Category: Plumber

Natural gas is a convenient source of energy that over 50 percent of homes in the United States rely on to dry clothing, cook food, heat water, and heat their homes.

It is usually safe, but under certain circumstances, such as improperly installed or poorly maintained gas lines, gas leaks can turn into major problems for your health and your home.

Toilet leaks aren’t anything to panic over, but no one likes walking into the bathroom with dry socks and coming out with wet socks. Toilets that leak at the base are usually an easy fix with some DIY how-to steps. 

You can make the repairs you need quickly using this guide that provides you with the reasons behind your toilet leak, the tools you’ll need, what to do about the leak, and tips to prevent future toilet leaks.

There are several cases where you won’t need to call a plumbing contractor. For instance, plumbing problems like clogged toilets or drains are often easy to fix with a plunger or a drain unclogging agent. 

But, what happens if you face a major plumbing issue that you can’t fix yourself? Do you have a plan of action in place? Do you know who to call?

Shower heads are one of those appliances that people tend to overlook and approach as an afterthought.

But when it comes time to complete a home improvement project in your bathroom, the shower often comes up as a good place to start the upgrade. After all, with so many shower head types to choose from, the process of finding the best type to fit your preferences can be tricky.

That’s why it’s important to take the time to make the right decision. 

Why Choosing the Right Shower Head Matters

Those standard spigots you saw decades ago seem like a relic of the past when you look at all the different options available today. But before you start shopping, you need to understand the impact shower head types might have on your lifestyle and your wallet. 

First of all, you want to make sure you get the shower experience you want. For example, you might prefer a handheld head because you want a convenient option for washing your children, bathing your dogs, and cleaning the tub.

Or perhaps you want a head that saves you big on your water bill. For those who like the finer things in life, massage and other spray patterns are available with certain types of shower heads. 

Another aspect most people tend to overlook is how your shower head affects your health. An unfortunate truth often ignored is the fact that shower heads are a perfect environment for pathogenic bacteria and harmful microbes.

Of course, risk of infection is small to nonexistent, but frequent exposure to contaminated water cascading onto your face and body is something you can easily avoid. Make sure you plan for how you will clean your shower head. 

Additionally, you also need to consider the cost. Think beyond the price tag of the shower head itself — look at the impact it will have on your water bill. Some outdated shower heads drain your wallet (pun intended) by using up to 10 gallons of water per minute when it’s fully opened. Fortunately, newer shower heads can save you big by using about two or three gallons per minute, thanks to their design. 

Ultimately, the total cost of ownership of your shower head comes down to the levels of water pressure it uses. 

Low Pressure Shower Heads vs. High Pressure Shower Heads: The Pros and Cons 

This topic is likely your primary concern when you’re shopping for the best shower head for your home. Ultimately, your decision comes down to what you want to prioritize — the overall shower experience or your water bill.

Pros and Cons of Low Pressure Shower Heads

A 2016 study found that showers are the second largest source of indoor water use, accounting for about 19 percent of total use per capita per day. It’s no wonder that people turn to low flow shower heads to cut back on their water bills. 

The major advantage of using lower pressure shower heads is obvious: Since the head allows smaller amounts of water to flow through it as compared to other heads, the restricted flow ultimately reduces your water use. 

The pros are pretty clear. Low pressure shower heads help with the following:

• Managing water waste and cutting back on your total water bill. 
• Reducing your electric bill by using less electricity to warm less water being used. 
• Decreasing the amount of emissions by saving on energy use. 

There are some downsides as well. These include the following:

• You will experience a time lag, meaning when you adjust the temperature, it takes longer for that change to come through the head. 
• Your water will be cooler because low flow heads combine water droplets flowing out with the air, making the water cool quickly, as compared to traditional shower heads. 

Simply put, a low pressure shower head can cut costs and provide an environmental benefit, but the experience can be frustrating, especially if you prefer consistent, strong water flows after dealing with poor water pressure in the past. 

Pros and Cons of High Pressure Shower Heads

These types of shower heads are useful for increasing water pressure if you find your current head ineffective. Many people prefer a shower experience that delivers high levels of water pressure, especially if they opt for high end heads that include a massage setting. 

The advantages of using high pressure shower heads are as follows:

• You get a better experience if you prefer a strong water flow. 
• You’re able to improve temperature control, reducing the lag between turning the knob and actually feeling the water get hotter or colder.
• You typically get more options for spray patterns, like a gentle mist, powerful stream, or a pulsating massage. 

However, the cons of using these heads mostly boil down to cost.

• You might see an increase in your water bill as you use more water. 
• In turn, your electric bill can increase too as you use more energy to heat your water. 

Now that you know the pros and cons of using different levels of water pressure with your shower heads, you’re ready to explore your options. 

The Types of Low and High Pressure Shower Heads 

Picking the right shower head with the best water pressure comes down to your personal preference. Here are the most common types of shower heads.

Handheld Shower Head

These kinds are attached to the shower elbow through a hose. The head itself can detach from the holder, so the user can extend it off of the wall. Handheld shower heads are especially helpful for cleaning your shower enclosure and bathing your kids and pets. 

Some of these come with a lot of extra features, like various spray patterns and massage jets. And many hand held heads can be mounted to sliding bars, making it easy to adjust it to various heights. 

Dual Shower Head

Can’t decide between a hand held option or a fixed type? Want the best of both worlds? The dual shower head is your perfect choice. 

Typically, these systems offer both a hand held head and a fixed head that is stationary. Dual shower heads include a diverter valve to effectively control water flow. A two way diverter valve will switch flow between the two heads, and a three way diverter valve allows you to choose which individual head to use at one time or to use both heads simultaneously. 

Single Spray Shower Head

This type is self-explanatory. It’s a fixed shower head that provides one spray setting, often referred to as a full body spray.

A single spray shower head is the best option for you if you want simplicity. 

LED Shower Head

These share the same functionality as the rest of these shower heads. The only difference is that they use LED lights to color the water, which can be relaxing and uplight your mood. 

Most LED shower heads come with a variety of color options, but some are single color or offer a random color sequence. Another cool feature — some models use water temperature to adjust the color of the lights. 

Rain Shower Head 

With this option, you get wide coverage, thanks to the extended width of the head itself. Most rain shower heads are at least six inches wide, making you feel like you’re underneath a rain cloud. 

These are mounted on the wall, but some can be installed in the ceiling of the shower enclosure. The water flow is evenly distributed, resulting in a lower pressure with a wide coverage. These are best if you have plenty of water pressure in your home so the head can effectively distribute flow evenly. 

When you know your preference for water pressure, finding the best type of shower head is simple. Keep in mind that shower head installation is often simple, but you need to make sure that it’s done correctly.

If your recent DIY home projects have not gone well, it might be worth hiring a professional. This way, you avoid common installation mistakes, which can lead to costly repairs and fixes. 

With the right irrigation plumbing system in place, your lawn should be getting uniform watering on a regular basis. A properly installed system is incredibly helpful when it comes to keeping your yard healthy. 

The best part of an effective irrigation system is that you don’t need to drag your hose around and water your grass by hand or constantly adjust your sprinkler attachments. However, as with any plumbing and irrigation system, your yard could be costing you a lot of money by inflating your water bill. 

Plus, a faulty system can diminish the health of your lawn and hurt its appearance. This is why you need to be proactive in detecting and addressing common plumbing problems you can spot in your yard. 

5 Irrigation Plumbing Issues in Your Yard You Need to Address

A major cause for concern when it comes to irrigation problems, aside from your high water bill and poor lawn health, is the impact it can have on the structure of your home itself. Residential plumbing requires consistent monitoring and maintenance to prevent serious damages to your home. 

For example, let’s say you sprung an irrigation leak near the foundation of your home. This leak, when left unchecked, can cause serious structural damage to your property. 

To address a rising water bill and prevent long-term damage to your home, look out for these five irrigation plumbing issues:

1. A Leaking Hose 

Your hose is obviously an essential tool you need to keep your lawn hydrated, as well as manage all kinds of yard maintenance, like clearing debris, cleaning out gutters, and more. Unfortunately, as wear and tear builds up over time, your hose is at risk of ripping and tearing. 

This can cause leaks that can disrupt your outdoor chores while also causing significant water waste. Over time, even small punctures that cause minor leaks can really compound and increase your water bill dramatically. 

Fortunately, fixing a leaking hose is pretty easy. Depending on the severity of the damage, you can embrace the following DIY solutions:

• Fix small pinholes, which can be caused by sharp objects puncturing the hose, by turning off the water, then applying electrical tape to the hole. Overlap the tape several times around the hose to ensure it is properly sealed for the long term. 

• When larger tears occur (e.g., your hose is snagged by a bush or the hot summer days cause cracking), you can simply turn off the water, cut the torn section out with garden shears, then attach the cut ends to a hose mender. The mender has two collars that attach to each cut end. Once you tighten the mender, turn off the water to ensure any leak is sealed. 

• Couplings tend to leak, so when you notice one that is bent or damaged, you can simply replace it with a new hose coupling. Use a hose cutter to remove whichever coupling needs to be replaced, then insert the exposed end of the hose into the new coupling and twist the collar until it’s tight. Turn the water on to test it for any leaks. 

Stay proactive with your hoses. There are plenty of ways to extend the life of your hose, like storing it in your garage to avoid exposure to extreme weather or using a hose cart to keep your hose lightly coiled and easy to transport.  

2. The Pool Heater

Heating your pool is a must in the colder months of the year. Whether you use natural gas or propane, you can expect your home energy costs to increase for obvious reasons. 

Simply put, the more your pool temperature drops, the more energy it takes to raise the temperature to your desired level. This will cost you even more money on energy if you don’t have a pool cover to keep the heat trapped. 

To prevent skyrocketing utility bills, make sure you cover your pool at night or whenever it’s not in use to trap warmth. This way, your pool heater isn’t using a lot of energy to constantly increase the temperature of your pool. You can also adjust your desired temperature to a lower setting to reduce the amount of heat your heater needs to produce.

3. Irrigation Leaks 

Water hose leaks are easy enough to find by simply inspecting your hose, but when you have a leak somewhere within your irrigation plumbing system, it might take you a little longer to find and address the issue. 

The first step in identifying if you have an irrigation leak is to look at your water meter, specifically the low flow indicator to see if it’s moving when it’s not using water. If it is, you definitely have an irrigation leak. 

Next, turn off your main sprinkler valve, then look at your low flow indicator on your meter again. If it keeps moving, your leak is likely inside your home. And if the indicator stopped moving, the leak is coming from your main sprinkler system pipe.

To do a visual inspection, turn the sprinkler system valve on again, then wait a few minutes for the main pipe to refill with water. Turn on one zone using your controller, then go to that zone. You will either hear water running or see it bubbling from the ground and pooling water. 

Inspect the sprinkler head too so you can find out if you need to replace or repair the sprinkler head. This is a simple process that most homeowners can complete on their own. Repeat this inspection process until you find which zone is being impacted by your irrigation leak. 

Once you find the leak and confirm that it’s not just a misaligned sprinkler head, turn off the valve and contact a professional plumber who can help. They can ensure you fix your leak correctly. If you try to do this yourself, you run the risk of not addressing the root cause of the leak. 

4. Lateral Line Leaks 

Another common problem that is driving up your utility bill could be your sewer line. Within your sewage system on your property, the lateral line is the pipe that carries the waste from your house to the public sewer main line, which is typically located in the street in your neighborhood.

When a sewage line leak goes undetected, this can lead to significant damage to your property. Over the course of time, that leak can cause sinkholes around your home, on sidewalks, or even in the road. 

There are plenty of ways to detect a lateral line leak. First of all, you can simply find the smell of waste. A broken lateral line means sewage is being distributed underground somewhere. That odor will be detectable if the leak is significant. 

You can also find pools of sewer water on your property, which will present a bad odor. If you’re experiencing drain clogs on a consistent basis, that also indicates a broken sewer pipe. 

In order to determine the exact location of where you need sewer line repair, you should hire a plumbing company that provides residential plumbing leak detection. They can use a camera to navigate the sewer line to locate the leak, then fix the leak accordingly. 

5. Overwatering

Finally, one of the most common problems is overwatering your property, which can be attributed to your sprinkler system. Overwatering can lead to weeds, insects, and diseases that will hurt the health of your lawn. 

The most common signs of overwatering your lawn include:

• You see water running off your lawn down the street.
• You see too much thatch, which is a layer of partially decomposed plant material.
• You notice more bugs hiding in your lawn.
• You feel a sponginess on the surface of your yard.  
• Your lawn shows signs of discoloration, which is likely fungi. 
• You spot an excessive amount of weeds, like crabgrass.

Depending on your sprinkler system, you need to look at several aspects that may cause overwatering. For example, your runtimes may be too long, or you may not have the rain sensor turned on.

Start to adjust the amount of time you run your sprinkler system, then gauge it over the course of a few weeks. It’s best to reduce the amount upfront, then adjust as you see fit. 

More Ways to Save Money on Irrigation 

The faster you identify the aforementioned irrigation issues, the more you can save. And you can be even more proactive and make updates to your current irrigation plumbing system. 

Invest in Pipe Bursting 

This is a newer plumbing technique that incorporates machines that split your existing pipes. It pulls a pipe bursting head through the existing pipe to split it, while pulling the new pipe inside. 

Pipe bursting replaces your existing pipelines without actually removing the old ones. This process is way less destructive to your yard, and it can be used to even upsize your pipelines, which increases the amount of flow capacity in your irrigation system.

Invest in Trenchless Pipe Lining

You can adopt this trenchless approach to upgrade your current systems in a way that doesn’t damage your yard. The trenchless pipe lining process is fast, so you don’t have to worry about downtime. 

Plus, the new pipe lining is smooth and comes with an extended lifespan. Depending on the plumbing company you hire, the resin that is applied as a new pipe liner can come with a guarantee of at least 50 years. 

As you can see, some irrigation plumbing issues can be addressed quickly and on your own. But others are far more complicated and involved, which requires plumbing experts. You can also invest in updating your current irrigation systems using pipe bursting and trenchless pipe lining, saving you big on preventative maintenance over the long term.

Homeowners. Commercial property owners. People looking to buy a house or find their next commercial property. 

No matter your situation, you need to know what wastewater system you’re using and what the difference is for each type.

If your home is like many in Sacramento, odds are that it’s a little over 40 years old—placing its construction in the mid-to-late 70’s or early 80’s. Many homes built in the seventies are due for repiping because of the outdated materials used to build plumbing systems back then (like galvanized steel or iron).