When you are new to the neighborhood and need a plumber
Finding a great plumber can be a challenge for someone who is a new homeowner or new to an area. One way is to read online reviews. There are websites like Google, Angie’s List and Thumbtack to search. Another way is to ask a realtor, friends, or neighbors.
Once a plumber is located, a good way to learn about the quality of their work is to schedule a small job such as a faucet replacement or water heater inspection. This is a way to try their work in a non-crisis setting and also establish a relationship in the event of a plumbing emergency when a reliable plumber is needed ASAP. A plumber should always be licensed, bonded, and insured.
When you notice an orange color to your water
If a homeowner notices orange water coming from a hot water faucet, this may indicate the water heater has developed a crack in the liner, and the surrounding stainless steel is rusting. Other signs include an unusual taste or smell.
The liner is one of the parts of a water heater which cannot be repaired, and the unit will have to be replaced. A crack in the liner is often caused by high heat or pressure, both of which can damage the liner. Since the stainless steel sleeve rusts fairly quickly, the water heater should be replaced before the rust corrodes the sleeve entirely and the water heater starts leaking on the ground.
When small leaks happen to your faucets or under the counter pipes
Plumbing problems such as that tiny leak beneath the sink in the kitchen or bathroom vanity can quietly grow, damaging the flooring and cabinets.
Locating a supply line leak is a simple matter of repeatedly pressing a clean, dry tissue against the shutoff valve and connections until the tissue comes away damp.
To find a drain leak, touch the tissue against each fitting and connection as the water drains out until you locate the source. If you have a dishwasher, test that as well.
Some customers like to fix these small problems themselves. Others want us to repair them in case there is an underlying problem causing the leak. We’re here to help.
Are you dealing with odors with your plumbing?
Does your house have a sewer smell? The p-trap is the loop under the drain in the sink. That loop fills with water, which keeps the gasses out. When a homeowner has a spare bathroom or shower they rarely use, the water in that p-trap will sometimes dry out. The gasses from the sewer begin to sneak back into the home. Running water down the drain will cause the p-trap to refill, and the odor stops.
Other causes of odors are a clogged drain or broken drain pipe, a clogged vent pipe, or leaking wax ring.
If your house smells like methane gas, call Perfect Plumber, and we’ll come out and fix the problem. Sewer odors are never fun!!
Are you finding you have a small leak under your sink?
Plumbing problems such as that tiny leak beneath the sink in the kitchen or bathroom vanity can quietly grow, damaging the flooring and cabinets. Locating a supply line leak is a simple matter of repeatedly pressing a clean, dry tissue against the shutoff valve and connections until the tissue comes away damp. To find a drain leak, touch the tissue against each fitting and connection as the water drains out until you locate the source. If you have a dishwasher, test that as well.
Some customers like to fix these small problems themselves. Others want us to repair them in case there is an underlying problem causing the leak. We’re here to help.
What you should know before allowing a plumber in your home
Decades ago, father’s didn’t typically tell their daughter’s to marry a plumber when they grow up. In their mind, the job wasn’t prestigious enough. Little did these fathers know what it takes to be a plumber. Most of us didn’t wind up with someone who excelled at algebra, geometry and physics unless we married a plumber. It takes at least 5 years of education and experience to just become a journeyman. To become a master plumber, depending on your states laws, it is another 2-5 more years before your eligible to take the master plumber’s exam. Then there’s the part of working in a freezing tight crawl space area fixing a pipe, or an even worse environment. You are talking about a very physically challenging and demanding job. So the next time you met a plumber, there’s a pretty high chance he is more educated than you and able to adapt to conditions and circumstances you’ve never even dreamed of.
How tankless water heaters are on the rise and the reason why
Tankless water heaters only heat the water when you turn on a faucet. The advantage is to decrease your extra energy costs. When the tap for hot water is turned on, cold water is what travels through the pipe, and then whether you have gas or electric, the element heats the water. There are many advantages to having a tankless water heater. They are compact, which takes up less space than a conventional water heater. It eliminates wasted energy as hot water tries to cool down in pipes, or while it is sitting in a storage tank.
Tankless water heaters come in many sizes. The size you need varies for every family. Does your home have two bathrooms? Will there be two showers running at once? Will there also be a load of laundry running at the same time? These are things you need to consider. If this were the case, you would be using almost five gallons per minute from the tankless water heater. The average shower needs to produce a temperature of 105 degrees, and will use up to three gallons of water. A washing machine will heat up to approximately 120 degrees if using hot water. This is a lot of water, and a lot of energy at one time. It’s important to remember other factors, which include the dishwasher, and washing dishes in the kitchen sink, both of which take up hot water.
Gas tankless water heaters do produce a higher temperature per gpm than an electric one. A gas tankless water heater will need proper ventilation. They are more efficient than electric ones and heat water quicker than an electrical unit. Because the gas unit does need the proper ventilation, the initial cost will be higher for proper installation and plumbing. If there are only one or two people in your household, an electric one is adequate, but if there are more than that in the home, it is recommended that you go with a gas tankless water heater. A Perfect Plumber is an expert in assisting with all your plumbing needs. Have a few more questions about this topic? A Perfect Plumber has the answers!
Photo Courtesy of The-Home-Depot
Tooele Plumbing Repairs
Tips on how to keep pipes from freezing
Utah can offer some bone-chilling cold weather, and February can be pretty unforgiving when it comes to rigid temperatures.