A macerating toilet, also known as an upflush toilet, lets you put a bathroom almost anywhere. Unlike standard gravity-flush toilets, they can be installed below or far from your main plumbing stack, giving a lot more options for placement. Due to their higher cost and maintenance requirements, though, they’re not always the right choice. Before […]
Plumbing
How Long Do Septic Systems Last?
How long your septic system lasts depends in large part on how well it’s built and how well you care for it. While you should get 20 to 30 years out of your system if you care for it well, a design flaw, neglect, or misuse could cause it to fail within 15 years. Choose […]
The Homeowner’s Guide to Hydrojetting
Over time, all the gunk that passes through your pipes can build up, leaving you with slow-running drains and backups. Tree roots growing into your sewer line can cause the same problems. While drain cleaners and drain snaking might help with smaller clogs, the results don’t last long. Professional hydrojetting completely removes buildup and blockages […]
The Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Dye Testing
As they age, septic tanks can sustain damage that isn’t immediately obvious, but that can still cause issues such as sewage backups or water supply contamination. A septic dye test makes it easy to spot major problems without using more invasive inspection methods. Although common, a dye test is far from exhaustive, so make sure […]
How to Fix a Dry Water Well
A dry well is always concerning, but it’s rarely a long-term problem. Even when it hasn’t rained in weeks, it’s often possible to fix a dry water well using techniques developed to reach water still lingering deeper down. Assess Your Situation Before you look for solutions, make sure your well really is dry and not […]
7 Common Plumbing Scams Every Homeowner Should Know
A good plumber is upfront about their work and their prices, but not all are so honest. Some unscrupulous plumbers run scams that not only cost you money, but can also damage your plumbing system. The most common plumbing scams aren’t always obvious, though, and it’s easy to get reeled in before you realize what’s […]