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Water Shut Off Valve. Plumbing Emergency

Plumbing Emergency Safeguards for Your Home

The purpose of this blog is to give to the homeowners some idea how to turn the water off to their house, If there was a plumbing emergency some of  they would have no idea where to shut the water valve off. Houses in Palm Beach can vary in age from 100 years old to six months old. So, What happens if you have a  pipe burst in the house? to prevent major flooding is better to know where the water shut off valve is located.

 Plumbing Emergency Boca Raton

A broken pipe can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Water can spread within minutes throughout the house causing mold problems and water damage problems. Every home in Palm Beach County has a water meter.

If you have no idea of where your water meter is located then call Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department for the location, customer service telephone number ( 561)740-4600 option 3.

Plumber in Boca Raton
Meter Water Key

Once you know  the location then you will need a meter water key that can be found at plumbing supply house in Palm Beach County.  The cost of meter water key range from $25 to $80 depending on the material. Keep the meter water key in a location where you have quick access for a plumbing emergency. The meter box cover will open with the use of a screwdriver.

Every fixture in your house has a main shut off valve, it can be a gate valve or a ball valve.

Gates valves vs Ball Valves. Plumbing Emergency.

Plumbing Emergency Repair in Boca RatonOver the years people have used gate valves but as time goes by they have a tendency to break. Many times the plumber will completely avoid turning the valve off to a house because valve will break. So if the plumber is there doing a minor repair ask him what will it cost to replace the gate valve. There is a lot of Chinese  ball  and gate valves on the market these days that are plain junk. When you’re installing valves in your house get good quality valves like Nibco. Most plumbing supply houses have in stock Nibco valves.

 

Water Heater Ball Valve Benefits

The water heater is another good location to have a ball valve that shuts the cold supply to the water heater. When the cold supply is turned off the homeowner must remember turn the power supply off as well. The power supply is located in the circuit breaker panel labeled water heater or WH. This will prevent the flow of hot water in your house.

Another plumbing emergency problem that can rise from nowhere is a leaky water heater. A leaky water heater can be a major problem for the homeowner. So if a good ball valve is installed the water can be closed from the water heater supply. Then the necessary repairs by the plumber can be done in a timely manner. But until he comes you will be able to flush the toilets in the house because of the ball valve on the water heater. But keep in mind, that single handle faucets if used can backflow into the hot side and leak back into the water heater so only use the toilets.

 

Many times people have plumbing emergency problems in their house. If there are any questions about plumbing issues please Call Us : ( 561) 968 – 0000 or email us at hardenburghplumbing@gmail.com .When finding plumbers in Internet  use Boca plumber or Boca Raton plumber.

About Old Faucet Repair

Old Faucet Repair

old faucet repairMost of the time in our houses we have several old faucets that need to be changed. The problem is finding the parts for them could be complicated. Some homeowners think that they can get in their car, go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and find the part right on the shelf. It takes a major research on your side or simply you have an option of hiring an expert.

If you are going to call a plumber to look for those parts and make any kind of plumbing repair, keep in mind that you may get and extra payment depending of the difficulty on finding that special part.

 

Old Faucet Repair  vs  New models

Faucet Repair Service

When you go to the plumbing supply showrooms, they have very beautiful faucets and sinks but in five years there will not be  available parts for the faucet. There is a lot of faucets out there these days, but you want one that has been around a long time. I have been using Moen faucets for years with no complaints, that is just one of the companies that you can buy from. The homeowner nowadays can have some very elaborate bathrooms with very affordable faucets.

 

So when you are buying these nice beautiful faucets remember, brand name and availability of parts, and when counting on an expert plumber contractor, Call Us:

Hardenburgh Plumbing (561) 968-0000

Finding a Plumbing Contractor

Finding a Plumbing Contractor

When you find a Plumbing Contractor certain questions should be asked :

  1. How many years they have been in business?
  2. Do they have a large or small company?.
  3. Does the  contractor have a license with the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.
  4. As a plumber, Does she/he have Liability insurance and Workers Comp?
  5.  Does the Plumbing Company also have an occupational license from the county or local municipality?
Plumbing Contractor Boca Raton
Plumbing Contractor Boca Raton

A Master Plumber or Plumbing Contractor should have about 10 years in the trade. When the size of the company, I have found over the years with large companies have large overhead and it will reflect on the bill. When dealing, with small plumbing company, it seems like you get personalized service. Quality work also seems to be an important factor. Large and small companies all have to be licensed with the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation

When selecting a  Contractor, the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation has a 24 hour website to verify if a plumbing contractor is currently licensed. Go to http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/ ,click on verify a license and then choose the option that you prefer. And remember,  Contractors must have Liability insurance and Workers Comp. to operate in the business in the State of Florida.

 HARDENBURGH PLUMBING

(561) 968-0000

 

Toilet Troubles Say Goodby

5 Common Causes of Toilet troubles and How to Prevent Them

toilet-trouble-palm-beach-plumber
A clogged toilet creates a lot of problems in the home. For one, the clogs run the risk of causing overflows and floods. Water damage is often difficult to avoid when a major flood breaks out. If five causes for clogs are present, then avoiding a flood is pretty difficult.

Five Main Reasons for Clogs

There are five major reasons for clogs and homeowners and apartment dwellers should be aware of them. Major clogs are often a result of:
1.) Flushing too much toilet tissue. Tissue does not exactly dissolve when it touches water. So, too much toilet tissue is going to create blockages in the drain. A flood is impossible to avoid when this occurs.
2.) Flushing the wrong kind of tissue down the toilet. Hand towels are very thick and even if you’re only flushing one after having dried off your hands, you may end up causing an overflow. As a rule, do not put hand towels down the toilet at all.
3.) Improperly disposing of things that should be thrown out. Cat litter is not supposed to go down the toilet. It belongs in the trash can. The same is true for the rubber gloves you used to clean up the bathroom. A toilet is not a makeshift substitute for a rubbish bin or garbage disposal. Do not put things down the toilet drain that the plumbing was not designed for.

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Major Plumbing Problem Tree Root vs Sewer Line

A Major West Palm Beach Sewer Plumbing Problem | Tree Roots vs. Sewer Lines

plumbing_tree-root-damage

One of the more typical West Palm Beach sewer plumbing issues that we see with sewer lines are broken sewer lines from tree roots that grow into the lines. As the tree roots grow into the lines the pipes burst. The plant roots are trying to find a source of water; buried plumbing pipes make the perfect source. Vapor is created when warm water flows inside the sewage system water pipes and leaves to the colder soil that surrounds the pipe. Tree roots search out the vapor and expand toward it until it finds the source. Generally the source of the vapor is a loose joint or crack in the pipe. Once the plant roots reach the joint or crack, they expand into the opening to get the nutrients and wetness found within. After the roots get into the pipe they continue growing, and if they aren’t disrupted then they will continue growing until they fill up the entire pipe with a hair-like root masses. These masses will catch debris from the house like grit, oils and house fats. Tree roots that grow inside of sewage system pipes are one of the most expensive West Palm Beach plumbing problems experienced by our clients.

Tree Root vs. Your Sewer Line

It may be the most extensive West Palm Beach sewer plumbing problem that you face.

One of the complicated and mysterious things about tree roots growing into sewer lines is that without a backhoe you can’t see it because it happens beneath the ground. It stinks, doesn’t it? It would be nice to keep tabs on something that can make your basement or toilet bubble up with sewage.

To better understand how sewer lines and tree roots interact, you first have to know what “a sewer lateral” is. A sewer lateral is the stretch of sewer pipe that extends from your foundation to the municipal sewer line that’s located under the street. The majority of municipalities will not fix or take other responsibility for clogged or damaged sewer laterals. If you live in West Palm Beach, hiring a plumber to handle your sewer lateral is up to the landlord or homeowner. Sometime, the homeowner is even responsible for the portion of the lateral that’s located under the sidewalk or street.

One sure sign that you are having a problem with your sewer line is having multiple plumbing fixtures back up, including your shower, sink, or toilet. Call Hardenburgh Plumbing today at (561) 968-0000 for all of your West Palm Beach Plumbing Problems.

Bathroom Tips and Maintenance

Bathroom Tips and Maintenance

These helpful tips should help to keep your bathroom running smoothly and efficiently.

 

• Fit strainers in your showers and tubs to catch soap chips, jewelry, and hair. Empty these strainers regularly.
• Once a week run hot water down your drains to keep it free-flowing.
• Repair leaky faucets as soon as you notice a leak to stop further damage to the faucets and fixtures from occurring.
• Don’t flush cotton balls, q-tips, facial tissue, paper towels, diapers, or make-up pads down the toilet. They will not dissolve and can cause a major clog in the lines.
• To remove mineral deposits on your showerhead, put a cup of white vinegar in a plastic bag and place it over the shower head. Use a twist tie to hold it in place and let it stand overnight. In the morning, take the bag down and use a damp cloth to wipe off the mineral deposits.

Showerhead Maintenance

Over time the holes in your showerhead can get clogged with mineral deposits that cause an uneven spray. In order to clean, follow the steps below:

• Unscrew swivel ball nut – in order to do this you will need channel-type pliers or adjustable wrench. You can wrap the jaws of the tools with masking tape to stop the finishing from getting scratched.
• Unscrew collar nut from the showerhead.
• Clean the inlet and outlet holes of the showerhead gently with a thin wire.
• Flush the showerhead with clean water.
• If your showerhead has built-up mineral deposits you may need to soak it overnight in vinegar. When you’re done, reassemble the showerhead.

Testing Toilets for Leaks

Check your toilets water level in the tank and make sure it’s not overflowing where the overflow pipe is (the pipe in the middle of the tank with a small piece of tubing connecting to it.)

• If you’re seeing water run into the overflow pipe, simply adjust the fill valve until the water stops about one inch below the top of the overflow tube.
• Put a few drops of food coloring into your tank to test the flush valve mechanism.
• Check your bowl after 15-20 minutes. If the water in your toilet bowl has changed colors, you need to replace the ball or flapper because it’s leaking.