Indianapolis Plumbing Services

There’s nothing quite like drawing a nice hot bath after a long day, only to get punched in the face by the nauseating stench of rotten eggs as soon as you start running that tap water. Talk about a real vibe killer! If you’ve noticed this foul sulfur odor coming from any sinks, showers, or other fixtures around your Indianapolis home, it’s a clear sign something stinks (literally) with your plumbing system.

Now, before you go holding your breath or start filling the tub, know that smell is actually hydrogen sulfide gas dissolving into your water supply. A little whiff here and there may just be an annoyance. But if that rotten odor persists and seems to be getting stronger over time, you’ll want to get it checked out pronto by professionals. Prolonged hydrogen sulfide exposure can lead to some serious, costly plumbing issues down the line.

Hydrogen sulfide only arises when bacteria start munching away on decaying organic matter inside your pipes, water heater, or potentially even your well if you’re on a rural municipal supply. As that gunk builds up unchecked, it keeps releasing more and more of that nostril-burning gas directly into your water stream.

While cranking up your water heater temperature may temporarily relieve the stench, that’s just a band-aid solution. Any persistent rotten egg odor means it’s time to call the plumbing experts at Bassett Services for a professional diagnosis. Our certified team has all the specialized tools and know-how to get to the bottom of what’s really causing that hydrogen sulfide – whether it’s grimy buildup, a water source issue, or something else entirely.

Plumbing pipes are the unsung heroes of your Indianapolis home’s infrastructure. When they’re relatively new and working properly, they just quietly do their job of delivering fresh water and removing wastewater without any fuss. But those underground pipes don’t last forever.

If your home’s plumbing system was installed before the 90s, chances are those original pipes are already approaching (or past) their life expectancy. See, most residential piping materials like galvanized steel and cast iron have a functional lifespan of around 50-75 years before they start springing leaks or corroding from the inside out. Father Time remains undefeated!

While some slow drain times or discolored water are obvious red flags that aging pipes need attention, there are some more subtle signs you’ll want to keep an eye out for:

• Increased Leaks/Water Bills: If you’re seeing a sudden spike in your monthly water costs or having to repair pinhole leaks constantly, it likely points to deteriorating pipes.
• Sags in Floors/Walls: As cast iron and galvanized piping corrodes away, it can actually cause drywall and flooring to sag inward over time as it loses integrity.
• Low Water Pressure: Crusty buildup inside older pipes reduces flow, causing a gradual drop in pressure at fixtures and appliances.
• Banging/Knocking Noises: Older metal pipes have a tendency to make loud knocking or banging rackets with water pressure changes as they age.
• Yellow/Brown Water: Once interior pipe walls start rusting out or accumulating sediment, your water will take on a discolored tint when reaching faucets.

If you’re experiencing any combo of these aging pipe symptoms, it means it’s likely time to start budgeting for a full repiping project with modern materials like PEX or copper. While not a small undertaking, having Bassett’s certified plumbers re-pipe your entire home provides a clean slate and decades of reliable service ahead.

Don’t wait until those aging pipes throw in the towel entirely and create a catastrophic flooding situation. If you suspect outdated plumbing, give us a call and we’ll provide an honest assessment. That ounce of prevention beats a thousand plumbing headaches any day!

Environmentally friendly plumbing may sound like an oxymoron at first. After all, isn’t plumbing just about getting water from Point A to Point B? How eco-conscious can some pipes and fixtures really be?

Turns out, more eco-friendly than you might think! From low-flow fixtures that conserve H2O to modern piping made from sustainable materials, there are quite a few green plumbing upgrades worth considering for your Indianapolis home.

A simple swap that makes a big impact? Replacing things like showerheads, faucets, and toilets with WaterSense-certified models. These low-flow options cut down on water usage without sacrificing performance at all. An average household can slash their water consumption by 30% just by swapping out bathrooms and kitchen fixtures!

Speaking of throne rooms, nothing guzzles water quite like old-school flushing toilets from the 80s and earlier. Trading up to a modern dual-flush or low-GPF (gallons per flush) commode instantly starts saving gallons with every trip to the loo.

For bigger, whole-home savings look at modern flexible piping options like PEX tubing and CPVC. These eco-friendly materials have a lower carbon footprint than traditional rigid copper pipes. They’re also simpler and less wasteful to install since push-fit connections don’t require solvents or scorching torches.

You can double down on sustainability by combining new pipes with a high-efficiency, tankless water heater too. Since these units only heat up water when it’s needed, they eliminate the constant energy losses from keeping a massive tank piping hot 24/7.

So don’t feel like going green with your plumbing means sacrificing convenience or modern amenities! Bassett’s certified plumbers are experts at recommending and installing all the latest eco-innovations for any home’s needs and budget. A little conservation can go a long way for the planet (and your utility bills!).

If you’ve lived in the Indianapolis area for any length of time, you’re probably well acquainted with the concept of hard water. That excess mineral content in our local H2O may not make for the most refreshing drinking experience, but did you know it can actually wreak havoc on your home’s entire plumbing system over time?

Hard water is basically liquid flowing through your pipes while carrying heavy concentrations of dissolved calcium, magnesium, and other minerals. As that water gets heated up by your water heater or flows through faucets and appliances, those stubborn mineral sediments have a tendency to gradually solidify and accumulate in the form of rock-hard scale buildup.

At first, you may only notice some crusty residue around fixtures and drains that’s a hassle to scrub off. But if left unaddressed, that ever-growing scale buildup can eventually clog up parts of your plumbing system entirely, restricting water flow and causing all sorts of performance issues.

Mineral buildup also acts as insulation inside pipes and water heating components, forcing appliances like tankless units to work much harder while losing efficiency. All that extra strain and residue can potentially shave years off the functional lifespan of equipment.

But wait, there’s more! Hard water’s effects go beyond just clogging up the works too. That mineral-rich moisture is also highly corrosive and can accelerate the rusting of metal piping and fittings over time. Plastic pipes don’t get off scot-free either, as hard water can directly contribute to deterioration and eventual pipe failure.

So unless you take proactive measures to combat scale accumulation through regular flushing and using quality filtration systems, hard water will inevitably take its toll on your home’s plumbing sooner or later. Easy enough to ignore in the short term – but those long-term consequences and repair costs definitely add up over years of neglect!

As gorgeous as snowfalls can be around Indianapolis, nature’s icy wrath poses a legitimately hazardous threat to home plumbing systems if you’re not prepared.

When overnight temps start dipping into the single digits (or far below zero with wind chills), any uninsulated water lines, fixtures, or plumbing appliances in exterior walls or unheated spaces quickly become freezing hazards. As that liquid H2O inside starts turning into expansive ice, immense pressure builds up capable of cracking and rupturing pipes from within. Silent, yet extremely destructive.

Trust us, few things are more miserable than coming home to a frozen flooding disaster after being away during a cold snap! Besides the huge hassle of water damage remediation and repairs, you could find yourself high and dry without fresh water for days or weeks until plumbers can make fixes.

So unless perpetual plumbing Doomsdays sound like your idea of a winter wonderland, taking some simple preventative measures ahead of time is an absolute must. Little things like insulating any exposed pipes, faucets, and fixtures – especially in high-risk areas like crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls. Even a basic foam pipe sleeve makes a huge difference.

For extended deep freezes, leave a trickle of water continuously running from faucets serving exposed or exterior pipes to prevent pressure buildups. Easy to catch that slowly dribbling flow in a bucket rather than mopping up cracked pipe flooding!

Ensuring your home’s heating system is functioning properly and set no lower than 55°F is critical too. Because if freezing temps ever breach your living spaces, your plumbing is basically a sitting duck.

And for extra peace of mind during cold snaps, consider shutting off water supplies to exterior spigots, irrigation systems, and other seasonal plumbing. That way, if isolated frozen bursts occur in those areas, at least you’re only dealing with localized issues instead of full-scale indoor leaks.

Do yourself a favor – don’t find out the hard way how merciless Old Man Winter can be on unprepared plumbing systems! Take time now for some preventative plumbing housekeeping, and avoid turning your home into a literal ice palace this year.

There’s nothing quite like firing up the backyard grill once those first warm breezes of spring hit Indianapolis. Suddenly the neighborhood fills up with tantalizing aromas of sizzling steaks and charbroiled veggies as we all eagerly welcome patio season. But before you can channel your inner Bobby Flay, make sure your outdoor cooking setup is installed safely and up to code!

Whether you’re running a permanent natural gas line to your deck for a built-in grill or just utilizing a quick-connect line for a freestanding propane model, there are some important guidelines to follow. You don’t want gas line mishaps turning your cookout into a three-alarm blaze!

For starters, any permanent gas piping installations for grills or outdoor kitchens need to be handled by certified professional plumbers. This isn’t a gig for amateur weekend warriors. Improperly sized lines, gaps in connections, inadequate materials – these are all accidents waiting to happen with potentially catastrophic consequences. Not worth risking your home just to save a few bucks!

Even with a portable grill, using fuel sources like propane tanks means following proper clearance requirements too. Most manufacturers recommend at least 5 feet of buffer space on all sides of the grill, keeping it well away from any structures, overhangs, combustibles and high-traffic areas. Grill placement is crucial for dispersing heat safely.

And whether your outdoor cooking is propane or natural gas-fueled, be sure to invest in quality gas lines made from rigid black pipe or flexible corrugated tubing rated for exterior use. Skimping with subpar rubber hoses or other sketchy materials is just asking for accelerated dry rot, cracks, and gas leaks down the road.

Above all else, any outdoor gas lines and equipment absolutely need to be outfitted with properly-sized shutoff valves and up-to-date connections to the current code. Frayed fittings or lack of operable shutoffs are a surefire way to have your grill brought down in a blaze of glory.

So let the family enjoy all the tasty grilled delights this spring and summer, but do it with peace of mind too! Call Bassett’s certified plumbers to ensure your permanent or portable outdoor gas lines are installed and operating 100% by the book. An ounce of prevention beats a burnt brat any day of the week.

Let’s be honest – most of us probably pay more attention to routine maintenance for our vehicles than the incredibly complex plumbing system silently running through our Indianapolis homes. We’ll get the oil changed every 3,000 miles like clockwork but are far more lackadaisical about caring for those hard-working pipes, drains, and water-based appliances.

Out of sight, out of mind…until one day you find yourself ankle-deep in a flooded basement or without hot showers entirely! See, plumbing may seem bulletproof when it’s performing flawlessly, but those systems absolutely require some routine TLC to keep operating their best long-term.

Just like your car, sticking to a basic annual maintenance schedule for your home’s pipes, fixtures, and water-based hardware makes all the difference. At a minimum, the licensed plumbers at Bassett Services recommend a comprehensive whole-home plumbing inspection and tune-up once every year.

During this 360° check-up, our certified technicians thoroughly evaluate every nook and cranny of your system, from incoming water supply lines to sinks, tubs, showers, and outgoing sewer drain pipes. We utilize specialized camera equipment to get eyes directly inside pipes and inspect for obstructions, corrosion, or accelerated wear.

Our team also carefully assesses water pressure levels, flow rates, water heater, and appliance performance during the tune-up visit. Even minor mineral buildup or leaks can be detected and repaired before turning into costlier flooding situations down the road.

Skipping too many years between plumbing inspections is just asking for a catastrophe in the making. Older homes with aged systems should consider increasing service to every 6 months as components approach their life expectancy.

And if you’ve got any larger anticipated projects on the horizon like bathroom renovations, kitchen overhauls, or finishing basements/additions, it’s wise to have Bassett inspect existing plumbing sooner rather than later. A professional assessment avoids change order nightmares midway through construction!

At the end of the day, keeping your household running smoothly all year long comes down to scheduling preventative plumbing maintenance as regularly as you do for your car’s tune-ups and oil changes. Trust us, it beats pulling your hair out over wet basements and plumbing meltdowns any day!

You know that sinking feeling when you open up a surprisingly high water bill, despite no obvious big-usage culprits around the house? Unless you inexplicably turned your home into an illegal car wash last month, those inflated charges could very likely be the handiwork of an insidious underground leak slowly driving up costs.

Sneaky subsurface leaks from your buried water supply lines or drainage pipes don’t always make themselves known right away. Unlike indoor leaks that rapidly puddle up, these external losses can silently hemorrhage water into the surrounding soil for months before anything looks amiss above ground.

So unless you enjoy paying out the nose for wasted water, it’s wise to periodically check for any signs of underground plumbing line leaks around your Indianapolis property. A few common red flags to watch out for:

• Soggy spots or overly lush vegetation growth in random lawn areas when it hasn’t rained
• Sinkholes, soil erosion, or areas where the ground always seems perennially damp
• Warm spots on the grass indicating heated water seepage
• Sudden spikes in your monthly water usage bills with no good explanation
• Reduced water pressure at sinks and showers that can’t be remedied

If you start noticing any of those issues in your yard, it’s smart to call in the leak detection experts at Bassett Services right away before major damage occurs.

Using specialized acoustic listening equipment and in-pipe camera gear, our certified plumbers can rapidly isolate even the sneakiest slab leak or busted underground drainage pipe without any destructive digging. We’ll then provide you with an upfront assessment of the best repair options for your specific scenario.

In some cases, modern solutions like pipe re-lining can seal underground leaks with a minimally invasive “surgery.” For more severe ruptures or older piping, full-line replacements may be recommended to head off future headaches.

Either way, getting a proper diagnosis from Bassett is the first step to dealing with any underground leaks decisively before they soak you with massive water losses and repair bills down the road. Why keep flushing money into the lawn? Call the Indianapolis leak detective pros today and nip those pesky subsurface plumbing gremlins in the bud!