Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

Is It Time for You to Call a Plumber?

Monday, May 3rd, 2021

homeowner-looking-under-sink-at-leak-with-phone-to-earAt times, it can be hard for the average homeowners to detect what kind of shape their plumbing system is in. In fact, if you’re like most homeowners, you don’t think about your plumbing system much at all, especially if nothing is very visibly wrong with it. It’s one of those “out of sight, out of mind” things. Unfortunately, not paying attention to your plumbing can lead to problems.

In fact, it’s almost inevitable that at some point, you’re going to need plumbing repairs. And when this does occur, it’s important for you to be able to address it right away so you can prevent it from becoming a bigger emergency. So, what are the signs it’s time to call in a pro? The below signs indicate that it’s time:

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Heed These Signs You Need Plumbing Work

Monday, March 22nd, 2021

plumber-tightening-under-sink-pipe-with-wrenchPlumbing problems are one of those things that can be really hard to detect without the right professional equipment and experience. Most of your plumbing system is hidden from view, right? The problems that typically afflict it can be very subtle and not make themselves known until they are emergencies.

For this reason, we recommend scheduling preventive maintenance for your plumbing system on at least an annual basis. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the warning signs that your plumbing system is struggling. On the rare chance that a problem happens between maintenance sessions, you’ll be able to detect it quickly so you can call us for prompt repairs. Read on as we uncover some of the symptoms of plumbing problems, and give us a call when you notice any of them.

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Don’t Let the Weather Ruin Your Plumbing!

Monday, January 25th, 2021

icicles-hanging-from-pipeHere we are, facing some of the most bitterly cold temperatures we ever have. You’re probably concerned about ensuring that you and your family stay as warm, comfortable, and healthy as possible as the temperatures drop.

What you might not be considering, is how your plumbing system is able to deal with these bitterly cold temperatures. It’s actually quite easy for your pipe to freeze in cold weather—and unfortunately, frozen pipes lead to burst pipes. Fortunately, we’re here to help, whether you already have frozen pipes and need us to safely thaw them, or you’re looking for ways to prevent this from occurring in the first place. Read on as we share some tips on how to do the latter!

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Why You Should Choose a Licensed and Insured Plumber (Over a Handyman)

Monday, January 11th, 2021

plumber-using-wrench-to-tighten-pipeWe’ve been in the home services industry for quite awhile now—over a century, actually! This means that we’ve seen what can happen when you have the wrong team or handyman looking over your plumbing system. Plumbing services are a tough job. Even something seemingly easy, such as unclogging a drain, can turn into even a bigger problem if not done correctly.

Still though, we understand the urge to hire a general “handyman” in order to save money.

Our expert plumbers are here to stress how important it is that you hire a licensed and insured plumber, instead. Sure, you might save some money upfront by trusting an amateur. In the end though, hiring the wrong team for the work can cost you far more than it’s worth.  Read on to learn why it’s so important to trust plumbing jobs to the pros.

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Follow This #1 Bathroom Remodeling Tip!

Monday, November 16th, 2020

envisioning-bathroomIf you’ve come across this blog post, there’s a good chance that you have a bathroom that doesn’t look the way you’d like it to. Or perhaps it’s not as functional as you think it can be. Whatever the case, you’ve come here because you’re thinking of starting a bathroom remodel. As the most used room in your home, it’s easy to see why—a good remodeling job can give you a brand new space after all!

But, there are things that go wrong if you choose to not work with a qualified and experienced plumbing professional. The level of attention you have to give to planning and prepping for your remodeling job will make a huge difference in the results. So, our #1 bathroom remodeling tip is to hire a professional to help with the job! Otherwise, you can run into a number of problems that will leave you needing to call in a professional plumber anyway. Curious as to what they are? Read on.

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What’s FOG and What Does It Do to Your Plumbing?

Monday, October 5th, 2020

water-flowing-down-a-sink-drainWhen we talk about “FOG,” we aren’t referring to the layer of mist you may see settling in around your town on a cool morning. While you should certainly be cautious of that kind of fog, especially while driving, we’re actually talking about the FOG that too many homeowners pour down their kitchen sink drains–fats, oils, and grease.

FOG is actually one of the worst things that can negatively impact your kitchen drain, and sometimes even your sewer line if you pour enough of it down. Avoiding this problem is relatively easy, but we understand you might be kind of curious about whether or not it really is that bad and if you should be concerned. Read on!

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“Do I Need to Worry about Frozen Pipes This Winter?”

Monday, September 21st, 2020

brown-pipe-with-icicles-drippingIf you’ve lived in the area for even just a year, then you know how chilly our winters get. And sure, we’re not quite there yet, but now is the time to start thinking about it so you can prepare. One way to prepare that we share often is to invest in maintenance for your heating system. This ensures you have trouble-free heating throughout our colder months, and your heater lasts longer too.

But your HVAC system isn’t the only thing that needs attention–so too does your plumbing system! Just a couple consecutive days of below-freezing weather can result in frozen pipes, which is a bigger deal than many homeowners realize. So yes, it is something you should worry about. But, it’s not something you can’t do anything about! Read on to learn more.

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Is Your Sump Pump Working Properly?

Monday, August 24th, 2020

sump-pump-in-basementIf you have a basement and live around Scotch Plains, then having a sump pump system is essential. Sump pumps are tasked with preventing water damage due to flooding and automatically go to work as excess water is collected in the sump. The water is then pumped out to either a wastewater system or a well.

You might not think that you need such a preventive device, but with the rainy season here it’s vital that you have this system professionally installed and serviced, and that you test it every quarter or so to make sure it’s still in good shape and functioning as it should. How do you do this? Read on!

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Keep Your Lawn Green This Summer: Here’s How

Monday, July 27th, 2020

sprinkler-systemDid you know that even the smallest leak can lead to gallons of wasted water each year? Not only is this environmentally-unfriendly, but it means you’re paying for water that you’re not even benefiting from. One culprit of water leaks is lawn faucets, otherwise known as outdoor faucets. And unfortunately, the annoying side effect of this is a patchy or brown lawn, since lawn faucets and sprinklers can’t do their job if they’re leaking!

What causes these leaks? Oftentimes it’s leftover damage from winter–your pipes may have froze, and as those frozen pipes thaw it creates pressure inside your plumbing system, which can lead to cracked and even burst pipes. If you’ve noticed your lawn faucets and sprinklers aren’t quite doing their job this year, or if you’re chalking up your brown yard to the high summer temperatures, it’s time to consider if you have a leak. How can you check for this? Read on! 

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Watch Out for These 4 Mistakes When Remodeling Your Bathroom

Monday, June 29th, 2020

father-washing-infant-son-in-tubMaking the decision to remodel the bathroom or bathrooms of your home can be really exciting, but also really frustrating and stressful. Of course you long to have a beautiful new space in your home, but things can happened that were totally unplanned.

Of course, one way to reduce the risk of mishaps is to hire a professional plumber to help with the process. This can save you both time and money—sure, a DIY project may seem cheaper, but if you make the mistakes we’re about to outline, then ultimately you could wind up paying more than you planned to.

For a functional and comfortable bathroom, you need the right contractor on your side, to help avoid these 4 common mistake when doing a bathroom remodel:

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