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Our Helpful
Plumbing Tips!
Conservation |
Plumbing |
Safety |
Information
Before the freezing cold
weather sets in, make sure that all the garden hoses outside
your home are disconnected. Failing to do so can cause the
hose and the hose bib, which the hose is connected to, to
freeze and be damaged.
This is especially important
with anti-freeze hydrants. The hose must be disconnected
to make the faucet freeze proof. Failure to do so will
trap water in the body of the faucet. This water can
then freeze. If the hose is disconnected, the
anti-freeze faucet can properly drain and this will prevent
freezing.
Frozen plumbing pipes,
although inconvenient, do not constitute a calamity. If
thawed slowly, they should return to normal working status
with minimal damage. When thawing frozen pipes, be sure
to keep direct heat away from all combustible materials (floor
joists, insulation, etc.)
Heating frozen pipes with a
torch is very dangerous, especially if both ends of the pipe
are frozen and the pipe is heated from the center.
Direct intense heat applied to the center of frozen pipes is
likely to cause the water to flash into steam. The steam
can cause an extreme build up of pressure that can result in
an explosion. Thus it is much better to apply slow,
gradual heat when thawing frozen pipes.
Sink odors occur from build
up of food debris inside your garbage disposal. To
eliminate these odors, place ice cubes and lemon peels in the
disposal and let it run for about 30 seconds, then rinse it
with cold water for about 20 seconds.
Disposal Do's and Don'ts
Do's:
- Grind food waste
with moderate flow of water.
- Grind small amounts of peelings
from citrus fruits (1/4 of an orange) to freshen up your
drain.
- Flush your disposal to allow for
cleaning by allowing the disposal and water to run after
grinding or dumping dishwater.
- Use a disposal cleaner or
degreaser or deodorizer as needed.
Don'ts:
- Do not use hot water when grinding food waste. It is OK
to drain hot water between grinding periods.
- Do not turn off the disposal or the water until grinding
is completed.
- Do not grind fibrous materials like cornhusks,
artichokes, onion skins, celery, etc., to avoid possible
drain blockage.
- Never overload the grinding chamber as this can overload
the motor and cause it to stop.
First check to ensure that
the gas is turned on to the water heater. If the gas
valve is on and the gas is on to the house, check to see if
the pilot light is lit. If the pilot light is lit, refer
to the operating manual for instructions on lighting the pilot
light. If the pilot light is lit and the water heater is
still not heating, it is best to call your local, licensed
plumber or qualified gas contractor to check further.
Rumbling, pounding and other
noise when a water heater is in operation is usually due to
the accumulation of sediment and scale. The build up of
scale is a result of mineral deposits that have trapped small
amounts of water underneath them. When the gas burner
heats these trapped pockets of water enough to turn them to
steam, the minerals break open causing an annoying popping
sound. This is not only annoying but it shortens the
life span of the water heater. The sediment also
insulates the heat transference from the burner to the tank
causing the burner to have to run longer to adequately heat
the water, thus costing you extra money.
If the tank is not
periodically drained and flushed the sediment will continue to
accumulate and possibly clog the drain valve. This may
also cause the thermostat bulb to be immersed in sediment
causing inadequate temperature regulation. Regular maintenance
of your water heater will keep it working for many years.
Another noise associated with
a gas water heater is a pinging or sizzling noise.
Condensation is the most likely cause, although a leak is
possible. Condensation can form on the sides of the tank
and flue ways when the tank fills for the first time.
Condensation may also occur during peak hot water usage if the
inlet cold-water temp is unusually cold during seasonal
periods. The condensation is not unusual and will
disappear after the water temperature regulates itself.
If the problem persists check the inlet and outlet valve
connection to the heater and the temperature/pressure relief
valve. Check the jacket by opening the access door to
the burner assembly to see if the insulation is wet or
dripping.
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