The holidays are upon us! With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around
the corner kitchens in Charlotte are abuzz with activity, and for us
plumbers, that means just one thing; drain clogs.
Often, homeowners rely on a caustic (acidic) drain opener to get them
flowing again. These materials can be very hazardous to your health and
the health of your loved ones (just read the warning labels). They can
also take a toll on your pipes. When a caustic drain opener goes into a
pipe and hits organic material (squishy drain gunk) it begins a chemical
reaction that produces excess heat and pressure inside the pipe. Not
good for plastic piping! If you have an older home with steel or cast
iron drains, this acid can (and does) eat through the metal over time
until eventually the bottom of the pipe is gone. The acid of chemical
drain openers can also eat away at the finish of your sink connections
taking the chrome, brass or oil rubbed bronze finish off and leave the
metal with a flat looking, dull finish (not to mention without its
protective coating).
So what is a homeowner to do?
Well, if your clog is just below the surface of the drain opening such
as in the bathroom lavatory or tub drain you can try to clean it with a simple plastic device like this one .
These little devices are cheap, safe and if the clog is near the surface, effective.
Another good method is to keep your drains treated with a good enzymatic
drain cleaner. These won't open clogged drains, but rather if applied
regularly when the drain is open, will eat away at the sludge before it
builds up and develops a clog. Bio Clean is a good product and many
reputable plumbers carry and sell it.
If you do come across a clogged drain this holiday season it really is
best to let the pros handle it. A licensed plumber should have all the
tools necessary to open a clogged drain in your home without using any
materials which are caustic and dangerous to your family and your
piping. A rotary cable machine is the tool of choice for most plumbers
because it is safe, effective and, unlike chemical drain cleaners which
can only poke a small hole through the gunk it gets the pipe clean all
the way around the inner circumference of the pipe, so the drain stays
open longer.
Jetting is also a good option that a licensed plumber can offer. This
tool uses pressured water to safely blast away the gunk on the inside of
a pipe; especially handy for greasy drains!
Also, a good plumber will inspect your piping in the crawl space or
basement and under the sink to see that they are plumbed with the
appropriate amount of downward pitch. A wide open pipe won’t drain well
if it is running uphill.
Often times as an older home settles the walls and foundation shift
causing the pipes to level off or even start running uphill.
Unfortunately, it is not unheard of to see homes built like this from
day one either. A shoddy plumbing subcontractor can (and often does)
bring a lot of trouble to a home even years after he finished plumbing
it.
If you need us, Pathmaker Plumbing can help get your drains open this
holiday season. Whether you would like for us to come out and do a
preventative cleaning or you're already in full holiday swing, you can
trust us to get you flowing again.
Learn more about plumbing and plumbing tip at Pathmaker Plumbing in Charlotte, NC.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Why Don’t Water Heaters Last as Long as They Used to?
A
cursory search of Google will tell you that the average lifespan of a
water heater is 8-11 years. While one shouldn't believe everything
that’s stated on the internet there is some truth to this statement. But
only some.
When
I first started my plumbing career in the 90’s I remember removing
water heaters that were installed in the 1950 and 60's. Some of those
were still heating water the day I removed them. I don’t see water
heaters that are still working 30 or 40 years later anymore. Very rarely
will I find one that is still kicking after 20 years. But that doesn't
have to be the case.
Much
to the chagrin of conventional wisdom water heater manufacturers
haven't cheapened the quality of the units produced these days.They
really do still “make ‘em like they used to”.
With
the constant threat of lawsuits these days they may even be making them
better. But the problem doesn't lie in how modern water heaters are
made. The problem lies with how they are installed and maintained, or
more appropriately, how they aren't installed and maintained.
There
are five layers of protection water heaters have against failure and
leakage. The first two are provided from the manufacturer.
First,
is the anode rod. The anode rod is a long piece of metal which runs
almost the full length of the water heater and its job is to
disintegrate from the reactive materials and electric current in the
water BEFORE your tank does. In most areas and for many water conditions
they last about five years before they are completely depleted. If you
read the manual that comes with your water heater you will see the
manufacturer recommend that the anode be inspected at least annually for
deterioration.
Second
is the glass lining. Just imagine the inside of your water heater tank
being glazed like a piece of pottery. This is a similar process for
protecting the steel of your tank. Once the anode rod deteriorates,
this glass lining is the only thing preventing the tank from rusting
out. On its own, this lining doesn't last very long.
The
other layers of protection are provided by the installer of the water
heater and mandated by most plumbing codes. The primary one is from
proper piping connection. Dielectric unions provide a buffer zone
between the steel of the water heater tank and the copper piping which
connects the tank to the rest of the plumbing system. When steel and
copper are connected and water run through them they begin to share
electrons at a rapid rate. We refer to this sharing of electronic bonds
as corrosion. Dielectric unions/connections are often overlooked or
ignored by installers to the detriment of the water heaters longevity.
The
fourth layer of protection is also provided by your water heater
installer. In many scenarios a water heater is required to have a
thermal expansion tank. If you have a pressure reducing valve, or a
back check valve at your meter (most municipalities do) you are required
by code to have a thermal expansion tank. This device gives a safe
place for the extra volume created by heating water to go. Without this
device, every time the water heater turns on to reheat the stored water,
it will produce excess pressure/volume which is a stress on the water
heater, water piping, and fixtures attached to it (toilets, washing
machine hoses, ice maker, etc.).
The
fifth layer of protection is provided by you, the operator of the
heater. Again, referring to that handy manual which the manufacturer
provided you will find all water heaters should be flushed out and
drained to remove build up and sediment at least annually. Some
manufacturers recommend this every six months! This not only keeps the
water heater at full heating capacity, it also prevents minerals and
deposits from attaching to the inside of the tank and solidifying
causing future damage.
Unfortunately
most of the water heaters I see these days are improperly installed.
BIg box stores and do it yourselfers just don't have the know how of a
licensed professional. As a result a water heater that should be running
for 15 to 20 years is dead and gone in only ten. Just because its
heating water and not leaking does NOT ensure a plumbing fixture is
installed correctly, especially a water heater. The manufacturer
recommendations and the municipal codes are there to not only keep
people safe but also to ensure they get the full benefit of a properly
installed unit.
Learn more about water heaters and water heater replacement at Pathmaker Plumbing.
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