5 Most Common Plumbing Emergencies

Big or small, plumbing problems can really set you back money wise and, especially when its unexpected.

Part of prevention is maintenance, because maintenance is one thing that can prevent a small issue from becoming a big financial disaster. Another huge part of avoiding these massive costs is knowing what can happen and how it comes about.

So here are five common residential plumbing emergencies and how they happen. This should not only help you head them off but also keep you on your toes about the conditions that lead to them forming.

1. Burst Pipes
   Probably the biggest issue with a burst pipe is shutting off the water in time to avoid serious water damage to other parts of your house. Burst pipes can happen for a number of reasons – too many to list here – but the important thing is to act quickly and have the number of a local, trusted plumber saved in case you may need a professional plumber to come to your rescue in an emergency.
   
2. Frozen Pipes
   Frozen pipes can lead to burst pipes but the main difference is that you can better predict when this is going to occur. This is mostly common in colder climates (very rare in Florida) where temperatures can drop significantly. When that happens you need to keep the water flowing through your pipes to prevent them from freezing which can lead to burst pipes.
   
3. Leaky Plumbing
   This happens often especially in houses with old, worn out piping. Leaks can also occur because of clogs which causes blockage in the pipes. You can unclog it yourself or have a pro come and take care of the problem for you. There are causes of leaky pipes, but they do happen to everyone. So have the contact info of a good local plumber saved in an easy to get place.
   
4. Clogged Drains
   Along with leaky plumbing, seriously clogged drains can be a nightmare. Why? Imagine a clogged toilet that is overflowing. Nasty, right? Aside from creating a potentially health issue, you also have the potential of a big financial hit. That’s why at Next Level Plumbing, we try to arrive at our stoppage calls as soon as we can.
   
5. Gas Leaks
   The telltale sign of a gas leak is the smell of gas. If you notice/detect the smell of gas, that’s an indication that there might be a problem. You should snuff out any open flames, like scent candles that in the same room or vicinity. Then open the windows to let the gas out and bring in fresh air. Then call the gas company if its a major emergency and is not something you can handle yourself. Call the gas company and let them know what the situation is and they’ll take it from there.
   
   These are 5 of the most common residential plumbing emergencies. Get on top of them, and you could save yourself a lot of money and stress. Contact us today for free quote!

The post 5 Most Common Plumbing Emergencies appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/5-most-common-plumbing-emergencies/

4 Reasons Why You Have Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure is a very common problem in homes. At times it can feel like a problem that never goes away. However, many pressure related problems boil down to a just a few factors.

Here are top 4 reasons why you have low water pressure in your house:

1. Leaky pipes
   A very common problem, especially for older houses, They often go unnoticed and the problem builds and builds and builds until low water pressure is the least of your problems. Be sure to check your pipes regularly and see if there are any places inside or outside where there might be moisture or pools of water that shouldn’t be there. If there are, you might have found a leak.
   
2. A leaky faucet or shower head
   Another very common problem is a leaky faucet or shower head. Just because of general wear and tear, faucets and shower heads will tend to leak over time. The good news is you can almost always do these repairs yourself. To fix a leaky shower head or tap, just head down to your local hardware store and pick out a new one, and replace the old with the new.
   
3. The water meter valve is not fully on
   There are two main valves that control water flow, and therefore water pressure to your entire house. One of these valves is usually only turned when work is being done near, or on your water meter. If you’ve had work done in the past, it’s possible the water company forgot to fully open the valve after the work had been completed. You can check to see if its fully open or not. If not, then open it. If this was the cause of your low pressure problem, then you would see an instant improvement in water pressure.
   
4. A Faulty Pressure-Reducing Valve
   Sounds technical but its really not. A pressure-reducing valve is a valve that regulates the water pressure inside pipes to stop any damage being done to your pipes. If you know this valve hasn’t been replaced recently and you are experiencing water pressure issues, then there is a good chance that your pressure-reducing valve is working too well and is limiting water pressure a bit much. You will need a professional plumber to fix this problem, and once it’s fixed your water pressure should improve rapidly.
   
   Typically for any water pressure issues, the problem often lies in the piping and/or water supply. Most times you can fix these issues yourself (if you know how). But if you don’t know, or you don’t want to deal with the hassle yourself, then call us today.
   
   Often, its much cheaper to have a professional and licensed plumber fix your plumbing issues in the first place, rather than having them come to fix an issue that has only gotten worse after you attempted to fix it yourself.

---

The post 4 Reasons Why You Have Low Water Pressure appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/4-reasons-why-you-have-low-water-pressure/

Next Level Travel Tips!

Have you ever been to a hotel, friends house, or Airbnb and not been able to figure out how to work the plumbing in the bathroom? 

Don’t feel bad, this is not as uncommon as you might think. It is actually very common. In this blog series we will go over some travel tips for different types of plumbing that may throw you for a loop while you’re traveling.

Series 1: Shower Faucets

Most of us are accustomed to a couple different styles of faucets and when we are confronted with a new style it can throw us.

So what can you do to avoid having to call a friend or the front desk to figure out how to operate the shower? 

In most situations shower faucets are going to operate in one of four ways.

1. Pull on, push off.
This is just like it sounds. You grab the handle and pull it. For this style the water turns on, then usually you turn the handle right or left for hot and cold. When you are done you push the handle till it stops and the water turns off.

2. Turn to turn on.
Again, not too complicated. Turn the handle, often counterclockwise. This turns on the water. The further you turn it the hotter it gets. When you are done, turn it back to the starting point and the water turns off. Note: Sometimes the original plumbing installer makes a mistake and switches the hot and cold pipes. The faucet still works, but hot and cold is backwards. Just keep turning the faucet handle till you find the right temperature.

3. Temperature controlled valves with two handles or knobs.
These are usually the ones that get people. Usually there are two levers, or knobs. One turns both knobs together, and one turns just the one.
In this case one handle is for temperature, the other is for volume, or on/off. For this style, once you turn it on, if you find the temperature you like just leave it there. Then when you shower next just turn it on and don’t touch the second knob or lever. It will automatically adjust to the same temperature you left it at.

4. Two handle style. (Or more)
This is often a luxury bathroom. Each handle does something different. One does the on/off, another usually does the temperature adjustment, and then if there are more they usually divert water from the shower head to the handheld, or to the body sprays, or the rain head.
In this case, find out the on/off by turning it (usually centered and lower), set the temperature, and then turn the other handles and see what functions turn on or off. If there is a handle in a shower it is ok to turn it, that’s what it is designed for.

We hope these bits of wisdom help you during your travels, whenever and wherever you go!

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

Next Level Tips: Choose Your Contractor Wisely

Ask Your Plumber: Plumbing Upgrades & Remodels

Understanding Your Plumbing Technology

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 Next Level Travel Tips! appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/next-level-travel-tips/

Next Level Tips: Choose Your Contractor Wisely

Maybe you’ve never had a bad experience working with a contractor, maybe you’ve only heard of bad experiences from others, and want to make sure it doesn’t happen to you. What should you do to go the safe route?

When choosing a Plumbing Contractor, or any contractor for that matter, always do your research first. Look them up and check their reviews online. See how many they have, how recent the reviews are, and if there are bad ones, what they say.

Usually you can tell from a bad review if it is legitimate or just someone complaining. If you see a lot of great reviews and the ones complaining are saying the price is too high, then you know you are likely looking at a very good company, but they aren’t cheap. 

If you see a company that seems decent, but the major complaint is that they are not on time, then they are probably a cheaper option, however you’re sacrificing reliability for that. That might be a deal breaker, and it is for most people, but maybe that doesn’t bother you.

If you see a lot of good reviews overall, but complaints about a specific technician, there might be a bad apple in an otherwise good company. 

If there are several complaints and the topic varies, they might just be a subpar company overall. Best to stay away from them.

If there are a lot of good and somewhat recent reviews, and very few bad reviews, you can be reasonably sure it is a good company to work with.

Another thing to consider when researching (besides reviews) is to check into sunbiz.org and make sure they have a license for the work they will be doing. It will show if they have the license or not. If they do not, do NOT use them. They would be doing work illegally and that is not the best way to find a good Plumbing Contractor to work with.

The third big thing to check is if they have insurance.

Never hire a company that does not have proper insurance. Ask them to make sure they do. If you suspect they are lying to you, ask them for proof. If they have it, they can give it to you.

There are two reasons to look for insurance.

1. If they do not have liability insurance and something happens like a flood from the work they did, your insurance will have to cover it.

2. If they do not have insurance and a tech gets injured on the job, the tech can actually legally go after you since they got injured on your property. Because of the amount of medical bills that can quickly add up, this is a huge reason to hire only professionals that are insured.

Finally, we all like to do work with people we like and trust. And that is a good thing. After answering all of the above questions, choose the company that you trust the most. Whether you call out one company or 3 for the original quote, make sure you trust the person selling the job.

While this advice is not going to guarantee that you will not have any problems, it will go a long way to weed out the problem companies. 

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

PSA: Look Under Your Sinks!

PSA (Plumbing Service Announcement) Part 1: Water Heaters

Next Level Plumbing Upgrades: Toilets!

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 Next Level Tips: Choose Your Contractor Wisely appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/next-level-tips-choose-your-contractor-wisely/

Have Contractor Concerns???

What to do when the contractor disappears from the job, and how to choose a good contractor.

(Advice courtesy of Next Level Plumbing’s owner and master plumber, Byron Thomson.)

You have been looking at your old, out of style bathroom and have been thinking about changing things up for several years now. You finally decide to pull the trigger, you choose the look you want, and you get a couple of prices because this will be a complete change up it is not cheap. 
You call 7 different plumbing contractors, and only 4 of them actually show up to give you a quote. Of those 4 only 2 actually give you a price. You make your decision and sign the contract with the plumbing company you selected and make the down payment. They arrive to begin work but then run into unforeseen problems. They leave, saying they’ll come back the next day, but you never see them again. 

This story, although made up, is parts of stories I have heard over and over as a plumbing contractor in the state of Florida. Unfortunately this is not as uncommon as it should be. Florida is notorious for its share of crappy contractors. 

So what happens if this happens to you?

First of all find out if they got a permit for the work they were doing. If they did, the permit should be changed to reflect the correct company working on the job. This is important to know and tell the plumber who is coming out to take over the job.

When I have taken over jobs in the past I always have a lot of questions. I want to know what exactly I’m walking into. From my end, I don’t want to get caught in a situation where both the homeowner and the contractor are suing each other over a breach of contract leaving me unsure exactly who is liable for what or I might not get paid, or if I might have to write up documents and prove things as a plumbing contractor about the job for the courts. This is why I want to know what I am getting myself into before bidding the job.

Once I understand the situation I can offer the solution. It could be as simple as us completing the job for X amount. Or it could involve working with the county or city to resolve the permit, giving proof of what was done when I started to the lawyers, or even in some cases telling you that you need a General Contractor and I can do the work subcontracted through them.

Regardless of what extent I have to go to for the job, it is always best to be up front and honest with the plumber coming to correct the original issues. If you hide things from them, that can make things go poorly.

We hope these tips help you to be more prepared!

Concerned about your home and plumbing? Give us a call!
Did you enjoy today’s Next Level blog? If you did, go ahead and check out these other blogs!

Understanding Your Plumbing Technology

Ask Your Plumber: Plumbing Upgrades & Remodels

PSA: Look Under Your Sinks!

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 Have Contractor Concerns??? appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/have-contractor-concerns/

Benefits of Bidets -Part 2-

When talking about bidets it is important to note the two main differences. There are bidets that are their own separate unit that are installed next to the toilet, and there are bidet seats that are installed on toilets.

For the purposes of this post we will be referring to the bidet seats as that is the main bidet we deal with in the Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice areas.

There are many types of bidet seats available on the market. So which one is the best choice for you?

One of the biggest factors to decide on when choosing a bidet seat is whether it will require an electrical outlet or not. For the ones that do you will need an outlet close to the toilet to plug the seat in.

Look at the features and decide if it is worth the extra price of a bidet seat that plugs in verses a bidet seat that is fully manual. Also keep in mind that an electrician can install an outlet for you, it is all just a matter of what you want to pay for the features you would like.

The simple types of bidet seats that have two dials on the side of the toilet, one is on/off for one of the two sprayers, and the other dial for water pressure. These do not require an outlet and will be among the least expensive options around.

After that you start to get more fancy when you add the ability to plug the bidet seat in. You have a remote to turn on the bidet, adjust the angle and pressure of the spray, turn on a seat warmer, etc. They can automatically raise the seat when you walk over to the toilet, and close it when you are done.

There are a lot of options on the market, once you have determined your price range, features you want, and found out about the electrical, then its just finding the one you want!

Did you enjoy today’s Next Level blog? If you did, go ahead and check out these other blogs!

The Benefits of Bidets -Part 1-

Ask Your Plumber: Plumbing Upgrades & Remodels

Understanding Your Plumbing Technology

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 Benefits of Bidets -Part 2- appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/benefits-of-bidets-part-2/

The Benefits of Bidets -Part 1-

Ever since the great toilet paper shortage of 2020 there has been an increased interest in bidets.

And why not?

Bidets have been increasing in popularity for years now for good reason. Let’s explore some of the reasons…

Easy to Use & Helpful-

One reason people will chose bidets is that they are easier to use than a toilet, especially when you need to clean yourself after a surgery or injury that reduces core flexibility.

A bidet is able to help you avoid the twists and turns that can be so difficult in those situations.

Less Toilet Paper–

The second reason is a rather obvious one, they use less toilet paper.

This is very hand for people who have failing septic tanks and failing plumbing drains in general. For them, reducing the amount of solids that can potentially cause a stoppage is a very good thing.

Comfort-

While some people have absolutely no interest in a bidet, we find that a large number of people who try them find out they like them. So comfort is a big deal as well.

Come back on Friday for Part 2 of “The Benefits of Bidets” and see what else we have to share!

Did you enjoy today’s Next Level blog? If you did, go ahead and check out these other blogs!

Ask Your Plumber: Plumbing Upgrades & Remodels

PSA: Look Under Your Sinks!

Next Level COVID Safety: Part 2

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 The Benefits of Bidets -Part 1- appeared first on Next Level Plumbing.

source https://nextlevelplumbingllc.com/the-benefits-of-bidets-part-1/