Plumbing Articles

Considering a tankless water heater for your home?  You have several options:  Install one heater that serves all of your fixtures that require hot water. It heats water for your entire home.  Choose smaller point-of-use water heaters, placing them at every faucet, shower head, and water-using appliance. These units will heat fewer gallons per minute…

If you are looking for an easy way to monitor your outdoor water use or save money on water usage for your lush lawn, a deduct meter may be your best solution. Deduct meters, also called auxiliary meters, give you more control over your water consumption by keeping track of the water that does not…

When it comes to water quality in , what you can’t see matters just as much as what you can. You might assume that clear water straight from the tap is clean and safe, but it can often contain hidden contaminants, minerals, or impurities that affect how it tastes, smells, and impacts the plumbing and…

Meet the hero of your septic system: the effluent filter. This out-of-sight, out-of-mind component is your drain field’s final defense against particulate matter, such as hair, lint, and sludge that didn’t settle at the bottom of the septic tank. When the filter is unobstructed and working, it keeps your drain field pipes flowing in .…

If you live in a flood-prone area in , a sump pump is an absolute necessity. Imagine that during the next heavy rain, the ground around your home becomes saturated, and before you know it, water starts pooling in your basement or crawl space. It might start small—a damp corner, a trickle here or there—but…

When winter shows its fury, and temperatures drop into the single digits, most homeowners in worry about their furnace or heating bills. At , we know the biggest threat to your comfort and wallet this winter lurks silently between walls and beneath your floorboards: frozen pipes. A single burst pipe can release more than 250…

Let’s be honest—dealing with a clogged drain is never on anyone’s list of fun weekend activities in University City.

A running toilet might seem like a small annoyance for most Ladue, residents, but it can quietly waste hundreds of gallons of water every day and drive up your utility bill in the process. That constant trickling or hissing sound isn’t just irritating; it’s a sign that one or more internal components aren’t working as they should.

According to the U.S. CDC, municipal water systems with fluoride served approximately 73 percent of the U.S. population in 2018.

They’re called “forever chemicals” because they never seem to disappear. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that do not break down in the environment or our bodies. They can travel through soil and groundwater to contaminate municipal water systems and private wells across the country.

You know what they say, “Upgrade your plumbing, upgrade your life.”

When people think of potential plumbing issues, tree roots are typically not the first culprit that comes to mind.

Microplastics are everywhere. The microscopic pieces of plastic are so tiny you do not notice them in the air you breathe and the food you eat. You will not see them flowing from your kitchen faucet or taste them in a bottle of purified water.

If you draw your drinking water from a private well in Missouri, you know it is essential for your health to test your tap water annually.

You’re going about your typical morning routine when you hear it—a bubbling in your pipes.

Whether you’re updating fixtures, replacing pipes, or reworking your layout entirely, plumbing plays a crucial role in making sure your space functions properly and stays leak-free.

Throughout University City, and the surrounding communities, your home’s plumbing is the unsung hero of daily life. It powers your morning shower, keeps dishes clean, and ensures your laundry gets done.

When you think about home maintenance, does your sewer line come to mind?

You have a slow-draining toilet, and it is more than just an annoyance.

Each time you flush, a weak jet of water circles around the bowl until it manages enough energy to disappear into the drain, taking waste with it.

A faucet might seem like a minor feature in your home, but it plays a critical role in your daily routine. From brushing your teeth and washing dishes to filling pots for cooking or watering your plants, faucets are essential for convenience and cleanliness. But when water is dripping from your Clayton, home’s leaky faucet—how serious is the situation?

You pour yourself a glass of water, crystal clear and seemingly refreshing.

But what if your water is not as pure as it looks?

What if, lurking within that seemingly innocent glass of water, are microscopic particles of plastic, remnants of industrial waste, or even traces of harmful chemicals?

Slow-draining kitchen plumbing might not seem like a big deal at first. You rinse the dishes, turn off the faucet, and just wait a few extra seconds for the water to disappear. But what starts as a minor inconvenience can quickly spiral into a major plumbing headache if left unaddressed.

If you are tired of spending precious time scraping plates into the garbage or grossed out when you have to scoop food bits from your kitchen sink, it might be time to consider installing a garbage disposal. This underrated kitchen gadget is more than just a modern convenience—it’s a cleanup superhero ready to make your life easier.

A whole-house water filtration system is the only way to screen out unwanted elements before they enter your plumbing system.

When your sewer line is acting up, it’s not just a clog—it’s a crisis!

According to the EPA, you need to remove the water and clean moist surfaces and furniture within the first 48 hours in order to prevent mold growth.

When a drain clogs in your Missouri home, you likely grab a drain snake or a plunger for a do-it-yourself fix.

Sewage backup is one of the most unpleasant plumbing problems you may face as a homeowner. You can live with a dripping faucet for a week or two or contend with a damaged sprinkler head until you replace it.

Gurgle, gurgle. Hiss. If you immediately recognize these sounds from any plumbing in your Missouri home, it could indicate you need a home plumbing inspection.

Plumbing emergencies may seem like spontaneous events that happen without warning, but that’s not always the case.
They typically start as minor issues that grow bigger over time. As the plumbing problem balloons, it offers clues about the nature of the impending emergency.

But like any hardworking appliance, it can run into issues from time to time. Knowing the signs that your water heater needs repair can save you from a cold shower or a major plumbing disaster. Here are five key indicators from Tony LaMartina Plumbing that your water heater might be in trouble:

The holidays are all about warmth, joy, and family… until someone clogs the kitchen sink with mashed potatoes and gravy. Nothing says “season’s greetings” quite like a backed-up drain when you are trying to serve dinner!

Living in Missouri means getting used to living with hard water—or does it?

Water softeners help reduce water hardness by removing nuisance minerals. While they are generally reliable, they can sometimes develop issues that affect their performance.

Whether it is the suspiciously lush patch of grass in your University City yard, the unmistakable, nose-crinkling scent of sewage, or the ominous gurgling sound reverberating up your drains, these are some of the signs every homeowner dreads—signs of a sewer line leak.

The EPA reports the average homeowner could save about $140 per year by replacing an outdated toilet with a more water-efficient model.

You may be able to resolve the issue on your own, but if you can’t or would rather leave it to the professionals, Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company is here for you.

Water is dripping from your Clayton home’s faucet—but how serious is the situation? Truthfully, even a little drip could lead to a big problem!

Even if you don’t have a leaky faucet or a clogged drain on your hands at this moment, it’s still a good idea to know what to do if and when such a problem happens.

Want to keep your Clayton home’s plumbing appliances operating smoothly and efficiently for years to come. Develop a maintenance schedule.

Tony LaMartina Plumbing has provided plumbing services to homes and businesses in Ladue, Missouri, and all the surrounding areas for many years. We’re a local business that specializes in quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction.

They might be out of sight, but those pipes need maintenance just like any other plumbing or HVAC system in your home.

When it comes to your LaDue home’s plumbing, you want to feel secure it will continue to work every day when you need it, without surprises. At Tony LaMartina Plumbing, we can help you make this a reality with our plumbing maintenance plan.

Tony LaMartina Plumbing is committed to bringing you the most up-to-date information on safe drinking water and ensuring you and your family are protected against the contaminants that could be present in your Ladue home’s water. 

How frequently do you think about your Ladue home’s sewer lines? If you don’t give your main sewer line a second thought, you are not alone.

Understanding the signs of a main line sewer drain clog can help you identify whether or not this is the issue you’re dealing with in your Missouri home.

Tony LaMartina Plumbing can test your water, identify its acidity, hardness, and mineral content, and recommend the best way to treat it. We install water softeners, sediment filtration, and water filtration and purification systems, such as reverse osmosis systems, that improve water quality no matter if its source is a well or public supply.

In actuality, this way of thinking can be a costly mistake, as problems rarely disappear on their own. They typically evolve into a larger and more expensive plumbing dilemma. Our Tony LaMartina plumbers recommend addressing concerns when you initially notice them to help you save money in the long run.

hat Is a Plumbing Inspection?

During the colder months of a Missouri winter, frozen pipes can be a real concern. It is not only about the pipes freezing and you not having water. The bigger issue is when the pipes burst, causing all levels of havoc and damage to your home. 

With temperatures expected to dip well below the freezing mark over the next several days here in Missouri our team at Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company has some tips to protect your University City plumbing equipment:

Imagine this winter, sitting in your Ladue home by the fire, looking out the window at the falling snowflakes while sipping your hot cocoa with marshmallows. Life is good. It is good, that is, until you hear the loud rush of water somewhere in your Missouri home. 

Your University City basement is flooded and filled with water. Now what?

Leaks, floods, and plumbing problems can be stressful. Tony La Martina Plumbing Company is here to remove those worries. We are ready to offer the home solutions you need here in MO.

Our team at Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company Inc. wants to share some affordable, effective ways to unclog a home drain as well as tips on preventing the problem in the future.

We are excited and honored to be featured in the St. Louis Business Journal to discuss our legacy and goals for the future of Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company.

Our Tony LaMartina Plumbing team would like to arm you with all the information you need to understand this common issue