One of the easiest ways to identify a clogged drain is by noticing how slow the water is draining in the sink or shower. This is a clear indicator that something is clogging the drain and should be addressed in a timely manner to prevent pricey plumbing repairs. Addressing plumbing problems earlier on is a best practice that has proven to help make of the fix a much easier one, therefore usually costing the home owner much less than if they would've waited to fix the problem much longer.

The following six reasons are the most common culprits of clogged drains:

Our fur babies can also be guilty of causing drains to clog. Hair catching screen can also help us prevent clogged drains when giving our little ones a bath. 

It's very common to think that grease may be disposed in the kitchen sink or garbage disposal, however, even when hot it can damage the plumbing. Grease will harden and solidify as it cools and get stuck on the drains. When grease is dumped down the drain, it sticks to the sides of your plumbing pipes, cool, and harden. As a result, you’ll be left with a slow draining sink or garbage disposal that will not work to its full potential. 

It can shock many to think that soap could hurt pipes, but it can. Soap can actually cause clogged drains over time. If you have hard water in your home, soap may coat the insides of your pipes, restricting the flow of water and delivering water that is not as clean as we would wish it would be. Hard water can leave your skin feeling like it has a soapy film after a nice shower, making you want to rinse it off multiple times. Hard water can also make your skin and hair dull, as well as contribute to hair loss and dandruff. 

Now that we know hard water can cause hair loss and dandruff, let's look into what it can do to your pipes. If you have hard water at home full of minerals, these mineral deposits can cling to the sides of your pipes, making it easier for other materials to get stuck and clog your drains. There are ways to clean the water in your house and provide you and your family with the cleanest water. Call us at 214-328-7371 and ask us about the various water filtration systems we have available to our customers. 

Baby wipes, even when the packaging claims they are "flushable", they are not and should be disposed in the trash - not the toilet. We shouldn’t flush anything other than toilet paper and waste down the toilet drains. Products like baby wipes do not break down as well as toilet paper does and as a result can cause some serious plumbing clogs.

It's time to discover what football and the thrown in your house have in common... particularly during the greatest day in the year, Super Bowl. Impress your friends with the following football plumbing fun facts:

These numbers show the passion we have for football in this country - much like the passion we have for clean pipes and drains, working garbage disposals, water pressure, hot water, and much more. If you find yourself in the need of a plumber during football season, or at any other time, please reach out to us at 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians will be ready to assist you and provide you with solutions to your plumbing problem. We are available 24/7.

Buying a house is one of the largest investments that a person will make in their lifetime. Between multiple online searches, realtors, brokers, inspections, and appointments with your bank, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and skip performing these simple and quick plumbing tests during even your first visit to the house you've been eyeing online for days.

Before taking the next step, make sure to perform these quick and simple tests to see if the plumbing in the house is working properly, but remember to still have it throughly inspected as you continue to move down the process to make of that house your home. Contact us should you have any questions. We are here for you 24/7.

Flush every toilet in the house. While it is flushing make sure it drains properly and that there is no visible leakage. 

Find the home hot water system and look it over for signs of corrosion. Using the outlet on the side, run some water and ensure that the hot water comes out. If possible, ask the current owner of the house when the hot water system was last serviced. 

Run all showers to ensure that they have adequate water pressure. Low pressure can be a good indicator of a larger issue such as an unseen leak or clog. While you are there, make sure that all water drains freely and that no water is leaking from the fixtures. 

It's not a pleasant job, but it is important to get underneath the house to check for signs of leaks or water damage. Since the majority of a houses plumbing is located underneath the house, doing this will allow you to catch any plumbing issues that you might have missed in your initial inspections. One of our certified plumbers can perform this inspection for you. Give a call at 214-328-7371. We'll be happy to assist you.

Size matters! Particularly when it comes to girth. Check that your prospective new home has pipes of the correct size installed. If the pipes are too small, the water pressure will be lower and could increase the potential damage in the future. In most cases, you will want the pipes to be 3/4" from the source of water to the home, and 1/2" or larger from sinks and taps.

Would you like help with the above? If so, we are happy to assist you. We take pride in performing a detailed home inspection and promise to honestly share our findings with you, as well as recommendations on how to address any issues we may find. We always have your best interest at heart and want to be your ally during the home buying process and beyond. You may contact us via phone at 214-328-7371 or email at metroflow@metroflowplumbing.com.