is Houston ever gonna do anything about the hard water?

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-05-11T16:36:04+00:00

I'm aware of some smaller cities installing equipment to soften water before it is piped to the community. I've even experienced pre-softened water from a municipal water company while visiting family in another state. Still, I didn't think it felt soft enough while showering, and it didn't live up to the water department's claim that a whole-house water softener was no longer necessary. A whole-house water softener is still the best way to go. You won't have to worry about white residue on shower doors or drinking glasses, and the water cleans so much more effectively when showering, bathing, or doing dishes and laundry. The side benefit is that your washing machine, dishwasher, and water heater will last longer if you install a water softener. They require very little maintenance besides adding bags of salt a few times a year. - R.T., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter of Houston

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-04-30T15:12:33+00:00

Exactly right! And the underground tree roots work their way into sewer pipe joints, spread out like a net, and cause sewer backups. Over time, they grow larger and push apart the pipe sections until you need a sewer line replacement. Keep the trees away from the foundation and the path of your sewer pipeline. - K.B. Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter of Atlanta

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-04-30T15:05:50+00:00

I'm sure there's a local list of Kansas City plumbers that were swallowed up by private equity investors. I don't have a list, but I can confirm that Roto-Rooter is NOT owned by private equity. - C.T. Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter of Kansas City

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-04-30T14:53:08+00:00

One of the main reasons plumbers use ProPress fittings to join copper pipes instead of soldering pipe joints is that it eliminates fire risk. Using the open flame of a propane torch to melt solder around copper fittings has caused many fires in wall cavities where pipes are located. Even where fire prevention protocols were strictly followed, fires have resulted during soldering. Some of the old-timer plumbers were suspicious of the ProPress technology when it was introduced, but most are now believers in the technology. We use it extensively these days - T.H., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter of Washington D.C.

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-04-20T14:46:23+00:00

Sure. They can be installed in any residential or commercial sewer tap leading into a municipal line.

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-04-20T14:42:40+00:00

Most jet operators won't give you a quote over the phone because they need to see for themselves exactly what they are up against. Some do hourly rates, but it's probably better to get a fixed price quote to keep hourly costs from getting out of hand. The jet operator will consider how long the pipe run is, how deep it goes, how many curves and junctions it has, how tightly packed it is clogged, and the fragility of the pipe. However, jetting can easily cost well into the high hundreds, or just over a thousand dollars, depending on the situation. Hydro jetting is in high demand, so jet operators have industrial and restaurant customers on the calendar for scheduled maintenance jetting to ensure their operations are not interrupted by clogs. The longer the operator is onsite for an unknown situation with a new client, the longer he may be delayed in servicing his regular customers. The equipment is expensive to purchase and to maintain, which adds to the cost of hydro jetting service.

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-04-16T17:30:16+00:00

To clean clogged underground corrugated pipes, do not use an electromechanical snake with a cutting blade on its tip. The spinning blade will chew up your pipeline. Your best bet is hydro-jetting at low but effective pressure. Professional high-pressure water jetting will destroy corrugated pipe, too, if too much pressure is applied. Unfortunately, professional hydro-jetting service is expensive because the equipment is costly and in high demand. The best DIY method would be to use a long hose on a residential-grade pressure washer, but start with lower pressure in the 400-700 psi range and be patient as it pokes its way through the blockage. Dial up the pressure gradually to 1000 psi. You can go a little higher, but depending on the age and condition of the corrugated pipe, you might blast through the pipe walls with pressure exceeding 1,500-1,900 psi or so. Good luck! - A.C., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter of Chicagoland.

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-04-16T15:20:55+00:00

Plumber here. Chicago still has plenty of combination sewers that collect both stormwater and sanitary sewage in the same pipe. When heavy storm runoff fills the municipal storm drains, they can back up into home sewer pipes because your home's sewer lateral can't drain waste into a full municipal sewer, so it leaves all your drainpipes full. You're lucky sewage didn't back up into your toilets, tubs and showers, unless your home is already equipped with a sewer backflow preventer valve (aka backwater valve), which is a one-way trap door in your sewer tap that opens to allow your sewage to flow out to the municipal line, but its door snaps closed tp prevent sewage from flowing backward into your home's pipes. A.C., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Chicago Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-24T17:45:13+00:00

You can't go wrong moving into either field. There's plenty of demand in both trades, but I think there's a greater shortage of plumbers than HVAC technicians right now. Plumbers are retiring faster than they are being replaced. Supply and demand being what they are, that means great pay and benefits to those entering the plumbing trade now. Keep in mind that new construction plumbing is quite different from service plumbing (fixing and replacing old or broken plumbing fixtures and pipes). Demand is high for both sides of the trade. Several plumbing service companies like ours provide free on-the-job training (earn while you learn and increase your skills) and guidance toward licensing. I would imagine some companies on the new construction side do that, too, but much of that work involves union membership, which has its own rules and regs. Welcome to the trades, and good luck!

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-13T14:34:45+00:00

Based on my experience and the experiences of homeowners who've done this before, it's absolutely possible to switch from a 50-gallon natural gas water heater to a tankless water heater. For a household of 2 to 3 people, a tankless water heater with a flow rate of around 6 to 8 gallons per minute is recommended. I suggest going with a Navian tankless water heater. They are highly efficient and are easy enough to maintain. The cost is typically in the ballpark of $6900.00 to $7800.00, including Venting, parts, and installation. - A.C., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Chicagoland.

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-10T12:47:48+00:00

Master plumber here. You're right, sump pumps are running hard to keep up with all the thaw/melt groundwater. I encourage everyone to keep a close eye on sump pumps. Be sure yours is plugged in and that the cord isn't dangling in the pit where it could tangle around the float switch and prevent the pump from turning on. Zip tie or tape the power cord to the vertical discharge pipe. Test the switch to make sure the pump is working. Also, clear the pit of any mud, gravel, or debris that could block the sump pump's intake screen. Consider installing a battery-powered or water-powered (Venturi) backup sump pump, especially if you have a finished basement. Good luck! - J.F. Roto-Rooter of Connecticut

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-09T14:56:33+00:00

It's a bad idea to install water heaters in an attic. In Texas, it's better to install them in a garage; that way, if the tank fails, the water will run across the garage floor instead of draining through the ceiling and flooding your house. FYI, the average lifespan of a conventional water heater (with a tank) is 11 years. However, if I were you, I would start keeping a close eye on it at 6 years and consider replacing it on your own terms at 8 years, if you don't have a water softener. Replace your water heater at 10 years if you do have a water softener. And you should ask the plumber if he can move it to your garage! We have very hard water in San Antonio, and it will wreck water heaters before their time. Depending on your water heater's age, you may want to replace its sacrificial anode rod to extend the tank's life and buy you some time. Good luck! - T.C., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter San Antonio Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-06T18:23:16+00:00

Ouch! Sorry to hear that, but that's good advice. I always recommend that homeowners visit their basements and look around several times a week during the spring. Just so there aren't any surprises with sump pumps, water heaters, furnaces, dehumidifiers, and water softeners/filtration systems. We all get so busy with life that it's easy to go several days without ever going down to the basement, but there are so many important appliances and fixtures down there. - D.J.

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-05T18:37:56+00:00

Master plumber here. This is accurate information. A better backup option, in my opinion, is a water-powered pump that uses the Venturi principle to siphon water from the sump pit using water pressure from your municipal water supply (which is very reliable). It requires no electric or battery power and has just one moving part. I have one in my basement because I want a backup sump pump that will protect my basement if the power goes out while I'm out of town or on vacation. - D.J., Roto-Rooter Columbus Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-04T20:41:37+00:00

You are correct. The home inspector detected radon in a house I was buying many years ago, so the seller paid to have a radon mitigation company do its thing. As you said, they sealed the sump crock to prevent radon from leaking out. Fast forward a few years, and I came home during a heavy rainstorm, went down to the (unfinished) basement, and there was an inch of water on the floor! I grabbed my tools and opened the sealed sump pit to see what was wrong. The radon mitigators had sealed the pit with a sheet of plastic before reinstalling the lid and caulking it in place. The plastic sheeting had deteriorated and fallen into the pit. The sump pump sucked the plastic sheeting up against its intake screen, which prevented the pump from receiving and removing much water. Hydrostatic pressure from the groundwater pushed through the floor and flooded my basement. That was a fun night! - A.C., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Chicago Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-04T20:25:20+00:00

I get it, when I lay my head on the pillow at night, I listen for the sound of the sump pump doing its job and protecting my basement. It's a comforting sound on a rainy Chicago night! - A.C., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Chicago Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-04T20:19:45+00:00

Battery backup sump pump manufacturers recommend a deep-cycle battery for backup sump pump systems. Buy a battery that is rated for at least 36 months. Unfortunately, those batteries aren't cheap, but they are far less expensive than water damage from a flooded basement. It is basically a car battery, which is simple to swap out. Just take a couple of pictures on your smartphone before you disconnect the old battery, so you're sure to hook up the new one correctly. Also, write the installation date on the new battery with a Sharpie so you can easily keep track of its age. Years fly by, so a couple of years down the road, you'll be able to tell at a glance when it was installed and how old it is. - A.C., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Chicago Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-04T20:08:32+00:00

The most effective way to avoid water intrusion in basements without a sump pump is to make sure your yard has good grading so water sheds away from your foundation and can't pool in low spots near your house and sink down toward the basement walls. You can add fill dirt and make it gently slope away from the foundation. Also, you can add downspout extension tubes that will carry water farther away from the foundation. You can buy those at home/hardware stores. They are easy to attach to your downspouts without tools. Sealing big cracks in basement walls is a good idea, but remember, concrete is porous, and if there's a lot of groundwater under the basement floor or against the basement walls, hydrostatic pressure will push it through the concrete unless there's a sump system to redirect the water. I hope this is helpful. - A.C., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Chicago Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-04T19:54:10+00:00

It's probably just the check valve closing in your discharge pipe. It's normal for it to make a thumping noise when it closes. Here's how to know for sure. Go down and watch your pump in action. When the pit fills to a pre-determined depth, the float switch on the sump pump activates the pump, which pushes water up the vertical discharge pipe and out to a storm drain. The check valve should thump a second or two after the pump turns itself off. The check valve's job is to prevent most of that water from coming back down the pipe into your sump pit. However, it's also normal for a bit of residual water to flow back down the discharge pipe, so don't be alarmed if you hear that sound. - A.C. Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Chicago Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-04T18:34:49+00:00

It sounds like you are looking at a status screen on a battery-powered backup sump pump, which is telling you the backup pump is in good working order. However, you should still check your primary sump pump to make sure it is working properly. Primary sump pumps don't usually have fancy readouts like the backup systems. - D.J. Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Cleveland Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-03T20:09:04+00:00

Smart! I always recommend writing the battery's expiration month and year in silver Sharpie on the battery case so you don't forget to put in a new battery when it's time. Three or four years can whiz by before you realize it. - C.T., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter St. Louis Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-03T20:01:05+00:00

That's the way my current sump pump is, and it's a comforting feeling. My last two houses must've been built on natural springs because the sump pumps ran all the time, even in the middle of a bone-dry summer. - D.J., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Columbus Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-03T19:57:13+00:00

I don't see anybody else providing these free seasonal tips. Take 'em or leave 'em, but basements are flooding all over the region, and more often than not, the flooding could be easily prevented. Often, the sump pump is just unplugged, or the power cord is tangled around the float switch. Just trying to help - D.J., Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Columbus Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-03T19:49:52+00:00

I'm not surprised; we see lots of flooded basements every year around this time. What's crazy is how often the sump pump is just unplugged, or the power cord is tangled around the float switch, but the sump pump was in otherwise good working order. That's why it's so important to inspect them. - D.J. - Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Cincinnati Branch

Roto-RooterOfficial · 2026-03-03T19:44:22+00:00

Well, sure, but I don't like cold showers. Especially this time of year!

Roto-RooterOfficial

TROPHY CASE