PVC Pipe Repair

It’s happened to the best of us–  even though we know there are pipes in the ground and we’re trying really hard to work around them, we manage to put a shovel through one.  Man, some sprinkler pipes are very shallow.

Or how about that neighbor or realtor who hammers a sign in your yard?  Of course, if they tried to hit a pipe they couldn’t, but since they weren’t trying, they sure did!

Whatever the reason, broken PVC pipes are an occasional reality in some homes, particularly if you have a sprinkler system.

The good news is that a PVC water pipe can be repaired with a little effort, some common tools and a little knowledge.  Learn more in the  PVC Pipe Repair  topic.

Washing Machine Water Hoses

Have you checked your washing machine water hoses lately?

If not, you could be in for a nasty surprise soon.  The cheap, basic washer hoses have a life expectancy of only five years or so.  Some won’t last that long; hopefully yours will, but you won’t know without inspecting them.  If a hose fails you could have hundreds of gallons (or more) of water on your laundry floor, spreading throughout the house until it finds a place to leak out.

Washing machine hoses tend to fail

Sewer Smell and/or Gurgling in Bathroom

Maybe you get a faint whiff of rotten eggs in a bathroom when nobody has used it in awhile.  Or maybe you hear a strange gurgling sound like distant drumming on hollow pipes.  Either of these could be caused by a dried up drain trap.

This would occur mainly in a bathroom where one or more drains haven’t been used in a long time: perhaps a sink, shower or bathtub that rarely or never gets used.  The pipes for these fixtures have a J-shaped bend in them (P-trap) below the drain which should contain water to keep sewer gas out of the room.  Over time, if no water is added, the water evaporates so that sewer odor and distant drain noises can escape.

The remedy is easy and cheap:  simply run water into the drain for a few seconds to replenish the barrier.  The sounds and smells of your sewer should go away.  You can slow trap evaporation in unused sinks and tubs by keeping the stopper closed.

Toilet Trouble

A detailed topic will be posted here in the near future.

Meanwhile, it’s hard to beat a great website which has everything you need to know about toilets:  www.toiletology.com

Two of the most common problems with toilets involve the flush valve and the fill valve. Water quality affects both so if you have hard (mineralized) water you’ll be dealing with these more often than in homes with soft water.

A leaky flush valve

Central Air Conditioning Maintenance

Does your central air conditioning struggle to keep up with the heat or does it run constantly?  Maybe you should clean your AC condenser and change your air filter.

Notice water dripping from a mysterious pipe above a window, front porch or bathtub?  Most likely your AC evaporator drain is backed up.  This is a warning sign of impending water damage inside your home.

Just want to lower your electricity bill?  Regular AC maintenance can help keep it running most efficiently.

Learn about the importance of central air maintenance in the  AC Maintenance  topic.  One or two of these tasks are often overlooked by homeowners.

Water Leak Indicator

Did your water bill suddenly increase?  Do you suspect a hidden water leak for some other reason?  Wondering about new stains on walls or ceilings?

The good news is that you have a useful tool in your yard to confirm or rule out a leak: your water meter.

Many water meters have a low-flow indicator, also known as a leak detector or tattler.  It is typically a small triangle or star shape on the face of the water meter, sometimes centered on the main dial.  This low-flow indicator moves with very little water flow so you can sometimes catch even a dripping faucet (although you may have to watch it for awhile for such a small leak).  If you can’t locate your water meter, check for guidance in the  Utility Shutoff  topic.

To use the water meter to check for leaks,

Underground Utilities

Ever wonder….

….what some of those strange utility boxes are in your yard?

….where pipes and wires are located in your yard?

….how deep they are?

….how does power/water/gas/sewer/phone/cable get to my house?

….can I paint, move, disguise or conceal some of these things in my yard?

We’ll try to answer some of these questions and more.

Digging a hole in your yard?  You really should know what’s below the surface!  There are legal requirements to locate utilities before you dig.  Cutting into electrical or gas lines can be highly destructive and cause death or injury.  Tearing up sewer, telephone and cable lines can also be disruptive.  Even damage to irrigation and landscape lighting can be an expensive headache.  Avoid this by knowing what’s where under your grass.

Learn more in the  Underground Utilities  topic.

Utility Shutoff

Know how to shut off utilities in an emergency or other necessary situation.  Teach older, responsible family members how to do this with info from the  Utility Shutoff  topic.  It may just save lives and property someday.

Water Heater Safety Valve

Deadly and damaging water heater explosions occur hundreds of times a year in the US.  Usually this is because the required safety valve is missing, incorrectly installed or inoperative.  Test your water heater safety valve regularly to protect against explosion.  Learn all about it in the  Water Heater Safety Valve  topic.  You’ll also learn how to replace it if needed and how it should properly be installed.