Archive for January, 2010

Miller Plumbing Heating Cooling has been using sewer and drain cameras for a long time. There ability to help diagnose problems have saved our customers thousands of dollars many times over.

One customer  from Upper Saint Clair had a sewer that would clog every few months. After opening the sewer and using the camera for free we found part of a snake that had broke off in the sewer from the last plumber, who never said anything to the home owner. We used a retriever tool and pulled 8′ of broke cable out.

Another customer from West Mifflin  has had problems with the plumbing stack from the second floor bath clogging. Other plumbing companies have opened the stack but we opened the stack and used the camera for free.We found a broom stick in the pipe that we were able to pull out from the roof .

Yet another customer from Baldwin had a clogged sewer.We snaked the sewer almost getting our cable stuck. We camered the sewer for free and found   that when the customer recently had there electrical service updated the electrician drove the ground rod directly through the center of the plastic sewer. The sewer was repaired ,we added a cleanout.

One not so lucky customer buying a home in Moon Twp thought he had covered all the bases. He got a home inspector had the roof and electrical system checked but did not camera the sewer. Three days after moving in the sewer backed up. We could not open the sewer. We pulled back heavy roots.

To make a long story short everything inside the house and outside to the main sewer including a tree that had to be removed was replaced. Roots inside the sewer  were one inch in diameter. As it turns out its not surprising why there were so many stickers on the furnace and hot water tank. The old owners never mentioned or disclosed this problem they had for years.

The camera is a very low cost way to get peace of mind, provided the techician has the experience necessary to  really know what he is looking at.  Experience is like GPS it gives you turn by turn directions to get the job done correctly the first time.

Miller Plumbing Heating Cooling

3131 Library Rd

Pittsburgh PA 15234

412-848-3253

www.millerplumbingheatingcooling.com/plumbing.htm

Miller Plumbing Heating Cooling received a frantic call the other day from a new customer in Bridgeville PA. The customer  herd water gushing in their basement and found that washer hoses had burst. We helped them over the phone locate the main water shut off valve and a technician was sent out to diagnose the problem.

After arriving the technician tested the water pressure and found the water pressure at 125psi.The old water pressure regulator was defective and we found a back flow preventer at the water meter setup. A back flow preventer lets the water come into your house but prevents it from flowing or siphoning out in the event of a pressure drop or break on the main water main.

Back flow preventers cause a condition called thermal expansion. When water is heated it expands and even with a good water pressure regulator the water pressure will spike to a very high  level untill a fixture is used.

Thermal expansion will also cause your pressure relief valve on your water heater to drip. We replaced the defective water pressure regulator, installed a thermal expansion tank on the cold water line at the hot water tank and installed high pressure washer hoses to prevent future water damage.

If you live in a low area of Pittsburgh like Carnegie, Bridgeville, South Side, Lawrenceville and other areas where high water pressure is a problem we recommend a good brass 400psi water pressure regulator with a removable stainless steel screen or strainer. A thermal expansion tank is recommended it also helps eliminate water hammer problems. We also recommend setting the water pressure  between 60-75 psi. 

Miller Plumbing Heating Cooling

3131 Library Rd Pittsburgh PA

412-848-3253

With 30 years of plumbing heating and cooling experience Miller Plumbing Heating Cooling knows how your new plumbing fixtures can make your life easier. Pittsburgh is famous for those large  heavy ugly and old looking utility/ laundry tubs that were popular decades ago. Replacing that old utility tub frees up a ton of valuable floor space and changes the whole look of your laundry room.

The new Laundry tub is about 20″ wide half the size of your old unit and can be floor or wall mounted.  We remove the old concrete tub then snake the drain while we have good access. We install the new laundry tub, and update the drain,water lines, faucet, and washer hose connections.

Moving the new laundry tub left or right often times frees up additional space. We also provide a free water pressure test. High water pressure is not good for your plumbing system. The new utility tub has a clean heavy duty durable white finish and will last for years. www.millerplumbingheatingcooling.com

Miller Plumbing Heating Cooling

3131 Library Rd

Pittsburgh PA 15234

                                       412-848-3253

Miller Plumbing Heating Cooling specializes in add on or (dual fuel) heat pumps. When you are ready to replace your straight air conditioner or furnace there are many more reasons to buy a heat pump instead of a straight air conditioner besides energy savings. Everyone with a builder grade system or a system 15 years or older first off should take advantage of the 30% tax credit that ends this year.

A heat pump can be added to a new or existing furnace. Heat pumps heat your home in the winter and provide a backup source of heat if the gas service goes out or if your furnace needs serviced. This will save your pipes from freezing and you from vacating your home until your furnace is working again. Also because a heat pump will run longer than the shorter cycles of a furnace the temperature in the structure is more even and your filter gets more time to do its job.

If sized properly your furnace should maintain 70 degrees on a zero degree day, in Pittsburgh this happens only 2-5 percent of the heating season which means your furnace is over sized 95-98 percent of the year. Over sized furnaces cause short heating cycles, temperature stratification and the gas furnace hotter air drys out the air and removes humidity that makes your home more comfortable in winter months.

Heat pumps usually last longer than regular A/C units. Most compressors fail the start of each cooling season after sitting all winter. Running the compressor keeps the compressor lubricated. You would not expect your car to sit half the year unused and expect it to run or last longer, dead batteries rusted rotors and other problems would surely be expected.

Having a heat pump www.millerplumbingheatingcooling.com/heatpumps.htm lets you choose your utility of choice. Also your local utility company may provide rebates or lower rates for heat pump customers. Why deny yourself the benefits of change, the more we install heat pumps and get the positive feed back from our many customers the more we try to help other customers benefit.

Miller Plumbing Heating Cooling

3131 Library Rd

Pittsburgh PA 15234

412-848-3253

When you need plumbing work done it is important to keep in mind how much plumbing has changed over the years. Miller plumbing Heating Cooling has been doing plumbing since 1979. Being a expert at the drain waste and vent piping in older homes, knowing the different types of materials that were used and being familiar with the plumbing fixtures and faucets from yesteryear will save you money.

Alot of younger technicians do not have the repair skills and recommend what they feel comfortable with. Many older fixtures and faucets are of high quality and not only can be rebuilt but updated, this may save cutting open a ceramic wall that will need patched or completely redone because matching tile is not available.  Commodes that match the sink and tub can be rebuilt and updated to dual flush water saving commodes.

Installing many of the fixtures and faucets of yesteryear give use a definite advantage in helping to save you money and maintaining the integrity of your homes character. Also we provide no cost services like testing your water pressure, high water pressure will cause water hammer, faucets to leak water heater relief valves to leak also excess water sewage and gas bills.

We have seen many floors walls and ceilings opened up when it was not necessary.  A ceiling repair may require a extensive paint job to one or more rooms because the repair technician did not have the experience to make the repair from above.   www.millerplumbingheatingcooling.com/plumbing.htm

Miller Plumbing Heating Cooling

3131 Library Rd Pittsburgh Pa 15234

412-848-3253