Plumbing Blog | Modern Plumbing Industries

3 Common Water Heater Repairs

July 10th, 2014

A well-installed and maintained water heater can sometimes last up to 20 years, which is a great bargain on an initial investment. But to reach a grand old age like this, a water heater also needs to have repairs done as soon as problems start to emerge. With fast action and a trained technician who knows how to handle any water heater problem, you can stop a malfunction from growing and threatening your entire hot water supply.

At Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI), we have almost four decades of experience with water heater repair in Casselberry, FL and all of Central Florida. When you call us for repairs (and we have staff ready 24/7 for emergencies), you will get top-of-the-line work from technicians who keep on the edge of plumbing technology.

These are 3 of the more common repairs that we do to help water heaters reach their full lifespan:

1. Flushing the tank

This is a standard step that is done as part of annual maintenance. However, it is often a necessary repair. Sediment build-up in the water tank can lead to problems with blocked valves, and will also encourage the development of scale along the inside of the tank and lead to overheating. If you notice discoloration in your water, or you hear rumbling from the tank, call for repair professionals; they will see if flushing the tank will fix the problem.

2. Replacing broken dip tube

The dip tube carries fresh, cold water from the municipal system down into the tank of a water heater and deposits it at the bottom, near the heating elements/heat exchanger, where it receives energy to heat it and then rise to the top of the tank. If the dip tube breaks, cold water will start to gather at the top of the tank and mix with the heated water, resulting in a drop in the water temperature from your faucets and showerheads and causing you to run out of hot water earlier than usual. To fix this, technicians will open up the tank and replace the broken tube.

3. Replacing burnt-out heating elements

In an electric-powered water heater, two heating elements inside the tank directly transfer heat to the water. Like any electrical device, these elements can fail. If the temperature of your hot water turns lukewarm, it may be the fault of a broken heating element in the tank. Repair technicians can replace the burnt-out element with a new one.

Do not try to perform repairs on your own without proper training and tools—especially for gas-powered water heaters. Instead, call on the people who can perform the job fast and accurately: Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI). We are ready to help you with your water heater in Casselberry, FL when you need it. Give us a call today to set up an appointment.

The Famous Painting of the Declaration of Independence Isn’t What You Think It Is

July 4th, 2014

If you grew up in the United States, you probably first saw John Trumbull’s painting of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence in an elementary schoolbook. This oil-on-canvas 12’ x 18’ painting hangs in the rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It is one of the most famous symbols of freedom in the country and almost every citizen can conjure it from memory.

Except… the painting isn’t of the singing of the Declaration of Independence. The actual title of the work is Declaration of Independence, and although it does portray an important moment in the history of the document that announced the Thirteen Colonies’ decision to break away from British rule, the event in the painting occurred on June 28, 1776, not July 4, 1776.

John Trumbull, a Connecticut native who fought in the Revolutionary War and whose father was the state governor, was commissioned to create the painting in 1817. He did painstaking research on the figures in the picture and also visited Independence Hall to see the actual chamber where the Second Continental Congress met. Trumbull only included 42 of the original 56 signers, because he could not find adequate likenesses for 14 or them, and added a few figures who were not present (most of whom declined to sign the actual document). In fact, the men depicted in the painting had never been present in the same room at one time.

So if the painting does not portray the signing of the Declaration of Independence, what is happening in the image? The Trumbull’s scene depicts the presentation of the draft of the declaration to the Continental Congress for editing and approval. The five-man drafting committee (John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin) is handing over their finished work, which congress would then edit carefully over the next few days before voting on it and signing it on the day that we now celebrate as the start of the United States of America.

One last, odd, fact: two of the five-man drafting committee, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both died on July 4th—although many years later.

Our family at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. hopes that your Fourth of July (or Twenty-Eighth of June if you decided to start celebrating early) is a memorable and happy one.

Watch for These Warning Signs You Need Pipe Replacement

June 27th, 2014

The plumbing system of a home is designed to handle a great deal of stress as it brings water into the house and removes waste from it. But no matter how hardy the pipes in a home are, sometimes they will wear down and sustain damage that will require professional plumbers replace them. In cases of older homes, a whole-house pipe replacement is often necessary.

Here are a few signs to watch for that can indicate you need pipe replacement in Orlando, FL, either whole-house or targeted. Call the professionals at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) right away to arrange the work. You can trust our experience: we’ve served central Florida since 1975.

Warnings You May Need Pipe Replacement

Water discoloration: Corrosion and rust are the last things you want to occur in your plumbing. These are rarely issues that affect modern plumbing systems made from copper and plastic pipes. But for older homes built pre-1970 that have galvanized steel pipes, it can be a major dilemma. When reddish discoloration starts to come from your faucets (and it isn’t immediately after a long absence from home), it’s a major warning sign that corrosion has taken hold in your plumbing and you need to replace all of the aging steel pipes.
Loss of water pressure: When water pressure coming from your faucets and shower heads starts to drop, it could mean there is a serious problem somewhere in your plumbing that will require extensive pipe replacement. It might even be an issue in the water main—a serious problem that needs immediate attention to replace the pipe.
Leaks: Leaking is one of the major warning signs of plumbing trouble, but they are often difficult to detect. When you notice damp spots on walls, warped floorboards, and a rise in water bills, you may have leaks. Although some leaks can be solved with sealing, in other cases you will need to have the pipe replaced. And when these leaks start to become constant, leading to huge spikes in your water bills, you should have complete pipe replacement.
Bitter-tasting water: A sudden change in the taste of your water toward a bitter, metallic taint could come from the municipal system—but it also might come from deterioration in the plumbing that will need pipe replacement to solve. (Whatever is causing it, you’ll need plumbers for the work.)

Pipe replacement is a large task, and it needs plumbers with the right experience and skill. Call Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) when you think you need pipe replacement or any other plumbing service for your home in Orlando, FL. We offer a full range of plumbing services that will take care of all your worries. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment with us.

Noises That Indicate a Need for Water Heater Repair

June 20th, 2014

Even with the best maintenance done on a top-of-the-line model, no water heater can ever be 100% free from repair issues. At some point, you may need to call for technicians to investigate trouble with your water heater when you notice a drop in the temperature of the water, spot rusty discoloration coming from the taps, or find that you are running out of hot water sooner than you used to.

There are other warning indications that you need work done to protect your hot water supply, such as unusual noises emanating from the water heater. Here are a few of the common warning noises that water heaters will make that indicate it is time to call for repair technicians. For a prompt response and quality work on your water heater in Sanford, FL, make the call to Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI). We have handled the plumbing needs of Central Florida since 1975.

A Few of the Common Water Heater Warning Sounds

Rumbling: When the water heater tanks starts to rumble, a noise that people often associate with a tank that’s about to burst, it could mean a number of issues. It’s possible that there is a fault in the mixing valve, or a broken dip tube, which will allow cold and warm water to mix. It could also point to an increase in sediment along the bottom of the tank that has so significantly reduced volume in the tank that the water has started to overheat. Either situation is serious and needs trained technicians on the job right away.
Popping: This noise can come from excess water pressure, and you should immediately check the pressure on the tank. If adjusting the pressure doesn’t alleviate the popping sound, call for repair technicians immediately.
Hissing and whistling noises: There are some innocuous reasons for these sounds to occur…but enough bad reasons that you should definitely call for repairs, especially since one possibility for these noises is a dangerous increase in water pressure.
Running water that won’t stop: This is probably trouble with the pressure release valve; if this occurs in an older water heater, it is usually a sign that it is time for a replacement unit.

Our plumbers at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) can handle whatever issues you may have with your home’s water heater in Sanford, FL. We also offer water heater installation of a wide range of water heater options, including tankless, hybrid, and solar options. Make us your first choice for all your water heater and plumbing needs. Contact us today to schedule your next water heater service.

Stages of Pipe Replacement in Winter Park

June 13th, 2014

Replacing worn and damaged piping in a home is a task that professional plumbers do often. Even newer homes sometimes will need to have faulty pipes replaced. Whether you need a few parts of your plumbing updated, or if you live in an older home that needs a full replacement of old galvanized steel pipes, make sure that you neither attempt the work yourself nor entrust it to amateurs. Call on experts like the team at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) for pipe replacement in Winter Park, FL.

Although replacing pipes often involves excavating through building material in walls and floors, with top plumbers on the job, you can expect the work to move fast and leave few signs that the replacement experts were even there.

The Stages of Pipe Replacement From Professionals

Water shut-off: The plumbers will need to shut off a home’s water in order to work; they will arrange it so this shut-off period lasts for as short a time as possible. For extensive pipe replacement jobs (a whole-house repiping can take 3–5 days), they will do the job so that the water can be restored at the end of each work day so you will not have to go without water for an extended period.
Locating the pipes: The plumbers find the pipes they will be replacing, using sound equipment to pinpoint the location through wood or drywall.
Excavation: Now the plumbers make small cuts into the building material framing the pipe section that they will remove. The excavation here is performed careful and done with an eye toward replacing the material later with as little indication that any work was done. For pipes in the floors, the plumbers will—if at all possible—go through the ceiling to reach the pipes from below and leave the flooring undisturbed.
Replace the pipes: The plumbers will already have decided what type of material they will use as a substitute for the older pipe: copper, PEX, CPVC. They will detach the old pipe and put in the replacement.
Restoration and resurfacing: The plumbers put back any removed building material to hide the pipe, then take care of patching and re-texturing, making every effort to satisfy you with the final result.

Don’t Hesitate About Necessary Repiping

We hope the description above reassures you that professional repiping isn’t a disruptive or damaging job. If you are dealing with serious leaking issues, loss of water pressure, high water bills, and other plumbing ailments on a regular basis, you should give repiping serious consideration.

Call Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) and schedule an appointment for professional pipe replacement or other plumbing services in Winter Park, FL. With our nearly 40 years of experience, you can trust us to perform the job fast and with as little interruption to your life as possible.

3 Ways to Detect a Plumbing Leak

June 6th, 2014

Pipe leaks in a home are rarely out in the open. Instead, they start to build hidden behind walls and ceilings, or in rooms you rarely enter. You may pick up the signs of leaks when you see a spike in your water bills, notice wet spots on the walls, see mildew growth, or notice a rise in humidity. But you have little chance of locating exactly where you need to do repair work.

That’s why you need professional plumbing service in Altamonte Springs, FL to take care of leak detection. With a skilled plumber with the right tools, you will have the minimum amount of damage done to your home to reach the leaky pipes.

Here are 3 ways that our team at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) handles the detection of hidden leaks so we can quickly repair them.

3 Leak Detection Methods

Visual inspection: Experienced plumbers have an eye for the many signs of leaks that untrained observers will never pick up. Plumbers will look for tiny warping signs, spots of discoloration, misaligned floorboards, and bulges in wallpaper. Finding dripping water may seem like an easy sign for anyone to discover, but it takes a trained plumber to deduce exactly where the leak is located behind construction material.
Sound sensors: Listening devices are one of the key tools that plumbers use when they search for leaks, especially slab leaks that are located under concrete layers. The sensitive listening devices can hear the drip and escape of water through all kinds of surfaces, and this will give a plumber a solid idea of where to narrow the search and repair efforts.
Infrared thermography: This high-tech method of detecting leaks uses an infrared imaging camera that the technician scans over the area of the suspected leak. The imagery that shows up on the monitor will point to small temperature differences that show where a pipe interior is exposed to outdoor air. Interpreting the results is a task that requires special training: the camera imaging isn’t enough to locate the leaks. A trained plumber will almost always find the leaks with pinpoint accuracy.

Unless you can see the leaking pipe right in front of you, you will need a plumber versed in leak detection and armed with the right tools to handle this job. You don’t want to risk having unnecessary damage done to your home in a misguided and inaccurate attempt to find a single leak. Instead, call for plumbing service in Altamonte Springs, FL by the experts at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) today: we have 24-hour emergency service for your peace of mind, and we can handle whatever repairs your pipes need. Contact us today to schedule your next service.

3 Common Repairs for Toilets

May 30th, 2014

The toilets in your home are functional and essential items for everyday living. Thankfully, modern designs make them durable and rarely prone to repair needs. But no appliance is 100% repair-free, and aside from standard clogs, your toilet may experience a number of problems that will call for a trained and licensed plumber to remedy them. Here are three of the more common repairs that a toilet might need and which a quality plumber can handle for you.

Chances are that when you need repairs for your toilet, you will need them fast! Make the call to Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI), where we have 24-hour emergency services for plumbing repair in Orlando, FL. We’ve kept Central Florida’s plumbing working its best since 1975.

3 repairs for toilets that plumbers often handle

Replacing the flapper in the tank: If a toilet starts to run continually, cycling water through the tank and the bowl without stop, it will waste an enormous amount of water and must to be repaired right away. The likely trouble is a deteriorating flapper inside the tank; the flapper is designed to seal the bottom of the tank after filling the bowl, but if the rubber decays, nothing will stop the water from running into the bowl continuously. A plumber can replace the worn flap.
Resealing the toilet to the floor: Any sign of leaking from the bowl, especially around the base of the toilet, is reason to call for repairs immediately. (Not only is the toilet in trouble, the leaking can seriously damage your floor). One possible reason for this leaking is the loss of the wax sealing ring under the toilet where it is secured to the bathroom floor. A plumber will need to loosen and pry the toilet from the floor and replace this important wax ring, then re-attach and re-seal the toilet to the floor and make certain there are no more leaks.
Replacing tank-to-bowl bolts and gaskets: One common reason for leaking between the bowl and the tank are loose or decaying gaskets. To fix this problem, the plumber must first remove the toilet tank from the bowl and replace the washers and sponge gaskets necessary to create the appropriate seal between the two sections. When the two sections are restored, you should no longer have problems from leaking.

Beware self-repairs!

People often try to fiddle around with parts in the tank of a toilet with little idea what they are doing. Please avoid DIY repair attempts like this! There is a chance of creating a worse leak and a larger repair. Trust to the work of professional plumbers to handle any repair trouble that comes your way.

You won’t have to wait long for repairs when you go with Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI). Our excellent staff is ready any time of the day or night to bring you the necessary plumbing service in Orlando, FL that can fix any issue in your bathroom, kitchen, or elsewhere in your home. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

3 Common Types of Water Heater Repair

May 23rd, 2014

People often take their home’s hot water supply for granted…until something goes wrong with it. As durable as manufacturers make water heaters today, the appliances can still suffer from wear and tear and malfunctions that will eventually lead to repair needs. You can help prevent repairs with regular maintenance, but you may still need to call for technicians to assist you with the work that will restore your water heater.

Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) specializes in water heater repair in Sanford, FL. Whenever you find that you are running low on hot water or the water no longer seems as hot as it should be, call our staff right away. We have 24-hour emergency service for your convenience.

Here are some of the common water heater repair jobs that we perform:

1. Fixing broken dip tubes

The dip tube carries cold, fresh water from the municipal supply down through the tank of the water heater and to the bottom where the heat exchanger transfers energy from the combustion jets. As the water warms, it rises back to the top of the tank. If the dip tube breaks off, it will deposit cold water at the top of the tank, where it will mix with the heated water. A broken dip tube is the most common reason for a sudden decrease in the supply of hot water, but is also a simple job for technicians to fix.

2. Restoring a faulty burner

Gas-powered water heaters can encounter problems in their burner, much like those in a gas furnace. Rust in the burner or dirt across its surface can lead to it having trouble igniting, and low gas flow or blockage in the line can also lead to a loss of heating power. As with any repair issue connected to natural gas, you should never attempt this work on your own due to the health risk involved. Only trust the job to experienced technicians.

3. Replacing failed heating elements

Electric water heaters use two heating elements inside the tank to raise the temperature of the water. If one of the elements burns out, the water temperature will decrease and you’ll experience lukewarm water from your taps and showerheads. Repair technicians can open the tank and replace the broken element.

Don’t let any reduction in your home’s hot water go without attention. Call for Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) as soon as you notice a problem. We will bring our almost four decades of experience to the task to restore your hot water as soon as possible. When it comes to water heater repair or other plumbing services in Sanford, FL, place your trust in us.

Modern Tools to Perform Pipe Replacement

May 16th, 2014

Pipe replacement can be a tricky business, especially if the pipes are underground or in some similarly inconvenient place. In the old days, a leaky underground pipe meant major expenses, as the plumber first had to excavate the problem area, then replace the pipe and cover it all up again. Besides the added expense or workers and construction equipment, it often played merry hell with the home owner’s yard. But these days, things have changed. There are modern tools to perform pipe replacement, and in towns like Lake Mary, pipe replacement becomes both faster and easier as a result.

Detection is often easier these days thanks to sonic detectors and similar devices which can pinpoint the source of a leak. All leaks make noise, even if those noises are beyond our ability to hear. A sonic detection device allows the plumber to pinpoint the source of the leak, rather than performing a general excavation simply to discover where the problem lies. Similarly, video camera inspection can be used to examine the pipes from the inside, letting the plumber determine the exact nature of the problem.

In some cases, excavation tools can still be used if the project is large enough. But more common is the sight of trenchless technology such as inflatable materials which can be run through the pipe, then sealed against the leak. Metal heads can also be sent through the pipe to break it up it it’s too damaged to just repair, allowing a new pipe to be placed quickly.

But while there are plenty of modern tools to perform pipe replacement, you still need a trained plumber to do the job right. Pipe replacement and other plumbing services in Lake Mary don’t get more reliable than the experts at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI). We understand that pipe replacement can be a significant undertaking, especially when it comes to the sewer line or water main. Our trained experts know how to do the job right the first time, every time, and we won’t rest until you are completely satisfied. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

Reasons for a Lack of Hot Water in Your Home

May 9th, 2014

Thanks to the miracle of indoor plumbing, we take for granted a constant supply of water, and a constant supply of hot water, into our homes. But when the level of hot water you expect on a day-to-day basis starts to drop, you may have a problem in the water heater. Instead of simply accepting less hot water (a problem that will almost certainly worsen), call for professional water heater repair in Orlando, FL.

Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) has worked with residential water heaters of all types since 1975, and our team of experts can restore your hot water supply to the level you need.

Water heater malfunctions that can lead to a reduced hot water supply

Broken dip tube: The dip tube carries cold water from the water main into the heater. The tube runs into the top of the water tank and carries the water to the tank’s bottom, where the heat exchanger/heating elements are located. As the water from the dip tube heats up, it rises to the top of the tank where a pump sends it to the rest of the house. But if the tube breaks, the cold water will gather at the top of the tank, and the heater will start supplying less hot water. Technicians will need to replace the dip tube.
Malfunctioning burners/heating elements: For gas-powered water heaters, a burner supplies the hot combustion gas to raise the water’s temperature. If the burner begins to fail because of grime, low gas-pressure, an intermittent pilot light, or a broken igniter, less heat will enter the tank. With an electric water heater, two heating elements inside the tank supply the energy to raise the temperature. If one fails, the amount of hot water in the tank will plunge.
Leaking: If leaks develop along the connectors to the tank, on the tank itself, or in any of the pipes, the water supply will drop. This is a major problem that threatens the water heater and can lead to water damage in your home. Whenever you begin to lose hot water, make a visual inspection of the water heater to look for water pooling around it. Call for repairs immediately before the problem grows worse and you may need to have the system replaced.

Something else to keep in mind: water heaters have a lifespan of 12–15 years depending on their model. Once a water heater goes past its estimated lifespan, it will begin to deteriorate due to age and lose its efficiency. When you notice a reduction in hot water due to an old water heater, it’s probably time to schedule a replacement.

Whatever water heater repair in Orlando, FL you need done, look to Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI), a trusted name in plumbing service for almost 40 years. Give us a call today.