Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating

06/10/2019

Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable?
Many claim to be sewer and septic safe, but tests conducted by Consumer Reports showed otherwise: some personal cleansing wipes didn't break down in water after 10 minutes, compared to regular toilet paper that disintegrated into tiny bits in a few seconds. (Check out the video from Consumer Reports, below.)

Reports have shown these not-so-flushables are clogging sewer systems in spots including San Francisco, Miami, Washington, D.C. and New York City. They are a large cause of clogged toilets and septic systems. Some other toiletries that don't belong in the toilet: dental floss, band-aids, sanitary napkins, cotton swabs, tampons, and condoms.

You can save yourself a lot of time, money and aggravation if you avoid disposing of these items in the toilet. If you need us, we're here to help, and if you want to keep receiving helpful plumbing and heating tips, "like" our page.

Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating
Proudly serving Northeastern Massachusetts for over 35 years
(781) 420-9702

Flushable wipes are touted as an alternative to toilet paper. Are they really safe for sewers and septic systems? (January, 2014)

03/15/2019

Happy St. Patrick's Day from all of us at Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating of Ipswich, MA.
(781) 420-9702

03/10/2019

As a Master Plumber and a professional firefighter, I see the value of working smoke detectors/carbon monoxide detectors in saving lives every day. Please remember to change the batteries in your smoke/carbon monoxide detectors when you change your clocks in Spring and Autumn. (It may seem like an abundance of caution, but isn't that the point of these detectors? Best to err on the side of caution.)

Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating
Ipswich, Massachusetts
(781) 420-9702

11/21/2018

5 Tips to Avoid a Plumbing Emergency During the Holiday Season

Preventing plumbing problems in the kitchen during the holidays is easy as pie, if cooks know the do’s and don’ts of their drains and garbage disposals.

Year in and year out, the holidays brings a spike in emergency calls to plumbers for malfunctioning garbage disposals and clogged drains. In fact, the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for plumbers, seeing a nearly 50% spike in emergency visits.

With a house full of family and friends, more leftovers go down the drain. That means an increase in the chance of drains clogging and garbage disposals breaking.

After the holiday feast is cleaned up, it is important for cooks to know what should - and should not - be put down the drain.
Garbage disposals weren’t designed to replace the trash can.On top of that, they usually get overworked during the holidays.

Follow these top five tips to avoid dealing with a plumbing emergency:

*Don’t put chicken or turkey bones or skin, or onion peels down the garbage disposal.
*Throw large amounts of old leftovers in the trash or compost pile.
*Feed waste gradually to prevent overloading the garbage disposal.
*Avoid pouring grease down the drain – it will harden on your pipes; wipe off greasy pans before washing. If you suspect that grease has gone down, run hot water with a bit of dish detergent, like Dawn or other grease cutter with the disposal on.
*Don’t operate the dishwasher if you suspect a problem. It discharges into the disposal.

Hopefully you can avoid plumbing problems in the kitchen, but if they do occur, feel free to call us. Our licensed, professional plumbers are here to help.

Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating
(781) 420-9702
Serving Boston and the North Shore for over 35 years.
Please like our page to receive more helpful tips.

07/25/2018

There is still plenty of summer vacation time left! Check out our Plumbing Checklist Of Things To Do Before Leaving Your Home for Vacation:

Turn off outdoor faucets and disconnect hoses. Even a small drip or leak can add up to a big water bill!

Turn off your home’s main water supply. This will prevent plumbing leaks while no one’s home. Tip: If you need someone to come over and water your garden while you’re away, you can shut off the water at the main valve coming into your house, while making outside water available for sprinklers and hoses.

Set your water heater to the lowest setting. This will keep your energy bill down while you’re away. Alternatively, you may want to completely shut off the water heater and drain it to help prevent flooding.

Inspect your sump pump. A hard-working sump pump is the best way to prevent basement flooding. One to two weeks before leaving your home for vacation, have a professional plumber come out to perform routine maintenance and make sure your sump pump is running smoothly. For extra protection, install a battery back-up sump pump.

Install a whole-house water security system. As a homeowner, this is your best year-round defense against hazardous and costly water damage—whether you’re on vacation, or you’re simply asleep or away at work. Learn more about water security systems here.

Ask someone to check on your home. It’s always a good idea to have a friend or relative look after your house when you’re out of town. Be sure to leave them all your emergency contact numbers, including your plumber’s phone number.

Enjoy your vacation more by saving money and preventing problems while you're away. If you need us before or after your vacation, feel free to call us: Bob Hegarty Plumbing (781) 420-9702
Serving Northeastern Massachusetts for over 35 years
Quality, professional service; Fully licensed and insured

05/29/2018

Have your water rates gone up? Are you concerned about conserving this precious resource? All residential water consumers should check out this informative article from Checkbook.org. There are many useful tips that you can take care of on your own, but should you require the services of a licensed and insured professional plumber, feel free to call on us.

Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating
Proudly serving Northeastern Massachusetts
(781) 420-9702

https://www.checkbook.org/boston-area/water-saving-tips/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw9LPYBRDSARIsAHL7J5m6pc3NXtUQqXBOPTkTldAEAq7CLBvNGFdrctnExWSoR4ln2mqGCVkaAsFkEALw_wcB #.Ww3CkEE2Xcg.email

Water-Saving Tips

03/29/2018

Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable?
Many claim to be sewer and septic safe, but tests conducted by Consumer Reports showed otherwise: some personal cleansing wipes didn't break down in water after 10 minutes, compared to regular toilet paper that disintegrated into tiny bits in a few seconds. (Check out the video from Consumer Reports, below.)

Reports have shown these not-so-flushables are clogging sewer systems in spots including San Francisco, Miami, Washington, D.C. and New York City. They are a large cause of clogged toilets and septic systems. Some other toiletries that don't belong in the toilet: dental floss, band-aids, sanitary napkins, cotton swabs, tampons, and condoms.

You can save yourself a lot of time, money and aggravation if you avoid disposing of these items in the toilet. If you need us, we're here to help, and if you want to keep receiving helpful plumbing and heating tips, "like" our page.

Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating
Proudly serving Northeastern Massachusetts for over 35 years
(781) 420-9702

Flushable wipes are touted as an alternative to toilet paper. Are they really safe for sewers and septic systems? (January, 2014)

03/21/2018

Just a safety FYI--Please read!

Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating
Proudly serving Northeastern Massachusetts for over 35 years
(781) 420-9702

A yellow cap left on during the manufacturing process could keep the smoke alarms from detecting fires.

03/16/2018

Happy St. Patrick's Day
from all of us at

Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating
Proudly serving Northeastern Massachusetts for over 35 years.
(781) 420-9702

03/10/2018

World Plumbing Day is an international event, initiated by the World Plumbing Council, held on 11 March each year to recognise the important role plumbing plays in societal health and amenity. I am proud to be a member of this tribe.

"THE PLUMBERS PROTECT THE HEALTH OF OUR NATION"

"If I would be a young man again and had to decide how to make my living, I would not try to become a scientist or scholar or teacher. I would rather choose to be a plumber or a peddler in the hope to find that modest degree of independence still available under present circumstances." - Albert Einstein, The Reporter, 18 November 1954

Shortly after making this remark, the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union, A.F.L. in Washington, D.C. voted to grant Einstein an honorary membership. Einstein was reportedly well pleased with this honor.

Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating
Proudly serving Northeastern Massachusetts for over 35 years
(781) 420-9702

02/19/2018

Calling all Parents and Teachers--Getting kids to help conserve water is easier than you think! In honor of Fix-a-Leak week, March 19-25 this year, the EPA has a WaterSense for Kids page with kid-friendly information and tips, and educator lesson plans. It's never too early to start sharing important information with your family or students. After all, the water they learn to save now they will be using for a long time. There is great information for adults, too!

If you'd like to continue receiving important plumbing and heating tips, "like" our page. If we can help with fixing leaks or installing water-conserving plumbing or devices, give us a call.

Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating
Proudly serving northeastern Massachusetts for over 35 years.
(781) 420-9702

Kids are thirsty for knowledge! Quench that thirst by learning simple ways to save water with WaterSense.

02/06/2018

According to the National Institutes of Health, carbon monoxide poisoning is a leading cause of poisoning in the United States. Is your home or workplace safe?

As a master plumber and professional firefighter, I deal with the issue of carbon monoxide on a daily basis: As a plumber, I work to prevent exposure to people and animals in homes and businesses; as a firefighter, I see the consequences of carbon monoxide exposure. Just thought I'd share some tips.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless and colorless gas that is produced any time we burn fuels like natural gas, propane, gasoline, wood, coal, etc. In high enough concentrations, carbon monoxide is poisonous and can cause severe illness or even death. We produce CO everyday, most often when heating or cooking, and there are several appliances in our homes that can cause a potential carbon monoxide leak, including furnaces, hot water heaters, fireplaces, grills, stoves, and all other types of fuel-powered appliances or tools.

What are the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Headache
Nausea
Dizziness
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Long-term exposure, or exposure to higher concentrations can cause much more severe symptoms, including:
Depression
Confusion
Memory loss
Dizziness
Vomiting
Fainting or losing consciousness
Death

While everyone is at risk of CO poisoning, some of us are a little more at risk than others. Senior citizens and small children, as well as those of us with breathing problems, heart diseases, or anemia are more vulnerable to the effects of exposure. Thankfully, there are a number of precautions we can take in order to minimize our risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

How Can I Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
The only way to know that there is CO in your home is with a certified carbon monoxide detector. There are, however, a number of other things we can do to prevent build-up of the gas in the first place:

Install a battery operated carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your house, following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Be sure to replace the batteries at least once a year. CO detectors are readily available at most hardware and home improvement stores.
The best place to install a CO detector is near our bedrooms, as we are most vulnerable to carbon monoxide when we’re sleeping.
If the carbon monoxide alarm ever sounds, immediately remove everyone from inside the house, call 911, and wait in an area with plenty fresh air for emergency services personnel to arrive.
Have gas appliances installed by a licensed professional.
Be sure that all of your fuel-burning appliances are properly ventilated and that all the pipes are properly sealed.
Have all your fuel-burning appliances regularly checked and serviced by certified professionals.
Be sure that your fireplace is properly sealed and ventilated, and have your chimney checked and cleaned annually.
Never use portable gas or charcoal grills or heaters indoors.
Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.
Never leave your vehicle running in your garage, especially if your garage is attached to your home. Also, be sure to have a mechanic regularly inspect the exhaust system on your vehicle for leaks.

If you need a reliable plumber, don't hesitate to call us. If you would like to continue to receive helpful plumbing and heating tips, "like" our page.
Bob Hegarty Plumbing and Heating
Serving Northeastern Massachusetts for over 35 years
(781) 420-9702