If your water heater has failed there are a couple of things to consider before running out and installing a new tank. One of the most common reasons that a water heater needs to be replaced is due to water leaking out of the tank. There are several locations in which a tank can leak. If the water is leaking out of the valve located on the side or top of the unit, also know as the t&p valve, it is a good indicator that your water pressure is too high. For a growing city it is common for check valves to be added to handle the increased water supply. This frequently is the cause for a new water heater installation.

If an increased water supply is the cause of your water heater failure there are a couple of things you can do to combat this issue. The first and most important is a PRV or pressure reducing valve. This will protect your entire plumbing system from being damaged from high water pressure. The installation of a PRV does not mean you are going to have weak water pressure, it just drops it to safe levels. If your home has a PRV valve you are required by code to install a thermal expansion tank. This acts as a backup in case your PRV valve goes bad.

If you are unsure of your homes water pressure, have a licensed plumbing company come out to test your pressure.

KC Plumber is a licensed plumber in Overland Park, Ks.

If you have a plumbing repair or upcoming installation we can provide an estimate to complete the work. KCHC is a licensed plumber in Overland Park that specializes in residential service work. Here are a few things to look for when selecting a plumber.

• Plumbing License
• Liability Insurance
• Work Comp

These are the three most important things to look for in a plumbing contractor but there are other things to look for as well. You should go with a plumber that has experience in residential plumbing. Many outfits specialize in commercial, industrial, or simply do drain cleaning. It is also important to find a plumber that keeps a large inventory on hand to minimize trips to the supply house. A good company will have everything they need to service your problem before they even pull up to your driveway.

You should also get a few estimates if you have a major project such as a water heater that has stopped working. We can troubleshoot you unit to see if a repair can be made. In many cases we have repaired tanks that have gone on to last for several years. This is where honesty comes into play, a trustworthy plumber will make the easy fix rather than trying to sell you a new unit. If your unit does need to be replaced than we will provide you with flat rate pricing to replace the tank.

Many people throughout America associate a BBB sign of professionalism. A company that has the BBB stamp is supposed to represent company integrity as well as an overall high level of service.  However, one of the things that the general public is often not aware of is the overwhelming percentage of companies that join the BBB in response to negative claims. As recently featured on 20/20 a company that has had a complaint can raise their grade from an F to a B just by paying the membership dues.

Check out this video on the Better Business Bureau...    

As a consumer, I have struggled with filing a complaint of my own. When experiencing problems with my home phone service provider, AT&T, I found it to be a complete waist of time. It turns out AT&T is a member of the BBB and contributes several hundred thousand dollars to be a member. As some of you may know the BBB sets their dues based on the number of employees a company has. One has to look at this with a bit of common sense and ask why would AT&T spend such an enormous amount of money. The answer if reputation management. When a company is a member, the BBB will go to battle for that company. 

As contractors, the average cost of a BBB membership is around $500 per year. That’s a huge chunk of cash to be paying year after year. Do your clients a favor and spare them the BS. 

 

There are many different aspects to the design of a bathroom including layout, functionality, and decorating. There are two main reasons that people find themselves designing a bathroom. You are either adding a bathroom to an unfinished basement or you are redesigning an existing bathroom to fit your needs.

If you are designing a bathroom for a basement finish there are a few things you need to consider. The location of the drain lines are going to be the biggest determining factor in coming up with the best layout. In many newer homes, it is common to find that the builder has already ran or "stubbed" lines for the plumbing. There will be a 3" pipe for the toilet, a 2" pipe for the sink, and a section of gravel for the future shower. Unfortunately, these lines do not always work with the optimal design for space planning. Most of the basements we finish will require the use of a jackhammer. If you are going to break up the floor it may be just as easy to use a totally different 3" branch.

If you are planning on remodeling an existing bathroom and plan to change the layout, your first step is to check for access on the floor below. If the floor directly below the bathroom is already finished you will have to pull the sub-floor to access any of the plumbing. In some cases it will not be possible to alter the layout without major demolition of the floor joist. If you do have access to the plumbing below you should call a plumber out to see what is possible.

When decorating a bathroom you should start by finding your big ticket items like your vanity, sink, and mirror. Often this can be difficult to find a good match because they come in all different shapes, styles, and colors. Once you have found a vanity, you can start making other selections for the bathroom. When a bathroom has a shower, we like to do custom shower pan's in order to be able to tile the shower floor. This will allow us to match the shower floor to the rest of the bathroom rather than being stuck with a plain white pan.

Most areas in Johnson County will require any plumbing work, other than by the homeowner, to be completed by a Licensed Master Plumber. Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC are the specialty trades that require specific Insurance, Training, and Licenses. Plumbing problems can usually cause the most damage in terms of dollars.

I have personally seen a second story leak that has racked up over $70,000 in damage. Water can destroy hardwood floors, ceilings, and cabinets as well as create mold issues behind the walls. In order to prevent hassles from the insurance company, you should hire a licensed plumber for any service work at your home. The same is true for any plumbing as part of a remodeling project.

One of the best ways to improve the atmosphere of an office building is to add tropical plants to the space. We recommend The Plant Lady for all commercial and residential plant sales, care, maintenance, and design. Plant Lady has been in business for over 15 years and is owned and operated by Jimi Thompson. With a large percentage of new work coming from referrals, Jimi has turned Plant Lady into one of the leading providers for Tropical Plants in Kansas City. Contact the Plant Lady today for a free design consultation.

There are many things to consider when choosing a tropical plant for an indoor office building. Not only do you need to select the right tropical plant, you also need to make sure the plant is getting the proper care. Certain plants do better in offices that may not have a lot of natural light. The Plant Lady can help assist in selecting the right plant for the right space. By providing guaranteed plant maintenance, you can be sure that your plants won't die on you. They also have a wide selection of plant containers to fit the style of any building.

 

If your like most people you don't ever think about it until something goes wrong. Having hot water has become one of those modern luxuries that we take for granite up until the point when you run out of hot water. When you have a water heater quit working you don't exactly have a bunch of time to be waiting around for it to be fixed. Chances are, if a plumber is available to make the repair you are going to let him make the fix. We install Bradford White water heater's for around a $1000. 

If you are having trouble with your water heater there are a few things that you can troubleshoot to identify if your water heater needs to be replaced or if it can be repaired. First thing is to determine if your water heater is gas or electric. If you have an electric water heater is is very common for the heating elements to go bad. In most water heater's there is an upper heating element and a lower heating element. If you are experiencing luke warm water and your water heater is electric there is a good chance it is your heating element. If it is your upper heating element you can drain out half of your tank and should be able to get some hot water. For a gas water heater one of the most common repairs is the thermocouple. This is a simple fix that can usually restore hot water within an hour or so.

If you have a water heater that is leaking you should identify where the leak is coming from. If it is coming out of the t&p valve it can be easily replaced for just a couple of bucks. The t&p valve will likely be in the upper portion of your tank with a lever that you an raise to release the pressure of the tank. If you frequently have to replace the t&p valve then you should have a licensed plumber test your water pressure. If the pressure is too high you should install a thermal expansion tank to prevent future problems.

If you are in the Johnson county are and would like a free quote to replace your unit call your water heater kansas city specialist today. 

 If you live in a house that has old pipes for the water lines it is likely going to be galvanized steel. A galvanized water line is typically expected to last 40-50 years. Though in some cases it can last for much longer. There are two main signs that suggest that your plumbing system may be in need of repair. Low water pressure will usually suggest you have some type of build up in your lines. This is due to the minerals or hardness of the water that is running through your system.  One of the most common signs that your pipes are corroded is being scalded when somebody flushes a toilet. When supply lines are providing adequate pressure this should not be as noticeable.

Another thing to worry about with older water lines is corrosion. This will wear down the inner wall of the pipes, which leads to pinhole leaks. A pinhole leak can start out small and can be difficult to detect. If you have experienced multiple pinhole leaks, it may be best to replace the entire plumbing system.  A plumbing system is not going to fail all at once rather slowly deteriorate over a period of time.  

The process to re-pipe your house will likely require you to move out for few days.  When we are re-piping a house we cover all belongings and carpet with a thin layer of plastic. Updating your pipes will require removing sections of drywall to access the plumbing lines. If you are already in the process of remodeling your house it may make sense to go ahead and replace that portion of the plumbing. The best time to address a problem is before any damage is caused.

If you are planning on repiping your house and live in the Kansas City area, give us a call today. 

 

KCHC  (913) 220-3888

Throughout various regions, the techniques and steps required to winterize a house will vary. Here in the midwest, we experience a few cold spells in which the temperature can stay below 15 degrees fahrenheit for a week or longer. There are also various levels in which you can winterize a house. For instance, if the pilot light is going to be left on, the water heater does not need to be drained. Even if a house has been winterized, there can still be problems. For this reason, it is recommended to leave the furnace on to prevent the house from getting to low.

Draining the Supply Lines

Most people are familiar with the process of draining the down the water lines in their house. Open the plumbing system at it's lowest point and allow some time for the system to drain. Opening a fixture on the top floor can also help the system drain. Often, this does not get all the water out without the use of a compressor. A special fitting can be installed to force compressed air through the line.

Toilets & Sinks

Flush all of the water out of the toilet and fill tank with anti-freeze. You should also pour anti-freeze down every sink drain to prevent the p-trap from breaking.

Appliances

Often people forget about the need to winterize their appliances when leaving a house vacant for the winter. A dishwasher and washing machine can both be damaged if not winterized. This is as simple as adding some anti-freeze and turning the setting to drain.

 
If you need help winterizing a house in Kansas City, please contact KCHC. We are fully licensed and insured as a master plumbing contractor.