Plumbing & Drain Frequently Asked Questions

If this is occurring at your house, you should ask the following questions: "What is the size of the water heater?" and "How big is the house?" Having a water heater that is too small for your household will cause the hot water to run out quicker than usual and will also put a strain on the heater system because it has to work extra hard to provide high temperatures. On occasion, the heating elements in electric water heater tanks or the gas valves in gas water heater tanks just need replacements. Another question to ask would be, "How old is the water heater?" Most water heaters need to be replaced every 8-12 years due to improper maintenance or water quality issues.

You should make sure that the t-bolts are properly tightened and maybe replace the wax ring.

The main reason why a toilet constantly runs is due to an issue with the flapper, which is located inside the tank. If the flapper does not provide a proper seal, your toilet will be constantly running. To check the seal on your flapper and the water level of the overflow pipe, open the toilet tank and adjust the float arm. If the water stops an inch below the overflow pipe, your flapper is working properly, but if the water continues to rise the flapper needs to be replaced or the overflow level needs to be adjusted.

The best and easiest way to unclog your toilet is with a plunger. If that does not work, you can also use a toilet auger, however it depends where the clog is located. If the clog is in the integral trap of the toilet or just past the flange this method should work, otherwise you should call a plumber to unclog it for you.

You can use household items such as lemons, ice cubes, baking soda or vinegar to remove odors coming from a garbage disposal.

If your garbage disposal stops working during regular operation, it is most likely jammed or needs to be reset. The first thing that you need to do when this occurs is to locate the red reset button and check to see if it has popped out. Press on the button gently and see if the disposal will resume regular operation. If it does not, the second thing you can do is insert the manufacturer supplied wrench, that came with your garbage disposal, into the hole of the disposal motor at the bottom and rotate the wrench back and forth to dislodge whatever is jamming the disposal.

Determine if the pressure is a singular issue, such as a clogged shower head due to mineral buildup, or if you have a low-flow shower head, or if it’s a widespread issue, such as undersized water piping throughout your entire house. Your mixing valve can also be suffering corrosion and mineral buildup, which causes low pressure. There may also be a small leak somewhere in the pipes. If a leak is the case, it should be addressed as soon as possible.

Tub spouts most often fail when the diverter valve was not properly installed or the problem is due to corrosion or calcium/mineral buildup. When this happens, it will need to be replaced.

Leaky faucets are usually the cause of worn out rubber washers, damaged cartridges, or corroded internal valve seats. In many cases a simple replacement of these parts can fix the issue, however, sometimes the entire faucet needs to be replaced.

Call a professional plumber right away to determine the location of the leak. If the source of the leak is after the meter and not between the meter and your house, it is usually the responsibility of your water utility provider.

A lot of times small cracks in the pipes can create moisture and as a result this moisture attracts roots which enter those cracks and grow into your pipes. The roots will continue to grow and eventually cause a blockage if not removed.

Most of the time rubber valve seats or the gasket get worn out over time and will fail to properly close the faucet. However, in most cases the entire faucet needs to be replaced by a professional plumber.

Call a plumber to perform a camera inspection on the drains to determine the problem. The plumber can also use a snake machine to clear your drains.

To unclog the main sewer line you first need to locate the clean-out plug which is usually located either in the front of the house or the back near the foundation of your house. You can then clear the obstruction by using either a snake or a jetting machine.

A drain line inspection is performed with a waterproof camera that is inserted into your drain lines. It determines the cause of drain blockages, the condition of your drain pipes and can also determine if there are any cracks, sags or roots present.

If your house is over 60 years old and you are experiencing water discoloration, low pressure and leaks, call a professional plumber immediately. These are most likely issues resulting from corrosion in old pipes, which would need to be replaced as soon as possible.

Your sewage system might be backed up if you see sewage backing up from your toilets, shower, kitchen sink or if you hear a gurgling noise coming from your drains. Toilets not flushing but instead overflowing, overflowing cleanouts outside your house or you smell sewage are all signs of a sewer system backup.

Let’s be honest, homeowners usually dump waste/debris down the drains that should not be dumped in drains. Such practices will clog drains resulting in a need to clean the drain in order to avoid a much bigger problem - a house drain backup.

It is very important to keep up with routine maintenance on your water heater. This will not only prolong its life but also can lower your energy bill. Sediments accumulate over time and block the heating element from heating up your water resulting in much cooler water. At Pipedex Plumbing and Drains, we suggest doing yearly flushing treatments on your water heater.

The main benefit of a tankless water heater is that it is much more energy efficient than traditional tank water heaters. Tankless water heaters only heat water when it is needed, making them more efficient and saving space. Tankless water heaters also last longer than traditional tank water heaters, and produce an endless supply of hot water.

The most common reason for a leak in the toilet wax ring is that it is not aligned properly. Even a slight pitch or unevenness can produce a leak. To fix this issue, you will have to reseat the toilet on a new wax ring and make sure it is perfectly leveled and a toilet flange extender and some shims can help you achieve that level.

If you are noticing water on the floor around your toilet base or you smell an unpleasant odor coming from the base of the toilet (gasses from sewer drain), most likely your wax ring has failed to do its job and you need to replace it as soon as possible.

If your faucet is old and has corrosion, it will be easier and cheaper to replace it with a new faucet rather than try to find replacement parts and repair it. We would always strive for a repair but sometimes a repair is not always the best and cheapest option.

Even a pinhole-sized leak can produce a lot of damage if not addressed right away. Any water leaks (yes even very tiny) will eventually cause corrosion and damage so you want to take care of any leaks right away.