Do I need Plumbing Services?

What’s one of the worst sounds you can imagine? That’s right—the water running in your toilet. There’s a lot that a plunger can help with, but some cases require a professional. Our services go beyond the humble porcelain throne though. Plumbing repair can include anything from faucet repair to garbage disposers to tankless water heaters. In this post, we’ll go over some of the different services we offer. We’ll also reveal some indicators that your appliances may need repair. You ready? Let’s plunge in.

Indicators of a Broken Pipe

If you notice bubbling noises when you flush the toilet or use the sink, this could be an indicator that air isn’t escaping into the sewer lines. Whistling noises might mean that a pipe is dented. If a segment of the pipe becomes too small for the amount of water that needs to come through, a whistling noise is emitted. If this pressure becomes too much, the pipes may burst. Clanking noises occur when loose pipes bump into each other, an issue which can later lead to leaks if untreated. Yucky odors, sink holes in your yard, puddles within your home and damp drywall are also tip-offs that something’s up. If you experience persistent clogs, frequent backups, lack of water, poor water quality (unusual color or smell) or a higher water bill, contact a professional. We deal with plumbing repair so you don't have to worry about holes in your backyard!

Garbage Disposals

With the option to choose between three different garbage disposals, we can accommodate any preference. Our standard option has ¾ horsepower, a heavy duty motor, a stainless steel grinding chamber (to prevent rust) and a 3-year in-home warranty. With the next level, you get 7/8 horsepower, a heavy duty motor and a 2-stage stainless steel grinding chamber. Within this chamber, your food waste is liquefied.  Once liquefied, they are safe for pipes, sewer and the septic system. Extra insulation makes it quieter, and you receive an 8-year in-home warranty. At the top of the line is our 1.1 horsepower heavy duty motor garbage disposal system. It’s 60% quieter than a standard model and comes with 3-stage stainless steel grinding chambers. It also comes with a 12-year in-home warranty. Plus, an auto-reverse feature prevents jams.

Benefits of a Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals eliminate bad odors, can be easily cleaned and are better for the environment than dumping your organic waste in the trash can. Odors are eliminated when the disposal grinds waste material into small pieces and flushes it into the sewer system—no more suffering through the rotten smell wafting out of your trash can!  Garbage disposals are easy to clean as well—all you have to do is clean the motor.  You also help out the environment when you invest in a garbage disposal. They prevent food scraps from entering the trash cycle, and the waste from disposals can be turned into renewable energy. Most importantly, they can reduce the amount of methane gas. When less trash is dumped in landfills, less trash is decomposed. If your garbage disposal is suffering from blockage, we can take care of it as part of our plumbing repair services.

Instant Hot Water Installation

This temperature is not for washing your hands. Once we install a hot water heater, you’ll be able to reach a water temperature of 200 degrees. Kitchen sink heaters are installed in an attractive dispenser beneath the sink—they’re a great asset for making coffee, tea, coco and instant hot cereal. It’s also great for cleaning pots and pans as long as you’re careful. Stainless steel tanks and a 3-year parts warranty make this a great purchase.

Tankless Water Heater

What distinguishes a tankless water heater is that it doesn’t heat up water when it isn’t needed, saving on your energy bill. Since tank water heaters use gas continuously to keep the entire tank of water hot, they rack up those energy bills. When water is called for somewhere in the home, water enters the heater to be warmed up. Not only does it save on energy, but it also prevents corrosion; Water isn’t collected in the system. No corrosion=longer life (estimated at about 20 years). If you use 41 gallons or less of hot water each day, tankless water heaters can be 24%-34% more energy efficient than a conventional water heater. They may need to be tuned up once a year, but this is only to ensure the longevity of the system. Having endless hot water is one of the major selling points of this offer, as well as lower operating/energy costs. They may cost more than conventional water heaters, but it’s worth it in the long run.

How it Works

The first step that takes place is that the water goes into the stainless steel heat exchanger. It uses the heat from the exhaust to preheat the water. This water then travels into the copper heater exchanger that uses heat from the burner to warm up the water. Electrical elements may be used to heat the water as well.  The one downside to a tankless water heater is that its output limits the flow rate. They provide hot water at a rate of 2-5 gallons per minute, a number which may be too small to run multiple hot water sources at once. A gas-fired tankless water heater can produce hot water at a faster rate than electric tankless water heaters. If you still like the idea of a tankless water heater but know that you’ll be needing plenty of it, you should consider installing two or more tankless water heaters. Separate heaters can also be installed for certain appliances, such as dishwashers. If you put in a water heater at each hot water outlet, you can save 27%-50% in energy. Tankless water heaters are one of our most popular plumbing repair and installation services.

Outdoor Hose Faucet

Sprinklers, washing your car, hosing off the dog…all great reasons to install an outdoor hose faucet. At Anthony PHC, we only install freeze-proof outdoor faucets. By placing the rear chamber 10 inches inside your home, we ensure that the warmer air prevents freezing in the winter. You can also help prevent freezing by disconnecting your hose in the winter. If a faucet isn’t properly installed at a downward angle, the water can freeze and create broken pipes. To prevent cold weather damage, we also use silicone around the exterior opening. Anything to make sure your appliances last as long as possible.

Faucet Repair

Your faucet is one of the most important appliances in your home. Whether it’s a kitchen faucet, shower drain or bathroom faucet, we have the skills to take care of any issue that arises. We can replace faucets, take care of leaks, remedy slow drains and fix low water pressure. If your faucet brakes, you can turn off the water supply by locating the water shut-off valves beneath the sink. There will be two of them, and they’ll most likely be chrome with an oval handle. If you turn the handle or lever clockwise, the water will stop running! Presto.

Noisy Faucet

If you notice a loud vibrating noise when you turn on/off your faucet, this could be caused by a worn-out faucet washer. To fix the issue, simply turn off the water to the faucet and use a wrench to remove the retaining nut that’s attached to the sill cock. Then, slide the handle and stem assembly out. Take off the screw located at the end of the stem and remove the washer. Replace the old washer with a new one, then put everything back together. Those who have a spring-loaded sleeve near the washer will need to replace the entire faucet. If you'd rather have a professional come take a look at it, one of our plumbing repair specialists would be happy to oblige.

Water Softeners

For those suffering from hard water, water softeners are the solution for you. There are a few indicators that should let you know if your water hardness is becoming a problem. Water that is overly hard might taste or smell off. A metallic taste indicates that there is too much iron in your water, and a rotten eggs smell means naturally occurring hydrogen sulfide gas may be reacting with magnesium to create sulfates. Water that tastes like dirt could be an indicator of sediment, old pipes or algae. If you notice reddish stains on your appliances, hard water could be the culprit. Consistent soap scum from water evaporating and leaving calcium deposits is another tip-off. Finally, spotty dishes, clogged shower drains, rough towels after washing and skin irritation could be the results of hard water.
To combat the negative effects of hard water, you can invest in a water softener. These mechanisms remove minerals (ie: calcium and magnesium) from the water. That way, your skin will feel smoother and your dishes will show less spotting. Your appliances will last longer when protected from hard water deposits. At Anthony PHC, we install Northstar softeners. They learn when you use water and regenerate only when the water needs it. This means less salt and water is wasted.

Contact Us

If you require any of these services, contact us. Each and every one of our employees is given 100 hours of training each year, and our plumbers work from experience—not just books. Whether you’ve got pipes that need fixing or a tankless water heater than needs installation, we’re here for all your plumbing repair needs.