Fixtures

November 14 2024

Water Heaters during the cold weather

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Did you realize that with the colder weather water heaters generally work harder because of the incoming water being colder which requires the water heater to use more energy to reach desired temperature.

To make sure you maintain hot water through the winter and the holidays it’s important to stay up to date on maintenance.

Flushing and maintaining your water heater are recommended to be done every year. This is done on both, tankless and traditional tank water heaters. While we are flushing the water heater, we are also making sure that everything is working properly.

Insulating your water heater could help minimize heat loss.

Water heaters last on average 10-12 years. If your water heater is on the older side, has started leaking either at the top or the bottom, or is no longer providing hot water it may indicate that it’s time for a replacement. Tankless water heaters are more efficient as they are on demand heaters.

If you are experiencing any issues, please give us a call and we will troubleshoot any issues that you are having. There is nothing more inconvenient than running out of hot water on a cold day, so don’t wait!

October 30 2024

What does a gas leak smell like and what to do if you have one

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There are millions and millions of people who have natural gas or liquid propane in either residential or commercial buildings. It sounds crazy, but did you know the best indication of a gas leak is when you smell “rotten eggs”. Often times the utility providers will add a rotten egg smell to the gas to make it easier for the homeowner to detect a gas leak. However, sometimes gas leaks could have no smell at all.

If you can’t smell a gas leak, another way to determine that something is wrong with your gas is if:

There is an odor or strange noises coming from your oven or even if your food isn’t turning out the way it should.

If there is an outdoor gas leak there will potentially be gas bubbles forming puddles onto the ground.

If you suspect that you may have a gas leak:

Don’t use or open any type of flame / burner, evacuate from your home or commercial building and do not smoke.

Gas leaks are very serious and cause significant damage. Once you are in a safe place, call us! We are able to locate and repair gas leaks.

August 29 2024

Maintaining Storm Drains

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Can you believe it – It’s going to be winter before we know it which means we need to be prepared!

Storm drains are one of those things we tend to forget about until it’s too late. Storm drains are large, grated drains that you see on the streets controlling and collecting the water. Did you know that these get clogged too?!

During fall and winter, they often get clogged with leaves, trash, debris and the heavy rain fall causes these to pool and get clogged with all the debris. You will notice that your storm drain is clogged with the indication of:

slow drainage
pooling of water
visible debris
odor

When you see that a clog is forming call Craig Johnson Plumbing to resolve your issue by either using our Hydro Jetter or snake to clear the clog. The Hydro Jetter is the best way to clear these clogs due to their high-pressure water to dislodge any debris.

It’s also important to prevent this type of a situation by clearing it before winter and the heavy rain fall so that you don’t end up with a clogged and overflowing storm drain!

January 16 2024

New Year, New You!

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We hope everyone had a happy new year and a Merry Christmas! Starting the new year, most people usually have a new goal. What if that “new goal” is to take care of your drains before there is an issue. Winter is here and that means storms are coming! Keeping your storm drains and sewer drains clear are essential during the weather. Fall has passed which means lots of leaves have fallen and could have possibly clogged your storm drains and gutters. Getting those drains clear before the storm hits will prevent them from backing up and causing a major issue. Craig Johnson Plumbing has a Hydro Jetter and a snake that could clear those lines for you!

If you’re interested in keeping these drains clear, give us a call! Remember – new year, new you and clear drains!

September 19 2023

What is a camera sewer inspection?

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A sewer inspection is done with a specialized camera to inspect the inside of pipes, drains and sewer lines. Sewer cameras can determine if there is something wrong within the system. Sewer inspections are critical in discovering issues such as root intrusions and obstructions. If you have recurring clogs / obstructions, we recommend a sewer camera to determine if there is a larger issue going on.

Sewer inspections can also be preventative. When selling/buying a home they recommend getting a camera sewer inspection to prevent any issues or address the issue before getting worse.

The camera is a specialized tool that only a professional should operate. It records a video in real life that can even be viewed on a computer screen to review the inspection again.

August 15 2023

Why you should never pour grease down the drains

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Everyone loves a good breakfast; however, your drains do not agree!

Yikes! This is How Your Grease Drain Looks Like If You Don’t Fix It | by Sarah Lavinski | DIY ...

A lot of people say, “it’s okay if you use hot water.” Don’t let them fool you. After a while the grease collects in your drains and gets into the sewer lines which doesn’t just create a kitchen clog, but it can create a clog throughout your home. If this does happen, the best thing to do is pay your local plumber to come out and clear the line. If it doesn’t get resolved damage can be caused in your sewer lines which can create a larger problem.

Our best advice to dispose grease is:

Let the grease dry and dispose into a container or throw away. If there is excess grease still on the pan, you can use a paper towel to scrape it off and throw away.

July 10 2023

Why you should flush your water heater

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Hot water is a necessity! There is nothing like waking up and realizing you have no hot water. Getting your water heater flushed is very important to keep it maintained and working properly.

Flushing your water heater will increase the longevity of the unit, get hot water quickly, improve efficiency and it will comply with warranty.

Your water heater is a huge investment, and of course, you want it to last as long as possible. Over time sediment and lime can get into your water and eventually it can settle at the bottom of your water heater tank which can cause it to stop working effectively.

It is recommended that you get your water heater flushed annually. If you have hard water, you may want to get it serviced every 6 months.

Craig Johnson Plumbing can flush your water heater and ensure proper operations.

January 24 2023

Storm Drains

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Wasn’t that last rainstorm crazy!

Now that it has past – this is the time to get your storm drains cleared before the next storm!

A storm drain is also known as a storm sewer which is a drainage system designed to drain excess rain or surface water from surfaces like roofs, sidewalks, parking lots and streets through undergrounds pipes into streams or rivers. Unlike sewer lines, storms drains drain the water without it being treated in a sewage treatment plant.

In most homes, homeowners use gutters to collect rainwater from their house and use gutter downspouts to drain out the water.

Image result for gutters/ storm drain

It is important to keep these drains clear and flowing especially before a storm because if they are full of debris there will be a clog and the water will not be able to drain throroughly which can cause a variety of other issues within the home.

December 6 2022

Preventing Frozen Pipes

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Tis the season for freezing weather! During this time of the year frozen pipes are going to become the biggest emergency this time of year and Craig Johnson Plumbing is here to help during these emergencies or to even just examine your pipes before they freeze to make sure they’re in good condition.

What Causes Pipes to Freeze?

If there is standing water in your pipes during the times when temperatures drop the water will then expand and freeze. It could then cause pressure on the pipes causing them to burst.

If you plan on leaving for the holidays and / or go on vacation during this cold weather, we recommend you turn off your water before leaving to prevent this issue when you’re out of town.

How to Prevent Pipes From Freezing

Again, if you plan on leaving your home for a few days, remember to shut off your main water supply. This will ensure that you will not have any standing water in your pipes for them freeze while you’re gone.

INSULATION. Insulating your pipes will protect them as well helping them from freezing. If you are unsure if your pipes are insulated, please call us and we can help you!

November 4 2022

Tips on getting your home ready for Thanksgiving

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For us plumbers Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is also a busy day for us! If you’re hosting Thanksgiving at your house this year, there are a few things to keep in mind and I have some tips for you!

Make Sure Your House Is Ready

Homeowners tend to forget some of their plumbing needs until a busy weekend at their house such as Thanksgiving. By the time you realize you need a professional plumber you might already have guests over. Our recommendation is that in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving have a plumber come out and evaluate that everything is running and working properly.

Disposing Grease Properly

Cooking often comes hand in hand with grease and grease can call for trouble especially if it gets put down you drain. If you put grease down your drain, it will eventually become solid and create a clog so, make sure you are disposing grease properly!

Your Garbage Disposal is Not a Trash Can

When preparing meals for a large gathering of people it’s often that numerous food ends up down drain such as:

Potato skin

Bones

Celery

Turkey

Make sure to stay cautious of what is going down your drain before you end up with a clogged kitchen sink!

Don’t Flush Toiletries Down The Toilet

During holidays a lot of time people are traveling from out of town to spend Thanksgiving with their families. Keep in mind that wet wipes, napkins, paper towels, feminine products, etc. go in the trash can instead of down your drain.

Craig Johnson Plumbing wishes everyone a great Thanksgiving filled with lots of love and delicious food!