DIY Plumbing Tips for First Time Homeowners

DIY Plumbing Tips for First Time Homeowners

Moving in to a new home can be exciting and overwhelming while at the same time can be challenging, especially for first time homeowners. Being in charge of your new home means you have to take care of every little thing to make it look beautiful and a safe haven for your family; from housekeeping to plumbing, you need to take care of everything. In case you have a plumbing problem, you can call a plumber, but just in case you feel like working out a bit yourself, you can try DIY. Read more

Summertime Plumbing Tips

Summertime Plumbing Tips

Summertime is typically seen as a time to relax and enjoy the sun. While we do encourage relaxation and family vacations, the season can also give you that extra time to check in on your summertime plumbing and make sure that everything is up to par. By following these summer tips this season, you’ll be well on your way to saving money and avoiding unnecessary emergency plumbing repairs. Read more

What To Do About Frozen Pipes

What To Do About Frozen Pipes

Frozen water pipes can wreak havoc on your home. One burst pipe can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage in a matter of minutes. That is not even mentioning the possibility of mold mitigation that may follow a burst pipe. For a burst pipe to happen, the water must first freeze and then expand, putting tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it. Pipes that freeze the most often are usually ones that are exposed frequently to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas in basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. Here are some ways to prevent your pipes from freezing:

Prevention

The first action you should take in frozen pipes prevention is to locate and identify all valves in your home and to make sure they work correctly. Next, you should identify any potential problem areas, such as any place where your pipes might be vulnerable to the cold. Seal any gaps around your house where freezing air may find its way in and come into contact with your pipes. In severe cold, even the tiniest opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze. You should also make sure to turn off and drain any outside hose bibs.

Be Aware When The Temperature Drops

Make sure you keep watch over those problem areas! Open your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Whenever the temperature outside dips dangerously below freezing, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through pipes, even at the smallest amount, helps prevent pipes from freezing. You should also keep the thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and at night. If you are going away during colder weather, leave the heat on in your home set to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

What To Do If You Have a Frozen Pipe

If you’re experiencing a ‘no flow’ situation, immediately turn off the main water valve to your home and leave the faucets open. Never use any type of flame to try and thaw the pipe. Apply heat in the form of an electric heating pad or towels soaked in hot water until water pressure is restored.

If you cannot thaw the frozen pipe, call a licensed plumber immediately.

Contact I&C Mechanical if you need help with Frozen Pipes

Do you have further questions about choosing a great plumber ? Don’t hesitate to contact I&C Mechanical, Inc today! Our expert plumbers are highly skilled at what they do. Here at I&C Mechanical, Inc, we fit the bill for high-quality, low-cost service

Plumbing Tips to Save Your Holiday

Plumbing Tips to Save Your Holiday

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s inevitable that someone will have a plumbing emergency with the entire family over and a feast is freshly prepared. It happens around this time every year. It’s probably the busiest season for plumbers because drains are clogged, toilets are over-flowing and garbage disposals are breaking left and right. Read more

Seasonal Plumbing Tips for Fall

Seasonal Plumbing Tips for Fall

Chilly fall temperatures serve as a polite reminder that when winter arrives it can be sudden, often leaving homeowners unprepared for the troubles associated with extreme cold. A few simple plumbing preparations now will help prevent headaches and costly repairs throughout the winter months. Read more

How to Cut Your Water Use in Half

How to Cut Your Water Use in Half

These water-saving products and practices will save you money, too

Water managers in 40 states say that even under normal weather conditions, they expect water shortages in some part of their state over the next decade. That’s according to WaterSense, the water conservation partner of the Environmental Protection Agency.

There are lots of water-saving ideas floating around, but two of the best ways are to replace water-wasting appliances and fixtures and to modify your lifestyle and habits.

Neither is easy. Updating appliances requires an up-front expense, and creating new habits a long-term commitment. But do both and you can cut your usage in half or more. That’s as good for your budget as it is for Earth.

Outdoor watering accounts for almost 30% of your water use, according to WaterSense. And toilets (24%), showers (20%), faucets (19%) and washing machines (17%) also use substantial amounts. Then there’s the 12% of water lost to leaks that you might not even know about. Read more

Holiday Plumbing Tips

Holiday Plumbing Tips

Holiday Plumbing Tips #1: Water Heater

It’s always a battle to see who makes it to the first shower of the evening. If you fall last in line, chances are you’ll be shivering in the cold water. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Here are a few easy ideas you can adopt so everyone has a warm, steamy shower. Read more

Spring Plumbing Problems - Boston MA

Spring Plumbing Problems

Plumbing problems can be a scourge year round, but they often seem to rear their sludgy heads in the Spring time. Warmer weather brings thaws, and many of the plumbing issues that went unnoticed in the winter can suddenly become very noticeable. Luckily, many Spring plumbing issues have simple fixes. Check out below to find out fixes for common plumbing issues that often show up in the Spring. Read more