Tag: Martinsburg

Ask a Plumber in Martinsburg, WV: Are Leaky Faucets a Big Deal?

Posted on by Larry & Sons

Sooner or later, we’ve all experienced a leaky faucet, with its constant pattern of drips and general waste. In general, leaky faucets are nothing to panic about, and you can find plumbers in Martinsburg, WV to deal with it regardless. Having said that, leaky faucets are still a big deal. The longer they go untreated, the more problems are likely to arise, making it imperative that you deal with them sooner rather than later.

The causes of a leaky faucet are common enough. It usually happens when a valve, seal or washer breaks down somewhere inside the faucet itself. A trained plumber can replace the faulty component with a new one fairly easily. On the other hand, if you don’t replace the component, it could have far more expensive consequences. Fixtures could develop rust or corrosion, and other components in the faucet may be damaged over time.

All of that comes on top of the additional cost to your water bill. One leaky faucet, dripping once every 2 seconds, will cost you 3 gallons of water a day, or well over 1,000 gallons a year. That’s as much as a month’s worth of baths, all of it slipping needlessly down your drain.

A qualified professional can help. He can shut the water off to the dripping unit, disassemble the faucet and find out which component is malfunctioning. From there, it’s a simple step to replacing the faulty piece and reassembling the faucet to its former state. The parts used are minimal and it doesn’t take much time, provided you know what you’re doing. That’s why it pays to call in a trained plumber for a leaky faucet. The cost is quite low in the long run, and you will likely save at least that much on your water bill over the course of time.

If you’re looking for a plumber in Martinsburg, WV, call on Larry & Sons to help. Our experts can come to your home at your convenience and repair your leaky faucets.

Ask a Plumber in Martinsburg, WV: What is a Drain Auger?

Posted on by Larry & Sons

You probably know a drain auger by its more common name, a “drain snake.” It’s one of the most commonly used tools in the plumber’s arsenal, employed to unclog stubborn drains of all varieties. Plumbers in Martinsburg, WV face all manner of problems, from broken water heaters to sump pump installation. But drain augers remain a staple of their profession, and any plumber worth his salt makes sure he carries one close at hand.

The auger works by driving the bristle front end into the source of the clog. It acts like a corkscrew in a wine bottle, giving the plumber a solid grip on the offending material so that he can pull it out safely. In some cases, the snake can break up the source of the clog, allowing it to pass through the piping and out of the system safely. If the clog has attached itself to the sides of the pipe, the auger can scrape it off safely and again allow it to be flushed out of the pipes.

You may have a smaller drain auger of your own, which is useful for clearing up mild clogs. Professional plumbers will use mechanical augers that use motorized power and often have exchangeable tips in order to correctly treat different clogs. That variation is one of the reasons why it pays to consult an expert when dealing with a clogged drain. An improperly deployed drain auger can damage your piping system and turn a minor problem into a major one extremely quickly. A professional plumber can not only use a drain auger safely, but he can likely identify the exact cause of the clog and use the auger appropriately to clear it up.

If you’re experiencing a clogged drain in your kitchen or bathroom, contact Larry & Sons to handle the issue. We cover plumbing issues of all varieties in Martinsburg, WV, and can handle your clogs with the utmost professionalism and courtesy.

3 Reasons to Contact a Martinsburg, WV Plumber

Posted on by Larry & Sons

When you start to have problems with your plumbing system, it can be frustrating and inconvenient. Many homeowners decide that attempting the project on their own might save them time and money. However, there are three very good reasons why calling professional plumbers in Martinsburg, WV is usually a good idea. At Larry & Sons, we have years of experience working with all different kinds of plumbing issues. We thought it would be helpful if we put together a few of the reasons why it is best to hire a licensed pumber for repairs.

Why Call A Martinsburg, WV Plumber

You use your plumbing system every single day for dishes, laundry, showers, and so much more. A professional plumber can make sure that any problem you have is fixed correctly so you don’t have the same problems crop up again and again.

Speed is another reason to call for plumber. With all the years of experience that plumbers have, they can usually get the job done very quickly. You don’t want to have to wait a long time for your new kitchen drain to be installed or the toilet to be fixed. Here at Larry & Sons, we try to get in and out as fast as possible.

Finally, when you call a Martinsburg, WV plumber to repair your drains or to remove a clog, they can often find developing problems while they’re working. This is an often-overlooked benefit to having a professional plumber perform any work on your plumbing system. Their expertise and experience give them insight into problems that could be developing that a non-professional wouldn’t be able to see.

When you need a Martinsburg, WV plumber, call Larry & Sons. We are dedicated to the quality of work that we do and to the level of customers support that we provide.  

Ask a Martinsburg, WV Plumber: What is a Drain Trap?

Posted on by Larry & Sons

If you’ve ever peeked under your bathroom vanity or kitchen sink cabinet to see a funny looking bend in the pipe, and wondered what it’s doing there, you wouldn’t be the first. The P-shaped or U-shaped bend in the drain pipe is known as a “trap,” and it’s responsible for ensuring that your home doesn’t begin to stink. We’d like to use this post to explain to our customers about what a drain trap is and why it’s important to your home plumbing system. For more information, ask a Martinsburg, WV plumber—call Larry & Sons today for comprehensive plumbing services, including drain repair.

Unlike your water supply system, which operates by being pressurized, your wastewater disposal system works by means of gravity. So, you may ask, why doesn’t my second-floor bathroom drainpipe go straight down into my basement? If you can imagine a straight pipe connecting straight in your sewer line, it seems as though it might be more efficient than having the drain trap. But what goes down can also come up. That includes smells. Indeed, the principle purpose behind the development of the drain trap is to prevent the smell of septic tank and sewage from entering our homes.

A drain trap works by creating a water seal. The vertical dip allows a small amount of water to fill this space. This seals the drain from sewer gases and fumes. But because it’s water, it does not block the flow of the drainpipe. It’s an ingenious bit of engineering invented in the 18th century, and has saved our modern noses since. Unfortunately, there are some things that may disrupt its effectiveness. For some drains that are not used very often, basement drains for example, the water seal can periodically dry out. If the seal is partially or totally lost, it can cause bad smells to enter your home.

If your drains smell funky, you might have more to worry about than just a broken water seal in the drain trap. Call Larry & Sons to speak to an excellent Martinsburg, WV plumber today!