Plumbing Advice
Plumbing Habits That Save You Money & Start the New Year Right
As we welcome the new year, many of us are making resolutions about saving money and improving our homes. While checking your plumbing might not top your resolution list, at Nichols & Phipps, we’ve seen how developing good plumbing habits can save homeowners thousands of dollars annually. Let’s explore how you can protect your home…
Your Essential Plumbing Winterization Guide
Don’t let Jack Frost put your plumbing on ice! Winter’s approaching fast, and if you’re like most homeowners, protecting your plumbing system might be getting the cold shoulder on your to-do list. However, we’ve seen how quickly winter can turn a minor plumbing issue into a perfect storm of problems. Cold weather can give your…
Hot Water On Demand is a Luxury Most of Us Don’t Want to Do Without
Your water heater is one piece of equipment that you seldom think about. As long as you have hot water for your shower and there are no leaks, there should be no reason to give the water heater a lot of thought. However, there will come a time when your water heater isn’t getting the…
Should You Repair or Replace Your Water Heater?
Your water heater is one piece of equipment that you seldom think about. As long as you have hot water for your shower and there are no leaks, there should be no reason to give the water heater a lot of thought. However, there will come a time when your water heater isn’t getting the…
Got Problems with Your Gray Poly Pipe?
Here’s what to do with polybutylene pipes in your home. Chances are, if you’re reading this blog, you: a) know you have Poly B pipes in your property and b) know it’s an issue. If you’re not sure what they are or what the issue is with them, then keep reading because we’re going to…
Checked Your Water Heater Lately?
(Cue dramatic sound effect) Hot water on demand is a luxury most of us don’t want to do without. When your water heater refuses to do its main job, give us a call. We will come by and give it a good talking to, and do our best to get it back to heating your…
How to Get Your Plumbing Ready For Summer
With the summer months finally starting to move in, the bitter chill of the winter is being left behind, and we’re getting enough sun at the weekends to roll out the BBQ! We’re all delighted to be out in the spring sun, but what does this mean for our pipes and outdoor plumbing after a…
10 Most Common Summer Plumbing Problems (and How to Fix Them)
The summer is fast approaching, and we’ll soon (hopefully!) be having barbecues with our loved ones and enjoying the fresh air. There’s nothing better than relaxing in a lounge chair while the summer sun hangs in the sky. Nothing could ruin a perfect summer’s day, right? Well, a bad plumbing problem could, and during the…
How to Clean a Shower Drain & Remove Clogs
There’s nothing worse than getting ready to take an invigorating shower, only to be greeted with a stinky odor wafting up from your drain. What’s even worse is standing in the shower, watching the dirty water rise up and panicking when it doesn’t drain away quickly. A clogged shower drain is one of the worst…
The Ultimate Plumbing Checklist for the Holidays
With the holidays only just around the corner, it’s about time we all started checking up on our plumbing works. It’s important to keep an eye on your plumbing all year, but when the holidays are approaching and the frosty weather is beginning to creep in, it’s more important than ever. You don’t want a…
What Temperature Should a Hot Water Heater Be Set At?
How hot should hot water be? There isn’t really a universal temperature for ‘hot water’ so how do you know what temperature is appropriate for your hot water heater? There’s a suggested temperature for hot water heaters, but a lot of other factors can influence what temperature is appropriate for your heater. Depending on your…
Do Bath Bombs Clog Drains?
Nothing beats treating yourself to a relaxing, soothing bath after a long, hard day… and when it comes to running a luxurious bath, you can’t go wrong with bath bombs. Incredibly popular, millions of bath bombs are sold every year, and there’s plenty of choices when it comes to size, aromas, and special ingredients. It’s…
Will My Insurance Cover Broken Pipes?
If a pipe bursts in your home and ruins your floors, will your insurance cover it? Short answer? It should do. Long answer? There are a few things to take into consideration. So, let’s take a look. Depending on your policy’s specifics, your homeowner’s insurance will cover the cost of the pipe replacement. Water damage…
What to Flush or NOT to Flush?
We all think we know what to flush, like toilet paper, it is made to be flushed. But what about other items that are labeled “flushable”, are they ok to flush? Are tissues, baby wipes, tampon applicators, tampons or paper towels ok to flush? Today, we’re covering exactly what you can and cannot flush down…
What Can You Do to Fight Coronavirus in Your Home?
Things are scary right now. There are a lot of uncertainties, rumors, and confusing advice going round online about COVID-19. We know that things are stressful at the moment, so we’ve created this easy-to-understand guide covering a few ways you can protect your home – and addressing some of those online rumors too! You probably…
How to Unclog a Blocked Toilet
With the holiday season fast approaching, your toilets are going to be under added pressure to keep up with all your guests. There’s an unspoken universal rule that toilets will clog at the most awkward time possible – so here’s a quick and easy guide on how to unblock your toilet. Remember: your toilet could…
Spring Tips to Keep Your Plumbing Perfect
Spring is here, and it’s time to get cleaning – and what better place to start than with your plumbing! Here are some of our top tips to get your plumbing perfect for the springtime. Bathroom Plumbing Tips: Check your faucets for leaks, drips, or any sign of damage. Repair what you can replace what…
Snaking the Toilet Drain
Should I call a plumber or DIY the job? Many plumbing tasks are DIY, some are not. While swapping out a sink faucet or unclogging a toilet might be within most homeowners’ abilities, there are many plumbing-related projects that can be costly, irresponsible, and even unsafe to do without professional intervention. Snaking the toilet drain is…
5 Helpful Tips for Troublesome Toilets
Nobody wants to deal with a blocked toilet, and the idea of having to clean one isn’t the nicest thing to think about. Yet it has to be done. There are so many issues that can pop up because of a troublesome toilet, and if you don’t keep on top of it, then it could…
What to Do When Your Pipes Burst Over the Winter Months
The damage caused by a frozen or a ruptured pipe can be catastrophic to a household – especially during the colder months! Burst pipes are a common problem in the winter and can cause a whole load of trouble for you and your family. Pipes often buckle and split in the winter due to the…
Is it Time to Replace Your Toilet?
It may not be quite as much fun to think about replacing your toilet as it is to think about buying a new car or even upgrading your living room furniture. After all, as far as purchases go, toilets are all function and very little “fun.” Despite this, there comes a time when every toilet…
How To Get Your Pipes Prepared For The Holidays
With the holidays approaching quickly and guests starting to visit, the last thing you want to deal with is a crisis in the plumbing department. Disposing of household waste incorrectly can lead to a bathroom or kitchen plumbing disaster. Follow our helpful tips below to help you avoid any embarrassing issues over the holidays! Don’t…
Cut Out Clutter With These Useful Bathroom Storage Solutions
Is your bathroom getting overwhelming with random shampoo bottles and hair-tangled hairbrushes all over it? Maybe you don’t have enough storage in your bathroom, and you’ve run out of room to put all of your toiletries? Your bathroom should be an oasis of calm! Somewhere you can lock yourself away from the mayhem of the…
How Much Does An Ensuite Cost?
You’re tired of having to share the bathroom, we get it. There’s nothing worse than rushing to get ready in the morning and having to wait your turn for the mirror. So, you’re thinking of adding an ensuite to your bedroom but you’re wondering if it’s worth all the hassle and the money. An ensuite…
Buyer Beware! What To Look For When Buying A Home
Pre-owned home buying checklist to help you know where to look for hidden gotchas. Most home buyers are searching for the pre-owned market and not building from scratch. When looking at houses you need to pay attention to more than the layout. Imagine buying what you think is your dream home, only to find out…
Plumbing Advice for First Time Homeowners
Moving into your own home is an exciting time! There’s a new sense of independence, the fun of getting to know your new neighbors, and the freedom of being able to make a space truly feel like your own. But for first-time homeowners, owning your own property can also be stressful. Having your own home…
How To Protect Your Home From Flooding
Protecting your home from flooding probably isn’t at the top of your to-do list – but it’s an essential part of being a homeowner. Despite what you might think, most flood damage to properties is actually caused by plumbing failures and faulty appliances (not natural disasters!). Luckily, this type of flooding is completely preventable with…
Spring is here! Time to clean out your gutters and get ready for summer
Spring has sprung and that means we’re all going to be outside enjoying the weather! Before getting to enjoy that though, the new season brings a new list of maintenance must-dos with it. You don’t want to spring a leak during a family BBQ! In this month’s blog post, we’re going to look at the…
What is the Best Type of Water Heater to Use in Northern Virginia?
Despite 20% of the average household’s expenses taken up by the cost of heating water, water heaters are usually ignored until they stop working. There are so many options, how do you know the best water heater to buy? It’s safe to say the reason why you’re reading this today is that your water heater…
Plumbing Tricks and Insider Tips of the Trade
We’ve been around since the 70’s and through our years in the business, we’ve seen a thing or two! Our expert team have quite a few secrets of the trade and we would like to pass on a few of these tips to you. Many plumbers want to horde their knowledge and keep it to…
Plumbing Noises and What They Mean
Are your water pipes driving you crazy with banging, squealing and whistling noises? Not only are they a huge headache to listen to, but excessive or odd plumbing noises might also be an indication that something’s not quite right with your plumbing system. In general, pipes shouldn’t make any noise at all – so if…
The 6 Fundamentals of Bathroom Remodeling
If you didn’t already realize it, your entire bathroom is built around a huge plumbing system. There aren’t many components in the bathroom that don’t rely on your home’s plumbing to work. Before you think about demolishing and remodeling your bathroom, you need to know a bit about plumbing. Here are our 6 fundamentals on…
Help! My Pipes are Frozen! How to Unfreeze Pipes
The best way to deal with freezing pipes is to prevent them in the first place, but the chances are if you’re reading this it’s probably already happened! When pipes freeze, the water inside expands, which can cause the pipe to burst and flood your home quickly – resulting in a major disaster and and…
How To Save Money On My Water Bill
Ever feel like you’re pouring your money down the drain? Well, you just might be doing just that! Water bills can be an expensive part of running a home – but unlike property taxes and those big maintenance projects, you can easily save money on your water bill. Reduce your water bill by just $25…
Warning signs pipe repairs are needed
Spotting pipe issues can be very difficult as they are usually located under floors and between walls, making it hard for anyone but a licensed plumber to assess if there is a problem and where the piping issue exists. Piping problems often worsen due to their hidden nature. Leaking pipes not only waste money but…
The Basics of Water Heater Maintenance
Think about all the things you use your water heater for on a daily basis: hot showers, washing dishes, cleaning and cooking are just a few of the reasons you need easy access to hot water. In addition to that, if your water heater broke, not only would you be inconvenienced, but you may have…
The Water Heater Dilemma – Repair or Replace?
Your water heater is one piece of equipment that you seldom think about. As long as you have hot water for your shower and there are no leaks, there should be no reason to give the water heater a lot of thought. However, there will come a time when your water heater isn’t getting the…
Drain Maintenance 101: Causes & Prevention
It’s very easy to take your drains for granted. When you’re cleaning or doing the dishes, if an item slips down the drain or even gets caught in the drain plug, it’s easier to let the item fall down the drain and forget about it. That is until that item causes a clog in your…
Dropped it Down the Drain… Now What?
Ever dropped something down your bathroom or kitchen drain? Talk about a sinking feeling. Most objects just aren’t worth the stress. Many objects are also caught within the sink’s trap, specially designed for these instances, and can be quickly retrieved. However, there are those instances where an irreplaceable item makes its way deep into your…
Troubleshooting Disposal Leaks
A disposal leak may start as a minor annoyance but if left uncorrected it can lead to a huge mess. That’s why if you have a leak it is vital that you find the cause and repair or replace it immediately. We’ve put together some basic information to help you with the first steps in…
What do Sewer Odors Indicate?
So, you’ve noticed unpleasant sewer odors coming from your bathroom or kitchen. There are few things more frustrating than a stinky, smelly sewer odor emitting from your home. This smell could prevent you from having company over or even disrupt your day to day routine.In many cases, it is easy to remedy a sewer odor and…
How to fix a leaky faucet?
There are few things more frustrating than a leaky faucet. The dripping can be aggravating and even lead to damage of your sink area. However, fixing this piece is a job that can often be completed on your own, with just a few simple tools. Find the Leak With the different types of faucets available…
Planning a bathroom remodel?
Remodeling your bathroom is exciting. You have probably spent hours imagining what your space will look like with an update. You have picked out colors, surface materials and you have some idea of what layout you desire. You may have even spent some time browsing ideas on Pinterest planning your bathroom remodel. However, Pinterest expertise…
Making sure your plumbing has a happy holiday season
Ah, the holidays. It’s a time for togetherness, good food, good memories… and plumbing problems. All is merry and bright until Uncle Gary clogs the upstairs toilet, the twins have flushed their new Christmas socks in the downstairs toilet, and your husband lovingly poured the turkey grease into the garbage disposal. Oh, and if that’s…
Not All Plumbing Repairs are DIY
DIY plumbing repair. Should you do it yourself or should you hire a professional? Here are a 5 major plumbing task that requires an experienced plumber. 1. Working with Gas Gas is inherently dangerous. It isn’t healthy to breathe, and a simple spark can cause a fire and even an explosion. Gas should be respected. If…
Is re-piping my home necessary?
Your plumber may have mentioned that “re-piping” your home would be a good idea or perhaps you’re worried about the quality of the pipes yourself. Are you asking yourself “Is re-piping my home really necessary?” Possibly. If you have an older home, it could be that your pipes have come to the end of their…