6 ways to stop your toilet from sweating
A sweating toilet is condensation: warm, humid air hits the cold tank and water beads up. To stop it, lower the humidity…
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Straight answers from the plumbers and technicians at Powell's. Fix the small stuff yourself, and know when it's time to call.
Plumbing Repairs & Emergencies 3Fixtures & Renovations 3Water Heaters 3Water Quality & Treatment 3Drains & Sewer 3Heating 3Air Conditioning 3Heat Pumps & Geothermal 3Indoor Air Quality 3Gas Lines & Generators 3Septic Systems 3Wells & Pumps 3Commercial & Property Management 3Seasonal & Home Maintenance 3Company News 3
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Fixtures & Renovations
Drains & Sewer
5 reasons you shouldn't use Drano
Chemical drain cleaners like Drano work by producing heat to break down a clog. That heat and the caustic chemicals can soften…
Fixtures & Renovations
A short history of plumbing in older homes
Indoor plumbing was rare until the mid-1800s. Big water systems like New York's Croton Aqueduct (1842) made it possible, and separate indoor…
Plumbing Repairs & Emergencies
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Plumbing Repairs & EmergenciesCopper pipe plumbing: advantages and disadvantagesCopper lasts 50 years or more, handles heat well, resists bacteria and is recyclable. It costs more than PEX, takes longer to install, can corrode with…
Plumbing Repairs & EmergenciesSmall plumbing issues that can lead to big HVAC problemsWater and HVAC equipment don't mix. A leaky pipe near the air handler, a clogged AC condensate line or a water heater with no drain pan…
Plumbing Repairs & EmergenciesWater leak inside your wall? How to find it, fix it and prevent itLook for stains, bubbling paint, soft drywall, a musty smell or a water bill that jumps for no reason. Turn off every fixture and watch the…
Fixtures & Renovations
See all- Fixtures & Renovations6 ways to stop your toilet from sweatingA sweating toilet is condensation: warm, humid air hits the cold tank and water beads up. To stop it, lower the humidity (run the exhaust fan…
- Fixtures & RenovationsA short history of plumbing in older homesIndoor plumbing was rare until the mid-1800s. Big water systems like New York's Croton Aqueduct (1842) made it possible, and separate indoor bathrooms showed up in…
Fixtures & RenovationsBe sure to choose the right fixture brandPick a fixture brand for build quality, warranty and how easy it is to get parts. Well-known brands like Kohler, Delta, Moen, Grohe and Brizo keep…
Water Heaters
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Water HeatersTips to keep your hot water hot this winterCold incoming water makes your water heater work harder in winter. Flush the tank to clear sediment, insulate the first few feet of hot and cold…
Water HeatersInstalling a tankless water heater: what to knowSwitching to tankless usually means upsizing the gas line or adding electrical capacity, new venting, and mounting the unit on a wall. Done right, you get…
Water HeatersTankless vs. conventional water heaters: what's the difference?A tank water heater keeps 40 to 80 gallons hot and ready, costs less up front and is simple to replace. A tankless heater heats water…
Water Quality & Treatment
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Water Quality & TreatmentReverse osmosis vs. deionized water filtration: which is better?Reverse osmosis pushes water through a very fine membrane that removes most dissolved solids, lead, many chemicals and microbes. Deionization swaps out charged minerals but doesn't…
Water Quality & TreatmentWhy is my hot water a weird color?If only the hot water is discolored, the water heater is the likely cause. Brown, red or yellow water usually means rust from the tank or…
Water Quality & TreatmentBenefits of having a water softener systemA water softener removes the calcium and magnesium that make water hard. That means less scale on faucets and shower glass, longer life for your water…
Drains & Sewer
See all- Drains & Sewer5 reasons you shouldn't use DranoChemical drain cleaners like Drano work by producing heat to break down a clog. That heat and the caustic chemicals can soften PVC, eat at old…
Drains & SewerHow to unclog and snake your shower drain safelyRemove the drain cover, pull out what hair you can with gloves or a plastic drain strip, then feed a hand auger in slowly, turning it…
Drains & SewerWhat are the signs of a main sewer line blockage?If more than one drain is slow, toilets gurgle, water backs up into the tub or shower when you flush or run the washer, or you…
Heating
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HeatingThe difference between a boiler and a water heaterA water heater heats water for your faucets, showers and appliances. A boiler heats water (or makes steam) that circulates through radiators or radiant floors to…
HeatingHow your HVAC system works: a homeowner's guideYour HVAC system moves heat. A furnace or boiler makes heat, an air conditioner or heat pump moves heat out of (or into) your home, ductwork…
HeatingWhy is my furnace making a loud banging noise?A loud bang when your gas furnace starts is often delayed ignition: gas builds up before it lights, then lights all at once. Dirty burners or…
Air Conditioning
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Air ConditioningAC installation: why professional service mattersHow well a new air conditioner performs depends on the install as much as the brand. A pro sizes it with a load calculation, checks the…
Air ConditioningWhy annual HVAC tune-ups pay off, and what they includeA yearly tune-up cleans coils and drains, checks refrigerant, electrical parts, burners and safety controls, and catches worn parts before they fail. It keeps the system…
Air ConditioningSigns your AC needs repair right awayCall for AC repair if you have warm air from the vents, weak airflow, grinding or screeching noises, a unit that turns on and off quickly,…
Heat Pumps & Geothermal
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Heat Pumps & GeothermalHeat pump vs. furnace: which is better for Norfolk homes?In a mild climate like Norfolk's, a heat pump is usually the more efficient choice. It heats and cools with one system and costs less to…
Heat Pumps & GeothermalCentral AC or a mini split for your Wilmington home?Choose central AC if your home already has ductwork in good shape and you want to cool the whole house evenly. Choose a mini split if…
Heat Pumps & GeothermalIs a mini split worth it for an older home without ductwork?For many older homes without ductwork, yes. A ductless mini split heats and cools room by room through a small hole in the wall, with no…
Indoor Air Quality
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Indoor Air QualityThe role of ventilation in your home's HVAC performanceVentilation swaps stale indoor air for fresh air and pulls out moisture and pollutants. Without enough of it, homes get stuffy, humid and dusty, and the…
Indoor Air QualityWhy Norfolk humidity puts extra strain on your plumbing and ACHumid air makes cold pipes and toilet tanks sweat, keeps your AC's condensate drain busy, speeds up corrosion on outdoor equipment and makes the air conditioner…
Indoor Air QualityBathroom ventilation tips to prevent moldRun the bathroom exhaust fan during every shower and for about 20 minutes after. Make sure it vents outside, not into the attic, and that it's…
Gas Lines & Generators
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Gas Lines & GeneratorsHow to recognize the signs of a gas leak in your homeThe main signs are a rotten-egg or sulfur smell, a hissing or whistling sound near a gas line or appliance, bubbles in standing water, dead plants…
Gas Lines & GeneratorsKeeping warm with gas logsGas logs give you the look of a wood fire with the flip of a switch: no ash, no hauling wood. Vented logs look most realistic…
Gas Lines & GeneratorsSwitching your grill from propane to natural gasConverting a grill means swapping the propane orifices and regulator for natural gas parts (from the grill maker), and running a natural gas line to a…
Septic Systems
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Septic Systems5 warning signs your septic system needs attention nowCall for septic service if you have slow drains throughout the house, gurgling pipes, sewage smells inside or out, soggy or extra-green patches over the tank…
Septic SystemsHow often does a septic tank need to be pumped?Most household septic tanks should be pumped every 3 to 5 years. Bigger households, smaller tanks, a garbage disposal or heavy water use mean more often.…
Septic SystemsHow does a septic tank work?Everything you drain flows into the septic tank. Heavy solids sink to the bottom as sludge, grease floats to the top as scum, and the middle…
Wells & Pumps
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Wells & PumpsIs it time to replace your sump pump?Most sump pumps last about 7 to 10 years. Replace yours if it's in that range, runs constantly or not at all, makes grinding or rattling…
Wells & PumpsHow do I know what sump pump is right for my home?Most homes do well with a submersible pump, which sits in the pit and runs quieter. Pedestal pumps sit above the pit and are easier to…
Wells & Pumps6 easy steps for cleaning your sump pumpUnplug the pump, lift it out of the pit, scrub the intake screen, clean out sludge and debris from the pit, check the check valve and…
Commercial & Property Management
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Commercial & Property ManagementBackflow prevention devices plumbers recommendBackflow is when water flows backward into your clean water supply, pulling in contaminants. It's usually caused by a pressure drop, like a water main break…
Commercial & Property ManagementGetting a plumbing permit: when you need one and why it helpsYou usually need a plumbing permit to add or move fixtures, change drain or vent piping, replace a water heater, add a gas line, or do…
Commercial & Property ManagementCommercial plumbing 101: preventive maintenance for building ownersPut your building on a schedule: jet main drains and kitchen lines, pump grease traps on time, test backflow preventers every year, flush and inspect water…
Seasonal & Home Maintenance
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Seasonal & Home MaintenanceHow to lower your water bill with easy plumbing upgradesStart by finding leaks. A running toilet or dripping faucet can waste thousands of gallons. Then swap in WaterSense toilets, low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators,…
Seasonal & Home MaintenanceWhat to do if your pipes freeze, and how to prevent itIf a faucet only trickles on a freezing morning, a pipe is probably frozen. Open the faucet, then warm the pipe with a hair dryer, space…
Seasonal & Home MaintenanceWhat to look for in plumbing before buying a houseBefore you buy, find out what the pipes are made of, how old the water heater is, whether the sewer line has had problems, and whether…
Company News
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Company NewsNorfolk Plumbing is now Powell's NorfolkNorfolk Plumbing, Inc. started in 2001 with one plumber, one truck and a garage. In 2022 it joined Powell's and became Powell's Norfolk branch. The name…
Company NewsPowell's apprenticeship program: learn a trade, get paidPowell's offers paid plumbing and HVAC apprenticeships at all three branches. You work alongside an experienced technician, take trade classes and earn a paycheck while you…
Company NewsBatts Heating & Air is now Powell's WilmingtonBatts Heating & Air Conditioning started keeping Cape Fear homes cool in 2008. In 2023 it joined Powell's and became the Wilmington branch: same crews, same…