Andrew twidwell, the owner of ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air in Grass Valley, Ca, said the hot sun is heating up underground pipes. He said homes with plumbing in the attic will likely have even warmer water.
Free Heat For Hot Water, Grass Valley Read More »
Answer by Andrew Twidwell; The thermostat in the water heater is designed to be the most efficient way to heat the water for your shower and your household needs. If you are going to be away for several days, turn the thermostat to “pilot” position and remember to turn it back on a day before you need to shower.
Is it efficient to turn a propane heated water heater off and on prior to use? Read More »
The federal government decided that after 1994 toilets shouldn’t use any more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Manufacturers had to comply, but by most accounts their early efforts were a flop.
That was a decade and a half ago. The redesigned low-flow models that followed work as well or better than older models that used as much as 7 gallons of water per flush. There is, in fact, a joint U.S.-Canadian evaluation program called Maximum Performance (or MaP) that uses soybean paste encased in latex to see just how well these low-flow toilets work. And most of them work very well. Test results are easily accessible on the Internet.
Low Flow Toilets, Do they Really Work? Read More »
Top 5 things any property owner, leasee, or responsible property manager can focus on in keeping their plumbing running and saving money:
Clearing all debris around an area or roof drain and flushing the line to push any other debris through and to test the line. This should be done 1-3 times a year depending on what sort of debris collects in a given area.
Water consumption assessment. Install a dual flush toilet or an “Ultra Low Fush” 1.2 gpf toilet in your Auburn, Ca home. Over time (in some cases two years), the toilet buys itself. Another great water saver is a quality 2.5 gallon per minuter shower head. With just these easy stepes can save 1000’s of gallons of water a year, and if you install quality components you won’t notice any difference in performance. Do not carelessly leave the water running as a habit.
This could be real easy. First look at the sink and see if there is any water in the p-trap. The p-trap is that “U” shaped pipe under your sink. It provides a great service. It fills with water and forms a gas tight seal to the main sewer system. Many times I’ll go out and find a shower or a sink in an area that is rarely used and the trap will be dry. I’ll turn the water on, fill the trap and the problem is solved. So obviously that is where I would start.
Stinky in Grass Valley, CA Read More »
For a few months now, the water pipes in our house have been making this terrible noise like someone is beating on them with a hammer. It only happens when we use the sink in the guest bathroom. It’s driving my wife and I crazy, my wife is ready to sell the house and move
Dear Banging Pipes in Grass Valley,
This can be tricky. There are a couple things that can cause the water pipes to hammer. First I would check to see if the house has a pressure reducing valve on the water main. It would be installed somewhere along the main line either outside or just inside where the pipe enters the house. A pressure reducing valve uses a rubber diaphragm to regulate the incoming water pressure. Sometimes this diaphragm can become loose or worn and when water runs along it, it will vibrate like a reed on a wind instrument.
Banging Pipes in Grass Valley, CA. Read More »
