What’s the Lifespan of My Home’s Plumbing?

Leaking Pipes

Your plumbing system isn’t just the lifeline of your home, it is also a sizable investment that can either subtract or add value to your home. Understanding what contributes to your plumbing system’s lifespan is critical for getting the best return on your investment while also living comfortably and safely. Read on to learn more…

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Hard Water Problems and Solutions

Hardwater Problems & Solutions by Mike Counsil Plumbing

When the water that comes out of your taps has a high mineral content, it is known as hard water. While hard water is not actually harmful to your health, it can still cause numerous problems in your household. Here is a guide to some of the most significant issues that hard water can cause—along…

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A Brief Look at Our Home Protection Plans

A happy couple after choosing a home protection plan from Mike Counsil Plumbing and Rooter

Planning helps you stay in control and on top of your responsibilities—including monitoring your home’s water heater and other plumbing elements. Here at Mike Counsil Plumbing, we help homeowners stay on track with our home protection plans. When you sign up for a home protection plan, you’ll receive annual tune ups and other maintenance services…

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Signs That You Need a New Water Heater

The heater.

No household can function without a working water heater. Even if you’re overdue to replace your current water heater, however, it isn’t always clear when the time has come to make that investment. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the potential warning signs that your current water heater is due to be replaced.…

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Tips for Preventing Clogs in Your Bathroom Drains

The Mike Council Green Truck.

Tips for Preventing Clogs in Your Bathroom Drains If there’s one thing nobody wants to be greeted by in the morning, it’s a clogged drain in the bathroom. Whether it’s your sink, your bathtub, or your toilet that’s stopped up, a clog in one of your bathroom drains usually means it’s time to call a…

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The Different Types of Plumbing Pipes

Technician Performing Pipe Maintenance in a Residential Area, San Jose, CA

Today’s plumbing industry is rapidly changing as we learn more and more about the health advantages and dangers of different materials used for the pipes that carry our water. Innovation has met design and the result is many types of plumbing pipes that each carry their own unique benefits depending on their use. Pipes are…

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5 Tips for Clearing a Clogged Drain

Clogged Kitchen Sink Showing Blockage, San Jose, CA

It’s easy to forget how useful indoor plumbing is until a clogged sink or toilet disrupts your daily routine. If your pipes have stopped flowing freely, follow these five tips to clear the clog before calling a plumber. First, Assess Your Plumbing Fixtures A single clogged toilet or drain is a common result of accumulated…

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Do I Need a Water Softener?

Water Softener System Installed in a Residential Setting, San Jose, CA

Do I Need a Water Softener? When you turn on a faucet, you expect fresh, clean water to come pouring out. However, did you know that your pipes carry more than just H2O? Hard water also contains dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and more. While these are not inherently dangerous to drink, they…

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How to Fix a Leaking Faucet

Leaky faucet

The steady drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet is more than just a nuisance—it’s also wasteful. A leak of just one drip per second wastes over 3,000 gallons of water per year. Before attempting to fix your leaking faucet, shut off the water by turning the valve mounted to the wall below the sink.…

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The Essential Water Heater Maintenance Checklist

Close-up of Technician's Hands Working on a Water Heater, San Jose, CA

How much thought do you give your water heater? If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about it very much at all. Many of us just expect it to stay tucked out of sight, providing us with hot water, and we don’t give it a thought until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, this approach…

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