Tuesday Tips::::Septic Care

Do not divert roof drains or basement sump pumps into septic systems. You want to drain as little water into them as possible.

Reduce or avoid altogether the use of your garbage disposal

The toilet is not a garbage can

Check for leaky faucets and running toilets

Consider installing low flow or high efficiency toilets.

Make sure you choose the right load size when doing laundry. Washing a small load on the large load setting wastes water. HE washers are a huge help in eliminating extra water usage.

Spread out laundry use. Instead of doing all your laundry on one day, spread it out to allow time for your septic tank to recover.

602-635-3360

Do not divert roof drains or basement sump pumps into septic systems. You want to drain as little water into them as possible.

Reduce or avoid altogether the use of your garbage disposal

The toilet is not a garbage can

Check for leaky faucets and running toilets

Consider installing low flow or high efficiency toilets.

Make sure you choose the right load size when doing laundry. Washing a small load on the large load setting wastes water. HE washers are a huge help in eliminating extra water usage.

Spread out laundry use. Instead of doing all your laundry on one day, spread it out to allow time for your septic tank to recover.

MR ROOTER PLUMBING 602-635-3360

Diamonds

- And Plumbers -

Are a Girl’s Best Friend!

Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular days of the year for marriage proposals.

We all know the saying, “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, but so are plumbers. Have we got some stories for you!

When it comes to engagement and wedding rings, Mr. Rooter Plumbing technicians have saved the day for frantic fiancées and worried wives whose rings have gone down the drain.

From a $70,000 wedding ring flushed down the toilet to a diamond dropped down the garbage disposal, Mr. Rooter has retrieved it all. Some we even keep secret, so they won’t have to tell!

Click here to read the Top Recoveries of 2009.

Test Your Valentine’s Day Trivia

We’ve been giving and receiving Valentine’s Day cards since we were kids. But how well do you know the history of this fun holiday? Take a quiz and find out!

Click here for a 10-question quiz of Valentine’s Day trivia from its origins to today’s trends. Good luck!

Valentine’s Day Facts and Figures:

True or False?

From lovely flowers to luscious food, we go all out for Valentine’s Day. You may be surprised, though, with the number of roses and boxes of chocolate we buy.

Let’s see if you’re on target with this year’s predictions. Are the figures below true or false?

True or False:

35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold.
110 million roses will be sold and delivered.
8 billion candy hearts will be sold.
Teachers will receive the most cards.
Go to www.MrsRooter.com for the correct answers.

Happy Valentine’s Day

from Mr. Rooter Plumbing!

When you invite Mr. Rooter Plumbing into your home, you will encounter not only expertly trained plumbers, but plumbing technicians who are trained to deliver to you a tailored and unique service experience. This experience includes treating you and your home with respect, this is what our plumbers pride themselves on. Many of our customers look to Mr. Rooter Plumbing and our plumbers as their preferred plumbing service provider. So many, in fact, that we’ve created a special program for our most enthusiastic customers called our Advantage Plan. Ask your Mr. Rooter Plumbing technician about this exciting program and how it can help you cut the cost of your plumbing services. Our plumbers enjoy their work and it shows! We look forward to welcoming you as a customer and being your preferred plumbing contractor in the future. There’s a reason they call us Mr.™

Some of the Residential Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Services We Offer:

• Sinks / Faucets
• Drains
• Bathtubs / Showers
• Toilets
• Septic Tanks / Sewer Lines
• Service Pipes
• Water Heaters
• Water Softeners
• Garbage Disposal
• Tree Root Removal
• Hydro-Scrub Services
• Video Inspection
• Preventative Maintenance Inspection
• Auto Injection System
• BioChoice ES
• Backflow Prevention

Simply keep the peel the next time you eat an orange. You can use it to deodorize the garbage disposal. It’s a nifty way to save money on cleaning supplies during this sour economy.

“Using a handful of citrus peels and ice cubes is a great way to get a clean and fresh smelling kitchen sink,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation.

Odors can form when food debris builds up in the garbage disposal. But getting rid of the smell can be an inexpensive and simple spring cleaning project that can save you money.

So roll up those sleeves and follow these steps from Mr. Rooter:

• Place a cupful of ice cubes as well as citrus peels – oranges, lemons or limes – in the disposal.
• Turn on cold water and then the disposal for 15 to 30 seconds.
• Then turn off the disposal and continue to rinse with cold water for 15 more seconds.

As you and your family make party arrangements for the Super Bowl, ordering pizza and setting up tables around the big screen are high on the to-do list. But don’t overlook the plumbing.

Super Bowl parties can be a super problem for plumbing systems if you don’t tackle some plumbing precautions now.

When football fans arrive at your Super Bowl party, they’ll be eating more pizza, chicken wings and other snacks than usual. This means overtime for your garbage disposal and toilets.

“People are focused on the big game, and they don’t realize how much food is going down the garbage disposal,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation. “We want to coach people on how to best prepare their kitchens and bathrooms for a house full of guests, especially on a day like Super Bowl Sunday.”

To keep plumbing problems from throwing a flag in your party plans, Mr. Rooter® service professionals suggest the following six points:

• Remove small objects from the top of the toilet tank that could fall in, causing it to clog.
• Keep a trash bin in the bathroom, so guests won’t flush paper towels, napkins or facial tissue.
• Don’t overload the garbage disposal with leftovers, which could lead to a clogged kitchen sink.
• Instead, throw scraps in the trash or compost pile.
• Avoid pouring grease down the drain and wipe off greasy plates and pans with a paper towel before washing them.
• It’s always important to know how to use the water shut-off valve under the tank. Toilet overflows are messy to clean up and can damage floors and drywall.

While these tips should help you intercept any issues, local Mr. Rooter service professionals will be ready if you have a plumbing problem.

Don’t Let a Clogged Drain Dampen Your Holiday Spirit

It’s the holiday season, and you’re decorating the house, shopping for gifts, mailing holiday cards and baking cookies. But have you thought about your plumbing? Don’t let a clogged drain dampen your holiday spirit!

Whether you’re having family over for the holidays or you’re hosting a festive party, your kitchen and bathrooms will be busier than usual. To save the cost and inconvenience of a plumbing emergency, Mr. Rooter® recommends you pay special attention to your plumbing.

“With the extra food, family and friends, you can easily forget about the stress it puts on your plumbing,” said Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter Corporation.  “We have some advice that will help keep a backed-up drain from ruining your holiday plans.”

To properly operate a garbage disposal, turn on the water, then turn on the disposal and feed the waste gradually. Keep the water on while using the disposal. Leave the water on for a short period after the disposal is turned off.

Follow these steps to keep your plumbing system off of Santa’s naughty list.
In the kitchen:

• Avoid pouring grease down the drain.
• Throw large scraps of food in the trash or compost pile.
• Don’t put turkey bones and skin, potato peels and celery down the garbage disposal.
• Wipe greasy pans and plates with a paper towel before washing them.
• Rinse off dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
• Don’t overload the garbage disposal.
• Turn the disposal power off and press the re-set button (if available) under the sink when the disposal stops abruptly while in use.

In the bathroom:

• Wait ten minutes between showers.
• Avoid flushing items that don’t break down easily: cotton balls, paper towels, facial tissue and sanitary products.
• Know how to use the water shut-off valve under the tank in case of an emergency.
• Remove small objects from the top of the toilet tank that could fall in, causing it to clog.

If one of these disasters intrudes on your celebrations, contact your local Mr. Rooter shop to put the happy back into the holidays.

Young children often huddle under the covers in their bedrooms, certain that a monster prowls in the closet or under the bed. Most parents will open the closet door or peek under the bed to remind them that the coast is clear.

But if your children accused your kitchen sink of harboring a shady presence, would you be able to deny it? Something foul may be lurking in your sink.

Your garbage disposal may start to smell when food debris builds up. It may be a lingering odor or an overpowering stench, but a good dose of cleaning can clear the air.

Place a handful of ice cubes and citrus peels – lemons, oranges or limes – in the disposal. Turn on cold water and then turn on the disposal for 15 to 30 seconds. Then turn off the disposal and continue to rinse with cold water for 15 more seconds.

If you have grease buildup, turn on hot water and then turn on the disposal. Squeeze a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid in the disposal. Run hot water for 15 to 30 seconds while the disposal is running. Finally, turn the disposal off and continue to let hot water run until the suds are gone.

Of course, the best way to ensure an odor-free kitchen is to prevent the smell before it starts. Never put bones, celery stalks and shrimp or onion peels down the garbage disposal. If you have large amounts of food to dispose of, scrape the scraps into the trash and just rinse the dishes off.

Don’t let food “reek” havoc in the sink, and your entire family will thank you!

Here are some helpful tips for home plumbing. Should you wish to perform your own plumbing maintenance using the information we provide on this website, please be aware that Mr. Rooter Corporation cannot be held responsible for any actions not taken by a trained Mr. Rooter technician.

• Water Efficiency: A low flow toilet alone uses 20 percent less water per flush. Combine that with an efficient shower head that also uses 20 percent less water, and the utility bill savings are obvious.
• Don’t put pumpkin pulp and seeds down the garbage disposal: Instead of breaking down like most foods, the orange pulp hardens and clogs the drain.
• Don’t flush your money: Take a whirl at inspecting your toilet.
• Drain Gurgling: This is a blockage of air in the drain, typically caused by a clog. Removing the clog should fix the problem.
• Don’t Let Food Reek Havoc: Young children often huddle under the covers in their bedrooms, certain that a monster prowls in the closet or under the bed. Most parents will open the closet door or peek under the bed to remind them that the coast is clear. But if your children accused your kitchen sink of harboring a shady presence, would you be able to deny it? Something foul may be lurking in your sink. Here are some tips for removing garbage disposal odor.
• How to Detect a Silent Leak: Put several drops of dark food coloring into your toilet tank. If the dye appears in the bowl, you need to replace the valve seal ball or flapper at the bottom of the tank.
• Water Conservation: If every household in America and Canada had a faucet that dripped once each second, 928 million gallons of water a day would leak away. Here are some tips for conserving water.
• Choosing a Water Heater: Here is a handy guide to finding a water heater.
• Emergency Shutoff Valves: Prevent plumbing headaches and even property loss. Learn about emergency shutoff valves.
• Shower Drain Clogs: Most shower clogs can be corrected easily with a minimum of hassle and mess. Here are some things you can do with a clogged drain before you call the plumber
• Whistling Noise : It could be a broken faucet washer or extremely high water pressure.
• The Root of the Problem: It’s surprising, but true – roots from a tree or bush several hundred yards and several houses away can damage your home’s plumbing system if they break into your pipes. It’s called root intrusion, and it can create major blockage in your line.
• Holiday Tips: Don’t let a clogged drain dampen your holiday spirit. Here are some tips for preventing a clogged drain.
• Super Bowl parties can be a super problem for plumbing systems if you don’t tackle some plumbing precautions.
• Use Food Coloring to Save Money: Click here to find out how.
• Citrus Peels Can Deodorize Garbage Disposal: Click here to find out how.
• Earth Day Tips: Learn how to look for leaks and conserve water .
• Save Water, Save Money: Let Mr. Rooter® Plumbing show you how to conserve our most precious resource, water.
• Water Conservation Checklist: Click here for the checklist.
• Energy Efficiency Tips: Thanks to tax credits, making your home more energy efficient is no longer a taxing problem on your pocketbook. Click here to find out how.

Please note: While we have done our best to offer useful information, these tips are only suggestions, and we recommend you call us for information specific to your situation. Click here to view our Legal Statement.