Faucet Repair: Troubleshooting Sluggish Water Flow

If sluggish water flow from your faucet is a problem, you may find the trouble lies with your faucet aerator. This device is most often located at the tip of the faucet and works by mixing air and water in order to give you an even flow of water. When mineral deposits accumulate or if you have a damaged aerator, the best thing to do is forgo faucet repair and replace the part. If it’s just dirt that is lodged in your faucet aerator, you can conduct faucet repair in five easy steps:

1. Unscrew the faucet aerator from the spout, using oil to loosen the connection if necessary.
2. Disassemble the parts, keeping in mind the order of the components.
3. Use a toothbrush to clean the disk and screen with soap and water.
4. To clear out debris in the disk, use a pin or toothpick.
5. Flush the components with water before reassembling the aerator.

Questions To Ask The Plumbers Before You Hire

If you’re talking to a few different plumbers and trying to decide who to hire, it's helpful to know what questions to ask so that you can best make your decision. This is our list of top five questions to ask plumbers you’re considering hiring:

• Does the plumber handle residential repairs or perhaps specialize in construction and remodel? Make sure the plumber you’re talking to is qualified to do the work you require. If you need a specific type of job done, ask about your plumber’s specialty.
  
• What types of materials your plumber will be using for repairs? You’ll want to know what will be replacing your existing fixtures or plumbing.
• How long your plumber has been in business? You don’t want to deal with someone who has little experience in the plumbing industry.
• Does your plumber guarantee the work to be done? A guarantee is important in case you have any problems in the future with the repair or replacement done by your plumber.
• How long the plumbing project will take? The length of time will have an impact on your pocketbook as well as the length of time you need to set aside for the repair or plumbing project.

Water Heater Conservation

Most people take their water heater for granted as long as it’s functioning properly. However, just a few simple adjustments can send you on your way to water heater conservation. Try these simple tricks to save energy with your existing water heater:

• Turn the temperature down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, especially if you have an older model water heater. When you do so, you’ll conserve energy and your water heater will be less prone to damage due to overheating.
• Increase the efficiency of your water heater by draining the water every six months. You’ll get rid of sediment deposits in your water heater, allowing your unit to operate more efficiently and promote water heater conservation.

Five Things You Can Do To Avoid Clogged Drains

To keep the plumbing system in your home running smoothly, it’s best to avoid clogged drains by adhering to some practical rules. Here are five things you can do to avoid clogged drains:

1. Clean out the strainers and stoppers in your bathtub or sink on a regular basis. Hair and debris caught on a strainer or wound around a stopper can attribute to drainage problems.
2. Pour grease into a can and toss it into your trash rather than pouring it down your sink. Grease poured down pipes will collect and eventually cause clogs in your pipes.
3. Run boiling water down your kitchen sink once a week to rid your pipes of any grease or fat deposits that may be accumulating in your pipes.
4. Don’t dump chemicals such as paint thinner or materials like hot wax down your drains.
5. Use a non-corrosive drain cleaner and pour it down your drain every six months to avoid drainage problems.

Avoiding Frozen Pipes

If you live in an area where the temperatures drop to chilling weather, you’ve probably encountered the problem of frozen pipes. If you want to avoid frozen pipes for the next winter season, try these suggestions:

• If you leave your outdoor hoses connected, freezing water may expand and cause fixtures inside your home to break from freezing water. Disconnect the outdoor hoses to be safe.

• Insulate your exposed pipes in colder areas of the home, like basements and crawlspaces. Heat tape or thermostat controlled heat cable around your pipes can keep your pipes from freezing.

• If you have outdoor faucets, turn off the interior shut-off valve to those faucets. Don’t forget to drain out any water which could form ice.

Five Things To Look For When Hiring A Plumber or Plumbing Contractor

If you’re doing renovations to your home, the process of selecting a plumber will vary a bit from the process of selecting a plumber to fix a drain clog in your home. When looking for a plumber or plumbing contractor, you will want to do the following:

1. Get recommendations from friends or neighbors of plumbing contractors who have worked on home renovations. That way, you can have the added benefit of working with a plumbing contractor who has had a successful working relationship with someone you know.
2. Verify the state licensing of your plumbing contractor. You’ll be able to find out whether the person in question has any complaints filed against him.
3. Find out what the hourly rate of your plumbing contractor is and what you’ll be paying for. For instance, will the plumbing contractor charge you for demolition to access a pipe in addition to plumbing work? Will you be charged an hourly rate while your plumber waits on-site for parts?
4. Verify whether your plumbing contractor is bonded and has worker’s compensation and insurance.
5. Research at least three different plumbing contractors and obtain estimates. Choose one based not just on the rates, but also what you will be paying for and their level of service and reliability.

Bring A House For Sale Up To Code

If you’re selling your home, you may have wondered whether or not you need to bring the old plumbing up to code. Maybe you even got something like the sink vent from your kitchen written up by the potential buyer’s home inspector and he’s asking you to make the house up to date before you sell it. Do you have to do it?

If you’re not doing any renovations on your home, you likely don’t have to bring your house up to code just for the sale. There are a few exceptions to the rule, so check with your local municipality for their list of requirements if you’re not sure. However, it is a negotiation point, so in that respect, consider whether or not it’s a point worth arguing over if you’re interested in selling your home.