Are there puddles of water on your garage floor after it rains? Ready for a man cave? If so, you’re going to want to call a plumber. There are many reasons to add plumbing to your garage space. Not only can it make your garage truly multi-functional, but garage plumbing can also help with drainage, which is extremely important, especially if you live in an area that is prone to flooding. 

Adding plumbing to the garage could also increase your home’s value and even help create more living space for you and your family. 

Here’s five ways to add plumbing to your garage: 

Install floor drains
One of the easiest ways to keep your garage from pooling with water and from flooding is with the addition of floor drains. These are relatively easy to install and work well in garages with flat driveways that lack the slope to divert water away from the garage. 

Add a utility sink
The large sinks that you typically find in the basement or laundry room work great in garages, too. Consider installing one if you work on cars or have hobbies (particularly messy ones) that you do outside. Garage utility sinks are also perfect for washing tools and recreational equipment – and for washing the dog, too. 

Add a toilet and sink
If you’re in need of another bathroom, don’t forget that the garage is a great location option. Adding a half bath to the garage is a fantastic upgrade for homeowners who entertain outdoors on a regular basis. Garage half baths are also a great addition for garages that double as a workout space or artist studio. 

Make the garage the laundry room
Installing a washer and dryer in the garage is an excellent way to create more space in the basement or repurpose the laundry room inside your home so it can be used as more living space. Since washers and dryers can be a bit noisy, it could just keep your home a little quieter, too. 

Create a wet bar
If you’d like to add an area at your home dedicated to entertaining, look no further than your garage. With plumbing, you could add a sink along with a refrigerator and some nice cabinetry or shelving to create your perfect wet bar. Like the half bath, this is another good option for homeowners who enjoy hosting parties outdoors. 

Ready to add plumbing to your garage? Give the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter a Call at 513-396-5300 or Contact us. We’ve been helping Cincinnati homeowners with their garage plumbing needs for decades and can help with yours, too.  We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service. You can follow us on Facebook, @Allied Reddi-Rooter for the latest tips or to ask us a question.

The dreaded overflowing toilet. We’ve all experienced this conundrum at one time or another and while it can feel like a helpless situation, it doesn’t have to be. The good news is that with just a little know-how you can stop a toilet from overflowing. And no, it’s not by jiggling the handle. 

Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to stop the toilet from overflowing:

First, Remove the lid
Simply open the lid on the toilet tank and set it aside, working quickly. 

Now, find the flapper valve
Reach into the toilet tank and find the flapper valve. It’s a rubber part that sits in the bottom of the tank. Press down on the valve gently to stop water from reaching the toilet bowl. This will quickly prevent any more water from overflowing the toilet. 

Next, lift the float
Hold the float up to let water levels get back to the normal level. Once you notice that they are back (it should take just about a minute), let go of the float. Everything should return to normal at this point. If they don’t, read on. 

Go ahead and shut off the water
At this point, you’ll want to locate your toilet’s supply valve and turn it off by rotating it clockwise. Usually, the valve is located behind the toilet in the wall or near the floor. Once the water supply has been turned off, you’ll need to stop using all sinks, toilets and faucets while you move on to the next step. 

Now try to determine the issue
Start checking all the plumbing fixtures in the home. If drains in the house are clogged or if other toilets in the house are overflowing as well, you may have a block in your drain system or a major septic tank issue. 

Try using a plunger
If only one toilet is overflowing, the cause could be a clog. Use a plunger that is fitted for the toilet and see if you can unclog the toilet by plunging it. You could use drain opener for toilets as well. 

Call a professional plumber if nothing seems to work
If you’ve followed all of the steps above and nothing seems to be working, it’s time to call a plumber. You likely have a plumbing issue that requires a professional who can get to the source of the problem quickly and fix it properly. 

The team at Allied Reddi-Rooter is here to help you with all your plumbing needs (and yes, that includes overflowing toilets). Give us a call, or Contact us to schedule prompt, professional and friendly service.  We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.  You can follow us on Facebook, @Allied Reddi-Rooter for the latest tips or to ask us a question.

Have you ever gone to empty the dishwasher only to find it hasn’t drained? If you have, you’re not alone. It’s a common, albeit frustrating, plumbing problem, but it’s often an easy fix.  

Next time you find standing water in your dishwasher, don’t get too flustered. Instead, take a look at our tips below on how to get to the source of the problem and fix the issue. 

Use the correct detergent
Let’s clear this up first: only use dishwashing detergent in your dishwasher. It can be tempting to use something like laundry detergent or dish soap like Joy or Palmolive if you run out of dishwashing detergent, but please don’t as it can cause problems. 

Another common issue arises when you simply pour dishwashing detergent in the wrong unit or directly onto the dishes. This will create plenty of suds (and quite possibly a mess) without getting your dishes clean. 

Run the garbage disposal
Once you’ve made sure that you haven’t used the wrong type of soap, you’re going to want to run the garbage disposal. Here’s why: your dishwasher’s drain hose connects and empties into the disposal drain. Often times, a poorly draining dishwasher is the result of a clogged garbage disposal. 

Once a disposal gets filled with food particles or other types of residue, it can all collect in the disposal pipe. Then, when the dishwasher needs to drain it can’t because of the clog. 

Conserve water at home Cincinnati, save $$$ 

Check the air gap
If your dishwasher connects directly to your sink (which is typical in homes without a garbage disposal), you likely have a small, stainless-steel part called an air gap that sits right at the top of the sink near the faucet. If the hose that connects to the dishwasher gets filled with food remnants it can lead to a clog and your dishwasher won’t drain properly.

To check the air gap simply unscrew it and make sure it isn’t clogged. If it is, give it a good cleaning, reattach it and see if that did the trick. 

Take a closer look at the drain hose
You’ll find the drain hose underneath your sink. Check it out and make sure there aren’t any kinks – just as you would a garden hose. If you do spot a kink, you’ll need to remove the clamps that hold the hose in place and run water through the hose until the kinks work themselves out. 

Take the motor for a test drive
To check the motor, just turn the dishwasher on and listen for any strange noises. If you hear a hum or a loud sound that doesn’t stop, you may have an issue with the motor turning on but not powering up. If this is the case, you’ll need a new motor. 

Drain standing water
If none of these tips seemed to work, it’s time to drain the water yourself. Make sure to place towels under your dishwasher to avoid a mess and remove the bottom tray carefully so you don’t spill the water. You could also scoop out the water with an old cup. Once all the water is out of the tray, we recommend running the dishwasher. If water collects again, it’s time to call a professional plumber. 

Why is my water bill so high? 

Still having dishwasher drainage issues? Call or Contact  the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter. We can take a closer look at your dishwasher and fix the problem quickly, so your dishes sparkle once again.

We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service. You can follow us on Facebook, @Allied Reddi-Rooter for the latest tips or to ask us a question.

Sometimes a strange sound coming from the bathroom, kitchen – or anywhere else in the home where there’s plumbing – is the big giveaway that there’s a problem. So, when you hear these sounds below, don’t wait to call a plumber! 

The screaming faucet
We all know that old familiar screeching sound that can happen when you turn on a faucet, especially in an older home. In fact, if your faucets haven’t been replaced in a while, you may be quite familiar with this noise. 

Some folks think that the telltale sound is from high water pressure, but in actuality, it’s usually from an old, defective, or loose part of the faucet that needs to be replaced or repaired. Your best bet in this case is to simply replace the faucet, which is typically less expensive than having it repaired by a plumber. 

Gurgle in the drains
We plumbers know from experience that homeowners often ignore the sound of gurgling in the drains. But the gurgling noise is actually the first clue that a clog is forming in the pipes. It can also be a sign that air pockets are forming in the drain. 

Even if your drains and pipes appear to be working just fine, it’s important to get the gurling sound checked out by a plumber. Failing to do so can lead to a more extensive repair. 

Banging pipes
Many people hear banging pipes and get a bit spooked, and frankly, we do too – but not for the same reason. When we hear banging pipes, we think less about haunted houses and more about misfiring valves. You see, the banging you’re hearing probably has to do with a valve shutting off too fast. This create air pockets in the pipes that fill with water quickly. When you hear this sound, it’s your clue to call the plumber to inspect and replace the valve. 

Toilet rumbling
You know how sometimes you flush the toilet only to hear it rumble or, as some might say, run? Toilets can rumble and run for several minutes after you flush them (and no, jiggling the handle is not going to fix it). Usually, the culprit is the small valve located in the tank called the toilet fill valve. Sometimes, the valve simply misfires and doesn’t quite refill the toilet the way it should. 

Often, the problem will remedy itself and you won’t have to replace the valve. If it happens consistently, or if your toilet is older, it may be time to replace the toilet fill valve (or the entire toilet). 

Rattling pipes
We get calls about rattling pipes regularly. Usually, the sound is from pipes that simply aren’t secure enough. The first step in fixing this issue is to tighten or replace the pipe fixtures. If that doesn’t do the trick, you may need to have the pipes replaced. If that’s the case, you’ll need to work with a plumber who can do the job correctly. 

Remember:
Allied Reddi-Rooter is here to get to the root of why you’re hearing all those noises. Whether it’s banging, clanging, or a little bit of both, we can address and fix the problem quickly. Give us a call or Contact today! We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.  You can follow us on Facebook, @Allied Reddi-Rooter for the latest tips or to ask us a question.

Now that fall is here, it’s time to talk about pipes. Specifically, how to prepare your pipes for winter. It’s a critical to do a check of your home to make sure your pipes are in top shape and ready for the colder months ahead. Should they burst when they freeze, you’ll likely be looking at a very costly repair. 

It doesn’t take long to walk around your property and check your pipes. To make it easier, use our checklist below, created to help you do a thorough and effective inspection, so you can have peace of mind come wintertime, knowing your pipes are ready for the cold weather.   

Start outside. First, make sure to drain your sprinkler supply lines. It’s also time to drain the pool (if you haven’t already). Go ahead and drain and put away hoses, close inside valve bibs and open outside bibs so water can drain. 

Do a walk around. Make sure to walk around your home and look for any cracks that area liable to let cold air in and potentially cause your pipes to freeze. These cracks will need to be sealed. You can do this with spray foam or by caulking. 

Now, check indoors. Take a good look inside the house starting with places where you’ve got water supply lines in unheated areas. Usually, these areas include the basement, under cabinets in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry area, and the garage as well. 

If these areas have exposed and unprotected pipes, it’s a good idea to fit them with a pipe sleeve or add heat tape or heat cable to insulate them. You could also wrap fabric around the pipes, provided they are in areas that won’t go below freezing. 

Newspaper and thick plastic bags can work in a pinch, but like fabric, you’ll need something more substantial if the pipes are in an area that can drop below freezing. 

Inspect the HVAC. It’s a good idea to make sure your HVAC and furnace are working now rather than waiting until the temps drop any lower. If your heating goes out when it’s needed most it won’t just make things uncomfortable, it can cause your pipes to freeze. 

Keep cabinet doors open. When cold air strikes, even if it’s warm and cozy in your home, open the doors to the cabinets under your sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms so the pips can get a little warmth. This can help prevent them from freezing. 

Run a little water. It’s an old remedy – and a good one. During a bad cold spell, turn on the faucet and let a little water run. While many think it’s the heat in the water that helps prevent pipes from freezing, it has more to do with relieving pressure in the pipes. 

Going out of town? There’s nothing like a Florida getaway in February. While many of us will be staying home due to the pandemic this winter, if you are headed out of town, make sure you turn your water off at the shut-off valve and drain the pipes. 

Still not sure if your pipes are ready for winter? Give the team at Allied-Reddi Rooter a call or Contact  us. We’ll inspect your home’s pipe system and make sure it’s up to the task before winter arrives. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.  You can follow us on Facebook, @Allied Reddi-Rooter for the latest tips or to ask us a question.