Garbage Disposals

 

     Preventative Maintenance

 

•  Never put hard to grind, stringy, or fibrous waste in  the garbage disposal, such as, poultry skins, celery, fruit pits, and banana peels.

 

• Run cold water down the drain before and after using the garbage disposal to flush waste down the main lines.

 

• Once a week run hot water down the drain to help keep it free-flowing.

 

• Offensive odors can occur from a build up of food debris inside your garbage disposal. To eliminate these odors, place ice cubes and lemon peels in the disposal and run it for about thirty seconds, then rinse with cold water.

     

     If your garbage disposal stops working….

 

Your garbage disposal has an overload protector that senses if the motor is overheating and shuts it off. If your garbage disposal stops working during operation, it may be this broken electrical connection.

 

• Turn off the garbage disposal power switch
• Do not put hands or objects down the drain
• Make sure the appliance is plugged in securely at the outlet
• With the power switch turned off, press the reset switch on the front or bottom of the garbage disposal
• Restart  the disposal by turning on the power switch

Toilet Maintenance

 

     Toilet Overflows

 

If your toilet overflow's do not flush it again. It will only worsen the situation. If necessary, shut off the water by turning the water valve behind the toilet. Wait a few minutes for the water level to drop. If it doesn’t, remove approximately half the water in the toilet bowl in order to return it to its normal volume. Next, dislodge the clog with a plunger. Finally, try to clear the system by flushing the toilet. 

           

 

 

     A Running Toilet

 

A running toilet is a sign that the stopper, which prevents water from flowing into the toilet bowl, is out of place. First, try shaking the flush handle to free the chain that is connected to the stopper. If that doesn’t work, remove the tank lid and gently raise the float bowl until the water stops running. If the water continues to run, broken or worn parts may need to be replaced.

 

     The Food Coloring Test

 

Did you know that a slow running toilet can waste about twenty gallons of water a day? This is why it is important to keep your eyes and ears open for evidence of a running toilet.             To perform the Food Coloring Test put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait a few minutes. If the color appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak. Repairing leaks and slow running toilets is key to conserving water and having a lower water bill.                  

 

 

     Preventing Toilet Backups

           

          There are a few simple things that you can do in order to prevent toilet backups.

 

·         Do not flush facial tissue or feminine products down the toilet. These items are made of stronger fibers that do no dissolve well, leading to clogged drains.

 

·         Provide good trash disposal in your bathroom so that your toilet is not used as a trash can.

 

·         Don’t keep small objects around the toilet that may fall in and cause a clog.

 

 

 

Preventing Clogged Pipes

     

·         Avoid pouring fats or cooking oils down the drain because liquid fats solidify in the pipes and create clogs. Wipe solidified grease from pots and pans with paper towels and dispose of in the trash.

 

·         Placing a strainer in the drain of each bathtub can catch soap, hair, and lotion which can clog pipes. Be sure to clean the strainer regularly so it can operate properly.

 

Water Heaters

 

      General Maintenance

·         Once a year, drain several gallons of water from the tank of your water heater. Flushing will remove sediment buildup that can cause corrosion and reduce heating efficiency.

 

·         Test the pressure relief valve by lifting up on the lever and letting it snap back. The valve should allow a burst of water into the drainpipe. If it does not, call a professional to have a new valve installed.

 

·         Check you temperature on the thermostat. It should be set a 120 F. Lowering your temperature setting lowers your energy use and reduces risk of damage to your tank caused by overheating. Turning up the thermostat slightly will allow the system to retain more hot water. To avoid scalding do not exceed 125 degrees.

 

·         Check the date of the water heater. The first four digits of the heater’s serial number are the month and year it was made. Any heater over fifteen years old should be replaced.

 

 

Rooter 2000 is proud of the Residential Services we offer.  You can rely on us for all of your plumbing needs, including: maintenance, repair and installation of toilets, faucets, sewer lines, sinks and water heaters.  We even offer 24 hour assistance with water leak detection and repair. Click the picture to go the price list page

 

 

Residental Plumbing System

Roots Growing into Pipes

Roots require oxygen to grow. They do not grow in pipes that are full of water or where high ground water conditions prevail. Roots thrive in the warm, moist nutrient rich atmosphere above the water surface inside sanitary sewers.

The flow of warm water inside pipes causes water vapor to escape to the cold soil surrounding the pipe. Tree roots are attracted to the water vapor leaving the pipe and they follow the vapor trail to the source of the moisture, which are usually cracks or loose joints in the sewer pipe. Upon reaching the crack or pipe joint, tree roots will penetrate the opening to reach the nutrients and moisture inside the pipe.

Problems Caused by Roots inside Sewers

Once inside the pipe, roots will continue to grow and if not disturbed, they will completely fill the pipe with multiple hair-like root masses at each point of entry. The root mass inside the pipe becomes matted with grease, tissue paper, and other debris discharged from the residence or business.

Homeowners will notice the first signs of a slow flowing drainage system by hearing gurgling noises from toilet bowls and observing wet areas around floor drains after completing the laundry. A complete blockage will occur if no remedial action is taken to remove the roots/blockage.

As roots continue to grow, they expand and exert considerable pressure at the crack or joint where they entered the pipe. The force exerted by the root growth will break the pipe and may result in total collapse of the pipe. Severe root intrusion and pipes that are structurally damaged will require replacement.

Some pipe materials are more resistant to root intrusion than others. Clay tile pipe that was commonly installed by developers and private contractors until the late 1980's is easily penetrated and damaged by tree roots. Concrete pipe and no-corrode pipe may also allow root intrusions to a lesser extent than clay tile pipe. PVC pipe is more resistant to root intrusion because it usually has fewer joints and the tightly fitting PVC joints are less likely to leak as a result of settlement of backfill around the pipe.