Your pipes are a vital part of your plumbing, bringing water into and out of your home. Unfortunately, many of your pipes are exposed to the elements, especially in the winter time.

Failing to properly prepare your pipes can lead to them freezing. Water expands when it freezes, meaning your pipes could burst — causing costly damage and quite the headache.

To avoid this, you’ll want to prepare your pipes for cold temperature by doing the following.

1. Insulate Your Pipes

Insulating your pipes helps retain heat near them so they don’t freeze. Areas like your attic, crawl space, or garage are unheated, and thus leave your pipes exposed to cold temperatures.

Pipes in these areas are in the most need of insulation.

However, insulation on its own won’t do the job — in fact, it can make it worse by keeping heat away from these pipes. You’ll want to use heat cable along the pipes first, then insulate them to provide heat and keep it in.

2. Turn Off Your Outdoor Faucets

Make sure to turn off your outdoor faucets. To do so, first open them to drain out any extra water. Make sure the bleeder cap drains — otherwise, your pipes are still at risk of freezing and bursting.

Once you’ve drained them, turn them off at the shutoff valve.

3. Check and Get Maintenance on Your Furnace/HVAC Unit

Getting your furnace or HVAC unit before winter is a good idea regardless of your pipes. However, they do play a role in keeping your pipes in good shape. Should your unit stop working when it’s freezing outside, your pipes can freeze.

With that in mind, make sure you check your furnace or HVAC unit and get it all fixed up before it gets too cold out.

4. Look Around Your Home’s Exterior

If your home’s exterior has any cracks, cold air can slip in and pose a threat to your pipes, potentially even if you do the other things on this list. 

Take a walk around your home and scan the exterior. See if you can spot any cracks. If you see any, use caulk or spray foam to close up the crack and keep the pipes safe.

5. Open Your Cabinet Doors

This is less preparatory and more maintenance, but crack open your cabinet doors every so often when it gets especially cold out. Doing so will allow heat from your home to reach your pipes, preventing them from freezing over.

Pipes not prepared for winter yet? Not to worry — you can rely on Barner Murphy to help you out. Our professionals will make sure your pipes are kept nice and warm this winter so you don’t have to worry about frozen or bursting pipes. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help!

Wintertime means cranking up the heat for many people. But of course, that means a much larger heating bill hitting your mailbox or email inbox.

Then, there’s the fact that heavier reliance on heat isn’t great for the environment, as most homes use fossil fuels to keep warm.

Consequently, tons of people look for ways to keep energy usage at a minimum without freezing in their homes. 

That brings us to the debate of whether or not you should leave your heat on all the time. Is it a more efficient way of keeping your home warm, or not?

Myth: Heating Your Home is More Expensive Than Keeping it Warm

Plenty of people have heard the saying that it takes more energy to heat up a home than it does to keep it toasty. Your furnace has to “work harder” to get back up to the temperature you want, whereas if your furnace is always running, it uses less energy.

Problem is, that’s not exactly how furnaces work. Furnaces put in the same amount of “effort” — the difference is the time involved. 

If your house is freezing cold, your furnace will take a long time to bring it to a comfortable temperature. But if it’s one degree below the thermostat, it won’t take long.

Fact: Reheating Your House is Likely the More Efficient Option

With the above in mind, you can save energy by not constantly heating your home. Instead, only do so when you actually need to make the home warmer — such as during the day when people are home. 

If no one will be home during the day — perhaps you’re a couple with no children, and both of you have jobs — then no one needs heat. You can set the temperature lower and save plenty on your energy bill.

It’s the same thing at night. You can turn down the heat when you’re wrapped up in warm blankets. Plus, research has shown that the optimal sleeping temperature is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit — so you’ll get better sleep and save money.

Then, even when you do need your home heated, you can simply turn off the heat when the temperature is reached. To save a little more, you can keep your heat set a couple of degrees lower, and layer up. The US Department of Energy estimates this alone can save you 5-15% on your energy costs.

Now, furnaces can become less efficient over time. This can cost you more money, as your furnace has to run even longer to get your home to the same temperature. Cracked or loose parts, air leaks, and a dirty filter are just a few of many ways a furnace can become costlier to run.

If you’ve noticed your energy bill climbing recently — more than it normally does when it’s cold out — it may be time for some maintenance. Call Barner Murphy at 215-945-8560. 

We’re happy to help you get your furnace back to running at maximum efficiency!

Taking care of your plumbing isn’t the most exciting thing in the world. It’s work. 

But you can’t avoid proper upkeep. The consequences of neglecting your plumbing system will cost you heavy in time, money, and stress.

With that in mind, here are some common yet disastrous occurrences we see in many peoples’ plumbing systems.

Water Backflow

Unfortunately, sickness can sometimes come from your own water supply. In most of these cases, it’s due to water backflow — which happens when contaminated water enters your clean water supply.

Backflow prevention devices can help mitigate this threat. These devices force water to flow only one way.

Installing these devices incorrectly can cause dangerous consequences, though. It’s best to call a professional.

Clogged Drains

Clogged drains are more than an annoyance. Clogs left untreated can cause a variety of issues.

For one, the water can get blocked up and cause a pipe to burst — leading to an expensive headache.

It gets worse, though. These clogs also provide a breeding ground for bacteria or mold, which can threaten the health of those in your home — especially if any members of your household have breathing issues.

Leaky Pipes

Leaks can be hard to catch, as their results seem innocuous at first. But as the leaks build up over time, they will saturate the wood and drywall in your home. This will create areas where mold can thrive. Additionally, the water may reach your electrical wiring and you could risk an electrical short.

The earlier you spot a leak, the better.

If you see any unexplained wetness or staining in your walls or on your floor, or if either feels warmer or colder than it normally should, you might have a pipe leak on your hands. Fix it yourself if you are 100% confident in your ability to do so; otherwise, call a plumber for help.

Frozen Pipes

Pipes face a lot of threats, as you can see. As the weather gets colder, frozen pipes become more of a danger. The frigid air can reach any under-insulated parts of your home (such as under the sink), and freeze the pipes solid.

Water expands when it freezes, meaning these pipes will likely burst. If you don’t properly insulate your pipes and/or address any frozen pipes as soon as possible, you could lose hundreds of gallons of water.

Make sure all pipes are well-insulated where possible. For your pipes under the sink, consider putting a small space heater in the cabinet to keep warm water flowing through the pipes.

Are you seeing any of these issues yourself? Do you want a plumber to take a look at your plumbing and make sure you aren’t at risk of a plumbing catastrophe? Contact Barner Murphy. 

Our professionals work quickly and efficiently to get your plumbing system back on track — with minimal disruption to your life. Call us today!

Halloween has passed us, which means we are full speed ahead into the holiday season. You might be ready for it, but is your plumbing?

The last thing you want to worry about when you’re enjoying yourself this holiday season is a plumbing problem. Yet the holidays also pose a greater threat to your home’s plumbing systems!

While you’re caught up in the excitement (and stress) of buying gifts, planning holiday parties, and cooking holiday dinners, don’t forget to prepare your plumbing by doing these few things.

Clean the Garbage Disposal (and Know What Goes Down it)

Your garbage disposal takes extra abuse around the holidays, thanks to all the holiday feasts. To prepare your disposal, first pour ice and rock salt down it. After that, run some cold water down it and turn it on to clear the disposal and sharpen the blades.

With that done, make sure you put the right kinds of waste down the disposal. Avoid using the disposal for fat/grease/oil, bones, and coffee grounds. These can cause clogs or get stuck in your disposal.

Clear Out Your Drains

Clear drains are essential now that you’re having guests over — especially if those guests are staying overnight. Clear drains help ensure everyone can take showers without issue.

Fortunately, clearing your drains only takes a few simple household products.

One solution is to use hot water and vinegar. Pour the vinegar down the drain, wait several hours for the vinegar to work its magic, then pour hot water to wash it all away.

Another solution would be to add baking soda to the mix. Sprinkle baking soda in the drain, then add vinegar. Wait a few hours, then wash away with hot water.

If neither of those work, use a drain snake. Simply push the snake down into the drain until you hit the clog.

Place a Garbage Can (and Signs) in All of Your Bathrooms

More people in your home means a higher chance someone flushes something down the toilet that they shouldn’t — especially if there isn’t a garbage can available.

Put a garbage can in every bathroom, and put it in a visible location. Make sure you empty it the moment it gets full to further encourage your guests to throw away other bathroom products in the trash.

Check For Any Sewer Issues

If all your drains slow at the same time, or if your drains are making gurgling noises, you might have sewer problems. Get a plumber to investigate as soon as possible so your home can be ready to accommodate guests.

Contact Barner Murphy

If you have any issues fixing up your plumbing for the holidays, contact Barner Murphy. Our plumbing experts are happy to help you get your home ready food, fun, and family this winter. Call us today at 215-945-8560 to learn more!

We’re deep into fall at this point, meaning winter’s only a couple of months away. And you can tell because the temperatures outside get chillier by the day.

As you shift from t-shirt and shorts to jacket and pants, make sure you prepare your plumbing for the cold as well to avoid any expensive and inconvenient damage.

1. Prepare Your Pipes

First, inspect all your pipes for leaks. If you find any, fix them right away.

Once all the leaks are fixed, make sure that all your pipes are insulated. This includes pipes inside your home that aren’t in heated areas.

Protecting your pipes from the cold temperatures is vital. Without proper insulation, the pipes will freeze and likely burst — causing a huge and expensive headache for you.

2. Handle The Heaters

There are two heat sources we’re talking about here: your furnace and your water heater.

For your furnace, first, address any major repairs by calling a professional. When these repairs are out of the way, make sure you have clean filters for your furnace. Clogged filters spread dust and allergens through your home and drive your energy bill through the roof (since your furnace has to work harder).

Next, there’s the water heater. To prepare this vital plumbing component for the frigid temperatures, you’ll first want to flush it to get rid of any sediment. Then, check all the components to make sure everything’s working fine, and insulate it to protect it and the pipes connected to it.

If you’re unsure how to winterize your water heater, a professional plumber will be happy to help.

3. Winterize Any Outdoor Faucets

Outdoor faucets can cause substantial damage to your plumbing if not properly winterized, as they also have pipes vulnerable to the cold. Drain and disconnect hoses connected to any outdoor faucets, and store them somewhere safe. Drain the water out of the pipes as well — perhaps the best way to do so is to shut off water to them.

4. Know Your Water Main’s Location

Even the most prepared homes sometimes suffer a burst pipe or another problem. In the event of an emergency, it’s essential to know where your water main is. That way, you can quickly shut off water to the affected area and minimize damage.

Additionally, if you’re doing any traveling for the holidays, it’s a good idea to shut off the water main to avoid a nasty surprise when you return home.

Feel overwhelmed at all the winterization tasks you need to knock out? Barner Murphy is here to help. We provide a wide range of plumbing services in Philadelphia, including winterization. Contact us today if you need help preparing your home for the cold!

Fall is a favorite season of many. Apple orchards, pumpkin patches, Halloween, Football… there’s a lot of stuff to do.

But the autumn could spell bad news for your plumbing. Changes in weather cause many homeowners to experience several issues and potentially expensive problems.

We at Barner Murphy love to keep Philadelphia residents informed about plumbing issues and prepared for any problems. To that end, here are some ways the fall season can affect your plumbing system.

Drainage Blockages

Does your sink seem clogged up, even if you have no reason to believe it should be? The next place you should think about is your yard — specifically, to see if there are leaves accumulating in certain areas.

See, when leaves pile up, they can work their way into the drainage system (via wind, rain, and vehicles) and cause blockages. When this drainage is blocked, the clog works its way back to your sink’s plumbing.

A plumber can help here a lot by replacing your drain cover. This will fix the problem and help prevent it from happening in the future.

Also, make sure you rake your leaves regularly, as it’s good for your plumbing.

Burst and/or Frozen Pipes

As fall gets closer to winter, the dropping temperatures won’t bode well for your pipes. Improperly insulated pipes can lead to water freezing inside. Water expands as it freezes, which can cause your pipes to burst — leading to costly damage.

Fortunately, plumbers are experts at pipe insulation. They can ensure your pipes keep the water inside at optimal temperatures even into the winter.

Declining Water Heater

As temperatures fall, and cold rain and wind hit the ground, the ground temperature will fall. This will cause the water that goes into your heater to be colder.

Then, as you work through your warm water, it’ll slowly be replaced by this colder water.

But the heater doesn’t rest. It works twice as hard to heat this ice-cold water up to a suitable temperature.

All this extra work greatly increases the chances that your heater breaks down in some way. Then, you won’t be able to enjoy warm baths/showers when it’s cold out.

Like with the last tip, you can have a plumber insulate the pipes around your water heater to minimize heat loss. Also, we’d recommend flushing your heater to remove sediment, as sediment can mess up the transfer of heat.

Wind

Most of your plumbing is either inside your home or underground, but that doesn’t mean the wind can’t cause serious damage.

Once the wind really picks up (as it may in the fall), it can knock trees over. If the tree roots are close to pipes underground, they can damage them and wreak havoc on your plumbing.

Of course, the trees could physically crash into your house and cause damage to physical plumbing fixtures, among many other things. This is unlikely to happen, though.

Any of these problems sound familiar? Or maybe you want to get your plumbing checked before the shifting season worsens any hidden problems? Don’t hesitate to reach out to Barner Murphy. Our professionals will get your plumbing back up to speed for the colder weather.

Plumbing. It’s not something you think about in your day-to-day life… until something goes wrong. Then, it can become your worst nightmare.

That’s why we at Barner Murphy believe people should have some basic knowledge about their plumbing. To that end, we’ve compiled a few plumbing tips you need to know to minimize stress and headache.

1. Know What You Can and Can’t Flush

The only thing you can safely put down your toilet is toilet paper. Don’t throw trash of any kind into your toilet. Even “flushable” wipes may not be good for your plumbing.

2. Avoid Using the Drain as a Garbage Can

Garbage disposals can’t handle things like bones, coffee grounds, grease/oil/fat, or large food debris. These can get stuck in blades or clog the pipes. Read your garbage disposal manufacturer's manual to know exactly what your drain can take.

3. Know Where Your Shutoff Valves Are Located

Any time you need to make plumbing repairs, you’ll want to turn off your water. Thus, you should know where your main shutoff valve is located. In some cases, it might be outside.

4. Get a Quality Plunger

A small investment in a quality plunger can go a long way in saving you money and stress with basic clogs in your toilets, drains, and sinks. Your plunger will help you dislodge these clogs and get back to normal with ease. They’re especially useful in minimizing messes when dealing with sink trap clogs.

5. Use the Vacuum for Hard Objects

Sometimes, a hard object — such as a toothbrush — finds its way into one of your plumbing fixtures. Plungers will worsen this issue by shoving the object deeper in. In this case, you’ll want to use a wet-dry vacuum to suck out the item.

6. Address Leaks ASAP

Drip, drip, drip. It’s more than a minor annoyance — it could be a substantial “drain” on your wallet. Studies have shown that those tiny drops coming from your leaky sink could waste up to eight gallons of water a day.

And it’s worse for toilets: a running toilet can run through 200 gallons of water a day!

And neither of these include potential future problems caused by leaks that’ll be much more costly.

Check for leaks regularly and fix them as soon as possible. If you aren’t comfortable doing so, call a plumbing professional.

7. Watch For Pipes When Doing Home Improvements

If you aren’t careful during a home improvement project, you might hammer a nail or drill a hole into your pipes. Before commencing any of these projects, determine if there are any pipes behind the areas on which you’ll work.

Running into plumbing problems in Bucks County, PA? Don’t hesitate to call Barner Murphy. Our professionals will work fast to identify and fix the problems so you can escape your plumbing nightmare and get back to normal life. Call us today!

Most people can now take hot water for granted. So when your heater suddenly fails, you really notice it. You’ll want to replace your heater fast.

Whether you’re replacing your water heater or buying a new one, pricing can vary depending on the water heater type. Below, we’ll discuss the different types of heaters and their relative costs.

Electric vs. Gas Water Heaters

Electric Water Heaters

Electric water heaters are cheaper upfront than gas heaters — running you about $500 for a 50-gallon tank heater. Plus, they’re safer than gas heaters and friendlier for the environment.

However, they tend to cost more in energy over time. Plus, you lose hot water if you lose power.

Gas Water Heaters

Gas water heaters cost more initially, but it’s cheaper to use them. You don’t have to worry about losing hot water during a power outage, either.

That said, gas heaters can cause more harm to the environment due to their fuel source.

Tank vs. Tankless Water Heaters

Tank Water Heaters

Tank water heaters are much more common, less expensive, and easier to install than their tankless counterparts. 

They work by storing and heating several gallons of water constantly, though. That means they use more energy and wear out quicker than tankless heaters.

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless heaters have a more intensive setup process (involving new electrical wiring), leading to higher installation costs.

But the large investment comes with some advantages: tankless heaters use a lot less energy than tank heaters and last up to 20 years. 

Energy-Efficient Water Heaters

Here are some water heaters that can minimize harm to the environment.

Solar Water Heaters

Solar water heaters are tank heaters that heat your water using the sun’s rays. There are two types of solar heater systems:

• Active systems — Pumps water into your home. Usually costs around $3,000.
• Passive systems — Uses natural convection to provide your home with water. Usually costs around $2,000.

Most solar heaters have traditional heaters just in case.

Indirect Water Heaters

Indirect heaters draw on your furnace or boiler’s heat to heat your water. Because of this, indirect water heaters are quite energy-efficient.

However, they also have a fairly hefty $1,500 price tag.

Is My Water Heater Failing?

Here are some signs your water heater might be failing:

• Leaks
• Loud noises coming from heater
• Slow-heating water or water that doesn’t heat
• Discolored or funny-tasting water

Also, it may be time to replace your water heater if it’s 15 years old or older.

How to Pick a Water Heater

Here are some guidelines for picking a water heater:

• Home size — Larger homes need larger heaters. A two-person home could do with 30-40 gallons, while a four-person home could step up to 50-60.
• Energy usage — Some heaters might cost more but pay for themselves in energy savings.
• Fuel type — Make sure the fuel your potential water heater uses is available. For example, if it uses natural gas, make sure your property has or can get a natural gas line.

When Should You Call a Plumber?

Replacing a water heater on your own is a long and tough job. You should call a professional plumber like Barner Murphy if your water heater is showing signs of deterioration or if it breaks down unexpectedly. We’ll work fast and efficiently to make sure you can continue to enjoy hot water in your home. Contact us today!

Water is fundamental to life. In modern civilization, we tend to take this vital substance for granted. Every time we run the sink to wash our hands, enjoy a warm shower, and even flush the toilet, we’re putting faith in the fact that our water is clean and safe to use.

Yet even if your water looks perfectly fine, well, it might not be. There could be unseen pollutants in it, such as minerals or chlorine.

You’re likely not in immediate danger if these substances leach into your water. However, they can damage your plumbing system, affect your appliances’ performance, and, most importantly, negatively impact your health.

Scheduling professional water testing is a good idea if you suspect your water is contaminated. You can then determine which actions to take based on the results.

If you’re noticing any of the following signs in your water or your home, it might be time to call a professional.

Signs You Need Water Conditioning In Your Home

1. Stains or Residue Buildup

Water isn’t supposed to cause constant stain or scummy residue buildup. You may have gotten used to it over time and accepted it, but stain and residue could mean bad water. Installing water conditioning in your home will minimize buildup on your plumbing fixtures and in your sinks and shower.

2. Strange Odor or Taste in Water

Water shouldn’t have much of a taste or smell — so if it does, that’s a sign there are pollutants in it. Water that smells like chlorine, metal, or rotten eggs is bound to have pollutants harmful to you and your family’s health.

3. Skin and Hair Issues

Does your skin feel irritated after you shower? Is your hair excessively dry? Your water may have a high concentration of minerals in it. These minerals react with the soaps and shampoos you use, leaving your skin and hair feeling dried out and unclean.

4. Your Utility Bills Are Rising With No Explanation

Untreated water slowly damages your plumbing system and reduces its efficiency. It then has to work harder to provide you the same amount of water, resulting in rising utility costs.

5. You Have to Make Repairs Often

Again, hard water causes damages to pipes and other parts of your plumbing system. If you’ve been making frequent repairs recently, the culprit might be minerals or other chemicals flowing through your water.

If you need your water treated in Bucks County, PA, look no further than Barner Murphy. Our expert plumbing professionals will work quickly and accurately to diagnose and fix the problem.

You should be able to rely on having clean, safe water coming out of the tap every day. Contact Barner Murphy today so you can get your water back to normal.

The lockdowns of early 2020 led to the widespread buying of many items — toilet paper being among the most purchased. Stores sold out everywhere (both brick-and-mortar stores and online), and had to put limits on how much customers could buy when new inventory arrived.

Many people who now struggled to find toilet paper looked to alternatives — desperately searching the web to see if various toilet paper alternatives were toilet-safe.

It’s tough to find an answer online nowadays with so much conflicting information, though. Some people resigned to using toilet paper alternatives anyways. As long as the toilet didn’t break when they flushed the alternatives down, then things should be fine, right?

Not exactly. Keep reading to learn the facts about toilet paper alternatives.

Are Flushable Wipes Safe?

Flushable wipes manufacturers show evidence of their wipes being safe for your plumbing system. They state that the products are biodegradable, and will thus decompose.

That may be true, but some evidence shows that these wipes simply don’t degrade fast enough. They mix with other items flushed down the toilet and cause clogs.

So although flushable wipes are excellent for a variety of situations — such as potty training your child — it might be best to seek an alternative disposal method.

Keep These Things Out of Your Toilet

Sometimes, it's tempting to flush certain items instead of throwing them in the trash. That way, you can wait longer before taking out the trash.

But you should avoid doing so. Numerous items — even very small ones — can cause expensive damage to your plumbing over time. Don’t flush the following down the toilet:

• Coffee grounds

• Cotton balls

• Dental floss

• Diapers (cloth, disposable, even “flushable” diapers)

• Eggshells

• Facial tissues

• Fats, oils, and greases

• Hair

• Napkins (paper or cloth)

• Nut shells

• Paper towels

• Plastic

• Q-tips

• Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic material

• Toilet bowl scrub pads

• Vitamins, medicines, or other pharmaceuticals

• Wipes (baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, moist wipes, etc.)

Sometimes, these things make their way into the toilet by accident and cause a clog. In that case, you may want to call a plumbing professional to unclog your toilet and get things back to normal.

Toilet Paper Alternatives That Work

One alternative that’s safe (for yourself and your toilet) and clean is a bidet. This is a little device mounted in your toilet that sprays water to clean you up after using the bathroom. These were invented as far back as the 1700s and are now widespread in places like Europe and Asia.

Bidets cost a few hundred dollars up front. However, you’ll never have to worry about toilet paper again. You’ll save thousands on toilet paper over your life — but more importantly, if the stores ever run out again, you’ll be fine.

If you’ve run into any toilet clogs — whether from flushing items down the toilet or not — Barner Murphy is happy to help. Call us today to get your toilet fixed!

Summer’s here, so you may be heading on vacation. You may already have your bags packed and one foot out the door. But before you leave for your destination, there are some plumbing tasks to handle.

Make sure you handle these plumbing priorities before you leave so that you don’t return to a plumbing nightmare.

Turn Of Your Main Water Supply

One of the worst things that could happen while you’re gone is a flood. Turning off your main water supply minimizes the amount of water that’ll flood any part of your home if a pipe leaks or bursts.

Now, you may have a pool or sprinklers. In this case, you can turn off water to all of your indoor fixtures such as your sinks and toilets.

Check on the Sump Pump

Turning off the main water supply minimizes chances of flooding, but the sump pump insures against it in your basement. Without the sump pump, you could come home to thousands in water damage to your basement and any belongings down there — not to mention health-hazardous mold and mildew.

Check your sump pump by pouring water in it. If it kicks on, you’re good to go. But if it doesn’t, you’ll want to have a plumber come and fix it.

Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal takes a lot of abuse. Food particles can get stuck in there over time. When you’re gone for a long time, leftover food particles will rot and create an unpleasant odor. Plus, these food particles create a perfect environment for bacteria, mold, or mildew growth.

You can buy special garbage disposal cleaners from the store. We’d suggest talking to a plumber to see what brand they recommend. Alternatively, you can DIY a garbage disposal cleaner using baking soda and vinegar.

Clean Drains

Like your garbage disposal, an unattended drain can cause bacteria, mold, and mildew to fester. Time to clean them.

Don’t use drain cleaning products, though. That can damage your drains. Again, you can use baking soda and vinegar. However, you can always call a plumber if you don’t want to DIY.

Turn Off the Water Heater

This one is less about safety and more about efficiency. If you won’t be home, you can turn off the water and save on your electric or gas bill.

Electric water heaters should have a switch nearby that you can use to turn the heater off. If you have a gas heater, turn the temperature setting down all the way so that the pilot light is still on. As for the electric components in the heater, there may be a switch. Otherwise, head to the breaker and flip it off.

The last thing you want to stress about on vacation is your plumbing systems. Now is a great time to ensure everything is in good working order. The plumbing professionals at Barner Murphy can inspect all of your plumbing and fix any problems before they become big issues. Contact us today — you deserve a stress-free vacation.

Drain clogs are a pain to deal with. Plungers can work for minor clogs, but you’ll find that some clogs are too much for this simple implement.

A drain auger, known by most as a plumbing snake, is a wonderful tool for dealing with clogs that a normal plunger can’t handle.

With that said, plumbing snakes are a bit more difficult to use properly. If you don’t use this tool correctly, you can cause worse problems by damaging pipes and causing leaks.

It’s vital you know how to use a plumbing snake the right way. Remember, if you have any doubts about your ability to DIY a plumbing issue, don’t hesitate to call a plumber like Barner Murphy. Better safe than sorry!

How Does a Plumbing Snake Work?

A plumbing snake is a flexible metal cable with an uncoiled spring (the auger) on the end that is used to clear up clogs. They tend to be about 50 feet long. You can coil up your plumbing snake for easy storage when not in use.

As for how they work, you insert the cable down the drain and slowly uncoil the snake until the auger breaks through whatever is causing the clog.

Using the Plumbing Snake

Prepare the Area (and Yourself)

Put on some clothes that you don’t mind dirtying. Grab some gloves and lay towels under the pipes you’re working on.

Consider Removing P-Trap and Trap Arm

This step is optional, but can help you get closer to the obstruction. You may even find the obstruction is in one of these.

But even if it isn’t, removing these makes it easier to get to the obstruction.

Now, if your trap arm is glued in place, don’t remove it.

Thread the Snake Into the Drain

Carefully thread the snake into the drain or into the access point if you removed the p-trap/trap arm.

Emphasis on “careful” here. Forcing the auger in too fast could lead to you damaging your pipes and creating much worse plumbing problems.

Slowly Uncoil the Auger

Begin uncoiling the auger while keeping the snake handle as close to the drain/access point as possible. Stay consistent with the pace of your unwinding. Once you feel resistance, you may have encountered the obstruction.

Carefully Move the Auger Around

Slowly move the auger up, down, and side to side to wear through the obstruction. If you hear scraping sounds, that’s your pipes — readjust so that you don’t cause damage.

If you think your auger is stuck, wind your snake back up. You might just pull the obstruction clean out.

Reassemble and Check Your Sink

Clean off the auger, reassembly any components you removed, then check your sink. There shouldn’t be any clogging issues if you removed the obstruction successfully.

Although unclogging drains with a plumbing snake is one of the easier plumbing tasks homeowners can do themselves, you may not be able to beat the clog.

In that case, don’t try harder. You don’t want to cause costly damage to your plumbing. Instead, you’ll want to call a plumbing professional.

If you have a clog that’s tough to beat in your Bucks or Montgomery County home, look no further than Barner Murphy. We’re happy to help you beat the clog and get your plumbing in full working order. Call us today!

Most people aren’t 100% ready to get back to work on Monday. They’re still in “weekend” mode. They take things slowly as they shift into “work mode”.

This is not the case for plumbers. For some reason, plumbers have their busiest days each week on Mondays. When the weekend’s over, plumbers have to be ready and willing to help many clients fix issues in their plumbing systems.

So why is this?

Why is Monday a Plumber’s Busiest Day of the Week?

Black Friday is one of the busiest times of the year for plumbers because it’s the day after Thanksgiving.

But Black Friday is only one day out of the year. Mondays are busy every week — and for a different reason than the ones listed above.

That reason is DIY plumbing projects gone wrong.

See, most people don’t have the time and energy to fix issues with their plumbing during the week. That’s understandable. After eight or more hours of work, the last thing you want to do is deal with your plumbing.

So people wait until the weekend, when they have the whole day to work on plumbing. They may be able to make some simple fixes, but quite often, they make errors that turn a small issue into something much larger.

Suddenly, the cost savings of DIY are gone, AND you have to pay a professional to fix it.

Hire a Professional Instead

If you have the slightest doubt in your ability to complete a DIY plumbing project, you should work with a licensed professional. Here are some reasons why.

Plumbers Do it Right the First Time

Plumbers have years of knowledge and experience in fixing plumbing systems, as well as the proper tools to get the job done. You pay a little more, but you get the peace of mind that comes with quality work.

Safety Concerns

Many plumbing jobs — especially those that are more complex — are unsafe to perform unless you know what you’re doing.

For example, there are health risks associated with plumbing waste products. There is also the potential of encountering dangerous chemicals like asbestos, lead, and mercury.

Additionally, you could be physically injured. If you’re working at high heights, for example, you could fall. If working in a cramped space, you could hurt yourself trying to twist your body to fit into the space.

Plus, you must often deal with flammable materials and electricity when working on your plumbing.

Plumbing and Building Codes

Staying up-to-date on building codes in your home keeps you safe. However, it’s also important if you plan on selling your home. Plumbing fixes that are not up to code could make selling your home a much harder task.

Did your DIY plumbing project not go as intended? Did you break something in your plumbing system, or make a problem worse? Don’t worry — the experts at Barner Murphy are here to help.

States across the nation are slowly opening their economies. Some states are allowing most types of businesses to open, while others still allow only essential business and a few niche types of companies to open.

For some types of businesses, the line between essential and non-essential is clear. People need to be able to access grocery stores, banks, and healthcare facilities, among other types of businesses.

On the other hand, gyms, entertainment, and barbershops (to name a few) are closed because they aren’t seen as necessary to sustain life.

Many types of businesses, such as plumbers, are somewhere in the middle. Robust plumbing is important, so are plumbers considered essential workers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey?

The Answer — Is Plumbing an Essential Service?

If you need a professional plumber to fix your plumbing system, you’re in luck — plumbing is considered an essential service in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Plumbing falls under the construction category of businesses in both states. Additionally, the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — part of the Department of Homeland Security — released a memo in which they considered plumbers essential workers.

According to CISA’s memo, “Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences” can stay open.

Why are Plumbers Considered Essential Workers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey?

Like CISA said, plumbing is necessary to keep your home safe and sanitary. Plumbing issues can put your family in danger.

Imagine if your sump pump didn’t work. Without a functioning sump pump, your basement could flood, causing costly damage. Additionally, mold can grow and release spores, which are bad for your lungs. Family members with breathing difficulties could have serious problems.

A plumber would be able to quickly remedy your sump pump problem to keep your home safe. You’re stuck at home enough already, so keeping it safe is all the more important.

Or perhaps you have trees in your yard, and the roots are growing into your pipes. When left unattended, the pipes can leak into your yard and create hazardous sinkholes.

Plumbers can help you remove the tree roots so your yard remains a safe place to be. Again, when you’re under lockdown, you want to be able to blow off steam outside without worrying about sinkholes.

We live in stressful times at the moment. Don’t let plumbing issues add more stress to your life. Plumbers like Barner Murphy are still open and able to restore your plumbing to normal while following all safety guidelines. Contact us today if you need your plumbing fixed.

Spring is here and summer is not too far behind. Although you’ve been ready for the warmer temperatures and bright sunlight since the first snowflake touched the ground, your plumbing might need some preparatory work.

Checking your plumbing ahead of time can save you time, money, and headache down the road. A bit of work up front will ensure your plumbing system runs smoothly for the entire year — allowing you to enjoy more of the warm weather.

Let’s look at some ways to prepare your plumbing for spring and summer.

1. Clean Your Gutters and Roof

Over the fall and winter, debris (such as leaves) can build up in your gutters and on the roof near the gutters. This debris can block the flow of water off your roof and to the ground, which can lead to roof leaks and water damage.

Clean your gutters and the area of your roof close to them regularly as the weather warms to ensure proper water flow. Call a plumber if you’re not sure you can do it safely on your own.

2. Check Your Sump Pump

Sump pumps prevent basement flooding and water damage. Inspect your sump pump once spring arrives to make sure it’s in working order, then recheck it every three months so you can catch any necessary repairs early.

An in-depth sump pump inspection is easy enough to do yourself.

First, check the drain that leads outside and make sure it is clear of dirt and debris. After that, make sure the float valve has not moved and the pump hasn’t tilted. Then, check the batteries and wiring for damage.

If that all looks good, run a quick test by filling the sump pit with water until the float rises. The sump pump should drain the water.

3. Check and Fix Exposed Pipes

Water expands when it freezes. In addition, pipes expand and contract with temperature changes, potentially causing a lot of cracks. Inspect all exposed piping on your property for damage, as well as for mold. If you run into any damage, consider calling a plumber to inspect all of your pipes.

4. Decrease the Water Pressure

We won’t lie — higher water pressure feels great in the shower. However, higher water pressure stresses your pipes more. Water presses harder against the pipe, increasing the chances of a leak. You’ll pay for the convenience of higher water pressure in more frequent repair bills.

Ideally, your water pressure should be between 40 and 80 psi. Anything over 80 psi puts your pipes at risk of leaks.

There’s a lot to do to prepare your plumbing for the spring and summer. If you’re looking for a plumber in Bucks County to give you a hand in doing so, called Barner Murphy. Our professionals will get your plumbing ready in no time and with minimal interruption to your daily life. Contact us today!

Remodeling is a large investment. You want only the most qualified professional for the job. A little bit of time spent searching for the right bathroom remodeling contractor could mean the difference between your dream bathroom and a failed project.

Here are some tips you can use to find the right contractor for your remodel.

Run a Search Online

Run a search online for contractors in your area. You’ll be presented with several local contractors. Browse through the results, start a list, and write some of the top results down.

Ask For Referrals

Additionally, ask relatives, neighbors, and friends for referrals. If they had a good experience with a contractor, you might too. Make sure to ask what specifically they liked about the contractor’s work — this will help you screen contractors based on your needs.

Evaluate Each Contractor’s Credentials

It’s vital that any contractor you work with holds all licenses required by the state and locality in which they work. Most will have this information on their site, but you can also call them and ask.

See if they have designations from professional associations as well. Examples of these include the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), and the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB)

Beyond that, see if they complete coursework or continuing education. Contractors that take their jobs seriously are always looking to sharpen their skills and stay on top of industry knowledge.

Interview Your Candidates and Narrow Your List

Pick the best few candidates — no more than three — based on the above criteria and set up interviews.

Inquire about their experience, project timeline, payment schedule, and other project-related matters. Consider asking if they have a warranty or guarantee as well in case something bad happens.

Check Out Their Work and Check References

Now that you’ve established some rapport with a few contractors, ask them to see some of their work. If they let you, ask for references and call up their past clients. Ask the client about their experience with the contractor.

Ideally, you want a contractor that is experienced in projects that are similar to your remodel. See if examples of their past work look like your project.

Inspect the Final Documents

You’ve narrowed your search down to one contractor. Before you sign the paperwork, look at the documents themselves. Make sure they look professional. Read the contract as well to make sure it’s fair.

Looking for a Bucks Country bathroom remodeling contractor? Barner Murphy could be the right choice for you. We work with professional contracting partners with every part of the project to ensure your new bathroom exceeds your expectations. Call us today!

Ice makers are fantastic devices, providing a steady supply of ice whenever you need it — no dealing with ice trays or melting bags of ice.

You may not think about it now, but you’ll quickly realize how convenient ice makers are when yours stops working.

Your ice maker could have one of many issues — some might involve a quick fix, while others might take a little more work.

Below is a list of the most common ice maker problems. No matter which of these issues you’re having with your ice maker, you can count on Barner Murphy to fix it fast and at an affordable rate.

Accidental Pause

To prevent overfilling your ice bin, most ice makers have a control arm that will pause ice production. Your ice maker’s control arm may have been moved by accident or broken, activating the pause feature when the bin isn’t full.

Consult your owner’s manual to learn more about your specific ice maker’s pause function.

Clogged Filter

When not given proper maintenance, ice maker filters can get clogged. Find the filter section of your owners manual to locate your filter, then inspect it for debris.

Clogged/Shut-Off Water Line

A water line supplies your ice maker with water to freeze. When clogged or broken, you won’t get more ice. Make sure the water supply valve is on and not restricted by anything.

Frozen Water Line

Your water line may be frozen. If you want to fix this yourself, first turn off the water supply and unplug your fridge. You can use a hairdryer to defrost the water line, but keep it above the water source to avoid being shocked.

Once defrosted, turn on the water and power again and you should hear water running through the line. If not, call Barner Murphy — we can identify the root problem.

Frozen Ice Maker

Perhaps the ice maker itself is frozen. If so, check the thermostat. Always make sure the temperature matches the manufacturer’s recommendations — too low of a temperature and the water will freeze too early.

Checking the thermostat every so often can help to prevent your ice maker from freezing before it becomes a problem.

Leaky Ice Maker

Your ice maker might be working but also leaking water onto your floor or in your freezer. Check to make sure your refrigerator and ice maker are level and look for water line damage. Also, make sure the fill cup lines up with the water funnel.

If nothing seems wrong with any of the above, you should call a professional to help.

Have you run into any of these problems? Not sure how to fix them? Contact Barner Murphy right away so we can get your ice maker back to normal. Call us today — all new customers get $15 off their first service call.

Sump pumps removing water from basements and crawl spaces, transferring the water to your waste removal system.

Although sump pumps are vital to preventing water damage and its accompanying effects, your sump pump may break at some point. As a result, installing a backup sump pump will provide optimal protection.

Sump pump and backup system installation is one of our specialties here at Barner Murphy. Read to learn more about these systems.

Sump Pump Benefits

Let’s look at some of the biggest reasons why you need a sump pump in your home.

Prevents Water Damage

The main reasons to have a sump pump is to drain away water that may slowly cause damage.

Prevent Flooding Damage

Sump pumps are excellent at dealing with slow water buildup, but they shine when it comes to basement flooding.

See, when heavy rain hits, your basement could quickly gain several inches of water — water that can damage your basement itself as well as any possession you store down there.

Sump pumps funnel that water away to minimize the damage.

Prevent Mold/Mildew Buildup

Mold and mildew thrive in wet environments. When water gets into your basement, the mold and mildew growth can damage your home as well as cause health problems — especially for those who have asthma or other breathing issues.

Sump pumps keep mold and mildew at bay, protecting the health of your and your family.

Reduce Electrical Fire Chances

Water in the basement can short-circuit appliances down there, leading to fires. The little old sump pump can stand guard against life-threatening electrical fires by preventing water buildup.

Backup Sump Pump Benefits

Sump pumps are excellent devices, but they may fail or become overwhelmed by the amount of basement water buildup. In that case, backup sump pumps carry numerous advantages.

Increased Sump Pump Capacity

Sump pumps can process a lot of water, but not always at an optimal speed in cases of bad flooding. An additional sump boosts the amount of water you can drain from your basement.

Missed Maintenance

Sump pumps require maintenance every so often. The problem is that since your sump pump is situated in the floor, you may not notice that it needs maintenance until it’s too late.

That backup sump pump still provides drainage while allowing you to notice that the first sump pump may be out of commission.

Battery Power

The same weather that leads to flooding can cause power outages. Should your sump pump draw electricity from the grid, it will be useless.

Backup sump pumps tend to use batteries — when your regular sump pump fails, you’ll still be protected.

As you can see, sump pumps and backup systems keep costly, nasty damage at bay. To learn more about the benefits of sump pumps and backup systems, call Barner Murphy today. We provide sump pumps and backup systems to Bucks County residents, and we enjoy educating out customers on their benefits.

Photo Credit - Sump Pump Advisor

Why is My Drain Acting Up?

Drains are important parts of your plumbing, but they take a lot of abuse — which can lead to various problems, from clogs to bubbling to unsettling noises. No matter the issue, however, there are steps you can take to get your drain back in working order. Here are some common drain problems and their causes

Clogged

Drain clogs often occur when items are disposed of improperly. This happens a lot with kitchen sinks. Many people dump the wrong types of waste down the drain — fats/grease are a common example. The fats solidify after cooling and block the drain.

Clogs may also happen simply from use over time, such as in the bathroom. Hair accumulates in the shower or sink drain and clogs it up.

Backing Up

Sometimes, a drain blockage is the result of improper waste disposal. In many cases, however, a backed up drain isn’t your fault.

In the spring, groundwater levels can increase. This can lead to more water in your drainage system, which can back up your drain.

Leaking

Leaky drains could be caused by loose or damaged drain components. Sometimes, you’ll just have to tighten the nut to stop the leak. However, you may need to take apart your drain to identify any damaged parts that need to be replaced.

A more obvious and observable reason for a leaky drain would be damage to the drain pipe. Putt is usually necessary to fix drain pipe holes.

Bubbling

When you drain is bubbling, that might be a sign that it’s only partially clogged in the drain pipe. However, it could also be caused by a blocked vent pipe.

Your vent pipe allows sewer gas to escape, funneling the gas upwards and out of the roof of your home.

Objects such as dirt, leaves, or bird nest materials can come from above and block the vent pipe. This forces the gas back down, leading to the bubbling or gurgling sound you hear.

If your vent pipe is blocked, your only solution is to call a professional such as Barner Murphy.

Smelling

A smelly drain can be caused by a few issues.

Clogs are a common reason. Clogs provide a breeding ground for bacteria. As the bacteria colony consumes the debris trapped in the drain and continues to grow, your drain will begin to smell bad.

Mold is another possible cause. You want to take care of mold right away, because the gases they release can be dangerous — leading to headaches, dizziness, and nausea, among other things.

Lastly, escaped sewer gases could be causing the bad smell. If your drain isn’t slow/clogged yet it smells, this may the reason.

Making Noise

Drains sometime make obnoxious noises. This is usually accompanied by bubbling, which results either from a blockage or trapped sewer gases.

If you turn on your garbage disposal and hear loud noises, something may be stuck in the blades — such as chicken bones. You’ll have to remove the chicken bones to get your garbage disposal back to normal. 

Don't Forget About Your Plumbing When You're Spring Cleaning

Spring is almost here. With the warm weather upon us, we can soon crack our windows and open our doors to let the fresh air in.

Along with that comes spring cleaning. Soon, you’ll be furiously vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and wiping down all surfaces in your home. You might even do some decluttering.

But while you’re making everything in your house shine, it’s important not to forget to give your plumbing a little spring cleaning treatment. Doing so can keep you home life running smoothly while saving you thousands of dollars and plenty of headache.

Here are a few of the most important ways you can spring clean your plumbing.

Empty the Gutters

The winter snow that piled up in your gutters has obscured lots of leaves, dirt, debris, and other stuff. A clogged gutter can cause water to spill over onto your home, causing mold and other water damage.

Make sure you clean those gutters out once the snow starts melting to prevent clogs.

Check Your Pipes

Winter is not friendly to pipes, as temperatures can cause pipes to freeze. Even if you were vigilant about ensuring your pipes didn’t freeze, now would be a good time to check them for leaks, corrosion, or other damage. Call a plumber right away if you find any issues with your pipes.

Clean Your Drains

Drain clogs are nasty problems to deal with. Even if your drain isn’t clogged, it never hurts to perform some preventative maintenance. There are many ways you can use water, vinegar, and baking soda to clean out drains. Alternatively, you can buy a drain snake and use that to keep drains clear.

Check the Water Heater

If you haven’t peeked at your water heater in a while, your spring cleaning would be a good time to do so. Check your water heater’s temperature, but also perform an all-around check of it to make sure everything’s in working order.

Clean Around Your Toilet

Most of your spring cleaning will involve sweeping, mopping, and wiping. Now is a perfect time to deep clean your bathroom, especially the area around and behind the toilet.

Sure, it might be a nasty area, but cleaning around and behind your toilet kills germs and creates a healthier bathroom. Not to mention that the bathroom may smell even better once everything’s clean.

Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals take a lot of abuse, so they deserve a cleaning every once in a while. Giving it a good cleaning will ensure it functions optimally year-round.

In addition, make sure to only put things down the drain that belong. Doing so will further help to keep your disposal working like new.

Need help spring cleaning your plumbing in Bucks County? Call the professionals at Barner Murphy. Let’s prepare your plumbing for the warmer months.

Garbage disposals do wonders for your kitchen, giving you an easy way to get rid of small food waste. Thus, when your garbage disposal has issues, you really notice it. Garbage disposals can experience several kinds of problems.

Here’s a list of common garbage disposal issues and how you can solve them.

1. Clogged Garbage Disposal

Clogged garbage disposals are a common plumbing complaint. Most clogs are caused by one of the following:

• Improper waste disposal (such as pouring grease/oils down drain)

• Adding too much waste at once

• Failure to run water down the drain — running hot water helps wash away bits of waste trapped in the disposal

When a clog happens, the blades are trapped. You’ll hear a humming noise without the sound of blades turning.

Solving a Clogged Garbage Disposal

If your disposal has a hex hole on the bottom, you can insert an Allen wrench and turn the blades until they can rotate completely. If it doesn’t have a hex hole, you’ll want a dedicated garbage disposal wrench.

Run water after freeing the blades. If water doesn’t pass through, fill the sink halfway and use a sink plunger until the sink drains.

If none of this works, you’ll need a plumber’s help.

2. Garbage Disposal Won’t Turn On

A garbage disposal could fail to turn on for a few reasons. Its motor might be damaged, electric power might not be reaching it, or its overload protector may have been tripped.

Solving a Garbage Disposal That Won’t Turn On

First, check the overload protector to see if it’s been tripped. If it is, find the reset button on the bottom of the disposal and push it. Wait 10 minutes and try again if it doesn’t stay in. Turn on the disposal once you get the button to be pressed up to see if it’s working.

If not, see if the circuit-breaker has been tripped. If it hasn’t, look for any loose electrical connection.

If none of these were the case, call a technician, as your disposal motor may be damaged.

3. Leaking Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals can leak from the top, sides, and bottom.

Solving a Leaking Garbage Disposal

Top leaks are caused when the garbage disposal does not have a proper seal between it and the sink drain hole. You will have to replace whatever item is causing the imperfect seal.

If it’s a side leak, then the cause is a bad connection with your dishwasher connector or drainage pipe. If it’s the dishwasher connection, remove the connection and clean out the pipe and connector. Clamp them back together tightly afterwards.

If it’s the drainage pipe that’s causing issue, it’s likely because the rubber gasket inside has been damaged in some way. Take the drainage pipe apart, clean it out, and replace the gasket; then, reconnect everything, making sure all connections are sealed tight.

Lastly, leaks from the bottom of the disposal unfortunately don’t have a quick fix. See if your disposal is still within its warranty period — if so, the manufacturer should replace it for you.

How to Keep Your Sink From Clogging

Sink clogs may seem like a minor inconvenience, but they can turn into a serious problem when left untreated. Not to mention that they can be pretty unpleasant. If you don’t want to deal with the nasty results of an unpleasant clog, you need to take measure to keep your sink from clogging.

Follow these tips to do so.

1. Know What Can Go Down Your Sink

Sinks mainly get clogged by people throwing the wrong kind of waste down the drain. Some of the primary culprits are oil/grease, hair, coffee grounds, and bones.

• Never put oil or grease down the drain. Instead, scrape it into an old coffee can or something similar. Then, throw it in the trash.

• Throw away coffee grounds. If you have a reusable coffee filter that you wash using the sink, it’s ok for a few bits of coffee grounds to go down the drain. Keep it to a minimum, though.

• Use a hair guard for your bathroom sinks. This will catch hairs before they get stuck in the drain and cause a clog.

• Back in the kitchen, don’t throw food bones down the garbage disposal. They will get stuck in the blades most of the time, spinning around indefinitely.

2. Run Hot Water Down the Drain After Each Use

Sometimes, a little oil or grease may make its way into the drain. Run a bit of hot water after each use to keep the oil moving down the drain.

Additionally, you may consider pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain to wash away any other stubborn oil residue.

Don’t use cold water, as the grease will solidify and worsen the problem.

3. Baking Soda and Hot Water

Every once in a while, you may want to throw some baking soda down your drain before running the hot water. Baking soda does an excellent job of cleaning out extra particles, and it eliminates many foul odors that may arise from food waste.

4. Vinegar and Hot Water

Vinegar is another excellent household sink cleaner. It contains a mild acid — ascetic acid — which can help break down and loosen buildup from food particles and other organic material.

Every so often, pour 1 cup of vinegar down your sink and let it rest for a half an hour; then, run the hot water to wash away the vinegar and buildup from your sink’s drain.

5. Don’t Use Drain Cleaning Chemicals

Drain cleaning chemicals are a tempting solution when your sink clogs, but they can corrode your pipes over time, leading to worse problems down the road for your plumbing.

If you have a serious clog that you aren’t sure how to fix in Bucks County, skip the drain chemicals and call Barner Murphy. Our professionals will get your drain running smoothly in no time.

Prevent Plumbing Nightmares With These 5 Tips

Modern plumbing is a wonderful invention. However, failure to take proper care of your plumbing system can result in some nasty effects.

Prevent plumbing nightmares from occurring with these tips.

Check the Water Pressure

If your water pressure every drops significantly while showering or washing your hands, check the water immediately. This drop in water pressure could be serious. A leak in the water main will affect everything is your home; call a professional right away to handle this. If the leak is localized to a shower head or a sink, you may just need to clean the aerators.

Call a professional if you can’t identify what is causing the issue.

Check for Leaks Regularly

Leaks can run up your water bill, but when left untreated for a long time, they can also cause costly damage to other systems in your home.

Inspect your faucets, under your sinks, and around your toilets regularly. If you see any water that shouldn’t be there, you might have a leak.

Check appliances such as dishwashers and laundry machines as well.

If you can find the leak, repair it as fast as you can to minimize potential water damage. If you are unable to locate or fix a leak, have a professional do it as soon as possible.

Prevent Clogged Drains

Clogs are more than annoyances; they are a breeding ground for bacteria that can get into your water and cause serious health issues. Clogs may even cause leaks in other parts of your plumbing.

Do not flush anything but toilet paper and waste down toilets. Do not put anything down your sink that doesn’t belong, either. Use sink guards if shaving is a cause of clogs in your home.

As for your kitchen sink: only put food down your garbage disposal that it can handle, and never pour grease or fat down your drain.

If you experience a drain clog, avoid drain cleaning chemicals. They work in the short term, but can cause your pipes to corrode. Call a professional if you are unable to unclog a drain yourself.

Clean Your Toilet Tank

Your toilet bowl accumulates bacteria, mold, mildew, and other substances over time. Since flushing your toilet causes toilet tank water to transfer to your toilet bowl, a dirty toilet tank can make cleaning the toilet bowl difficult to later on.

Clean Your Toilet Bowl

Your toilet bowl deserves a regular cleaning, too. Not just because it looks nice, but also to help your toilet function normally. Dirty toilets can clog and corrode, leading to future problems. Plus, you can more easily identify early warning signs of plumbing issues.

In particular, keep your siphon jets (the holes in the toilet rim that transfer water from the tank to the bowl) clean. You can find many solutions for cleaning your siphon jets online, or you may have a plumber look at them.

Bonus 6th tip: Call a professional plumber if you aren’t sure of your ability to complete any of these tasks. Contact Barner Murphy if you’re looking for a Bucks County plumber to nightmare-proof your plumbing system.

Drain Cleaning

During this past holiday season, you hopefully got to experience family, friends, and lots of food.

But among the festivities, your plumbing systems probably took a hit. In particular, your drains might be clogged.

Drain clogs often happen soon after the holiday season due to large amount of food being prepared and more guests in the home who may not fully understand your plumbing system.

How to Unclog a Drain

Plunger: For smaller clogs, a plunger may be enough to loosen the clog. Start by using your plunger a few times.

Boiling Water: Bring a full pot of water to a boil. When done, pour a little bit of the water down the drain at a time, pausing a few seconds between pours to let the water loosen the clog.

Wire Hanger: Wire coat hangers can reach into tight drain spaces and grab materials causing clogs. First, straighten the hanger as much as possible. Then, bend one end into a hook shape. Now, you can stick the hook into the drain and pull up the material causing the clog. Do this until you think the clog is clear, then flush with hot water.

Vinegar & Baking Soda: Mix about ⅓ cup vinegar with ⅓ cup baking soda, then pour down the drain. The bubbling caused by this science project mixture will help break down a clog. Wait about an hour, then run hot water down the drain to clean it out.

Plumbing Snake: If you have a plumbing snake, this can be used to reach into the drain and break up the clog.

What About Drain Cleaner?

Avoid drain cleaner products. These products might be tempting if you’re looking for a quick clog fix, but they can corrode your pipes over time. Once your pipes corrode, larger plumbing problems can occur down the road.

If the clog is that bad, a professional plumber would be the best choice for the health of your plumbing system.

How to Prevent a Future Drain Clog

Kitchen

Sink: Improper food disposal causes most kitchen clogs. Fat, oil, and grease are the main perpetrators. They’re liquid when hot, but when they solidify after cooling, they clog your drain.

Instead, let any fat, oil, or grease cool, the scrape it into a container you can throw out. When the container is full, put it in a plastic bag and throw it away to prevent leaking.

Garbage Disposal: some think that the garbage disposal can take any waste, but that’s not true. Avoid putting the following down your garbage disposal:

• Bones

• Coffee grounds in large amounts

• Egg shells

• Fruit pits

• Celery

• Potato peels

• Pasta

• Nuts

Bathroom

Leave a trash can in a visible location in your bathroom so all waste not meant for any of your drains ends up there.

Sink: Don’t fill the sink with water before shaving. Use drain guards when you shave, and ask that any guests do so as well.

Toilet: The only materials that should go down the toilet are waste and toilet paper. Even “flushable” wipes should go in the garbage.

If you have guests that aren’t keen on that, consider buying a sign that says so. They exist in many forms, from simple to stylish.

Shower: Install a drain screen to catch hairs in the shower. You will need to clean it out after use, but it’s better than a clog.

Do you have an especially nasty drain clog in Bucks County? Don’t dump a bottle of drain cleaning chemicals down the drain — call a professional plumber. Barner Murphy is ready to help your drains get back to work.