Understanding How The Plumbing Works In Your Home

If you’re a homeowner it’s a good idea to learn a few basics about how the plumbing works in your home. If you understand the basics of plumbing, you may be able to solve a lot of common household plumbing problems on your own, without having to consult a plumbing professional. The plumbing works a bit differently in every room in your home.

 

Bathroom Plumbing Basics

 

 

One of the most important things you can do to ensure that your bathroom plumbing is working properly is to maintain your faucet. You should replace or repair any leaking faucets as quickly as possible. If you don’t do this it can cause even more damage over time as well as wasting a valuable resource: Water. A leaking faucet wastes the same amount of water that’s required to take 180 showers! You should also keep your faucets clean. Lime and sediment can block the opening of the faucet and causes low water pressure or leaks. The part of the faucet that causes this problem is called the aerator (the ring that connects to spray head of the faucet where the water comes out). You can clean this small but mighty part of your faucet very easily. But first, you have to remove it. To do this, you have to turn the aerator counterclockwise. You should be able to do this by hand. If you have any trouble use masking tape or pliers. Remove the spray head from the aerator. Clean it with vinegar and then put it back together.

Keeping your showerhead clean is just as important as maintaining your faucets. The process of cleaning a showerhead is very similar to the process of cleaning the aerator of your faucet. Take apart the showerhead with an adjustable wrench or pliers. Clean the holes in the showerhead using a piece of thin wire. Then rinse the showerhead with clean water, before putting it back together.

In addition to maintaining your faucet and shower head, it is also important to maintain your toilet. It is easy to check your toilet for leaks with just a few steps. The first step is to adjust the fill valve if there is water running into the overflow pipe. Next, test the flush valve mechanism by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the water in the toilet bowl changes color it means that the ball or flapper of the toilet is leaking and should be replaced. And finally, do not flush things that should be placed in the trash.

 

Kitchen Plumbing Basics

Many of the same principles of plumbing that apply to the bathroom are true for the kitchen as well. Like in the bathroom, it is important to clean your faucet and aerator (see above). Never put food waste down the drain, unless you have a garbage disposal. You should also never pour liquid grease, down the drain, disposal or not. It will solidify and clog up your pipes.

 

Basement Plumbing Basics

It is important to know where the water shut off valve is located in your home. In most homes the shutoff valve is located where the water supply pipe enters the house through the basement floor. This is helpful to know in case you ever have to turn this off. Check your water meter for leaks. You should do this while no water is being used. Look at the meter again ten hours later. If the meter has moved it indicates a leak somewhere in your home. And finally, you should have your septic tank cleaned and inspected every three to five years to prevent the need for costly repairs.

 

Laundry Room Plumbing Basics

The laundry room is yet another area in your home where plumbing issues can occur. Here are few things to remember about the plumbing in your laundry room to help avoid problems. First, you should only run your wash machine on a full load. Check your washing machine’s hoses for wear and tear. Any rubber hoses should be replaced with stainless steel ones because they’re and more resistant to leaks or cracks. Examine exposed pipes under the sink for leaks. Sometimes you should also pour a bucket of water down the sink to ensure that the drain is working properly.

 

Plumbing Emergencies

While the tips mentioned above can be helpful, remember that you should always consult a plumbing professional for emergency situations. If you live in the Washington D.C. area and have a plumbing emergency, you can search for a qualified DC emergency plumber online or ask a friend or family member for a trusted recommendation.

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What Are Sewer Services?

If you own a home, there’s a good chance that you’ll need sewer services at some point. So it may be a good idea to become familiar with what the term actually refers to. Sewer services refer to any services related to the septic or sewer system in your home. Sewer services can be something as simple as a clogged drain, or as complicated as complete sewer line replacement. Many plumbing companies are now equipped with special cameras that can see problems in a sewer system by being tun thru the pipes, eliminating unnecessary digging.

 

Where Are You Mostly Likely To Need Sewer Services In Your Home?

 

But which rooms in your home commonly require sewer services? Sewer services can be required in a variety of places throughout your home including, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements. Since the water and sewer system also run outside your home, sewer services are sometimes required outdoors as well. Outdoor sewer services can include things like cracked or frozen outdoor pipes, problems with outdoor faucets or drains, and septic system problems.

 

Water Conservation Tips

 

 

It may not seem like it but conserving water can sometimes prevent plumbing problems from occurring in your home. And it’s easier than you might think to conserve water. For example, only use a small amount of laundry detergent or bleach when doing laundry, because the chemicals that these common household items contain can be harmful to the natural bacteria in septic systems. Another simple suggestion to conserve water is to ensure that your toilet is running efficiently. Did you know that a leaking toilet is not only unsanitary, but it can also increase your water usage by as much as forty percent? In order to keep your toilet running as efficiently as possible make sure that both your toilet’s flapper and the fill valve are working properly. You should also replace old shower heads and repair leaking faucets in your home. Replacing an old shower head with a new one can save up to 7.5 gallons of water per minute. A leaking faucet wastes eight gallons of water per day. So replacing it can save 3,000 gallons of water per year. Another easy way to conserve water and save energy in your home is to make sure that the temperature of your water heater should not exceed one-hundred and twenty degrees. If you have an older water, just make sure it’s set to medium.

 

Seasonal Plumbing Tips

 

There are different things that you can do to reduce the likelihood that you will need to call a plumbing professional. These time and money saving strategies can vary, depending on the time of year. In autumn, for example, you should disconnect outdoor water hoses to prevent pipes or hoses from freezing. And you should also seal air leaks around doors and windows. It’s a good idea to clear leaves from your gutters, too. And finally make sure that your sump pump is clean and in working order. During the winter months, keep your kitchen and bathroom drains clear. In spring it is important to maintain your toilets, faucets, and shower heads (see above). Empty the lint trap on your washing machine, too! And in everyone’s favorite season, summer, keep an eye out for toilet leaks. Check to make sure that the toilet is flushing properly. And never flush items that should go in the trash down the toilet!

 

How Do I Find Sewer Services in Washington DC?

 

A simple Google search is a good start. Just Google DC sewer services to find a qualified plumbing professional in your area. You can also ask your friends and family for a recommendation, too.

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Professional Advice On What Not To Flush

The toilets in your home are very important. Without them, you would be in trouble! That is why it is imperative that you know exactly what you should not flush down the toilet. Many of these items will only cause problems in the future to your toilet and your sewer system. If you are questioning whether you should flush it, the answer is probably no. Here is a very large list of items that your professional plumber would suggest you not flush, in order to keep your sewer system happy and healthy. This can also save you a lot of money and visits from your local plumber.

 

Prescription Drugs And Cat Litter

 

 

Many people are not aware of this, but prescription drugs and cat litter are two of the most lethal objects that you could possibly flush down your toilet. Contact your local sewer services in DC for help and advice if you have flushed either of these down the drain. Prescription drugs are never to be flushed because of all of the chemicals that are in them. They are not made to be in water and many times when they break down, the chemicals in them will cause your water to be contaminated. This can leak into someone else’ s water system as well and could end up killing people and animals.

Pet owners all over the world will throw used cat litter down their toilets and this is a huge problem! There are two major ingredients in cat litter that can instantly clog any type of drain and that is clay and sand. When cat litter has been used, it has many toxins and parasites in it that will contaminate your water supply. This is another reason why you should never flush it!

 

Dental Floss, Tampons, And Flushable Wipes

 

Even though many household and bathroom items say that they are flushable, they are not exactly good for your sewer system. Dental floss is one that many people think that they can just throw down the toilet. It is not biodegradable, so even if it doesn’t clog your toilet, it will be harmful to your water supply and to the environment. It can also get caught up in the pipes because it is easy to get tangled up. Tampons are another thing that many people think you can flush. The cotton that tampons are made of can create a clog because it does not biodegrade quickly. This is one of the main clog problems that plumbers see daily. The face and body wipes that are marked flushable may also cause a huge clog in your toilet. The wipes do not break down easily when they are in water, hence they can cause quite a clog.

If you have been flushing any of these items down the toilet, be sure that you stop immediately. There are many of these that can contaminate your water and make you very sick, and none of them are good for the health of your sewer or septic system.

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The Lowdown On Commercial Plumbing Emergencies

Commercial plumbing is very important when it comes to a business, and having the best working plumbing possible for customers and employees reduces closings, lost revenues, and lost wages.. With commercial plumbing, there is quite a lot more that can go wrong, due to the increased number of fixtures and volume of use. Because retail, corporate, and commercial companies service so many people, plumbing should always be in the best condition possible.

When emergencies happen in your company, this could be a threat that makes you have to close down your company for a few days. This always looks bad for business, so it is important to know exactly what these emergencies are and how you can make sure that you don’t lose any clients because of the plumbing.

 

 

Sewer Backups And Gas Leaks

 

Two of the worst possible plumbing emergencies that your company can have are sewer backups and gas leaks. There are DC commercial plumbing services that can repair these problems as quickly as possible, and calling them sooner, rather than later, will help to eliminate long closings and shut downs. A sewer backup can be caused by many different problems and it is important that you look out for these, especially if you are running a very busy company. Simple clogs in the toilets can cause a sewer backup, so it is very important for you to keep an eye on the bathrooms at your office. Sewer backups can also be caused by the pipes breaking down and not functioning properly. If your company’s building is much older, this could be the reason for it. Have your pipes examined properly before you move into the building and get on a regular maintenance schedule in order to keep the sewer from backing up and reduce pipes becoming clogged.

Gas leaks are another problem that many companies see. Once again, if you are in an older building, it is important to have appliances and gas lines tested before you move in, and then regularly to ensure no new leaks have sprung up. If a gas leak is suspected, call a plumber immediately who employs master gas fitters and clear the area until they confirm it is safe.

 

The Broken Pipe Emergency

 

A final type of commercial plumbing emergency that your company may have to face is that of broken pipes. This can be caused by a myriad of things such as tree roots and corrosion. Older pipes seem to be much easier to burst and break than those that are new, of course, so again, it is important for commercial properties to be on a routine plumbing maintenance schedule. Many companies overlook these important check-ups, or don’t want to take the time or funds to schedule them. They are then in the dark about the health of their plumbing and gas systems, and operate on the hopes that nothing will go awry. Blind luck does not hold our forever, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially where commercial plumbing is concerned. Schedule the maintenance, it could end up saving your company thousands of dollars in the long run.

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Is There Really A Technique For Using A Plunger?

Repairing your company’s indoor plumbing can be an easy process, but it can also be a bit tricky. We all depend on our bathroom sinks and toilets so much that when one of them gets clogged, we are suddenly in crisis mode. Not to worry, there are minor clogs that you can clear all by yourself. If you have just the right tools of the trade, you can unclog that pesky drain or toilet in no time without assistance.

 

To Plunge Or Not To Plunge

 

 

Although you may need to call your local DC commercial plumber, it is always important to have the right tools around if you need to attempt the repairs yourself. This is when that plunger will come in very handy. It is also a great idea to have a drain snake in your toolbox, as well. This can help with those much bigger jobs. How do you know if you should use the plunger? If your toilets are clogged, generally a plunger is the best tool to start with.

There are many different types of plungers, so how do you choose the right one? If your company has many different toilets, you will probably need to use a plunger that is made for harder jobs. This is called a flange plunger. It has extended parts which make it much easier for those tough jobs. If you do not have that many people using the restrooms of your company, you can buy a standard plunger. Just make sure that with both of these plungers, the cup of the plunger is a bit larger than the drain itself. Then you can choose what plunger you think is best for your commercial bathrooms.

 

Got The Plunger, Now What?

 

Once you are happy with the plunger that you have found, now you must know exactly what to do with it. You may not be able to control the water level in the drain, but it is very important to know if you have too much water or not enough. You can always add more water or take water out. Just be sure that when you are taking water out of the clogged toilet, you wear gloves. If there is too much water, you can end up with a mess all over the floor and you. If there is not enough water, you will have trouble plunging because of the dryness.

When you are ready to attempt the clog, before you begin to plunge, put a very small amount of petroleum jelly on the rim of the plunger cup. This will help to create a better seal. The handle should always be held upright. Plunge the drain for about 30 seconds up and down. If you need to repeat it, do so 3 to 4 times. If you have no luck after that, it will be time to call your commercial plumber.

If you follow these tips, it will be a breeze to get that drain unclogged. The right tools really can help you to have great success with your commercial plumbing issues.

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Signs Of Trouble To Look For In Your Water Heater

Water heaters are tricky and they can make a lot of sounds throughout the day that perhaps you’re not used too. When it comes to hearing these sounds though, you have to find out if it means that it is time for you to replace your water heater or to have it repaired, or sometimes those sounds might just be normal for the work that it is doing throughout your home. A plumber can help when you may need to replace or repair your old water heater, so you can get back on track. Watch for these signs that show that it is time for you to replace or repair that old water heater in your home.

Leaking Water Heater

If the water heater is leaking, then generally this would be a sign that something is wrong with the system. There should not be a leak anywhere throughout the entire system. If there is a large, or even small puddle of water below the heater then this could mean that the water is coming out of somewhere. Have a plumbing service take a look and find the problem area.

Loud Clanging or Hissing Noises

You’re sitting in your living room and all of a sudden you hear loud hissing or banging noises coming from the basement. It is most likely your water heater to blame. Hearing these noises often when you did not previously hear them indicates an issue with the heater.

Corrosion In and Out of the Heater

Do you notice rust and corrosion on the outside of the heater? Is the water quality that is coming out of the water heater horrible? You need to make sure that this is not a common problem that you’re always faced with. Speaking with a company that provides DC plumbing services can allow you to have someone come out and see if the heater needs to be cleaned out or replaced. Depending on the age and condition of the water heater, you may need to just have a new one.

Age Related Issues

Just like other appliances, water heaters are only rated to be used for so long before they start to have problems. It must be replaced if it is around 15-20 years old. However, since warranties on these water heaters last around 5-10 years, the heater should last for around that long. Having something happen within this time frame would be nice, since the warranty would fix it. If something happens after this time, then it might be time to replace it.

Your water heater is an important part of your home. Make sure that you have a plumber in mind that can help you obtain the repair and replacement needed to put you back on track. Never have to worry about not having hot water when the right company is there when you need them to be. Don’t let water issues go too long, since this can mean no hot water throughout the house but also poor water quality.

Common Problems a Plumber Can Help With