If you’re weighing PEX-A against PEX-B for a repipe, here’s the short answer: neither letter is a quality grade. The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) states plainly that the letter designations are not tied to any rating system, and that PEX made by any approved method has to meet the same qualification and performance requirements under … [Read More]

Finding water around your water heater is unsettling. You don’t know yet if it means a small part swap or a flooded utility room, and the tank isn’t telling you. Here’s the short answer: most water heaters leak for one of six reasons. Internal tank corrosion, sediment buildup, excess pressure, a discharging temperature and pressure … [Read More]

That dark patch near the waterline or the fuzzy stuff creeping around the tank can make anyone pause. Is it dangerous? Is it the “toxic black mold” you’ve read about? And why does it come back a week after you scrub it away? Here’s some info that cuts through the noise. At Abend Services, we’ve … [Read More]

If your home was built between 1978 and 1995 and you’ve never had your plumbing checked, there’s a real chance your walls are hiding a ticking clock. Polybutylene pipes were installed in millions of American homes during those years, and Maryland got more than its fair share. In Anne Arundel County alone, officials estimated that … [Read More]

You turned on the shower, waited, and… still lukewarm. Cold, even. You checked the water heater. It’s running. So what’s going on? Here’s the thing: a lack of hot water doesn’t always mean your water heater is broken. In fact, some of the most common causes have nothing to do with the heater itself. At … [Read More]

You checked. There’s nothing blocking the drain. But every flush is still weak, sluggish, or just doesn’t finish the job. Sound familiar? Here’s the thing: a slow-flushing toilet doesn’t always mean there’s a clog. In fact, some of the most common causes have nothing to do with what’s in the drain at all. If you’re … [Read More]