How to Replace Your Showerhead

Showerheads don’t last forever. They begin to leak, corrode, clog and become outdated. And, sometimes, you just want a new showerhead. Luckily, replacing your showerhead is something that almost any homeowner can tackle.

In this guide, we’ll talk about each step of the showerhead replacement process so that you can follow along at home. And, if after all is said and done you still aren’t confident in your ability to do the job, contact Scott English Plumbing, Inc. We’re always standing by to help.

Step 1 – Pick a Showerhead

Before you start replacing your existing showerhead, you’ll first have to pick out a new one. There are several different types available. Some of the most popular types of showerheads around are:

Low-flow showerheads
Adjustable showerheads
LED backlit showerheads
Rainfall showerheads
Handheld showerheads
And more!

Once you have found the perfect showerhead for your bathroom, it’s time to purchase it. You can buy showerheads at any home improvement store. And, while you’re at the home improvement store you’ll need some tools to get the job done right.

Step 2 – Assemble the Right Tools for the Job

While you’re at the home improvement store picking up your showerhead, you should also make sure you have the following tools:

Adjustable wrench (commonly called a crescent wrench)
Tephlon tape (for making a seal)
Towels and a tarp (to prevent debris from entering your shower drain)
Any fittings necessary to make it possible to attach your new showerhead to your exisiting shower arm

After you’ve assembled all the appropriate tools and purchased your showerhead, it’s time to get to work.

Step 3 – Remove the Existing Showerhead

Before you start removing the existing showerhead, put your tarp down over your shower drain and turn off the water. This is to prevent any debris from falling into the drain while you work.

Once the tarp is down, wrap a towel around the shower arm and another around the existing showerhead. Then, with your adjustable wrench, grip the base of the showerhead and turn it counterclockwise. Once the showerhead is free, take another towel and carefully clean the threads on your shower arm. Cleaning the threads will make the next step easier and more effective.

Step 4 – Apply Teflon Tape to Your New Showerhead and Existing Shower Arm

After you have finished removing your old showerhead, take your Teflon tape and tightly wrap it around the threads of your new showerhead and your existing shower arm. Wrap the tape clockwise around the threads, pushing the tape into the grooves of the threads as you go. You want to make sure you tightly tape the threads. If your tape is too loose, your new showerhead will leak and you’ll have to start all over again.

Step 5 – Install the New Showerhead

Once your fittings are securely taped, take your new showerhead and screw it on to your shower arm. Once you have finished screwing on the showerhead by hand, wrap towels around it and the shower arm as we did in Step 3. Then, take your adjustable wrench and tighten the showerhead onto the arm tightly.

Once the new showerhead is completely screwed in, turn the water back on and look for any leaks. A leaking showerhead is most likely due to poorly applied Teflon tape. If yours is leaking, then repeat Steps 3 through 5 until you are satisfied.

Too Much? Let Scott English Plumbing, Inc. Install Your New Showerhead for You

If this seems like too much of a task, then don’t fret. You can always contact the professional plumbers here at Scott English Plumbing, Inc. for assistance. Our team of plumbing experts is always standing by to help you with your showerhead woes. Contact us for help today!

Hard Water – What is it and What Problems Does it Cause?

Have you been noticing that your soap isn’t lathering very well? Are there unsightly white deposits on your faucets and showerhead? If you answered “yes” to either question, then you most likely have hard water. But, what does that entail, exactly? Let’s talk about what hard water is, and what kinds of problems it can cause. Then, once we finish that, we’ll talk about what you can do about it.

What is Hard Water?

Hard water is water contaminated with minerals. The two most common mineral culprits in hard water supplies are calcium and magnesium. Hard water is primarily a result of water that has permeated through limestone, gypsum, or chalk deposits. There are two types of water hardness. They are:

Temporary Hardness
Temporary hardness refers to water that contaminated with dissolved bicarbonate minerals. The two most common ones are calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate. However, unlike permanent hardness, water considered temporarily hard can be ‘softened’ by boiling. The heat releases the bicarbonate solids and leaves behind nothing but pure water.
Permanent Hardness
Permanently hard water is contaminated with calcium sulfate/chloride or magnesium sulfate/chloride. Sulfates and chlorides do not precipitate out with temperature increases. So, boiling this type of hard water will not improve the situation. Instead, you can filter permanent hardness by using a water softener (ion exchange) machine.

What Problems Does Hard Water Cause?

Hard water is the culprit behind many home issues. Some of the more common problems caused by hard water include:

Difficulty lathering soap
A dingy and slimy feeling to your water
Foul tasting water
Hard water deposits and stains on plumbing appliances
Clogged pipes, leaks, and water damage
Damage your washing machine and dishwasher

How Do You Get Rid of It?

If you’re facing issues with temporary hardness in your water, then the solution is as simple as boiling your water before use. You can accomplish this by using a boiler instead of a traditional water heater, and you can always boil water before doing the dishes. However, this won’t solve issues with permanent hardness.

If you have permanent hardness issues with your water, then you’ll need a water softener. End of story. While hard water may have some health benefits (debatable), it can wreak utter havoc on your plumbing system and appliances.

So, if you have permanent hardness, then contact Scott English Plumbing, Inc. We provide professional water softener installation, repair, and replacement services!

Plumbing Upgrades that Can Increase the Value of Your Home

Remodeling and upgrading a home is a common strategy to increase the retail value of the property before selling. Most people focus on the exterior appearance, or “curb appeal”, of their home when they’re about to sell. But, there are some plumbing upgrades that can do even more to increase the value of your property. Let’s go over a few different things you can do with your plumbing that can increase your property value.

Install Low Flow and/or Luxury Showerheads

One of the first places that people look when they’re shopping for a home is the master bathroom. And, one of the primary features that catch potential customer eyes is the shower. A luxury and/or low flow shower head can help increase the “wow factor” of your bathroom(s). The more impressed potential buyers are with your bathroom(s), the more likely they are to buy. And, that, in turn, will increase the value that realtors place on your home.

Installing Double Sinks in the Master Bathroom

Double sinks are classic. They’ve been popular since indoor plumbing became the standard. In fact, they are even one of the top things on the “must haves” list for many home buyers. Also, installing double sinks is not all that expensive. You are very likely to see a significant ROI (Return on Investment) when adding double sinks to a bathroom. However, be mindful of how much space you have in your master bathroom. If there is too little space, double sinks will feel crowded and uncomfortable.

Having Your Home Repiped

While repiping is definitely on the more expensive side of property value increasing plumbing upgrades, it is still worth doing in several situations. And, while quite pricey, upgrading your home to copper pipes instead of PEX or Galvanized Steel can add significant resell value to your property. If you’d like to learn more about repiping services, then check out our Orange County repiping page.

Installing Low Flow Toilets

Conserving water and environmentalism are on the rise. So, it’s only natural that installing more eco-friendly plumbing fixtures in your home can increase its resell value. Installing low flow toilets can go a long way towards helping conserve water. And, they look good while doing it! Having Scott English Plumbing, Inc. install low flow toilets in your home is a good and cost-effective way to add significant resell value.

Contact Scott English Plumbing, Inc. for Help Installing New Plumbing Fixtures Today!

Here at Scott English Plumbing, Inc., we pride ourselves on being the go-to plumbing contractors in the area. From installing your new low flow toilets and double sinks to repiping your home, we can help. So, if you’d like to start improving your plumbing fixtures and increasing your home’s value, then don’t hesitate to contact us today!

How to Conserve Water This Summer

Summer is currently in full swing! And, summer is a great time to start thinking about conserving water (especially in California). With record droughts and dry spells, the state has seen a major uptick in the number of wildfires we experience every year. While there isn’t much that we can all do as individuals to prevent these fires, we can at least all do our part to conserve water across the state. The plumbers here at Scott English Plumbing, Inc. would like to talk about a few of the easy ways you can make a significant impact on the amount of water you consume during the summer:

Step 1 – Water Your Lawn and/or Garden in the Morning or at Night

Water evaporates faster when the sun is out. Simply moving the time of the day that you water your lawn/garden to the morning and/or evenings can really contribute towards conserving water during the summer. Watering during the morning or at night allows the water to seep into the ground where it can continue to provide your plants with something to drink. Also, make sure you’re watering only plants and not the sidewalk, your driveway, or groundcover.

Step 2 – Swap Out Your Water Hogging Plants for Drought Resistant Varieties

California residents have a strange affinity for lawns and water-wasting foliage. While no one can tell you what kinds of plants you should or shouldn’t keep, simply swapping out some of your flora with drought-resistant varieties can make a large impact on your water usage. Remember, wildfires affect us all. We should all do our part to make sure we don’t make things worse by selfishly holding on to our lawns and water-hogging plants. By swapping out your water-hogging plants you can help make a difference while simultaneously upgrading your yard!

Step 3 – Do the Toilet Leak Test

You may be surprised to find out that a leaking toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water a year. And, you may also be surprised to find out that it is an extremely common problem with all makes and models of toilets. To check your toilets for leaks, simply take the cover off of the tank in the back and add a few drops of your favorite color of food coloring (yellow probably isn’t the best choice here). Then, let your toilet sit for a few hours without flushing it. If you find some of the food coloring in the toilet bowl, then your toilet is leaking and is consequently wasting water. If you find that your toilet is leaking, just call the experts here at Scott English Plumbing, Inc. and we’ll get right out and sort it out for you.

(Information found at ConserveH20.org)

Step 4 – Take Shorter Showers

Here is a shocking and surprising statistic: Reducing the amount of time you take showers for by as little as 2 minutes can save a whopping 1750 gallons of water, per person, every year! So, one of the easiest things you can do to help conserve water this summer is to simply reduce the amount of time you spend in the shower by as little as 2 minutes.

If you’d like to save even more water with your showering routine, then you can have Scott English Plumbing, Inc. come out and install a low-flow shower head in your shower. These shower heads use around 0.5 gallons per minute fewer than regular shower heads (regular shower heads use around 2.5 gallons per minute, low-flows use around 2.0 gallons per minute). So, by switching to a low flow showerhead can save another 1825 gallons per year per person!

(Information found at Waterpik)

Step 5 – Use Your Dishwasher

This one is a little counterintuitive. Most people assume that washing your dishes by hand is a more economical way to do the dishes. However, washing dishes by hand can use upwards of 27 gallons of water per dishwasher sized-load of dishes washed, whereas a dishwasher only uses around 3 gallons (for Energy-Star rated dishwashers). If you will spend more than 2 minutes washing whatever dishes you’re doing by hand, then it will save more water to just put those dirty plates in your dishwasher. Sometimes, saving water also saves you from having to do more work!

(Information found at NPR)

Step 6 – Use an Automatic Car Wash

Washing your car by hand can waste tons of water. Simply paying a little bit of money for an automatic car wash at your local gas station can go quite a long ways towards helping you conserve water. Washing your car by hand can waste upwards of 100 gallons of water while using the automatic car wash can use fewer than 20 gallons to achieve similar (if not better) results. So, do your part and skip hand-washing your car this summer and just take it down to your local automatic car wash!

(Information found at LA Times)

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Month: July 2019