Author: Kevin

Older homes can be romantic and beautiful, but they can also be a plumbing nightmare. Old pipes can cause leaks, water damage, and structural damage, and many older plumbing fixtures are inefficient and costly to use. Homeowners who aren’t aware of their plumbing problems can find themselves paying hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs, or may pay extra money for utilities over time.

If you’re thinking about buying an older home, knowing the plumbing problems typically associated with an older property can help you identify issues before the deal is final. This can help you decide whether or not an older property is right for you.

INEFFICIENT TOILETS

Legislation passed in 1992 limited the volume of water that toilets could use for each flush. Before that time, many toilets used between 3 and 7 gallons per flush.

This means that a pre-1992 toilet may use thousands of extra gallons of water every year. If you’re not sure how to check whether or not a home has an inefficient toilet, look inside or on the back of the tank where it connects to the bowl. If the home you’re thinking about buying has inefficient toilets, consider negotiating an upgraded toilet into the purchasing agreement, or plan to replace the toilets after moving in.

GALVANIZED PIPES

Galvanized pipes were commonly used in homes the 1930’s through the 1980’s. At the time, they were the best kind of pipes available to homeowners. We know now that galvanized pipes last between 20 and 50 years.

Toward the end of their service life, galvanized pipes become brittle, corroded, and leaky. Fixing galvanized plumbing can be time-consuming and sometimes you cannot repair galvanized pipes.

Eventually, you’ll need to replace galvanized pipes. If the home you’re thinking about buying has galvanized pipes, plan to set aside several thousand dollars to replace the pipes in the next several years.

SCALE BUILDUP AND LOW WATER PRESSURE

Hard water causes scale to build up in pipes over time. Over many years, scale can cause the pipes to become narrow, which can affect the water pressure. Eventually, the scale can cause pipes to become so narrow that they clog.

Older homes are no more likely to have hard water than newer homes, but if the problem has gone untreated for many years, the pipes in an older home are much more likely to have irreversible damage. Watch for signs of hard water problems in the home you’re thinking about buying. Green, flaky scale around plumbing fixtures and hard water stains on the windows and dishes is a sign that a home has hard water and the current owners have not fixed the problem.

LEAD SERVICE LINE

Lead was commonly used in main water lines for decades until modern plumbing eliminated the need for lead pipes. Many service lines still deliver water to homes through plumbing made of lead. You can tell whether or not this is a problem in the home you’d like to purchase by finding the main water line to the house.

Scrape away a tiny bit of the corrosion on top of the pipe with the edge of a screwdriver. If the metal underneath is silver and shiny, this is probably lead. Have it inspected by a professional for confirmation.

OLDER SEWER

Older sewers are susceptible to problems like root damage and pipe collapse. A sewer replacement can cost several thousand dollars and can be very disruptive in a busy household. The only way to find out if an older sewer has these problems is to have a professional plumber inspect the sewer with a camera. An inspection will reveal whether or not the home you would like to buy will need sewer replacement soon.

CONTACT A REPUTABLE PLUMBER FOR MORE INFORMATION

At Vines Plumbing, we take pleasure in answering customer questions about old plumbing and routine maintenance. To find out more about older plumbing systems, call us today.

No one likes seeing mold grow in their home. Mold not only damages the walls and floors of your home, but it also poses a significant health risk. As soon as you notice it, contact a professional to have mold remediation  done to your home.

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS

Certain groups of people may be more likely to experience health problems as a result of mold than others. Infants and the elderly in particular are susceptible to issues. Some of the most typical problems that result from exposure include:

• Headache
• Sore throat
• Coughing
• Eye and skin irritation
• Nasal congestion
• Asthma
• Nosebleeds
• Difficulty breathing
• Complications with a pregnancy
• Cancer
• Immunologic disorders
• Neurotoxicity

Everyone experiences the effects of mold differently, but no matter how well-equipped you think you are for this disaster, it is always preferable to be safe than sorry. No amount of mold should be considered safe, and it is always easier on everyone if you eliminate mold from your home when there is still relatively little of it. Contact Vines Plumbing today at (843) 268-2926 to have mold removed from your home.

Besides significantly damaging structures, water damage can also potentially contribute to a major rise in insurance premiums. In fact, water damage is regarded as the second most frequent reason for insurance claims – next only to hail and wind damage. It is widely reported that at least one out of fifty insured properties will submit a claim about water-related damage annually.

Water damage can occur due to a variety of reasons, from plumbing leaks and sewage back-ups to burst pipes and from malfunctioning appliances to power failure. Texas and its neighboring states were of the worst sufferers of water damage problems – the region had over 500,000 claims filed after the winter storm in 2021 caused thousands of pipes to burst.

It is therefore understandable that policyholders are wary about how adequate their insurance really is. Even the best of policies come with their limitations, making it essential to understand exactly what the policy entails. Insurers are known to modify the language of the policy, which shifts more risk to policyholders in terms of time, repairs, routine maintenance and other precautions.

Here are a few ways to make sure that your water damage stays at the minimum, and that you face as little risk as possible:

Evaluate the terms and conditions of your policy

As mentioned above, insurance policies may be inadequate to cover water damage-related claims. The best thing to do is to review your policy word-by-word and clarify its implications with the insurance company. That way, if you find any discrepancies, you can immediately rectify the policy to the proper extent.

Make All Necessary Precautionary Checks

While water damage to any home is inevitable at some point, there are measures you can take to see to it that it happens later rather than sooner. Key precautionary activities include conducting a preliminary risk management to protect BPP and structures, insulating pipes (outdoor and indoor) in unheated spaces, and sealing any spaces in the area where water pipes enter structures. You can even make structural changes, such as replacing rubber hoses with ones made from braided stainless steel.

Regulate Your Heating Systems

While it might seem that heating systems have nothing to do with water damage, in reality, these two are closely related. Almost every home has a water heater, and if not maintained properly, can lead to water leakage, and eventually, damage. If your home has a conventional water heater, make sure to replace it at least once every 10 years.

Avoid Seasonal Risks

Summer and winter are very different seasons, and require you to have different lifestyles to keep up with the weather. Make sure to keep a temperature of at least 55 degrees during the cold months, and make sure to winterize and drain plumbing lines.

Utilize Automated Systems

You can install a heat monitoring system that sends alerts if the temperature in your home falls below a level. You can also have automatic water shut-off systems and leak detection systems. You can even have an antifreeze in your fire sprinkler system to maintain its efficacy. Even with the best of maintenance and automation, make sure that you conduct regular checks to see how your system is working.

The best thing to do would be to hire a qualified plumbing contractor, and have them evaluate your home’s plumbing system on a regular basis. That way, if they see any potential issues, you can get them repaired immediately. If you manage a building, make sure to conduct checks every off season, and offer detailed instructions for tenants and employees on how to respond if they spot a water leak.

Inside a home or business, even a small fire can produce a different kind of damage. Not many people have extensive experience restoring a dwelling that has been damaged by fire. That is why this type of service is carried out by specialists. Attending to fire damage includes a variety of procedures.

Assessment and Sealing

The process begins with an assessment conducted by trained professionals. Homeowners receive a detailed report of the damage and what it will take for restoration. Most instances will require boarding up the windows. In some instances, a tarp will be placed over any damage in the roof to prevent any additional damage. Sealing off the structure is very important.

Water removal

Next up comes the drying portion, which includes an important element of water removal. After a fire, there is usually leftover water that has saturated the structure. Before any rebuilding can begin, this water needs to be removed. Contractors with plumbing experience prove to be particularly useful during this phase. This typically requires the removal of large puddles through the use if sump pumps.

Drying

Once all the water is removed, then comes the drying stage. No real restoration can begin until the entirety of the structure is completely dried out. And because of the toxic nature of what fire can do, the area also needs to be sanitized. This means ridding any harmful toxins that may have been produced by the fire and settled into the structure.

Smoke and Soot removal

Once these prior steps have been taken, it is important to remove that smokiness that often becomes entrenched in the remains. Leftover soot on a wall can also be unsightly. To remove smoke and soot, there are special techniques and professional equipment that needs to be utilized. This process is by no means a DIY endeavor.

Repair

Only when all these steps are completed can the repair process begin. This will also give homeowners a better idea of what can be salvaged and what has to be rebuilt from the ground up. There are instances when things like the plumbing remain intact and there are other times when only a partial remodel is necessary.

If your home is damaged by fire, contact the team at Vines Plumbing and Water Restoration. We have all the equipment, personnel and experience to provide fire damage restoration in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Are you concerned about the possibility that your house’s main sewer line could be blocked? A sewer line clog can be a serious problem. It will generally need to be dealt with as quickly as possible to help protect your home from harm. Here are some of the most common signs that may indicate such a clog.

MULTIPLE CLOGGED DRAINS

A single blocked drain might not turn out to be a significant issue. You may even be able to resolve the problem on your own. If you notice that multiple drains are clogged simultaneously, however, you might need to call a plumber to check your main sewer line.

WATER BACKUP

Has water begun to back up from one drain line into another? If water that you run into the sink bubbles back up in the bathtub, you might have a problem. A local plumbing company can generally inspect your home’s pipes and main lines to try to determine the source of the issue.

BUBBLING AND GURGLING

If your toilet starts gurgling every time you run your washing machine or take a shower, this could be an indication that a large clog has begun to develop in the main sewer line. Bubbling or gurgling drains could potentially indicate significant plumbing problems.

Sewer line troubles can likely be addressed by a plumber in your area. Contact Vines Plumbing at (843) 268-2926 to learn more about pipe clogs.

Most homeowners never anticipate having to deal with water damage, although it is more common than most people may realize. Some types of water damage are not preventable, although knowing what to do in the aftermath can be a tremendous benefit. Here is a look at what to do after sustaining water damage.

Safety first

The first priority in any situation is to ensure the safety of everyone in the home. If a pipe bursts or something else springs a serious leak, make sure the power is turned off before you start sorting through the mess. This will prevent any appliances from shorting out, shocking anyone in the home or starting a fire.

Find source of leak

It is easy to identify the source of a leak when a pipe bursts, but the source of water damage is not always easily identifiable. Some of the most severe water damage can occur from a slow leak which spans lengthy periods of time. If it is too tough to detect, contact a plumber right away.

Out with the wet

It is recommended to remove any furniture or carpets that sustained damage. A little splash of water is not going to ruin these items, but severe water damage might just make them unsalvageable.

Contact insurance company

There is always a chance that your homeowner’s insurance will cover the cost of water damage. However, it is important to not delay this process. There are steps for contacting individual insurance companies and reporting the damage Get to know that process beforehand.

Dry out

As long as there are no frigid temperatures outside, it is a good idea to air out your home. Opening up the windows and doors will help dry out the inside of your home. This process can be accelerated by bringing in fans and letting them run on high.

Consider a Remodel

Some water damage may be just too much for some patchwork to fix. If the damage occurred in the bathroom, then you could consider a bathroom remodel This option may be more intriguing if your insurance company assumes financial responsibility.

Look for other warning signs

There is no reason a little bit of water damage cannot turn into a lot. Do a once over in and out of the house. After checking all the water supplies in the house, looks outside for wet soil on the ground or any signs of rust stains as they can be strong indicators that there’s a bigger problem.

Contact Vines Plumbing for any other questions about water damage to your home.

Water heaters are an integral part of our lives as they are one appliance that many people take for granted. There is an intricate process behind the functionality of this major household appliance and here is all you need to know about water heaters.

Energy Consumption

It is a lesser known fact among many people that water heaters are responsible for roughly 25 percent of energy use in a home. Keep in mind that water heaters are not just used for long, hot showers. They are also used in dishwashing, and laundry. The average household in the U.S. is responsible for using anywhere from 80 to 120 gallons of hot water on a daily basis.

The Lifespan

Purchasing a water heater does not mean it is going to provide you with a lifetime of service. Water heaters that are equipped with a tank average of about 10 years. Some wind up conking out around eight years while others last up to 12 years. Some of the newer, more sophisticated models may even last 15 years. Regular maintenance and frequency of use both contribute to that varying lifespan. Tankless water heaters last longer, with an average life span that is upwards of 20 years.

First Hour Rating

Water heaters are often judged by their first hour rating. This rating is located on your tank and refers to the gallons of hot water that can be produced during a unit’s first hour of operation. A couple of factors can also influence the first hour rating, such as the water pressure in your home and temperature of the incoming water.

Tank vs Tankless

Traditional water heaters feature a tank, which holds the water that will be heated. Tank water heaters come in different sizes and are powered by electric, gas or propane. Tankless water heaters heat water as needed and provide an endless supply while also taking up much less space. They are a bit pricier, but have become a popular choice.

Brands of Water Heaters

There is a wide selection of water heaters to choose from when it comes to manufacturers. Some companies specialize in electric water heaters while others focus on the tankless variety. Here is a look at some of the leading manufacturers who are the most respected names in the industry:

• Rheem
• A.O. Smith
• Bradford White
• General Electric
• Bosch
• Richmond
• Rinnai
• Noritz

For all types of water heater repair or service, contact Vines Plumbing today.

Residential plumbing is a service that is not often mastered by homeowners. In most instances, plumbing problems require the expertise of a trained professional. However, that does not mean that homeowners should not try to stay informed. Here is a look at the most frequently asked plumbing questions

What is the tank on my toilet overflowing and what should I do?
This is not uncommon and it most often occurs because of a leak in your fill valve. Replacement of that fill valve is a cheap, quick fix. But it could also be due to a corroded wire that sets your water level.

What should I do if there is a water leak in my home?
The first thing you need to do is locate the shut-off valve. This should be located before any problems arise as it shuts off the main water supply. Once that is done, call a professional plumbing service so that the problem can be immediately diagnosed.

Why is my monthly water bill higher than usual?
Unless you are housing a lot more people who take long and frequent showers, there is a problem. This often means there is a leak and that could extend to the faucet, toilet, underground pipes or sprinkler system. Water bills should be relatively the same throughout the year.

Should I invest in a water softener?
This is a good investment that will improve the health of everyone in the home. Softening your water will improve the quality of skin, hair and make for cleaner, fresher laundry. It is also safer to drink than hard water because water softeners remove minerals.

How do I avoid drain clogs?
The top reason for drain clogs is a buildup of soap scum. This soap scum acts as a glue that collects some particles like hair, dirt and debris that falls into a drain. Reduce the soap scum and it will lessen the chances of a clogged drain.

What is causing my faucet to leak?
A constant or subtle drip can be the result of numerous faults. A corroded valve or a washer that is worn can both be the culprits. A broken fitting or a worn seal can also be the cause and the good part is that all of these are relatively inexpensive fixes.

Why has my water pressure dropped?
There is no universal answer, although it means there is something is amiss as water travels from the main water system all the way through to the faucets in your home. This could be caused by a variety of reasons and a plumbing professional can identify the source.

The team of trained technicians and customer associates at Vines Plumbing welcome any other plumbing questions you may have.

You know you should fix water leaks and drips in your home to keep from wasting water and running up your bill. What you may not know is a leaky drain or dripping pipe can attract household pests.

The dripping water plus an enclosed space behind a wall or under a sink creates a bug paradise. Here’s a look at some common bugs that are attracted to high humidity or damp wood that’s caused by leaky plumbing.

BOOKLICE

You probably have booklice in your home all the time. Their numbers swell when you have a leaking pipe that causes mold to grow under a sink or on a wall because booklice love mold.

They may have gotten their name from the fact that they are often found on moldy old books. These pests contaminate your food and destroy your paper documents and books. The best way to get rid of them is to dry out your home and remove the mold.

SILVERFISH

Silverfish love humid areas. If a water leak in your home is bad enough or goes on long enough that it increases the humidity, silverfish can thrive. They’ll flourish, even if the high humidity is in an enclosed place behind your sink. Once the colony is established, they’ll spread through your home and destroy books and documents.

They can wiggle inside cardboard food boxes and contaminate your food. Silverfish love to hide in folds of paper and clothing. They’ll give you a surprise when they scurry out of a book you pick up. Repair water leaks in your home and dry out the humidity with fans or a dehumidifier to drive these pests out of your house.

ROACHES

Roaches are pests that love humid areas and water sources. If you have a drip under your kitchen sink, it probably won’t be long until roaches are attracted to the water source and dampness. Roaches invade your food supply, and they are unsanitary.

You should eradicate them quickly, but they will keep coming back until your plumbing problems are repaired and the damp wood is dried out. Once you’ve dried out your home, you may need to use insecticide to get rid of lingering roaches.

CARPENTER ANTS

Carpenter ants are drawn to wet places that are out of the way of human activity. If you have a pipe dripping behind a wall, the ants can move in without you being aware of their presence.

Carpenter ants chew on whatever wood is in your home, but they love to live in damp wood. These pests can do a lot of damage to your home when their numbers grow. They are just as destructive as termites, so you definitely want to dry out damp wood in your home and give these pests the boot.

TERMITES

Termites have a reputation for destroying houses for a good reason. These bugs are among the most destructive pests to invade your home. There are different types of termites, but one type is drawn to moist areas. In fact, these bugs build mud tunnels to travel through so their environment is always moist and humid.

A water leak that keeps your wood cabinets, subfloor, or walls damp is a magnet for termites when there is a colony nearby. Termites alone are a good reason to have plumbing repairs completed as soon as you can.

If the thought of all these bugs moving into your home is creepy enough to make you want to repair your plumbing and dry out your house right away, brace yourself for even worse news: when your home develops an increase in bugs due to dampness, mold and water leaks, it changes the entire ecosystem in your house.

When you have an abundance of bugs, you’ll have an abundant food supply for other bugs that feed on them. That means you could see an increase in spiders as they move in to take advantage of the new food supply. The solution is to call Vines Plumbing to fix your leaks and repair water damage before you notice bugs so the pests won’t find your home so cozy.

If you own a home, you will likely need plumbing assistance at some point. Severe drain clogs may be one reason that you could have to call in an experienced plumber. Here are three of the top signs that indicate you may need a drain cleaning.

FOUL ODORS AROUND DRAINS

If you have noticed that unpleasant smells tend to hang around your drains or your toilet, this may be a bad sign. Sewer problems and severe clogs may both contribute to the presence of bad odors around drains. You may not know the exact cause until you enlist expert help.

VERY SLOW DRAINAGE

Are you frustrated with sinks or showers that tend to fill and drain very slowly? This is a potential indication of clogs that need to be addressed. You may be able to remedy minor problems yourself, but more severe clogs will likely require professional assistance.

SEVERAL CLOGGED DRAINS

Sometimes, you may notice that multiple pipes seem to have become blocked at the same time. This is often caused by a serious clog in your main drain line. The situation could potentially lead to backup or flooding, and needs to be dealt with by an expert as quickly as possible.

Are you in need of drain cleaning or maintenance? Contact Vines Plumbing today at (843) 268-2926 today!