Bel Red Energy Blog

Last week, we posted Part 1 of a two part series on common plumbing questions that arise for homeowners. In it, we addressed some common issues, from how to properly clean a disposal to maintaining plumbing fixtures properly. In this post, we’ll wrap up the series with five additional plumbing tips for homeowners to keep in mind. Here goes…

6. Is it ok to spend less money for a cheap product as long as it includes a warranty?

This one’s pretty simple. What you buy is what you get—even when a warranty is included. While having warranties is a great thing, they shouldn’t necessarily be the top consideration for product purchases, especially when it comes to plumbing products. Consumers should always think about the quality of the plumbing fixtures, accessories and other products before making the purchase. Sometimes spending a little more up front or having professional plumbers do the work can save a lot of headaches, time and money in the long run. Even if a cheap product is covered under warranty, that warranty will only replace it with the same or similar quality product. This could be a stressful cycle if cheap products keep failing or breaking, and does not factor in the value of your time and inconvenience.

7. Everything eventually goes down the drain—that means everything is working properly, right?

Not necessarily. Just because food, hair or other things make their way down a drain eventually doesn’t mean everything is in perfect working order. Out of sight, out of mind doesn’t apply in the plumbing world. Small food items, such as rice, tend to bloat and expand once they make their way down (or get caught in) drainpipes. This waste can build up over time and cause clogs or even corrosion. Remember, in order to prevent these types of drainage issues, proper precautions and preventative measure should be taken beforehand.

8. Are water pressure regulators always dependable?

While they can be effective, water pressure regulators aren’t always dependable and accurate. Sometimes, they can give misinformation to a homeowner, which could lead to some big problems such as floods, leaks or other problems. Measuring the pressure and adjusting by yourself can often be as effective as using a regulator. If you commonly have leaks, flooding, or notice constant draining noise from your toilet after flushing, chances are your water pressure may be too high. If it’s too low… well… you’ll notice with the lack of sufficient water.

Plumbing can be a tricky task – especially when you throw in all of the common misperceptions and “tricks” that Do-It-Yourselfers sometimes rely on. We thought it might be a good idea to post some common questions, with answers, to the wonderful world of plumbing.

1. How can I make my disposal smell fresh again?

It’s long been thought that a simple lemon will do the trick. However, putting a lemon down the disposal can actually do more harm than good. While this may be a temporary fix in terms of a nice fresh smell, the citric acid from the lemon (or any citrus fruit – depending on your scent preference) can cause corrosion on the metal in your disposal. A better idea is to put ice cubes down the disposal. While it will be noisy, the ice does a great job cleaning and polishing the disposal. It will remove the scum that is causing the bad odor in the first place.

2. Does running water really help wash down waste placed in the sink disposal?

This is something we have all done at one time or another. We place waste in the disposal and then flip on the faucet to watch it all go down. But, you may have noticed this doesn’t really work at times. The reason it’s not working? The food and waste is still traveling down the drain in front of the water. So, just like sending “dry” waste down the disposal, the buildup and block is occurring before the water arrives. This isn’t to say water won’t help in any disposal situation.  Filling the bottom of your sink with a little bit of water, adding the waste you want to send down the drain, then turning on the disposal should be effective. This gives the sitting water a chance to break up the food and let’s the two go down the disposal at the same time, making it a smooth process all around.

3. Are plumbing fixtures low maintenance?

While fixtures often seem sturdy and stable regardless of age, leaving them unattended to or unused can cause some big problems. The performance of these plumbing fixtures can suffer after long periods of ignored care or sitting for a long time without being used. Parts and pieces can deteriorate if you don’t turn fixtures such as faucets on every once in a while. Don’t forget about uncommonly used sinks in basements or garages and even water spigots outside. Taking a few short minutes to run these faucets can keep them running properly for years and ensure you’ll have water when you do need it from these sources.

If you’ve noticed strange chatter or whining noises from your plumbing, or if you’re water flow has slowed to a trickle, or the opposite and it is now rushing out, the problem may be your home’s Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV).

Every drop of water adds up, and reducing water use, and water heating costs has a lot to do with reducing waste. Here are some things you can do to save water and reduce your energy bills year-round:

Do you get to the sink or shower, and have to let the cold water run until it gets hot; All of that cold water running down the drain during the wait? There is an easy solution that will help you save that water, and your time - A recirculating pump!