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A leak or change in water use are common culprits of unusually high water bills. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know to bring your water bill down and start saving money. What’s considered normal water usage? According to the EPA, the average person uses 3,000…

If you’ve ever experienced your washing machine standpipe overflowing, you know how quickly it can turn laundry day into a disaster. Water pooling around your washer, soaking your floors, and causing damage to your home—it’s a serious issue, one that requires immediate attention.  In this blog, we’ll cover everything you…

It’s that eerie time of year, a kind of “Twilight Zone” period when animals begin to act strange, objects seem to come to life, and homeowners are easily spooked. Perhaps you’ve noticed that certain elements of your home have been off or out of the ordinary. Or, even worse, you’ve been hearing…

Halloween is just around the corner. That means pumpkins, costumes, jokes (yep, it’s a St. Louis thing), treats, and a spooky story or two. In the spirit (see what we did there?) of the season, we thought we’d share our own scary stories… about clogged drains. The most chilling part?…

There’s so much to look forward to when warm weather arrives; neighbors come out of hibernation, lawns turn green, winter coats and gloves get pushed to the back of the closet… there’s also a lot more work to be done around the house. All winter, we focus on staying indoors….

No one wakes up on a Monday morning thinking, “I sure hope my toilet randomly quits flushing today. I just can’t wait to dip into my vacation fund for that repair!” But if you’re a homeowner, you’ll quite likely—at one time or another—find yourself in need of a plumber. Finding…

If you’re a college student or recent grad living on your own for the first time, you might not be prepared to deal with an unexpected plumbing issue. While most dorms and apartment buildings have maintenance staff on call, renting a house on or near campus means you’ll need some basic…

If you plan to spend your golden years living in your current home you’re not alone. According to AARP, nearly 90% of adults 65+ prefer to age in place. Innovations in technology and modern home design have made senior independence more accessible than ever. According to the U.S. Center for Disease…

“Hey, let’s drain hoses and check for leaks behind toilets this weekend!” said no one, ever.  Home ownership may have its privileges, but it also come with some annoyances.  We feel you. Still, ignoring preventative maintenance can cost you. Here are 6 tasks you really do want to add to your honey-do…

Imagine you step out of the bath and pull the drain. Several minutes later, the water is still sitting in the tub. You don’t think too much about it… the water eventually drains. One afternoon, a few months later, you walk into your basement to find sewage backing up. That…

Few phrases quicken a homeowner’s pulse quite like plumbing emergency. A burst water pipe can cause significant damage to your home and everything in it. Homeowner claims for such an emergency average $5,000. A backed-up sewer line is worse, subjecting you and your family to noxious odors and bacteria. While…

The latest Cost vs. Value Report predicts the majority of remodeling projects in the Midwest will increase in value over the coming year. For example, midrange bathroom remodels are expected to return over 70% of their cost. For the discerning homeowner, it’s a great time to get going on those…

Modern plumbing is something of a miracle. But, let’s be honest. We don’t really give much thought to it until something goes wrong. When it does, we give our plumbing a whole lot of thought… and usually money, too. The key to avoiding expensive plumbing disasters is recognizing when there’s…

Home inspections tend to be daunting. What if the inspector finds major problems? What if the buyer backs out unless you pay up to get those issues fixed? And what if they’re expensive fixes? Luckily, there are cost-effective solutions to many common home inspection problems, from damaged pipes to defective…

While a pandemic raged, homeowners sheltered in place, taking care of their homes, inside and out. With little else to do in their free time, families took to their lawns, built outdoor living spaces, and turned dining rooms into home offices and playrooms into home classrooms. In 2021, we all…

FACT: We don’t typically recommend tankless water heaters to homeowners. That might sound counterintuitive to selling them, but there are three good reasons for this. Reason #1 Not to Go Tankless: Initial Cost Tankless water heaters will cost you about three to four times as much as a standard tank style…

Hitting the road this holiday season? Getting out of town for a few days to spend time with family and friends is great. What’s not so great is coming home to a plumbing problem that cropped up while you were away. The best way to avoid this is to plan…

The holidays are a time to eat, drink, and be merry with loved ones, but an unexpected plumbing problem can ruin a joyful gathering faster than a dropped turkey. Preparation plays a big part in keeping things running smoothly, which is why we’ve assembled these can’t-miss tips to get you…

Nothing can put a damper on your day quite like an unexpected plumbing problem, especially a drain that’s stopped working and just won’t empty. Unfortunately, clogged drainsare a semi-regular occurrence in many homes. In fact, it’s one of the most frequent service calls we receive. While it may not seem like…

Ready or not, 2019 is here! If you’re hoping to give your home a bit of an update this year, make sure you don’t sleep on some of these gorgeous remodeling trends. From bold appliance colors to smart fridges, here’s what’s in style for 2019. Home Remodeling Trend 1: Minimalist +…

Welcome to the next installment in our Remodeling 101 Series: The Home Bar!  Turning your home’s basement into a dedicated space to host those holiday gatherings, birthday parties, graduation celebrations, and football games would be great, wouldn’t it? Adding a wet bar would make it even better! According to Home Advisor, depending…

The holidays call for time spent with family, near and far. When it’s your turn to hit the road for a holiday trip, the last thing you want to do is come back home to a mess. That said, a little planning can go a long way toward a happy…

Picking out gifts can be overwhelming and exhausting. It’s tough to guess what friends and family members really want. Do you go with the latest craze, or choose something tried and true? We can’t speak specifically for the people on your gift list, but we’ve been working with homeowners for…

When you’re busy decking the halls and picking out the perfect set of matching pajamas for your holiday card photo, plumbing is the last thing on your mind. Leading up to the holidays, we tend to focus on preparing menus and getting your home mother-in-law clean before the guests arrive….

Welcome to the next installment in our Remodeling 101 Series: Laundry Rooms! While they’re not the most common makeover – few projects are as popular as a new kitchen or a new master bathroom – laundry rooms are easily the most overdue and undervalued. Laundry room makeovers don’t just add…

No more calling the landlord to fix a leaky faucet or a broken disposal. Buying your first home is a major milestone worth celebrating. Speaking from experience, once you sign the papers, you might find yourself making one quick stop before pulling into the driveway of your new home… the…

It used to be that buying a home was the number one goal of every young adult. It signified a level of responsibility and established a person as a full-fledged grown up. These days, adulting seems to be a little more nebulous. Why do I need to settle down to…

Welcome to the next installment in our Remodeling 101 Series: Kitchens! Your kitchen is more than just a place to cook and eat. It’s become the hub of the home; a place to do homework, a gathering spot for family and friends, where we begin each day, and then unwind…

So, your floor drain backed up and now there’s water in the basement. What to do next? Don’t panic! A flooded basement could be caused by rainwater from a recent storm. If the floor drain in your basement is clogged or backing up, it’s likely because the drain is lower than…

It’s finally here. Whether you were counting down or dreading the day, your kiddos are back in school. You’re probably just getting back into those old, familiar routines:  the mad morning rush, and the evening scramble to get dinner on the table and finish homework. While we know more about…

Remember a few months back when you and your kids were so excited for summer? You might have even looked forward to taking a break from waking up grumpy kids each morning, hounding them about homework, making lunches, scheduling after school activities, and managing everyone’s social calendars. Your kids were…

Trends come and go in every industry. For homeowners, that means more than just the hot new décor colors or the latest entertainment system. Every room in your home offers opportunities to embrace modern products and technology that can make the job of maintaining your home, and keeping your family…

Welcome to the next installment in our Remodeling 101 Series: Basements! According to Home Advisor, the average cost to finish a basement in 2018 is between $6,500 and $18,500. The good news is that homeowners, on average, can recoup roughly 70% of that cost. Unlike most other rooms in your…

Buying your first home is a major milestone worth celebrating. But before you sign on the dotted line and break out the champagne, you’ll need to become a savvy home shopper. It can be a daunting process, so be sure you are working with a Realtor you trust.  Granted, your…

Welcome to the next installment in our Remodeling 101 Series: Master Bathrooms! Fact: We spend a lot of time in the bathroom. According to a Skinbliss study, women spend 136 days in the bathroom applying make-up, taking a shower and getting dressed (men spend nearly a third of that time…

It’s easy to forget about taxes right after you’ve finally completed all of those forms for 2017, but planning ahead can save you big bucks down the road. Summer is an ideal time of year to tackle home improvement projects. But before you decide which projects to take on, consider…

Have you ever looked at the water coming out of your faucet and wondered: “What exactly is in that?” With all the chemicals and contamination in the world, you’d have to think there is something “extra” in your tap water, right? After all, we wouldn’t spend $3.50 at the gas…

Keeping your family healthy, happy, and safe probably feels like a big assignment. As we collectively grow more and more health-conscious, we’re becoming aware of potential hazards that we may not have thought about just 15 or 20 years ago. Everything from the food we buy at the grocery store…

Are you excited for barbeques, the sunshine, the smell of freshly cut grass, and finally tackling those exterior home upgrades you’ve been waiting on? You should be! The cold gray of winter is enough to make anyone dream of greener pastures. But, before you go tackling those remodeling projects you’ve…

Maybe you’re working on a full or partial bathroom remodel. Perhaps you’re finally updating that bathroom sink you’ve grown oh-so-weary of looking at. Or, it could be that your bathroom faucet’s so worn out and leak-prone that it needs to be replaced—now. No matter the reason, picking out a new…

Replacing your existing toilet might be on your priority list for any number of reasons. As a part of a bathroom remodel, to cut down on utility costs, or perhaps to find a more comfortable design for you and your family. And, if you’re like many of us, you might…

Does walking into your laundry room feels like a chore unto itself? Baskets everywhere, spilled laundry soap, and those socks you’re looking for? Forget it, they’re gone. These days, family life is busier than ever before. More often than mom and dad might like, time-consuming tasks like doing the laundry…

The holidays have arrived—which means more celebrations, more people in your home, and more opportunities for plumbing nightmares. Here are some tips for keeping your holiday gatherings merry and bright—rather than stressful and soggy. Keep an Eye on the Garbage Disposal Everyone loves Aunt Sally, but if she (or anyone…

Just a few weeks ago, a plumber in Texas suffered severe burns to his eyes and arms (it ate right through his gloves) after a service call where the homeowner had used over the counter (OTC) drain cleaner prior to his arrival. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time a plumber…

Plumbing mishaps are hardly entertaining in real life. But when they’re on the big screen, we can’t help but crack a smile at the lighter side of gushing faucets, overflowing toilets, and clogged drains. No, really! Remember these classic scenes?   Plumbing Scene #1: “Uh, Put a Pan Down There”…

Whether you’re jetting off for a two-week cruise or sneaking off for one last weekend away before school starts, leaving your home for any extended period of time requires a little planning. You’ve probably heard the usual tips: put a stop on your mail and newspapers, set your alarm, be…

Selling your home—or selling someone else’s home, for that matter—can be a long process. If the home inspection doesn’t go well, it could take even longer. The home inspection can be daunting. What if the inspector finds major problems? What if the buyer backs out unless you pay up to…

Welcome to Blog: Unclogged, the Maplewood Plumbing blog! Next to your family, your home is likely your biggest investment. That means keeping it in top condition year-round is important. We’re proud to be able to share our knowledge with customers, but we realize it’s difficult to share all of it with…