We're Roto-Rootering our way through the social networks in the Web 2.0 world. You won't have to look far to get advice on kitchen plumbing jobs on our blogs, Tweets about where to find coupons on Twitter, information about the science of sewer cleaning on Facebook or a local page or two on MySpace.
The point is that we're trying to go where you are, not to be a spammer but a helpful friend that is easy to find when you need a friend most...like say when the commercial plumbing fails in a bottling plant on a Sunday afternoon or when someone is dealing with a leaky faucet in Baltimore. Social networks are just another way to stay within easy reach. After all, shouldn't a 24 hour plumbing company be highly accessible?
Follow us at Twitter under @RotoRooter and here's our main page on Facebook. You'll even find a Roto-RooterTV channel on YouTube where you can see pet rescues, old commercials and instructional videos for DIYers. Then check out our photos on Flickr.
You would think to call Roto-Rooter if you had plumbing problems or are in need of a sewer cleaning, but what if your pool is clogged? We often get calls about unclogging swimming pools too.
We suggest you
consult with a pool installation company or have a plumber come out to your house with a jetting machine. Depending on the number of turns in the pipe, the plumber should be able to
get the blockage.
You may also be able to use
high pressure air to force the blockage out of the pipe. Or you could use a
blow bag and high pressure water. A blow bag attaches to the end of a hose and expands in the pipe then water pressure fills the pipe and forces the blockage out the open end at the opposite side.
Talk to both the plumbing company and the pool people first.
If you haven't heard yet, Roto-Rooter has compiled a fun bathroom reader book called Chilling Tales from the Porcelain Seat. It's a collection of strange and funny stories 
from our army of plumbers about the wild things they've witnessed on the job doing mostly residential plumbing but also some strange commercial plumbing adventures are included. One story from the book involved a plumber in Chicago who used a fiber optic camera to retrieve a $5000 prosthetic eyeball that a man dropped down a sink drain. The eye went all the way to the main sewer before it was skillfully plucked out by Roto-Rooter. The man washed it off and stuck the eyeball right back in his socket!
This is a vignette-style bathroom reader, small enough to fit neatly on your toilet tank lid. Mostly the book is just flat out funny. You'll laugh out loud at some of the crazy things people do and there are even some photos that will shock you. Roto-Rooter teamed with its two most famous plumbing contractors, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of TV's Ghost Hunters, who provided commentary in the book.
The book is 100 pages of light, fun reading while on the john. It's only $12.95 and shipping is free. Order your copy here. And enter the Roto-Rooter Chilling Tales sweepstakes to win your chance to go on a real ghost hunt at Colorado's Stanley Hotel with Jason and Grant.
If you're a business owner or manager you know how much pain plumbing emergencies can cause. Nothing is worse than seeing your customers leave, or pass on by, due to an unexpected plumbing or drain problem. We at Roto-Rooter, specialize in emergency routing and understand the damage that plumbing problems can cause to your business. Lost revenue, lost potential customers, health issues, not to mention internal issues such as employee morale, lost wages and poor job satisfaction are only some of the effects that can be caused. After all, your systems and processes are representations of you and your business.
Whether you're dealing with a Hartford toilet repair at the front of the store, a Raleigh three compartmentt sink repair behind the bar, or a Chicago floor drain backup in the kitchen area,
you want your Roto-Rooter Plumber there right away. We'll, we can't teleport a service technician....yet... but by
calling or clicking your local Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain will have help on the way
FAST! In fact, we can have most commercial plumbing emergencies back to normal within hours of the incident and a tech on the way immediately after your call.
Let Roto-Rooter be your partner in helping you keep your Boston plumbing, Baltimore drain systems, Nassau County Septic systems, Orlando Grease Traps, or wherever your business, in top shape! We're your local one-stop-shop and we have what other local plumbing companies don't have... the Roto-Rooter reputation and your helpful Roto-Rooter staff!
http://www.rotorooter.com/commercial/
Main sewer line clog South Jersey... yep!
Long Island backed up stairwell drain... check!
Restaurant bar sink repair in Columbia, MD... got you covered!
Bathtub Drain in Fairfax, Va... on the way!
A rainy day for a Bridgeport, CT Plumber can be a busy one! Rain stretching from Virginia to parts of New England had plumbing and drain cleaning customers in a panic today. So much for a relaxing weekend, huh? Saturated ground and flash floods had drains in the New York Boroughs (and their owners) ankle deep and in need for some "Roto- Rootering" and we were ready to accept the challenge. Our response times were quick and our techs arrived safely to take care of any plumbing need. Kitchen and bathroom plumbing repair seemed to be on the to do list for many today. Thanks for choosing your local Roto-Rooter plumber for plumbing and drain emergencies jobs... See you next time!
Chris
http://www.rotorooter.com/residential/
Plumbing and technology don't sound like likely partners, but more and more we're finding that our residential and commercial customers are using their iPhones, Blackberries, and other devices to find us on the web. They learn about us, call us, and even schedule service from these devices. We're also finding that a lot of our customers prefer to receive coupons via email and online as well as the traditional method of U.S. mailed coupons.
Commercial plumbing and residential plumbing may be an old trade, but we old dogs can learn new tricks too! We're always striving to be easy to do business with. If our customers say iPhones, we say ok! And don't worry, for those of you out there who still prefer the more traditional methods, the phone book and landline aren't going anywhere just yet.
So next time you have a plumbing problem, find us whatever way works for you, and we'll be happy to fix it right the first time.
Let's face it, for business owners and homeowners alike, our time is valuable. With that in mind, we've created service options that work for your busy schedule.
Of course you can simply call your local
Roto-Rooter Plumber listed on the internet or yellow pages (or just remember
1-800-GET-ROTO) but for many these days, our easy online ordering is the way to go. For those that perfer to go online, we've created
online Scheduled Service. Simply log onto
www.rotorooter.com and under the
icon, just enter the service address zip code. From here you can book a service order for your 24 hour plumbing needs. Which ever way you choose for your commercial or residential plumbing and drain cleaning situation, fast friendly help is soon to follow. It's that easy!
Replace Putty 
Around Your Sink Strainer with Silicone for Better Performance We received an email from a customer who was having problems with the putty around the strainer in his kitchen sink.
Because putty has a tendency to disintegrate and therefore allows leaks, many plumbers have switched to silicone, a process that is relatively painless compared to other kitchen plumbing jobs. The
mprovements are significant and the switch is easy if you follow these simple steps:
• Apply a thick bead of 100% silicon to the flange of the strainer before placing it into the hole (there should be excess silicon squeezing out of the top)
• Let the strainer sit for at least 24 hours, allowing the silicone to settle
• Remove the excess silicon using a sharp knife
The newly sealed strainer should create a gasket that is exactly the size of the sink.
Because Roto-Rooter has locations across the country, you always have local plumbing companies as well as licensed plumbing specialists at your service. For help with sink plumbing repairs or any other plumbing services, Call 1 866-960-7686 or
schedule an appointment online.
Ahh, the economy. Many businesses are feeling the squeeze, and my guess is that the last thing they (you!) want to spend money on is fixing plumbing and drain problems.
Roto-Rooter Business Advantage is one way to keep the costs down if there is a commercial plumbing problem or emergency. We have 24 hour plumbing, 365 days a year, with
no additional charges for nights, weekends or holidays!* How many other plumbing companies can say that, and mean it?!
Roto-Rooter Business Advantage also provides
coupons year round. Next time you call in for service, just ask the customer service representative to sign you up. It's free, and takes no time at all to sign up.
For more information on Roto-Rooter Business Advantage, or to obtain a coupon for service, click
here, or go to rotorooter.com/commercial. Enter your zip code to see if your location is eligible for the Business Advantage program.
We sincerely hope you don't have a plumbing problem or emergency, but if you do, we are ready to solve it for you quickly and efficiently.
*at participating locations only
It's a gray, rainy day in Cincinnati. The weather map shows heavy rain in parts of Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee. It's likely that rain will also hit other parts of the country.
Heavy rain accumulates quickly and often doesn't absorb into the ground. The runoff can cause flooding in homes and basements. So, follow these simple tips to protect your property.
- Ensure yard drains, culverts, downspouts and gutters are cleaned out, open and clear of debris so water is channeled away from the foundation.
- Test floor drains in garages, bathrooms, basements and patios by pouring a gallon of water into them. If they don't drain quickly, call a plumber.
- If your home has a sump pump, pour a few buckets of water into the sump put pit to test operation. Call a plumber if the pump pit doesn't empty.
If you experience flooding or any other plumbing or drain problem, you can rely on Roto-Rooter plumber Boston and plumber Salt Lake City and everywhere in between for fast, professional service. Roto-Rooter local plumbers and drain cleaners are only a call or click away for sewer repair, kitchen plumbing jobs, bathroom plumbing jobs or any 24 hour plumbing need.
Visit www.rotorooter.com/plumbing/ for more tips for homeowners.
I just received an email from a customer that is worth sharing. She writes:
"I love the fact that Roto-Rooter consistently goes out of their way to help save animals in bad situations, which gives you guys a heart instead of just being a corporation. Very rare these days! And of course the Ghost Hunters guys rock! Your company seems to have people who really do care about others and animals and that is exceptional and wonderful!"
That was from E. Billiott in Ooltewah, Tennessee. It's nice to be recognized for something other than sewer repair and kitchen plumbing jobs. We do try hard to give back to the community. Roto-Rooter is dedicated to animal rescue. We've saved many cats and dogs from underground sewer pipes, in walls, HVAC vents and other tight spots,
this one most recently was featured on MSNBC and hundreds of other media outlets.
Roto-Rooter is adding new bloggers this week. Watch for new blogs from Pat Swanson, our customer satisfaction manager, Jennifer Canavan, our commercial marketing manager, and Debbie Smith, our marketing 
communications manager.
Pat will share lots of feedback from customers across North America concerning their service experiences with sewer repair, kitchen plumbing jobs and much more.
Jennifer will share insights about Roto-Rooter's commercial plumbing and drain services and other topics. Debbie will blog about all sorts of things from residential plumbing problems to bathroom plumbing solutions.
A Baltimore customer recently submitted the following sewer cleaning question:
My kitchen sink is backed up and there is standing water on both sides. When I run the dishwasher, water immediately begins to fill up the sink. Please help me with this problem!
These lines notoriously fill with grease, sludge and soap scum until they reduce the internal diameter of the drain and slow the water flow.
If your kitchen sink is still clogged after removing the trap, then you will have to have your branch line cleaned. When snaking the line inside the wall, make sure you are using the proper equipment. When cleaning drains, use cutting blades that are set to the inside diameter of the pipe. So to clear a 2-inch drain, you would need a pair of 2-inch blades.
Plumbing contractors are equipped to handle these types of sewer cleaning jobs. You can buy snaking kits at your local home improvement store, but you may be better off leaving this one one of your local plumbing companies.
I saw this story in the Salt Lake Tribune that no doubt caught the attention of some of you, especially if you're a plumber Salt Lake City has more than a few plumbers out there whose pants droop down while handling some poor customer's kitchen plumbing jobs.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12370840 The 'plumber's crack' story is the stuff of legend and always worthy of a chuckle. It probably really took off back in the late 70s when
Saturday Night Live's Dan
Ackroyd performed in a sketch as a refrigerator repairman who was called to a house to repair an old Norge refrigerator. Two teens, played by Bill Murray and Gilda Radner, mocked him mercilessly for his exposed, ahem, butt crack. It's surprising how many people remember that sketch but in their memory, they're certain Ackroyd played a plumber. He didn't but plumber's have been saddled, often stereotyped with the notorious reputation ever since.
Yes, lots of men in every profession suffer from the condition where their belly is larger than their hips so their belt and pants naturally slip down below their round bellies, often exposing their 'fault line.' Lots of solutions have been offered up but the two best ones are suspenders and coveralls. Got that, plumber Salt Lake City? And then there is this remarkably simple solution, a t-shirt that has a longer tail is the back to cover the area:
http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/mens/mens_shirts/95587.aspxIt's a great idea and would probably solve the problem for most guys.
For years we've noticed that the day after Thanksgiving is consistently our busiest day of the year. Common sense tells us that since most of those kitchen plumbing jobs are the result of a busy kitchen on Thanksgiving Day.
But we weren't getting the calls for service until the next day. Why? Probably because most people looking for local plumbers were fearful of paying a higher holiday rate so they just lived with the problem until Friday.
Th fear of an up-charge is is no longer necessary because Roto-Rooter no longer charges you higher rates on nights, weekends or holidays. You'll pay the same fair price no matter what day of the year or time of day (or night) you choose to call. This is now the policy at all 115 company-owned Roto-Rooter locations.
So whether its drain cleaning Tacoma residents need or plumbing problems Baltimore citizens are dealing with, they no longer have to worry about paying too much simply because they had the bad luck to have to call a plumbing contractor over a holiday weekend. We're available when you need us, period.
Roto-Rooter offers a full line of drain care products for both residential and commercial plumbing. One of which, Pipe Shield, is a preventative maintenance product that helps keep clogs from forming as quickly. After a sewer cleaning, begin applying the monthly treatments.
Pipe Shield uses natural bacteria to liquefy and breakdown deposits, such as fats, grease, soaps and detergents, that cause clogs. And because there are no harsh chemicals,
it's safe for the environment.
Overtime food, waste and other materials begin to build up in pipes. Slow-running drains or clogs are inevitable.
After six months of regular treatments with Roto-Rooter Pipe Shield, drains and pipes flow freely throughout the whole system.
Click here for more information and to see if Pipe Shield is available for online purchase. Or you can contact your local Roto-Rooter office and place an order,
1-866-960-7686.
I've been going over some stories submitted by the army of Roto-Rooter service technicians across the U.S. and Canada for a project we're working 
on. One was a DIY plumbing debacle that we were called in to remedy. Kitchen plumbing jobs are one of our specialties but this one was over the top.
Seems the customer had a kitchen sink clog he couldn't fix so he re-routed his sink drains through the floor. His modified drainpipe extended down below to the basement where its end was suspended about three feet above a toilet bowl. All the grease, water, food debris, etc. from the sink just slopped into the toilet below. That was his drain! This was a plumbing repair we'll be talking about for a long time. Disgusting! Truth really is stranger than fiction!
When I do more than two loads of wash, water comes out by my toilet located on the other side of the house. If I wait 4 hours in between loads, there are no problems.If water is backing up after a couple of loads, it probably means the backup is past the toilet and may be a clog in the main line. Your lines need cleared from a main line cleanout, which is a professional job for plumbing companies. Roto-Rooter can assist in this sewer cleaning. Call us at 1-866-960-7686) or
schedule a service time online.
After a long winter, I just tried to turn on one of my outdoor spigots and I am only getting a trickle of water. I tried opening up the spigot completely and then opening/closing the shutoff valve in the basement, but still no luck. Help!
If your spigot on the outside of the house does not have water coming from it, you probably have to start with the valve on the inside of the house. What I and most other plumbing contractors do is shut off the water to the house, remove the stem from the shut off valve and turn on the water slowly (place a buck under the valve to catch the water). If no water comes out, then there is a blockage either at the entrance to the valve or on the pipe coming from the main.
The next steps would be to replace the line or use back pressure to unclog. But you may want to call us for this faucet repair Baltimore, Tacoma and everywhere in between Roto-Rooter can assist will all of your plumbing problems.
I've had high water bills for several months now. I have looked for water leaks and also investigated to see if I have wet spots on the ground outside the house to no avail. Do you have any ideas as I live on a fixed income?Make sure you have
checked all of your toilets for leaks by doing a simple and cheap test. Place a few drops of food coloring in the water in the tank. If the water in the bowl changes color without you flushing, then you know it's the flapper. If you replace the flapper and the water is still leaking, then check the stop to see if there are any cracks or grooves in it that prevent the seal from making a full contact.
If the toilets are not leaking, then you may have a broken or leaking water main underground. The only way to find this is to
call a leak detection company, such as Roto-Rooter, that can use an acoustic leak detection device. Once the leak is located, the area is excavated the plumbing repair begins.
Search "
Roto-Rooter Leak Detection Baltimore " on the Web (substitute Baltimore for your city).
Roto-Rooter offers 24 hour plumbing so you can call us day or night.
