Monthly Archives: February 2011

Should I worry about leaks?

Do I need to worry about small leaks?
How much water is wasted from leaks?
Are some leaks invisible?

Fact: Plumbing and Mechanical Magazine, a plumbing industry trade magazine, reports that water leaks account for 14% of the water used in the typical home.
What will you check?
Depending on your home and the condition of your plumbing system, there are different levels of diagnostic evaluation. At a minimum, we recommend checking for leaks with every faucet, shower head, and toilet. It is possible to make some checks visually. Others require the use of special dyes, acoustic sensing, and additional diagnostic measurements. The diagnosis involves a small charge to pay our plumber for his time. Leak diagnostics should be performed annually. They are included with a plumbing service agreement.

Fact: Leaking toilets
alone can account for 30 to 500 gallons of water every day. This can easily add up to an extra $1,000 to your water bill every year according to Plumbing & Mechanical magazine.
How much will repairs cost?
Remember leak repairs
save more money than they costs. If your home is typical, you can easily estimate how much water leaks cost by dividing your water bill by seven. If the leak involves hot water, double the cost to account for the added energy costs from heating the water.
Actual repair costs will be determined following a diagnosis of the problem. Some, simple repairs may be made during the course of the diagnostic. Others are more involved. Leak repairs are typically modestly priced and usually less than the annual cost of the leak. Before beginning any work we will, of course, provide you with an exact cost up front.

Fact: A small leak of 1/32” diameter (less than 1 Millimeter) can waste 74 thousand gallons of water in a year. This is more water than two people would typically use in a year.
What else can I do?
Repairing leaks is only one way to save water. We can significantly reduce water consumption by replacing old toilets with new efficient, water saving toilets. Our designer line of reduced flow, high pressure shower heads are another easy way to effortlessly reduce water consumption and cut heating and water utility expense.

The Answers you need
Slow water leaks are rarely urgent. In fact, you can be by for years without fixing them. Yet, you will not get by without paying.
Water leaks are like a hidden tax.. You pay and pay. It’s sort of like the old oil filter commercial. The difference is you can pay us now or pay the utility later.. and keep paying and paying and paying.
Repairing water leaks is an investment. It’s a minor investment that typically offers a better return than any bank.

Rooter Man Plumbing and Drain Service
www.RooterManSC.com
Charleston Plumbing Service
Summerville Plumbing Service
Mt. Pleasant Plumbing Service
Goose Creek Plumbing Service

DIY Plumbing Improvements

Water-Saving Toilets
In most localities, toilets that use only 1.6 gallons of water are required for new installations. These save money by reducing water consumption, but they do not flush strongly. They differ from older models by having a smaller tank or a mechanism that restricts the amount of water in the tank.
Don’t buy a new toilet simply to save money in water use. Reduce an old toilets consumption by setting a brick into the tank or by bending the float balls rod so the ball sits lower in the tank. Most people don’t mind the reduced flushing power of the new models. If it is a problem for you, get a pressure-assisted toilet.

Install a toilet seat
To remove an old toilet seat, lower the seat and cover, and pry up the little lids that cover the toilet seat bolts. Hold the nut from below, unscrew the bolts, and lift out the seat.
Clean out the area around the bolt holes, and install the new seat by aligning the seat with the holes and installing the bolts. Screw nuts onto the bolts and tighten the bolts just enough to firmly hold the seat.

Rooter Man Plumbing and Drain Service
www.RooterManSC.com
Charleston Plumbing Service
Summerville Plumbing Service
Mt. Pleasant Plumbing Service
Goose Creek Plumbing Service

Trouble shooting your water heater.

A tank type water heater is not much more than an insulated water bottle with a heater. Most water heater problems are due to rust or sediment build up. To prevent this you can open the drain valve every few months and allow a few gallons of water to run out. This will keep the tank flushed and prevent sediment build up.

Sediment build up in the tank can also contribute to the following problems:
• Water not hot enough anymore
• Hot water runs out quickly
• Tank is making noise

Rooter Man Plumbing and Drain Service
www.RooterManSC.com
Charleston Plumbing Service
Summerville Plumbing Service
Mt. Pleasant Plumbing Service
Goose Creek Plumbing Service