Archive for October, 2011

Plumbing Tips To Save Water

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Lowering your household’s water usage is certainly a worthwhile goal – not only is it environmentally friendly, it can also help you save money on your utility bills.  Try these plumbing modifications to begin saving water today!

Replace Standard Toilets: Toilet usage accounts for approximately 40 percent of all residential water use.  However, several water-saving alternatives to standard toilets are available on the market today.  Two such options include dual flush or low flow toilets.  Dual flush toilets allow users to choose between a lower-flush option for liquid waste and a higher-flush option for solid waste, while low-flush toilets use no more than 1.3 gallons of water per flush.  Installing either will significantly reduce water usage over that of a standard toilet.

Not ready to replace your toilet in its entirety?  Listen to ensure that your current toilet model is not running when not in use.  A running toilet could be a sign that the flapper is leaking inside the tank – a problem that can lead to substantial water loss if not repaired.

Fix The Faucet:  Replace standard faucets with low-flow substitutes or invest in aerator faucets.  Aerators are circular screened disks of metal that when screwed onto faucet heads, reduce the faucets overall flow.  In addition, be sure to make timely repairs on all leaky faucets, as well as shower and tub valves as a single continuous drip can result in gallons of wasted water per week.

Change Your Showerhead: Consider changing your showerhead to a low-flow option.  Trading out a standard showerhead (which has an average flow of 4.5 gallons of water per minute) for a low-flow model (which has an average flow of 2.5 gallons of water per minute) can save a family of four over 20,000 gallons of water per year.  And fortunately, today’s low-flow showerhead models are designed to maximize water usage while still providing a strong shower stream.

Are you ready to make water saving plumbing improvements?  Contact us at Nowthen Plumbing to begin making your plumbing modifications today!

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Posted in Bath Plumbing, Consumer News, Plumber Advice, Remodeling - Plumbing | No Comments »

What To Do In A Plumbing Emergency

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

While we try our best to avoid them, plumbing problems are one of life’s unfortunate and inevitable certainties.  When you can’t prevent a plumbing crisis, follow these simple steps to help mitigate the damage:

Turn Off Your Water: Whether you have an overflowing sink basin, a backed up drain, or a flooded bathroom, begin to control the damage by shutting off your water at your home’s main shutoff valve.  Typically, the shutoff valve will be located inside your home near your water meter.  Once you (or your plumber) has identified the source of the problem and insulated the issue to a single fixture, isolation valves (valves located at each fixture and designed to stop the flow of water to that location only) can be turned off in place of the shut-off valve.  Using your isolation valve as opposed to the shut-off valve will allow you to keep the water on in the rest of your home while the repair is underway.

Turn Off Your Water Heater: Once your water is turned off, take the time to also turn off your water heater as a partially empty water heater is more likely to burst.

Remove The Water: The first step to resolving your plumbing problems is to contain the water damage.  Remove standing water, mop up any spills, and try to limit further spills.

Call In Reinforcements: If resolving your plumbing problem falls outside of your comfort zone, contact us at Nowthen Plumbing to help remedy the situation.  When you call, try to be as specific as possible to help us pinpoint the problem as quickly and accurately as we can!

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Posted in Consumer News, Elk River MN Plumber, Kitchen Plumbing, Local Highlights, Plumber Advice, Plumbing Clogs | No Comments »

Garbage Disposal Repair & Maintenance

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

Garbage disposals are an essential tool in the modern kitchen, making food preparation and clean-up significantly easier.  However, this kitchen helper is often overlooked until a problem causes us to stop and take notice!  Follow these trouble shooting suggestions for common garbage disposal mishaps.

Problem 1: My Garbage Disposal Hums

Troubleshoot: If the motor is humming but the disposal isn’t grinding, you likely have a jam resulting in a stuck flywheel (the mechanism that allows the garbage disposal’s blades to turn).  Immediately turn the disposal off, as continued use with a jam can cause the motor to burn out.  First, attempt to remove the jam by using tongs or pliers to pull the obstruction out.  Never use your hands!

If that doesn’t do the trick, unplug the unit and look under the sink at the bottom of your unit for a hex-shaped hole.  Most disposals will have a hex wrench attached to them that can be fitted into this hole and forced back and forth in both directions to free the impellers.  Newer models may also have a reverse switch that can accomplish the same task.

Problem 2: My Garbage Disposal Won’t Turn On

Troubleshoot: If your garbage disposal won’t turn on you may have an electrical issue.  First, ensure that your disposal is plugged in (most plug into a socket right under the sink).  Next, find the reset button on your unit and attempt to reset.  If all else fails, check the circuit breaker to ensure that it does need to be reset.

Problem 3: My Garbage Disposal Leaks

Troubleshoot: If you notice a leak below the disposal, first pinpoint the leak’s source and then tighten the offending connection.  Common sources of leaks include the sink flange, dishwasher connection, and discharge drainpipe.

Problem 4: My Garbage Disposal Isn’t Grinding

Troubleshoot: If your disposal is running but not grinding, the blades are likely broken.  In this case, it is typically more affordable and far less hassle to replace your entire unit.

To avoid future issues, follow these simple steps to clean your garbage disposal.  If you need assistance installing a new model or replacing your current unit, please contact us!

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Posted in Elk River MN Plumber, Plumber Advice | No Comments »