While some call it a “plumber’s snake,” others call it an “auger.” No matter the name, how it is used and its effectiveness is what matters most.

A drain auger is an important tool that combats drain clogs. Drain cleaning can be simple with the assistance of a drain auger, and our Fort Worth TX plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing are here to assist you with all your pesky drain clogs.

An auger is a reel of coiled metal with a hand crank attached. It may sound complex, but it actually is quite a simple tool to use. Torsional force generated as the auger handle cranks is significant enough to tear into many drain clogs. There are some more advanced augers that use a motorized drill to generate torsion.

After liquid chemical drain cleaning products and your plunger have failed, it may be time to call on an auger. Feed the auger cable down the drain until you meet resistance. The mission is either to drill through the drain clog by way of cranking, or to snag and retrieve the drain obstruction.

In working with an auger, you will find that it is a very effective clog remover. Feel free to call our Fort Worth drain cleaning specialists for assistance. Call our Fort Worth TX plumbing company today, or visit us online for more information.

With the spring season in full swing, now may be the best time – or as good a time as any – to spice up your bathroom. A bathroom makeover just might be the ultimate answer.

If you’re considering a bathroom remodeling project, our Fort Worth TX plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing specialize in bathroom remodeling, and we will make sure that your bathroom is everything you need for the price you want.

Style, with most customers, is the first concern of any bathroom remodeling project. Whether you’re looking to modernize your bathroom or give it more of a rustic look, we will assist you. In addition to style, we also take storage space into consideration. We want you to be able to maximize your wall space, and we will provide the cutting edge in storage solutions.

In remodeling your bathroom, our plumbers also will help you design a budget. We offer many affordable options for all remodeling projects, whether it involves installing a new Jacuzzi or giving your sink and faucet a face lift. Every dollar spent will increase the aesthetics and overall value of your home.

If you are in the market for sprucing up your bathroom, let our Fort Worth plumbing company help. Call us today, or visit us online for information.

We’ve all heard of hard water. While it is not necessarily harmful to your health, it can be harmful to your plumbing system.

Hard water, simply put, is water with a high mineral content. Often times, those minerals are calcium and magnesium. Hard water can affect how water tastes or affect how a face cloth lathers during a shower or bath. Hard water also may be the reason why dishes have so many spots and stains after being washed.

Hard water may cause havoc in your pipes, as the mineral content may be a contributor to breakdown. Anything that distributes water – pipes, water heaters, boilers, etc. – may be affected. One of the best ways to get rid of hard water is to use a water softener, which combats the calcium and magnesium intake in water with sodium and potassium ions.

Water softeners can last for many years with very low maintenance. They also can come as energy-efficient appliances. Let our Fort Worth plumbers provide additional information about water softeners, hard water or any other related topic.

Give our Fort Worth TX plumbing company a call today, or visit us online for details.

Your garbage disposal should be treated the same way you treat your microwave, refrigerator, stove, countertop or anything else in the kitchen. It should be cleaned periodically to where it will avoid major maintenance in the future.

A clogged garbage disposal can lead to multiple problems, but before you make the call to one of our Fort Worth TX plumbers, we want to offer several tips for minor clog issues. A solution to your problem may be something as simple as using a common household item.

• Don’t overdo it: Most people either forget or simply don’t know that a disposal is used for disposing small amount of food. It is not made to dispose large bones or large amounts of anything. Overusing your disposal can lead to instant clogging issues.
• Ice and fruit: Don’t be afraid to throw a couple of ice cubes down the disposal. The cubes will grind and clean the blades. Citric fruit peels, such as oranges, lemons and limes, will provide a nice smell after the ice cubes do their job.
• When it doubt, use water: Cold water assists in quality maintenance. Go figure! Running cold water before, during and after disposal use will help to flush particles that can build in the system and give the disposal problems.

If any of these garbage disposal maintenance tips fail, it may be time for you to call a plumbing professional. Our Fort Worth plumbers specialize in all residential and commercial services, no matter how major or minor the task is. Call our Fort Worth TX plumbing company today, or visit us online for details.

Take a glance at your bathroom sink. It’s something that is often overlooked in every bathroom.

If you are interested in a bathroom makeover, your sink might be an excellent starting point. There are multiple styles of sinks available for purchase, but here are three in particular that could bring a new level of elegance to your bathroom immediately upon installation.

• Pedestal sink: Sinks that stand on a base, giving your sink a stand-alone look. These sinks also do not take up a lot of space and are relatively easy to clean.
• Vessel sink: Sinks that rest on top of a counter, which explains they’re also known as “above-counter sinks.” These sinks are pricy but well worth the fee.
• Wall hung sink: Sinks that are mounted directly on a bathroom wall. These can be installed on any flat surface and at any height.

More common sink options are self-rimming sinks and under mount sinks. Self-rimming sinks are those mounted above a counter with a visible rim. Chances are, your home has at least one of these sinks in a bathroom. An under mount sink is one that is installed from underneath a counter top. It can come with a counter-mounted faucet or a wall-mounted faucet.

Let our Fort Worth TX plumbing experts assist you with choosing the right sink for your bathroom. Call our Fort Worth plumbers today, or visit us online for more details on sink replacement.

When grey water is mentioned, it often times receives a negative connotation. Grey water, by definition, is wastewater that is generated from activities done around the house, including bathing, dishwashing and laundry.

What a lot of people don’t know is that grey water – even containing hair, grease or food – can be recycled for landscape irrigation and other environmentally sound purposes. Recycled grey water not only reduces the amount of wastewater that enters sewer systems but also reduces the amount of freshwater that is needed for the good of a home.

Grey water gets its name from having a cloudy look. Fresh water is known as white water, while sewage water is known as black water. Grey water basically is capable of composing as much as 80 percent of all residential wastewater generated from the sanitation unit of a home, sans the toilets. Grey water can be used for lawn care or for watering maturing plants and produce.

Grey water may not be drinkable, but it’s definitely usable. Let our Fort Worth TX plumbers answer all of your questions about the benefits of grey water. Feel free to give our Fort Worth plumbing company a call today, or visit us online for information.

Bathtub stains, whether it is soap scum or calcium, lime and rust buildup, can be a pain. They look horrible, and they can make a bathroom lose its luster. They also can take forever to clean without the proper materials. The worst thing about tub stains is that everyone has them.

Our Fort Worth TX plumbers understand your plight, and we want to offer some cleaning solutions. Before you read this, know your tub – what it’s made of and what may happen if the wrong cleaning solution is used.

Here are a few cleaning tips that may work for you:

• Rust? Go orange: For rust stains, an orange oil-based cleaner may be just what you need. Use the cleaner with a soft scrubbing pad. Make sure your tub is dry when cleaning.
• Porcelain remedies: For those without abrasive powders, plumbing experts suggest using a paste of borax with water to clean all porcelain tubs. The borax can be spread using a sponge or pumice stone in an effort to remove soap scum. Rinse the  buildup with water.
• Give a wipe-down: After every shower or bath, wipe your tub and the walls with a wet sponge. This helps in removing excess water, which could aid in the growth of mold and mildew. If you don’t want to buy the after-shower cleaners, it has been suggested by experts to mix hydrogen peroxide with water to make a homemade shower spray.

Let these tips assist you in giving your bathtub that immaculate look once again. Feel free to call our Fort Worth TX plumbing company for information, or contact us online today.