Of all the problems that can occur within your plumbing system, pipe breaks are some of the most severe. Pipe breaks can grow from small drips to larger leaks rapidly, which is why it is essential they be handled in a timely and efficient manner. They can often come without warning and at the most inopportune times. This is where the Charlotte NC plumbers with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing come in to provide your home with the best quality plumbing services today.

During the winter months here in North Carolina, your pipes can freeze very easily. As any homeowner that has gone through this can attest, frozen pipes are something many of us never want to have to deal with. Frozen pipes can break extremely easily, which can pose you with a very large problem in your plumbing system. Pipe breaks can cause toxic mildew in your home, rust your cabinets or wood flooring, and destroy your prized possessions through excessive water damage. Our prompt plumbing professionals can make sure this common problem does not occur to you. And with a free evaluation on all your plumbing issues, you have nothing to lose.

For all your plumbing issues in Charlotte and the surrounding area, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is here to help. For additional information regarding pipe breaks, give us a call at 704-461-1700 or contact us online today.

Many large meals will be cooked over the holidays with family in town and it is important to keep in mind the strain one can put on drain pipes. Fat from cooking, oil, grease, leftover food, bone scraps, and many other thick and congealing substances will be tossed down the sink drain without a care. Your Charlotte NC drain cleaning experts at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing want to remind you of a few things before you scrape off your plate or dump your leftover oils into your drain pipes.

Much of the traditional holiday food menu contains fatty oils and grease. Items such as roasted chicken, pie, cookie dough, sauces and gravy, oils, butter, and steak juices have clog creating substance. Water can’t carry all of these substances down the sink drain pipes and too much of them will create a major backup.

Also, some of these oils are not environmentally friendly, aside from the danger of clogging your drain. In most cities and metropolitan areas, you can take up to 10 gallons to local landfill’s that have household and hazardous waste collection facilities. Check your local Charlotte NC city website to find where these landfills are located.  Oils are often reused in an environmentally friendly way and recycled to make another usable product.

Your local Charlotte NC plumber at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing most likely has family of his own in town over the holidays. And while emergency plumbing service is offered, following these simple steps to keep your plumbing draining smoothly over the holidays can’t hurt:

• Do not dump cooking oils and grease into sink drains
• Food scraps should be put into a plastic trash bag
• Cooking grease should be cooled and then scraped into trash bags
• “Unflushables” such as baby wipes, diapers, rags, paper towels, toilet bowel cleaning pads, hygiene products and anything that will not breakup or dissolve in water should not be flushed down the toilet

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, your Charlotte NC plumbing maintenance specialists, can provide you with drain cleaning service should you have trouble this holiday season. Give them at call at 704-461-1700 or visit them online to schedule plumbing service now.

When it comes to the plumbing in your home, there are many problems that can potentially occur within your system. Whether it is a backed up bathtub or a stopped up sink, there are many times you will need to rely on a licensed professional to get your systems back up and running. Oftentimes, these problems occur outside the typical 9-5 hours most businesses operate it. That is why our Charlotte NC plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offer 24-hour emergency repair, seven days a week.

With our 24-hour emergency repair services, you will never have to worry about a sudden system breakdown shutting down your plumbing. Our trained and knowledgeable plumbing professionals can make sure your system is running smoothly and efficiently, no matter what time of day or night. We are always available to answer the call, and possess the equipment, skills, and tools needed to handle any project effectively, large or small. And as part of our professional policy, all of our plumbing repairs come with a satisfaction guarantee.

When you find yourself in need of a sudden plumbing repair, you often don’t have time to wait until the morning. With the 24-hour emergency repair services provided by the reputable and reliable plumbing professionals at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, you won’t have to. For additional information regarding emergency plumbing repair in Charlotte and the surrounding area, give us a call at 704-461-1700 or contact us online today.

With so much emphasis on saving money in today’s economy and “going green,” your shower can be the first place in your home to start saving water. The average person in America uses 80-100 gallons of water daily, meaning the average American family uses around 300 gallons of water every day. The biggest water usage comes from flushing the toilet, with the second highest coming from baths and showers. Our trained Charlotte NC plumbers at Ben Franklin Plumbing can offer you solutions to saving water – and money – today.

The most obvious step to conserving water in your shower is to install a low-flow shower head. By cutting back on your showerhead’s GPM (gallons per minute), your home can decrease its daily water intake while still possessing all the pleasures of a pleasing shower. Cutting the flow down to somewhere 1-3 GPM can save you 2-4 gallons per minute when you’re in the shower, saving you money off your home’s water bill. Many low-flow shower heads now come with adjustable pressure restrictors, allowing you to adjust the water flow based on personal preferences. So if you like a stronger shower than your spouse, you two can still both be satisfied.

Other simple solutions to saving water would be to limit your shower time. The average American spends 10 minutes in the shower, wasting water in the process. Installing ashower timer can make you better aware of your shower duration, cutting down the length to a more reasonable time. Simply set your desired time, and an alarm will sound when you have reached your desired length.

Now more than ever, saving water and money is essential for your home. With these simple water-saving tips, you can do just that. For more information about low-flow showerheads and shower timers, contact our local Charlotte plumbing experts. We can assist you with all your plumbing needs today. Just give us a call at 704-461-1700 or contact us online today.

It’s summer, and this is the most common time for home buyers to search the Charlotte real estate market. Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware of problems that may exist in a home that are not found by inspectors, especially plumbing leaks and poor plumbing systems. Before buying a home filled with plumbing repair needs, be sure to check out the various plumbing fixtures so you know what you’re getting yourself into.

In the bathroom, be sure to inspect the floor; look around the base of the toilet for water damage, and test to make sure there are no soft spots in the floor. These are signs of water leaks, typically existing. If you find black and white stains or rolled vinyl flooring, these are also clues that water leaks may have previously plagued the area or are currently a problem. Also be sure to press tiles on the wall to check for leaks and loose tiling. Before you move on, flush the toilet and make sure it works properly, not draining too slowly or causing water to leak.

To check for adequate piping and water pressure, turn on a bathtub faucet and the kitchen sink faucet. If the pressure is significantly reduced with both running, the piping may have a large amount of calcium and mineral deposits and need to be replaced. While you are in the kitchen, make sure the connections to the dishwasher and garbage disposal are tight and show no signs of leaks. Also, check within the cabinetry to assure there is no water damage, including stains, rotted corkboard, or sagging bottoms. Be sure to check the washing machine hose as well, since these can rupture and lead to extensive water damage.

The first four digits of the serial number on a water heater are the month and year of manufacture. If the water heater in the home is more than 15 years old, you’ll want to contact your local Charlotte plumbing company to replace it. You may also want to check for rust on the tank, as this is a sign of impending issues with the hot water heater. If you are unsure of problems you may find, you can get assistance with inspections from our Charlotte water heater technicians, available to help you assess the value of the plumbing system in your prospective home purchase.

Many times, water leaks aren’t noticed at first. Maybe your water bill is slowly on the rise so the difference isn’t as noticeable as a sharp change in cost, and you don’t stop to think there may be a bigger underlying issue. But a water leak left unchecked can lead to extensive structural damage to your property and expensive repairs. Slab leaks are especially problematic, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to the home.

Leak detection services are an important part of general inspection and maintenance on sewer and water lines and can help diagnose the issue early, saving time and cost of repairs, avoiding cleanliness issues, and conserving natural resources. With leak detection procedures, a small leak can be pinpointed before it becomes a major emergency and requires extensive repairs.

If you see a consistent change in your water bills, notice a lack of water pressure, or hear running water when none of your faucets or toilets are running, you may want to consider a water line inspection for leak location. Even if you don’t see the symptoms of a water leak, a regular inspection can help spot weak points in your water lines so that repairs can be made before you begin draining money from your wallet.

Our Charlotte plumbing technicians can assist in leak detection with high end technology that pinpoints the location of the problem quickly and without destructive procedures. Once a problem is identified, we can help repair and restore your plumbing, saving you money and preserving water, a natural resource that should be protected. Your home is one of your most important investments, and leak detection helps protect that investment from losing value. Call your Charlotte area plumbers today for fast, reliable service on your schedule, and save money while also being environmentally conscious.

In most cases, a plunger – whether it be a regular-sized plunger (for toilets) or smaller-sized plunger (for sinks) can resolve any drain clog problem you have. There are cases, however, where the plunger just isn’t enough.

This is when a plumber’s snake becomes the tool of choice. Also known as either a toilet jack or an auger – or even an electric eel – plumber’s snakes remove clogs that are too difficult for plungers to handle. They consist of a coiled metal reel that is attached to a rotating crank, which works in a corkscrew motion to break down particles and grit that can cause a clog.

The most common plumber’s snakes are operated by hand (cranking), but some are motor-operated. The more high-tech plumber’s snakes come with a small camera to help a plumbing professional diagnose a problem. Plumber’s snakes come in all sizes (length and width) and operate with the goal of breaking down excess material that can slow down water flow in your pipes.

If a plunger isn’t doing its job, try using a plumber’s snake. Our Charlotte NC plumbing professionals are experts with plumber’s snakes and can offer quality residential and commercial service to you at an affordable rate. Call our Charlotte plumbing company today, or visit us online for more information.

With gas prices currently skyrocketing, many area residents are trying to find new ways of saving money. They’re using fans rather than turning on the air conditioner. They’re keeping lights off and vampire appliances unplugged.

In dealing with water conservation, one method that may help in saving money is using greywater in a recycling effort. Greywater is the wastewater generated from bathing, washing clothes, washing dishes, etc., that can be reused for projects such as irrigation. Greywater can compose as much as 80 percent of wastewater generated from home sanitation equipment associated with a residential property.

Greywater usage can be used for toilets as well as underground irrigation systems. Greywater usage can offer a 30-percent reduction in water usage, which can save you money on your utility bill. Greywater is an excellent option, however, only if your state allows its use. Some states have not adopted the Uniform Plumbing Code, which prohibits greywater use indoors. The code simply governs the installation and inspection of plumbing systems as a means of promoting the public’s health and safety.

Greywater is an environmentally safe answer to saving money during these times of other products increasing in price. Let our Charlotte plumbing company provide you with more details on greywater, as well as water line and pipework information. Give us a call today, or visit us online.

For many people, bathroom remodeling is fun to discuss, especially when it is an anticipated springtime project. It’s also difficult to get a plan into motion. Today’s homeowner, particularly if he or she lives in an older home, wants a bathroom that has more of a state-of-the-art appeal to it.

The hard part, however, is actually putting the plan into fruition. A newly remodeled bathroom isn’t cheap, for starters, and the bathroom requires someone who has a mind for great ideas. Saying you want a bathroom makeover is one thing; having the necessary ideas is another.

Some renovations, for those who aren’t the bathroom brainstorming types, include a brand-new walk-in shower, a whirlpool bath, a low-flow shower head or even a new toilet. Others look for bathroom faucets and sinks that have futuristic appeal to it. Then, there are others who simply want a change in the bathroom flooring, lighting or walls. You can start the remodeling process by jotting down some of the things you don’t like about how your bathroom currently looks and take it from there.

Our Charlotte NC plumbers are more than happy to assist you with designing a new bathroom for your home. If your thought processing is stuck in neutral, we can offer excellent suggestions that will give your bathroom an instant upgrade. If you have your ideas ready, let our plumbers handle all installation and maintenance services at affordable rates.

Call our Charlotte plumbing company, or visit us online for more information on bathroom remodeling.

Everyone’s heard the adage about the certainty of “death and taxes,” but there are two other inevitable factors for Charlotte NC plumbing customers to consider when repairing or remodeling a bathroom: accidents and aging. The National Safety Council reports that almost 200,000 people are injured annually in their bathroom. In addition, the number of senior citizens and disabled Charlotte residents continues to increase. Your local plumbers are ready to help.

To aid those with special needs (now or in the future) and reduce accidents, Ben Franklin plumbers install bathroom fixtures that are attractive, practical and safe for Charlotte families and businesses. For residential baths, our plumbers recommend design ideas and the latest safety features. We aim to meet the needs of families throughout their life cycles, including considerations such as infants, visually impaired adults, people with physical size requirements, and seniors with difficulty walking.

For homes and offices, installations can be created to meet requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Whether your goal is to provide accessibility to all, or a “universal design” to meet as many special needs as possible without specialized design, North Carolina plumbing professionals work hard to find the best solution for you.

Some key universal design considerations include adequate knee and toe clearances under fixtures, faucets and handles located in a reachable range, and easy operation of movable parts. Grab bars should be placed intelligently, and tested for load-bearing ability. Toilets are available in a variety of styles and heights, with 14 to 15 inches from the floor (floor to top of rim) being standard. Products billed as being more comfortable are 16 to 17 inches high, similar to a chair. Shorter types may be installed in schools or day care centers to serve Charlotte, NC children.

Homeowners without special needs still want to avoid accidents in the bath area. The most common accidents are slips, falls and scalding from hot water. Plumbers may address your bathroom safety concerns with tips like these from the National Kitchen and Bath Association:

• Avoid steps leading into tub or shower areas. Slip-resistant flooring also helps eliminate falls and reduce the risk of falls.
• Consider installing a platform around the tub where you can sit down before entering or after exiting.
• Choose shatterproof glass in shower enclosures, and install hinged doors to open out into the room rather than into the shower.
• Prevent scalding by installing pressure-balanced, temperature-controlled valves in every bath or shower in your Charlotte NC home. Faucets should be easily reached from outside the enclosure.
• Keep water sources and electrical switches a safe distance apart. Use circuit interrupters on electrical plugs to shut them off when a hazard is detected.

To stay safe, and improve the look and value, of your bathroom, contact your local Charlotte NC plumber. Set up a consultation to start planning your beautiful, safe bathroom today.