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You never know what kinds of bacteria, chemicals, waste particles and other undesirables are coming out of your faucets. Reverse osmosis is one option that can give you the taste of clean, fresh water in your home. Save money by avoiding bottled water and enjoy the freshwater straight from your tap. Reverse osmosis consists of a series of tubes and filters that work to cleanse your water of nearly all types of impurities. The result is a drink that looks, smells, and tastes better. Best of all, it is better for you. The system is quite simple. Water flows into the reverse osmosis equipment, gets filtered through a membrane, and the clean water continues to your faucet while contaminants are sent down the drain. It’s the same technology used to turn saltwater from the ocean into potable drinking water. A typical membrane will remove anything larger than .001 microns, and some go even smaller. For comparison, that’s small enough to filter out a single blood cell or even a bacteria or virus. Most conventional filters only work for particles that are more or less visible to the naked eye, while reverse osmosis keeps you safe from contaminants that are much, much smaller. Tired of Bottled Water? Reverse osmosis systems typically go under your sink and filter your water on its way to the faucet. The filtering process can be quite slow, preparing somewhere between half a gallon and three gallons of water per hour, depending on the model. Systems come equipped with a storage tank so that clean water is ready when you need it. Once you have a system installed, the only regular maintenance it needs is replacing the filter periodically. The exact time frame varies, but most are equipped to handle somewhere between 1500 and 5000 gallons of water in their lifespan. That could cover several years’ worth of drinking water, depending on how frequently you run your kitchen faucet. The specific reverse osmosis system that will work for you depends on your water pressure, temperature and how quickly you need it to process. To learn more about how reverse osmosis works, and for help installing a module on your sink, contact NDI Plumbing!

Working from home and maintaining social distancing efforts means a house full of people, putting added strain on your plumbing system. You may be wondering if you can still call your local plumber and schedule services while adhering to the safety guidelines of social distancing. NDI Plumbing understands that the current disruption to daily life shouldn’t be compounded by plumbing issues in your home. Our essential plumbing services remain fully operational during this time, and we are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of both our team and the community we serve. When our expert technicians visit your home, you can rest assured that they will adhere to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene- before, during, and after their visit. We are strictly following the  CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19, including the following precautions: Wearing additional protective equipment Maintaining social distancing Thorough and frequent hand washing with soap and water for 20 seconds Utilizing hand sanitizer Sing disinfectants to ensure all touch points are clean (workspace, equipment, vehicles) Frequently sanitizing devices used, such as tablets and clipboards In order to perform our essential services as quickly and effectively as possible, we will contact customers prior to their appointment to assess whether there are any risks of exposure in their household. We will ask if there is any reason we should not enter the home, especially in relation to COVID-19, or if anyone in the house exhibits symptoms such as fever or shortness of breath. If the answer is yes, our team will work diligently with you to decide to safest course of action to resolve your plumbing issues, while protecting everyone involved. If you have urgent plumbing needs or would like to schedule maintenance for your home, give the experts at NDI Plumbing a call at (775)745-8791, or contact us online today! If water runs through it, we can do it! IMPORTANT PLUMBING REMINDERS WHILE YOU SHELTER IN PLACE While NDI Plumbing is fully staffed and operational should you need maintenance or emergency plumbing services, here are a few tips for keeping your plumbing system in good shape. 1. Never flush anything besides toilet paper down your toilet. Only toilet paper will properly break down in your plumbing system, so avoid flushing things like wipes, napkins, or paper towels. 2. Stagger your showers throughout the day. If you have a house full of people and are trying to figure out a showering schedule that works for everyone, consider staggering your showers throughout the day. Alternate the schedule from day to day if there is one particular time that is more desirable amongst the group. 3. Get familiar with your plumbing system. If you’re a complete novice when it comes to your home’s plumbing system, take the opportunity to get to know how things work. PROVIDING ESSENTIAL PLUMBING SERVICES WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING While these are unprecedented times, NDI Plumbing understands the ongoing need for professional and local plumbing services. We are proud to be fully open and operational to offer our customers high-quality service that they can trust.

Both are home heating systems, but they are not the same thing. We’ll give you the facts of each so you can better decide which is best for your home. Furnaces A furnace uses air to heat your home. The thermostat detects the falling temperature and calls for heat. In gas furnaces, the pilot light or electronic lights the natural gas or propane in the burner. In electric furnaces, a heating element warms up. Incoming air passes through a heat exchanger and picks up heat from the burner or heating element. The blower forces heated air into the ductwork, where it is distributed throughout the house. Return registers near the floor draw cool air back into the furnace, and the process repeats. Boilers A boiler uses hot water to heat your home. A heat source such as natural gas, oil, or electricity, heats water in a tank. Depending on the type of boiler, either steam or hot water moves through the pipes and circulates throughout the home’s radiant heating system. Hot gases are vented outside to maintain pressure in the boiler system. Cold water at the end of the radiant system’s loop circulates back into the boiler to be reheated, and the process begins again. Now let’s compare the two: Comfort: Furnaces distribute air via a blower, which can lead to cold drafts every time the unit comes on. In contrast, a boiler’s convection or radiant heat results in comfortable, consistent warmth from the ground up. Humidity: Hot air from a furnace is relatively dry, sapping moisture from your skin. This can be combated by running a humidifier. In contrast, boilers deliver a naturally moist air as a result of being heated by water. Air quality: Boilers are ideal for homeowners with allergy sufferers because they don’t blow dust and contaminants around. Noise: Some furnaces are relatively loud when they turn on. Boilers provide silent heat for your home. Maintenance: Furnace owners must use a filter to catch airborne debris. This filter should be replaced every one to three months. It may be necessary to service your boiler once a year, but minimal maintenance is required between visits from a technician. Efficiency: In most homes, heating with a boiler is more efficient since water is a better conductor than forced-air. Cost: The investment required at installation depends on your home’s existing features. Ready to schedule an appointment to install a furnace or boiler? You can call us anytime at (775)745-8791 to schedule an appointment or get an estimate on the installation.

If you have black specks in your home’s water, something’s not right- and identifying the source of the problem is essential to fixing it and restoring your home’s supply of clean water. Here are the most common sources of black specks and how to get rid of them. Top 3 Sources of Black Specks in Water 1. Pipe Corrosion: Old pipes can begin to corrode after many years of use. Then they do, small, irregular pieces of pipe can break off and wind up in your water. Corroded pipes usually end up sending black specks through cold water taps, and these black specs are most apparent when your home’s water has been turned back on by the water company after a shut-off. 2. Pieces of corroded water heater: If you see black specks when you turn on your hot water in the tub, shower, or sink, your water heater is likely corroding, or the water lines to and from the water heater are corroded. It’s not uncommon for black specks to remain on the sides of sinks, tubs, and showers after the hot water has been turned off. 3. Pieces of broken parts: Are the black specks in your water small and rubbery? These could be disintegrated pieces of a rubber gasket, washer, or flexible supply hose. Rubber can begin to break down after years of use or because of disinfectants used in the city’s water supply. How to Get Rid of Black Specks in Your Water Depending on the source of your water’s black specks, cleaning up your water could involve: Water heater maintenance services Water heater repair or replacement services Waterline repair or replacement Faucet repair or replacement Water conditioning system installation To get first-class solutions to restoring our home’s water and maintaining your plumbing system, contact NDI Plumbing. Our expert plumbers are ready to help!

In general, your tap water is safe to drink. It’s tested at municipal water treatment plants and must meet strict federal standards. Fortunately, sometimes the water can still become contaminated by the time it reaches your household plumbing. That’s the conclusion of a report by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) titled “What’s on Tap?”, which looks at the safety of the drinking water in 19 different cities in the United States. While almost all the cities meet federal standards, there were nevertheless some alarming findings of the chemicals that came out of residential faucets. Pathogens Entering the Broken Main Water There are two ways that potentially harmful chemicals can wind up in your drinking water- they can infiltrate the water after it’s been treated before it arrives in your household plumbing, or they can slip past quality technicians who don’t test for those specific chemicals. In the first scenario, decaying municipal water mains can allow impurities to enter the water, or corrosion in the pipe itself can create debris or specks in the liquid. Rust is one of the most common contaminants to leach into the water from old pipes, and fortunately, it is usually harmless. Lead is another matter entirely and can be especially dangerous to babies and young children. Usually, the biggest problems occur when water mains break, and sewage or other pathogens infiltrate the system before the water department can repair the problem. Avoiding the Unknown Unknowns While municipal water testing may be stringent, it will only catch the chemicals it is looking for. Sometimes pesticides, industrial chemicals and hormonal byproducts of medicine end up slipping through the testing process. Additionally, some chemicals come through at levels that are deemed acceptable. For example, arsenic, which can provoke several health problems including cancer, is mandated by the EPA to be no more prevalent than 10 parts per billion in drinking water- but some studies suggest that even that level is too high. Finally, the study found, trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids which are byproducts of chlorine treatments and can cause cancer and reproductive issues, sometimes show up in household plumbing as well. The good news is, despite the NRDC findings, tap water is still almost always rated as safe to drink-but that doesn’t mean we can’t do better to provide clean water to municipal residents. Protect Your Family from Harmful Chemicals What can you do if you’re worried about the water coming from your household plumbing? There are test kits available that can look for traces of several chemicals. If you do find something you’d rather not be drinking, or if you simply want to take precautionary measures, you can install a high-quality filter like a reverse osmosis model in your household plumbing, which can remove anything larger than .001 microns from the water. If you need help assessing the quality of the drinking water in your home, contact NDI Plumbing today!

Feeling squeaky clean on your bottom might not be good for your bottom line. The issue of whether wipes labeled as “flush-able” really live up to their name has the potential not only to clog p your toilet and sewer systems in the Mid-Atlantic but the U.S. court systems as well. Since their appearance on the market, so-called flush-able wipes have had the backing of those who are attracted by their claim on cleanliness. But these moist toilettes, much like baby wipes for grown-ups, have been subject to much scrutiny about whether they are harming septic and sewer systems. While wipes do break down in the sewer system, they typically take longer than regular toilet paper and, in the meantime, can cause “ragging” which is what happened when wipes get caught up with other things like sanitary pads, paper towels and other things that contribute to sewer blockages. In fact, in Washington D.C., a law that was slated to go into effect in 2018 aimed at calling to task the manufacturer’s claims of flush ability. The law would have prevented manufacturers from labeling their products as “flush-able” unless it dispersed in a short period of time after flushing, in not buoyant, and does not contain plastic or any other material that does not readily degrade. The Washington Business Journal reported that law was halted by a federal judge ruling the law would impinge on a company’s First Amendment Rights. On the flip side, the law firm of Morgan & Morgan is investigating lawsuits on behalf of consumers who use flush-able wipes and experienced plumbing problems. And in Texas, the town of Great Barrington was debating on sales of “flush-able wipes” in town limits or making it illegal to flush anything but human waste and toilet paper down residents’ toilets. Enforcement would certainly be an invasion of residents’ private business! WHAT NOT TO FLUSH Whether “flush-able wipes” are the main culprit behind clogged drains or just a contributor or just a contributor, keeping them out of your toilet can help you avoid costly repairs. It’s a good idea to have a trashcan in the bathroom next to the toilet, making it easy to toss wipes and these other leading offenders: Cotton Swabs Toilet roll tube Dental floss Hair Cotton Balls Band-Aids Condoms Cigarette butts Sanitary pads Tampon applicators Facial wipes Gurgling drains, water backing p and coming out of drains, and toilets constantly running are all warning signs of a clogged sewer line. If you suspect you have a clogged drain, it’s not something you should wait to clear up. If you believe it may just be one affected drain, you can attempt to unclog it using a drain snake. Multiple drains with symptoms are the job of a professional who will use a video camera to inspect your sewer line. A professional plumber can find the problem, clear the clog, and inspect the structure of the plumbing for damage. Frequent clogged drains are not normal and can indicate there is possibly a larger issue at hand. It may be time to call in a professional to give your plumbing system a diagnostic assessment. Call NDI Plumbing so one of our technicians can determine if your clogged drain needs a minor fix or if there is a bigger issue that needs to be addressed.

Houses make sounds. It’s part of being a house. For the most part, it’s natural. Sometimes though, it isn’t. Sometimes, the things you hear inside your walls are the result of a problem with your home’s plumbing. When you hear those plumbing sounds, you’ll want to know what they are and what to do about them. We’ve listed the most common problematic home plumbing sounds-and what to do about them below BANGING When you turn the water on in your home, do you hear a loud banging sound? That’s called a water hammer. Water hammers happen when a closed valve unceremoniously stops the rush of water through a pipe. Not only does this cause a telltale smacking sound, but it can also damage pipes and loosen their joints. Water hammer issues happen when the air chambers in your pipe valves clog with water. Have a plumber clear those chambers and replace any damaged parts. SHAKING Pipes always shake when water runs through them. If the sound is loud enough to notice, however, they’re probably not as secure as they should be. Most likely, the mounting straps used to secure your pipes have loosened. You can fix this problem by tightening the straps or completely replacing parts that have pulled or torn away. If you’re not comfortable going into your walls, you can always call professionals to help. GURGLING Gurgling in your drains is the result of a clog blocking water as it makes its way down the drain. If gurgling happens whenever you use any of your drains, there’s a problem with your drain vents. Drains need to be properly vented to prevent air bubbles, which cause the gurgles you hear throughout the house. Getting your drain vents replaced is as simple as calling in an expert. SCREECHING If you’ve ever watched a horror movie, you’ve definitely heard the sound of a screeching valve. It’s the sound that happens when you turn on a faucet and hear a high-pitched whine before the water comes out. Screeching faucets are usually the result of a loose or defective part in the faucet itself. The easiest wat to fix a screeching faucet is to replace it. Next time you have a plumbing issue. Give NDI Plumbing a call. We’ll figure out where the sound is coming from and fix it fast.

If you are a new homeowner or someone looking to be more of a DIYer in 2020, certain plumbing tools can make your life easier. Here are the top nine tools we believe every homeowner should have in their toolbox. 1. A Plunger This is a given, but still very necessary. It’s important to keep a cup plunger for sinks and tubs and one flange plunger for toilet clogs. 2. Hand Auger This is useful when your plunger can’t handle a clog. It’s a long, coiled metal wire connected to a hand crank. To use it, place the end of the wire in the drain and uncoil it using the hand crank. 3. Duct Tape Due to its water-resistant nature, duct tape can be useful in small leaks. This can temporarily keep it from getting worse by wrapping duct tape around the leaking pipe. Duct tape creates a tight, temporary, water-resistant seal. 4. A Caulking Gun & Caulk This is necessary for a more permanent watertight solution. Spot treating with a caulking gun will allow you to apply caulk smoothly and evenly. 5. Wrench Set (Pipe, Adjustable, Basin, and Strap Wrench) An adjustable wrench can be used to handle hexagonal connections. A pipe wrench is useful when you need to lock on to pipe fittings. Strap wrenches can be used in place of a pipe wrench when you’re not dealing with high-pressure water. A basin wrench is useful when you need to tighten or loosen a fitting that’s out of reach. 6. Hacksaw This probably won’t be as used as the rest of the recommended tools, but it’s still very necessary. Especially when it comes time for you to need it. This is a handheld saw strong enough to cut through PVC pipe, plastic or metal piping. 7. Pliers (Needle-nose) These will be useful for clearing hair out of a shower/tub drain or when working with smaller fittings. 8. Thread Tape Teflon tape is typically supplied with new plumbing fixtures, but this is handy if you make any alterations. Wrapping this on the male end in a clockwise fashion will ensure a tight seal. 9. Plumbers Putty This is an alternative to duct tape if you’re dealing with a low-pressure situation. It’ll create a tremendous water-resistant seal.

Plumbing problems are an inevitable part of owning a home. While some problems come with aging fixtures or normal wear and tear on plumbing equipment, others may be caused by how certain systems are used and maintained. At NDI Plumbing, we’ve seen and fixed all types of plumbing problems-big and small alike! Here’s a look at some of the most common issues our expert plumbers handle and what usually causes them. 1. Dripping Faucets: Sometimes, these drips can be caused by a worn-out washer or O ring, which can easily be replaced. In other cases, corrosion or even improper faucet installation can be the problem causing the drip. If your faucet is dripping: Use our drip calculator to find out how much that drip may be costing you Let our expert plumbers diagnose the problem if a simple washer or O ring replacement doesn’t fix your drip! 2. Leaky Pipes Some causes can be stubborn clogs, incorrect pipe laying, pipe corrosion, pipe joint damage, cracked seals or cracked pipes, and excessive water pressure to name a few. No matter what’s causing the leaky pipes, this common plumbing problem needs to be fixed fast. The longer leaking pipes are ignored, the more damage they can cause—both to your plumbing system and your home itself! 3. Running Toilets Did you know that a running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons per day? That’s a lot of water waste! In most cases, the issues that cause running toilets include refill tube problems, worn-out flapper seals of flush valves, improperly sized flapper chains, and corroded toilet handles to name a few. 4. Low Water Pressure Weak water pressure can make it challenging to use pretty much any plumbing system in your home. Often, low water pressure is a symptom of bigger plumbing problems like pipe corrosion, hidden water leaks within your home, drain or sewer clogs, and cracked or blocked sewer lines. 5. Leaking Hose Bib A leaking hose bib is very common in the spring and summer. After a long, cold winter, many hose bibs that aren’t protected can crack and begin to leak. We advise our customers to invest in a frost-proof hose bib, which can reduce the chances of having future leaks. 6. Slow or Clogged Drains Drainage problems can cause health hazards and even plumbing disasters if they’re not addressed quickly. In general: o One slow or clogged drain in a home usually means that a problem is localized to that area of the home. Commonly, these drain clogs happen because hair, soap, and other foreign objects have simply built up in a drain over time. Routine drain cleaning can be an ideal solution for addressing this issue! o Multiple slow or clogged drains are a red flag that you may be dealing with sewer line problems. To prevent a sewage backup in your home, call NDI Plumbing whenever you notice multiple slow drains in your home especially if the problem starts with the drains in the lowest areas of your home! 7. Sump Pump Failure These can be related to a problem with the unit or an external issue. Usually, the causes of sump pump failures include stuck switches, and an overwhelming amount of water (after heavy rain), clogged discharge pipes, improper sump pump installation, and aging (mostly with sump pumps around 10 years old being prone to failure). 8. Water Heater Problems Hot water is a necessity in any home. So, when water heaters can’t provide enough or any hot water, homeowners can be dealing with a plumbing crisis! Usually, water heater problems are caused by issues like heating element failures, corrosion or sediment buildup in systems, loose or broken electrical connections, improper water heater installation, and the wrong size or type of system to support a home’s needs Whether or not you’re dealing with a common plumbing problem, the trusted plumbers at NDI Plumbing can help! We have experienced state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose and repair any plumbing problem.

With summer coming in full swing, using our AC units will be vital to surviving the high heat temperatures. Here are some things to check an do for your AC unit to have it running smoothly all summer long. Assess your thermostat: Checking your thermostat to ensure it is working efficiently is important to avoid any malfunctioning as this can interrupt your HVAC system’s cycle or cut off your AC altogether. Change the filters: Replacing your filters every 45-90 days – depending on your circumstances – can prevent pollutants from getting into your home. Pet owners and residents in areas with abundant pollen should change their filters every 45 days; others may wait longer. Check the refrigerant levels: Your air conditioning system uses refrigerant when it cools down your home. However, it will run out over time. Check it regularly to refill it before it hits empty. Clean the condenser coils: Condenser coils contain the refrigerant while it’s in liquid form. Removing any dirt or debris from the condenser coils helps to ensure that they operate efficiently.  Be sure to turn off your condenser before cleaning. Clean your air ducts: Over time, dust and debris may clog your ductwork, this can impact your unit’s efficiency and cause health concerns. Our technicians can inspect your ducts, develop and execute a plan to address any issues we notice. Move furniture, toys or anything that block your vents: Large furniture, toys and any other object that is placed in front of a vent can restrict airflow. Blocked vents can also strain your air conditioning system as it overworks to regulate the temperature. Schedule routine maintenance appointments: Scheduling a professional maintenance appointment at least once a year, can help prevent system failures and keep your system running smoothly. During this appointment, technicians can inspect your system and address any functionality issues to ensure the unit works. NDI Plumbing – Heating – Cooling, is here for all your HVAC needs and more. Don’t hesitate to call us today to get your appointment scheduled. 775.745.8791

First things first, what is a drain system? A drain system consists of a line that runs through the building and connects to the sewer system. The drain also connects to each sink, toilet or washing machine in a home of business. The sink connects with a trap and a pipeline that leads to the drain line and sewer system. It’s pretty simple. But there are multiple places where clogs can cause problems (like in the pipes themselves, or the traps connecting the sink or toilet to the plumbing system for example). Blockage can be food from a kitchen sink, or hair and soap buildup from a bathtub or bathroom sink. When it comes to a toilet, an abundance of toilet paper or things not meant to be flushed can cause clogs in the drain. Keep reading to find or 5 signs of a blocked drain. Signs of a Plumbing Blockage 1. A Slowly Draining Sink or Bathtub This is usually the first sign of a problem. This is caused by a thickening layer of grime and soap constricting the flow of water. 2. A Stinky Smell The smell can come from rotten food in a kitchen sink or drain, even a small rodent in another area of the drain and sewer system connections. This smell coming from a slow drain can be the sign of a problem. 3. Toilets that Back-Up Instead of Flush This typically happens when too much toilet paper or the wrong items are being flushed down the toilet. If a plunger doesn’t help, you should probably call a professional to examine the pipes and drain system. 4. Drains that Gurgle A gurgling noise means that air is trapped somewhere in the plumbing. Damage to the sewer line could be another reason for gurgling in a drain. Another reason for gurgling noises in a drain is a blockage in the vent pipe that attaches to the drainpipe and goes to the roof to let sewer gas escape the system. If these are not taken care of, you could find that sewer backs up into the drain system. 5. Water on Your Lawn, or Plants Growing Near Your Sewer Line This is a little different from the other signs, as those occur inside the home and these are obvious outside. If you have found a puddle in your lawn, you’ll want to have a professional come in to evaluate the drain and take action to remove the clog or damage from the sewer line. Foliage and trees growing near the sewer and water lines underground. If you discover any of these issues, schedule an appointment to have a technician come out and solve your drain issues!

While it’s an unfortunate truth to accept, toilets don’t last forever. Whether it’s because of time, use, or catastrophe, sometimes they need to be replaced. Unless your toilet explodes, it’s hard to tell when it’s time for a new one. We’ve gathered the five most obvious signs that it’s time to replace your toilet below. They’ll help you be more aware of when it’s time to call the professionals in for a swap out. It’s constantly clogged. Toilet clogs are stressful and headache-inducing. Plus, who has time to constantly plunge the bowl? Random clogs aren’t uncommon and one or two happenings shouldn’t be alarming. When they start happening regularly, though, it’s a sign of something bigger. Older low-flush toilets tend to have frequent stoppages when they age and their interiors get worn out. It Wobbles. A toilet wobbles when you sit on it for a few different reasons. One of them is that the screws at the base of the bowl have gotten loose. If that’s all the problem is, it can be solved quickly just by tightening them. Unfortunately, that’s not the only reason toilets wobble. A more serious cause is water damage to the floor underneath causing the screws to not be able to hold as tightly. While the wobble doesn’t always mean your toilet itself needs to be replaced, it does mean that there are bigger problems at play. It’s Constantly Running. If your toilet keeps running no matter how hard you try, there are a few potential causes. Sometimes it means that the rubber flapper at the bottom of the tank is damaged. It can also mean that the fill valve in the tank has been broken in some way. Either way, while sometimes fixable, these problems can be a grade-A sign that it’s time for a new toilet. It’s Cracked. Porcelain is a sturdy material, but like with all things, it can still wear down. Cracks in the porcelain base of your toilet can lead to frequent puddling and leaking. This constant flow of water can damage flooring and lead to water bill increases over time, wasting hundreds of dollars yearly. It’s old and inefficient. The four other signs on this list are signs that it is necessary to replace your toilet. This last point is more about efficiency. The Environmental Protection Agency created the Energy Policy Act in 192 when they noticed how much water conventional toilets wasted. This act requires residential toilets to use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. These days, many low flow options use half that much water or less. If you’re environmentally-conscious or just want to lower your long term water bill, it might be time for a change. If you think it’s time to replace the toilet in your home, call the experts at NDI Plumbing and we can send someone over the same day for a professional analysis.