Plumbing checklist for spring..Six things to do now

Spring is here! That means gardening, outdoor parties, and prepping the pool for summer fun. As you plan your spring cleaning list, don't forget about the plumbing in your home. Here are few reminders:

Sump pump: Spring brings many days of rain. Be sure your sump pump is ready to tackle substantial amounts of rainfall. A quick way to check your sump pump is to unplug the unit, plug it back in, and listen for a gurgling sound or vibration when the unit is back on. Next, find the float or sump pump sensor in the basin and lift it up. If the sump pump turns on, the system is working properly. 

Water heater: If your storage water heater is older than seven years old, it's time to get it checked to be sure it is working efficiently. Signs you might need a new water heater are: Low water pressure, gurgling noises, or infrequent hot water.

Hoses: Spring is a great time to check supply hoses for leaks. Check appliances such as your dishwasher and washing machine. We recommend using stainless steel hoses.

Faucets: According to the EPA, a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. Check the faucets in your home to be sure there are no leaks and the fixtures are working properly.

Mineral deposits on shower head: Indianapolis is one of the top cities in the U.S. with hard water. That means your shower head will likely be covered with scaly mineral deposits. If you are not ready to replace the shower head, vinegar and water solution is a great way to remove all that yucky buildup.

Drains: Sometimes do-it-yourself fixes do not work to clear a stubborn drain clog. If water is draining slowly in your shower or bathtub, you are experiencing a clog that needs immediate attention. 

The experts at L.D. Smith Plumbing know how to put water back in its place - and keep it there. Request an appointment to solve your urgent plumbing problem. 

Tips for clogged drains

Why are clogged drains such a big problem? Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, details solutions for clogged drains and some of the strange items he has encountered when unclogging customer drains.

Check out his latest interview on Life.Style.Live! Lance, along with plumber Wes, also demonstrate how they unclog a toilet.

If you have a clogged drain, schedule an appointment with L.D. Smith Plumbing for a FREE inspection to locate the clog and recommendations to treat it with no obligation to use our services.

Flash flooding in Indianapolis! How's your sump pump?

Sump pumps are working overtime due to the significant amount of rain we experienced last night. One of the most critical jobs of a sump pump is to keep moisture away from the foundation of your home. If it stops, water enters your crawl space or basement almost immediately. If you haven't checked your sump pump in awhile, this flooding event will be a test to determine its efficiency.

Get a FREE sump pump when you purchase a battery backup system. Request an appointment for details.

A message from Lance: Thank you for a great 2022

Another year is coming to a close – and it has been amazing thanks to you, our wonderful customers.  Whether you have been loyal to us for years or decided to give us a try this year, I would like to personally thank you for your support. We are a local company with deep roots in Indianapolis and are proud to provide quality, honest plumbing services.

I would also like to thank our awesome staff for their hard work this year serving customers as well as participating in ongoing training. Their contributions are among the reasons for our consistent growth in metro Indianapolis. As a reward to our staff for their hard work, our office will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day to allow our staff to rest and spend time with their families.  There will be no emergency services on these days.

As we embark on the next few weeks of holiday celebrations, please take a moment to know the location of the water shutoff valve in your home in case of a water emergency. If you need assistance locating your water shutoff valve, please call our office.

Again, thank you for choosing water’s boss to keep water in place in your home or business.

Happy holidays!

Lance Smith
Owner, L.D. Smith Plumbing

 

 

What is keeping your drain clogged?

DEAL ALERT! Clear your drain for $83, or it's free. More details here.

When water drains slowly out of your sink, shower, or bathtub, there’s a problem. It’s likely a clogged drain. It always happens at the most inconvenient time and leaves you wondering what could have caused it. Lance, the owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, shared some of the common culprits that lead to a clogged drain on Life.Style.Live! on WISH-TV in Indianapolis. Watch the video below:

Common culprits causing a clogged drain

Grease: This is the most common reason for kitchen drain clogs. Once grease is poured down the drain, it hardens. Keep dumping grease down the drain day after day, and blockage happens. The best way to dispose of grease is to let it cool and toss it in the garbage.

Hair: Even with a stopper, hair often finds its way down the drain. Eventually, those strands clump together to cause a clog.  

Disposable wipes/hygiene products: Unlike toilet tissue, disposable wipes and hygiene products do not break down when flushed and easily clog your pipes and sewer line.

Tree roots: If you live in an older home, more than likely, tree roots will create problems in your pipes. Trees need moisture and water to survive, and if they are close enough to your property, they will seek those nutrients in your pipes and sewer system. Roots will wrap around whatever is in its path, including your pipes.

Best solutions for clogged drains

Sometimes a plunger or home remedies aren’t enough to clear a drain permanently. A good plumber is needed to resolve the issue. One treatment is drain clearing, which quickly breaks up the clog. Often particles remain, and, for many homeowners, the clogs return. Hydro jetting is one of the best ways to remove all those left-over particles to clear the drain completely if a conventional drain cleaning doesn't do the trick or if the line is full of sludge/grease.

A camera inspection also enables plumbers to determine the best solution to clear your pipes once and for all. 

WATCH: Hard water solutions

Hard water is practically inevitable when you live in Indianapolis. Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, visited Indy Now in Indianapolis with Phil, one of our plumbers, to discuss the best solutions to treat water in your home. Watch the full video here.

Deal alert! Save $150 off a water treatment solution from L.D. Smith Plumbing. Request an appointment or call us at 317.927.7186.

Plumbing hacks: True or False?

Have you seen the latest trending topic about resetting your water heater if there's no hot water? What about the hack to use a plunger to remove any item from your sink? Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, separated fact from fiction when it comes to those and other hacks on social media. He visited Fox59's Indy Now recently to play a game of True or False with the hosts. Watch Lance's full interview here.

True or False: Reset your water heater when there's no hot water. FALSE

Resetting your water heater has its risks because of the electrical components involved. If you keep resetting it due to no hot water, it means there is a significant problem that needs to be addressed by a plumber.

True or False: Turn off all toilets in your home before leaving on vacation to eliminate the risk of a water emergency. TRUE

Yes, you can turn off the toilets, but an easier solution is turning off the main water shut-off valve, typically located outside the home. The main water shut-off valve supplies water to your entire home.

Use a plunger to unclog a sink. TRUE

Lance says a plunger is a great solution for most clogs in showers, sinks, and bathtubs. He recommends plungers with a plastic handle.

Need a plumber? Request an appointment with L.D. Smith Plumbing. Our latest deals include $50 off any plumbing repair, $300 off tankless water heaters, and $150 off a water softener installed. Review all coupons here.

Lance profiled in industry newsletter

Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, shared details about how he got his start in plumbing and his love of barefoot water skiing in the recent newsletter for Greater Indianapolis Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors.

Read the article here.

VIDEO: Lance shares summer plumbing tips

The summer countdown is on! That means cookouts, picnics, and lots of gatherings in the backyard. It also means some of the plumbing in your home will get much more use than normal. During his recent visit to Life.Style.Live!, Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, shared quick tips to prevent plumbing challenges in your home this summer. Watch the video and read more tips below.

Planning a vacation? Find the location of your water shutoff

Also known as the main water valve, the water shutoff valve can help you rest a little easier when away from home. It turns off the water in your entire home. Turning off the main water supply protects your property if there is a plumbing failure while you are on vacation. You cannot predict when a pipe will burst – and it is not unusual for homeowners to return home to discover significant damage from an unexpected plumbing emergency. Look for the main water shutoff valve in your basement or outside close to your property.

Know the dos and don’ts of your garbage disposal

Large gatherings are popular in summer, which makes the garbage disposal a convenient appliance to dump leftover food. Some food does not dissolve in your pipes, causing a clogged drain. Foods to avoid tossing in the garbage disposal are: Eggshells, pasta, rice, grease, oils, and fats. Foods that work well in your garbage disposal are: Cooked meats, ice, veggie and fruit scraps.

Lower the temperature on your water heater

It’s summer. You want hot water, not HOT HOT water. Lowering the temperature in summer could reduce your energy bill. The thermostat on a gas or tankless water heater is usually on the front. Changing the temperature on an electric water heater will require a professional plumber to adjust.

Inspect your washer hoses for cracks

Make sure your washer is prepared for the massive amount of laundry this summer. Washer hoses last for less than five years. Pull the washer away from the wall and check the hoses. Replace those that appear cracked. Lance recommends stainless steel washer hoses that are much more durable than rubber.

Protect your plumbing all year with our Plumbing Protection Plan

Avoid plumbing problems this summer and all year with the L.D. Smith Plumbing Protection Plan. It is only $89 and covers a plumbing inspection – which includes washer hoses - priority scheduling for emergencies, discounted plumbing services, and much more. Get more details here.

Home buying? Consider a plumbing inspection

When buying a home, we often consider location, style, and yard size, but what about plumbing? The last thing any homeowner wants is to purchase a home and find out later that thousands of dollars in repairs are needed to fix plumbing issues. This is especially important when shopping for an older home. Having a licensed plumber inspect the home prior to purchase could help with decision-making if you are struggling between multiple choices and empower you in negotiations as you finalize an offer.

Lance Smith, owner of L.D. Smith Plumbing, explains more about the value of a plumbing inspection before signing on the dotted line to buy a new home.

Are you looking to buy a new home in Indianapolis? Request an appointment with L.D. Smith Plumbing to inspect plumbing in your potential new home