Plumbing Tips & FAQ

How do I know if I have a broken water line or slab leak?

Leaks are often indicated by high water bills or a faint hissing sound. A professional plumber should tend to leaks immediately, as damage can occur rapidly.

How do I know if my toilet is leaking?

Put a drop of food coloring in the tank. If you see the color in the bowl, there is a leak. Toilets consume more than 40% of total water usage when working properly - so it is important, and cost saving, to ensure they are not wasting water. A whistling sound usually means the flapper and fill valve need to be replaced, and a toilet that keeps running typically has a bad fill valve.

What causes low water pressure?

A leak or old galvanized piping can cause low water pressure. It might be time to repipe your house.

I only briefly have hot water. Do I need a new water heater?

Not necessarily. There are two heating elements in a heater - most likely one is burned out and will need replacing. Scalding hot water, on the other hand, can indicate the water heater thermostat has gone bad, and the problem will continue until the thermostat is replaced.

I have a strange odor in my home. What could it be?

It could be sewer gas. First, run water in any sinks that have not been run lately - if the water in the U part of the pipe (the p-trap) dries up, air comes in from the sewer, creating a foul smell. Sewer gas can also escape through an unsealed toilet if the wax seal has broken; in that case the toilet would need to be pulled and reset.

Is a drippy faucet worth fixing?

Yes - drippy faucets can waste up to 150 gallons of water per month. And for mineral deposits on shower heads and faucets: northeast Florida has a great deal of lime in the water, which calcifies on metal fixtures - mix equal parts vinegar and water in a baggie, affix it to the fixture with a rubber band, and let it sit until the calcification loosens.