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Tacoma, WA 98445

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The Premier Plumbing Repair Company in Tacoma, WA

Steven Shoopman – Field Technician at Harts Plumbing showing how to do a proper locate – a complete understanding of what is happening below the ground. Locating plumbing lines is key to repairing underground lines. Without a reliable way to find buried lines, your plumber may spend unnecessary time and energy digging and searching.

Root intrusions are among one of the most common problems in older pipes. These types of pipes are softer than the modern PVC and HDPE pipes we have now. This means that they are extra susceptible to root intrusions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw1X1f9Dask&feature=emb_logo

Root Intrusion in Pipe: Plumbing Locating Explanation

Chances are you have experienced a clogged drain at least once in your life. We all know the inconvenience, the frustration, and the occasional nastiness that comes along with this predicament. That’s exactly why, when faced with this issue, you may jump straight to look for that quick fix. That over the counter chemical drain cleaner who has been advertised to us as a fix-all for years and years. Unfortunately, this seemingly easy solution can actually do more harm than good. Before you make the rash decision to pour chemicals down your drain pipes, keep in mind these 6 often overlooked truths about a store bought drain cleaners.

1. CHEMICAL DRAIN CLEANER IS DANGEROUS TO CHILDREN

If you have children and pets around your Tacoma home, you need to keep in mind that these chemical drain cleaners are a huge danger to them. No matter how responsible you are as a parent or pet owner, the use of over the counter drain cleaners with always leave the potential to expose your children and pets to dangerous chemicals. The only 100% foolproof way to prevent this is to keep your home free of chemical drain cleaners all together.

2. CHEMICAL DRAIN CLEANER IS DANGEROUS TO YOU!

In an ideal world, a clogged drain could be solved simply by pouring something down your drain, and forgetting about the whole thing. This is, however, not the case at all. All of these chemical drain cleaners contain specific instructions for use that are often overlooked. This can be a dangerous mistake, as with these products, there are always reminders to use in a well-ventilated area, keep away from children and pets, never mix drain cleaners, always use gloves, and never use with a plunger. Failing to pay attention to these safety reminders can leave you with much bigger problems than clogged drains.

3. CHEMICAL DRAIN CLEANER IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

A huge problem with an over the counter drain cleaner is the chemicals they contain. Most of these cleaners contain chemicals like bleach that cannot only cause toxic fumes, but can also leach into the water supply. Another thing, for those who have septic systems, is that dumping chemical cleaners into your drain means it will go into your septic. That means that anything you dump into your drain has a potential to be absorbed into the groundwater around your home.

4. STORE BOUGHT DRAIN CLEANER MAY CAUSE CHEMICAL REACTIONS

If you have been relying on chemical drain cleaners to solve your problems, odds are you have not been keeping track of which ones or how many or often they are used. Use of more than one type of chemical drain cleaner can result in chemical reactions within your pipes. Again, due to the different types of chemicals in these cleaners, you never really know what type of reaction you might get. Some of these cleaners contain bleach. Others contain ammonia. If these two were to mix, it would result in a chemical reaction that would release toxic fumes into the air.

5. CHEMICAL DRAIN CLEANERS ARE NOT VERY EFFECTIVE

We’ve all seen the commercials and read the ads about how effective over the counter drain cleaners can be. The truth is that these types of drain cleaners cannot solve every type of clog. For example, if your clog is called by a collapsed line or damaged pipe, a chemical cleaner will not be able to help you at all. In fact, these cleaners can cause further damage. If you have a damaged pipe or a hole in your line, and you pour chemicals through your drain, you don’t really know where those chemicals are going to end up.

6. CHEMICAL DRAIN CLEANERS CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR PIPES

Something you might not realize is that chemical drain cleaners actually rely on heat to remove possible causes of clogs. If your pipes are made of PVC, the heat generated by these drain cleaning products can cause them to soften. This damage is not just limited to newer pipes like PVC, but can also negatively affect older types of metal lines in the same way.

Really, your best bet for clearing a drain in a way that is both effective, and safe is to contact a professional. Here at Harts Plumbing, our skilled Tacoma drain clearing technicians are ready to be at your service no matter how severe the blockage. Just give a call to 

, and we will have someone out to you in no time!

Top 6 Reasons You Should Never Use Chemical Drain Cleaner

When customers call to schedule a camera scope, snake, or hydro jetter, I usually end up asking them the same question: “Is there a cleanout?” Oftentimes this question is met with “What is that?” The fact about the matter is, cleanout drains are extremely handy. Not only can a cleanout make your local Tacoma plumber’s job easier, but having one installed can also save you money in the long run.

A cleanout is a location (usually on the side of the house or in the basement) where your sewer can be accessed to clear out clogs, or scope the line. Here in Tacoma, many people have cleanouts located in their basements. While this is a common occurrence, this is not always the most convenient place for a cleanout.

When your plumbing system gets backed up, the cleanout in your basement will be full to the brim with water and sewage. If you were to remove the plug in your basement cleanout while the sewer is blocked up, all that water and debris will come bubbling on the top and into your home. This is why it is recommended to have a cleanout (or even better, a two-way cleanout) installed along the side of your home.

Whether your sewer is blocked, or you are just scheduling a routine camera inspection, the presence of a cleanout will keep your life easier and your wallet fuller. For example, when we go to do a camera inspection with a cleanout we can show up, put the camera through, and locate the problem area just like that. Without a cleanout our technicians will either need to go through a roof vent or pull a toilet, which is more expensive. Overall, having outside access to your sewer line is highly recommended.

While most homes in Tacoma are built with a cleanout, they can sometimes be covered up in new renovations. They might get lost in drywall, or covered by other new home additions. This can make it extremely hard to gain access to your plumbing in the event of an emergency. If you cannot find your cleanout, or suspect that you do not have one we recommend you either have a technician come out and locate it for you, or have one installed.

SEWER CLEANOUT INSTALLATION IN TACOMA, WA

A cleanout is an extremely important and convenient thing to have as a part of your sewer system. If you would like to have a cleanout installed or are unsure if you have one, give a call to (253) 331-1206 and we will have one of our skilled technicians out to you in no time! If you are experience a different plumbing issue, such as a clogged drain, one of our techs can come diagnose the issue - just pick up the phone and schedule an appointment!

What Is a Cleanout and Why Should You Have One?

In the quest for readily available hot water, there is one phrase that seems to come up more than any other: “tankless water heater.” Just what are tankless water heaters, and why are they so sought after? When you really think about it, you try to keep everything in your life modern and up to date. That goes from kitchen appliances, to cars, to phones. Why should your water heater be any different? Let’s take a moment to look at some of the advantages that switching to tankless heating has to offer.

1. TANKLESS WATER HEATERS CAN SAVE YOU MONEY AND ENERGY

These days we should be doing everything we can to do right by our environment, and our families. That includes conserving energy whenever and wherever we can. This becomes especially easy when you consider that conserving energy and saving money go hand in hand. Tankless heating means no “standby heat loss” which means you can save a large amount of electricity! The average tankless water heater can potentially save you about $80 per year. However, some of the more efficient models can take your savings even higher! Each situation is different, but with a little time and planning you can figure out just how much energy and cash you will be able to save.

2. TANKLESS HEATERS OFFER UNLIMITED HOT WATER!

For many people, the promise of unlimited hot water is enough to justify the switch. Because of the way they work, tankless heaters are able to fulfill this promise. The heating elements in a tankless heater allow the cold water that flows through them to heat up as soon as you turn on your hot water. Depending on the heater, this could be electric or gas powered. The rapidly heated cold water is then transferred to your water fixtures resulting in hot water on demand! Because of this, the heater can continuously create hot water for all your devices.

3. TANKLESS HEATERS HAVE A LONGER LIFESPAN

The advantage of a longer lifespan for tankless water heaters is pretty much self explanatory. While a conventional water heater has a lifespan of about five to ten years, a tankless water heater will last from about ten to twenty depending on the model. Some of the electric models even come with a lifetime warranty when properly installed!

Big, bulky, space consuming classic water heaters are no match for the new tankless models. With a tankless heater, there will be no more gigantic eyesore water tanks down in the basement. Tankless water heaters are small and slim, some about the size of a large book or dictionary. Most of them can be mounted to a wall, or even installed outside through the use of an anti freeze kit. This opens up space in your basement for you to use for whatever you would like!

5. TANKLESS WATER HEATERS ARE SAFER AND CLEANER THAN CONVENTIONAL ONES

With conventional heaters, there is always the potential for a rupture. That means that any valuables that you may have down in your basement are susceptible to major water damage. As water heaters get older, their casings become rusty, weakened and prone to cracking or breaking. This increases your chance of your basement flooding. With a tankless water heater, this is no longer a risk. This is because the water is only heated as it is needed, and there is no water stored in a tank. This also means that the water coming through the tankless heater is cleaner than what would come out of a conventional one. Since the hot water isn’t sitting in a tank full of rust and scale, the quality will be far superior. Tankless water heaters also have temperature monitors that will prevent scalding hot water from reaching your faucets, keeping your family safe from being burned.

All of these reasons listed above can be taken into consideration when entertaining the idea of switching from a conventional water heater to tankless. Although it is a bit of a monetary commitment to start, in the long run tankless water heaters are the way to the future, and will definitely save you money and energy over time!

If you have any questions about tankless water heaters, or brand recommendations, please give us a call at (253) 331-1206 and we will send one of our skilled technicians out to you in no time!!

Why Are Tankless Water Heaters So Popular?

Anything you need to keep water flowing through your home or business facility, our plumbing company can handle it! Why do any of the dirty work yourself when there are skilled, experienced sewer pipe experts right in your backyard? Our company provides sewer pipe repair, maintenance, and installation, as well as 

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Customer service and answered the phone was pleasant and helpful. Person who came on site to discuss the work was thorough, gave great advice, and made suggestions for future planning.

Hart's Services got here about 3 hours after calling them. Very courteous and helpful with going over my options for all of my plumbing needs. They are getting our emergency repair work completed for a reasonable rate.

Very friendly, very knowledgeable. Made replacing my whole sewer line as painless as possible.

Quality Plumbing Services in the Tacoma Area

At Harts Services, our #1 priority is your utmost satisfaction. We won’t just show up at your location and provide easy fixes that will eventually come undone, causing you more aggravation and costing you more money. Our plumbers provide lasting results at affordable prices, holding themselves to the highest standard for excellence in every job they undertake. We also offer peace of mind inspections, maintenance plans, and customer education to ensure complete peace of mind today and in the future.

When Others Say They Can't, We Say We Can!

Harts has amazing customer service and responded promptly to our plumbing emergency! Chris has been to our home in the past and is very knowledgeable and professional. Harts is a great local company to work with.

I was so happy to finally get my faucets outside my house fixed. Anytime I turned them on they dripped, dripped, dripped. Now I have frost free hose bibs and no drips! Thanks Harts!

Harts Services is a very professional company. We called because our sewer was backing up into our home and they had someone at our house within the hour.

Fast service, excellent follow-up, and Tim who performed the service was excellent and easy to work with. Will definitely use again if needed.

Thank you Chris McAlister from Harts Services. The service was professional, quick but thorough. Thank you

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