Monthly Archives: April 2016

How To Flush Your Toilet When The Water Is Off

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How to Flush a Broken Toilet

We take so many of our modern conveniences which is why it seems like such a hardship when we are suddenly without them. That is certainly true of indoor plumbing. When the water is shut off to your house due to a water main break or for plumbing repairs you will be left with only enough water in your toilet’s tank for one flush. After that, what do you do? You are able to flush your toilet even while the water is off but it takes a little extra effort and planning. All you need is a bucket and a supply of water and you should be able to continue to use your toilet even while you are without running water.

Your toilet doesn’t actually need running water to flush properly. As long as your toilet is functioning normally, all you have to do is fill the bowl with water and gravity will take care of the rest. You don’t even have to worry about pulling down on the flush handle.

If you have some advanced warning that the water will be shut off you should fill up your bathtub with enough water to allow you to flush your toilet several times until service is restored. Another advantage of filling the tub for this purpose is that the water supply will be nearby and you won’t have to haul it into the bathroom from somewhere else. Even if you don’t know that the water will be shut off in advance you can use water from any source for this purpose, including a nearby pond or creek since it is only going down the toilet and won’t be used for drinking or cooking.

You’ll need about a gallon of water to make this work. When pouring the water into the bowl make sure you do so with enough force to mimic the action of a normal flush. If you dump it in gradually, all you will do is fill the bowl and the water won’t go anywhere. This is handy to remember if you want to fill the commode back up to its normal level after a flush. That being said, you don’t have to toss the water into the toilet as if you are dousing a fire. A steady pour should do the trick and you won’t be left with a wet floor to mop up.

There is another way to flush your toilet when the water is turned off to your home that is just as easy. It also requires having a ready supply of water. This involves refilling the tank after each flush. The basic idea is the same, but instead of pouring the water into the bowl, you pour it directly into the tank. You’ll need to pour in about a gallon and a half of water taking care not to raise the level in the tank until it covers the top of the overflow tube, otherwise you are just wasting precious water. Whichever approach you choose, you should have no problems continuing to flush your toilet while you wait for the water to start flowing again.

Is Your Sump Pump Going To Be There For You When You Need It?

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The day you discover that you have water in your basement is the wrong time to find out that your sump pump isn’t working right.

Sump pumps can prevent serious water damage to your home but only if they are well maintained. Is your sump pump going to be there for you when you need it? If you follow a few simple maintenance tips the answer to that question should be yes.

You can test the pump by pouring water into the well, the hole in the floor that the pump sits in. The float should rise with the water in the well and the pump will turn on, sending the water through the discharge line and away from the house. If the pump fails to come on, then you’ve got problems.

If you sump pump isnt working, start with the obvious. Make sure power is getting to the sump pump. Is the unit plugged in? Did a circuit breaker get tripped? If you find that power is indeed reaching the pump, then you need to start troubleshooting. You may find the problem is a quick fix or you may find you need a brand new sump pump.

A common culprit is a malfunctioning float component. It is possible that the float itself is caught on something which is preventing it from being raised by the water level. Check to make sure debris hasn’t fallen into the well which could obstruct the float. It is also possible the float switch may be bad and need to be replaced. If you find the float switch has indeed failed, it might be better to invest in a new sump pump unless you are confident you can install a new switch yourself.

You should also check to make sure the discharge line isn’t frozen shut or obstructed by debris. When the line isn’t clear the pump can’t push the water through the line and it will back up into the basement. Making sure that the discharge line is free of obstructions is a continuing part of sump pump maintenance and it should be checked a few times every year.

A clogged intake filter can make it difficult or even impossible for a sump pump to get water out of the well. Dirt, gravel, and other debris can clog the filter and force your sump pump to work harder to empty the well. Make sure to keep the intake filter clean and replace it when appropriate. Clogged intake filters can cause your pump to run continuously since the water isn’t being removed which can quickly burn up the unit.

Sump pumps do wear out over time and you’ll want to find out if yours is finished before flooding season. Installing a new pump is simple enough but if you don’t feel it’s something you can do on your own, hire a plumber. A properly functioning sump pump can help mitigate the effects of flooding in your basement, potentially saving you thousands of dollars, so it is well worth your time to check out your sump pump to make sure it is ready to go when you need it.

Should I Turn My Water Off My Main Water Supply Before Leaving On Vacation?

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Turn Off Valve

Turning off the water to your house is an excellent insurance policy against water damage. This may sound like the kind of busy work that you might find on an overprotective homeowners checklist but when you consider how much damage a leaky pipe or appliance can cause it is time well spent. All it requires is knowing where the main shut-off valve is located, usually either near the water meter or in the basement, and closing it whenever you are going to be away from home for any length of time. Once it’s done, any problems that may occur while you are away will be minor compared to the flood that could be waiting for you upon your return. Some homeowners will turn off the water to every individual appliance and fixture in the house but merely shutting off the main water valve is just as effective and takes far less time.

Here are some reasons why you should turn off the water to your home before leaving on vacation.

Water Heater

It isn’t a question of if your water heater will fail but when. While you are away on that once in a lifetime vacation, isn’t the ideal time for it to happen. By shutting off the water, you can, at least, minimize the damage. Rather than a waterfall, the leak will be confined to only the amount of water in the tank, which is typically fifty gallons. You’ll still have some water damage but nothing on the order of the catastrophe that you would otherwise be facing. Some water heaters do have a “vacation mode” setting which will drop the water temperature while you are away but that does nothing to mitigate flooding.

Leaky Or Broken Pipes

Leaks are relatively easy to catch when you’re at home but if you are going to be gone for a couple of weeks even a minor leak could be big trouble. Again, the idea is minimizing the amount of water that is available if something leaks or fails. If you live in a colder climate and are planning to be gone for a few days turning off the water is standard procedure since a burst pipe could leave your home a disaster area. Draining your pipes is also a good idea when leaving your home empty for an extended winter trip.

Appliances

Leaking appliance hoses are a major source of water damage. This is normally the result of leaking hoses. Unless you regularly inspect and replace your appliance hoses, you probably have no idea what kind of condition the hoses on your dishwasher, washing machine or refrigerator are in. Replacing rubber hoses with more resilient steel hoses is one of the best ways you can protect your home from appliance leaks and the havoc they can cause. Just like leaky pipes and failing hot water heaters, there’s never a good time for a water hose to break but when you are away from home is the absolutely worst time for it to happen. Shutting off the main water valve won’t prevent a hose failure but it will limit the damage.

How To Choose A Water Saving Fixture That Also Has Style

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Depending upon the area of the country that a person resides in, there may be a severe shortages of water. However, in other parts of the country, the water supply may be relatively plenteous. Regardless to the circumstances and the conditions, manufacturers are developing new technology that is designed to save on the water supply. Some of the more commonly known involves the development of different types of water saving fixtures. Therefore, when a homeowner is looking to make repairs, renovations or build a home from ground floor, they should always be familiar with the types of water saving fixtures on the market today prior to making any new plans or changes.

 

Typically, when a homeowner begins their research, they may quickly discover that there are wide variety of different sites that provide this information to people who need and want it. Since more people are looking to go green in their homes, they will look for the best fixtures that they can find to save on their utility bills. Regardless to the type of project that they are working on, it is essential for everyone involved to search for the different fixtures and features that will meet a specific criterion. To that end, here’s some of the top requirements that people should look for today.

 

Look for Fixtures that can save money in specific areas of the home

The kitchen, bathroom and the laundry room are three areas in the home that requires the use of a lot of water on a daily basis. Even when a family member is doing something as washing their hands, water consumption over time can become a problem. Therefore, manufacturers have already begin solving a significant part of this problem by designing auto shut off mechanisms. By using these kinds of features in bathroom areas, the owner can save money over time since it automatically conserves the amount each time. The same automatic mechanisms are included in water heads, sinks, toilets, and urinals.

Look for Features that Identify Water Savings and Cost Savings

Because these fixtures are made by different manufacturers who also produce different models and standards, it is important to remember that not all water saving fixtures and features are the same. In fact, based on the actual design, they can differ greatly from one to another. More importantly, the buyer should make sure that they choose the water saving fixtures that promise higher savings. For instance, the best products will disclose how much the fixture will save them over a period of time. Therefore, people can choose the ones that will provide the greatest savings on their utility bills.

 

Look for Features that meet National Efficiency Standards

It is also important to note that some states and federal agencies will offer various kinds of benefits to installing these fixtures in homes and offices. To take advantages of these savings and tax breaks, it is essential that the homeowner buys fixtures that meet specific national efficiency standards like the LEED rating system.

7 Things You Can Do Right Now To Reduce Your Water Bill

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All of us would like to trim our household expenses and one the best ways we can do that is by reducing our monthly water bill. While there are many easy ways to accomplish this we are sometimes reluctant to take the necessary steps. Most people equate conserving water with making radical changes to their lifestyle. The good news is with a few minor tweaks, you can start seeing savings on your water bill without sacrificing comfort. Here are seven ways you can do right now to reduce your water bill.

Replace Leaky Fixtures

Leaky faucets can waste thousands of gallons of water each year. If you have more than one leaky faucet or a leaky toilet, it can really add up in the course of a year. When it comes time to replace fixtures consider low flow faucet aerators and toilets to help regulate your water usage.

Pull The Plug On Baths

On average it takes about 35 gallons of water to fill up a bathtub. When you compare that to a 5-minute shower that uses around a third of that and making the switch is a no-brainer. When you replace conventional shower heads with low-flow models the savings can be even more significant.

Low Flow Shower Heads

According to the U.S Department of Energy, switching to low-flow shower heads can reduce your water bill by up to 60%. Low-flow shower heads are easy to install and you won’t notice any change in the quality of your morning shower. Spending a little less time in the shower will help as well.

Turn Off The Water While Brushing Or Shaving

We all do it. You’re brushing your teeth or shaving in the bathroom sink and you keep the water running until it’s time to rinse out your mouth or wash the shaving cream off your face. Why do we do it? Most of the time we don’t stop to think how much money we are wasting by not shutting off the faucet when we don’t need the water. Simply remembering to turn off the water when you don’t need it can help lower your monthly bill.

Throw Out The Garbage Disposal

You are pouring money down the drain when you use your garbage disposal. Just throw your waste in the trash instead. Taking the trash out a few extra times a month is more than worth it when you consider the amount of water you can save.

Insulate Your Water Pipes

This has a dual benefit; not only will the insulation protect your pipes from freezing during the winter but it is also a great way to save water. Since the insulation helps water heat up faster you spend less time with the faucet open waiting for the water to get hot enough to wash dishes or shower.

Use The Dishwasher

From a water conservation standpoint, dishwashers are a more efficient way to get dishes clean than hand washing. But make sure you only run the dishwasher when it is full. Otherwise, you are negating any possible savings by not making the best use of the appliance’s money saving potential.