DC Cheek Heating, Cooling & Plumbing Blog: Archive for the ‘Plumbing’ Category

Only Look to Certified Professionals for Gas Line Inspections

Monday, March 18th, 2024
professional-working-on-a-home-gas-meter

There are many things around your home that you can DIY. This can save you money and give you a sense of accomplishment and pride in your home. For example, if you have a hole in your drywall, you can patch it yourself. You can repaint your kitchen cabinets. What’s the worst that could happen? An imperfect finish on your sheetrock or your woodwork? You can learn from your mistakes and do better next time.

But there are some things that need to be done for your home which you simply must not try to do yourself. If they’re done wrong, the outcome could be so bad that there may not be a next time for you to do better. For your safety, gas line inspections absolutely must be done by a certified professional and never by an amateur.

What’s a gas line inspection? We’ll explain.

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How Professionals Handle Leak Detection

Monday, January 22nd, 2024
a-damaged-pipe-spraying-water

We’re sure everyone will agree with us that indoor plumbing is useful. You certainly wouldn’t want to do without it! But you’ll also agree that it isn’t exactly beautiful. That’s why most of your pipes are tucked away out of sight. They’re between ceilings and floors, they’re behind walls, and in some cases, they’re underneath the foundation of your house.

Now, while you wouldn’t want to have to look at your home’s plumbing all the time, having it hidden from view does pose a bit of a challenge. What if something goes wrong? If there’s a leak in a pipe somewhere, how can you tell? Detecting leaks and pinpointing their sources requires skilled professionals with high-tech equipment.

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Old Pipe Materials in Your Home: What You Need to Know

Monday, December 25th, 2023
old-pipes-showing-a-lot-of-corrosion

If you’ve purchased a home rather than building one from the ground up yourself, there are a lot of things going on behind those walls and below those floorboards that you can’t possibly know about. And depending on what year your home was built, there could be materials that you really don’t want to be exposed to, particularly in your plumbing.

You may be surprised to hear some of this information about the changing materials used in home plumbing, but it’s always better to be informed. If there are outdated pipe materials in your home, there could be unpleasant consequences you don’t want to deal with. The solution is repiping.

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Can I Fix My Sump Pump Myself?

Monday, November 27th, 2023
a-sump-pump-in-a-sump-pit

There’s never really a good time to have a problem with a sump pump. No matter the time of year, it’s important to know that your sump pump is ready to deal with any influx of water that may occur. If you’re noticing that your sump pump isn’t behaving the way it should, having that addressed promptly could save you from hugely inconvenient and expensive water damage. 

What about DIY sump pump repair? Is it reasonable to attempt to fix a broken sump pump yourself? What would the risks and benefits of DIY sump pump repair be? Here’s some food for thought:

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Signs You Need a Gas Line Inspection

Monday, October 16th, 2023
technician-working-on-a-gas-line

Natural gas is a great fuel to use for home heating. It’s affordable and efficient, it’s a domestic product and does not rely on foreign oil, and in most places it can be piped directly into your home so you don’t have to worry about bothersome deliveries. Many homes use natural gas not just for heating but for their stove, water heater, or even clothes dryer.

Natural gas makes some people nervous because of health and safety concerns. It’s actually perfectly safe if handled correctly, and according to the Energy Information Administration, it’s used in 61% of American homes. It is critical to ensure that your gas line and appliances are operating safely. Do you need a gas line inspection? Here’s what you should know.

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The Importance of Water Pressure Regulation in Commercial Buildings

Monday, August 21st, 2023
water-splashing-into-a-person's-hand

If you have a commercial building, whether it’s large or small, whatever ways the building is used, it has a plumbing system in it. Water flows through that plumbing system. How much do you know about that water flow? Have you thought about the water pressure in your building?

Often, this concern only comes up when there is a significant problem with water pressure and the owner receives complaints from tenants or employees about it. Be proactive now, learn about how to regulate water pressure in your commercial building, and you can eliminate problems before they get serious.

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How Long Can You Expect Your Sump Pump to Last?

Monday, July 24th, 2023
a-sump-pump-in-a-sump-pit

Have you got a sump pump in your home to prevent flooding during rainy periods? This can mean the difference between having peace of mind and having ruined belongings and extensive cleanup to do. But since the sump pump is often tucked into a dark corner of the basement, it can be easy to forget about it until something goes wrong. How much do you know about your sump pump? You might not even know how long you can expect it to last, but we can help you out.

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Should You Add a Garbage Disposal?

Monday, May 15th, 2023
water-swirling-down-a-kitchen-sink-garbage-disposal

Whether you’re building a new home or considering ways to improve your kitchen, you might be wondering whether adding a garbage disposal to your kitchen sink would be a good investment. If you have questions about the benefits and risks of a garbage disposal and whether the service they provide would suit you, we’ve got answers. 

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How to Handle Hard Water

Monday, April 3rd, 2023
clear-blue-water

Have you heard of “hard” water? It can cause a variety of problems in your home, but you don’t have to keep suffering through that. We can help you determine whether your water is hard and provide a solution that will save you from all the issues it’s been causing. What issues are those? And what’s the solution? We’re so glad you asked.

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What a Water Purifier Does

Monday, March 20th, 2023
fresh-pure-clean-water

The human body is 60% water. Even more for an infant: 75% of their little bodies are made of water! And one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to keep your body healthy is to drink plenty of water.

But where is that water coming from? Is there anything in it that shouldn’t be there? What can you do to make sure your home’s water is as pure and safe as possible? A UV water purifier is a great option. If you don’t know much about them, we’d like to share some information.

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