Common Toilet Repairs You Can Do Yourself

The toilet in your home is made of two primary parts, the bowl and the upper tank. The bowl unit rests on the floor and is not just a porcelain drain that does not have any moving parts. There are not that many repairs that involve the bowl unit of your toilet. The same cannot be said with the upper tank. It contains the water that will be released when you flush. It holds two important valves as well as the handle that controls the flush action. This is the part where the majority of the toilet repairs happen. You may be surprised to find out that most toilet issues are quite easy to fix. You can take on the toilet repair on your own. Replace The Ballcock Refill valves are available in different styles, and the older designs are called to as ballcocks. It refers to the floating ball, which is hollow, that operates the cock or valve that controls the water. Even though the term ballcock is usually utilized to refer to any kind of fill valve, technically speaking, the term only refers to the diaphragm type and the plunger type, which both have the float ball. Ballcock valves often encounter issues. If you encounter one, it can easily be fixed by replacing it with a contemporary fill valve that has a float cup design. Fix The Flush Valve The second primary component of a toilet is the flush valve. It is situated at the tank’s center. It is a brass or plastic fitting that is connected to the tank’s bottom opening. It works with a neoprene or rubber flapper or a floating ball. The float ball or the flapper rests against the valve opening and makes sure that the water remains in the tank until the flush handle is used. Depressing the handle will trigger a chain or the lift wire that is linked to the handle rod to raise the flapper and let the water move from the tank and into the toilet bowl. Repairing A Running Toilet One extremely common issue you can deal with yourself is a running toilet. A running toilet may be caused by an incorrectly seated flapper in the flush valve’s opening, or the tank’s water level is too high and it is letting the water to flow on top of the overflow tube and then down into the tank. Either way, the toilet repair involved is relatively simple. You can easily adjust the water level and you can also easily replace the flapper valves. However, you always have the option to hire a plumber. Loose Flush Handle Another simple Florence toilet repair you can do involves the flush handle. If it becomes disconnected or loose, there are two things you can do. You can reconnect the lift chain or the lift wire that links the lift arm to the flapper. You can also make some adjustments to the handle mounting nut that is located inside the tank; it contains reverse threads the need to be rotated counterclockwise if you wish to tighten it.

Call Plumbing Experts Florence if you need help in repairing your toilet or other plumbing related issues.

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Tips For Avoiding Plumbing Emergencies During The Holidays

During the holiday season, families spend a lot of their time in the kitchen and hosting guests as well as relatives in their homes. This inflow, in most cases, places more pressure on your plumbing, which could require the help of an emergency plumber. The last thing you want to deal with during the holidays is a clogged toilet or a backed up toilet. However, with more guests in your home and a large amount of food that needs to be prepared, emergency plumbing issues are often bound to happen. But, asking a Florence emergency plumbing contractor to go to your house during the holidays may not be as easy as it seems and you need to be prepared to pay a bit more for emergency service. Given that, the best thing you can do is to find a plumber before you need one. Do your research ahead of time so you have a good idea of what charges to expect. You can also inquire about emergency services and if they accept emergency calls during the holiday. Clogged Drains The most likely issue that you will have to deal with over the holidays is a clogged drain. It often needs the assistance of a professional plumbing contractor to clear the obstruction. However, there are several other steps that homeowners can do on their own to get rid of the clog or prevent one for taking place. Sink Clogs Drain clogs in your bathroom sinks can happen over time due to the accumulation of soap, hair bits, and fibers from towels inside the pipes. Clogs in your kitchen sinks are often the result of too much food being flushed down the drain. Most clogs can be removed using a sink plunger. If you compare it to a toilet plumber, the sink plunger is much smaller and it also has a different shape. Put the plunger over the hole of the drain in the sink. Make sure that the water at the bottom is enough to create a seal. Plump the sink plunger up and down while preserving a good seal, as this will help dislodge the clog. In case that does not work, you can also try pouring hot water down the drain. The hot water can assist in breaking up any soap scum or organic compounds in the clog. A mix of hot water and baking soda can also help unclog the drain. Although it is quite tempting to pour over the counter drain cleaning materials, several plumbers do not recommend it. The chemicals are potentially dangerous to your skin and can damage to the pipes of your plumbing system if you overuse or use it incorrectly. Toilet Clogs If you are having problems with toilet clogs, the first thing you need to do is to use a plunger. It is your first line of defense. It can help you get rid of clogs in the shower and bathtub as well. However, be sure to create a seal by filling the base with one inch of water before you start plunging. In case this does not work, a drain auger is a good alternative. It is also known as a drain snake that works by pushing it into the drain to break up the clogs. A drain auger will less likely harm your pipes, however, they may end up scratching ceramics and porcelain so be sure to break up the clog carefully.

Call Plumbing Experts Florence for any of your holiday plumbing emergencies. Our team is always ready to help.

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What To Do In A Plumbing Emergency?

Nearly all people and homes encounter a plumbing emergency at a certain point in time. Knowing how to deal with a plumbing emergency will help you protect your home and obtain a repair service in your area much faster. Residential plumbing services are by far the best defense when it comes to home damage and these experts can manage just about any plumbing problem that happens. Never get in over your head. Hire an emergency plumber right away. Handling a plumbing project can be an excellent DIY hobby for several homeowners who love working around the house. However, if you encounter a major issue and water is causing significant damage to your home, you have to call an expert plumber so you could minimize the repair cost and harm it may cause. In case you come home and find a leak in the ceiling or water on the floor, you need to take the appropriate steps.

What To Do During A Plumbing Emergency?

A plumbing emergency can cause you to panic. But by keeping your cool, you can minimize the damage to your house. Provided below are a few steps to help you deal with a plumbing emergency. However, you need to remember always that you need the help of a plumbing contractor during the process. The best thing for your home is to always have a 24/7 plumbing company that you can turn to. It is also ideal to keep the number of your most trusted emergency plumber in your list of contacts, so you will have easy access to it once you need it. Shut off the water – if an emergency strikes, switch off the nearest water source as soon as you can. For the toilets, this can be as easy as turning the valve behind or at the base of your commode. For bigger emergencies or flooding, you would want to switch off your home’s main valve. You can shut off most water valves by turning them clockwise. Check the water heater – during a major plumbing emergency, it is a good idea to switch off your water heater to prevent damaging the unit. Switch off the heater once you’ve shut off the main valve to prevent heat from building up inside it, which increases the risk of overheating or bursting. Don’t forget to turn the gas off first if what you have is a gas water heater. Fix Small Leaks – in case you find a small leak that is easy to identify, be sure to address it as soon as possible. You can make this chore a lot easier if you always have a plumber’s tape in your toolbox. You can also stuff towels or rags around the affected pipes or place buckets under the leaks to prevent further damage. Take note of the leaks and let the emergency plumber know where the leaks are located as soon as they arrive in your house. Call and Listen – never forget to call a Florence emergency plumber immediately if you wish to prevent further damage to your home. One good thing about making an early call is that you will receive some initial assistance with your problem. Trained plumbing contractors who will answer your call can inform you if the problem is too dangerous. If they tell you to leave your home, be sure to listen and follow.

Call Plumbing Experts Florence if you have a plumbing emergency at home. 

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Tips To Avoid Common Plumbing Scams

Plumbing is a complicated task that requires both knowledge and precision. Go through any city phonebook and you will find countless plumbers claiming that they work fast at a price you can afford. Unfortunately, there are those who are in the business just because they want to make a quick buck and are not shy about running a plumbing scam. Provided below is a list of the most common scams run by shady plumbing contractors and how to avoid them. Uses Low-Cost Materials But Promises You High-Quality Ones This scam focuses on the materials used for the plumbing tasks. Top quality cross-linked PEX or polyethylene pipe or copper tubing are expensive and most homeowners are willing to purchase costly products that will keep their plumbing system in tip-top shape for another 10 years. However, shady plumbing contractors tell you that they are using only the best materials and charge you for that even if in truth, they are actually using low-cost alternatives. You can beat this scam in two ways. Ask the plumbing contractor about the parts they plan to use and bring the list to your local home improvement and hardware store. In case the plumber is using top quality materials but are charging you too much, you can call his bluff. If he is using low-end products but dares to make a huge profit, it is best to find another plumbing contractor. Another method is to check what is on the invoice and make sure that it matches what is behind your walls. In case your plumber says that he is using a certain PEX tubing brand, inspect it before it is installed and be sure that he is not trying a bait and switch trick. Hiring Extra Workers For this type of scam, your Florence plumbing contractor starts his work as soon as the contract is signed, however, within a week you will find that there are far more people in your house than necessary. In some instances, extra workers are apprentices. However, there are contractors who try to increase their profits by subcontracting certain parts of the job and then claim that they can only control their rates and not the hourly rates of others. You have to ask why each worker is required. If you are not sure who is doing what in your house, ask them to stop what they are doing and ask. You don’t want to pay extra costs for unnecessary work. Overcharging If you reside in a wealthy neighborhood, beware of contractors who overcharge. Plumbers do not need to have a fixed hourly rate, which means they can charge whatever their clients are willing to pay. There are a few contractors who spot lavish cars in your garage, a hot tub in the yard, or an expensive TV screen in your living room. They may instantly assume that you’ve got deep pocks and will increase their hourly rates by as much as 50% or even 100%. Before you give the go signal for any kind of plumbing work, ask at least three plumbing contractors to check the job and give you estimates for the materials and labor. No Written Estimates Some shady contractors are smooth talkers. When you want something, he will immediately say no problem and he will always keep a running total of the costs as he moves through your home. By the time you as for a written estimate, he will tell you that he has to sit down and itemize all the materials and labor costs and he will get back to you as soon as he can. Once he does, he will offer a final budget over the phone and not in writing. He will promise to send over the paperwork but he seems to be so eager to begin the work so you let him. A few weeks have passed and there is still no written estimate. By the time job is finished, you will get an invoice that is at least twice as much as the original quote he gave you. Don’t forget to get a written quote and make sure the contract you sign specifies how much you need to pay and when. By doing so, if you are not satisfied with the work quality or if the job is not finished on time, you will have a chance to fight for it in civil court.

Hire only the best, trustworthy and reliable plumbing contractor. Call Plumbing Experts Florence now.

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Do’s and Don’ts When Working With Your Plumbing System

Before you do any DIY plumbing repair or project, you need to know some basic safety precautions. These include legal requirements for plumbing installations and general tool safety tips. And because plumbing work involves dealing with pipes, you also need to know what is in the pipe. Is it sewage? Or pressurized water? And the possible consequences of those actions. Do Plumbing the safe and smart way begins with thinking about what you need to do next. Take some time to consider what is in the pipe or if turning off the water first can make a difference between finishing simple plumbing project to causing a costly plumbing disaster. Think before you open the drain – before you remove a cleanout or separate drain parts, ask yourself first if it is possible that the contents of the pipe is going to drain in your direction. Drains are not usually under pressure however a clog in a drain can create significant pressure because of gravity and the weight causing the clog. Several plumbers have their own horror stories to share about opening a cleanout in a basement and triggering a firehouse effect of gushing sewage. Shut Off The Water – In case there is a possibility that your work will involve a water supply, turn off the water just to be safe. In some cases, what might appear as a decorative knob or cap actually suppresses pressurized water. You do not want to have to look for it in a panic. Be Informed – Check all necessary local building as well as Florence plumbing codes before you begin any significant plumbing project. You should know what you can do on your own and what type of work requires a professional. Obtain a permit if it is needed for your plumbing project. Protect Your Eyes – you have to wear safety glasses if you are doing plumbing work. There are some tasks like using a reciprocating saw or a drill, hammering, working under the sink while looking up, and even snaking a drain can damage your eyes. You also have to be aware of the possibility of contaminants like drain gunk or sewage splashing into your eyes. Protect Your Hands – Don’t forget to protect your hands by wearing work gloves. Your hands will be coming in contact with various kinds of chemicals and materials when taking on plumbing projects, and by using gloves, you will be able to prevent injuries. When utilizing a drain machine of any type, it is recommended to wear latex gloves underneath the leather gloves so you will have protection against the germs that are commonly found in drain lines. Protect Your Lungs – you should always use a face mask when needed to protect your lungs. If your project involves sanding or sawing, you have to take extra precautionary measures by using disposable face mask so you won’t inhale dust particles. Practice Tool Safety – always exercise caution when you are using power tools, and be sure to follow the instructional manual provided by the manufacturer. When you drill large holes for pipes using a powerful ½ inch drill, you need to take extra precautions because this is a common hazard for plumbing work. You need to make sure that the cutter or drill bit won’t bind while you are using it. In case the bit stops, the drill will continue working. Additionally, be extra careful when soldering or utilizing any heat on pipes, particularly on the wall or close to any insulation. Utilize a heat shield to safeguard surrounding combustible materials whenever you are working with a soldering torch. Read labels – you should read instructions and labels all the time especially when working with machines or chemicals. Stick to the recommendations at all times. Be sure to check the warning labels on the equipment and products that you will use. You should also know what you have to do in case an emergency happens. Don’ts Plumbing may seem simple but it is actually very complicated. So the general rule of thumb is to never rush into thins. Consider every phase of your plumbing project and be sure that the plan works before you begin tearing into your pipes or removing the fixtures. Ignore code requirements – building and plumbing codes are set in place for your protection, everybody in your household, as well as the general public, so they must never be ignored. For instance, leaving out a basic vacuum breaker, which is a common code requirement, in a water supply line could most likely result in the contamination of the public drinking water. Ignore the odor of gas – if you suspect a possible gas leak or smell natural gas, stop whatever it is that you are doing immediately. In case it is safe to do so, switch off the gas, and contact your gas company right away. Never try to find the gas leak on your own. Cut blindly – before you drill or cut anything into a ceiling, wall, or floor cavity, you should know what is behind the surface. Cavities usually conceal electrical wiring, plumbing pipes, as well as ductwork, and several other things that you wouldn’t want to drill into. Use tools and equipment incorrectly – you should use equipment and tools for their intended purpose only. Incorrectly using them can lead to injury or damage to the tool or equipment. Those that are poorly maintained can also pose a safety hazard. Be sure to check all your things to make sure that they are all in good condition before using them.

Call Plumbing Experts Florence if you need the assistance of an expert residential plumber.

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