How Efficient Is Your Water Heater?

March 16, 2023

Water heater efficiency is a hot topic because heating water that you don’t immediately need uses a considerable amount of energy. If you’re noticing unusually high energy bills, here are two ways to check how efficient your water heater is. Age If your water heater is older, it is possible that it will not meet current efficiency criteria. If your water heater is 10 or more years old, it could be time to replace it with a high-efficiency model. Check the manufacturer’s label on your water heater to

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5 Ways to Clean Your Drains Naturally

February 17, 2023

A clogged drain in your home can do more harm than good. Fortunately, you can apply many natural remedies to clean your drains. The following are some of them. 1. Dish Soap and Hot Water You can use dish soap and hot water to clean your drains. Boil 1 liter of water and add a few tablespoons of liquid dish soap. Pour the mixture down your drains. Doing this a couple of times will remove grease and other clogs. 2. Baking Soda and Vinegar A mixture of baking soda

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5 Ways to Conserve Water in Your Home

January 18, 2023

If you have high water bills, you may consider conserving water in your home. Whether you have a lot of people in your household or just yourself, there are plenty of ways to ensure that your home is as efficient as possible when it comes to water usage. 1. Turn the Water Off When Brushing Teeth Keeping a cup by your bathroom sink is good because you can fill the cup with water and get your toothbrush wet. You can rinse your mouth and then rinse your toothbrush with the water in the cup.

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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,

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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

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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

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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,

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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

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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

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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

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