Frequently Asked Questions – Plumbing
Need Help?
We’ve been doing this for some time. Turns out we know more than we thought, so we put this section together to help homeowners.
Many of FAQs have evolved and moved on to their own page, where this has happened, you’ll find a link below
Here are links to our FAQs in other Sections:
Water Heater FAQ
In-depth questions about traditional water heaters!
My Plumbing Bill Was How High???!!
Most common concerns you face with less reputable plumbers
Garbage Disposal Tips & Tricks
From our own disposals page, featuring a thorough list of Dos and Dont’s for your garbage disposal
This Simple Issue Can Cause Lots Of Plumbing Repairs: High Home Water Pressure
If you’ve suffered multiple leaks or water appliance failures in a short time frame, check your home water pressure..
Home Plumbing Frequently Asked Questions:
Drains have turns and bends and items such hair, grease and fats, and commercial residues can build up. Oil residue from soaps, shampoos and hair are often the cause of clogged sinks in the bathroom, for instance. It is recommended that you are conscious of what you put down your drains. SImple choices can create years of easy drains, ask our plumbers while getteing your estimate.
The solution to fixing a dripping faucet can be simple. Many times, a homeowner will replace the valves within or the entire faucet themselves and save money with an easy and inexpensive fix.
However, If new valves or faucets begin to leak quickly, you might have bigger issues: a bad PRV valve. Since this can affect everything from your dishwasher to your water heater, it’s important to have the water pressure checked quickly. 50-60 PSI is the recommended home water pressure. Measurements above 80 PSI can quickly cause multiple leaks, can burst the seals on refrigerator lines, and harm water heaters and their pressure tanks. That pattern of repeated leaks is often the sign the homeowner can clue into before too much damage is done, and we’re here to help if you need us.
Taking precautions never hurt, so inspect your current piping and water lines, at least the ones that are accessible. If you do see a leak, have it inspected by a plumber; small fixes early on are always cheaper.
Sadly, any pipe can leak, and some older pipe materials can become brittle over time, and require frequent and sometimes expensive repairs. Often, a homeowner will take ownership only to find their piping that isn’t up to code in our modern world. We’ve seen these issues many times.
So call United Installers, we’ll give you an estimate on repairing just what has to be repaired, and another for more permanent solutions. Fixing these types of issues is often more affordable than homeowners fear.
A leaky toilet that’s always running water in the tank will raise the water bill, and they’re darn annoying to listen to. If the toilet continues to run into the bowl after you flush the toilet, it might show some part of the mechanism is out of order. Jiggling of the flush valve mechanism can offer a short term fix, and often replacement of the internal mechanisms is a really affordable fix many homeownder can do.
***Our toilet tune-up was designed for just such a situation, and there’s a coupon on our toilet page
General Disposal Guidlines:
First, hands never go in a disposal, please be safe.
To help grease congeal and harden, then micornize and flush out through the system, run cold water when grinding. Hot water will actually melt fats and then they’ll redeposite later in your home sewer and drain system and then buildup. We don’t need ice, here, just cold water.
Don’t grind hard things like clam or oyster shells, cornhusks or vegetable material with high fiber content. Do not grind glass, plastic or metal non-food materials in the disposal.
Lemon and baking soda will make a disposal smell better, and there are commercial pods that actually help with this as well.
Disposal Do’s and Don’ts,
