Plumbing
Faucets
H.C Blake’s skilled plumbers can handle any faucet repair or replacement whether part of a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, bathtub, shower, wet bar, laundry room, water shut-off valves or even an outdoor hose bib. Faucets contain moving parts and they break and wear out over time. We can also solve any sink clog; repair or replace an existing sink or install a new one wherever you need it, whether in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or bar.
How to turn off the water supply if your faucet breaks
It happens. Faucets break, sometimes violently, and water begins spewing all over the wall and floor. Don’t panic! Look beneath the sink for the water shut-off valves. There is a cold water shut-off valve and a hot water shut-off valve. They’re usually chrome with a small oval valve handle. Turn the handles clockwise until the water stops pouring out of the faucet. Sometimes water shut-off valves freeze up from lack of use. If it won’t budge, get a pair of pliers and slowly turn the knob back and forth until the rubber seat inside loosens. Don’t force it all at once or it could break and cause bigger plumbing problems. If the valve spins freely and won’t turn the inner seat, tighten the set screw on the face and try again. Once the valve is moving, turn off the water and call H.C Blake Co.
Toilets
If you have a problem toilet that always seems to clog, run (leak), lack flushing power or if you need any sort of toilet repair or replacement, H.C Blake Co licensed plumbing specialists can solve the problem.
Clogs
Is there a more helpless feeling than when a toilet won’t flush? Water rises in the bowl and begins spilling onto the floor as panic sets in. If a toilet requires plunging on a regular basis, there is probably an obstruction in the trap or further down the drainpipe. It may even be a symptom of a bigger problem farther down the sewer line. We’re experts at dealing with clogged toilets.
Running toilets
If you hear water running in your toilet tank for extended periods after a flush, then your toilet is leaking. It is dumping water down the overflow tube and wasting up to 200 gallons of water daily. The problem may be a corroded overflow pipe or flush valve assembly. Sometimes the culprit is a worn out flapper valve. Stop jiggling the handle and call H.C Blake Co. Chances are you’ll save enough money on your next few water bills to cover the cost of the plumbing repair.
How old and inefficient is your toilet?
If your toilet was manufactured before 1994, it is probably costing you a fortune in water. Most older toilets used 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf). Newer low-flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons per flush and the newest low-flow designs provide the same amount of flushing power as old 3.5 gallon models. A H.C Blake Co plumber can install an efficient new toilet that will conserve water and save you money month after month.
There are many new environmentally-friendly toilet designs that go even further to save water. Some designs have a dual flushing system which uses only 0.9 gallons to flush liquid waste but all 1.6 gallons to flush solid waste. You are welcome to purchase a toilet from the store of your choice then seek our plumbing services to have it installed. Or we can provide you with options before delivering and installing the toilet you want.
Showers and Tubs
Today’s bathrooms feature an array of shower and tub designs. Most are conventional tub & shower combinations, others are ornate with a variety of water jets, shower heads and faucet designs. H.C Blake’s licensed plumbing specialists are masters of all shower repairs, bathtub drain repairs, water pressure issues and even installations/replacements. We are the experts to call for your bathroom plumbing solutions.
Water Heaters
Our plumbers know all about conventional gas or electric water heaters as well as newer tankless (on- demand) water heaters. Don’t stress over water heater repairs, H.C Blake Co will take plumbing problems off your back. You may purchase a water heater through us or pick up one from the supplier of your choice and hire H.C Blake Co to install it.
Efficiency
Tankless heaters are considered more energy efficient than conventional heaters because they don’t have to continually heat a tank of water. Tankless heaters heat water instantly whenever a hot water tap is opened. But not all conventional heaters are created equally. The most heavily insulated models like the Marathon® brand rival tankless heaters for efficiency and require no special modifications to your power supply, gas lines or ventilation.
Is your water heater too hot?
To reduce the risk of scalding and to avoid the risk of running out of hot water, most plumbing companies, including H.C Blake Co recommend a temperature setting of 120°-125° F.
Be safe
Always keep safety in mind when it comes to water heaters. Never store paints, solvents or combustibles near the unit due to the obvious risk of fire.
Garbage Disposer
Many of H.C Blake Co plumbing service calls involve garbage disposers. They may be one of the most misused appliances in any home. Few people realize that garbage disposers are only designed to handle light food residue that is rinsed from plates and cooking utensils before they go into the dishwasher.
Large quantities of food and debris going into disposers can overwhelm them and clog the kitchen sink drain. Few things are more frustrating than a kitchen sink that won’t drain but H.C Blake Co will repair or replace broken disposers and get your sink back to normal in no time.
Water Filtration
If you are looking for ways to improve the water quality in your home in Huntsville, call H.C Blake Co today.
How we help the water quality in your home:
The water quality varies across the Madison Co. area so it’s important to find a solution that meets the quality criteria of your own home. There are a few solutions that we can help with.
WATER SOFTENING:
‘Hard’ water is an accumulation of minerals in your water supply, mainly calcium and magnesium compounds. The result is water that leaves scale on faucets, sinks, pipes and appliances. It can also make it harder to clean things, requiring more detergent to create a lather, and requiring more effort. A water softening system in your home can make for a luxurious shower, easier cleaning and fewer pipe and appliance problems.
H.C Blake Co can assist by showing you various water softening options, the systems with the best warranties and lowest running costs – and best of all our installations are backed by a satisfaction guarantee.
WATER FILTRATION & PURIFICATION:
Some of the contaminants in the water supply can be surprising, ranging from lead to pesticides to coliform bacteria. The levels vary across the city, and you can expect them to be within EPA limits. The controversy comes with the health effects at those limits when there is low level exposure day after day, year after year from drinking water. For example the previous ‘healthy’ limit on some contaminants for some EPA limits were recently cut dramatically after new research. So it is not surprising that more and more families are enjoying the peace of mind that comes with the additional comfort of a home water filtration and purification system.
And it’s not just better peace of mind for your family, it can also make for crisper, cleaner and better tasting water too.
Again, H.C Blake Co can help with friendly advice and a choice of systems to help you.
Drain Cleaning and Sewer Repair
H.C Blake Co. can handle any clogged sewer you may have. But we do much more than clean sewer lines. We also offer sewer line repair and we can handle any other plumbing jobs too.
Kitchen drains clog over time. They run slower and slower as greases, soaps, fats and detergents build up on the inner walls of the pipes and eventually cause blockage. A H.C Blake Co. service technician who specializes in kitchen plumbing jobs will use a sink machine to cut through the clog and remove all debris. Your kitchen drainpipes will be as good as new.
Shower and tub drains present their own challenges. The clog culprit is usually hair and soap buildup in the trap and drainpipe. When you’re taking a shower you should never see standing water in the stall or tub. Properly functioning drains should carry the water away almost instantly. If water covers the shower floor and your feet, you have a clogged shower drain, which will eventually become completely blocked. A service technician skilled in shower repair techniques will use a tub and shower drain cleaning machines to cleanse the drain of any and all debris, restoring it to new condition.
Bathroom sink drains may become clogged with hair, toothpaste, soap and grime. H.C Blake Co. provides many bathroom plumbing solutions and sink drains are one of the more common problems we solve. H.C Blake Co. will remove the clog and thoroughly clean the entire pipe so your sinks will drain like new.
Toilet drains are sometimes overwhelmed with toilet paper and even the occasional kid’s toy. H.C Blake Co. can solve the problem with a machine that feeds a spinning cable into the toilet drain. The cable has special spring loaded blades on the tip that will cut through any obstruction while hugging the inside wall of the pipe and thoroughly cleaning it to restore full drainage and powerful flushes.
Floor drains are common in basements, laundry rooms and garages. They may also be found on patios and driveways as well as older bathrooms. These drains are equipped with a trap that should be kept filled with water to prevent odors and sewer gas from escaping. Test drains occasionally to make sure they are aren’t clogged and are ready to carry away water and prevent flooding. Dirt and debris can clog floor drains but H.C Blake Co. can open them quickly to restore good drainage.
Main sewer lines are the largest drains in a home. All other household drains lead to the main sewer line. The main sewer runs underground from the house and connects to a city sewer line or a septic tank. Your main sewer line can become clogged from the debris those other household drains wash into it or by tree roots that penetrate pipe joints from surrounding soil.
A H.C Blake Co technician using a machine will cut through the clog and clean the main sewer pipe right down to its inner walls. If the technician has any indication there is a problem with the main sewer line, he may perform a video sewer inspection to determine if the pipe is damaged or corroded. The technician will share the video with the homeowner and present options for sewer line repair or replacement if necessary.
Sump Pump
A sump pump will solve most basement flooding and leaking issues. As full service residential plumbing experts, H.C Blake Co can install a sump system in your basement that will direct water from around and beneath the basement foundation into a sump pit at the lowest point. The electric powered sump pump will discharge the water out of the pit and into the city storm drain or wherever local codes require.
Replacement Pumps
Like any equipment with moving parts, sump pumps will wear out over time and will need to be replaced. There is no general rule on how often a sump pump should be replaced since it depends on how often the pump operates.
Test Regularly
It is important to test your sump pump regularly to make sure it will operate when the next big downpour occurs. Test it by pouring a bucket of water into the sump pit. The pump should turn on, remove the water from the pit and shut itself off in a matter of seconds.
Pipe Leaks and Repair
Sometimes drains clog or supply pipes leak, freeze or burst requiring repair or maintenance. Your water supply pipes may have problems that limit water pressure, impacting everything from the quality of your shower to the reach of your lawn sprinkler. Behind your walls and beneath your floors there is an intricate network of water supply lines, drains and vents that make up your residential plumbing system.
Nobody understands residential plumbing better than H.C Blake Co. When we make plumbing service calls to your home, we’ll address the plumbing problem you called us about and diagnose any potential plumbing problems that may be lurking out of sight. You’ll get the information and options necessary to prevent future problems and costly repairs.
Copper pipe is ideal for ½ inch and 1 inch water supply lines leading from the main water supply pipe to household sinks and toilets. Copper is popular with plumbing contractors because it is clean, doesn’t rust and is very reliable for both hot and cold water delivery. Copper pipes provide trouble-free service for decades. Copper pipes will freeze and burst if left exposed to the elements. This is only a problem if the pipes run through the outer walls of your home so be sure those walls contain plenty of insulation.
PEX tubing looks something like a garden hose but it’s much stronger and more reliable. Its flexibility and strength make it as reliable as copper but easier for plumbers to work with. PEX stands for cross-linked polyethylene and it is being used increasingly for water supply lines as a low cost alternative to copper piping. Developed in the 1960s, PEX has been used in Europe for decades but was only introduced to the U.S. in the 1980s. No material is freeze-proof but PEX is freeze- resistant and can expand and contract if the water inside freezes.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) pipe is the most common material used today for household drainpipes and vents. It comes in a wide variety of sizes and is durable and reliable. It is finding renewed acceptance as a copper substitute in pressurized water supply lines. It has long been popular for drainage and sewage piping. PVC pipe is inexpensive and popular with plumbing contractors because its joints fit tightly together to resists root intrusion and it is easy to repair. It can be quickly glued together to provide decades of trouble-free service.
Cast Iron pipes are tough and reliable. Today they are more commonly found in commercial and municipal applications than in residential plumbing. However, iron pipes can be found in older homes. Cast iron resists corrosion and can last 100 years or more under ideal conditions. Plumbers work with cast iron drainage pipes, water supply lines and natural gas lines.
Lead pipes have fallen out of favor today due to the danger of lead-related illnesses and health problems. Lead was the most common type of pipe for centuries because it was easy to work with. The word “plumbing” actually is derived from the Latin word for lead, “plumbum.” If you have lead water supply lines, your water should be tested to determine the exposure level of your home. H.C Blake Co recommends replacing lead pipes with safer materials. At the very least, you should always run the tap for two or three minutes after it feels cold before drinking it or cooking with it.
Galvanized steel pipes have also fallen out of favor in new construction. After years of use, minerals from water react with the galvanizing material to cause scale build up inside the pipe. This will eventually narrow the diameter of the pipe resulting in lower water pressure and reduced volume.
