Your water bill can increase from a variety of different problems:
Toilet that is constantly running, this will cause large hikes in your water bill
Un-noticed leaks; these include leaks inside or outside of your home.
If your water bill is suddenly significantly higher, call a plumber immediately so that you can proactively get the problem taken care of as leaks are not something that tend to get smaller.
Why is my toilet always running?
There are a couple of reasons your toilet could be running depending on your style of toilet
Fill Valve: Most residential toilets have a fill valve, which allows water into the tank and fills it as well as the bowl. If the fill valve is malfunctioning, the toilet will constantly run water. If this is the case, we recommend shutting the water off to the toilet. This can also be the case if the fill valve is improperly set and the water level gets over and into the fill tube.
Flapper: Residential toilets have a flapper as well, which seals the tank off from the bowl; if the flapper is leaking, you might notice that the toilet isn't always running, but that it will run randomly once in a while.
Where is my main water shutoff?
If you do not know where your main water shutoff is, get up RIGHT NOW and figure out where it is! Knowing where it is can save you THOUSANDS in the event of a pipe burst. (In some rare cases, homes are built without one so we recommend having one installed!).
As far as location, your main water shutoff will be around the perimeter of your home.
If you have a basement, check there, often-times in a mechanical or utility room. In a basement, check eye level and lower as the water line is buried deep enough to prevent freezing.
If you don't have a basement, look low around the perimeter walls inside your home.
If you are unsure, give us a call and we can check for you!
Why is my garbage disposal just humming?
The common culprit here is that something was put down that wasn't supposed to, causing the motor on the disposal to get jammed up. This is a safety mechanism to ensure the unit cannot continue to run while jammed.
First, unplug your disposal
Ensure there is nothing inside that's jamming it up, if there is, remove it.
Plug the disposal back in and hit the red reset button on the bottom. See if that takes care of the issue
If not, get ahold of a plumber to get the issue resolved.
What can I put down my garbage disposal?
What we always say is when you get done eating, scrape your plate into the trash and the remaining small scraps can go down the disposal.
Despite their name, they are very sensitive and are not good with large chunks of food/grease.
Essentially, you don't want to put much down the disposal besides leftover scraps of food after scraping your plate into the trash can.
How to make my garbage disposal stop stinking?
Oddly enough, the best way to clean your disposal is to put ice cubes down it.
Despite the awful noise, it is not damaging the unit but is actually cleaning it!
Do I need a water softener?
If you are getting white calcium buildup on your fixtures, faded laundry, water stains on glassware, or issues with calcium buildup in your water heater, a softener might be the way to go.
If you would like a softener, call today and we can get out and test your water for not only hardness, but mineral build-up and other particles that could be present in your water. This allows us to design a water filtration system that is suited for your home.
Why is my water pressure low?
This all depends on where your pressure is low. If it's at one single fixture, there can be an issued with the fixture itself, or the lines running to it.
If your water pressure to the whole house is lower or lower than what it originally was, a common culprit is galvanized water lines. These water lines get a corrosive/rust build-up inside of it, therefore over time causing your pressure to drop as the amount of build-up increases.
When should I call a plumber?
Anytime there is an issue that requires immediate attention or that you do not have the knowledge or expertise for, we recommend getting ahold of a plumber.
How long do water heaters last?
Normal water heater tanks last between 8-12 years depending on installation, water quality, and several other factors.
Regular maintenance can extend the life of the tank. This includes draining it every year to clear sediment out of the bottom.
DON'T ATTEMPT TO DRAIN THE TANK IF YOU'VE NEVER DONE IT AND THE TANK ISN'T RELATIVELY NEW!
Why is my floor drain backing up?
There could be several reasons that your floor drain is backing up:
First could be excessive debris/build-up in the p-trap of the drain. Under these circumstances, you can try vacuuming out the trap with a wet/dry vac.
If the blockage is further down the line, an expert may be needed.
Second could be a blockage of the main sewer line. Here's how to tell:
If you're getting the backup when running other water (more specifically, toilets), there is a good chance your main line is blocked. The cost to get this cleaned out can vary greatly depending on the plumber's access point. Contact a plumber immediately if you're getting water backing up while flushing toilets or when using other drains.
Main line blockage doesn't HAVE to back-up in a floor drain, another common place will be water coming up in showers, tubs, or even under basement toilets.
