Frequently asked questions.

No one wants to see their bathroom plumbing go down the drain, but it happens. Simple problems, such as a clogged or running toilet, are easy to fix, while larger problems, like a broken water heater, are tasks you’ll want to leave to the professionals.

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    Bathroom Plumbing FAQs

    The easiest way to unclog your toilet is with a plunger, but if you don’t have one on hand, fill the toilet with dish soap or laundry detergent, add a pot of boiling water and then wait a few minutes before flushing. The hot water should break through the clog as the soap washes everything through the siphon and out of the drain.

    Look online for comparisons on flush ratings, as well as available rebates on high–efficiency models. Consider features such as pressure assists and heightened thrones when choosing a toilet.

    Any low–flow toilet that uses 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF), has a MaP score of 1,000 and a 16.5-inch bowl height is recommended. Look for a WaterSense–certification on the label as well. Find a low–flow toilet that’s efficient and saves on water, yet has the power to wash away waste.

    A running toilet is usually caused by a flapper, the rubber or plastic valve on the bottom of your tank, that fails to seal. Open the toilet tank and adjust the float arm to see if the water stops an inch below the overflow pipe. If the water doesn’t continue to fill, the flapper needs replacing.

    Replace your toilet flange by disconnecting your toilet’s water supply. Flush out all remaining water and unscrew the floor nuts. Remove the toilet from its place on the floor and set it aside on newspaper. Clear away any gunk from the existing flange seal, then unscrew it from the floor to clean underneath it. Screw the new flange into place and reinstall your toilet.

    Kitchen Plumbing FAQs

    Turn off the disposal, insert an appropriately sized hex or Allen wrench into the hole of the disposal motor. Rotate the wrench back and forth to dislodge the obstruction and fix your jammed garbage disposal.

    Yes, Drano® and similar brands make sink–cleaning products that are safe for all sinks, including those with garbage disposals. If in doubt, check the drain cleaner’s label before using it.

    Remove odor from your garbage disposal by using items like lemons, ice cubes, baking soda, and vinegar.

    Clear a clogged drain without chemicals by using baking soda and vinegar. Pour half a box of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar down the drain, then plug the faucet with a plunger for 30 seconds to prevent the mixture from bubbling upward. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes. Boil a kettle of water and then pour it down the drain to clear it.

    Prevent clogged drains in your home by stopping hairs, oils, greases, coffee grinds, pasta, or hard produce parts, such as broccoli stalks, carrots, or apple cores, from going down the drain. A drain stopper or filter can help stop materials, like coffee grinds, pasta, and produce from entering your drain.

    Grease traps and interceptors catch oils, greases and other fatty deposits, so they don’t enter your sanitary sewer system.

    A backup of rusty water into your kitchen sink is caused by three potential problems: sediment deposits in the water tank, rusted piping, or bacteria in the water from iron oxide.

    Outdoor Plumbing FAQs

    Find a leak before digging by using an underground leak detector.

    If your water meter is leaking, call a plumber immediately. You should also contact your water utility provider as well because if the leak is between the meter leading to the water utility, it is their financial responsibility to fix the leak. Leaks between the meter and your home are yours.

    Outdoor faucets tend to stop working suddenly due to debris in the faucet’s opening or an obstruction with the aerator or inner spout.

    Your outside faucet is likely running because the gasket or the valve seat has worn out and needs to be replaced.

    Trenchless technology can’t be used on a bellied line because the line needs to be accessed at the belly and fitted with a new stretch of pipe.

    Trenchless pipe relining works by using a pipe liner, which is a tube that’s blown into a damaged pipe. A pipe liner serves as a quick-fix alternative to pipe replacement.

    While many homeowners ensure their pipes remain warm during the frozen months, many are unaware of tree roots that are encroaching upon their sewer pipes

    Drain Cleaning FAQs

    Have a plumber run an inspection of the drains to find the roots clogging your sewer drains and eliminate the problem.

    Control roots in your pipes by calling a plumber to run cutting blades through the pipes. You can also flush a root–growth suppressant down your toilet twice each year to inhibit regrowth.

    Roots can be trimmed out of any plastic, cast iron, or clay tile stormwater lateral pipe, as well as many corrugated iron and thin-wall pipes.

    Aside from digging up the spot and cutting out the root, you can remove tree roots with a hydro jetter or root–removal chemicals.

    A water jetter is a high–powered blast hose that’s inserted into pipes to blow away obstructions, dirt, and grime.

    Root killer products are best applied by a professional. If you opt to do it yourself, read the instructions carefully. Use root killer through a sewer drainage port with a flow of water.

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