Do you know what to do if your house is flooding?

If you heard water running in the middle of the night would you know what to do? Where do you shut the water off at. Do you need tools to shut the water down. Does your shut off valve work? Do you have the non-emergency numbers for you city handy? When was the last time you replaced your water heater? Have you even looked at your water heater in the past year? Water heaters flood thousands of homes here in the Frisco, Plano, Allen and McKinney TX area every year. You can have a small leak or a flood to deal with on your hands. We recommend checking your water heater for signs it needs to be replaced once a month when you change your air condition filters. This is a simple way to remember. Just a few seconds and this habit could save you thousands of dollars. It’s your money

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A GAS LEAK?

I smell gas what do I do? Call your gas company or 911 open doors and let fresh air in and turn the gas off at the meter. Unfortunately the time to look for your gas stops are before you have a leak. We recommend every home own know where the home and appliance gas stops are located.
You smell gas and have called the gas company and they have determined you have a leak and turned your gas off. The Gas company tells you to call a plumber they can’t fix it. The gas company is a public utility company and cannot make repairs to the gas system on the homeowners side of the service meter. In the State of Texas you will need to have your gas system inspected by a licensed plumber. The system will need to be placed under a pressure test and inspected for leaks and any code violations. The gas system will have to be brought up to current code and pass a pressure test.
How do I get my gas back on? After repairs are made and all code issues are taken care of a city inspection will be scheduled. This inspection is usually done the next day after repairs are made. The city inspector will make a visit to the property and inspect all the repairs. They will check for any code violations and issue a green tag if the system passes. After inspection passes the city inspector will release the gas system to be turned back on. Then it is the homeowners responsibility to contact the gas company to have service restored.
I know where the leak is why do I need to have a pressure test? Even if you know where the leak is your repair will have to be permitted and inspected by a city inspector. All code issues will have to be addressed before inspection. Before your service is restored a city inspector will have release the service to be turned back on.
I don’t know where the leak is what do I do? Our train plumbers have the training and equipment to find your problems and suggest a solution to any problems you may have with your gas service. It is not uncommon to have a gas leak and not be able to see where your problem might be. Don’t trust a handyman to make repairs to your gas system. It is illegal and very dangerous. Your families safety and well being are not worth hiring a unlicensed person.
Where does the gas companies line end and my gas service begin? Your service begins at your gas meter. The line coming into the gas meter is high pressure and belongs to the gas company. The line leaving the meter is the beginning of your gas line and your responsibility. The gas company is responsible for both the unions and gaskets at the meter.
Why do I need a permit to get my gas turned back on? This is done for your safety and your neighbors as well as the public utilities service line. The inspector will check for proper venting so you don’t die from carbon monoxide poisoning. All fire code issues will be addressed remember we are dealing with flammable gas here. Combustion air issues will be addressed to make sure your appliances are operating correctly. All other hazardous conditions will be checked. The city inspector is a third party inspector that has your interest and safety at heart.
How long does it take to get a city inspection? This is usually done the next day. In certain cases we can obtain a same day inspection. After inspection the city inspector will release the service to be turned back on
My gas system was working and the gas company turned my service off? The gas company is constantly surveying the utility lines. If they detect gas in a area a locating crew or tech will dispatched to the area. If your home is suspect your service will be tested and disconnected if needed. Your meter reader will also check if the meter reading is unusually high.
Before the gas company will turn on my gas service they want a pressure test. If your service has been disconnected for any length of time the gas company might require a test before your service is continued
Annual Service gas testing is required for my business can you help me? We can help with your annual testing and inspections just give us a call for pricing information.

DO YOU HAVE A WATER LEAK

Finding a water leak can save you money. If you don’t think water is a precious resource just look at your water bill. You can follow these easy steps to see if you have a leak in your domestic or sprinkler system.

1. Turn off all water using appliances faucets, washing machines, dishwashers or any appliance that uses water. If you have a sprinkler system turn it off at the main control valve box located near your meter.
2. Take your cover off your meter box and clean the meter face.
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4. Clean the meter face so you can read it. Watch your meter for any movement. You will see a red triangle or silver and black disc know as a leak indicator which makes up to 354 revolutions for ever gallon used. This is the low end of the meter it is always the first part of the meter to malfunction. You can test this by letting your hose bib or faucet drip slowly and see if it moves. If the low end of the meter is not working you can buy a pressure gauge for you local home supply store. If you have movement at your meter you have a leak. If you have no movement and still think you have a leak call us and we will be glad to help you test the system yourself with a gauge.
5. If you have a leak you want to try to isolate your leak. Turn off the main valve located near your home and check the meter to see if it stops. If your meter does not stop you have a leak in the yard line between your home and the water meter. Look around your yard for wet spots between the meter and your home.
6. If your meter stops and you see no signs of water the leak could just be a toilet, dripping faucet or shower valve. Turn the main valve back on and we will check some more. The first thing to do is turn off the angle stops under your toilets. Turn these off one at a time and check your meter to see if it stops. If your meter still does not stop give us a call and we can answer your questions or schedule an appointment.
7. If you know where your leak is we can help you to call us today.
8. If you have a water leak under your slab please look at our slab leak locating tab on the top left are of this page. We can help you with leak detection and water leak problems. We understand water leaks and the leak detection process. We’ll take the to explain your plumbing problems we really do care. Call us today we are there when you need us.

Does Your Plumber Really Handle Insurance Claims?

  If you had a slab leak in North Texas does your plumber handle insurance claims? Does your plumber know what is covered and what is not covered? Does your plumber work on insurance claims on a regular basis or just once a year? How long has your plumber worked with insurance companies and can he help you with all your questions? Is my claim worth filing or is it better not to file a claim? Can I choose my own plumbing contractor? If you have questions call the insurance specialist we can help you the first time. These are just a few of the questions you need to get answered before the work starts. Read More…

Sewer and Drain Problems Can Damage Your Homes Foundation

  The next time you have a backup and think this is normal for houses in my area look closer. Did you know a majority of foundation problems are caused by a plumbing leak? Did you know foundation problems can be prevented if you know what to watch for? Did you know there are simple test that can be done to check to see if you have a leak? Are you in the market for a new home and would you like to know if there is a problem with the plumbing your home inspector will not check for? We can help you with these problems and save you thousands of dollars in the process. Read More…

 

How to Hire a Plumber

  The best time to hire a plumber is when you don’t need one. When you are in the middle of an emergency is not the time to find out you don’t like a contractor. If you hire a plumber does he charge by the hour or by the job. By the hour sounds good until your plumber has to go look for parts or the job take 5 times longer than it should. I know I have plumbers that have more experience and can make a repair in half the time of others plumbers we employ. The difference is some have more experience than others. Some guys have over 20 years and others have less than 10 years. When you are paying for service by the hour there is no cost control, if you don’t believe me look at the paper you signed it probably says estimate. Read More….

 

Under Slab Repairs to Dig or go Trenchless and not Dig?

The biggest questions homeowners have when faced with a plumbing repair under a slab foundation is do we have to dig up the foundation to make a repair?  The answer 20 years ago was almost always Yes. Today we have trenchless methods of repair only dreamed about 20 years ago. In a lot of cases today we can make a repair to your plumbing system without digging. There are trenchless methods under slab and driveways, pools, sidewalks, parking lots, and other property you want to protect. The last thing anyone wants is to have strangers working and digging inside their home. Read More…