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Make Sure Your Sump Pump Can Handle This Year’s Melted Snow

November 17, 2022

Winters in Montana are marked by below-freezing temperatures and plenty of snow. Since the cold temperatures keep the snow frozen throughout the winter, there’s not much need for a sump pump during this time. However, when the spring thaw begins, all of that snow will start to melt, suddenly putting your sump pump under a lot of stress. To ensure that you don’t end up with a flooded basement, here are a few tips from our crew at PJ's Plumbing & Heating to make sure your sump pump can handle the snow melt. Check the Pit During the winter,

Is a Furnace or a Boiler the Best Choice for Your Home?

October 20, 2022

Choosing the right heating system for your Belgrade, Montana home is important. After all, not only is this equipment essential for keeping your living environment warm and habitable during winter, but it can also play a hand in determining your indoor air quality and your level of indoor humidity. With boilers and furnaces being two of the top choices for residential heating, following are a few ways to know which option is right for you. The Benefits of Boilers Boilers are recognized as providing incredibly comfortable heating. While furnaces produce hot air to raise indoor temperatures,

Can Montana Winters Cause PEX Pipes to Freeze?

September 15, 2022

When compared to copper, PVC, and other ridge pipes, PEX pipes have the highest level of freeze resistance. This is good news if you’re constantly worried about burst or ruptured pipes in the winter months. Having PEX pipes in your Belgrade, Montana home can help you avoid thousands of dollars in plumbing repairs when the outside temperature plummets. This is especially true if you’re prone to taking long vacations during the holiday season and often leave your home unattended. PEX Pipes Can and Do Freeze, But They’re Unlikely to Rupture PEX piping is made from cross-linked

3 Quick Tips for Replacing Your Home’s Garbage Disposal

August 11, 2022

When you flip the switch of your garbage disposal, you expect to hear the blades grinding the food debris in the trap. What you don’t expect is a loud hum, screeching sound or nothing. If your garbage disposal stopped working, replacing it could give you a sense of accomplishment. Follow these tips to safely and effectively replace your Bozeman, MT home’s garbage disposal. 1. Familiarize Yourself With the New Disposal If you’ve already tried resetting, unplugging and restarting the old disposal and flipping the circuit breaker to see if that fixes the issue, it’s time to

Common Causes of Cloudy Tap Water and What to Do

July 18, 2022

It’s hard to tell the reasons you have cloudy tap water just by looking. It’s always advisable to test your water regularly to determine the cause and ensure it doesn’t have contaminants. Consulting with an expert can help you choose an effective solution to eliminate the cloudiness and protect your plumbing from damage. Here are some common reasons behind the cloudiness in your tap water. Particulates in Your Water Supply Water may pick some particulate or sediment as it flows through your plumbing system. These particulates, such as silt or rock, don’t fully dissolve in water,

How to Soundproof Your HVAC

June 16, 2022

The air ducts in your home can be a major source of noise, particularly if they are not insulated properly. While your HVAC doesn’t operate entirely quiet, the noise shouldn’t be so loud that it disrupts your comfort. But what if you could do away with even that little sound? With a bit of work, you can soundproof your HVAC system to make it run as quietly as possible. Here are some tips on how to go about it. Get Acoustic Foam Acoustic foam works by absorbing the sound waves bouncing around inside the ductwork. It

Will Vomit Harm My Plumbing?

May 20, 2022

Vomiting is a common issue that everyone has dealt with at some point. While you may be prepared with a bin at your bedside, there will always be days when you’re elsewhere in the house. Consider utilizing these helpful tips to protect your home’s plumbing. Use Toilets Toilets are one of the best outlets for your vomit. They’re designed to handle more volume than other sinks and can easily flush down softened chunks. If you get sick right after eating, you may need to plunge your toilet to ensure it doesn’t clog. Overall, your toilet will

What Makes Toilet Paper Environmentally Friendly?

April 18, 2022

What Makes Toilet Paper Environmentally Friendly? You may have chuckled while reading or viewing toilet paper ads that proclaim a certain product is soft, best at cleaning, or more absorbent than competing products. While these factors are important, it’s also wise to consider the environmental friendliness of toilet paper. Let’s look at what makes a toilet paper environmentally friendly and how to choose one that won’t cause damage to your Willow Creek, MT home’s septic system or sewer line. Consider the Material Until recently, most toilet papers were made from new tree pulp. However, consumer

Signs That You Have a Slab Leak

March 15, 2022

In the Belgrade and Gallatin Valley areas, most homes are constructed on slab foundations, meaning that the plumbing system runs through slabs. Therefore, water can easily seep inside of your house if you have a slab leak, causing water damage. You can tell when you have a slab leak by watching out for the following signs. Raised or Swollen Foundation Major slab leaks can quickly alter your foundation’s soil structure, heaving some parts of the floor. In extreme situations, slab leaks can cause the swollen foundation to lift entire floor sections and cause cracks. You might

Common Plumbing Code Violations You Should Know

February 17, 2022

While many people like to make their own plumbing repairs and modifications, it often results in a plumbing code violation. This is one of the reasons why this type of work should be left to a professional plumber. These are some common plumbing code violations to be aware of. Insufficient Space Around a Toilet There needs to be sufficient space around a toilet for it to meet plumbing code. Different parts of the country have specific clearance minimums. There also has to be sufficient space around cabinets, sinks and appliances. Use of