Archive for May, 2012

How to Diagnose Bad Water Pressure Due to Clogged Water Pipes for Aurora Homes

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Poor water pressure is an annoying problem to have. It makes showering unpleasant, it’s difficult to water your lawn and your washer can’t get your clothes clean. These kinds of water pressure problems can stem from any one of a variety of causes, but one possible plumbing repair for Aurora homes is a clogged pipe somewhere in the plumbing system.

One clogged, partially blocked or otherwise constricted pipe somewhere in your plumbing system can have effects on the water pressure at other points, or even throughout the entire system. To diagnose whether your water pressure problem is due to a clog, first turn on the water at a faucet or other fixture. Then, follow this brief guide.

Is the water pressure at the fixture you just turned on fine, but problematic elsewhere?

If this – or the reverse scenario – describes your problem, then there is probably a localized clog somewhere in the piping that feeds the fixtures with poor pressure. It could be that a secondary supply line of the main supply is clogged or constricted and is affecting the supply to several fixtures.

If you notice poor pressure at just one fixture, there may be a clog specific to that fixture, such as a clogged faucet strainer.

Is the water pressure fine at first, but drops to a trickle right away?

This usually means there is some sort of constriction in the piping. The initial burst indicates that the overall system pressure is fine, but something is constricting water flow, although the pipe is not fully blocked. If this happens all over the house, the constriction may be in the main supply line.

Is the water pressure fine in all the fixtures in one part of the house, but too low at all the fixtures in other area?

If this sounds like your water pressure problem, then there may be a clog within a single pipe or connection. For example, one elbow may be clogged up, which is reducing the water pressure in one area.

These simple diagnostic steps can help you determine if your low water pressure is due to a clog rather than another problem, such as a leaky pipe. Unless the clog is in come obvious place, however, like the clogged strainer at the faucet mentioned above, your best choice to repair the clog is to call a plumber. Otherwise, that clog can turn into a much larger problem.  If the problem turns out to be a leaky pipe it is best to call Bell Plumbing & Heating to perform leak detection on your pipes.

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How to Choose the Perfect Appliance in Denver

Monday, May 21st, 2012

There are a lot of responsibilities you’ll face as a homeowner, but one of the most important is the selection of a good appliance for your kitchen and bathroom plumbing.  By choosing an energy efficient appliance that is the right size for your home, you will keep your energy bills down and improve the value of your home. But, what factors should you consider when choosing a new appliance to ensure you get the very best? Here are some things to keep in mind.

  1. Capacity – First, make sure you know the capacity you need for your new appliance, along with the size available for installation. Choosing the perfect refrigerator or dishwasher is great, but if it doesn’t hold enough or doesn’t fit the space you have available, it might not be a good selection for your kitchen plumbing.
  2. Energy Efficiency – Next on the list should be energy efficiency. Be aware that this will directly affect the price. So, if price is a major issue for you, move it up on the list by at least one spot. However, if you want to save money in the long term on electricity and water and you want to do your part for the environment, look for Energy Star labels and the highest efficiency ratings on the market.
  3. Cost – Cost is a big deal for almost all homeowners. Unless you have very specific needs, you should break down your search by budget range. Most of the time, you can contact an appliance salesperson or contractor and give them a budget with which to work. If researching online, use ConsumerReports.org or Amazon.com to review specific models by price range (you may even find a good deal).
  4. Noise Factor – Many people forget just how much noise an appliance makes until they install it and realize they can’t hear a person from three feet away in the laundry room. Noise cancellation costs more, but in some instances, especially for appliances in the living space like a refrigerator, air conditioner or bathroom fixture, it’s a major plus.
  5. Digital Controls – Most new top of the line appliances have digital readouts and LCD displays that allow you to review your options, reduce energy consumption and make quick adjustments. However, digital readouts and expert controls are not always necessary to get an efficient, affordable device, so this becomes a convenience factor.

Review your options carefully before selecting an appliance for your home. Organize the above five factors by importance to you and review the options in that range accordingly. You’ll hopefully find the perfect appliance for your needs.  If you need any help making a decision please call Bell Plumbing.

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The Solution for a Wet Basement in Sheridan is a Sump Pump

Monday, May 14th, 2012

Sump pumps in Sheridan are required in many homes to keep basements dry. At the lowest point in your basement there is a pit, or a sump, and that is where the sump pump is installed. If your basement starts to flood, it will start filling from the lowest point, over the sump, and once water fills the sump, the sump pump will turn on.  Once the sump pump is activated it will start sucking the water out of the basement and disgard it into the sewer line.  This plumbing installation is a quick and property saving device that every home in Sheridan should have.

How Sump Pumps Work

The pump’s base has openings to allow water to flow into it. When water fills the sump it also fills the interior of the pump. When the water reaches a certain level it triggers a floating switch that activates an electric motor. The motor spins a metal shaft immersed in the water at the bottom of the pump. The shaft is attached to an impeller, which resembles a small, sideways water wheel.

As the impeller spins at high speed it whirls the water away from the center of the pump, forcing it into a discharge pipe that rises up out of the sump. The discharge pipe connects to a length of hose or pipe that empties the water into a sink or outside the foundation of the house. As the water is forced out of the pump it creates a vacuum that pulls more water into the pump and out of the sump. The impeller keeps spinning and pumping water into the collecting pipe until the water level inside the pump – and the sump – allows the float switch to drop low enough to shut the motor off.

Types of Sump Pumps

There are pedestal sump pumps and submersible sump pumps. In pedestal pumps, the motor assembly is above the base of the pump and the impeller, and doesn’t contact the water. The activation switch for the motor is attached to a long shaft with the float on the other end that drops into the water. As the water rises, it pushes the shaft up and activates the switch. Submersible pumps are smaller units with the motor, activation switch, and impeller all on one level. The motor compartment is waterproof. Either style pump is usually connected to the house electric circuit. But some homeowners connect them to backup battery power supplies so the pump will work in the event of a severe storm and power outage.

Which Sheridan Homes Need Sump Pumps

Every homeowner in Sheridan should understand the concept of the water table. Simply put, the water table is the permanently saturated layer of soil, sand, or rock below most of the surface of the Earth. In some places it’s hundreds of feet below the ground, but in most areas it’s much closer to the surface. In temperate or seasonal areas, the depth of the water table can rise and fall.

The foundations of homes in the Sheridan area are built above the water table. But seasonal fluctuations and heavy precipitation can cause the water table to expand upwards. If a basement isn’t completely waterproof, and few basements in the Sheridan area are, the water will seep in. Land near rivers, streams, and wetlands tends to have a very high water table, so homes built in those areas are particularly susceptible to flooding.

Although most basements are not waterproof, they should be able to withstand an occasional increase in the saturation of the soil around and beneath the house. A permanently damp basement could indicate that the foundation is close enough to the water table to prevent the basement from ever completely drying out. Rather than installing a dehumidifier, a sump pump may provide a better solution.  To have a sump pump installed please call Bell Plumbing & Heating

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Thank you for your feedback!

Saturday, May 12th, 2012

We always welcome your feedback and would love to hear from you about how we are doing! If you have a moment, please take our online survey and let us know.

Here is a recent review from a happy customer:

The field technicians at Bell are great. They tell you what they are going to do, welcome questions, show you what they are doing and even teach you what you want to know if you are willing to learn. Thanks, Bell!

- Steve

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Plumbing Tips in Case of Emergencies for Denver Residents

Monday, May 7th, 2012

What should a Denver resident do if they wake up one morning and their ceiling was leaking faster than the Niagara Falls? Unless they’re a professional plumber, they will probably run around unprepared not knowing what to do. Since a plumber can take a few hours to get to their home to resolve the problem, here are some things to do in case of an emergency.

Know Your Valves

Every home is going to have an emergency shut off valve for its main water line. It’s best to know where this valve is. In case of a major leak, the shut off valve can shut off the water coming directly into your home. With some valves, you’ll need a wrench to forcefully shut it off. If yours does need a wrench, keep a wrench near the valve in case of an emergency. Note that all valves will have to be turned clockwise to turn it off.

Besides the main shut off valve, also make sure that the valves to the appliances, sinks and faucets are shut off. These valves can be found directly behind or directly underneath each item. As a preventative measure, shut these valves off once a year to keep them in a working condition.

Have an Emergency Kit

Plumbing maintenance can’t be done without the appropriate tools. Always have the appropriate tools laying around so that a leak can be fixed as soon as possible. In a plumber’s emergency tool kit, be sure that you have the following tools:

- A five-gallon bucket to catch the water.

- Heavy-duty rags to clean up a water mess.

- An adjustable wrench.

- Screwdriver and Allen keys.

- Forced cup plunger.

- Sealing tape such as Teflon tape that can help seal leaks.

- Blind caps that help seal the valves if one breaks.

Breaks or Cracks

A common problem that many people come across when it comes to a plumbing emergency are cracks in the plumbing. If you can get to the interior plumbing work, try to spot the exact crack or leak in the plumbing. This can often be relatively easy to spot since this is where the water will build up.

If you have the supplies noted on the list above, take some Teflon tape and wrap the pipe to stop the leak. If you don’t have access to Teflon tape, consider using duct tape in meantime. Keep in mind that this shouldn’t be used a permanent solution, but just a temporary one until the professionals arrive.

Clogs

While not a major emergency, clogs can often happen in a toilet or a bathtub. If a clog happens, a plunger can get the job done 99 percent of the time. By applying force with the plunger, it can often help remove the clog.

If the clog happened in the bathtub, remove the chrome cap so that you can have access to the entire drain. Note that if the clog continues to happen, there may be a problem with the interior plumbing work, and it’s best to call in a plumber to have them look at the issue. They can often place an interior camera through the pipes to spot the blockage.

These are all great tips in order to prevent a major disaster in your home. Always make sure that you have a plumber’s number handy just in case of a worst case scenario. Now that you know how to be prepared for an emergency, the water damage shouldn’t get out of control.  For more tips or to schedule plumbing maintenance please call Bell Plumbing & Heating.

Author’s Bio
Jeff has been blogging since 2007 & contributing on many websites since that time. He is also a consultant and content contributor for New York condos community.

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Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Friday, May 4th, 2012

In honor of the Cinco de Mayo holiday, here is a festive recipe to try:

Cheese-Stuffed Jalepenos

Ingredients
  • 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, cut into 2-inch x 1/2-inch x 1/4-inch strips
  • 15 jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup real bacon bits
Directions
  • Place a cheese strip in each pepper half; sprinkle with bread crumbs and bacon.
  • Grill peppers, covered, over medium-hot heat for 4-6 minutes or until peppers are tender and cheese is melted. Serve warm. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.

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