Preventing Clogged Drains

What’s the best way to avoid clogged drains? Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink. We know it’s hard, but try to drain the fats and oils into a cup and throw them out. Why? Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs. Using filters and strainers will help, but getting drains snaked periodically is also a good idea.

We also recommend following the tips listed below.

1. Install strainers in sinks and bathtubs to catch hair and soap.
2. Pour boiling water down sinks and tubs monthly to dislodge trapped hair, food and grease.
3. Clean sink and bath stoppers regularly.
4. Run lots of cold water when running the garbage disposal.

Good to know...

Do not use caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber) on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients can become trapped in your pipes, and it can severely damage them. If you can't snake the drain yourself, contact us today!

Call Shelton Plumbing at (254) 751-9655 if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you!

How to Prep Your Plumbing System for Fall and Winter

Fall has arrived and winter isn’t far behind! It’s important to know what you should do to prep your plumbing system for the cooler seasons. Below are a few tips and suggestions that we have for you.

• Fix any leaky sinks or faucets that you might have around your home. If you wait until the cold weather has arrived to fix the leaks, the pipes could freeze causing additional issues.
• Be sure to insulate any exposed pipes in or around your home. Exposed pipes will mainly be located in your attic, crawl space and garage.
• If you have outdoor hoses be sure to disconnect them from the outdoor faucets. Store the hose in your shed or garage to protect it from the cold weather.
• Do you know where your water main is located? If not, figure it out BEFORE the cold weather hits. If your pipes freeze and burst this winter you’ll want to be able to shut off the water quickly in order to minimize further damage.

Contact Shelton Plumbing to request a service call, and make sure your plumbing system is ready for the cold months that lie ahead.

Common Summer Plumbing Issues and How to Protect Your Plumbing System

Summer is here and it’s time to talk about summer plumbing issues and how you can protect your plumbing system. The tips listed below will save you both money and energy!

• During the summer Americans spend A LOT of time outdoors, so that means clothes get dirty faster! You will probably be using your washing machine a lot this summer. Be sure to check your washing machine hose for leaks, cracks and bulges. The hose should be replaced every three years.
• When it’s humid outside it isn’t uncommon for ductwork to sweat, which creates condensation. This can backup drains. Keep an eye on the ductwork and make sure it’s up to speed. If isn’t, call us and we will fix it for you.
• DO NOT put banana peels, cornhusks, celery or other fibrous foods in the garbage disposal. It will just clog the system, and cause you major headache.
• While you’re on vacation turn down the temperature on your water heater.
• When trees grow during the spring the new tree roots can mess with sewer lines. Call us so that we can inspect your sewer line, and prevent any future issues.

Call Shelton Plumbing today and let us know if you have any questions! We look forward to hearing from you!

Resource: http://www.rescuerooter.com

Shelton Plumbing’s RSVP Plan

The RSVP Program stands for “Rick’s Service Value Plan.” The RSVP Program allows members to automatically receive the RSVP rate, which is a lower rate in our “Customer Assured Price Manual.”  In addition, you will receive an extended warranty, free quotes, and annual inspection and safety checks.
As an RSVP Member you will receive the following:

1.    Emergency cut off tags will be placed on your incoming water service valve and on your water heater.
2.    RSVP pricing on all service calls – an approximate savings of 15% on labor and material.
3.    Guaranteed pricing – in writing – on all recommended repairs.
4.    Specials and promotions, just for RSVP members.
5.    Priority scheduling – for emergencies or routine service calls – our next appointment is yours.
6.    Never pay a service charge or quote fee when Shelton Plumbing provides the service.

Visit our website for more detailed information shelton-plumbing.com/rsvp.php!

You’re probably wondering how you can become an RSVP member.  Call Shelton Plumbing today and we will give you the details! We can be reached at (254) 751-9655.

How to Shut Off Your Water Supply in an Emergency

The answer to this question is rather straightforward! What you will want to do is locate the internal stop tap on your property, and turn it off. Your next question probably is, where is my water shutoff valve located? Water valve placement is different for each property, but we can give you a few general tips on where it could be located!

• Turn the water off using the main valve.
• If you live in a mild-warm climate there is a good chance the valve is on an exterior wall of your home, or in an underground box.
• If you live in a cold climate it is likely the valve is located in your basement.
• Typically, there is also a main valve near the front curb. This is intended only for city workers when turning off water in a general area.
• If you’re having trouble locating the valve give us a call!
Important note, we recommend finding the valve BEFORE you have an emergency.
Please give us a call or send us an email if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you!

How Video Inspection Works for Sewer Line Diagnosis

Video sewer inspection is a great way to detect issues in sewer lines without having to dig or rip anything apart. Instead of having your back yard disrupted your plumber can easily inspect the sewer line and diagnose the problem.
Now, you are probably wondering how this works! Basically, plumbers snake a flexible fiber optic video camera through the sewer line and record everything that is going on in the sewer line. Once the video has been viewed you and your plumber can discuss the proper procedures for fixing the problems within the sewer line. Typically your plumber will be able to diagnose the area that is having a problem and from there they can go about fixing the problem without disrupting the entire sewer line.
Give us a call today for more information! We can be reached at (254) 751-9655.

Work with Your Plumber to Save Money

Do you want to save money, and have healthy plumbing in your home?

You can! 

When you work with your plumber to proactively maintain your home's internal plumbing, you can save yourself lots of time, energy, and money. 

We all know that plumbing problems are a nuisance, and at times can be expensive. If you take the time to work with your plumber they can give you tips on fixing simple things, and let you know when the issue is something a professional should handle. These things will help prevent long term plumbing problems.

Below are some helpful tips that will keep your pipes in working order:

1.    Grease: Keep a grease cleaning product on hand. Periodically use it in the kitchen drain to help clean out the excess grease that has built up over time.

2.    Pipe Banging: Have our service technician install shock arrestors or air chambers.

3.    Hair Buildup: Put a strainer in each tub and shower in your home. This will catch all of the hair before it clogs up your bathroom drain. After each shower empty the hair out of the strainer.

4.    Outdoor Frozen Faucets: Prevent outdoor faucets from freezing by detaching all hoses from the faucets before Winter begins. Also, be sure all water is drained from the faucet. When Spring arrives you can re-attach the hoses to the faucets.

5.    Washer Replacement: When replacing the washer in your sink be sure to remove the current washer and bring it in to Shelton Plumbing and we will help you find the correct replacement, which will help prevent a headache for you when you’re replacing the part!

Preventative Maintenance with Your Plumber

In this economy we are all working extra hard to save money, and by doing this we attempt to fix many things ourselves. Here at Shelton Plumbing we want to give you the techniques to fix some things on your own, but also give you the knowledge to know when you should call us for fixes or for preventative maintenance.

1.    Keep in mind, all of our plumbers are trained professionals. They know how to fix things both properly and in a safe manor. If you have a plumbing problem in your home or business, we’ll fix it. There’s a long list of things that can go wrong in any home and we have seen just about everything!

2.    If you have a clogged pipe you might try to snake it yourself. While this can work, chances are you should give us a call. There could be things going on in the drain that you are not aware of, and in the long run could just cause larger issues, and bigger bills!

3.    Leaks! Sure, you might think they are simple to fix, but there could be an underlying issue you are not aware of. We have a device called a Rigid Camera that is able to pinpoint leaks, both their depth and location. We can get to the source of the problem before the issue gets out of control!