In most cases this is caused by the flapper not closing on or making the proper seal around the flush valve. If this is the case, jiggle the handle and that should fix the issue. If the flapper is worn out and not properly sealing, then you will have to replace the flapper.
Drain cleaners are very toxic. If you look on the back of the product, there are several warning labels. These toxic chemicals are not good to have around the house, especially if you have children or pets. These chemicals are not good for your pipes, they cause pipes to deteriorate from the inside out. If this happens your drain lines need to be replaced.
There are enzymes and friendly bacteria products that will keep sludge and grease from building up inside the pipes.
Garbage disposals will only break up soft debris. Mashed potatoes, carrots, corn, etc… are ok to put in the disposal. Never put pasta or potatoes in the garbage disposal. Never put bones, coffee grounds, egg shells or any hard product; this will wear the blades and jam the disposal. When you are running the garbage disposal you should always run water to help break down the food and flush through the drain.
Depending on the age and type of your water heater there are a couple of reasons you may be running out of hot water so quickly.
Electric water heaters commonly have 2 elements that heat the water, the top element and the lower element. Chances are, if you are running out of hot water quickly, the lower element is not working and only the top portion of the tank is being heated. If the top element stops working, then nothing will heat, and you will not have hot water.
There is a reset button on an electric water heater thermostat than can be tripped. If the reset button is tripped, this is an indicator that there is a more serious problem.
For Gas water heaters the most common reason is the dip tube. The dip tube is a piece of pipe that directs the cold water to the bottom of the tank to get heated. Over time this dip tube can get shorter causing the cold water to mix with the hot, causing lukewarm water.
In most cases drains get clogged because people are not careful of what goes in the drain, especially in the kitchen. Other drains, like the bathroom get clogged due to residues from soap and hair.
The most common cause of faucet leaks is a corroded gasket, O-ring or valve. This is often an easy fix. Most of the time, those parts can be replaced without replacing the entire faucet.
Insulating your pipes is the best way to prevent them from freezing. If you cannot access your pipes to insulate them, leave the water on a slow drop on very cold nights, to keep water flowing and prevent freezing.
Plumbing can appear to be very simple, however, there’s a lot of liability when you’re dealing with things like water. It’s easy for something to be done wrong if the person doesn’t know what they’re doing or if they don’t take the time to do the work correctly. Suddenly, everything blows apart and cause a huge and expensive mess. Hire a professional if you want the job done right. A professional does cost more than a non-professional; but you’ll be happier in the end.
There is defiantly a variable here because it depends on many different factors. For example, water quality and how much the system is used will make a difference on how long it lasts. We typically say that a water heater installed today will last around 8 – 12 years. That’s very different from a water heater that was installed 25 years ago. Things just don’t last as long as they used to.
Maintenance, such as flushing the tanks yearly can promote longevity.
We do not recommend hot water to be more than 120 degrees. If you set it higher, it can be dangerous, especially to small children and elderly.
If the hot water heater is located a long distance away from the faucet, it’s going to take a long time to get there. There are solutions to this problem. You can install a recirculation system to keep hot water at the faucet. This could save you money in the long run.
