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6 Frequently Asked Questions All About Plumbing

Welcome back to another entry here at the Economy Plumbing Services blog. This time around, rather than give you the whole lowdown on a sewer system or discuss the types of sewer pipes under your home, we’re going to do a rapid-fire Q & A, answering some more frequently asked questions we see that may not require a whole blog to themselves. Ready to go? Alright let’s get to work!

6 FAQS All About Plumbing

When Was Indoor Plumbing Invented?

Plumbing has a looong history but indoor plumbing as we know it today can be traced backed to the first half of the 19th century. Before that it was only found in the homes of the wealthy elite, and looked much different from what we see today. If you want to trace the ancient roots of plumbing, Wikipedia is a great place to start!

How to Winterize Plumbing in a Vacant House?

Winter’s not coming around for a bit (unless you’re in the Southern Hemisphere!) but if you want to know how to handle it here’s a quick list for winterizing your plumbing.

  1. Shut off the main water valve, and turn off the water pump and water heater.
  2. Open all drain valves and all taps. 
  3. If able, use an air compressor to blow excess water out of the pipes.
  4. Drain your hot water heater.
  5. Flush toilets to remove as much water as you can from the tanks and the toilet bowls.
    1. If all water cannot be removed, add antifreeze to prevent any remaining water from freezing (and cracking the porcelain!).
  6. Similarly, check the drain traps. Add antifreeze to them to prevent the water that’s in the traps from freezing and cracking.

How to Tell if Plumbing Vent is Clogged?

We covered this recently actually!  If your sink is not draining right, but there’s no clog you can find or the toilet seems to flush on its own randomly – you may have a clogged vent. If you are having troubles that seem to indicate a clog in the sewage lines but there’s no such clog that you can identify, it’s possible that the clog is there just not where you’re looking!  The plumbing vent may be clogged and messing with your plumbing. Want to know how to clean a plumbing vent?

How to Use a Plumbing Snake

A plumbing snake is pretty simple to use, once you know what you’re doing. You feed one endinto the drain line, and using either a hand crank or an automated one you turn the snake as it moves through the drain to grab ahold and loosen clogs. We cover a lot more on this blog all about the plumbing snake.

What Plumbing Work Can Be Done Without a License?

Plenty of minor and seemingly majhor things can be done without a license. Changing fixtures, replacing faucets, installing a new toilet, all of those and more can be done without a license. However if you start needing to change out lines, you’re going to need to get a license!

While you may be able to do all these, there’s no saying you have to or can. Don’t hesitate to call in a professional to get all your plumbing needs handled correctly, and safely, the first time.

How Long is Plumbing School?

Check out our blog on how to become a plumber. The short answer? Plumbing school itself is about 2 years.

That’ll do it for this entry here at the Economy Plumbing Service blog! We have plenty more info to share, so give our other blogs a read, and if you need professional service in the Tucson area don’t hesitate to give us a call! From total repiping to unclogging a stubborn drain, EPS takes care of everything!

If Water Goes Through It Or To It, We Do It!

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Are Your Gas Lines in Safe? Warning Signs You Can’t Ignore

We rely on our gas lines in Tucson to heat our homes, give us instant hot water, power our stoves, and more. Keeping your gas line safe is a serious responsibility, because the dangers of a problem in the gas line can be deadly. Here's some warning signs to look out for. Warning Signs That Gas Lines in Tucson Are in Trouble Emergency Signs more Some warning signs are emergencies, and you cannot ignore them. Call your gas provider or emergency services and leave the area immediately if: You smell a sulfurous odor in or immediately around your house People in the house are suddenly and inexplicably experiencing headaches, dizziness, nausea, or shortness of breath If gas is escaping into the house, it can cause you and your family serious physical harm. The gas, as you breathe it, begins to displace the oxygen in your blood. You gradually asphyxiate or suffocate if you are exposed to too much for too long. Non-Emergency There are other warning signs that are less immediately serious, but you need to pay attention to them, regardless, as they could quickly turn serious: Corrosion Always inspect your pipes regularly, and if you see rust or other corrosion on them, be sure to call a qualified contractor right away. There may also be an issue if you notice flaking or bubbling of paint near your gas lines or a lot of dampness and residue around the fittings. A professional can seal joints and even replace a bad section of pipe if needed. Hissing If you hear hissing near a gas appliance or a meter, it likely means that gas is escaping. Even a little bit of a leak can increase your bills, of course, and indoors, it can create a very dangerous condition. Contact a professional contractor right away to take a look. If it's a single appliance, turn off the gas to that appliance. Bigger Bills If your habits haven't really changed, but the cost of your gas bill keeps going up, try turning off all your gas appliances and writing down the meter reading. Then, wait for an hour or two and check the meter again. If it has gone up, you have a leak. Low Pressure If the flame on your stove or in your furnace doesn't have the power it should have, then you could have a leak somewhere in the line leading to that appliance, or there could be a blockage. There also could be a faulty regulator in the appliance itself or corrosion in the piping. If several appliances seem to be affected, then the issue could be farther down the line and could be either your responsibility or something that your utility company needs to deal with. A contractor can investigate the situation and help you figure out what's going on. If you're noticing any issues with your gas line, schedule an appointment with us at Economy Plumbing Service LLC in Tucson or call us 24/7 at 520-885-3510. We also serve Vail, Rita Ranch, Oro Valley, and Green Valley.

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Signs Your Home Needs Repiping: When Tucson Homeowners Should Replace Old Pipes

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