Leaks and plumbing issues happen throughout the year. When winter comes to Plano, Texas, more plumbing problems tend to come up. Though the temperature doesn’t often dip too far below freezing, we still have our fair share of issues. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of water leaks in homes and what you can do to keep your home safe. 

Water Heater Maintenance

Cold showers go with hot weather. The opposite is also true; your plumbing system will have a greater demand for hot water in the winter. Your water heater will be working extra to keep up with your family’s demand.  Keep an eye on your appliance noting any slowdowns in the time it takes for your tank to fill and the quality of the hot water that comes out the taps. Having a professional check your system helps if you suspect an issue. 

Additionally, you will need to drain your water heater regularly to keep it functioning well. The more time you let pass without changing up the water extends the amount of sediment in your tank, which leads to rust. If you have any problems draining your water heater, a professional plumber or leak detection expert can help you out.

Clogs in Your Drains

People tend to spend more time inside during the winter, even in Texas. That means more meals inside, so more strain on your drains. The additional effort on your drain’s part gets more intense if you have guests over for dinner. During the colder months, grease and oils can sit below your sink in the pipes and thicken more easily than in the summer months. Keep your drain grease and oil-free by wiping your pans and pots before washing them. 

Broken Water Lines

Frozen pipes are not a big issue here in Plano, Texas (but it can happen!). Broken or even leaking water lines are an issue we have. Check your water line regularly to make sure you aren’t losing water and water pressure in your home. Disconnecting any outdoor water hoses for the season is another good step to keep your line strong. For added protection, bulk up your water lines with insulation to keep everything flowing comfortably. 

Have an Experienced Plumber Check Your Home

Make sure to follow those winter plumbing tips to keep your system working. It is much easier to be proactive than to repair a broken system. If you need help with maintenance or having a plumbing problem, Kelly Plumbing and Leak Detection is here to help. Our team of expert technicians are trained in leak identification and can fix many problems on the spot.

Give the team at Kelly Plumbing and Leak Detection a call today at 972-774-8722 today!

Cold weather can bring many problems, including hypothermia and frostbite if you are caught outside for too long. Your property is also at risk during frigid temperatures. A frozen pipe can cut off your water supply and, if left untreated, it can burst, causing hundreds maybe thousands of dollars of damages. Keeping your pipes warm enough, so they don’t freeze in the first place is a great proactive step toward protecting your plumbing and home in general. 

Follow our steps below to protect your home and prevent pipes from freezing in the winter. 

1. Keep the Heat Flowing

Keep your heat turned on during the day and night, even if you will be out at school or work. When you will be out of town, keep your heat flowing. This step may sound like a waste of money, but keeping the heat on helps ensure your pipes remain unfrozen. 

There is a chance to save some money. You can turn down the heat, but make sure it stays about 50 degrees. 

2. Let Your Faucets Drip

Letting your faucets drip relieves pressure from your pipes and plumbing system. This step will do more to prevent frozen pipes from bursting than it will to stop them from freezing. Do this with both warm and cold water.

3. Leave Your Doors Open

… Well, your inner doors, at least. Keeping doors between rooms open can help the warm air inside to flow freely, so your entire home stays warm. When doors stay closed, there can be cold spots that lead to freezing pipes.

4. Place Additional Insulation Around Your Pipes

Basement or attic pipes will be much safer if you add extra insulation around them. These areas of your home tend not to have insulation, so your pipes here are in greater danger. If you have any other cold spots around your home, add some extra insulation to prevent frozen pipes. 

5. Treat Your Pipes with Heating Tape

Think of heating tape like a heating pad for your pipes. Heating tape sends warmth directly to the pipes when it gets extra cold. Applying heating tape is an excellent step if you have a section of exposed pipe that needs your care. The heating tape can either turn off and on all by itself or you can get a plug-in version. Make sure to follow the safety steps closely to stay safe. 

Prevent Pipes from Freezing in the Winter with an Expert Plumber

Winter is an unforgiving season for plumbing. When you follow these steps, your home will be much safer during the cold months. If you need extra help insulating your pipes or need an expert to assess your plumbing, call in the professionals at Kelly Plumbing and Leak Detection. Our team has the training and experience to notice and correct any trouble spots, so you don’t have any trouble with your plumbing.

Give us at Kelly Plumbing and Leak Detection a call today at 972-774-8722 for immediate service.

At this point, the Thanksgiving meals have been packed into tupperware, and the family members are all back to their regular lives. Now, the end of year holidays are coming up. Keep the harsh cold outside by bringing the seasonal cheer inside. 

The cheer inside usually means crowds. These extra people can be exciting, but the extra traffic can put an added strain on your plumbing. Make sure to be careful, or you could have a plumbing emergency on your hands. No one wants to stop the fun in the middle of a party to fix a clogged sink or toilet. Keep the following tips in mind to avoid a plumbing problem during the holiday celebrations. 

Keep the Grease Out of Your Drains

With a lot of food preparation happening, many people pour grease down the drain to save time and clean-up. Think twice before you do that. Once the grease cools in the pipes, it can solidify and cause clogging. The solidifying grease can also mess with your garbage disposal. Save yourself the trouble and throw it away. 

Protect Your Garbage Disposal

With your garbage disposal in mind, let’s keep it safe. Make sure only to put small food items into your disposal. The larger and more difficult food chunks can cause clogging and break up your garbage disposal. Avoid putting the following in your garbage disposal: animal bones, carrots, celery, coffee grounds, eggshells, fruit peels, meat, pasta, and rice.

Prevent Toilet Clogging

Your toilet might be the biggest area for clogs. Flushing inappropriate things down the toilet will cause issues. Keep the following out of your toilet: cotton balls and swabs, feminine products, paper towels, and tissues. Keep a trash can nearby for these items. 

Take Short Showers

If you have guests that will be staying over for a few days, they will all need to shower. Ask your friends and family to wait about 15 minutes between showers so your drain and water can catch up. No one wants to have someone else’s dirty water backing up under their feet.

Use a Mesh Screen

Using a mesh screen can help catch waste before it goes down the drain. People with drains have significantly fewer drain clogs than those with screens. Getting a screen before the holiday season can make a big difference. A bathtub screen can help catch hair before it gets into your pipes and causes problems. 

Planning for Holiday Plumbing Emergencies

No one needs a last-minute plumbing problem when all you want to do is spend time with the ones you love. Have all the fun and relaxation by following our tips above. If the worst happens and you have an emergency, give a call to the expert team at Kelly Plumbing and Leak Detection. We have a 24-hour service to help you out when you are in trouble.

Give Kelly Plumbing and Leak Detection a call today at 972-774-8722 for immediate service. 

There are many things we know to be true without being told. From seeing life on our own to being told by people with more experience, starting with our parents, we have a good idea of how to most parts of our homes run. But sometimes we don’t do the best we can, especially with tossing strange things into the toilet. Read the following list of banned items to flush down your toilet to keep it clog-free.

1. Baby Wipes

Baby wipes might make things easier, but they make flushing tougher. Even the baby wipes marked as “flushable” should be thrown in the trash. These flushable wipes don’t disintegrate in the same way that toilet paper does, leading to problems further into your piping. 

2. Cotton Pads and Q-Tips 

Anything cotton, including Q-Tips, should be kept away from the toilet. From cotton balls to cotton pads to make-up removing wipes, throw it all in the trash to avoid clogs.

3. Menstrual or Feminine Products

Keep tampons, pads, and other menstrual products out of your toilet. Feminine products are specifically used to absorb liquid instead of break down in water. Once flushed, these items tend to expand instead of shrink. To maintain privacy, try wrapping the product in toilet paper and then finding a trash can for it. 

4. Condoms

Another item not meant to break down in water is a condom. Once these items make their way through your plumbing system, they tend to catch on debris and can wrap around filter sections. 

5. Diapers

Diapers, like feminine products, are made to absorb liquid. Put into a toilet, they will cause similar problems when expanding within the plumbing system. Don’t jam up your pipes, even if you can somehow get a toilet flushed.

6. Tissues and Paper Towels

Paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper all seem similar. Unfortunately for your toilet, each of these products is unique. Make sure to throw your tissues and paper towels in the trash no matter what. If you miss getting toilet paper at the store, make sure to have a trash can nearby for your waste wipes. 

7. Medication 

Getting rid of old pills can be a drag. But toilet water won’t break down your medication. There can even be environmental concerns of adding toxicity to the water supply if you try to flush meds.

8. Cigarette Butts

Cigarette butts also add toxicity to the water system. Butts can also lead to clogs. If needed, pour water on a cigarette to douse it, then put it in the trash. 

9. Gum

Gum is another one that doesn’t break down in water. The stickiness of gum lends itself to grabbing your piping and not letting go. 

What do I do when your toilet doesn’t clear

Even if you and your family avoided putting any of these items in the toilet, it might get backed up. The first step is to try clearing the problem with a plunger. If that isn’t working, don’t wait until the toilet water flows out of your bathroom and into the rest of your home. Get in touch with Plano’s plumbing experts at Kelly Plumbing and Leak Detection. Our technicians have experience getting out the worse clogs and can even make sure your pipes are good to go for the future. 

Give the team at Kelly Plumbing and Leak Detection a call today at 972-774-8722 to have your problem fixed today. 

We often get the question about what our customers can do to avoid a clogged toilet. There are many steps you can take. Below we have the best steps you can take to avoid, prevent, or solve a toilet clog. 

Drop the Lid

Plumbers get called in for many problems – some stranger than others. A small toy has been the cause of a clog on many occasions. Stop the problem ahead of time by keeping the lid closed. With this proactive step, any objects dropped in the bathroom will stay safe and not cause a clog.

Food Doesn’t Go Down the Toilet

Some people flush food down their toilets. In some ways, we get it – the drain is larger and more water flows through the system. You may get away with putting food down the toilet drain a few times, but it will get clogged eventually. If you don’t have a dish disposal system, bag up the food, and throw it away. 

No Grease in the Bathroom

Grease belongs in the trash, not in any sink or drain. The first problem comes in the immediate solidification of the grease hitting the cool water. The transfer point of the toilet to the floor and the pipes further below are all sticking points for the grease. The grease can also build-up on the sides of pipes to slow the flow of water and catch other objects running through the pipe.

Limit Toilet Paper Use

Most people have a clogged toilet because they use too much toilet paper. TP does not dissolve instantly so too much going through the pipes all at once, there is a chance it will get stuck in the floor drain or P-trap. Prevent clogs with a curtesy flush (flushing more than once during use). 

Call in the Experts to Beat Your Toilet Clogs

If these weren’t your problem, there may be another issue in your system. Your pipes or other plumbing features could be cause for concern. An experienced plumber can enter the scene and quickly diagnose your problem. 

The expert team at Kelly Plumbing and Leak Detection has the skills and experience with both residential and commercial clients to discover and handle toilet problems of all types. Give us a call today at 972-774-8722 to schedule your next visit 24/7.

Leaks can spring all over your house. Wherever water actively moves, such as in pipes, or comes in contact with the outdoors, such as along the foundation, there is the potential for water to breakthrough. We noticed many leaks in our customers’ sinks, especially in their faucets. We are always happy to help if the leak gives you trouble, but there are some causes of faucet leaks that you can try to avoid. Read on to learn about the most common faucet leaks.

Broken Seals

Seals that protect valves in and out (known as inlet and outlet seals) of your faucet have a significant impact on controlling the water flow. As with most parts, seals wear out over time due to sediment buildup. A worn seal is not an effective seal. Fix the issue by replacing the seal or having a plumber flush out the sediment. 

Parts that Have Become Loose

Two parts in the stem screw shake loose with extended time and heavy use, the packing nuts and adjusting ring. When loose, these parts cause the faucet to leak. When the base of the faucet has water dripping or pooling, tighten or replace the packing nut then recheck after a few days. 

Changes in Water Pressure

Do you notice leaks that only come at some times during the day but not at other times? You may have uneven water pressure. When your water pressure surges, water can back up and try to release any way it can – sometimes through your faucets. Water pressure is a more complicated issue, so contact a certified plumber to inspect and handle the problem.

Plumbing in the Area is Broken

Broken plumbing could be your problem if you replaced the O-Ring and verified the water pressure is under control. Continuous use and age can crack fixtures, which leads to a leaky faucet. The best way to solve broken fixtures is to have a professional plumber take care of it.

Corrosion from Sediment Buildup

One of the biggest contributors to a leaking faucet is corrosion. Corrosion in a faucet comes from sediment building up. We have most often found the issue in the faucet connections or the valve seat. Regularly cleaning out the sediment prevents this problem. 

Kelly Plumbing and Leak Detection works with residential and commercial clients to stop leaks and keep your water flowing smoothly and safely. Give us a call at 972-774-8722 to schedule a repair or right away for emergency service.