General Plumbing FAQ
At SLB Pipe Solutions, we have the answers to your most common plumbing questions. From inquiries about our story when and how to call a professional, and how repairs work, we created this space to find the answer. Our team is here to help guide you through the basics of plumbing and provide easy-to-understand answers and solutions. If you can’t find your answer here, give us a call and we’d be honored to help you.
About SLB Pipe Solutions
Who do we serve?
At SLB Pipe Solutions, we’re a full-service trenchless pipe repair company that’s been serving the communities of Indianapolis, Indiana, and the border states for years. As a locally owned and operated business, we’re familiar with the needs of your property. We’ve serviced homes and businesses from Goshen, Indiana to Cincinnati, Ohio, to Louisville, Kentucky.
Why are we qualified?
Our team of highly trained professionals can work on a variety of pipe materials, sizes, and systems. All of our repair and cleaning methods are environmentally friendly, affordable, and reliable. We provide work that lasts for years to come and work with you from consolation to completion. At SLB Pipe Solutions, we make pipe problems approachable and provide customers with the latest technologies.
Common Plumbing Questions
I just became a homeowner. What are some of the most common plumbing issues I should expect?
Congratulations! Owning a new home is so exciting. Before anything, have your home inspected for potential issues to locate and take care of them before they get out of hand. Common issues include clogged or blocked drains, leaking fixtures, low water pressure, and lack of hot water. Additionally, find out all you can about your new house from the previous owners. For example, how old is the water heater? Water heaters need to be replaced every 10 years, depending on use. When moving to a new home, it’s important to ask how old the plumbing is and what type of material it consists of. This will help you manage it later on. With a local expert like SLB Pipe Solutions, we can help no matter the issue, with as little disruption to your daily life as possible.
My toilet is clogged. What do I do?
Most times, a clogged toilet can be fixed by using one of the following methods at home:
- Plunger: to use a plunger, simply submerge the plunger and align the rubber ring with the drain opening. Push and pull on the handle with quick movements for 20 seconds, without lifting the plunger out of the drain or breaking the seal.
- Plumbing Snake: to use a plumbing snake, simply push the end of the snake into the drain opening and keep pushing the snake until you feel resistance. Once you feel resistance, rotate the snake against the blockage until the resistance stops. The rotating action enables the tip of the snake to attach to the clog and “spin” it away or break it up. If you don’t feel the auger breaking through, pull it out of the toilet slowly and you’ll likely pull the clog out with it. After it’s done, run water full force to be sure the drain is unclogged.
- Baking Soda & Vinegar: If you don’t have either of those in your home, try adding baking soda and vinegar in small quantities slowly to dissolve the source of the clog. It’s important not to add too much at once so your toilet doesn’t overflow.
Unfortunately, some clogs can signal larger blockages or issues in your system. If your clog is stubborn and relentless after trying these methods, there’s probably a larger issue down the line that needs professional attention. To be better safe than sorry, call a professional for help.
How do I fix a leaking toilet?
To fix a leaking toilet, you must first determine where the leak is. If water is coming from the base, try tightening the bolts that hold the toilet for the floor. If that doesn’t stop the leaking, you’ll most likely need to remove the toilet from the floor and replace the wax rings that sit under the bolts. If the toilet is leaking from the tank, ensure that you have no cracks, and everything is secure. If you still can’t stop the leaking, our team at SLB Pipe Solutions is here to help!
I have low water pressure. How can SLB Pipe Solutions help me?
Low water pressure can be caused by many things. Sometimes it’s something simple like the shut-off valve being closed, or a faucet being blocked. However, more serious issues could be the source, such as blockages in your piping or water leaks. To troubleshoot at home, inspect each faucet to determine if you have low water pressure throughout your home, or only in one location. If it’s in one location, remove the end of the faucet and examine for debris or buildup. If you’re experiencing low water pressure throughout your home, the source of the issue most likely requires professional attention. At SLB Pipe Solutions, we can help you solve your low water pressure at an affordable cost, with our team of experts who care for your home like it’s our own.
My drain smells bad. What do I do?
Poor-smelling drains are never fun, but fortunately often an easy fix.
First, check your p-trap. The p-trap is the curved section of the drain pipe underneath the sink. This section of pipe captures water to form a plug against sewer gases coming back up the pipe. If the bad-smelling drain is in a sink that isn’t used often, this is probably the reason for the smell. Simply pour water down the sink to restore the plug with fresh water. If this doesn’t solve the smell, the venting pipes for your sewer may be clogged with debris or other organic matter. If this is the case, call a professional for help as cleaning this out with an inexperienced hand could easily cause damage.
I’m always running out of hot water. What’s wrong?
From washing the dishes to showering, hot water is important to have in the house. If you’re noticing your hot water not lasting as long as usual, you probably have an issue on your hand. Because there are so many potential causes of this, such as power supply problems, rusty pipes, sediment, broken dip tubes, and more, it’s best to call a professional for help. At SLB Pipe Solutions, we’ll help you find the source of the issue and get your hot water long-lasting once again.
Will you have to tear up my yard to repair the sewer line?
Long are the days of destructive digging and damage to your landscaping. Today, problems in your sewer line can be solved without an expensive, time-consuming project. With trenchless technology, our team of experts can repair and replace your piping without digging up your yard using state-of-the-art technology. This saves you time and money and can solve an otherwise time-consuming problem in an afternoon. Our trenchless-based services include:
- Sewer Camera Inspection
- Drain Cleaning
- Pipe Lining
- Pipe Bursting
How do I keep my pipes from freezing in the winter?
Frozen pipes can simply be mildly annoying, or major issues that lead to complete pipe replacement. If you live in an area where temperatures drop below freezing, avoid a costly repair by following some tips:
- Run a heating cable along the pipes, then covering them with pipe insulation.
- Do regular inspections of your home looking for visible cracks, especially near the foundation or basement. Fill cracks with spray foam or caulk.
- Flush outdoor faucets of excess water in the fall, then shut off the valves to avoid freezing. When the weather starts to warm up, turn them back on again.
- As pipes often hide behind cabinets and walls, open your cabinet doors to allow warm air to reach the pipes and keep them warmer.
- Turn the faucet on ever so slightly to allow a small, slow drip. The running water will prevent freezing.
My water bill is getting higher and higher, but our water use is the same. What’s happening?
A high water bill often signals trouble somewhere in your drain or sewer. If it recently spiked and can’t be controlled, you most likely have a leak somewhere in your system. While some leaks can be fixed by tightening a few nuts and bolts at home, some may be hidden in the piping network and inaccessible without a professional hand. If you can’t solve the leak on your own, call a professional to do an inspection of your system to figure out the best way to proceed and get your water bill back down to normal.
How do I avoid plumbing problems?
Most plumbing problems are easily avoided by taking care of your system and performing regular maintenance and inspection to make sure everything is in top shape. To prevent clogs and blockages, being mindful of what’s being sent down the drain. However, some issues are unavoidable and will happen regardless of preventative measures. When this happens, have a professional provide assistance and expertise on how best to proceed.
When do you recommend hiring a professional vs. DIY?
With online videos and tutorials, DIY home projects and plumbing have never been easier. Minor issues like a clogged toilet or minor leak can be a DIY project, if you do your research. However, sometimes DIY solutions can cause more harm than good, and create larger issues down the line. Unless you’re entirely confident in your ability to solve your issue, we’d recommend contacting a professional for any issues. This prevents unintentional damage from occurring and makes sure your job gets done right the first time, with lasting results.
Repair Questions
How long will the repair take?
Repair times vary based off of the damage to the pipes, and what needs to be done. Some repairs can be as short as a few hours, going to a couple of days depending on what’s needed.
Will I need to be home?
While most home or business owners do not need to be present for the entire visit and repair, we request that our customers or a representative are present to grant us access to the pipes as needed.
What do I need to do for repairs?
The only thing required of home or business owners during repairs is to provide access to pipes when needed and help move items that are blocking access to the pipes. Other than that, your system is in good hands with our team of professionals.
Service Questions
What is the difference between Pipe Lining and Pipe Bursting?
Pipe lining is the process of repairing a damaged pipe by lining it with epoxy resin and pulling in a liner to reinforce and seal any leaks or cracks. Pipe bursting is the process of completely breaking away a damaged pipe beyond repair and replacing it with a brand new one in its place. Both processes can be done through trenchless pipe repair, without costly digging and excavation on your property.
What is camera inspection?
Camera inspection is a new, revolutionary technology that allows us to find the source of your issue without tearing up your property with outdated technology. To start the process, our team of professionals in Indianapolis, Indiana, will locate an entry point in your system, known as a clean-out hole. Next, we’ll insert a high-resolution, waterproof camera into the pipeline with a flexible rod to help navigate it around. As the camera moves through your pipes, it sends real-time video back to our team. They can then review the footage and identify clogs, breaks, cracks and blockages and provide information on what needs to be done.
Contact Your Local Providence Plumbing Experts Today
At SLB Pipe Solutions, we’re here to help from regular maintenance to a full renovation. Backed by years of experience, we can handle almost anything because we’ve seen almost anything. Our team of highly trained professionals will work closely with you through the whole process and answer any and all questions you may have. To find out how we can help, reach out to our team at SLB Pipe Solutions anytime.
Contact
Address:
2900 Mitchell Rd. Bedford, IN 47421
Business Hours:
Mon-Fri: 7AM - 5PM
Sat-Sun: Closed
Email:
eric@slbpipesolutions.com
Phone:
(317) 536-1811
Do you have any question or feedback, feel free to contact us. Please find all of our contact info on right panel. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Services
Emergency Leaks & Pipe Bursts
If you have an emergency plumbing need, simply call our 24 hour emergency plumbing.