Category Archives: Residential Plumbing

Smelly Drains?

It’s not pleasant when it happens, nor is it pleasant to talk about. But, we are going to talk about it.

Stinky, smelly drains. What causes them?  What do you do to fix them?
First thing you need to do is to determine the cause of the odor

Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG)
Fog can create some smelly, and potentially damaging, build up in your drains. Not only is the FOG itself an odor generator, there are almost always food particles trapped in it, and as these particles spoil, they, too, can release an odor. The best way to prevent this is to never put FOG down your drain, even if you have a garbage disposal.

Rotten Eggs
Does your drain smell like rotten eggs?  That is most likely caused by hydrogen sulfide gas. Usually, this problem comes from your water (most often from your hot water heater), and causes your drain to smell like rotten eggs.  It is best to have a professional plumber diagnose this issue.

Septic or Sewer Problems
Sometimes leaks in your septic or sewer line can cause your drains to smell. This can be a fairly serious situation as it can indicate a backflow issue or other problem with your home’s main sewer or septic line.

Food Particles
Food can get stuck inside your drain and spoil, causing a really, foul odor. Rinsing your drain once a week with white vinegar and baking soda can help remove these food particles and flush them out of your drain system.

Foul odors from your plumbing system can be an indication that a problem exists. Do not ignore the smells, try the above or contact your Cincinnati Plumbers for their expert help in removing the smelly odors from your drains.

Sewer Line Inspection

Most buyers know to have a home inspection done before they buy their new home… but do you ever think of having the sewer lines inspected?

If not, you should!

If you are considering placing an offer on a home over 20 years old, you will want to get the sewer lines inspected.  Trees, tar paper/Orangeburg pipes and cesspools are just a few of the reasons to have the sewer lines inspected prior to buying.

A Sewer Line Inspection involves a camera mounted on a snake that gets put through the sewer lines.  Not only will this show if the lines are clogged, but can provide valuable information about the condition of the pipes and what material they are made out of.

This is not usually included in the Home Inspection,  but could cause you thousands in the long run. Spend a little now to save a fortune later!

Cincinnati Sewer Line Inpections

Video Camera Inspection

Flow-rite plumbing is proud to offer a Sewer Camera Inspection service to customers.

All video inspections are recorded and given to the owner for inspection as they please. We have a state of the art video inspection system which records all video in DVD format including voice notes and type written notes as well.

Why let the Rooter Companies camera your problematic sewer lines and not receive a copy of the video for your own review. Don’t be tricked into spending thousands for a repair when you can pay a few hundred and get the job quoted by many different companies.

Give your Cincinnati Plumbers a call today at 513-383-4242 for all your plumbing needs!

Remember…… Why be Wrong ?…. When you can Flow-Rite!

Flow-Rite Plumbing Cincinnati Plumbers

Battery back up sump pumps are a sure bet!

Battery back up sump pumps are the way to go!

If you are trying to decide what type of back up sump pump system to get then read this article. All back up sump pump systems are not the same. The most common and the most relied upon systems in use are battery back up types. There are many manufactures to choose from with many different models of battery back up systems available. We recommend only one though.

The proven reliability of Pro Series Pumps when installed by a professional plumber will give you the extra piece of mind you need when your away from home.

The other alternative is a water powered type of back up sump pump system that relies solely on your household water pressure and water volume. This does eliminate the need for batteries and charging systems. These pumps can be useful in certain instances but in most cases waste more water than they can pump. This is usually a two to one ratio. These type of back up systems usually do not pump half as much as a battery back up system when compared in gallons per hour.

The bottom line about back up sump pumps is choose the one that best suits your needs. How much water does your main sump pump discharge during a normal rainstorm. Household sump pumps are piped according to the buildings particular situation. Some recieve a lot of water on a regular basis and others receive a very small amount very rarely. This is something that should be determined and sized accordingly by a Cincinnati Plumber.

If you are in need of a Cincinnati Sump pump Installer then call (513) 383-4242

Oxford Ohio plumbers

Flow-Rite Plumbing of Cincinnati proudly serves Oxford, Ohio and its surrounding areas. We provide plumbing services such as drain cleaning and complete bathroom installations. Oxford Backflow Testing and installation services are also available. We install gas fireplace inserts and water heaters.

Call (513) 383-4242 for pricing and info.

Free Cincinnati Plumber estimates

Feel free to call a Cincinnati Plumber at (513) 383-4242 and get a free estimate on all your Cincinnati plumbing needs.

We can usually quote prices for water heaters and fixture replacements over the phone or via our contact form. Estimates over the phone are ball park figures only unless stated otherwise and are usually a not to exceed number or worst case scenario. Remember that only so much information about the job can be given consideration when giving an estimate. Without actually seeing the actual circumstances of the specific job we cannot give a 100 percent price to complete the job.

We apologize for any inconvenience this causes however please understand that we cannot be 100 percent accurate without seeing the job site. There may be circumstances unforseen by both parties.

We will advise the customer in writing of any increase or decrease in pricing before the work is complete.

On site estimates are available for a fee of 25.00 and include a hard price estimate of all work to be performed. The 25 dollar fee will be credited towards the work being estimated if performed. All new work is guaranteed for a period of one year and all repair work is warranted as well but may vary depending upon the situation. The customer will be advised verbally and in writing in either case.

Cincinnati Backflow Testers

Are you in need of a backflow test in the Greater Cincinnati Area or surrounding areas and even in Northern Kentucky!

Flow-Rite Plumbing offers backflow testing for all commercial buildings and residential lawn irrigation systems.

Please call (513) 383-4242 for a quote. We offer discounts for multiple devices whether all in one building or all in one neighborhood! Call a Cincinnati plumber for all your plumbing needs at (513) 383-4242

Why be Wrong?…. When you can Flow-Rite!

Announcing new service areas!

We are proud to announce our service area has expanded substantially! We proudly provide plumbing service to Oxford Ohio and all surrounding areas routinely.

We are also pleased to announce that the same great service that you rely upon is now available in Richmond Indiana and surrounding areas as well as Connersville Indiana. Don’t forget to tell your friends and family. You can obtain service by calling (513) 383-4242

As always, Why be wrong? …. When you can Flow-Rite!

Rainy Days Ahead!

Sump Pumps

Are you afraid to leave home for an extended period of time because your sump pump doesn’t have a back-up system? What if we get a heavy rain storm and the electric gos out? Will all your valuables in the basement survive the flood when this happens? What if your sump pump doesn’t even work when the electric is on because it’s too old or worn out? It only takes minutes to ruin a lifetimes worth of memories,valuables,keepsakes or living areas.

Why ask yourself any of these questions? Why worry about that heavy rainstorm and a bad sump pump ruining your vacation?

You don’t have to!
Call Flow-Rite Plumbing today to schedule your sump pump check-up. We check all the workings of your sump system and back-up system to make sure it is in tip top shape in case of that unexpected heavy rain storm or power outage during a rain storm.

Do you need a back-up sump pump system installed or maintained? We can install a back-up sump pump system for any existing one pump system that you may have.

Give us a call today at (513) 383-4242 for all your sump pump needs!

Why be Wrong?…. When you can Flow-Rite!

Glendale, Oh Plumbers

Do you live in Glendale,OH ?

If you reside in Glendale Ohio then you should know who to call when you need a professional Glendale plumber. We specialize in plumbing repairs on older homes like the ones in the Glendale area. Flow-Rite Plumbing has made many of your neighbors satisfied customers. We are quite familiar with the older plumbing piping and fixtures located in many homes in the Glendale area. We have access to all the hard to find parts that these older fixtures require and are knowledgeable about them.

If you are tired of the old (standby) plumbing company and are in need of a Glendale plumbing company you can trust time and time again when it comes to working on your older plumbing piping then give us a call at (513) 383-4242.

Why be Wrong?…..When you can Flow-Rite!

(513) 383-4242

Benefits of Remodeling a Kitchen or Bath in a Sluggish Housing Market

Remodeling now could make you money later

When it comes to spending your money, it only makes sense that you would want to be sure that the item or service you are purchasing is worth the expense. Especially in these times of financial uncertainty, many people are making the choice to put money back in their homes as insurance of better times to come.

Homes that include updated bathrooms and kitchens naturally bring higher returns and have higher values. Adding an additional bathroom to your home is definitely a step in the right direction. The benefits bathroom and kitchen remodeling can be enormous if you choose the right way to do it and the right plumbing contractor for the job.

The increased value in your home is a major benefit in the long run. Eventually the housing crisis will pass and nothing puts you and your family in a good spot to benefit like having a newly remodeled bath or kitchen when you plan on selling. Even if you have no plans to sell your home soon, the increased value can be used as home equity and help plan and pay for things like college, more home improvements, or even retirement needs.

In a addition to the increase in value there is the increase in usable square footage if an addition or basement bathroom is added. Now is the time to take advantage of the lack of work out there for many plumbing contractors and get the lowest price possible. The cheaper you get it done now when the prices are lower the more equity you will have when the housing market increases. Buy Low, Sell High!

Call a Plumbing Professional at (513) 383-4242 for an in-home estimate now

Fixing common Faucet problems

Have you ever had one of these problems with a faucet in your house? We have compiled a short list of some of the most common problems we see with faucets and how to fix them.

  • Lower than usual amount of water coming out of the faucet than normal. Many things can cause this to happen such as water pressure fluctuation or even hard water. Most of the time it is caused by hard water or other debris that may be in your water lines. This is easily rectified by un-screwing and removing the little screen or aerator from your faucet. This is the last point of the faucet that water will travel through before it ends up in the sink. These tend to get clogged up with lime and mineral debris that is common in hard water in many areas. A good soak in a cleaner such as Lime-A-Way or CLR  overnight will do the trick. This also works for shower heads and pull out sprayers at a kitchen sink. If your not sure how to remove the aerator then give your Cincinnati residential plumber a call and we will be more than happy to assist you. 

 

This is a picture of an aerator on a kitchen faucet
This is a picture of an aerator on a kitchen faucet
  • When you turn on a faucet you hear a chattering noise or loud knocking.This is usually a sign of high water pressure. It could be the result of a worn or damaged water pressure regulator. These valves are located at your main water supply entrance to the house and do need to be replaced at times. There is another possibility also. If you removed and replaced your aerator make sure that all pieces went back in the order they were removed and that no parts are missing. This could create the noise as well. The replacement of a faulty water pressure regulator is usually a job for a professional to complete. If you are in need of such a service call a Cincinnati residential plumber at (513) 383-4242 

Cincinnati bathroom remodeler

Let Flow-Rite Plumbing Remodel your Bathroom

Flow-Rite Plumbing of Cincinnati now offers complete bathroom remodeling from start to finish. We start with an in home estimate where we get input from the customer on what style of fixtures they desire  along with room layouts and choices of flooring. After we get an idea of what the customer wants we will write out a full estimate for the project and present it to them along with payment options.

If your tired of dealing with fly by night contractors that do a botched job with no warranty on their workmanship we don’t blame you! Give us a call today at (513) 383-4242 and schedule a free in home estimate for your bathroom remodeling needs. With over a thousand different fixtures and many brand name manufactures to choose from why not make us your next bathroom re-modeler. After all, the bathroom fixtures are the most important part of any bathroom from design to functionality and even finishes.

Cincinnati Drain Cleaner to the Rescue!

Our surprising drain cleaner does it again!

If you have not had the pleasure to use our drain cleaner for the maintenance of your household drains then you may want to try it for yourself. If you have any drains that run slow or seem to be problematic then you might want to check out this awesome new drain cleaner that keeps your drains running properly and smoothly. A few examples are bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, laundry sinks and floor drains

Monthly and Bi-monthly treatments can and will significantly reduce the possibility of common clogs in a household drainage system. All drain cleaner comes with easy to understand instructions in the case that the homeowner wishes to use it themselves on a regular basis.

If the customer prefers we can come to the residence on a monthly or Bi-monthly basis and treat their drains for them. Some customers prefer this service over self treatment. It often provides them the assurance that the maintenance is performed professionally and on time. This is a piece of mind when it comes to keeping your drains free and clear for the years to come.

Call today for a quote on your drain cleaning maintenance in Cincinnati !

Call (513) 383-4242 for a quote