Be sure to run water in your disposal during and a few minutes after use. This helps carry the food particles down the line and prevent stoppages. Make sure power is off before trying any of the following.
- If your disposal hums but does not run, it is jammed. Some disposers have an opening in the bottom to insert a 1/4″ allen wrench to twist the motor back and forth to unjam.
- If your disposal does nothing when the disposal is turned on, look for a small red button on the bottom or side. This is a re-set. Push it and try switch again.
Most water meters have a small red triangle on them that will turn when the slightest amount of water moves thru the meter. If the triangle moves with no water running in the house, this indicates leaking pipes somewhere.
To determine if the leak is inside or outside your home, locate the emergency shut off (if accessible) where the water line first enters the house. Shut off the valve and observe the meter again. If the triangle continues to turn, the leak is between the meter and the house. If the triangle does not continue to turn, the leak is inside. Inside: One or two dripping faucets or a toilet that runs can add a lot to your water bill each month. Outside: A hole 1/32 of an inch in a pipe at 60 lbs of pressure will leak 6000 gallons/month.
High water pressure can cause a lot of problems. Everything from dripping faucets or toilets that will not shut off, to shortened water heater life, to burst pipes or washing machine hoses.
High water pressure can also cause a condition known as water hammer or noisy pipes. This is the thumping or growling noise you may hear in your pipes, especially at night when water pressure is at its highest.
Our technicians can check your water pressure to see if it is too high. If your pressure is above 55-65 pounds, you may need a pressure reducing valve installed or your old one replaced.
If you have a constantly dripping faucet, high water pressure or worn parts could be the cause. When trying to locate a washer, stem or seat for your faucet, we suggest taking the old part with you. Faucet parts come in a lot of sizes and shapes.
Pipe Joint Leaks
Water line leaks can be difficult to locate and repair. The leak is not always where the water shows up. A leak in a straight run of pipe can sometimes be fixed temporarily using a pipe repair clamp. A leak in a fitting is more difficult to repair.
Do not assume the leak will fix itself or diminish over time. Small leaks generally become big leaks that result in expensive repairs and property damage.
According to State Farm Insurance, burst washing machine hoses are the number one cause of water damage.
Replacing the rubber hoses with stainless steel braided hoses will virtually eliminate the chance of this happening. Also stainless steel hoses do not need to be replaced every 3-5 years as recommended for rubber hoses.
Electric – If you have no hot water, first check the circuit breaker. Turn the breaker off and back on. If after 30 minutes the water is not warming up, turn the breaker off, remove the top panel and push the red re-set button on the thermostat. If it has popped out, an audible click will be heard when it is re-set. Turn breaker back on.
If you still do not have hot water, further evaluation should be done by a trained technician.
Gas – First check to see if the pilot is lit. Do this by removing the cover at the bottom of heater or by looking through the glass porthole in the cover. A small blue flame should be visible. The pilot may be re-lit following the instructions on the heater.
If the pilot will not re-light or stay lit, further evaluation should be done by a trained technician.
Gas (natural or propane) tankless water heaters are more efficient than a normal tank type heater. They only heat water as it is needed and shut down when water demand ceases. With the energy savings and a typical 20 year life span (nearly double that of a tank type heater), they make an excellent choice when it comes time to replace your old heater. You will enjoy endless hot water — no more running out half way through your shower again!
Inside or outside your home, we have the knowledge and equipment to re-pipe water or sewer lines and bring them back to perfect.
Water lines — If your home has galvanized water lines, over time the flow of water will become restricted by the buildup of lime and calcium on the inside of the pipe. This will decrease the volume of water available when using more than one fixture at a time. For example, your water pressure would be low if you tried to take a shower and run the dishwasher at the same time.
Sewer Lines — Needing to clear a sewer line clog more than once a year is just treating a symptom of a bigger problem, such as a broken pipe or roots in the line. In either case, we have the equipment to see inside the pipes and determine the exact problem. Remember: perfect plumbing does not stop up.
If the washer has become too worn prior to replacement, the metal will grind against metal and damage the valve seat. Water particles and mineral deposits can become trapped between the seat and the washer so that closing and opening the faucet handle grinds the particles inside and damages the seal beyond simple washer replacement.
Removing a faucet seat requires a special seat wrench. After removing a seat, it can sometimes be fixed by rubbing it on a piece of sandpaper placed on a hard, flat surface to even out the face of the seat.
If the seat needs replacing, take it with you when hunting a new one. There are hundreds of different seats.