Water heaters, leaks, clogs, and the calls that can't wait. Tell us what's going on and we'll tell you when we can get there. You'll get the price before we start.
Athens has older homes near the square and a lot of newer neighborhoods going up around town. Out in the county, plenty of houses are on septic instead of city sewer. We work on all of it.
On septic, a backup can mean something different than it does on city sewer. Before you call, it helps to know when the tank was last pumped. We clear and repair the drains in the house and check the line running out. Pumping the tank is a job for a septic company.
Septic trouble signsMost homes in Athens get their water from Athens Utilities, which draws from the Elk River. Some areas, especially outside city limits, are on the Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority instead. Either way, the line from the meter to your house is usually yours.
How to check for a hidden leakMost water in this part of Alabama carries some hardness, and it settles in the bottom of tank water heaters as sediment. If your tank pops or rumbles while it heats, that's usually why. A yearly flush helps.
Why it pops, and how to flush itA lot of homes here sit over a crawlspace, and that's where pipes freeze when a hard cold snap comes through. Close the foundation vents and drip the faucets on outside walls before the temperature drops.
How to keep pipes from freezingOn a rural lot the water meter often sits out by the road, a long way from the house. That whole run of pipe between the meter and your back door is usually yours, and it’s buried where you can’t see it. When it leaks, the first sign is often a soggy strip in the yard, a spot where the grass stays greener than the rest, or a water bill that doesn’t make sense. The same goes for the sewer or septic line running the other way. It’s worth knowing roughly where both lines run before you dig a fence post or plant a tree.
In town it’s a more familiar setup. Athens Utilities handles the water up to the meter, and the rest is usually on the homeowner. Older homes near the square tend to have older pipe, and the newer houses have their own issues, like a water heater in the attic with no drain pan or a shutoff valve nobody can find.
Athens and the nearby parts of Limestone County. The county covers a lot of ground, so if you're farther out, call and we'll tell you honestly whether we can get to you and when.
Yes, on the plumbing side. We clear and repair the drains in the house and check the line running out to the tank. If it looks like the tank itself needs pumping, we'll tell you, and that part is a job for a septic company.
It depends on where you are and how the day is going. Call with your address and we'll give you a straight answer.
If the leak is at the meter or on the street side, call your water provider. That's Athens Utilities in town and often the Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority outside city limits. If it's between the meter and your house, that's usually yours to fix, and we can help.
Some, like most water in this part of the state. Athens Utilities draws its water from the Elk River. The utility's yearly water quality report lists the number, or a cheap test strip from the hardware store will tell you in about a minute.
Tell us what's going on and we'll take it from there. Quick questions are welcome.
Call or text, anytime(256) 207-5134