FAQ's

At BenjaminBL Plumbing, we served hundreds of customers throughout Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties. And during that time, we get a lot of questions. However, some come up more frequently than others.

So, let’s get into it.

And if this is something you deal with frequently, you’re probably wondering the same thing: How can I prevent this from happening?

Here are a few tips:

The most important thing you can do to reduce the number of clogs is to limit what you put down your drains. Too many people treat their kitchen drain and their toilets like trash cans, which is why they end up with drain problems.

  • Scrape leftover food into the trash or a compost pile instead of putting it down the drain. If you have a habit of washing your dishes without cleaning all the food scraps, consider installing a garbage disposal to break up food and prevent it from clogging the drain.
  • Grease and fat are the primary causes of kitchen drain clogs. Like food waste, don’t pour cooking grease down the drain; put it into the trash instead. Once inside the drain, the grease and fat solidify and choke off the water flow.
  • Flush nothing down your toilet other than human waste and toilet paper. That means no diapers, ‘flushable’ wipes, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, cotton balls, etc.
  • Use a drain cover in your shower to catch hair and prevent it from clogging the shower drain.
  • If you use a garbage disposal, run a constant stream of water when using it to keep the waste flowing down the drain.
  • If you use a septic tank, call a professional septic service for inspection every 2 to 3 years.

Toilets that continue running after flushing are one of the most common household plumbing problems we handle.

The typical reason the toilet continues running is the flap at the bottom of the tank isn’t sealing shut. This is why jiggling the handle usually works.

Fortunately, this is easy to fix. Remove the tank’s lid and flush the toilet. Watch the rubber flap; chances are, it’s not completely closing. Rubber flaps become brittle with age, and they can’t form a proper seal. Replacing the flap should solve the problem.

You’ve probably heard some people say how wonderful tankless water heaters are, but when you look at the price versus a traditional water heater, you wonder if they’re worth the money.

At the end of the day, only you can determine if a tankless water heater is worth it for you, but here are some pros and cons to consider before.

Pro: Instant Hot Water
After the system flushes the cold water out of the pipes, a tankless water heater can provide an unending stream of hot water in a few seconds.

Con: Fluctuating Water Temperatures
One complaint many tankless water heater owners have is fluctuating water temperatures. This typically happens when there are multiple streams of hot water going at once and the heater struggles to keep up with the demand.

Pro: Longer System Lifespan
Storage tank water heaters last between 10 and 15 years; however, tankless water heaters can last twice as long with proper maintenance, making them a better investment for some people.

Con: Higher Installation Cost
The average installation cost of a traditional water heater is about $500 while a tankless system can start at $1000 and up.

Pro: Lower Monthly Operating Cost
Although tankless systems cost more to install, they’re more energy-efficient and a typical household of four can save a few hundred dollars every year on their energy bills.

Con: Limited Hot Water
Many people think tankless water heaters deliver unlimited streams of hot water, which is partially true. If one person is using the shower, they can expect as much hot water as they want for as long as they want. However, when multiple people need hot water at once, tankless water heaters can’t keep up. Storage tank water heaters are superior at supplying multiple hot water streams at once.

So there you have it. Tankless water heaters are excellent appliances in the right circumstances.

Another popular question we get is whether it’s safe to use liquid drain cleaners. Some people swear by them, but the evidence shows they’re not the best drain cleaning solution.

If you read the back of the typical drain cleaner, you’ll see a host of warnings, which should be a red flag. These products use harsh chemicals to dissolve clogs, but the problem is that these chemicals don’t stop at clogs; they attack your pipes too. If you rely too heavily on drain cleaners, you risk pipe deterioration, which usually leads to needing pipe replacement.

Not only are drain cleaners detrimental to your pipes, but they’re also highly toxic and can cause severe chemical burns if they contact your skin.

A better drain cleaning option is using a product that contains natural enzymes and friendly bacteria to break up food waste and grease because it’s safe for your pipes and the environment.

Does your plumbing sound like an orchestral percussion section when you do laundry? Some appliances require a large amount of water at once, which causes pipes to vibrate. If the pipes aren’t fastened securely, they shake, causing banging noises.

Banging pipes isn’t normal, and it’s not something to ignore because it can cause your plumbing system to wear out more quickly or lead to ruptures.

You can prevent pipe noise by adding pipe straps to hold them in place or you can install water hammer arrestors, which are like shock absorbers to protect against sudden water pressure changes.

If you’re not comfortable doing this or are unsure, call a professional plumber for help.

Because sewer pipes are buried, it’s difficult to know when they’re clogged or damaged. But, there are a few red flags to watch for that could mean there’s a clog in your sewer line.

Here’s what to watch for:

Multiple Slow Drains
Slow drains are a common household plumbing problem, but one rarely has multiple slow drains throughout the house. All of your drains connect to the main sewer line, so a blockage in that pipe affects your entire plumbing system.

If you have slow-moving drains or you hear gurgling sounds coming from the toilet when you’re not using it, you more than likely have a clog in your main sewer line.

Sewage in a Floor Drain
When your main sewer line is clogged, the wastewater from your home has nowhere to go, which means it usually finds its way into a secondary drain. Once that happens, you’ll see and smell the sewage coming up from your floor drains.

Water Backs Up When Flushing the Toilet
Another telltale sign that you might have a clog in your main sewer line is if water backs up into the shower or tub when you flush your toilet. This happens for the same reason you might get water in a floor drain; the wastewater has nowhere to go when it encounters a clog and comes back into another drain.

When you run into a plumbing problem that you can’t fix and need professional help, call the experts at BenjaminBL Plumbing in Austin at 512-559-4805.