Category: Plumbing

Garbage Disposal Repair in San Antonio, TX

The Ins and Outs of Keeping a Clean Garbage Disposal

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Like many homeowners, you might depend on your garbage disposal to help with daily kitchen cleanup. You can send food scraps down the drain and grind them away, making cleanup a breeze. Sometimes, though, it’s a good idea to turn your cleaning attention toward the garbage disposal itself. Learn how to clean your garbage disposal so that you can get into the habit of doing this chore regularly.

Why Clean Your Garbage Disposal

When food goes down your garbage disposal, remnants still remain. Instead of getting washed down the drainpipe, some of the pieces may get trapped around the grinders or the splash guard. Additionally, some foods will leave a residue that does not readily wash away by running water.

Since food remnants are organic materials, they’ll decay over time. As food decays, this provides a breeding ground for bacteria and other microbes. Mold or mildew might start to grow in your garbage disposal. Mold and mildew aren’t good for your health, and they can also produce terrible smells. Plus, scraps that accumulate in your garbage disposal can lead to clogs. A clogged sink can keep you from accomplishing your work in the kitchen.

Instead of running the risk of clogs or odors, resolve to clean your disposal regularly. It’s a good idea to add a quick cleaning session to your weekly household routine and perform deep cleanings as needed.

How to Clean the Top of Your Garbage Disposal

Anytime you’re cleaning the garbage disposal, be sure to cut the power to the appliance. Don’t just turn off the switch; make sure there’s no way for the disposal to turn on. You can do that by unplugging the appliance or turning off the corresponding circuit breaker.

Once the power has been cut, you can start cleaning the top portion of your garbage disposal that includes the drain area, the rubber baffle and the top of the grinding chamber.

Use a sponge that has a rough surface for scrubbing. Get your sponge wet and sudsy with dish soap. Start scrubbing around the drain. Work your way down to the baffle and scrub its topside and its underside thoroughly. Reach under the baffle — but not toward the grinders — and run the sponge around the top of the chamber. Don’t forget to rinse the sponge often as you work and add more soap if needed.

Your baffle may be removable. If so, taking it out can give you better access to all the nooks and crannies where gunk might be hiding.

You should also shine a light into your garbage disposal. If you see any large pieces of food or other foreign objects, reach in with tongs to grab them. Never reach into the garbage disposal with your hand.

How to Deep Clean Your Garbage Disposal

While the soap and water will be effective for cleaning the top portion of your garbage disposal, it’s a good idea to occasionally clean the rest of the unit. A deep cleaning will freshen both the chamber and the grinders.

One of the easiest ways to clean inside the garbage disposal chamber involves boiling water. Heat a pot of water on the stove until the water reaches a boil. Then, carefully dump the hot water down the drain.

Clean your garbage disposal with boiling water once a month. In addition, deep clean your garbage disposal with a vinegar and baking soda mixture and clean the blades with ice.

You can use vinegar and baking soda mix to lift away some of the gunk that has built up inside your appliance. Dump 1/2 cup of baking soda down the disposal and follow it up with twice as much vinegar. Put the sink stopper over the opening and wait for at least 10 minutes. Then, remove the stopper and rinse the disposal with a steady stream of hot water.

Ice is also a handy tool when it comes to keeping your garbage disposal clean. Grinding ice will produce abrasive chips that can scrape away residue that is stuck to the blades. To clean your garbage disposal with ice, you’ll need to restore power to your unit. After that, dump ice into the disposal — enough to mostly fill the chamber. Top it off with 1 cup of vinegar or 1 cup of rock salt. Turn on the cold water tap and then flip the switch to power on the disposal. Leave the unit running until the ice has been completely ground.

How to Improve Garbage Disposal Odors

Sometimes, even a deep cleaning won’t take away serious garbage disposal odors. You may need to perform additional cleaning steps to deal with those.

Bleach can help, but you should never pour undiluted bleach down your disposal. Doing so could damage the unit’s parts. Instead, dilute household bleach with warm water. Use 1/4 or 1/3 cup of bleach and add twice as much water. Rinse the disposal thoroughly with fresh water after dumping in the bleach solution.

Citrus fruit is a handy odor-buster as well. After eating orange slices with your dinner or squeezing lemon into a glass of water, reserve the peels. Put them into the disposal, turn it on, and run cold water until the peels have been thoroughly ground.

What to Do About Serious Garbage Disposal Problems

While regular cleaning is important, it’s no match for professional garbage disposal care. You may need to call a plumber to solve your serious garbage disposal issues.

When your garbage disposal unit is totally clogged, putting ice or vinegar down the drain probably won’t take care of the problem. Fortunately, a plumber can safely and effectively clear the clog and get your appliance back in working order.

Regular cleaning may keep your disposal in good shape for many years. Eventually, though, you might get to the point where it no longer works as well and starts to leave behind more food particles. Also, unpleasant odors may often waft out of the disposal, even if you deodorize it regularly. Most garbage disposals last for 10 to 12 years. As you approach the end of a normal disposal life span, you may notice such issues developing more frequently.

It may be time to replace your garbage disposal instead of trying to clean it continuously. Professional plumbers will do the best job of installing a new garbage disposal. You can count on the job to be done safely and for the connections to be tight and leak-free.

Once you have a new garbage disposal, be sure to maintain a regular cleaning routine by implementing the above methods. A cleaning routine will keep your system in top shape for a long time to come.

If you are searching for top-quality plumbers who are committed to excellence, look no further than [company_name]. In addition to garbage disposals, we provide a wide array of plumbing services. If you reside in San Antonio or a surrounding area, call [company_name] for help with your toilets, faucets, sewer lines, drains, gas lines and more.

Water from Faucet Adjusted from Water Heater in San Antonino, TX

Everything You Need to Know About Adjusting Your Water Heater Temperature

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When you need warm water, you probably turn on the hot water tap without a second thought. The hot water coming through your tap is fully customizable and with good reason. If the water is too hot, you risk scalding. If it’s too low, you might shiver through your showers. When you learn to adjust your water heater, you can make your hot water as warm or as cool as you prefer.

Reasons to Change Your Water Heater Temperature

When your water heater is installed, the serviceperson will typically set it at a mid-range temperature. However, this temperature setting doesn’t work for everyone. You might want to raise or lower the temperature to suit your personal preferences.

Even if you are currently satisfied with the current temperature of your hot water, you might still consider changing it for a variety of reasons. In some cases, you might be concerned about safety. Families with young children or elderly members often lower the temperature to reduce the risk of accidental scalds. Lowering the water heater temperature can also help you save energy. When your water heater doesn’t have to raise the water temperature as much, it uses less electricity or gas during the process.

Raising your water heater temperature might also have some perks. If your water heater is located far from your kitchen or bathroom, raising the heat ensures the water is still warm by the time it reaches you. A higher temperature can also kill legionella and other bacteria, which makes it safer for immunocompromised people. Finally, higher water temperatures can make it easier to wash dishes and laundry especially if your washing machine does not have a pre-heat option.

What Temperature Should You Set Your Water Heater?

Most water heaters can heat water to a temperature range somewhere between 90 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. However, manufacturers often provide preset temperatures from which their customers can choose, These may be listed as “A,” “B,” and “C,” or they might use settings like “Low” to “High” or “Warm” to “Hot.” You can check your water heater manual to see what temperatures match which settings to make your decision a little easier.

Typically, you should not set your water heater below 120 degrees unless you are going on vacation or will not be using the water for bathing or drinking. Higher temperatures discourage bacterial growth. If water is held at lower temperatures for too long, Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, and other bacteria can begin to grow. If you have family members who are immunocompromised or otherwise vulnerable, OSHA recommends setting your tank to 140 degrees to further reduce the risk of potentially dangerous bacteria.

With higher temperatures come other risks, though, and once you are heating your water above 130 degrees, the risk of scalding can increase. Water heated above 140 degrees can cause third-degree burns.

You might need to work with the adjustments to find the best temperature for your needs and comfort level while keeping basic safety precautions in mind. Choose the maximum or minimum temperature you need, and then tweak the heater temperature to see how temperatures in this range feel. To save energy, it’s often best to go with the lowest possible temperature that is still safe and feels comfortable.

How to Adjust Your Water Heater Temperature

Adjusting your water heater is fairly straightforward. Once you get used to doing it, you’ll find that it’s a quick task you can perform in seconds. Start by turning off the power to the water tank. This is important because it reduces the risk of shock hazards or other problems when you’re opening up your water heater. If you have an electric heater, you can turn off the power at the circuit breaker. With a gas heater, you’ll need to turn the gas valve to the off position.

Once the power is off, open the access panel for the water heater thermostat. This varies a lot depending on what model you have. Some have a small door you flip up while others might have a flat piece of metal you have to remove. If you are unsure where the thermostat is located, consult your manual for more details.

You can adjust the thermostat as needed once it is exposed. Modern models are usually designed to make this easy. Some have knobs that you simply need to turn and click into position. Older models may be more complicated, requiring you to insert a flathead screwdriver into a slot to rotate the thermostat. Keep in mind that some tanks have two thermostats that will need to be reset. To ensure all heating elements are used evenly, set the top thermostat a few degrees warmer than the bottom one.

After you have adjusted the thermostat according to your preference, you will simply need to replace the access panel and turn the tank back on. If you have a gas tank, you will need to relight the pilot light as well. The tank will need to run for a few hours to heat the water accordingly, and within three hours, you should be able to turn the hot water on and experience the full effect of the new temperature setting. Holding a cooking thermometer in your hot water will let you accurately measure the tank’s temperature. You can also test by carefully touching the water and seeing whether it feels comfortable.

What to Do If Adjusting the Temperature Doesn’t Make a Difference

If you have adjusted your water tank and the water is still not reaching the appropriate temperature, the water heater itself might be the problem. If your tank is just a little too cold, sediment might be clogging the tank. You can fix this issue by draining and flushing the tank according to the manual instructions or having your water tank serviced. If your tank isn’t heating at all, you might need to replace the heating element or schedule a diagnostic service call.

What if your tank is not too cold but rather heating excessively? This can happen, too, and it is most commonly due to a broken heating element, which is stuck in the “on” position. Other potential culprits can be a stuck pressure relief valve or a faulty tempering valve. Occasionally, your tank adjustment might not work simply because the thermostat is broken. Whatever the reason, a water tank that won’t stay at a comfortable temperature is usually a sign that the tank is broken and needs repairs.

[company_name] is here to help San Antonio residents with all their plumbing needs. We’re happy to examine your water heater and help you get a comfortable temperature for your home. Our team also provides a variety of other installations, repairs, and maintenance services. We can help with everything from toilet installations to sewer line repairs. To schedule a visit with [company_name], give us a call now.

Plumber performing Water Service Repair in San Antonio, TX

Understanding Water Heater Recovery Rates and Why They’re Important

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On traditional tank water heaters, recovery rate refers to the time it takes for the water in the unit’s tank to completely reheat. In simpler terms, it means how long you will need to wait to have hot water again after using up all of your hot water. Recovery rates can differ depending on the age and size of the unit as well as whether it runs on gas or electricity.

Your water heater’s recovery rate will almost always be slightly longer during the winter, as the water coming into the unit will be colder. However, your recovery rate should always remain fairly consistent. If it suddenly takes longer for the unit to reheat, you will want to have your water heater inspected. It most likely needs to be flushed or repaired. Today we’re going to discuss what the typical recovery rate should be for your water heater and also what issues can affect the unit and lead to a longer recovery rate.

Typical Recovery Rates for Gas and Electric Water Heaters

Gas water heaters heat quite more quickly than electric units. The average recovery rate for a gas water heater that works properly and is heating efficiently will usually be between 30 minutes and an hour. A 40-gallon gas unit should be able to completely reheat in around half an hour, whereas an 80-gallon unit will almost always take around an hour.

The recovery rates for electric water heaters are often nearly double that of gas units. This means you could wait anywhere from one to two hours for the unit to reheat after you’ve depleted your hot water supply.

It is important to understand that recovery rates only refer to situations where you’ve used up all of the hot water quickly. To understand why, it is necessary to look at how water heaters work and where the hot water comes from.

All tank water heaters have something known as a dip tube. This is a long pipe that extends from the cold-water inlet at the top of the unit down to near the bottom. Any time you use hot water, cold water then flows through the tube to the bottom of the tank to replace it. The hot water is always drawn out from the top of the tank. This is important as it prevents the cold water from mixing as much with the hot water and thus decreases the temperature.

If the unit wasn’t designed this way, your water would quickly become cooler after just a few minutes of showering. Because of this, the only time you water should start to get cold is if you use up almost all of the hot water in the tank in a fairly short period.

Recovery Rate vs. First-Hour Rating

When looking at any new tank water heater, you will see that it lists the recovery rate and a first-hour rating. First-hour rating is different as it tells you how many gallons of hot water you can use in an hour when the tank is completely full and the water is heated to the correct temperature.

If you live alone, the first-hour rating isn’t something you’ll need to be too concerned with since there will be very few times when you use a huge amount of hot water in a short time. However, it is definitely something to consider if you have a larger family or live with multiple people.

Any time you use hot water, the water heater will turn on to start heating the cold water that flows out of the dip tube. If you continue to use hot water time, the unit will obviously continue heating until the water reaches the set temperature. The fact that the unit continually heats whenever hot water is used means you can often use more gallons of hot water than the tank can actually store. This is what the first-hour rating refers to, as it shows how many gallons of hot water a unit can provide per hour.

Since they heat more quickly, gas water heaters typically have a higher first-hour rating than electric units. In some cases, the first-hour rating can be almost double the unit’s storage capacity. For instance, you can often find a 40-gallon gas unit that will have a first-hour rating of 70 to 80 gallons. This means that the unit should make it possible for three or four people to shower within an hour, as the average shower uses around 20 gallons.

First-hour rating is important to consider when choosing a new water heater. A unit with a higher rating will make it less likely that you’ll run out of hot water.

Issues That Can Lead to Increased Recovery Rates

If your water heater’s recovery rate is longer than normal, it indicates that something is preventing the unit from heating properly. On electric units, longer recovery rates almost always mean that one or both electric heating elements are worn out or beginning to fail.

Both the upper and lower heating elements can wear out due to age, but the bottom element can also stop working properly if there is too much sediment built up inside the tank. If the sediment layer builds to the point where it reaches the lower heating element, it can act as an insulator and prevent much of the heat from the element from being dispersed into the water.

A longer recovery rate on a gas water heater can be caused by either sediment buildup or some issue with the gas burner. One possibility is that the ports on the burner are dirty. This can limit how much gas flows out and, thus how much heat the burner produces. That being said, sediment buildup is the more common cause.

When a gas unit is running, the heat from the burner is transferred to a metal burner plate located inside the very bottom of the tank. The metal plate absorbs heat from the burner and then releases it into the water. The issue is that a thick sediment layer can insulate the burner plate and prevent the water from directly contacting it. This leads to the sediment absorbing much of the heat instead of being transferred to the water.

If there is lots of sediment in the tank, the unit will heat much more slowly and use more energy. This is precisely why you should always have any type of tank water heater drained and flushed at least once a year. This will help to clean out all of the sediment.

[company_name] can help if you’re experiencing issues with long recovery rates or other water heater problems. We service and repair all models and types of water heaters, and we also specialize in water heater installation and all other residential plumbing services for customers throughout the San Antonio area. For more information, contact us today.

Septic in San Antonio, TX

How Do Septic Tank Enzymes Work?

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Commonly located underground, septic tanks are made to collect all household waste. Any grease, fat, and food particles that are washed down the kitchen drain will get into the septic tank. Chemical cleaners, toilet water, and human waste are also collected. At this point, the collected waste is treated to allow for easy disposal. Treatment occurs with a combination of bacteria and enzymes.

What Happens When Waste Reaches a Household Septic Tank?

Once waste reaches your household septic tank, it’s treated in two distinct phases. During the first phase, the bacteria in the tank will degrade organic waste. After this process occurs, dirt, pieces of plastic, and undigested organic matter will settle at the bottom and form a sludge. The liquid waste is then passed into a nearby drain field.

A drain field is a large system of sloped pipes that spread outward from the septic tank. If a property doesn’t have a drain field, septic tanks would overflow and cause runoff to get into your yard. The same issue occurs when there’s a blockage in the drain field that results in the wastewater no longer flowing properly.

What Are Enzymes?

Enzymes are proteins that bacteria secrete. These proteins are capable of breaking down very specific types of organic matter and are essential in the septic tank treatment process. Unlike bacteria, an enzyme isn’t a living thing. These proteins don’t reproduce or grow.

Think of enzymes as knives that are capable of cutting molecules into much smaller pieces that bacteria can handle. When there are a considerable amount of enzymes in a septic tank, the degradation of all organic waste is sped up, which is necessary to keep this waste from overflowing.

Enzymes Typically Present in Septic Systems

There are many different types of enzymes that are commonly found in septic systems. For instance, protease is an enzyme that breaks down blood, fecal matter, and any other protein-based waste. Amylase is capable of breaking down pasta, bread, and rice. An enzyme called lipase can manage oil, fats, and greases. Cellulose that’s created from paper-based items is broken down with the cellulase enzyme. If there are any plant materials in the waste, they degrade with the help of the xylanase enzyme.

The majority of these enzymes are naturally produced by bacteria. However, it’s also possible to place biological additives in your septic tank to bolster the bacteria count and improve the decomposition process.

How Enzymes Work in Septic Systems

Solid waste degradation in a septic tank system is possible because of the existence of millions of natural bacteria. Once enzymes have been produced by bacteria, they will be used as catalysts during anaerobic digestion, which is a process that involves breaking down organic matter. During this process, molecules are converted into nutrients.

How Enzymes in Septic Tanks are Affected

Septic tanks function properly when naturally occurring bacteria secretes enough enzymes to promote the decomposition of waste. However, there are several factors that can affect the efficiency of this process. For instance, using a large number of chemicals in a home can result in too many chemicals reaching the septic tank system. In this scenario, the helpful microbes can be eliminated by such chemicals as oil, bleach, chemical soaps, and acid.

Over time, the pressure on the septic tank system will increase since solid waste isn’t treated after it arrives. It’s possible for the sludge to build up to the point that backup issues occur in the home. When a septic tank overflows, unprocessed waste could flood the drain field. Enzymes and bacteria are particularly sensitive to the pH levels in your septic tank system. Along with toxic substances, the temperature can also impact enzyme activity and alter the pH levels until they’re outside the optimal range.

Chemicals are routinely used to degrease different parts that are found in a septic tank system. Drain cleaners that consist of inorganic compounds can clear clogged drains. Despite the advantages of using these chemicals, they can eliminate beneficial bacteria and may eventually cause corrosion in the septic tank.

Signs of a Malfunctioning Septic Tank Caused by Low Enzyme Concentration

When a septic tank malfunctions, the leaks that occur can result in foul odors being emitted inside and outside of the home. There are many different signs to be on the lookout for, which include standing water around the septic tank, gurgling sounds within your plumbing system, water and sewage being sent out from sinks and toilets, bright green grass surrounding the drain field, and algal blooms in any nearby water features.

Septic systems require regular maintenance to avoid these issues. While there should be enough enzymes in the septic tank to effectively degrade organic matter, the only way to be certain is by having the tank inspected. Responding quickly to potential issues in a septic system can reduce the number of repairs that are required and prevent potential illnesses.

How to Add Enzymes and Bacteria to Septic Tanks

Healthy septic tanks should have more than enough bacteria to treat wastewater and human waste. Along with obtaining maintenance, it’s possible to add more bacteria to the tank. In a healthy tank, too many bacteria can result in competition among bacterial populations, which eventually leads to some of the beneficial bacteria being eliminated. On the other hand, unhealthy septic systems may require more bacteria to restore healthy conditions.

Adding Septic Tank Enzymes

Enzyme additives are designed to stimulate bacteria that are present in septic tanks. If bacteria aren’t producing enzymes fast enough to aid in the decomposition process, it’s possible for enzymes to be added to your septic tank.

When added, enzymes can reduce the buildup of a damaging scum layer in the system. Once the scum layer develops, the fats, greases, and oils that collect on this layer will flow downstream into the remaining septic system components.

The issue with this process is that these substances aren’t meant to get downstream. When they do, the components in your septic system could become overloaded, which would worsen their performance and potentially reduce their lifespan.

Problems Caused by Adding Enzymes

While enzymes are capable of being added to a septic system to more effectively process waste, adding too many enzymes can keep the entire system from operating smoothly. Even if they help on a short-term basis, they might eventually cause components in septic tanks to run less efficiently. If a septic system failure occurs, the entire system might need to be replaced, and your property could require a professional cleanup.

If you find that the sinks in your home drain slowly or that water is backing up in your toilet, our team at [company_name] can deliver timely plumbing services. We’ll identify the source of the problem, give you an estimate, and complete the necessary repairs. Our plumbing services also cover drain cleaning, pipe repair, and toilet repair.

At [company_name], we offer a selection of water heating services, which include maintenance, repair, and installation of tankless water heaters. If your home is receiving hard water, we can install water softeners and water filtration systems that will deliver clean and fresh water supplies to your San Antonio, TX home. Call us today to schedule our service or request a free quote.

HVAC Repair San Antonio, TX

How Sump Pumps Work to Prevent Basements From Flooding

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Basements and crawl spaces are often susceptible to flooding as groundwater can easily seep inside after heavy rains. A leak in your main water or sewer line or your sprinkler system can also quickly lead to flooding. Sump pumps work to lessen the risk of water damage and mold growth by capturing this water and pumping it back outside, and today we’re going to give you a full overview of exactly how they work to prevent your basement from flooding.

Understanding the Different Parts of a Sump Pump

Sump pumps have a number of different parts that work together so that the unit can draw water out of the basement or crawl space and pump it outside and away from the home. A sump pump is installed in or on top of a large plastic container known as a sump basin or sump pit. The sump pit is installed so that the top of it is right at the ground level and the bottom extends around 24 to 36 inches down into the ground.

The sump pump itself is either hardwired into the home’s electrical system or simply plugged into a nearby outlet to ensure that the unit has the electricity needed to power its small motor. Many sump pumps also come with a backup battery. While not essential, a backup battery is definitely a great feature as it will ensure that the sump pump can continue to run even if the power is out.

A float or other type of switch works to sense how much water is in the sump pit and will automatically trigger the unit to turn on once the water reaches a certain level. This triggers the motor to run and start spinning the unit’s impeller blades, which creates suction so that the water can be drawn up and out of the pit. Once out of the pit, the water then flows through a series of pipes that then lead out of the home.

Depending on how the system was set up, the outlet pipe may either empty out into the lawn or run toward a storm drain. Even though it is against building codes, you will also occasionally see sump pumps that are connected directly to the home’s sewage system.

How a Sump Pump Float Switch Works

Whenever lots of water is present, it naturally flows from the surrounding ground into the sump pit. Most sump pumps use some type of float switch that basically measures the water level and triggers the pump to turn on and off.

The most common type is a tethered float switch, which is a hollow floating element that has a steel ball inside it. When the water rises and the switch begins to float, the steel ball inside the float shifts and activates an electronic switch. This closes the electrical circuit so that electricity starts to flow and the sump begins to run. Once the water level recedes past a certain point, the steel ball again moves so that the switch deactivates opening the circuit and shutting off power to the pump.

There are also sump pumps that instead use a vertical float switch that is connected to a rod and lever arm and works somewhat similarly to a toilet float. When this type of switch starts to float, it pushes against the rod, which raises the lever arm and activates the switch so that the pump starts running. This type of float switch is generally more reliable than a tethered float switch and is best suited for use in smaller sump pits.

You can also find sump pumps that don’t use a float and instead use either a diaphragm switch or an electronic switch, and these are by far the most reliable. A diaphragm switch works by sensing pressure. When the sump pit starts to fill, the water eventually puts enough pressure on the switch that it then activates to turn on the pump.

Electronic switches are even more advanced and use electrical probes to sense the presence of water in the sump pit. The unit constantly sends a small electrical current through the probes. An internal sensor in the switch constantly measures the electrical resistance in the probes. When water is present in the sump pit, the electrical resistance changes. Once the resistance passes a set level, the switch then activates to turn the pump on. The sensor then continues measuring the resistance and will shut the pump off whenever it is back to normal.

Submersible vs. Pedestal Sump Pumps

Sump pumps can be either submersible or pedestal-style units. A submersible sump pump sits at the bottom of the sump pit, whereas pedestal pumps sit on top of the sump pit and have a long pole that sticks down into the pit. Both types of units use an impeller to create suction and draw out the water from the pit.

With a submersible pump, the motor and impeller are located within the body of the pump itself. A pedestal sump pump has its motor at the top of the basin, while the impeller is located at the end of the pole inside the basin.

Submersible pumps are typically a bit more powerful as they tend to have slightly larger motors than pedestal units. This makes them much better suited for places that are more prone to flooding or when the water needs to be pumped much further vertically or horizontally.

Pedestal pumps, on the other hand, tend to be a bit cheaper and easier to maintain since they don’t sit inside the pit. They can also sometimes last longer since there is no chance that water can get inside the unit’s motor, which could happen if the waterproof coating on a submersible unit gets damaged. However, pedestal pumps are also much louder than submersible units. This is because the water that surrounds a submersible pump works to muffle the noise of the motor.

The other issue with pedestal pumps is that they can usually only ever run for a few hours at a time. Most submersible pumps can run for 24 hours a day with no issue as the water helps to cool the motor and prevent the unit from overheating. Pedestal pumps have no way to keep the motor cool, which means they could overheat if they run for too long.

Determining which type of sump pump is best for your home isn’t always easy as it depends on a number of different factors. This is why we would always recommend consulting with a professional plumber to ensure that you get exactly what you need. At [company_name], our team has years of experience installing, maintaining, and repairing sump pumps and can help ensure you get the right unit and that it works correctly. As a full-service plumbing contractor, we also install and repair water heaters, garbage disposals, water filtration systems, and all types of kitchen and bathroom plumbing fixtures. If you need drain cleaning or any type of sewer, water, or gas line services, we can help with that as well. Give us a call today if you have any questions or need any plumbing service in the San Antonio area.

Frozen Plumbing in San Antonio, TX

Protecting Your Plumbing From Winter Weather

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Depending on where you live, the cold winter weather may bring snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Even if you live in an area with relatively mild winters, there are still some things you need to do to protect your home from the elements during cold weather. Ensuring that gutters and your roof are ready is important, but you also want to take steps to protect your plumbing. The following covers several things you can do to ensure that you don’t have to deal with frozen pipes and other plumbing issues come winter.

Let Your Faucets Trickle

You would be surprised how just running a trickle of water through your pipes can help prevent them from freezing in harsh winter conditions. Keep in mind that only a small amount of water is needed to do this. With water moving through your pipes, ice cannot form and burst one.

Keep the Heat Flowing

No one likes to live in a cold home, and pipes don’t readily accept chilly temperatures. To help prevent your pipes from freezing, you’ll want to keep your home’s thermostat adjusted to at least 55 degrees. Keep in mind this is equally important even if you go on vacation or are away from your home for long periods of time. The warmer it is in your home, the less chance there is to be surprised by a burst pipe.

A programmable or smart thermostat can be an easy way to keep temperatures steady in your residence. With a connected smart thermostat, you can even control your settings when you’re outside your home. That means if you leave for vacation without double-checking the thermostat you can simply use your phone to adjust it.

Insulate Those Pipes

If your home has pipes in the basement, attic, or crawl space and they are not insulated, you’ll want to make sure they get insulation before the temperature becomes too cold. Pipes that are in chilly areas inside your home need to be adequately wrapped in insulation, pipe sleeves, or electrical heat cables. At [company_name], we can assist you with locating the pipes that need to be insulated, and we can install whatever type of insulation might be necessary to keep your pipes from bursting. It is easier to have professionals do this type of work because the pipes may be located in hard-to-reach or hard-to-spot areas.

Keep Your Cabinets Open in the Bathrooms and Kitchen

In order for heat to adequately flow through to the bathroom and kitchen pipes, you may need to keep your cabinets open. This allows the heat in the surrounding area to reach the pipes that are located inside the cabinets. Allowing warm air into the cabinets is especially important for those that contain pipes located near outside-facing walls.

Keep Your Crawl Space Free From the Cold

If you have a crawl space instead of a basement or a combined crawl space/basement area, you’ll want to try to cover the outside walls of the crawl space with some type of foam board to help keep the chilly temperatures out. Foam board is relatively inexpensive, and it’s easy to cut to fit walls of all sizes. If you are uncomfortable with this task, however, you can reach out for professional help.

Remove Garden Hoses From Outside

While you are taking steps to protect your indoor plumbing, you also want to take time to ensure that any outdoor pipes and spigots are protected. After all, they are directly exposed to the winter weather. Be sure to detach any hoses from outdoor spigots. If a hose freezes, ice can back up and make its way into your pipes. This can cause the pipe to freeze and burst, leaving you with plumbing repairs and property damage to take care of.

If you want added protection for outdoor plumbing, you may also want to look into purchasing covers for your faucets. You can purchase these at any home improvement store and install them yourself, or you can have a plumber from [company_name] install them.

Keep the Garage Door Closed

Keeping the garage door open in the wintertime can allow frigid air to get inside, and that air can freeze any or all pipes that may be in your garage area. It is best to keep your garage door closed tightly in the wintertime to keep the space warm. If you are in an especially cold area, investing in a garage heater may be a wise decision to protect the plumbing and other property in your garage.

Make Sure Excess Cold Air Isn’t Getting Into Your Home

Many homes have cracks and gaps around windows and doors that can let cold air in and warm air out. Taking steps to seal these areas with caulk and weatherstripping will go a long way toward protecting your plumbing and keeping you more comfortable. Sealing leaks also helps improve your energy efficiency, which can lead to lower monthly utility bills. In addition to checking around windows and doors, you also want to make sure that exposed areas such as your attic are insulated properly.

Make Use of Space Heaters

In some areas where vulnerable pipes are located, it may be necessary to run a space heater to help guard the pipes against freezing. The heater can provide just enough warmth to keep your pipes from freezing. When using space heaters, however, it’s important to never leave them unattended as they can present a fire hazard.

Know Where Your Shut-Off Valves Are

Do you know where your main shut-off valve for your water is? If not, you are not alone. Many people don’t know where to locate this valve or even what it looks like. However, knowing the location of this important device is very important because it can help you reduce property damage in case of a burst pipe or other plumbing emergency.

If your home has a basement, the valve will typically be located there along an outside wall where the municipal water line enters your home. In some cases, it may be located in a crawl space or even outside along your property line. Most mains use ball valves that attach to a lever that may be colored red, green, yellow, or orange. When the lever is in line with your pipe, it is open; if it’s perpendicular to your pipe, it’s closed. Other valves use a gate system with a round dial handle that your turn clockwise to close and counterclockwise to open. If you are having trouble locating your main water shut-off valve, our crew at [company_name] can help.

Your Local Plumbing Professionals

At [company_name], our team has provided a wide range of plumbing services in San Antonio and the surrounding area for over two decades. While we don’t deal with as many plumbing issues during the winter as other areas do, we can still help ensure that all your pipes and plumbing systems are ready for the weather. Our team repairs pipes and fixtures, and we can help with drain cleaning, sewer lines, toilet repair and replacement, garbage disposals, and water heaters. Interested in water treatment? We can assist you with that as well. Contact us at [company_name] today to set up an appointment.

Limescale in San Antonio, TX

3 Ways to Prevent Limescale in Your Home

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Does your home have limescale? Limescale is a hard, chalky deposit that is made from calcium and carbonate ions. This stubborn substance is a problem found around common water spots in homes, such as sinks, taps, bathroom tiles, toilet bowls, and washing machines.

Limescale isn’t just unappealing to the eye, it is hard to remove. Even more, limescale can destroy appliances, lead to faulty plumbing systems, and irritate the skin. The good news is that there are certain steps you can take to prevent limescale from occurring in your home. Read on to learn more.

1. Regularly Clean Your Appliances

One of the easiest things you can do to prevent limescale is to regularly clean your appliances. For this reason, it’s important to wipe all wet fittings after every use. In particular, you should focus on wiping down areas where water is most likely to sit. This includes showers, sinks, and baths.

2. Water Softener

Another effective option to prevent limescale is to invest in a water softener. Water softeners use ion exchange to remove calcium and minerals from the water supply, turning hard water into soft water. This means that you will have fewer impurities in your water supply, which can minimize the buildup of limescale.

3. DIY Limescale Remover

If you’re looking for a DIY method, homeowners can choose to make a DIY limescale remover using one part water and one part white vinegar. You can put your DIY mix into a spray bottle and spray the mixture on fixtures that present limescale. Or, you can soak a clean towel in the mixture and wrap it around any fixtures that have limescale on them.

It’s a good idea to let the solution sit for at least 10 minutes before wiping it away. If the limescale is particularly stubborn, you may want to consider leaving the mixture on overnight for the best results.

At Anchor Plumbing & Services, we want to help make your home feel comfortable again. We offer
services for Plumbing, water heaters, water softeners, and drains cleaning. Give us a call today for for your San Antonio, plumbing needs!

Dishwasher

What Should You Do When Your Dishwasher Isn’t Draining?

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Dishwashers are extremely convenient and also use much less water than washing dishes by hand. Still, you often won’t realize just how much easier they make your life until your dishwasher breaks down and you have to start doing your dishes by hand again. One of the most common dishwasher problems you may encounter is when the unit stops draining for some reason. If you ever find yourself in this situation, here are all of the steps that you should take to try to get it to drain again.

Try to Run the Dishwasher Again

The most common reason that you will open up your dishwasher and find it full of water is because it was shut off before it completed its full cycle. If you turn the unit off while it is still full of water, the drain pump won’t run, and the water will remain until the dishwasher is turned back on. This is always the very first thing you should check. All you need to do is turn it on and set it to run. If it is still full of water once it finishes the cycle, then you will need to move on to the next steps.

Turn On the Garbage Disposal

Dishwashers are always installed so that the drain hose connects to the main drain pipe underneath your kitchen sink. If you have a garbage disposal, the dishwasher will drain directly into it instead. When the garbage disposal gets clogged with food and debris, it will prevent the dishwasher from being able to drain. To check if this is the case, turn on the cold water and attempt to run the garbage disposal for 30 seconds or so. You will then need to run your dishwasher again to see if it will drain now that you know the garbage disposal is clear.

Remove Any Standing Water and Check for Obstructions

If the previous two steps weren’t any help, you will now need to remove all of the water. This allows you to inspect for any clogs or obstructions around the drain valve. Before starting, you should always put towels on the ground in front of the dishwasher to catch any water that may spill out. You will then need to use a ladle or cup to scoop out as much water as you can, and then soak up any remaining water with a towel.

Once the dishwasher is no longer full of water, you can then check to make sure the drain valve is clog-free and working properly. The valve should be located near the back corner of the unit. To check that the valve is working properly, gently push down on it. It should move freely when you press on it. If not, then the valve is stuck, and you will likely need to hire a plumber to determine why and see if they can repair it.

Clean the Filter

You should also make sure that your dishwasher’s filter isn’t full of food particles or clogged. Most people are unaware that you are supposed to clean a dishwasher filter regularly, and many people don’t know that their dishwasher even has a filter. The filter works to prevent food particles from potentially clogging the drain line. However, if the filter gets too dirty, it can prevent the dishwasher from draining or cause it to drain much more slowly.

Most dishwashers have a cylindrical, cup-shaped filter at the bottom. Some units also have a screen on the bottom near the filter that can be removed and cleaned. If you’re not sure what the filter looks like or where it is, check your owner’s manual. This will also tell your how to remove and clean it.

After removing the filter, soak it in vinegar for around 30 minutes to soften up any gunk stuck to it. You can then gently scrub it inside and out using soap and either a bristled brush or scouring pad. Once it is fully clean, make sure to rinse it well before you put it back in to ensure it isn’t full of dish soap.

Make Sure the Drain Hose Isn’t Clogged or Kinked

Your dishwasher uses a soft, flexible drain hose that runs from the unit to your sink drain. This hose can easily become kinked and prevent the dishwasher from draining. If the hose is kinked, you should gently straighten it out as best as you can.

You should also unhook the hose from the sink drain so you can make sure it isn’t clogged. You can check for and remove clogs by sticking a wire hanger into the hose. When you reconnect the hose, you also need to make sure that the connection to the drain has an airtight seal. If the seal is even slightly loose, it can also prevent the dishwasher from draining or cause it to leak underneath your sink.

Clean the Dishwasher With Baking Soda and Vinegar

Another effective solution to drainage issues is to use baking soda and vinegar to fully clean the dishwasher. This works by helping to break up any clogs that could be preventing it from draining. If you notice that there is standing water in your dishwasher after it runs, mix together approximately one cup of baking soda and one cup of white vinegar. Pour this mixture into the water inside the dishwasher and wait around 30 minutes.

After letting this mixture sit, the dishwasher will often become clear enough that it will start draining on its own. In this case, you should turn the unit on to the rinse cycle and let it run. The vinegar and baking soda should help to loosen up any clogs enough that the dishwasher can then flush them out and drain properly.

Run the Dishwasher Again and Listen

Another thing you should always do if your dishwasher won’t drain is to run it and listen for anything unusual. If everything sounds as it should, this likely means that it is clogged. However, if you hear any strange clicking or humming noises, then this usually indicates that the drain pump motor is faulty or burnt out. In this case, you are only left with two options: hire a plumber to see if the motor can be replaced or buy a new dishwasher.

This pump is what allows your dishwasher to drain. When water drains out of the bottom of the dishwasher, it has to flow uphill to reach your kitchen sink drain. If the pump stops working, gravity will prevent the water from going up through the drain hose, and the water will remain stuck inside the bottom of the dishwasher.

If your dishwasher won’t drain or has any other issues, we are ready to help. We service and repair all makes and models, and our team has years of experience fixing most any dishwasher issue. We also install and service water heaters, garbage disposals, water softeners, and most other plumbing appliances and fixtures. Our team can also help you overcome water pressure issues, and we specialize in drain cleaning and sewer services for customers throughout the San Antonio area. If you need any type of dishwasher or plumbing service, give us a call today.

shower hub

7 Signs That It’s Time to Replace Your Plumbing Fixtures

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Old, leaky plumbing fixtures are an eyesore. Surprisingly, they can also be harmful to your health. Whether you plan on selling your San Antonio, Texas home or intend to live in it for quite a while, upgrading your plumbing fixtures will make your living environment safer, more visually appealing, and far more pleasant to be in. Here are seven solid reasons to make having new plumbing fixtures installed your next home improvement project.

1. New Fixtures Will Make Your Home More Marketable

When selling your home, you should know that bathrooms and kitchens are among the very first places that prospective buyers tour. After all, these are the rooms that building residents are virtually guaranteed to use every day. When bathrooms and kitchens have rusty and outdated plumbing fixtures, homes are far less likely to attract motivated buyers or command the highest possible prices.

If you plan on listing your home soon, having upgraded plumbing fixtures installed is an easy and affordable way to make the best possible impression on your target market. Even if you don’t intend to sell, having new plumbing fixtures put in will keep your house on par with current market standards. This way, if you do decide to sell at some point, you won’t have as much to take care of.

2. You Currently Have Standard Fixtures Installed

Plumbing fixtures have come quite a long way in the past several years. The latest options in plumbing fixtures are sleek and highly refined. They improve bathroom aesthetics, limit water waste, and provide greater ease of use. There are also a number of options in low-touch faucets that limit the likelihood of illness by preventing the transfer of germs. You can find options made from materials that have inherent antimicrobial properties and upgrades that seamlessly coordinate with other indoor elements such as your wall sconces, towel racks, or cabinet hardware among other things.

3. Water Pressure Is Unsteady

Many of the best reasons for upgrading home plumbing fixtures are functional and practical. Although having new plumbing fixtures is sure to make your kitchen and your bathrooms look more modern and appealing, it will also make many essential home features perform better. For instance, if you experience dramatic changes in water pressure while taking a shower, replacing your old shower heads and faucets can enhance your daily self-care routine.

Aging fixtures are often filled with mineral deposits and other build-ups. Although these accumulations can be eliminated by removing and soaking their clogged components, with aging fixtures, replacement tends to be the most effective choice.

4. You’ve Got a Leak That Can’t Be Fixed

The naturally high levels of humidity in kitchens and bathrooms can take a toll on plumbing fixtures. When hard water is added into the picture, plumbing fixtures can look worn and aged as they begin to visibly degrade. One sure sign that it’s time to change your plumbing fixtures is the development of leaks that are impossible to fix. Constantly dripping faucets can be a nightmare to live with. Attempting to asleep while hearing loud dripping and splashing sounds is downright maddening. A constant drip can also increase your water bill because of the constant water waste.

Leaky fixtures that cannot be repaired have often been stripped or rusted out beyond repair. Some leaky fixtures may even progressively wear down the valve stems that they’re attached to. Once this occurs, these fixtures can no longer be tightened. In these instances, the only choice is to replace them.

5. Your Plumbing Fixtures Have a Dingy, Rusty Look

It’s definitely time to have your fixtures upgraded if they have a dingy, rusty look despite your best efforts to clean them. Not only will your home look better after this upgrade, but you’ll also find it much easier to clean. You won’t have to experiment with new cleaning or polishing solutions, and you can enjoy a living environment that always looks fresh and inviting.

Brand-new fixtures are incredibly easy to take care of. Moreover, given that newly installed fixtures are less likely to have leaks or pooling water at their bases, they’re also less likely to develop problems with mold, mildew, bacteria, and other common pathogens.

6. Your Water Quality Has Gone Down

Leaky fixtures create the perfect environment for mold and bacteria to thrive. Changing them out at the end of their lifespan can actually improve your water quality. Most plumbing fixtures are designed to last 15 to 20 years. However, the expected lifespans of plumbing fixtures is often calculated with optimal conditions in mind. For instance, plumbing fixtures are more likely to last for two full decades in homes that don’t have excessively hard water, when fixtures aren’t being overused, and when problems with leaks and rusting don’t exist. In the typical home, residents regularly contend with leaky faucets, mishandling, excessive use, and gradual corrosion.

Waiting two decades before changing your plumbing fixtures out can have a marked impact on your home’s water quality. Depending upon where your outdated fixtures are located, this can mean having an unacceptably low quality of water for:

  • Drinking
  • Cooking
  • Bathing and showering
  • Washing your personal items

If you’ve got rusty, cloudy, or all-around murky water coming out of your taps, old fixtures are a likely culprit.

7. You’ve Got Mold or Pest Problems That Won’t Go Away

If you’ve got persistent mold problems in your home, the best way to deal with them is by identifying and eliminating their source. In many instances, the source of indoor mold is a slow or inconspicuous leak. Unfortunately, many of these leaks exist at faucets. A leaky faucet doesn’t have to make a lot of noise or keep you up at night to cause serious problems. Faucet leaks add moisture to the indoor environment. Depending upon where they’re located and how fast-moving they are, they can also saturate building materials and create standing bodies of water. Changing leaky faucets out will leave you with dryer cabinets and sink areas, less indoor moisture, and fewer problems with mold.

It’s also important to note that old, leaky fixtures can also be a major attractant for pests. Although people are often diligent about storing their food items, most rodents and insects enter homes in search of water. Having a leaking faucet could set the stage for a major rat, mouse, or cockroach problem even though your home is otherwise pristine. If you’ve struggled with pests in the past or if you’re currently dealing with a major infestation, having new fixtures put in could be an essential step toward eliminating water access and getting rid of pests for good.

[Company_name] proudly services residents of San Antonio, Texas and the surrounding areas. We offer plumbing services, water treatment services, and water heaters. If it’s time to upgrade the plumbing fixtures in your home, we’ve got you covered. We also take care of serious issues with your plumbing, such as those involving your garbage disposals and sewer or gas lines. Give us a call today to request an estimate or to schedule an appointment.

8 Solid Reasons to Have a Plumbing Maintenance Plan

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Many homeowners in San Antonio don’t spend a lot of time thinking about their plumbing systems until something goes awry. Burst pipes, clogged drains, and whole-house backups are urgent and unfortunate reminders that preventative maintenance is always worthwhile. Purchasing a plumbing maintenance plan is a great way to sidestep costly issues that are largely the result of negligence.

The money that you spend on a plumbing maintenance plan is guaranteed to pay for itself over the years. These plans can help preserve the value and integrity of your home, keep building residents safe, and ensure that you remain compliant with the terms of your home insurance policy and home warranty. The following are eight solid reasons to invest in a plumbing maintenance plan today.

1. Stop Dealing With the Consequences of Costly Oversights

Plumbing maintenance plans take the stress and hassle out of plumbing maintenance. When you sign up for a maintenance program, the scheduling of essential preventative services will be done for you. You’ll get helpful reminders when it’s time for a whole-house plumbing inspection, and you’ll get regular services that include:

  • Leak detection
  • Water pressure checks
  • Faucet and hose bib inspections
  • Toilet inspections
  • Water heater maintenance and inspections

These services allow plumbers to identify minor issues before they’ve had the chance to spiral out of control. As such, your repair costs will be lower, and you’ll be far less likely to have major flooding or backup events that cause water damage to your property.

2. Get Priority Scheduling

Signing up for a preventative maintenance plan is a great way to forge a solid relationship with a trusted plumbing company. Homeowners who have maintenance plans in place are often viewed as V.I.P. customers. This makes it easier for these consumers to get timely service during busy seasons and at all other times when their providers are inundated with repair requests. Maintenance plan memberships can also provide access to special discounts and other loyalty benefits.

3. Protect and Improve Resident Health

Routine plumbing maintenance is the best form of prevention for whole-house backups, burst pipes, and failed water heaters. Many of these events can flood your home with water that’s rife with chemical and biological contaminants and set the stage for serious mold issues.

If you have someone living in your home who suffers from asthma, allergies, or any other chronic respiratory health issue, you probably go out of your way to keep your HVAC system in top condition. Surprisingly, taking good care of your plumbing can be just as important to this end. When plumbing systems are working as they should, the risk of being exposed to harmful airborne contaminants is greatly minimized. Taking measures to prevent major flood events also protects pets and small children from having direct contact with gray water, black water, or the harmful pathogens they often contain.

4. Replace Worn Components Before the End of Their Lifespans

Most major plumbing repairs and plumbing-related floods are the result of letting fixtures, appliances, and other key plumbing components reach the ends of their lifespans before replacing them. Annual plumbing inspections are opportunities for plumbing professionals to swap out worn parts before they’ve failed entirely. When homeowners stay on top of general maintenance, they’re often able to avoid even the most minor plumbing repairs entirely.

Building a long-term relationship with reputable plumbers and purchasing a preventative maintenance plan streamlines all plumbing elements for lifelong efficiency. With the right plumbing company and the right plan, you can rest assured that:

  • The right fixtures and appliances are correctly installed
  • You’ve been properly instructed about how to use and care for all aspects of your plumbing system
  • Wear-related issues are resolved before problems actually arise

Your plumbing fixtures and appliances will work more efficiently too. This means less water waste, lower water bills, and fewer earlier-than-anticipated replacements.

5. Plan in Advance for Major Plumbing Overhauls and Replacements

Failing to pay attention to your plumbing doesn’t just allow minor problems to spiral. It can also leave you sidelined by the sudden need for major appliance or fixture replacements. When you have licensed plumbers performing whole-house inspections, you can get early warnings about aging water heaters, toilets, pipes, faucets, bathtubs, shower pans, and more. These warnings give homeowners ample opportunity to plan and budget for essential plumbing improvements.

6. Enjoy Higher Water Quality

Water quality testing is an important part of routine plumbing maintenance. This isn’t something that you’re likely to think about if you’re only scheduling plumbing service when your showers won’t drain, your toilets are clogged, or water is backing up into your home.

Water quality assessments will let you know whether you’ve got hard water, high levels of waterborne contaminants, or other problems that are affecting the taste, purity, and all-around potability of your tap water. Following these inspections, plumbers can help homeowners learn about the benefits and best applications for water purifiers and water softening equipment. If you have need of either of these plumbing additions, making these improvements now could result in softer skin and hair, better hydration, improved health, and better-tasting water for everyone.

7. Limit Water Pressure and Lower Your Water Bills

Another common oversight among Texas homeowners who don’t invest adequate effort into plumbing maintenance is excessively high water pressure. Having a forceful spray at your shower heads might feel good in the morning, but high water pressure can wind up costing you a veritable fortune over time. When water pressure is too high, a lot of water that flows out of the tap winds up going down the drains unused. Moreover, excessive pressure expedites normal wear. In turn, appliances like dishwashers and washing machines don’t last as long as they were meant to. Given that plumbing maintenance plans include water pressure testing, you can have the necessary adjustments made before excess pressure causes your appliances and other plumbing features to break down.

8. Keep Your Home Insurance or Home Warranty Intact

Home warranties and home insurance plans keep homeowners protected from the high costs of covered damages. When plumbing fixtures fail or plumbing appliances break down, you can count on the protections that these agreements provide to cover the needed replacements or repairs.

However, it’s important to remember that both insurance policies and warranties are mutual agreements. Companies agree to pay for certain repairs and homeowners agree to take reasonable steps to prevent them. Neglecting your plumbing by having only sporadic whole-house inspections performed may be seen as a violation of these agreements. If you cannot prove that you’ve been diligent about having your plumbing professionally inspected and maintained on a regular basis, you may wind up having your warranty or insurance policy voided.

Purchasing a plumbing maintenance plan is a great way to keep your coverage and warranties intact. These services are structured to help homeowners meet the basic requirements of these agreements. If a major plumbing problem arises, a plumbing maintenance plan will make it easy for you to prove your diligence in this area.

Homeowners in San Antonio, Texas and the surrounding areas can count on Anchor Plumbing Services for all their plumbing needs. We provide water treatment services, drain cleaning service, water heater installations, and more. We also offer a comprehensive plumbing maintenance program. To schedule service or to sign up for our preventative maintenance plan, call us today.