Pipes and Sewers

The 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 ...

It 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 ...

Have 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 ...

There’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 ...

In 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 ...

When 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 ...

Many 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 ...

So, 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 ...

Taking steps to prevent frozen pipes is an important home maintenance step for anyone who lives in a climate that experiences subfreezing temperatures. If ...

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 ...

Once 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 ...

Whether 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 ...

You 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 ...

Inadvertently 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 ...

Recovery after a hurricane is a long and arduous process. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is committed to helping homeowners repair and rebuild their homes and ...

ABS & PVC Piping Provide Different Advantages There are many reasons why homeowners and plumbers alike use plastic pipes in their plumbing projects. Plastic ...

Do 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 ...

Nothing 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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

If 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 ...

Is 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 ...

When 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 ...

When 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 ...

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 ...

Depending 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 ...

Whether 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 ...

You 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 ...

Indoor 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 ...

Celebrate Earth Day this year by establishing some new water conservation habits and making some small changes to your home plumbing. Water is a precious ...

A 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 ...

Soldering 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 ...

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 ...

Soldering 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 ...

A 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 ...

Homeowners 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 ...

Indoor 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 ...

When 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 ...

Valuable 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 ...

Ever 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 ...

Homeowners 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 ...

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 ...

One 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 ...

One 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 ...

When 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 ...

Water is among the most essential substances for sustaining human life. Crucial to the advance of urban civilization has been the ability to bring abundant ...

There'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 ...

Anyone 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 ...

Plumbing 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 ...

Whether 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 ...

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 ...

Sometimes, conservation conflicts with comfort. Everybody loves saving water, and reducing consumption are more important than ever with some parts of the ...

Droughts 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 ...

Remodeling 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 ...

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 ...

Owning a home is an expensive proposition. Mortgage payments, utilities, repairs and maintenance can all stretch the family budget to the limit – and then ...

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. ...

Floor 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 ...

Did 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 ...

If 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, ...

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 ...

It’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. ...

Has 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 ...

As 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 ...

If 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 ...

You 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 ...

Just because you own your house doesn't mean you can do anything you want to it. Local building codes detail what you can and can't do to modify your home, and ...

There 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 ...

Early 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 ...

Believe 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 ...