Our Frequently Asked Questions
With over a decade in the plumbing industry, we get asked many questions, and here are the ones we get most often.
Choosing a water heater that’s too small means running out of hot water more quickly than you’d like, and a tank that’s too big means higher energy bills.
So, how do you pick the right-sized water heater for you? Here are a few tips.
First, you must determine how much hot water you’ll need during peak hours, typically in the morning for most households. Allot 12 gallons per person and multiply it by the number of people in the house.
Once you have the number from above, you can choose an appropriate tank size based on the number of people living in the house.
For 1 to 2 people, choose a 30-40 gallon tank. For 2 to 3 people, choose a 40-50 gallon tank. For 3 to 4 people, choose a 50-60 gallon tank. And if you have more than four people, choose a 60-80 gallon tank.
Finally, consider the Energy Factor (EF) when buying a water heater. The EF determines how efficient the water heater is. The more efficient it is, the less energy it uses, which is helpful if you have a large family with high hot water demands.
If you have more questions or are still trying to decide, call our expert plumbers for advice.
For most people, an over-the-counter drain cleaner is the best way to deal with a clog. However, are they safe? Here’s our take.
It’s true that chemical drain cleaners work in the short term, but they can wreak havoc on your pipes if you over-rely on them. Store-bought drain cleaners use harsh chemicals like sulfuric or muriatic acid, bleach, peroxide, lye, or potash. Sometimes, you need more than one treatment to remove the clog, and that’s where the problem arises.
These products work by creating a chemical reaction between themselves and the material, causing the clog. Unfortunately, these reactions are unpredictable and have unexpected outcomes, like heat generation, which can remain in your pipes, causing them to weaken. Moreover, the chemicals in these products are highly toxic and can cause severe burns to your skin, eyes, and lungs.
If you have a stubborn clog, it’s best to play it safe and call a plumber.
Clogged toilets can be a nightmare, especially if they happen regularly. The good news is that many toilet clogs are easily preventable, and here’s why they happen.
Excessive Toilet Paper: Using too much toilet paper at once can clog the drain. If you must use extra toilet paper, flush multiple times to avoid a clog.
Foreign Objects: Kids love flushing things down the toilet to watch them disappear, so it’s not uncommon for plumbers to fish toys and other objects out of the drain.
Non-Flushable Items: Items like feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, cotton balls, paper towels, and cat litter should go into the trash, never the toilet.
Mineral Buildup: If you live in an area with hard water, mineral buildup is a problem. As time passes, calcium and other deposits cause the pipes to narrow like cholesterol clogging an artery, and you end up with slow or non-functioning drains. If you have hard water, consider installing a water softener.
Low-Flow Toilets: Older low-flow toilets were great at saving water but lacked the flushing power to remove waste effectively. Newer models give you the best of both worlds.
Imagine sitting on the couch, reading or watching TV, and suddenly hearing popping sounds from your water heater. It’s easy for some people to panic, thinking it’s about to blow up, but water heater explosions are rare. Here’s what’s probably happening.
Over time, sediment accumulates at the bottom of your water heater’s tank.
When the heating element heats the water, it creates popping or rumbling sounds as it pushes through the sediment layer. This is a common problem you can avoid with routine water heater maintenance and tank flushing.
Another cause could be a water hammer, which occurs when fast-moving water suddenly stops or redirects in the pipes, causing a loud thumping noise. While not directly related to the water heater, it can be off-putting.
These noises are typical and not a sign that your water heater is about to explode; however, you shouldn’t ignore them either because they could lead to your water heater failing or your pipes bursting. Call a plumber to investigate if you hear odd noises from the water heater.
Maybe you have family, friends, or neighbors who recently installed a tankless water heater and raved about it, and it got you thinking, “Are tankless water heaters worth the hype?” Here are a few things to consider.
Tankless water heaters are more expensive than traditional systems, but they offer several advantages, including:
- Higher energy efficiency
- Space savings
- Unlimited hot water
- Longer lifespan
- Less maintenance
Most people install tankless water heaters because they can have an unlimited hot water supply, making them ideal for large families with high hot water demands. However, tankless systems aren’t as good as traditional water heaters for simultaneous hot water streams, such as taking a shower while running the dishwasher or washing machine. If you’re considering going tankless, consult your plumbing professional for a recommendation.
A leaky sewer line is an expensive repair, so naturally, homeowners want to know if they or the city are responsible for picking up the tab. The answer is that it depends on local laws and regulations, but here are some general guidelines.
The owner is responsible for maintaining and repairing a sewer line running from their property to the connection point where it joins the municipal line. So, if you have a blockage or break and the line is on your property, you’re on the hook for the repairs.
If the problem lies in the line on city property, it’s up to the municipality to fix it. Note that these guidelines vary from one location to another, so you must check with your local government or sewer authority to be sure.
If you have a plumbing question, please call us at 346-415-6111.