Soler Plumbing LLC

Plumbing Services with Value & Quality

Toilets

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Let’s face it, toilets are where some of us do our best thinking. We read, scroll through social media; some of us even talk on the phone.

toilet tips

As a plumber, a lot of my work is with toilets. Some common complaints are that toilets are constantly running; rocking back and forth; or leaking. One complaint that always compels people to call a plumber is the ever-popular: Lately my water bill is extremely high.

Just like with people, there are so many parts that need to work well together in order for a toilet to work properly. As soon as you pull that handle, everything kicks into motion and needs to work collaboratively and in conjunction so that the flush is effective. It’s something we all take for granted. But, if your toilet isn’t flushing properly, you know just how vital it is.

Your toilet tank contains the heart and soul of the toilet – let’s call it the operating system. The parts in the tank do wear out. They are not designed to last forever.

At the first sign of trouble, check in with a plumber. At this stage, the problem is usually simple and inexpensive to fix. If you wait, the adjoining parts start to become affected. As this happens, it becomes like a domino effect. The entire system starts to break down, slowly but surely.

If you are a “weekend warrior” who likes to handle things on his/her own, that is great. But, remember, a simple flapper can be trickier than you might think. There are so many different types of flappers and flapper sizes. If you get the wrong type or size, it can create an even bigger problem. If you had a bit of water leaking, you may end up with a lot more water with the wrong flapper.

One other tip that is directed toward people who like to put the blue tablets in the tank in order to clean the bowl with every flush. Not only does the tablet dissolve a bit with each flush, so do the rubber parts in your toilet tank. Those tablets are made with a concentration of bleach. This takes very little time to start to break down the mechanical parts, from fill valve and overflow tube to your tank-to-bowl bolts.

The tip is, contact an expert at the first sign of trouble. Your problem probably isn’t that big, early on. So nip it in the butt (pun intended) and stretch the life of your toilet while saving money on your water bill.

Kitchen Faucets

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Let’s take a minute to talk about kitchen faucets.

It goes without saying that one of the most commonly used plumbing products would be your kitchen faucet. We take their daily and frequent usage for granted.

The question I get a lot with kitchen faucets is: Can I change my two-handle faucet to a single handle pull down sprayer faucet. Most of the time, when a customer asks this, it’s because water is gathering at the base of the faucet and starting to create an appearance that looks somewhat dirty or less than pleasing. They may simply want a more modern, clean and sleek appearance.

My answer to those customers is: Of course you can make this transition from a two handle to a single handle faucet.

Keep in mind though, unless it was a sink designed and made for a one handle faucet, only one factory hole would have been drilled out. So, even though it can be converted from a two handle to single handle faucet, more than likely your plumber would have to use the base that comes with a single handle faucet, in order to cover up the factory pre-drilled holes (there are usually three consecutive holes).

So, if you want a single handle, no-base look, you will have to change out your sink as well.

The whole premise for the original call is usually due to the crud that has accrued on the base or deck of the faucet. This grime is due to a build-up of calcium and other deposits. So, an entirely new sink, along with the single handle faucet will probably be your best bet.

Keep this in mind when wanting to convert from your two-handle to a single handle faucet.

TIP #1: When making the decision to change from a two-handle to a single handle faucet, consider changing the entire sink. Not only will this eliminate the base and the build-up that tends to accrue at the deck of the sink, it will add to your clean and modern kitchen appearance.

TIP #2 – And, this is important: When getting a new faucet, no matter what brand, make sure you register your product with the company so you can get their free parts when needed. Most companies provide that service these days. It will save you money and time when you have the parts waiting for installation.

Let’s Talk Water Heaters

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Water Heaters are interesting. We all need them, whether you’re in a residential or commercial building. I have a phrase for putting in water heaters – along with a philosophy that I live by – Patch & Match. It simply means: don’t reinvent the wheel. If possible and it’s within code, I suggest you put in the same model. If not, the piping etc., will have to be modified and, in some cases, will be an entirely new install, which ups the price.

When I go to a house or a business to price out a water heater, there are three things I’m looking for right away. Was the water heater professionally installed (and I can tell)? Is this water heater still under warranty? And, last but not least, I check if I can see the date of the installation; because I know that the very next question after price is: How long will my water heater last (That is a topic in and of itself. Tune in next time…)?

If the water heater is not leaking, my advice is not to change it. I’ll share a story with you. A couple of years ago, my youngest brother purchased his second home. Not too long ago, he called me while I was working. He asked if I had time to install a new water heater for him because his old one was broken. I was really busy and had no time to ask him a lot of questions. I figured since it was his second home, he probably knew a bit about a broken water heater. Realizing he was a bit panicked, I told him that I would come out right after work and put a new water heater in for him. I told him to go and get the water heater; clean up; have the new water heater next to the old one waiting for me. The first thing I noticed when I got there was how much he had cleaned up. I couldn’t believe how clean everything was. I thought I would be walking in puddles of water. I asked him how he cleaned up the water so well and told him that he had done an amazing job. He looked at me in confusion. I asked him, “Wasn’t the water heater leaking all over the place?” He said, “No.” I then asked if it had leaked at all. He replied, “No,” to which I said, “Are you kidding, me? This water heater (which was an electric water heater, by the way) doesn’t need to be changed.” He told me that it wasn’t giving him hot water. I asked if he had checked the electrical panel to see if the circuit was turned off. He had not. I checked and the circuit for the water heater was still on. So, I told him that, more than likely, I just needed to change the water heater’s elements. They go bad after a time. But, now that my brother had brought me out there and I had no elements in my truck, I changed the water heater. My brother learned a costly lesson that day. Putting in new elements is much less expensive than changing out your water heater.

Tip: When you call a plumber, make sure you clearly state the problem. Is the water heater leaking? And, if it is leaking, from where is it leaking – the top or the bottom. Additionally, make sure you clearly state what type of water heater it is (assuming you know): natural gas, propane, electrical, or oil. How many gallons is the water heater? Check to see who makes the water heater and what date it was installed? Perhaps it is still under warranty. Final thought: take a breath and assess your situation. Finding out as much about the problem as possible can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Hose Bibs

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Well, spring is here. Or, as I like to call it “Broken Hose Bib Season.” If I had an extra nickel for every hose bib that I’ve changed over the last 30+ years, I would be retired by now. Whether you call it a hose bib, a spigot, or a sill cock, the outdoor water tap on the exterior of your home, where most people attach a hose, needs to be addressed in the fall. Simply dis-attach your hose, each fall, and store it. If you don’t, chances are good that when the temperatures in the winter dip below freezing, come spring, you’ll be dealing with a burst hose bib. The only remedy at that point is to remove the spigot and replace and install a new one. It’s a costly mistake that doesn’t need to happen.

There is a part two to this problem. If you are fortunate enough that you never removed your hose, but your hose bib never burst, there is still a chance that you’ll be calling me or another plumber. If you decide that you want to remove the hose after years of leaving it on, chances are that it has now become one with the hose bib. This is because many hoses connect to the spigot with cheap white metal instead of brass. This causes seizing. And, once again, you’ll need a plumber.

Tip: Every fall, do yourself a favor and save yourself money and a mess by disconnecting, draining and storing your hose. And, when buying a hose, make sure that the connector is made of brass.