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Helpful Hints

To prevent future leaks or overuse of water, check your washing machine hose for bulges and small leaks regularly. Any hose showing signs of weakness should be replaced, preferably with a stainless steel braided hose, they last longer.

If your pipes make irritating hammering noises when you use a faucet, or flush the toilets, you can install shock absorbers to absorb the vibrations and quiet down your pipes.   

Never store flammable liquids such as gasoline, primers, adhesives or solvents near your water heater, furnace, or other gas-fired appliances. This may seem obvious, but you can never be too cautious when it comes to the safety of your family and home.

Liquid grease is your drains worst enemy.  If you have a pot or pan full of liquid grease, it is best to pour it into a container, such as an old coffee can. Any congealed grease can be wiped down with a paper towel and disposed of once the pan has cooled.

If you are faced with a plumbing emergency, and we’re on the way to help, there are some measures you can take before we get there. For one thing, turn off the main water valve to the entire house, this should stop or slow down leaking if that’s the issue. if you don't know where your main shut off valve is, ask your plumber. Then open all fixtures in the house to empty the water lines as best as possible. Having buckets and towels can be a good way to help the situation while you’re waiting for the plumbers.

Keeping up with the maintenance of your septic tank is both important, and easy to do. Every four to six months, add a Septic Treatment to your tank. This will help in the breaking down of the tank’s contents. It is also good to have the tank pumped every three to five years as well. These things will go a long way to prevent costly repairs or replacement of the tank and filter field.

Having a flood alarm installed on your washing machine, and water heater is a great way to prevent what could be a disaster in your basement or laundry room. Flooding in your home can be extremely damaging and costly, so it is always worth it to take the extra step now, to avoid problems in the future.

A garbage disposal is a handy and convenient tool for cleaning up dishes after a meal. Don’t get too greedy with what you think it can handle. Always avoid putting hard-to-grind or fibrous waste down the drain. This includes poultry skin, carrots, banana peels, or potato skins.

Your shower head will often develop unsightly mineral deposits, but fear not, there is an easy solution to this problem. Place about 1 cup of vinegar into a plastic bag and place it over the shower-head making sure it is fully submerged. Hold it in place with a twist tie and let stand overnight. In the morning, simply remove the bag and wipe off the mineral deposits.

First things first, remain calm and turn of the water leading to the toilet. If the stoppage is a result of too much paper, then a plunger should do the trick. If the clog is in the sewer, taking the cap off of the sewer clean out should prevent overflow until we come out and take care of the rest. Remember this is not a garbage chute, even if it says disposable it doesn't mean it should be flushed. Keep it strictly to the essentials, and try to be conservative with the toilet paper.

Radient heat circuit lengths should be neither too long nor too short. If the tube length is too long, there will be tendency for the water to lose too much heat before it reaches the end of the tube.

Don't use hot water when grinding food waste (although hot water can be drained into disposer between grinding periods). Hot water in the garbage disposer can cause grease to liquefy and accumulate, causing drains to clog.

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