Newburg & Associates, Inc.

Plumbing Tips and Hints

 General

ü      know where your main shut-off valve is for emergencies – and know how to shut the water off (practice)!

ü      septic systems should be inspected and pumped a minimum of every three to four years

ü      foul smell from a sink that’s hardly ever used? Pour a bucket of water into the sink to reset the “water seal” that keeps sewer odors at bay

ü      To remove mineral deposits from your showerhead, put one cup of vinegar in a plastic bag and secure it over the showerhead with an elastic band or twist tie. Let stand over night and wipe the mineral deposits off with a damp cloth

ü      There is a simple solution for this problem of it taking 1-2 minutes for hot water to reach your bathroom or kitchen sink. A hot water recirculation pump circulates the hot water from the heater to a faucet located at the furthest point away from the heater. This is a specially designed pump system that includes a timer so that the pump can automatically come on before water is typically used throughout the day or night. Also, it can be shut off for times of the day when nobody is home in order to save on utilities

Food Disposal

ü      never pour oils or fats down the sink – dispose of fats into the garbage bin by placing in an empty glass jar with a secure lid, especially if still warm

ü      always run cold water for 15 seconds before and after using the food disposal, and only put in small amounts of food – don’t overstuff

ü      A build-up of food in your disposal can cause a foul smelling odor. Place ice cubes and lemon peelings in the disposal for about 30 seconds, then rinse with cold water

ü      don’t place woody or high-fiber root vegetables, flower stems, seeds, bones or excessive amounts of vegetable peelings in your food disposal

Winterize your plumbing

ü      insulate all plumbing pipes that you can access to keep the pipes from freezing in the winter

ü      open cabinet doors to allow inside heated air to pipes that are not insulated

ü      buy and use inexpensive foam “covers” for your outside spigots during extreme winter temperatures

ü      if going on a winter vacation, don’t set the thermostat below 58-60 degrees; you can also shut off and drain the water system to keep water from freezing in the pipes

ü      if you suspect your pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main valve immediately

ü      if you turn on your faucet after a freeze and nothing comes out, leave the faucet turned on and call Newburg & Associates

Water Heater

ü      if you are constantly running out of hot water, it could be that one of your electric elements in your water heater is bad – OR you need to tell your teenagers to limit showering to 10 minutes!

ü       Extend the life of your water heater by draining a gallon or two of water from the drain valve at the bottom of the heater once or twice a year to clear sediment from the tank

ü      if your hot water has a “rotten egg” smell, you may need to replace the factory-installed magnesium rod with an aluminum rod. The smell is the result of well water reacting to the magnesium rod

Toilets

ü      To check for leaks in your toilet, put 12 drops of green or blue food coloring into your toilet tank. If the dye shows up in the bowl, you may need to change the ball or the flapper valve

ü      Never, never, never use your toilet as a garbage can!

ü      If you believe your toilet is about to overflow, remove the tank lid, reach down and push the flush valve closed. This will keep the bowl from overflowing until you can clear the obstruction

Whirlpool Tubs

ü      do not use bath oils or gels in your jetted tub; to do so may cause bacterial growth throughout the whirlpool system

ü      if you see black “stuff” coming out of your whirlpool jets, flush the whirlpool system using hot water and 1-2 cups of dishwashing machine detergent. Let the whirlpool run for 15-20 minutes, drain the system, and repeat the process with only hot water to flush the system out