What a month it’s been, we’re keeping busy here at Metro-Flow Plumbing and assisting the Dallas community with all their plumbing needs. However, we - like anyone else really, love to take time off and go on vacation. If you’re like us, then you need to know certain tips to follow when you leave your home for an extended period of time. Some of them can really save you money in the long run!

This one is a given: Take out all the trash. Leave your home smelling fresh. You don’t want to leave something rotting away in your trash (or refrigerator) while you’re gone and come back to a smelly home or room. Trust us. You don't want this to happen.

Check expiration dates on food in your kitchen. Some things might spoil while you’re gone and it’s better to be proactive and get rid of them now.  No one likes moldy bread, ants crawling in the kitchen - or fruit flies paying you a visit.

If you’ve got a smart network through your home you can set the thermostat to not turn the AC when you’re not there or set your outside lights on a timer, so you don’t use up too much power while you’re gone. Unplugging appliances you won’t be using also helps. You can also set your thermostat at a healthy 74 degrees, so it helps keep your home cool without breaking the bank. Some prefer to set their lights to turn on for an hour or two in the evenings to give the illusion that there is someone home.

Turning off your main water supply while you’re gone is also a good way to avoid unexpected flooding of any kind. A leaky pipe can burst and you won't have to come back to a flooded home. Don't know where your main water supply is? Give us a call at 214-328-7371 and we'll help you find it.

Before you leave, check all windows and doors and make sure they’re all in working order and locked before finally setting your alarm as you leave. If you have a trusting neighbor or relative that lives nearby, ask them to swing by and check on the house from time to time. Though not needed, it can help give you additional peace of mind.

Being proactive when prepping your home before you take off on that much needed (and well earned) vacation is the way to go. The peace of mind each of these tips will bring you while you’re relaxing will be worth it. So order that drink and have some fun!

Do you need ideas of places you can vacation to close to Dallas? Don’t want to go too far? Here are 20 road trip destinations!

Big shout out to D Magazine for the great advice. It takes a village.

Remember to contact us for any plumbing emergencies or if you’re looking to fix some old pipes. We’re wrapping another month here with the blog and just want to thank you for sticking with us. From our family here at Metro-Flow Plumbing to yours, have a great and safe week Dallas! See you next time!

​If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7.​​

Increase the value of your house and sell it faster with these 8 simple tips that won't break the bank. We’re at the halfway point in May and we thought we might reach out to all the homeowners reading our blogs. Have you been thinking of selling your home? It’s a thought that might cross our minds sooner or later, so we thought what better way to help out than to list some things we can do to spruce the place up and get it in better shape to sell. We’ve compiled a few things together for you to look over and check off as you prepare your house for the market. Some are very easy to do and some require a little extra help but rest assure, whatever you put it into making your house better you will get in return when it’s time to sell.

Some people opt out of carpets altogether and get wood floors, laminated floors, or tiles - but if you want to keep the carpets around make sure they’re cleaned. Stains and odors can really turn someone away when they’re looking for a potential place to live. No one wants to be left wondering what that weird stain is where you dropped a plate of spaghetti 3 years ago.

Make sure all your appliances work. This is something Metro-Flow Plumbing can help you with. Whether it’s a leaky fridge, sink or tub, give us a call and we’ll take a look at it. You always want a professional opinion when dealing with water leaks.

This one is a biggie and it can get pricey, but old roofs can be a huge drag on your homes price tag. They won’t pass a home inspection if they’re in really bad shape.

Replace or fix the cracks on a wall or a window or even a floor tile. You do not want cracks anywhere. Cracks will age a place and give it an old feel. What’s worse is they are very noticeable. Windows are a little trickier to replace, but things like walls and ceilings can be patched up quickly with a quick trip to the home improvement store.

​Replace all window drapes and blinds with modern versions. This one is not so bad and will make the feel of your home seem newer than what it actually is. Windows can be our main focal points when we enter a room and we don’t want the focus to go towards old, falling apart aluminum blinds. Can't afford to replace them? Remove them all together.

​Replace dated light fixtures and ceiling fans or offer to provide them with an incentive for their replacement at closing. The 70s were a great time, but as time passes, styles change. Same thing happens to our homes. New homeowners can be turned off from seeing the rest of your home if they see your aged trimmed lights and fans. Same thing with light switch plates that look dated. These are all very simple to replace. As a side note: if you’ve had a flickering old light or hear a weird sound when you turn it on, it might indicate you have some faulty aged wiring that can be a fire hazard waiting to happen. This leads us to our next point.

A house will go through an inspection to make sure everything is in working order before selling. Fixing faulty wiring or plumbing will save you many headaches. You probably should’ve done it years ago, but thought "I can manage". A new homeowner doesn’t want to deal with that. Give us a call at 214-328-7371, so we can check out your plumbing!

Paint! This one is a given. Once you have all those cracks in your walls and ceilings patched up, paint those walls a neutral light color to make the space in your home seem bigger. The feel a space gives you is as much if not more important than the actual size of the room. This also allows the house hunter to clearly envision their decor in the room.

​Well, there you have it! Some tips for you to fix your homes and get a bigger selling price out of it. We here at Metro-Flow Plumbing want to help you get rid of any problems regarding pipes or water related appliances. We’re here for you, so you can take the next step towards a future you are happy with! Call us at 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians will be ready to assist you. We hope you join us next time as we continue to explore the world of plumbing and have some fun along the way! See you later Dallas!

​If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7.​​

Happy May and welcome to one of the nicest months weather wise here in Dallas. If you’re anything like us you’re enjoying these sunny days and that nice breeze that seems to be lasting all day lately. Today we are going to talk about Mother’s Day! It’s that perfect holiday to help make your Mom feel extra special. We know this should be happening on a regular basis anyways, but Mother's Day is a great way to go that extra mile!

A great way to celebrate your wife or mother today is by showering them with gifts. These can be big or small depending on what’s right for the individual. Some moms love to decorate their homes, some actually enjoy cooking for their families, some have talents or hobbies. One thing all those moms have in common though? They want a working home. They want to open a sink in the bathroom while they’re getting dressed to the nine for their special dinner and not seeing it backed up with a clogged pipe. They want the ice machine to be in working order when they’re making themselves a well deserved drink at the end of a long day. They want their washing machine to work properly when they’re doing a last minute load running out the house to get their busy day started. We’ve all been there. We love our Moms here at Metro-Flow Plumbing and we got your back for all of your plumbing needs, just give us a call!

That being said, there are things you can get Mom that Metro-Flow Plumbing can’t help you with. So here are a few more suggestions for gifts for that special lady in your life:

Flowers, chocolate and jewelry are gifts you can't go wrong with, as long as you’re attentive to the mother in your life and know what kind of each you want to get. These suggestions are more from the heart. One of our favorite chocolate places in Dallas Coco André Chocolatier in Oak Cliff, which is owned and operated by a mom and daughter. They have some great options for Mother's Day: https://cocoandre.com/mothers-day. Here are some of them:

Cook for her, doesn’t matter who it is. Human beings love to be fed! A gift unlike any other is something you can personally whip up in the kitchen.

This one has always been a cute idea. We all know how much Moms do for their families every day, so we suggest making a good old fashioned coupon book for her. A book they can rip “coupons” from in exchange for a day off from chores they do around the house, a manicure, a massage, maybe a night out in the town. You work, while they kick their feet up.

Whatever you decide on doing for Mom, just make sure you’re present and shower her with love. They definitely deserve it. From our family here at Metro-Flow Plumbing to yours, Happy Mother’s Day to all the special ladies in our lives!

​If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​

​As you can imagine water is a major part of our business here at Metro-Flow Plumbing, so in celebration of Earth Day we would like to talk about water conservation efforts and how each of us can do our part to make the Earth a better place. Make sure to stick around until the end to hear about Metro-Flow’s Perma-Liner™ system, a new method for replacing the pipes running through your yard with minimal excavation!

So what can we do? Who has the time for this? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions then you’ve come to the right place. There are very simple ways of pitching in the global effort to conserve clean water around our very homes. Some of these were second nature to us and some of them surprised us as well!

• Close the water while you’re shaving or brushing your teeth until it’s time to rinse off.
• Take shorter showers or opt to take a bath instead. We use far less water taking baths than we do taking showers.
• Use an empty soda/pop bottle with sand or dirt in it and close it tight. Then put this in your toilets water tank. The dirt will weigh it down and your toilet won’t fill up with as much water per flush. This can save gallons of water a day, especially if you have a big family.​​

• This one is simple enough, only wash clothes when you have a full load ready to go. Small, frequent loads will use more water than needed over time.

• Like your washing machine, wait until you have a full load of dirty dishes before using your dishwasher. Smaller dirty dish loads made frequently will use more water over time. 
• When you wash vegetables, make sure to shut the faucet off while you clean. Only open it back up to rinse. The same thing goes while you’re washing dishes by hand.

• Plant trees and plants that don’t require much water. There are many great plants one can choose from that aren’t the usual cacti you’re probably thinking of and they will spruce up your yard quite nicely.
  
• Water your lawn when needed and only during the cool parts of the day. Make sure you deep soak your lawn, so water reaches down to the roots. A light sprinkle over the top will just evaporate as the sun comes out and not do anything.​

Talking about lawns, this leads us to one of our new services here at Metro-Flow! We are proud to show you our Perma-Liner™ system. A new way of replacing damaged or dirty water pipes running through your yard with minimal excavation. 

That’s all for today friends! Our family here at Metro-Flow Plumbing would like to wish you all a Happy Earth Day! We have one Earth, let’s do what we can to maintain it.

​If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​

We think everyone is going to enjoy the topic of today's blog. Our pets! That’s right, National Pet Day is on April 11th, so whether you have a dog, cat, bird, lizard or rodent of some kind, who doesn’t love to pamper their pets? One of the issues we see time after time in the plumbing industry are hair clogs. Yes us human beings can shed a lot of hair, but nothing quite like our pet pals when it’s their bath day. 

Maybe you have a big dog and prefer to use the hose outside to give your pet a relaxing shampoo shower, but for some pet owners a sink or bathtub tends to be our go to spot for giving our faithful animals some TLC. Cats and dogs alike shed a lot, so if you don’t have a hypoallergenic pet that doesn’t shed, clogs may be a normal thing for you. Pesky hair clogs can be more or less controlled by giving your pet a bath and plugging your drain, preventing that hair filled water from going down the drain. However, that’s not always the case and hair accumulates creating a problem down the line. 

Be mindful of what you’re putting down the drain and avoid the problem altogether. Remember, chemicals found in popular products to get rid of clogs tend to damage pipes over time by causing heat, which will easily warp or damage your pipes over time. Also, as a side note, if your pet develops a rash sometime after getting their bath it might be time for a change of shampoo for your hairy family members. Some pets skin reacts differently to harsh chemicals than others. An oatmeal shampoo is usually a good solution, just remember to consult with your veterinarian. 

Pets brighten up our lives by providing comfort, partnership, and can even help some us tackle anxiety and depression. They’re our pals for the rest of their lives and we remember the memories we made with them long after they’re gone. If you feel like you are capable, have the time and are responsible enough to bring one into your life, you should consider adoption. There are many healthy, lovable pets at your local shelter like the Dallas Animal Services (DAS), who are always looking for a home. 

If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​

Today we’re going to talk about one such appliance, the refrigerator. I know we have all gone through this. You open your fridge numerous times and there are jars and containers in there we haven’t touched for longer than we care to admit. It’s always a good practice to check expiration dates on such items. Most of the time we end up clearing out space for new items we really need. While cleaning out your refrigerator, whether it’s an old or a new one, you’re going to want to set your fridge and freezer temperatures to an appropriate setting. You don’t want to damage items you buy if you set things too low. If you’re upgrading to a new refrigerator this year, call us at 214-328-7371 and we’ll properly hook up those water lines for you.
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As you move around your home cleaning, make sure to check appliances we tend to overlook or pay little attention to. Inspect your water heater and make sure there aren’t any leaks and under your sinks to make sure everything is nice and dry. If you see water damage anywhere under your sink or suspect a problem, turn the water fully on and watch for a leak to begin. Call us at 214-328-7371 and we’ll happily come over and fix the problem for you! Our certified plumbers are always here to help you.
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The last two things we’re going to talk about don’t have much to do with plumbing, but we promise it’ll help to make your home feel new. Have you ever heard of Feng Shui? It is an ancient Chinese practice where you move the furniture in your home around, so you can feel more harmonized to your surroundings. A living room or a bedroom set up differently can make it feel like a totally new home! Try it, it really works. Interested? Get the details here.

​Another thing we would like to mention are clothes donations. As we all know, Dallas went through a rough period recently, along with the state of Texas, due to the severe cold weather. What better time than during Spring Cleaning to get rid of clothes we don’t use anymore and donate them to local shelters for those in need. You’ll have space for new things you may want to buy and someone else will stay warm next time there’s a cold night thanks to you.
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Need a little motivation? Check out these playlists and get moving:
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Well Metro-Flow family, I think we’re beginning our April off right and we look forward to the year ahead. Remember our Metro-Flow phone number 214-328-7371 next time you have a plumbing problem. Our helpful team will take your call and we’ll have a certified plumbing technician out there in no time to help out. Until next time Dallas!

If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​

​Welcome back! Today we are going to be addressing an issue we all face from time to time: clogs. Our sinks can be testy from time to time and back up. We’ll be addressing what causes these clogs in our sinks and how to prevent them. 

Here are some of the usual suspects:

Number 1: (as if there is any doubt) Hair.
Be it from man or woman, hair seems to be the number one offender. Men’s first instinct to is to shave over a sink and wash it down, but a lot of these short, coarse hairs get stuck in the scum lining our pipes and becoming a bigger issue. Same thing with women and the long strands of hair we’ve all seen pulled out when things get, for lack of a better word, hairy. It might not be as convenient, but it might be a good idea to practice an alternative method of disposal for our hair waste.

Number 2: Toothpaste and Gels.
This one isn’t as obvious but toothpaste/gels/just about any thick substance can build up in our pipes over time creating perfect traps for hair and other cleaning products. Making for a perfect formula for clogs. The pipes can usually handle it, but people tend to not keep the water open long enough to wash the substance through the pipe resulting in it lingering not too far from the sink surface. 

Number 3: Make up.
Ladies, this is one we know all too well. Make up. If it falls on the sink, scoop it up with some toilet paper and put it in the trash. 

Number 4: Soap scum.
This one is pretty self explanatory and fairly simple to resolve. As with toothpaste, rinse the sink or tub thoroughly allowing for the water to wash everything away. Nowadays we are always in a rush and tend to not have the extra seconds to do this.

Freebie Tip: Drain cleaners.
Now, our first instinct is to use things like generic drain cleaners. We suggest against these, especially with plastic pipes. The chemicals used in drain cleaners can cause damage on plastic pipes by creating heat. Overtime these drain cleaners can be the cause of leaks and they can also cause damage to our septic tanks. In addition, drain cleaners are terrible for the environment.
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​If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at: 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​

We’d like to think the chilly weather is behind us, but as unpredictable as Dallas weather is we thought we’d run over some tips other people around the country have pitched to us, so we can keep warm in the event our power goes out again. In addition, we have a tasty bisque recipe you’ll enjoy, as well as some tips to keep your garbage disposal in tip top shape!

First off, last month was pretty rough for many of us out there, because of the lack of power and burst pipes due to the snowstorm with below zero temperatures that we faced. Most of us don't have access to generators, so here are some tips:

1. If you have a fireplace, this is the best time to use it. Make sure to open the damper, so the smoke has somewhere to go and have plenty of firewood for such emergencies. 
2. Layer your clothing, but don't overdo it and start sweating. Gloves, thick socks, and a hat to keep heat in will help.
3. Find blankets you can prop up over windows to keep heat from escaping. Late at night this helps big time.
4. Exercise. A quick round of jumping jacks will get the body heat going.
5. If you have a tent and the space inside, set your tent up inside and sleep in there.
6. Sleeping bags are also a big help at night, they are designed to keep heat inside. 
7. Keep your pets warm as well. Wrap them in their favorite blanket and throw on a sweater and socks. They get cold, too.

Another great way to stay warm is with a delicious bisque. This is an easy 15 minute Butternut Bisque recipe that will warm up the whole family. Let's get cooking!

Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons of butter
• 1 Medium Onion, chopped
• 2 sliced garlic cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• Salt to taste
• 1 large butternut squash (around 4lbs)
• 1 can of chicken broth
• 1 cup of half-and-half
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper for garnish (depending how hot you want to go)

Optional: Croutons or a sliced, toasted baguette to serve with

Directions

• Peel, seed and cut the butternut squash into 1 inch cubes.
• In a large saucepan heat and melt butter. Add the onion, garlic, thyme, cinnamon and cayenne. 
• Season with salt and cook. Be mindful to stir it once in a while until the onion is fully softened, 5-7 minutes.
• Add the cut up squash, broth, half-and-half, and 3 cups of water.
• Bring mixture to a boil and reduce to simmer. Continue cooking the mixture until squash is tender. This is usually about 20 minutes.
• The mixture won’t all fit inside a conventional kitchen blender, so in small batches. Pour mixture in blender and puree until smooth.

From this point on, just serve and enjoy! It should look somewhat like this…

We talk a lot about garbage disposals on this blog, and that is because they are an essential part of our kitchen - and a part of the kitchen we often see breaking due to the things we put in it while cooking. It is always good to keep in mind what foods can be disposed of through this method and what foods need to be thrown away in the garbage. If you are just throwing away anything you can think of in there you are going to have trouble sometime down the line with your pipes. As much as we like to come by and visit to fix it, we thought we’d give you a heads up!

​Friends, we hope March is turning out to be a relaxing, but productive month for you all and we hope to see you next time right here on our Metro-Flow Plumbing blog. Thank you for your continued support, Dallas.

If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at: 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​

Hello Dallas, our team here at Metro-Flow has been working around the clock tackling jobs and serving the community since last months snowfall. We hope you and yours are keeping warm and are safe and sound. 

First up, please feel free to check out one of our previous blogs here, where we address how to properly maintain your pipes in cold weather. We had a lot of burst pipes out there and we want to make sure everyone is up to date with what to do to avoid those situations. Also, in situations like the one we just went through, it is always a good idea to keep an eye out for boil water advisories even when the power has returned.

With that being said we wanted to welcome March and say Happy St. Patricks Day! This year we’re not just going to be wearing green, dying our beer, and celebrating casually. We’re going all out! We will be making delicious Irish Soda Bread and we have a great recipe for the whole family to enjoy, a movie or two, and some decoration tips.

Ingredients

• 4 to 4 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tbsp of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 4 tbsp of butter
• 1 cup of currants or raisins
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 3/4 cups of buttermilk

Directions

• Preheat oven to 425°F. 
• Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Whisk together 4 cups of flour, the sugar, salt, and baking soda into a large mixing bowl. Work the butter into the flour, add currants or raisins. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and mix in buttermilk, beaten egg.
• Lightly knead dough and form dough mound. Dust hands with a little flour, then gently knead dough in the bowl just long enough to form a rough ball. If the dough is too sticky to work with, add in a little more flour. Do not over-knead.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and shape into a round loaf. Note that the dough will be a little sticky.
  You want to work it just enough, so that the flour is just moistened and the dough just barely comes together. If you over-knead, the bread will end up tough. 
• Score with an X. Transfer dough to a large, lightly greased cast-iron skillet or a baking sheet (it will flatten out a bit in the pan or on the baking sheet). Using a serrated knife, score top of dough about an inch and a half deep in an "X" shape. 
• Bake. Transfer to oven and bake at 425°F until bread is golden and bottom sounds hollow when tapped, about 35-45 minutes. Let cool a few minutes. Remove pan or sheet from oven, let bread sit in the pan or on the sheet for 5-10 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool briefly.

​Make sure to serve your Irish Soda Bread warm - and make sure to keep to keep flour, grease, fats, and oils away from your drains and garbage disposal to prevent a clog.

There is something for the whole family...

Drama/Comedy
Sing Street (2016) Rated PG-13.
A light hearted coming of age story taking place in Dublin, Ireland for the whole family to enjoy.

Drama/Romance
Brooklyn (2015) Rated PG-13.
An Irish immigrant finds herself in 1950’s Brooklyn and struggles with the choice between her old and new home.

Horror
Leprechaun (1993) Rated R.
If horror is more your thing, Jennifer Aniston’s first movie follows a group of people who come between an evil Leprechaun and his precious gold.

Go the extra mile and decorate! Here are some ideas we used to decorate our home and make things more festive:

• Roll the green carpet with this Saint Patrick's Day welcome mat from West Elm.
• Decorate an entrance with this great Saint Patrick's Day decoration kit from Party City.
• Kick it up a notch with this eye-catching Saint Patrick's Day sports jacket from Shinesty.
• Want more? Check out these Saint Patrick's Day suggestions by Amazon.

​If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at: 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​

Have you heard about Metro-Flow Plumbings revolutionary cured-in-place-pipe service? Metro-Flow Plumbing now offers the groundbreaking cured-in-place-pipe system to clients like you. Say "no" to costly excavations and get the work done in less time, while saving money and painful headaches.

​Thanks to the patented Perma-Liner™ system we here at Metro-Flow Plumbing can help you replace your old underground water lines without digging up your yard! Keep your yard looking pristine while doing right by your home. So how exactly does the Perma-Liner system work? Through a series of steps we are able to clean out and replace any damage done to pipes under your yard by pesky roots, grime, dirt or certain things that should’ve never been flushed to begin with. 

The Perma-Liner™ system allows us to replace your old pipes by simply using the existing pipes as a guide for our new pipe liner. Through a chemical process and some hardening using heat, you will have new pipes installed that will be even newer than the existing pipes the day you moved in!

​Don’t just take our word for it, see it in action below:
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• The EPA estimates 80% of these drain lines are failing and need repair.
• The infiltration from drain lines account for 75% of the infiltration of groundwater.
• The lining fully adheres to the host pipe and can negotiate multiple bends without joints and seams.
• Continuing maintenance on keeping pipelines operating.
• Failing service laterals due to cracked, broken, offset joints, and pipe erosion.
• Existing pipes made of clay, orangeburg, asbestos, wood, cast iron, and other materials are past life expectancy.
• Replacing piping requires extensive excavations. The Perma-Liner™ system needs only one access point.
• A 3 to 4 man crew is needed and your installations can be completed in one day.
• The Perma-Liner™ Drain Lining System takes hours versus days to be completed.

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Hope you are as impressed by the Perma-Liner™ system as we were the first time we saw it. The future of plumbing starts here and Metro-Flow Plumbing is happy to be your go to plumbing company for any future cured-in-place-pipe needs. You may learn more about this incredible system, here.

Have a great day Dallas and we hope you are having a great February!

​​If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at: 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​

Welcome to February. A month to reassess our New Years Resolutions, to get our books in order and of course, if you have a sweet tooth like me, enjoy the Valentine’s Day chocolate half-off deals on February 15th. Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s talk a bit more about Valentine's Day. Do you have a special man or woman in your life? Well here are some nifty Valentine's Day ideas for you to enjoy.

Cook Together
Have you been wanting to try out a particular recipe but it was a little too  much to take on on your own? A Valentine's Day cooking date is the perfect time to take that plunge with your loved one. A lasagna from scratch, making your own pasta, etc. all over a few glasses of wine. There are not many things more intimate than creating a meal together for you both to enjoy. ​

​If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at: 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​

What a start to the year it has been so far. This chilly Texas weather has us cozying up inside getting creative, and what better way to get creative than in the kitchen! So today we’re going to bring you a simple banana bread recipe to celebrate National Banana Bread Day on January 21st, as well as some simple tricks to keep your kitchen appliances in tip top shape. Let's get started.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 c. granulated sugar
• 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 c. sour cream
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 c. chopped toasted walnuts

DIRECTIONS
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350º. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
Step 3: In another large bowl, mix together melted butter, sugar, egg and egg yolk, sour cream, and vanilla. Add mashed bananas and stir until combined. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients until just combined. 
Step 4: Fold in walnuts and transfer to prepared loaf pan.
Step 5: Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool 10 minutes in pan, then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

Dispose of trash correctly while you work your magic in the kitchen. Banana peels and egg shells should be properly disposed of in the garbage can NOT your garbage disposal. Keep your refrigerator door closed to conserve energy after you take and put back the ingredients needed. Also, make sure you clean your oven regularly as food residue carries germs that over time can become a problem for the food you prepare. Dishwashers should be loaded properly after you’re done to make sure all dishes. Wondering how to keep your dishwasher in top shape? Visit our "Make Sure Your Dishwasher Doesn't Break Down" blog for more information.

Happy eating from all of us here at Metro-Flow Plumbing!
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If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at: 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​​

​2021! We made it to the New Year in one piece. It’s the beginning of the year, but did you know with January we also get a little known holiday for homeowners? That’s right, on January 10th it is 'National Cut Your Energy Costs Day'. 'National Cut Your Energy Costs Day' is about finding useful ways to save money and overall conserve energy. So come along with us and lets pick up some fun tricks to help you save some money!
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If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at: 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​

​Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from us here at Metro-Flow Plumbing! Welcome to the most joyous time of the month! A time for celebrating with family around the fireplace, decorating our Christmas trees and opening up those gifts on Christmas morning. What happens if there’s some downtime you ask? When there’s a meal being prepped in the kitchen or everyone just wants to hang out around the living room couch sharing laughs and eating Christmas cookies? We pop in a Christmas movie! We’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of some of our favorites, a bit of everything for the whole family, so let's get started!

Home Alone (1990) 
Rated: PG
A classic since pretty much day one ‘Home Alone’ follows the story of Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), who through a series of unfortunate events, is accidentally left behind by his big family as they head off to Paris for the holidays. Meanwhile, a series of burglaries are taking place around the neighborhood and Kevin overhears the robbers, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, getting ready to come after his house. The rest is a series of events that will leave you all laughing as we all find out what lengths an 8-year-old, with a little imagination, goes to protect his home. If you want more, you're in luck! Watch Home Alone 2 where Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) gets lost in New York and runs into the same robbers! You'll never guess how it happens.
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Scrooged (1988)
Rated: PG-13
We all know the story of ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens at this point, however not everyone has seen this classic holiday gem by director Richard Donner. Bill Murray, fresh off in his role in ‘Ghostbusters' plays Frank Cross, a TV executive who forces his staff to work through the Christmas holiday in order to complete a production of the classic Christmas tale. The night before Frank is visited by the now infamous 3 Christmas ghosts (Past, Present, and Future) and learns some valuable lessons along the way. A fun movie the whole family can enjoy and a who’s who of 80’s celebrities round up the cast.
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Elf (2003)
Rated: PG
When baby Buddy (played by Will Ferrel of Saturday Night Live fame) accidentally hitches a ride in Santa’s toy sack, he gets taken to the North Pole where he grows up around elf culture. As Buddy increasingly becomes a problem for the elves in Santa’s Workshop, his adoptive father has to tell him the truth of his origin. Buddy travels to New York City in an attempt to reconnect with his long lost dad (played by James Caan) and meets his new family. New York City isn’t ready for this level of cheerfulness as Buddy makes sure to try and bring joy to everyone he meets in his own elf way, key word being “try”.
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With the unpredictability of Dallas' weather it's important to keep an eye out for changes in temperature as these can affect your house, particularly its plumbing. At Metro-Flow Plumbing, we’ve compiled the following seven tips which should help you prevent your pipes from freezing as well as save you money. The last thing you want is for one of your home's pipes to freeze, burst, and become a headache for you. Let's save you some money and time…

1. Let cold water drip. That's right. Though it may sound wasteful, it's imperative that you let your faucets drip just a little when temperatures drop below 35 degrees. This continued movement keeps their flow rate up and can prevent the water from freezing within the pipes.
2. Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature. Maintaining your home thermostat stable regardless of the weather changes, will allow you to offer your thermostat sanity and continue to work to its full potential. 
3. Keep the garage door closed. Keeping your garage door closed, specially if there are water supply lines in the garage, will help you keep your home temperature leveled and prevent internal pipes from freezing.
4. Open the sink cabinet doors. This one always raises some questions, but it helps. Keeping the sink cabinet doors in the bathrooms and kitchen open to let warmer air circulate around the pipes helps to prevent the pipes from staying in a cooler enclosed environment, which can lead to the water within the pipes to freeze and burst.
5. Insulation is key. Make sure your house has insulation, particularly in the basement, attics, crawl spaces, and exposed water pipes. Not sure if it does? Give our team a call at 214-328-7371 and we will run a plumbing inspection, provide you with options, and help you get your house ready for winter.
6. Disconnect water hoses from outside faucets. This is one of the first things to tackle when you hear that temperatures will drop to freezing levels. Go out, disconnect the water hoses, and also…
7. Wrap or cover outside faucets. Think of it as putting a sweater on your outside faucets and exposed pipes. Try to keep them warm so the water within them won't freeze, expand and burst. Remember that a pipe may burst anywhere in your house, not only on the exposed parts, that's why protecting them from cold temperates is important.

​Don’t hesitate to call us and have a great, cozy winter!
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When hosting family during this holiday season, you don’t want to be caught off guard by a refrigerator that won’t cool down or a toilet that won’t flush properly. Prevent these moments with a new appliance professionally installed by Metro-Flow Plumbing! We all know that while we’re celebrating, these appliances are used twice as much. An appliance not installed properly could seriously lower its longevity. 

So not only does Metro-Flow Plumbing fix your leaky dishwasher or that weird noise coming from your garbage disposal, but we also install those brand new appliances when your family is in need of an upgrade and what better time to shop for one than during the annual holiday deal season. Our installation services range from dishwashers, to refrigerators, faucets, garbage disposals, and even washer and dryer installs! Feeling adventurous? We install bidets as well. 

With that being said, lets celebrate a lesser known holiday happening on December 4th, National Cookie Day! Who doesn’t love cookies? Let’s treat ourselves on December 4th (and every day) and pick some up to enjoy with our loved ones. Better yet, do you like fresh baked cookies? We’ve included a chocolate chip cookie recipe to appeal to your sweet tooth! If you’re not planning on baking these right away or have extra cookie dough you’re saving for later, make sure you put your new refrigerator to good use and you keep all cookie dough away from your garbage disposal to prevent a clog!
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If you find yourself face-to-face with a plumbing problem, please call us at: 214-328-7371. One of our certified plumbing technicians is ready to assist you 24/7. ​

Happy Thanksgiving! The time to give thanks has come once again. A time where we all sit around the same table and share a meal together with friends and family. Though it may be not be the same as previous years, it will still be filled with love, either in-person or virtually. 

Of course, with the abundance of food it’s good to remember some of the tips we’ve learned along the way. Like disposing of excess grease properly by putting it in a plastic container and freezing it until you’re ready to properly dispose of it. You don’t want to just pour it down the drain where it can cause some serious pipe blockage.

With that being said: fire up that oven, baste that turkey, keep that one aunt away from the kitchen, and tell that one uncle to go easy on the cerveza. It’s time for: Thanksgiving Movies and their Pie Pairings for that post dinner food coma! Because let's face it, you have room for a little more.
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Scent of a Woman (1992) Al Pacino won an Oscar for his portrayal of suave, blind Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade who spends Thanksgiving weekend with college student Charlie Simms played by Chris O’Donnell. Along the way, Slade teaches Simms a few things while getting a new lease on life himself. Hoo-ah! Oh yeah… parents, you’re going to want to check this out.

Pair with:
Pecan Pie (a la Mode), like Frank Slade the pecan pie might have a rougher exterior, but has many layers to it. From the pecans to the soft pie beneath them, sweeten up the deal with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 
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Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) Director Wes Anderson is at it again with his quirky and unique approach to storytelling. This time in a fantastic stop motion animation movie headlined by George Clooney’s take on Mr. Fox. Follow the adventure of Mr. Fox and his animal friends as they fight for their homes against some angry local farmers. This heartfelt story is good for everyone, but the kids will absolutely love it.

Pair with:
Pumpkin Pie, this signature Thanksgiving dessert is the perfect pairing to go along with the movie, both in appearance and sweetness.
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​Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) Join Neal Page, a businessman played by the one and only Steve Martin, as he desperately tries to get home to his family for Thanksgiving. When Neal’s path crosses that of traveling salesman Del Griffith, played by the late and great John Candy, hilarity ensues as the odd man duo tries just about every mode of transportation to get Neal home in time. Can Neal make it home for Thanksgiving? Most importantly, can Neal survive traveling with his new travel buddy? 

Pair with:
Apple Pie (a la Mode), because what’s more American than Steve Martin and Apple Pie? Sweeten the deal with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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​From our family here at Metro-Flow Plumbing to yours, we hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving Dallas!

Fall is the perfect time of year for outdoor activities with the family. However, while you’re home it’s also not totally a bad idea to want to lay back, relax, put on a football game and see how many meals we can squeeze out of our days. This however means more dishes, and more dishes means far more use for one of the best appliances in the our homes, the dishwasher.

Of course the first thing we should do before putting any dirty plates inside our dishwashers is scrape off excess food. A garbage disposal is perfect for this (refer to our previous blog here for what you can put in a garbage disposal and what you shouldn’t). 

If you find yourself with a clogged dishwasher or want to make sure it's running smoothly and ready for the holiday season, don’t hesitate to call us at 214-328-7371 or email us at metroflow@metroflowplumbing.com.

Remember to follow us on Instagram and join our community on Facebook for more plumbing tips.

November is finally here! As we embrace Fall and the temperatures drop we want to make sure our kitchen pipes are in optimal shape. We sometimes make the mistake of dropping just about anything down the garbage disposal, but did you know this could clog your pipes somewhere down the line? Grease and Waste that is hard to break up with the garbage disposal will sometimes accumulate and clog inside your kitchen sink pipes. This causes not only water to not flow, but can make unwanted odors come back out.

Ultimately, aside from these examples, you be the judge. If you’re struggling to get something down, it probably doesn’t belong there. If you do find yourself with a clogged kitchen sink, don’t hesitate to call us at 214-328-7371 and we’ll do the work while you stay cozy!

Remember to follow us on Instagram and join our community on Facebook for more plumbing tips.

We are officially closer to the spookiest holiday of the year! Though this Halloween will be different around the country (and world), we can still keep things fun at home for the kids and ourselves.

​We got together with a friend who is a movie aficionado and asked him to tell us which movies are a must watch with the kids this Halloween... And he delivered some classics we should all make happen. Muchas gracias, Sandro.

What are movies without snacks you ask? Don't worry, we got that covered. Just remembered to always dispose of any leftover foods in the trash - and not your kitchen sink or garbage disposal to help prevent a spooky clog. Should one of those scary clogs happen, give us a call at 214-328-7371. We are available to help you 24/7.

Below please find three Halloween movies and food pairings that are sure to get you in the Halloween spirit.
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A fun musical for the whole family to enjoy. Disney’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ follows the story of Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, as he becomes bored with Halloween and discovers Christmas. A movie from that childhood that we can share with our kids and grandkids this holiday season.
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‘The Mummy’ movie from 1999 lets you follow adventurer Rick O’Connell, Egyptologist Evelyn, and her brother Jonathan as they try to keep recently revived mummy priest Imhotep from regaining power and taking over. The movie mixes comedy with horror elements and something fun to watch with older kids.
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Get to know Gomez Addams and his family in ‘The Addams Family’, as they get to know their Uncle Fester. They’re not your typical family, but they show they care about each other in their own ways. ​
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The easiest (and most loved) recipe on our list, it's a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! Pick up a bat-shaped cookie cutter and make these fun bat shaped snacks for the whole family.

Feel free to mix and match snacks and movies! We hope you guys have a safe and Happy Halloween.

October is here and that can only mean one thing... Halloween 🎃. Halloween is one of our favorite holidays as it involves creativity, imagination, family, and friends. Though this year's halloween may be a little different due to the pandemic, it does not mean that we can't still have some fun while social distancing at home. 

One of the things we can do, besides dressing up and hosting a Zoom Halloween costumes contest with local friends and those from around the world, we can also get dirty and carve some pumpkins! Now, I don't know about you, but the first pumpkin I carved wasn't long ago. I was already in my 30s when I decided to go for it. The process is unique and due to the concentration it takes to clean and carve the pumpkin, it can also be therapeutic. All in all, I had a great time doing it, shared laughs with friends and took a picture with my masterpiece afterwards.

Something I learned that day, which I'd like to share with you today, is how to properly dispose of pumpkin brains. This is so important as I later learned that clog sinks and toilets increase during Halloween because many dispose of pumpkin brains in the kitchen sink and toilets (I wouldn't have imagined toilets, but it happens - take our word for it). Even if you have a garbage disposal, the chances of you clogging your sink are high, so make sure to either roast them or dispose of them in the trash. 

My recommendation, separate the fibrous strands (aka pumpkin brains) from the seeds and dispose of the strands in the trash. Once you've done this, lay the pumpkin seeds on a cooking sheet and put them in the oven... That's certainly the short version of the recipe. We'll leave the recipe to the experts. Check out how to bake your pumpkin seeds, here.

If you have a plumbing question or a question about this communication, please contact us at 214-328-7371 or email us at metroflow@metroflowplumbing.com. ​

How many times have you found yourself looking down at your feet in the shower because the water is simply no longer draining properly - or how many times have you found your bathroom sink filling up with water while brushing your teeth? It's happened to many of us. In fact, clogs is one of the problems we receive the most calls about. When tending to these calls, we always make sure to review our customer's drainage, pipes, and their performance. For example, many times we find that in the kitchen, the garbage disposal has been used for everything. This weakens the blades and clogs the garbage disposal, many times even causing a negative scent that could at times be smelled from the moment one walks into the kitchen. 

The good news is that these problems can be prevented. Please find below a list of 6 simple things you can do now to prevent a clog later. Not only will they save you money, but also time, and a possible headache.

Pet Fur
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. ​

Grease
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. ​

Hard Water
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. ​

​​If you have a plumbing question or a question about this communication, please contact us at 214-328-7371 or email us at metroflow@metroflowplumbing.com. ​​

As we planned out the month of September, we learned that this month is "Baby Safety Month". You may be asking yourself why is a plumbing company writing about this - and the answer is simple. We are parents and grandparents who want to share this knowledge with eachother, as well as the Dallas and surrounding communities, which we serve. In our 31 years in service, we've seen our customers' families grow - just like our own - and we have learned first-hand the importance of baby safety. 

1. Soft Snacks Only. Make sure their food is soft and easy to swallow. Harder foods present a chocking hazard. 
2. Medicine Isn't Candy. In an effort to make it easier for babies to take medicine, pharmaceutical companies have been making baby medicine taste like candy. This is of great help to parents, doctors, and children, when administering the medicine, but it can teach children that medicine is candy. Keep medicine out of reach from children in the event that they want more "candy" while you aren't around.
3. Don't Toss the Baby. Though it may seem fun, doctors warn against tossing the baby in the air, as it can cause blindness or brain damage. 
4. Watch for Broken Toys. To prevent a chocking episode, try to only have toys that are larger than the baby's mouth. Keep an eye out for broken toys and sharp edges that could easily scratch the baby's skin or hurt them in any way.
5. Build a Fort. That means baby gates everywhere! From child proofing the house so the baby won't get to the cleaning products, products we place under the bathroom sink, or even the stairs, it's better to be safe than sorry. Think of your home as the baby's castle until he is old enough to look out for himself.
6. Warm Milk. We remember the long nights and early mornings. The rush to the kitchen to warm up the milk. Remember to always check how warm the milk is before giving it to the baby to prevent possible burns.

Got baby safety tips? Leave them in the comments! We would love to hear from you.

​If you have a plumbing question or a question about this communication, please contact us at 214-328-7371 or email us at metroflow@metroflowplumbing.com. ​​

When servicing our Dallas clients, we've noticed that many are working from home, while also helping their kids with their school work. We can only imagine how stressful this could be and how little time it leaves for oneself to make delicious snacks that are quick and simple. We did some digging around and discovered a food vlog we just had to share with you. It's called, Natasha's Kitchen. We are not affiliated with her, but fell in love with her enthusiasm and tasty recipes. Without further ado, here are three of the many she has on her YouTube channel, all which had us running to the kitchen to make them! 

How to make the best homemade guacamole by Natashas Kitchen. She shares with us her perfected recipes for Classic Chunky Guacamole, Grilled Corn Guacamole, and Spicy Guacamole in this video. Healthy fats, quick and easy to make... music to our ears. Please let us know in the comments if you made it and/or if you have a recipe you'd like to share with us.

Missing the Italian bruschetta you usually enjoy at your favorite Italian restaurant? In need of a trip to an Italian bistro or quick break during the day? Make this Italian bruschetta by Natashas Kitchen. Tip: Fresh ingredients make all the difference! 

Grilled salmon with garlic lime butter is the best grilled salmon recipe you’ll try and we have Natasha to thank for this incredibly tasty and quick recipe. The crisp and flaky texture mixed with the garlic-lime butter is simply irresistible. The flavored butter is so good... Just remember to dispose of any left over butter safely (Hint: not in the drain).

Got recipes you'd like to share with us and everyone else? Please email them to us at metroflowplumbing@gmail.com. We will be picking a few of our favorites and sharing them on our website. The catch? They must be tasty and simple to make... extra points if they're also healthy.

If you have a plumbing question or a question about this communication, please contact us at 214-328-7371 or email us at metroflow@metroflowplumbing.com. ​​