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How Tankless Water Heaters Can Help Households Go Green

Homeowners are often looking for ways to save energy and money whenever possible. One way to go green is to install a tankless water heater when it’s time for a water heater replacement. This energy-efficient water heating system has many advantages over its tanked counterparts. This post will discuss signs to replace a water heater, what makes tankless water heaters different, and the benefits they offer. 

Signs a Water Heater Replacement Is Needed

Whether they are considering a tankless water heater or not, homeowners should be able to recognize the signs they may need to replace their water heater. After noticing the signs, a plumber can check to see if a replacement is necessary or not. Some common signs it may be time to replace a water heater include:

• The absence of hot water.
• The water heater needs frequent repairs.
• The water heater is corroded or shows signs of corrosion, like discolored water from fixtures.
• There are leaks. 
• Loud noises from the unit. 
• The unit is nearing the end of its life expectancy, which is around 10-15 years for a traditional storage water heater.  

Tankless Water Heaters Explained

When it comes to water heating, tankless water heaters and traditional storage water heaters both heat water. However, they do it differently. Traditional water heaters heat an entire tank of water and must keep it hot for when it’s needed. Then, when the tank empties, the household won’t have access to hot water until the tank is replenished.

Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, heat water on demand only when it’s needed, making them more energy efficient. Because they heat water quickly when needed, they also don’t require a large storage tank, and their hot water supply isn’t limited to a tank’s capacity like a storage water heater. 

Advantages of Installing a Tankless Water Heater

There are many benefits to a tankless water heater installation. Some of the significant advantages of tankless water heaters compared to traditional storage water heaters include: 

• They are more energy efficient.
• The efficiency leads to lower water heating costs.
• They have a longer life expectancy, over 20 years, compared to 10-15 years.
• They are smaller and take up less space. 
• It can deliver a constant supply of hot water rather than be limited by how much a tank can hold.

About Pioneer Plumbing & Septic

Pioneer Plumbing & Septic has been serving Houston and the surrounding areas for more than a decade. They provide straightforward pricing, same-day services, and quality craftsmanship. Call them for tankless water heater installation and repair services in Houston, TX. 

Signs Homes Need Sewer Line Replacement or Repair  

When homeowners notice problems with their plumbing, they need to act fast to limit the consequences. If sewer line issues occur, they can quickly be problematic for the household, leading to damage, health risks, and other problems. 

To avoid these problems, homeowners must schedule sewer line repairs or replacements as soon as they notice signs indicating the line is malfunctioning. This article will share common signs of sewer line problems, indicating repair or replacement may be needed. 

Slow Drains or Recurring Sewer Line Clogs

Some of the first signs homeowners might notice when they have a sewer line issue is slow draining or frequent clogged sewer lines. Slow draining could be a sign of a sewer line clog or be due to issues like damaged or crushed sewer lines or tree roots that have gotten into the line. 

Homeowners should also watch for frequent clogs as this could point to an underlying issue that needs to be addressed, such as damage to the sewer line, tree roots, and bad habits from the household, such as disposing of things in drains and toilets that shouldn’t be put into the lines. If homeowners notice these symptoms, they should have a plumber inspect their sewer line and determine the best solution. 

Sewage Smells Inside or Outside the House

Sewage odors are another obvious sign of sewer line defects that homeowners might notice. People should not notice sewage smells inside their houses or outside, around their yards. If they do, it can indicate a problem with their sewer line, including a clog, damage, or leak. 

So if homeowners notice foul smells, like the smell of sewage, the sewer line should be inspected by a professional quickly to determine the cause and best solution, whether it’s drain cleaning or sewer line repair or replacement. Fixing the clogged or damaged sewer line can protect the household from additional problems. 

Soggy or Fast-Growing Spots in the Grass

Another common sign of broken or leaking sewer lines is patches of grass outside the home that look more lush and grow faster than the surrounding grass, soggy areas, and puddles in the yard without explanation. While property owners are focused on looking for signs inside their houses, this can be an easy-to-detect sign in the yard indicating sewer line replacement or repair may be needed. 

Patches of green or lush grass can indicate a crack or damage in the sewer line because sewage leaking out can fertilize the grass around the affected pipe. These areas can also be soggy due to excess moisture in the ground. These areas with greener or more lush grass can also help determine where the damage is located. The faster the sewer line leak is fixed, the better chance homeowners have of avoiding major issues around their houses.

About Pioneer Plumbing & Septic

Pioneer Plumbing & Septic has been serving Houston, TX, and the surrounding areas for more than a decade. They provide flat-rate pricing, quality craftsmanship, and same-day services. Call them today for sewer line repair and replacement services in Houston, TX. 

Preventing and Repairing Backed-up Toilets 

Backed-up toilets can cause major issues for households, such as water damage, foul odors, mold growth, and even health hazards to family members, as bacteria and other contaminants can be present. Because of these risks, homeowners should schedule professional plumbing repairs immediately after a backup occurs. 

Experts can identify the cause of the backup and fix it before it leads to larger problems for the household. This post will reveal some of the most common causes of toilet backups, some methods plumbers may use to repair them, and ways homeowners can help avoid them. 

Causes of Backed-up Toilets

When a household experiences a backed-up toilet, it can be due to various problems. Plumbers typically start by inspecting the sewer line and looking for the reason for the backup. One of the most frequent causes of backed-up toilets is clogged sewer lines. These can be caused by various debris, grease, and even tree roots that can grow into the sewer line. 

Plumbers will also look for other defects in the sewer line that can cause a toilet backup, including deteriorated, damaged, or collapsed sewer lines. This damage to the sewer line can be caused by age, corrosion, tree roots, or external factors such as vehicles, excavation, and other things that can accidentally break the pipe underground. 

How Plumbers Repair Toilet Backups 

Backed-up toilets need to be repaired by experienced professionals, as they can find and fix the underlying problem to prevent another backup. Plumbers can use numerous specialized tools and methods to repair the problem. Initially, plumbers may perform a sewer video inspection to identify and locate the clog or defect and determine the severity. That will influence the type of repair methods they use. 

Plumbers can use drain cleaning methods like a plumber’s snake or hydro jetting to clear sewer line clogs if that is what caused the backup. If the line is severely broken or collapsed, and that’s what caused it, they can perform sewer line repair or replacement. If tree roots have infiltrated the line, they can do drain cleaning to remove them and then may be able to perform trenchless sewer line repair to fix the cracks and leaks in the line from where the tree roots got in. 

Help Avoid Toilet Backups 

To help avoid the risks and costs associated with backed-up toilets, homeowners can do some easy prevention. Household residents should pay close attention to what they put down the drains and flush down their toilets. They should only ever flush waste and toilet paper and avoid using the home’s drains and toilets for garbage. Everyday items that can cause sewer lines to clog are grease, oil, food waste, feminine hygiene products, wipes, paper towels, and more. If someone notices signs of a clogged sewer line, they should have a plumber clear the clog before it causes a backup. 

Homeowners can also add drain screens over their drains in sinks, showers, and bathtubs to catch hair, soap scum, and more before they go down the drain and cause clogs. In addition, they should pay attention to their landscaping and where trees are planted to ensure the tree roots don’t grow into the sewer lines. One method to avoid tree root damage is to install root barriers. To prevent backups and other plumbing problems, homeowners should also schedule regular plumbing maintenance with a professional. 

About Pioneer Plumbing & Septic

Pioneer Plumbing & Septic has been serving Houston, TX, and the surrounding areas for more than a decade. They offer straightforward pricing, same-day services, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Call them today for sewer line repair services in Houston, TX. 

Take Good Care of the Garbage Disposal During the Holidays

When homeowners start holiday baking, cooking, and food prep, they will use the kitchen a ton and run the risk of a clogged or broken garbage disposal. No household wants to deal with plumbing issues in their kitchen during the holidays.

However, homeowners can help avoid these risks and garbage disposal problems by taking proper precautions with their garbage disposal. This post will share tips on what items households should avoid putting down the garbage disposal, simple things that will help the disposal, and hiring a plumber for garbage disposal repairs.

Foods You Should Never Put Down the Disposal

One of the easiest ways for homeowners to avoid garbage disposal issues is to avoid placing certain items, in particular, down the garbage disposal. Households should never put the following items down the drain and disposal:

• Grease and cooking oils that can harden and cause clogs.
• Stringy vegetables like celery or artichokes can get stuck on the blades and in the disposal.
• Starchy foods like pasta and rice can be problematic when they expand with water.
• Bones and hard items like fruit pits can wreck the blades.
• Coffee grounds and eggshells can accumulate and form blockages.

Additionally, even things that can be put into garbage disposals should never be put in the disposal in large quantities to avoid problems.

Why Run Cold Water and Ice Down Your Disposal

An easy task to help garbage disposals is to keep cold water running while using the garbage disposal and for a bit after it’s off. Doing this will help avoid food getting stuck in the disposal, keep the food flowing down the drain, and prevent clogs. It will also help homeowners avoid foul odors coming from their disposal and can prevent the motor from overheating.

People should also regularly run ice cubes down the garbage disposal. The ice can help keep the blades sharp, and the grinded-down pieces of ice can help dislodge food waste that has gotten stuck in the disposal. These simple tips can help households avoid garbage disposal problems and keep them clean.

Call Experts for Garbage Disposal Services

When it comes time for garbage disposal repair, installation, or replacement, they should be performed by plumbers. Plumbers can safely and accurately install and fix garbage disposals. Meanwhile, homeowners can put themselves at risk attempting these services and can make an error that can lead to leaks and other problems. Some signs of garbage disposal problems include:

• The garbage disposal makes unusual noises like humming.
• Bad smells from the garbage disposal.
• The garbage disposal reset button has to be used too often.
• The garbage disposal is leaking.

About Pioneer Plumbing & Septic

Pioneer Plumbing & Septic has been serving Houston, TX, and the surrounding areas for over ten years. They provide flat-rate pricing, same-day services, and quality service. Call them today for kitchen plumbing and garbage disposal services in Houston, TX.

The 4th of July is a time for celebration with family and friends. But before the fireworks start, make sure you take some time to prepare your home for any potential plumbing problems.

Prevention Tips

Check out these simple tips to help you avoid some of the most common issues and keep your holiday celebrations flowing smoothly!

Place a Wastebasket Near the Toilet

While it may seem like common knowledge that flushing anything other than toilet paper can spell disaster for your plumbing, it just takes one person to flush the wrong item, and the next thing you know, you’re calling a plumber for an expensive repair. This exact situation is why we recommend keeping a trash can near the toilet.

Having a small wastebasket handy will give guests at your house another option to get rid of any garbage they may have. This should prevent any small objects from being flushed down the toilet and causing a clog.

Be sure to empty the trash regularly so it doesn’t become overloaded. If someone sees that the basket is full, they may decide to flush the garbage anyway.

Throw Away Your Food Scraps

If you’re like us, no Independence Day party is complete without some good barbecue food to munch on. However, these foods often contain fat, grease, or bones, a triple threat that can seriously damage your drains and garbage disposal.

To avoid anyone accidentally can damaging the blades on your disposal or causing a clog, it’s best to get disposable plates for the party. Both paper and styrofoam plates can just be thrown away, so no one will be tempted to just push their leftovers off their plate and into your drain.

Know Your Water Shut-off Valve’s Location

Plumbing systems are more delicate than the average person would assume. One slight misstep can quickly snowball into a serious problem which is why it’s important to know where your water shut-off valve is located.

During a large gathering, it is impossible to keep track of what everyone is doing. If one person does something that causes a plumbing emergency, you’ll need to be able to turn off the water supply to your home quickly. In general, you should also ensure that everyone in your family knows where the valve is and how to operate it, just in case.

We’re Here for You

By following these simple tips, you can avoid most plumbing problems and have a stress-free Fourth of July celebration. However, if you still run into some plumbing trouble, the expert technicians at Pioneer Plumbing and Septic are ready and waiting to fix your problem fast!

June means it is officially storm season in Texas. Tropical storms and hurricanes can cause a ton of problems, and while many of those issues are more pressing, the problems your plumbing can face shouldn’t be forgotten.

Potential Plumbing Problems

Water heater malfunctions, water leaks, and slow toilet drains are just a few of the common issues that can occur after a massive storm. While these problems may not be your main focus during the storm, they can cause more damage if left unattended.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the most common plumbing problems that arise after a tropical storm and what you should do about them.

Water Heater Problems

Water heater malfunctions are a common problem that arises after a tropical storm. If your water heater is malfunctioning, it is likely due to flooding caused by the storm.

If you suspect that storm water has gotten into your water heater, you should call a plumber to come and take a look at it before using the water heater again. It’s essential to get the system inspected because a damaged water heater can cause fires or even explode.

In the case your water heater was submerged in water, it’s best just to have the whole unit replaced before using it again.

Leaky Pipes

Water leaks are probably the most common problem after a large storm due to large amounts of rain and heavy winds. It’s important to find out if you have a leak as soon as possible because the longer you wait, the more damage the water can do.

If you think you have a water leak, turn off your main water valve and check your water meter to see if the number on it is increasing. If the number is still going up despite you turning off the valve, then it’s best to call a professional to inspect your piping and fix any leaks.

Slow Drains

If your toilet is draining slowly after a major storm, it’s probably because the prolonged heavy rain and storm surges have caused a backup in your underground sewer lines. To fix this problem, you’ll need to call a plumber to come and clear the blockage.

The Right Team For The Job

Operating and living in Texas, the team at Pioneer Plumbing and Septic understands just how bad life can be after a significant storm. That’s why our expert team is on call and ready for all your plumbing problems no matter how big or small. Give us a call at (281) 815-2772 or contact us online for all your plumbing needs!

While it’s not often we think about the hardness of our water, it plays a vital role in our everyday life. By installing a water softener, you can significantly improve your quality of life and save yourself some money.

How It Works

To remove the minerals from hard water, water softeners utilize ion exchange. This occurs when water is passed through the mineral tank, which contains negatively charged resin beads. The calcium and magnesium in hard water are positively charged, so they attract the negative beads as they pass through the tank. The minerals then get stuck on the beads as the water leaves, making them softer as it flows into your home.

Benefits

Reduces Plumbing Wear and Tear

Hard water can take a toll on the pipes in your plumbing system. This is because the high amounts of calcium, magnesium, or other minerals found in hard water will build up in your pipes like cholesterol and other fatty deposits do in arteries. This accumulation of minerals will eventually reduce the amount of room that water has to flow through your pipes. The decreased volume of water leads to water turbulence which can damage your home’s pipes and lead to blockages and leaks.

Using a water softener can decrease the number of minerals found in your water. This means you can avoid buildup in your pipes, and your home will require fewer piping repairs and replacements.

Extend Appliance Life

The minerals found in hard water don’t just affect your pipes; they can affect your water appliances too. Buildup harms your water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines much in the same way that they hurt your plumbing. However, because these appliances use hot water, this can expedite the process causing more frequent problems.

Reduces Energy Bill

Buildup won’t just attack your wallet through costly repair and replacements; it will also raise your electricity costs. This happens because the minerals in hard water require more energy to heat the water. The more power your appliance needs to reach the desired temperature, the higher your bill.

Makes Cleaning Easier

Installing a water softener is a great way to improve the cleanliness of your dishes, clothing, and even yourself. The calcium and magnesium found in hard water combine with the salt found in soap and detergent to create soap scum. This mixture will stain bathtubs and toilet bowls, damage your clothes, produce buildup in your hair and leave a film on your dishes.

Can Prevent Dry, Itchy Skin

Hard water doesn’t just hurt your hair; it can affect your skin too. The soap scum created by the combination of minerals and soap can clog your pores and make it harder to wash the soap off. When your pores become clogged, your skin will dry out and become flaky and irritable. This will also lead to acne, skin blemishes, and in severe cases, dermatitis.

Makes Water Taste Better

Water is a highly critical part of living a healthy and happy life, so having water that you like the taste of is important. While everyone has different tastes, the metallic flavor that comes from the minerals, fluoride, chloramine, or other natural or chemical additives in hard water is often considered less favorable than the taste of soft water.

The Right Team for the Job

Don’t allow hard water to make your life more complicated than it has to be! Call (281) 815-2772 to have the experienced plumbers at Pioneer Plumbing and Septic install a water softener in your home and handle any of your other plumbing needs.

Did you know there is one often-ignored part of any skincare routine that is more important than any facial cleanser, toner, or Moisturizer? It’s True! The very thing you wash your face with, water, decides if your skin routine succeeds or fails well before you apply a single product, and many people neglect it.

Unfiltered and hard water can cause severe damage to your skin; check out all the effects below!

THE EFFECTS UNFILTERED AND HARD WATER CAN HAVE ON YOUR SKIN

Causes Dry Flaky Skin

Ruining your skin’s moisture levels is one of the most significant effects hard and unfiltered water can have. Not only will the calcium bicarbonate residue left on your skin after a shower disturb your skin’s natural oil levels, which regulates your skin’s moisture, but it will also make moisturizers and lotions less ineffective.

Clogs Your Pores

Hard and unfiltered water is full of minerals that can change the makeup of your skin’s natural oil. This new thick and waxy oil will get stuck in your pores, leading to the formation of blackheads, rosacea, and acne.

Leads to Premature Signs of Aging

The iron, magnesium, and calcium found in hard and unfiltered water can form skin-aging free radicals. These will destroy your collagen, which keeps your skin looking youthful and firm. Over an extended period of exposure, your skin will begin to sag and form fine lines and wrinkles much earlier than it should have.

HOW TO FIGHT BACK

Water softeners are the best way to fight back against hard water. The system utilizes ion exchange, which repels the positively charged calcium and magnesium molecules with negatively charged resin beads to repel the positively charged calcium and magnesium molecules.

By having the experts at Pioneer Plumbing and Septic install a water softener, not only will you improve your skin, but you can also improve your home! The minerals found in hard water often cause clogs, leading to higher energy bills and damaged appliances. Magnesium and calcium also affect the look of your home as it leaves stains on your sinks, showers, and bathtubs and can cause a thick scale to build upon your water fixtures.

Don’t let hard water wreak havoc on your skin! Call (281) 815-2772 to have the experienced plumbers at Pioneer Plumbing and Septic install a water softener in your home and handle any of your other plumbing needs.

A lot of products and materials seem to be “flushable.” Some will even appear to go down your toilet just fine, with no negative repercussions. What you might not realize is that something that isn’t clogging your toilet now may be causing a problem deeper down in your home’s plumbing—or even in your town’s sewer system and waste treatment plants.

Below are some of the most common items people flush down the toilet that can cause major plumbing and sewer issues.

1. “Flushable” Wipes

Can you flush them? Yes. So why should you not? Despite what manufacturers claim, flushable wipes take a long time to break down in water, while toilet paper breaks down almost immediately. If toilet paper did not dissolve into tiny bits and shreds in just minutes, everyone in the U.S. would have significant plumbing and sewer clogs.

Consider this: flushable wipes need to hold their shape in water because they must remain wet in the packaging without breaking down. To get an idea of how long it takes for flushable wipes to break down the way toilet paper does, check out this video from The Fit RV, where multiple flushable wipe brands are tested alongside toilet paper.

2. Dental Floss

“But it’s so small!” As harmless as dental floss may seem, this material has some serious clog-causing abilities. Just like hair—perhaps the most infamous clog-causer—floss can stick to dirty pipe walls and become tangled up with other material down in your drains. This can result in a blockage that forms over time.

Bottom line: don’t give up flossing, but just be sure to toss used floss into your bathroom wastebasket—not your toilet.

3. “Flushable” Kitty Litter

We hate to break it to you, cat moms and dads: this stuff is terrible for your plumbing system. Any kind of sandy or clay kitty litter needs to have clumping properties so that you can scoop it up. Anything that clumps can coat your pipe walls and cause a clog.

If you need a fast, easy way to take care of your cat’s litter, we recommend the Litter Genie, which allows you to take the litter out to the garbage about once a week. If you bought flushable kitty litter to avoid plastic waste from traditional kitty litter bags, these plant-based, USA-made bags are a fantastic option.

4. Napkins, Paper Towels, and Facial Tissues

Paper is paper, right? Not exactly. Even though these products appear to be very similar to toilet paper, they are not toilet paper substitutes.

Like wet wipes, napkins, paper towels, and facial tissues have to hold up against moisture. This means that while they’re traveling through your home’s drain and waste pipes, they aren’t going to break down into pieces as quickly as toilet paper would. Consequently, these materials are more likely to wad up and get caught in the areas where your pipes are already dirty or where they change direction.

In short: dispose of any non-toilet-paper paper products in trash cans, not toilets.

5. Cotton Products (Makeup Pads, Cotton Balls, Q-Tips, etc.)

Now if paper towels won’t break down fast enough in water, you know that anything made of cotton won’t. Cotton products like makeup pads and cotton balls are made to suck up moisture and hold their shape. Even though they are small enough for you to flush them initially, they can get stuck in your home’s pipes farther down the line.

To quote Yoda, “Size matters not.” Cotton is not a product you want entering your plumbing system, no matter how much of it there is.

Is water draining slowly or backing up in your home? At Pioneer Plumbing and Septic, our Houston plumbers specialize in professional drain cleaning services with 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed: (281) 815-2772.