Spring is just around the corner, and that means that millions of people will soon begin their spring cleaning efforts. Now, you may think of spring cleaning as dusting, vacuuming, spraying copious amounts of air freshener, exterminating all spiders and insects in the home with extreme prejudice, and so on. However, you shouldn’t neglect other parts of your home! Your plumbing system requires consistent service if you want it to continue working properly, and what better time to schedule those services than spring? Let’s take a look at some plumbing services you should schedule during this time.

Video Pipe Inspection

One of the big issues with plumbing pipes is that it’s hard to detect problems with them before they progress too far. Much of the plumbing network is hidden from view, so problems aren’t noticed until they’ve caused damage to the surrounding area. The best way to catch plumbing problems early is to schedule video pipe inspection! This involves inserting a long cord into your plumbing system, with a small camera on the end of it. The camera moves through the system on a pair of motorized wheels, sending images back to the plumber controlling it. This allows your plumber to identify any problem spots in your plumbing system before they become too much of an issue.

Drain Cleaning

The drains in your home serve as a connection point between your plumbing and sewer system. If you want your home’s plumbing to continue to work properly, you need to make sure that your drains remain in good operating condition. One of the biggest threats to your home’s drains is the buildup of waste, which can form clogs and cause other issues over time. So, every so often it’s a good idea to have your drains professionally cleaned out. This is often done using a drain snake, which is a long cord with an auger at the end of it. Hydro jetting is also a common technique, which involves using a high-pressure stream of water to blast all waste buildup out of the pipe. Scheduling drain cleaning once or twice a year is a great way to make sure that your drains continue to serve your home well.

Spring cleaning is a time of renewal for your home, a way to get things in proper order for the rest of the year. Make sure that your plumbing system is in good shape for the coming months, and you’ll make things a lot easier for yourself in the long run.

If you have any questions, give us a call today! Or, schedule service online HERE

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Too often, plumbing leaks can go unnoticed and cause severe damage to your property before you even realize there’s a problem. Usually the first sign of an issue is higher water bills, and by then the leak may have done far more damage than you will likely be able to handle on your own. You need a professional plumber to perform leak detection services and determine the source of the leak, not only to repair it but to prevent the leak from occurring again. But how exactly do plumbers perform leak detection?

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A big THANK YOU to all who participated in the 2016 World Plumbing Day Poster Contest.

The team here at MPI loved seeing all the submissions and enthusiasm for World Plumbing Day 2016.  We wanted to send out a special post showing the winners and their posters.  Check them out below and join us in congratulating them on a great job!

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Are you planning to do any spring cleaning this year? If so, are you extending your efforts to the various systems in your home? There is a whole network of different systems and appliances in your home that need professional attention if you want them to work properly. Plumbing is one of those systems. Let’s take a look at 3 plumbing systems you should have checked this spring.

1. Garbage Disposal

You may think of your garbage disposal as some kind of invincible engine of destruction, but it’s actually just as vulnerable to issues as any other system. If you’re putting certain materials down the garbage disposal, like bones or ice, your system is likely to have even more wear and tear on it than usual. In spring, you should be sure to call for maintenance and repair services for your garbage disposal. This will help keep your disposal up and running for another year.

2. Water Heater

Of all the various appliances in your home, whether plumbing related or not, your water heater is one of the hardest-working. Most people use hot water multiple times a day, which means that the water heater is used more often than pretty much any other individual appliance. That results in a lot of wear and tear on the system, which increases the likelihood of problems occurring and shortens its lifespan. There are also concerns related to parts like the anode rod, which only last around a year even if everything is operating normally. If you want to have your water heater last as long as possible, you should definitely schedule maintenance services for it during spring.

3. Toilet

The toilets in your home are also likely used multiple times a day, which results in a lot of wear and tear. A toilet is less likely to break down in the same way that a water heater or garbage disposal will. However, that does not mean that they are immune to issues. The biggest problem that toilets suffer from is leaks, which can cause a huge amount of water damage in a short amount of time. One leaky seal around your toilet, and a whole floor could be flooded if given enough time. You should definitely inspect your toilets for cracks or leaks, and call for repairs as soon as you notice any.

Making sure that your various plumbing appliances are in good condition will help make your home more efficient, and yourself more comfortable.

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No matter the size of your bathroom, improving the look and feel of the room makes your morning and nighttime routines go more smoothly. Making improvements to the way you store things, the size of your shower, and the position of your sink can maximize efficiency in your bathroom, but this can seem harder to achieve with a smaller space. We’d like to offer you some tips from our experts on what to do when you’re remodeling a smaller bathroom space.

Take Advantage of Natural Lighting

Having adequate natural light can really open up a room. Sunlight makes the space feel roomier, so take advantage of windows and skylights if the opportunity presents itself. It’s also a lot more flattering than regular overhead florescent lighting when you’re getting ready for your day.

Design Your Bathroom with Built-In Storage

An easy way to maximize space is to have less clutter, and a built-in storage space makes this even easier. Design your bathroom to have built-in floor to ceiling shelving so that you can stay organized and access toiletries with ease. Keeping the shelving open makes things easier to grab, and it can make the space feel larger than a closed-off cabinet does.

Add Glass Shower Doors

When you can see the entire room from one side to the other, you can take in the whole space, which makes the room feel a lot larger. A shower curtain or wall divider makes the room seem smaller, while clear glass doors highlight the tile work inside of the shower and create the illusion of a larger area.

Choose a Simple Sink

If you’ve got a smaller bathroom, you probably don’t need twin sinks or a large cabinet underneath for extra storage space. Open storage is perfectly acceptable in a smaller space, and can be stylish if you choose nice baskets and bins to keep things organized. A simple pedestal sink adds a classic touch, and it won’t take up too much space. This small, shallow sink is perfectly okay for a small bathroom, and you can still find a stylish fixture no matter the size.

Have Fun with the Design

Choosing bold colors for your new bathroom can make people forget that the room is so small. A pop of color makes the space fun, no matter the size. Don’t be afraid to break the rules. You don’t have to use light colors to make the bathroom seem bigger. You don’t have to skip over spa equipment if it’s something you really want. Make the space fun and you and your guests won’t care so much about the limited space.

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You’re looking for a home improvement project that you can enjoy for a few years to come, but also one that increases the property value for a future resale. Some projects have a fairly minimal return on investment, costing too much and adding too little when it’s time to sell. While projects with a low ROI are still viable options if you plan to keep the home for several years, some homeowners do not want to make a change that won’t increase the return on investment.

Here, you’ll find 4 projects that won’t break the bank and that can give your home greater appeal and value.

Upgrading the Kitchen

The look and feel of a kitchen is often the selling point for homebuyers, so even a few minor upgrades can go a long way. This is where people spend a large portion of their time at home, and they want it to be an efficient and pleasant place to cook, clean, and hang out with family. Fresh tiling, energy-efficient appliances, and an open kitchen and dining area layout are all improvements that people look for when they’re shopping for a new home.

New Doors

This is one project in which the cost of the upgrade is nearly as much as the value you’ll add. Your front door makes one of the most important first impressions for a potential buyer. In addition, updating your garage door is an excellent way to spend relatively little for a large return.

Outside Additions

One of the major benefits of adding a deck, patio, or outdoor room to your home is that it increases the square footage of your home. Quality workmanship makes all the difference when it comes to an outdoor deck or patio, so call a local contractor to get one that is custom designed for your home for a higher resale value.

Small Changes

Sometimes, the smallest changes can make the biggest difference when you are trying to sell a home. A fresh coat of paint, for example, can do a world of good for the look and feel of your home. Simply decluttering a home to take photos is an easy improvement, and it’s something you can do on your own.

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A big THANK YOU to all the schools and students that participated in this year’s annual World Plumbing Day Poster Contest!
We have selected the winning posters from this year’s contest. Here are the winning designs!

Middle School Winners:

Elementary School Winners:

Prizes were:
1st Place – iPad + $500 check towards their future education.
2nd Place – $250 check towards their future education.
3rd Place – $100 check towards their future education.

And the schools that produced winners received the following for their general fund:
1st Place – $1,000
2nd Place – $250
3rd Place – $100

All of the students did a wonderful job and we can not thank them enough for helping us celebrate World Plumbing Day 2016!

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