Have You Been Neglecting Your Water Heater?

March 24th, 2015 Posted in Water Heaters
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Water heaters are often the most neglected of the water appliances, expected to provide hot water day after day without getting much TLC. Most water heaters will last 8 to 10 years, often longer if they are given proper maintenance. An annual tune-up of your water heater can help extend the life and ensure it’s working efficiently to keep your home in hot water. 

Annual Water Heater Service

If you’ve never had your water heater serviced, it’s actually a fairly simple process which can be done by you or your local plumber. To reduce mineral sediment build-up and prevent breakdowns, the water heater should be drained and refilled once a year as part of the annual service. In addition, here are a few other in need of a bit of attention:

  • Check the temperature
  • Clean intake filters
  • Test the water pressure, electric/gas elements and emergency shut-off valve
  • Check for leaks and corrosion

Replacing any parts as needed can improve the performance of your water heater and even save money on your energy bills. It’s estimated a well-functioning water heater can save 15% off your energy bills versus a poorly maintained unit.  Plus, by maintaining your water heater, you may get 2-5 more years of service before you need to replace the unit with a new model.

Most plumbing companies offer an affordable water heater tune-up or maintenance service that includes inspection and cleaning of your unit. This is almost always a worthwhile investment, paying for itself in lower energy costs alone. Call your local plumber today and schedule a TLC appointment for your water heater.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

 

 

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Three Strange Sink Sounds Which May Be Signs of Trouble

March 24th, 2015 Posted in Kitchen Sinks
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Normally, your sink is a relatively quiet fixture. Except for the whooshing sound of water going down the drain and the occasionally hum of the garbage disposal, it mostly remains silent. However, if your sink does start speaking up, it’s usually is a sign something’s amiss. Here are three strange sinks sounds that should get your attention:

Gurgling Sounds While Draining

A gurgling sink usually means there’s air trapped in your pipes. The cause can be debris from your garbage disposal which has created a clog that’s trapping air behind the blockage, or you may just need a vent added to your pipes. Either way, a gurgling sound is a good reason to call a plumber.

Whining Faucet

If your sink’s faucet makes a whining noise when it is turned on, there are a few different reasons for this noise. It may be something as simple as a loose washer or air in the pipes. It could also be a problem with the valves located under your sink.

Clinking or Thumping

A clinking noise when you turn on the water in your sink can be an easy fix. Most of the time, a loose washer which can easily be tightened or replaced is the culprit. However, if this isn’t the issue, it’s best to call a plumber to inspect your faucet and pipes.

If your sink is talking to you with any of these or other sounds, listen to what it’s saying and call your local plumber. Most issues can be quickly and inexpensively remedied, provided they’re caught before they become major problems.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

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Three Common Toilet Problems

March 24th, 2015 Posted in Toilets
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Let’s be honest; toilet problems aren’t anyone’s favorite issue to deal with as a homeowner. Whether it’s a slow-flushing toilet or one capable of flushing by itself, we would rather ignore it than try to fix the problem. However, these issues do crop up, and must be dealt with before they lead to bigger plumbing headaches. Many toilet problems are easy and inexpensive to fix on your own, if you know what the problem is and how to address the situation. Here are three of the most common problems and what needs to be done to resolve the issue.

  1. Slow-flushing toilet. If your toilet is flushing slowly but isn’t clogged, you may have mineral build up in your tank and fixtures. Check to make sure your tank is filling correctly; it the float is corroded, it may be shutting off prematurely. Try cleaning the mineral deposits off your fixtures or replacing them altogether.
  2. Self-flushing toilet. If the toilet is flushing on its own, most likely water is leaking from the tank into the bowl, causing it to fill and then flush. Put a few drops of food coloring in your tank and wait to see if the colored water leaks into the bowl. If it does, you probably have a leaky flapper valve.
  3. Clogged toilet. The first and easiest fix for a clogged toilet is to use your plunger to remove the clog. However, if the clog is farther down into your plumbing, you may need a snake to remove it, or a professional plumbing service.

Most toilet fixtures and parts can be found at almost any hardware or home improvement store and are fairly easy to install. If you aren’t handy with tools or just don’t particularly like working on your toilet, your local plumber can always come to the rescue to fix these common problems.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

 

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Are You Wasting 40,000 Gallons of Water a Year in Your Home?

March 24th, 2015 Posted in Plumbing Maintenance
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Water conservation should be important to everyone; not only is water a limited and vital resource, it’s also something we all pay for in our homes. Unfortunately, many homes waste thousands of gallons of water every year, due to poorly functioning appliances. It’s estimated that a family of four can use an average of 146,000 gallons of water a year, most of that going right down the drain. However, water-efficient appliances can greatly reduce this amount, averaging a savings for the same size family of 40,000 gallons a year.

Water Savings With Water-Efficient Appliances

There are a few different appliances which can offer substantial water-saving benefits to your home, cutting down waste and reducing your water bill. Here are the top four worth investing in for your home:

  • Low-flow toilets. A low-flow toilet that’s flushed 15 times a day can save up to 24,000 gallons a year over a normal flow toilet.
  • Efficient showerheads. For each person in your household who takes a 15 minute shower every day, you could save an estimated 24,000 gallons a year by using a low-flow or efficient showerhead.
  • Low-flow faucets. Just changing your faucet to a low-flow model can save a 1,000 gallons of water per faucet that’s run for four minutes a day.
  • Water-efficient washers. Doing only two loads a week, you can save 2,000 gallons of water by changing to a water-efficient washer.

Every fixture or appliance in your home that uses water has a low-flow or efficient version, which can save thousands of gallons of water per year. Talk to your local plumber about what other fixtures and appliances, like your water heater or dishwasher, can be replaced to save even more water every year.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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