Frequently Asked Questions

When a plumbing issue occurs you must determine if it constitutes an emergency.

Does the issue only affect one faucet, drain, or shower? If it is only secluded to one pipe, it can most likely wait until standard business hours.

Can you shut off a water valve to make the problem stop? If you can pause the problem temporarily it can most likely wait until standard hours.

Does the water work? If your water is completely shut off this may warrant an emergency. If a burst pipe or water main break is causing flooding in or outside of your home, you’re dealing with an emergency.

The most common plumbing problems for RI and Southern Mass residents are clogged drains and toilets, leaky faucets and pipes, water heater issues, low water pressure, and a running toilet.

For most common plumbing projects, our prices are dictated by two factors: time needed and materials needed. To schedule a service and receive a pricing estimate please contact us.

Most insurance companies will cover damage caused by leaking or burst pipes if the damage wasn’t preventable. Below are the steps you can take to avoid broken pipes:

• Routinely inspect appliance hoses on your dishwasher or washing machine and replace as needed.
• Ensure tubs and showers are properly caulked and sealed properly.
• Insulate pipes if you live in a cold climate.
• Inspect for leaking faucets.

The best way to prevent clogged pipes is to be mindful of what you put down your drains and toilets. Below are tips we recommend to prevent clogging your pipes:

• If you do not have a garbage disposal, use a drain strainer.
• Avoid pouring grease or oil down the drain.
• After washing your dishes, run hot water to rinse away grease.
• Clear drain stoppers in your shower or bathtub.
• Only flush waste and toilet tissue down your toilet.
• Avoid bones, fruit peels, grease, coffee grounds and other fibrous foods in the garbage disposal.

Plumbing problems can happen in both new and old properties. Below is a list of the most common plumbing properties:

• Clogged or running toilet
• Clogged bath or shower drain
• Jammed garbage disposal
• Leaky Faucets or Pipes
• Low water pressure
• Sewer system backup
• Water heater repair

For minor clogs you may want to try a DIY remedy to clear your pipes. This may include drain snaking your drain with a wire hanger or pouring chemicals down your drain. These at-home methods of drain cleaning involve unnecessary guess work that only temporarily mask your plumbing problems instead of solving them altogether.

To unclog a toilet you can use a plunger or a plumbing snake.

With a plunger you should seal it around the toilet drain and plunge rapidly several times. If the plunger doesn’t release the clog, try a plumbing snake. A plumbing snake can be pushed through the drain to grab a clog.

Water heaters with proper maintenance should last from 7 to 10 years.

This query is one of the most frequently asked questions here at Stonelink Plumbing & Heating. If your furnace keeps shutting off, it’s often due to a control or safety issue. Try these steps to troubleshoot the problem:

• Change your thermostat setting — may be from Auto to On to keep your heater running continuously.
• Check if the control board diagnostic light blinks in an erroneous pattern.
• Replace the air filter.
• Open your house’s air vents.
• Clean the flame sensor.
• Clean the condensate drain pipe.
• Clear the exhaust vent.

If you need more assistance in solving the problem, call our Stonelink Plumbing & Heating team to inspect your furnace and provide a solution.

Several issues could cause your furnace to blow cold instead of hot air, including:

• Incorrect thermostat settings or defective thermostat
• A worn furnace air filter
• An unlit pilot light
• An overheating furnace
• Malfunctioning furnace control panel
• Blocked condensate drain lines
• Leaking ducts

Our team can find the source of the problem and answer any additional FAQs.

If you want to keep your home warm while saving money on your energy bills, underfloor heating is the way to go. It’s a space-efficient yet effective way to warm your space. Its minimalist nature is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical.

You’ll have more room for your paintings, picture windows, shelf units, and other accessories. The initial installation cost might be steep, but it’ll pay off in the long run.

This issue often results from a defective dip tube, which is a long tube connected to the water heater’s cold water inlet. It helps push cold water to the bottom of the tank, where electric heating elements or a gas burner heats the water.

A bad dip tube will lead to the incoming cold water mixing with the heated water near the top. Consequently, you’ll feel colder water much faster than usual.

The drains carry wastewater from the bathtub, kitchen sink, bathroom sink, showers, and toilet from your home to the sewer line, which is bigger than standard drain pipes.

On the other hand, the sewer line collects all the wastewater from different drains in your home and carries it to the sewer and the water treatment plant.

Your drains can become clogged over time, and you’ll need drain cleaning. If more than one of your drains seems clogged, you might need sewer cleaning.

Primarily due to the fill valve or the flapper.

Install a deduct meter on your water meter.

Depending on whether or not you have oil or gas, it varies. Oil fired boilers should be maintained yearly. Gas boilers may not need maintenance for 5-10 years depending on environment.