Clogged Toilets in Manassas, VA

A Clogged Toilet

Everyone has experienced it at one time or another in his or her lives: flushing the toilet only to see the water level rise and rise. As the liquid ascends and threatens to breach the rim, a sense of helpless panic sets in. Hurriedly, you rush to move anything that is at risk of getting soaked to higher ground.

Using a toilet plunger may be all that’s needed to send the water back down the drain and avoid a calamity. But if the plunger proves to be ineffective or if the problem recurs frequently, you will need to call in a professional.

It is important to note that store-bought drain cleaning products are not recommended for use in toilets.

An experienced plumbing technician from Manassas Plumbing Pros can use the latest in drain cleaning technology to clear out even the most stubborn of clogs. We can also inspect the pipes to uncover the root cause of the problem, if it is one that occurs frequently.

Preventing Clogs From Happening In Your Toilet

Here are a few tips that will help avoid clogs from forming in your toilet:

• Flush before the bowl gets too full of paper
• Do not dispose of items like feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, facial cleansing towelettes or paper towels in the toilet
• Keep a wastebasket nearby to remove the temptation of flushing items not meant for the toilet
• Teach toddlers and children what can and cannot be flushed down the toilet. Young children often like to play with the toilet by flushing toys and other objects. Training them not to do that will help to prevent nasty and messy clogs.

Count On The Experts

Repairing a clogged toilet can be a messy and unpleasant job. Repairing a clog correctly will help ensure that it does not need to be done again. That’s why it’s always best to entrust the job with a qualified professional like the ones found at Manassas Plumbing Pros.

Manassas Shower & Tub Installation

Replacing Your Bathtub Or Shower

The shower and bathtub in your home are designed to provide excellent durability for years of worry-free use. Over time, however, the years of wear and tear can cause issues to arise that may require a repair or replacement. The most common of these are cracks or leaks developing in or around the shower or tub. When this happens, be sure to call an experienced plumbing professional right away.

Does Your Tub Or Shower Need To Be Replaced?

In our over 30 years of experience, we have found that most shower and tub replacements are done for aesthetic reasons more often than for functional ones. However, it is possible for your shower or tub to become damaged and require a replacement.

A faulty shower or tub can cause significant water damage, making them potentially structurally unsound or unsafe to use. Leaks can also result in serious damage to your home and lead to the growth of harmful mold and mildew.

When this is the case, a complete removal of the old shower or tub and the installation of a new one may be required. Doing so will stop any further harm from occurring within your home and reduce the risk of injury.

In certain instances, when the damage isn’t too extensive and does not present a safety concern, a minor repair may be sufficient to restore the shower or tub to good working order. Repairs to minor leaks can be completed quickly and inexpensively, and even minor cosmetic flaws can be corrected.

Placing Your Trust In The Professionals

The decision as to whether your shower or bathtub needs to be replaced or if a repair job will be sufficient, should be left up to the experts. A licensed and experienced plumbing technician from Manassas Plumbing Pros will thoroughly inspect the problem and provide you with an informed recommendation.

Our plumbing experts will keep you apprised of the progress throughout the installation process, to give you complete peace of mind. All of our technicians are fully licensed, insured and bonded, so you know when our work is done you will have a new shower or bathtub that will provide years of worry free use for you and your family.

Leak Detection Services in Manassas, VA

Hidden Water Leaks

A leak in your plumbing system can cause a great deal of damage to your home and your belongings. The water can weaken the structure of your home, warp floors and walls and ruin furniture and other belongings. The dampness can also lead to the growth of harmful mold and bacteria.

Often times, when a leak occurs, the source is readily evident. Either one can see the rushing water or hear its sound. Smaller leaks, however, can be more insidious. The water hidden inside your walls or ceiling can travel a great distance before it becomes evident, making it difficult to know where the problem lies.

Other hidden leaks can occur in underground pipes or pipes that run under concrete. You may not even be aware that it is happening unless you happen to notice water pooling in parts of your yard, hear a gurgling or dripping sound, or notice an increase on your monthly usage bill.

If you suspect you have a hidden leak, you can check by first making sure that all the taps in your house are shut off and that none of the appliances that consume water are in use. Then, check your water meter. If it indicates that water is still being consumed, you probably have a hidden leak.

Locating The Source Of Your Water Leak

Gone are the days of opening up ceilings and walls in an effort to locate a hidden leak. The experts at Manassas Plumbing Pros use of the latest in leak detection technology. Included among these are sensitive audio equipment that can detect the sound of an underground leak and tiny waterproof video cameras that can travel through pipes allowing us to see the condition of your plumbing from within. These tools greatly minimize the need to damage floors, walls and ceilings.

Gas Line Repair & Installation in Manassas, VA

Gas Leaks

If you suspect you have a gas leak in your home or business, take immediate action. Natural gas has an additive that gives it a strong and unpleasant sulfuric odor specifically for the purpose of detection.

• Evacuate immediately: Your first priority is the safety of all the occupants in the building. Make sure to get everyone out and to a safe distance from the building as quickly as possible.
• Do not use any electrical devices: In a gas leak, any spark could cause an explosion. Therefore, you should not switch any light off or on, use the telephone or any mobile device until you are safely away from the building. Also, leave all computers just as they are.
• Leave the door open: As you exit, leave the door open behind you. Also leave any windows open. This will help vent some of the gas.
• Call 911: Once you have exited the home and are at a safe distance, call 911 for your gas company to have the supply line shut off and make sure the building is safe.
• Call in the experts: Once you have been given the all clear, call the professionals at Baker Brothers Plumbing & Air Conditioning. Our licensed and qualified technicians will be able to find the source of the leak and complete the repair in order to return your home to normal.

Extending Your Gas Line

Have you had your eye on a new gas range, dryer or a barbecue? The convenience and energy efficiency of a new gas appliance is unbeatable. Most chefs agree that cooking on a gas range offers the best control and flexibility of temperature. Additionally, switching to a natural gas barbecue means you’ll never run out of propane or need to get your tank refilled in the middle of a backyard cookout.

Manassas Plumbing Pros are just the right experts to fit your home with the necessary pipes to extend your natural gas line to where ever you would like to add a new appliance. Our licensed and expert technicians are ideally suited to complete the task quickly for you.

Emergency Plumbing Services in Manassas, VA

What Is A Plumbing Emergency?

Most people think that only those plumbing troubles which lead to flooding can be qualified as an emergency. In reality, any issue that can cause material damage if left unattended, or that can affect your family’s comfort or well-being, can be considered an emergency that warrants immediate action. These issues can include burst pipes, a malfunctioning water heater, clogged drains or a gas leak.

If you are experiencing flooding in your home, there are a few steps you can take to help minimize the damage to your home and your belongings. If you can do it safely, shut off the main water supply to your home. You will find the main shut-off valve near your water meter, usually close to where the main water pipe enters your home. Once the flow has ceased, call a qualified local emergency plumber for immediate service. While you are waiting for them to arrive, you can try to remove any furniture or precious belongings from the affected areas so that they can begin to dry out.

Our Manassas Emergency Plumbing Crew

No matter what time of day or night a plumbing emergency strikes, the technicians at Baker Brothers are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to respond to your crisis quickly and efficiently. Before you know it, our team of experts will arrive at your door to assess the situation and help restore things back to normal.

Our first priority will be to stop the flow of water or waste into your home to limit the amount of damage caused. Then, we will get to work finding the source of the problem and repairing it. Some tasks can be completed quickly and with minimal disruption to your home. Others, like repiping and the replacement of major components, can be more complex, requiring several days to complete. No matter what the scope of repair is required, you can count on us to limit the disruption and inconvenience to your family. Often, we can limit the shut-off of water to a few hours a day while the work is being done.

Commercial Plumbing Maintenance & Repair in Manassas, VA

Commercial plumbing requires a much broader set of tools, talent and expertise than plumbing or air conditioning alone, in order to meet the demands and provide industrial-grade products, construction, service, value and reliability for state of the art commercial plumbing solutions. Our responsibility as your commercial plumbing company is to ensure the integrity and functionality of the work and all its components.

Water Filtration And Treatment in Manassas, Va

Everyone needs safe, reliable drinking water. Local water treatment facilities do a good job of providing an adequate water source for the city-wide water system. However, they don’t filter out the chemicals and other contaminants that may enter the water pipes between the treatment plant and your faucet.

Water entering your home may have low levels of pesticides, lead, and metals. Well water is especially susceptible to contamination since it is not treated by a water treatment plant.  Minerals in the water, which is called “hard-water”, can also be a concern.

Some of the contaminants frequently found in drinking water can include:

• Aluminum, which is associated with impaired brain function
• Arsenic, which is a known carcinogen and linked to circulatory damage
• Barium, which contributes to high blood pressure
• Beryllium, a probable carcinogen and toxic chemical
• Cadmium, which is associated with kidney disease
• Chromium, which damages the liver, kidney and nervous system
• Copper, which can cause stomach irritation
• Lead, which is believed to cause brain and kidney damage and is particularly harmful to children
• Lithium, which can cause diarrhea, nausea and kidney damage
• Manganese, which is toxic to expectant mothers and younger children
• Thallium, which is believed to cause hair loss and damage the intestinal tract kidneys and liver
• Zinc, which can lead to anemia
• Pesticides and herbicides, which have leached into groundwater and are known to contain countless hazardous chemicals

While the health risks associated with these contaminants are the result of prolonged exposure to high levels of them, most people will agree that consuming any amount of these known poisonous substances is not desirable and would choose to safeguard their family’s health by reducing their exposure to toxins of this nature. One of the best ways to prevent contaminants in your water is a water filtration system. There are many options on the market.

Hard Water Filters and Conditioning Systems

“Hard water” contains more minerals in it than ordinary water, which can damage your plumbing system by clogging pipes and making it difficult for soap and detergent to dissolve.  The accumulation of these minerals (called “lime scale”) causes stains on fixtures, fogginess in glasses and spots on dishes. If you have any of these issues, you should consider installing a water softener. Water softening is the process of removing substances like calcium and magnesium from the water in your plumbing. Softening your water will raise the efficiency and expand the life-span of everything that needs plumbing in your home.  Baker Brothers offers several options that can help you prevent or eliminate the effects of scale build-up and hard water:

Traditional Water Softeners

Traditional whole house water softeners remove calcium and magnesium ions from water and replace those ions with a potassium or sodium ion. This eliminates the possibility of scale build-up.  Using a whole house water softener, improves the water quality, which you’ll notice in the taste and clarity of your water.

In addition to better water quality, there are other benefits of a whole home water softener:

• Healthier and softer skin
• A shower stall without water spots
• Save money on soaps and detergents
• Spot-free dishes using less soap
• Prolong the life of your water heater, appliances and fixtures
• Prolong the life of your whole plumbing system

Flow-Tech Home Anti-Scale System

The Flow-Tech Home Anti-Scale System is an environmentally friendly, cost efficient, maintenance-free alternative to conventional water softeners. This water treatment device controls lime scale build-up and removes pre-existing lime scale. The system was developed using state of the art technology, extensive research and the experience of a team of chemical engineers and scientists. Flow-Tech Systems has created the most advanced chemical free water treatment system available today. This system is now available for the residential properties.

The Flow-Tech Home Anti-Scale System offers many benefits such as:

• Saves money since less soap and detergent is required
• Does not use salt or chemicals, which lowers maintenance costs
• Protects your appliances, water heater, and fixtures
• Removes existing lime scale build-up
• Increases energy efficiency of appliances
• No maintenance required
• Saves space
• Environmentally friendly and healthy
• 3 Year Warranty
• No drain or wasted water

Whole House Water Filtration

You don’t just drink the water from your pipes, you cook with it and bathe in it, too. Your body absorbs a lot of water during baths or showers as well.  Baker Brothers recommends a whole house water filtration to eliminate the contaminates and chemicals in your homes plumbing system.

Whole house water filters are different from water softeners. They may not eliminate scale build-up, but they do reduce all kinds of other contaminants and bacteria.  If you’ve noticed the water in your home is not clear, smells bad, tastes bad, or makes your skin and hair dry, then

you should consider a whole home water filter. Whole house filtration can last your home more than a decade and it doesn’t need maintenance.

Here are some of the benefits of whole house water filters:

• Dispenses a constant supply of purified water throughout the whole house
• Eliminates bad taste and odor by reducing chlorine, chloramines, carbon based organic compounds (VOC’s) such as pesticides, herbicides and industrial solvents that are in your tap water
• Enhances the flavor of food and water mixed beverages
• Healthier and less wrinkled skin by eliminating chlorine
• Extends the life of your fixtures, faucets, and pipes by removing chemicals in your water
• Save money and time by not buying bottled water or water filters

Municipal tap water is treated to keep certain contaminants within EPA regulations and chlorine and/or chloramine are added to kill bacteria and prevent waterborne disease. However, only 91 contaminants out of the estimated 80,000 are actually regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act (source: The President’s Cancer Panel annual report). Furthermore, chlorine and chloramine (a combination of chlorine and ammonia) are classified carcinogens and known irritants to soft tissues and mucous membranes, exacerbating asthma and allergy symptoms, eczema, red itchy eyes, and gastrointestinal disorders like Crohn’s and colitis. Chlorine will dissipate from a glass of tap water in about 30 minutes if left out, but chloramine will not dissipate. When we use unfiltered tap water to drink, cook, bathe, or shower, it contains (at minimum) chlorine and/or chloramine, as well as their byproducts and VOCs. Other concerns include fuels, pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, and more that are not regulated and that municipal treatment plants are not designed to remove.

Toilet Repair & Installation and Clogged Toilets in Manassas, VA

The most common issue with the toilet is a stubborn clog that causes the water to overflow, creating a terrible mess in your bathroom. When using a plunger proves to be ineffective in solving the problem or if the clog happens frequently, you will probably need the assistance of a Dallas, TX professional.

Another common problem is the constant running of water from the tank into the bowl. This issue, in addition to being annoying for the constant noise it creates, can also be an expensive one when you consider the cost of all that wasted water on your monthly bills. This kind of problem is usually the result of a faulty component inside the tank that allows the water to continuously drain into the bowl.

Water may also be leaking from your toilet if the wax ring locally located between the bowl and the drain becomes cracked or dried out. You may also notice your toilet wobbling from side to side or appearing unstable if you have a broken anchor flange.

A crack or break in the bowl or tank is also a common reason for replacement, as such problems cannot usually be repaired.

A Clogged Toilet in Manassas?

Everyone has experienced it at one time or another in his or her lives: flushing the toilet only to see the water level rise and rise. As the liquid ascends and threatens to breach the rim, a sense of helpless panic sets in. Hurriedly, you rush to move anything that is at risk of getting soaked to higher ground.

Using a toilet plunger may be all that’s needed to send the water back down the drain and avoid a calamity. But if the plunger proves to be ineffective or if the problem recurs frequently, you will need to call in a professional.

It is important to note that store-bought drain cleaning products are not recommended for use in toilets.

Preventing Clogs From Happening In Your Toilet

Here are a few tips that will help avoid clogs from forming in your toilet:

• Flush before the bowl gets too full of paper
• Do not dispose of items like feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, facial cleansing towelettes or paper towels in the toilet
• Keep a wastebasket nearby to remove the temptation of flushing items not meant for the toilet
• Teach toddlers and children what can and cannot be flushed down the toilet. Young children often like to play with the toilet by flushing toys and other objects. Training them not to do that will help to prevent nasty and messy clogs.

Drain Cleaning & Repairs in Manassas, Virginia

If you have noticed that your drains are beginning to slow down, than it is important that you call Manassas Plumbing Pros for drain snaking/rooting plumbing services today. All of your drains lead to your home’s sewer system, so it is imperative that you take care of the issue before a major issue occurs.

Are you aware that most chemicals used to clean drains are actually harmful to your drains, pipes and septic tank? They are corrosive to your pipes and can deteriorate the chemicals in your septic tank that are needed for breaking down sewage. A professional plumber eliminates this risk by either not using a chemical (rooting) or by using a non-chemical drain cleaning solution. As a matter of fact, Manassas Plumbing Pros may be able to sell you a chemical that is not typically found at your local store. So before you go out and buy a standard solution or try unbending that hanger, call Manassas Plumbing Pros, Manassas’ most professional professional drain cleaning service! Manassas Plumbing Pros will take care of all of your drain cleaning needs without harming your drains, pipes or septic tank.

Clogged Drains in Manassas?

If the sinks and bathtubs in your home are taking longer than normal to drain, you probably have partially blocked drainpipes. These can be quite bothersome and can lead to messy and harmful flooding in your home. Your best bet is to contact a qualified professional as soon as you notice a problem.

Usually, clogged drains are caused by a buildup of grease and grime, most often from food waste or other organic matter, along the inside of the pipe. The sticky buildup can trap hair and other solids to further constrict the flow of wastewater and eventually become completely blocked.

Foreign objects accidentally sent down the drain can also cause a clog, as can the growth of roots from nearby trees into the sewer line.

Resolving The Problem

Drain cleaning products like those you will find in your local grocery or hardware store are only effective in eliminating some clogs. Furthermore, in some instances, they can create a bigger problem than they solve. For most clogs, our licensed technicians will employ an auger or snake to quickly and effectively clear out the blockage. In the case of tougher clogs or blockages caused by tree roots growing into the sewer line, we may use a process known as hydrojetting to resolve the problem.

Hydrojetting uses pressurized water sent through the pipes to blast away the built up grime and gunk in the pipes and can quickly sweep away overgrown roots.

We Offer Water Heater Replacement & Delivery in Manassas, VA

Repairing Your Water Heater

If your water heater is not delivering enough hot water, has developed a leak, or has altogether stopped producing, the trained Manassas, VA service professionals at Manassas Plumbing Pros can assess the problem and suggest the best way to correct it. The average lifespan of a water heater is approximately 12 years. If yours is not working as it should be and is not quite that old yet, your most cost-effective solution may be to have it repaired.

A Look At The Different Types Of Water Heaters

The latest in water heaters offer great energy efficiency affordability and flexibility. If the time has come to replace your hot water system, here’s a quick look at the different types of models that are available for your home.

Electric water heaters: These kinds of heaters require the smallest initial investment. However, due to the higher cost of electric power, they are more expensive to operate than their gas powered counterparts.

Gas water heaters: Although they are initially more expensive, gas heaters tend to be a more affordable option over the long run because of their lower operating costs. Unlike electric models, gas water heaters require venting to the outside.

Tankless hot water systems: These are the latest innovation in the heating system technology. By instantly heating water on demand as it passes through, they eliminate the need to store large volumes of heated water in a holding tank, making them the most energy efficient option available.

What Is A Tankless Water Heater?

Most traditional water heaters maintain a large volume of water at a constant heated temperature stored in a holding tank. This consumes a great deal of energy during periods of time when it is not in use. Comparatively, a tankless water heater goes into action the moment you require hot water, which is heated instantly as it travels through the heating system, being delivered continuously and on demand.

Since it only consumes energy when being actively used, it is an economical and environmentally friendly option for your home.

More Benefits Of A Tankless Water Heater

Not only will a tankless heater save you money on your energy bills, it will also save valuable space within your home since these systems do not require large holding tanks like their traditional counterparts do. This can free up some space in your basement for extra storage, or a kid’s play area.

Another feature that makes these new, more modern heaters very popular is the fact that it is virtually impossible to run out of hot water. It only takes a few consecutive showers to deplete a traditional heater’s tank. Afterwards, it is necessary to wait until the tank’s contents are heated once again before you can access hot water. With a tankless system, the supply is continuous and plentiful.

Tankless hot water systems have proven to be more durable than traditional systems. Reports indicate that they can last as much as 10 years longer. Therefore, they can be the wisest investment from a longer-term perspective, despite their higher initial cost.

Tankless Water Heater Options

Tankless water heater are available in natural or propane gas models. You can also choose between a single whole home model or several point of use models that are usually installed near where hot water is used, such as under the kitchen or bathroom counter.