Tureks Plumbing Services Blog: Archive for November, 2021

Expert Tips on Preventing Frozen Pipes

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021

Preventing Frozen Pipes in the Winter 2021

In Wisconsin, winters can be fairly pleasurable; snow days provide the ideal setting for a range of entertaining outdoor activities. Extreme cold weather, on the other hand, may cause issues; many houses must deal with keeping frozen pipes from restricting the water supply, but it can also cause pipes to break, and will then be in need of Pipe Repair Appleton WI. It’s a good idea to understand how to protect your pipes from ice up when temps dip into the negatives to save additional costs and hassles, as well as to prevent your pipes from busting. The following are some of the most important recommendations from your Plumber Appleton Wisconsin:

Install insulation in attics and crawl spaces where pipes run through.

Pipe insulation can be purchased from local hardware stores or home centers. Don’t be quick to buy just any type of insulation, however; get professional advice from plumbing maintenance Appleton WI on how thick the material should be to effectively prevent your pipes from freezing up when the weather turns unexpectedly cold.

Heating cables and tapes would be good alternatives to insulation foam.

Fox Valley plumbers say that the best choice is a heating cable with a built-in thermostat and UL label. This cable will automatically turn the heat on when it’s needed; that means you don’t have to worry if you’re out of town or fast asleep when temperatures suddenly drop.

Open Doors

On days when it’s unusually cold and there’s a real risk of pipes freezing, opening the doors to the cabinets under the kitchen and bathroom sinks will help. Sacramento Plumbing Contractors at Gilmore Heating and Air, states the conditioned air provided by your home’s HVAC system will allow warm air to circulate around the pipes. That warm air will help neutralize the cold a bit so you don’t have to worry about your pipes freezing. Drain the exterior pipes — especially if you’ll be going away for a few days.

Place some insulation sleeves around your exterior pipes.

Allow faucets to drip slowly to keep water flowing through the pipes. Movement will prevent the water from turning into ice. Just keep the faucet open — this way, you’ll be able to monitor if water has frozen inside and you need to introduce heat to the pipes to melt it (a hair dryer with a high heat setting will do the trick). Also, keeping the faucet open will ease the pressure inside the pipe that can cause it to burst.

Contact Tureks Plumbing Today For Frozen Pipe Repair

Apply these tips to your home and you can be sure that the harsh cold of winter will translate to savoring hot cocoa by the fireplace, sledding down the hills, and building snowmen instead of arranging for costly repairs due to frozen or burst pipes.

Be sure to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in March, 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Tags: Appleton WI, frozen pipes, sewer and drain
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Water Heater Problems That Should Be Immediately Addressed

Thursday, November 18th, 2021

Water Heater Problems That You Should Be Concerned About 2021

Most water heaters are constructed to last a long time, with lifespans of up to 12 years or more. However, how long your water heater will stay in excellent working order is determined by a variety of things. Our Appleton Wi plumbers explain that the quality and manufacture of the unit, as well as how the system was built, will all have an impact on the operation of your water heater over time. Incidents such as an earthquake, flooding, fire, or even building improvements may all have an influence on the unit’s stability.

Conducting regular maintenance and check-ups is one crucial practice that can extend the life of your water heater. By checking every now and then and making some improvements as necessary, you can detect issues early. When addressed early you have the opportunity to handle it before the problem becomes more serious.

But some problems can’t be fixed anymore and the last resort is to replace the unit. You’ll need to know (or better yet, ask plumbing experts’ advice about) when to replace a water heater. Watch out for the following water heater problems that should be immediately addressed and will most likely call for a replacement.

Old age

First, our Fox Valley Plumbers explain that ideally, water heaters should be assessed for replacement 10 years after the manufacture date. Our friends over at Gilmore Heating, Air and Plumbing, Sacramento Plumbers, recommend to check the manufacturer’s sticker on the tank to determine the age of your water heater.

Leaking hot water

Water leaks or water build-up around the water heater is a tell-tale sign of trouble. Turn off the unit’s power the moment you notice this and call a professional. It’s important to act immediately to alleviate the leaking, prevent flooding, and avoid further damage not just to the unit but also to the entire property.

Water discoloration

Rust in water indicates corrosion in the tank’s interiors or the water pipes, especially if the piping is galvanized. If the rusty water doesn’t clear up after repeatedly draining the hot water, then the tank may have a serious rust problem. Another cause of discoloration is sediment build-up. Sediment collecting on the bottom of the tank should be prevented through regular flushing. However, even this may not be helpful anymore as the water heater becomes older.

Noise

Sediment that has hardened on the bottom of the tank often causes banging, popping or rumbling sounds while the water heats up – a sign that your water heater is already ready to retire. Hardened sediment can cause leaks, holes and increased energy consumption as the unit needs to work harder and longer when trying to heat the water.

Change in the taste of water

If you drink water straight from the tap, a change in taste or texture can indicate trouble. A metallic taste to your water is an obvious sign that the water heater may already be deteriorating.

If you are dealing with any of these water heater problems in Fox Valley, contact Turek’s Plumbing. Schedule an appointment to have one of their qualified plumbers out as soon as possible!

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in August 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Tags: leaking water heater, noisy water heater, old water heater, Plumbing, water heater, water heater problems
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Kitchen Backsplash Trends To Consider For A Kitchen Upgrade

Tuesday, November 9th, 2021

Are You Considering a Kitchen Remodel? Here Are Trends In Kitchen Backsplash 2021

Perhaps you’ve recently moved into an older home and want to make it truly your own by making a few changes. Alternatively, you may have updated some aspects of your home, making others appear obsolete. Making a new backsplash is an easy way to enhance your kitchen. What are the most recent kitchen backsplash trends? Our Kitchen Remodel Appleton WI professionals share below.

Kitchen Trends In Kitchen Backsplash

When it comes to kitchen backsplash, there are plenty of trendy and traditional materials you can choose from. To name a few, slate, granite, travertine and glass have been enjoying a fair amount of popularity among designers and homeowners in 2021. These materials are closely followed by wood and metal typically used as accents.

Our Appleton Kitchen remodel specialists share that tumbled stone backsplashes and anything with pastel hues have considerably lost their popularity in the kitchen design world.

Size and shape

Overall, larger ceramic tiles have become more popular for backsplashes. Many designers use tiles ranging 1″ X 3″ to 4″ X 12″. Some designers combine different tile shapes, colors and sizes for a more dramatic effect. You might also want to vary the depth of the materials used in your kitchen backsplash to add dynamism. Also, more and more designers are opting for vertical patterns over horizontal ones.

Using large tiles for small kitchens (and vice versa)

Can you use large tiles for the backsplash to make your small kitchen appear larger? It is possible to use large tiles to make your small kitchen larger but there are a lot of other things to consider. For one, you have to remove the clutter around your kitchen. Second, you need to use the tiles to create a horizontal line.

On the other hand, if your kitchen looks too big and you want to trim its size visually, you can use small tiles and colors.

Here, there is no single rule of thumb to follow. You can use large or small tiles no matter what the size of your kitchen is.

Matching the backsplash with other kitchen elements

The general consensus among designers is that the backsplash color should complement other elements in the kitchen including the cabinet, floor and countertop. That does not mean that you need to find an exact match. Rather, you should choose a color for the backsplash that complements the color of the other elements.

White subway tiles

Although white subway tiles remain a popular option among designers and their clients, many are veering away from these because of the basic look these offer. If you are leaning toward a more classic and clean look, you can use these tiles.

Similar materials for backsplash and countertop

A lot of designers avoid using the same materials for both as these can make the kitchen look overwhelming. It is possible to avoid this by using exotic stones.

Extending the backsplash up to the ceiling

If the wall where the backsplash is going to be placed has no wall cabinet, you can extend the tiles up to the ceiling, depending on your taste and the overall design of the kitchen.

Inspiration from Europe

One trend that is popular among Europeans is reducing the space allocated to wall cabinets, allowing the backsplash to take center stage. A lot of Europeans are also favoring the installation of tiles up to the ceiling because these are easier to clean and are more hygienic.

One good rule of thumb when choosing a backsplash color and design is to consider the kitchen lighting. The more natural light you have in your kitchen the darker you can go. If your kitchen is lacking in natural light, you will want to try and lighten up the space with lighter colors.

If you are considering a kitchen remodel, contact the remodel professionals at Turek’s Plumbing Services and let them help you start designing your beautiful new kitchen today!

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in July, 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Tags: kitchen, kitchen backsplash, kitchen plumbing, kitchen remodel, Plumbing Company in Fox Cities, Plumbing Remodel
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