Frequently Asked Questions
We get asked these questions often, so let’s save you some headaches and trouble by answering them for you upfront. Some situations call for a plumber to come and evaluate, but others do not. If you have any concerns that aren’t addressed here, contact us. We are happy to help.
I see other plumbing companies advertise that they do not charge extra for nights and weekends how can I be sure I’m being charged fair prices?
To be sure you're being charged fair prices, there are some questions you can ask yourself, as well as the plumbing company your interested in hiring.
Ask the plumbing company if their employees work on commission. If yes, then the employees make more money when they charge you more money. Therefore, it's in the plumber's best interest to charge you as much money as possible. Our company pays by the hour, so our prices are not influenced by our employees desire for financial gain.
Ask yourself how much a fancy TV commercial or billboard costs. You may think that doesn't matter, but the truth is that the money for extensive, repetitive advertising usually comes from inflated pricing. That means that it's you who pays for it. Always call your local plumber, not the big name corporate companies. We will beat any of their written estimates by 10% GUARANTEED!!
Ask for free upfront pricing. Many larger companies will nickel and dime you with hidden fees, surcharges, and additional, unnecessary work. Sometimes these companies will charge you for an upfront price. We think this is ridiculous. You deserve to know what you will be paying at the end of the job before you hire a plumber. We provide upfront pricing on every job at no extra charge. We guarantee our prices will be consistently lower and fair.
Ask the plumbing company if their employees work on commission. If yes, then the employees make more money when they charge you more money. Therefore, it's in the plumber's best interest to charge you as much money as possible. Our company pays by the hour, so our prices are not influenced by our employees desire for financial gain.
Ask yourself how much a fancy TV commercial or billboard costs. You may think that doesn't matter, but the truth is that the money for extensive, repetitive advertising usually comes from inflated pricing. That means that it's you who pays for it. Always call your local plumber, not the big name corporate companies. We will beat any of their written estimates by 10% GUARANTEED!!
Ask for free upfront pricing. Many larger companies will nickel and dime you with hidden fees, surcharges, and additional, unnecessary work. Sometimes these companies will charge you for an upfront price. We think this is ridiculous. You deserve to know what you will be paying at the end of the job before you hire a plumber. We provide upfront pricing on every job at no extra charge. We guarantee our prices will be consistently lower and fair.
There is water leaking from my water heater. What’s the cause?
There are a few possible causes for water leaking from a water heater. Once cause may be a leaky relief valve heater. Look for a pipe running down the side of your tank to the floor. Check to see if it's wet. If it is then a leaky relief valve heater may be your diagnosis. Another cause may be that the tank is rusted out. To check for this, fill a clear glass with hot water from your tap. Do you notice a rust tint? Also, have you noticed any changes in the temperature of your hot water? Is it hotter or colder than it should be? If so, these could be indicators of the tank being rusted out. This problem requires a new hot water heater. Most heaters last 8-10 years, so prepare for problems and possibly replacing your water heater after this amount of time. Remember, it’s better to replace your heater a month early than a day late.
What size water heater should I buy?
Most people base their purchases on the size of their existing tank; a better question is, "How much hot water do I require?" Another important question is, "What type of fuel does my heater use." You may have a water heater that is too large or too small for your needs. If your not sure of these answers, please give us a call. We will happily walk you through how to size a heater for your needs.
What is the purpose of a pressure relief valve on a water heater?
This is a safety device that will open in case of high pressure (over 150 PSI) or temperature (210 degrees).
What does it mean when a faucet is said to have 4-inch or 8-inch centers?
The faucet mounts with the fixture holes set either 4 or 8 inches apart. It's important that you buy the right size faucet.
My toilet fills up every 10 minutes. What is the problem?
If the toilet flushes on its own, that usually means that the flapper is leaking. A simple test is to add a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank and watch to see if the dye makes its way into the bowl. If it does, it means the flapper is leaking and should be replaced.
I think my kitchen or bathroom drains are clogged because they don’t drain or drain slowly. What do you recommend?
In most cases you should have the drain snaked to clear the problem. After that, it's best to follow up with monthly maintenance and use Bio-clean drain cleaning powder. We are a Bio-clean dealer. Learn more about Bio-Clean here on the FAQ page or visit our Products and Services page.
What is Bio Clean?
Bio-Clean is a blend of bacteria and enzymes. The bacteria is natural, not genetically engineered, and the enzyme concentration is the most powerful on the market.
Bio-Clean is safe.
Bio-Clean is non-poisonous. It creates no heat, has no fumes, and does not boil. It does not attack live tissue nor inorganic materials. It only attacks organic wastes like grease, hair, food particles, paper, cotton & sewage. This makes Bio-Clean safe for your family, your plumbing, and the environment. Bio-Clean changes the waste particles into water, carbon dioxide, and mineral ash which run harmlessly out of your waste system. These elements are then available to help sustain plant life.
Bio-Clean is effective.
Within an hour after pouring the bacteria into the drain, they begin to eat their way into the waste that has accumulated on the sides and top of the drain pipe. This is their natural food. They digest the waste, spread throughout your system, and clean it completely.
Bio-Clean is safe.
Bio-Clean is non-poisonous. It creates no heat, has no fumes, and does not boil. It does not attack live tissue nor inorganic materials. It only attacks organic wastes like grease, hair, food particles, paper, cotton & sewage. This makes Bio-Clean safe for your family, your plumbing, and the environment. Bio-Clean changes the waste particles into water, carbon dioxide, and mineral ash which run harmlessly out of your waste system. These elements are then available to help sustain plant life.
Bio-Clean is effective.
Within an hour after pouring the bacteria into the drain, they begin to eat their way into the waste that has accumulated on the sides and top of the drain pipe. This is their natural food. They digest the waste, spread throughout your system, and clean it completely.
There is water seeping from around the base of my toilet. What do I need to do to solve this problem?
If you have water seeping from the around the base of your toilet, your wax gasket is probably deteriorated. Luckily, this is a simple problem to fix. You need to remove the toilet and install a new wax ring. While you have the toilet off, it would be best to replace the bolts. Otherwise, they may put a crack in your toilet bowl.
I believe my water pipes are frozen what should I do?
A frozen water pipe should be thawed immediately and never left unattended. First open a faucet to try to get any kind of water flow. A slow drip will quickly thaw itself. If this doesn’t work, get heat into the affected area and gradually bring the area up in temperature. If this doesn’t work, give us a call. We have special pipe thawing machines which can thaw pipes quickly and safely.
Why doesn't my old water heater make as much hot water as it used to?
One possible reason your old water heater doesn't make as much hot water as it used to is that there is sediment buildup in your tank. As water heaters age, they tend to accumulate sediment and lime deposits. If the heaters are not cleaned periodically, the sediment may rise to a level that acts as a barrier between the burner and the water. This barrier makes it more difficult to heat the water. An article published in a national ASPE plumbing journal states, "For every half inch of sediment on the bottom of a gas fired water heater, it requires 70% more fuel to heat the water."
Why does my water smell like rotten eggs?
The combined presence of hydrogen, sulfur, and bacteria cause foul smelling water. There is a magnesium anode rod installed in the tank to protect the tank surface. This generates enough hydrogen to create an odor when it interacts with sulfur in the water or bacteria in the tank. Replacing the magnesium anode rod with an aluminum anode may minimize the problem. The most efficient method of eliminating the hydrogen sulfide odor is to control the bacteria. As a rule, chlorination of public water supplies kills the bacteria, but some private well systems may need to be purified. This can be done by the use of chlorine injectors or ultraviolet light. These purification methods will destroy the bacteria and eliminate the odor.
What type of maintenance should I do on my water heater?
Bradford White always recommends that you contact a plumbing professional to perform any maintenance or repairs to your water heater. This ranges from periodic checks on the anode rod, to simply ensuring that all connections are secure. Recommendations for maintenance are in your "Installation and Operation" manual. This being said, there are still a few things that you can do on your own:
Ensure that there are no sources of flammable vapors in the same area as your water heater (this includes gasoline, heating oils, lighter fluid, propane, etc.).
Keep the top of the water heater clean. If you notice water dripping on the water heater from any piping, contact a plumbing professional to have the leak repaired.
Keep the space around your water heater clean and free of dirt, boxes, paint cans, aerosol cans, household cleaners, and trash. It is important to keep the heater accessible for proper operation and easy maintenance.
Ensure that there are no sources of flammable vapors in the same area as your water heater (this includes gasoline, heating oils, lighter fluid, propane, etc.).
Keep the top of the water heater clean. If you notice water dripping on the water heater from any piping, contact a plumbing professional to have the leak repaired.
Keep the space around your water heater clean and free of dirt, boxes, paint cans, aerosol cans, household cleaners, and trash. It is important to keep the heater accessible for proper operation and easy maintenance.