Ask the Plumber - Handy Tips and FAQ's
Here’s the Deal with Dottie’s Deals
Introducing ‘Dottie’s Deals’, where you’ll find our most current plumbing specials. We value each and every one of our customers and want you all to know how much we appreciate you.
Gary’s Quality Plumbing wants to help our customers take care of their homes and properties. We hope these specials will help while a very hot and expensive summer is upon us. Check out the newest tab on our web-site called ‘Dottie’s Deals‘ to find our current promotions. Don’t forget to mention them when you call, and don’t wait till they expire! Check back often, but call today, 972-424-6479.
Detecting a Gas Leak
So, you think might have a gas leak? Locating and repairing a gas leak can be a time consuming and complicated process. Gas companies will tell you to hire a licensed plumber to detect, repair, and permit the finished gas line work.
Gas pipes can be made out of a variety of materials. The gas pipe from the meter to the yard is made out of a specially coated iron riser. This is an L-shaped ridged piece of pipe that the meter hooks on to. Sitting between that riser and another riser at the house is a poly plastic pipe.
Inside of the home the pipe will generally be iron or some type of corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST). Iron pipe is usually piped up and over the home in the attic with one large main trunk that runs the length of the house. Tees come off of the main line to feed different appliances in the home. If you are dealing with CSST, it will go up from the main line to one central manifold where it feeds an individual line to each appliance in a radial type formation (picture bicycle spokes).
Any of the sections mentioned above are places where a leak could occur. At the meter there are several fittings, including the meter and valve, as well as the top six inches of the riser. Many times subterranean pipes aren’t protected. They should be double wrapped where the riser comes through the ground. A gas leak typically occurs where the connection isn’t wrapped with the special black tape six inches in both directions.
Many types of gas leaks occur outside of the home:
- At the riser on the house end of the pipe
- Connections at the manifold and shut-off valves that have not been properly installed
- Improper installation of flex lines, and gas lines in older homes, that have had pipes run with copper tubing
- Natural gas eats right through copper, especially at connections where the copper has been flared
Homeowners beware when having your roof repaired! A gas line can leak when it has been improperly installed right next to the roof decking. Most of the time roofers don’t look to see what’s under the roof before nailing new roofing down. It’s common for gas pipes, especially CSST, to be punctured by roofing nails.
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Hosed: Outside Faucet Crisis
Summer time is here and most of us have begun watering our lawns, washing our vehicles, and catching up on landscaping projects. Some of us are finding out quickly that this winter’s hard freeze is still reeking havoc on our home’s plumbing systems.
Some of the most common instances of pipes bursting due to a hard freeze are ironically the most preventable. A burst pipe in a wall can cause a lot of damage along with a huge mess in a hurry. Outside faucets (hose bibs) are the most vulnerable fixture in a home due to freezing. They invariably protrude from outside walls and most people will not discover that they froze up until the following spring.
Outside faucets must be frost-proof in order to be up to code. The washer that closes the valve seats up against an opening must be placed far enough back so that the water doesn’t get near the outside where it can freeze, bursting the pipe due to expansion.
By design, frost-proof hose bibs release water that has been sitting in the faucet after it is shut off. The purpose of this design is defeated when the homeowner leaves the hose attached to the hose bib. The faucet cannot drain if the hose is attached.
In the majority of cases this turns out to be the cause of a burst hose bib. Since the washer is pressed up against the seat when the valve closes, the water will not leak until the faucet is turned on allowing the 50 psi of city water pressure to dump inside of the wall. Since some water comes out of the faucet, it can go unnoticed until the water presents itself inside or outside of the home. This can cause damage to expensive flooring, dry wall, and studs supporting the wall.
There are two steps, following the last time you used your hose, to make sure that this doesn’t happen:
1 – Insulate the exposed hose bib from the elements. This can be done simply by wrapping a towel around it, but the recommended implement is a $3-4 item from any hardware store – a Styrofoam cup that fits over your hose bib and fastened by a rubber strap
2 – Remove the hose from the hose bib when the temperature gets cold enough to freeze
These simple steps can save you a lot of money and give you peace of mind. Your qualified plumber can make sure that your faucet is working properly and the safety devices on them are functioning properly. If you have plans to leave your home during the winter months, contact your plumber to winterize your home’s plumbing systems before you head out.
Call us to schedule an appointment if you’re noticing any signs of damage that may have come from the freezes we experienced in North Texas earlier this year, 972-424-6479.
Plumbing Repair For Slab Leaks
Summer is here and with that our water bills begin to increase. As we begin watering our lawns again or filling our swimming pools we begin our new water patterns. If you have a water bill that increases from month to month and it doesn’t match your personal water cycle you probably have some type of leak. If there is no sign of an above-ground leak it is most likely slab leak.
Slab leaks can happen anywhere underneath your home where there is a water pipe. There are two types of slab leaks - water and sewer. Hot water slab leaks are more common because slabs react to extreme temperatures by expanding and contracting as the ground heats up and cools down. Turbulence can happen anywhere where the pipe is not round and smooth on the inside causing the water to swirl or eddy. The swirling action of the water can cut right through the pipe.
The most common cause of a slab leak is an unprotected pipe. If the pipe is not protected from the concrete when it is poured it will rub up against the rough concrete as it heats up and cools down or as the foundation shifts. But, many times you will find the pipe itself was damaged during construction of the home. Sometimes pieces of debris get into the trenches, on top of the unprotected pipe, before it is back-filled.
If you think you have a slab leak or any type of leak call a qualified plumber. Your plumber will come out and do a pressure test in your yard and home. If the yard is isolated and the house won’t hold pressure then there is a problem in the house or something leaking above ground that is not evident. In any case, it is always a good idea to have a licensed plumber take a look. You will be on your way to enjoying your summer with peace of mind!
Not-So-Obvious Plumbing Leaks
How can you tell if you have a plumbing leak if the floor isn’t soaked and water isn’t pooling? Most of the time you’ll probably be aware that you have a plumbing leak. You might hear a commode noisily filling on its own or see a faucet dripping. Perhaps, you’ve experienced a flood. But, many times more serious problems can go unnoticed. This article will address a couple of different not-so-obvious plumbing leaks – water leaks underground and drainage and sewer leaks.
Water leaks underground can be illusive even if you know that you have one. Unless you know what to look for you might not be aware of an underground water leak until it has caused a serious problem. (ie. foundation problems).
Squishy spots in your yard that don’t dry out are an indicator that you have a yard leak or leak between the meter and shutoff valve in the front of your house. If your water bill is consistently higher from month to month you should call a plumber. A hydrostatic pressure test will be performed and within minutes it will be evident if you are dealing with a water leak.
Shower pans and commodes in pier and beam foundation homes can leak for quite some time and cause substantial damage, invisibly at first. This type of leak can rot the wood beneath homes and create unsanitary moist conditions that attract rodents, termites, and other pests. If you live in a pier and beam home have a plumber come out and visually inspect the underside of your home, at least once a year.
Leaks on the main sewer line can also be difficult to find as the bottom half of the pipe is often underground even in pier and beam homes. Drainage and sewer leaks are so difficult for a homeowner to diagnose is because it’s not under any pressure. The only time it has a chance to leak is if you’ve used water in the home. A qualified plumber can test the system by either capping the system off at all of the fixtures and filling it with smoke or water. Smoke will escape through openings in the pipe pinpointing the leak. Or, the water level will drop over time if it is full of water.
In conclusion, water and sewer leaks when left undetected can cause substantial damage to the structure of your home. Not to mention, the expense of running water into the ground. Whether or not water is going to your sewer, you’re still charged a sewer bill based on your water consumption.
Once leaks are repaired it’s possible to recover some of the sewage bill if you can demonstrate that you had a water leak. In most cases refunds will not be issued on your water bill. It’s a good idea to have your plumbing systems periodically tested by a licensed plumber. Knowing that you don’t have a water leak can really bring you peace of mind.
Spring is Time for Shower Repair Projects
Spring is here and its time to take care of those projects around your home. While you may be able to easily deal with some issues, some projects are better left to a professional. Shower repair is one of those projects that is best when left to a licensed and reliable plumber.
How can you tell what aspect of the shower needs repair? The first and most obvious thing would be leaks to the shower itself. This would include leaking from the shower head, the handles, or around the enclosure itself. It may be a simple problem that’s easy to fix, but there may be underlying problems that only a professional could detect.
Sometimes the problem is water pressure or temperature. Water heaters can occasionally wear out parts and need service. Installation of a new water heater, removal of the old, or parts replacement can be a difficult task. A licensed plumber will be able to diagnose the real problem, ensure correct installation if necessary, and remove that old water heater for you.
If you are trying to save money and want to get things done in a timely fashion, call your licensed plumber. Home improvement involving shower repair requires professional attention to keep damage to a minimum.
Plumbing Leaks Contribute to Pest Control Issues
Bugs and rodents go wherever there is water. If you have a leak under your house it will attract pests. If the wood stays wet from a leak it will entice wood lice and termites. Leaking tubs and shower drains, especially shower pans, seem to invite the highest concentration of ants and termites. Likewise, if the wax ring around the bottom of a commode isn’t sealing you are creating a watering hole for a herd of critters every time you flush.
Not only do pests capitalize on water and drainage leaks they actually cause them in some cases. Mice and rats like to chew on the lead bends under commodes in crawl spaces. This is a common cause of plumbing leaks under houses. Rats climbing out of the city sewer into house drains is a common cause of whole house back-ups!
It is a good idea to call a plumber at least once a year to come out and make sure nothing is leaking and inviting new infestations. Likewise, It is a good idea to call a pest control specialist to make sure you don’t have any pests in your crawl space that could be attributed to water.
Photo Credit: Moon Stars and Paper made available through a Creative Commons License
2011 Wildflower Festival is Right Around The Corner!
Make sure you get your tickets to the Wildflower Festival in Richardson this year. Once again it’s slated to entertain you with arts and music galore. We love to get out there and hear the bands play. Music and art is riddled throughout our family company. May 20-22 are the dates to NOT LEAVE TOWN.
Go to WildflowerFestival.com to learn about the lineup and get your tickets. Between the food and the kids entertainment, the jewelry, and the art guitar auction benefiting the Network of Community Ministries, you’ll be celebrating the onset of summer while supporting a worthy cause.
Don’t forget, all you physical people, the 8th Annual Wild Ride and the Wild Run will also be a media sponsored event with the proceeds going to the new Methodist Richardson Cancer Center.
Need more? How about a Bee-Gees Tribute Band?? Personally, I’m diggin’ the Little River Band and Joe Ely, and I’m sure there’s more I’ll love! (Cuz I won’t be missing it!)
Don’t miss it either, go to WildFlowerFestival.com.
What To Look For In A Low-Flush Toilet to Reduce Repair
Low-flush, or high-efficiency toilets have come a long way. Almost every manufacturer now makes them. Some of the same mistakes are being made though, and if you know what to look for, you can avoid some ‘issues’.
- Avoid a base with an abrupt curve in the drainage line. The drainage line is the protruding pipe-like bulge visible on the base. Almost every toilet exposes them – as though it’s a pretty feature. What you really want is a toilet with a reasonable curve so that waste can be effectively eliminated. Too many curves are NEVER good, and worse when you figure less water will be used for the flush. You’ll blame your plumber because it will seem like it backs up a lot. It’s NOT the plumber, it’s a poorly designed toilet. Ask us about well-performing, low-maintenance toilets – we know which ones are the best!
- Avoid a trapway less than 3 inches. You want the diameter to be, shall we say … healthy, for the same reasons described above.
- Avoid a low base. They’re uncomfortable, and unless you have small children, adults can tend to fall on them when attempting to sit. This will cause problems with rocking and possibly even tank breakage over time.
Other than that, we recommend that the chain from your handle to the flapper be metal instead of easily breakable plastic.
Low-flush toilets use much less water per flush, and some even differentiate between solid and liquid waste when determining how much water to use. Contact our office at 972-424-6479 for more information about the advantages of installing low-flush toilets in your home. Many cities have tax incentives or vouchers to encourage new toilets that conserve water.
Know What To Do in Plano This Weekend
Have you ever been to a PREPARE Fair? Haggard Park, in historic downtown Plano hosts a FREE all-day event to encourage emergency preparedness this Saturday, April 9th from 1-5 pm. Looking for something fun to do with the kids? This is it.
Along with emergency information booths, you’ll enjoy live music, bounce houses, face painting, food and fun. The kids will enjoy having their picture taken with Ant-E-Nator, the big huggable beast with the friendly message.
For you adults that can remember, the Patriot Flag is on a 50 state tour commemorating those lost in the 9-11 attacks and first responders throughout our nation. Saturday it will be hung from the Plano Fire Department aerial ladder truck located at the park for photos.
Sounds like a wonderful teaching moment.
Learn more at www.thinkprepareact.com or call the Plano Emergency Operations Center at 972-769-4824 or 972-769-4825.
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