Peter Levi banner logo - Peter Levi

Top 5 Plumbing Tips To Avoid a Plumbing Emergency When Hosting Guests

As a homeowner, the last thing you want to deal with is a plumbing emergency – especially when you’re hosting out-of-town guests. Whether you’re hosting people for spring break, an early summer vacation, or a local wedding, plumbing problems can seriously ruin your plans. Here are the top 5 plumbing tips to avoid a plumbing emergency.

  1. Schedule Plumbing Maintenance

Have you noticed a small plumbing leak? Maybe your garbage disposal is giving you problems. Whatever the issue may be, no matter how big or small, you should schedule a plumbing maintenance appointment as soon as possible. Catching problems early will help you avoid a plumbing emergency.

  1. Be Mindful of What You Put Down Your Drain

There’s nothing like drainage problems to ruin your day – especially if you’re hosting guests from out of town. It’s important to remember never to pour things such as grease, oil, or fat down your drain. Doing so can harden and clog your drains. If you’re cooking meals that are extra greasy and oily, let your dishes cool and then wipe off grease before putting it into the sink.

  1. Use Your Garbage Disposal Correctly

Your garbage disposal is essential, especially when you’re hosting guests and cooking dinner for them every night. It’s no secret that this is why your kitchen is the culprit for plumbing issues before anywhere else. Remember that your garbage disposal isn’t a substitute for your trash bin. It’s important to remember to not certain food items down your garbage disposal, such as:

  1. Create a Shower Schedule

If your guests are staying overnight, then consider creating a shower schedule. Increased shower traffic can put a lot of strain on your water heater. We recommend that guests space out their showers at least 10-15 minutes between use. This way, all the water can drain through the small pipes and help the water heater do its job effectively.

  1. Prepare Your Bathroom

While your shower will be getting extra attention from your guests, so will your toilet. Make sure your guests know what can and cannot get flushed down your toilet in order to prevent clogs – especially if you have children staying with you. It’s also a good idea to keep a plunger next to the toilet in case any plumbing emergencies do arise during their stay.

Schedule Plumbing Service With The Pros at Peter Levi Today! We Are Here For All Your Plumbing Needs In Northern California!

For over 35 years, Peter Levi has been providing fast, professional plumbing services you can count on. As your guests travel from out-of-town this spring and summer, consider scheduling plumbing service so you can avoid a plumbing emergency during their stay. No matter how big or small, the experts at Peter Levi are here to help with all your plumbing needs. Contact us today at 800-868-6885 or online here.

5 Things A Drain Clog Can Harm That Isn’t Your Pipes

Drain clogs can be a nuisance for homeowners and may seem like there’s no escape. By putting off clearing out your drains,you’re causing more damage to your home than you realize. Clogged drains don’t just affect the flow of your pipes; in fact, it can affect the whole house. Here are five things that a drain clog can harm that aren't your pipes.

1. Your Home’s Foundation

Clogged drains can lead to leakage from busted pipes in your home’s plumbing. If the leak hits your home’s foundation, not only can the foundation get water damage, but it can cause an uneven level under your home. This leads to expensive repairs for your entire house.

2. Health

While it may not seem like it, a clogged drain can severely impact your health. Clogged drains, if left untreated, can aggravate breathing issues such as asthma or allergy. Bacteria growth in pipes can also spread throughout your home, resulting in poor water quality and the potential for water-borne illnesses.

3. Water Quality

Most people can drink bottled water and notice a taste difference between various brands. If your home has a clogged drain, not only is your water quality affected but the taste is altered. Even worse, odors can fester in the pipes and start smelling up your drains.

4. Interior & Exterior

Leakage that continues from busted pipes can reach the interior and exterior features of your home. This includes the walls, flooring, wood, and electrical systems. Water damage can stain your walls and flooring, especially if the structure of your home is primarily wood, and can affect the integrity of your home’s structure paired with foundation damage.

5. Drainage Quality

Finally, clogged drains can affect how well your pipes drain and cycle throughout your home. Poor drainage can cause more backups in other areas of your home, take longer for water to cycle through your home, and create poor water pressure.

Clogged drains don’t just affect your pipes! Your comfort, health, and your home’s integrity  can all be impacted by a clogged drain. While some things can wait, clogs should be removed and treated as soon as possible to avoid larger issues from arising. Ready to solve your clogged drain issues? Peter Levi is ready to take care of you! Give us a call today at (855) 433-6800 to schedule a drain clearing today!

furnace, heating, winter heating, winter heat, keep warm in winter, how to keep warm in winter

How To Keep Your Home Warm For Less This Winter

Winter is upon us, which means if you are not prepared, your home may see a rise in heating expenses over the next few months. However, you don’t need high utility bills to stay warm and cozy this winter. We have rounded up a few tips that will help keep your home warm this winter without having to spend a fortune!

1. Hang Heavy, Durable Window Curtains

Thin sheers that you may have hanging up during the summer months aren’t going to do any good during the winter. It’s time to switch out those thin sheers for heavy drapes. Drapes will help keep the warm air in and that chilly breeze out. Make sure you open them during the day, as well, so you can let natural light warm up your home!

2. Consider Using a Smart Thermostat

The right thermostat can make a HUGE difference in your home this winter. A smart thermostat learns your family's habits and allows you to adjust the temperature in your home depending on your schedule. That way you are not heating an unoccupied home, which will help save money.

3. Use Throw Rugs in Rooms With Hard-Surface Floors

Throw rugs aren’t only for looks! They can also help insulate your home during those chilly months of the year. How? Well, when you place rugs down on wood floors, it helps reduce any drafts between the floorboards!

4. Change The Direction Of Your Ceiling Fan

Most people forget about this super easy and quick tip! During the winter, reverse your fan’s rotation to push cool air upward and mix with the rising heat. The mixed air will then spread downward, warming the room.

5. Make Sure Your Furniture Isn’t Covering Ventilation Ducts

Double-check that your furniture is not blocking any of your vents. Furniture that covers an HVAC register is preventing your home from getting a proper flow of heat. This is especially important if you have baseboard heating, which can lead to a fire if blocked.

6. Get a Furnace Tune-Up From Peter Levi

It can be hard to tell if your system is working at full efficiency, especially if it's been slowly losing power over the years. If you want to keep your home warm and cozy this winter, give our team a call today to check and tune-up your furnace! A system breakdown in the middle of winter can be quite a headache and can add on an unexpected cost.

By following these tips you can remain warm and cozy at home without having to worry about an increase on your next utility bill. Our team at Peter Levi is ready to TAKE CARE OF YOU today! Give us a call at (833) 221-2971 to book your furnace tune-up.

Purchasing A New Water Heater? You NEED To Know This First

If you are in a position to replace your home’s water heater, there are two standard options: traditional tank water heaters or tankless water heaters. Fortunately, our Peter Levi team offers both! We have provided the advantages and disadvantages below to each system so you can make the proper decision that best suits your home and its needs. Continue reading so you can decide on whether a tankless or tank system is right for your home!

1. Energy-Efficiency

Although a tankless water heater is a larger investment upfront, the efficiency of the system will save you money in the long run. This is due to the fact that tankless systems only heat water when you need it, unlike a traditional system, which will heat water all day long, even when you are not in need of hot water.  For homes that use 41 gallons or less of water a day, a tankless system can save you 24-34% on utility bills according to energy.gov!

2. Lifespans

Tankless water heaters may be more expensive, but their lifespans are twice as long as a traditional water heater. A tankless system can last 20-30 years compared to 8-12 years. This means that in the time it takes to replace TWO tank water heaters, you will still have the efficient tankless water heater you originally purchased. This makes the larger investment not a concerning factor considering you could be paying the cost of TWO tank systems in the same timeframe.

3. Endless Hot Water

Tankless water heaters have an endless supply of hot water and put an end to the possibility of cold showers in your future. However, this is dependent on the flow rate which sits at about 2-5 gallons per minute. If you plan to run your dishwasher, washing machine, and take a hot shower all at the same time, it may exceed the flow rate. On the other hand, traditional water heaters have a water reserve meaning they can only provide you with the water currently heated in their tank. If you use up all the hot water in a matter of minutes, you may be left with a cold shower until the tank heats up again, which could take anywhere from 10-20 minutes.

Whether you’re in the market for a traditional tank water heater or a modern, efficient tankless water heater, our Peter Levi will TAKE CARE OF IT! Call our team today for more information on what system may be right for your home at (833) 209-3582.

Do I Need To Replace My Water Heater?

Hot water is essential to the everyday function of modern households. We rely on hot water to bathe, cook, wash clothes, and clean dishes. Over time, you may notice your water heater not functioning as well as it should. Even top-of-the-line systems have a lifespan of around a decade! Although you can prolong your system’s lifespan with preventative maintenance, the time will come for a replacement. Our Peter Levi team has listed the five most common signs it’s time to replace your water heater. Continue reading to learn what they are!

Water Isn’t Heating

This one may be self-explanatory, but if your system is failing to heat water, there may be an underlying issue. Fortunately, there are three associated problems with why your system may not be producing hot water: a misadjusted thermostat, a broken heating element, or a tank that is too small for your house. The first two issues are easy to rectify and don’t qualify for an entirely new system. However, if your system’s tank is too small for your home, then it may be time to reconsider a larger tank size to fulfill the demands of your house.

Older Age

Nothing lasts forever, and that holds true for home systems. Throughout a homeowner’s occupancy, they are bound to face some turbulence with one system or another. Most water heaters have a lifespan of around 8-10 years. The easiest way to learn your system’s age is by looking at the serial number and researching! The letter at the start of the serial number correlates to the month your system was manufactured. For example, if your serial number begins with ‘D’, ‘G’, or ‘I’ those are the fourth, seventh, and ninth months in the year. The two numbers directly after are the last two digits of the year your system was manufactured.

For example, D086462394 was manufactured in April of 2008.

Tank Is Leaking

If you begin to notice leaking around the bottom of your water heater, your system is likely to be near the end of its life expectancy. Unfortunately, leaks from a water heater can result in significant damage if left unaddressed. If there are no issues with your system’s fittings, then you most certainly have an issue with the tank itself and you will have to replace your system.

Rusty Water Coming From Faucets

The water in your home should only be clear. If you begin to notice rusty water coming from your plumbing fixtures, then you most likely have a rusty water heater. Rust in an aging water heater is inevitable. However, it can be difficult to determine if the rust is coming from your water heater or the pipes that lead to your faucets. If you spot rust along the water inlet or pressure relief valve, then it is most likely occurring inside your tank. Once rust occurs on the inside of your water heater the only choice is to replace your system. 

Noisy Tank

Another sign of an aging system is noise when you use warm water. Noise coming from your water heater is typically caused by sediment build-up. Sediment build-up is the result of long-term use and results in sediment forming and hardening along the floor of the tank. However, flushing your tank can relieve your system of build-up and allow it to work more efficiently. 

If you notice one or more of these signs it may be time to replace your home’s system. Give our Peter Levi team a call today (833) 209-3582 and we’ll TAKE CARE OF IT! 

Here’s How You Can Benefit From A Drain Clearing

Taking care of your sewer and drain issues can be a pain. It’s not always top of mind to get your drains taken care of until they stop working properly or until an unpleasant smell arises. It’s easy to forget that these systems are an essential part of our home. Check out how you AND your home can benefit from a drain clearing today!

1. Longevity

If you neglect your drains, you can expect to have constant problems that can cause long-term damage to your pipes. If not taken care of overtime, your home’s drains will start to deteriorate which could potentially lead to a bigger problem. A drain clearing can extend the life of your drains and will keep them working for a longer period of time.

2. Faster Flow

Are you tired of standing in a puddle of water in the shower? Is your water pressure not how it used to be? You may have a problem with your drain or your sewer system! Food, hair, soap grime, and other items all travel through our drains and can cause build-up which results in a SLOW flow. A drain clearing will eliminate these items and can make sure that the drains in your home continue to flow quickly and efficiently.

3. Fewer Repairs

Think of your drains as you do your car - they BOTH need maintenance. When you have these essential, regular inspections, it can potentially reduce the need for costly repairs down the road. Don’t let a small problem turn into a BIG one.

4. Fresh Drains

Without taking the initiative to get your drains cleared regularly, bacteria and mold will quickly form. Think about it: toothpaste, hair, soap scum, food, facial products, and so much more go down your drains every day, which is what can cause them to smell over time. Get this taken care of as soon as you start to see (or smell) an issue.

The benefits of a drain clearing are truly endless! Who doesn’t want free-flowing, fresh-smelling drains? If you’re ready to have your drains flowing right again, our Peter Levi team is ready to TAKE CARE OF YOU and your drain issues today! Give us a call today at (855) 433-6800!

NOVATO
24 Digital Dr STE 1
Novato, CA 94949

VACAVILLE
1021 Mason St, STE 11
Vacaville, CA 95688

Mon - Fri. 7am - 7:30pm
Sat. 7:30am - 4pm
Sun. Closed

© Peter Levi 2025
For quick and easy answers, we want to speak with you! Trust our hassle-free maintenance and service to ensure your home... is always in good hands.

Contractors License: #687489
logos and certifications
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram