Carbon Filter

The most common type of water filter used in homes are carbon based. These are inexpensive, effective and easy to install. While there are many different types of carbon water filters, most of them operate by forcing the water to pass over a charcoal medium to filter out any impurities. Compared to other types, carbon filters lasts for quite a long time without requiring to be replaced. This can be both a good and bad feature, as some individuals allow their carbon filter to develop mold from sitting in the faucet for too long.

Reverse Osmosis Filter

An alternative to a carbon filter is one which uses reverse osmosis. Basically, these filters work by passing the water through an extremely fine membrane to filter out the microorganisms and impurities present in the water. Instead of collecting these contaminants, a reverse osmosis filter flushes them outwards and away. Hands down, this is one of the most effective forms of water filtration there currently is. Although, one of the disadvantages associated with a reverse osmosis filter is the length of time it takes to work.

What To Look For in a Water Filter

Many individuals purchase water filters without factoring into account the cost of filter replacements. Before buying a new water filter, check to see how often the filter will need to be replaced. Remember, it’s not going to do you or your family any good if you don’t keep a fresh filter installed, so go ahead and purchase several replacement filters when you initially get your water filtration system.

Also, you may want to get online to read reviews of any water filter you’re thinking of purchasing. A simple search online should reveal hundreds or even thousands of customer reviews for some of the top water filters on the market. This will give a pretty good idea as to how well it worked for others.

Hopefully you have a better understanding of the different types of water filters available. When choosing one, take into consideration how often you’ll be using it and how frequently the filter requires changing.

Why Earthquake Strapping is Important

Besides the fact that it’s required for California residents, earthquake strapping is another step in protecting the residents of your home from a fire or explosion. Water heaters typically contain a pilot lighting device used to ignite the natural gas and heat the water. If a sizable earthwquake were to occur and knock the unit out of place, the pilot light could be exposed to an open gas line, therefore causing a fire or explosion.

Even if you don’t live in an earthquake-prone area, it’s still a wise idea to have your water heater properly strapped down. If the structural beams of your house began to collapse over the unit, having it strapped down could prevent further damage.

Another reason why smart homeowners choose to strap their water heater down is simply because of the extra water it can provide them in the event of a natural disaster. When hurricane Katrina struck, tens of thousands of residents were left stranded in their homes. A typical water heater can provide you with about 40 to 50 gallons of clean drinking water, which is more valuable as gold during a natural disaster.

How To Earthquake Strap Your Water Heater

The legal requirements for earthquake strapping a water heater involve the use of two straps – one at the top and one at the base of the unit. Each strap must then be screwed into the studs of the home’s structure to prevent them from ripping out upon impact.

If you intent on earthquake strapping your water heater, look for a kit to fit your specific model. These kits usually include the straps, bracing bar, and all the necessary screws to go with it. They’re fairly easy to install and typically only require the individual to place the bracing bar behind the water heater, strap the top and bottom across and screw it into both the bar and the studs. If you feel uncomfortable doing this yourself, you can have a professional come out to get the job done for you.

Purpose of a Pressure Regulator Valve

As the name suggests, a pressure regulator valve regulates the amount of water coming into a home’s plumbing system. Every home built in the U.S. must contain one of these valves to be in compliance with code. Without a regulator valve, there would be simply too much pressure which could potentially damage your pipes and fixtures.

Broken Pressure Regulator Valve

If you’ve noticed the water pressure in your home dropping, it could be related to a broken or damaged pressure regulator valve. Does your shower head and sink faucets trickle water out with less force than they originally had? If so, you may want to have a professional come and inspect your pressure regulator valve. A new valve should last for 10+ years without giving you any trouble, but they can and will break on occasion.

Even though a pressure regulator valve should last you for 10+ years, some manufacturers recommend changing them out every 5 years. This will ensure no corrosion or other damage has taken place.

Along with low water pressure, there are some other signs you should look our for which could be a result of a broken pressure regulator valve. Banging noises coming from your pipes, leaking pipes and vibrating pipes are some of the most common signs.

How To Fix a Broken Pressure Regulator Valve

In the event that your pressure regulator is broken, you can try to tackle the problem by replacing it yourself or hiring a professional. Replacing one is fairly straight forward and involves turning off the water to your house, draining the lines and replacing the valve. However, if you don’t have any plumbing experience, you may have difficulty removing and installing a new valve. When in doubt, call a professional to come and inspect your system. They’ll know exactly what type of valve to replace it with and the proper steps in order to do so. In addition, a professional plumber will know what PSI to set your new regulator at.

What is Hydro Jetting?

As the name suggests, hydro jetting is when a high-pressure water system is injected into a large opening called a “cleanout”. The powerful stream of water travels at such a high rate of speed that it’s able to instantly remove anything that stands in its way. Every plumbing system features a cleanout access for plumbing professionals to fix common problems from. So, whether you know it or not, chances are your plumbing system has a cleanout access.

Steps To Perform Hydro Jetting

The plumbing professional will first locate the cleanout access in your home or place of business. Next, he or she will bring a device which consists of a large water tank, hose and a pressurized nozzle down to the cleanout and connect the two. Once the machine is turned on, water will come out at 3,500 psi, clearing out any remaining clogs in the pipes.

When Hydro Jetting Should Be Used

Hydro jetting is an excellent course of action for removing hair, grime, mineral deposit or roots which are stuck in the pipes. It’s clean, effective and fairly easy to perform. While some plumbers may want to try snaking the pipes first, hydro jetting may prove to be more effective at removing stubborn clogs in drainage pipes.

If your septic tank is backed up, you may want to consider hydro jetting your system. Instead of spending $2,000+ for someone to come and excavate your yard, hydro jetting may be able to fix the problem. When certain items such as toilet paper and diapers are flushed down the toilet, they can get stuck in your septic tank, preventing it from draining properly into the drain field. A powerful blast from hydro jetting may be just enough to get your septic tank back into working order..

Sometimes the only thing clogging your drainage pipes is a build up of sludge. You can use all the cleaning chemicals and drain cleaners in the world without putting a dent in the problem. Although, hydro jetting can easily cut through sludge like a warm knife going through butter.

Avoid ALL Non-Food Items

A good rule of thumb to use with garbage disposals is to never toss any non-food items down it. This might sound like common sense, but you would be surprised at how many people throw toys, twist-ties, plastic bags and other non-food items down the garbage disposal. Doing so not only puts the integrity of your garbage disposal at risk, but it could also clog up your drain pipes and even damage your septic tank.

Avoid Bones

Whether it’s from chicken, pork, fish or some other animal, you should never toss bones down a garbage disposal. When they come into contact with the blades, it could damage or break the motor completely. A broken motor is one of the worst types of problems to have with a garbage disposal, as the only remedy for the situation could be replacing the entire unit.

Avoid Grease

It know it’s probably more convenient to throw your cooking grease down the garbage disposal, but doing so can damage both the unit and clog your pipes. Instead, either throw that grease outside or wait for it to cool and place it in the trash can.

Acceptable Items For a Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are ideal for vegetable peelings and leftover fruit fruit don’t aren’t extremely fibrous. If you have large chunks of vegetables leftover, cut them up into smaller portions before placing them into your garbage disposal. When used properly, garbage disposals will eat through these items like a hot knife going through butter.

Use Cold Water

When you want to use your garbage disposal, turn some cold water on before and after. Doing so will help cool the motor down and lubricate the pipes. Avoid using warm water as it could melt parts of the food onto the gears or pipes below.

If you follow the tips outlined above and use your garbage disposal in an acceptable manner, you’ll get countless years of use out of it. On the other hand, if you’re careless with your unit, you could find yourself with a broken garbage disposal and on the phone with a local repairman.

Identify The Problematic Water Line

The first thing you should do is determine how many water lines are affected by low pressure. Go through your home and turn on each of the faucets and make note of which ones have low water pressure. If there’s only one faucet with low pressure, then it’s probably due to a clogged or damaged pipe. On the other hand, if all of the faucets have low water pressure, then it’s a a greater problem at hand.

Where is Your Water Tank?

If your water tank is located in the basement or underneath your house, the faucets will have to pump the water harder which creates less pressure. You can always move your water tank but it’s a pretty serious move that requires the knowledge of a professional.

Use Less Faucets Simultaneously

The more faucets you run simultaneously, the less water pressure you’ll have. Have you ever been in the shower when a family member started a load of clothes in the washing machine? Your water pressure drops significantly in the shower. If your family is using multiple faucets at once, try to encourage them to wait until others are done. This is an easy way that will free up loads of water pressure.

Check For Water Leaks

If your home is one a crawlspace, get underneath it and inspect the water pipes for cracks or damage. Even a small crack can cost you both money and water pressure. If you notice a crack, you should place some putty over it for a temporary fix and call a professional to come out and replace it. Continuing to use your home’s water with a crack in the pipe will eat up the pressure.

Pressure Regulators

Most homes have pressure regulators which adjust the amount of water pressure coming in. These are bell-shaped devices which builders install when constructing the house. While they’re usually set at max, they do occasionally go bad. If you believe your pressure regulator has gone bad, you should have a professional to check and replace it if needed.

What is a Septic Tank System?

A septic tank system consists of a large tank that’s usually made of fiberglass where toilet waste and drain water flush down (known as the septic tank) and a drainfield where the liquids are eventually dispersed. According to U.S. construction and housing codes, each home must either be connected to a sewer or have a septic tank installed. Without either of these, there’s simply nowhere for waste to go when it’s flushed down the toilet.

How Does It Work?

All of the drain pipes in your home (kitchen sink, tub, toilet, bathroom sink, etc.) connect to a large single pipe which goes to the septic tank. Anytime you flush the toilet, take a shower or drain any water, it travels down this large pipe into the septic tank. Once it’s, the contents automatically separate themselves into three layers – solids at the bottom, clear liquids in the middle and the scum layer at top.

Over time, the natural bacteria found in the waste water work to break down the solids and turn them into liquid. While there’s still some dangerous germs and bacteria found in septic tanks, it’s generally less than you would imagine because of the oxygen-free conditions inside.

On the opposite end of the septic tank, there’s a large pipe that sucks up the liquids and disperses them into an area of the yard known as the drainfield. Typically, this area is covered by a couple layers of gravel which act to filter the liquids.

Cleaning Your Septic Tank

Contrary to what many homeowners believe, you shouldn’t need to pump your septic tank but once every 5 to 7 years. As long as you refrain from flushing down items and liquids which aren’t natural waste and water, then it should continue to work properly without giving you any trouble. With that said, many homeowners and families flush paper towels, cigarette butts and other items without giving it a second thought. While it may not cause any immediate danger, it can clog up your septic tank and cause it to back up into your yard. When this happens, you can expect to pay well over $1,000 for someone to come and excavate your yard to fix the problem.

Coat Hanger

The first thing you should try doing is to remove any hair which is directly underneath the drain. I recommend unbending a coat hanger to create a straight and narrow pole with a slight hook on the end to wedge down the drain. Get in your tub, stick the coat hanger down the drain and try to pull up as much clumps of hair you can. You should be able to get a good bit, but there’s a chance the hair is clogged down where you’re unable to reach it.

After pulling up as much hair as you can, pour a bit of boiling water down the shower drain to help remove any leftover residue. Once you’ve done this, wait an hour or so and then try to take a shower. If the drain is still backing up with water, then you were unsuccessful at fixing the problem.

Drain Cleaners

The market is literally flooded (no pun intended) with drain cleaners. Coming from someone whose tried a number of them, I can say that practically all of them simply aren’t worth your money. Although, if you can find a cleaner with a high amount of sulfuric acid, it may help greatly in unclogging your drain. Just be sure to read the safety precautions before using it, as sulfuric acid can cause some pretty serious second and even third degree burns if it comes into contact with your skin.

Call a Professional

When all else fails, call a professional plumber to come out and service your shower drain. One of the tools frequently used to unclog drains is something called a snake. Just as the name suggests, a snake is a metal tube that “snakes” its way through your pipes, unclogging any and everything in its path. Ultimately, this is the safest and most effective method for removing drains in showers.

Paper Towels

Many individuals think that paper towels are acceptable to flush because they’re similar to toilet paper. The thing it, though, they are SIMILAR to toilet paper, yet aren’t the same. Toilet paper is made to be more tough and durable to soak in moisture without ripping. On the other hand, toilet paper is made to be soft and easily biodegradable so they will breakdown in septic tanks.

Kitty Litter

No one likes the smell of kitty litter, but this doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to flush down the toilet. Most litter is made up of a clay-like material that doesn’t pass properly through the pipes within your home. Instead of traveling to the septic tank, they get stuck in the pipes where they can back up your toilet.

Grease and Cleaning Chemicals

You may not think much about it, but flushing harsh chemicals down the toilet can prevent your septic tank from doing its job properly. Instead of flushing that cooking grease down the toilet, either throw it away or empty it in your backyard.

Cigarettes

Contrary to popular belief, cigarette butts are not in fact biodegradable. If you flush them down your toilet, they will travel to your septic tank where they’ll sit until it’s pumped. Be sure toput your cigarette out and place it in an ash tray until you’re ready to empty it.

What’s Okay To Flush Down The Toilet?

The answer to this question should be pretty obvious to most people – bodily waste, toilet paper and water. While most people would assume this is common sense, you would be surprised at the stuff frequently flushed down the toilet. From clothes and toys to last nights dinner, some things simply aren’t off limits when it comes to flushing the toilet. By taking the time to dispose of these items properly rather than flushing them down the toilet, you’ll find that your septic tank and plumbing system will last longer and work more efficiently.

Clearly the starting point needs to be carrying out a search for them online and remember to enter your location as well. This will then give you the correct names of those companies you have to then move on and study in a bit more detail.

Knowing they can be trusted to do a good job is going to be very important and this is where your research comes into play. See if they own a site and pick up details including their qualifications and experience as well as ensuring they are licensed to work in the first place.

Look out for logos or names that show they are in various organizations linked to the trade as this will also give you confidence in how good they are. Match this up with references from trusted sources and you will start to believe that you have indeed picked the right one for you.

It is wise for you to think about getting a number of prices for any job before you hire someone as this lets you see if they are giving you a fair rate or not. Balance it out by comparing it with everything you have learnt about them and see which one stands out from the crowd.

So those are some basic tips on things to do when choosing the right commercial plumbing company for you. It really is very easy and quick to do so sit down one night and check out your options.