FAQs
"frequently asked questions"
Question: Recently my water bills
appear to be rather high. None of the faucets appear to leak. What else
could contribute to a high water bill?
Answer:
You may want to check to see if a toilet is leaking. First, check the water
level to ensure that water is not overflowing the tank by way of the
overflow pipe. This is the pipe in the middle of the tank. It has a small
tubing connected to it. If water is running into the overflow, adjust the
fill valve to stop the flow approximately 1 inch below the top of the
overflow tube or to the water level mark stamped on the side of the tank.
Second, put a few drops of food coloring into the tank to test the flush
valve mechanism. If the water in the bowl changes color within 15 minutes,
this is an indication that water is leaking into the toilet bowl and that
the ball or flapper needs to be replaced.
Question:
How often should I have my septic system inspected?
Answer:
Septic systems should be inspected and pumped a minimum of once every three
to four years. You may not be experiencing any problem now, but a full
septic tank may allow unwanted solids to flow into the drain field, which is
the part of the system that consists of a distribution box, with a series of
connected pipes. Each pipe allows water to flow into a bed of stone that
drains into the ground. If paper and other solids flow into the drain field
it becomes blocked and ineffective. A blocked drain field is costly to
repair or replace.
Question:
The temperature of my hot water seems to be higher than what I think I need.
How can I conserve energy, yet also be sure that there is an adequate amount
of hot water?
Answer:
Most people are comfortable with their hot water set at 120 degrees
Fahrenheit, which is also the new standard that manufacturers use when
pre-setting it at the factory. If you have an older model, set the
thermostat at medium. On a gas model, there is a dial on the front of the
gas valve. On electric models, the thermostats (there may be two) are
concealed behind the two panels on the side of the tank.
NOTE: Turn off the
electricity before removing the panels. There are exposed wires behind the
panels containing HIGH VOLTAGE.
Question: I have a foul odor coming
from my garbage disposer. What can I do to eliminate this odor?
Answer:
Foul odors occur from a buildup of food debris within the disposer. To
eliminate this odor, place ice cubes and lemon or orange peels in the
disposer and run for 30 seconds. Next, squirt a little liquid dish detergent
into the disposer while it is still running. Finally, run cold water for
about 30 seconds to rinse all the debris away.
Question: I am getting a foul odor
from a bathroom in the basement. We hardly ever use this bathroom except
when we have company. This is embarrassing. What can we do?
Answer:
Plumbing systems are designed to prevent foul odors from entering the house
by means of the trap attached to fixtures. Traps contain water to seal out
foul odors; if the water seal evaporates, the odors enter the house. To
solve this problem, pour a bucket of water in each trap, sink, shower and
floor drain. This will prevent the odors from entering the house.
Question: We live in northern Ohio.
Winters are cold and we were told to turn off the outside faucets in the
fall before the freezing weather arrives. We did this, however the pipes
leading to our outside faucet still froze and broke. What did we do wrong?
Answer:
Turning off the water is not enough. You must also disconnect the
garden hose connected to the faucet to allow the water in the pipe to drain
out. This will allow the piping to withstand the cold weather.
Question: My shower head and faucet
aerators have a buildup of a white substance around the area where the water
comes out. Is there anything I can do other than replace them?
Answer:
The unsightly buildup is mineral deposits. To remove these deposits
from the showerhead, take a plastic bag and pour a cup of vinegar in it.
Place the bag over the showerhead and 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 deposits. You might be able to remove the aerators from
the faucets and allow them to soak in the vinegar overnight.
Question: Our kitchen drain has taken
longer than usual to drain during the past year. Should we have it cleaned?
Answer:
Before you have the drain cleaned, try using the Roto-Rooter brand
drain maintenance products. These products are designed to remove the usual
buildup of soap scum, grease and hair. We also have a product to inhibit
root growth in your main sewer line. All of these products are guaranteed
and are available through your local Roto-Rooter office.
Question: When I am in the laundry
room and the water heater is operating, I hear a rumbling sound coming from
the water heater. What could cause this?
Answer:
Rumbling sounds coming from a water heater are an indication that sediment
is built up on the bottom of the water heater. What you are hearing is water
that is trapped in the sediment and is boiling. This is an indication that
the water heater is not operating efficiently. Sediment will not allow the
heat to transfer to the water in the tank, which sends the heat up the flue.
You may try draining
a few gallons of water off the bottom of the water heater tank. This is done
by attaching a drain hose to the valve at the bottom of the tank. Allow it
to drain for about five minutes.
WARNING: HOT
WATER IS DANGEROUS. DISCHARGE THE WATER INTO A FLOOR DRAIN, LAUNDRY TUB OR
BATHTUB. HOT WATER WILL KILL YOUR GRASS IF DISCHARGED ONTO THE LAWN. HOT
WATER WILL CRACK A TOILET BOWL IF DISCHARGED INTO THE TOILET.
Many newer models of
water heaters have a new feature that prohibits the buildup of sediment in
the tank. If your heater is an older model, it may be cost effective to
replace the water heater if the buildup is severe.
Question: I am hearing a whistle sound
that seems to be connected to the plumbing system. It comes and goes at
times, but I can't find the cause of it. What could cause this?
Answer: The sound you are
describing is usually caused by a toilet fill valve that is slowly leaking.
To locate the leaking toilet, remove the lid of each toilet tank and adjust
the fill valve mechanism until it stops. Once you have found the toilet
causing the problem, repair or replace the fill valve.
Question: We need to replace a toilet
in our home. We have heard coworkers and friends complain that the new
toilets do not flush properly, and that they require multiple flushes. What
is the recommendation for toilet replacement?
Answer:
When the federal government mandated that new toilets use no more than 1.6
gallons per flush, manufacturers had to develop a toilet that would achieve
this but that would also flush properly (clear the bowl) and carry the waste
to the city sewer or septic system. Some of the early models did not do this
properly. Since then, the complaints have forced the manufacturers to
develop new ways of flushing toilets. One new way is the use of a
pressurized toilet tank. This model looks like a regular toilet, but it has
a pressure tank inside. When flushed, it works like a commercial toilet. A
large surge of water enters the bowl and clears the bowl of any waste. These
toilets work well, but are not as quiet as a conventional model.
When considering a
new fixture for your home such as a toilet, we recommend that you choose a
fixture made by one of the major manufacturers, such as American Standard,
Kohler or Eljer.
Question: There are four people in our
house, two adults and two teens. We are constantly running out of hot water.
After a five-minute shower, the water starts to turn cold. This change
occurred quite recently. Help!
Answer:
There are two possibilities. First, the dip tube has broken off.
This is a tube that forces incoming water to the bottom of the tank so that
hot water will be drawn off of the top. When the dip tube breaks, cold water entering the tank mixes with the hot water and cools it down. This
can occur in both gas and electric models.
Second, if your water
heater is electric, the lower element that heats the water may not be
operating properly, thus only the upper half of the tank will heat up. The
cause of this problem could be a bad element or a thermostat malfunction.
This type of problem should be evaluated by a qualified technician.
Roto-Rooter
Plumbers
