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How to Winterize a House’s PlumbingDropping temperatures. Frost covering the grass. Snowflakes in the air. Cold weather and winter storms not your cup of tea? Maybe you’re a snowbird who flies ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, General Plumbing, Pumps, Toilets
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Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Septic System?How much do you know about your septic system? Take our quiz and find out!Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing
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3 Things NOT to Put In Your Septic TankWe’ve gone over the list of common household products you should never put down your drain: oils, paint, kitty litter, lint . And we’ve also talked about the ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, General Plumbing
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Pets and Your Plumbing: What You Need to KnowIf you have a pet, you know firsthand how much love and laughter they bring into your lives! But you no doubt also know how much mischief they can cause, as ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, General Plumbing, Sinks, Toilets
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How Do You Thaw Frozen Pipes?With cold weather hitting many parts of the country, homeowners face the possibility of their pipes freezing. This could be more than an inconvenience – frozen ...Pipes and Sewers
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Do You Have to Worry About Lead in Water Pipes?Most of us are probably aware of the dangers of lead, a toxic substance that can be especially harmful to children and pregnant women. Exposure can cause ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing
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How to Care for Your Septic SystemDo you have a septic system on your property? If so, you know how important it is to keep it running smoothly! Regular maintenance of your septic system is key ...Pipes and Sewers
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3 Plumbing Fixes to DIY (& 3 Times You Should Call a Plumber)There's a fine balance when it comes to plumbing repairs. On the one hand, if you do it yourself, you can save a lot of money, learn something about your home ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, General Plumbing, Sinks, Home Remodeling
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What Is a Septic System, and How Does It Work?If your house has a septic system and it’s working properly, you probably never think about this piece of machinery. But when there's a septic system failure, ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Pumps
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6 Tips to Prevent Basement FloodingA basement serves an important purpose in your home. In addition to giving you more storage space, they often hold some of your home’s most vital appliances – ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, General Plumbing, Pumps
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How to Prepare Your Home for Severe Summer WeatherIt’s summertime and the livin’ is easy – at least, that’s what Ella Fitzgerald and the Tee Carson trio once sang. And if you love the summer heat, you probably ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, General Plumbing, Pumps, Sinks
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Slab Leaks: What Causes Them, and How to Detect ThemThey’re invisible. They’re silent. And they can cause significant water damage to your home. We’re talking about slab leaks—otherwise known as when a pipe leaks ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing
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3 Problems that are Serious Plumbing Emergencies – And How to Avoid ThemThe words “plumbing emergency” are enough to strike fear into the hearts of any homeowner. But how do you know when you have a truly pressing situation on your ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Pumps
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Common Household Items that Should Never Go Down Your DrainIt can be tempting to dispose of things around your house by just pouring them down a sink drain or flushing them down the toilet, but this can be bad news for ...Pipes and Sewers, Disposals, General Plumbing, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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Going DrainspottingHave you ever looked down and noticed a decorative manhole cover in the street? Did you wonder what might have compelled someone to make such a humble object ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing
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8 Essential Tools for DIY PlumbingThere’s no substitute for a licensed plumber but being able to do some DIY plumbing can save you money on minor repairs or in an emergency. These tools are the ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, Faucets, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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7 Tips to Water Your Garden More EfficientlyIn the heat of the summer, watering your garden can eat up a lot of time! Learning how you should water your garden will save you time, but also wastes less ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets
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5 Steps to a Winning Plunger TechniqueWhen you have a clogged drain or toilet, plunging is your first step to clear the clog. Take these steps to ensure that you are plunging as effectively as ...Pipes and Sewers, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers, General Plumbing
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Pet Safety GuideMany of us consider our pets to be another member of the family. Maintaining our homes so that they remain safe and healthy for our pets is an important ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, General Plumbing
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Buying an Older Home? Ask About These Common Plumbing IssuesSo, you’re thinking about buying an old house. Or you already live in one. We understand why. They have charm, character, and nostalgic qualities. If you have a ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Toilets, Water Heaters
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Are Your Pipes Ready for Winter?Taking steps to prevent frozen pipes is an important home maintenance step for anyone who lives in a climate that experiences subfreezing temperatures. If ...Pipes and Sewers, Water Heaters
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What’s Water Hammer and How Do I Fix It?Here’s How to Stop & Fix Water Hammer Problems Do you sometimes hear a loud “thunk” sound when you turn off a faucet or when the water stops flowing into your ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Sinks, Tubs and Showers
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Troubleshooting Dishwasher Leaks and Water Flow ProblemsOnce you move on from hand-washing dishes, there’s no going back. So when the dishwasher starts having problems, there’s no time to waste in getting to the ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Pumps
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First Steps to Recovering From Water DamageWhether it’s from a flash flood or a broken pipe, water damage can be one of the most devastating home disasters a homeowner will face. Water-damaged ...Pipes and Sewers
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When Rusty Water Appears, Find the Source FastYou count on the water coming from your taps to be clean and clear. So what if the color and taste are suddenly a little off? The culprit could be rust, and ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers, Water Heaters
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Common Causes of Toilet ClogsInadvertently clogging the toilet -- or discovering too late that it’s already clogged -- is one of the more embarrassing plumbing mishaps. And it can also be a ...Pipes and Sewers
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Repairing Your Plumbing After a FloodRecovery after a hurricane is a long and arduous process. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is committed to helping homeowners repair and rebuild their homes and ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, Faucets, Pumps, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers, Water Heaters
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What’s the Difference Between ABS and PVC Pipe?ABS & PVC Piping Provide Different Advantages There are many reasons why homeowners and plumbers alike use plastic pipes in their plumbing projects. Plastic ...Pipes and Sewers
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Removing and Preventing LimescaleDo your plumbing fixtures seem like they need cleaning all too often? If the source of all that extra work is a white or green chalky coating on your faucets ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Sinks, Water Conditioning
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When Main Water Lines Go BadNothing lasts forever. On a long enough timeline, every plumbing pipe and fixture in your home will need to be replaced -- including your plumbing system’s ...Pipes and Sewers
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Should You Insulate Your Water Pipes?For most homeowners, whether to insulate a home’s hot water pipes is a fairly easy decision. When you can purchase effective insulating pipe sleeves for a few ...Pipes and Sewers, Water Heaters
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Is Your Lawn Ready to Go Green?It’s just a couple more days until it’s time to get decked out in all-green for St. Paddy’s Day, but your lawn’s big green day is also right around the corner. ...Pipes and Sewers, Pumps
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The Time to Find Your Shut-Off Valves is NowIf your household plumbing suddenly springs a major leak, do you know what you would do? Calling your local plumber is a smart move, but it shouldn’t be your ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers, Water Heaters
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How to Tell if You Have Hard WaterIs My Water Hard or Soft? Here’s How to Know. Some lucky homeowners have never experienced hard water in their homes. It’s largely a regional problem, with the ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers, Water Conditioning, Water Heaters
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Think Twice Before Using Liquid Drain CleanersWhen you discover a drain that is slow or clogged, calling a plumber might not be your first reaction. After all, using a bottle of commercial liquid drain ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Sinks
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Water Pressure Problems Are Worth FixingWhen it comes to household water pressure, there’s a pretty generous range for what’s considered not too low, not too high, but “just right”. But there are ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Pumps, Sinks, Tubs and Showers, Water Conditioning
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Are Stinky Sewer Smells Wafting Out of Your Drains?The miracle of indoor plumbing allows us to effortlessly wash and flush waste away from our homes -- but that pipeline isn’t always a one-way street. When ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Sinks, Tubs and Showers
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Irrigation System Maintenance is a Year-Round TaskDepending on the size of your lawn and garden, it can be a huge task to keep up with the watering with just a watering can and hose. That’s why many homeowners ...Pipes and Sewers
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Keep Your Sump Pump Clean, It’ll Keep You DryWhether the weather is rainy or dry, homeowners often assume they have a functioning sump pump. However, your sump pump can malfunction if it has not received ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Pumps
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Taking the Waste Out of WastewaterYou probably already know that your hot water heater is one of the biggest energy users in the average home. But after using all that energy to make the water ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Tubs and Showers, Water Heaters
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Seal the Deal With Proper Plunger TechniqueIndoor plumbing has become an indispensable creature comfort, and when it’s suddenly taken away due to a drain clog, it can feel like an instant emergency. Some ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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Get Serious About Water Conservation on Earth DayCelebrate Earth Day this year by establishing some new water conservation habits and making some small changes to your home plumbing. Water is a precious ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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How to Safely Hook Up Your Washing MachineA new washing machine can be an expensive but worthwhile investment. When you purchase a brand-new model, you can take advantage of better performance and more ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains
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Learn the Difference Between Soldering and BrazingSoldering is an essential part of many do-it-yourself plumbing repairs. When you are replacing part of a pipe or installing a new fixture, you often have to ...Pipes and Sewers
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When Is it Time to Replace a Sump Pump?A sump pump is an essential household plumbing component for many families, although it is separate from the main plumbing system. Instead of bringing in water ...Pipes and Sewers
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Learn the Difference Between Soldering Copper and Brass PipesSoldering is a handy tool when it comes to bathroom plumbing repair. Once you get the hang of how to solder your pipes, you can add fixtures and repair plumbing ...Pipes and Sewers
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What to Do About a Noisy FaucetA noisy faucet can drive a family nuts. When you have to brace yourself for an annoying sound every time you wash your hands, it's time to get to work to remedy ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Sinks
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Your Insurance May Not Cover Pipes Broken Due to NegligenceHomeowners insurance can be a lifesaver. If you have a major disaster, like a fire or a flood, you could be out tens of thousands of dollars for repairs or ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Pumps, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers, Water Conditioning, Water Heaters
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How to Improve the Residential Septic TankIndoor plumbing is a marvel of modern technology. Most Americans take it for granted, but it wasn't so long ago that waste disposal was a major public health ...Pipes and Sewers
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Basic Copper Pipe Soldering TipsWhen most people get a leaky or broken copper pipe in their house, they call a plumber without a second thought. After all, using a soldering gun to patch the ...Pipes and Sewers
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How to Retrieve Items that Wash Down the DrainValuable items can vanish down the drain in the blink of an eye. That beautiful engagement ring you took off to do the dishes? An earring that slipped down the ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, General Plumbing, Sinks
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What You Need to Know About Installing a Backyard Hot TubEver dream of having your very own backyard hot tub? Imagine relaxing in the warm water on a cold winter night, with bubble jets percolating all around. Of ...Pipes and Sewers, Tubs and Showers, Home Remodeling
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How to Test Your Home Water PressureHomeowners must walk a fine line when it comes to water pressure. You need sufficient pounds per square inch (psi) of water coming out of your faucets to take ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Pumps, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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Are there Chemicals in Your Tap Water?In general, your tap water is safe to drink. It's tested at municipal water treatment plants and must meet strict federal standards. Unfortunately, sometimes ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Water Conditioning
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Use Push-Fit Fittings to Repair Pipes Without SolderingOne of the trickiest parts about DIY plumbing repairs is when you have to break out the soldering torch. You need to be extra careful to not create a fire ...Pipes and Sewers
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Diagnose Sewer Line Problems with a Camera InspectionOne of the absolute worst places to need plumbing repairs is in the sewer line. That's the main outtake pipe that removes all the used greywater and waste from ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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How to Avoid a Plumbing FireWhen you think about household fire risks, your plumbing system is probably not the first thing to come to mind. However, while your pipes themselves don't pose ...Pipes and Sewers
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Avoid Health Hazards from Decaying Municipal Water PipesWater is among the most essential substances for sustaining human life. Crucial to the advance of urban civilization has been the ability to bring abundant ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Sinks, Tubs and Showers, Water Conditioning
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How to Get Impurities Out of Your Tap WaterThere's nothing worse than filling up what should be a refreshing glass of water from the tap, only to spot debris or black specks floating in the liquid. It’s ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Tubs and Showers, Water Conditioning, Water Heaters
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How to Add a Bathroom to Your BasementAnyone who comes from a large family can tell you horror stories about waiting in line for the bathroom. Everybody loves to take their time showering, brushing ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, Faucets, Pumps, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers, Home Remodeling
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Water Damage from Plumbing Leaks is Common Homeowners Insurance ClaimPlumbing leaks are one of the most subtly dangerous disasters that can befall a household. A small leak hidden somewhere in the walls can slowly undermine your ...Pipes and Sewers, Toilets, Water Heaters
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How to Plan for a FloodWhether it's caused by a hurricane storm surge or torrential rains, flash flooding can become a destructive force in an instant. If you live in an area with the ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Pumps, Water Heaters
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How to Conserve Water in Your Backyard PoolSometimes, conservation conflicts with comfort. Everybody loves saving water, and reducing consumption are more important than ever with some parts of the ...Pipes and Sewers
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Reuse Greywater From Household Plumbing During a DroughtDroughts are plaguing the United States. Water is becoming scarce and is poised to get more expensive as well. One way to handle present or future water ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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You Can Be Liable for Unlicensed Plumber ServicesRemodeling your bathroom can be a blast. You get to pick from the latest in modern bathroom installations and design your space to align perfectly with your ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, Faucets, General Plumbing, Pumps, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers, Water Conditioning, Water Heaters
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Can You Achieve Net Zero Water Use With Your Household Plumbing?Nobody likes paying water bills. There are a number of measures you can take to increase savings through water conservation, but the real prize would be to do ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, General Plumbing, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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These Household Plumbing Features Can Drive Up Your Insurance BillsOwning a home is an expensive proposition. Mortgage payments, utilities, repairs and maintenance can all stretch the family budget to the limit – and then ...Pipes and Sewers
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What Do Those Funny Plumbing Noises Mean?When your plumbing system is working properly, you don't have to think about it. Water comes in, water and waste get removed – that's the end of the story. ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, Faucets, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers, Home Remodeling
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Diagnose and Fix Problems in Your Floor DrainFloor drains can be a lifesaver. If you break a pipe or your house floods from an outside source, a drain in the basement floor gives the water away out without ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains
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A Brief History of PlumbingDid you take the time to appreciate your toilet today? Some Americans might take their bathrooms for granted, but we've only enjoyed the benefits of indoor ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, Faucets, Pumps, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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How To Care For Your Septic TankIf your home isn't connected to a sewer system, you still need a way to safely remove wastewater. About a quarter of homes in America use a septic system, ...Pipes and Sewers, Disposals, Toilets
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Do You Know What Your Pipes Are Made Of?Do you know what materials your plumbing pipes are made from? If you don't, you’re at a disadvantage. The composition of your pipes affects your whole plumbing ...Pipes and Sewers
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Diy Tips For Clearing A Clogged DrainIt’s an ominous sign most of us know all too well: You’re standing in the shower and you notice that instead of draining, the water is rising around your feet. ...Pipes and Sewers, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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Biofilm In Your Plumbing Can Be Hazardous To Your HealthHas it been a while since you’ve cleaned your sinks and showers? You could be putting yourself at risk of biofilm. Biofilm is the sticky goo that turns up on ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, Faucets, Sinks, Tubs and Showers
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8 Water Conservation Tips For The BathroomAs concern for the environment grows, many of us are looking for ways to go green. One of the best things you can do for Mother Nature is to use less water - a ...Pipes and Sewers, General Plumbing, Sinks, Tubs and Showers
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Avoid Damage From High Water PressureIf your sinks and shower have irregular water pressure, or the pressure seems very strong at all times, it may mean that the water pressure coming into your ...Pipes and Sewers, Tubs and Showers
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Avoid Potential Plumbing Pitfalls When Buying A New HomeYou think you've found your dream house: A big yard, ample bathrooms, a great price for the neighborhood. Before you sign on the dotted line, however, make sure ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers, Water Heaters
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Building Codes: Does Your Plumbing Meet Standards?Just because you own your house doesn't mean you can do anything you want to it. Building codes detail what you can and can't do to modify your home, and what ...Pipes and Sewers, Drains, Sinks, Toilets, Home Remodeling
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5 Signs You Need To Call A PlumberThere are plumbing problems you can handle on your own, but others are too big to tackle. Do you know when you need to call in professional help? The five ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Sinks, Toilets, Tubs and Showers
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6 Ways To Find Hidden Water LeaksEarly detection of a water leak can save you money and avert potential disaster. Here are some signs that you may have a leak and should consider contacting a ...Pipes and Sewers, Faucets, Toilets
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Small Roots, Big Problems: Preventing Pipe DamageBelieve it or not, your landscaping could be a danger to your plumbing system. Tree roots will travel long distances to find water, especially when drought ...Pipes and Sewers
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