Fall Plumbing Tips for Omaha Home Owners
Nebraska winters take it out on everyone. Which means no matter how well your plumbing might be running now, things can take a turn for the worse once cold weather revisits us. But now, you can prevent damage to your home and plumbing by following these plumbing self-help tips: Clear out your gutters and downspouts Poor insulation in the attic causes snow to melt on the roof, and clogged gutters cause the water to overflow. Then, when water freezes, it expands and can tear apart your eaves, roof, and take sections of gutters right off the house. Disconnect garden hoses [...]
How to Minimize Home Plumbing Damage
Remember Murphy’s Law? It’s probably around forty years old by now, but as true today as the day it was coined: when something can go wrong, it probably will. And often at the worst possible time. Unfortunately, your home plumbing fixtures and system are broadly embraced by Murphy’s Law. And yet, just because something appears to be wrong, that doesn’t mean you should call a plumber right away since some fast action on your part, at the very least, can help to minimize the problem. Here are few typical examples: Locate the problem – Do you hear the sound of [...]
When Should I Replace My Sump Pump?
Funny as it may sound, your sump pump performs the exact opposite function of most other home plumbing fixtures and systems. While just about everything else brings water into your home, a sump pump is responsible for pushing excess basement water out. That means it gets used less often than probably any other plumbing fixture or system you own. As such, it’s easy for it to become anything but top-of-mind. And that can be a big mistake because when it’s needed, you want the confidence of knowing it’s up to the challenge of the next rain storm or melting snow [...]
The Benefits of a Gas Clothes Dryer
If your clothes dryer were to call it quits today and you were later told it either can’t be repaired or the cost is more than you’re willing to pay, you’re most likely to rush out and buy a new one. Another brand, spanking new electric clothes dryer. But don’t be so hasty, especially if you’ve never even considered choosing a natural gas model vs. electric. For starters, gas appliances outperform their electric counterparts in energy efficiency. Here’s a good example. Americans spend about $9 billion and 60 billion kilowatt hours per year to dry our clothes. By opting for [...]
Attention Omaha Homeowners – Here are Some Plumbing Noises You Don’t Want to Ignore!
A quiet plumbing system is the best kind of all. Not that even brand new plumbing doesn’t make a certain amount of noise, mind you. But for most people, the sound of water hitting the surface their stainless -steel sink or splashing onto them during their morning shower isn’t noise at all. Just a welcome and normal part of everyday life. Still, there are those plumbing noises that are entirely unwelcome, or at least should be. Let’s identify them: Banging or Clanging Do you ever hear a loud bang or similar noise when you turn off a faucet while your [...]
How to Prevent & Correct Most Clogged Drain Problems
No one’s going to argue with us on this one: the best plumbing repair is prevention. Which means you can avoid all kinds of plumbing repair bills by taking some simple precautions at home and by learning how to resolve simple plumbing issues on your own. Today our focus is on solving and preventing clogged drain problems. If your clog is in your kitchen sink, plunging it normally works on its own at least 50% of the time. If the clog is more persistent, pour a half cup each of baking soda and white distilled vinegar down the drain and [...]
Common Plumbing Problems You Shouldn’t Ignore
When it comes to home maintenance, there are certain things that can wait (like removing that tired looking wallpaper in the bedroom), and others that should be tackled without delay (like cleaning rain gutters before the snow flies). Wat may seem like a minor issue now, can quickly turn into a homeowner’s nightmare. So, to help keep your home in tip-top shape, we’re pleased to present the following plumbing and related home maintenance tips. Your Home’s Exterior Clean and inspect rain gutters and down spouts seasonally to prevent water from making its way into your home. Inspect your roof for [...]
“Should I replace the anode rod in my water heater?”
There are all kinds of reasons to have your water heater professionally inspected once a year. But ultimately, it comes down to two simple benefits: with regular preventative maintenance, your water heater will operate with increased efficiency and greater safety. For purposes of this blog, let’s focus on one simple yet critical aspect of our inspection: your system’s anode rod. It’s a steel wire wrapped in magnesium, zinc, or aluminum. Its purpose is to protect the inside walls of your water heater tank by attracting corrosive elements in the water supply to itself. For that reason, it’s also referred to [...]
How to Extend the Life of your Water Heater.
Did you know that we can help you extend the life of your water heater by up to 10 years, perhaps even longer? Looked at another way, you can effectively double its expected lifespan since a water heater’s average time on this earth is 10 – 12 years. How? Actually, in a few different ways, but it all starts with an annual performance and safety inspection. That allows us to check for signs of visual wear, water leaks, gas and carbon monoxide leaks, and to take other steps critical to your system’s smooth performance and your family’s added safety. But [...]
5 True Plumbing Emergencies
At Burton, we always mean what we say. Like telling you we offer 24/7 emergency repair services. Simply put, we wouldn’t’ say or offer it if we didn’t have every intention of following through. Does that mean, however, that every single plumbing repair constitutes a plumbing emergency. Of course not. And while that’s plain as day to us, it’s still sometimes difficult to calmly explain to a distraught customer that their emergency situation, however inconvenient or annoying it might be, doesn’t meet our standard of a true emergency. Need a 24 Hour Plumber in Omaha? Burton's Got You Covered! Would [...]
Why You Should Get a Second Opinion on Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning
Have you ever been faced with a significant home repair and thought… “I wonder if I should look around more or get another opinion before I commit to this.” Of course you have. It’s a common human reaction. When something vital to our safety and comfort (like plumbing, heating, or air) stops working properly, most of us have only one thing on our minds: “Fix it. Fix it fast!” So most of us don’t bother to get a second opinion - which can lead to stress, worry, and additional (unnecessary) expense. How to Know When It’s Time For a [...]
How a Plumbing Inspection Can Save You Time and Money
Admit it. You neglect your plumbing maintenance. Between work, getting kids to and from school, and all of life’s other more urgent events, you probably never give your poor old pipes a second thought. And why would you? Other than buying or selling a home, “Plumbing Inspection” is a phrase most homeowners probably never say in the normal course of conversation. But the truth is that if you neglect regular plumbing maintenance, your home and family can meet with some expensive and inconvenient circumstances. As a matter of fact, there could even be some potential health risks involved. Why Plumbing [...]