Ask the Plumber - Handy Tips and FAQ's
Plumbing Myths
Truth or Myth? – As with anything involving popular opinion and professional know how inconsistencies exist.
Many times a person might think they know how to handle a situation based on what they have been told and not by personal experience. We will address three common myths in this article:
- Myth: Older commodes out-perform low-flow commodes.
Truth: New 1.2 gallon per flush commodes perform as well or better than the old water hogs. When lower water consumption commodes were first introduced the designs were not efficient and customers had to flush at least twice to clear the bowl. - Myth: Drains should be cleaned out only when there is a blockage and the drain is no longer functioning.
Truth: Drains should be cleaned out at least once a year for preventative maintenance. - Myth: Lawn watering needs to be done for at least 30 minutes, per zone, per day.
Truth: This is a wasteful practice. Most of the water will run off. Watering deeply but less frequently is the best way to ensure a healthy lawn. A total lawn watering of 15 minutes every other day is plenty of water to maintain a healthy green lawn.
There are many common myths out there. We are happy to share the truth or bust those plumbing myths. Check back often for an updated list and if you are in need of a qualified, licensed, professional plumber give us a call. (972) 424-6479
Photo Credit: Danny Skinner
Nothing Beats a Straight Flush
Everybody has had at least one – a dinosaur of a toilet. It sometimes seems like flushing the equivalent of Niagara Falls every time you hit the lever in order to clear the bowl. These commodes work on an average of four to six gallons per flush. This is way too much water to be wasting and can get quite costly.
Water conservationists and fixture manufacturers have been working on solving the problem of over-consuming commodes for years. In fact, one of the most powerful arguments against low-flow toilets has been the issue of being under-powered. The first attempts at creating low-flow commodes had demonstrated several flaws. The most obvious flaw was the need to flush more than once to clear the bowl. Therefore, a valid argument could be made against low-flow commodes: “What is the point of having a commode that uses half the amount of water per flush if you need to flush the commode more than once?”
Those problems are a thing of the past. New concepts in design allow commodes to be designed to use less water without sacrificing the force of the flush. Most brands have a dual mode flushing design. This means that if liquid matter is being flushed, it can use even less water to clear the bowl. On the other hand, when solids are being passed through the toilet, there is an optional, higher volume, flush. For the general public who have been put off by the first generation of low-flow commodes, take heart. Virtually all manufacturers have worked out the bugs of the low-flow commode. You can now get a satisfying bowl clearing flush using no more than 1.2 gallons of water.
Old water-wasting commodes can be easily identified by the enormous tank that sits on the back of the bowl. When you are ready to take the plunge and trade in your old water hog commode, give Gary’s Quality Plumbing a call. (972) 424-6479. We will help you choose the right commode for your style, décor, and needs. This includes ADA compliant toilets with higher seating rims. There are many brands and styles available and we have no doubt that we will satisfy your needs.
Plumbers (Plumbing Doctors) and Medical Doctors (Body Doctors)
I was just thinking……The plumber protects the health of the nation. He is educated, works as an apprentice for five years, goes on to be a Journeyman after passing a state-mandated test, and can eventually become a Master Plumber after more time, study and testing,After he is licensed he needs to get insurance coverage in order to keep his license. He will need to place his plumbing license numbers permanently on his vehicle for all to see. He will go to continuing education classes every year to keep up on the latest issues and updates in the plumbing industry.And then he will start competing with low-priced, uninsured, unlicensed “handymen” that do not have any of the above qualifications – or expenses to contend with. The handyman often works out of an unmarked vehicle so he can avoid a building inspector that may be coming down your street.Unfortunately, this is what we hear time and time again when we get phone calls from people who are price shopping:
“Why do we need to get a permit?”
We are required to obtain a permit to perform the work you need and all plumbing work needs to be inspected.
“I got a much better price from this other guy and I really don’t need to have the inspector showing up at my door anyway.”
What you don’t understand is that when you pick a person from a local ad or door hanger, you’re allowing to access to your water supply – as well as to your neighbors’ water supply down the street – and that person you’ve allowed access may be operating illegally. Without a license, without insurance – and very possibly without the knowledge needed to protect your safety and the safety of your neighbors.
The required inspection by the building inspector is an added protection for the customer and for the plumber. And guess what? If the licensed, insured plumber does not take out the permit and schedule the inspection he is liable for a huge fine.
Ahem…the handyman often just walks away from the job and is not noticed unless or until there is a problem and then he may be taken to task if he can be located.
This is true of water, but also of gas. Licensed plumbers are supposed to deal with these issues – not handymen!
You trust your body to a medical doctor, right? He protects the health of the nation. He is intensely and highly educated to perform the tasks he does, licensed and insured, for sure. Would you trust a “doctor” working out of an unmarked building to look after the health of yourself and your family? I think not!. And it is not that much of a stretch. It is your health at stake.
There is a place for a handyman. Don’t get me wrong. And everyone should be allowed to work. But if they want to do work that has legal requirements, they should have to do the whole process that is required to be licensed. I believe the laws should be followed for the health and welfare of everyone.
The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners website has a tab you can click on to check on the license and insurance of any plumber that is legit. It is easy and I think everyone should be sure if the plumber they call is listed. Let me know if you agree.
Check Your Water Bill!
Just because you don’t see or hear water running does not mean there is not a leak. Often the first sign of a leak is the increase in water usage on your water bill. When you suspect a leak Gary’s Quality Plumbing is prepared to locate the source and repair it promptly, saving you time, property damage and money..
Evidence of a Plumbing Leak in Your Yard
Most people don’t think about having a plumbing leak in their yard until it is happening to them. Typically a homeowner will see evidence that soil is being eroded in a puddle, developing somewhere between their main water supply and the main valve assembly for their sprinkler system. The black flow preventer keeps water from getting back into the main water supply from the sprinkler line.85-90% of all yard leaks happen as a result of poorly implemented sprinkler system designs. A poorly designed sprinkler system will undoubtedly have too much stress at one or more of their joints. If pipe is not properly measured or oriented to make the next connection, the installation of the fittings can’t be done per code. This will cause stress to the sprinkler system parts, components, and the main yard line.
When we do a yard leak repair we make sure that everything gets dug far enough back so that there is no undue stress on the pipe. Once the repair is finished the majority of the joints will have been completed with copper and solder. This will make a much more permanent solution than the compression units that are normally found to fill this need.
If you notice a higher than normal water bill or a soggy spot in your yard, chances are you have a yard leak. Give us a call at 972-424-6479 and one of our plumbers will come out to assess the situation.
Photo Credit: Danny Skinner
Do You Have Low Water Pressure?
Many things can cause low water pressure:- A hole or crack in your water piping
- Debris in the pipe or aerator
- A new fixture with a low-flow restrictor
- Inadequate or damaged service piping between the street and the home
Understanding A/C Condensate Lines
If you’ve ever held a glass of ice water in your hand in a room temperature area you will notice that water collects on the outside of the glass. This is condensation.
In an air conditioning unit the same phenomena occurs. Condensated water collects inside an A/C unit. This water needs to drain out of the unit. Underneath where the condensation occurs there is a pan into which the condensate drains. This is the primary pan and will be piped via a pitched PVC pipe into the drainage system of the home. One way this is done is by using a tee fitting on the drain line under the bathroom or a “hole-in-the-head” fitting behind a bath tub drain.
In case that drain line ever backs up or doesn’t drain for some reason there is a secondary drip pan underneath the primary. This is piped separately to the exterior of the home allowing the homeowner to see if there is a wet spot under the eave and know if something needs to be addressed. It is piped out to be visible.
As a homeowner you should occasionally walk around the perimeter of your home so you can locate the pipes and know where they are. The A/C condensate drain pipe will be:
- Sticking out of the eave a couple of inches directly down so it will drip onto the ground below.
- Out of the wall (In this case there will be a 90 degree ell pointing down with a short length of pipe so that it drips lower.)
When you do your routine walk-around outside of your home and notice any condensation contact us. We will come out and make sure your primary drain pipe is cleared so that your secondary drain pipe won’t be dripping water into your yard, or worse, through your ceiling.
The older the system is, the more common it is to see these lines backed up. Over time all kinds of muck accumulates and has to be blown out. If you notice wet spots in your ceiling they really need to be checked out before they get worse. Call us today, 972-424-6479.
Problems With Sewer Pipe Drainage
Pitch on a sewer pipe is a measure of how far a pipe should fall over a certain distance on a horizontal run. A proper pitch is what allows the contents of the pipe to keep moving. If you’re experiencing problems with waste leaving your home, this might be an issue and you should call us. Proper pitch on a sewer pipe is between 1/8th of an inch and ½ inch per foot. For example a four foot long pipe should be ½ inch higher on the front than the end of the pipe.
Many plumbing problems can occur if your pipes weren’t installed with the proper pitch. Water will just sit idle in a pipe that’s completely level. Furthermore, if the water is not moving enough or moving in the proper direction, back-ups will occur far more frequently. This isn’t even the worst of it .
Older homes where drainage and sewer pipes are cast iron may have the worst case scenario. Cast iron rusts when sitting under water. Over time a cast iron pipe full of water will simply rot out through the bottom causing a major sewer leak.
If you have frequent back-ups call us immediately. We’ll have one of our dependable plumbers come out to see that your pipes have the proper pitch for your home.
Ask Us About Slab Leaks
You hear water running in your home but just can’t find it. You know it’s not in your head. Perhaps you have had an unusually high water bill or maybe your entire house is full of water. NE Dallas, it’s time to call your plumber!
The process of locating a slab leak is a complicated one, requiring expensive and highly specialized equipment. The knowledge and skills required to use this type of gear doesn’t come in a bag along with rented equipment.
There’s generally a three-step process for slab leak location. Assuming there is a leak that has been isolated to the inside of the home and no evidence of a leak can be found above ground, it is time to locate the leak underground.
- Locate the pipe. We electronically locate the pipe and mark the ground with masking tape so we know exactly where the pipe is located underground and roughly how deep it is.
- Listen along the length of the pipe with geophones. We use a geodesic headset which is a very powerful stethoscope with a separate microphone for each ear so that we can listen directionally.
- Measure the temperature of the floor along the length of the pipe to find the hot spot.
This applies only to hot water slab leaks.
These steps come as second nature to any of our plumbers. Those without the skills and training to use this type of equipment, along with a full understanding of the processes involved, should not be allowed to start breaking into the slab. Our plumbers undergo continuing education, it’s an advantage you have with us over a handyman or less-qualified company. We’ll take care to detect and repair your leak while we respect your property.
Give us a call immediately at (972) 424-6479 to have one of our licensed, qualified plumbers come out to determine your next course of action.
Water Heaters in Attics
Where is your water heater located? Water heaters can be found in many different areas of a home. Sometimes they are located in a closet, sometimes in a garage. Either of these locations makes sense. However, at some point installing water heaters in attics seemed like a good idea for some. This turned out to be a less than perfect situation. The severity of damage due to leaks greatly increased. Maintenance in replacements became more difficult, especially when put in 2nd floor pull-down attics. Believe it or not it, comes down to closet space. In my opinion, the added ten square feet to the home isn’t worth that much risk.
City code mandates that any water heater in an attic must have a pan underneath it to catch water in the event of a leak. The pan must be piped out to the exterior of the house. However, the pans are only about two inches deep, and just big enough around to fit a water heater. Many times a check valve is installed in line with the pan. These can get stuck or the line can get plugged up with insulation. A creature such as a small rodent or large lizard can even crawl up through the pipe and die. In this case the pan will fill up and overflow.
Several products on the market, such as FloodStop ® and Taco ®, detect when a leak is occurring and automatically cut the water supply to the unit. Imagine putting your thumb over a straw in a beverage and pulling the straw out with your thumb in place. The straw will remain full, due to vacuum. Turning off the supply of water to a leaking water heater will cause the same phenomena, holding the water inside the water heater.
The best solution is to relocate the water heater to a safer place in the home. The garage or utility closets are usually the best alternatives. This might seem like a complicated and expensive idea until you consider the cost of replacing every item in your home including the wood due to the catastrophic failure of your water heater.
A water heater in your attic can be a scary situation, but never fear! Your qualified, licensed plumber has solutions to minimize the problem. Give us a call and let us help you determine the best options for greatly reducing, if not eliminating the possibility of an attic water heater disaster. Remember, when you call for any plumbing issue from now until August 15, we’ll add a whole house plumbing inspection absolutely FREE. It’s a great time to find out if your water heater is in great shape, and save $100 while you’re at it! Call today, 972-424-6479.
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