Local Plumbing Repair Blog

ABS Pipes or PVC Pipes?

The two most common plastic pipe types are ABS pipes and PVC pipes. What’s the difference, and which is better? Plastic pipes are preferred for home plumbing projects, especially when replacing old metal or cast iron pipes. They’re cheap, lightweight, and won’t corrode like metal or iron pipes. You also don’t have to worry about collecting condensation when cold water is flowing, as you do with metal pipes. And when you’re running the hot water, plastic pipes keep it hot without affecting the piping. ABS Pipes or PVC Pipes? Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes are the go-to solutions for plumbers. They both have similar costs, but some fundamental differences between the two types of plastic pipes may help you decide. Color and Composition It’s easy to tell these pipes apart. ABS pipes are black, while PVC pipes are white. They’re both made of plastic, but one key difference is that they make ABS pipes with BPA, or Bisphenol-A. Many plastic manufacturers use BPA, especially to make food and water containers. Although there is no hard evidence that it is a risk to humans, some studies suggest it could cause potential hormonal or neurological effects with

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Sewer Replacement

Sewer Replacement

If you suspect sewer replacement is looming over your household, take a deep breath. How will you know you need a sewer replacement? There are indicators to look for, or you may have noticed several telltale signs. Don’t wait to correct sewer damage; you could have many problems rear their ugly heads. Your best course of action is to call Abend Services so you can have a professional technician evaluate your property. Signs that You Have a Sewer Leak There are many signs that you need a sewer replacement. Some are more subtle than others. Clogged drains or drains that are backing up sewage into your home are problems that are hard to ignore. You may just need to have the pipes cleaned. Having annual maintenance to keep your lines clear is something to put on your calendar. If you find you need the pipes cleared more often, there is a problem you need to address. Strange or unpleasant odors may indicate sewage backup. If your lawn has a sinkhole that was previously level, you might have a crack in the sewer line. The damage won’t fill in with dirt. It will just keep pulling more dirt down. Oddly, the

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NAVIEN vs. RINNAI Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand water heaters, provide hot water whenever you need it. They are more efficient than most storage tank water heaters and take up less room than their storage tank counterparts. But, tankless on-demand water heaters can be more expensive initially than storage tank water heaters. They are almost always mounted to the wall, requiring professional installation. Tankless water heaters only run on natural gas or propane. So, if your water heater runs on electricity, you’ll have to convert or stick with a storage tank water heater for now. Two of the best on-demand tankless water heaters brands are Navien and Rinnai. If you’re in the market for a new water heater, which should you choose? Here are the details on Navien vs. Rinnai on-demand water heaters. Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) The Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) is the metric that shows how efficient residential and commercial water heaters are. The higher the UEF, the more efficient the tankless water heater is. Both Navien and Rinnai have condensing and non-condensing tankless water heater models. Condensing on-demand water heaters are more energy-efficient than non-condensing water heaters. Rinnai offers a hybrid condensing model with an 80-gallon storage tank,

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What is Hydro Jetting?

You’re probably here because your drains are slow to empty, or you’re getting recurring clogs that leave standing water in your shower or sink. If you haven’t found a solution to your problem, hydro jetting may be the answer. Hydro jetting uses high-powered water to clear pipes and lines in your sewer or main water line. The high-pressure water comes out at up to 4,000 PSI and can be a safer way to remove pipe clogs than alternative methods. Hydro, or water, jetting can remove grease, oil, soap, sludge, minerals, and scale buildup in your pipe walls that commonly cause clogs and slow drainage. It’s high-powered enough to break up tree roots that could cause a blockage in your sewer pipes or water line. When is it the Right Solution? You can use hydrojetting in residential and commercial settings. Plumbers turn to this method when dealing with recurring drain clogs. If your sewer drain smells, it’s a good indicator that things aren’t flowing away from your home into the main sewer line. Water jetting is usually the best solution for this problem. Benefits of Hydro Jetting Unless your problem is a broken pipe, that must be repaired or replaced, hydro

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Broken Water Line, Who’s Responsible?

If you are on city water and have a broken water line, who’s responsible for fixing it? The answer depends on where the water line breaks. While many homeowners are under the assumption that anything outside of their home is not their responsibility, a broken water line could be. Generally, a broken water line connecting your home to the main water service is your responsibility. Even if it’s in your yard. But if the damage is under the street at the main water line, the city should be responsible for completing the repairs. The average cost to repair a main water service line is over $1000, according to HomeAdvisor. At Abend Plumbing and Heating, we offer home and commercial water and sewer replacement. If you need water line service, contact us to have one of our Master Plumbers come out to get your water turned back on! If you don’t want to be out-of-pocket for the entire cost, there are three ways you can get coverage for a broken water line. Home Insurance Suppose you haven’t looked carefully at your homeowner’s insurance policy recently. In that case, you may assume there is coverage for fixing or replacing a broken water

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Burst Pipes a Year-Round Problem

Burst pipes can happen at any time, but the most common time they occur in Maryland is during the chilly winter months. The older your home is, the more likely your pipes will leak. Burst pipes can go unnoticed for days, weeks, or months until you see signs of staining from water damage. Water damage and freezing account for 29.4% of homeowners insurance claims, with an average cost of $11,098 per claim, according to the Insurance Information Institute. At Abend Plumbing and Heating, we want to help you prevent burst pipes before they occur so your home stays leak-free year-round. The Most Common Causes of Burst Pipes Aging Pipes While most homeowners and renters with plastic pipes don’t have to worry about age, homes with metal or copper pipes should be vigilant. Regular maintenance and service can prolong their life, but eventually, you will need to replace them. When aging pipes corrode or deteriorate, they become brittle, which means pressure can cause them to burst. Clogs The most common reason for burst pipes is a clog. If your child flushes a toy, you’ll probably know right away to have it removed by a professional like Abend Plumbing and Heating. But

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What Causes Sewage Backup?

When a sewer line gets blocked, wastewater can back up into the pipes and cause a sewage backup. Telltale signs of a sewer backup are: Clogging in more than one drain You can see or hear air bubbles in the system Water backs up in another drain (you flush the toilet, and the sink or shower backflows or bubbles) But what causes sewage backup into the sewer lines? Here are the major causes of blockage of sewer or drains in your home. Blockages and Clogs If the main sewer line or your home’s pipes get blocked or clogged, it will eventually cause a sewage backup into your drains, toilets, or showers. A home clog usually only causes a blockage into the offending line, like a toilet with a clog. But if all the drains back up, there may be a bigger problem in the main sewer line. Another reason could be a failure in your sump pump, which pumps water out of your home. Items like grease, oil, hair, food scraps, plant matter, and other solid materials are the main reasons for blockages and clogs that cause sewage backup. Main Pipe Breakage Sometimes the problem isn’t in your home but

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Tankless Water Heaters

Suppose you’re in the market for a new water heater. In that case, a tankless water heater is an energy-efficient, space-saving alternative. Also called an on-demand water heater, the tankless water heater heats water as it moves through the unit. These units can save up to 80% of the space a standard water heater requires by being directly attached to the wall. There are electric, gas, and propane tankless water heaters to choose from. As with most home appliances, there are pros and cons to a tankless water heater. What is the downside of a tankless water heater? It requires an expert like the Abend Plumbing and Heating professionals to install it, which may deter DIYers. If you’ve decided on a tankless water heater vs. a tank water heater, here are the best tankless water heaters we recommend. Navien Tankless Water Heater Navien is one of the premiere tankless water heater manufacturers. They come in options for condensing (dual heat exchanger) and non-condensing (single heat exchanger). We can install either type indoors or outdoors. The condensing models are more energy efficient at up to 0.96 UEF, or Uniform Energy Factor. The higher this number, the more energy-efficient the residential water

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Everything You Need to Know About Boilers

There is a lot of confusion nowadays about boilers and the best type for your home or commercial space. At Abend Service, we hope to help stop this confusion with these blogs, our website, and when we service the boilers in their homes or buildings. It’s crucial to know about your boiler type within your commercial or residential space. The reason is, there may come a day when it breaks or needs service, and you need to know what to tell your specialist plumber. This blog will explain everything you need to know about boilers, so you’ll be prepared if that day comes. What Is A Boiler? People use boilers primarily to provide heat. It’s an appliance that heats water into steam. Then it sends that steam through pipes and radiators to keep your building warm. They are usually centrally located in a home or office to spread heat easily. In fact, you can generally find your boiler in the basement of your building or home, and they’re typically more common in cooler climates and older homes. While boilers can be a central part of a home’s heating system, these are not always present in American homes. One way to

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The Best Ways to Clear a Drain

Does your drain keep getting clogged? Do you want to know the best practices for keeping your drains clear? At Abend Services, we do a lot of drain work for our customers! That means we understand how frustrating it can be to have a clogged drain and the impact it can have on your home and family. Our licensed professionals are qualified to advise you on some tips to keep your drain as clear as possible. We hope this blog is informative and lets you know what you can do to keep a drain clear and why you should use these methods within your home. Why Do I Need To Keep My Drain Clear? Keeping your drain clear will help you to maintain a healthy plumbing system within your home. Plus, it will save you an expensive service call to your local plumber. What Are Prevention Tips to Keep My Drain Clear? There are several ways that you can minimize the likelihood of your drain clogging. These include: Don’t pour liquid grease down the drain. Instead, pour it into a sealable container. After it cools, put it in the trash Keep food and coffee grounds out of kitchen sinks and

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