frequently asked
questions
If you have questions, you might be able to find your
answer in our list of frequently asked questions!
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What are the most common causes of
pipe corrosion?
Pipe corrosion can be caused by a number of things, almost
all of which are related to water quality, including:
•
Chemicals in the water
•
The pH of the water
•
The amount of oxygen in the water
•
The temperature of the water
•
The water pressure and the speed at which the water
moves through the pipes.
How can I check if I have a leak?
If you think you have a leak in your home, there’s an easy
way you can check. Go out to your water meter and record
the level. Make sure no one uses any water for a few hours,
then go back and check the meter again (it’s easiest to do
this when everyone goes to bed, then check it again first
thing in the morning). If the level has changed, you probably
have a leak – call DC Residential Services to have it taken
care of right away!
Do I really need to worry about hidden
leaks?
Yes! Not only do leaks get larger with age (see above) but
they can also potentially cause damage to your home. Leak
detection and repair offers a number of other benefits,
including:
•
Reduced or eliminated water loss
•
Reduced risk of damage associated with leaks
•
Reduced need for emergency repairs
•
Reduced need for water treatment and pressurization
Can leaks get bigger over time?
Yes. Water leaking out of your pipes or fixtures will
eventually cause enough corrosion that even a pinhole-sized
leak can eventually grow and potentially cause damage to
your home.
How do I clean my new faucets?
Most faucets can be cleaned with a damp, soft cloth. If you
just installed new faucets, you may want to find out if the
manufacturer has any recommended cleaning solutions for
more stubborn stains. Make sure to avoid any abrasive
cleaners or pads as these may scratch the surface and finish
of your faucet.
How much water is wasted from a
dripping faucet?
A single drop from once faucet may not seem like a lot. In
fact, it takes 15,140 drops to equal a single gallon.
But think about it this way:
•
If you have one faucet that leaks 10 times a minute,
that’s 14,400 drips per day – 347 gallons per year from a
single faucet!
•
Multiply that by three faucets and it’s over 1,000
gallons!
If you want to figure out how much your faucet is leaking,
count how many times it drips in a minute. Once you figure
that out, you can figure out how many times it drips per hour
– number of drips x 60 – or per day – drips x 1440. From
there, you can divide the total number of drips into 15,140 to
get the number of gallons you could save by contacting DC
Residential Services today!
Should I repair or replace leaky
faucets?
If you can repair the faucet and restore the shine on its
finish, faucet repair is a perfect option. However, if your
faucet is too badly corroded or too old to find replacement
parts, faucet replacement may be easier (and possibly
cheaper!).
What causes a faucet to leak?
The most common thing we find is corroded O-rings, gaskets
or valve seats which cause faucets to leak. Together, these
components are what hold back the water until the faucet is
opened, so if one of them is corroded, you’ll get a leaky,
dripping faucet! To stop a faucet leak, shut off the water to
the sink and open the faucet to let the water drain out.
Next, use an Allen key or screw driver to remove the faucet
handle. If it has a nut holding the internal parts in place,
check to see if that’s loose – tightening it with pliers may be
enough to stop the leak! If not, remove the nut and
disassemble the faucet (just make sure you can put it back
together again!). If the faucet contains a cartridge, don’t
take that apart – just replace it with a new one. Inspect all
the components of your faucet – you should see washers, O-
rings or seals and possibly springs – and figure out exactly
what you need to replace. Find the precise parts at a
hardware store and put the faucet back together. If all goes
well, your faucet should be back to normal. If not, contact
DC Residential Services for faucet repair!
Is there anything I shouldn’t put down
my toilet?
You really shouldn’t put ANYTHING down your toilet, except
what’s supposed to go down there. Avoid putting in things
like:
•
Baby wipes, napkins, facial tissue or paper towels.
While these will flush fine, they don’t break down the
way toilet tissue does and will cause clogs or damage
your septic system.
•
Sanitary products or diapers
•
Q-tips, cotton balls or dental floss
•
Hair
•
Food scrap
•
Small toys
•
Cat litter
My water bills are going up, but I don’t
think we have a leak. What’s going on?
Your toilet may be leaking silently. Here’s how to tell:
Put a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank and
make sure no one uses that toilet for about a half hour. Once
the half hour is up, come back and check if any of the food
coloring leaked into the bowl. If it has, contact DC
Residential Services for toilet repair as soon as you can!
My toilet constantly sounds like it’s
running. Is there anything I can do to
fix it?
Yes – it just depends on what’s going on.
•
If you’ve ever opened your toilet tank, you’ve probably seen
a metal or plastic ball resting on the top of the water. This is
called the float, and it governs how high the toilet fills. If
the float is cracked, water will seep inside and the ball
won’t be able to sit above the water. As a result, the toilet
can overfill and water can leak into the overflow tube,
creating an endless cycle of filling and draining that will
wreak havoc on your water bill. Sometimes, fixing the float
just involves bending the metal arm it is attached to so the
float sits on top of the water – just be careful not to snap it!
In newer toilets, the float rides up and down in a plastic
tube. While these are generally more durable than float
arms, occasionally the ball will get stuck on grit or debris
and may need to be moved manually a few times to remove
the obstacle.
•
If the float ball isn’t the issue, check the chain attached to
the handle. If the chain is too long, it could get trapped
under the flap and let water through. If it’s too short, it
won’t allow the flap to seal properly. Shorten it or replace it
as necessary.
•
If that’s still not the case, you probably have a leaky flapper
valve. The flapper valve is located at the bottom of the tank
and is generally pretty easy to replace – just pop it off and
put a new one in.
Why does water back up into the sink
when I run the dishwasher?
This usually means there’s food stuck in your disposal. Since
the disposal drain and dishwasher drain are connected, a clog
in one will lead to a backup in the other. To prevent this from
happening, always make sure your garbage disposal is free of
food particles before turning on the dishwasher and always
run the garbage disposal with plenty of cold water. If it gets
really bad, you can plug up the sink, fill it with water, then
remove the plug and run the disposal. The weight from the
water should help force out whatever is backed up in the
drain, eliminating the blockage. If this doesn’t work, give us
a call! We carry garbage disposals on our trucks and can have
you up and running the day you call.
Is there anything I should NOT put
down my garbage disposal?
Yes – in fact, there are a lot of things that should never go
down a garbage disposal. Fibrous foods, including celery,
asparagus, and artichokes can wrap around the blades and
choke them. In addition, you should avoid putting down:
•
Potato skins
•
Bone fragments and eggshells
•
Banana peels
•
Fats / grease
•
Unpopped popcorn kernels
•
Onion skins
•
Fruit pits and seeds
•
Stringy vegetables like asparagus and celery
My garbage disposal broke down – what
do I do?
Don’t run out and buy a new garbage disposal yet! There are
a couple things that can cause an interruption in your
garbage disposal service that don’t mean it’s completely
destroyed. First, turn the disposal off, disconnect it from the
power and check to see if something is jamming it – a spoon
or any other hard object. If you don’t find anything, plug it
back in and try to press the RESET button to fix it. Finally,
check the breaker switch in your breaker box. If all else fails,
call DC Residential Services!
What size sump pump do I need?
The required horsepower for your sump pump is determined
by the area of drainage connected to the sump, the depth of
groundwater, the depth of the basement, and a few other
factors (most homes use a 1/3 hp pump).
What is the most common reason for
sump pump failure?
Sump pumps are generally reliable, but if they fail it’s usually
because of a power failure. During a storm (when you rely on
your pump the most), a power outage will render your pump
useless. To prevent this, consider installing a battery backup.
This will kick a few moments after the power goes out,
letting you enjoy peace of mind the next time a storm is
headed your way.
Do I need a sump pump?
If you have a basement that frequently floods or your home is
built so water flows toward it, you should definitely have a
sump pump. A sump pump will prevent the basement, as well
as laundry areas and storage rooms from being damaged
during heavy rains or in places where the water table is high.
What are some of the biggest benefits
tankless water heaters offer over
conventional heaters?
One benefit of tankless water heaters is unlike conventional
water heaters, they never run out of hot water. While storage
tank water heaters have a limited capacity (usually between
40 – 60 gallons), tankless water heaters heat water as it
passes through the system, meaning you’ll never run out of
hot water – especially important when the whole family is in
town! Another benefit is that since there’s no stored water,
there’s no risk of an untimely leak (flooding from water
heaters is one of the most common homeowner insurance
claims!).
And, since you’re only heating the water you’re using, you’ll
see major reductions on your energy bills.
What size tankless water heater do I
need?
Everyone’s needs are different so it’s hard to say without
knowing exactly what’s going on in your home. To get a rough
idea of the size (gallons per minute capacity) you’ll need,
think about how much water you use on a daily basis – how
long are your family’s showers? How often do you run the
dishwasher or washing machine? Do you ever use them at the
same time? Try to get a rough estimate of how much water
you use, then contact DC Residential Services to install a
tankless water heater that meets your family’s needs.
I’ve heard tankless water heaters are
unreliable. Is this true?
When they were first introduced decades ago, tankless water
heaters broke down somewhat frequently. These days, thanks
to numerous technological advancements, tankless water
heaters can last up to 20 years or more – longer than
conventional storage tank water heaters!
Can I use a tankless water heater if I
have hard water?
While tankless water heaters are less susceptible to the
negative effects of hard water, they are still affected by it. If
you have hard water, it’s best to have water softening
treatment whether you use a conventional or tankless water
heater.
Why is my water heater’s relief valve
leaking?
High pressure coming from your water heater can cause your
relief valve to leak. There are a few reasons for this:
•
Incoming water pressure from the main water line is too
high.
•
Thermal expansion (water expanding in volume as it is
heated) is causing the pressure to build up.
The easiest way to deal with a leaky relief valve is to contact
DC Residential Services to replace it!
Why does my hot water heater not
work as well in the winter?
When it gets really cold out, the water that enters your home
is much colder. This causes the hot water in your tank to lose
a lot more heat when it mixes with the incoming cold water.
In addition, you may have a buildup of sediment in your tank
that’s inhibiting your water heater’s performance.
Will a tankless water heater work for
me?
In most cases, yes! There are very few situations in which
tankless water heaters will not work (you can ask a top
tankless water heater technician about these), and most will
work in areas where conventional storage tank water heaters
would not. Most tankless water heaters are about the size of
a briefcase and require about 120V, 60Hz and 3 amps of
power – requirements almost any house meets.
How can I tell if I need a water heater
replacement?
A well maintained gas water heater should last you about 8-
12 years. An electric water heater will last longer, around 10-
15 years. A tankless water heater will last you even longer
than that! That said, you should think about having your
water heater replaced if you notice any of the following
signs:
•
Rust colored water
•
Lack of hot water
•
Moisture or flooding around the base of your water
heater
If you are on a well, the hard water can limit your water
heater’s lifespan. Water softening or installing a water
conditioner will help extend the life of your water heater.
Why does my hot water smell like
rotten eggs?
Foul smelling water is caused by the combination of
hydrogen, sulfur, and bacteria in the water. Sulfur and
bacteria are naturally present in the water your appliances
use, and they will not make you sick. When the magnesium
anode rod in your water heater tank reacts with the sulfur
and bacteria in the water, it creates enough hydrogen to
create an odor. There are many ways to take care of this,
from replacing the magnesium anode rod to purifying the
water in your water heater.
What do I do if my toilet overflows?
An overflowing toilet is usually caused by a leak in your
tank’s fill valve or deterioration of the shaft or wire that sets
the fill level. Whatever the cause, contact DC Residential
Services for the solution!
Why do my pipes rattle and make noise
all the time?
Most likely your water lines are not properly secured,
meaning there are some spots where they rub up against your
floor joists. If you contact DC Residential Services we can
make sure your pipes are properly secured and install pipe
hangers between your pipes and the joists to eliminate the
noises.
What if I didn’t find an answer to my
question?
Then you need to contact DC Residential Services and have
us help find the answer you need!
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