Toilet Not Flushing? That’s an Emergency!

When you hear the word plumbing, your toilet is probably one of if not the first thing you think of. We’re guessing that you don’t need us to explain why exactly a non-flushing toilet is such a huge problem. What we do want to stress is that, yes, a non-flushing toilet is a plumbing emergency. There may not be water shooting out of a pipe and flooding your bathroom, but you can’t really be expect to wait all weekend before having the problem resolved, can you?

There are a number of reasons as to why your toilet in Sarasota, FL may not be flushing. We’ll discuss a few of the more common causes below. Remember that, no matter what the cause of the problem, it is always in your best interest to have your toilet repaired by a trained professional.

Nothing Happens

When you depress the lever to flush your toilet, does absolutely nothing happen? Does the handle just bob up and down with no resistance? If this is the case, there’s a good chance that you won’t actually need to schedule toilet repairs. Take the lid off of the tank, and peek inside. It’s possible that the chain has slipped off of the handle, and that the apparatus is just unable to lift the flapper valve to flush the toilet. If this is the case, just grab the chain off the bottom of the tank and reconnect it to the handle.

It Won’t Flush Completely

When you depress the handle, does the toilet seem to start to flush, but fails to do so completely? There are many potential causes of this problem, and this is when the services of a professional really are necessary. You could have a problem with water not leaving the tank and entering the bowl fast enough. The holes under the lip of the bowl that let the water in may also be clogged up due to mineral deposits. The vent line could be clogged, there could be a deep obstruction in the waste line, and so on. Long story short, only a professional plumber like those here at Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air can tell you for certain what’s gone wrong with your toilet. 

Call 941-322-1911 today and find out why our customers say, I Love My Plumber!

Don’t Let the Holidays Be too Tough on Your Garbage Disposal

With the holiday season getting into swing, homeowners throughout the country are gearing up for friends, family–and food! Sitting around the table with those closest to you and sharing a big, home cooked meal is really one of the great pleasures in life. Of course, the inevitable cleanup after the festivities is not quite as pleasurable.

Your garbage disposal  can really help to facilitate the cleanup process after a big holiday gathering. Just remember that these devices do have their limitations. Let us remind you of a few materials that should be kept out of your garbage disposal, and some tips for a successful operation so you don’t have to invite a professional plumber in Sarasota to your holiday dinner.

• Keep hard items, like bones and fruit pits, out of the disposal. They can damage the grinding mechanism if you try to dispose of them this way.
• Throw very fibrous foods in the trash or compost bin. Celery stalks, artichoke leaves, and other such materials can get wrapped up in the moving parts of the disposal, straining the motor and potentially causing problems.
• Don’t pour grease or fat down the drain. Even if you have a garbage disposal, these liquids should be poured off and thrown in the trash. Why? Because they congeal when they cool, and clog up your drains.
• Consider freezing some vinegar in order to clean your garbage disposal. The ground up pieces of ice can help to scour the grinding mechanism.
• Don’t reach your hand down the drain to free up a clog or blockage. If your garbage disposal grinds to a halt, use a pair of tongs or pliers to remove any obvious blockage. Using your fingers can result in serious injury if the disposal should start up when the item is removed.

If you need any sort of plumbing services in your home, be sure to schedule them with Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air. Call 941-322-1911 today and find out why our customers say, I Love My Plumber!”

When Is Repiping My Best Option?

Even the least handy homeowners out there know that the pipe is the main building block of their plumbing systems. The most common
problems with plumbing systems tend to relate to these pipes themselves. In many cases, a pipe can be cleared out to resolve problems like clogged drains. In others, repairs may need to be made in order to get the piping system back in prime working condition.

Sometimes, though, repairs and basic fixes are not the best way to go. In fact, they are not even always possible. When extensive and complex problems with your pipes arise, repiping in Sarasota, FL may be your best, if not only, option. Here is some information about repiping, and why you may need to consider this service.

What Exactly Is Repiping?

Repiping is not simply replacing a pipe here or there, or cutting out a length of corroded or leaking pipe in order to connect a new pipe into the existing system. Whole-house repiping entails removing all existing incoming water lines from one’s plumbing system, and replacing them with new pipes.

If that sounds like a major undertaking: it is. Repiping a house is not a job for a DIY enthusiast. It’s a job that only extensively trained, properly equipped plumbers can handle. It is easy to forget the devastating effect that water can have on our properties, but it becomes very apparent very quickly when leaks in a poorly installed plumbing system develop.

When Should I Repipe My Home?

Some people will never have to repipe their homes. If you live in an older home, though, or if you’ve been in your home for a long time, the chances are much more likely. There are different reasons why homeowners choose to–or have to–repipe their homes.

Rusty water, very low pressure, repeated leaks, and slab leaks are all issues that may suggest the need for repiping. Sometimes, problems don’t even develop before repiping is completed. A thorough plumbing inspection can help to anticipate problems, and you can count on us to advise you about the best course of action to take. With Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air on your side, your repiping project will be a complete success.

Call 941-322-1911 today and find out why our customers say, I Love My Plumber!

Signs of Poor Water Quality

We all want to believe that the water coming from our faucets is of the highest quality. In many cases, though, this is just not the case. Water quality problems can stem from a number of different sources. The problem could be with the supply itself. It could also have something to do with your plumbing system, or the condition of your main water line. 

Whatever the case may be, only professional plumbers have the training and experience necessary to not only diagnose the problem accurately, but to solve it effectively. Before we can go about solving problems, though, you must alert us to the issue in the first place. Here are a few warning signs that you may be dealing with poor water quality in your home.

• Discoloration is one of the most obvious signs that your water quality is not as high as it should be. This is likely the result of sediment suspended in the water. This turbidity may be caused by silt, or clay runoff, for instance, or from oxidized metals tinting the water. While not a serious health threat in most cases, discoloration is nonetheless an issue you want to eliminate.
• Foul odors also suggest that you have a problem with your water quality. We can set you up with a water treatment system that will resolve the problem so that you can drink a glass of water right from the tap without plugging your nose before doing so. This is probably the result of sulfides in the water.
• Gray and white film/buildups on fixtures is a pretty clear cut case of hard water in your home, while blue-green staining may suggest corrosive water and low pH levels. The use of a water softener or acid neutralizing agents may be necessary to resolve such problems. This can help to protect your pipes, as well as the visual appeal of your fixtures. Contact Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air to schedule water treatment system services in Bradenton, FL.

Call 941-322-1911 today and find out why our customers say, I Love My Plumber!

How Does Hot Water Recirculation Work?

More and more homeowners are looking for ways in which to boost energy efficiency in their homes these days. Sure, upgrading your appliances and HVAC systems with more efficient models is one way to do it. There are other issues at hand, though, that cannot be resolved by simply replacing existing equipment. Integrating an innovative new system into your home can help.

That is why you may want to consider the installation of a hot water recirculation system in Sarasota, FL. Using such a system helps you to avoid water waste that you may not even realize is taking place, let alone the impact it has on your bills. Read on, and remember to schedule your plumbing services with our team. 

What’s the Problem?

Think about the last time you got into the shower. Did you stand under the showerhead and turn the water on? Probably not. Instead, you likely let the water run for a bit until it warmed up to a comfortable temperature. The perfectly fine water that just wasn’t warm enough for your liking got flushed down the drain.

With a water recirculation system, such as the Grundfos systems that we work with, you won’t have to wait for the water to warm up. Why not? Because the system will keep hot water circulating to all of your plumbing fixtures throughout the day, while using only a very small amount of electricity to do so.

How Does It Work?

The water recirculation pump pumps hot water from the water heater to the fixture furthest away from the source. This keeps hot water in the line all day long, so that you are not pouring cool water down the drain while waiting for it to heat up. One of the benefits of the Grundfos hot water recirculation system is that you don’t even need a dedicated recirculation line! The installation is a relatively simple job for a seasoned plumber like ours, taking only 1-2 hours.

Let Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air install your hot water recirculation pump. Call today 941-322-1911 and find out why our customers say, I Love My Plumber!

Common Signs of Plumbing Leaks

The natural enemy of the modern plumbing system is the water leak. Water leaks, even those that some may consider “minor,” can do very serious damage to one’s home, and can also waste substantial amounts of water in the process. That is precisely why you need to hire professionals to pinpoint the source of a leak in your plumbing system as soon as you have reason to suspect that there is a problem.

Of course, before you can dial our number to schedule professional leak detection in Davis Island, FL, you must first learn to recognize that you may have a leak to begin with. Following are a few tips to help you do so. If you believe that you see a sign of trouble with your plumbing system, dial our number right away to have that problem expertly resolved.

• The sound of running water without a source is a strong indicator that you have a leak in your plumbing system. It could even be a slab leak beneath the concrete foundation of your home. If you are certain that you’ve not accidentally left any plumbing fixtures in your home running, and that your washing machine isn’t just finishing up a load of laundry, it is very possible that this sound of running water is coming from a leak in your plumbing system. We can find the exact source of the leak in order to repair it properly.
• Signs of water damage or staining also indicate that there is a leak in your plumbing system. Have you noticed a section of your ceiling seeming to sag? This could be due to water from a leak pooling in that area. If you notice these warning signs, your home is already suffering damage due to leaks. Let our plumbers intervene before more serious damage is done.
• Increased water bills may be the most clear indicator of a water leak. Now, there is bound to be some fluctuation in terms of your water bills from one payment period to the next. If you notice a substantial spike, though, and have not been using water any different than usual, then you must contact us to get to the root of the problem.

Call today 941-322-1911 and find out why our customers say, I Love My Plumber! Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air is always here to serve.