Category: Plumbing Tips

Is There Anything Romantic About a Dripping Faucet?

Valentine’s Day might be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spend time planning a night with loved ones without worrying about the plumbing system. Instead of thinking about home repairs, take advice from local plumbers by learning how to deal with faucet leaks. Homeowners can enjoy a nice night out free from worries. 

Risks of a Dripping Faucet

A dripping faucet is a common plumbing problem. Since they are so common, they can be easy to overlook or neglect. However, a dripping faucet deserves attention because it can cause damage and waste money in the form of wasted water. 

A dripping faucet can waste hundreds of gallons per month by dripping just one drop per second. Not only does that raise water bills, but sewer bills will go up as well. Repairing a water leak will often pay for itself in a month or two by reducing costs. 

Another risk of a dripping faucet is mold growth. Faucets can leak around the handles, allowing water to flow where it wasn’t intended. Water that is allowed to back up against drywall and wood cabinets can grow mold and damage the cabinets and walls. 

What Causes Leaky Faucets?

Faucets may seem complex but really, they are pretty simple. Faucets leaks have been among the most common plumbing problems over the years, so manufacturers have made design changes that lessen their likelihood and make repair easier. 

Some of the causes of a leaking faucet are: 

• Worn O-Ring: O-rings prevent water from leaking out of the faucet handles. If trickles of water seep out of the handles of a faucet, the cause is a worn O-ring. 

• Damaged Valve Seat: The valve seat is where the sink cartridge rests to cut off water flow when the faucet is turned off. If a sink is constantly dripping water, the valve seat or washer is likely the cause. 

• Malfunctioning Pressure Regulator: In rare cases, faucet leaks can be caused by fluctuating water pressure. If multiple sinks are leaking and replacing the cartridges doesn’t fix the problem, have a plumber check the pressure regulator that serves the home. 

Fixing a Leaky Faucet

To replace a cartridge, follow these steps:

1. Turn off water at the shut-off valves below the sink
2. Turn the faucet on to relieve the pressure built up in the water lines. Plug the sink to prevent the part from falling into the drain. 
3. Remove faucet handles by locating and loosening set screws
4. Use an adjustable wrench to loosen nuts that secure the existing cartridges
5. Remove old cartridges
6. At this point, it is a great idea to check for and replace valve seats as well. They will be located at the bottom of the cartridge chamber. 
7. Tighten nuts to secure new cartridges
8. Reinstall faucet handles
9. Restore water pressure to the faucet and check for leaks
10. If there is any doubt, call a professional for fast service 

About Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning

For over ten years, Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning have been helping Lehi customers with plumbing problems. With 24/7 live answers for emergencies and superior customer service, their team is ready to serve. Call today for fast repairs in Lehi, UT.

3 Factors to Help Find a Good Plumbing Company During the Holiday Season

With all that goes on during the holidays, that last thing that anyone wants to deal with is a plumbing emergency. Unfortunately, thousands of people experience plumbing emergencies during the busy holiday season. With guests staying over and all the cooking, this is no surprise. What is a surprise to many people is how hard it can be to find a reliable plumber should something happen during the holidays. Luckily, there are three main things to look for that can help homeowners find a professional plumber.

Good Reviews

Reviews are a great way to look for a reliable plumbing service. These are what they call “social proof,” and many people accept reviews only second to personal recommendations from friends and family. Websites like Facebook, Google, and Angie’s List are all great places to read honest reviews from current or past customers. 

Homeowners don’t need to read every single review on these websites. This would take too long. But it is a good idea to scan the reviews and keep an eye out for words like “professional,” “prompt,” and “fair.” It’s also a good idea to keep in mind that no company is perfect. There will always be a few bad reviews. It may be good to read these reviews, but also consider them with all the good reviews too. 

Updated Licenses and Insurance

Once a company passes muster with reviews, the next things to look at are licenses and insurance coverage. Most companies prominently display that they’re licensed and insured on their website. If these are not listed on the website, it could be worth a call to the plumbing service to ask. 

Licensing is more than just paying a fee and getting an official paper. To get a plumbing license, there are many things a company must do. These things include education hours, passing tests, and continuing education to keep the license updated. A licensed company is sure to have the skills needed to meet the job’s requirements. Insurance is also important, as it protects the homeowners, employees, and the property during and after the work. 

Maintenance Plans

After looking at reviews and making sure the company is licensed and insured, it’s also good to see if they offer a plumbing maintenance plan. These plans are great because they help homeowners stay on top of the plumbing system’s health with regular checkups, drain cleanings, and inspections. 

Plumbing companies that offer maintenance plans are generally well-organized, professional, and ready to tackle plumbing issues of any size. These plans are a form of preventative maintenance that allows homeowners great peace of mind and helps them save money by preventing plumbing emergencies. So when searching for a Lehi plumber, homeowners should look for these three things to determine if the plumber is professional, reliable, and ready to serve. 

About Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning

Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning has been serving Lehi, UT, since 2011. They offer a 24/7 live answer service so homeowners can talk to a person in the event of an emergency. They also provide hassle-free service and honest, upfront pricing. Give Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning a call today for the most reliable plumbing services in Salt Lake City.

Are Those Pipes Ready To Handle the Dropping Temperatures?

It’s the middle of autumn, yet some parts of the country are already seeing snowstorms and freezing temperatures. And it’s only going to get colder as the holidays approach (and on into the New Year). While the season is ripe for sledding and snowman building, it can also present its share of problems. Many homeowners will find that when the winter frost makes its way into their water lines, the results can be beyond chilling.

Perils of Frozen Pipes

When the water inside a supply pipe freezes, it expands dramatically in any direction it can. Since all supply lines are necessarily kept under pressure, this expansion creates an overpressurized system. And, since most supply pipes are made of thin copper, the mounting pressure (or the expansion of the ice itself) will fracture the pipe wall and make its escape. Water will then leak or spray out until the supply valve is closed.

The resulting water damage can be extensive, and repairs can be expensive, especially if the pipe burst occurs in an attic or similar area. When this happens, the water can flow down through the ceiling or walls. And the longer the break goes unnoticed, the worse the impact will be. Some unfortunate homeowners come back from their holiday travels to find that their basements or homes have been flooded by a burst pipe.

How To Prevent Pipe Freeze

Fortunately, freezing typically only affects outdoor plumbing and sections of pipe in less-protected areas of the home, such as attics, outer walls, and cellars. Outdoor plumbing like hose bibs and irrigation systems can be protected by winterization, which involves shutting off their supply valves and completely draining the pipes.

Protecting indoor plumbing from freezing can be done in a few ways. One approach is to open indoor faucets to a slight trickle, which relieves pressure and maintains enough water flow to prevent freezing. Opening cabinets may help more warmth reach pipes in outer walls. These measures may help in some cases but aren’t exactly practical. By far, the most effective way to prevent freezing is to insulate the pipes themselves.

Varieties of Pipe Insulation

Pipe insulation comes in many forms, each with its strengths and drawbacks. Electric pipe heaters are essentially plug-in cords coiled around pipes and produce a small amount of heat. These are relatively expensive and not very common but work well in instances where pipes are exposed to freezing temperatures. Foil-and-fiberglass insulating tape is more common and considerably less costly. It can simply be wrapped around the exposed pipes like a bandage.

Equally as effective, and perhaps the most widely used type of pipe insulation is foam tubing. Foam tubing fits snugly around the circumference of a water pipe. Most foam tubing provides a layer of protection an inch thick, if not more. Some types of insulation may not fit every homeowner’s needs. That’s why it’s always a good idea to consult with a professional plumber to determine how best to protect pipes from freeze damage.

About Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning

Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning has served West Jordan and Lehi, UT, since 2011. As a family-owned and family-run local business, their outstanding service and workmanship have earned them numerous awards and consistently glowing customer reviews. They provide honest, competitive pricing and 24-hour emergency response, as well as rewarding membership & referral programs. Call Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning for frozen or burst pipe repair in Lehi.

Many homeowners don’t realize how important water softener is for their plumbing. If they’re battling hard water residue all over the sink, on faucets, and buildup in the plumbing, they could benefit greatly from a water softener.

The right type of water softener will remove these common issues and leave homeowners enjoying clean running water with no buildup and no residue.

Why Install a Water Softener

Installing a water softener comes with many benefits that homeowners will notice right away. Here are just some of the benefits homeowners can expect when installing a water softener:

• No more stains, spots, or hard water residue on appliances, shower or sink faucets, and washing machines.
• They’ll use less detergent in the washing machine and less soap in the shower.
• Appliances that use water will last longer.
• They’ll have softer hair and skin.
• They’ll have cleaner, sparkly dishes, and silverware.

These are just a few of the benefits homeowners can take advantage of when opting to install a water softener. Overall, the plumbing will thank them for it, and every appliance that uses water, from the refrigerator to coffee maker, will work better and longer with soft water.

The Upside and Downside of Salt-Based Water Softeners

All water softeners work by removing the hardness-causing minerals from their water through ion exchange. With salt-based water softeners, the water passes through a resin bed, exchanging hard minerals for sodium particles.

Salt-based water softeners remove the minerals that cause hard water spots. As a result, homeowners don’t have any hard minerals floating around in their plumbing or appliances. They’ll find that appliances work better and last longer since the hard minerals aren’t going through the systems. They should also experience fewer repairs and plumbing maintenance over the long-run since water that has hard minerals completely removed is better for the system.

On the downside, these water softeners are often more expensive than the salt-free options and require maintenance to clean out the resin bed. Homeowners will also need to refresh the salt within the system from time to time. The resin bed itself will need to be replaced every five to ten years depending on how much the system is used.

Upside and Downside of Salt-Free Water Softeners

These water softeners don’t use ion exchange to remove hard minerals. Instead, the minerals’ form is changed to a crystal that doesn’t stick to surfaces. The water is not truly “softened” but rather conditioned.

The benefit of this system is that it requires far less maintenance. The cost is often cheaper than a salt-based softener, and installation can be DIYed if desired. No sodium is added to the regular water intake, as well.

On the downside, this softener doesn’t remove the minerals from their water. In areas where water sits, like a water heater, they will still get a buildup of minerals. Homeowners still need to flush areas like the water heater to purge mineral buildup from time to time.

Exceptional, Quality Plumbers

Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Proudly serve the communities in and around Lehi, UT with expert water softening services. They focus on providing customer education so homeowners are fully informed about their plumbing choices and solution.