Does your toilet sound like it?s flushing itself? No, it isn?t because there is a ghost in your bathroom. However, it may be because of one of these 2 main reasons (Angie?s List):

1. Water is leaking from the tank:aIf water is escaping from the tank into the bowl, the water level in the bowl will obviously rise. This causes the toilet to flush itself, or ?siphon.? How do you begin tackling this issue? First change the flapper or adjust the water level. This may be a job for you or your plumber.

2. Debris or damage: There may be damage to or debris in youraflush assembly or fill valve. This causes the toilet to ?run? or make that flushing sound. If you can not find where the damage or debris is, consult your plumber. In all instances of toilets running, it is likely that something needs to be fixed.

Call Barker and Sons, Orange County professionals,afor all your plumbing needs. We replace and install new toilets. Let us know if these tips help you on our Facebook page.a

A broken sewer line in Salt Lake City, UT, can cause serious problems to your plumbing and your home. It?s important to be able to recognize the early warning signs of sewer line clog or broken sewer pipe so that you can contact a sewer repair company as soon as possible. Here is a look at some of the most serious consequences of a broken sewer line.

Health and Safety Risks

The biggest, and scariest, consequence of a broken sewer pipe or severe sewer line clog is the danger to your family?s health and safety. A clogged sewer pipe causes raw sewage to back up into your home through your drains. It also causes extremely unpleasant odors throughout your home. Raw sewage can cause illnesses and diseases, as it carries a number of dangerous contaminants, viruses, and bacteria. It may also contain dangerous and deadly toxins such as pesticides, pharmaceutical drug residuals, fungi, and protozoan. Contact with raw sewage may lead to E. coli, salmonella, hepatitis, and leptospirosis.

Increasingly Expensive Sewer Repair Costs

The longer that you delay contacting a sewer repair company, the more costly your sewer repair costs will be. A sewer line clog can become serious enough over time that your plumber will eventually have to perform a full sewer line replacement. A broken sewer line that is not repaired can cause additional problems to the structural integrity of your home, resulting in further home repairs. Delaying broken sewer line repairs can also result in a severe decline in the quality of the soil surrounding your home. The soil may become completely contaminated, requiring removal.

Delayed Sewer Repair May Affect Your Homeowner?s Insurance

HowaHigh Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures Can Benefit Youa

There is greater awareness of the need to conserve and protect valuable water resources within communities today. Every activity inside the household that involves the use of water can be done in a more mindful manner, using better-designed equipment and fixtures, in order to prevent wastage and contribute to the collective efforts in specific areas.

One positive practice that families can observe is to install high efficiency plumbing fixtures to replace more traditional provisions. If all households were to do this, according to the US EPA, the entire country would be able to save over 3 trillion gallons of water, plus more than $18 billion each year.

And because energy is used to treat water for better quality, deliver the water to homes, and heat the water for the residents? use, saving water also means saving considerable amounts of energy. Just one American home out of a hundred that gets retrofitted with more water-efficient fixturesawould translate to around 100 million kWh of electricity saved each year. Just imagine: That is equivalent to 80,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions prevented from entering the environment.

With these benefits, what household would fail to see the practicality and positive environmental impact of high-efficiency fixtures? If you?re interested to transform your home into a truly environment-friendly one, then consider making the switch to high-efficiency fixtures with the help of your trusted plumbing professionals.

Here is what you need to know about plumbing fixtures with ultra-low water use:

Conventional faucets use more than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm). You can replace these with their high-efficiency counterparts which have flow rates that do not exceed 1.5 gpm.

Alternatively, you can modify your current faucet with a flow restrictor or aerator if you?re in need of a less expensive water-saving option.

Taking showers accounts for about 20 percent of water usage in the average household. But if the goal is to save water, it?s best to stay away from fancy showerheads that mimic rainfall, for example, which can waste several gallons of water at once.

Slash your water use when showering by replacing your old showerhead with a more efficient ultra-low-flow. A good showerhead does not use more than 2 gpm (traditional showerheads use 2.5 gpm). You?ll cut your water use down by as much as 70 percent with this move alone.

Finally, you can save more water, time and money when you choose your toilets wisely. Flushing is the one activity that consumes the greatest amount of water in the average household.

The typical toilet (generally, one that has been installed before 1994) uses over 1.6 gallons of water per flush (gpf). You have three alternative options for saving water:

• A high-efficiency toilet does not exceed 1.28 gpf.
• A dual-flush toilet comes with two buttons: a lower-flush button for liquid waste and a higher-flush button for solid waste.
• A composting toilet uses little or even no water for flushing waste.

If you would like more information about high efficiency plumbing fixtures contact the Fox Cities plumbing professionals at Turek?s Plumbing.

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)

The Denver plumbers at Bell Home Solutions want to help you prevent pipes from freezing this winter with a few tips. Preventive maintenance is always the best way to prevent any type of plumbing problem, but if you do have a leak due to a freezing pipe, call us. We offer 24/7 emergency service to customers throughout the Denver area. Call any time for service.

Here are a few ways to prevent your pipes from freezing when the cold weather sets in.

• Pipe Installation:
  Ideally, your plumbing system should have been installed in a way that is designed to prevent exposed pipes from freezing during extreme weather conditions. Homes in colder climates typically have pipes installed in finished or heated spaces. If your pipes were installed outside the home, inside attics, crawlspaces, or other vulnerable places, they run the risk of freezing in the winter. Before you hire a plumber to install the pipes in a new home construction, make sure you hire a plumber you can trust to install them properly.
• Insulating Pipes:
  If you do have a home with a poorly-designed plumbing system, there are a few options for you. While a plumber can re-route exposed pipes to other areas, this might not always be possible due to the location of the pipe and how much remodeling will be involved. In this case, you can always have the pipes insulated with the proper material, such as fiberglass or foam sleeves designed to fit tightly around pipes. Depending on the location of the pipe, you may need extra protection. Your plumber will be able to recommend the right type of insulation.
• Leaving Water On:
  If relocating or insulating isn?t an option, you can always leave the water on to prevent freezing pipes. Even a small drip during extreme cold spurts can relieve excessive pressure building inside the pipe. It is this pressure that causes the pipe to burst, not the frozen water inside, so a small drip can prevent a burst pipe even if the water freezes inside the pipe. Keep in mind that leaving the faucet open if the water stops dripping will still relieve the pressure. If you turn on the faucet for the first time, and no water comes out, call a plumber.

Are you concerned about your pipes freezing this winter? The Denver plumbers at Bell Home Solutions can help you prepare for winter. Call us any time for more plumbing tips or advice.

When it comes to sewer and drain pipe maintenance you need to be cognizant of the fact that regional differences will affect the type and frequency of required services. Pottstown Illinois for example, is significantly different than any other neighborhood in the United States. The cost of living and median income there are less than that of the immediate surrounding area. This may have a past and present effect on materials used in the construction of homes. All materials used for sewer pipe is wonderful with PVC being the most common but each has advantages and disadvantages.

Much of the housing in Pottstown was built in the late 1930?s with a significant portion of real estate being added in the 70?s. So this may answer the question if you live in Pottstown, why is it time to clean your sewer and drain pipes?
Most of the pipes in Pottstown will probably be constructed of clay, which is a wonderful medium, but is prone to blockage by tree roots. All other pipe materials are prone to blockage due to hair, grease, or foreign objects, stainless steel and PVC are more easily damaged by corrosive chemicals.
Sewer and drain pipes will naturally become clogged and require regular maintenance during the course of time. If you live in an older residence you will need to schedule an appointment to have your sewer system checked.
There are a significant number of vacant buildings in Pottstown also. If you are planning on purchasing or moving into one you will definitely want to consider periodic maintenance, or a camera inspection to insure that there are no preexisting problems. Sludge can be a problem even when the system has been well cared for because the reason we have sewer systems is for it?s removal.

Consequences of not Cleaning

We seldom think of the fact that sewer maintenance needs to be performed but there are consequences of neglecting to do so. The backup from an unattended sewer system can cause serious financial repercussions due to damages by wastewater. Raw sewage is unsanitary and can cause health problems if not dealt with immediately. In addition, backed up waste water may cause structural damage which could result in extensive repairs.

Causes of Clogs

The primary cause of sewer clogs is a blockage by grease, hair, or sludge. There are also times when blockages are caused by tree roots. They can also occur from damage to the lines through corrosion or shifting. Any one of these factors can have devastating effects if not dealt with, so they all have to be accounted for.

Indicators of Clogs

If you have not had your sewer lines checked look for the following trouble indicators. The main indicator is a slow or sluggish drain. Blockages will not allow water to drain at the normal speed. If you are accustomed to the speed of the regular flow of water you will notice the change. Gurgling sounds coming from the drain is another indicator. If a drain in one part of the house gurgles when you use another you probably have a problem. A clog in the main line will affect all other connecting lines.

Preventative Measures

The best prevention against clogs is to make sure that you don?t flush questionable objects down the toilet, or allow them to get into your drainpipes. Filling your sinks and bathtubs with water and allowing them to drain periodically will serve to flush out debris which can potentially cause a blockage.
The most effective method for preventing or diagnosing problems is to request a camera inspection. If a clog has developed one simple fix is a procedure where a mechanical snake is run down through the line in order to breakup the blockage.
A camera inspection will guarantee that you find the problem and it?s exact location. When the problem is located and determined it can be dealt with effectively.