How To Go About Plumbing Upgrades And Renovations

March 20, 2018Bathroom Remodeling, Commercial Plumbing, DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Uncategorizedmatt

You have to ensure that your plumbing system is always in tiptop condition. This is due to the fact that the home plumbing system is responsible for some of the most critical household needs like water supply, waste disposal, nutrition and so on. As one of the most important components in your household, the plumbing system requires regular maintenance and proper care to enhance its functionality. Plumbing renovations and upgrades count as some of the most effective plumbing tactics in any household. Plumbing renovations involve the refurbishment of a section or sections of the plumbing system to improve the overall performance of the system. Plumbing upgrades are all about installing new better plumbing components in your household. The following tips will come in handy when you decide to renovate or upgrade your plumbing system.

Planning & Budgeting

Before launching any plumbing project, you should always start by planning and budgeting accordingly. The planning phase encompasses various project decisions and activities. For starters, you need to determine the scope of the project. Whether you are doing a partial renovation or a full upgrade, you have to highlight the various specifications of the project. As in you have to consider all the necessary improvements for your plumbing system, your goals and objectives for the project, and the budget allocation for your plumbing endeavor. The budgeting stage is especially crucial because it determines whether the project is commercially/financially feasible or not.

Project Design

The next step in your plumbing upgrade and/or renovation project, such as a bathroom remodel, is the actual design of the proposed project. This involves the crafting of a rough design to incorporate all the desired changes in your plumbing system. The rough draft is further fine-tuned to create a final design for the project, which will be used as a blueprint for all your plumbing upgrades and renovations. This phase requires the input of a professional architect and/or plumber. Depending on the scope of your project, you can hire any licensed plumbing firm that offers professional DC sewer and drain services to assist you in the design phase before moving into the project launch phase.

Contracting

Now that you gave the final design plan of your plumbing project, you can go ahead and hire professional contractors to implement the plumbing upgrades and renovations. You can opt for the same plumbing professionals that you hired for the project design phase or you can contract other firms for the project. The contracting phase is very crucial to the overall success of the project. You have to be very conscientious when vetting and hiring contractors to ensure that your final choice is adequately qualified, properly licensed and certified, highly competent and experienced, and able to deliver accordingly as indicated by his past professional accomplishments. You should also be careful with all your contractual agreements to ensure favorable terms of service.

Project Launch

The final phase of your plumbing project is the actual project launch. This is where the actual plumbing upgrades and/or renovations are implemented. You will have to purchase all the construction and plumbing materials and installations for your project in this phase. You will also pay all the labor fees to cover the entire project. Your main role in this phase besides financing is to monitor the development of your plumbing project until completion.

Drain Cleaning And Sewer Maintenance Tips

March 20, 2018Commercial Plumbing, DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Sewer Issues, Uncategorizedmatt

The drainage and sewer system is one of the most critical sections in a home plumbing system. The drainage and sewer system includes all plumbing components and installations that are involved in waste water drainage and waste disposal, such as sinks, bathtubs, showers, toilets, dishwashers, laundry machines etc. Like the names imply, the drainage and sewer system can be split into the actual drainage section and the sewer system. The drainage system includes all the drainage pipes and the aforementioned waste disposal installations. The sewer system is mainly composed of the septic tank plus all the drainage pipes that run underground to link the tank to your house. Your home drainage and sewer system should always be clean and unclogged in order to ensure the proper disposal of all the waste produced in your home. Read on to learn how to properly clean and unclog you drains and how to maintain your home sewer system in excellent condition.

Handling Clogs

One of the most common plumbing problems in any drainage and sewer system is clogging. Clogging occurs when a section of the sewer system is blocked preventing the flow of waste from your home to the septic tank. Clogging usually occurs in drainage pipes where something gets stuck inside the pipes thereby preventing waste flow from one point to another. Clogging can be caused by various agents including the accumulation of grease and other insolvent impurities inside the drainage pipes. Breakages in drain pipes and pipe flow compression issues by vegetation cover can also result in clogged drains. You can prevent clogs by observing a strict waste disposal routine where all insolvent stuff is not dumped into your drainage and sewer system. And in case the clogs occur, you can try a few DIY hacks to clear your drains. One of the simplest ways of unclogging your sewer system is by using a hand plunger to suck debris from any drainage link, such as a toilet, shower or bathtub drain, or sink. If this does not work, you might have a grease accumulation problem on your hands — use hot water to flush the drainage system. You can also use various commercial detergents to unclog your drain. And if the problem persists, call a professional plumber for assistance.

Regular Inspection

Your plumbing system should always be subjected to regular inspection runs to avoid any nasty surprises. Whether it’s your drainage and sewer system or your inflow piping system, you should always conduct regular inspections to ensure that everything is in good working condition. Routine inspection runs go hand in hand with routine maintenance tasks. After identifying any areas that require some upgrades or renovations, a professional plumbing inspector will recommend a feasible solution to correct the problem. Your drainage pipes or septic tank might need some upgrading but you might not realize this until you hire a professional plumber to inspect your home plumbing system.

Timely Repairs

You should never hesitate to call a professional plumber if you have a faulty drainage and sewer system. In case of any drainage and/or sewer problems, hire a licensed plumber who is capable of handling DC plumbing renovations and repairs in a timely manner. When it comes to the sewer system, you can’t spare any expenses.

4 Important Things To Consider When Hiring A Gas Line Professional

March 19, 2018Bathroom Remodeling, DC Plumber, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

In most cases, gas line services are offered by plumbing professionals. Most plumbers take additional training to qualify as gas line professionals. This helps to expand their service catalogs, which translates into a wider client base. Plumbers who double up as gas line professionals handle plumbing and gas line installations and repairs, drain cleaning, sewer backups, sump pump installations and repairs, and all DC plumbing upgrades and renovations. Licensed gas line professionals offer all kinds of gas-related services including installation of new gal lines/pipes, installation, movement and placement of new and old gas appliances, gas leak detection, gas line repair and replacement, and many more. Regardless of the nature of your gas line needs or issues, you should always consider the following factors when hiring a gas line professional.

Reputation

You should always conduct a background search to discover the professional past of your prospective gas line professional. A simple internet background search will reveal the professional reputation of any gas line or plumbing professional. You should focus on various industry review platforms and customer rating websites like Angie’s List and Yelp to gauge the experiences of past clients. These online platforms will give you a realistic approval rating of any potential plumber or gas line professional. Customer testimonials and reviews by other industry critics will uncover the highest rate gas line professional in your area.

Qualifications

Another important consideration when hiring a gas line professional is his qualifications. All gas line professionals undergo a series of academic and technical training courses. Before acquiring a practicing license, the professional is required to pass various academic and technical exams. Generally, the professional journey in the gas industry starts at the apprentice level. The trainee gas fitter reenrolls for training in various appointed training institutions and then undertakes various industry exams to qualify as a journeyman. But a journeyman cannot operate as an independent plumber or gas fitter. He has to undergo further training under the keen eye of a master plumber or gas fitter. After completing about three years training under the master gas fitter, the journeyman is tested for the highest rank in the industry. As a master gas fitter, he can now apply for a practicing license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Notably, the CSLB also vets the prospective gas fitter regarding his criminal record and past client experiences. You should always hire a gas line professional who is properly licensed, insured, bonded, and certified by the CSLB.

Experience

Depending on the nature of your gas line needs, it is quite important that you hire an experienced gas line professional. If you are dealing with an elementary gas problem or gas line installation issue, you can hire any gas line professional provided he is properly licensed by the CSLB. But if you have a more critical problem in your home gas supply system, you should reach out to a highly experienced master gas fitter. You should take time to select the most competent gas line professional in your locality, especially someone who is experienced in the field you need his services for. A plumber who has many bathroom remodels under his belt would be a good choice to move you tub and install a new gas tankless hot water heater, rather than just someone familiar with furnace work.

Availability

And finally when you are dealing with any craftsman or engineer, you should always factor in the issue of availability. If possible, contract a gas line professional who offers emergency gas line services. This ensures that you will have him at your beck and call 24 hours a day throughout the year.

Your Guide To Emergency Gas Line Services

March 19, 2018Commercial Plumbing, DC Plumber, DIY Plumbing, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

It all started in the plumbing industry but this customer-centric practice has spread to many other home improvement service industries. We are talking about the provision of emergency services. Just like in the plumbing industry, where emergency services are nowadays offered by almost every practicing plumber, the gas industry has introduced this remarkable practice to its residential and commercial clients. You can now request emergency gas line services at any time of the day any day of the year. Some gas line professionals charge extra fees for emergency services but this is quite reasonable considering the critical nature of a gas line emergency. As we all know, gas leaks can cause substantial even fatal damage if not fixed immediately. As such, emergency gas line services avert far more serious losses than the slightly higher service charges incurred to fix a gas leak emergency. The following step-by-step guide will help you act on time to counter any gas line emergency.

Check Out The Problem

There are many different kinds of gas line emergencies. One of the most common and very serious gas line emergencies is the age-old gas leak issue. Gas leaks usually occur due to faulty gas lines, which cause the volatile natural gas or propane to seep through a crack or joint in the pipe. To detect a gas leak problem, you should always be on the lookout for gas smells and hissing sounds. Leaking gas smells like rotten eggs and any such smell in your home means that there is a gas leak. Hissing sounds along the gas lines indicate a significant gas leak, which necessitates professional assistance. Other signs of a gas leak include dead vegetation cover on the ground above your gas supply lines. In addition to gas line/pipe leaks, you might also notice other gas-related problems in your home or business. These include malfunctioning gas appliances, broken gas control systems, such as the gas supply meter, and no gas supply in your home. To solve all these gas-related emergencies, read on.

Consult A Professional

You are strongly advised to consult a licensed gas line professional to solve all your gas line problems or issues. But we sometimes opt for DIY solutions for obvious reasons. Before you decided to take matters into your own hands, you should always consider the severity of the problem. All gas leaks should be handled by a gas line professional. This is why you should always have a service call number to a licensed DC master gas fitter who offers 24/7 emergency services. Check out the websites of all the firms offering gas line services in your area and pick the one that offers emergency gas line services.

Preparing The Site

Before the gas line professional arrives, you should prepare the affected site beforehand. This is to save time and ease the process of fixing the gas line emergency. Remember that most gas line professionals charge by the hour. As such, you can save a great deal of money if you have the whole place ready before the gas fitter arrives. Not to mention that the prepared site will help fix the problem speedily thereby averting any serious damages that could be caused by a prolonged gas line fault.

Installation And Maintenance Of Gas Lines/Pipes

March 18, 2018Uncategorizedmatt

Gas companies and professional plumbers who offer gas line services handle a myriad of gas faults and issues at home and in commercial settings. One of the most important services offered by gas line professionals is the installation and maintenance of gas lines/pipes. When we talk about the installation of gas lines here, we are referring to the setting up of new gas pipes in your home or in a commercial building. And when it comes to the maintenance of gas lines, we have several gas line services including gas line inspection, repairs, and replacement. There are several things that you should know about the installation and maintenance of gas line and you can learn all about it below.

Installation Of New Gas Lines

New gas lines are installed to link a new home to the main gas line supply system. Gas is usually supplied by utility companies who put up main gas supply liners just outside various homesteads. Just like in electrical connection, you have to connect to these master gas systems in order to access the gas supply network. New gas lines are used to bring the gas to the house and also to link the home supply point with various gas appliances. Additionally, new gas lines are installed to replace old and worn out gas pipes. This is part of the maintenance services mentioned above. And if decide to replace you electrical appliances with gas powered models; you will also have to install new gas lines.

Hiring Gas Line Professionals

Whichever gas services you require, you must hire a properly licensed gas line professional. And speaking of licensing, the gas industry like the plumbing industry is regulated by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). All practicing gas line professional are licensed by their respective CSLBs. Before you hire any gas line professional for installation or maintenance services, you should consider their academic and technical qualifications first. You should always work with a master gas fitter, who is a level higher than a journeyman in the gas industry. Depending on whether you are a homeowner or a commercial client, you should choose a gas professional who serves both fields. Essentially, your commercial needs require DC commercial gas line services while your home gas needs are okay with a residential gas fitter. You should also conduct a background search of the prospective gas fitter to evaluate his industry reputation. Scour online customer review sites to determine the professional record of a prospective gas line professional. And last but not least, ensure that he is properly insured, bonded, and amply experienced.

Maintenance Of Gas Lines

One of the most comprehensive service packages in the gas industry regards the maintenance of gas lines. Maintenance of gas lines starts with routine inspection of the home gas supply system. This is where all the gas lines are inspected for leaks and any current or pending faults identified. You should hire a professional master gas fitter to conduct regular inspection runs of your home gas system. The gas fitter will identify all problems and then recommend viable fixes. This involves the replacement of old faulty gas lines with new ones and doing a thorough check to ensure everything is working perfectly.

Tips For Detecting And Fixing Gas Line Leakages

March 18, 2018DIY Plumbing, Helpful Hints, How To, Plumbing Advice, Uncategorized, Water Heatersmatt

One of the main reasons why gas lines require proper care and maintenance is to avoid gas leak problems at home. Gas leaks usually occur where gas pipes/lines join or connect. Gas may also leak or seep through cracks in old worn-out gas pipes. Gas leaks are some of the most dangerous faults in any home. This is because natural gas and propane are very volatile and highly flammable. Therefore, a minor gas leak can cause house fires and serious gas explosions if not fixed immediately. This means that you should call a licensed master gas fitter who specializes in DC gas line services to fix your gas line leaks as soon as possible. You should always bear the following tips in mind when dealing with gas leaks in your home.

Preventing Gas Leaks

You should always try as much as possible to prevent gas-related problems in your home; because as the old adage goes — prevention is always better than cure. Gas offers many functional benefits to the user. But just like electricity, gas can be quite dangerous if handled improperly. One way of avoiding all the dangers that are associated with gas use as a fuel source in the home is to prevent gas leaks. Gas leaks can be prevented through regular inspections and maintenance of the home gas supply system. By conducting regular professional plumbing inspection runs of your home gas supply system, you will be able to identify faulty sections early on and to fix them accordingly. This is part of the whole gas line maintenance practice. You should commission a professional gas company to check all your gas lines for leaks on a regular basis. You should then implement all recommendations offered by these gas line professionals regarding the replacement of old faulty gas lines to avoid gas leaks in your home.

Detecting Gas Leaks

As much as we would like to avoid gas-related problems in our homes, we must face the fact that they are still bound to occur at one time or the other. Gas leaks can still occur despite all out inspection and maintenance efforts. In such cases, you should be extra vigilant for all the telltale signs of a gas leak in your home. You should listen for hissing sounds along your gas pipes or in your gas appliances. The smell of rotten eggs ids another key indicator of a gas leak in the home. And you can always tell if you have an underground gas leak by looking at the health of the vegetation cover above then underground pipes. Dying grass and other vegetation cover indicates a gas leak. After discovering a gas leak in your home, it’s time to call the professional plumbers and gas fitters.

Fixing Gas Faults

Gas leaks can pose catastrophic danger to your home. You should therefore never hesitate to call a gas line professional after discovering a gas leak in your home. Even if you are not sure it’s a gas leak. You should calm your doubts by seeking the opinion of a licensed master gas fitter. The hired gas line professional will recommend various solutions for the gas leak problem, including replacement of old faulty gas pipes and you should always comply accordingly.

4 Things You Should Know about Home Inspections

February 23, 2018Uncategorizedmatt

Buying a house is arguably the largest purchase that most people will make in their lifetimes which is why it’s important to never skip a home inspection. While most home buyers will obtain an inspection before purchasing, buyers in hypercompetitive markets should at least get one afterwards. A home inspection will help you learn about your home and all its inner workings, such as plumbing systems, electrical, structural, exterior, and cosmetic issues. An inspection may identify issues that need to be fixed quickly, as things like water damage may cost you dearly in the future if not resolved right away.

You Get What You Pay For

A home inspector is not the place to skimp on cost. Consider this an investment in the health of your home and your family—as inspections can uncover dangers in your home that can affect not only your wallet but also your health. A good home inspector will have experience with homes in your area and will take more than a couple hours to put together a thorough, detailed report.

Keep Those Utilities On

A good home inspector will need to test all your plumbing and electrical fixtures, which is why it’s imperative to have the utilities turned on at the time of inspection. Running water is a must in order to check for leaks, water pressure, clogs, and other issues.

Sewer line Scope

If there are indicators of a clog—such as signs of a previous sewer back up, slow draining of sinks or tubs, or low water pressure, you may want to spend the extra money on a comprehensive plumbing inspection. This will usually entail a sewer line scope—literally a small camera that is snaked through your sewer lines to ensure there is no blockage or damage to the line. While most people don’t opt for a separate plumbing inspection, this can be a costly mistake for home buyers who are buying older homes, which may have clay pipes or be surrounded by old growth trees. Any home surrounded by large trees is susceptible to sewer line damage thanks to tree roots creeping in the line. DC sewer repair and replacement can be costly, so it’s much easier on the pocketbook to identify problems before they turn into full-blown disasters.

Mold Isn’t Necessarily A Deal Breaker

If there’s any risk or indication of mold, it’s best to play it on the safe side and get a mold test done on your home. Did you know that every home contains mold? That’s because there are literally thousands of types of mold and not all are harmful for your health. A mold test will identify which types are in your home, whether they are “good” or “bad” mold, and define what acceptable levels are for “bad” mold. If you do have a bad mold, it’s not necessarily time to freak out yet. There are plenty of companies that do mold removal and your sellers may be willing to pay for it or reduce the purchase price in order to close the sale—considering they will have to disclose this to any future buyers anyways. One thing to keep in mind is that mold grows in moist environments, so if you do have mold, be extra vigilant to find out the cause and remedy it—such as from water damage due to a plumbing leak.

5 Home Repairs You Should Hire Out

February 22, 2018Uncategorizedmatt

Thanks to the nationwide obsession with home improvement shows, doing it yourself has never been more in the spotlight. A simple Google or YouTube search will provide thousands of videos on how to do everything from changing a light bulb to fixing your dishwasher. Not all home repairs should be attempted at home, though. So how do you know what is worth the cost of professional services and what projects are a great place to save some change? Read on.

Plumbing

Simple fixes such as changing a shower head or tightening a leaky faucet are no problem for the average homeowner. Unclogging pipes and troubleshooting leaks are also within the realm of possibilities. However, when it comes to substantial plumbing work, you will want a professional on your side. If you are moving plumbing lines or repairing pipes, a company that does DC plumbing repairs is a must have. Improper plumbing leads to leaks and water damage, such as wood rot, which can leave you with more than enough money troubles to offset the savings of doing it yourself.

Drywall Finishing

Installing drywall isn’t rocket science—but making it look professional is a different story. Mudding, taping, sanding…this is a task you’ll want to leave to the pros if you can afford it. Not only will the results look twice as good but experienced drywallers can finish a project in ten percent of the time that it would take an average DIY’er. When you factor in the time, execution, and amount of drywall dust… this is one project you don’t want to mess with. Drywalling a ceiling? Even worse, trust us.

Roofing

There are many reasons why you should hire out a roofing job (like the fact that leaks are expensive!) but the main reason is the most obvious. You could fall. It’s a big liability and requires a lot of special tools to do the job both correctly and safely. Factor in inclement weather like a hot day, which will feel even hotter unprotected on the roof, or rain, or snow… it’s best to leave this to a professional roofing company.

Electrical Work

There are some electrical things that you can do yourself, like switching out a light fixture or an outlet. However, for more involved electrical work, you’ll want to hire a professional. Not only can electrical work be risky and potential dangerous (electric shock, anyone?), but doing it incorrectly can be safety hazard going forward. There are legal aspects to think through, as well. Many counties require permits and professionals for a variety of electrical jobs and using a certified electrician will make sure that everything is safe and up to code.

Mold Removal

Asbestos in no joke. While there are mold removal kits you can buy to try to remedy the problem yourself, this is one area that you don’t want to mess up. Asbestos and other molds are dangerous to your health, require special equipment and air circulation, and can be a legal liability when removed. Certain states have laws about how asbestos can even be removed from a home to ensure that you aren’t spreading the mold spores through the air to your neighbors. When you factor in the health risk and legal liabilities, it’s just not worth it.

Top Kitchen Trends for 2018

February 21, 2018Uncategorizedmatt

Remodeling a kitchen is an expensive undertaking that many people save up for years to afford. With all that hard earned cash going out the door, deciding on the look and finishes for your new kitchen can be paralyzing as you don’t want to make any mistakes. The following trends are the biggest of 2018, ensuring your DC kitchen remodeling project will be modern, updated, and top of the line.

Mixed Metals

Why settle for one metal when you can have them all? The mixed metal trend is a popular one but the key is to making the mix look intentional. Chrome with aged brass, matte black with gold, there are plenty of ways to play up the interest with this trend. Mixing metals is a great way to keep your kitchen from looking too fussy, monochromatic, and overly polished.

Open Shelving

The open shelving trend continues on in 2018, with homeowners favoring the airy feeling of open shelving which in turn makes the kitchen look larger, as opposed to the heavy, closed in feeling of upper cabinets. Open shelving is a great way to break up a wall of cabinets and add warmth and interest with the objects you choose to display, from pretty glassware to vintage art, fresh blooms, and everything in between. It’s also an easy way to add functionality with displaying frequently used items, such as coffee cups, for maximum accessibility. The perfect marriage of form and function.

Two Toned Cabinets

2018 is the year of having it all—why limit yourself to just one metal or cabinet color? Tuxedo cabinets were a huge hit in 2017. Tuxedo cabinets is what it’s called when the upper cabinets are a light color, such as white, while the lower cabinets are darker, such as gray or black. The 2018 take on two toned cabinets is the “tuxedo island”, if you will. This is when the kitchen island cabinetry is a different color than the rest of the kitchen—think black, reclaimed wood, or even a saturated color such as navy or sage.

Vintage Textiles

While the all-white kitchen trend is still going strong, it does lead to a somewhat sterile, hospital-like feel with all that white, if you don’t bring in other elements to warm it up. The easiest way to add warmth is by adding color and texture through vintage textiles. From draperies and hand towels to beautiful oriental carpet runners, the possibilities are endless.

Herringbone Pattern

Pattern in general is having a big moment right now but none more so than the Herringbone pattern. Wood flooring in a herringbone pattern adds subtle interest without being too busy and still maintains the classic element of hardwoods. In addition to flooring, this pattern is a popular choice for kitchen backsplashes and might even steal the title “most popular” from everyone’s favorite white subway tile. This pattern is super versatile because it can add subtle interest to neutral colors such as whites or grays or create an eye popping statement in other colors like aqua blue. A professional plumbing service that handles remodeling can help with the planning and designing of the kitchen of your dreams.

4 Common Plumbing Emergencies

February 20, 2018Uncategorizedmatt

There is always a demand for plumbers in the job market and it’s no secret why—it’s work that no one else wants to do! Plumbing issues are a given for any homeowner (or renter for that matter) and they can be costly if not quickly identified and remedied. Water damage never gets better, only worse. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the signs of the following common plumbing emergencies so you know when to call your friendly neighborhood plumber.

Clogged Pipes

If you have ever noticed water draining slowly (or not at all!) in your sinks, bath tub, or shower, chances are your pipes are clogged. Pipe clogs are caused by debris in the pipe that block the flow of water, usually by the presence of foreign substances, such as hair or grease. Your first line of defense is to use a plunger to try to unclog the pipe and if that doesn’t work, try using a declogging chemical solvent. While there are many products you can purchase to unclog your pipes, such as drain-o or hair snaking tools, you may need to call a plumber if you can’t resolve it.

Burst Pipes

The signs of burst pipes are pretty obvious—water everywhere! This is a common occurrence during especially cold freezing temperatures—which is why it’s important to leave your faucets on slightly to keep the water flowing. You can also open up the cabinet under the sink to allow more heat to warm the pipes. Sometimes, however, burst pipes have nothing to do with the weather. Pipes can burst simply because they are old or because something is causing them to crack—such as tree roots growing inside. Your first line of defense here is to shut off your water at the main valve and then call a DC emergency plumber immediately.

Running Toilets

Not only is a toilet that won’t quit running annoying but it can also be very expensive! A running toilet is wasting gallons of water which is bad for the environment and your pocketbook. There are three main components of a toilet that could be malfunctioning for this to happen: the chain, the flapper, or the balloon. Before diagnosing anything, it’s probably a good idea to turn off the water valve to the toilet or things could get messy.

Sewer Back-Up

Finally, sewer back-ups happen. It’s important to know the signs so that you can react quickly before things get worse. You might notice your toilets gurgling or a sewer odor (yuck!). You may have multiple clogs at once in your home. All of these things indicate a sewer back up. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do yourself here except call a professional. Trust me, you won’t want to handle the clean-up yourself either. Sewer back-ups can happen when there is an abnormal amount of rainfall, when tree roots grow into pipes, or simply because of old pipes that need to be replaced.