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How to Determine Problems with Your Well

April 30th, 2013

Residential homes outside of the city get their water from a well. The well requires a pump to bring the water in the ground into your home. This water is then kept in a pressure tank that supplies water to the water heater or directly to an open faucet. The pump for a residential well is designed to work for many years without problems. However, issues do occur that need to be addressed. Review issues with a well that may require the assistance of Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham.

The Water Pump

The pump for a residential water well will require electricity to work properly. If there is a power surge during the summer, then the breaker for your well pump may get tripped on the circuit panel. The breaker will need to be reset to restore power to the well pump. One thing to keep in mind is that power surges can also damage the motor for a well pump. A Durham plumber can check and see if well repair is needed.

The Pressure Switch

A pressure switch is typically used with a pressure tank for a residential water system. The pump shuts down when this switch is activated. This is a safety feature so the pump does not continue run if a water pipe breaks or there is too much draw on the system. A plumber can easily reset the pressure switch and restore water use in your home.

The Pressure Tank

Pressure tanks for residential water systems need to be at two pounds per square inch to provide the proper water pressure throughout your home. Most pressure tanks have an internal bladder that pressurized. If there is a leak in the bladder, then proper pressure cannot be attained. This will require a plumber to check for any problems.

Water Leaks

Water leaks at any point of your water delivery system requires the use of leak detection equipment. If water leaks are found, then a Durham plumber will need to fix the problem.

Additional Information

If you are having problems with a residential well, then contact Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham at 919-408-7200.

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How to Fix Low Water Pressure

February 28th, 2013

Low water pressure is a frustrating experience for any homeowner in Durham. From a lackluster shower to problems with your plumbing appliances, low water pressure requires repair to avoid future problems. Our plumbers at Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham offer these tips for fixing low water pressure in your home.

Do It Yourself Low Water Pressure Fixes

These easy steps can help you determine the cause of your low water pressure and may help you find a solution before calling our team at Ben Franklin Plumbing.

Determine the size of your water pipes. Their size directly impacts the water pressure level in your home.
Make sure the water valves are fully open. If they are only partially open, your water pressure will not be as high as possible.
Determine if there is a clog or fault within any of the water supply lines within your home. This may require the assistance of one of our plumbers in Durham.
Have the City of Durham check the meter. A fault in the water meter could be the source of your water pressure problem.

Professional Repairs for Low Water Pressure

Our plumbers have been fixing low water pressure in Durham homes for many years. We have seen it all and done it all when it comes to problems that cause low water pressure. When you call us for help with your plumbing, our team of reliable, trustworthy, and friendly plumbers will arrive at your home as scheduled to troubleshoot your water pressure problem. Once we find the cause, we will present you with options for solving the problem. We will always give you a written estimate for the repair that includes parts and labor costs.

As your plumber in Durham, we offer plumbing repair for any situation. Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham is always available 24/7/365 for emergency service. We also offer convenient appointment times to fix non-urgent problems.

For more information or to schedule your plumbing repair service, call us today at 919-408-7200.

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Preventing Frozen Pipes This Winter

December 10th, 2012

One of the most common plumbing emergencies that home owners run into over the colder months of winter is frozen pipes. This is especially common in water pipes, where any water left inside can freeze in cold temperatures. If this is something that has happened to you, call Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham for the necessary frozen pipe repair.

Prevent Frozen Pipes in the First Place

Before calling a Durham plumber, prevent frozen pipes in the first place! Keep the furnace in your home running at above freezing at all times this winter. If any of your pipes are located along an outside wall, make sure they either have the correct amount of insulation or they are open to the warmth of your home (if they are located under sinks, for example). This should be the case even if you plan on being away from home for an extended period of time. Preventing frozen pipes is as easy as this!

What If It’s Too Late?

If you’ve already discovered that your pipes have frozen, however, the good news is that we can help you. Our plumbers have years of plumbing experience, specifically when it comes to frozen pipe repair. We have the necessary tools to get your pipes safely unfrozen in no time.

We can also check for any damage that may have been caused as a result of the problem. A lot of times, the severe cold will cause cracks or leaks to develop within the pipes. For this reason, it is imperative that you have a professional and experienced plumber thaw your pipes. Otherwise, you could run into further troubles.

Contact Us Today!

If you find yourself in a situation where your pipes freeze overnight, be sure to give Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham a call so that we can get the problem taken care of for you as soon as possible. You can reach us anytime at 919-408-7200.

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Call the Punctual Plumbers for Your Plumbing Emergency

November 13th, 2012

Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham is the local authority on plumbing for homes and businesses. There are so many different things that could occur that would necessitate an emergency plumber coming to your structure to solve the problems. One of the most common causes of water emergencies is a busted pipe. Over time, residues can build-up in the pipes. This eventually decreases the water flow throughout the system. This debris also adds immense pressure to the joints of the pipes. Before you know it, the pipes in your home or business bust. Then you need to contact your local emergency plumber as soon as possible. We are able to do the broken pipe repair and help you to get your structure back to its original condition.

Besides cleaning up from an emergency situation, we also offer ways to prevent emergencies from happening. Our highly trained technicians use the most advanced technology available to investigate the inside of your pipes. We use the most effective means necessary to clean the blockage from your pipes. When we clean the pipes, we will remove all of the debris and the pressure that is building up. This is an essential practice that should be done on an annual basis, so make certain that you contact the punctual plumbers to assist you with this maintenance project.

When you need a plumber in Durham, call us first. Each member of our team is able to perform the most basic plumbing needs. We do installations, pipe rerouting, septic systems, and all other water-based projects. Our entire team is dedicated to providing each customer with the best customer service and affordable prices.

We are the authority with all plumbing projects in the Durham area. We install plumbing in new homes and we also work with homeowners during remodeling projects. A plumbing emergency needs to be done immediately, but we are on-call for all of your plumbing needs. Contact Ben Franklin Plumbing in Durham at 919-408-7200 to get an assessment done, and we will begin the project as soon as you are ready.

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Quality Plumbing Services in Durham, NC

October 29th, 2012

Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham is the authority with all types of pluming in the Durham area. Each and every single plumber in our company is highly trained, experienced, licensed, bonded, and insured.

Our company offers great plumbing services at affordable prices. We have custom installed homes and businesses with all of the piping and fixtures that are needed. We have the ability to work with sewers, wells, and city water. Many of our customers contact us to assist them with their home remodeling projects. We come highly recommended when it comes to installing new sewer lines in your home or business. You have to choose the right plumber with enough experience to reroute the existing plumbing in your home, and we are the company that can make this possible with the least amount of trouble.

We also offer many other services. Our professional plumbers also do a great deal of preventative maintenance on your water system. We have the ability to fix, prevent, and complete any other plumbing repair. We highly recommend that you get the pipes in your structure professionally flushed out at least once per year. This simple maintenance process will help to eliminate the potential for mold and mildew to grow in stagnant water. The mold can be extremely dangerous when it is in the air, and we have the best tools to complete free your pipes from mold and mildew.

We want to be your primary Durham plumber. Besides all of these services, we also work with many home and business owners during emergency situations. These situations have the potential to cause an immense amount of damage. The flooding water can shift the foundation of your structure, the interior wood can become highly damaged, and a number of other terrible things could happen. During an emergency, we can come to your place and properly stop the leak and assist with the cleaning process.

Call Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham today at 919-408-7200, and let us help you with all your plumbing needs.

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Drain Cleaning Specialists in Durham

October 19th, 2012

Being able to get rid of waste water is important in a home. To use your sink or bathtub, you have to be able to dispose of water that you used to wash dishes or take a bath or shower. You don’t want to have to get into a bathtub or put your hands in a sink with dirty water, so a clogged drain can have a major impact on your everyday life. When you have a drain that is working sluggishly or is clogged, it’s important that you get helped from trained professionals so that you don’t create a bigger mess in your kitchen or bathroom trying to fix the problem yourself. Benjamin Franklin of Durham helps customers in Durham and surrounding areas, including Raleigh, Roxboro, Hillsborough, and Chapel Hill, with different plumbing issues, including drain problems. Our Durham plumbers are ready to provide our drain cleaning services whenever you’re in a bind.

Our team is available 24 hours a day to help you with a clogged drain. We understand how inconvenient it is to have a major or minor drain problem, whether it occurs in the early morning, in the afternoon, or late at night. Our skilled plumbers are on-call at all hours of the day and will arrive with advanced tools and products to get a drain cleaning job done quickly and efficiently. We are not only interested in fixing problems but also doing routine maintenance to ensure your drain keeps working effectively. We employ state-of-the-art biotechnology products to rid your drain of oils, grease, and dirt that can cause greater issues down the line. During the initial consultation, our plumbing technician inspects your pipes using specialized plumbing cameras.

In addition to calling us when you need your drain cleaned, you can also contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Durham for other plumbing services. Whatever type of plumbing service you need, whether it’s a repair to a sink, pipe, garbage disposal, or water filtration system, you can depend on us to help you. Call us anytime at 919-408-7200.

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Tips for Caring for Your Garbage Disposal

September 12th, 2012

When properly working, garbage disposals pulverize food waste into tiny bits of material so that the pieces can be flushed through your waste water lines without causing any plumbing problems. Following some basic maintenance and care when using your sink disposal can help the unit last longer and protect your sink’s pipes and your entire plumbing system. Our experts at Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham offer these tips for caring for your sink disposal system.

Using the Disposal
When packing food materials into the disposal, do not push the materials too compactly. Keeping the materials loose allows the disposal to pulverize them more effectively. Do not try to send too much material through the disposal at one time, otherwise it may jam during use. Whenever you load food materials into the disposal, cycle it. Do not allow the foods to sit in the disposal, as the acids may corrode the metal of the disposal and cause it to wear out. The odors from decomposing food may also cause unpleasant smells in your kitchen. From time to time, send something hard like chicken bones through the disposal to keep the blades sharp and scour gunk from the sides of the chamber.

Flushing the Disposal
When sending materials down the disposal, flush them down with cold water. This helps to solidify liquid fats and help them make their way through the pipes. Let the water run for 30 seconds after the disposal finishes operating.

Disposal Maintenance
Once each month, grind up some ice cubes in the disposal to rid the unit of oily buildup. Also once every month, pour 1/4 cup of baking soda into the disposal and allow it to sit there for 1 hour, then flush to prevent odors.

At Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham, we offer all of the plumbing repairs and garbage disposal services needed for your home or business. We have built a solid reputation in Durham and the surrounding areas for on-time, reliable and affordable plumbing repairs. Call us today at 919-408-7200 to talk to our plumber in Durham and schedule your plumbing service.

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Leak Detection Service in Durham

August 27th, 2012

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that ten percent of homes in America have ongoing leaks that waste 90 gallons of water or more each and every day. Because pipes, drains and waste lines are hidden behind walls and flooring as well as beneath the ground outside, leaks often go undetected. Leaks can cause water damage to your Durham home before you’re aware of the problem. Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham has the technology and expertise that’s needed to detect and repair leaking plumbing.

Excessively damp areas in your Durham home are obvious signs of leaking pipes or drains. Other signs can be more insidious. If you’ve noticed an increase in your water bill or a decrease in your home’s water pressure, chances are that your home as a water leak or a broken pipe. Fast and efficient leak detection service in Durham requires using highly technical equipment to address the problem quickly.

When leaks or breaks occur under a cement slab in your Durham home, our slab leak detection equipment and expertise enables us to locate and repair broken or leaking plumbing with minimal disruption. Our expert plumbers can often restore hard-to-reach pipes and waste lines to near original condition. We can often employ methodology that allows us to reline or replace pipes without having to tear up slabs.

Every minute that a leak persists not only increases the risk of water damage to your home but increases the likelihood of mold, mildew, insects and bacteria infestations. To protect the health of you and your family, leaks or breaks in waste lines demand immediate attention. Because your satisfaction is always our first priority, we’re pleased to offer around-the-clock emergency services.

At Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham, you can depend upon fast, reliable services whenever you need them. We’re so sure of our ability to meet your needs promptly, that if we’re ever late for whatever reason, we’ll pay you $5 for every minute that you’re kept waiting, up to $300! Whether you need leak detection for your Durham home or any other kind of plumbing repair, call us today at 919-408-7200 for prompt, courteous and effective service.

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Replacing the Toilet Flapper

June 12th, 2012

One of the biggest causes of a runny toilet is an old or damaged toilet flapper. The flapper is the rubber stopper that covers the hole and seals water in your tank. If it is corroded it can cause a lot of wasted water. Replacing the flapper can result in significant savings, and the process is very easy to do yourself. If you are wondering how to replace a toilet flapper in your home, follow these easy tips provided by Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham.

1. The first thing you want to do is to shut off the water supply to the toilet. This is usually controlled by a valve at the back of the toilet bowl.

2. Next, flush the toilet.

3. Take the old flapper and remove it from the chain and hinges. Depending on the type of flapper you have you will either have to slide it up and over the overflow tube, or unhook its hinges from the overflow tube.

4. Write down your toilet make and manufacturer number, and take that information along with your old flapper with you to the hardware store. You want to be sure to purchase a new flapper that will fit your toilet.

5. When you have the new flapper, clean the area where the flapper sits, being sure to remove all debris and corroded material. You want to make sure you have a clean surface so that the new flapper can form a tight seal.

6. Take your new flapper and attach it to the hinges and chain. Make sure it slides over the overflow tube, and push it down until the ring reaches the bottom of the tank.

7. Turn the water back on and flush the toilet. Watch the flapper as you are doing this, to ensure that it sits correctly and forms a nice seal.

If you replace the flapper and are still having problems with your toilet, it may be time to call a professional. When it comes to plumbing repair in Durham, no one can match the level of service of Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham. Give them a call today at 919-408-7200 to get help for all of your plumbing needs.

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How to Fix a Leaky Faucet

May 29th, 2012

While most people have experienced a sleepless night due to the dripping of a leaky faucet, many don’t realize that a faucet leak could lead to increased water bills each month. In fact, some faucet leaks can add up to hundreds of dollars in additional water costs over the course of a year. Additionally, leaking water can lead to corrosion or fixtures, mildew and more. If you’re currently dealing with a leaking faucet, here are some plumbing repair tips from Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham:

Inspect All Washers – The washers in a faucet help to create seals, and these seals prevent water from leaking out of the faucet’s handle. If these washers become worn or warped, they can then lead to leaks. To check your washers, remove your faucet’s handle. If a washer is worn or misaligned, replace it with a comparable model from your local plumbing supply store.
Look for Loose Connections – Another area where people experience faucet leaks is under the faucet itself. This kind of leak can lead to wood rot in cabinets and mold. To repair this kind of leak, check the hose connections that bring in hot and cold water underneath the sink or basin. Ensure that all connections are tight and that no hoses are cracked or torn. If you need to replace any hoses, make sure to turn off the water at your main valve, and then run the water in the sink or basin until it stops. Failing to do this could lead to excess water remaining in the hoses.

If you’re still unable to stop your faucet leak by following these steps, you may want to call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. Benjamin Franklin offers plumbing repair in Durham and the surrounding area, and the company can also provide plumbing maintenance services to keep your plumbing fixtures and systems running smoothly all year long. If you have a faucet leak that you simply can’t stop, or if you have any other plumbing related concerns or questions, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Durham today at 919-408-7200.

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Servicing the Following Cities

Servicing the Following Zip Codes

27502, 27523, 27539, 27503, 27509, 27510, 27511, 27512, 27513, 27518, 27519, 27514, 27515, 27516, 27517, 27522, 27701, 27702, 27703, 27704, 27705, 27707, 27708, 27709, 27710, 27711, 27712, 27713, 27715, 27717, 27722, 27278, 27560, 27601, 27603, 27604, 27605, 27606, 27607, 27608, 27609, 27610, 27612, 27613, 27614, 27615, 27616, 27617, 27619, 27620, 27622, 27623, 27624, 27625, 27626, 27627, 27628, 27629, 27634, 27635, 27636, 27640, 27650, 27656, 27658, 27661, 27668, 27675, 27676, 27690, 27695, 27697, 27698, 27699, 27572, 27573, 27574, 27583, 27587, 27588