Author Archive | Mokher Plumbing

Why Should I Hire A Licensed Plumber?


No! The toilet is overflowing! Quick grab the plunger and all will be ok. Many homeowners have experienced the exact situation mentioned here. While a quick plunge to unclog a toilet might be helpful, it is still best to have a licensed plumber inspect the situation further. Sometimes a toilet that clogs on a regular basis can be a sign of something more serious. Below is a list of reasons you should hire a licensed plumber.

  • Control who comes into your house – These days the news is always reporting plumbing scams. This usually happens when unsuspecting homeowners decide to hire a plumber with the lowest prices. Or, choose to hire a neighbor or friend to do the job. Contacting a licensed plumbing company will assure they will send a professional that has passed a background check. This assures all customers that the person entering their home is safe and doesn’t have a criminal background or history.
  • Avoid further damage – Sometimes homeowners take the situation into their own hands and decide to do a DIY plumbing project. While most small DIY plumbing tasks are successful, serious issues can become worse. Choosing to do it yourself puts you at risk of making a mistake that could cause serious damage and result in an expensive repair bill. It’s always best to bring in a professional from the beginning.
  • Proper training – Licensed plumbers are required to study sewers, drains, water, piping materials, gas lines, equipment upgrades, billing codes, safety concerns and more. As you can imagine, plumbing can become a serious danger and harm your family. Sewer odor alone could cause you and your family to become sick in a variety of ways.
  • Save money – Saving money is on the mind of every homeowner. Nobody wants to pay higher prices for a job when they can find it for less. This topic is sensitive among homeowners. You might have already had a debate with your neighbor about it. While low prices are attractive you also need to consider the quality of the work and replacement parts. Sometimes replacement parts are not as durable as others and will require you to have it replaced on a regular basis. This can become more expensive than just paying the slightly higher price for the better-quality part from the beginning.

As a homeowner, you can see how important it is to hire a licensed plumber. It will keep your family safe, repair and replace parts, save you money and help you avoid a DIY mishap. Give us a call today for further assistance with all your plumbing needs.


Mokher Profile PicSince 1968, Chip Mokher & his team has provided South Florida with quality service with a commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. Our many years of experience has allowed us to serve thousands of homes and businesses in Miami-Dade County. We welcome the opportunity to serve you, please call us at 305-446-8266 or email us at chip@mokherplumbing.com

 

 

Foods that Should Never be Put into the Garbage Disposal


Garbage disposals are a huge asset to homeowners that cook. It’s a helpful tool that prevents odors in the garbage and kitchen. If you have never used a garbage disposal and are planning on getting one, the following list of foods that should never be put into a garbage disposal will help you keep the disposal in good working order.

  • Cooking Oil and Grease – Let’s face it, food tastes extra flavorful with butter, oil and other greasy toppings. While our taste buds might enjoy oily goodness, the garbage disposal doesn’t. It actually causes grease to build up making the disposal blades dull. This leads to clogged drains and a call to the plumber. Avoid putting oil and grease down the drain no matter how tempting it is.
  • Raw meat – Anyone who has attempted to cut through a raw piece of red meat will tell you it’s difficult. Strength and patience are involved when cutting meat. The garbage disposal also has a difficult time chopping meat. A common issue is strings of meat getting caught around the blades causing the disposal not to work properly and an odor developing days later. Instead of feeding meat to your disposal, place the meat in a bag and put it in the trash.
  • Rice, Pasta, and Quinoa – Have you ever left rice or pasta in a bowl of water for too long and noticed they doubled in size? This is what happens when you put it down the disposal. The starch in pasta and rice causes slime to develop when mixed with water. The disposal blades become dull due to the starch slime build-up which causes clogs to develop over time. Even if the disposal manages to chop the rice and pasta into small pieces, the contact with water causes it to swell and clog the drain. It’s best to avoid putting these items in the disposal at all times.
  • Egg Shells – Homeowners will debate on whether to put these hard shells down the disposal. Some homeowners have done it for years with no issues, while others have caused major clogs in pipes which lead to high-cost repair bills. Eggshells get chopped into small pieces and flushed down the drain. Sometimes these tiny pieces attach to greasy build up in the pipes and cause clogged drains. Just to be safe, avoid putting egg shells down the drain.

If you have a clogged drain where the garbage disposal is located, chances are you have food blocking the passageway. It’s important to contact a professional plumber for further assistance before the situation gets worse. Take action today by calling us for an appointment!


Mokher Profile PicSince 1968, Chip Mokher & his team has provided South Florida with quality service with a commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. Our many years of experience has allowed us to serve thousands of homes and businesses in Miami-Dade County. We welcome the opportunity to serve you, please call us at 305-446-8266 or email us at chip@mokherplumbing.com

Preparing Plumbing for Fall and Winter


South Florida isn’t known for its cold winters, but it is known for its holiday guests. If you have family that visits from out of town for the holiday season, chances are they are using the plumbing in your home. As a homeowner, you want to be prepared for holiday season guests. This includes preparing your plumbing for extensive use. The following tips will help you prevent plumbing issues during the holiday season.

  • Get started today – Begin by inspecting for signs of water damage, rust, and leaks in your home. Carefully inspect the walls, floors, carpeting, toilets, sinks and the water heater. If you see water stains on the walls or flooring, or puddles of water anywhere in your home, there is a leak somewhere that needs to be fixed.
  • Update fixtures – Install new faucets and shower heads throughout your home. It updates the look of the fixtures and lessens the risk of leaks developing like older fixtures can do with excessive use.
  • Install shower drain protectors – Holiday guests that stay in your home throughout the season will surely use the shower on a daily basis. This means hair can get clogged in the drain quicker than usual. Invest in shower drain protectors that act like a screen that catches hair before it goes down the drain and clogs the pipes. You can purchase these affordable clog preventers online or at your local home improvement store.
  • Water heater – The water heater is responsible for providing your household with warm water for showers, the dishwasher and more. Consider the age of the water heater and if it could last the season with a house full of visitors. Generally, if the water heater is older than seven years you should consider preventative maintenance or replacement. A licensed plumber will guide you on what option is best suited for the age and condition of the water heater.
  • Garbage disposal – You might have your family trained to only put specific items down the garbage disposal, but visitors might not know the rules. You can play it safe by asking visitors not to use the disposal or provide them with the rules. Either way, you want to clean the disposal before the visitors arrive to assure it is in proper working order. An easy remedy is allowing a half cup of white vinegar to soak in the drain where the garbage disposal is for about 10 minutes. Then flush it with hot tap water for about 2 minutes. This helps flush out sticky build-up and prevents clogged drains during the holiday season.

If you need further assistance preparing your home for the holiday season contact us today for an appointment. We have licensed professional plumbers ready to assist you!


Mokher Profile PicSince 1968, Chip Mokher & his team has provided South Florida with quality service with a commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. Our many years of experience has allowed us to serve thousands of homes and businesses in Miami-Dade County. We welcome the opportunity to serve you, please call us at 305-446-8266 or email us at chip@mokherplumbing.com