Archive for the ‘Plumbing Maintenance’ Category

The Root of the Problem – Why is the Sewer Line Blocked in My Frisco Home?

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

If you have dealt with a blocked sewer line in Frisco, you know all too well that it can be a nightmare. Sewer lines are made out of especially sturdy materials for a reason: because we collectively want to keep their contents inside. So, when a sewer line gets blocked and starts backing up or seeping — or even cracks under the stress — it can be a real mess.

If you have never had encountered a sewer line block, count yourself lucky.

Whichever category you fall into, it is important to know about causes of sewer blocks lie, so that you have an idea what you are up against should you ever encounter (another) one, as well as being able to take some reasonable prevention measures. Read on to learn about some of the common culprits that block up sewer lines.

Flushed Objects

The most preventable common cause of a blocked sewer line is the flushing of objects that should not be flushed. Sewer lines are not meant to handle solid objects like diapers, sanitary napkins or other garbage, so if these get flushed down the toilet — either intentionally or by accident — it can cause an ugly block.

Even smaller objects or bits of debris that seem to move fine through the sewer line can build up over time to cause a block. Paper towels, hair, grease or dirt can collect on the walls of the line and cause a block as well.

Tree Roots

It may seem like nothing happens beneath the ground of our lawns, where the sewer line runs. In fact, there is quite a bit of life going about its business under there, including the root systems of the trees in your yard. These roots can grow right into your sewer line, infiltrating it and causing a blockage.

Defect

The last main cause of a sewer link blockage is shoddy materials. Although sewer lines are meant to be made of high quality material because of the stress they perform under, it is still possible for one to collapse or bulge with use.

Repairing a blocked sewer line calls for a professional’s assistance. To avoid having to make that call, the best thing you can do as a homeowner is keep solid objects from being flushed down into the sewer line. It can save you a huge headache later on.  If you need help with blocked sewer lines please call Dial One Johnson Plumbing.

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Red Oak Plumbing Tips: How to Replace a Toilet Seal

Friday, February 10th, 2012

As an intelligent Red Oak resident I’m sure you have seen how the base of your toilet meets the floor, and you noticed a bead of caulk sealing the base of the toilet to the floor. While this watertight seal is important, there is actually a more important seal hidden within the base of the toilet.

Inside, your toilet sits on a wax ring that serves to keep sewer odors from wafting into the room, seal water from leaking from the bathroom plumbing and provides a degree of stability to the toilet installation. You may need some plumbing maintenance if:

  • You notice leaking water at the base of the toilet.
  • You smell sewer odors in your bathroom.
  • The toilet is unstable or rocks side to side at all.
  • The toilet was removed temporarily for any reason, such as replacing it or putting down new flooring.

As it happens, replacing the toilet seal is a fairly simple and inexpensive operation that you can do on your own. To take care of this job yourself, follow these 16 steps:

  1. Shut off the water supply.
  2. Empty the bowl and tank by flushing the toilet. You may have to flush twice.
  3. Get the bowl and tank completely dry by soaking up any remaining water with a sponge, rag or towel.
  4. Remove the bolts that attach the base of the toilet to the floor.
  5. Disconnect the supply line the leads into the toilet.
  6. Gripping the bowl, rock the toilet gently back and forth to break the seals.
  7. Lift the toilet free from the floor.
  8. Now you can see the remnants of the old wax ring. Remove all that thoroughly.
  9. Place the new seal in place of the old one, centering it exactly, with the rounded side up.
  10. Replace the toilet over the seal and flange.
  11. Have a seat! No, really; this helps to create a new seal between the ring and the toilet.
  12. Reattach the nuts you removed from the base.
  13. Reconnect the water line.
  14. Turn the water supply back on.
  15. Flush the toilet, looking carefully for any leaks.
  16. Apply a new bead of caulk to the bottom of the bowl to complete the sealing job.

If you have any questions about this please call Dial One Plumbing.

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How Much Water Does a Leaky Faucet Waste in a Dallas Home?

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Home owners in Dallas know that a leaky faucet is obnoxious for more than one reason. It represents a growing problem that will cost you money on your water bill, but it can be avoided with a little plumbing maintenance. Beyond all of that, it wastes a lot of water, putting undue stress on the environment. But, how much water does a leaky faucet actually waste with out some easy plumbing repair? It may not seem like much, but when added up over a period of time, that leaky faucet’s impact can be fairly substantial.

Okay, so a single drip every couple seconds may not seem like a lot of water. But, think about it this way. If you let your faucet drip every day, twenty four hours a day, it is definitely going to add up. Imagine what would happen if every faucet in your home was dripping or every faucet in your neighbourhood. It would not seem like such a small amount of water anymore.

In terms of how much water is actually wasted, it is impossible to tell for certain. After all, every drop of water from a faucet is a different size and falls at a different rate. But, for the most part the water coming from a faucet (according to the US Geological Survey) is between 1/5 and 1/3 of one milliliter. Using those calculations and 1/4 of a milliliter as an average, the USGS estimates that roughly 15,140 drips from a faucet equals one gallon of water.

It may not seem like much. After all, fifteen thousand drops is a LOT of drops. But, if your faucet dripped once every second every day, all day, it would only take four and a half hours to reach one gallon. Every day you would waste 5 gallons of water or 2,082 gallons per year. That is 10% of the average water used by a standard 3.5 gpf toilet on a daily basis. Now, imagine what happens if you have more than one drippy faucet, or if your bathtub leaks which will drip more water at a time or if the leak is larger than the average size.

In short, the cost of a leaky faucet may not seem like much, but as time passes, it can really add up and if it is not taken care of, the cost will only grow as the leak gets bigger and potentially new leaks start in other faucets of your home. Do not let it drip forever – take action now and cut down on the environmental impact you have, as well as your bill.

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Tips from Frisco Plumbers: Why Dry Toilets Occur and How to Fix Them

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Under normal circumstances in Frisco Texas, after you flush your toilet, the tank and bowl both fill back up with water, preparing it for the next use. The water from the tank is what flushes into the bowl when you push the handle, so if it is not filling properly, then the toilet will be dry.

This problem is troublesome, but not uncommon, and can be remedied with light plumbing maintenance. Below are a few possible causes and solutions for this issue.

The first place to look is the water supply to the tank. If it has been inadvertently turned off, then obviously the tank will not fill. This is akin to the troubleshooting section of your old VCR manual, where it tells you to make sure the power cord is plugged in. It may sound silly, but it never hurts to check the most obvious and easily fixed of the possible causes first.

Another possibility that is very easy to fix is that the ballcock inside the tank has jammed at the top. Inside your toilet tank is a rubberized bulb connected to an arm. This bulb floats in water and controls the intake valve on the toilet tank. So, when the water level reaches a certain depth, the ballcock floats and closes the valve. However, if the ballcock is jammed in an upward position, it would keep the valve closed even if the tank is empty.

In this case, it may just be a matter of pushing the ballcock past the jam and then making sure it moves up and down freely. That alone may fix it.

A third common cause of the dry toilet problem is a clogged intake valve beneath the toilet. These valves can become clogged and then not allow water through, especially in systems with hard water or particularly old pipes.

If this is the problem – or if it is anything besides one of the two simple fixes described above – the best solution is to call a plumber. A professional can correctly identify the source of the problem and perform the necessary repairs. It’s likely not going to require any plumbing repairs, but it’s best to entrust the job to a pro.

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Tips on Unclogging a Floor Drain From Dallas Plumbers

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Wondering down into the basement only to realize that your Dallas home’s floor drain has backed up is never a fun event. This is not a problem that will solve itself and you want to get it under control as promptly as possible. While there are definitely an abundance of  ways you can attempt to unclog a floor drain on your own, and there are quite a few potentially complicating factors to consider.

First, you should confirm that no one in the house turns on any running water for anything until the drain has been cleared. The floor drain in your basement is almost always the final stop in the plumbing for all of the drainage used in your house, and so any running water anywhere above will ultimately cause more water to back up in the basement. Of course, if you cannot use any running water anywhere else in your house, so it is even more essential that you are able to unclog the floor drain swiftly.

If you happen to own a snake, this may be the best option to try first. However, it can be a bit difficult to get the snake to make the sharp turns prevalent in these type of drains not long after the pipe descends below the floor. That is not to say that it cannot be done, but be aware that you will need to make sure the snake turns the corner before it will be useful to you at all.

People who do not own a snake may still be able to take care of the blockage without hiring a professional plumber like Dial 1 Plumbing. But first you have to locate the problem. Depending on the layout of your drainage system, this may be easier said than done. You can also make a pretty big mess if you open up various sections of pipe looking for the blockage, so be attentive and make sure you have something in place to catch the runoff and debris that may come out of the pipes when you open them.

You may also run into trouble if the blockage is really outside of your house in the larger sewer line that runs to the street. Unclogging a drain with this type of problem is commonly a job for a licensed specialist and there is very little you will be able to complete on your own.

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Tips From Frisco Plumbers On Eliminating Odors from a Garbage Disposal

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Chances are that you have a garbage disposal in your Frisco home, as many people do these days, and you most likely consider it an essential portion of your household equipment. Unfortunately, it is not abnormal for odor problems to occur with a garbage disposal. This is undoubtedly an unpleasant dilemma, but fortunately it can typically be quickly and effectively remedied.

The fundamental cause of garbage disposals’ unpleasant smell is that they hold on to bits of food and other items that should get washed away. This is very common, and the quick and easy fix is to keep it from becoming a bigger problem is for you to clean your garbage disposal every few weeks.

For a more hands on cleaning approach, you can turn your garbage disposal off and dismantle any removable pieces and clean them with soapy warm water. It is important that you confirm your garbage disposal is off and remains off as you scrub it. This is a great way to take care of a garbage disposal scents, but it will not keep it from coming back.

It is also not always necessary to get in there and deep clean your garbage disposal on a regular basis. Instead, you can carry out a few less intensive procedures to help keep your garbage disposal smelling great. No matter what cleaning method you use, it is also important to remember to keep your water running any time you turn your garbage disposal on and for about thirty seconds afterwards. This can go a long way towards ensuring that food does not build up inside.

One of the reasons that garbage disposals seem hard to clean is because you cannot use many of the more common household cleaning supplies on them. Harsher chemicals can damage or erode parts of the garbage disposal, potentially requiring other plumbing maintenance to be performed on your system later on. Fortunately, there are actually a lot of products that you probably have around your house already that can make cleaning your garbage disposal and getting rid of the unpleasant odor a quick and easy chore.

One good organic approach is to slice a lemon in quarters and put it down your garbage disposal together with some baking soda. Once the two ingredients are down there, turn on the water and then let the garbage disposal run. Leave it running until you are sure the lemon is gone, that way you can be sure the smell will be gone as well.

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