Author Archives: Tribeca Plumbing, Inc.

In today’s economy, all of us are looking for better ways to save extra money each month. While every household in america uses water, not everyone is using it efficiently. If you live in an older model home, a few inexpensive updates can increase your efficiency, as well as increase your savings!

Until about 1992, American homes were allowed to have shower heads that put our about 5.5 gallons of water per minute, per federal regulations. With this allowance, a typical 10 minute shower could waste as much as 55 gallons of water! However, the federal regulation changed and only allowed shower head manufacturers to create shower heads that released up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute, knocking a 10 minute shower down to 25 gallons of water used. This is a significant amount of saved water, meaning that updating your shower head can really save you a lot, considering that about 17% of American water usage goes towards showers!

If you don’t have an outdated shower head, you can still save money by changing your shower head. While the regulations allow for up to 2.5 gallons per minute, you can find low flow shower heads that restrict usages to lower amounts, such as 2 gallons per minute.

Beyond water usage, many homeowners forget that each shower will cost them not only in water, but also in heating. Every shower is accompanied by a rise in usage of the hot water heater.  By taking showers that use less water, you are also saving money on energy that is typically directed at heating water for your showers. If you are interested in learning more ways you can save money with your plumbing or if you are in need of bathroom repairs, give us a call at ​(214) 402-5454!

Plumbing emergencies are a nightmare, and you’re very rarely expecting one to happen. However, when water is gushing all over the floor, you know that every minute matters if you want to prevent long-lasting water damage. Repairing a serious leak is generally above the skill level of your typical homeowner, but that doesn’t mean you can’t protect your home from additional damage while you wait for your emergency plumber to arrive! Below are a few ways you can stop the water from damaging your home and belongings.

Shut Off The Water

This may seem obvious, but if you are new to home ownership, or if you’ve yet to experience a plumbing emergency, you may not know where you shut off valves are. Pro tip: Learn where all of the emergency valves are around your home before you run into an emergency. For smaller emergencies like an overflowing toilet, you can find a specific valve for the toilet on the wall behind it. for a burst pipe in the wall, or a main water line break, you will need to shut off the water to your entire house. That valve is usually located outside of the house, in your front yard. 

 

Temporary Pipe Repair Options

Once the water is shut off, you have a few options. If you might have to wait awhile for the plumber to arrive, you can look into temporary solutions. Epoxy Compounds are a great temporary fix for cast iron pipes, and you can find them at hardware stores. The safest option is to replace, but the compound should keep the leak contained ell enough that you can go back to using your water until a professional can assess the damage. Another option is pipe wraps. The wraps harden around leaks and seal them, but this solution is best left for minor leaks and cracks.

 

When you need a reliable plumber in Dallas, TX, Call us at ​(214) 402-5454!

You should always be able to count on a toilet flushing properly when you need it to. However, things happen and toilets clog and overflow.  Here is what you can do to fix an overflowing toilet:

Turn Off the Valve

When a toilet is overflowing, the first call to action is to stop the flow of water in the bowl. It doesn’t matter what the cause of the overflow is. The best place to do this is typically at the toilet’s main shutoff valve.

You should be able to see a water line from your bathroom wall to the toilet, as well as a hand-crank valve in the same area. If you don’t see this, the toilet valve might be hidden behind the wall or floor tiles. If this is the case, you might need to talk to a plumber about modifications to gain access. The toilet valve is pretty much the only way to fully stop the flow of water, unless you shut off the main valve to your home.

Check the Flapper

If you are unable to shut the valve off and your toilet is continuing to overflow, then you will need check the inside of the toilet tank.

You will need to check the flapper first. It is typically a hinged rubber disc that covers a hole at the bottom of the tank. If the flapper is open, then close it manually. Closing this should stop the water flow.

Get Things Flowing

When you have prevented the overflow, the final step to unclog the toilet. If you have a toilet plunger, that should be your go-to tool. A plunger with a toilet flange would work best.

For clogs that you just can’t clear, or for any other plumbing emergencies, call Tribeca Plumbing in the DFW Metroplex at (214) 402-5454.

Many American homes use hard water as the main source of water in the house. Hard water is filled with natural minerals that it picks up as it travels through your pipes. Many specialists insist on the health benefits we can reap from hard water, but when it comes to your home, it can be pretty rough. Mineral laden water can cause corrosion in your plumbing, and buildup in water receptacles and faucets throughout your home. Many times, home owners turn to water softening treatments to address the issues caused by hard water. Read on to learn more about how water softeners can benefit your home!

Water Softeners: Benefits Across The Board

Appliances

Hard water can significantly damage your appliances, and shorten their lifespans with serious mineral buildup within the appliance components. Water softeners prevent mineral buildup, and thus prevent the hard water from wearing down your appliances.  This protects your appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators from unnecessary replacements!

Plumbing

Hard water minerals also cause buildups in your pipes. The minerals gathering in the pipes are bad enough alone, as a clogging agent, but to make matters worse, the shifting minerals also cause wear and corrosion. Rather than a pipe cleaning solution, you may need to replace many pipes completely if the problem is left unaddressed. Water softener reduces the minerals in the water, and prevents corrosion within your pipes.

Water Heating

The minerals in hard water also make it harder for your water heater to work. The minerals interfere with the water’s ability to transfer heat. Using water softener removes the minerals and allows your water heater to run smoothly, leading to faster access to hot water for you and your family.

Cleaning

Furthermore, minerals in hard water even prevent soap from foaming and bonding properly. This can be seen in soap scum, and rings around tubs and showers. This means that clothes and dishes with the home are also not being cleaned properly. Yuck! Water softener allows soap to do its job, and leads to a more hygienic home life.

Would you like to learn more about hard water damage and water softener options for your home in Dallas, TX or Fort Worth, TX? Tribeca Plumbing is the best source for expert plumbers in DFW. Call us today at (214) 402-5454 to schedule an appointment or speak to one of our professional plumbers.

 

Did you know that most residential water heaters only last about 10 years? When you have trouble with your water heater, it could be a simple fix or a sign of failure. If you have a traditional tank-style water heater, watch for these signs that you need a new water heater.

Unusual Noises

When you walk by the water heater, do you hear popping, gurgling, or whistling noises? You should never hear odd noises from your water heater, and this is a sure sign of a problem. Often resulting from the water boiling inside the tank or sediment burning, these problems often signal that your water heater is nearing the end of its life. You should drain and clean the tank to remove any sediment or mineral buildup. Also, check the thermostat to be sure it is not set too high.

Leaks

If you find a leak from your water heater, it is essentially done for. This means that various parts are failing, and, in some cases, replacing them can cost just as much as a new tank. Plus, you don’t want to risk a major water heater leak, or you could end up with a flooded area of your home and hundreds of dollars in damage.

Rust-Colored Water

Does the water from your hot tap appear orange or yellow in color? This could be a sign of your water heater rusting on the inside. Many tanks are lined with a ceramic coating, but some are not. Consider draining your water heater and inspecting it for a problem. If it is rusting, you should purchase a new tank. However, rust-colored water could also result from rusting pipes, another serious problem that should be addressed immediately.

If you notice any of these signs that you need a new water heater, call Tribeca Plumbing at (214) 402-5454! We repair and replace water heaters in Dallas, TX and the surrounding areas!

It is common knowledge that garbage disposals are used to discard food waste and scrape. However, there are some types of foods that should never be placed in the garbage disposal. For garbage disposal protection, here are five foods you should never put down the garbage disposal.

Rice

In order for you to have garbage disposal protection, you should never put rice down the disposal. Rice is a food that will expand whether its fully cooked or not. If it’s dumped down the sink, the rice will swell and cause blockages in the disposal.

Bones

Chicken bones or ribeye steak bones, any kind of bone should never go down the disposal. Bones are too hard for the impellers to cut apart and if the bones do manage to get through the garbage disposal, they won’t be able to go down the pipes.

Grease

Garbage disposal protection is out of the question when you pour grease down the disposal. Since grease eventually cools down, it will just harden and cause blogs and blockages to your disposal and pipes.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds seem pretty harmless considering they are very small, but they can build up in the drain over time.

Peels

Whether it be potato peels or apple peels, they should never go down the garbage disposal. The garbage disposal impellers will turn the peels into a pulpy mixture that will eventually cause trouble for your disposal.

If you are needing residential plumbing services for your Dallas, TX home, call the plumbers at Tribeca Plumbing at (214) 402-5454 today!