PSA: Washing Machine Hoses

Most of the time our plumbing just works for us. The water is turned on and the desired hot or cold water comes out, the drains flow and we barely pay any attention to the fact that these things are working. But when something goes wrong with the plumbing system it can be catastrophic.

We all know of things that can go wrong, the toilet doesn’t flush, the water heater doesn’t heat, a faucet drips etc. But today I wanted to highlight one of the hidden things that can go wrong and cause major problems.

That would be washing machine hoses. Yep, those things most people don’t think about even if they are replacing the washing machine. Those little hoses can be the cause of major flooding when they fail.

What happens with washing machine hoses is that as they deteriorate they can burst under the constant pressure of the normal house water pressure. Once they burst it is full open hose going until it is manually turned off.

What can prevent this? There are several things you can do.

1. Replace your washing machine hoses with braided stainless steel hoses. These last longer than just rubber ones.

2. Replace your washing machine hoses every 5-8 years to prevent failure.

3. Turn off the washing machine valves after every use.

4. Install an automatic water shutoff that detects a leak to make sure it shuts off the second it senses water.

Interested? Curious to know more? Let us know! You can continue to read more of Byron’s blogs by clicking the links below.

Storytime with Byron: “Toilet Truths”

PSA (Plumbing Service Announcement) Part 1: Water Heaters

New to FL Facts: Licensing

Hope you enjoy!
As always, if you are looking for a plumber to help you out with a maintenance call or plumbing emergency, feel free to give us a call or text at (941)504-3578, check out our website, or email us at nextlevelplumbinginc@gmail.com. We’d be happy to schedule a free estimate for you and provide you with all the professional help you need!

The post PSA: Washing Machine Hoses appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/psa-washing-machine-hoses/

Go Green… Hybrid Water Heaters

Go Green…

with a Hybrid Water Heater

(Blog by: Next Level Plumbing’s Owner & Master Plumber, Byron Thomson)

Just about everyone would like to save our valuable resources right?

So many times it seems like we have to pay a premium just to try to be good for the environment. And while this can still be the case with plumbing, it is not always completely true.

Today I wanted to focus on one product that, while you pay a premium up front, actually pays for itself over the life of the product and saves on electricity at the same time!

The product we are highlighting today is called a Hybrid water heater.

It uses a conventional tank like any other tank style does, but it adds a heat pump to the tank to use the heat in the air around us to heat the water.

This heat pump method is dramatically more efficient than a standard style water heater. And it is perfect for Florida where we have such warm weather. It can use the heat pump method to heat your water almost every single day of the year. On the 2 or 3 days when it can’t, it can automatically start heating it with conventional elements.

It has settings to be able to use only heat pump mode, or only element, OR- as it gets its name- hybrid mode. And for anyone who has extreme demands it can heat using both methods if so desired (you just lose the savings you would normally have gotten).

The amount of electricity you save will depend on how much you normally use. But with normal savings you can easily see the cost of the water heater saved by the end of its life. This is way better than an old style that not only uses more power, but also will never pay for itself.

Interested? Curious to know more? Let us know! You can continue to read more of Byron’s blogs by clicking the links below.

Hide & Seek: How Old is My Water Heater?

Storytime with Byron: “Toilet Truths”

New to FL Facts: Water Quality

Hope you enjoy!
As always, if you are looking for a plumber to help you out with a maintenance call or plumbing emergency, feel free to give us a call or text at (941)504-3578, check out our website, or email us at nextlevelplumbinginc@gmail.com. We’d be happy to schedule a free estimate for you and provide you with all the professional help you need!

The post Go Green… Hybrid Water Heaters appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/go-green-hybrid-water-heaters/

New to FL Facts: Licensing

Are You New to Florida Living?

The plumbing situation might be a bit different for you here in Florida compared to where you used to live! Or it might be similar! Either way, we hope to help answer some of those curious questions for you in this blog series: “New to FL Facts!”

Here to share his plumbing knowledge and expertise with you is Byron Thomson, Next Level Plumbing’s owner and master plumber.

Topic of the Day: Licensing

Each state can be different from another, and Florida is no exception. As a plumber I have talked to many people who have just moved down and are learning the differences, often the hard way. Some things are easy to tell, like we have alligators, it is very hot and it’s humid in the summer.

Some things are not as clearly evident, for instance, licensing.

In Florida we have different rules and regulations regarding contractors in comparison to what other states have. One significant factor is licensing. I do not know every state’s laws in this regard, but I do know there are many with higher standards than Florida.

Here in Florida the only requirement for a plumber, or any trade for that matter, is that the owner of the business holds a state issued master plumbing license. Nobody else in the company is required to have any license at all. So someone could literally pull random people off the street, put them in a truck, and send them out to fix plumbing.

What this means is that often the license holder is in the office, or on a boat, and most of the plumbers that get sent out to your house will not personally be licensed. This does not mean that they don’t know what they are talking about, but it does increase the odds that there is under developed talent working at your house.

I personally know of several plumbers without a license that are very good, but I also know of a whole lot who are not. It is important to hire a plumbing company who will send out qualified technicians to perform the work at your house.

Often times what happens is that plumbing companies get so busy that they hire helpers, and then start sending helpers out on their own too soon because they are so busy. This decreases the amount of training the technician has, and decreases the service you are paying for in the end.

At Next Level Plumbing we strive to hire qualified technicians who are very capable of handling your plumbing problems in the Sarasota/Bradenton area and we are continually training them to be better and better for you.

Interested? Curious to know more? Let us know! You can continue to read more of Byron’s blogs by clicking the links below.

New to FL Facts: Water Quality

Storytime with Byron: “Toilet Truths”

Hide & Seek: How Old is My Water Heater?

Hope you enjoy!
As always, if you are looking for a plumber to help you out with a maintenance call or plumbing emergency, feel free to give us a call or text at (941)504-3578, check out our website, or email us at nextlevelplumbinginc@gmail.com. We’d be happy to schedule a free estimate for you and provide you with all the professional help you need!

The post New to FL Facts: Licensing appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/2578-2/

Storytime with Byron: “Toilet Truths”

The time where Byron shares a story about a job or product or even customer that could be useful for others to know.

“What toilet should I buy?”

Toilets are often the most misunderstood part of the plumbing. The basic assumption is that every toilet will work if it fits. This is not always true. And even if it fits, sometimes things can go wrong.

To help you understand what I mean, here is a story about a brand of toilet that can help you avoid the same problem.

I was called out to fix a leaking toilet. When I arrived at the house I was shown a brand new American Standard toilet (installed by someone else). It looked like there was a defective fill valve inside, so I replace the fill valve. When I turned the water back on it still leaked and upon further investigation I found that the liner they designed to go inside the tank had a small crack and was defective.

Since this part was only made by them I had to call them to find it, and was hoping they would send me a free one because the toilet was only months old. When I got them on the phone they asked for the original purchase receipt. Since the customer did not have it American Standard would not honor their warranty.

So my customer was forced to make a choice. Either order the part and pay full price for it and the install price, or buy a completely new toilet. She did not have time to wait for the part to come in and have a toilet down that long, so she ended up buying a whole new toilet.

American Standard has not been easy to work warranties with, and because of that I recommend staying away from their products. Gerber and Kohler make good products that are not too pricey. If you choose Gerber don’t choose their Maxwell series. The other ones are good.

Hopefully this edition of Storytime with Byron has been helpful to you!
It’s something to consider! If this blog helped you in any way, check out more of Byron’s blogs!

Ask Byron: Tank VS. Tankless?

AYP: Plumbing Tips for Renters

New to FL Facts: Water Quality

Hope you enjoy!
As always, if you are looking for a plumber to help you out with a maintenance call or plumbing emergency, feel free to give us a call or text at (941)504-3578, check out our website, or email us at nextlevelplumbinginc@gmail.com. We’d be happy to schedule a free estimate for you and provide you with all the professional help you need!

The post Storytime with Byron: “Toilet Truths” appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/storytime-with-byron-toilet-truths/

How to Help Your Plumber: PETS?!

H2HYP

How to Help Your Plumber:

Pets & Plumbers…

Not a topic that applies to every household, but it’s an important one to address!

Here are some things to consider when you have a technician coming into your home, and some tips to help the appointment with that technician go smoothly!

Topic of the Day: Man’s Best Friend, but not always the Plumbers!

In this scenario we see a little trick-or-treater is being chased- not a plumber- but it’s not hard to imagine it being a plumber is it?! While many pets are ultra friendly and welcome anyone into their home, there are also pets that are very protective of their home and humans. Even though they may be perfectly well behaved around most people, they also may decide they dislike a random stranger! And that random stranger could be an AC technician or plumber coming into your home to fix something for you.

Your pet may not realize that their effort to scare off the person they’re not so comfortable with in the house isn’t helping you out like they intended to. Our technicians understand that many pups feel they have a job- to protect their home and family! But that doesn’t mean they are willing to risk being left alone with your pet watching them while they work.

Parents of pups??? Please do any technician coming into your house, a favor and keep your furry kids from accidentally protecting when they’re not supposed to!?! Both of our techs here at Next Level Plumbing have had many experiences where dogs have chased them out of the house. they don’t want to be bitten or chased, but they cannot do their job if the dog wont leave them be!

They’ve heard countless customers tell them “My dog(s) are total couch potatoes, they’re the sweetest dogs, don’t worry! They’ll leave you alone, they don’t bite!” or the all time favorite, “He’s all bark-no bite!” Which may be the case, but isn’t always true… Some plumbers/technicians don’t blink an eye at dogs of any size! But for the sake, and sanity, of the plumber, it is best to be courteous and either keep your dog with you, or put away so that no accidents occur.

Pet & Plumber/Technician Etiquette:

1. Ask if the plumber/technician is ok with your pets before inviting them into your home!

2. If they are NOT ok, please be considerate and put your pets away in a place where they cannot get out or be let out by mistake!

3. If your plumber/technician IS ok with your pets, please stay within range for safety reasons, it would be bad to leave and come back to find your pet has injured your plumber and he can no longer complete his work because of it!

Want to read more about pets and plumbing? Check out some more of our blogs below!

Plumbing for Your Pet (Part 1)

Plumbing for Your Pet (Part 2)

National Pet Day!

As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call or text at 941-504-3578! Whether it’s a last minute problem, or something you want to schedule to be done at a later date, we’ll be more than happy to help you with any plumbing issues you may have!

The post How to Help Your Plumber: PETS?! appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/how-to-help-your-plumber-pets/

Hide & Seek: How Old is My Water Heater?

“How old is your water heater?”

Not everyone knows all about the important technology helping things run smoothly in their home. There are plenty of us who responds with a blank expression and shrug of shoulders when the age of the water heater comes into question, in fact, a common reply to that question is “I don’t know, does it matter???”

Luckily, Next Level Plumbing has plenty of Next Level knowledge all about water heaters, how to tell their age, and why it’s so important to keep track of your water heaters birthdays! You can always ask the plumbing tech you’ve hired any plumbing questions you might have, OR you can just read below for advice from Next Level Plumbing’s owner and master plumber, Byron Thomson!

So without further ado, please check out Byron’s very helpful “Hide & Seek” informative Q&A blog: Finding the Age of Your Water Heater!

 

How old is my water heater???

This is a question that I get asked rather often because the age of your water heater helps indicate how much longer it will last. While there are exceptions to any rule, you can expect 10-12 years out of your old water heater, and maybe 15 years on long end.

Is it difficult to tell it’s age?

Telling the age of your water heater is not usually that difficult. The age will be embedded into the serial number on the label. Usually the first four numbers will tell the month and year it was made. Sometimes it will be letters that are used instead of numbers and those letters correspond to the month and year the water heater was manufactured.

How can I learn more about my water heater?

It is hard to remember which water heater does what, so when I’m checking the age of a water heater that I’m unsure how to decode, I check the website linked below…

http://building-center.org/water-heater-table-of-contents-age-manufacture-date-serial-number/

*That website has helped me find the age of every water heater I was not familiar with, and I have never come across one that was not in there. However…

If your water heater is extra mysterious and you can’t figure out it’s age or have questions about it’s condition, the plumber can always help you out with that!

Hopefully this edition of Hide & Seek has been helpful to you!

It’s something to consider! If this blog helped you in any way, check out more of Byron’s blogs!

Ask Byron: Tank VS. Tankless?

Fix It Felix: Common Fixes You Can Do!

Ask Your Plumber: DIY Toilet Fixes?

 

As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call or text at 941-504-3578! Whether it’s a last minute emergency, or something you want to schedule to be done later in the year, we’ll be more than happy to help you with any plumbing problems you may have!

The post Hide & Seek: How Old is My Water Heater? appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/hide-seek-how-old-is-my-water-heater/

Hide & Seek: Plumbing Edition- The Cleanout

Finding Your Cleanout

It’s not surprising that many people respond with a blank expression and shrug of shoulders when asked where the cleanout is, in fact, a common reply to that question is “The What?”

Luckily, here at Next Level Plumbing we happen to know just what the cleanout is, what it’s for, and beyond that how to help repair your plumbing problem by using it!

Please keep reading to check out our very helpful “Hide & Seek” informative blog to Finding Your Cleanout!

*The cleanout for your house is an important part of the plumbing system. Unfortunately in our area (Sarasota, Venice, & Manatee Counties) it is often hidden. This means that in addition to doing the work, the plumber will need to locate it as well.*

What is a cleanout?

It is a fitting in the drainage pipe that allows the plumber to run a snake down the drain.

Why is this important?

Most of the time in a whole house stoppage the most thorough drain cleaning job is done through the cleanout. Other methods can work like pulling the toilet, or getting on the roof, but these can incur extra costs that are avoided by using the cleanout.

Why are they so often hidden in the Sarasota/Bradenton area?

That is a really good question, and one we really don’t know the answer to. Nowadays code requires plumbers to install them above ground so they are visible, but that wasn’t always the case. Because of this, many are buried outside.

So how can you find them if they are buried?

Plumbers can look at the layout of the house and sometimes that will give them a clue as to where to look, but sometimes they have to run a camera or a snake to find it.

How can you find it yourself?

Some cleanouts are very difficult to find, but some you may be able to locate with a little effort.

Here’s what to look for…

Often times the cleanout was installed above ground outside, but the landscapers then mulched around the house and covered it. If you are pruning your bushes around your house and see a white pipe with a cap on it that is about 4” in diameter, you’ve found your cleanout.

In traditional Floridian houses they will be outside within 3’ of the edge of the house. This is why they are so often hidden by the bushes.

If you are installing landscaping around your house and while digging find a metal pipe about 4”, that is the drain pipe and the cleanout is right there or within a foot or two. It is best to note that spot, or leave it open and have a plumber come out and install a cleanout above the ground.

If you have a septic tank, often the cleanout will be directly in line between the center of the tank and the house.

Finding your cleanout is sometimes easy, and sometimes a lot of work. If you walk around your house and look for a 4” white pipe coming up out of the ground with a cap, you have found it. Look under bushes and spread the mulch around to find it.

If you’re unable to locate your home’s cleanout, the plumber can always end up finding it.

Hopefully this edition of Hide & Seek has been helpful to you!

As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call or text at 941-504-3578! Whether it’s a last minute emergency, or something you want to schedule to be done later in the year, we’ll be more than happy to help you with any plumbing problems you may have!

The post Hide & Seek: Plumbing Edition- The Cleanout appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/hide-seek-plumbing-edition-the-cleanout/