Is tap water safe to use if there’s some discoloration? It depends on the cause, and the color can give you an idea of what’s causing it.
Here’s an overview of the usual suspects behind water discoloration:
Read moreKnowing how to shut off your home’s main water supply is just as important as knowing how to reset a circuit breaker, particularly in situations that require an appointment with an emergency plumber. Here Countryside Plumbing & Heating, Inc., discusses how to locate your home’s main water shut-off valve and why this is important.
Read moreAs with dripping water from air conditioning units, you should never overlook a water leak coming from your water heater. What seems like a minor issue now can actually become a major headache later on, leaving your home vulnerable to water damage and mold formation. But how exactly do you deal with a leaking water heater? A premier plumbing and HVAC company in the area, Countryside Plumbing & Heating, Inc. shares what to do here.
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You don’t have to search for plumbing, air conditioning or furnace prices to know that replacing these units in your home can be expensive. Even having someone over to do repairs can be just as costly. While there are certainly problems that are out of your control, surprisingly a lot of common technical calls to the local plumber are made by homeowners who believe some widespread but dangerous plumbing myths.
Read moreHave you noticed orange or yellow beads in the toilet, sink or bathtub? While not exactly toxic or harmful when handled, these beads will cause problems with your plumbing if overlooked. Countryside Plumbing & Heating, Inc., the leading provider of high efficiency furnace systems, expounds on resin beads, what they do and how to get rid of them here.
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Low water pressure is one of the most frustrating problems for homeowners, especially those with upper-story homes. In this post, Countryside shares tips on how to determine if your problems with low water pressure indicate a plumbing problem, and when to search online for “plumbing and A/C repair near me”.
A heat pump is an energy-efficient way to control your home’s indoor temperature. In fact, you can save up to 50% on your utility bills with the right size and type of heat pump compared to more traditional heating and cooling units. Its dual function is also a huge draw for most homeowners, working as either a heater and a cooler, depending on the season’s demands. Read more
Dripping water noises are almost always a cause for alarm, as it could add up to a significant amount of wasted water, not to mention it can be extremely annoying especially during the quiet early morning hours. There’s a good chance that you’ll need to call for plumbing or air conditioning services if the source turns out to be one of the following. Read more
Toilets are one of those simple household conveniences we tend to take for granted, so it befuddles us when something suddenly goes wrong. It can’t be too complicated of a problem, we think, but when we pop the top from the back of the tank we quickly realize we have no idea what we’re looking at—and no idea what to do about it when the water in the toilet keeps running and running.
The good news is that continuous water flow in a toilet is usually a relatively minor problem that can be solved without the assistance of a professional.
Four Common Reasons Why a Toilet Will Not Stop Running
When toilets run like ultra-marathoners the cause can usually be traced to one of the following four possibilities:
Cause #1: Cracked, eroded or deformed flapper
What is the flapper?
The flapper is a rubber stopper in the tank that lifts up to allow the water to drain into the toilet bowl following a flush.
What is the problem?
Over time flappers can become damaged through natural wear or from mineral deposit build-up. They develop leaks as a result, which causes water to seep continuously from the tank into the toilet.
Fixing it
First turn off the valve in the wall behind the toilet. This cuts off the water supply, so after you flush the tank will drain without refilling. Then you are free to take a closer look at the flapper to see if it is damaged or degraded. Flappers are easy to remove and replace and your local hardware store will undoubtedly carry them.
Cause #2: The lift chain is too long
What is the lift chain?
The lift chain pulls the flapper up at the flush and drops it back into place when the flush cycle is completed, allowing the tank to refill.
What is the Problem?
If the lift chain is too long it has excess slack and can easily get stuck between the flapper and the pipe the flapper is supposed to plug. If this is happening you will be able to see it clearly when you lift the top off the tank.
Fixing it
After turning off the water and draining the tank remove the chain and use a metal cutter to shorten it by two or three links. Reinstall and see if that solves the problem. If not you can cut it again but don’t shorten it so much it won’t let the flapper drop.
Cause #3: The float valve is incorrectly positioned
What is the float valve?
The float valve will be either a ball that floats on the surface of the water or a cylinder-shaped object (called a concentric float valve) fixed in place on the left. Its job is to stop more water from flowing into the tank once it is filled to the proper level.
What is the problem?
If the float valve is set too high it won’t prevent the water from rising over the top of the overflow pipe. Once the water level reaches the overflow pipe it will drain out into the bowl and cannot rise any higher, meaning the float valve can’t function.
Fixing it
Float valves are raised or lowered through the turn of a screw. If your float valve isn’t shutting off in time you can tighten the screw to push the float ball or the concentric float valve downward. Trial-and-error will let you know if you’ve moved it far enough to prevent continuous water flow.
Cause #4: Systematic mechanical failure
What is it?
Some type of failure is occurring in the ballcock assembly, which is the unit responsible for re-filling the tank following a flush.
What is the problem?
It might be broken or just worn out. You may not be able to identify the problem just by looking at it, however.
Fixing it
Ballcock assemblies are available in hardware stores and they come with instructions that show you how to install them.
If this doesn’t solve your running water problem you should consider hiring a plumber to check your toilet more carefully.
Please follow the Countryside Plumbing & Heating blog for further insights that can help you solve your plumbing and HVAC problems.
In 2015, every water heater manufacturer that sells in the United States must have their equipment conformed to the new standards of energy efficiency. This is applicable to all residential, propane, electric and gas water heaters. Water heaters as they are currently known will not look the same.
New 2015 Water Heater Regulation Changes
Water heaters that are manufactured after April 16, 2015 are required to obey the rules for the new energy efficiency standards. This will result in a mandatory increase of between 3 and 30 percent greater efficiency versus current models. The quantity differs by tank size according to the formulas. More efficiency will be required based on the size of the tank. There are only small gains in efficiency; however, the overwhelming majority of US homes have a water heater. Therefore, this can add up to huge environmental benefits.
The Effects
If your tankless water heater has efficiency rating over .82, it is already compliant. However, if you have a regular tank heater, you could be affected. To achieve the efficiency, additional insulation will be added by manufacturers. You will be impacted as outlined below:
In 2015, every water heater manufacturer that sells in the United States must have their equipment conformed to the new standards of energy efficiency. This is applicable to all residential, propane, electric and gas water heaters. Water heaters as they are currently known will not look the same.
New 2015 Water Heater Regulation Changes
Water heaters that are manufactured after April 16, 2015 are required to obey the rules for the new energy efficiency standards. This will result in a mandatory increase of between 3 and 30 percent greater efficiency versus current models. The quantity differs by tank size according to the formulas. More efficiency will be required based on the size of the tank. There are only small gains in efficiency; however, the overwhelming majority of US homes have a water heater. Therefore, this can add up to huge environmental benefits.
The Effects
If your tankless water heater has efficiency rating over .82, it is already compliant. However, if you have a regular tank heater, you could be affected. To achieve the efficiency, additional insulation will be added by manufacturers. You will be impacted as outlined below:
Fitting It In
These new tanks will be different in size; they will be wider and taller. Additionally, larger venting will be required for some of the gas water heaters.
Custom Installation
The installer may need to do some creative planning to fit the new heater to fit some homes. For example, if a 50-gallon tank is too big, a 40-gallon tank that have an additional mixing valve could produce the required amount of hot water. Fortunately, we have the experience to get that done.
Price Increase
Manufacturers will need to undertake the expensive task of re-tooling production lines. There will also be increased materials cost from the added tank insulation; as such, we expect a price increase in the $100 range.
Three Replacement Choices
• Substitute with the style and size of your existing tank while it is still available.
• Upgrade to compliant water heaters
• Think about moving to a tankless heater
These are things that must be done in keeping with the 2015 Water Heater Regulation Changes.
These new tanks will be different in size; they will be wider and taller. Additionally, larger venting will be required for some of the gas water heaters.
Custom Installation
The installer may need to do some creative planning to fit the new heater to fit some homes. For example, if a 50-gallon tank is too big, a 40-gallon tank that have an additional mixing valve could produce the required amount of hot water. Fortunately, we have the experience to get that done.
Price Increase
Manufacturers will need to undertake the expensive task of re-tooling production lines. There will also be increased materials cost from the added tank insulation; as such, we expect a price increase in the $100 range.
Three Replacement Choices
• Substitute with the style and size of your existing tank while it is still available.
• Upgrade to compliant water heaters
• Think about moving to a tankless heater
These are things that must be done in keeping with the 2015 Water Heater Regulation Changes.
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