Monthly Archives: February 2016

Few things inspire as much dread in a homeowner as the thought of flooding. In a matter of minutes, a few inches of water can ruin everything you’ve worked for. You feel helpless. The good news is you can reduce the likelihood that you will become a victim of flooding. Just keep an eye out for the most common causes of this household disaster. Here are five reasons your home might flood.

Broken/Cracked Toilet Bowl

Cracks in a toilet bowl usually manifest themselves as a dark line that may look like a harmless scratch. Don’t let appearances fool you. If a crack is developing in your bowl, it’s only a matter of time before you have a leak. You need to act fast to avoid serious damage to your bathroom floor. The best course of action is to replace the toilet with a new one.

Broken Pipe in Slab

This can be one of the most expensive problems to fix. When it isn’t addressed, the foundation of your home could become unstable and make your entire home dangerous to inhabit. Unfortunately, due to the location of the pipes, it can be difficult to catch this type of leak in its early stages. The best way to determine whether you have a broken pipe in your slab is to pay attention to your utility bill. If the bill seems out of line with your water usage, there’s a good chance you have a hidden leak somewhere.

Clogged Sink Drain or Appliance Drain

A clogged drain can be more than a nuisance. This is an easy problem to prevent and a costly one to pay for later. Whether it’s a sink, dishwasher or washing machine a buildup of debris is the cause of most clogged drains. It’s not a pleasant job but taking the time to clean out poorly performing drains is a chore that can save you big in the long run.

Old Home – Weak Broken Pipes

It’s a fact that water pipes corrode and weaken over time. If you live in an old house with outdated plumbing it could happen at any time. Old pipes leak and burst which in turn can leave your home flooded. Nobody likes to spend the money required to replace the plumbing in an old house. But, if you consider the alternative it’s money well spent.

Water Heater

Hot water heaters have a nasty habit of failing and filling your basement with water. Often, it seems to happen shortly after the warranty expires. But, it’s not a good idea to wait to replace a water heater until it has exceeded its “lifetime”. This is otherwise known as the manufacturer’s warranty. Not having the right size water heater can contribute to premature failure. Having hard water doesn’t help either. If you are fortunate enough to be at home when the problem occurs, turn off the water to the hot water heater. The shut-off valve is usually located on top. Then get ready to shell out the cash for a new water heater.

If you see rings in your bathtub, spots on your dishes or buildup around shower heads and faucets, your home is probably using hard water. Don’t feel alone. 85% of the homes in the U.S. have hard water. While it doesn’t pose a health hazard, and in some instances may actual contribute a small amount of our daily dietary requirement of calcium and magnesium, hard water can be a costly problem. Here are 4 problems caused by hard water.

Higher Energy Bills

It takes more energy to heat hard water, and since water heaters can account for up to 25% of a home’s monthly heating bill, you can see how quickly this can add up. By some estimates, hard water can increase your energy bill by as much as 29%. You can make your water heater more efficient by installing a water softener. A water softener absorbs potentially harmful minerals in your water and prevents them from being introduced into your pipes and appliances.

Mineral Build-up

Hard water contains a higher concentration of minerals than soft water which can build up inside water pipes, faucets, and shower heads. This build-up can significantly reduce the interior diameter of water pipes, particularly hot water pipes, and cause water flow problems. In addition, these mineral buildups can increase the frequency and severity of clogs. This added stress on your water pipes can also result in breaks.

Laundry

Hard water presents a number of issues in the laundry room. For one thing, clothes washed in hard water tend to come out looking dingy and harsh feeling against your skin. Fabrics do not react well when exposed to the high levels of calcium and magnesium that are found in hard water. Clothes washed in hard water will break down quicker as fibers are weakened. If you want your clothing to retain its vibrancy and stay in your closet longer, you should invest in a water softening system. You will not only save your clothes from unnecessary damage but you could cut the amount of detergent and hot water you use since more laundry soap and higher water temperatures are needed when you are washing clothes in hard water.

Hair and Skin

If hard water is tough on clothes, imagine what it’s doing to your skin and hair. The minerals in hard water make it more difficult for detergents to break down which is why clothes don’t look clean and dishes have spots. The same is true for soaps and shampoos. Not being able to get all of the soap or detergent rinsed off can leave a residue causes itchy skin and rough, dull looking hair.

Wear and Tear on Appliances

Hard water leaves household appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines operating less efficiently and in some cases can actually reduce their lifespans by half. When your appliances aren’t performing up to expectations mineral buildup, passed on to appliances via water pipes, is often the cause of the problem. These minerals can damage components and increase the need for service calls. When you weigh the cost of a water softening system against the need to replace expensive household appliances earlier than expected, you can see the value in switching to soft water.

Whether it’s the shower or the kitchen sink, few things are as annoying as turning on a faucet and getting a trickle instead of a healthy flow of water. Not only is low water pressure a nuisance it could be an indication of more serious plumbing issues that need to be addressed. Sometimes, depending on your handyman skills, you may be able to correct the situation yourself. otherwise, you may have to rely on a professional. Here are 3 reasons your water pressure might be low.

Buildup In Pipes

Over time mineral deposits left behind by water can greatly reduce the diameter of your pipes, restricting the flow of water. While this buildup doesn’t pose a health risk it will continue to cause low water pressure until it is resolved. The good news is that it’s not always necessary to replace the pipes. Chemicals can often be used to break up the deposits and clean things out. Removing showerheads and faucets and giving them a thorough cleaning may also correct the problem. If neither of these measures takes care of the issue then it may time to call a plumber.

Leaks

Not only can a leak cause serious problems in terms of water damage and mold, it can also be responsible for low water pressure. A leak can prevent water from flowing throughout the house equally which can result in low water pressure in the kitchen and/or bathroom. Tracking down a leaky pipe isn’t always as simple a process as it sounds. However, there is one easy way to determine if you have a leak. Turn off all the faucets inside and outside your home, as well as the sprinklers, and then write down the number on the water meter. Check it in a few hours to see if the number has increased. If it has, then you’ve got a leak. The usual signs of a leak are wet spots on ceilings and walls or floors and walls that are bowed or spongy. Provided you have some basic plumbing knowledge, you may be able to replace the damaged pipe yourself.

Corrosion

Corroded pipes are a common problem in older homes with steel or galvanized plumbing. After 15-20 years, corrosion can begin to set in which can reduce a pipes flow capacity by as much as 70 percent. In addition to being a leading cause of low water pressure, it can also weaken the integrity of the pipes which could lead to leaks, further exacerbating the flow problem, and cause water damage to your home. Typically, the solution involves replacing the existing plumbing with PVC. This is not a quick fix nor is it inexpensive if you aren’t able to do the work yourself. There are some things you can do to make your low water pressure a little less irritating until you are able to afford to have your house re-piped, including installing flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets. This won’t actually improve the water flow but it will make the problem less noticeable when your showering or using the sink.

Are you having issues with your water pressure? Contact Davis Plumbing for a Free Estimate!

Think a sewer line inspection is an unnecessary expense? Ask anyone who has ever been knee deep in sewage for their opinion on the subject. A sewer line inspection is not part of the standard home inspection package but considering what a nightmare a backed up sewer can be it is a must for homeowners who believe they might have an issue or buyers who are considering purchasing an older home. The cost of an inspection more than outweighs the potential damage that can result from ignoring a sewer problem. If any of these things are happening you might need a sewer line inspection.

Unpleasant Odors

Unless you are standing over the sewer vent stacks on your roof, you shouldn’t be able to smell sewer gas in or around your home. If you do, it probably means you have a damaged sewer line. When the smell is accompanied by mold growth in your home, which only occurs in areas where moisture is present, you shouldn’t waste any time scheduling a sewer line inspection. A sewer smell outdoors is likely coming from pooling wastewater bubbling up from an underground leak.

Your Drains are Backing Up or Draining Slowly

A drain that frequently backs up or doesn’t drain at all can be an early warning sign that something is not right with your sewer line. Most clogged drains can be cleared with a plunger or auger. A serious blockage in the line will be resistant to these common solutions and a sewer line inspection can help locate the issues which could include tree roots or dirt intruding into the line through cracks.

A Leak Under the Foundation

If you find a leak under your foundation, it could be an indication of a damaged sewer line. The main line runs under the slab of your home and if a leak goes undetected it can lead to cracks in the foundation and foundation settlement. In cases like this, you can also expect to make a call to a foundation repair specialist.

Unusually Green Patches in Your Lawn

Every homeowner wants a thick, lush lawn. But when you notice unnaturally green patches of grass it could mean a leaky sewer line is fertilizing that particular section of the lawn. Another sign of a compromised sewer line that you might spot in your lawn is an indentation above the main sewer line that develops when the soil becomes oversaturated. In extreme cases, a sinkhole can develop.

Infestation

This one might make your skin crawl. Rats, cockroaches, and sewer flies are among the pests that can gain entry to your home through a damaged sewer line. These intruders live in city sewers and can enter through small openings in your sewer line and cause all sorts of problems, including potential health risks. In the case of rats, they are naturally drawn to the smell of sewer and pick up on the odor faster than we do. This means you may notice rat holes popping up around your yard if you have an issue. If you are making frequent calls to the exterminator it might be money better spent on a sewer line inspection.

Let us know if you’d like to receive a free quote to get your sewer line inspected!