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| FAQ |
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| Have a problem? Call Us. We have solutions.
You might not even need a plumber. |
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| Why Is My Water Bill Rising – Dramatically? |
| Question: My water bill is soaring! I’ve checked all the faucets. No problem. I’ve even looked for water marks where pipes might be. Nothing! What could be the cause of this? Is it a plumbing problem? |
Answer: Good question. But you might not even need a plumber. 90% of all leaks in residences start in the toilet tank. The cause usually is from worn out parts or some part of the flushing mechanism improperly aligned. If this is the problem, stop the leak and watch your water bill climb down. First, try this.
To discover if the toilet is leaking, check the water level inside the toilet tank. The water may be overflowing or leaking out via the overflow pipe. This is the pipe in the tank’s middle. A small tube is connected to it. If you are losing water this way, by the water running into the overflow pipe, adjust the valve. After the adjustment, the flow should stop about one inch below the top of the overflow tube, or at the manufacturer’s water level mark on the inside of the tank.Next, put a drop or two of food colorant into the tank.
This is how you test if the flush valve mechanism is now working properly. If the water loses its color – or gets much, much lighter – within 15 minutes, it means water is leaking into the toilet bowl. If that’s the case, the ball or flapper inside the tank must be replaced. Good luck! As said, you might not even need a plumber. |
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| Do I Have a Root Problem? |
| Question: My home is surrounded by beautiful trees. But over the years, my homes drains seem to be getting slower and slower. My neighbor said he had root problems and my problem might be due to the tree roots. He is definitely not a plumber and doesn’t have the details as to why, or how to solve my problem. What do you think? |
Answer: He may be right. Roots love water. Over time they can break into the pipe and completely fill it with hairy root masses at points of entry. The clogging gets worse as time goes on as toilet tissue, grease and debris flowing from your home attach themselves to the these hairy masses. Eventually, the result is reduced outward water flow and drainage slowed down. A complete blockage will eventually result if the roots are not eliminated and their growth halted. Something has to be done, here’s the reason why.
Once the roots have broken into the pipe, they continue growing and create massive pressure at the crack opening and the pipe joints. Given enough time, their pressure may snap the pipe, or cause it to collapse completely, which means risk of water damage from sewage flooding your home, loss of use of your homes sewer drains and expensive repair or replacement of your sewer serviceline.
This solution calls for a professional plumber to see if roots are really the problem and what must be done. If you live in an older home, it may well be roots are the culprits. Clay, Cast Iron, Concrete pipe and Orangeburg are often used in older homes, and are easily penetrated by tree roots which cause backups and create damage. Roots are strong.
The good news is an up-to-date plumber who uses today’s modern equipment – such as color video camera pipe inspection/electronic line locating equipment – should be able quickly spot if roots are the problem and pinpoint their location fast. Find yourself a professional. Don’t let any plumber just start digging.
If a plumber must replace pipe, make sure he uses ABS pipe or HDPE Polyethylene. ABS is the strong because it contains fewer joints, and the joints are glued together tightly, making them less subject to breakage and leaks which lead to root intrusion. HDPE Polyethylene is used with trenchless sewer replacement and is a higher density plastic than the ABS pipe. HDPE has no joints for roots to intrude through and a life expectancy of more than 100 years. |
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| Disposal Not Necessarily a Plumber’s Problem! |
| Question: My garbage disposal unit in my newly-purchased home is a big headache. It works. Then it doesn’t! What’s the problem? |
Answer: This could be a three-pronged answer. It might be a plumbing or an electrical problem, or it might be the appliance itself. Here’s how to check where you are at.
If the unit stops working completely, makes no hum or sound, push the reset bottom on the bottom of the unit. Do it a few times. That might be the answer.
If not, check the breaker in your electrical panel. May be you need a new one or it’s defective. But if after doing this, the unit hums but the blade doesn’t turn, try unsticking the blade. BUT MAKE SURE YOU TURN OFF THE ELECTRICITY FIRST.
Some units come with a wrench you can use to turn the cutter fly wheel from its bottom. An Allen Wrench also works. Or else use a broom handle, or something wooden with a handle that’s strong, or a “plumber’s friend (a trade name)”; stick it in and try turning the cutting wheel around. Unstick it. Turn the electricity back on. If it still doesn’t work, time to replace the unit. |
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| Do Commercial Cleaners Really Unclog? |
| Question: My sink is clogged. Do you recommend using the liquid clog removers you can purchase at any store? |
Answer: Yes. You can try any liquid clog remover, keeping in mind some are stronger, work better, than others. If you are at a hardware or home repair depot, don’t be shy. Ask questions.
If the clog removers do not solve the problem completely, the drain needs to be snaked by a plumber. |
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| Why Can’t I Pour Grease Down The Drain? |
| Question: My girlfriend tells me it’s all right to pour hot grease down the sink as long as you let hot water run. My husband says it’s a bad idea, but doesn’t know all the reasons why. What’s the truth? |
Answer: Your husband wins this round. As the water moves down the drain it will get cooler, and so will the grease. Then the grease will eventually build up, cling to your pipes, and various types of debris will adhere to it. That leads to drain build-up. Do these things long enough, and you will have blockage and serious and possibly expensive problems.
Here are a few solutions. Pour the grease in a separate container until it cools down. For convenience, you can use the same container until it’s full, as long as it’s kept far away from children, flames, and is not in a spot where it can be easily tipped over onto someone. Using a tight lid until its cool is a good idea; but, make sure your container is not made of a material hot grease burns through. A metal coffee can is best. Remember, grease can burn. Once the sealed container is full, put it in the garbage. Another solution is when cleaning a pot or pan containing grease wipe it with a paper towel first before washing it. Toss the paper in the garbage.
Don’t wipe it with a cloth with the intention of putting the cloth in the washing machine later.
In the machine, the grease melts, and could clog your washing machine’s drain. Also, if the greasy cloth is touched, you could get grease on your clothes. |
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Many more plumbing problems exist.
No room to print them all here.
If you have a problem, call us – Were Glad to help! |
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