Annual home inspections

Having your heating, AC, plumbing and electrical systems checked once a year will help you understand minor problems before they become major repair projects. Call a professional Raleigh HVAC technician, plumber or electrician to do a thorough check on your home’s systems to make sure everything is running smoothly. If not, they will be able to make minor fixes for you before problems get out of hand and become expensive to fix.

Fix plumbing and piping leaks

Your Raleigh plumber will check for leaks as a part of your annual inspection, but there are also ways you can inspect for plumbing leaks on your own. Take a look under cabinets to make sure pipes aren’t leaking, turn valves on and off to make sure everything is working properly and keep a close eye on your water bill. If your bill is unusually high, it probably means you have a plumbing leak somewhere in your home. Have all leaks fixed immediately to make sure you don’t waste money on wasted water.

Install a programmable thermostat

Or have one of the professionals at Progressive do it for you! A programmable thermostat enables you to maintain a comfortable, reliable temperature in your home while also increasing the efficiency of your home’s heating and air conditioning system and allowing it to function properly for longer. According to the MSN Money article, installing a programmable thermostat can save you $180 a year on heating and air conditioning bills by more accurately regulating the temperature of your home.

So next time your home plumbing and piping system is in need of repair, don’t call just any Moe, Curly or Larry. Call the team that Raleigh trusts: Progressive Plumbing and Piping.

Whatever your preference, we all know that at some point, you’ll have a plumbing repair that requires the attention of a professional plumbing contractor.

Of course, at Progressive Plumbing and Piping, we’d like to be the Raleigh plumbers you trust with your plumbing system maintenance! So why should you call Progressive? Well, first, we’re there when you need us – in fact, we’re available for emergency plumbing repairs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Another reason to choose Progressive as your plumber? We’re trusted all over Raleigh for fair prices, great results and personable service. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the testimonials on our site or these plumber reviews on Citysearch. We’ve been Raleigh’s go-to plumber since 1983, so you can trust us to know our stuff.

You can call us for plumbing repairs, installation and replacement of:

• Wells and pumps
• Garbage disposals
• Sewers and drains
• Toilets
• Water lines and pipes
• Bathtubs and showers
• Dishwashers
• Water heaters
• Septic systems
• Tankless water heaters

Plus, Progressive Plumbing and Piping offers green plumbing solutions to help you become more eco-friendly and conserve water and energy.

Plunger: Ok, this is pretty obvious. Here’s what you may not know: there are different plungers for different jobs! Stick with a standard cup plunger for tub and sink clogs, and a flange plunger for toilets.

Sink auger: Save this tool for when your sink plunger hasn’t done the job on that sink clog. Thread this flexible cable down the sink drain and work out the clog.

Closet auger: Like a sink auger, but specially designed for the toilet. And no, the two aren’t interchangeable.

Plumber’s tape: When joining pipes, use this special type of tape around the pipe that fits into its counterpart. The tape will help the pipes fit together better, meaning less trouble for you down the line.

Wrenches: Yes, plural. If you don’t have a set already, go for some adjustable ones (they come in 6, 10 and 12 inch lengths) to make sure you’ve got all your bases covered. A pipe wrench and a basin wrench will also come in handy.

While you’re rushing around doing last-minute shopping, card-writing, decorating, baking and more, remember to take care of your home as well. If you’re leaving Raleigh for the holidays, take these measures to guard your pipes from freezing while you’re away celebrating.

Here are a few items to add to that to-do list before you jet off to see the relatives:

• Check your outdoor faucets to make sure they’re turned off and insulated.
• Disconnect any outdoor hoses.
• Set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature (around 70 degrees) instead of turning it down super low.
• Open cabinets under your sinks to let warm air circulate around the pipes.
• Let your faucets run at a slow drip while you’re away – water running through the pipes will keep them from freezing. Put a bucket under the tap to collect the water so you can use it for watering plants when you return.

Did you make your list and check it twice? Happy holidays from Progressive Plumbing and Piping!

Using everything from 18 hotdogs to 3 lbs. of large gummi bears, St. Thomas Creations tests their toilets with one question in mind: “Will it flush?” But they’re not the only ones pursuing this question that (apparently) plagues curious minds everywhere. There’s also a YouTube series testing public toilets with the same question.

Here’s something you don’t see every day: a toilet waterfall covering a huge wall in China (no, not that wall in China). The waterfall was made for a ceramic festival and uses all sorts of toilets and sinks.

The online magazine HowStuffWorks brings us the Top 10 Moments in Space Bathroom History. Gems from the list include a wearable toilet, a urine-icicle and outer-space toilet debris that looked like a meteor shower.

Video: Toilet flushes, dog goes berserk. Aptly titled, “Dog Hates This Toilet.”

So, the cause behind The Big Squat is a really good (and serious) one. But it’s a undeniably funny way to raise awareness.

While these links are pretty funny, plumbing emergencies are no laughing matter! Call the company that takes your plumbing and piping repairs seriously. Contact Progressive Plumbing next time you have a plumbing predicament.

Do you have a profile on Facebook? We’d love to connect with you — check out the Progressive Plumbing and Piping Facebook page! We offer helpful links to all kinds of home maintenance information. Have a do-it-yourself plumbing question? Want to know the latest solar energy news? We try to keep you updated on it all at our Facebook page (in addition to random pieces of plumbing humor).

1.  Solar water heaters utilize clean, renewable solar energy.

2.  Solar panels today are smaller than ever before. They look similar to a skylight and only measure from about 4′ X 6′ to 6′ X 12′.

3.  Did you know that both the federal government and North Carolina offer tax incentives for solar water heaters? Learn more HERE.

4. Our panels meet the testing standards of the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC). This means they take a licking and keep on ticking.

5. Solar water saves you money!  You can cut costs by 65 – 85% and a residential solar hot water system will usually pay for itself in 5.5 years or less.

Sewer line clogs are not only messy but are not healthy as one might imagine. Of course all clogs and stoppages can’t be prevented, but with preventative maintenance, they can be held to a minimum. I usually recommend a regimented hydro-jet cleaning schedule for restaurants and commercial establishments as grease is usually a big problem. I can also provide an all natural enzyme type drain treatment that can be applied by a home owner or proprietor of a business for a minimum cost per treatment. Not only is grease a problem for residences and businesses alike, soap scum, coffee grinds and food waste builds up in sewer lines over time. Regular treatment will rid your sewer lines of build up for great flowing drains.

Got more questions or would you like to schedule an appointment? Click HERE.