Top Ten Plumbing Checklist for Your Home

If you are facing the task of caring for your home’s plumbing, then you should know that there are some basic needs you must cover in order to have a complete and functional plumbing system, as well as to keep your plumbing in tip top shape for years to come.  Here is a top ten plumbing checklist for your home:

Clean your showerheads.  Sediment buildup in your showerheads can lower your water pressure.  Fortunately, it is easy to remove shower heads and soak them in a calcium/lime/rust agent to remove impeding sediment.

Leaks.  Leaks are fairly easy to identify, but they might be caused by a number of different culprits.  It is a good idea to keep on a regular lookout for leaks, so that you can prevent small problems from growing into larger problems.  To find leaks, simply look for wet spots in the walls and ceilings, and puddles on the floor.

Leaky faucets.  Tighten all of your faucets as much as you can and make sure you don’t have any water leaking out of them.

Mildew.  This problem is a health hazard, and is often the result of a puddle of standing water that has dried up.  Standing water may be indicative of a leak, so watch for mildew.

Drainage.  Water should drain fast enough that it swirls around when going down.  Watch for the swirl, and listen for bubbling, to ascertain whether or not your drains are getting clogged.

Corrosion.  Not only can corrosion contaminate your water, but it can also break down your plumbing pipes at the joints and fittings, leading to major problems.  Signs of corrosion include green stains around shutoff valves and fittings (or orange/yellow stains, if you have old steel pipes).

Caulking.  It is easy to see when caulking around a sink, tub, or toilet is coming off.  Maintain the caulking to prevent leaks.

Water heater.  Clean the water heater as needed to remove any sediment that may be collecting at the bottom.

Water pressure.  Test all of your water faucets for relatively high water pressure (as compared to the rest of the house).  Low water pressure can mean sediment buildup, or even water line problems.

Around your toilet.  Check to see that the toilet handle is tight enough, and that water does not continue to run long after you have flushed the toilet.

Top 3 Reasons You Might Need a Plumber

It may be tempting to attempt to do your own home repairs in order to save some money.  However, there are some circumstances in which you absolutely should call in the experts.  If your repair need has to do with your home’s water system or plumbing, then it is a good idea to know when you can handle a job on your own, and when you should turn to the expertise of a plumbing professional.  Here are the top three reasons you might need a plumber:

It can be hard to identify the real problem.  Sure, you may be able to easily determine that you have a water leak, or that your water pressure is too low.  However, are you aware of the several different causes that may lead to the same problems you are experiencing?  A reputable plumber will be able to approach your repair issue from a variety of angles, in order to correctly identify the real culprit, rather than just attacking the symptoms of the problem.

Plumbers can see into the future.  No –not in a “crystal ball” kind of way – but rather in the “we have experience and know what your current problem can lead to in the future” kind of way.  If you don’t know a whole lot about your current repair need, other than the immediate ways in which you might be able to fix it, then you need to stop and consider the fact that your small problem might in fact be related to something much bigger in your home’s overall plumbing system.  In turn, this means that your small problem could erupt into a much bigger problem down the road, if you don’t take proper precautions now.  A good plumber will be able to assess your situation more accurately, according to years of experience.

You could make a bad problem worse.  It may seem simple enough to replace a pipe or two, but are you equipped to handle unforeseen repair issues that may arise while you are working on that seemingly isolated problem?  Most likely, the answer to that question is “no,” in which case you should recruit the help of a professional.

Services Your Local Plumber Should be Able to Provide

It goes without saying that if you own a home, you will at some point need the help of a plumber.  But do you know exactly what types of situations call for a plumber’s expertise, or what you should be able to expect when you hire a plumber?  If not, then you have come to the right place.  Here are some services your local plumber should be able to provide:

Drain cleaning.  If your drains are slow to let the water down, or not draining at all, then you can count on your local plumber to solve the problem fairly easily.  While it may be tempting to pour some drain cleaner down and avoid the service call, you should know that this can cause larger problems in the long run.  Therefore, you should call your plumber when you hear that all too-familiar gurgle or first see signs of a slowing drain.

Water heater problems.  There are a number of things that can go wrong with your water heater, from an extinguished pilot light to a faulty thermostat.  Your local plumber should be able to identify water heater problems and make most minor water heater repairs.

Leaks.  Water leaks may start out small, but can lead to some major damage if left untreated.  Your plumber will be able to locate the source of water leaks and repair the causes.

Drain and sewer cleaning.  Your indoor plumbing is connected to an outdoor drainage and sewer system.  This system can back up and flood your yard, and can make it impossible for you to flush your toilet or drain water inside the home.  In the case of a sewage system backup, you can call your local plumber to come out and clean and drain the sewage and drainage system.

Frozen pipes.  If you don’t properly winterize your home (and sometimes even if you do), your water pipes can freeze and burst.  Your local plumber will be able to thaw your water pipes and repair the damage.

Old piping.  Old, damaged, and corroded piping may cause a variety of problems, from contaminated water to water leaks.  A plumber will be able to make piping repairs, as well as completely replace piping systems with new piping.

Reasons Why Your Hot Water Has Stopped Working

Have you ever woken up early with visions of jumping into a warm steam shower, only to find that your shower is freezing cold?  If so, then you understand what a hindrance it can be to have a problem with your hot water.  Fortunately, in many cases, this problem is easily solved . . . as long as you know what is causing it.  Here are some reasons why your hot water has stopped working:

The pilot light.  This is the simplest and easiest hot water problem to fix.  Check your water heater to make sure the pilot light is still on (check your owner’s manual if you need helping finding the pilot light, as it is well hidden).  If the pilot light is out, then you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to re-light it.

Gas hot water heaters.  If you have a gas hot water heater, then your problem may be caused by a leak in the gas line leading to the appliance.  If this is the case, you may notice a rotten egg smell around the water heater.  This is a very dangerous problem and should only be handled by professionals, so call your plumber immediately.

Heating element.  In the case of not enough hot water, or hot water that is not hot enough, it may be that you need to replace the heating element on your water heater.

Sediment buildup.  Over time, water contaminants can build up and harden in the bottom of your water heater, reducing its ability to produce ample hot water.  You can combat sediment buildup by cleaning your water heater regularly, softening hard water with a water softening agent, and reducing the temperature of the water heater to 130 degrees.  However, if the tank itself is rusty, you cannot remove that buildup and you will have to replace the water heater altogether.

Thermostat problems.  If you have some hot water, but it’s just not hot enough, it may be that you need to adjust the temperature on your water heater thermostat.  It may even be that your thermostats are not working correctly, in which case you may need to replace them.

Most Important Plumbing Regulations You May Not Know

When most people think of plumbing, they think of the pipes underneath their sinks, the sink drains, and the toilet.  However, plumbing encompasses much more than just the things you see everyday – including waste drainage and water safety issues – and there are therefore some very strict government guidelines when it comes to the installation and repair of plumbing systems.  Here are some of the most important plumbing regulations you may not know:

Board of Health approval.  Any plumbing plan that is installed to deliver or drain water – in any commercial or residential property – must be approved by the State Board of Health.  Alls plans and specification for the plumbing job must be submitted to the board for prior approval before the work begins, and these plans will stay on file with the Board of Health.  Additionally, no plumbing work may be covered or concealed until it has been signed off on by a Board of Health official as meeting necessary standards and falling in line with the submitted plans and specifications.

Registration and licensing.  No plumber can do plumbing work, or even advertise plumbing services or materials, without first being properly registered and licensed by the Board of Health.  Registration requires the submission of a verified and approved business name and place of business.  If a plumber changes business names or addresses, it is necessary to acquire new licensing and registration with the updated information before working or advertising plumbing services.

Sewer or drain connection.  Any and all plumbing in both residential and commercial buildings absolutely must be separately connected, from the outside, to a public sewer or drainage system (if provided).  In the case that there is no public sewage system to connect to, the plumbing system must be separately and independently connected to a private drainage and sewage system that is laid fully outside of the building premises.  If a sewage system is not possible or accessible, then an appropriate purification system, irrigation system, or cesspool must be in place.  Additionally, several buildings may connect to the same sewage and drainage system, as long as the connections are separate.

How to Find a Reputable Plumber

Whether you are building a new home and having new plumbing installed, replacing old faulty plumbing in an existing home, or needing a common plumbing repair, you will face the task of finding a plumber you can trust to do the job competently, on time, and for a reasonable fee.  There are countless plumbers out there, claiming to be the best and begging for your business.  How do you find the right fit for you?  Here are some tips for how to find a reputable plumber:

Compile a list of candidates.  In order to find the best plumber for your needs, you will need to do some comparison shopping.  The best place to start is to ask people you know if they can recommend a good plumber.  Then search online for plumbers in your area.  It is also a good idea to ask local real estate agents, plumbing supply stores, and builders who they use and/or refer their customers to.

Check licenses.  You can easily check a plumber’s licensing by conducting an online search with your state’s licensing board.  All you need is the plumber’s business name or license number.  Plumbers must undergo a number of requisites before obtaining a license, including a background check and a plumbing competency test, so checking for proper licensing is a great place to start. 

Interview candidates.  Once you’ve verified appropriate licensing, you should interview the remaining candidates to weed out the yays from the nays.  Ask about years of experience, specializations (installation versus repair, for example), and amount of expertise in handling jobs similar to yours.

Call on references.  When you interview candidates, you should ask for references.  Call on each of the references you are given and ask about things like customer service, timeliness, and work quality.

Get bids.  Once you have narrowed down your list of candidates to a manageable size, it is time to get bids.  Have each of the plumbers give you a detailed bid, including work hours, materials to be used, and estimates for completion time.  At this point, you will know from all of your research that you are comparing apples to apples, so the winning bid will determine which plumber you ultimately choose.

Helpful Tips to Save Money on Your Water Bill

Let’s face it: financial times are tight for most people these days, and we could all use a little help when it comes to cutting our monthly expenses down.  Fortunately, there are some very simple things you can do to conserve on your water usage and save extra money each month.  Here are some helpful tips to save money on your water bill:

Your shower head.  Did you know that your shower head may be using as much as five and a half gallons of water per minute?  By switching to a low-flow shower head, you can conserve up to three gallons of water per minute.  That’s a considerable savings.  Low-flow shower heads are relatively inexpensive, and super easy to install, so you simply cannot afford to not make the switch now.

Displace the water in your toilet chamber.  Your toilet really doesn’t need to use all of the water it does to flush and then refill.  Lift the cover of the toilet chamber and place a brick or large rock in there to displace the water so that you use less with each flush.

Turn off the water when you are not using it.  This may seem like common sense, but the truth is that there may be times you are unnecessarily using water that you are not even aware of.  For example, if you are brushing your teeth or washing your hair, you really only need to be running clean water when you rinse.

Leaky faucets.  That small drip may not seem like a lot, but it can add up a lot over time and cost you a considerable amount on your water bill.  If you need some convincing of how much water you can waste with a single leaky faucet, place a bucket under the faucet overnight and see what you are left with.

Choose showers over baths.  The average bath time takes a total of thirty-five gallons of water.  Compare this to the standard fifteen to twenty-five gallons of water for a quick shower, and it is easy to see why you should skip the bath in favor of the shower.