Yearly Archives: 2021

• No Noise: If your garbage disposal unit is a quiet one, that is awesome. Until it is quiet because it isn’t grinding. First, you need to make sure it is plugged in (usually under the sink). Then, push the reset button on the bottom. If the button is popped out, check the circuit breaker. If none of these is out of position, then you need to call a professional for garbage disposal repair, or you may need to replace the unit. 
• Leaking: Water leaking from a garbage disposal is usually a problem with a seal inside the unit or at the sink. By learning how to repair a leaking garbage disposal, you could save yourself a repair phone call and postpone buying a new unit! If the leak is around the sink flange, you can usually tightened the unit there or apply new plumber’s putty around the flange for a simple garbage disposal repair. Sometimes, as a garbage disposal ages and wears out, or if something gets down inside the garbage disposal like a utensil, it can crack the unit and cause it to start leaking. In this case, you’ll need a replacement unit. Another area to check for possible leaking is where the dishwasher connects to the discharge drainpipe. There is usually a clamp at that connection, and it may need to be tightened, and check the bolts around the drainpipe, they may need tightening too. If these DIY garbage disposal repairs don’t work, then call a professional plumber. 
• Slow Draining: If after running water and the garbage disposal for a bit, the drain isn’t draining, then it is probably the drain line. Chemical drain cleaners are a no-no with a garbage disposal, they can damage the disposal and you’ll have to clean those toxic chemicals and the wastewater out by hand.  First try pouring baking soda and vinegar in the drain, followed by boiling hot water, often that DIY garbage disposal repair is the cure. If that doesn’t get the wastewater draining, you’ll need to call a plumber. 
• Garbage disposal is jammed: When the flywheel of a garbage disposal is jammed, you’ll know it by a humming sound. Before you attempt a DIY garbage disposal repair by un-jamming it, make sure you have turned it off and unplugged it. Underneath the garbage disposal is a small slot and usually a small wrench that fits that slot. Use this hex-head wrench or an Allen wrench and see if you can get unjam the unit by turning that slot. Check inside the drain where the garbage disposal is located and make sure a dish cloth, or food packaging, didn’t get wrapped around the blade. If neither of these seem to be the problem and the garbage disposal not jammed but humming you’ll need a professional garbage disposal repair, or maybe a replacement. 
• Smelly: If the garbage disposal motor is spinning and working, but the blades aren’t moving properly, food can get stuck under the blades, and we all know what rotting food smells like! If this is the case, you’ll probably need to replace the unit. If bad odors are coming from the garbage disposal, it could be some foods didn’t get chopped up fine enough and didn’t wash down the drain. Put some lemons peels in the disposal and turn it on, this should help.  If not, it could be there isn’t any garbage disposal repair that will help you unit this time. 

After you have tried all these steps, and before you call a plumber for an emergency garbage disposal repair, with the unit off and unplugged, make sure the garbage disposal repair loose blades isn’t the problem. 

With a flashlight and Allen wrench, check that the blades are tight, but not too tight.  If they are loose, they’ll simply spin over the food waste you put in the drain. 

What is the average life of a water heater?

The average is between 8 years to 12 years, depending on few factors such as the quality of the water heater, the quality of the water, and how well you perform maintenance on the unit. If you never do the recommended flush routine, the sediment will keep stacking up inside the tank and affect its efficiency. Some areas have hard water, which has more sediment, and that can take a toll on any water heater. 

How do you know when to replace a hot water heater?

As it has been said, all good things must end, and that’s as true a statement with a water heater as with anything else. When it isn’t doing the job you need it to do, electric or gas water heater repair may be possible, but you need to be prepared for any of the following, because these mean it is time to replace the unit: 

THE AGE

As we mentioned earlier, you’re lucky to get 15 years from a water heater, especially if you never had to get water heater repairs! If it hasn’t gone out by its 15th birthday, you may consider replacing it anyway before it catches you with a cold shower one morning. 

HOT WATER VOLUME 

If your water heater doesn’t offer a good volume of hot water, it is time to get a new unit.

HEATING BILL INCREASES

A big part of your energy bill is used to heat water with the water heater. If that amount has gone up substantially lately, it could be because the water heater can’t keep up with the demand. It could also be too old or maybe even too small. 

CORROSION

If you’re seeing corrosion on the exterior of your water heater, that means it is leaking and there isn’t any safe water heater repair to fix that. Replace the unit soon! 

BROWNISH – REDDISH WATER

As we mentioned earlier, if you’re getting brown or red-colored water from the faucets or spigots, and draining the water heater tank didn’t help, it is time to replace the unit. 

TOO MANY WATER HEATER REPAIRS

If you have had several water heater repairs over the past year, and it’s giving you trouble again, it’s time to save that money and put it towards a new water heater. 

How do you fix a broken faucet?

When the kitchen faucet breaks, it is easy to pick up the telephone and call a plumber. Or you can do your own faucet repair  and save that money!  You’ll need a few common household tools like Allen wrenches, flat-head screwdriver, needle-nose pliers, and slip-joint pliers. You’ll also need the basic materials that are available at your local home improvement center:

• A faucet repair kit
• Water diverter for hot/cold
• Packing grease

With these tools and materials gathered, follow these steps for a mixer-style water faucet repair: 

Turn the Water Off & Remove the Handle

Turn off the water under the sink then turn the faucet on so it can drain any water still inside. Next, put the stoppers in the drains to keep small parts and pieces from falling in.

With your Allen wrench, loosen the faucet handle setscrew and remove the handle. Set the parts out in the order your remove them so you have a line-up how to reassemble. 

Remove the Bonnet, Ball and Cam Assembly

Cover the slip-joint pliers teeth with masking tape and remove the bonnet, then remove the ball and cam assembly.

Remove the Springs

Using the needle-nose pliers, remove the springs and packing pieces the clean any buildup and sediment from inside the faucet.

Remove the Diverter and O-Rings

With both hands, grab the spout and move it back and forth until it is loosened, then remove it, the O-rings, and the diverter. Clean any buildup and sediment from the faucet face.

Reassemble

Place the new diverter into position and install the new top O-ring, followed by the others after coating them in the  packing grease. The packing grease protects the components of the faucet by protecting them from the high temperature. 

Connect the Spout

Press the spout into place, pressing with both hands firmly. If you’ve been considering updating your kitchen, now is the time to install a new spout. With the Allen wrench guiding them, slide the springs and packing pieces in place.

Finish Up

Position the faucet ball into the slot, install the cam and its packing reinstall the bonnet and handle.  Now turn on the water and if any leaks, backtrack your steps, usually an o-ring is out of position. 

How do you fix a broken faucet stem?

In every home, it is the bathroom faucet that gets used the most, next to the kitchen faucet. That repeated use causes the stem to wear out, then they drip water even with the handles in the “off” position, wasting water and money. 

If you can’t afford a plumber right now, the following steps will guide you how to do your own faucet repair by replacing the stems and stop that constant dripping of water and money:  

1. Turn the water supply off under the sink then turn on both cold & hot water knobs to release any pressure & water left in the faucet & lines.
2. Pop the caps off the top of the knobs using a flathead screwdriver. If there isn’t a cap, there should be exposed screws that need to be removed.
3. Now pull the faucet handles of. This will expose the stems.
4. Loosen the retaining nuts with the pliers if the faucet has cartridge stems. If the faucet has ceramic stems, loosen the mounting nuts. Then pull the stems out of the faucet body.
5. If you haven’t already got the replacement stems, take the ones you removed to your local home improvement store or a plumbing supply store to get the correct replacement stems.
6. Install the cartridge stems in the faucet body and place  new O-rings above the threads on the compression stem bottoms, coated with plumber’s grease.
7. Use the retaining nuts to ensure the cartridge stems are securely in place, then install the packing nuts with a clockwise turn of the pliers till tight.
8. Install the handles on the faucet stems and tighten the setscrews to secure the handles or install new ones.
9. Turn the faucet handles on and turn the water back on under the sink slowly.

Why does my faucet drip after I turn it off?

The working part of a faucet is the valve which is located in the handle. This is what controls the on, off, temperature, and volume. As  you use the faucet every day, it wears the valve out and it loses the water-tight seal which allows the water to drip when you have the faucet turned off. Follow the steps we listed above for a DIY faucet repair. 

How do you fix a faucet that won’t turn off?

When you turn the faucet off, there are either rubber or plastic components inside that compress across the opening that stops the water flow.  When the water is still running after you’ve turned the knob off it is usually the cartridge, stem, or O-rings are worn out.  Follow the steps we have listed earlier in this article for faucet repair. If you aren’t able to do this yourself, turn the water off under the sink and call a plumber. 

How do I know if my faucet cartridge is bad?

Fortunately, a faucet cartridge will let you know it is getting worn out. Some of the typical indications are: 

• Constant  water dripping
• Adjusting the temperature
• Hot water coming from the cold water outlet

How long do faucet cartridges last?

The lifespan of a faucet cartridge will be affected by how much it is used. A home with one or two people, the faucet doesn’t see as much use as a household with kids. On the average though, you shouldn’t need a faucet repair to replace the cartridge any sooner than 15 years, maybe even 20 years if it is a high quality faucet. 

The best brands of faucets that will need limited to know faucet repairs are Delta and Moen with lifetime warranty. However, this will require you maintain your faucet with regular cleaning as they instruct in their paperwork. Call (214) 402-5454 for your faucet repair needs in Dallas, TX.

• Furnace tune-up
• Water heater flush
• Slow or clogged drains 
• Remodeling
• Plumbing inspections
• Appliance installations
• A leaking faucet
• A running toilet

What’s the worse thing that could happen if you make an emergency plumber request, then they determine the issue wasn’t a true emergency? Well, the plumber will likely take care of the issue for you, but you’re going to pay for after hours or holiday rate.  

What is considered an emergency plumber repair then? The first thing you should ask yourself before making that phone call for an emergency plumber service is, “Can this wait till the next business day?” and “Is having a professional plumber come unclog my drain worth $100 an hour service call?”  Some true plumbing emergency examples would be: 

Flooding

When there is a risk of your home flooding because of a busted pipe, sump pump failure, backed up sewer, or failed water shut off valve. These are legitimate reasons that can justify an emergency plumber service call. 

Backed Up Sewer

If your sewer line is backed up and there is sewage puddling in the yard or under the house makes it inconvenient to use the basic household facilities or access running water. What justifies this for an emergency plumber service call though is the health hazard it presents. Exposed sewage is an extremely health issue that should have immediate attention. 

No Water

If you have encountered a plumbing issue where there is absolutely no access to running water and you have checked everything you can (non-payment water bill, city emergency cut off), can become a safety concern. 

Pipe Burst Possible

A frozen water pipe and/or water spigots can cause two issues: 

• Busting and flooding
• No water 

A frozen pipe keeps water from flowing and it can also expand and crack while frozen. Then when the water thaws, flooding prevails. If you have frozen pipes and notice it has crack, an emergency plumber call is justified if you don’t know how or where to turn the water main off.  

Is a clogged toilet a maintenance emergency?

A important component of your home’s plumbing is the toilet. In fact, it could be the most important next to having running water. So when that prized gem becomes clogged, is it worth an emergency plumber service call?  

If you have more than one toilet, no, that is not a plumbing emergency. However, if you only have one toilet in the house and you haven’t been able to unclog it with a plunger, make that emergency plumber phone call. 

Just a few drips behind a wall or in the ceiling will begin soaking through drywall. By ignoring these signs or putting off taking care of them, you’re creating an expensive mess for later. So, while your immediate issue may be put off with a bucket catching a few drips right now, don’t let it become an emergency plumbing and drain problem. Schedule your plumber sooner than later, just not necessarily an emergency plumber appointment. 

When you do make that emergency plumber call, how long do emergency plumbers take? When emergency plumber call out is made, a professional plumber will stay and work on the problem until it is fixed. There are emergency plumber cases that are solved with in an hour or two and others that take three or more hours. There is no set time frame because the plumber won’t know what they are dealing with until the arrive and assess the problem. Even then, once they start working on it, another issue may arise causing it to take longer. Call (214) 402-5454 today for emergency plumbing services in Dallas, TX.

What do you do if you suspect a water leak?

Because you just noticed a water leak doesn’t mean it just started.  A water leak can go undetected for days, months, even years.  If you suspect that you have a water leak, your first step should be contacting a professional plumber immediately. Since you don’t know how long this leak has been happening, you don’t want to delay getting repaired. 

A water leak ignored is asking for trouble in the way of expensive damage to your home. From foundation problems and more, a busted pipe or small leaking pipe can add up fast with the water bill and the cost of repairs. If the water leak is obvious, a busted pipe, you can turn the water off at the main located at the water meter. Take the time now to know where you water meter is so that you can get to it easily in case of water leak detection of a busted pipe. 

How can you tell where a water leak is coming from?

Water is a basic ingredient in our homes. We take for granted that it will always be there, safely contained, and useable in the pipes, appliances, sinks, tub, etc. Water can also become an enemy too when it is going places it shouldn’t, causing damage and havoc. 

Yes, we’re talking about plumbing leaks, which are unfortunately, pretty common in homes. Every home, even a new home, will experience a plumbing leak some time. Not all leaks are noticed or obvious either, which is why we need to do our leak detection using the following steps: 

Water Bill Monitoring

Your monthly water bill is probably fairly predictable. So, when you get one that is higher than normal and you know you haven’t filled a swimming pool or did the football team’s laundry and you can’t find a leak, you need to call a plumber that has leak detection capabilities. 

Water Meter Watching

When you suspect a water leak, you can watch your water meter to get an indication using these steps:  

• Turn all water using appliances, faucets, and spigots off inside and around your home.
• Go outside and look at the water meter, write down the numbers on the dial. Wait one hour and check the meter again. If the numbers changed, you have a water leak. It could possibly be in places you can’t see, so your next stop would be to call a plumber for leak detection help. 

Inspect Your Appliances and Fixtures

If the water meter testing indicated a leak,  check inside the cabinets under all the sinks, check for any water puddles around the toilets, tubs, and showers, look around the dishwasher, washing machine, and water heater. It may only be a loose connection, or you may need to replace a connection. 

Green Grass Patches

You want your lawn green and lush, but not in patches.  When you notice you have some patches that really green and lush that grows faster than the rest of the law, you probably have water leak in a buried line.  A plumber with leak detection equipment can find that leak faster than you can digging your lawn up. 

So, yes, there is leak detection equipment for the home, several different companies offer them, and they vary based on certain features with wide range of prices. What is the best water leak detection system?

There are several different leak, and detection company products that are focused on this equipment. They have spent years studying undetected leaks causes and issues, to find way that can help homeowners. Insurance companies love these companies of course, it saves them thousands of dollars in claims. Consumer Affairs has listed the following as being one of the best for specific reasons as noted: 

• A water leak detector by LeakSMART Water Leak Detector Starter Kit
• A smart water leak detector  by Flume Water Monitor
• A Wi-Fi water leak detector by Honeywell Lyric
• A wireless water leak detector by Zircon Electronic Water Detector
• A budget water leak detector by Glentronics Watchdog
• A plug-in water leak detector by Eve Water Guard
• A water leak detector w/automatic shut off by Grohe Sense Guard Smart
• A home kit water leak sensor by Fibaro HomeKit Flood Sensor
• An emergency water leak detector by Govee Water Sensor
• An underground water leak detector by 2M Ultrasonic

Any of these water leak detection tools are great for homes of all ages and sizes, and especially older homes where the age of the pipes may be unknown.  For your water bill and for the sake of a protecting one of our natural resources, the expense of these is well worthwhile. Need plumbing leak detection in Dallas, TX? Call (214) 402-5454 today!

The duties of gas line inspection consist of the following main function: To establish and follow with extent practices and processes in a language that has been taught by the proper institution that meets the requirements of a set of criteria in place for a quality control system. A professional gas line inspection will include the following steps in summary:

1. Preparation for the gas line inspection

• Get an update on the location
• Check pertaining documents
• Set the inspection process up
• Co-ordinate with the property owner, construction, or co-inspector
• Organize the inspection including inspection timetable and items to check
• List areas of attention specifically needed

2.  Collect data and describe evidential facts

• Meet with management and staff
• Make notes
• Visit the premises
• Observe
• Check documentation
• Verify information
• Observation

How do you check a gas line?

A professional gas line inspection will be done with the exact and proper equipment and tools. As a homeowner, you can take the following steps for at-home gas line inspection or leaks yourself, but never attempt to do your own repairs:

1. A mixture of soap-and-water solution sprayed on each gas line connection.
2. Once the gas is turned on, check for bubbles.
3. Any bubbles form, using a pipe wrench and tighten the fittings slightly then recheck.
4. If there appears to still be gas leaks, disassemble the gas fitting, and check the flare.      

How do you detect a natural gas leak?

Natural gas is an efficient and relatively safe, convenient source of energy that is used by over half the homes in the country. Homes use natural gas for bathing, cleaning, cooking, and heat water. To use it as safely as possible and as efficiently as possible, routine gas line inspections and installation are important. At any time you discover any of the following, have a professional gas line inspection done promptly:

1. Sounds of hissing or whistling.
2. Bubbles, clouds, or dust in standing water.
3. Visible gas line damage.
4. House plants dying.

A gas leak is rare but there are health risks involved with the explosive potential of this highly flammable nature and vapors. Natural gas isn’t the only possibility of a gas leak. Gas leaks can come from radon which can cause significant health issues. There are combination detectors that every home with or without natural gas use should have installed for this very reason.

How do I know if I smell gas?

The following odors are indicators of a possible gas leak and suffice to have a professional gas line inspection at the earliest chance possible:

1. A rotten egg odor – some say a garlic-like odor.
2. Blowing or hissing coming from a gas connection.
3. Dying and discolored plants or vegetation.
4. Dirt blowing from the gas connections.
5. Standing water with bubbles.