Have you ever heard of hard water? While it is not necessarily hazardous to your health, you need to ensure that hard water isn’t adversely affecting your piping and other plumbed appliances. In particular, your water heater may be at risk. Considering the amount of use it gets and the general wear and tear it endures, it’s no wonder that at some point your water heater may need service. Plumbing repairs are inevitable, but you also want to prevent problems before they happen. Allowing hard water to flow through your water heater may cause severe problems, but it all depends on the mineral content of your water. In today’s post, we’d like to review this relation in more detail. Call JD Plumbing Company today for more information about Raleigh, NC water heaters.

Do you notice an off-white or light green buildup around your sink drains or faucets? Do you notice that when mixed with soap, your water fails to produce suds? If so, then you may have hard water. Hard water is water that has absorbed mineral content; it is mostly “hard” because of its high calcium and magnesium content. You may even notice that your tap water has a metallic or mineral-like aspect of its flavor. As hard water moves through your plumbing piping, it leaves behind deposits of that mineral content, and over time, this can accumulate enough to restrict the volume of water that’s able to flow through your home and may even create partial blockages.

Your water heater is particularly vulnerable to mineral deposits, especially considering the amount of time water sits in your tank ready to be used. Scale can build up inside the tank, especially at the bottom. If you hear a rumbling sound, or if it sounds like your water heater is actually boiling water, then your water heater may have a significant buildup of mineral deposits inside. This will not only cut down on the energy efficiency of your hot water production, but it may also lead to premature replacement and frequent repairs. You may wish to prevent such accumulation by installing a water treatment system.

Call JD Plumbing Company today if you’re in need of repair for your water heater in Raleigh, NC. 

You rely heavily on your home plumbing system to deliver pressurized cold and hot water to various fixtures and plumbed appliances throughout your home. But one-half of your plumbing often goes overlooked: the wastewater disposal system. Unfortunately, just like any other aspect of your home, your plumbing system undergoes wear and tear over the years and may be subject to damage at times. One of the common questions we often hear concerns sewer backup.

So, what causes sewer backup? Let’s take a look at a few causes:

• Debris buildup: Hair, grease, and other debris often go down your drain pipes. Even the most diligent homeowner can’t catch everything, no matter how many food and hair stoppers you use. While grease is liquid when hot, it turns into a sticky paste when cold, and this can attract other debris. Over time, such debris can accumulate within your sewer and may eventually cause serious problems, such as sewer backup. This can shut down your entire home plumbing system, which you may not even be able to use until you get it fixed.
• Tree root penetration: Tree roots exert incredible amounts of pressure. When they put enough pressure on your sewer line, they can actually begin to crack the surface of the pipe if the root diameter is large enough. Obviously, this is not good. If you notice a foul odor or even wet spots in your yard, your sewer may not only be backed up, but it may be leaching directly into your soil.
• Collapsed pipe: While sewer lines are built to last, over time, they are subject to wear and tear and even corrosion. The weight resting on your pipe is enormous, and your sewer can collapse if erosion causes the soil to shift. Also, nearby construction can have reverberating effects on the ground.

Sewer problems are never pleasant, so make sure you take care of them fast. If you need expert Raleigh, NC sewer services, call JD Plumbing Company today! 

Maybe your shower is leaking? Perhaps you’re concerned with how much water your bathroom uses on a daily basis? Whatever your bathroom plumbing problem is, don’t worry; we’ve seen it before. There’s no problem too big or small to warrant the professional attention of a certified plumber. Considering how much we all rely on our piping and drains to bring us hot water and flush our toilets, it’s important that you contact a pro to get any problems taken care of. When you need a Raleigh plumbing service, call JD Plumbing Company!

Here are some common bathroom plumbing problems that you may encounter in your home:

• Leaky shower pan: Depending on what type of shower you have (tile, corner kit, sliding glass doors, etc.), a leaky shower pan usually indicates trouble. The problem with it is that water has penetrated to an area that can lead to significant water damage to your sub-floor, framing, possibly even the downstairs ceiling. But the way water travels can often seem mysterious, so a professional hands-on diagnosis will have to determine the root cause of the leak, and recommend a viable solution.
• Funky trap: The “trap” is that U-shaped (or P-shaped) bend below your bathroom sink drain. You may be wondering why the bend is there, why the drain doesn’t just go straight down. The reason is to create a water seal that prevents foul sewer odors from wafting into your living space. A little bit of your wastewater sits in that bend at all times, unless of course, your trap is leaking, clogged, or won’t hold a water seal for some reason.
• Running toilet: If your toilet constantly runs, it can be irritating not to mention costly. Even small leaks like these can increase your water bills on a daily basis. A plumber will be able to find the cause of your running toilet and take the necessary steps to repair it.

These are just a few problems that you may encounter with your Raleigh plumbing. Call JD Plumbing Company whenever you need a trustworthy plumber who does the job right the first time.

Plumbing problems can be a hassle during the hot summer months. Foul odors and hot sticky air make for an unpleasant combination. As we’ve already entered the cooling season in Raleigh, you want to make sure and steer clear of any problems. But due to the amount of wear and tear our plumbing systems endure on a daily basis, you might find that one of your drains needs professional attention. Your drain trap is meant to prevent foul odors from invading your home, but there are some things that can go wrong with it. For more information about your drain in Raleigh, NC, call the experts at JD Plumbing Company today!

Your drain trap is a U-shaped or P-shaped vertical bend in your drainpipe, just below your kitchen sink cabinet or bathroom vanity. Its purpose is to prevent sewer gases and fumes from entering into your home, but it also allows you to retrieve anything that may have accidentally fell down the drain, such as jewelry. Like any other aspect of your plumbing, it may eventually require repair.

• Gurgling sound: A gurgling drain trap may be caused by a ventilation problem. There should be a vent going through the roof that allows your bathroom and kitchen wastewater to move rapidly down the drainpipes and into the sewer line. If there were no ventilation, the water might move slowly. Your ventilation pipe may be blocked, or there may be a partial blockage in the drain trap.
• Leak: The drain trap is comprised of several different sections connected together. The slip nuts that hold the entire thing together may have loosened over time, or they may have corroded, in which case they need to be replaced. There is often a cleanout plug on the bottom of drain traps to assist access and drainage, if necessary.

These are just a couple of potential problems that you might encounter in your home plumbing system. For professional drain repair in Raleigh, the experts at JD Plumbing Company are here to help. Call us today! 

If you have a foul odor emerging from your kitchen sink, it can make cooking and working in your kitchen very unpleasant. Because of all the use that your drains get, blockages can often occur, both at drain openings and deep within the system. When food or other organic waste gets trapped, it begins to rot and the smell may move back up into the living space.

When you put a lot of organic matter down your drains, your can accumulate of microbiological organisms that feed on this waste. When a piece of food gets lodged in your drainpipe, or combines with other scraps to accumulate into a pipelining sludge, then the smell of their decay can become particularly potent.

Fortunately, all is not lost. And there are some things you can do to prevent the buildup of bacteria.

• First, use food stoppers and drain screens to prevent scraps of food from going down the drain. This is the most important step. With these in place, you can probably avoid most local blockages that lead to smells.
• Second, pour boiling water down your drains every so often to clear your drains, especially if you nearly always use your dishwasher, or tend to use only cold water.
• Third, pour a small amount of distilled white vinegar down the kitchen sink. Vinegar is a natural anti-bacterial acid that will destroy many types of bacteria without the damaging side effects of toxic drain cleaning liquids.

For more information about cleaning your drains, or about any other plumbing problems, call your local plumber. For Raleigh, NC plumbing repair, call the experts at JD Plumbing Company today! 

Because we don’t often think about our home plumbing—how it operates in the walls, floors, and underground—it can be difficult to know when drain cleaning is necessary. Partial blockages and clogs are not easy to diagnose for the layperson, and we may not even know exactly our local plumber actually performs drain cleaning. Does he use harsh chemicals? Or a long wire? We often hear this question from clients and friends about drain cleaning. Is it really necessary, or will my home plumbing naturally sort itself out? We believe drain cleaning is necessary, and we’d like to tell you why in this brief post. For more information about drain cleaning in Raleigh, NC, call the experts at JD Plumbing Company today!

Here are a few benefits of drain cleaning that we think will convince you:

• Prevents major blockages: Hair, grease, and other foreign matter can easily build up inside your drain piping. They tend to stick to the insides of pipes and glob together to form walls that presents a serious obstacle to your wastewater. Drain cleaning prevents these major blockages before they occur by clearing any small buildups on a routine basis. While it’s important to monitor what exactly goes down your drains, this can often be difficult, especially with children in the home.
• Hygiene: We don’t often think of our system of drain piping that allows us to get rid of wastewater rapidly and efficiently so that it doesn’t become unhygienic or a health concern. Because our wastewater systems operate by gravity alone—unlike our pressurized supply system—it can often require a little bit of extra attention over the years, especially if it didn’t receive the best installation.
• Improves system life: Both your supply and wastewater systems are vital to the well-being and comfort of your home. Without them, modern home life would simply be impossible. If only for that reason, routine drain cleaning is a great way to ensure that they last for years to come.

It’s important to avoid using harsh chemicals to remove blockages in your drain piping. They can actually deteriorate your piping, depending on what material it is made out of. For more information about our Raleigh, NC drain cleaning services, call the pros at JD Plumbing Company today!

A water line replacement is not the type of service that anyone looks forward to scheduling. In many cases, though, a water line replacement is the best, or only, solution to problems with your water line. When you schedule your Raleigh water line replacement with a qualified professional you can be sure that your new water line will provide you with the high-quality service you deserve. Call JD Plumbing today to learn more about our exceptional water line replacement service. Of course, before you schedule a water line replacement you must recognize some of the indicators that a water line replacement is necessary.

One indicator that it may be time to replace your water line is if the quality of your water has degraded over time. There are a number of possible reasons that your water quality may have dropped. However, if the interior lining of your water line is in poor shape it may have something to do with it. In some cases, replacing your water line is a good way to improve water quality.

Of course, there is also the issue of rising water costs. Does it seem like you are paying more and more for water in your home, despite the fact that you have not really changed your water usage? This is indicative of a water leak. If you have problems with water pressure in your home you may also have a leak in your water line. Either way, it is best to consult a professional plumber as soon as you suspect a problem with your water line. Only a qualified plumber has the training and tools necessary to decide if a water line replacement is the right option for your home. Contact the JD Plumbing to learn more.

If you have any concerns about the water in your home, including poor water quality, low water pressure or increasing water bills, a Raleigh water line replacement may be a service to consider. Contact a professional plumber at JD Plumbing to decide for certain if this is the best choice for your home. We will help you make the right decision about your water line.

You rely on your water heater year round for hot showers and baths, dishwashing, and laundry. You expect it to perform effectively and efficiently. Whether you’re in the market for a new water heater to replace your existing one, or to be installed in your new home build, then you need it to be of high quality. More importantly, though, you need professional installation so that it is allowed to perform well for the years to come. Conventional tank storage, tankless, and heat pump water heaters are all options. Talking to your local plumber is a good way to narrow down your options and to make the right decision.  For water heaters in Raleigh, NC, call JD Plumbing today!

• Electric or gas tank storage: This type of water heater is by far the most common and popular in America. It will operate on electricity or natural gas, and stores anywhere from 40 to 60 gallons of temperature-controlled water in a tank, to be distributed as needed to your fixtures and faucets. If it’s electric, it contains a heating element that adjusts the temperature of the water. If it runs on gas, there is a burner at the bottom of the tank that heats the water.
• Tankless: While cost-effective and good for moderate hot water flows, tank storage systems also tend to suffer from standby heat loss because they have to keep the water in that tank at a certain temperature constantly. Tankless water heaters are highly efficient, provide rapid and continuous hot water for as long as you need it, and tend to last longer than tank storage models. Although they often require more upfront investment, they save energy and may benefit you in the long term. They use a highly efficient system of heat exchange to heat your water rapidly on an as-need basis.
• GeoSpring heat pump: If you already have a heat pump in your home, you know how this type of water heater works. It draws in heat from the surrounding air and uses it to heat the water in your home. It also has an electrical heating element for when you need an extra boost.

You have some great options at your disposal. Just remember to have it professionally installed so that your water heater performs effectively and efficiently. For water heaters in Raleigh, NC, call JD Plumbing today! 

This week is “Fix a Leak” week which means that at JD Plumbing we’re encouraging all of our customers to take a look around their house to check for leaks. Not only are leaks extremely wasteful of water, but they can also cause tremendous water damage to your home. Finding them early is a great way to potentially reduce the amount of water waste and the damage to your home. Here at JD Plumbing, we’re dedicated to the quality of service that we provide and to the comfort of our customers. We thought it would be helpful and in honor of “Fix a Leak” week if we put together some tips that homeowners can use to find leaks around their home. If you have any questions about the plumbing in your home or if you have any leaks, don’t hesitate to call the friendly plumbers here at JD Plumbing.

Puddles of Water

One of the most obvious signs that you have a water leak is puddles of water around your home. However, the actual hole in the pipe doesn’t necessarily need to be close to where the puddle is. It can sometimes be a distance away and the water slowly runs down to a place where it drops onto the floor. It takes training and skill to be able to find the actual source of the water.

Warm Basement Floor

This is a symptom that most homeowners don’t want. This can sometimes mean that you have a slab leak under the floor. This problem is usually caused by bad installation of the water line. If the water line has a dent in it, the near-constant flow of water through the pipe will eventually wear a pinhole in it that leaks water.

Low Water Pressure

The water coming into your home is under pressure so that it can flow through the pipes. If you have a leak that pressure will escape which would translate into lower water pressure in your home.

Increased Water Bill

Often, water leaks will happen in pipes that you can’t see—like in your water main which is buried underground. However, you can always see every gallon of water that comes into your home in your water bill. If you notice a sudden increase in your bill it could mean that you have a water leak.

For all your plumbing repair and leak repair contact the expert plumbers at JD Plumbing. We have years of experience and can find your leak quickly and fix it.

We’re all familiar with plungers. For minor blockages, this tool is often enough, but for more persistent and deep blockages, you may need some professional assistance. Drain clogs are not only inconvenient. They can also cause damage to your plumbing, increase the risk of cross contamination, and create foul odors that circulate through your home. In order to deal with frequent clogging effectively, you’ll need to consult with a professional plumber. Harsh chemicals are not only environmentally toxic, but they also tend to do more harm than good, by corroding pipes. For comprehensive drain cleaning in Raleigh, NC, call JD Plumbing today!

Over time, waste debris can accumulate on the interior surfaces of your drainpipes, which attract further debris as they pass through. As this process occurs more frequently, it can increase the pressure buildup in your wastewater system, and lead to a drain blowout. Let’s look at some common causes of drain clogs:

• Hair. Human hair is one of the most common causes of drain clogs. While it does not typically stop up a drain completely, hair can accumulate in your shower and sink drains over time, causing it to clump up eventually. Because of its shape and strength, hair can often prove a persistent cause of drain clogs.
• Food. A kitchen drain catcher can often prevent large chunks of food from passing through. These can prevent many problems, but even small pieces of food can begin to accumulate in your drainpipes and cause problems.
• Grease. Grease tends to accumulate inside drains very easily. While it moves easily when heated up, it tends to coagulate when cooled, and can damage your garbage disposal as well.
• Foreign objects. All types of objects can end up in your drains, from small children’s toys to jewelry. While this doesn’t happen too often, foreign objects can easily clog your drains, and can be difficult to extract.

When hire a professional Raleigh, NC plumber to assess your drain clogs, you can rely on technologically advanced and eco-friendly service. We use hydro-jetting, a high-pressure stream of water passing through a 360 degree nozzle, which cleans your drains effectively and safely. For drain cleaning in Raleigh, NC, call JD Plumbing today!