Whenever the toilet is flushed in the upstairs bathroom, about 30 seconds later, the pipes rattle loudly. Does anybody know why this is happening and what can be done to fix it?

Either replace the fill valve/ballcock/fluidmaster assembly or repair the shutoff valve.

I have a small, one-story home. I bought a new boiler three years ago, a new deep well pump four years ago, and a new pre-charged pressure tank that is only six months old. Twice in the last month, if you shut the hot water tap off a little too fast, the pipes will bang. You have to turn the water back on and shut it off very slowly. I checked for a small leak and can’t find a thing. It’s almost like it may be sucking air someplace but I can’t figure it out. It’s never happened before in the 24 years I’ve lived here.

It sounds like you have a bad washer in the handle of the hot faucet, a bad washer in the shutoff valve to the hot faucet, or your pressure tank is working so well it is creating ‘water hammer’, or your water heater is creating too much pressure.

There are air chambers on the supply lines to every faucet. They are columns of pipe which, when filled with air, cushion the sudden stoppage of flow. The one on your hot water line may be solid. If you can drain that section of pipe you can get air back in there to stop the water hammer. Shut off the hot water at the hot water heater and open all the hot water taps to drain the water out of them. Then close all the taps and reopen the supply. This may solve the problem.

Last week, right after we went to bed, we heard a really loud banging for about five seconds that sounded like pipes. Since then, when we’ve flushed the master bathroom toilet, it shudders and vibrates within a few seconds. We haven’t heard the banging again, though.  Does anyone have any idea what it could be?

You may need to change the ballcock, fluidmaster or fill valve in your toilet. You may also have a bad washer in the shutoff valve to the toilet.

If you have any other questions regarding a Boston furnace replacement or furnace repair, please call T-Flow at (617) 229-7984.

About T-Flow Plumbing

You can rely on T-Flow as your plumber for both routine maintenance and emergency repairs. Managed by Matt Troiani, we have over 20 years of experience resolving plumbing, heating, gas, and drainage issues.

Greater Boston & North Shore 24 Hour Emergency Plumbing!

If you are in over your head seeking emergency plumbing repair or require a same day plumbing contractor call (617) 229-7984. Unlike large firms, we respect our customers’ time and budgets.

At T-Flow, Inc., we understand that most people are busy in their everyday lives and aren’t anticipating any unexpected problems with their plumbing heating and gas systems. As your plumber, we look forward to helping you eliminate these problems so that you can get back to taking care of any obligations you may have.

T-Flow Plumbing Services

Award reflects businesses’ consistently high level of customer service

TFlow Plumbing has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

“Customer service is important to us and we always try to go above and beyond for our clients,” said Matt Troiani TFlow Plumbing Owner.  ”We pride ourselves on delivering affordable and dependable quality plumbing service to Boston and North Shore area residents and businesses. There are so many larger franchise and corporate owned plumbing companies that send out plumbers who are trained in upselling that we are happy to be your local neighborhood plumber.”

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that Business Name can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

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Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 2 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news

Review: These guys did a great job. They were here on time, they worked quickly, and most importantly, they got the job DONE.

Last winter we had two separate heating companies come to our home to attempt to fix the problem with our steam heat system. It’s a long story but lets just say it was a cold winter.

T-flow came out and not only fixed the system but walked me through things I could do to help make the system run more efficiently.

I’ve got their magnet on my fridge now, and they will be the first number I call for any future heating needs.

Summary: excellent experience

Review: Thank you, Matt and staff for taking care of my plumbing issues. I had a leak that was pouring into my basement. They were able to indentify the leak within minutes and that was not easy because it was in the wall of a 120 year old house. Their professionalism was the best I have ever encountered with craftsmen of any trade. They were neat, effecient and very detailed in the repair. I would recommend this company to anyone.

Review: T-Flow came in, they were professional, and they were very personable. I had a leak, they got right on the job, found it in no time, fixed it, and it was great.

Review: Matt and his firm, T-Flow, did just what I asked of them in repairing annoying drip leaks in three faucets in my home. You would be surprised at how most plumbers today will not repair dripping faucets but rather tell you to replace the problematic fixtures — arguing that replacement is more cost-effective than trying to find parts for old fixtures.

That may be true but, unlike most of his peers, Matt was receptive to attempting to repair the faucets at issue — and did so quickly and very successfully. I couldn’t be more pleased with his work.

I wanted to avoid replacing the old fixtures because replacement inevitably involves other work as new fixures often don’t align with the openings made to accommodate the old ones. The result can look makeshift.

Matt and his team were also very responsive making room in their schedule to do my job within two days of my call. He also kept me informed of his progress during the job, which was done efficiently despite his having to find some replacement parts not stocked on his truck.

The T-Flow team also worked cleanly, leaving my house in the same condition that they found it in — something many other contractors pay no attention to when doing their work.

Nice work, Matt.

• A lot of noise due to inferior equipment.
• Mismatched equipment that can lead to higher utility bills and reduced comfort levels.
• Noisy airflow due to improperly sized ductwork.
• Overworked compressors due to installation of undersized air ducts.
• Improperly secured ductwork that can loosen and result in heating of space you do not use.
• Inadequate air flow due to incorrectly sized or non-adjustable registers.
• Improper sealing of plenums, registers and ducts that can result in significant expenditures throughout the year.

Insist on this…

In order to have the best chance possible of choosing the best Boston heating service provider, follow this checklist:

• Make sure the contractor performs a load calculation to make sure you have the properly sized equipment for your needs. If it is too small, it will run more than needed and lead to higher energy bills.
• Make sure the Boston heating service provider supplies adjustable registers that control the amount of air flowing into individual rooms. Some providers will install cheap, fixed-flow registers that cannot be adjusted.
• Ask about warranties on parts and labor, and whether the provider has technicians available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you lose heat on a Friday night, you don’t want to wait for service until Monday morning.
• Ask for references, and do not hesitate to do so. If you can, ask for references from customers who have had similar work done to that what you need. Ask for contact information so you can find out whether that customer had any problems with his or her Boston heating service, and how long he or she had to wait for any problems to be rectified. Find out if the customer had warranty work, and if the service provider honored those warranties.

If you would like to learn more about the Boston heating services we provide, call T-Flow at (617) 229-7984. We will be happy to furnish you with customer references and give you a complete rundown of all of the heating services that we offer.

About T-Flow Plumbing

You can rely on T-Flow as your plumber for both routine maintenance and emergency repairs. Managed by Matt Troiani, we have over 20 years of experience resolving plumbing, heating, gas, and drainage issues.

Greater Boston & North Shore 24 Hour Emergency Plumbing!

If you are in over your head seeking emergency plumbing repair or require a same day plumbing contractor call (617) 229-7984. Unlike large firms, we respect our customers’ time and budgets.

At T-Flow, Inc., we understand that most people are busy in their everyday lives and aren’t anticipating any unexpected problems with their plumbing heating and gas systems. As your plumber, we look forward to helping you eliminate these problems so that you can get back to taking care of any obligations you may have.

T-Flow Plumbing Services

If you are having problems with your sump pump, it’s time you called T-Flow Plumbing. Our sump pump installation services and systems not only add value to your home, they also make your prior sump pump concerns a thing of the past.

All of our sump pump installations come engineered with air-tight sump pump covers, check valves, floor drains and built-in systems to let you know if any problem crop up in either the crawl space, basement or the system itself. Our sump pumps are the most intelligent on the market and are designed to work so well you never have to think about it. We have trained sump pump installers on staff, and a service department that can keep your system running at peak performance year-round.

When combined with a basement waterproofing system, a sump pump is an especially great value. Again, a wet basement or crawl space will do nothing more than create a smelly mess that can help ruin the value of your home. A clean, efficient sump pump/waterproofing combination system will do nothing but increase the value of your home and provide you with unprecedented peace of mind.

Do you really need a sump pump system?

In the vast majority of cases, the answer is a resounding “yes.” It is the best option possible for keeping your basement dry. Failing sump pumps are the cause of several flooded basements, and today’s systems make those old ones look even worse. But just because a system is new, that doesn’t mean it’s not a bottom of the barrel system. We can guarantee that T-Flow sump pump systems are the vest of the best.

If you are in need of a replacement sump pump installation, or you are just ready to have the latest and greatest system available, please give T-Flow Plumbing a call at (617) 229-7984. We can provide you with a free inspection of your existing system and give you an accurate estimate of how much it will cost to have a new one put in. Give us a call for the best, easiest, fastest and most affordable sump pump solution available.

About T-Flow Plumbing

You can rely on T-Flow as your plumber for both routine maintenance and emergency repairs. Managed by Matt Troiani, we have over 20 years of experience resolving plumbing, heating, gas, and drainage issues.

Greater Boston & North Shore 24 Hour Emergency Plumbing!

If you are in over your head seeking emergency plumbing repair or require a same day plumbing contractor call (617) 229-7984. Unlike large firms, we respect our customers’ time and budgets.

At T-Flow, Inc., we understand that most people are busy in their everyday lives and aren’t anticipating any unexpected problems with their plumbing heating and gas systems. As your plumber, we look forward to helping you eliminate these problems so that you can get back to taking care of any obligations you may have.

T-Flow Plumbing Services

Here are some more tips to follow if you wish to try and fix your leaking faucet

• Put masking tape on the jaws of your pliers so that you do not scratch the metal parts of your faucet.

• Close the drain so that you do not lose small parts before you disassemble the faucet.

• Put a towel or cloth in the sink so you won’t damage it if you drop a heavy metal part.

• Have an egg carton handy so that you can keep track of the parts you disassemble. You will have to put the faucet together in the same order that you took it apart.

• If you have a stem faucet, you probably need to replace one of the washers. Take off the decorative cap, the handle screw and the handle. An adjustable wrench should suffice when removing the packing nut. Then, twist out the stem using a counterclockwise motion. Remove the brass screw at the base of the stem and then take out the worn washer. Put in the new washer, lubricate the stem threads, and re-assemble the faucet in the same order you took it apart.

• If you have a cartridge faucet (it will have a tall, slender body with a single lever handle) and you have a spout leak, replace the O-rings and see if the drip continues. If the leak is coming from the body of thefaucet, you may have other worn O-rings on the housing that surrounds the cartridge.

When making the decision regarding a faucet repair or replacement, if the above steps do not work then you may need a new faucet. Before committing to that expense, though, call T-Flow Plumbing at (617) 229-7984 and have a professional check your system.

About T-Flow Plumbing

You can rely on T-Flow as your plumber for both routine maintenance and emergency repairs. Managed by Matt Troiani, we have over 20 years of experience resolving plumbing, heating, gas, and drainage issues.

Greater Boston & North Shore 24 Hour Emergency Plumbing!

If you are in over your head seeking emergency plumbing repair or require a same day plumbing contractor call (617) 229-7984. Unlike large firms, we respect our customers’ time and budgets.

At T-Flow, Inc., we understand that most people are busy in their everyday lives and aren’t anticipating any unexpected problems with their plumbing heating and gas systems. As your plumber, we look forward to helping you eliminate these problems so that you can get back to taking care of any obligations you may have.

T-Flow Plumbing Services

Many people are convinced that only the most potent arsenal of chemicals can unclog a drain, so most of us turn to dangerous substances, such as lye or acid, that can harm wastewater streams and even PVC piping.

One gentle approach is using everyday household ingredients rather than burning a hole through the clog. Health food stores carry bacteria-based enzyme cleaners that can be very effective while not harming everything with which it comes into contact. Anytime you have a clog it is normally recommended that you try to remove it with a plunger. You can also try to use an electric plumber’s snake, but you are normally better off letting a professional try this method because it can cause an injury to an inexperienced user.

Here are some other methods of unclogging drains you can use that will not harm the environment or your pipes.

• Baking soda – If has not yet backed up in the drain, try pouring in one cup of baking soda followed by three cups of boiling water. The water will make the soda more alkaline. Try this a few times until the drain is clear.

• Washing soda – If water is not going down your drain, pour a cup of washing soda over the drain area and let it sit for a while so it can work down the clog. When the clog loosens, use the baking soda method. However, do not use washing soda if you have already poured a commercial acid drain cleaner, because they will strongly react to each other. Also, do not use washing soda if you have PVC piping because it can damage the plastic.

• Vinegar and baking soda – When used together, baking soda and vinegar react with each other to cause fizzing and bubbles. This can often be used to unclog a drain. Use the baking soda/boiling water formula above, but add a cup of vinegar as well.

If the above methods do not work because your clog is too stubborn, give us a call at T-Flow Plumbing.

About T-Flow Plumbing

You can rely on T-Flow as your plumber for both routine maintenance and emergency repairs. Managed by Matt Troiani, we have over 20 years of experience resolving plumbing, heating, gas, and drainage issues.

Greater Boston & North Shore 24 Hour Emergency Plumbing!

If you are in over your head seeking emergency plumbing repair or require a same day plumbing contractor call (617) 229-7984. Unlike large firms, we respect our customers’ time and budgets.

At T-Flow, Inc., we understand that most people are busy in their everyday lives and aren’t anticipating any unexpected problems with their plumbing heating and gas systems. As your plumber, we look forward to helping you eliminate these problems so that you can get back to taking care of any obligations you may have.

T-Flow Plumbing Services