Seasonal Safety Tips

Hanging a picture frame is one thing, but trying to do it yourself on your home plumbing can not only be expensive and dangerous, but could also drop you into some legal hot water! Most people are happy doing minor fixes like a leaky faucet, but when it comes to just about anything else involving water, you are best to leave it to a professional master plumber. If you do not know 100% what you are doing, messing with a plumbing system can result in not only serious damage and expensive repair bills, but potential health hazards.

The do it yourselfer is subject to the same safety and health code regulations as a professional plumber is. Anything connected to a water supply has to comply with statutory requirements. Minimum standards for sanitary plumbing and drainage installations are established and maintained by the laws if your state and in the interest of public health and safety. Noncompliance can lead to prosecution and substantial fines.

Don't take the risk of endangering your property, your own or your family’s health or risk breaking the law. For your plumbing problems always call the expert services of a licensed Plumber.

Fall Plumbing Tips

Chilly fall temperatures serve as a signal that the arrival of winter can be sudden, often leaving homeowners unprepared for the troubles associated with extreme cold.

• Make sure outside faucets aren't dripping or leaking. Make the necessary repairs or call a plumber before freezing temperatures arrive. Be aware that when pipes freeze, water pressure builds causing cracks - no matter if the pipe is made of plastic, copper or steel. Even a tiny crack can unleash more than 250 gallons of water in a single day.

• Disconnect outside water hoses. If left connected, water in the hoses can freeze and expand causing faucets and connecting pipes inside your home to freeze and break.

• If your home is equipped with interior shut-off valves leading to outside faucets, close them and drain water from lines.

• Cover outside faucets using a faucet insulation kit.

• Insulate pipes in unheated areas, such as garages or crawl spaces. Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around pipes that are exposed and prone to freezing.

• Your water heater works harder during winter months. Flush it out and remove sediment buildup, which causes corrosion, shortens life span and reduces heating efficiency. Drain several gallons from the faucet near the bottom of the tank. Connect a hose to the faucet and direct water into a nearby drain.

• Carefully test the water heater's pressure relief valve (Danger: water is very hot) by lifting up on the lever and letting it snap back. The valve should allow a burst of hot water into the drainpipe. If not, call a professional to have a new valve installed.

Winter Plumbing Tips

Holidays bring together family, friends and a few plumbing emergencies. Holiday parties mean extra guests - and these extra guests put a serious strain on a home's plumbing system.

• Never put hard-to-grind, stringy, fibrous waste into the garbage disposer (poultry skins, carrots, celery, pumpkin pulp or banana peels). The disposer can't sufficiently grind these items and they will clog your sink drain.

• Avoid pouring fats or cooking oils down the drain because liquid fats solidify in the pipes and create clogs. Wipe congealed grease from pots.

• Run cold water down the drain for about 15 seconds before and after using the garbage disposer to flush waste down the main line.

• Turn on the disposer before adding food debris.

• Plan ahead, spread out showers throughout the day. Wait 10 minutes between showers rather than taking one right after another.

• Turn up the water heater slightly to retain hot water. To avoid scalding, do not exceed 125°F.

• Nifty trick - If shower pressure is weak, pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag, place it over the shower head, and soak. Use a twist tie to hold it in place overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and use an old toothbrush to gently scrub off the mineral deposits to help restore water flow.

Spring Plumbing Tips

April showers bring May flowers and the onset of spring, which means it's time for "spring cleaning." Roto-Rooter" offers maintenance tips to protect your home against plumbing problems.

• Check faucets for drips or leaks. Make repairs to save water.

• Check toilets for hidden leaks. Add six drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes

• Ensure that all drains have strainers to prevent hair, soap and debris from clogging the drain lines.

• Inspect tank and bowl for cracks or leaks.

• "Exercise" water supply valves under sinks and toilets to prevent them from sticking.

• Make sure toilets flush properly. If the handle must be held down for a thorough flush or jiggled to stop the water from running you may need to replace worn tank parts. They're inexpensive and you'll notice a lower water bill.

• Check the temperature setting on the water heater. It should be set no higher than 120°F to prevent scalding and reduce energy use.

• Carefully drain several gallons from the water heater tank to flush out corrosion causing sediment, which reduces heating efficiency and shortens the life of the heater.

• Consider replacing a water heater that is more than 15 years old. (The first four numbers of the serial number represent the month and year it was made.) Newer water heaters are more energy efficient

• Pour a gallon of water into infrequently used drains (including floor drains) to fill the trap and prevent odors from entering the house. Slow floor drains should be snaked to ensure they will carry away water quickly in the event of a flood.

• Check exposed pipes under sinks and in the basement for signs of leaks.

• If your home has a sump pump, make sure it operates properly by pouring a few buckets of water into the sump pit. The pump should quickly turn on, discharge the water then shut off without any problems.

• Install a backflow valve in the floor drain if you live in an area where sewers sometimes back up into homes. This device will prevent future backups

• Make sure yard drains, gutters and downspouts are cleaned out, open, and free of debris.

• Check for bird nests in plumbing vent pipes.

• Check faucets and hose bibs to make sure water flows freely. If an outdoor faucet drips or if there is leakage inside your home the first time the hose is turned on, you may have had a frozen pipe that cracked and needs to be replaced.

Summer Plumbing Tips

Summer is the "home buying" season. Many new home buyers find out too late that their dream home is riddled with water leakage or a poor plumbing system.

•  Check around the base of the toilet for signs of water damage (i.e.; rolled vinyl, black or white stains).

• To check for a "soft floor," stand straddled over the toilet and rock back and forth on each foot. If the floor feels spongy, it is probably rotting or weakened.

• Check to see how fast the toilet flushes.

• Check for leaky or loose tiles by pressing on the walls where they come in contact with the bathtub. If the walls are soft, water may have created damage behind the tiles.

• Turn on water in bathtub and in the kitchen sink. If there is a noticeable reduction in water volume, the piping in the house may need to be replaced because of calcium and mineral deposits.

• If the home has a basement, check exposed piping for signs of leaking or recent repairs.

• Find the main line cleanout and ensure that it is accessible.

• Check the date of the water heater. The first four numbers of the serial number on the water heater are the month and year. Any heater over 15 years old is a candidate to be replaced.

• A rusty water tank is a sign of pending problems.

• Check to make sure that the garbage disposer and dishwasher connections are tight and leak free.

• Survey the inside of cabinets (with a flashlight) for signs of water damage, warped cabinet bottom or stains. Make sure that traps and supply tubes are not leaking.

• Check washing machine hoses for rupture. Turn valves on and off to test for leaks.

• Standing water is another common problem resulting from leaky or broken pipes. Excess water in a yard may come from a damaged sewer line and may contain waste from the home. Standing water is not healthy for children or pets, and is a breeding ground for insects and germs.