Plumbing questions
answering your plumbing questions
Being a plumber for the last 25 years, I’ve put together my Top Ten most asked Plumbing Questions.
1. What causes a faucet to leak?
A: A lot of hard water in systems have fluoride and calcium in it, which isn’t harmful to drink, but can cause a lot of problems for plumbing. They leave a residue behind that builds up in pipes and especially the seals of your plumbing, where they expand and eventually, cause it to leak. The simple answer is that your valve, o-ring or gasket corroded and needs to be replaced. Which is a very simple task.
2. What is the cause of pipes rattling and making noise?
A: A lot of times pipes become unsecured. Woods erodes, screws come out. When water runs through those pipes, they rattle. Some people think it’s ghosts. I have yet to meet one. In older homes, you also get air in the pipes. It’s a process, but you can have a water hammer arrestor installed.
3. I have a great deal of mold that builds up in my shower. Where does that come from?
A: If you have drywall which is made of paper, that’s going to react badly to the moisture from showers. Over time it’ll create mold. Best bet is to put waterproofing up on that wall, though you’ll want to consult a professional for the removal of that mold first.
4. My toilet continues to run until I jiggle the handle. Why is that?
A: When the chain in your tank either get caught up on something or else your flapper gets a little worn and won’t automatically close all the way; it takes a little jiggle of the handle to get it to fall into place. Best to get it fixed right away, it’s an easy process that most can do on there own. It’s an expensive problem if you continue to let it run. It’s like having your faucet on all of the time.
You can either adjust the chain, which sometimes helps or maybe try tightening up the handle might do it. Also, check to make sure there’s nothing obstructing the flapper. Wash your hands afterward though.
5. My sink is clogged and I’ve tried everything. What do I do?
A: If you’ve tried everything else, you’ll want to use a snake. Not a real snake, but a skinny, flexible line with a screw head or an auger on the end of it that bores through the clog.
6. Why do we run out of hot water so quickly?
A: The most common cause is too many people using the shower. If it’s not that then you’ll need to have your water heater checked. Could be as simple as a reset button. Could be as bad as needing a new water heater. Most water heaters should run up to 15 years.
7. Why does my faucet continually drip?
A: I actually probably get this question more than any other. And it’s because a lot of people have leaky faucets, but also because there are a number of reasons that could be causing it.
It might be a busted pipe and the faucet can’t hold back the water. It could be a loose or corroded O-ring where the sink and faucet are attached. The valve has a washer in it, and if that wears out or becomes lose it could cause it
8. I’m thinking about replacing my old toilet with a new one. Any advice?
A: It’s a job you can actually do yourself and save quite a bit of money. The hardest part is lifting up the old and putting on the new toilet. I recommend getting a toilet that conserves water. Those things use a lot of it.
9. My dishwasher won’t drain the water out. How do I fix that?
A: You obviously have a clog somewhere. Check the strainer basket in the tub, the air gap, or the hose that vents the machine. You may have some grime or food build-up in one of them.
10. How do I tell if my toilet has a leak?
A: A good thing to try is to put some food coloring in the back tank. Don’t use it for about an hour and then check the tank. If the water is clear, you have a leak.
1. What causes a faucet to leak?
A: A lot of hard water in systems have fluoride and calcium in it, which isn’t harmful to drink, but can cause a lot of problems for plumbing. They leave a residue behind that builds up in pipes and especially the seals of your plumbing, where they expand and eventually, cause it to leak. The simple answer is that your valve, o-ring or gasket corroded and needs to be replaced. Which is a very simple task.
2. What is the cause of pipes rattling and making noise?
A: A lot of times pipes become unsecured. Woods erodes, screws come out. When water runs through those pipes, they rattle. Some people think it’s ghosts. I have yet to meet one. In older homes, you also get air in the pipes. It’s a process, but you can have a water hammer arrestor installed.
3. I have a great deal of mold that builds up in my shower. Where does that come from?
A: If you have drywall which is made of paper, that’s going to react badly to the moisture from showers. Over time it’ll create mold. Best bet is to put waterproofing up on that wall, though you’ll want to consult a professional for the removal of that mold first.
4. My toilet continues to run until I jiggle the handle. Why is that?
A: When the chain in your tank either get caught up on something or else your flapper gets a little worn and won’t automatically close all the way; it takes a little jiggle of the handle to get it to fall into place. Best to get it fixed right away, it’s an easy process that most can do on there own. It’s an expensive problem if you continue to let it run. It’s like having your faucet on all of the time.
You can either adjust the chain, which sometimes helps or maybe try tightening up the handle might do it. Also, check to make sure there’s nothing obstructing the flapper. Wash your hands afterward though.
5. My sink is clogged and I’ve tried everything. What do I do?
A: If you’ve tried everything else, you’ll want to use a snake. Not a real snake, but a skinny, flexible line with a screw head or an auger on the end of it that bores through the clog.
6. Why do we run out of hot water so quickly?
A: The most common cause is too many people using the shower. If it’s not that then you’ll need to have your water heater checked. Could be as simple as a reset button. Could be as bad as needing a new water heater. Most water heaters should run up to 15 years.
7. Why does my faucet continually drip?
A: I actually probably get this question more than any other. And it’s because a lot of people have leaky faucets, but also because there are a number of reasons that could be causing it.
It might be a busted pipe and the faucet can’t hold back the water. It could be a loose or corroded O-ring where the sink and faucet are attached. The valve has a washer in it, and if that wears out or becomes lose it could cause it
8. I’m thinking about replacing my old toilet with a new one. Any advice?
A: It’s a job you can actually do yourself and save quite a bit of money. The hardest part is lifting up the old and putting on the new toilet. I recommend getting a toilet that conserves water. Those things use a lot of it.
9. My dishwasher won’t drain the water out. How do I fix that?
A: You obviously have a clog somewhere. Check the strainer basket in the tub, the air gap, or the hose that vents the machine. You may have some grime or food build-up in one of them.
10. How do I tell if my toilet has a leak?
A: A good thing to try is to put some food coloring in the back tank. Don’t use it for about an hour and then check the tank. If the water is clear, you have a leak.
Thanks for reading this article by Plumbers of Palm Beach. If you'd like further assistance or to hire a plumber reach out to us at 561-220-0065 or email us at plumbersofpalmbeach@gmail.com
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