Count On Your Reliable Plumbers in Traverse City for Expert Plumbing Repairs and Drain Cleaning!

Do you have questions for our plumbers in Traverse City or need to know more about the plumbing services we provide? Contact the friendly customer service representatives at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Traverse City, and they'll be happy to answer all your questions quickly and easily.

Do Your Plumbers in Traverse City Charge Hourly Rates or By the Job?

If you have a budget in mind for plumbing services, like most homeowners, it can be downright nerve-racking to hire a Traverse City plumber on an hourly basis and watch the hours tick by, wondering if your plumber is really working as efficiently as possible or dragging their heels to inflate the final bill. When we get home services, we want to know upfront how much it's going to cost, and we know our customers prefer that too, which is why we always charge an upfront, flat rate by the job. We'll start by coming out to your property so we can consult with you and thoroughly examine your plumbing system. Once we know more about the problem that prompted a call to your local plumbers, Traverse City homeowners can trust us to explain our findings clearly and offer an upfront cost for the necessary plumbing work. We'll keep you updated throughout the process so you know what to expect, and you can trust us never to surprise you with overtime fees or hidden charges when all is said and done.

How Do Plumbers in Traverse City Diagnose Plumbing Issues?

There's the occasional situation where a property owner calls our Traverse City plumbers for repair help, and they know exactly what the problem is, what caused it, and where it is in their plumbing system—but that's pretty rare. The majority of the time, homeowners have a vague idea of what's wrong, or it's a complete mystery to them, and that makes sense. People tend to think of their plumbing as the parts they can see and interact with—in other words, their fixtures. But the vast majority of any plumbing system is tucked away out of sight under floors, behind walls, and buried underground. So, how do plumbers in Traverse City figure out what's going on and come up with the right strategy to get it repaired?

Our team has access to modern technology that makes it a lot easier to carry out a thorough yet non-invasive plumbing inspection without the need to cut open your drywall or dig up your lawn. That includes video camera inspection, in which we connect a small camera to a cable, and it moves through your drain lines as it records footage. Once our plumbers in Traverse City review the footage, they can interpret it to discover the nature and location of the problem. We also have other methods of inspection and detection at our disposal.

What Are the Signs It's Time to Call Local Plumbers in Traverse City?

There are certain plumbing problems that you may be capable of addressing by yourself, however, others are simply too complex to handle on your own. It is crucial to recognize when it’s time to seek the assistance of your local plumbers in Traverse City. Here are some indications that you may need the expertise of professional plumbers:

• Persistent leaking faucets or fixtures can not only waste water but also signal larger plumbing issues.
• Frozen pipes require immediate professional attention to prevent cracks or bursts, as improperly thawing them could result in serious water damage.
• Slow or completely blocked drains need immediate attention to prevent worsening clogs.
• Low or inconsistent water pressure could be a minor issue if isolated to one faucet, but a larger problem if affecting your entire property's water supply line.
• In the case of a clogged toilet that cannot be resolved with a plunger, it may signify a significant issue with your sewage line, requiring the intervention of our plumbers in Traverse City.
• Raw sewage backup in your home or yard is a clear indication of a clogged or damaged sewer line that requires professional inspection and potential sewer repair or replacement.

Does My Traverse City Home Have Hard Water?

Michigan, in general, is known for having very hard water, which means it contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Traverse City certainly doesn't have the hardest water in Michigan (that honor goes to Birmingham in the greater Detroit area with a whopping 418 mg/L), but at 164 mg/L, Traverse City's water is still considered hard.

Hard water is perfectly safe to use for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing, but as plumbers in Traverse City will tell you, it can be really rough on your plumbing system. That's because it leaves mineral deposits on the inside of your pipes that slowly build up over time until they're partially or completely blocking the flow of water. Aside from annoying problems like slow drainage or scaly water, those blockages put a tremendous amount of pressure on pipes from the inside and can cause serious problems like ruptures and pinhole leaks. The best way to combat the effects of hard water on your wastewater disposal lines is regular, professional drain cleaning services from our experienced plumbers. Traverse City professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing use HydroScrub^® Jetting technology and other drain cleaning methods to bust up mineral deposits. This clears them out of your lines before they have a chance to cause a disruption for your household. An alternative solution is a water softener installation.

Is It Normal for Drainage Lines to Make Noises?

No, it's not normal for sounds to be coming from your drain lines. If you hear gurgling, sucking, grinding, thumping, banging or other noises emitting from your drains after wastewater is flushed or drained from a fixture, that's a sign that you have a blockage or another issue such as a water hammer, which occurs when water suddenly changes direction inside a pipe. Either way, it's a serious problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible by dependable plumbers in Traverse City.

What's the Correct Way to Plunge a Clogged Drain?

Clogged drains are a fact of life that most people have deal with sooner or later, but despite how common they are, many people don't know how to plunge a clogged drain effectively—and in some cases, the plunging doesn't work because they don't have the right plunger to begin with. There are actually two main types of plungers, and our plumbers in Traverse City will tell you that it's important to have the correct one for the task at hand. If you're plunging a flat drain, like in a sink, shower or bathtub, you need a cup-shaped plunger that will form a seal around the drain. But if you're plunging a toilet drain, you need a bell or ball-shaped plunger that can make a seal in a toilet drain.

Once you have the appropriate plunger for the task, make sure you're wearing old clothes that can get dirty—this could get messy. Start by making sure that there is standing water in your fixture. If there isn't, simply add a small amount of water to facilitate the plunger's suction and seal. Then, confidently place the plunger over the drain, firmly press down on the handle, and pull up with a strong yet controlled force. If you feel the suction weakening and water begins to flow out, release the plunger and proceed to run hot water or flush the toilet to make sure the wastewater is draining normally. Don't be discouraged if it doesn't work immediately, as some persistent plunging may be necessary to dislodge the clog.

This method is most effective for soft clogs, typically composed of large hair clumps, soap residue, solidified grease, and similar substances. If a hard object like a small toy or a shampoo bottle cap accidentally falls down the drain, plunging isn't going to be able to get it back out again. In such cases, it may be necessary to visit a local hardware store to buy a more specialized tool, or seek assistance from plumbers in Traverse City with appropriate tools and expertise.

Can Plunging Make a Clogged Drain Worse?

We don't want to discourage people from trying to plunge a clogged drain, as it's typically a fast, effective method of resolving run-of-the-mill clogs and getting your plumbing fixture back in good working order. That being said, it is sometimes possible for plunging to make a particularly stubborn clog even worse. This is because the plunging suction can compress the material in the clog and block off the wastewater completely in situations where it may have been only partly blocked before. If you try plunging and the situation seems to get worse rather than better, it's time to call your local plumbers in Traverse City. We'll get your drain cleared and make sure you don't have to worry about another clog in the near future.

Can Plumbers in Traverse City Help Me Save Money On My Water Bill?

There's no question that our qualified plumbers in Traverse City can make your entire plumbing system run more efficiently and effectively, but it's important to note that the difference you may see on your utility bills really depends on the condition your system is currently in and the kinds of components and fixtures you have in your home or business. If you have a relatively newer plumbing system that is already running efficiently, you won't notice much difference in your water and energy costs—though we can help you avoid utility increases in the future with maintenance and repair services. But if you have an older system with a few parts that have outlived their ability to run efficiently, and you've noticed that your energy and water charges are increasing on your monthly utility bills, we can likely make a considerable difference in how much you have to pay for utilities.

Many homeowners simply don't realize how much money they're wasting on their water bill when they have problems like a leaky faucet or a toilet that is constantly cycling water. These issues may not seem like such a big deal—sure, the sound of dripping or running water is irritating, but at least the leak is safely contained within the fixture and not causing water damage. The problem is that fixtures can realistically use thousands of gallons of water over the course of a year, and of course, that's reflected on your water bill. It's essentially no different from just throwing money down the drain. That means a simple fixture repair from our plumbers in Traverse City could end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.

Can a Replacement Water Heater Reduce Energy Costs?

If you're looking for a way to cut down on the amount you have to pay for energy costs on your utility bill, your water heater is likely going to be a good place to start. Conventional, tank-style water heaters use a significant amount of fuel because they have to continuously heat that big tank full of water to make sure hot water is available whenever you turn on your faucet. But over the years, water heater components suffer wear and tear damage or become blocked by excess sediment, and the unit needs additional fuel to provide the same volume of hot water.

Manufacturers are always innovating new ways to make their products more energy efficient, so replacing a damaged, old unit with a new, energy efficient one can make a massive difference in your energy costs. You could save even more by having your plumbers in Traverse City switch out a tank-style conventional unit for a tankless water heater, which heats water on demand when you turn on the tap and can therefore save you a lot of energy and money by not constantly heating a huge tank.

Is There Any Way to Avoid Damaging My Landscaping During a Sewer Line Replacement?

If you've gotten the news that your property can't go without a sewer line replacement, your first thought may have been horror at the thought of your landscaping and/or hardscaping getting ripped to pieces when your plumbers in Traverse City dig a big, deep trench to access your sewer lines. It doesn't have to be that way!

In most cases, our reliable Traverse City plumbers can complete a sewer line replacement or repair without having to dig a trench at all. We use modern trenchless sewer line services such as pipe relining or hydraulic bursting to repair or install a new sewer line, leaving your landscaping and hardscaping untouched on the surface. That means the process is significantly faster and less laborious for plumbers in Traverse City, but there's no compromise on quality—in fact, trenchless techniques result in repairs and replacements that are more durable and long-lasting than conventional pipe replacement methods. They're also more resistant to tree root intrusion, which may just have been what caused the problem in the first place.

Which Areas Do Your Traverse City Plumbers Serve?

When it's time to call a plumber in Traverse City, you can rely on our experienced services. But we don't just serve the homeowners and business owners of Traverse City. As we all know, there are plenty of people living outside of Traverse City who have plumbing systems and deserve outstanding plumbing services to resolve issues and keep their systems in excellent condition. In our corner of Northern Michigan, small towns and communities can expect expert plumbing service and top-quality customer service from our plumbers in Traverse City.

Our service area includes Gladwin, Grayling, Cadillac, Leland, Charlevoix, Suttons Bay, Maple City, Acme, Alba, Alden, Arcadia, Bear Lake, Bellaire, Benzonia, Beulah, Boon, Brethren, Buckley, Cedar, Central Lake, Copemish, East Jordan, Eastlake, Eastport, Elberta, Elk Rapids, Ellsworth, Elmira, Empire, Falmouth, Fife Lake, Filer City, Frankfort, Frederic, Gaylord, Glen Arbor, Grawn, Harrietta, Higgins Lake, Honor, Houghton Lake, Houghton Lake Heights, Interlochen, Johannesburg, Kaleva, Kalkaska, Kewadin, Kingsley, Lake Ann, Lake City, Lake Leelanau, Mancelona, Manistee, Manton, Mayfield, McBain, Merritt, Mesick, Northport, Old Mission, Omena, Onekama, Prudenville, Rapid City, Roscommon, Saint Helen, South Boardman, Thompsonville, Vanderbilt, Waters, Wellston and Williamsburg.

Can You Send a Plumber to My Property Today?

Absolutely! If you need experienced, reliable plumbers in Traverse City and beyond, call Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Traverse City to schedule a convenient time for a service appointment or to find out more about our trusted repair, maintenance, and installation services for your entire plumbing system.