Quality Plumbing Repairs For Homeowners

Regular care and maintenance can forestall most of these breakdowns at a fraction of the cost of repairs. Have your plumbing, heating and air conditioning inspected, cleaned, and checked at least once a year.

Clogged drains

Many of these calls could be avoided by taking greater care in what you put down drains – especially the kitchen sink drain, the most used and most clogged drain in the house.

Dripping faucets
This is an annoyance that most homeowners have to deal with from time to time, as the washers in the faucets wear out with use. You can extend the life of your faucet washers by not turning them off with too much force.

You may also consider replacing your older faucets with those that feature washerless valve cartridges instead of rubber washers. Since the valve mechanism is contained in one cartridge, these faucets are easier to repair and replace. In addition, cartridges are generally more durable and do not leak because they do not deteriorate with friction or age as washers do.

Leaking pipes
In extreme cases, these can cause expensive damage to floors and belongings. To stop a small leak from turning into a big one, look at your pipes periodically to check for rust or white lime deposits that may indicate a leak is starting.
Leaking water heaters
Most often when you have a leaker, it’s time to get rid of the water heater. Usually leaks indicate rusting through at the bottom of the storage tank, for which there is no good repair. By the time this happens, the water heater is usually so old you’d benefit from replacing it with a more energy-efficient model anyway.

Running and leaking toilets
This is not only an annoyance, but also a waste of water and money. Leaky toilets can cost you upwards of $100 a year on your water bills. If you hear a low humming noise, or if the toilet continues to run into the bowl after the toilet is flushed, it indicates that some part of the mechanism is out of order. Sometimes a little jiggling of the ballcock or flush valve mechanism solves the problem without cost. Otherwise, you may need to replace the entire mechanism. Also, another problem we see is the toilet rim gets a lot of calcification due to the hard water in Central Florida.

New faucet installation
Many homeowners replace faucets not only when they break down, but for decorative reasons as well. This is the ninth most common reason for a service call, according to the PHCIB.

A few people buy a faucet from a home center and then call a plumbing firm to do the installation. This is okay but be forewarned that in doing so, the plumbing firm will warrant only its workmanship, not the faucet itself.

Malfunctioning food waste disposal
This can be a messy headache for homeowners. Here are several tips to keep your unit in good working order.

First, always run cold water when grinding to move the waste all the way down the drain lines. Fats and grease congeal and harden in cold water and can be flushed through the system. Hot water should not be used because it can dissolve fats and grease, which may then accumulate in the drain line.

Almost all biodegradable food waste can be fed into disposals. However, they should not be used to grind clam or oyster shells, cornhusks, or other material with high fiber content. Under no circumstances should you put glass, plastic, or metal non-food materials through a disposal. This includes bottle caps, tin covers, or aluminum foil, which are some of the items service technicians commonly find in clogged or broken disposals.

Maintenance is easy. Grinding small bones and a small number of eggshells actually helps clean the disposal by scraping away stubborn deposits or citric acid and pulp. Grinding a little ice is another way to clean deposits and get rid of odors. For the most part, though, disposals are self-cleaning.