Month: February 2020

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Most people are not experts concerning electricity and wiring in homes. Electricity can actually be frightening for those of us that don’t know much about it. Luckily, professional electricians are available in Bedford, TX, to take the mystery out of electricity and make sure our homes are safe.

Flickering Lights

Flickering lights are a common problem for many homeowners. The cause is probably not a supernatural disturbance, or anything out of the ordinary. Flickering lights during use of heavy appliances, such as heating and air systems, washers and dryers, and refrigerators are most likely caused by an outlet that was not meant for high-power appliances.

An electrician can fix this problem by dedicating a circuit to power-heavy appliances and updating the wiring. Flickers that occur randomly without any association with a particular appliance may be due to a conductor issue in the panel. This is a potentially dangerous problem and should be addressed by an electrician as soon as possible.

Humming Breaker Boxes

A buzzing or humming sound from breaker boxes is fairly common. The sound is produced by the energy moving through the box at all times. This humming can become part of the background noise in a home and is usually not noticed
unless something changes.

A louder hum than normal or fluctuations in intensity can indicate a problem. It may seem reasonable that the sound would be louder when a high-powered appliance is in use, but this is not necessarily true. A properly wired home should not produce louder sounds during operation of commonly used appliances.

Rodent Damage

Rodents are a common concern for homeowners in Bedford, TX. Damaged wires may not be the first thing that comes to mind after noticing rodent droppings. Unfortunately, mice and rats almost always chew electrical wiring. Chewed wires are a fire hazard. The damaged wiring may not be immediately obvious, but chances are that damage has occurred somewhere if rodents have established themselves in a home.

A visual check of wiring in basements, attics, and other areas where rodent droppings are found may identify potential hazards. Rodents can also get inside walls and crawlspaces that homeowners can not view easily. An electrician knows what to look for and has the necessary knowledge to check areas that may be overlooked by untrained homeowners.

Water Damage

Water damage presents a threat to a home’s electrical wiring. A damaged roof or leaky window allows water to enter the home. Turn off the power to any outlets that may have been exposed to moisture. The structural or roof damage must be fixed, and it is also a good idea to have an electrician check wiring and outlets in area of the home exposed to moisture.

Any outlet exposed to water should be replaced. Sometimes water damage is not obvious. Small leaks can exist for a long time without being noticed, and damaged wiring inside of walls exposed to moisture can go unnoticed as well.

Some signs to look for include sparks from outlets around windows or water sources and unexplained outlet malfunctions. Consult a professional if appliances and devices plugged into a certain outlet suddenly stop working. Outlets do not lose power for no reason, so a malfunctioning outlets means a problem in the wiring exists somewhere.

Arcing Plugs and Outlets

Electrical arcing when plugging in an appliance or any kind of electrical device should not be ignored. It could indicate a problem with the power box or wiring. A spark always occurs when plugging an electronic device into an outlet, but it shouldn’t be visible in a plug that is operating normally.

A small flash of white or blue light is fairly common. This flash looks threatening, but it is normal and does not present a threat of electrocution beyond a small static shock. Flashes that last longer than a few seconds or flashes with yellow or orange coloring may indicate a problem. A warm outlet also indicates a wiring problem. Stop using an outlet immediately if unusual visible arcing occurs or if the outlet and surrounding wall surface feels hot.

Stop using an outlet if you notice a visible arc and call an electrician. Arcing can damage the plug or cause fires. It is important to take note of strange odors. A smell similar to ozone or undercurrents of burning plastic could indicate a fire has occurred, even if it is just a small one. Examine outlets and plugs closely. Misshapen plugs or black soot around an outlet mean something produced enough heat to melt plastic and burn materials in range of the plug.

A melted plug surrounded by black soot is a very dangerous sign because it means there was enough heat to burn or melt everything around the outlet. Contact a professional electrician if you have any doubts or suspicions. It is better to be overly cautious than ignore a problem that could seriously damage your home, and injure the people inside. Call emergency services for active fires and sparking. The underlying problem can be fixed by an electrician after the immediate threat is addressed.

Dangers of Electrical Fires

The National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, states that electrical failures or malfunctions were the second most common cause of house fires in the U.S. from 2012-2016 and made up 13% of all residential structure fires. Approximately 24% of these fires started between midnight and 8 am. Electrical fires were responsible for 18% of civilian deaths and 20% of direct property damage caused by fire during the same four-year period.

Homeowners can protect themselves by consulting an electrician immediately at the first sign of electrical problems. Call the professionals at Tioga Plumbing, Electric, and Glass in Bedford, TX, to make sure your home’s electrical wiring is safe and keep appliances, lighting, and heating or cooling systems running reliably.

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When you own a home or business with plumbing and appliances like a dishwasher or sink, you need to be aware of the best practices to protect your real estate and keep your water running smoothly. It’s important to schedule regular maintenance checks by a professional plumber for all of your plumbing fixtures, including:

  • Sinks and faucets
  • Toilets, bathtubs, and showers
  • Water filtration systems
  • Washing machine and dishwasher lines
  • Water heaters

Fresh, clean water is vital to a healthy home, so make sure that your pipes are in great shape with proper filtration and are routinely maintained. Look for an experienced professional plumber that can offer maintenance services to keep appliances running properly and conduct any repairs or upgrades to your systems.

Don’t Let Your Money Drip Down the Drain

Preventative care can help you in many ways, including by reducing your water bill. Even a small drip can quickly turn into a large puddle, with only 4,000 drips needed for a liter of water. Drips as slow as once an hour can cause a huge problem, eventually leading to 34 gallons of waste water per year. This can be a financial burden for residents of Hurst, TX, where water can be scarce due to the high temperatures and year-round sunshine— this area has an average amount of rainfall but the water quickly evaporates in the sunny days, and Hurst has way more sunny days than other areas, an average of 237 a year in fact. Make sure your pipes and hoses have secure connections and no leaks are present, replacing gaskets as needed to ensure a water-tight seal. If you find standing water in your home, make sure to reach out to a professional to ensure you make the repairs you need to solve the issue quickly.

Routine Maintenance Prevents Unwanted Moisture and the Mold It Can Bring In 

Not only does wasted water cost you money, but severe damage can be caused to an area where water has been left standing. Mold can quickly begin to grow in dampness, which causes structural damage as well as significant health risks. Mold has an odor that can fill a space, causing it to smell musky, and will leave stains on most surfaces. The spores are constantly released into the area, which is easily blown about the entire home by the air conditioner and heater systems, and an entire home can be quickly colonized by mold spores if measures aren’t taken to sanitize the area immediately.

If allowed to permeate into the wood, fungi can even begin to grow, causing extreme damage to the structure of the wood as well as contaminating space with dangerous contaminants like fungi spores in the air. There are numerous health issues that are associated with mold and fungi growth. Symptoms of mold exposure are similar to that of having a cold, with runny eyes and a cough being at the top of the list. Those with sensitive respiratory systems like people with asthma are more susceptible to health issues presented by excessive pollution in the air. A well-maintained heating and air system can help prevent moisture from letting mold taking over your home. A professional can help you determine where mold might be growing in your home, and help you plan the best solution to your indoor air-quality issues.

Slow Drain Solutions for the Kitchen and Bathroom Include Preventative Care

Before you have to call the plumber for a costly emergency visit to fix your backed-up pipes, consider making some simple improvements to your plumbing maintenance habits. A slow drain in the kitchen is often simply a sign of food having gotten stuck in the drain. One way to prevent this from happening is to use a stopped on your drain that catches food before it goes down your pipes. Another solution is to ensure you aren’t letting thick grease clog the drain. If you need to pour oil down your drain, make sure to run hot water before and after doing so to prevent it from solidifying in your pipes. Bathroom drains are often sluggish due to similar reasons, the build-up of debris, usually hair, that prevents the water from draining. An easy-to-use drain stopper can be found in the cleaning aisle of most grocery stores that will catch hair before it goes down your tub drain, causing costly repairs.

Cold Weather Pipe Issues

In winter, it can be very important to take precautions to prevent your water from freezing. For example, if you expect temperatures to drop below freezing (which occurs only 32 days on average in Hurst, TX), it would be a good idea to keep a faucet dripping throughout the night. It’s not a good idea to waste water, so all you need is a steady drip to keep the pressure up enough to move the water around and keep it from freezing overnight. If your pipes do wind up freezing, it’s important to know how to safely handle the situation. In this situation, you’ll want to reach out to a professional plumber who can advise you of the best way to get your water flowing again and prevent freezing from occurring in the first place, like installing insulation.

Is It Important to Let a Plumber Conduct Some Maintenance Tasks?

A well-trained, trusted plumber is a critical member of your property maintenance team. While it may be possible to take care of some of the plumbing fixtures around your home without help, there are many maintenance needs that simply require a professional touch. With a well-trained plumber keeping an eye on any issues in your home, you can rest assured that you’ve got an expert on your side dedicated to getting the problem solved quickly, efficiently, and safely.

Those in need of a plumber in Hurst, TX can reach out to Tioga Contractors. The team of expert plumbers and home maintenance specialists can help you with any problem affecting your plumbing, all year and round-the-clock. Homeowners and commercial investors can call Tioga for installation, repair, and maintenance of appliances and drains as well as utility connections.

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Whether it’s in your business or home, having problematic plumbing can be a big headache. Things can get worse if you get an unreliable plumbing company to service your system. Not only will you have lost money and time, but the issue will also still be unsolved. In some instances, the problem can even get worse. Getting the best plumbing service company to work on your issue is crucial in avoiding such complications. Here are some basics to consider before choosing the company to work on your plumbing issue.

  • Do they provide a wide variety of services?

It’s paramount that the plumbing company you settle provides a wide variety of services. Yes, plumbing is a vast field, and some service companies have specialized in particular areas. If you choose a company that has specialized in one area and your problem turns out to be of another area, you will have to go back to the drawing board. Having a company that provides all the services means that you can be sure that no matter the problem, it can be handled.

Tioga Contractors is an outstanding plumbing company based in Euless, TX, that provides all the plumbing services that you can think of. The company’s services cover both commercial and residential needs. Their wide variety of plumbing services has significantly contributed to them being the industry leader in the region.

  • Do they have the necessary credentials?

This is one of the most underrated basics of getting a good plumbingcompany. Most people don’t care to check the credentials of the service company before they hire it. They only question why they didn’t do the check the first time when something goes wrong. Sometimes, this is usually too late, and they have lost money.

This shouldn’t be you. Before you hire a plumbing company, make sure that they have all the necessary credentials. The rule of thumbs is that companies that are keen enough to have all the credentials are also shrewd enough to do an excellent plumbing job.

  • Ask for estimates

This is a free market, and the prices can vary widely from company to company. Each company tends to charge what it feels is right for what they offer. This doesn’t mean that more affordable is terrible and more expensive is better. Instead, once you are given the estimates, you need to compare the price to the value you receive.

Additionally, there is also the expertise and experience of the workforce. A service company with an expert workforce will charge more. On the other hand, there might be economies of scale favoring the company, making it charge affordable rates. Know where your company lies on the value to price scale.

  • What do their previous customers say online?

Consumers in Euless, TX, are very generous when it comes to helping others find the best services. Nearly all companies in the region have been reviewed online by previous clients. When looking for a reliable plumbing service company, it’s crucial that you check what other customers say about it online.

You can check out for both reviews and testimonials about the company to get a clear picture of how they provide their services. Tioga Contractors is one of the best performing plumbing company’s in Texas. This company has 5-star reviews on Google, Consumer Lobby, and Home Advisor. While checking the reviews of other plumbing service companies, be keen to make sure that they are legit.

  • Do they offer emergency services?

A serious plumbing issue like a water leak is likely to need immediate attention to prevent the situation from getting worse. Can the company you are choosing be able to provide emergency services in such circumstances? You don’t want to hire a company that cannot provide emergency services when you need it the most. This can result in huge losses.

A good plumbing company should be not only able to provide emergency response, but also be able to finish the work on schedule. You don’t want to spend more time than necessary to oversee repair or maintenance. This may lead to additional costs making the whole undertaking more costly.

  • Are they excellent communicators?

The success of any project largely relies on excellent communication. When looking for a plumbing service company, make sure that the option you are going with is outstanding at communication. Do you want to know how much their service will cost you? They will offer you an estimate.

A plumbing company that has mastered the art of excellent communication will make the whole undertaking as smooth as butter. If there are any possible challenges, you will be informed before the project starts so that you can brace yourself. Outstanding communication is key to you receiving satisfactory services.

What Makes Tioga Contractors Stand Out?

As already mentioned, if you are in Euless, TX, you can receive top-notch plumbing service from Tioga Contractors. But in a market of numerous service providers, what has made this company stand out as an industry leader?

  • Numerous Home Advisor awards and recognitions

When it comes to home matters advice and insights, Home Advisor is the crème of the industry. In 2017, Tioga Contractors was awarded the winner of the Best Of category by Home Advisor. It also has the Screened & Approved recognition and the Elite Service Award from Home Advisor.

  • A BBB Accredited Business

The Better Business Bureau, better known as BBB, is an institution that accredits businesses based on their trust and integrity. Tioga Contractors is a BBB Accredited Business, which means that they prioritize trust and integrity when dealing with you as a client. This accreditation is an honor for any business and should give you peace of mind that you’re dealing with genuine plumbing service providers.

Tioga Contractors is a family-owned and operated business with strong family values at its core. This company has made a name for itself by providing outstanding services to its clients. Get in touch with them if you have any plumbing service needs for immediate assistance. They are available to pick your call 24 hours every day, 365 days.

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Hurst, TX knows exactly who they can trust for their plumbing needs. Those who live there and in other surrounding areas know that you will always need a good, quality plumber on your side just for your plumbing needs. And what better professional than a plumber Tioga Contractors.

Tioga Contractors has an extensive array of plumbing services just to suit your individual needs. In fact, they offer all kinds of services across the spectrum, from simple plumbing maintenance, broken pipes, and on up to tree trunk removal. With Tioga, there are no limits when it comes to finding a good, quality plumber who has the skills and expertise to provide you with the service that you deserve.

A plumber can offer services to the residents of Hurst, TX in a variety of fields. One of them involves the installation of underground water pipes, sewer, and storm drain systems for all customers.

For those of you who may not know, a storm drain system serves its purpose when it collects and removes excess water and rain that collects from the streets and sidewalks of any municipal area. It is this very system that saves all populated areas from floods and other nature-based disasters, and that’s why it becomes highly critical that it be properly maintained and fixed during times of stress and trouble. But when it clogs, it floods, and that results in massive damages, not to mention that it spells potential danger for the residents of Hurst, TX.

And there are other professional services that are offered by a qualified plumber at Tioga. In fact, each plumber is a member of what is now called a “wet utility crew,” which simple means that they are prepared to act to prevent flooding into your home or backyard and can act in the event that one does happen. In fact, every plumber on that crew knows the history of what can happen during a flood and the types of repair needed to drain the streets so that the flood waters have no chance of seeping into your home and causing hundreds of dollars worth of damage. Excavation and the ability to use the ride size piping are highly essential for this type of extensive work. In fact, any ordinary plumber knows that it must include all of the following: proper ground elevation and good site preparation, a good fit and bedding, plus efficient soil fitting that is compact enough to prevent breaking up into flooding again.

Once the job is finished, each plumber will do their part to fix the work area to where it looks just as well, if not better, than the way it was before. This includes getting a good, solid cover to ensure that there are no visible cracks in the pavement that might lead to another water leak, and touching up the area with a proper finish to make it look smart, professional, and pleasing to the eye of the customer.

Once the job is done, a plumber will be glad to meet with you to discuss further preventative maintenance. Even a simple, annual inspection of your storm drain system will yield the potential of its overall solvency, especially as a member of the professional team will sit down with you to discuss any further efforts needed and provide good feedback regarding the types of quality services that would suit your budget.

With freezing pipes, water main bursts, and a higher than normal use of water within a residential or commercial area comes the likelihood that back flow will occur. So, what is back flow? Back flow is a precarious situation, one in which the water pressure is so high that it causes a serious disruption in the water distribution system, which is the very system responsible for the even ebb and flow of water within a district. In fact, flow reversal happens, which is the primary reason to have a back-flow prevention device professionally installed as a measure of prevention. It is during back flow that gases from the sewer can leak into the supply, along with solid waste and other harmful contaminants, thus making it necessary to have boil advisories in this case. But the prevention device is what it is–something that prevents residents from having to boil their drinking and cooking water just for home use, which could take nearly hours to do in a single day as you consider just how much water is used on average for those reasons alone. This is due primarily to back-siphonage, where gases and solids seep into the supply and result in contamination through indirect cross-connection.

Back-pressure works somewhat differently but its results can be just as devastating for residents and businesses alike. A natural gas can leak into your water supply and even be detected through your faucets and shower heads. Sprinklers, power washers, and defective boilers or broken water pumps may serve as the primary culprits.

But enough with the scientific analysis of back flows, it’s time to discuss the other plumbing services provided by the professional team at Tioga Contractors. In fact, they not only offer affordable service, but are willing to explain to the customer the reason that it often takes good money to hire a professional.

For example, if you happen to be installing a brand-new shower for the very first time, you will come to know just how important it is to install a good, sturdy, quality shower pan by a licensed professional. The main purpose of this handy device is to collect all the shower water, then move it downwards towards the drainage system and into the sewers. In fact, once you experience even the tiniest crack, you may notice the symptoms of a water leak that can quickly morph into a slab leak if allowed to progress without professional treatment. In fact, anything can go wrong to cause it to crack, whether it’s from too much movement or ineffective installation. But with the team at Tioga Contractors, your shower pan can be either installed or replaced within a short span of time. All that is required of you is for you to make that call.

And that goes for any service listed. In fact, if you look on Tioga’s website, you will find an entire host of plumbing services just to suit your needs.