Category: Plumbing

When you make a conscious effort to reduce the water that is wasted, you're helping our planet, but you're also reducing energy costs in your home. Your water bill can be reduced with a few simple changes in your Salt Lake City home.

Turn off the Tap

When you are standing in the shower washing your hair, the water is running down the drain at an alarming rate. If you turn off the water while washing your hair, you can save as much as 150 gallons per month.
Brushing your teeth and washing your face don't require continuous water. Wet the toothbrush and turn off the tap while brushing. You can turn the faucet back on when rinsing.

Faucet Care

All the faucets in your home should have an aerator. It reduces the water flow through the faucet by 1.5 gallons per minute. That's a lot of water when you're doing dishes or brushing your teeth.
If your faucet is leaking, make sure it's repaired immediately to reduce wasted water. A leaking faucet can waste hundreds of gallons of water each year.

Toilets, Flushing and Repairs

Leaking toilets waste a lot of water along with being incredibly annoying. Make sure that the toilet is repaired if it's running or leaking. You can also change to a dual flush design that will save water each time you flush. It's important to keep the toilet running properly to reduce water waste.

Change the Shower Head

While you should definitely reduce the time of your shower to bring down water consumption, you could accomplish the same water conservation by using a high efficiency shower head that reduces the amount of water used in each shower.
An old-fashioned shower head can use up to 60 percent more water than a high efficiency one.

Around the Home

Check for leaks around the home from the various pipes. This includes leaks in the pipes leading to outdoor faucets or spigots. Any leaks in the hose connections to outdoor watering systems can waste a large amount of water too.
With a few simple changes, you can reduce water consumption in your Salt Lake City home. It'll reduce your water bill while helping to conserve a precious resource.

Put savings in your pocket this month by cutting the water usage in your Salt Lake City, UT home. Call Valley Plumbing at 801-487-4770, and see  how much you can save this month.

 

Three Water Heater Regulations You Should Never Ignore

Installing a water heater is a task that should be done by professionals. Besides running the risk of personal injury and/or property damage from improper installation, Salt Lake City water heater installations must also meet specific guidelines set forth by federal and state building codes.

If you don't meet these guidelines, you could be fined and/or forced to have your water heater professionally reinstalled at your own expense. Below is a list of the most important regulations that should never be ignored.

Safety Devices

Regulations require the use of safety devices such as a T&P (temperature and pressure) release valve and safety cutoff switch (or a way to disconnect the water heater from the power source in an emergency) on all water heaters. All safety devices will bear the label of an approved safety agency (such as United Laboratories), must be set to activate at no greater than 210 degrees Fahrenheit or 99 degrees Celsius, and must conform to ANSI Z21.22 standards.

This regulation is in place as a safety precaution. If your water heater's safety devices fail, there's a chance that the heater could either explode or fly through your roof, causing serious injury, death, and/or property damage. It is also recommended that you have your water heater's safety devices checked by a licensed professional at least once a year to ensure they are in good working order.

Water Heater Installation

Federal law requires that water heaters are installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. This includes installation of the water heater, safety devices, and surrounding plumbing, and have your water heater professionally checked at least once a year. Improper installation and neglect are two of the leading causes of catastrophic failure in water heaters. Catastrophic failures can cause personal injury and/or death to yourself or others.

Use of Seismic Supports, Where Applicable

In earthquake-prone areas, seismic supports need to be installed according to the International Building Code. Earthquakes can cause hot water tanks to rupture, causing severe injury.

Conclusion

You should never try to install a hot water heater yourself if you don't know what you're doing. Not only is it unsafe to do so, but it can also cost you serious time and money. Please make safety your number one priority as a Salt Lake City homeowner.

Have your hot water tank professionally installed. Licensed plumbers know Federal, State, and Local building codes to ensure maximum safety and compliance. Hiring a professional will save you both time and money in the long run.

Any hold-ups regarding your Salt Lake City, UT water heater? Call Valley Plumbing at 801-487-4770 today for any of your repair or maintenance requests.  

 

Plumbing problems are unavoidable. No matter how diligent a homeowner might be, there are problems that arise. Sadly, a host of Salt Lake City homeowners end up falling victim to believing myths.

Myth, Legend, and Other Dangerous Ideas

People who are not versed in plumbing or home improvement-related matters might prescribe to a number of myths. These myth not only can prove extremely costly, they might end up being extremely dangerous.

Five Major Plumbing Myths

There are scores myths out there. The following five are some of the more common ones.
#1 - Plumbing Problems Are Exclusive To The Plumbing System. The issue may start with the plumbing system, but they could spread to other areas. A leak that is going untreated could cause major water and mold damage.
#2 - Delaying Repairs Is No Big Deal. In a way, this is a statement people use to convince themselves they do not need to address plumbing mishaps. Maybe they are short on funds and want to wait until a bank account is a bigger. The trouble here is few plumbing problems should ever be delayed. A plumbing system that is not operating properly is only going to cause problems.
#3 - DIY Kits Are Sufficient. Mostly all those "as seen on TV" plumbing products are of limited use and value. Rather than waste time and money with these gimmicky products, it would be a far wiser plan to just have a Salt Lake City professional handle the task. This brings us to another item.
#4 - Friends And Family Members Can Do The Job. Don't go there. That handy person you know might be overstating his or her worth. And no, there are no guarantees or warranties offered when such a person is used to address a plumbing problem. And how do you know the person is not going to end up making things worse?
#5 - Homeowners Insurance Will Pay For It. This is another reason why people may ignore having plumbing work done. The assumption is they can let things go because the insurance provider will pick up the tab. No one knows how the insurance company will react to a claim. Standard plumbing maintenance is usually not covered anyway. Delays and other forms of neglect could undermine any deserved payments.

Don't Fall for Myths

Rather than fall for myths, take the advice of a real, legitimate plumber. Doing so avoids a lot of problems.

Are you having trouble with your Salt Lake City, UT plumbing system? Call Valley Plumbing at 801-487-4770 for all your repair needs!

 

Pets make life more enjoyable; they offer unconditional loves. Thus, they are regarded as important members of a family. However, many people don't associate drainage issue with their pets. Every time a cat and a dog get a bath, the pet hair can clog the drains.
To many families, clogged drains are nightmares. Often they occurs at most inopportune times, and they tend to be time-consuming, expensive, and headache to deal with. Once the drain has clogged, the choices are either to use harmful chemical or call a Salt Lake City professional to fix it. The good news is that pet related clogs can be prevented with proper maintenance. As a pet owner, there are plumbing related tips that are helpful to know.

Use of drain strainer to keep hair from clogging pipes

Whenever a cat or a dog needs a bath, a drain strainer should be used to keep off their hair from causing clogs. To many pet owners' especially short haired cat or dog, it is tempting to think they do not shade hair at all.
The truth is that all pets shed some hair, and they do shed more than we think. Further, clogging is a gradual problem that culprit in the drain. A drain strainer can keep all the hair from the pet out of pipes and also make it easier to clean the tub.

Using a balancing valve during bath time

Often during bath time, a pet owner may use water that has too much pressure. Too much pressure shed pet hairs that end up in the drain and result to clogging. Installing a balancing valve enable regulation of water pressure before putting it on a pet. Besides, too much pressure might overwhelm a pet while too low pressure makes pet bathing to be an endless chore.

Use of pet hair-snare to prevent clogging

Pet-hair snare is great for everyday use in cats and dogs bathing to prevent clogged drains in your Salt Lake City home. It helps to keep the hair out of the drain. It is a self sealing technology with a flexible base, and it can fit most sinks, shower, drains and tubs.
Besides, it is characterized by a raised centre screen that can accommodate most pop-up stoppers. It is designed to catch hairs before they enter the drain and it has the natural suction mechanism on the drain that hold pet- snare in place. Together with tub bathing mat a pet hair snare protects the drain from hair clogging.

Don't let your fluffy pup clog up your drain! If you need drain cleaning in your Salt Lake City, UT home call Valley Plumbing at 801-341-4222 today!

So, you turned on the water in your Salt Lake City home this morning, only to find that it's coming out brown. Or, you filled the tub and noticed the water was a strange, yellow tint. Regardless of what color your water is coming out, there is usually a logical explanation for it.

A Water Main Break

If there is a water main break or an incident that involves the fire department having to use the hydrants, then the extra activity can stir up the minerals that are usually sitting at the bottom of the mains. These minerals, usually iron and manganese, will make your water appear either yellow, brown, or black. The water is generally safe to drink, though you may not want to.

Rusty Pipes

Red, yellow or brown water coming from only one faucet in the house can mean that your galvanized pipes are rusty. If that is the case, you definitely need the help of a plumber who can get those pipes repaired or changed out. Rust can cause discoloration of bathroom fixtures and clothing, so you don't want this to be a prolonged issue.

Copper Pipes

Greenish blue water that leaves a stain in your tub or sink can mean that your copper pipes are having a problem. If this is the case, they need to be replaced immediately as too much copper can cause serious health problems, including liver or kidney problems.

What Do You Do?

For problems with the water main, there is not much that can be done from a homeowner's perspective--it is up to the facility your water comes from to fix that issue. However, if there is an issue with the pipes, it is important to call a Salt Lake City plumber who can assess the problem, and fix it for you.
The cost of plumbing repairs may seem high until you realize that the cost of replacing discolored bathroom and kitchen fixtures is high as well. Your family's health may also be at stake if the water they are drinking is unsafe. There is no need to take that chance.

If your water is discolored in your Salt Lake City, UT home, call Valley Plumbing & Drain Cleaning at 801-341-4222 today, and we'll solve the problem for you!