Things About Indoor Plumbing You Need to Know

One essential utility that powers our homes and commercial buildings is the plumbing system. Thanks to the plumbing system, we can accomplish daily and basic tasks such as showering, drinking water, washing hands, cooking, cleaning, brushing teeth, and even having hot water at our disposal. However, most people don’t give the plumbing a second thought when it is properly doing its job, but it is all they could focus on when something goes awry. Thus, having a basic understanding of your plumbing system can help you troubleshoot, conduct DIY minor repairs, or decide when to call a plumber. With general plumbing knowledge, you can save money in service calls and avoid headaches when it comes to breakdowns and plumbing problems. 

If you have a basic understanding of indoor plumbing, you can fix some of the most persistent leak problems with just the use of a wrench and other essential tools. While no one should ever be discouraged to call a trusted, licensed professional plumber to conduct quality plumbing maintenance, we listed some things about indoor plumbing that you can learn. 

Know Your Water Source 

More often, water comes into a house or building from one of these two sources-- a residential well and private pump or a city water line. In rural areas, most residents have well water carried into their homes via a pump, with no charge. |For urban residents who have city water, they receive a monthly or quarterly bill for water usage. 

Know Where and When to Turn Off Water Main 

Should your building experience some leak, it would greatly help knowing where to go and what to do to cut off the water supply. Knowing where and when to turn off your water main is way better than when you’re panicking, and water is spewing everywhere and flooding your property. This task is pretty easy since there is almost always the main valve near your street. If it is not the case, you should probably check your basement, where a second valve is sometimes in place. The water main often resembles a bar-type lever or a wheel. If your main resembles a wheel, you can turn it off by turning it slowly clockwise until it stops. On the other hand, if it is a lever, you can push it right or down until it stops. Keep in mind that it never hurts to find the water main at the onset and practice turning it off so you would know the process once a crisis occurs. 

Finding the Individual Cut-Off Valves 

Aside from the water main, water-using appliances such as toilets, sinks, or the washer have individual cut-off valves. It would be best to check them by looking for a small handle that you can use to stop their water supply. The handle is usually low for toilets, back, and often to the wall. While for sinks, underneath the pipes, or against the walls. Washer handles are generally behind the item and near the wall. As for showers and bathtubs, they often come with cut-off valves in adjacent closets or the basement. Finding the locations of these appliances will enable you to isolate one area that may need maintenance without the need to shut off the water supply for the entire place. 

Examine Water Meter and Bill 

When you know where your water meter is and how to read it can help you monitor your usage and keep utility expenses down. Also, it is best to thoroughly examine your water bill every month because spikes can indicate leakage that you don’t see.

Acquaintance With the Water Heater 

Usually, there is a handle or lever near the water heater connected to your main water line for the water supply. Take note that the water heater has two water lines-- one for cold water and another for hot water out of the heater. Hence, your water heater should have a temperature gauge or a dial near its top or bottom, where you can easily adjust the temperature you want. You will have to regularly examine all the pipes and accessories attached to the water heater for checking leaks. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to place some drip pan underneath the water heater. It is to prevent leakage, especially during the last of the heater’s life. 

Unclogging a Sink 

Clogged sinks are probably the most common plumbing problems anyone could encounter in his or her life. Often, a drain cleaner can do the job, but if the sink still drains slowly even after using a drain cleaner, you can try a natural solution-- a mixture of ½ cup each of vinegar and baking soda. Mix the substances well and slowly pour them into the drain to see if it helps. If the clogged sink is due to an object stuck down the line, you have to cut off water supply to the sink and place a bucket underneath the “p-trap” part of the pipe beneath the sink. Then, you can unscrew both sides of the U to find the stuck object or clear the clog. If you’re not sure if you can handle this issue, then it’s high time to call a professional than risk further damaging the pipe. 

Installation of a Plumbing Access Door 

Installing a plumbing access door is one of the most straightforward DIY plumbing jobs that anyone can do. Not all households or commercial properties give much attention to plumbing access doors, but what they miss out on is the chance to provide easy access to the plumbing system. With an access door, repairs and maintenance will be easy and quick. Moreover, with the many kinds of materials today, plumbing access doors now come in different construction to accommodate every building’s unique needs. 

Guest Contributor: Chris Jackson

When Do You Need a Commercial Plumber?

Plumbing problems are so common and inevitable that at some point, you have probably dealt with some in your home. Unfortunately, home plumbing issues can be different from commercial plumbing problems. Aside from being more complicated than home plumbing issues, major commercial plumbing repairs can become a huge dilemma for any business. 

While DIY jobs can solve some plumbing issues, such as installing plumbing access panels, some problems would require commercial plumbing services. A problem that is as small as a broken toilet in the public comfort rooms will likely need a plumbing professional if you want to resolve it completely. Moreover, commercial operations have a more complex design and require more in-depth maintenance.

Now, the next question that would probably pop in your mind is how you would know if your commercial building requires immediate attention from a commercial plumber. To help give you an insight, here are some things that you need to know when it’s time for you to call a commercial plumber.

• Emergencies 

When we say emergencies, we refer to clogged toilets, sudden leaks, broken grease traps in the commercial kitchen, or even a suspected blocked sewer line. These issues are easily noticeable because they can bring your business operations to a halt. When your commercial building experiences any of these issues, then it’s time for you to engage the help of a commercial plumber. 

• Slow Drains and Toilets 

When your drains and toilets experience slow drainage, it would usually mean that there is a clog somewhere along your drain pipes. Whether it is a minor clog around the drain opening or further down the line, this problem could affect multiple fixtures in the building. In either case, you need to call a plumber who has the right tools to remove drainage and toilet clog. Moreover, a commercial plumber can also examine the drain lines for other potential blockages that are difficult to detect. 

• Hot Water No More 

Some businesses require hot water, for it is vital to their operations. However, for others, no hot water would mean having frustrated employees or customers. If you want to avoid such an experience, it would be best to call a plumber for water heater repair once you notice that there is not enough hot water circulating in your building. 

• Frozen Pipes 

Most businesses probably already know that frozen pipes are common, especially during the winter season. Hopefully, they also take precautions to avoid this issue from happening at all. But if it does occur in your case, it is good to know that professional plumbers have extensive experience dealing with this plumbing issue. This kind of problem is not something that you or any of your employees could resolve by yourselves. Attempting a DIY job against frozen pipes can be risky, and you wouldn’t want to further damage your pipes by not calling a plumber. 

• Puddles 

When you start noticing water spots or puddles around the building, it is time to call a plumber right away. It is a sign that there could be a leak somewhere in your pipelines. The same also holds if you feel reduced water pressure from your faucets. Remember that waiting around for leaks to disappear on their own can be detrimental to the property, so be sure to hire a commercial plumber to inspect your building. 

• High Utility Bills 

Generally, commercial properties have high utility bills because they ensure that their business operations run smoothly. However, a sudden increase in the usually normal range of your utility bills could mean that there is a big leak. If this happens, you need a commercial plumber to check on your plumbing lines. Not addressing this issue could lead to a mold or mildew problem in your building. 

• Providing Easy Access to Your Pipes 

Providing easy access to pipes often entails installing plumbing access doors and panels, which can be a DIY job for anybody. But if you want to ensure that the installation is secure, it would be best to hire commercial plumbing services. A commercial plumber is also knowledgeable when it comes to plumbing access doors. Aside from installing the plumbing access door, a commercial plumber can also ensure that you have the right louvered access doors and panels in your building. 

Having a commercial plumbing problem would mean a massive inconvenience for you as a business owner. It could be a costly business interruption that would mean suspension of operations and drive away customers and guests who visit your business. Hence, the best solution when you do have a problem is to call a commercial plumber. It is always better to spend more on the services of a commercial plumber than breaking the bank when the plumbing issues get out of hand.

Guest Contributor: Chris Jackson