Helpful Kitchen Hints
Hints for Plumming Problems:
Repair leaking faucets
Repair leaking faucets quickly to avoid further damage to the fixtures and walls that they may be leaking down on.
Check for damage caused in tubs and showers by leaking faucets by pressing on the tiles on the wall where they come into contact with the tub. If they are soft, water has most likely caused damage behind the tiles.
Check around the base of the toilet. If the floor feels spongy, there may be water damage under the carpet or linoleum.
Turn on the water in the kitchen sink and in the bathrooms. If there is a noticeable reduction in volume, your pipes may be starting to build up with calcium and mineral deposits. This will lead to the replacing of lines.
Check the date on your hot water heater (the first four digits of the heater's serial number are the month and year it was made). Any heater over 15 years old should be replaced as it is living on borrowed time. Know how to shut your heater off if it is leaking. Know which line is your cold water line coming into the heater, as this must be turned off in case of a leak. This you'll do along with turning off the gas.
Call your gas company and ask them to mail you a free sticker to place on your heater that will give you the shutdown instructions.
To check for silent leaks
To check for silent leaks inside your toilet, put 12 drops of green food coloring into your toilet tank. If the dye appears in the bowl, you may have to change the ball or flapper valve. The toilet is leak free if no dye appears within fifteen minutes.
To remove unsightly mineral deposits on your showerhead, put one cup of vinegar in a plastic bag and tie it over the head of your shower with a twist tie. Let it stand overnight. In the morning remove the bag and the mineral deposits should come off by wiping with a damp cloth.
It is extremely important to know where your main water shut-off is to your house. Find out and know where it is so you are prepared to shut it off quickly should a pipe break or burst. If it is located in a locked closet or shed area, make sure a key is readily available.
Make sure the garbage disposal and dishwasher connections work properly. Use a flashlight to check for signs of water damage inside your cabinets. Check the washing machine hoses for ruptures and turn the valves on and off to test for leaks.
HINTS FOR DRAINLINE PROBLEMS:
Do not use your toilet as a wastebasket. Do not flush items that can be placed in a trash container. Never flush any item down your toilet that is made to absorb (sanitary napkins, tampons, paper towels, etc.).
Do not pour liquid grease down your sink drain. Before washing the pots and pans, wipe out congealed grease with a paper towel.
Once a week run hot water down your kitchen sink drain to help it stay free flowing.
To prevent sewer gases from backing up into your home from drains that are seldom used (as in basements), periodically pour a bucket of water down those drains to keep the trap and seal filled. If drains are not being used, water will evaporate in the trap allowing gas back up.
Tubs and showers should be fitted with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips. Clean the strainer regularly.
Foul odors occur from a buildup of debris inside your garbage disposal and trap. To eliminate these odors, place ice cubes and cut up lemons in the disposal and run for about 30 seconds; let stand in the disposal and line trap for 1 hour. Then wash out with hot water.
DO's & DON'Ts WITH YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL
THE DO's:
Use a strong flow of cold water when grinding food waste.
Turn the unit on before adding food waste.
Let the water run for 90 seconds after grinding is completed to be sure all the waste is flushed away.
Feed food waste gradually into the unit.
Make sure no silverware falls into the disposal.
Do grind small bones, etc.; this creates a scouring action inside the chamber.
THE DON'Ts:
Pack food waste into the unit.
Turn off the motor or water until the grinding is complete.
Use harsh chemical drain cleaners containing lye or acid.
Add food waste until both water and disposal are on.
Put stringy or fibrous materials (such as onion skins, artichokes, celery or asparagus butts) into the disposal.
Put metal, large bones, glass, china or plastic into the disposal.
DO's & DON'Ts OF A HOME SEPTIC SYSTEM
THE DO's:
Have your tank pumped every 4 to 5 years.
Use enzymes or raw hamburger to help set up bacteria in your tank by flushing them down the toilet.
Use biodegradable soaps and detergents. Use only moderate amounts, enough to get the job done.
Have all leaking fixtures in the house repaired as soon as possible.
Use additional lint and hair traps whenever possible. (For example: tie the end of a woman's nylon stocking over the discharge hose from your washing machine. This can be used as an extra filter for catching lint--- do this only if the hose drains into a sink.)
Call your Roto-Rooter® office as soon as you suspect there is a problem. Catching the problem early can often save you money and inconvenience.
THE DON'Ts:
Use excessive water when taking showers or bathing.
Run lawn sprinkler water over your tank or drain field for excessive lengths of time.
Use excessive amounts of detergent, bleach or acid-type chemicals that could kill the natural bacteria that is working in your tank.
Pour grease, fats or oils down drains. This will congeal at the entrance to your tank and cause you stoppages.
Flush items down the toilet that are made to absorb (such as paper towels, sanitary napkins, tampons, facial tissues or any other bulky product.)
Put a lot of fibrous or stringy fruits and vegetables down your disposal. These materials will fill your tank up more quickly and consequently will have to be pumped more frequently.
Plant trees that get large over the top of your septic tank or leach field lines.
Note: One other suggestion: if your drainfield appears flooded with water on the surface of the ground or you have extremely green grass or lawn in a particular area, check for dripping faucets or leaking toilets before agreeing to costly repairs. Often a minor adjustment will remedy your problem.
