FAQ

Your Top Five Plumbing Questions Answered

  • Why does my toilet keep running?

    This is likely the most common plumbing question we get asked, and it can often be a simple fix. In many cases, the flapper is not closing or making a proper seal around the flush valve. If this is the case, you can attempt to jiggle the handle, and the flapper may close. If this doesn't solve the issue, you may have a worn-out flapper which needs to be replaced. If the flapper isn't working properly, the water will continue to leak into the toilet. The tank will not fill up enough to push the float up and turn off the water supply.


    If this is the case, please give us a call at 778-749-0979 and we can help.


  • Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use on my clogged sink?

    Drain cleaners are highly toxic and should always be kept away from children and pets. But what many people don't know is that these toxic chemicals are also incredibly harmful to your plumbing system! The toxins cause erosion and deterioration of the pipes from inside out, resulting in costly plumbing drain-line repairs and replacements. We highly recommend you to stay away from such drain-cleaning products and instead choose an environmentally safe option with enzymes and friendly bacteria products that will keep grease and sludge from building up inside of your pipes or hire a professional to get to the root cause of the issue.

  • Why do I always run out of hot water?

    There are a couple of reasons you may be running out of hot water so quickly, and they depend on the age and type of water heater in your home. 


    Electric water heaters usually have two elements (top and bottom) that heat the water, and the most common issue we find is that only the top portion of the tank is being heated because the lower element isn't working. The good news is that these elements can be replaced, and you don't necessarily need a brand new tank.


    There is also a reset button on an electric water heater that can trip if there is a more serious problem going on. In this case, we recommend you call a professional to take a closer look.


    If you have a gas hot water tank, the most common reason is the dip tube, a piece of pipe that directs the cold water to the bottom of the tank to be heated. As the tank ages over time, this dip tube can get shorter causing the cold water to mix with the hot water.


    Another reason can be the size of the tank. Sometimes, the demands of the plumbing system change over time. For example, if a suite is added to a house and more people are using the hot water. Considering a gas tankless option can provide you with unlimited hot water so you don't run into this issue again. Choosing a 60-gallon tank over the 40-gallon size is also an option when considering replacement.

  • What should I avoid putting down my garbage disposal?

    Garbage disposals are designed to break up soft organic debris like vegetables and eggs while running the water to flush it down the drain. Avoid putting eggshells, bones, coffee grounds, or any hard products down the disposal as it will wear out the blades or jam up the garburator. If you run into this issue, feel free to call us and we will do our best to get it back in action for you right away. 

  • My water bill keeps going up, but I don't see a leak. What should I do?

    You may have a silent or hidden leak either in the house or outside it. This can happen in toilets and there is an easy test you can run to see if there is a leak. Add some food coloring in the back tank of your toilet and wait an hour (without using it). If there is color in the toilet bowl, unfortunately, you have a leak. Another way to see if you have a leak in the pipes outside or underground is by shutting down the water to your home and then taking a look at your water meter to see if it is still spinning. If it is, give us a call and we can help.

  • How can I increase the water pressure in my bathroom sink?

    There are many factors that can cause low water pressure in your faucet. Check the emergency shutoff located under your sink to make sure it’s open. After that check that the rubber washers or seals haven’t started to deteriorate (a trained professional can help); this can cause you to lose water pressure. Calcium and lime buildup will also cause low water pressure.


  • What can I do to take care of my faucets and sinks?

    On top of being tedious at time those small drips in your home can waste thousands of gallons of water a day! Check under sinks for moisture or small leaks, and repair leaky faucets right away to avoid paying for wasted water, and to avoid water damage to your fixtures and pipes. Remove and clean your faucet aerators approximately every year to help ensure an even flow of water. Check your overflow holes on tubs and sinks and make sure they are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.

  • I want to replace my two-handled faucet with a singlehandle faucet, can I?

    Most of the time the faucet dimensions and sink openings are standard throughout the plumbing industry, so the answer is usually yes. However like anything there are always a few exceptions. By checking the size of the sink opening before you buy a new faucet, you will know exactly what you are looking for and if you are the exception.

  • How can I prevent my drains from clogging?

    Be careful what you put down them, do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink. Theses liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and can create clogs.


    Fitting all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer to catch hair and other particles will help to keep them free of clogs. Just make sure that the strainer is cleaned regularly.

  • I keep getting clogs in kitchen sink and washing machine drains, what is causing this?

    Usually in residential homes the kitchen and laundry drains are connected. This can cause an issue when the lint from the laundry drains meets the grease buildup from soap and food products. This causes a nearly solid blockage to form, and clog your drains.


    Installing filters and strainers will help you greatly. But you will also need to have your drains snaked from time to time.

  • Should I close and open the main water supply shutoff valve periodically?

    Yes. Just make sure they’re not stuck in the open position just when you have a water emergency! Regular maintenance will help prevent future issues so it is wise to do the same periodic check for the shutoff valves on your sinks, tubs, and toilets, too.

  • There is a vibrating noise in my pipes, why?

    Noises can be fairly common in your plumbing supply lines. If you hear a rattling or knocking this can mean that a washer in a faucet or valve is loose. If the vibrating sound occurs when you open and close your faucets rapidly, it generally means pipes are loose. If you are really bothered by the vibrating you can add air chambers at the end of long pipe runs. Their installation will require a plumbing professional, to ensure that they are installed correctly.

  • What can I do about a sewer line blockage?

    Tree roots are the main cause of sewer line blockage, and once they’ve blocked the line, unfortunately there is very little that can be done. Getting plumbing professional to snake the line to get it as clear as possible can help. But usually the sewer line will have to be replaced. Our drain expert can provide compete excavation or minimally invasive “pipe bursting” to accomplish this.

  • Are products like Drano (caustic liquid drain openers) harmful to my pipes?

    If you are trying to take care of minor clogs, they’re fine. But never use them on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients will become trapped in your pipes, and it can cause sever damage. For completely clogged drains, contact a professional to get it snaked. It is also important to never use caustic drain openers in a drain that has a garbage disposal.

  • My old water heater doesn’t work as well as it used to, why?

    Over time sediment can buildup in your tank. As water heaters get older, they accumulate sediment and lime deposits. These deposits should be removed periodically and if they are not, the sediment then creates a barrier between the burner and the water. In turn greatly reducing the performance of the water heater. Draining your tank every three months or so will help remove the sediment.


    Check you heater burner from time to time, the flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips. If yours appears mostly yellow, or you notice that it is sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation. Hire a professional to check it out for you and ensure that it is all working correctly, and have any issues repaired immediately.


    It is recommended that you have your water heater inspected by a professional at least once every two years. They can check that the drain valve shows no signs of leakage.

  • What’s the best way to use my garbage disposal, and extend its life?

    Run plenty of cold water into it when running the disposal, and try to avoid overloading it. Do not dispose of “hard items” like bones or corn husks. And never use a product like Drano in it.


    And most importantly you can extend the life of your hands by never using them to remove items dropped inside – use tongs instead!

  • What should I do, my garbage disposal stopped working?

    Sometimes it is a simple matter of locating the “reset switch” on the bottom of most disposals. It is recommended that you try that before calling a professional.

  • What’s the best way to check for a leaky toilet?

    Leaky toilets can be wasteful and expensive. You should check your toilets at least once a year for leaks. You can do this by adding a small amount of red food coloring to the tank and leave it. If the toilet bowl water is colored red when you check back later there is water that is seeping through from the tank. If it is leaking, you should replace the tank internals. This problem can potentially waste hundreds of gallons of water annually.

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