The adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" can be applied for more than physical health. We tend to take for granted how our water is delivered and disposed of in our homes and businesses until there is a problem. A dripping faucet never just stops dripping on its own. Little things like leaky faucets and a toilet that tends to keep running well after a flush can become more than an annoyance. If you consider all the items that depend on properly running plumbing in your home or business it can really add up. Laundry, dish washer, water heater, toilets, faucets, shower heads, refrigerator ice maker, water softeners all could be sources of increased utility bills and eventual replacement events. And we haven't even mentioned making sure the water goes down drains without clogging or running over. Why not schedule an inexpensive whole house maintenance check on your plumbing and prevent a more costly repair bill in the future?

Leaky faucets, plugged drains and failing water heaters are normal wear and tear items in all homes. Manufactured homes have unique needs when it comes to plumbing. Accessibility, for example, is sometimes tricky depending on how the skirting was  installed and whether the home is on a foundation. Unlike stick built houses water heaters typically are accessed from the outside of a mobile home. Depending on the age of the mobile home the plumbing lines and fixtures may have a shorter lifespan than in houses built onsite. While manufactured homes have improved dramatically over the years, the materials used in the construction tend to require more maintenance over the life of the house. If the house has been moved, things can loosen up or break. Water damage from a leaky pipe or fixture can end up costing thousands of dollars to replace flooring and insulation. Not all plumbers are licensed to make repairs in manufactured homes. Others prefer not to work on them at all. Finding a licensed plumber that is qualified and experienced in manufactured homes is vital to extending the life of your home. Finding one that responds quickly to a plumbing issue can be the difference between a  minor repair and a major renovation. There is no such thing as a minor leak when it comes to plumbing. Leaks don't heal themselves and the longer it is put off, the more damage will occur.
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Call Van Allen Plumbing now!

Getting your sewer and drain lines inspected can be a preventative or reactive action you can take depending on your situation. Many clients contact us with symptoms including foul-smelling odors or backed-up pipes. With DIY solutions exhausted, a drain or sewer line failure is a problem to be fixed immediately. Luckily, we are here 23.5 hours a day, 7 days a week to diagnose and treat your plumbing problem. Inspections of your sewer and drain lines will locate plumbing problems including: 

• Debris blockage
• Leaking pipe joints
  
• Cracked sewer lateral (connecting your home to the main)
• Deteriorated piping materials
  
• Separated lateral joint
• Root intrusion (plant roots growing into your pipes)
• Bellied (or sagging) drain line
  

These are common residential or commercial plumbing problems that can be found and treated with our all-star plumbing team. 

As a preventative measure, we suggest that soon-to-be new homeowners get an inspection of the sewer and drain lines before making the purchase of a lifetime. As a third-party, we can provide you with the peace of mind that your home plumbing and sewer lines are in good shape or warn you about potential problems coming down the line. 

Whether it be a call you make because your drain lines are stubbornly blocked or to ensure that your sewer lines are clear and functioning for years to come, call us today to schedule one of our Van Allen Plumbing experts to inspect your Reno/Sparks commercial or residential property! 

Holiday season means family and friends visiting, cooking extravaganzas, last minute shopping and, as much as we try to avoid it, stress. The last thing you need on your hands this holiday season is a plumbing emergency. Here at Van Allen Plumbing, we know this is the time of year that your home is taxed to the max. We are coming upon the most intense use of your home plumbing of the year. Between the buzz of activity in the kitchen and guests staying over, your sinks, toilets, showers, dishwashers, garbage disposals and hot water heaters will be working overtime. We're giving you some holiday plumbing tips to keep the holidays moving along as smoothly as possible:

• Be aware of what you flush! One of the most common emergencies around the holidays are clogged toilets. Avoid flushing baby wipes, feminine napkins and facial tissues. Encourage guests to not flush these items by keeping a waste basket in the bathroom.
  
• Be nice to your garbage disposal. Another common emergency during the holidays is a broken garbage disposal. This is primarily caused by putting too much food and the wrong kind of food down a disposal that is not built to handle such a large load. You can avoid this by cutting larger pieces of food before putting them into the disposal and also not putting the following foods down the disposal:  rice or pasta, celery, egg shells, potato peels, fruit pits, gravy, bones, onion skins, grease or oil.
  
• Turn up your water heater, but not too hot! You can help prepare for an overloading of your hot water supply by turning up the heat. However, make sure you do not exceed 120 degrees and turn it back down to normal after your guests leave to conserve energy.
  

Finally, we all know that prevention is the best method to avoid catastrophe. Here at Van Allen Plumbing we conduct plumbing inspections to ensure that your system will be running smoothly. For such an inspection, contact us. As always, our 23.5/7 hour emergency services are available to you should a holiday disaster occur. Simply call the number at the top of the page!

Happy holidays to all and we hope these tips are helpful this season!

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When your drains get blocked - its a bad day. You can't do dishes, take a shower, flush the toilet or even wash your hands! Most of the time, it's an easy fix with a little Draino or a plunger - but you know that's not always the case.

Some clogs are more stubborn and require an electric snake to really break up the debris or grease. Other times, these blockages are indicative of a more serious problem like tree roots, pipe deterioration, or even all out piping cave-ins. Van Allen Plumbing has the experience and equipment to take care of any kind of clog in your home or business. 

Give us a call next time your pipes are stopped up!

Emergencies are never convenient. Plumbing emergencies especially, seem to always happen on the weekend, or in the middle of the night. Many plumbing services are going only going to have a voicemail on duty at those times. VanAllen Plumbing proudly offers 23 1/2 hr emergency plumbing services! 23 1/2 hrs is an odd number, but hey, we have to sleep sometime. 

Whether you have a clogged drain, burst pipes or sewage backing up into your basement, we can be there when you need us. With affordable rates, even in the off hours, you can't afford not to contact Van Allen Plumbing when you need emergency plumbing services. Call us anytime!