Winterize Your Sprinkler System
Sprinklers need maintenance, and not just during the spring or summer. Here’s how to winterize your sprinkler system.
What to Look For When Buying a New Toilet
Not all toilets are the same, and buying a new toilet means doing research into what fits your preferences.
Plumbing a Basement Bathroom
If you need to work on installing new lines and plumbing a basement bathroom, then there is a lot of preparation you need to do.
Stop a Shaking Washing Machine
A shaking washing machine creates more than just an awful sound. That shifting moves all parts, including the plumbing and pipes connected.
Changing Your Shower Head Can Affect Your Water Pressure
Inside your home, you can make all the decisions on the things that help improve your quality of life. Dishwashers make cleaning up easier. New blinds can stop the sun from waking you up early on the weekends, and that one recliner feels like it was made personally...
Older Homes and Possible Plumbing Problems
Things tend to get better with age, but old house plumbing problems can become more frequent and potentially more destructive.
Signs That You May Have a Slab Leak
You may not be able to tell when you have a slab leak as easily, as this leak is happening beneath your home and in its foundation.
Help! I Have Water Stains on My Ceiling
Something that is hard to miss, and important not to ignore, is when you have a water stain on the ceiling. The discoloration is much more than just an eyesore, but a sign that something far worse is happening above. Once you find that cause, you must act quickly to...
How to Fix a Hard-to-Turn Faucet
Some plumbing issues can get out of hand, and require you to call the professionals to ensure a proper and quick fix. However, those can sometimes be expensive. There are some problems that feel like they need a plumber, but can actually be fixed by you, the...
Best Methods for Cleaning Your Bathtub
Soap scum isn’t the only thing that makes a dirty bathtub less appealing. A dirty bathtub will also accumulate bacteria, and it will create a space that mold and mildew can thrive. To avoid having your bathroom get more gross because of a dirty tub, you need to make...
Is Brown Tap Water Safe To Drink?
We all have the expectation that when we turn on the faucet, the water that flows out will be clean and clear. So it may come as a shock when the water is anything but that, and instead is brown. You may wonder what is causing your water to turn brown, how can it be...
Do Pressure Washers Use Too Much Water?
Fewer things are as oddly satisfying as comparing the before and after images of using a pressure washer. Pressure washers, also known as power washers, utilize a powered motor that powers a water pump, and that pump speeds up the water to create a high-powered...
Collecting and Reusing Rainwater
There have been many attempts over the past couple years to make a push into using less water. Sometimes it can be difficult, especially if you have a larger household. But no matter how often you run the dishwasher, how many loads of laundry go into the washing...
Anticipating the Most Common Plumbing Emergencies
Anticipating household plumbing problems can not only save you from water damage, but will also save you money.
The Truth About Chemical Drain Cleaners
Strong acids that are found in chemical drain cleaners are there to move through the pipes and not to be used on the fixtures themselves.
Is It Possible to Move My Bathroom Plumbing?
In order to move bathroom plumbing, you’ll need a lot more than just an idea. Your home’s foundation will play a big role in what you can do.
Do All Showers Need a Bathtub?
Knowing the pros and cons of your various bathroom remodel ideas can help influence your design decisions (and save you money).
What to Do With Low Well Water Pressure
Low well water pressure is more than just an inconvenience. Here are Kellermeier’s tips to check your water lines for a better flow.
Where You Might Find Springtime Leaks
To make sure that your water is being used exactly where you want it, you need to learn how to find a plumbing leak first.
Cleaning a Dirty Dishwasher
Do you know how to clean a dirty dishwasher? No, it doesn’t clean itself. Like any appliance, if there’s too much neglect it will fail.
Will a Touchless Faucet Work in My Kitchen?
Believe it or not, but a hands-free option is available for your kitchen, and it comes as a touchless faucet.
Be Aware of Do-it-Yourself Plumbing Dangers
While many home projects can be handled with ease, there are some real plumbing dangers for even the most skilled of DIYers.
How To Respond During a Burst Pipe Emergency
If you do not know where your main shutoff valve is, now is the time to figure it out. Don’t wait until there’s a pipe burst emergency.
Are You Spending Too Much Money on Plumbing?
The best way to save on plumbing is to be proactive with better home water management and preventative maintenance.
There’s a Bad Smell Coming From the Sink
A bad smelling drain is more common than you think. When there are clogs or other waste in the drain, they can hang around for a while
No Hot Water? Check the Water Heater
There’s no way around it. When you have no hot water in your bathroom or in your kitchen, you may need to look at your water heater.
Replacing a Toilet Flapper
Have you ever woken up only to discover that your toilet has been running for hours from the night before? Blame it on your toilet flapper.
How to Recognize Bad Plumbing Jobs
Noticing bad plumbing jobs quickly can help you solve the problem before it arises, especially when moving into a new house.
Proper Usage of Thread Seal Tape
Learning how to use plumbers tape — or teflon — is critical in a proper plumbing project when trying to easily prevent joint leaks.
Investing in an Under Sink Water Filter
In order to get the most out of your space available, and to get the best water possible, consider investing in an under sink water filter.
What You Should Know About Different Types of Plumbing Pipes
It’s an obvious desire to avoid leaks, but the varying types of plumbing pipes each play a unique role in how you secure your plumbing.
Winter Is a Rough Time to Have Water Heater Problems
Water heater sounds won’t always be an issue. But if what you hear is constant, then you’ll have a good reason to be concerned.
Help, My Toilet Is Leaking at the Base!
If your toilet is leaking from the base do not be ignore it. If it isn’t taken care of quick enough, then it will lead to more problems.
Damaged Plumbing and Broken Pipes
What can you do when you have damaged plumbing? First, understand a couple reasons your plumbing got into the state that it is in.
Keeping Your Kitchen Sink Clean and Clear
Preventing kitchen plumbing problems starts with attention to your kitchen sink. It isn’t just good for your pipes, but also for your health.
New Home Plumbing Tips
For first-time home buyers, much of that work should go into keeping your new home’s plumbing in working order.
Laundry Room Plumbing
The state of your laundry room plumbing goes beyond just the washing machine. Hoses, gases, drainage, sewer lines. It’s all connected.
Tools to Keep Your Drain Clear
Prevent drain clogs from becoming unrelenting disasters by learning what tools and tricks you can use to keep your plumbing clear.
Prevent Your Basement From Flooding
A flooded basement means more than just excess water in your home. That water will damage your floors, your walls, and your belongings.
Caulking the Bathroom the Right Way
To better prevent water damage in your bathroom, we’ll tell you how caulking the bathroom in the right spots can ease a few DIY headaches.
Connecting Your Refrigerator to Your Kitchen’s Plumbing
While there is some added difficulty to a refrigerator plumbing issue, it is still something that you might be able to do yourself.
How to Install a New Garbage Disposal
Even a new garbage disposal installation can wear out after about a decade of use, so the time might be approaching for an upgrade.
Things to Keep in Mind For Your Bathroom Remodel
When fixtures become outdated, you dream big and think about an entire bathroom remodel. Here’s what you should know before you begin.
Fixing the Issue of Low Water Pressure
An unexpected low water episode pressure can disrupt your expectations of a calming, cooling, or cleansing shower.
Update the Plumbing to Increase Your Home’s Value
Instead of splurging on major renovations or remodels, learn how to increase home value by upgrading your home’s plumbing.
How to Fix an Overflowing Toilet
There are few plumbing problems that incite an immediate sense of dread, and one of them is not knowing how to fix an overflowing toilet.
Why Kitchen Plumbing Is the Most Important Part of a Remodel
Homeowners go for style during kitchen remodels, but there’s so much more involved hidden behind the surfaces, like your kitchen plumbing.
Running an Efficient Washing Machine
Most homes have them, but do you know how energy efficient your washing machine is, or if there is a better alternative out there?
Are Your Sprinklers Using Too Much Water?
To keep your grass green, you rely on a sprinkler system. The question is, are your sprinklers are using too much water, or not enough?
Fixing the Issue of Sweaty Pipes
Leaky pipes can often lead to further damage and high utility bills. Fortunately, a puddle might not be from a leak, but from sweaty pipes.
Getting Rid of Drain Flies, and How to Keep Them Away
Drain flies thrive on stagnant water, particularly shallow sources near food or bacteria. Bathrooms and kitchens are favorable areas.
Draining Your Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers work wonders for your family’s health, so you need to know how to drain your dehumidifier properly so it can consistently do its job.
Adjust Your Water Heater in the Summer
You don’t want scorching water spewing out of the shower head, do you? We’ll show you how to adjust a water heater so your summer can stay cooler.
Be Smart With Your Water Usage When Gardening
We get it, you’re eager for your flower to bloom and your garden to grow, but follow these water efficiency tips first to help save your plants.
Pest Problems and Your Plumbing
While either pests and plumbing problems can lead to the other, it’s more likely that an issue with your plumbing can lead to an issue with an infestation.
How Do Plumbers Tackle Tree Roots in Sewer Lines?
Tree roots in plumbing fixtures can cause clogs or backups. If your pipes are older and looser, roots can cause cracks or fissures.
Don’t Delay When Repairing Water Damage
When there’s a flooded basement, water will find its way into those unseen places. The sooner you can properly start water damage repair, the better.
Simple Ways to Clean Your Own Plumbing
Ignoring your drains allows gunk and grime to build up. If you wait too long to clear out the gunk, then a tough clog will form within your pipes.
Looking for the Right Toilet Paper Alternative?
We may be past the great toilet paper shortage, but that does not mean you have to stop thinking about your toilet paper alternative.
Why is My Water Bill so High?
The next time your high water bill comes, if it is much higher than you expected, there may be a problem you are not aware of yet.
Clean Out Your Gutters Right Now
Cleaning gutters plays an important role in directing the water away from your house and its foundation, but neglecting your gutters could be costly.
How to Handle a Leaking Bib on an Outdoor Faucet
As you connect your hose to the faucet and turn on the water, you might see an unfortunate leak coming from the damaged hose bib.
The High Demand for a Tankless Water Heater
Cutting back on the wait for hot water and reducing your energy bills can go hand in hand. Have you considered a tankless water heater?
Stop Toilet Troubles Before They Start
Before you call the plumber, even before the clogged toilet makes a mess, there are things you can do to stop it from happening.
More Ways to Cut Back on Water Usage
During quarantine, you will put your utilities through the ringer. It’s best to know how you can start saving water at home before the bill skyrockets.
Signs of a Clogged Sewer Line
There are ways that you can prevent sewer line clogs from happening, especially when you or a plumbing professional knows what to look for.
What Causes Water Spots?
Despite their appearance, an overreaction to water spots on your dishes is unwarranted because there are a couple things you can do to prevent them.
Does Your Water Take Too Long to Heat?
Doesn’t it always happen that when you don’t have time to waste, your water heater is slow to heat, and you want to fix that fast.
(More) Frequently Asked Plumbing Questions
When you experience an issue, you are definitely not the first. In fact, other homeowners ask many of the same plumbing questions thousands of times.
The Inner Workings of Your Basement Floor Drain
Your basement floor drain is one of the most important parts of your home’s plumbing. Without it, there would be no place for water to exit.
Can You Still Use Your Plumbing During a Power Outage?
Does a power outage affect your plumbing? The short answer is, yes. Without power, you can still have running water to your house.
How to Survive Without a Dishwasher
If you’re facing the problem of a broken dishwasher, or if you never had a dishwasher to begin with, you can still survive without one.
What is Causing Those Bad Smells From Your Plumbing?
There are quite a few common causes to bad plumbing smells that you can identify, and maybe even resolve all by yourself.
Tough Clog? Use a Plumber’s Snake
More stubborn clogs require a different tool. A tool that covers the middle ground between the plunger and a professional – the plumber’s snake.
Easy Ways to Conserve Water Around the House
If you are smart about your water usage and conserving water, that can lead to cutting your water bill by over one-third of its total.
Kellermeier Hosts Skilled Trades Night
On January 8, 2020, Blaine Kellermeier gathered select contractors and specialists to host a skilled trades night for Rockford middle and high schoolers.
Fix a Loose Toilet Handle Yourself
Not all plumbing issues can be handled quickly and independently, but fixing a loose toilet handle is something that you will do without a fuss.
Make Your Pipes Last Longer
Although you cannot make your pipes last forever, it is possible to make your pipes last longer by limiting plumbing leaks.
How Much of Your Sewer Line Are You Responsible For?
When there’s a backup, you are likely to wonder, “When is the city responsible for your sewer lines?” But the answer is quite complicated.
How Does Insulating My Water Heater Work?
Just as you would insulate your roof, water heater insulation can help increase your home’s efficiency and save you money on your monthly bills.
Running Water Can Help Stop Frozen Pipes
There are many ways to prevent frozen pipes in your home, and one method that takes very little effort is to run some water.
What is a Bidet?
With all of its benefits and affordable options, you might still think, “What is a bidet?” Bidets have been essential to bathrooms in many countries.
Setting the Right Water Heater Temperature
Many manufacturers will set water heater thermostats at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but you could pay more by setting your water heater temperature too high.
Winterize Your Home Before Heading Away for the Winter
If you are one of those many homeowners that like to fly south for the winter, then you have probably felt that unease of leaving home vulnerable to the near-arctic elements. You can check and double-check to make sure everything is in place for your vacation or...
PFAS Health Effects
PFAS health effects also include interference with the body’s natural hormones, an increased level of cholesterol, and an increased risk of cancer.
Do Your Kitchen Appliances Need an Update?
If you are noticing problems or find that you need a kitchen appliance repair, it might be time to update those older kitchen appliances.
Kellermeier and the Rockford Chamber of Commerce
Watch as Blaine Kellermeier shares his appreciation for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the importance of giving back to the community.
Common Household Plumbing Misconceptions
There may be things you think you know, but really don’t have a complete grasp on. Here are just a few of those plumbing misconceptions you may have.
PFAS: PFOA and PFOS Compounds
PFOA and PFOS were popular compounds among manufacturing and industrial facilities, widely used for their capacity to deter water and grease.
Expect the Unexpected When Preparing for Plumbing Emergencies
The difference between a quick fix and a complete remodel comes down to how prepared you are for a plumbing emergency in your home.
PFAS: Taking Action
In 2017, Michigan created the PFAS Action Response Team as a temporary body to investigate sources and locations of PFAS in the state.
Keep Your Garbage Disposal Working Its Best
A Garbage disposal helps you get rid of food waste and can keep your kitchen plumbing clog free. When it stops working, that can lead to larger problems.
PFAS: What You Need to Know
There are roughly 60 confirmed PFAS Michigan sites, but the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy suspects over 10,000 potential sites.
Is It Time to Replace Your Toilet?
You might be able to survive without the dishwasher, and cooking would be difficult with no oven, but toilet replacement is essential.
Don’t Let Tree Roots Damage Your Sewer Lines
Tree roots can potentially be damaging to your home’s sewage lines and cause plumbing problems, so you need to know how to stop problems before they happen.
Before (and After) Remodeling, Have Your Home Inspected
Hiring a professional to conduct remodeling home inspections before, and after, your project will help protect the investment of your upgrades.
Before May Flowers, Check Your Basement For Leaks
A hard Michigan winter means a vicious spring. Before you trun on your outside spigot, it’s a good idea to check for basement flooding.
Is Your Drinking Water Safe?
Have you ever thought about the water in your own home? Know how to find out if your home has safe drinking water, and how to make sure it stays that way.
Are Those Plumbing Sounds Normal?
As a homeowner, you should familiarize yourself with the following plumbing sounds: running water, dripping, shaking, and gurgling.