Staff Writer

Whether you have tried to wash the dishes or drain the bathroom sink, it can be frustrating when you see that the sink or tub is not draining properly. It always seems to happen when you’re in a hurry too, right? Understanding that many of the homes and plumbing in the Philadelphia area are older, clogged drains can be a regular occurrence. IFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains has been the experts in the Philadelphia area for all levels of master plumbing for years; we’d like to share some helpful answers as to why your sink might be draining slow.

What causes my sink not to drain correctly?

There are many reasons why your sink or tub might be draining slowly, often you need to determine what is causing it not to drain; before you know what to do to fix it. To get a better understanding, let’s look at some of the reasons why your Philadelphia sink or tub may drain slowly.

Sinks and tubs are the catch-all

The sink and bathtub seems to be the place in your Philadelphia area home that food, chemicals, hair and everything else gets dumped. With this practice, it’s just a matter of time before the sink clogs up. Naturally to avoid this being a problem, you only want to put liquids down the drain. Use a screen for your drain when you are cleaning up dishes or washing the dog so that it will help catch the foreign debris before it collects and builds inside of your drains.

For more information, check out our article on how to free up a bathroom clog.

Air vent pipe or “stack pipe” clog

Part of the plumbing for your Philadelphia area home is the inclusion of an air vent pipe or “stack pipe” that’s built into the system. These vent pipes are connected to your drain pipe at the point where the downturn of the drain would exit from under the sink and into the main plumbing. They are necessary for the proper function of your drains.

This vent pipe creates an air flow so that the water can properly flow and drain. If this pipe, which is routed through the wall and up through the roof, becomes clogged with debris (like leaves, rocks, nuts and bird nests), it can cause your sink or bathtub to drain slowly. Two tell-tale signs that the air vent pipe is clogged are: a gurgling sound coming from the sink when it drains and a foul smell coming back up through the drain. Cleaning of this pipe should only be done by a plumbing professional.

For the most part, the access of this pipe is located on the roof which means putting yourself in a dangerous position of falling while attempting to investigate and clean. Depending on the extent of the stoppage, a probe positioned at the end of an auger may be necessary for proper diagnosis and correction. Be sure to call the plumbing professionals at IFIXDIT, LLC to schedule a consultation for this problem.

Build-up inside the pipes

Depending on the age of your Philadelphia area home you may have pipes that have become internally corroded, creating a condition where the water in your sink or bathtub does not drain as quickly as it should. In many cases the correction for this problem would be the replacement of the effected pipes, all the way up and through the replacement of all the pipes in your Philadelphia home.

Plumbing problems outside of your control

This last reason for a  blockage can be, for  most homeowners, outside of your control. This might be a problem with the plumbing system caused by and external influence (such as cracked underground pipes or tree roots growing into the plumbing drain pipes) Older apartments and homes in the Philadelphia area can find this to be a problem from time to time.

When Experience Counts

iFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains has been serving Philadelphia as a professionally licensed and registered plumbing company for years. Our unique blend of customer satisfaction combined with experience derived from years of exclusively serving the residents of Philadelphia has created a reputation within our community of satisfied customers. Whether you have a bathroom drain that needs to be taken care of or you need a new water heater installed, rest assured that our licensed plumbers are ready to get the job done.

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If you’re considering selling your Philadelphia area home there are quite a few things that come to mind: curb appeal with landscaping, entry door, flooring, kitchen and bathroom presentation and more… however, a huge factor for many homebuyers in the Philadelphia area is the condition of the plumbing and fixtures. These little things can be the deciding factor for a homebuyer as they sometimes tell the tale on how well the home has been maintained.

iFixdit, LLC often gets calls from realtors wanting to address these items to offer the best chance of resale for their clients. We would like to list a few of the most popular things that we have found that potential home buyers and inspectors look for when dealing with the plumbing of your Philadelphia home.

Everything Including the Kitchen Sink

If you have an avocado green kitchen sink from 1970, replace that first; seriously. Nothing turns off a potential home buyer than seeing a 45-year-old fixture; after all they want to buy a house, not a museum. Home inspectors and potential buyers look at the overall appearance of the sink to see if there’s any signs of dis-repair that might need to be addressed such as:

• Hard water deposits on the faucet
• Functionality of the faucet
• Dated appearance of the faucet
• Make sure the soap dispenser or retractable spray hose are in good working order
• Slime or hard water build up around the pipes
• Cabinet or floor deterioration or discoloration due to leaks
• Kinks in copper lines

Make sure to look closely at the area around the sink as well. If there are any cracks or chips, discoloration or deterioration of the seal be sure to replace these items. Keep in mind that you’re not looking to renovate the home just make sure that everything is clean, functional and looks good for both the potential buyer and the inspector.

NOTE: Don’t forget the dishwasher, garbage disposal and refrigerator as these also are scrutinized by potential home buyers and inspectors.

The dishwasher: make sure all the parts including the basket and wheels are there, make sure the screen at the bottom is clean (it can get pretty nasty), make sure your dishwasher is equipped with an air gap (required for home inspectors)

The garbage disposal: make sure it’s clean and operating properly with no excessive noise. You might consider running a sanitizer through it to reduce any unwanted smells.

The refrigerator: make sure all the components are functional and clean, make sure that the icemaker (if equipped) is working properly and make sure there’s no leaks from the water supply (usually a thin plastic tube or copper line that can get kinked easily.

When You Think Plumbing, Think Bathroom

When it comes to a potential home buyer the bathroom for your Philadelphia home might as well be next to the front door. It is literally the first place that they look to get an idea about how well the home is been maintained. Cleanliness can only go so far, if you have outdated fixtures such as the sink, toilet, shower, cabinets and faucets, it will immediately set the tone for the rest of the house.

Realtors will tell you it doesn’t matter if you have a three car garage with a movie theater and a bowling alley… If your bathroom isn’t up to scrutiny, it makes it extremely difficult to sell.

Like the kitchen -there are some basic things that you should look at:

• Hard water deposits on the faucet (sink, inside the toilet and shower)
• Functionality of the faucets (if you have a showerhead with multiple positions, make sure they all work)
• Dated appearance of the faucet (don’t go cheap with the plastic here, get good quality)
• Slime or hard water build up around the pipes
• Cabinet or floor deterioration or discoloration due to leaks
• Kinks in copper lines (make sure to check the lines leading to the toilet)

Caulking: One thing that is more common to be seen in the bathroom than the kitchen is caulking. If not done properly the caulking can be an eyesore, no matter how nice the bathroom fixtures are. Depending on the age and type caulking can retain black mold and dirt, not to mention that if it was not properly applied, be an eyesore as well. Because the bathroom is such an important part of sale perspective of your Philadelphia home you might consider having a professional plumber or contractor completely remove all of the visible caulking and replace it with either caulking or molding strips.

NOTE: Whether it is for the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room or yard plumbing be sure to have shut off valves for each independent line. This is a factor for many inspectors as well as a nice perk for a realtor to point out.

When Experience Matters

iFixdit, LLC Plumbing and Drain service is a master certified plumber providing plumbing services to the Philadelphia area. Our years of experience in the plumbing industry has taught us that having a business that is successful means more than just being a good plumber, but it takes being a good company as well. Customer service and integrity are the first standards to establish a quality craftsmanship and long-term relationship with the great residents of Philadelphia. When experience matters, be sure to contact iFixdit, LLC… your hometown professional plumbing service.

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For many older homes in Philadelphia, the decrease in water pressure is a daily aggravation that no one enjoys. With the water pressure being such a central and important feature within any Philadelphia home, this is an important concern. Let’s take a look at some common reasons why your water pressure may not be as good as it used to be.

Does your home have steel or galvanized pipes?

For some Philadelphia homes and apartments, the use of steel or galvanized pipes can slowly be creating a noticeable decrease in water pressure. As the pipes continue to age; mineral and corrosion buildup inherent with steel or galvanized pipes begin to restrict water flow. Repair is not a viable option but rather replacement is the only true solution. Upgrading your Philadelphia home with PEX or CPVC pipes is a solution that will not only solve the immediate problem but keep it from re-occurring in the future.

Debris build-up due to external influences

If there has been recent repairs to the water main due to a crack or rupture; then you noticed a decrease in water pressure, it may be due to debris in your water system. Even a small amount of sediment can create a decrease in water flow, especially in kitchen sink, bathroom sink and shower faucets. Because of water flow restrictors debris in the system can cause these fixtures to clog more quickly. Depending on the amount of debris and type chemical treatments that help break down and flush the debris can often solve this problem, however it may be necessary to purge the system to restore it to its normal flow. If not caught quickly then bathroom and kitchen sink fixtures and showers may need to be replaced as well.

Mineral and hard water deposits

Most noticeable in the shower where tiny holes distribute the water into a spray, mineral and hard water deposits clog these tiny holes decreasing the water pressure. Usually with PEX and CPVC pipes these mineral and hard water deposits are not accumulated within the pipe (like that of steel and galvanized pipes) but will accumulate in showerheads and faucets where the flow is naturally restricted as a spray. Common options to restore the flow is to replace the faucet or to clean the faucet with a chemical that dissolves the mineral and hard water deposits (vinegar works great by the way).

Plumbing leaks

Because water works in a pressurized environment if there is a leak within the plumbing system it can cause a decrease in water pressure. Plumbing leaks are not always easy to find especially if it’s a leak from the meter to the house where the pipes are underground. If you suspect that you have a problem with decreased water pressure that may be as a result of a leak in the system, be sure to contact a professional plumber that is expertly trained in diagnostics to track the problem down.

Water supply issues

Sometimes there is nothing wrong with your plumbing or fixtures in your Philadelphia home but rather the water supply is the problem. Just like your own pipes and fixtures, the city municipal water system can have the same problems with their water supply. Be sure to check with your local plumbing professional to see if they know of any particular problems that the city may be experiencing for your area.

When Experience Counts

IFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains  has served Philadelphia as a professionally licensed and certified plumbing service for many years. Our combination of customer service and experience has created quite a reputation within our community. Whether you are having trouble with your water flow or need water heater repair, rest assured that our master plumbers are ready to get the job done.

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A common problem that many homes in Philadelphia will experience is: when their water heater stops getting as hot as it used to. With the water heater being such a central and important component within any Philadelphia home, this is an important concern. Let’s take a look at some common reasons why your water heater does not get as hot as it used to.

How Old is the Water Heater?

We are going to start off with the most common reason, age. The average lifespan of a tank type water heater in your Philadelphia home is around 8 to 10 years so if your water heater is approaching that point, more than likely age is culprit. This is a valuable meter for diagnosis because there is no reason to spend money on a service call and repair for a water heater performance issue if the water heater is over 10 years old. The price for replacement water heaters over the years have come down significantly depending on the brand, quality and size.

Internal Component Failure

Fortunately, the parts that make up a water heater (whether gas or electric) are fairly simple; however, even simple systems can fail periodically. The typical components of a water heater are:

• Gas valve (if it’s a gas water heater) – turns the gas on/off
• Gas burner control – controls the flow/regulates gas to the pilot light and burner
• Burner/element – the part that heats up the water
• Dip Tube – this is the pipe that sends cold water to the bottom of the tank to be heated.
• Thermostat – electric device that allows you to set the temperature

Of these components, the ones that are most likely to cause a decrease in heat without total failure are the dip tube and thermostat. For example: if the dip tube becomes disconnected or broken the cold water coming into the tank would dilute the hot water making it warm.

External Factors

Sometimes we apply fault to the performance of the water heater when other external factors are in play. For example: if the temperature where the water heater is located drops significantly, the water heater will have to work harder to keep up or not be as hot when needed. In addition, if the demand for the water heater has changed, such as the expansion of a garden tub in your Philadelphia home, that would require a larger amount of hot water to be utilized. As a good rule of thumb, if you increase the capacity or needs of the home such as a bathroom addition or installing a larger bathtub; you should increase the size of the water heater to meet the demand. This is something that is often overlooked by your average home remodeling service.

Diagnostics

Most parts of a water heater are not intended to be serviced by the homeowner. A licensed and trained professional should be utilized for servicing and/or replacing the water heater for your Philadelphia home. Unfortunately, many plumbing services in the Philadelphia area seem to want to recommend replacement of the water heater at every service visit. However, a quality plumbing service would recommend repair over replacement depending on these following questions:

• Is the frequency of repair for your water heater excessive (More than 1 service call per year)?
• Is the efficiency level of the water heater clearly affecting the utility bill?
• Would a water heater repair be greater than 40% of the cost of a new water heater?
• Has a recent bathroom addition or update straining the current size of your water heater?

When Experience Counts

IFixdit, LLC -Plumbing and Drains  has been serving Philadelphia as a professionally licensed and registered plumbing company for years. Our unique blend of customer service combined with experience serving the residents of Philadelphia, has created a reputation within our community of many satisfied customers. Whether you are having trouble with your water heater or need a simple drain unclogged, rest assured that our registered master plumbers are ready to get the job done.

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As a full service plumber serving the Philadelphia area, we often get asked what are some Do-It-Yourself bathroom updates that can give it a fresh look. While we’re not a home remodeling company, we do quite a few bathroom updates. Utilizing our experience in the Philadelphia area in combination with suggestions made by home improvement experts; we’ve compiled some simple DIY ideas to help your Philadelphia bathroom have a fresh look.

Shower and Sink Faucets

Depending on the water supply (hard chemical deposits), age of the fixtures and how often the sink and shower faucets are used, can get pretty grungy. If you’re looking for a clean, fresh look for your Philadelphia area bathroom, this is a great place to get started. Before you to run to the hardware store and grab the cheapest thing you can find, consider investing in sink and shower fixtures that use better quality materials and have a more modern appeal.

While polished aluminum sink and shower fixtures are more expensive than the plastic ones you find at the box stores; they will last longer and function better. In addition, updating the sink and shower faucets can help save on the utility bill, as most modern fixtures have water saving technology built into them; which provides better pressure with less water. This is an area where you might consider hiring a professional plumber; fixtures not properly installed can cause leaks behind walls creating quite a mess.

Light fixtures – now there’s a bright idea!

Poor lighting and cheap looking fixtures can really give an unimpressive look to your Philadelphia area bathroom. When people are looking to sell a home they often skimp on the lighting fixtures leaving the new homeowner with inexpensive or cheap look in an otherwise good looking bathroom. You should also consider choosing light fixtures that provides more of an ambient, warm light rather than a direct white light. Using warmer/softer colored bulbs rather than the stark white or florescent can really give your bathroom at transforming look.

Electrical upgrades – a must!

Another inexpensive and necessary upgrade for your Philadelphia area bathroom is to swap out the electrical outlets with GFCI outlets. These ground fault circuit interrupter outlets provide a modern safety feature to older bathrooms. These types of electrical outlets are designed to trip before the wiring in your bathroom becomes overloaded from small appliances such as hairdryers and curling irons that draw excessive current. With these types of appliances working closely around water, this is a safety feature that should be in all Philadelphia bathrooms. In older homes, this is not only a great idea; it should be considered a necessity.

Lose the plush toilet seat covers!

Let’s take a moment and detach yourself from the day project at the senior center where you made those tissue box crochet covers; or that your grandmother gave you the plush toilet seat cover for Christmas in 1983. We might also mention the attachment to your ninja turtle toothbrush holder doesn’t exactly fit now that you are 48 years old.

What we’re really trying to say is that there are many items within your bathroom that can give it a cluttered, dated look. Consider removing these items or replace them with modern, fresh items that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Hinges, knobs and handles

A perfectly simple way to give a modest, clean updated look to your Philadelphia area bathroom is to replace all the hinges, knobs and handles. Over a period of time these engines, knobs and handles can get chip or get painted over making your bathroom look old and cheap. By putting shiny new hinges, knobs and handles it can really add a little sparkle to your bathroom.

A new shower rod and shower curtain set

While many may consider this the last part of an update the shower/ bathtub in your bathroom is one of the main points, setting the tone for the look and feel of Philadelphia area bathroom. If you have an older, dingy shower rod and curtain, or worse yet; frosted glass sliding doors on rails… It frankly adds a drab, dated look to what is otherwise a nice looking bathroom.

Home improvement experts recommend a lighter colored shower curtain set up with a polished aluminum rod; for smaller bathrooms, this gives the feeling of a larger bathroom. With the appropriate combination of the color for the shower curtain with protective liner and proper lighting it can really change the overall feel of the bathroom.

Here when you need us

In the Philadelphia area, trust ifixdit,llc -Plumbing and Drains as your local expert for all of your plumbing needs. For years our reputation has been developed due to our high level of customer service combined with extraordinary plumbing experience. We back that up by making sure that our plumbing service company here in Philadelphia has all the proper licenses and insurances necessary to protect your investment as well as our reputation. When you contact ifixdit,llc -Plumbing and Drains  you will get a licensed master plumber on every single repair visit, we do not farm out our repairs to trainees; but rather take steps to make sure that your plumbing needs are taken care of by qualified & certified professionals.

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Living in a city like Philadelphia presents unique plumbing challenges as the plumbing system itself dates back to the early 1800’s. Many older homes in the Philadelphia area have seen multiple repairs with different materials which, in some cases, has created a collection of patchwork that simply is a problem waiting to happen. For many Philadelphia residents that are looking to upgrade or correct this plumbing patchwork or simply upgrade the plumbing to a safer, more efficient system; there are many options to consider. iFixdit, LLC master plumbing services can provide you with the best options to keep the plumbing in your Philadelphia home flowing safely for many years to come.

Newer technology and newer materials

Over the years the plumbing industry as seen many materials used for the plumbing in your Philadelphia home. In the early 20^th century materials for plumbing that were available were: cast iron, terra-cotta, copper and galvanized steel. While these materials were all long-lasting materials they have a tendency to develop a pinhole like deterioration over 50 to 70 years of use. With the Philadelphia water system using more aggressive chemicals in the water treatment process the estimated lifespan of these types of materials drops significantly adding to the problem and need of replacement.

Newer technology and newer materials was not always a good thing; in the late 70’s polybutylene was introduced to the Philadelphia market which quickly began to see significant failure when exposed to chlorinated water. This now banned material is still occasionally seen by the installation professionals at iFixdit, LLC, but fortunately it is rare.

Through careful research and development, the plumbing industry in Philadelphia has stabilized to the use of standardized materials that can be chosen to best fit the application. Residential vs. commercial, house vs. apartment, agricultural vs. industrial are some of the variables considered when choosing the correct material for plumbing. Some of the standardized materials are PEX plumbing, CPVC plumbing and copper piping.

PEX Plumbing

Introduced into the Philadelphia market in the early 80’s, PEX is an excellent choice for new homes and homes that are going under a remodeling project where the plumbing needs to be updated. PEX is affordable and acceptable in nearly every building code seen throughout the Philadelphia area. Some additional advantages of PEX plumbing are:

• Available in longer lengths so less splicing needs to be done
• Very flexible so it can be curved through certain wall openings rather than having multiple connectors
• It is easier, faster and cheaper to install than copper and is a little bit faster than CPVC because of the flexibility factor.
• PEX piping will not corrode like copper.
• PEX piping is unaffected by acidic water and chemical treatments seen from water treatment plants.
• Because of its flexible nature it can resist bursting due to frozen water lines unlike copper and CPVC

CPVC plumbing

After seeing all of the benefits of PEX plumbing you might be thinking why you would need another option. Any professional plumbing service in Philadelphia will tell you there is a time, place and need for different types of materials. While PEX has its advantages, CPVC has some advantages of its own:

• CPVC is one of the least inexpensive materials available for plumbing so its use can cut down on the overall costs for installation or remodeling.
• CPVC can handle temperatures up to 180°F, which makes it an ideal option for hot water service lines.
• CPVC can be exposed to sunlight without any effect such as warping or fracturing seen in PEX exposed pipes.
• Resistant to acidic chemicals such as bug sprays or cleaning chemicals.
• CPVC is a time honored and tested product that’s been used in residential homes since the late 50s with very few defects or measured problems.

Copper plumbing

The original standard for indoor plumbing for your Philadelphia home, copper plumbing has been around almost as long as plumbing has. It is a proven, long-lasting option for your remodeling project or upgrade of your current service lines. Depending on the application, copper is still a great choice however careful consideration should be made when choosing copper over PEX or CPVC.

• Copper piping last extremely long with a proven 75 to 100 year lifespan. This makes it a perfect choice for apartment complexes where the accessibility of the plumbing is restricted needing more durable materials that last longer without service.
• Copper piping does not expand or contract under pressure or temperature changes meaning that it is very versatile for both hot and cold water service.

Keep in mind when choosing copper for your Philadelphia home that it is also the most expensive to install and repair.

iFixdit, LLC is your local professional plumbing service

For years Philadelphia residents have trusted iFixdit, LLC for all their master plumbing service needs. Whether you’re needing plumbing repairs, plumbing upgrades, drain repair or fixture replacements we are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year to help. Give us a call today and find out the difference that using a locally owned and operated company can make.

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