Preparing Your Home Plumbing for Spring

March 18th, 2013 Posted in Water Line Repair
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The weather’s getting warmer, and by now your home’s plumbing system is acclimated to the more irregular use of the winter months. As you prepare for spring, here are some things you can do to make sure your home plumbing is prepared along with you.

Inspect your home for any slow water leaks. Freezing winter  temperatures can cause ice to form in water lines.  Since water expands as it freezes, ice in the water lines can cause a cracked water pipe.  To check for leaks, record the number on your water meter at night before going to bed, and take another reading the next morning, making certain not to use any water during the night – be sure to turn off icemakers and don’t flush your toilets. If the morning reading shows any is higher than when you went to bed and you are sure that no water was used during the night, you very likely have a leaking water line. Check any exposed pipes – indoors and outdoors, in cabinets, basements or crawl spaces – for any signs of water leaking.  You may also have  leak in the water supply line buried in your yard.  Look for a soggy spot in the yard that doesn’t dry out.

Also check your appliances like your washing machine or dishwasher for leaks in their supply hoses. Any hoses that show any damage should be replaced, as should supply hoses that are older than ten years. You should consider installing flood alarms in certain areas like basements. Flood alarms will alert you to any leaks or water that they come in contact with.

If your home was installed with a sump pump, be certain that it operates correctly. Try pouring a few buckets of water into the pump’s pit. If it works properly, the pump should quickly activate and expel the water before shutting down.

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Toilets That Run Between Flushes

March 18th, 2013 Posted in Toilets
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Sometimes toilet plumbing can cause problems, especially involving water constantly running in the toilet tank after it’s been flushed. A tank that continues to run and either doesn’t or can’t fill up after being flushed is usually caused by a defective flapper, the rubber piece inside of a tank that plugs up the filling hole at the bottom of the tank. The flapper must be in good shape and undamaged so that it can fill up the hole and block further flow, so if it appears to be damaged or malfunctioning in any way, get it replaced.

A toilet tank that does allow water to run and fill up, but which allows water to continue running after being full is usually the fault of the float ball, a contraption attached to a small metal or plastic arm inside of the tank. The ball will rise with the increasing water level, and once it reaches a certain height, a valve is closed which stops more water from getting in. See if you can adjust the ball or arm by hand, or that its replaced if necessary.

Water can sometimes refill the bowl or tank in a slow or sluggish manner. The cause of this problem comes from clogs or blocked refill holes, which are very tiny holes seen under the rim of a toilet bowl. Use a toothpick or water stream to clear them. A clog in the drain of a toilet can cause water backup, and usually requires the use of a plunger to loosen or break up the clog. Make sure you know the number of a trusted local plumber to contact in case of more serious toilet emergencies.

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Making a Plumber’s Emergency Kit

March 13th, 2013 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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From clogged drains to burst water pipes, emergencies tend to strike unexpectedly – that’s what makes them an emergency. Why should plumbing be any different? But knowing what to do when the unexpected happens isn’t always enough. If you’re prepared for plumbing emergencies, then that makes handling them that much easier.

Consider using a bucket to hold your tools – you can find one of various sizes at any home improvement store. That way you’ll have plenty of room for everything you need to carry, and if a leak springs unexpected, you’ll be ready to catch the water and eliminate some of the mess. You can also buy something called a tool caddy, which can be attached to the bucket for extra space to hold things.

Necessary tools that you should have on hand are plungers, several wrenches of various sizes (either fixed or adjustable), a set of pliers, a multi-bit screwdriver, an Allen key set, along with several styles of tape like duct tape and teflon tape. You could also consider some heavy duty paper towels or rags for cleaning up any small messes.

Other tools you might consider are force plungers, which are used to apply extra force or blow compressed air or CO2 down a drain to break up extra tough clogs. These plungers are also best suited to unclog toilets.

Having an emergency kit is an important step to be prepared for plumbing emergencies, but the best tool you can get for your kit is the number for a trusted local plumber or professional plumbing service. They can give you other tips about what to add to your emergency kit, as well as when to contact them when you need some extra help.

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Plumbing Emergencies

March 13th, 2013 Posted in Water Line Repair
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When a plumbing emergency like a broken water line or overflowing toilet happens, it’s important to know how to shut off the water quickly to prevent further damage to your home. Everyone who lives in your home should know how to locate the main shutoff valve for the house, as well as the individual valves for all of the appliances and faucets and where they’re located.  The main water shutoff valve is usually located near the point that the water supply line enters the home.  Some homes do not have a main water shutoff valve.  If your home is one of these, ask your plumber to install a shutoff valve.

If you ever need to turn off a particular fixture, look for the shutoff valve and turn it clockwise. This will shut off the water, but only for that individual appliance. The valve is usually located underneath or behind a fixture at the point where the water supply connects to it through a pipe or pipes.   Make sure to check that the shutoff valve isn’t defective and needs replacing.  Some shutoff valves are not used for years and become stuck or start leaking when they are turned. If so, contact your local plumber and have the shutoff valve replaced.

If the problem is not with a particular fixture or appliance, you may still be experiencing other issues that needed addressed. If your sinks are stopped up or clogged, make sure to shut off the faucet or anything draining into the sink. Avoid using any chemical cleaners if you suspect the entire pipe is clogged – instead, use a plunger or snake to remove the blockage. 

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Proper Garbage Disposal Usage

March 13th, 2013 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Having a garbage disposal in your kitchen can make clean up easy, but they get a serious work out in most homes. Disposals are designed to grind up pieces and bits of food so they can be safely disposed of in your waste system and water pipes, but if not used properly, they can become the source of clogs and other blockages.

In fact, the most common issue plaguing garbage disposals is clogs. There are numerous explanations of why clogs are created by using garbage disposals incorrectly. The most common reasons involve putting things into your disposal that won’t belong there, or not running water while using the disposal. Here are some tips to follow when disposing of food:

No coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are a common culprit for garbage disposal issues. The ground up granules can stick to the insides of the pipes and create a blockage over time. Anytime you see grounds in the bottom of your coffee cup or pot, clean them out with a towel and throw them away. 

No food peels. It’s important never to put peels from bananas or potatoes into a garbage disposal. Grinding up these peels can make a mushy, stringy paste which will clog the disposal’s spinning blades. Do not put any peels into your disposal – throw them in the garbage or into your compost pile instead. 

No egg shells. Grinding up egg shells can create a similar effect to coffee grounds. The small pieces can clog your pipes and stop up the drain. 

Always flush your disposal thoroughly. Make sure to run plenty of water while grinding up food, and to make sure to keep the faucet running for a few more seconds to flush out any remaining food particles.

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More Basic Plumbing Tips You Should Know

March 13th, 2013 Posted in Water Line Repair
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Knowing how your home plumbing system works can be a daunting challenge, but there are plenty of helpful tips and pieces of advice to remember. Having a basic grasp of what to do and what not to do can be the difference between solving simple problems and having a huge job that needs fixing.

During cold months, water can become trapped inside the pipes in your house and can freeze.  Since water expands as it freezes, it can can cause the pipe to burst.  If you think your water pipes might freeze, leaving a faucet running at a trickle can help prevent the problem and prevent your water pipes from being damaged or bursting.

Cold weather can create expensive water line repairs if your pipes do end up freezing. However, there are ways to prevent this from happening. Start by insulating any exposed pipes outside your home. When the temperature drops, make sure that you bring your garden hoses in, and make sure to drain them completely.

If you need to hire a plumber, make sure to have due diligence and research several in your local area. Keep the contact information for your local plumbing service available just in case. Check on the Internet for a plumber’s reviews or talk to people you trust like family or trusted friends about a reliable plumbing professional.

Be cautious if you decide to use toilet tablets that are made of bleach or any tablets that are designed to remove odors. While these can clean the bowl and remove any unpleasant odors, they can also damage any plastic or rubber parts in toilet bowl or tank. Make sure to check any packaging or labeling before you buy, just in case.

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Basic Plumbing Tips You Should Know

March 13th, 2013 Posted in Clearing Clogged Pipes
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What kind of plumber are you? Even though it’s important to know the name and number of a professional plumber or plumbing service so you know who to contact in case of emergencies, it’s helpful to have a grasp of the basics, in order to fix easy problems or to know what to tell a professional plumber when something goes wrong.

Having a strainer is a good first step for most drains and sinks. Make sure a strainer is covering your drains to collect particles and other debris that would clog it if anything goes down the drain. Any strainer used in your kitchen will need regular cleaning, but you should also clean your bathtub strainer any time it is slow to drain.

Prevention is important for avoiding any expensive repairs to your plumbing. Hair is a common source of clogged drains. You can prevent this by using a screen or drain cover that is designed to keep hair out of your drain and pipes. It’s much easier to clean a screen than to remove a messy hair clog in the pipes.

Don’t use your toilet for anything but waste material and toilet paper in order to keep potential problems to a minimum. Never flush down cotton balls or swabs, sanitary pads, used diapers, paper towels, or anything else that will not dissolve. These items can create major clogs.

When attempting to unclog one of your drains, be careful when using chemical drain cleaners. as they might seriously harm your skin if you get splashed. Make sure that you protect yourself by wearing gloves and handling any harsh cleaning chemicals very carefully.

Lastly, know who to contact in case of a plumbing emergency. Your local plumbing professional or plumbing service can answer any plumbing-related question you might have.

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Clogged Toilet? Skip the Liquid Drain Cleaner

March 13th, 2013 Posted in Toilets
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Few things are as messy and unpleasant for homeowners to deal with as a clogged toilet. If you live in a home with only one bathroom, it can also be a relatively urgent situation. When going to work with a plunger yields no results, you should think twice before reaching for a bottle of commercially-available liquid drain cleaner.

At first blush, liquid drain cleaner might seem like the solution to all of your problems. After all, it’s designed to bust tough clogs in your sink, shower and bathtub drains. What it’s not formulated for, however, is the toilet.

If your toilet isn’t flushing at all, the chemicals in a commercial drain cleaner almost certainly will not be able to reach the blockage. Most clogs form beyond the top of the S-trap, so the drain cleaner will generally sit in the bowl and never come into contact with the clog at all.

Furthermore, most drain cleaners are comprised of caustic lye and other dangerous chemicals, often including sodium hydroxide. When sodium hydroxide comes into contact with water, it reacts by generating extreme heat. Not only can this chemical reaction melt the wax seal between the base of your toilet and the sewer opening, it can also cause hairline stress fractures and cracks in the toilet bowl.

It’s natural to come back to the plunger method when a liquid drain cleaner fails to perform, but doing so increases the risk of skin irritation and injury resulting from contact with these corrosive chemicals as the water in the toilet splashes back onto you. Rather than taking your chances with dangerous and potentially destructive chemicals intended for sink, tub and shower drains, it’s best to call a licensed plumber in your area.

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Spring Plumbing Tips

March 13th, 2013 Posted in Water Line Repair
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Spring is just around the corner, which means that the season for deep house cleaning and warm-weather preparation is quickly approaching. While you’re caught up in the rush of organizing closets and scrubbing every surface until it gleams, it’s a a good idea to keep in mind that your plumbing system needs a bit of attention this time of year, too.

While you’re giving a seldom-used guest bathroom a bit of extra cleaning attention this spring, it’s smart to pour a gallon of water into the sink and shower drains. This will fill the trap to prevent odors from coming into the house through the drains. You should also examine the pipes under the sink for any signs of a leak that could go unnoticed otherwise, since the fixtures aren’t often used.

Before the heavy rains start, you’ll need to make sure that the drains, gutters and downspouts around your home are free of debris, birds’ nests and leaves. Birds can also build nests in the vent pipes, so take a look at them to ensure that they’re clear. While you’re outside, look at all of the hose bibs and faucets to see if they’re flowing freely. Drips from and outdoor faucet or leakage into your home can be a sign that a pipe froze over winter, cracked and you may need a water line repair or replacement.

It’s a good idea to install a backflow valve into the floor drain if the sewers have been known to back up into homes in your area to prevent future back-ups and potential damage. Make sure that, if you have a sump pump in your home, it’s operating properly by pouring water into the sump pit.

If you encounter any problems or are unsure of how to proceed in terms of spring plumbing maintenance, make sure that you contact a licensed, professional plumber in your area for service and advice.

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When It Comes to Plumbing, DIY Isn’t Always Best

March 13th, 2013 Posted in Water Heaters
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There are entire television channels, full sections of book stores and large sections of the Internet dedicated to the Do-It-Yourself revolution. Learning to be more self-sufficient, to care for your home and property in an hands-on, involved fashion and gaining new skills along the way are all admirable aspirations. Whether you’re looking to save money or just eager to get your hands dirty, DIY hobbies can be great fun.

When it comes to certain areas of your home, however, doing it yourself just isn’t the way to go. Incorrectly installing or repairing plumbing fixtures can lead to very real problems, some of which can be outrageously expensive to correct and even downright dangerous.

In many cases, you may not realize that you’ve performed a repair or an installation incorrectly until problems start cropping up. Water damage alone can be exorbitantly expensive to reverse, not to mention the very real possibility of pipe and fixture damage.

Rather than tackling major plumbing tasks on your own, you should contact a professional, licensed plumber in your area for a consultation. Whether your home is in need of a repair or a remodeling project requires a new installation, you can save thousands of dollars in the long run by turning this integral part of your home’s functionality over to an experienced and qualified professional plumber. Before you pick up a wrench or set out to replace a wax seal, you should honestly and objectively evaluate your skills. From hot water heaters to drainage issues and the replacement of entire fixtures, a professional plumber has the experience and training to handle these plumbing issues safely and effectively.

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