Olathe Plumbers: We Do It All!

If you’re looking for Plumber in Olathe, KS, you’ve come to the right place. Not only do our Olathe plumbers provide emergency service, but they also have 100 hours of training each year. This ensures you’re getting the best service. In this post, we’ll outline a few of the reasons we get called out for plumbing repair in Olathe and ways you can prevent these issues from happening in the first place. As a company that’s been serving the Kansas City metro for over 50 years, we can tackle any plumbing problem you face.

Battery Backup Sump Pumps

If you don’t want to waste thousands on potential damage repairs, you’ll want a backup sump pump installed in your home or business. This backup is readily available in the instance of breakdowns or power outages. If your sump pump unexpectedly crashes and you DON’T have a backup, get ready to deal with thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. We don’t want you to have to temporarily relocate or pay higher insurance premiums for years to come, so we recommend getting a battery backup sump pump installed.

Replacement Pumps

Even if you have a replacement pump that you can reinstall should the primary fail, this still doesn’t help things if the sump pump goes out while you’re on vacation. Plus, stores might sell out of pumps if there’s city-wide flooding. You’ll be able to tell your sump pump is broken if an alarm goes off, you receive a verbal message over landline, or you receive a text (only some companies provide this service).

Reasons for Pump Failure

Pumps normally go out due to a power outage, but electricity cut-off can also happen when the GFCI outlets are tripped or there’s an accidental unplugging. If your power is still on, the pump itself may be your culprit. Failure may be due to an unmanageable amount of downpour or rapid snowmelt, especially if the sump pump was cheap. These less-efficient models are built with less durable material, so they tend to run out of energy quickly.
Sump pump failure may also be due to ‘wide angle’ tethered float switches that can get trapped against the pump, discharge pipe or power cord. If they become trapped, the pump won’t be able to switch on. If you have an old switch, it can also wear out. No matter the reason behind the failure, we want to make sure that you have a backup.

Battery Components

The battery system components are made up of a battery, battery-powered pump, charger and additional piping. If you’re looking for a top-notch battery backup system, expect a larger size with a more advanced battery charger. You’ll be able to take advantage of not only a longer run-time, but also a battery that lasts longer. You’ll need to ask yourself whether constant replacement is worth the initial cheap price tag.
The main reasons to have a battery backup system is that they’re easy to install (they just connect with the existing discharge pipe) AND they work when there’s no water supply. Our Olathe plumbers can get a battery backup sump pump set up for you in no time!

Low Water Pressure

One of the main reasons our Olathe plumbers get called out is for low water pressure in sinks and showers. This can happen if the shut-off valve controlling water to your home is not fully open. Low water pressure normally happens after work has been done to your plumbing system. If you’ve noticed low water pressure in your entire home, check the meter valve located on an outside wall of the house and the main shut-off valve.

Pressure Regulator

If your pressure regulator is acting up, you may also notice low water pressure. The pressure regulator reduces the input pressure to a safe level. This protects your pipes, but it can backfire when a faulty one causes a spike or reduction in water pressure. You may be able to troubleshoot the problem yourself by replacing with a regulator of the same brand and size, but we recommend calling in a professional to ensure other systems aren’t messed up in the installation process.

System Failure

If the whole system needs to be upgraded, it’s going to cost you a pretty penny. System failure could be caused by corrosion and scaling that prevents water from flowing smoothly. The pipes most susceptible to this are old, galvanized iron pipes. Buildup is to be expected over time, which is why gradual flow reduction can be an indicator that you need an upgrade. We can fix the issue by re-piping the system with copper or plastic. Keep in mind that copper may cost twice as much as flexible PEX piping, but it lasts much longer.

Slow Drains

A few different issues can cause slow drains, but we can take care of any slow drain problems in a jiffy. One of the primary causes is incorrect gravity flow or slope of your pipes. We recommend at least ¼” pitch/slope per foot if your piping is 3” or less in diameter. If you’ve had your pipes recently updated or replaced, the slope can be altered and cause slow drainage. You can prevent this by choosing certified Olathe plumbers to install or repair your pipes.

Another issue might be with the drain stoppers, since they can sometimes get stuck and not lift fully. Luckily, it’s a simple fix—just adjust the length of linkage form the level to the stopper! Other culprits might be overflow tubes that have too small of a connection or clogged house drains/soiled pipes. If you notice slow drains at more than one location in your home, this is probably the issue. Our Olathe plumbers will go in and clear out these pipes with long augers to fix the problem.
A blocked drain vent can be identified by a gurgling sound when the fixture is draining, and should be taken care of by a professional. If there is damage to the outside sewer lines (from weather or earth movement), this can also cause slow drains. Finally, septic tank obstruction or collapse in between the house and the tank can spell trouble for your drainage.

Troubleshooting

You can schedule annual maintenance to ensure you never have to deal with slow drains. You can also use natural enzyme drain cleaners (avoid harsh chemical cleaners) to remove blockage, use a plastic drain snake to fight clogs that are closer to the surface, and get the issue taken care of early to make sure it doesn’t evolve into something even more complicated.

Water shut-off valves

There are water shutoff valves all around your home, but the most essential one is your main shutoff valve. This puppy controls water supply to your entire home, and it’s typically located in your basement or an exterior wall of your home. In some cases, it can also be found in an underground box outside your house. Each of the fixtures in your home—sinks, toilets, water heaters—have their own shutoff valve. They’re used when plumbing repairs are needed or when an emergency occurs, but they can have their own set of problems as well.

Dripping

A drippy valve can add extra cost to your water bill and create unwanted pools of water around your fixture. They normally crop up when you’ve had the valve turned off for a while and then suddenly switch it back on. Our main troubleshooting tip is to tighten the packing nut and turn the valve off and back on again a few times (much like fixing a computer!). if this fails, move onto the next step: turn off the main valve and replace the faulty one. Things can get more complicated if your main valve is dripping. Before replacing, you’ll have to turn off the street side valve. If that’s the one that requires replacement, you’ll have to give your water utility company a heads up so they can shut off your water supply temporarily.

Burst Pipe

People sometimes turn off the water to their homes for an extended period of time when they’re away. This is typically done in the wintertime to prevent pipes from freezing, but homeowners don’t realize that the water between the spigot and supply shutoff valve can freeze. This causes your pipes to burst, which is the opposite of what you want. The most worrisome part is that you won’t even notice that it burst until you turn your water back on. When you DO turn your water back on after a long period of time in the Winter, check for burst pipes or leaks surrounding the valve. You can also have Olathe plumbers come out and check for you.

Maintenance and Repair

You can check your valves by feeling for dryness (especially around the valve stem where the handle is) and looking for corrosion on the valve body/cap on the side the valve (see image below). Oftentimes, the problem can be fixed with a new washer or tightened packing nuts.  If there’s a leak around the stem, it may just be that the stem isn’t shut off completely. We always recommend calling in Olathe plumbers to get the issue properly diagnosed and treated. If a novice tries completing tricky repairs, they can make the problem worse.

Contact Us

You can learn more about all the plumbing services we offer here. If you need a plumber in Olathe, KS or surrounding areas, give us a call. Our Olathe plumbers would be happy to help with all your plumbing needs!