Category: Plumbing

If your showers are cut short by low water temperatures from your heater, or your utility bills are suddenly higher than expected, your water heater may be approaching the end of its service life. Read on to learn the symptoms associated with a failing water heater and how to select an efficient water heater replacement that suits your home’s needs. Understanding How Your Water Heater Works Water heaters use gas burners or electric heating elements to heat water for use throughout your home. As cold water flows into the unit, the thermostat detects the temperature change, triggers the heating system, and turns it off once the water reaches the preset temperature. Tank vs. tankless water heaters Conventional tank water heaters and tankless units operate with the same principle, but the process differs. Tank water heaters feature a large storage cistern, which takes energy to keep consistently warm and ready for use. They provide a large volume of hot water at once, but they do have limitations — once the tank is empty, you may have to wait several hours for it to fully reheat the refilled water. Tankless water heaters, also called on-demand heaters, only heat water when needed. These

Bathroom waterproofing can protect your home from an overabundance of moisture. It can seem like a challenge since water is essential to the function of your bathroom. However, there are several easy ways to protect against water damage. Not everyone knows them, but we’ll look at some of the best-kept secrets to increasing the longevity of tubs, floors, and even your bathroom plumbing. Why Bathroom Waterproofing Matters The bathroom is one of the most frequently used rooms. A lot of water is also used here. A lack of waterproofing can lead to mold growth, health hazards, and structural damage. Bathroom leaks are all too common. Did you know there were ways to stop water from penetrating walls and floors, seeping through tiles and grout, and causing thousands of dollars in damage? Let’s see how you can prevent mold from flourishing and water from causing wood rot and damage to walls, floors, and building materials. Key Areas to Waterproof in Your Bathroom Before you begin your bathroom waterproofing project, you need to know which areas to work on:  Floors: An untreated bathroom floor can expand, warp, or shift if exposed to persistent dampness. Waterproofing doesn’t only apply to the shower floor.

From gurgling or overflowing toilets to multiple slow drains, numerous signs indicate a clogged sewer line. Plumbers address sewer line concerns by accessing the sewer line cleanout, a direct access point to your system that allows them to reach clogs under your home’s foundation or underground near the municipal sewer line. Understanding how a sewer line works and how to locate your sewer line cleanout point may help minimize or prevent future plumbing problems. What is a Sewer Line Cleanout? A sewer line cleanout is a pipe that functions as an access point for your home’s sewer system, primarily for sewer line cleaning, unclogging, and maintenance. By providing direct access to the sewer line, cleanouts allow your plumber to clear clogs without invasive procedures. They can also use the cleanout to troubleshoot for other plumbing problems, such as slow-draining fixtures, low water pressure, and leaks. Cleanouts are usually made of white or black ABS plastic and are generally available in 3, 4, or 6-inch diameters. Older homes may have brass or cast iron drain cleanouts instead. While brass or copper drainage lines are rare, it’s important to know the different types you may encounter as you search for and identify

After a relaxing afternoon exploring the wonders of Craters of the Moon, the last thing you want to deal with is a plumbing issue. Plumbing can confuse many homeowners due to the unusual terminology professional plumbers use. The experts at Express Plumbing, Heating, & Air can explain the meaning of these terms to help you make a well-informed decision. One thing that often confuses our customers is something called a wet vent. What is a wet vent, and how does it work are common questions. Learn more about this plumbing topic and why you might need to have this specific type of vent installed. What Is a Wet Vent? A wet vent carries air and water for multiple plumbing fixtures, including sinks, toilets, showers, bathtubs, and more. Wet vents are typically installed in Boise area bathrooms if homeowners have limited space and a lot of plumbing demand. A shared vent connects each fixture to a single shared stack for easy operation. Using the right plumbing vent for your system is vital to ensure everything runs smoothly. Proper venting allows water to flow through your pipes easily while allowing air to escape. If you don’t have the right venting, air may

When you return from a trip to the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains, the last thing you want to deal with is a plumbing problem in your Boise area home. Clogged or blocked pipes and drains can cause many issues, including major leaks and potential property damage. The team at Express Plumbing, Heating, & Air offers a range of services, including hydro jetting, to keep your pipes and sewer clear. Learn more about the ultimate drain and sewer cleaning solution and why your pipes will thank you.  What Is Hydro Jetting? Hydro jetting is an effective, eco-friendly drain-cleaning solution that uses pressurized water to break up blockages and clogs. This unique method clears slow-moving and clogged drains and sewage lines with a special hydro jetting machine. The machine uses a motor with a tank of water attached to a long hose, which produces a blast of water at an extremely high pressure of up to 4000 psi. This powerful jet of water removes hard, stubborn blockages and mineral deposits in pipes in minutes.  The professional plumbers at Express will inspect your pipes and/or sewer to locate and find the source of the blockage. Hydro jetting is safe for your pipes unless damage

Your home plumbing system backing up can be a big inconvenience, especially when standard drain-clearing methods don’t work. In Boise, common causes of backups include tree root inclusions, overburdened city sewer lines due to heavy rain, or clogs in the main sewer line. But did you know sewer line belly is also a possibility?  Sewer line bellies are sags or u-shaped low areas in your pipe that hold water after the flow has stopped. Bellies create a problem because debris and solid materials collect in these sags and cause blockages. They also impede the efficient water and sewage flow, which leads to sewer backups.  What Causes a Sewer Line Belly? Sewer line bellies are usually caused by geological events like soil erosion, foundation settlement, or earthquakes, which weaken the support underneath the pipe. Boise’s ever-changing climate exacerbates ground-shifting issues, especially during the soil’s freezing and thawing periods in the winter and spring. Occasionally, sewer bellies are caused by human error. For example, when poor soil compaction or faulty installation occurs, it results in disastrous pipe sags.  Express Plumbing’s sewer repair services include diagnostic work, repair, and replacement. We also offer emergency services, so don’t hesitate to call if you have

If your plumbing system is affected by recurring clogs, tree roots may be the cause. Tree roots are attracted to water and nutrients. Aging sewer lines are an ideal source, so roots can grow toward, around, and into pipes and completely block them. Only an experienced plumber has the knowledge and tools to resolve the problem. We’ll explain the issue in detail and why you need a professional tree root removal service to address it. How Tree Roots Cause Clogs Tree roots are very strong. Drawn towards sources of moisture, they can encapsulate a pipe and put enormous amounts of pressure on it. If there’s a hole, crack, or loose connection, they’ll slowly inch their way inside. Or, they can continue growing around the pipe until it collapses. Tree roots don’t stop there; once inside, they continue to grow until they fill and block the sewage line. Signs of Tree Root Intrusion A blocked or collapsed sewer line can affect your entire plumbing system. If the problem isn’t addressed, roots will continue to invade the pipe. Prompt solutions can prevent further damage. Therefore, call your local plumbing contractor if you experience issues such as: Recurring Clogs: If sink drains and