Tag: plumbing

Top Advantages of Tankless Water Heaters

Water heating takes up a significant portion of electricity in your home, so it is important to make sure you have a good water heater. While many homes use standard water heaters, others are switching to tankless water heaters as these appliances bring a lot of advantages. If you are considering getting a tankless water heater, here are some of the top advantages of having one, brought to you by the pros at Roman Electric.

What Exactly is a Tankless Water Heater and How Does it Work?

Think of a tankless water heater as a standard water heating appliance. However, the main difference between a tankless water heater and a regular water heater is that the latter continuously heats water, whereas a tankless one only heats water when it is being used. Tankless water heaters don’t use storage tanks and produce hot water only when it is needed. That means there is little to no stand-by heat loss, which makes tankless water heaters a more energy-efficient option.

What Are the Advantages of Having a Tankless Water Heater?

There are a lot of advantages that comes with using a tankless water heater.

1. High Efficiency

As we mentioned above, the main quality of a tankless water heater is the fact that it is incredibly energy efficient. Using a standard water heater, you would lose a lot of standby heat due to that fact that it constantly heats water in storage tank. According to the Department of Energy, tankless water heaters can be 24-34 % more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters.

In addition, tankless water heaters provide water on demand, meaning you won’t have to wait long for the water from your faucet to heat up.

  • Tankless Water Heaters Last Longer

According to the Department of Energy, tankless water heaters also last longer than standard water heaters. Tankless heaters can generally last for 20 years (or even more) whereas other heaters last for 15.

  • Low Operating Costs

Tankless water heaters are more expensive than standard water heaters, but they have lower operating and energy costs. Tankless water heaters also have cheaper and more readily available replaceable parts, that can make them last longer.

But What Are the Disadvantages?

Like all appliances, tankless water heaters come with some disadvantages as well.

  1. Lower Water Flow

Since tankless water heaters provide water on demand, they tend to have a lower water flow, whereas standard water heaters have a higher water flow, since they provide hot water from their storage tanks.

  • Higher Initial Costs

Tankless water heaters are on the more expensive side compared to standard heaters because they have a higher initial cost. However, the overall savings and low operational costs might make up for this disadvantage.

Have any more questions about the advantages of a tankless water heater? Get in touch with the pros at Roman Electric! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us online.

Tips on Finding the Right Plumber

tips on finding the right plumber

If you have a major plumbing problem that you can’t handle on your own, the next person you would call is a plumber. However, you want to make sure you find the best plumber for the job. Wondering what are some qualities you should look for in a plumber? Check out Roman Electric’s list of tips on finding the right plumber to repair and maintain the plumbing in your home.

1. Check Reviews

When you research the best plumbers for the job, the first thing you should do is check the reviews. You want to make sure that the company or contractor’s previous customers have generally been satisfied. Reviews can help provide realistic answers to a lot of questions such as whether the plumber is professional or not, whether there were any problems after repair or installation, whether they provided realistic estimates, etc. You can look for reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List and even on social media websites like Facebook Reviews.

2. Look for Referrals

Another way to find a plumber you can trust is by asking your neighbors, family or friends about who their go-to plumber is. Personal referrals are a great way to find a reliable technician to fix the plumbing problem in your home.

3. Ask for Estimates

Once you have narrowed down a list of plumbers you are considering, call them or submit a proposal online for an estimate. A written estimate involves a plumber assessing the problem in your home and determining the right price for work. This way you can compare the different estimates from different companies and pick one that fits in your budget.

4. Ask About Discounts and Offers

Many contractors have discounts and limited time only offers that can help reduce the price of the plumbing job for you. Make sure you look through your contractor’s website and ask them about any coupons or discounts that you can take advantage of. If you would like professional maintenance, priority service or services for reduced prices you can look into the company’s maintenance plans.

5. Make Sure Your Plumber is Licensed and Insured

You want to make sure that your plumber has the right licenses and certifications to be able to work in your home. They need to have the right knowledge to be able to provide excellent plumbing repair and maintenance services.

6. Ask About Their Experience

There is nothing wrong with preferring a company that has been in business longer. This indicates greater experience and knowledge. However, keep in mind that just because a business has been around for a longer time, doesn’t mean that they can do the job well and at a fair price. Experience is simply just one of the many factors you should consider when hiring a plumber.

Are you in Wisconsin and looking for a plumber? Look no further because Roman Electric is here to help you out! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us on our website.

4 Things You Should Never Flush Down the Toilet

things you should never flush down the toilet

Toilet clogs can often be caused by foreign objects ending up in the drain. It can be frustrating and a little gross to deal with these blockages. In order to prevent clogs, it’s important to know what you can and cannot flush down the toilet. To help you out, the pros at Roman Electric have prepared a quick list of things you should never flush down the toilet.

1. Flushable Wipes

This might be a little surprising since the word “flushable” is involved, but it’s generally not a good idea to flush these wipes. This is because they don’t break apart as easily as toilet paper, according to Consumer Reports.

2. Cat Litter

Yes, you heard us—cat litter. While it might seem obvious not to dump cat litter in your toilet, there are certain kinds that are branded as “flushable.” Save yourself and your toilet the trouble and dump the litter (even the flushable kind) in the trash. The troubles that can ensue after litter inevitably clogs up your drains are simply not worth it.

3. Paper Towels

Toilet paper is okay—paper towel is not. That is because paper towel has plastic fibers in it that can’t easily break down in your drain. Dispose of paper towels in the trash.

4. Diapers

No matter how strong your toilet is, it can’t break down diapers or disposable nappies in the sewer system.

Follow This Rule of Thumb

We’ve given you an idea of what can and cannot go in the toilet. If you are confused about what can or can’t be flushed, follow this rule of thumb: If it is not toilet paper, it most likely cannot be flushed.

How You Can Prevent Clogs

There are other steps you can take to prevent clogs, besides knowing what can or cannot be flushed down your toilet. Here are some ways you can avoid clogs and blockages all together:

1. Keep Toilet Lids Closed

Often plumbers will get called because a small toy is blocking the pipes. If you have young children, prevent them from putting any toys in the toilet by keeping your toilet lids closed. You can use a safety lock for extra security. 

2. Inspect Your Toilet Every Month

Make sure the various components of your toilet are functioning properly and are not worn out. Check the flapper and fill valve and ensure they are in good condition.

3. Get a Plunger

If you do not have a plunger, make sure you purchase a good quality flange-plunger. Learn how to use it properly, so you are prepared for any clogs.

4. What Toilet Paper are You Using?

While soft and plush toilet paper feels great, it might be harder on your drain. If you don’t want to change your toilet paper, make sure you don’t use too much of it.

Have any more questions about things you can or cannot flush down your toilet? Thinking about how you can deal with clogs in the most efficient way possible? Roman Electric can answer both these questions for you. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service online!

4 Summer Plumbing Tips

summer plumbing tips

If you want to start summer off with a well-functioning plumbing system, the pros at Roman Electric are here to help! Here are some great summer plumbing tips that will ensure that your pipes and plumbing fixtures don’t cause you any problems.

1. Check for Leaks in These Areas

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household leaks account for 10,000 gallons of water lost per year. To prevent unnecessary water loss and an increase in your water bill this summer, make sure you check for leaks around your home. Inspect these areas specifically:

  • Toilet

The most common reason for a toilet leak is a worn-out flapper. A flapper is a seal in the toilet tank which lifts when you pull the flush lever and allows water to flow into the bowl from the tank. However, if it breaks and develops cracks, water continues to leak through long after you have flushed. This leak can become costly over time—however, its also very easy to fix. Simply find a replacement at your nearest home improvement store and use this guide to install it.

  • Faucet

A faucet leak is usually caused by an old gasket or O ring. You can find replacements at a home improvement store and easily install these new components. Make sure you have the manufacturers manual to help you go through the installation and replacement process.

  • Showerhead

A loose showerhead can lead to leaks escaping through. Simply tighten the showerhead to the stem and use Teflon tape for extra security.

2. Check Water Pressure

It’s important to ensure you have the right and consistent water pressure throughout your home. There are several ways to check the water pressure. If you are on the city supply, you can request a water pressure reading from your local water department. You can also use a pressure gauge by hooking it up to the outside water spigot. The ideal reading should be between 45-55 psi.

3. Use Water Less

Make a plan with your family to lessen your water consumption, so you can consciously practice efficiency and conservation. These methods might be small but can have an impact in the long run!

  • Take shorter showers
  • Install low-flow showerheads and faucets
  • Turn the sink off when you are brushing your teeth or lathering your hands when washing
  • Turn the shower off when lathering
  • When washing dishes by hand, don’t let water run for rinsing
  • Install aerators in faucets to reduce excess water flow

4. Avoid Clogs

Clogs are messy business and dealing with one can be really frustrating. Here are some measures to prevent drain and toilet clogs:

  • No objects except for toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet
  • Routinely remove and hair and soap scum from drains. Use a drain hair catcher when showering if you want to be extra careful
  • Use a toilet lid if you have small children—this will prevent the risk of foreign objects going into the toilet drain

If you do end up dealing with clogs, here are some steps you can take to clear them out:

  • Baking soda and boiling hot water is a great mixture to clear out clogs
  • The handy-dandy plunger with an extended flange is ideal for toilets. The cup plunger is best for sink drains.
  • Use a plumbing snake or auger for deeper clogs

Want more summer plumbing tips? Call Roman Electric at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service online!

3 Plumbing Upgrades for Spring

plumbing upgrades for spring

It’s a bit of an uncertain time for all of us, but don’t let that stop you from making any upgrades to your plumbing for the spring! Here are some things you can easily do at home to get your plumbing ready for the new season, while practicing social distancing!

1. Replace Toilet Flapper

The flapper, located in the toilet tank, is a seal between the tank and the toilet bowl. It’s attached to the flush lever by a chain, so whenever you flush, the flapper lifts and lets water flow from the tank into the bowl. However, if the flapper is old or deteriorated, water might continue to leak into the bowl leading to a spike in your water bill. To fix this, you can easily order a flapper online from any home improvement store and install it using this helpful guide.

2. Clean Out Fixtures

One of the best ways you can “upgrade” your plumbing fixtures is through regular maintenance. If you’re working from home now, this might be a great time to do that. Here is how you can maintain and clean the various appliances and plumbing fixtures in your home!

  • Garbage Disposal

With all kinds of food scraps going down your trusty garbage disposal, it’s inevitable that it gets a little dirty over time. To clean out your disposal, you can use the standard baking soda and vinegar solution. Pour half a cup of baking soda in the garbage disposal and follow it up with one cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture sit and bubble for up to 10 minutes, then rinse it out with boiling water, while letting the disposal run.

  • Dishwasher

There are various ways to clean the different components of your dishwasher. You can start by putting vinegar in the dishwasher; place a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on one of the racks. Then run the dishwasher on a hot-water cycle—this will improve odors and remove any grime. You can also use an old toothbrush and soap to manually remove any dirt or grease in your dishwasher. Lastly, to thoroughly clean out this appliance, you will have to clean out the filter (located below the lower spray arm) with soap.

  • Sink and Bathtub

Make sure to inspect your sink and bathtub drains and ensure there isn’t any clog inside. You can fashion a drain snake with a wire and fish out any clog caused by hair or soap. You can use any bathroom cleaning agent you have and a sponge to get rid of deposits, stains and grime in your sink and bathtub. Pro tip: Vinegar is a great natural cleaning agent to remove stains.

3. Consider a New Showerhead or Shower Filter

If your showerhead has been requiring frequent cleaning or tightening, you might want to consider getting a new showerhead. There are also many options on the market with various features. If you want to save money on your water bill this Spring, consider getting low-flow showerheads approved by ENERGY STAR.

If you want softer hair or skin after a shower, consider getting a shower filter. With several options on the market, shower filters can reduce the amount of minerals and chemicals that go into your hair, scalp and skin, leaving you feeling healthier after each shower.

Want more tips on upgrading your plumbing for the spring? Contact the pros at Roman Electric! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service online 

Should You Invest in a Tankless Water Heater?

should you invest in a tankless water heater

Water heaters provide reliable, convenient hot water whenever we need it, and without them we’d really be in a bind. How many of us would be able to go through our normal routines with only cold showers, cold-washing cycles on clothes, and dishwashers that couldn’t use hot water?

Perhaps you’ve run into some frustrating hot water issues. Is your water heater to blame?

If so, then maybe you’re in the market for a new unit. There is good news, however: you have options, including investing in a tankless water heater. But is that a smart choice? Let the water-heating experts at Roman Electric tell you all about tankless water heaters!

Lower Energy Bills

If you’re in the market for a new water heater, it’s pretty likely that you’re searching for a way to lower your energy bills. With a tankless water heater, you’ll do just that. Tankless water heaters use significantly less energy than traditional tank-based units do.

According to the Department of Energy, tankless water heaters can save you anywhere from roughly 10% to upwards of 50% in energy costs, depending on your household’s water usage and the amount of units you install. 

Less Intrusive

Tankless water heaters are popular for many reasons, including their diminutive size. They can fit in extremely small spaces – and no more of an eyesore than a fuse box on the wall. This stands in stark contrast to the bulky space-hog that a traditional water heater would be.

Longer Shelf Life

On top of the everyday savings a tankless water heater provides just by virtue of using less energy, they’re also designed to last much longer than tank-based units are — meaning you save money by avoiding the cost of replacing yet another unit.

Tankless water heaters are designed to last roughly 20 years or so, compared to the 10-15-year lifespan of a traditional unit. They’re also built with parts that aren’t complicated to replace! You can swap out a broken component with new ones that keep it chugging along even longer than the original shelf life!

On the Other Hand…

Of course, a tankless water heater isn’t without its drawbacks. The primary concern most people have with installing one is the up-front cost. They’re noticeably more expensive to install than a traditional unit, but that’s balanced out by the long-term savings you can enjoy.

And because tankless water heaters aren’t as large – and because they heat water on an as-needed basis – it can be harder to meet the needs of a larger household (compared to a tank-based unit).

Still Deciding? Let Roman Electric Help Out!

Tankless water heaters can be perfect for the right household, but they might not work for everyone. To help you figure out if one of these sleek and efficient units would be right for you, get in touch with the water heater experts at Roman Electric!

Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to speak to one of our knowledgeable team members today!

7 Common Summer Plumbing Problems

As the seasons change, so does the way you use your plumbing. Summer brings a unique set of plumbing problems that are essential to prepare for and combat. The Roman Electric team has assembled this list of common summer plumbing problems that homeowners should know about. Read on to find out more.

1. Clogged Disposal

Summertime is for cookouts, grilling, block parties, and fresh summer fruits and vegetables. However, more guests in your home and more material going down the disposal could lead to big problems. Corn cobs, melon rinds, fruit stones, and meat grease will block your disposal. If you fear a backup, run cold water for a few seconds before and after using the garbage disposal.

2. Clogged Toilets

School’s out for summer, and that means your kids (and their friends) will use your home’s bathrooms for their restroom breaks. The added flushes will increase wear and tear on flappers, chains, and handles, potentially forcing you to make a repair sooner than anticipated.

3. Sprinkler Issues

In-ground sprinkler systems are especially vulnerable during summer. The increased foot traffic on your lawn threatens your sprinkler heads. A misplaced foot could crack the head and cause a leak. A leaking sprinkler is often hard to detect, because sprinkler heads are designed to spray water. But, the problem will eventually become evident on your water bill. Leaking sprinklers will increase your water usage and raise your utility bill.

4. Slow Draining Showers

Taking a trip to the beach? Be sure to rinse off before hitting the shower. Sand, dirt, and tiny bits of beach debris are common culprits of slow draining showers. However, if your shower is draining slowly, don’t reach for chemical clog removers – these only delay the problem and increase the wear on your pipes. Instead, try to snake your drain. Alternatively, call a plumber.

5. Overloaded Washing Machines

Vacations, trips to the pool, walks outside, and other outdoor activities will increase the work of your washing machine. Overuse and overloading of the machine can lead to leaks in the hose. A hose leak will not only increase your water bill, it can also flood your home! Luckily, a hose leak in a washing machine is easy to fix, you can do it yourself in about five minutes.

6. Sump Pump

If you have a basement in your home, your sump pump is an essential piece of equipment. Sump pumps keep your basement dry when rain threatens to flood it. Summer rains can be intense, and if you don’t regularly maintain your pump, it could break down. When your sump pump doesn’t work, you could be left with a significant amount of standing water in the basement.

7. Outdoor Faucet Leaks

Outdoor faucets get used frequently in the summer, be it for car washes, “slip and slides,” or other fun activities in the sun. But, once you’re inside, the outdoor faucet is out of sight, out of mind. Which means you can’t see it leaking. A leaking faucet can waste up to 90 gallons of water a day. This waste will show up as an increase in your utility bill. Make sure that your faucet is sealed tightly to the wall, and that the rubber washer is in good condition.

Have Some Common Summer Plumbing Problems? Call us today!

We hope this guide has helped make you aware of common summer plumbing problems, and how to avoid them. But, if you have a plumbing problem you can’t solve, don’t hesitate to call a professional. Roman Electric has served the greater Milwaukee area since 1929, providing expert HVAC, plumbing, and electrical solutions. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule an appointment online.

DIY Plumbing Mistakes to Avoid

Learning how to perform some simple plumbing repairs at home can save you a ton of money and time. Even if you learn how to fix a running toilet or a leaky faucet and leave the big-time repairs to the pros, the savings can add up. But you’ve got to be careful. Although it might be tempting to roll up your sleeves and try to fix everything yourself, you can sometimes make it worse.

Plenty of homeowners make easily avoidable mistakes when they try to fix plumbing issues. Here are a few DIY plumbing mistakes to avoid from the pros at Roman Electric. Follow these tips, and you’ll be able to tell when a problem is too complicated to fix yourself – when that happens, just give us a call!

Leaky Faucet Mistakes

Although not everyone will suffer a major plumbing problem, most of us will have to deal with a leaky faucet at some point. And while some leaky faucets are easy DIY fixes, you need to be careful to avoid making some common mistakes.

  • Get all the pieces out. When you replace a disintegrated washer or rubber seal inside the faucet, be sure to remove any pieces that might’ve gotten stuck in the faucet itself. If you don’t clean the faucet out, these loose fragments can lodge in the faucet and cause an obstruction that will cause bigger problems later.
  • Cut the water off. This goes for every plumbing issue, but it’s especially prevalent when working on a faucet. People forget to turn the water supply off more often than you’d think.

Using Drain Cleaner as a First Resort

When you’ve got a clogged drain, you might be tempted to pour some drain cleaner down there and just be done with it. However, these harsh chemicals should only be used after you’ve exhausted every other option.

You should start off with a drain snake or augur that will physically remove any clogs. Only if that doesn’t work should you move on to drain cleaner.

Not Remembering/Documenting How Things Fit Together

You’d be shocked at the amount of times someone has disassembled a plumbing apparatus to fix a problem only to realize they forgot how it all fits back together. If you’re performing a DIY plumbing repair, take a picture to see how it all should look when it’s connected.

Alternatively, if you’ve got a photographic memory, you can just remember the layout of the pieces instead. We’d just recommend taking a picture, though.

Tightening Things Too Much

It’s natural to screw something on until it feels like it can’t go any further. But this can be problematic. Although it might not snap or break right then, all that water pressure can build up. And without any room to expand, the connections can burst at the slightest sign of strain. Leave some room when you’re tightening it all back together.

There you have it! These were just a few of the more common DIY plumbing mistakes we’ve encountered, but this barely scratches the surface. When you’ve got a plumbing issue, don’t risk accidentally making the problem worse – get in touch with us here at Roman Electric, and let the experts handle it!

Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to learn more about how we can be your go-to plumbers in the Milwaukee area!

What to Do When You Have Frozen Pipes

what to do when you have frozen pipes

Few things have the ability to stop us dead in our tracks like finding out we’ve fallen prey to frozen pipes. Whenever you’re unfortunate enough to discover that your faucets and shower aren’t producing water any more, your mind starts racing. What should you do? How do you thaw them out? Should you call a plumber?

All good questions! Frozen pipes are one of the more annoying nuisances you can experience. However, if you accidentally deploy the wrong strategy to combat them, you can cause serious damage to your pipes. Here are a couple of ways that you can work to thaw your frozen pipes from the plumbing experts at Roman Electric!

Ways to Thaw Them Out

If you’re already stuck in the middle of a frozen-pipe situation, reading about how to prevent them in the first place isn’t helpful. You need immediate help, so we’ll cut right to the chase.

  • Open cabinets and your faucets. The key here is to introduce as much heat as possible to your frozen pipes. To do this, remove any obstruction between the pipes and warm air by opening under-sink cabinets and opening faucets. It probably won’t make a big difference immediately, but it’ll gradually heat them.
  • Heat them. An easy way to make sure the pipes get hot is to… heat them! Obviously! But you’ve got to be careful here. One way is to boil some water, then pour the water on towels that have been wrapped around the frozen pipes. Another is to place a heat lamp close to the pipes to introduce a passive heating element.
  • Call a plumber. Sometimes you just don’t have the time or resources available to put toward a pipe-thawing effort. When that happens, a plumber’s expertise might be your best bet. Call your go-to plumber (like Roman Electric) and have them come take a look – they’ll know what to do.

What NOT to Do

However, in the race to blast your frozen pipes with as much heat as possible, there are a few ways you can slip up and cause more damage. For example, although you may think that a tool that provides a blazing-hot flame would be helpful – like a blowtorch – it won’t. A blowtorch or any other open flame can accidentally catch other things on fire. Then your problem has suddenly become much bigger.

Tips for the Future

Once you’ve got your frozen-pipe conundrum behind you, take some time to safeguard your home from this problem occurring in the future. Insulate the pipes and the area around them to trap heat and keep cold air out. Start dripping water from your faucets when the temperatures drop so the water is always flowing, and make sure the garage door stays closed.

Frozen pipes are no fun for anyone. But with these handy tips, you’ll be well on your way to returning to normal. Now, sometimes the cold is especially harsh, and you’ll need expert help to thaw the ice. When that happens, give Roman Electric a call!

Get in touch at 414-369-3798 for more information!

How to Fix a Running Toilet

A running toilet isn’t that bad, as far as household problems go. There’s usually very little damage there, and the long-term issues that emerge as a result of a running toilet aren’t too serious, all things considered. However, this is one of the more irritating inconveniences around. It’s never fun when we’re lying awake at night, listening to the slow gurgle of the toilet that never stops.

So, what’s going on, and how do you fix it? Thankfully, the main causes behind a running toilet are almost always the same, and they’re not difficult to fix. Let the plumbing pros at Roman Electric help you figure them out!

Flapper Issue

The key to the water flow in your toilet is a mechanism called the flapper. It’s a rubber contraption attached to a metal chain that’s connected to the flushing handle. The flapper’s job is to seal the hole in your toilet that lets water flow from the tank to the bowl, and this is mostly where you can point to when your toilet starts running.

Since it’s made of rubber, it can deteriorate, crack, break or otherwise leak. When it starts to wear down, water will seep through into the bowl below. This explains why you’re hearing your toilet run!

To fix this problem, all you’ve got to do is replace the flapper. They’re fairly inexpensive and easy to install – but if flapper replacement isn’t your forte, then Roman Electric can do it for you.

Incorrect Water Level

To make sure that your toilet only fills with water to a certain level, it comes with a float that tells the toilet when to stop. However, it sometimes gets calibrated in a way that means it doesn’t stop the flow of water in time. When the float isn’t set to its proper height, then more water than necessary fills the tank.

Thankfully, it doesn’t overflow. Your toilet has an overflow tube that funnels excess water away, so you won’t have a floor covered in water. But the water will continually flow through the overflow tube until the float’s height is corrected, and that’ll sound like a running toilet.

To fix this, adjust the float if you know how. If you don’t, give us a call!

Problem with the Chain

The metal chain attached the flapper, which we mentioned earlier, is key to the whole mechanism working correctly. If it’s too tight – when there isn’t any slack – it’s more likely to crack open and allow water through. But it can also cause problems when there’s too much slack: it can get caught in-between the flapper and the opening to the bowl, providing another gap for water to leak through.

You can adjust the chain to give it the proper slack, or we can help you adjust it!

For the best plumbing repair in the Milwaukee area, look no further than Roman Electric. With our top-tier service and unmatched efficiency, we’ll have your toilets running like new in no time.

Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to get your toilet back in shape before you know it!