Natural gas is very common in homes around the Dallas area, including Plano, Garland, Mesquite and Rockwall. Since natural gas is more common, the risk of natural gas expose increases. We’ve seen recently several natural gas related explosions in the Dallas area. In addition to local natural gas related explosions, there have been several across the nation in the recent months.

Natural Gas Leaks

It is very important that you have your natural gas lines tested to make sure they are functioning properly. Natural gas line leaks can be incredibly dangerous for a few reasons. One a leak can cause carbon monoxide poisoning or worse an explosion. If you have a leak or odor in you home, you need a gas line repair.

Natural Gas Line Explosions

When natural gas builds up in a confined area, it becomes very volatile. A gas build up has the potential to explode or make people in the area sick. Gas leaks can help be prevented by regular gas line inspections. If you think you smell a natural gas leak, do not try to locate the leak yourself. Do not turn on or off any electrical devices. Do not smoke or use any open flames. Leave the house and call a professional to inspect your natural gas lines for leaks.

If you think you have a natural gas leak or have not had your lines inspected in several years, give Total Plumbing a call. We can test the pressure of your natural gas lines as well as test for any leaks. We also install new natural gas lines and help create a safe environment for them to function in.

Total plumbing serves Dallas, Garland, Mesquite, Rockwall, Plano and surrounding DFW areas. We have over 40 years of experience and have A+ Ratings with the BBB and Angie’s List.

Water heaters of course hold water and therefor build up sediment at the bottom of the water heater. It is a good idea to release the sediment every few months to help extend the life of your water heater. Below is a video of a homeowner, just like yourself, who has a step-by-step process on emptying the sediment from your water heater.

<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/8a5SezsPi6w?rel=0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Water heaters can have several issues over the life. Lukewarm water or no hot water, pilot light issues, water heater leaks and pipe breaks. Total Plumbing is an expert at water heater repair. We offer solutions to all these issues and can offer electric to gas conversion as well as upgrades to your existing water heater.

If your water heater is beyond repair and requires a replacement, there are several options. Before we install your new water heater, we’ll discuss all the options with you. We’ll provide a small summary of some of the options below.

Conventional Tank Water Heaters – Your typical home water heater is a conventional tank style and holds anywhere from 20 gallons to 100 gallons of water. Most conventional tanks utilize gas or electric. These tanks store up water and release it when requested.

Tankless Water Heaters – Tankless water heaters, also called instantaneous, only provide hot water as need. This saves you money on your water bill. Hot water also is available more quickly. They are designed to heat water directly, without the use of a tank and are more efficient than conventional water heaters. A conventional tank has to reheat the water as it cools off, but since a tankless water heater heats the water as it passes through, energy and water are both saved.

If you need a water heater repair or water heater installation, give Total Plumbing a call. We serve all DFW areas and specialize in Garland, Plano, Rockwall and Dallas.

If your pipes are not insulated it is possible that they will freeze, even with water dripping. To insulate your pipes you can use a variety of materials. Mineral Wool, Glass Wool, Polyethylene, Flexible Foams, Rigid Foams and Aerogel. Even with these installed to help insulate, your pipes can still freeze if water is not moving through them to keep them warm.

There are other benefits if you choose to use pipe insulation. Insulation can also increase the efficiency of your water heater and in turn save you money.

Studies show that for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit that your water heater is reduced, it will save you 3-5% on your bill. Pipe insulation probably won’t get you 10 degrees, but it should give you a drop of about 4 degrees. Well say this is about 2% of reduction in your bill. Pipe insulation can help you save money and prevent your pipes from freezing, causing costly repairs.

If you need your pipes repaired because they were frozen and burst, or if you would like us to apply pipe insulation to your pipes, please give us a call to schedule an appointment.  972-681-4434

Total Plumbing has over 4o years of plumbing experience and serves Dallas, Rockwall, Plano, Mesquite, Garland, Richardson and surrounding DFW areas.

Many plumbing repair services are common and can sometimes be repaired by the client. A simple sink repair or toilet repair can easily be accomplished with little knowledge or skill. However, there are some plumbing repairs that are more difficult to repair properly. These type of plumbing repairs should be done by a professional plumber. Pipe repair, water heater installation, slab leak repair, sewer line repair and other larger projects require the knowledge and expert skills of a professional plumber.

Total Plumbing installs and repairs tankless water heaters and conventional water heaters. Plumbing repairs are common on water heaters, and usually lead to a new water heater installation. Water heaters require maintenance to allow for a full and long life. Emptying your conventional water heaters every year is a good way to help extend the life of your water heater and avoid installing a new water heater earlier than needed.

For all of your plumbing repairs, installations and remodels, give Total Plumbing a call. With over 40 years of experience and over 20 years of service to Garland, Plano, Dallas, Rockwall and surrounding Dallas-Ft. Worth areas.

All of our technicians are professional and do not try to up-sale our clients into more expensive projects. Total Plumbing does not charge drive time charges. We also provide free estimates and offer fast service, sometimes the same day.

Plumbing repairs in Dallas, Garland, Plano, Rockwall, Mesquite, Rowlett, Forney and surrounding DFW areas. Call us today for all your plumbing needs. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Natural gas is commonly used in the Dallas area and should always be taken seriously if you suspect a leak. Having your gas line repaired can prevent a fatal incident. Natural gas can cause problems to the immune system and other bodily functions. If you think you may have a leak, you should have your gas line repaired promptly.

One of the major concerns of a gas leak is asphyxiation. This is a condition where the body is not getting the appropriate amount of oxygen supply. This can lead to loss of consciousness, brain damage or death. Asphyxiation is one of the main reason to fix your gas line if it is need of repair.

Natural gas great to have in your home. We can also run a gas line or move a gas line. For example, maybe you are remodeling your kitchen and you need to move your gas stove to a different location. We can come out and move your gas line and ensure it is done properly.

Another situation might be adding an outdoor gas line for your grill. We like to grill in Texas, so many of our clients have had us put in a gas line outside by the grill, so that they can connect their gas grill to the gas line. No need for a propane tank after this is installed.

Gas line repair and gas line installation should not be taken lightly. If done wrong, serious health problems can occur.

Contact us today for more information. We serve Dallas, Plano, Garland, Rockwall and other DFW areas.

You may also suspect you have a sewer line problem from sewer odor or backed up toilets.

If buying a new home, the time to learn about any potential sewer line issues is BEFORE you close on the house. A sewer line inspection can determine if there are any problems with the pipes or lines. Homes that are 20 years or older are especially prone to sewer line problems.

Tree roots, cracked pipes, or clogged pipes are all common problems found with sewer lines. Our sewer line inspection will determine if there are any issues with the sewer lines, what is needed to fix them and an estimated cost of the repair.

Roots crawl into tiny and expand into sewer lines, causing other elements to infiltrate the sewer lines and cause clogging or build up.

By using a camera and inspecting the sewer lines we can determine if there are any cracked pieces, or any clogged or blocked areas. During our sewer line inspection we can also determine what type of pipe was used and determine if there are any concerns with the material.

Although a complete sewer line replacement is rarely needed, it is common to find parts in need of repair or total replacement. Often these issues are found in older homes.

If you have a home you are thinking of purchasing, or currently live in a home you suspect has sewer line issues, give us a call at 972-684-4434. We serve the Dallas area specializing in Garland, Plano, Rockwall, Mesquite, Richardson and Forney.

With over 40 years of plumbing experience, we have the knowledge to recommend and repair the best solution to your plumbing problems. We pride ourselves on integrity and don’t have any drive time charges.

Our Plumbing Company proudly serves the Dallas area, including Garland, Plano, Mesquite, Rockwall and other DFW areas. In this article, we want to explain what a Dual Flush Toilet is and how we can either modify your existing toilet or install a new toilet for you.

Dual Flush Toilets are becoming more popular in America. Although they are not required here, in some other countries they are mandatory. High efficiency rebates are offered here in America for those that convert to the eco-friendly fixtures.

A Dual Flush Toilet is a high efficiency toilet that uses no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Older models typically use 3.5 gallons per toilet flush. Research shows 4,000 gallons of water can be saved per year by using a dual flush toilet in a residential household.

Aside from other benefits like their sleek style, they also clog less often, have powerful flushes, and of course save you money. Dual Flush Toilets aren’t always the easiest to install. That is why hiring a professional Plumber, like Total Plumbing is a good idea. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience installing toilets of both styles.

Maybe you aren’t ready to replace every toilet in your house with a new Dual Flush Toilet. That is understandable. We can also convert your standard toilet into a Dual Flush Toilet. As a Plumbing Company, we are always looking for ways to save our customers money and we like to make it as easy as possible. So, our plumbers are trained on converting standard toilets to Dual Flush Toilets. After unhooking the toilet, changing out some hardware and adding a second button for flushes, your old toilet will now be a dual flush toilet, instantly saving you money every time you use it.

Total Plumbing has over 40 years of plumbing experience and has an A+ rating with the BBB. Call us today to schedule an appointment or request a FREE Quote for any of your plumbing needs.

There are a few common reasons for a sewer odor in the bathroom. We’ll go over a few here.

1. The water trap under the floor drain has cracked due to lack of use. The floor drain can dry up, causing it to crack and allow sewer gas to come up through the cracks and be noticeable in the bathroom. If it is that simple of a cause you can put some water down the drain to restore the water trap.

2. You can check for a cleanout plug in the floor drain. There should be a plug inside the drain bowl. If it is missing sewer gas can come through and cause sewer odor.

3. Water in your toilet trap can also evaporate and cause the trap to dry and crack. This is less likely, it would take weeks of not being used for this to occur.

4. A bad wax ring between the toilet flange and base of the toilet can allow sewer gas to leak into the bathroom and cause a sewer odor. To fix this the toilet needs to be removed and the wax ring replaced.

5. It is also possible that a broken or cracked sewer line is the cause. This is a more serious problem and would require locating the break and replacing or patching the pipe.

Total Plumbing has the knowledge, skill and experience to help you with all of your plumbing needs, including sewer odors. Any of the issues listed above we can take care of quickly and easily, saving you time and giving you peace of mind that the repairs are done correctly. We are licensed and insured, serving Garland, Rockwall, Plano, Mesquite, Dallas and surrounding DFW areas.

Some obvious signs of a slab issue are moist carpet, or wet spots on the floor. Other signs could be a loss in water pressure or an increase in your water bill.

Slab leaks can occur in your potable water pipes or in your sanitary sewer pipes. There are several causes of slab leaks in homes, we’ll go over a few of the most common. One is a shift in the foundation. The heat we experience in the Dallas area can be severe over the summer months. Keeping your foundation properly watered can help avoid a shift in your foundation. When a foundation shifts, it can pull the pipes apart and cause a break or leak. Another common cause is a chemical reaction between copper pipes and water or soil. Copper pipes often develop pinhole leaks and those can come from outside interaction with water or the water that runs through the pipes. A third way a slab leak could occur in a home is high water pressure. If your water pressure is too high it will cause corrosion in your copper pipes and will lead to a pipe to loose water. Another common cause of a slab leak is poor craftsmanship or workmanship. It could be an inexperienced plumber or a plumber that was just rushing through the work. The quality of the materials the plumber uses will also be important.

If you think you have a slab leak, give us a call for a FREE estimate. We have an A+ rating with the BBB and and don’t have any drive-time costs. We serve the Dallas area, including Plano, Garland, Richardson and Rockwall. With over 40 years of plumbing experience, we have the knowledge and tools to repair your plumbing issues.

Last year we saw many broken or busted pipes due to the ground shrinking from the heat. While some people have sprinkler systems that may need repair, a greater concern is your main water line. Your main water line is often run to the house from the parkway or front of the lawn. In your typical neighborhood the pipes will come in from the street, go under the sidewalk and up to the house.

Since the parkway area is surrounded by concrete and may not be as easy to water, it is a common location for the ground to crack and shrink, which can cause a pipe break. So, tip number 1: Water your parkway. You can set our a sprinkler on your appropriate day for watering or water it by hand. Keeping this ground moist will help prevent pipe breaks, busts or cracks.

Your foundation can also affect the plumbing in  your house. Also due to heat and lack of water, your foundation can shift. If the house were to shift a significant amount, plumbing pipes under the home could be broken, bent or cracked. This could cause a slab leak or an external pipe to be punctured in some form. Tip 2: water your foundation. Use a soaker hose as permitted by your water restrictions to keep your foundation moist and help prevent cracks and movement in the foundation of your home.

We proudly serve Plano, Garland, Dallas, Rockwall and other surrounding DFW areas. We have an A+ accredited rating with the BBB and an A+ rating on Angie’s List. Call us today for your free quote.

Plano Plumber, Garland Plumber, Rockwall Plumber