"We Plumb Through Any Obstacle!" Home Residential Commercial Contact Us About Us Plumbing Tips CALL BOOK NOW CANCEL NOW Keep Your Plumbing in Working Order with the Homeowner Tips Below Garbage Disposals & Kitchen Sink drains | Aug 2020 A garbage disposal is a machine that is typically used to chop up food waste before it is washed down the kitchen sink. The garbage disposal should be used with running water. How long will my garbage disposal last? Garbage disposals should last for several years. This range is usually between 8-15 years. Depending on how often you use it and the types of food waste you use it for will determine how many years of operation you will get out of it. My garbage disposal smells what can I do to fix that? You can put small pieces of ice in your disposal to help sharpen the blades. You can used items such as “plink” that can be purchased on Amazon that are lemon fresh smelling garbage disposal cleaners. You can also find garbage disposal cleaners at your local stores (usually on the dish detergent isle). My garbage disposal will not work do I need to replace it? First look under the sink to make sure that your garbage disposal is still plugged in. Often times after years of service they vibrate the plug out and will one day start working. If that is not the case and yours is still plugged in you should try and hit the reset button. This is usually a red button on the bottom of the garbage disposal. If that still doesn’t work give us a call at 713-253-4810 and we can get you on our schedule. What foods should I keep away from the garbage disposal? Rice, hot dogs, large pieces of meat, egg shells, vegetable jackets (banana peels, onion peels, celery stalks, corn husks, artichokes, potato peels). What if my drain is backing up or there is standing water in the sink? You might have a clogged drain. The cost to unclog a kitchen sink during regular hours is usually around $195.00. Call us today 713-253-4810 and we can get you up and running in no time at all. If you have any questions, please let us know. Have a great day, Paul and Dorinda Obsta 713-253-4810 obstaplumbinginc.com RMP-39473 What you need to know about Tankless Water Heaters | July 2020 Tankless Water Heaters have been around for several years, however, have become extremely energy efficient in the last 5-10 years. Not only do they prevent water from being stored in your attic or home they also minimize the gas usage to only use what you need when you need it. Tankless Water Heaters heat the water on demand and allow for continuous hot water once it reaches the destination it is intended for. What brand of Tankless Water Heater Do you Install or Recommend? We install Navien Water Heaters. We are a Navien Certified Contractor and have been for several years. Our plumbers have attended educational Navien training by the local Navien Reps so that we can provide top level support and diagnostics to our customers. Why do we prefer Navien over any other brand of Tankless Water Heaters? We prefer Navien over any other brand for a number of reasons. Navein has a local rep with parts in stock so if our customer’s tankless needs parts we can typically get them the same day and/or next day at the latest. This is important when trying to avoid disruption in the home or business. Navien honors their warranty and believes in taking care of their installers and customers of the installers. Navien doesn’t regularly change their parts and models so when parts are needed they are available and not discontinued. What is the Warranty on a Navien Tankless Water Heater? On all Navien Tankless Water Heaters that we install the customer gets a 15-year Warranty on the Heat Exchanger, a 5-year Warranty on Parts and a 2-year Warranty on Labor. How long does it take to install a Navien Tankless Water Heater? It generally takes 4-8 hours to install a tankless. Several variables come into play based on the house and install. Are we removing only 1 tanked water heater or 2? If we are removing 2 tanked water heaters are they both in the same location? Are we installing the Tankless in July or December. The hotter it is outside the longer the install as our plumbers have to be careful to not get overheated while in the attic. How much does a Navien Tankless cost to install? Most installs range between $3,797.00 - $4,400.00 depending on how many bathrooms and wet areas are in the home. How much hot water can a Navien Tankless run at the same time? The Navien NPE-240A is the model we install the most. That model is designed to run up to 10-gallons of water per minute. It can allow water to run continuously in 4 wet areas at the same time without running out of hot water (example: 2 showers, laundry, and dishwasher; or 4 showers at the same time, etc.) What are things I can do to have extend the life of my Navien Tankless Water Heater? A Tankless Water Heater Flush every two years will allow us to inspect the unit, flush it and ensure it is running at its intended capacity. While Navien does not require the flushes to keep the warranty it is not a bad idea for the plumber to look at and inspect the unit to ensure it is aging appropriately. Installing a Water Softener is another way to prolong the life of your tankless and all the appliances in your home that work with water (washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker, garbage disposal, etc.). In the South we live in an area where our water is extremely hard. Over time calcium builds up in these appliances and can damage them and/or shorten their life span. If you want to know how hard your water is and what we recommend call us at 713-253-4810 or email us at info@obstaplumbing.com If you would like a quote for a Navien Tankless Water Heater call us at 713-253- 4810 or email us at info@obstaplumbing.com Have a great day, Paul and Dorinda Obsta Subscribe Past Issues Translate 713-253-4810 obstaplumbinginc.com RMP-39473 Hurricane Season has arrived! | June 2020 Hurricane season is from June 1st each year until November 30th. In South Texas we are known for getting hurricanes. The last three major storms ( Ike, Harvey, and Imelda) we had in Houston resulted in substantial loss of power. If your water heater(s) are tanked and require natural gas you will more than likely still have hot water if there is a power outage. If, however, you have an electrical water heater and/or a tankless you may be without hot water until the water is restored. What does this mean for your cooking? If you have an electric or gas range, you will not be able to use your stove top or oven until the power is restored. We can install whole home generators. This a stand-alone unit that goes on the exterior of your home. It is about the size of a deck storage box. They range in size and pricing, however, are designed to operate all the power of your home during any power outage regardless of how long the power is out. Having a generator installed would allow you to have your AC or Heat working during any power outage as well as all of your electrical lights, outlets, refrigerators, fans, etc. The generator is piped into your gas line and with the help of an electrician they are connected to your power source. When the power goes out the generator kicks on automatically and keeps you up and running. This can be extremely important in home health care situations, daycares, multi family dwellings, animal boarding facilities, or to just keep your wife/husband, kids and pets safe and happy. We offer 3rd party financing. They have a same as cash option as well as terms that will allow a payout for up to 9-years. Call us today 713-253-4810 for your generator estimate. Have a great day, Paul and Dorinda Obsta 713-253-4810 obstaplumbinginc.com RMP-39473 Do you have a leak just waiting to happen | May 2020 Galvanized pipes are steel pipes that have a protective zinc coating on them making them grey in color. Galvanized pipes were commonly used in homes that were built from 1950-1985. When galvanized pipe was invented it was an superior alternative to lead pipe for water supply lines. In the 50’s – 80’s it was not known that this type of pipe would rust creating potential flooding in the homes it was installed in. What do Galvanized Pipes look like? Is what Galvanized Pipe looks like when you buy it brand new from the store. Is what Galvanized Pipe looks like if used for various items around the house that do not require water to run through it. Is what Galvanized Pipe looks like when it starts to age. Usually in this application it is in a wall and/or your attic. Is what Galvanized Pipe looks like after time as it is rusting from the inside out. Eventually that rust will build up so much it will affect the water flow to various plumbing fixtures, can cause the color of the water to be yellowish to brownish and can eventually rust completely through to the outside of the pipe creating a hole in the pipe. Is what Galvanized Pipe looks like from the outside of the pipe once it has started corroding. Is a closer view of a Galvanized Pipe that has rusted on the inside. Are Galvanized Pipes Bad? Galvanized Pipes can be bad when they are used in water applications. Since they rust from the inside out they can obtain holes and over time rupture creating constant flowing water in a home. These floods are almost always very destructive and cause extensive property damage. It is best to replace any existing Galvanized Pipes to prevent this type of damage to your home/investment. How long do Galvanized Pipes last? Each Galvanized Pipe application is different. They can last several years to several decades. The one known thing about Galvanized Pipe is when it is used in water applications it rusts. When the pipes rust from the inside out it is not a matter of IF it will cause a leak it is a matter of WHEN it will cause a leak. Today’s homes are built with a product called PEX (a form of polyethylene) this product is flexible, expands and contracts and makes it superior to Galvanized as it does not rust, will not freeze and can withstand extreme heat in attic applications. How do I go about replacing my Galvanized Pipes? We recommend getting a estimate for the replacement. Replacing all of the Galvanized Pipes in your home can be rather expensive. It is best to budget for these items but knowing a ball park figure ahead of time will allow you to plan accordingly. Repipes can cost as little as $2,500.00 and can go all the way up to $20,000.00+ depending on how many wet areas are in your home. A wet area would be a bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, exterior hose bib, a bar sink, etc. Each of those areas has plumbing to it and would need to have the old pipes removed and the new pipes installed. If you have Galvanized Pipe in your home we would love to give you a quote for replacement. In addition, we are able to offer financing for these large costly jobs. If you want more information about our financing options please contact the office today. Remember, if you have a plumbing Obstacle, be sure to give us a call! Have a great day, Paul and Dorinda Obsta 713-253-4810 obstaplumbinginc.com RMP-39473 Protecting your home from water leaks | Mar 2020 Unfortunately, this is something that happens on a semi regular basis. Folks leave town and that is when things seem to go wrong on the home front. Now with technology there are gadgets that can be purchased and installed that allow you to control your plumbing from an app on your smart phone or tablet. How is this possible? There are valves that can be installed on your water line that will allow you to shut the water off to your house if you notice that water is being used during a time that it shouldn’t be. For your convenience, here you will see an example of the valve that can be installed as well as the app on the smart phone. You can also check out the video to see exactly how this state-of-the-art technology is used and how it may be beneficial to you and your home. Water and fire are the biggest leaders in damage to homes. Now there is way to quickly limit the amount of damage caused by water. This can reduce or eliminate hundreds to thousands of dollars in damage. Just think of it as a water alarm for your plumbing like you have fire alarms to protect against fires. If you are interested in getting one of these controls for you home give us a call today 713-253-4810 and we can set up a time to meet with you and discuss your needs and provide a quote. Have a great day, Paul and Dorinda Obsta 713-253-4810 obstaplumbinginc.com RMP-39473 What you need to know about water heaters | Feb 2020 In addition to the plumbing code changing the government got involved in the efficiency of how water heaters are made. When that occurred, it changed the jacket size of all 50-gallon water heaters. All 50-gallon water heaters made after April 2015 have an increased jacket size minimum of 2-inches in diameter. That initially doesn’t sound so bad, however, what that means for many homeowners is that once the old 50-gallon water heater has been removed from their attic a new 50-gallon water heater may not be able to go back in that same space. That wasn’t a big deal to many folks back in 2014/2015 as their water heaters had not yet reached their lifespan so they were not considering replacement. It may be something they need to plan for or consider now or going forward as the life expectancy of a water heater in South Texas is anywhere from six (6) to ten (10) years. Some things that homeowners should consider or research before changing their water heater are: Do I have a 40-gallon water heater or a 50-gallon water heater; Has the plumbing code changed since my existing water heater was installed; or How big is the space to my attic access. In instances where the attic access is not large enough to accommodate the new 50- gallon water heater size the homeowner has a variety of options to consider: 1. Decrease the size of the water heater from a 50-gallon to a 40-gallon; Subscribe Past Issues Translate 2. Hire a carpenter to increase the size of their attic access and possibly attic stairs; 3. Consider going from a traditional tanked unit to a tankless; or 4. What are the warranty differences between a tanked unit and a tankless. There are also many items that can be done to prolong the life of your water heater. Living in the South we are accustomed to extremely hard water. Hard water creates sediment in water heaters. Sediment in a water heater leads crackling and popping sounds. The way to avoid sediment in your water heater is to have your water heater annually flushed. Most homeowners do not schedule this type of routine maintenance and only look to have it done when their water heater starts making the crackling and popping noise. Once that starts, we do not recommend the unit be flushed as the likelihood of the flush removing enough sediment out of the tank to eliminate the noise is slim to none. One way to avoid annual flushes on your water heater is to consider having a water softener or water treatment system installed in your home. Other items that can prolong the life of your water heater, if it is running fine with no visible signs of corrosion or deteriorating would be to consider replacing the anode rod. That can be done every 5- 6 years and when done and often, in the right circumstances, double the life of the water heater. Additionally, homeowners should check around the vent of the water heater where it meets the roof. Due to the wind driven rains we experience sometimes the vent and roof jack move and this can allow moisture or water in that opening. If water is dripping or seeping on the water heater, it could create rust on the jacket of the water heater. If the water heater jacket starts to rust, it could lead to leaks in the water heater wherein replacement would be the only remedy. Other items on the water heater that can go bad and/or need to be replaced from time to time are the Gas Control Valve, Pilot Assembly and the TPRV (Temperature Pressure Relief Valve). The Gas Control Valve and Pilot Assembly should last the life of the water heater, however, in some cases when the water heater has exceeded its life one of the common items to fail is the Gas Control Valve or Pilot assembly or both. The TPRV is the safety mechanism that allows the water heater to release pressure safely in the instance that it starts to malfunction. This valve should be replaced every five (5) years. These are just some of the many reasons as to why it makes sense to hire a licensed professional plumber to do the work rather than doing it yourself. Tips for prolonging the life of your water heater: 1. Have your water heater flushed annually. 2. Periodically check the vent pipe on the top of your water heater to ensure that it is tightly secured to the roof with no opportunity for water to leak onto the water heater. 3. Check your water heater drain pan to ensure that there is not water in the pan evidencing a leak of some sort. 4. Consider having a water softener installed to prevent sediment build up in your water heater tank. 5. Replace the TPRV (Temperature Pressure Relief Valve) every five (5) years. 6. Consider replacing the anode rod if your water heater is approaching the six (6) year mark and is still functioning with no signs of diminished capacity (example heating as originally installed and no signs of rust on the jacket). Have a great day, Paul and Dorinda Obsta 713-253-4810 obstaplumbinginc.com RMP-39473 Don't let the warm temperatures fool you | Jan 2020 Living in Texas in the winter, we know we can get a cold snap any time. To make sure you don't get caught by surprise, here are some quick tips and troubleshooting guides to help you through any drastic weather changes. How to protect my Backflow Preventer: Many homes in the South have Backflow Preventer(s) on the exterior of the home. These are known to crack or break in freezing temperatures. We recommend that they be wrapped with insulation or towels and then covered and tied off with a trash bag. The reason that you would want to cover with a trash bag after wrapping with a towel or insulation is to prevent any freezing rain or water from getting in or on the towel or insulation and then freezing to the pipes and causing the backflow to crack or break. (See photos – Photo “A” is what a backflow looks like”, Photo “B” is an insulated blanket you can purchase to put over the bell part of the backflow preventer and Photo “C” is what we recommend to keep the backflow the most protected from the freezing weather.) Backflow Preventers are often times on Sprinkler Lines as well as Main Lines to the house. If they break it could mean no water to your home until the pipes thaw out or repairs are made if they crack or break. We always hear Drip or Drain? Why? We recommend dripping warm water, a small drip of water constantly going through the pipes, however, not enough to make a sink or tub fill up or over flow. The dripping keeps warmth in the pipes and will help prevent them from the freezing temperatures. Sometimes people ask if they should Drain their pipes. In the Houston metro area that is not usually necessary. That is often done further up North or if a property is going to be vacant. How can I protect the pipes inside my home? We recommend opening cabinet doors under sinks and keeping them open during the freezing temperatures. This will allow the natural air flow in your home to enter the cabinet area and help keep the pipes warm. (Please be mindful of open cabinets with children and pets around. You may need to remove the items under the sink while you have the doors open.) My house is vacant how can I protect the interior pipes? If the walls are up and insulated we recommend keeping the inside temperature 65- degrees or warmer. We recommend opening cabinets under sinks and along exterior walls. This will allow the natural air flow in your home to enter the cabinet area and help keep the pipes warm. (Please be mindful of open cabinets with children and pets around. You may need to remove the items under the sink while you have the doors open.) I have a sprinkler system what do I need to do? We recommend turning the system off and opening the valves so that as the water freezes the system is open to allow for the expansion that will occur when the water thaws. What if my pipes freeze? This means that you will not have water until the pipes thaw out. In some instances a break or crack could occur. In that instance water flow may not return until a repair is made. You would most likely notice this if there was also a loss in pressure. In January 2018 many of our customers were without water for up to 24-hours. This is a good time to have bottled water on hand. The pipes must naturally warm and thaw for the water to be functional again. This process just requires warmth and patience. Many customers used a hair dryer at the main entry point of water to the home to expedite the thawing process. Have a great day, Paul and Dorinda Obsta 713-253-4810 obstaplumbinginc.com RMP-39473 All things kitchen faucets | Dec 2019 Been a while, right? It's easy to take it for granted. At least until it doesn't work or starts leaking. While we certainly hope your kitchen faucet is in great working order, we wanted to answer some common questions we get and new technology that is coming to this trusty kitchen fixture. How long does a kitchen faucet last? Most modern kitchen faucets will last anywhere from 15-20 years. The lifespan of the faucet is determined by the frequency of use and the brand. What is the most reliable brand of kitchen faucet? At Obsta Plumbing we prefer Delta, Moen or Kohler. These are the best companies for warranty reasons, parts in the future being available and customer service. What is the newest, latest and greatest faucet on the market? Delta recently released a Touch2O faucet that works with Amazon’s Alexa. This means you could have your very own touch free kitchen assistant. The faucet is voice activated and can handle simple tasks such as “Alexa, ask Delta to dispense 1 cup of water”, “Alexa, ask Delta to preheat the water”, “Alexa, ask Delta to turn off” all of these commands can be done without physically touching the faucet. If your hands are dirty and need to be washed, simply say “Alexa, ask Delta to turn on” and the water will turn on. Watch the quick video below of this new high tech faucet. If you are interested in having this faucet installed please call 713-253-4810 for an appointment or you can send an email to info@obstaplumbing.com or you can book online at www.obstaplumbing.com What do I need to know if I am replacing my kitchen faucet? Generally speaking you need to know how many holes are in your sink for a faucet replacement. Depending on design you may have to install hole covers or a plate. Some faucets have soap dispensers that come with them or can be purchased as an addition if you want to go from a 3-4 hole sink to a single hole faucet. What is the cylinder next to my kitchen faucet and what does it do? This cylinder next to your faucet is called the Air Gap and is not part of the faucet it is intended for the dishwasher. This is the back flow prevention for the dishwasher in the event it malfunctions, allowing the water to go into the sink. If you have any questions, please let us know. Have a great day, Paul and Dorinda Obsta 713-253-4810 obstaplumbinginc.com RMP-39473 All things toilets to avoid a naughty potty for the holidays | Nov 2019 ...the holidays when you've got a home full of guests or family visiting is even worse. Get that potty in working order before the holidays! Here's a few things you should know to help avoid disaster. How many gallons of water does a toilet use? Every toilet manufactured since 1994 uses a maximum of 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Some newer models are known for using less water. What is your preferred toilet? At Obsta Plumbing we prefer American Standard, Kohler or Toto Drake. In Paul & Dorinda’s house they have the American Standard Champion 4, elongated, comfort height toilets. If you follow the attached link you will see what all this toilet can do. We do not recommend trying this at home but when it comes to taking care of business this American Standard does the job. If this is something that interests you and you would like to replace your toilet(s) we can remove your old toilet and install this new American Standard for $655.00. If you are interested in replacing several a discount can be given depending on how many toilets you are replacing. Just contact the office for more details. We have had great success with American Standard, Kohler and Toto Drake when it comes to warranty matters. They are professional and stand behind their product making it easy for us to assist our customers when they have a naughty potty that needs to have a warranty repair. Will my toilet go bad? Generally speaking a toilet will not go bad unless there are cracks or chips in it. The mechanical parts inside the toilet are most often times what fails. The flapper, fill valve, water supply, tank to bowl gasket, etc. are often times what fails. While those parts can typically be repaired sometimes they cannot or some times they have an inferior design that makes replacement more cost effective. My toilet rocks when someone sits on it, why is that? Toilets can rock for several different reasons. Sometimes they rock because something is wrong with the flange (pipe under the toilet). Other times they start to rock as there may have been some settling in the house and they need to have additional shims to balance them. A rocking toilet can lead to other more costly repairs so it is better to get it assessed and repaired sooner than later. We plunged our toilet and now it leaks at the base, why? When you plunge a toilet it forces pressure through the toilet that can cause the wax ring to be compromised. When this occurs the toilet should be pulled, a new wax ring installed and the toilet reseated. Don’t let a naughty potty ruin your holidays. Call Obsta Plumbing today if you need to schedule a repair. If you have any questions, please let us know. Have a great day, Paul and Dorinda Obsta 713-253-4810 obstaplumbinginc.com RMP-39473 Water Softeners and Why they are Important | Sept 2019 Hard water is water that has a high mineral content. This high mineral content is made up of mostly calcium. What is so bad about Hard Water? Hard water causes mineral build up on plumbing ﬁxtures, water heaters and other appliances. Build up of minerals will drastically decrease the life span of plumbing ﬁxtures, water heaters, appliances and some pipes. What if I am on a low or no sodium diet? For those that have concerns with sodium or are worried about an increase of salt/sodium in their diet we can use potassium instead of salt. This will give you the same beneﬁt without the salt. Do I need to use a water softener on outside faucets? Most houses are not pre plumbed for a water softener. Since houses are not pre plumbed when a water softener is installed it allows soft water out of all the faucets inside and out. The water softeners we install have a bypass that we teach the customer how to operate. Once you understand and know how to use the bypass it is an easy solution to allow you to do things like water your grass, plants, ﬁll your pool or hot tub. You simply put the softener on bypass until you have completed those tasks needed and then return it to the regular settings. What are some advantages of a water softener? There are several advantages to having a water softener. Some examples are: Subscribe Longer life span on your water heater(s); Past Issues Easier to clean toilets, sinks and shower glass; Longer life span on appliances like your dishwasher, washing machine and coffee pot; The use of less soap when you take a shower or wash dishes; If you wash your own car soft water will prevent your car from having water spots. If you have any questions, please let us know. Have a great day, Paul and Dorinda Obsta 713-253-4810 obstaplumbinginc.com RMP-39473 More Posts Stay informed! Sign up for our monthly newsletter that has useful tips on how to keep your plumbing in tip-top shape. RMP - 39473 Paul Obsta Regulated by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners P.O. Box 4200 Austin, TX 78765-4200 1-800-845-6584 www.tsbpe.state.tx.us Service Areas Katy, Texas Fulshear, Texas Sugar Land, Texas Cypress, Texas Richmond, Texas Sealy, Texas Brookshire, Texas Hempstead, Texas Missouri City, Texas Menu Home Residential Commercial Contact Us About Us Plumbing Tips