Category Archives: Plumbing

Ken Jewell – Master Plumber

Want to prevent plumbing disasters? Follow these simple steps from our master plumber, Ken,  and avoid making some of the most common mistakes that lead to plumbing disasters:

• Avoid hair in drains, and clean the hair strainer frequently to keep your drains
unblocked

• Do not flush diapers, baby wipes or any other non-biodegradable items down the
toilet

• Avoid food scraps from being washed down the sink drain, and do not pour oil or fats
in the drain either (they solidify eventually)

• Avoid planting vegetation or trees near your sewer, this will prevent roots from
entering your line and causing a sewage back-up

Not every plumbing problem can be averted, so, when you need a plumber, call the experts at Home Comfort Experts. We guarantee 100% satisfaction and we’ll fix your problem right away. To schedule plumbing service, click here.

Ken Jewell – HVAC Expert & Master Plumber

Being in the home services industry, we get called to homes for a wide variety of problems from heating and cooling issues to plumbing problems. Over the years, we’ve seen some common problems that could have been avoided with just a little preventive maintenance. Here are a few of the problems we see often in the wintertime. Hopefully, these reminders will keep you from having to make a service call.

Problem – Frozen Pipes

Prevention – Remove hoses from outside spigots

One of the most common problems when temperatures dip below freezing is frozen pipes. Occasionally, a home may have a pipe on an outside wall that is more exposed to the temperatures because it is in an unheated area of the home. Usually, insulating these pipes solves the problem. But the most common frozen pipe problem is caused when homeowners forget to unhook their hoses from outside spigots. The hose holds water in the pipe and when it freezes, it expands and causes the hose and many times the pipe to split. When it’s frozen, the water doesn’t flow so you may not notice a leak. But as soon as it thaws, you will have a mess on your hands. Don’t allow this to happen to you. If you’re not sure about your hoses, check them now before it’s too late.

Problem – Water Heater Shutdown

Prevention – Check Outside Vents

Occasionally, we a call from a frantic homeowner whose water heater has stopped working. Sometimes it’s a bad water heater, but many times it’s a much simpler solution – a bird or squirrel has taken up residence in the exhaust pipe. We’ve seen squirrels use them to store nuts and we’ve even encountered a bee hive built inside the vent. So check your vents every month or so to make sure they are clear of all debris and furry friends.

Problem – Furnace Shutdown

Prevention – Check outside Vents/Change Filter

We’ve also seen similar vent problems with furnace vents. Your furnace will shut down completely when the vent is blocked. But besides the vent being blocked, your furnace can also shut down when the filter is too dirty. Most homeowners are shocked that something so simple can cause their entire system to stop working. So make sure you change your filter every month and keep outside vents clear of snow and debris.

Problem – Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Prevention – Test and check batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

This may not be a problem we see often, and it certainly doesn’t happen only in the winter, but fires and carbon monoxide poisoning have such serious consequences, we felt they were worth mentioning anyway. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors save countless lives. But if they aren’t working, they are of no help in emergency situations. Check your detectors every month to make sure they are working properly and have fresh batteries.

If you experience any of the aforementioned problems, check the most likely causes before calling us. It may save you the cost of a service call. But, of course, call us if you have any doubts or problems that can’t be solved simply. We’re here for you with our Home Comfort Experts 24-hour service seven days a week.

Ken Jewell

HCE Master Plumber

Everyone is trying to be greener and more environmentally responsible these days. That’s definitely a good thing for our earth and future generations. The plumbing industry is no exception. If you’re not familiar with some of the following plumbing products, this post will help you discover and hopefully install some of these items in your home:

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters are becoming very popular. Instead of keeping a large amount of water heated and ready for use at all times, the tankless models heat water on demand. Probably the biggest advantage is that you never run out of hot water. And because the device isn’t keeping water warm 24 hours a day, tankless water heaters are much more energy efficient. In addition, tankless water heaters send less CO2 into the atmosphere and result in less landfill usage because they are smaller in size (a little larger than a briefcase).

Low Flow Toilets

Take, for example, low flow toilets. Traditional toilets use six gallons of water per flush (GPF). In the mid 1990s, water conservation laws made it mandatory that toilets use 1.6 (GPF). While the first models were water efficient, their performance lacked a little. Sometimes the amount of water wasn’t enough to clean the bowl. Manufacturers made improvements in the design and today’s low flow or high efficiency toilets work great and conserve water. There’s even a dual-flush design that allows you to choose one flush for liquids and a different flush for solid waste.

Water Conserving Faucets & Showerheads

These are some of the bigger items that are making it easier to be environmentally responsible, but there are smaller items as well. Water saving faucets and showerheads conserve water without sacrificing flow. Touchless faucets are becoming popular for home use as well, and not only do they conserve water, but they turn off automatically when not in use so there is no way kids can accidentally leave the faucet running when they leave the bathroom.

When purchasing plumbing products for your home, look for the WaterSense label. WaterSense products are backed by independent third party certification and meet the EPA’s specifications for water efficiency and performance. These high efficiency products provide the same performance and quality you’ve come to expect, but with the added benefit of water savings. So, when you use WaterSense labeled products, you can be sure you’ll be saving water without sacrificing function. All of these green products not only save water, but ultimately save homeowners on energy and water bills to boot. It’s definitely getting easier to be green! Call Home Comfort Experts and ask us about our green plumbing products when you need plumbing repairs, replacement or installation in Fort Wayne, South Bend, Laporte or anywhere in between. Together we can save the world.

Frozen pipes are a real worry during the coldest days of winter in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan. At about 20 degrees or below, pipes are at risk of freezing — and if they freeze, they might also burst. A water pipe with a crack as small at one-eighth of an inch could send more than 250 gallons of water into your home in one day.

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to reduce the possibility of frozen pipes — and the chance of a midwinter home disaster:

• Insulate. Insulate your water pipes with premade insulation designed to wrap snugly around pipes and protect them from the cold. Ask your HVAC contractor where to find this material. If you can’t find specialty pipe insulation, you can wrap your pipes with standard fiberglass roll insulation.
• Seal. Inspect your house’s foundation and outside walls, looking for cracks, gaps and holes through which cold air can get into your house and reduce temperatures near your water pipes. Pipes in unconditioned or uninsulated areas of your home, such as crawl spaces, unfinished attics or basements, outer walls or foundations, are more likely to be affected by cold air. Repair cracks with weather stripping, caulk or other sealants.
• Heat. Open cabinet doors under the kitchen and bathroom sinks to let more warm get near the pipes.

Keep your home’s thermostat set at a constant warm temperature. Reducing indoor temperatures at night or while you are away during the day increases the chance of pipes freezing.

You can also wrap your pipes with heat tape or cable. These contain heating elements that will provide additional protection against freezing. They must be plugged into a standard electrical socket, so keep access in mind and buy the correct length of tape.

Contact Home Comfort Experts today for more information on preventing frozen pipes and for the insulation, heat tapes and other supplies you need to protect your home.

Clogged drains are bothersome, and they can become an expensive problem if left unchecked. Using a plumbing contractor with expert drain cleaning solutions is necessary to keep your drains working efficiently and consistently.

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At some point, it’s almost guaranteed that your home will require plumbing service. When you do, it’s essential that you choose a reputable plumbing service contractor for the job. Plumbing problems are just plain inconvenient, so getting fast, quality work at an affordable price is critical.

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Taking care of your plumbing can add up to significant savings in your household.

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A clogged drain can be frustrating (and, occasionally, smelly), and the most serious cases require a plumber’s expertise. However, there are several things you can do to try to unclog your drain before you call in a plumber:

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Sometimes we live with things in our home that we shouldn’t. If we have noises we can’t pinpoint, we may just put up with the sounds and learn to try and ignore them. It isn’t something we need to tolerate. It can be embarrassing with guests in the home or, at the least, an annoying disturbance that interrupts our daily routines.

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Many people tend to think that the only way to avoid frozen pipes is by taking action during the freeze itself. While not completely preventable, there are a number of things you can do now to ensure that the next South Bend winter does not wreak havoc on your house.

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