Over the years, we start to hear the same plumbing questions over and over again. We’re not complaining. In fact, we love to help whenever we can. Our highly-trained customer service representatives are known to stay on the phone to help someone locate what they need. The problem is, most people rarely ever need to find a cleanout or shut-off valve. In some cases, homeowners have never had to locate them, so they don’t know where to start looking.
When you Ask Dumb Questions, You Get A Smart Answer
–Aristotle
Where are my cleanouts located?
No two homes are precisely the same. If you are in a residential neighborhood, the builder usually places them in the same place for each home. For those of us in Southern California, our home cleanout is found outside on the perimeter of our home. In many cases, houses today have more than one cleanout, one on both sides of the house. The cleanout is 3 to 4 inches in diameter, it’s a white or black pipe with a top that screws off and sticks out slightly above the ground. You can find some cleanouts in the garage or on either side of the house. In colder climates, you can find them indoors; for example, in a garage or utility shed.
Where’s my water shut-off valve located?
Here are some ways to find your shut-off valve. Your home’s water shut-off valve is usually located on the perimeter of your home, close to your water heater or in the garage. It’s about three feet off the ground. If you’re purchasing a home, make sure you have a thorough walkthrough locating cleanouts and shut-off valves. Another idea is to locate your water meter on the street and know how to shut off your water at the meter as well. Finally, look for the shortest, most direct path to your home from the water meter. The shut-off valve usually gets located where the incoming water line first enters your home. Homes built today usually get fitted with a ball valve with a lever handle. Do you have a plumbing question? Give us a call!
What can I do About My Toilet That’s Constantly Running?
I believe this is one of the most requested plumbing-related questions we receive. For the most part, flapper failure is to blame for leaky, runny toilets. The cause of the runny toilet is an improper seal around the flush valve. Regrettably, it’s not uncommon for an old flapper to lose its seal. Replacing a worn-out flapper is one of the more affordable plumbing fixes and could easily be repaired by most homeowners. Unfortunately, when they do wear out and stop sealing, you’ll have to get a new one. A new toilet flapper is less than ten dollars, and once installed correctly, it will give your toilet the seal it needs to stop your toilet from running.
Can I fix My Jammed Garbage Disposal Without Calling The Plumber?
Is your garbage disposal jammed? Use a flashlight to peer inside; you might just see what’s causing the problem. In most instances, it’s a bone or other object stuck in the impellers. First, for your safety, unplug the disposal or turn it off at the breaker box. Underneath your garbage disposal is a place for you to insert an Allen wrench to free the jammed object. The popular InSinkErator brand disposals have a Jam-Buster tool that works the same as an Allen wrench. In both cases, you insert the tool into the designated area at the underside of the disposal and, using your strength move the disposal back and forth to free the object.
If the object gets freed from the jam, remove it from the disposal. Once you free the object from the garbage disposal, you’ll also want to reset it by pushing the red reset button also located on the bottom of the disposal. If your attempt to un-jam your disposal fails or something is still not right, don’t hesitate to call your plumbing experts at Big B’s Plumbing. If you have any plumbing questions, shoot us an email.
Why Is my Water Pressure so Low?
There are various reasons your water pressure is low, but isolating the problem is probably the best place to look. For example, is the low water pressure isolated to one shower or faucet? Chances are, you have a faucet that needs to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced altogether. Another reason for low water pressure is a construction project in your area, or even a broken hydrant will cause the problem. If you’re living in an older home that’s never had the pipes replaced, it could be the culprit. Hard water minerals are known to build up in your pipes over many years, causing them to restrict slowing down water flow.
An undiscovered water leak will also cause low water pressure. It’s always a good idea to monitor for an abnormally high water bill. The most common reason for low water pressure is a faulty water pressure regulator.
At Big B’s Plumbing, We’re Ready To Extend A Helping Hand
At Big B’s Plumbing, we’re ready to help wherever we can. If you have plumbing questions, give us a call. We’re an A+ rated company with the Better Business Bureau, and we love our potential customers to check our reviews on Facebook, Yelp!, and Google My Business.
