Do you have questions about our services or need to know more about a plumbing problem that just won't go away without professional help from a local plumber? Columbia, SC homeowners can simply call our friendly, knowledgeable customer service agents to get all your questions answered easily. Or, check out our replies to a few common questions about the plumbing services you can expect from us.
Which Other Greater Columbia Areas Do You Serve?
When it's time to call a licensed plumber, Columbia, SC residents can trust the team of experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Columbia SC. Along with the greater Columbia area, we also provide outstanding customer care and top-quality plumbing services to homeowners and business owners in the nearby cities of:
Why is My Plumbing System Experiencing Issues?
There are some situations in which it's very obvious what caused the problem because the homeowner watched it happen, so it's no mystery why they need a plumber. Columbia, SC property owners usually don't know what's causing the problem, though—and that makes sense, considering that the vast majority of your system is hidden behind walls and floors or buried underground. Also, problems have a tendency to start out small and slowly worsen as time goes on, which makes them a lot less noticeable because people just slowly adjust to the issue over time until it gets to the point where it's so inconvenient it can't be ignored.
While those mystery problems may be difficult to bring to light, they can't hide from an experienced plumber. Columbia, SC service professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing have a wide range of inspection and diagnostic tools available that can help us pinpoint the nature of the issue and figure out where exactly it's lurking in your system. The information we uncover will allow us to formulate a solid plan for eliminating the problem and restoring your system's capabilities to normal. But you can rest assured that we’ll restore your peace of mind and plumbing experience.
Do You Add Overtime Fees or Hidden Charges to the Final Bill?
Absolutely not! When it's time to get the bill for services rendered by our courteous plumber. Columbia, SC residents can rest assured there will be no surprises or hidden costs. We always charge an honest, upfront, flat rate price, so you know exactly how much it will cost before we get started, and you can make an informed decision about what's right for your property and your budget.
First, we'll come out to your property, so we can properly inspect and assess your plumbing system in person. Then, we'll explain our recommendations for what should happen and offer you an upfront cost for the work that needs to be done by our plumber. Columbia, SC plumbing professionals on our team will then carry out the agreed-upon work and bill you for the exact cost we gave you before we began. Our fair and transparent pricing and billing system ensures that you're comfortable with the entire process and eliminates the stress that can come with wondering how much the final bill is truly going to be.
Do You Offer a Workmanship Warranty?
When it's necessary to hire a plumber, Columbia, SC property owners sometimes worry that the work won't be done correctly, or a part will fail soon after installation, and they'll be left on the hook to clean up the mess. That's understandable—after all, nobody wants to invest time and money into plumbing repairs or installations only to have the service repeated all over again because it wasn't handled properly in the first place.
We only hire the very best plumbers Columbia, SC has to offer, which is why we're so confident in their ability to get the job done right the first time, to your complete satisfaction, and use high-quality, reliable parts. We back them up with a guarantee on all workmanship and parts because we know they'll always work hard to provide outstanding service. If something's not right, let us know within the warranty period, and we'll make it right at no additional cost to you.
How Can I Avoid Needing Major Repairs or Replacements for My Plumbing in Columbia, SC?
If you ask a qualified plumber, Columbia, SC professionals will be the first to tell you that there's no way to completely avoid ever needing a plumbing repair or replacement for the fixtures and components of your plumbing system. These systems are complex, with dozens of individual parts, and while they are built to last, they certainly don't last forever. That being said, there is a lot that can be done to keep a plumbing system in excellent condition and prevent the need for frequent repairs or premature replacements.
The old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is never more true than when it's applied to your plumbing system. Preventative maintenance is critically important for your plumbing system, and there are certain steps that need to be handled by a professional plumber. Columbia, SC plumbing systems can benefit greatly from routine drain cleaning and hydro jetting, as this process removes clog-causing buildup from your wastewater disposal lines before it has a chance to choke off the flow of water and cause major issues for your household. Routine maintenance appointments also give your Columbia plumber the opportunity to examine your plumbing system and take note of anything that could turn into a bigger problem down the road, then get it corrected in advance of a catastrophic situation like a sewer system backup.
For a typical single-family home, we recommend annual plumbing maintenance service from a reliable plumber. Columbia, SC households that are unusually large and use the plumbing more often than normal may need more frequent maintenance, along with multifamily buildings and commercial buildings. If you are concerned about problems such as basement flooding, or have experienced an unpleasant flood in the past, it's well worth considering asking your plumber about preventative devices such as a sump pump or backwater valve installation.
What Can I Do to Prevent Problems With My Plumbing System?
There are some things that homeowners can do to help avoid plumbing issues, and the number one thing to keep in mind is not to let anything go down your drains that doesn't belong there. For the most part, the only substances that should go down drains are wastewater, and in the case of toilets, human waste and toilet paper. If you have an in-sink garbage disposal, you can get away with some food scraps as well, but it's important to avoid foods with a high grease content.
The main cause for kitchen drain pipe clogs is something plumbers often refer to as FOG: fat, oil and grease. FOG should never be disposed of in a drain. While that bacon grease may be liquid when you pour it down the drain, it coats the inside of your pipe and solidifies, slowly cutting off the flow of water and causing issues like slow-draining wastewater and worse, sink backups. It's also really important to avoid flushing any solid objects down the toilet, or any kind of paper or tissue that isn't toilet paper, such as paper towels, newspaper and so on.
How Do I Deal With a Clogged Drain That Won't Go Away?
We all have to tackle the unpleasant chore of unclogging a drain now and then, and it usually doesn't require the help of a Columbia plumber. However, drain pipes are sometimes afflicted by clogged drain issues that go far beyond your basic, run-of-the-mill clog. If you've plunged until your arms are sore and the problem is no better—or may even be worse—than when you started, that's an indication that the clog is a hard blockage that isn't going to come loose with any amount of plunging, or that there's an issue much deeper in your wastewater drainage system that is too far away to be pulled out without heavy-duty equipment wielded by an experienced plumber. Columbia, SC homeowners sometimes also report strange clogged drain problems where they think they've got the issue taken care of because the water drains out after a bit of plunging—but the next time they use that fixture, it's clogged again. Or, multiple fixtures keep clogging up at the same time.
Those are all signs that something more serious than a basic clog is causing trouble to come down the pipe, like tree roots intruding into a buried wastewater disposal line, burst or frozen pipes, or another issue that needs immediate attention from a plumber. Columbia, SC plumbing experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing have the right solutions to chase those problems away so you can use your wastewater drainage system as intended again and don't have to cross your fingers every time you flush the toilet.
How Do I Know If I Need to Call a Plumber for Drain Cleaning?
Your wastewater disposal lines are hidden from sight—especially the part where most problems occur, inside the pipe—so it's not always glaringly obvious when it's time to get professional drain cleaning from a local plumber. Columbia, SC homeowners aren't always sure if the issues they've noticed actually need to be resolved with drain cleaning or if they're likely to go away on their own.
By understanding and taking heed of these warning signs, you can proactively call a Columbia plumber before a plumbing issue escalates into a major problem. Some major indicators that it's time to seek professional drain cleaning services include:
- Slow drainage
- Persistent gurgling in the toilet
- Unusual sounds emanating from drains
- Unpleasant odors
- The presence of insects around plumbing fixtures
- Unexplained clogging of multiple fixtures
- The sight of raw sewage in low-lying drains
Promptly addressing these warning signs can prevent a minor inconvenience from developing into a catastrophic situation.
Can a Columbia Plumber Help Improve My Home’s Efficiency?
While plumbing repairs and replacements can absolutely help raise the operating efficiency of your home when they're handled by a skilled plumber, Columbia, SC homeowners will find that whether they actually see a noticeable difference in their utility bills or not really depends on the current condition of their plumbing system. If you've got an aging system that hasn't been upgraded in quite some time, or certain fixtures and appliances are not functioning as well as they used to, there's a good chance that our services can significantly decrease your water or electricity costs.
Your water heater is a good example of this principle in action. Conventional water heaters must use a considerable amount of fuel, whether it's electricity or natural gas, because they're heating that big tank of water around the clock. Over time, some parts wear out, and the unit begins acquiring problems such as sediment deposits that cause it to heat less efficiently, so it must draw more and more energy to provide the same volume of hot water. Manufacturers are always interested in ways to improve the energy efficiency of their products, so even an older unit that is in pretty good condition will still run less efficiently than a brand-new model installed by an experienced plumber. Columbia, SC homeowners should note that just replacing an aging or malfunctioning unit can have a big impact. If you want to save even more, consider switching to a tankless water heater installation—they heat water on demand before it exits the faucet, so they use far less energy than tank-style water heaters.
Call for reliable service from the expert plumber Columbia, SC and nearby areas deserve!