If you see water pooling up underneath or next to your water heater, your first thought may be that your water heater is leaking. This is a possibility, especially if your water heater is older. However, it may not necessarily be leaking. A few days of observation should give you a good idea as to whether or not your water heater is leaking.

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How to Tell if your Water Heater is Leaking

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If you?re lucky, the puddle of water underneath your water heater isn?t from a leak. It could be condensation which has collected and accumulated under the heater, which is common in damp weather such as the spring. The water may also be coming not from the water heater but from the water softener discharge lines or furnace drain lines. See if you can trace the source of the water by starting at the puddle and working backwards. If you can?t find the source, you can take the following steps to determine whether the water on the floor is the result of a leak or condensation.

Wipe up the water on the floor and wipe any condensation off the pipes. Put a paper towel on the floor where the puddle was. Check the paper towel a few times a day to see if the water returns. If it does, it?s most likely the result of a leak.

If you believe your hot water heater is leaking, the best thing to do is to contact a professional plumbing service in Baltimore. There are do-it-yourself fixes for hot water heater leaks, but working with hot water heaters can be dangerous, especially if you?re not sure what you?re doing. Play it safe and contact a Baltimore plumber if you have a leak in your hot water heater.

Abbott?s Plumbing, Your Baltimore Plumber

Abbott?s Plumbing is a second generation family-owned , full service plumbing contractor in Baltimore, Maryland. We also specialize in gas line installation and repair, as well as bathroom and kitchen remodeling. We?re factory-authorized representatives for service of Rheem, Ruud, Richmond, and GE water heaters. Our fiber optic under-ground camera can detect drain problems without the need for a costly dig up. All of our plumbing mechanics are licensed plumbers and gas fittings, and our in-home estimating team will quickly service your plumbing needs. So next time you have a plumbing issue in Baltimore, no matter how small, pick up the phone and call the professional and courteous plumbers at Abbott?s Plumbing!

If you have any questions about our blog, ?How To Remove Mildew From Your Bathroom? or need a Baltimore plumber, please contact Abbott?s Plumbing by calling 410-536-5700 or visitaAbbottsPlumbing.comatoday! You can also follow us onaFacebook,aTwitter,aLinkedIn, andaGoogle+.

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Sources

http://awaterheaterleaking.wordpress.com/

Durable LED Lighting And What You Don?t Know

LED lighting has become increasingly popular in the Houston area. This increased interest in LED lighting is primarily because they cost less to operate and the LED bulbs last up to 25 times longer than other bulbs. Replacing your older light fixtures and using energy efficient LED bulbs is also a great way to update your home without breaking the bank.

New fixtures and LED bulbs may be a little more expensive initially, their longevity, quality and energy efficiency make LED lights a great choice in the long run. LED bulbs are designed to focus the light in one specific direction instead of all directions like incandescent bulbs. This directed light makes LED bulbs significantly more energy efficient. aLED lights radiate less heat than traditional light bulbs.

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10 Things You Didn?t Know About LEDs

There are a number of additional benefits for LED lighting. Energy.gov has this article about LED Lighting as part of their series highlighting the ?Top Things You Didn?t Know About??

• A light-emitting diode, or LED, is a type of solid-state lighting that uses a semiconductor to convert electricity into light. Today?s LED bulbs can be six-seven times more energy efficient than conventional incandescent lights and cut energy use by more than 80 percent.

• Good-quality LED bulbs can have a useful life of 25,000 hours or more ? meaning they can last more than 25 times longer than traditional light bulbs. That is a life of more than three years if run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Unlike incandescent bulbs ? which release 90 percent of their energy as heat ? LEDs use energy far more efficiently with little wasted heat.

• From traffic lights and vehicle brake lights to TVs and display cases, LEDs are used in a wide range of applications because of their unique characteristics, which include compact size, ease of maintenance, resistance to breakage, and the ability to focus the light in a single direction instead of having it go every which way.

• LEDs contain no mercury, and a recent Energy Department study determined that LEDs have a much smaller environmental impact than incandescent bulbs. They also have an edge over compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) that?s expected to grow over the next few years as LED technology continues its steady improvement.

• Since the Energy Department started funding solid-state lighting R&D in 2000, these projects have received 58 patents. Some of the most successful projects include developing new ways to use materials, extract more light, and solve the underlying technical challenges. Most recently, the Energy Department announced five new projects that will focus on cutting costs by improving manufacturing equipment and processes.

• The first visible-spectrum LED was invented by Nick Holonyak, Jr., while working for GE in 1962. Since then, the technology has rapidly advanced and costs have dropped tremendously, making LEDs a viable lighting solution. Between 2011 and 2012, global sales of LED replacement bulbs increased by 22 percent while the cost of a 60-watt equivalent LED bulb fell by nearly 40 percent. By 2030, it?s estimated that LEDs will account for 75 percent of all lighting sales.

• In 2012, about 49 million LEDs were installed in the U.S. ? saving about $675 million in annual energy costs. Switching entirely to LED lights over the next two decades could save the U.S. $250 billion in energy costs, reduce electricity consumption for lighting by nearly 50 percent and avoid 1,800 million metric tons of carbon emissions.

It?s always a good idea to hire a certified, licensed electrician to give your entire home a thorough inspection, especially if you?re planning to remodel a room.

Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical is a full service residential contractor that has been serving the greater Houston area for over 50 years. Abacus is a member of the Greater Houston Chamber of Commerce and has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau of Houston. Abacus is licensed and insured and offers 24/7 emergency service. To learn more about Abacus Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, visitawww.abacusplumbing.net or call (832) 554-9951(832) 554-9951. License Numbers: Alan O?Neill M-20628 | TACLA29370E | TECL 30557 a

Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical services the greater DFW area including, but not limited to: Houston, Humble, Baytown, Bellaire, Conroe, Katy, Spring, Sugar Land, The Woodlands and more. Check out Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical reviews or see Abacus A+ BBB to confirm Abacus is a company you can trust.

Unless you?re a plumber, you probably don?t know much about your sewer line. That?s OK, it?s usually not at the forefront of folks? minds. However, here at InSink Plumbing, we?ve noticed that people ask a lot more questions when they?re having issues with their sewer line. So, today, we?re taking some time to address those questions. Let?s take a look at signs of a malfunctioning sewer line, who is responsible for a sewer line, what is involved in an inspection, what can damage and block a line, and when sewer lines need to be replaced.

What Are Some Signs of a Malfunctioning Sewer Line?

A visible leak: If you notice a leak within the walls of your home, your sewer line may have cracked or broken. Sewer line breakages within a home are most often caused by sewer lines that are old and outdated. Clay and cast iron pipes (which were popular sewer line options several decades ago) slowly decay. In addition, if a home shifts a significant amount, a sewer line can become pinched, cracked, or completely severed (however, this is an uncommon problem). Sewer lines will, of course, be far smellier than broken water lines, which brings us to our next sign?

Bad odors: If you notice bad odors in or around your home, your sewer line may be leaking. Do your best to look for leaks, and if you can?t find the source of the odor, it?s time to contact your plumber. Since much of your sewer line isn?t exposed (most of it will be buried outside of your home), the odor caused by a leak may be the only sign of an issue.

A backup: This is the most obvious sign of a sewer problem. If you have sewage seeping up through a drain or drains in your home, you?ll know it. Regardless of the issue at hand and the sign that you notice in your home, it?s best to refrain from using water. Any fluids that are flushed down the drain throughout your home can come up out of the drain or through a leak.

Who Is Responsible for the Sewer Line?

Since sewer lines are buried deep within the yard of a home, often people assume that they fall under the care of the city. After all, power lines and other utilities are treated this way. However, this is a misconception. Unfortunately for homeowners, sewer lines that span from a home to the sewer main (which is usually located underneath the road) are the responsibility of those homeowners. This ?lateral? line must be maintained by the owner of the property. It is not the city?s responsibility to fix damaged or blocked lateral sewer lines. Instead, the city is only responsible for maintenance of the sewer main that resides underneath the road. A sewer line inspection can help to reveal where a sewer line is damaged, and whether or not it is the homeowner?s responsibility to repair that damage.

What?s a Sewer Line Inspection?

Thanks to relatively recent advances in technology, it?s possible to inspect sewer lines with a specialized camera. Plumbers often arrive at a sewer line complication with a sewer line camera. Here at InSink Plumbing, we have a 300 inch fiber optic cable spool that ends with a camera eye and light. Alongside our camera, we bring a color monitor and recorder to view the sewer line at hand. In this way, it?s possible to assess a problem without moving an ounce of dirt. That?s great news for homeowners, because we can offer up a quote for a repair or blockage removal. We also have a handy tool, called a locator, that provides sewer line depth and location information. So, if we do have to dig, we won?t have to tear up the whole yard to get to the source of the issue.

What Can Damage My Sewer Line?

Well, there are many things that can damage a sewer line. Most often, sewer lines are damaged by roots. Tree roots may seem innocent enough, but given enough time, they can create and infiltrate tiny cracks in your sewer line. And once a root has infiltrated your sewer line, it can grow enough to clog the line entirely. In this scenario, your line will need to be removed and replaced. In addition, as mentioned before, a line might just be too old. Cast iron and clay sewer pipes disintegrate over time. Expect clay sewer pipes to last 50 to 60 years. Cast iron pipes can last up to 100 years with proper care. If you have a PVC pipe, you?re in luck! These pipes are built to last for 100 years or more. However, take note, if you?ve resorted to using a liquid chemical drain cleaner, you may have damaged your sewer line. Ask your plumber for an enzyme clog remover for light clogs, or use a snake for more demanding clogs.

What Can Block My Sewer Line?

Grease, toiletries, and other objects can clog sewer lines. Be sure to keep foreign objects from going down the drain. Kids often flush handfuls of Legos or their favorite stuffed animal, and that can cause an immediate clog. In addition, hygiene products can cause a clog. Be sure to read the label on any product that?s being flushed?it will inform you if it is built to deteriorate when flushed. Never wash grease down the sink. Grease will solidify within your pipes, and over time that can cause a clog. Finally, don?t abuse the garbage disposal. While it?s OK to send bits of food down the sink to be devoured by the disposal, overusing your disposal can cause a clog down the line. Moderate your use of the disposal, don?t grind up large food chunks, and run water down the drain while you run the disposal.

When Do Sewer Lines Need Replacing?

If your sewer line is cracked or severed, it?s time to replace it. In some instances, when most of the sewer pipe is in good shape, sections of the sewer line can be replaced. However, if you have an old pipe that is deteriorating, it?s best to replace the whole line in one fell swoop. Your plumber will assess the damage that your piping has incurred, and he?ll let you know how much of your line needs replacing.

InSink Plumbing Sewer Line Services

Here at InSink Plumbing, we provide a suite of sewer line services. We can inspect and assess sewer line issues, and then we?ll get to work fixing them. From drain blockages to collapsed and cracked sewer lines, we?ve seen it all?and we?re prepared to fix your lines to get everything flowing as it should. Contact us and book an appointment online!

Keep your family safe this summer by following these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and your friends at ServiceMark Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. This is part of a special summer series we are posting, so be sure to follow our blog and get helpful tips and reminders each week. This week?s blog focuses on two timely themes ? Lawn Mower Safety and Fireworks Safety:

LAWN MOWER SAFETY

• Only use a mower with a control that stops the mower blade from spinning if the handle is let go, or if you leave the seat of your riding mower.
• Children younger than 16 years should not be allowed to use riding mowers. Children younger than 12 years should not use walk-behind (push) mowers.
• Make sure that sturdy shoes are worn while mowing ? no sandals or flip flops.
• Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. Have anyone who uses a mower wear hearing and eye protection.
• Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse.
• Always turn OFF the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
• Do not allow children to ride as passengers on riding mowers.
• Keep children out of the yard while mowing. If childrenamust be in the vicinity of running lawnmowers, they should wear polycarbonate protective eye wear at all times.
• Drive up and down slopes, not across to prevent mower rollover.
• Keep guards, shields, switches, and safety devices in proper working order at all times.

FIREWORKS SAFETY

• Fireworks can result in severe burns, scars and disfigurement that can last a lifetime.
• Fireworks that are often thought to be safe, such as sparklers, can reach temperatures above 1000 degrees (F), and can easily burn users, bystanders, plus could catch nearby combustible materials on fire (especially during dry or windy weather conditions).
• Families should attend community fireworks displays run by professionals rather than using fireworks at home.
• Say NO to the purchase of all fireworks, including those by mail or the Internet. Anything that involves sparks or flame can cause harm to you and your family without warning.

No matter what you do outside, keep your cool reliably when inside! If you experience problems with your home?s air conditioning system, contact ServiceMark Heating, Cooling and Plumbing at 1-800-474-5200 or visit www.servicemarksolutions.com. Be sure to watch for more Summer Safety Series tips coming soon!

Source: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/Summer-Safety-Tips.aspx#sthash.T8vR3F5Q.dpuf

A continual dripping sound coming from your shower faucet can be as annoying as it is expensive. It can also be quite a nuisance to repair. Though many people opt for the do-it-yourself approach to household plumbing problems, shower faucet repair is definitely one you may want to consider calling a professional for.

There are a variety of problems your shower faucet could be having that are resulting in the leak that you hear dripping. Diagnosing the problem can be almost as difficult as the shower faucet repair itself if you?re not familiar with the different systems of shower faucets. If you don?t know what the likely problem areas are, finding the source of the problem will be that much harder, especially because the leak can be simply the expression of a much larger problem within the system. You may find that you fixed the leak, at least temporarily, but completely missed an underlying and even more serious complication.

A plumber, on the other hand, will have years of shower faucet repair experience from which to draw. He or she will know how every type of shower faucet system works, and the tell-tail signs of problems both big and small. He or she will also have the tools necessary for fixing the problem, and know where to get replacement parts if necessary. Shower faucet repair is a complex job, difficult for even experienced do-it-yourselfers to complete thoroughly and finally.