Plumbing FAQ for West Bend, WI Homeowners

Our office is open Monday through Friday, 7am to 5pm. For a burst pipe, a backed up drain or another urgent problem outside those hours, our emergency plumbing service is available 24/7. Call 262-644-7045.

We work throughout West Bend and the surrounding areas, including Kewaskum, Hartford, Germantown, Menomonee Falls, Cedarburg and Port Washington. If your home or business is nearby and not on that list, give us a call and ask.

Yes. We provide free estimates on plumbing, HVAC, water conditioning and remodeling work. Send us the details or call 262-644-7045, and we will talk through the job and what it involves before any work begins.

We stand behind our workmanship and products. Plumbing and HVAC installations for new construction carry a 12-month guarantee, and so do new water heater and HVAC installations. You can read more about how we work on our About page.

Yes. Along with homeowners, we serve businesses in West Bend and nearby communities, from commercial drain cleaning to heating and cooling system service. We work to keep downtime and disruption to your operations as low as possible.

Shut off the water. Most homes have a main shutoff valve where the water line enters the house, often in the basement near the water meter, and many fixtures also have their own shutoff valves underneath. Turn off power to any electrical items near the water, move valuables out of the way, then call a plumber. Knowing where your main shutoff is before an emergency saves a lot of damage.

Keep the thermostat at 55 degrees or higher, even when you are away. Open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so warm air can reach the pipes, disconnect garden hoses before the first hard freeze, and let a faucet drip on the coldest nights. Pipes in unheated garages, crawl spaces and exterior walls are the most at risk. If a pipe does freeze or split, our pipe repair team can help.

Grease, cooking oil and fats harden inside drain lines and catch everything that follows. Coffee grounds, eggshells, flushable wipes, paper towels and hygiene products cause many of the clogs we clear. A drain strainer in each sink and tub stops most problems before they start, and a slow drain that keeps coming back is a sign it is time for professional drain cleaning.

Watch for a water bill that climbs without a reason, the sound of running water when everything is off, damp or warped flooring, stains on ceilings and walls, or a musty smell. A simple test is to turn off every fixture and check whether your water meter keeps moving. If it does, water is going somewhere, and our leak detection service can find it without tearing into more of your home than necessary.

A traditional tank water heater typically lasts about 8 to 12 years, depending on water quality and how well it has been maintained. Tankless units often last longer. Hard water shortens the life of a tank, which is one reason a water softener helps protect it.

Rusty or discolored hot water, rumbling or popping sounds from the tank, water pooling around the base, hot water that runs out faster than it used to, or a unit that is past the 10 year mark are all reasons to have it looked at. Catching it early often means a repair instead of a flooded basement.

A tank model stores heated water and costs less up front. A tankless model heats water as you use it, takes up less space and saves energy over time, but the installation cost is usually higher. The right choice depends on your household's hot water use and your home's setup, and we are glad to walk you through the options.

Check it every month and replace it at least every 1 to 3 months. Homes with pets, allergies or ongoing remodeling dust usually need a fresh filter more often. A clogged filter makes your furnace and air conditioner work harder and can shorten their life.

The best time to service a furnace is early fall, before the first cold snap, and the best time to service an air conditioner is in spring, before the summer heat. Regular maintenance catches small problems early and keeps the system running efficiently. Learn more about our heating services and air conditioning services.

A well maintained furnace commonly lasts around 15 to 20 years, and a central air conditioner around 12 to 15 years. If yours is near that age and needs frequent repairs, replacing it with a newer, more efficient system can make more sense than continuing to fix it.

White scale on faucets and showerheads, spots on dishes, soap that will not lather well, dry skin and hair, and stiff laundry are the classic signs. Hard water also leaves mineral buildup inside your water heater and appliances, which shortens their life.

An iron curtain is a filtration system that removes iron, and often the rotten egg smell of sulfur, from well water before it reaches your fixtures. If you see orange or brown stains in sinks, tubs and toilets, iron is the likely cause.

Yes. Arsenic and some other contaminants have no taste, color or smell, so a lab test is the only way to know what is in your water. Private well owners are generally advised to test regularly, and the results show which treatment, if any, your home needs.

Most of what makes a kitchen or bathroom work happens behind the walls and under the floor: supply lines, drains, venting and fixture connections. A team that does that work every day can plan it right from the start. See our kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling pages for more.

Radiant in-floor heating warms a room from the floor up, usually by circulating heated water through tubing installed beneath the floor. It delivers even, quiet heat with no drafts or vents, and it is especially comfortable in bathrooms, basements and kitchens during a Wisconsin winter. Learn more about our radiant in-floor heating installation.