Frequently Asked
Questions
Quick
Links To FAQ
How often should my septic system
be pumped
& inspected?
High Water Bills Temp of hot water too high Foul odor coming from garbage disposer Foul odor from bathroom Avoid Freezing Pipes Shower Head/Faucet Buildup Slow Drain Rumbling Sound from Water Heater Whistle Sound Heard in Plumbing Recommendation for Toilet Replacement Not Enough Hot Water
Question: How often should I have
my septic
system pumped?
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: 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: 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. 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
or Kohler
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.
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