Plumbing Tips

WATER-

• Keep your water company phone number handy.
• Purchase a water meter key from your local hardware store and keep it in a convenient place like under your kitchen sink in case you need to shut the water off to the house. Make sure you learn how to use your water meter key before an emergency occurs. Ask your plumber next time they visit, they will be happy to show you how.
• Keep an eye on your water bill-if it increases substantially it can be an indicator of a leak.
• Check your commodes annually. A running commode is a waste of water and your money. In most cases a quick change of the flapper and the problem is solved.
• If your water becomes discolored, it can be due to sediment from your water heater. Proper maintenance is the best way to ensure your water heater is working correctly. This is another way to prolong the life expectancy of your water heater. Draining the water heater allows you to clean the bottom of the tank, and be sure to regularly check the heater for any rust or corrosion.
• Low water pressure can happen because of debris or corrosion buildup in your fixtures or plumbing leaks.

SEWER-

• Know where your clean-outs are for your home and how to get the cap(s) off in case your main line backs up. If the sewer line is blocked in the yard, you may see water in the clean-out and it may come out of the clean-out when you remove the cap(s). If your sewer is blocked under the house, you will not see any water in the clean-out, other than maybe a trickle.
• Clean-out: A clean-out is a pipe opening, connected to your sewer line for access to clean the piping with the proper sewer machine cable. They may be located in the ground, in a wall, or under a counter.
• Inform your plumber of any toxic chemicals you may have poured down the drain. When the plumber takes any drains apart or cleans them with a cable machine the liquids may splash and could cause injury.
• We do not recommend drain cleaning liquids due to the caustic nature of them. They can cause damage to your piping, plumber, and his equipment.
• If your garbage disposal has an odor: Grind a couple handfuls of ice cubes in it with some lemon/lime juice, be sure to run the water. Do not place wedges of lemon or lime into it, as this may clog your drain. No more than a couple handfuls of ice is needed, too much ice at once can cause damage. This will dislodge food debris within it. This does not sharpen the blades.

GAS-

• Take action immediately! If you smell an odor you think for even one second may be gas due to a leak, pick up your phone and call your plumber or gas company to have it turned off as soon as possible. Gas is a danger in any amount of loss due to a leak.
• Electric and fire sources become dangerous in your home after a gas leak. Don’t use a landline to call the gas company – use your cell phone or a neighbor’s phone.
• Some causes of a gas leak are faulty appliances or corroded pipes.
• Possible warning signs of a gas leak include a rotten egg smell, dead vegetation near the gas line, headaches, and hissing sounds from pipes or appliances.
• Ventilating your home during a gas leak reduces the risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning and weakens the gas’s power.

Buying or moving into a new home? Here are a few things to consider.

• We recommend you perform a sewer and water test on the piping at the property. These tests will tell you if there are any leaks that need to be addressed.
• Before you install your refrigerator check the water line that connects to it. Make sure it is not leaking and it has a stop valve that functions properly.
• Before you install your clothes washer check the hot and cold water valves in the wall behind it to make sure there are no leaks and they are functioning properly. If they look corroded, we recommend you replace them.
• Before you install a gas dryer check the gas stop valve behind it to make sure it is functioning properly.
• If everything looks ok, but you still need help connecting the appliances, give us a call.

We provide a wide range of plumbing repair and installation services throughout Dallas Texas including towns such as: Frisco, Hebron, Mckinney, North Irving, North Mesquite, Rowlett, Murphy, Wylie, Sachse, Garland, Allen, North Dallas, Richardson, Plano, Carrollton, Addison, Farmers Branch, Coppell, Highland Park, and University Park.