If you have ever seen an old brick resting in a toilet tank and wondered to yourself "what in the world?", you are in good company. Many people have never heard of the old wives tale of why you should put a brick in your toilet tank. Its not there to ward off evil spirits or balance the alkalinity of the water. No. Its there because someone came up with the idea that by putting a brick in the tank you can save water and therefore save money. As a professional plumber in the Melbourne FL area, I am here ...
Read MoreOne of the many conveniences of modern plumbing is the ability to get rid of waste in an easy fashion. Whether this is human waster or food waste, we can just flip a switch and wash it away. But it is important to remember that everything is not flushable or made to easily go down your drain. In this article we look at items which are better thrown away and not flushed or disposed of down your sink. Coffee Grounds People have been running these down the sink for decades. You will most likely not have any trouble getting the ...
Read MoreIn the past we have written about items which should not be flushed down your toilet in order to prevent a clog. We mentioned items like paper towels, baby wipes and even skin care wipes. In this article we want to list some of the other items which should not be flushed. Your toilet is a picky device in that it wants only organic matter or matter which can be broken down easily. This is why toilet paper is so thin and flimsy. If it were any tougher it would cause clogs all of the time. The fact remains that ...
Read MoreDrain clogs happen. They are a part of life. More times than not the culprit is a mix of soap and biological debris aka hair and skin cells. But this is not always the case. There can be physical items blocking your drain as well. This is why it is important to know which type of method you should use to unclog your drain. First thing's first. How long has your clog exited? Did it happen suddenly? Or did it slowly build to this point? These questions will help you figure out what type of drain cleaning mechanism you should ...
Read MoreDoes our toilet seem like it is filing slower and slower? There could be various reasons as to why this is happening. In this article we will review the reasons why. We will also suggest solutions. Water Valve Turned Too Low - The valve controlling the amount of water the toilet receives is the first place to check. Make sure the water valve which connects to the toilet is turned all the way to the open position. A Clogged Vent - There is an air vent which allows pressure to escape while the water is filling. The vent runs through ...
Read MoreThe modern plunger is a simple device which was invented sometime in the 1700's. It is unknown who invented the plunger but the device has worked the same since day one. It consists of using a pliable suction cup attached to a stick or pole. The cup creates a vacuum around the pipe and the pulling and pushing action helps knock loose whatever is causing the clog. Moreover, when the suction end is removed from the drain or clogged pipe, the restoration of pressure to it usually forces free what has been lodged. The science is simple and logic is ...
Read MoreAn example of a very badly damaged seal. This is mold eating away at the seal which allows sewage gas to enter the room. There are many possibilities as to what could be causing your home to smell like sewage. But the bottom line is that sewage or sewage bi-products are exposed to the air in your home in one fashion or another. In this article we will go over some of the ways in which this is possibly happening. Dried Out P-Trap Of all the possibilities this is the most common. The P-Trap uses a bend in the pipe ...
Read MoreYou may enjoy a nice shower with plenty of water pressure hitting your body. But if you have ever wondered if the pressure was to high then you should look for the telltale signs. If you believe that your water pressure may be actually getting higher but you are not sure there are some ways to tell this as well. Water Bill is Getting Increasingly More Expensive. If your water bill seems to be a little more every month, there is a chance your pressure is slowly increasing. Normal water pressure is between 40-60 PSI. Some homes have been found ...
Read MoreBeing in this business for several decades, we have pretty much seen it all. Some of the problems people face with their household or residential plumbing is very common and we see it all the time. Other, more rare occurrences, do happen. But we are saving that topic for another blog. Today we want to list and discuss the most common calls we receive. As you can imagine, they have to do with plumbing wear and tear. Dripping Faucets - The dripping faucet has been a problem to most everyone who has ever lived on Earth. It starts as just ...
Read MoreFlushable wipes became popular on the market about 15 years ago or so. They offer "extra cleanliness" to the user. Many companies that make these products tout that they are just as safe as regular toilet paper to flush down your toilet. But are they? The bottom line is that regular toilet paper is made thin and is fully biodegradable. The flushable wipes are made thicker and have chemical additives that keep the wipes together and moist. They will eventually break down in the sewer or septic system but they do not break down right away. If there is a ...
Read More