Month: December 2018

DIY Plumbing | Extend the Life of Your Water Heater

Your water heater is a serious investment for your home and most will last 7-10 years. Many homeowners forget that water heaters, like many other home appliances, need a little preventative maintenance to keep them running as long as possible. We’ll go over a few easy to do water heater maintenance tasks that will extend the life of your water heater with the added bonus of keeping your unit running efficiently.

Regularly Test Your Pressure Relief Valve to Extend the Life of Your Water Heater

First, you should test your pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve is usually located on the side or the top of the water heater and automatically opens if the tank builds too much pressure. It is incredibly important to make sure that your pressure relief valve is operating correctly because if it malfunctions and the pressure in the tank can’t be released your water heater could explode. Start by placing a bucket underneath the discharge pipe and then slowly open the pressure relief valve. Any water released will be scalding hot, so be very careful to avoid burns. If your pressure relief valve doesn’t release any water when opened then it needs to be replaced.

Replacing a faulty pressure relief valve is pretty simple:

  1. Turn off the water supply to the water heater
  2. Drain the tank using the valve on the bottom of the tank
  3. Unscrew the discharge pipe and unscrew the old valve
  4. Wrap the threads of the new valve and screw it into the water heater
  5. Screw the discharge pipe into the valve again and test it

Keep Sediment Out to Extend the Life of Your Water Heater

The sediment in the bottom of your tank also needs to be flushed out periodically to prevent rusting and to keep your water heater running efficiently. Start by shutting off the cold water supply to your water heater. Next, turn on the hot water at any faucet in your home and leave it running for the rest of the time you are working on your water heater. This helps to release pressure in your water heater and allows the water to flow out of your water heater quickly. If your water heater runs on electricity, turn off the power at your home’s main panel. If your water heater runs on gas, turn the control dial to the off position. Open the drain valve on the bottom of your heater and continue to drain water until the water comes out clear. Close the drain valve, and open the cold water supply to the water heater again. If your drain valve leaks when you close it again make sure to drain the tank completely and install a new drain valve. Reset your water heater’s thermostat to the temperature you had it at before and enjoy the peace of mind that you’re helping your water heater last as long as possible.

Replacing Anode Rods Can Extend the Life of Your Water Heater as Well

This one is a little more involved, but it could add quite a few years to the life of your water heater. Water corrodes steel pretty quickly and once your tank has rusted through and starts leaking there’s nothing you can do to save it. To slow down the rate of tanks rusting, most water heaters come equipped with anode rods. The chemistry behind how anode rods is pretty complicated, but the basic idea is that by installing a rod made of metal that rusts faster than the steel that the tank is made out of, the rod will corrode rather than the tank. Once the anode rod is corroded through, the tank walls will start to rust which can lead to leaks which means that you’ll have to replace our water heater. Luckily replacement anode rods are usually less than 50 dollars and are relatively easy to install when you follow the steps below.

  1. Start by turning off the breaker for your water heater if it’s electric or turning the gas dial down to pilot.
  2. Turn off the cold water supply to the heater and drain
  3. Look for the nut on top of the water heater that is holding the rod in place. Sometimes it has a plastic cover.
  4. Using a socket and a ratchet or breaker bar unscrew the nut.
  5. Remove the old anode rod and install the new one. Make sure to put some pipe dope on the threads of the new rod.
  6. Tighten the nut and reinstall the cap if it has one

That’s all there is to it. If installed properly a new anode rod can help extend the life of your water heater by fighting rust which is a major killer of water heaters.

Call Scott English Plumbing for Help With Your Water Heater

If you feel uncomfortable performing these tasks yourself or if your water heater needs more serious work than this, call in the help of a professional. We at Scott English Plumbing can help with whatever you need.

DIY Plumbing | How To Unclog Your Garbage Disposal

Here at Scott English Plumbing we know that drain clogs are bound to happen to us all at some point in time. To be fair clogs are not an uncommon occurrence. With that being said there are proactive steps that you can take in order to prevent a garbage disposal clog in your home. Before we begin, these are the most common causes of clogs in your disposal:

  • Overwhelming your unit by feeding it garbage too quickly
  • Not running enough water down the drain pipes to completely flush them out while the garbage is pocessed
  • Accidentally dropping a random object down the drain, usually a fork or spoon into the disposal system

Some garbage disposal systems can be a little on the weaker end so don’t expect your unit to be able to digest and devour everything that you send down it. Our trusted team of plumbers do not suggest throwing certain items that will more than likely cause a clog in your garbage disposals such as avocado pits, corncobs, artichokes, chicken or fish bones. These items will wreak havoc with your garbage disposal system because the high fiber content will become hard to break down. We suggest that you get familiar with your unit’s owners manual to know what it’s limitations are.

Unclog Your Garbage Disposal in Five Easy Steps

In the event that your garbage disposal does get clogged up, our team of expert plumbers recommends taking these five simple steps to help unclog your garbage disposal at home without the help of a plumbing specialist.

  1. Shut off the electrical power switch: The power switch for your garbage disposal will more than likely be under the cabinet, near the disposal, or on a nearby wall. If you cannot find the switch locate the main power panel of your home and turn off the breaker or remove the fuse that gives power to the disposal
  2. Inspect your disposal: With the help of a flashlight, look down the drain and you may be able to locate the source of the problem caught in your garbage disposal.
  3. Remove the object causing an issue: If an object was causing the problem then remove it by using a pair of pliers. NEVER reach in to remove objects with your hands.
  4. Wait: Give your garbage disposal 15 to cool off.
  5. Turn on power: After your unit regains power hit the reset or overload protector button. This button can usually be found at the bottom of the disposal.

Once these five simple steps have been completed your garbage disposal should be good to go. Run some water down the drain and give your garbage disposal a go. The water should go down the drain with ease. If your garbage disposal remains clogged after all these steps then we recommend contacting one of our trusted plumbers at Scott English Plumbing . We can handle any job that you need to be done, so give us a call today and send your worries down the drain.

DIY Plumbing: Holiday Plumbing Tips and Tricks


Our plumbing experts at Scott English Plumbing know that a well maintained plumbing system is essential during the winter season. The last thing that anyone needs is plumbing issues during this time of year. Especially when planning to host any holiday parties at your home or business. Our holiday plumbing specialists know what it takes to keep your plumbing system at peak performance and we want to help. This holiday season we have decided to give our customers an early gift and share some of our favorite emergency holiday plumbing tips and tricks that you can do yourself at home, straight from the pros.

Prevent Holiday Plumbing Issues

The holiday season is a time for friends and family. Unfortunately there could also be holiday plumbing repairs needed with all of the extra use of a home’s appliances. Your home’s plumbing system will be used more than usual with relatives visiting and all of the delicious holiday meals being prepared in the kitchen. Our team of plumbers want to make sure that you know what to do when disaster strikes or even how to prevent holiday plumbing issues. All of the extra showers, baths, and extra toilet flushes could add up to a potential plumbing nightmare.

Bathroom Plumbing

These are some of the best preventive measures that you can take to ensure that your bathroom’s holiday plumbing system survives this season. Having company over during the holidays is wonderful thing but the extra workload could prove tricky for your bathroom’s plumbing. Implement these tips and tricks to keep your bathroom running smoothly during the holidays:

  • Spread showers throughout the day, we recommend waiting 10 minutes in between each shower.
  • Raise your water heater slightly to keep enough hot water, don’t exceed 125 degrees to avoid scalding.
  • Combat low water pressure by removing mineral deposits. To do so pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag, place it over the shower head, tie the bag in place, and let it soak over night. In the morning remove the bag of vinegar and scrub off the mineral deposits with an old toothbrush to restore the flow of your water.

Kitchen Plumbing

Your kitchen will also see an increase of use with all of the food prepared during the holidays. With all that tasty food and baked goods come a mountain of dirty pots and pans. Washing dishes can be a drag so don’t make it any worse with a clogged drain over the holidays. Here’s what you can do to prevent a potential problem in your kitchen sink:

  • Steer clear of pouring fats or cooking oils down the drain because liquid fats solidify inside of pipes and create clogs. We recommend wiping congealed grease from pots to prevent a clog.
  • Do not ever put hard-to-grind, stringy, fibrous waste into the garbage disposal. These items include carrots, celery, banana peels, pumpkin pulp, and poultry skins. A garbage disposal will not be able to break these items down enough and they will just end up clogging your kitchen sink.
  • Before using your garbage disposal run cold water down the drain for around 15 seconds and another 15 seconds afterwards to flush waste down the main line.
  • We recommend that you use your dishwasher and washing machine at night or during off times to help preserve hot water and keep enough water pressure for your guests.

Contact Us For Emergency Holiday Plumbing

If all else fails do not panic, you can always reach out to the trusted team at Scott English Plumbing. Our holiday plumbing specialists will be able to fix any of your holiday plumbing issues as soon as possible. We are available 24/7 so give us a call at the first sign of a problem during this holiday season.

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