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What Does it Mean When Outdoor Plumbing Leaks?

Outdoor plumbing leaks are a homeowner’s nightmare because they can be the result of several different types of plumbing problems. If you notice a leak, it’s best to contact a licensed plumber to take over the situation and figure out the leak’s source and how to fix it.

Tracking Down the Source of an Outdoor Leak

The source of an outdoor plumbing problem can stem from issues like:

• Root damage
• Sprinkler damage
• Frozen pipes
• Damaged sewer line

Any combination of these plumbing problems could be why your outdoor plumbing is malfunctioning. Here are some things you can do to piece together which catastrophe has stricken your backyard.

Physically Check Your Exterior Faucets

A burst exterior water faucet could be the result of poor preparation before the last winter. Hoses left connected to spigots can cause water to freeze in the faucet and eventually lead to a pipe burst. 

Unfortunately, repairing burst pipes and hose bibs are both complex jobs. Don’t rely on any DIY efforts to seal this leak. Reach out to a Carrollton plumber for emergency services.

Pinpoint Soggy Spots in Your Yard

Yes, your yard can quickly help you and your plumber figure out where a leak is located and what the potential problem could be. Leaks, soggy spots, and generally wet sidewalks are all signs that you have a water leak in your yard.

This sign points to either an irrigation problem or the main water line leak, which a local plumber will quickly be able to source. 

Check Your Water Meter

Sometimes you may not notice the physical signs of a leak but experience the financial red flags. If you notice a sudden surge in your water bill, the best way to solve the mystery is through your water meter. Before checking your meter, make sure no water is being used inside or out. 

Your meter has a leak indicator on it. Once you’ve located your water meter, check to see if this indicator is moving. It will rotate when water is moving through your system. If you see this happening, and no water is currently in use, you most likely have a leak. 

At this point, you should call an emergency plumber to help you determine where the leak is located and if it is impacting your indoor or outdoor plumbing.

Plumbing Dynamics Helps Keep Your Outdoor Plumbing Under Control

Don’t let outdoor plumbing problems ruin your summer. Let the experts at Plumbing Dynamics help. Indoor and outdoor plumbing emergencies are our specialties, and we are ready to put our experience to the test. Contact us today to find out more about our services in your area.

For hose bib replacement in Carrollton, TX call 214-929-3431!

Protect Your Home From Backflow During a Flood

One way to protect your home from this kind of backup is with a backflow valve. These valves are constructed so that they prevent sewage from backing up into the home. There are different types of valves, some more complicated than others.

For example, one type with a more complex design is called a gate valve. It works well to seal off the sewage from backing up, but you need to operate it manually. So, how well the valve works will depend on how much warning you have of an impending flood so that you can rush to operate it.

More simple types of valves are called flap or check valves. They open to allow sewage to flow out, but then close to prevent the sewage from flowing in the reverse direction. They operate automatically, but they do not work quite as well as the gate valve to prevent sewage backflow.

And, there are even valves that are a combination of the gate and flap valves.

As mentioned, these valves can prevent a good deal of damage to your home, as well as the prospect of cleaning up the sewage, which can be a hazardous and costly undertaking, as well as presenting a big health hazard.

What to Check Before Installing a Check Valve

If you are considering installing a sewer check valve, there are several things you should know.

1. A licensed plumber should install these valves so that the installation is done properly and meets applicable codes.
2. As mentioned above, there are different types of check valves, so you need to consult with your plumber as to which would work best in your particular situation. The plumber can spell out the advantages and disadvantages of each type of valve.
3. The valve must be installed on the main waste drain pipes that exit your home as well as those that are connected to any appliances located below the possible flood level. This means, for example, they may need to be installed on laundry sinks, your washing machine drain line, sump pumps, etc. These connections need to be made in addition to sewer connections.

The cost to install a combination gate/flap valve will be around $1,400, while the cost to install a flap valve will run about $600. This includes the costs for excavation and backfilling.

AFTER A FLOOD, PLUMBING DYNAMICS CAN HELP

If you’re not sure what type of sewer check valve you have, or if you want to replace it or even install it, contact Plumbing Dynamics today at 214-929-3431! We’re the Carrollton plumbers you can trust with your home or business in the North Dallas area.

Trust us with your sewer line repair in Carrollton, TX.

Make sure you check out our online coupons so that you can save yourself some money on plumbing repair….

PEX Plumbing Pipe Advantages

Because it is made by extrusion, you can cut it to any length you want, so you can install long pieces of it without having to attach anything together. It also conserves energy better than copper because it doesn’t transfer heat.

Water also moves more smoothly through PEX than it does through copper and so is much quieter.

Another advantage of PEX is that it doesn’t corrode like copper. This is important if you have water that is slightly acidic. In addition, it also resists scale buildup.

PEX also is better to use than CPVC pipe, mostly because you don’t need to use glue to attach the pipe together. It is also less likely than PVC to burst if it freezes, and PEX is more flexible.

PEX has also been proven reliable. It has been used for around 30 years in other countries. When problems arise, they are more the result of slipshod installation or fittings that have not been attached properly.

It also appears that PEX can withstand freezing temperatures because it can expand and contract.

Connecting PEX Plumbing Pipe

There are several ways to attach PEX pipes together. One way is through the use of a copper crimp ring. You put the ring over the pipe, a fitting is inserted inside the pipe, and the copper ring is crimped over the pipe using a crimping tool. This is the most popular method.

Another way is through the use of an expansion tool that expands the diameter of the pipe. Yet another way is by using a stainless steel clamp. Standard compression fittings can also be used.

Even if you have experience replacing piping in your Carrollton home, and as easy as PEX piping is to work with, we highly recommend you call upon plumbing installation experts at Plumbing Dynamics. Contact us today at 214-929-3431 for more information!

We’re here to help with pipe replacement in Carrollton, TX.

How Can Groundwater Lead to a Slab Leak?

Before we get into the dangers of slab leaks, let’s explore how groundwater can create them.

Groundwater in soil that has been saturated by excessive rains could be pushed into your slab via hydrostatic pressure. That pressure could cause pipes to leak or even break.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to know when these types of leaks have occurred, and they often go undetected until you can point out some of the telltale signs of a slab leak.

Slab Leak Detection For Your Home

Fortunately, you don’t have to wait around for your home to display the worst signs of a slab leak to know you’ve got one. We’ve seen every sign and can attest that there are several red flags that point to a slab leak in your home.

If you hear the sound of water running under your basement or first floor, don’t ignore the warning signs. This is a slab leak! Aside from the sound of running water, you may feel warm or even “hot” spots under the floor as you walk across it.

If you feel hot spots, this is a very good indication of a hot water leak under the slab and is a plumbing emergency.

Total Flooding

If you’ve ignored the preliminary signs and the slab leak progresses, you may notice a pool of water or mud on the floor closest to the ground in your home.

If your first floor or basement floods for no obvious reason, you have a slab leak on your hands.

Don’t Forget to Check the Water Bill…

If your water bill goes up considerably, this often is a sign of a water leak.

A great way to determine a slab leak via your water meter is to check your water meter at a certain time, make sure no one uses any water for half an hour or so, and when you check the meter again, check to see if it’s moved. If it has, this means water is running or leaking somewhere on your property.

HOW DOES A PLUMBER PERFORM SLAB LEAK DETECTION?

Fixing a slab leak is much more complex than clearing out a kitchen sink drain or performing a shower repair.

Slab leak detection and the following repairs require the expertise of an experienced plumber. At Plumbing Dynamics, we specialize in slab leaks and ensure every step our process takes brings you one step closer to a safer, drier home.

Slab Leak Detection

Before we start repairs, we conduct a slab leak detection to locate the leak’s source and determine the damage’s extent. This lets us determine the solution approach we’ll take and helps us give you the most accurate estimate possible for the job.

Accessing the Leak

Once we identify the location of the leak, we need to gain access to the area beneath the slab. This might involve breaking through the concrete slab or creating a small access point, depending on the severity and accessibility of the leak.

Repairing the Leak

Gaining access to the leak leads directly to our swift repairs. We always use the appropriate methods based on the situation.

Some of the most common repair techniques we utilize include the following:

• Epoxy pipe coating – We apply an epoxy resin to the interior of a damaged pipe to seal the leak.
• Pipe re-routing – If the damaged pipe section is inaccessible or difficult to repair, we may reroute the pipe around the affected area to prevent further damage.
• Pipe replacement – In some cases, we may need to replace the damaged section of the pipe entirely. This can be a great entry into plumbing updates if your home has older piping that only becomes more prone to leaks and bursts over time.

How Long Does it Take to Repair a Slab Leak?

The duration of fixing a slab leak can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the leak, the accessibility of the affected area, and the chosen repair method.

Simple repairs may take a few hours, while more extensive repairs that involve re-routing or replacing pipes could take several days. While many plumbers may use the presence of a slab leak to amp up their rates, our plumbers always go with the accurate repair timeline and ensure we complete your repairs in a timely manner and save you money where possible.

How Much Can a Slab Leak Repair Cost?

We can’t sugarcoat it; slab leaks are an expensive business. Repairing a slab leak in 2023 can cost between $1,200 and $3,500. Essentially, the longer you wait for repairs, the more expensive the solution will be and the more physical damage you face on your property.

Protect Your Slab Foundation Today

Aside from the major annoyance of repairing or replacing any carpeting, furniture, or prized possessions due to water damage, slab leaks can lead to major damage to your home and even its foundation.

If you suspect your foundation slab may have a water leak under it, don’t wait until you’re sloshing through water in your home. Let the plumbers at Plumbing Dynamics come out of your property, assess the damage with slab leak detection in Carrollton, TX, and get right to work on repairs.

Contact us today at 214-929-3431 to schedule your appointment!

Your Hot Water Heater May Run Out Faster

Hot showers are an essential part of most of our days, and this is especially true during a Dallas winter. So, it’s no surprise that we get lots of calls during this season with homeowners disappointed that their hot water is running out faster than usual.

This issue is mainly due to the weather and the current temperature of your water heater. During the winter, the water in your water heater isn’t naturally as warm as in the summer. This means that more hot water must be used to enjoy a nice shower. If your temperature isn’t adjusted properly, you’ll be left with little hot water to work with.

Adjusting your temperature without prior experience could lead to scalding water by accident. It’s always a great idea to schedule an appointment with a licensed plumber who can safely adjust your hot water heater.

Longer Heat-Up Time

During the summer months, hot water can seem instantaneous. This is because your pipes aren’t experiencing the cold conditions they face during the winter. Cold pipes draw out the heat from your hot water. So, it’s only natural that your water would take an extra minute or two to heat up.

Higher Energy Bills

Even through cold pipes and sediment that builds up over time your hot water heater is going to keep trying to get you the hot water you want for your bath. Unfortunately, when it’s cold, the sediment buildup in your hot water heater tends to absorb the heat from your water, making your hot water heater go into overtime.

At the end of the day, you will still get your hot shower, but all of the extra work put into creating your hot water will leave you paying a much higher energy bill.

Fortunately, a local plumber can come to your home and safely flush your water heater. This will remove the minerals within and help you save money as you try to stay comfortable during what’s sure to be a cold winter.

Is your Hot water Heater Acting a Little Cold This Season? Plumbing Dynamics Can Help!

If your showers aren’t as hot as you’d like them to be, it may be time to call in a plumbing inspection. From insulating your pipes to flushing out your hot water heater the experts at Plumbing Dynamics can ensure that your next shower is both affordable and hot. Contact us today at 214-929-3431 to schedule our services with your hot water heater in Carrollton, TX.

Steps to Take

1. If the break is in your basement, open the sewer trap.

Doing so means the sewage flow will go directly out to your public sewer. But make sure to open the cap that is closer to your home’s front; opening the cap on the house side could make the sewage flow into your home even worse.

2. You’ll then want to call a plumber and start cleaning up as much as possible.

The plumber will need to come to your home to find where the break in the sewage line is before he can even start to fix it. He’ll need a camera for this job, so it’s not something you can do yourself. But you can start some of the mop-up while you wait for the plumber to arrive.

3. Don’t let the elderly or children near the area!

Sewage is, well, poop and urine! And poop and urine can be full of bacteria. You don’t want children or frail older folks to become ill, so never let them walk around the mess with you.

4. Find your electric and/or gas utility box(es) and shut off the electricity/gas to the affected area.

If that’s not possible, call your gas and utility providers to turn off the electricity/gas. Never touch a plugged-in electric cord, fuse box, or appliance wet with the effluent until the electricity is off. Don’t write any tipped-over appliances. Don’t light any matches until the gas is turned off.

5. Some first steps for cleanup.

You’re probably going to have to hire a restoration company to fully clean up the mess once the effluent no longer backs up or flows into your basement or first floor, but you can do some things yourself.

First steps:

1. Drain the sewage via a pump or natural draining.
2. Remove soil and sewage detritus from all affected surfaces.
3. Wash all walls, floors, and other surfaces touched by the sewage. Use clean warm/hot water and a low-suds detergent.
4. Rinse with warm/hot water.
5. Sanitize the walls, surfaces, and floors with a mixture of Lysol and water (2.5 tablespoons of Lysol per gallon of water), or use laundry bleach with water (8 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water).
6. Air the affected area with fans or open windows.

Unless they can be disinfected, discard all carpeting, rugs, bedding, curtains, toys, clothing, furniture, etc. that were touched by the effluent.

If your sewer line has broken or if you suspect a sewage backup (you should start to smell foul odors), call upon the sewer-line experts at Plumbing Dynamics to help you find the break and repair the pipe.

Call us at 214-929-3431 and contact us for sewer line repair in Carrollton, TX today!

1. 1. Indoor plumbing has been with humans since long before 1829 when the Tremont Hotel in Boston became the first hotel in the country to have indoor plumbing: archeologists have uncovered a part of a water plumbing system at the Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. In addition, evidence of indoor plumbing has been found in Egyptian palaces dating back to 2500 B.C.
   2. In fact, copper piping – the primary material used today in plumbing – also was used by the Egyptians to lay their own pipes.
   3. More than 28 billion feet (about 5.3 million miles) of copper piping has been installed in buildings in the U.S. since 1963. To put it in perspective, imagine a single long copper tube going around the earth 200 times.
   4. As much as it makes for a good joke and urban legend, Sir Thomas Crapper did not invent the toilet, as evidence (in addition to that mentioned above) has shown that King Minos of Crete had a flushing water closet about 2800 years ago.
      
   5. Queen Elizabeth I also enjoyed the benefit of a flushing toilet: her godson, Sir John Harrington, built one for her in 1596 and it’s believed that the U.S. nickname for it, “the john,” comes from him.
   6. The first-ever patent for a flushing toilet was issued to Alexander Cummings in 1775.
   7. Albert Einstein is reported to have said that if he had to do it all over again, he’d become a plumber. As a result of this remark, the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union in Washington, DC, made him an honorary member, and a New York plumbers’ local gave him a set of gold-plated plumbers tools.
   8. Install a low-flush toilet and you can save up to 18,000 gallons of water a year!
   9. Both the word “plumbing” and the periodic table element for lead, Pb, come from the Latin term for “lead,” plumbum.
   10. Set your hot water heater to no hotter than 125 degrees F. Why? Because it takes water at a temperature of 140 degrees F just seconds to burn your skin. Water at 160 degrees will scald you in just half a second.
   11. The “bathroom,” has had many different terms and names throughout human history and throughout different cultures. The Egyptians reportedly called it the “house of horror.” It was called the “necessarium” by the Romans. Tudor England referred to it as the “privy” or “house of privacy,” while the French have been known to refer to it as la chamber sent (“smelly house”).
   12. How long do we spend on the toilet? The average person is purported to spend a total of three years over a lifetime.
   13. Flushing the toilet consumes about 38 percent of the average U.S. household’s water usage.
   14. A typical American home wastes more than 9,000 gallons of water running the faucet while waiting for the water to heat, which means that as much as 15 percent of your annual heating costs are wasted while you heat that extra 9,000 gallons.
   15. Got a drippy faucet? Think it doesn’t mean much? Think again: if that leaky faucet could fill an eight-ounce glass in 15 minutes, it would waste 180 gallons of water a month (2,160 gallons a year).

Stop wasting water! Contact Plumbing Dynamics, your trusted Carrollton plumbing company, to install a low-flow toilet and fix leaky faucets. Give us a call today at 214-929-3431 for any plumbing services in Carrollton, TX like maintenance, repair, or plumbing emergencies.

The majority of plumbers and plumbing companies are honest and will provide great plumbing service at reasonable rates.

But, as in any industry, some plumbers will try to overcharge you, to get as much out of you as possible. What’s more, some may actually overcharge you for services and parts rendered

Read below for three different ways your plumber could overcharge you

• This first instance usually happens during large jobs, in which your plumbing issue requires at least two plumbers to do the job well. Two plumbers arrive on the first day but then three come in on the fourth, and another plumber arrives on the scene on the seventh day. You’re paying for labor, so you’ll be charged for these additional people. While most of them may have a legitimate reason to be there, some may not, but your plumber is charging for them anyway If this happens to you, ask why each person is there, what his job is, etc. If you get a hem and haw dance, stop the work until you feel comfortable that the workers there really need to be working on your plumbing.

• There’s no law that plumbers must charge the same rate to everyone. This means that if a plumber feels you have more money to spend than another client, he may charge you more. To prevent this from happening, see if you can get quotes from at least three different plumbers before selecting one.
• Never accept a plumber’s bid if he hasn’t seen your job. A plumber may tell you his hourly rate, but if he says he can fix a job in 10 hours, watch out! If you hire him and it ends up taking longer, unless you’ve had his bid in writing, you need to pay him the extra total. Once again, never let a plumber bid on your job without seeing your actual plumbing and never accept a bid that’s not in writing.

It’s also a very good idea to never hire a plumber who comes knocking on your door, offering a “special deal.” These individuals may not be licensed plumbers. You can take their information and then call the number they provide and check out the firm’s website to ensure that they are a legitimate company

Plumbing Dynamics is a certified Networx service provider. Our Better Business Bureau rating is A+. We are committed to providing high-quality plumbing services in Carrollton, TX at a reasonable and affordable cost. Give us a call today at 214-929-3431.

Many plumbing companies will offer their clients extended warranties on either their work, appliances (the new water heater, sump pump, garbage disposal, etc.), or both.

But are these warranties a good deal in the long run?

Read below for the pros and cons of plumbing warranties.

The pros:

• A typical warranty provides a flat rate and reduced fee for service calls. These can provide you with considerable savings over the typical cost of a repair visit. The cost of service calls also can be reduced even more if you choose a contract upgrade option.
• Warranties also can save you big time when it comes to the repair or replacement of many appliances or systems that commonly fail (water heaters and pumps, for example).
• A plumbing warranty also can mean you’ll receive enhanced coverage. For additional fees, some warranties can be enlarged to include conditions that existed before the policy went into effect – undetected pipe leaks under concrete slabs, for example.

The cons:

• There’s no guarantee that all replacement and repair services will be covered. This is because the provider of the warranty – not you, the homeowner – is the one to decide what is and isn’t covered. For example, if your hot water heater is obsolete, the plumber may just repair it rather than replace it.
• Most warranties cover what is known as operational failure of systems and appliances after what is known as “normal use.” Conditions that come up because of “acts of nature” or “acts of God” such as flooding, freezing pipes, etc. may not be covered (although they may be covered under your homeowner’s policy; check with your insurer). In addition, warranty providers often place caps on what they’ll pay per appliance or system as well as per incident

When deciding whether or not to purchase a warranty, homeowners who have older plumbing and who anticipate having to call in a plumber in Carrollton, TX for repairs relatively regularly are potentially good candidates for a plumbing warranty; the cost of the warranty may be worth it.

When looking for a Dallas plumbing company that’s reliable and affordable, contact Plumbing Dynamics. We are fully bonded, licensed, and insured with a $1 million liability policy (more than is required by law). Contact us via our online contact form or give us a call at 214-929-3431.

Should You Flush Down Your Toilet?

Whether you mistakenly think that some food can go down a toilet or you have a curious toddler that likes to flush down their cereal when you aren’t looking, food is something that should never go with the flow of a flushing toilet.

Even the smaller foods can wreak major havoc on your plumbing and lead to deep clogs that can become expensive to clear out or fix. 

Oils and Fats Harden When Cooled

Although hot cooking oils and fats may seem like they are the perfect candidate to send down a toilet drain, even when combined with the rushing water of a flush, they can still create serious plumbing problems.

No matter how they are disposed of, oils, fats, and butter will eventually cool, harden and congeal. These viscous items can quickly move through a system, clog up a sewer line, and lead to plumbing problems that could impact plumbing systems beyond your own. 

Some Foods Break Down Slowly

Harder food items like bones and corn cobs could technically fit down a toilet’s system but are something you never want to flush away. These items would eventually break down but could still result in a clog that reaches beyond your home. 

However, before that even happens, we wouldn’t be surprised if your immediate plumbing was massively impacted to the point of unhealthy waste build-up. 

Avoid the mess and unnecessary plumber visits. Just keep tossing anything the garbage disposal can’t handle in the trash can.

Some Foods Expand With Water

Foods like rice and oatmeal are known to expand and thicken when combined with water. Although boiling water speeds up the thickening process, even regular toilet water can lead to grain expansion that clogs up your plumbing.

Signs of a Plumbing Problem

Fortunately, it’s easy to determine if you have a blocked toilet due to food and other unmentionables being flushed down its system. 

Some of the most common signs of toilet clogs include the following:

• Full or overflowing toilet bowl
• Foul stenches emitting from your toilet
• Gurgling sounds from other fixtures in your bathroom
• Slow drains after flushing

Resolve Your Fall Plumbing Issues With Plumbing Dynamics

If you’ve discovered your toilet isn’t flushing the way it should, it may be time to reach out to a licensed plumber to inspect your plumbing for a deep clog.

At Plumbing Dynamics, our plumbers have seen it all and can quickly help you find an affordable solution that gets your plumbing flowing smoothly again.

Contact us today at 214-929-3431 to schedule an appointment for toilet repair in Carrollton, TX with a member of our team.