Author: S.D.H. Plumbing & Heating

Why You May Have Low Water Pressure in Your Shower

For many, a nice, relaxing shower is a morning ritual or a stress reliever at the end of a long day. But when someone is unexpectedly greeted with low water pressure, it can quickly ruin their showering experience and indicate an underlying problem with the plumbing. Numerous issues can lead to low water pressure in the shower, and this post will share some common reasons.

Problem With the Water Heater

A malfunctioning water heater could be a possible cause of low water pressure in the shower if the water pressure problems occur only with the hot water. To determine if it’s an issue with the water heater, plumbers can perform an inspection of the water heating system.

They can check the hot water tank to look for sediment or signs of corrosion and rust. They will also look at the pressure regulator to ensure it’s working correctly and check the valves to see if any are closed or partially closed. Plumbers can also inspect the hot water pipes connected to the unit for clogs or leaks.

Issues in the Pipes, Including Leaks or Clogs

When determining what causes low water pressure in a shower and other fixtures throughout the house, plumbers can check the water lines for leaks or clogs. A leak can cause low water pressure by preventing some water from reaching the plumbing fixture. To help determine if a leak is causing the problem, homeowners can look for signs of leaks like water damage or high water costs. The water meter can also be used to check for leaks.

A pipe clog can also reduce water pressure throughout the home since a blockage will restrict the water flow. Plumbers can help homeowners determine whether a clog is the culprit of poor water pressure and figure out the best way to fix it and restore good water pressure to the home. 

A Clogged Showerhead

Low water pressure that only occurs in the shower and no other fixtures can be caused by the shower head itself. If the shower head has mineral scale buildup, it can prevent water from fully flowing through the shower head, reducing the water pressure with hot or cold water coming out of it. 

If the showerhead is older and clogged or malfunctioning, plumbers may recommend installing a new one. Homeowners can take the opportunity to upgrade to a more luxurious or water-efficient showerhead. Or, if the shower head isn’t old, homeowners may choose to clean it to restore normal water pressure.

About S.D.H. Plumbing & Heating

S.D.H. Plumbing & Heating is a family-owned and operated company serving Waltham and the surrounding areas. They offer same-day services, no upselling, and the latest technology. Call them today for plumbing services in Waltham, MA.

Why an Overheating Furnace Can Be Dangerous

An overheating furnace can cause serious dangers for a household – including fires or carbon monoxide leaks. If these occur, it can cause more terror than a Halloween horror movie or haunted house. Homeowners can avoid these problems by using tips from furnace contractors. Here are some symptoms of an overheating furnace so homeowners can get furnace repair quickly and how to prevent a system from overheating. 

How a Furnace Overheating Can Put a Household at Risk

When a furnace overheats, it can quickly put a household in harm’s way. While an overheating furnace has many consequences, two of the most dangerous ones are furnace fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. A furnace that gets too hot can ignite, putting a homeowner’s family in serious danger. Households can also face deadly threats if a crack develops in the heat exchanger and carbon monoxide leaks into the house. 

In addition to these two risks, an overheating furnace has some less scary effects. For one, continuing to use an overheating furnace can put additional wear and tear on the unit and cause damage to the system, leading to more extensive repairs or needing replacement. If there is too much damage, the lifespan may be reduced, and the furnace may need to be replaced sooner than expected. 

How to Identify an Overheating Furnace

The way for homeowners to prevent threatening risks from an overheating furnace is to identify the symptoms as quickly as possible. The faster a property owner recognizes the signs of an overheating issue, the quicker they can schedule furnace repairs with a professional. 

Various signs can indicate an overheating furnace. Some symptoms homeowners might notice first are burning odors, short cycling, or the furnace shuts off to protect itself. An overheating furnace can also make a loud humming or other strange noises. If these signs are noticed, a professional should be called quickly to solve it.

Steps to Help Prevent an Overheating Furnace

The best way to deal with an overheating furnace is to prevent it from happening in the first place. HVAC contractors recommend scheduling yearly furnace maintenance services. During a routine tune-up, technicians will inspect the unit for defects that could lead to overheating. They can then repair the issues to prevent larger problems like overheating from happening.

Homeowners should also perform air filter replacement around every 1 to 3 months, or when recommended, depending on the type of furnace filter their system uses, to ensure air can flow through them properly and prevent the furnace from overheating.

About S.D.H. Plumbing & Heating

S.D.H. Plumbing & Heating is a family-owned and operated company serving Waltham and the surrounding areas. They offer same-day services, on-time service, and the latest technology. Call them today for heater repair and maintenance services in Waltham, MA.

How Homeowners Can Avoid Burst Pipes

A burst pipe can quickly cause significant damage to a house. It can flood the floors, wreck the drywall, and even damage the electrical system. It requires emergency plumbing repairs to fix the pipe and stop more water from entering the home. It will also necessitate extensive, costly repairs inside the house to repair the water damage.

Fortunately, by knowing some of the most common causes of a burst pipe, homeowners can learn some ways to help prevent it. Here are some tips for how homeowners can help prevent the causes of burst pipes.

Clogs

One of the common reasons for a burst pipe is a clog in the line. Blockages can add pressure to the line, resulting in the pipe bursting. Homeowners can help prevent clogs from forming by following key tips from plumbers. For one, they should schedule regular drain cleaning services to remove any build-up and fix clogged pipes. Hydro jet drain cleaning can be used not just to clear clogs but also to prevent them.

Homeowners can also use mesh screens over their drains to catch debris and hair before it goes down the drain. Another way to help prevent clogs is not to put food waste down the drain, especially certain items like eggshells, coffee grounds, pasta, cooking oils, fats, and grease. Homeowners should also ensure to only flush toilet paper down the toilet.

Freezing

During the colder months, pipe freezing is a major risk homeowners must help prevent to prevent burst pipes. If they freeze, the water can expand as it freezes, causing the lines to burst. Fortunately, homeowners can take steps to avoid frozen pipes and burst pipes caused by them.

Plumbers recommend that property owners add pipe insulation to any exposed pipes to protect them from the cold temperatures and prevent them from freezing. Other ways to help prevent frozen pipes are to turn off the outdoor water supply if possible, disconnect garden hoses, and open cabinet doors to allow warm air to flow by the lines. On extremely cold nights, property owners can keep warm water dripping to keep the water flowing and prevent freezing.

Corrosion

Pipes that are corroded or decayed are also at risk of bursting. The corrosion can harm the structure of the line, causing it to burst. To prevent pipes from bursting due to pipe corrosion, homeowners should get routine plumbing maintenance done by a plumber. During maintenance, they can inspect the piping, identify signs of corrosion, and help prevent it from spreading.

Homeowners should also be aware of the signs of decay and corrosion in their pipes to spot them quickly and have them fixed before they can burst. Some signs of corrosion and deterioration in pipes include:

• Discolored water
• Water has a metallic smell
• Low water pressure

About S.D.H. Plumbing & Heating

S.D.H. Plumbing & Heating is a family-owned and operated company serving Waltham and the surrounding areas. They offer same-day services, the latest technology, and a satisfaction guarantee. Call them today for plumbing services in Waltham, MA.

New Englanders sure are a hardy lot: how many of you try to make it to November 1^st before you turn on your heat for the season? (Go on – it’s OK to admit it if you do, and we promise we won’t judge if you don’t.)

All kidding aside, few things are worse than turning on your heat for the first time in months and discovering you have a problem. The nights are only going to get colder in the coming weeks, so if you’ve only just noticed your system is running a little rough, now is the time to get it looked at.

We’ll diagnose any issues, explain your options, make the necessary repairs, and get you back up and running in no time – leaving you warm, comfortable, and ready to welcome friends and family for the holiday.

We wish you and all of your loved ones a happy and relaxing Thanksgiving. We are truly grateful for your business and the trust you place in us.

If you think there’s an issue with your heat, call us,  now. We can prevent a small problem from turning into a much bigger one.

Here in Waltham, Weston and Lincoln, the warm summer weather and lazy beach days are quickly coming to an end. And that means fall and cooler temperatures are on the way. This is the perfect time to make sure your heating system is ready for what’s around the corner.

Having us come out now to give your heating system a checkup is a smart move. You’ll have peace of mind and you could potentially save hundreds of dollars by not having to make an expensive emergency “no heat” call in the middle of a bitter-cold winter’s night.

The specific work we’ll complete on your heating system depends on the kind you have. But the goal of every checkup is the same: to ensure your system is operating properly, running efficiently, and ready to take you through the winter. During this visit we can also ensure your thermostat is in good working order – and if it’s battery-powered, you can swap out the old batteries for fresh, new ones.

Crisp fall days will be here before you know it. Contact us today so we can give your heating system a checkup!

They say that team work makes the dream work. At S.D.H. Plumbing & Heating, we work hard to serve customers like you, and we’ve grown exponentially as a result. Last year, we went from 4 to 15 team members. And as of July 2022, we’ve already welcomed four more.

We firmly believe that we’re better when we work and play together. That why we make it a priority to gather outside of work and spend some time relaxing with each other. During our inaugural summer outing, we headed up north to Maine’s beautiful Sebago Lake for some boating and other outside fun. This summer we’re looking forward to making even more memories.

We’re more like a family in the sense that we really enjoy each other’s company. And that, in turn, means we do a much better job of helping you and your families with your plumbing and heating needs. From all of us, we hope that all of you are able to enjoy some downtime and special moments now that the warmer weather has arrived. Whether you stay close to home in the Waltham, Newton, Belmont, and Watertown areas, or whether you choose to go farther afield, we wish you a terrific summer.

Call us to help keep your home running smoothly all summer!

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – especially when it comes to home ownership. Staying on top of small problems prevents them from snowballing into more serious and costly ones. But it’s even more important if you own an on-demand water heater.

As a matter of fact, the manufacturers of these sophisticated appliances actually require regular preventive maintenance. If you ignore this critical responsibility, you’ll void your warranty. Don’t make that costly mistake. Instead, call us so that we can set you up for regular maintenance.

We’ll flush your on-demand water heater with a special solution to prevent clogs, and we’ll make sure it’s operating properly. We’ll inspect it and check for any signs of corrosion, drips, or leaks. And we’ll ensure the entire thing is running at peak efficiency.

The result for you? Peace of mind and plenty of hot water.

If you own an on-demand water heater, you need preventive maintenance. Call us today and get on our schedule.

Running toilets … dripping faucets … leaking shower heads … Chances are you’ve dealt with one of these in your home at some point. But did you know that these little annoyances can add up to big problems? It’s true: a constantly running toilet uses thousands of gallons of water each year – which costs you hundreds of extra dollars on your quarterly water and sewer bill (even more if your toilet is an older model).

And that dripping faucet of yours?  According to the Environment Protection Agency, a leaky faucet with one drip per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons per year — the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers! That’s your money going down the drain.

Now’s the time to have us check for and replace leaking flappers, valves, washers, and gaskets. By having us come sooner rather than later, you’ll stop wasting water and save money on your bills. You’ll also take advantage of a month that is traditionally a slower time for plumbers (which means you won’t have to wait long for us to arrive and fix your problem).

With leak repairs – as with life – there’s no time like the present!

Let’s put an end to those leaks! Contact us now so we can fix them and save you money.

Was your heating system or boiler running a little rough last winter? Did you cross your fingers and hope it would last until spring? Here in Waltham, Newton, Belmont, and Watertown, summer is just around the corner, and the cold weather is already a distant memory. But now is exactly when you should start planning to replace your old equipment.

By getting this major home improvement project done now, you’ll have peace of mind that you and your family will be warm and comfortable next winter – long before the temperatures start to plummet. And that means you won’t have to make the dreaded “no heat” call to us once the snow starts flying. Trust us on this one: the dead of winter is not the time to be replacing your furnace or boiler.

Need more reasons to replace that old system right now? How about some hefty MassSave rebates worth thousands of dollars? Or a 7-year, interest-free loan? Every year MassSave announces the details of their new rebate and financing programs. Click here to get all the latest news and take advantage of this year’s offers.

When it comes to improving your home and saving money, there’s no time like the present!