Category Archives: Leak Diagnosis and Repair

Water Heater Replacement: Signs and Symptoms

Hot Water Heaters, Leak Diagnosis and Repair

All households require hot water, so your hot water heater is one of your most essential home appliances. Water heaters use fuel from a variety of sources including natural gas, electricity, propane and solar. Most water heaters have tanks to hold heated water, but tankless hot water heaters which heat water on demand, are also available. All hot water heaters eventually require maintenance and replacement.

Tankless water heaters are more energy and space efficient, have a longer lifespan and perform better than conventional water heaters, but most homes are still equipped with conventional water heaters, whose average life span is ten to fifteen years. Replacement of a traditional water heater is usually needed because of the build-up of scale and rust on the inside of the tank. Tankless water heaters do not hold heated water in a tank, making their projected lifespan considerably longer. Although a tankless water heater can last up to twenty five years, it is typically only warranted for a period of ten years.

Replacing your hot water heater is a task that can usually be completed in just a few hours by a licenced plumber, but how do you know if your hot water heater needs replacement? Some sure indicators for water heater replacement are:

1.) Your water heater does not produce enough hot water.

2.) Your water is discolored, usually yellow or rust-colored.

3.) Your water heater is leaking.
Hot Water Heater
The build-up of excess sediment inside your water heater may cause it to heat a lower volume of water. Sediment build-up can also cause your water heating element to short circuit, leading to complete failure. Discolored water observed when hot water is coming out of your faucet, is a sign of excess scale built up inside your water heater tank.

Rust or corrosion may be causing your water heater to leak but your plumber should also examine the plumbing leading to and from your hot water heater, for leaks or other issues that could contribute to plumbing problems in your home. Water heater replacement can usually be accomplished with minimum service interruption, when done by a qualified plumbing professional such as K.L. Contractor Plumbing, Inc. in Acworth, GA.

Summer Plumbing Issues

Clogged Drains/Toilets, Leak Diagnosis and Repair, Pipes, , , , ,

What better time of the year than summer to relax and forget about potential problems with your plumbing. Right? Wrong! Even though you don’t need to be concerned about freezing pipes there are a number of issues to be aware of. The fact is that summer is the season when we use the most water, and that makes it a prime candidate for plumbing issues.

Here are a few things to look out for. If you do decide that you need a plumber in Acworth, Marietta, Woodstock, or anywhere in the north Georgia area, give K. L. Contractor Plumbing a call.

Clogged toilets. Summertime means its time for school vacation. Kids at home more means the toilet getting flushed more often. If you have kids then you know that means the toilet is going to get clogged more often as well.

You can use a common wire hanger to break loose excessive toilet paper and then use a plunger to further break up the clog. If you can’t break up the clog, the kids have thrown something (hopefully not something valuable!) into the toilet, or if the toilet is overflowing, you may need to call a professional plumber.

Sprinkler heads. If your lawn has an automatic sprinkling system, you may occasionally have a sprinkler head that gets stuck in the “up” position. In high grass its all too easy to run over it with your lawn mower or car, or to simply trip over it. If you do damage the head you can easily flood your yard or worse.

Sprinkler heads - Summer flooding hazards

Schedule a regular time, maybe before mowing the lawn each week, to check out the sprinkler heads and make sure that they are working properly. Have a few extra heads on hand just in case of an emergency so you can fix a damaged head quickly and with a minimum loss of water and time.

Tree roots. Trees provide shade and beauty to our homes. They also have root systems that can damage the pipes under your yard. Unfortunately, it is not very easy to prevent this kind of damage, short of removing all trees.

A couple of ways you might notice the damage from tree roots are damp, soggy ground in your lawn, and a sudden drop in water pressure. This kind of leak is often difficult to find and repair, so in this situation, we definitely recommend bringing in a licensed plumber.

So there you go! While you don’t have to go check the pipes for ice, water flooding is still a concern in the summer. If you follow the recommendations above and always be on the lookout for water where it shouldn’t be, you can relax with some lemonade or iced tea and think about something else. Something more summery (if that’s a word) would be nice.

Plumbing Services Acworth

Home Remodeling, New Construction, Kitchen and Bathroom Sinks, Garbage Disposals, Clogged Drains/Toilets, Fixtures, Hot Water Heaters, Leak Diagnosis and Repair, Pipes, Toilet Repair/Replacement

K.L. Contractor Plumbing as been providing plumbing services in Acworth, GA since 1999. We are based out of Acworth and are not only licensed, but also bonded in Cobb County.

We offer a full range of plumbing services including but not limited to the repair and/or installation of the following:

We provide plumbing services in Acworth for both residential and commercial clients. Whether its an emergency situation when you need a plumber quick, fast, and in a hurry, or if you’re remodeling to get that “dream home” you’ve always wanted, we can help. Our technicians are courteous and highly trained and want to help you to solve your problem. Quality is our main goal and speed of service is a close second. We want to make sure that when the job is done, its done. We have been called in before to fix problems left behind by less motivated plumbers and we’ve vowed to never leave a client in that situation.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

We know that when you are looking for plumbing services in Acworth you have a lot of plumbers to choose from. Who should you choose? What makes one different from the rest? This is a common feeling and we want you to feel secure when you choose us to be your plumber. That’s why we offer our 100% satisfaction guarantee. That is, we make sure that the job is done to your complete satisfaction. If you’re not satisfied, we’re not done.

Quick Response

As we are located in Acworth we are very quick to respond to calls in our fair city. Give us a call today and find out for yourself how convenient it is to have us as your neighbor.

Buying a Foreclosed Home – Plumbing

Leak Diagnosis and Repair, Pipes, , ,

When you are  buying a home that was foreclosed, make sure the plumbing is up to par and there are no water leaks. Many of the homes on today’s market have sat empty and are more likely to have problems.

When the water hasn’t been used for a  long time, it is possible for gaskets to dry up, causing leaks in valves or appliances. If the water was not turned off and drained during the winter in cold climates, there  could be pipe damage from frozen water.

Have a licensed plumber check the plumbing of any home that has been unoccupied for a long time to ensure that the home is ready for you to move  in.

To learn more, check out this article.

Choosing the Right Sump Pump

Home Remodeling, Leak Diagnosis and Repair, Resources

If you need to replace your sump or if you are selecting a sump pump for a new sump installation, there a number of factors you need to consider.

A sump is a pit or basin beneath the basement floor where water can collect. This water will typically have seeped into the basement after a hard rain.

Types of sump pumps:

  • Pedestal sump pump – an upright electric pump with its motor at the top that is not supposed to get wet
  • Electric submersible sump pump – made to work under water
  • Water-powered pump – works by hooking a valve into the city water supply
  • Batter-powered pump – usually used as a backup

You also need to consider the capacity of waterflow you need and how far the water will need to be lifted.

For more information, Bob Vila has a great article entitled “Selecting the Right Sump Pump”.