you know if your water heater is at the end of it’s life or it just needs a little help? Good question! Here are a few simple tips to help you work through some of the easier fixes yourself. If you complete this list and still have problem, we would love to help. At Brenneco Plumbing, we are here for you! Read more →
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