Frequently Asked Questions
|
Below are some of the questions that we are asked on a regular basis, along with the answers. We hope that these answers are helpful to you, however if you have a question and don't find the answer here, please feel to call us at 615-545-9194 or e-mail us at Cliff@Exceptional-Services.net. |
TOILETS Q. What causes a toilet to flush by itself? Q. Does putting a tablet / bowl cleaner hurt or help my toilet? Q. Does putting a brick in the tank help save water? Q. How do I determine where the leak around my toilet is coming from? Q. How do I clear a clogged toilet?
Q. Why does my toilet fill up slow?
A. Here are some of the reasons. The fill valve is old, clogged, or just not working properly.
The flapper is not seated properly.
A. The flapper is probably the main reason for this problem. It is either old, ripped or not sitting properly.
A. Putting any kind of tablet, cleaners, or powder in the tank will hurt the working parts of the toilet. The chemicals will eat away at rubber & plastic parts. It will also clog the ports in the bowl.
A. If you put anything in the tank to save water, you are causing the toilet to not function correctly. The toilet is designed to work with a certain amount of water. If you try to lower the level by adding a brick (or anything else), it will not flush correctly.
A. The easiest way to find a leak near a toilet is to dry everything up with paper towel, a towel or toilet paper. Then, lay out some paper towels around the toilet base. Watch to see where the paper towel gets wet first. If you do not see water on the paper towel, then flush the toilet a couple of times to see if water appears.
A. The most common way is with a plunger. Try the plunger a couple of times. If that doesn’t work, you can go buy a toilet auger to see if that will work. Caution: Be careful with the auger, it will scratch the toilet if you are not very careful.
WATER HEATERS
Q. Is there a way to make my water heater last longer? Q. How much do tankless water heaters cost and are they worth it?
A. The best way to get the most out of your water heater is to have a scheduled maintenance every year.
Q. How can I get more / hotter water from my water heater?
A. There is not an easy fix for more hot water. You either have to upsize your water heater or upgrade to a tankless unit. Caution: Do not ever turn your water heater above 120 degrees. It will cause severe burns.
A. The cost of a tankless water heater varies. The main variables are the location of the new unit, the size of the tankless unit (gpm), the gas line size and the installer. Traditional tanked water heaters have a life expectancy of 8-12 years. Tankless life expectancy is 25 years. The benefit of a tankless water heater is the availability of hot water.
Q. Which lasts longer, a gas or an electric water heater?
A. Gas will typically last longer than electric. But the life of both will increase with regular maintenance.
Q. How do I get rid of the smells in my sink / disposal? Q. What can I put down my garbage disposal?
A. The smells are coming from decaying food inside the unit. You need to run baking soda & warm water through the unit. They also make a garbage disposal powder that does the same thing. Also, use cold water not hot water when using the disposal. Then let the water run for a little while after using the unit (10 seconds).
A. The best way to answer this is to keep items that you put down your disposal to a minimum. What this means is don’t empty the fridge into it. Don’t put a turkey in it, no vegetables, no coffee grounds, no egg shells, no cat/dog food, no rice, no dirt and not cat litter. If you use it for scraps on your plate with a lot of water the disposal should be able to handle that with little to no problems.
NOISES / WATER HAMMERING
Q. I hear noises when my toilet stops filling up.
A. The noise you are hearing might be a water pressure problem. Water pressure will make knocking, banging or whining noises. This mean the water pressure is too high. You might need a pressure regulator on your incoming water line. You can check the outside faucets emergency stops to make sure they are all the way open/closed. If they are partially open, they can cause noises to travel into other parts of the house. A house should have pressure around 75psi.
MISC
Q. Is there a way to help my septic tank / sewer line? Q. How do I get more water pressure?
A. Do not flush paper towels, tissue paper, wipes, sanitary products or rags down the toilet. Keep the food and grease to a minimum. Regular use of Bio Clean in the drain lines will help clean them and keep them working properly.
Q. Do I need to remove my hose for the winter?
A. You should always remove the garden hose before the first frost. If you forget to do this, the best case scenario is you could be replacing a hose, the worst case scenario is a wall and some plumbing.
A. There really is no easy answer here. If you have had bad water pressure, then it could be the pipes or the location of the house, neither of which is easy to replace. If you have an older home, then you probably have at least some galvanized water lines. They have corroded over time causing them to rust closed. If you have a newer home, you might not have a pressure problem, you might have a volume problem. This means the water lines are too small for the house.
Licensed - Bonded - Insured
