A faucet that is dripping one drip per second is wasting up to 3,000 gallons in just one year!  That can add up to a lot of lost money when it comes to your water bill.  Not to mention the waste of water can impact the environment.  In most cases these leaks are easy to repair and can be fixed within minutes.  Unfortunately many people don’t address the issue while it’s in the early stages; they wait until the leak is severe and must be addressed immediately.

Lance Maxwell is your Tallahassee plumber that understands how busy life can be and how things like leaking faucets and toilets tend to not be repaired until it becomes a real problem.  We are here to help you and make your life easier.  With our fast response time and experienced plumbers on staff we can promptly fix just about anything!  Lance Maxwell Plumbing pride ourselves with bringing the same degree of trust and integrity to every customer we serve. We provide around the clock service and are happy to serve customers any time of the day or night.

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When you think of plumbing, you probably think of clogged drains.  We here at Lance Maxwell Plumbing have all the professional tools needed to unclog a drain safely without damaging your pipes. You can call us day or night; your plumbing emergency is our top priority.

Maintaining a clear drain and keeping those pesky clogs at bay can be easy when following these helpful tips.

• Use a drain catcher in the tub and kitchen sink. The less hair and food particles going down the drain…the better!
• NEVER pour grease down the drain. Seriously don’t do it.
• Avoid using harsh and damaging chemicals in your drains. These can eat away at the pipes and cause extensive damage.

Whether you are a home owner with a clogged pipe, a broken water heater, or even a slab leak, Lance Maxwell Plumbing of Tallahassee has the experience to help you.  We also offer professional plumbing installation, irrigation installation, backflow testing and much more.

Our irrigation installation experts have decades of experience.  If you are a plant lover and want your gardens to stay beautiful year round, or you just appreciate lush green grass, Lance Maxwell Plumbing is the plumber in Tallahassee you need.

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Is your hot water heater starting to give you problems? Is it getting close to heaving its last breath?

Have you been thinking about getting a Tankless hot water heater?

Installing a Tankless hot water heater is not a simple as removing the old tank heater and installing the new Tankless one. There will be some modifications needed and not generally done in one day. It is therefore recommended that some planning be implemented.

The question you have been asking yourself for the last month or so now needs an answer. Replace the heater with a tankless heater or one with a holding tank.

You know all about holding tank heaters, you have had one all your life. Now it’s time to find out about a tankless heater.

Lance Maxwell Plumbing carries Rinnai High-Efficiency Tankless hot water heaters, a brand considered to be the best in the industry.

A bit about Rinnai and their philosophy in their own words:

“Customers are the center of our culture and belief system. Nearly a century of innovation in residential and commercial water heating, with a focus on enhancing lives by changing the way water is heated.”

Tankless hot water heaters are available utilizing propane, electric and natural gas. The most common models are natural gas and propane.

There are many tankless hot water heaters in the marketplace. However, the positive reputation and goodwill that comes with the Rinnai Tankless Water Heater cannot be found in any other brand. The result is that the Rinnai is the best choice for any family home that would be interested in a higher GPM (Gallons per Minute) flow of hot water.

Some of the features of the Rinnai units are:

Sleek Design:  The silver color and compact design are attractive and complimented with a simple exterior installation system.

Constant Hot Water Flow: Great for large families. This flow allows for non-fluctuating, uninterrupted hot water through 5 plumbing outlets at one time.

Eligible for Tax Credits: This unit qualifies for a Tax Credit. It may also reduce energy bills by up to 40%.

Durable: The warranty is excellent and durable. Suitable for a whole house tankless water heater.

The operation of a tankless hot water heater is straightforward.

• Turn on a hot water faucet.
• Cold water flows into the Rinnai water heater and trips switches in the heat exchangers.
• The gas flame is ignited and heats the two heat exchangers of a super high-efficiency unit.
• The water is heated as it passes through the stainless steel heat exchanger.
• Hot water flows through the pipes to the turned on faucet.
• The water will be delivered hot until the faucet is turned off and the heating process is automatically turned off.

For more information on Rinnai Tankless Hot Water Heaters, have a Lance Maxwell Plumbing technician come to your location in Tallahassee and the surrounding area, sit down with you and share their recommendations. The consultation meeting is free, the learning experience is priceless.

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Here in Tallahassee, Florida, as well as most Southern states, homes are built on slabs of concrete. As such, plumbing lines are first laid in the ground before the concrete is poured for the foundation. The result is that these lines are buried and become invisible and vulnerable to shifting soils and foundations. This shift can harm those plumbing lines that are not easily accessible. Over time, foundations and slabs can begin to move, which in some cases can cause the plumbing lines to break or leak. The leak can be in a drain line or a water supply line. The soil around the leaking line begins to move causing more stress on the broken or cracked leaking pipe. Erosion of the surrounding land can cause additional slab movement and damage to the plumbing lines as well as the overall foundation of the home or building.

Plumbing lines are installed in the ground under the slab or foundation to keep installation costs at a reasonable level. Lines installed above ground through an attic require more material, plus drilling, strapping and protection. Some of the disadvantages to overhead lines is the noise they make as water passes through, and water pipes installed in an attic area in Southern states are exposed to extremely high temperatures in spring and summer.

Some of the signs that you have a leak in your “in slab” plumbing lines are:

1. Cracks in your foundation.
2. Hot or cold spots somewhere on your floor.
3. Discoloration of hardwood floors.
4. Visible cracks in the slab or foundation.
5. You hear water running yet all the taps are turned off.
6. Visible cracks in walls are indicating a shift in the slab or foundation.

Ok so now you suspect that you have a slab leak, what needs to be done?

The first call should be to Lance Maxwell Plumbing, the professionals who know how to handle this situation. The first step is to locate the exact location of the leak and determine if the broken line is a sewer line or a water supply line.  After locating the point of the leak, a Lance Maxwell Plumbing technician will discuss with you what will be required to repair the problem. You will have all the options explained and will be given adequate information to allow you to make some reasonable decisions.

Slab leak detection and foundation repair are essential measures to keeping your foundation stable and in proper repair. It is much easier to fix the problem at an early stage as procrastination can be expensive.  Call Lance Maxwell Plumbing, the specialists, at the first signs as we are willing and able to resolve this problem. Remember delays can be costly!

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A letter from a satisfied customer

Let me tell you the real story about the difference between service and superior service.

My personal experience

My hot water heater stopped working. This, of course, was at the most inopportune time. Monday morning, I turned the water on for a shower and was gifted with no hot water. What a way to start the week, a cold shower.

I called a local plumber in the Tallahassee area and asked if he could help me out. In my mind, I thought it would be an expensive new hot water heater. This plumbers employee came out to my house, did his plumbing thing to find out why the water was cold. Turns out, it was a heating rod that had burned out and needed to be replaced. This plumber turns to me and says, he will have to go to the plumbing supply house to get a replacement and will be back the next day. Ok, I can go with that since it is not a new heater.

The next day he shows up with a heating rod for my water heater, and he can’t get it installed as it is the wrong size. I began to have my doubts as to the quality of this outfits plumbing abilities. Here we go for day 3 to complete the repairs, and with each house call, I am being charged.

Not happy with what was going on, I called Lance Maxwell Plumbing and asked if they could come and help me out. A couple of hours later, I had one of their plumbers in my garage at my hot water heater.  I told him about the fried heating rod, and he said to me that he would have the unit checked out in 10 minutes. After checking the unit, he goes to his truck, gets a heating rod, installs it and checks out the heater to ensure it is working correctly.  Done!

I did a bit of complaining to this poor technician about my other plumbing experience and how I felt that this different plumber company’s service level was pretty bad by not having the parts on hand to make the required repairs.  With that, he asked me to go to his truck for just a minute. He opened the doors and pointed out that Lance Maxwell Plumbing requires all their plumbers to carry replacement parts for various situations. He pointed out that he brought a supply of faucets for both kitchen and bathroom that could be installed right away. Then he really showed me the item that impressed me most. There, in the truck was a new ½ HP garbage disposal unit, ready for installation whenever needed. No running to a plumbing supply house or big box store to get needed replacement parts. They get it done right with the first visit. And I only paid for one house call!

Now that is service, NO, that is Superior Service. Great job Lance Maxwell Plumbing!

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What do you do when the garbage disposal is jammed, not running or clogged?

So many homes in the Tallahassee area have the convenience of a garbage disposal, but like a lot of things, there are times and events that present problems. Such is the case of garbage disposals when they become jammed or clogged.

A good rule of thumb to avoid unnecessary clogging is to not attempt grinding the peelings from potatoes or carrots, or other skins or peelings that do not grind easily. These items tend to create the clogging of the disposal and or the drains.

It is a good practice to maintain the disposal and the drain lines in good working order.

Often time’s things drop into the garbage disposals that don’t belong there. Things such as silverware, kitchen tools, pits and seeds from fruits and other assorted foods that cannot be ground. These hard to grind items will jam the blades.   If you get a jam, try and retrieve any of these objects without putting your hand in the disposal. Start by using a flashlight to see what is in there and causing the problem. Try using tongs or a magnet to retrieve whatever has fallen inside.

Here are some things that can be done to free up the jam:

1. When you turn on the Disposal unit, the motor does not make any sound. Located at the bottom of the disposal, there is usually a red reset switch. Push the switch to reset. If the motor begins to hum, and grinding does not begin, there is a jam in the unit. If this is the case, turn the unit off and go to step 2.
2. In the center of the bottom of the unit there is a location where an Allen wrench can be inserted that will allow rotating the grinding mechanism this will in most cases free up the item jamming the blades. If the jam does not clear up, go to step 3.
3. Call Lance Maxwell Plumbing, the local plumbing expert in Tallahassee that can help you out of this bothersome situation. They are able to clear any drain clogs and either free up the jam or if necessary replace the garbage disposal. And don’t worry, they anticipate most plumbing needs and carry new replacement disposals on the truck. They are able to make the change right away. No muss, no fuss, done right the first time with no return visits needed.

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I keep hearing about plumbing “Backflow Prevention” and getting it checked out. I don’t have a backflow system at my house. What is all this talk about?

Well, let’s allay the fears of many homeowners.  Most homes do not need nor have any kind of Backflow apparatus that requires testing. There are a few situations where a homeowner may need a Backflow Preventer. If you need more information on home or business requirements contact Lance Maxwell Plumbers, the specialists in North Florida.

Here is a thumbnail description of a very complex subject that requires certification of technicians who are involved in inspections and repair of equipment. Not all plumbers are able to be involved in this specialty.

We are all familiar with a public water system providing consumer’s potable (i.e., drinking) water. This is the clean drinking water that is pumped to our homes for human consumption.  Any water that is not suitable for human consumption is identified as non-potable since it contains some form of contaminants or other substances.

Some instances have both potable and non-potable water on premises. This creates a situation referred to as Cross–connection.  Piping between a potable water system and any system containing non-potable water or other substances, can possibly allow cross contamination.

Backflow is the undesirable reversible flow of non-potable water or other substances through a cross connection into the piping of a public water system or consumers potable water system. The backflow of non-potable water into a public water system can pollute and contaminate the potable (drinking) water making it unsafe.

To prevent backflow, in those circumstances where a potential cross-connection may exist, a mechanism called a Backflow Preventer must be installed in the appropriate pipeline.  The backflow preventer will be activated when and if any pressure change in water pressure occurs thereby cutting off the possible cross flow and contamination of potable water. A possible pressure change could result due to a water main break, high use of fire hydrants or any high use of water.

Okay, who must have this Backflow Preventer installed?

The Backflow preventer should be installed at or to each of the following premises:

• Locations with auxiliary or reclaimed water systems.
• Industrial, medical, laboratory, marine or any facility where contaminants might be handled.
• Tall buildings
• Locations utilizing irrigation systems

Lance Maxwell Plumbing serves Tallahassee and the surrounding area, has a state certified technician on staff that is able to test, certify and repair backflow preventers.

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Are you considering upgrading or replacing your existing old style toilets?

A lot of people are relocating from the Northern states to the Tallahassee area. Many of these folks are senior citizens settling in to enjoy their retirement years here in our beautiful city. They and many of the younger population are buying older homes that need some updating and upgrading. In some cases, these houses are looked upon as fixer-uppers, or they have the potential for flipping with some makeover or restoration.  One of the rooms that stand out often as needing renovation is the bathroom with its former old-style lavatory and sinks.  The trend today in selecting replacement toilets, is leading to choosing ADA toilets.

ADA stands for “Americans with Disabilities Act.” The act has established standards that allow for persons with disabilities to be able to function with relative ease in their environment, surroundings and public areas.  The bill established rules and regulations on how public facilities must be constructed to accommodate disabled citizens. Among these regulations was the redesign of the toilet. Historically, lavatories, along with many other things were built at a standard height and design without regard for the use or needs of people with disabilities.

The redesign of these toilets has made them more desirable, popular and accessible with the public in general, and not limited to those with disabilities or senior citizens. They are being installed in more than 50% of new construction homes, apartments, and all commercial facilities. When a serious analysis is done on why the trend is moving so actively to an ADA fixture, the reasons are self-explanatory. The ADA fixture is superior in function and design.

What is the standard toilet height?

Traditionally, the standard height of household toilets is 14.5 inches, which now seems pretty low for many people. Many plumbers and the big box stores are directing their customers to the benefits of an ADA toilet.

What are the ADA toilets?

The many newly designed toilets available in the marketplace are known as an ADA style as they meet the requirements of the “Americans with Disabilities Act.” These toilets are also known in some cases as “Comfort” toilets, but only if they meet the height and performance requirements of the ADA.

• The required minimum height of an ADA toilet usually is 17 inches including the height of the seat. The ADA also allows for a total height of 19 inches as it will meet the standards.
• The taller 19-inch model is better for people with back, hip or shoulder injuries as the lower level models are more difficult to rise from the sitting position.
• The flushing handle must be located in a position that allows for ease in reaching and performing the flush with no more than 5lbs of force.
• There are ADA installation requirements that must be met.

So you are in pretty good health and don’t have a disability.  So why should you choose an ADA toilet?

There are numerous reasons why an ADA toilet would be under consideration:

• ADA toilets come in many modern styles and shapes, from tank-less to one-piece units and two-piece models.
• The price range runs from inexpensive to moderate cost dependent on the style and model selected.
• The sitting position on an ADA toilet is very comfortable.
• Due to the additional height of the toilet, standing up is much easier from the higher sitting position.
• Water usage per flush is reduced over the old style toilets rendering savings.
• One feature offered on some models is the ability to flush with minimum water use when appropriate or maximum water usage when needed.
• Installing an ADA toilet improves the value of your home since it is an added value item and very desirable.
• Removal and replacement of the old style toilet is relatively inexpensive and easily accomplished.

So now after some deliberation and comparison of a regular toilet or an ADA unit, the decision has been made.  What to do now?

Call Lance Maxwell Plumbing!  You’ve heard they are the best in Tallahassee. You also know they are offering a $320 total cost for a new ADA toilet which includes material, labor, delivery, and installation of the new toilet, which includes, hauling off the old unit.

The company sets up an appointment with one of their technicians to come to your house and discuss your ideas and plumbing needs and the process followed to complete the installation.

When the technician arrives, he brings pictures of potential lavatories that will meet your needs and explains the benefits of each.

The technician will survey the location for the new toilet, determine any possible renovations required as well as the possible cost. Generally, the installation is a straightforward, quick and clean process.

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Lance Maxwell Plumbing is offering $100.00 off Install of Gas Tankless Water Heater.

For more details, please contact us about this and other Tallahassee plumbing specials.

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Includes material and labor, delivery of water heater and haul off of old water heater. (If in attic or under house, add $100.00).   We proudly install State Water Heaters. Interested in another brand? Please let us know for a custom quote.

For more details, please contact us about this and other Tallahassee plumbing specials.

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