Category Archives: News

There is never a convenient time to deal with an overflowing toilet, yet it’s a problem most people will run into at least once. So, what’s the best course of action? Next time you’re faced with the unmistakable sound of water spilling onto the bathroom floor, follow these steps:

1. Turn Water Off

Stop it at the source and turn off the toilet’s water supply. This is typically a valve located on the wall behind the toilet. Turn the valve until the water stops running. Shutting off the valve may be difficult since it is usually always open.

2. Depress the Suction

If your toilet continues to overflow or you cannot turn off the water, remove the tank’s lid and depress the suction. This is a hinged rubber disc or flap that covers the hole at the bottom of the tank. If the suction is open, manually close it. 

3. Call Reliable Plumbing

Once the water has stopped flowing, turn to the professionals. At Reliable Plumbing, our trained experts are ready to restore your bathroom and prevent future inconveniences. From drain system cleaning and repair to plumbing installation, we offer a variety of plumbing services to meet your needs. Contact us today and learn more about our residential plumbing solutions.

Many things can cause a clogged toilet, but few ever consider toilet paper the culprit of these annoying backups. Though toilet paper is meant to be flushed, not all brands are created with clog prevention in mind. Check out this list of toilet paper products we recommend to keep your pipes clear of costly clogs.

Single Ply Paper

Since single-ply toilet paper is thinner, it breaks down faster and more entirely than multi-ply toilet paper. Even if you use more single-ply sheets of toilet paper than sheets of double-ply paper, the single-ply typically still breaks down quicker since each sheet is less dense. Not only is it the safest toilet paper to use for avoiding clogs, but it is also the most affordable option. Lastly, single-ply products are better for recreational vehicles like boats, motor homes and RVs. A quality single-ply toilet paper brand we recommend is Scott 1,000.

Water Dissolvable

Materials also impact how fast it takes for toilet paper to break down. For instance, toilet paper made with lotion breaks down slowly, while brands labeled as “septic-safe” dissolve rapidly. Though septic-safe products are designed to protect septic systems, they are also beneficial for people living in apartments, in a city with centralized plumbing or if their plumbing system is older and more vulnerable to clogs. For quality septic-safe toilet paper brands, we recommend Cottonelle Ultra CleanCare Soft toilet paper and Scott Rapid-Dissolving toilet paper.

Though it is helpful to use pipe-conscience products, clogs happen. That’s where we step in. At Reliable Plumbing, we know how to get your plumbing system on track. We offer residential, commercial and industrial plumbing solutions from drain cleaning to plumbing repairs and installations. Our experts are here for you. Contact us today to see how we can help you!

Most homeowners have dealt with clogged drains. All too common, these annoying occurrences can lead to costly damages like flooding, structural damage, mold and more. The best way to prevent these dangerous drainage issues is to know what to flush and what to avoid. Stay in the clear of clogs, and check out this list of materials you should never flush down your drains.

Flushable Wipes

Though many wipes are marketed as “flushable”, they can cause serious pipe issues if they are not water dissolvable. Flushable wipes that do not break down can get stuck in drain pipes and build up over time, causing drains to clog. When purchasing wipes, it is important to ensure that the product is labeled as “water dissolvable”, however, it is best to not flush wet wipes and to stick to just toilet paper. 

Paper

Most kitchen and bathroom paper materials, like paper towels and napkins, are highly absorbent and should never be flushed down a drain. Capable of soaking up large amounts of water, these paper products bunch up in drains and can cause significant blockages.

Hygiene Products

From dental floss and cotton swabs to makeup wipes and more, personal hygiene products should never go into your drains. Though they are small, these products do not break down and can cause obstructions in your drains.

To keep your home free of costly clogs, it is best to only flush water dissolvable materials like toilet paper. Though this will reduce your chances of dealing with a clogged drain, pipes are not perfect. At Reliable Plumbing, our team of professionals provides expert plumbing solutions, from drain cleaning and installation to leak and detection repair. See how we can provide you with plumbing services that you can rely on.

As the number of power outages across the U.S. continues to soar, homeowners are desperate for reliable energy sources. Though it is tempting to impulsively buy a standby generator after experiencing a power outage, it is crucial to consult with a professional before agreeing to a cheap installation job – your safety could depend on it. 

Don’t let the idea of a good deal make you the next victim of faulty generator installation scams. Unqualified companies often attempt to take advantage of the high demand for standby generators, promising homeowners savings on installations. Though the benefits of having a standby home generator outweigh the investment, they are financial commitments where quality should never be compromised. 

Faulty installation jobs are done incorrectly and sometimes even illegally with non-permitted generators, leaving homeowners with possible legal, financial and even physical damages. A non-permitted generator can lead to Department of Buildings (DOB) violations and costly penalties and even require the removal of the generator from one’s home. Any damages caused by an illegally installed generator can also impact one’s home insurance coverage. 

When standby generators are not properly installed and fail to meet code, they can also be incredibly dangerous. The biggest risk this poses is known as “feedback,” a hazardous condition in which an electrical current is fed back into the grid, potentially electrocuting and harming homeowners, utility workers and others who are using the same utility transformer. 

Faulty installations also leave homeowners with unreliable power sources more likely to experience malfunctions, tripped breaks and a short generator lifespan. These unexpected damages can cause inconvenient and potentially dangerous scenarios, leaving homeowners without power during severe weather events, despite owning a generator. 

When done correctly, at-home generator installations take approximately four to six weeks and require a licensed electrician and plumber, as well as an architect to obtain permits. Though proper generator installation requires more time and investment, the peace of mind and added home value are priceless. 

Avoid unreliable generators that could leave you in a dangerous situation and consult with the experts. At Reliable Plumbing, our team of highly trained professionals offers expert plumbing solutions for residential, commercial and industrial clients. As licensed plumbers, you can depend on us to ensure the plumbing side of your generator is properly installed. Contact us to learn more about our installation services and how we can help you stay safe and out of the dark. 

Severe weather is nothing new to Louisiana and often causes devastating impacts on homes. Though the state is well-versed in recovering from natural disasters, not all damages are obvious and are sometimes even invisible.

Intense weather conditions can damage and detach a water heater’s vent pipe, causing poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) to be pumped into a home, exposing the occupants to the deadly gas. Odorless and colorless, CO is difficult to identify and can cause sudden illness and death. 

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent CO poisoning, the most effective being to ensure your home has a battery-powered or battery backup CO detector. To make sure your CO detector is properly operating, it is important to change the batteries every six months. Along with installing a CO detector, it is also beneficial to periodically check your water heater during severe weather events to ensure its vent pipe is properly intact.

In the event that your water heater receives damage, Reliable Plumbing works to keep you and your home safe. Our trained specialists provide water heater installation and repair, as well as a variety of services to meet your needs. Serving Baton Rouge and surrounding areas since 1984, Reliable Plumbing strives to offer expert plumbing solutions for residential, commercial and industrial clients. See how our highly trained team of professionals can serve you.

Do-it-yourself home repairs are nothing new, but in the years since reality television programs and home improvement networks such as HGTV began to gain popularity, the number of DIY repairs has increased dramatically.  Oftentimes, these repairs can improve appearance or functionality for parts of your home for far less than a professional would charge. However, there are occasions when attempting at-home repairs without the guidance of an expert can result in additional time, headache, and money.

DIY plumbing repairs are often an unfortunate example of this type of scenario.  Too often, homeowners underestimate the level of expertise needed to tackle some common plumbing projects. When these repairs don’t go according to plan or are faulty, a professional must be called in to correct the problems.  To avoid this situation, it’s important to understand the complexity of some repairs and which ones should never be attempted alone.

• Water Lines: Any repair which involves changes to the plumbing system or infrastructure of your home is always best left to a professional.  These jobs are far more complex than leaky faucets and other small jobs, and they require a much higher level of expertise. This includes welding and pipe-fitting jobs which must be completed to perfection to avoid leaks, long-term water damage to the home, and even mold.
• Large Bathroom or Kitchen Renovations: Replacing fixtures and repairing leaky faucets are one thing.  Installations of items such as new dishwashers are bathtubs are quite another.  These jobs are major undertakings, and it is critical to make sure that drainage lines and water supply lines are properly installed.  Even small errors can lead to leaks, overflows, and mold.
• Water Heater Installation: Among the many reasons that you should avoid installing your own water heater are the possibility of not getting the right one for your specifications and needs, ventilation issues, fittings for natural gas lines, and the possibility of voiding the water heater’s warranty by foregoing professional installation.  Additionally, a professional may be able to determine if your water heater is simply in need of repair and save you the cost of a full replacement.

DIY repairs may seem the logical way to save on cost for large plumbing jobs.  However, the risk far outweighs the reward. For some homeowners, these repairs may be completed to perfection, but for many more, problems may begin to appear that will cost even more time and money down the road.

If you have a major plumbing repair to undertake, contact the professionals at Reliable Plumbing. We have been an industry leader in the Greater Baton Rouge area since 1984.  Our master plumbers can evaluate your repair, giving a fair estimate of time and cost to get the job done right.  Simply click here to contact us, or call us directly at (225) 929-9510.

Few things are as disgusting as a bad odor in your home. Foul plumbing issues in Baton Rouge can cause smells that make life unpleasant for everyone around you and in some cases – the source of the odor may cause illness. The good news is, bad odors are easy to clean up with stuff you may already have on hand at home.

Removing the source of a foul odor is the best home remedy. This may sound obvious for garbage stinking up the trash can, but it could be something else, like food debris in your sink.

To eliminate odor coming from your sink, run ice cubes and squeeze lemons or oranges down your drain while running the disposal for about 30 seconds. Then, follow up by squirting liquid dishwashing detergent while the disposal is running. Finally, run cold water down the drain to clear leftover debris and your sink should be left odor free. If needed, follow with a couple tablespoons of baking soda.

Try putting out boxes of activated charcoal or baking soda in malodorous rooms. These safe and inexpensive powders absorb impurities in the air, while cleaning the odors away. Change the boxes out every few days to insure freshness and repeat as necessary to control odors.

A solution of half white vinegar.

and half water is an effective aerosol mist. Use it to absorb odors in the air, by spraying the solution in a stinky room with a regular household sprayer. Not only does vinegar clean, it has its own smell that will mask bad odors.

If your dog brings in the aftereffects of his encounter with the skunks in your neighborhood, use a citrus-based product to remove the offending odor. Skunk spray is oil-based, so the treatment must dissolve the oils; citrus is effective at breaking up oil, and it has its own pleasant aroma.

Sometimes, foul odors cannot be removed, but they can be lessened by masking them with another, more powerful scent. Flowers, plugins, potpourri, heated oils, scented candles, and cedar shavings are all effective odor-masking strategies. To avoid having your nose assaulted by one, all-powerful aroma, use a variety of pleasant scents to diffuse the air and cover up the smell.

For more information on getting rid of unwanted smells, contact Reliable Plumbing today!

In a lot of ways, the era in which we now live could be referred to as the do-it-yourself era. All it takes is a search engine and a little time, and you can find out solutions to nearly any problem, from the most efficient techniques to clean your kitchen to the best ways to keep insects out of your home.

What many homeowners don’t realize, however, is that some things are better left to the experts. One of these is plumbing repair. Although you may believe that most problems can be solved by switching out a pipe and pouring some drain cleaner down your sink, you could be heading into some very dangerous territory indeed. Let’s look at some facts about plumbing repair and why most jobs should be completed by a professional.

Plumbing repair is not as easy as it looks

This should go without saying, but it’s definitely important to note. Many homeowners have a can-do attitude. After all, we all want to be handy around the house. Not only does it make us feel more accomplished and involved with the daily goings-on of our home, fixing problems yourself can save you a substantial amount of money.

Plumbing, however, is a very specialized field. Most of the time, they require a lot of patience and hard work, not to mention the basic knowledge that’s needed to handle whatever situations may arise.

Plumbing repair requires expertise

When something goes wrong with your home’s plumbing, there’s a good chance that you may be looking at a considerable cost to get it fixed. This is one reason why some homeowners will attempt to rectify the problem themselves. Unfortunately, this can lead to more serious issues. Why? Because a do it yourselfer hasn’t had the necessary training to do a safe, reliable job. You may wind up saving a lot more money in the long run by hiring a professional straight away.

A professional plumber has spent a substantial amount of time learning the trade.  The ins and outs of plumbing repair take considerable time and dedication. And most times hiring a plumber isn’t as costly as you might think. It’s worth at least getting an estimate.

Plumbing repair professionals will guarantee their work

Many of us fancy ourselves doers. We want to fix our own cars, build our own fence, and repair our own plumbing. Regardless of how difficult a plumbing job can be, a number of homeowners will tackle it despite their lack of knowledge, and when they run into a problem, it’s too late. At that point, with your pipes in a shambles and your water turned off, you realize that perhaps this wasn’t the best idea. Any problems that you create will likely make matters worse, and this can cost you even more. And if you do fix the issue, what guarantee will you have that it’s been done to an acceptable standard? The answer is, absolutely none.

In regards to a professional plumber, the exact opposite is true. In addition to the aforementioned expertise that a plumber brings to the table, or in this case pipes, he or she also brings a guarantee for the work. If an issue crops up after the work has been completed, you’re covered. If  a mistake is made during the work, you’re covered. By hiring a professional, you can be sure that the job is done right. Reliable Plumbing is a well respected and trusted expert in Baton Rouge. If you are in a tight plumbing spot or have any questions, call Reliable Plumbing at (225) 929-9510. You can also download the free guide to help you decide on choosing a plumber.

It seems as if the do-it-yourself days are numbered. Busy families and workplaces make time one of our most valued assets. However, there are occasions when, even if you could do it yourself, you shouldn’t:

• Remodeling or moving plumbing might require a permit. Professional plumbing companies know exactly what the building codes are for your city and state.
• The shower valve (not the handle) controls hot and cold water. Don’t take the chance on damaging your shower walls. It’s time to call your plumber.
• If sewage backs up into the shower, it may be a problem with the main line. Only a professional plumber has the expertise and specialized equipment to make the fix.
• Any water heater repair requires a plumber, because so many things can go wrong during the repair process.

An article provided by the Houston, Texas Better Business Bureau (BBB) (https://www.bbb.org/houston/industry-tips/read/tip/how-to-choose-a-plumbing-company-26) offers some tips to selecting the right plumbing company for your home or business.

1. All plumbers are required to be licensed by the state. Request proof of licensing. Ask for verification of workman’s comp and liability insurance.
2. How long has this company been in business? Is this company a valued business within your city and community? Stability and commitment to the area in which your plumbers also live and work is indicative of excellent service.
3. Quotes are clear, concise, and worst-case-scenario based, whether it’s a time-and-materials or a flat-rate quote. In other words, your plumbing company doesn’t throw any curveballs and if possible, will bring the job in under the quote. There should not be additional fees for equipment, etc. That should be included in the quote.
4. If the plumbing company contractor mentions how swamped they are or can’t start your job in a timely manner . . . or the time quoted to finish the job seems a bit lengthy, run, don’t walk! Of course, this does not apply to local and state emergencies, like hurricane and flood damage, when plumbing companies are inundated with hapless victims’ requests for assistance.
5. Is your plumbing company knowledgeable about energy-saving, green plumbing options? The answer should be, “Yes!” Going green will lower your water bill, and there are tax incentives for installing solar water heaters. Then, there’s the main reason to go green: We want to clean up and preserve our environment.
6. Your plumbing company should not be limited to a few brands; they should be able to work with whatever name-brand you want. For example, you may prefer Grohe fixtures for your bathroom or kitchen. If your plumbing company cannot assist you with that brand, then it’s not your plumbing company. Whatever brand you or your plumber chooses, make sure the fixtures have the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and/or National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) stamps.
7. Your plumbing company should be able to provide a warranty for service; perhaps one for fixtures and one for installation labor.
8. Reputable plumbing companies belong to trade organizations, like PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors) and the BBB or Chamber of Commerce.
9. Word of mouth matters. Ask your neighbors, business associates and friends what plumbing company they recommend, based on their experiences.

At Reliable Plumbing, our residential, commercial, and industrial clients are our friends and neighbors in Baton Rouge. Call 225-929-9510 or contact us for additional information.