Month: November 2022

Faucet Troubleshooting in Orange County

An Orange County faucet.

Faucets are a vital part of everyday life for modern society. They dispense water and allow us to wash
things and carry out personal beauty regiments. They allow us to wash dishes and take showers. It is
important to protect these fixtures and maintain them in good working order. Keep reading to learn more about faucets and faucet issues, or call now for facuet repair or installation in Orange County!

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Drippy Faucets

A drippy faucet is the most common plumbing problem there is, and usually the easiest to repair. It’ is a
running joke with in all of society that everyone has at least one dripping faucet in their Orange County house. Most people are reluctant to deal with this. They prolong the problem and continuing wasting water. If caught early, we are usually able to swap out the stem or cartridge. If the problem persists the leak will calcify and corrode the fixture to the point where replacement of the fixture is necessary.

Causes of Dripping Faucets

One of the causes of drippy faucets is excessive high-water pressure. Your water department is not
obligated to regulate the pressure of your plumbing system. They build their systems to withstand very
high pressure. When it comes to your own home you are responsible for regulating your own pressure
to your home. You do this by installing a Pressure Regulating Valve. This device reduces the pressure of
the income water pressure down to the ideal pressure. This is typically 65 PSI (pounds per square inch).
The regulators are factory preset at 65 PSI.

Over time they need to be tested for wear and tear. Just like the shocks on a car they can wear out over time and need to be replaced. We recommend that the pressure to the house be tested at least every six months to assure proper pressure to the home and to avoid any burst pipes or fixtures. At Scott English, we can provide any plumbing installation or maintenance in Orange County that you need.

How to Deal with Faucet Issues

The faucet is one of the most used fixtures in the kitchen. It is used in preparing and washing the food as well as cleaning planes and utensils among others. Here are ways on how to solve problems involving faucets in your kitchen.

  1. Identify the product. Even professionals will have a hard time if they cannot properly identify the product they are working with. Normally there are model numbers for the product as well as the brand that will give you the necessary information. In the absence of the original packaging, you can use the characteristics and appearance of the faucet. This is why it is good to take note of the kitchen fixtures you have installed.
  2. Check the Source. There are as many different sources of the problem as the problem itself. Low pressure can be due to dirty aerator or clogged pipes. The best way to troubleshoot the source of the problem is to go with the installation manual or the maintenance guide. If your faucet did not come with these documents you can call on plumbing specialists like Scott English Plumbing and describe the problem with an expert.
  3. Call in the Expert. Once the problem has been isolate, the plumbing technician can come by with the right parts and do the repair. Problem solved!

Always remember that your home is the biggest investment you will ever make (even more than your
kids). We at Scott English Plumbing feel it is imperative to maintain your home. We are here to help
you do just that. Please give a call today for a free no obligation estimate.

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How to Avoid Costly Plumbing Repairs with Shutoff Valves

Can you imagine the damage that ruptured water hoses, frozen pipes, dripping water heaters, and leaking supply lines can do? Are you aware that water damages from these plumbing problems run up to billions of dollars every year? Do you want to be part of this statistics? If not, read on and find out how shutoff valves can save you from costly plumbing repairs.

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What is an Emergency Shut Off Valve?

shutoff valve

Emergency shut off valves or “angle stops” is the isolation valve located next to or underneath the
plumbing fixture. It is used to control the water flow (hot and cold water) from the pressurized pipe to
the plumbing fixture. It is needed to shut off water to fixture in case of malfunction or for service. It is
usually a compression joint and is installed onto the ½” copper pipe protruding from wall.

It should be in good working order and checked for ease of use. It is very crucial that this valve be tested periodically to ensure it is working properly. It should be able to be used by the homeowner in case of an
emergency. Scott English Plumbing only uses ball valve type angle stops to assure ease of use by the
homeowner.

The steel braided hose that connects to the emergency shut off valve is called the supply line. It should
be changed every time you change the plumbing fixture. Overtime they become corroded and have
been known to burst if not of the most top quality. Scott English Plumbing uses only high-quality
commercial grade steel braided supply lines on all fixture change outs.

Beware of the one-piece angle stop. If you have any of these in your home, please call us today for a
complimentary quote to replace this valve.

Main Valves

The main shutoff valve is responsible for controlling all the water supply that passes through your entire home plumbing system. This means that it is your best protection against being victimized by costly water damages. In fact, it would be negligence on your part if you do not have a main water shutoff valve installed.

The usefulness of the main shutoff valve can be highlighted during plumbing emergencies and when you are going on an extended vacation. Simply turning the shutoff valve off will ensure that even if you are saved from ruptured pipes and similar water damage causing problems because there will be no water flowing through your pipes.

The main shutoff valve should be located near your water meter. In many homes, there is a shutoff valve on the street side and another one on the house side. For homes located in colder climates, the main water shutoff valve maybe installed near the basement just in front of the house. Homes in warmer climates can have the shutoff valve installed to an exterior wall on an underground box protected by a removable lid.

Types of Main Valves

Currently, there are two types of main water shutoff valves:

  1. Gate Valve – this is commonly found in older homes and can be identified by its round handle that needs to be turned a number of times to either open or close the valve. This type of valve is designed to be fully open or closed, there is no halfway point. When partially open, this valve may wear away the metal that will cause it to fail in a matter of time.
  2. Ball Valve -this type of valve makes use of a lever handle that can be turned 90 degrees to open or close the water supply line. This makes it easier to check if the valve is open or closed. When left in the closed position, the lever should be perpendicular to the pipes and parallel when in the open position.

It is important to remember that none of these types of main valves are designed to last forever. So, if you have never turned the main shutoff valve before, make sure that you periodically test it before you go on an extended leave. How do you do this?

Open a faucet anywhere in your home and turn off the main shutoff valve. The water flow should eventually stop after a short while. If it does not, then there is a possibility that the shutoff valve is broken. You need to have it replaced immediately for your protection.

If the valve is stuck, do not attempt to move it because it might break and cause more problems. The best way to deal with a stuck water shutoff valve is to call on a licensed plumbing professional to have it replaced.

Individual Valves

Individual shutoff valves should likewise be installed in all water-using appliances in your home aside from plumbing fixtures. This means that dishwashers, icemakers, and washing machines should have their own shutoff valves just like your faucets and toilets have. Why is this important?

Individual shutoff valves serve as another level of protection for you in case of plumbing emergencies. These cutoff the water supply to a specific water-using appliance or plumbing fixture. This allows you to have water supply in other parts of your home except for those with plumbing problems. This prevents your home from being totally cutoff from the water supply.

You can use any type of shutoff valve as long as you make sure that they are properly installed and checked regularly as well.

To make sure that your shutoff valves protect you from costly plumbing repairs, have a licensed plumbing contractor do the installation. Call Scott English Plumbing to help you with your shutoff valve or any other plumbing problems.

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Toilet Repair Tips: Problem & Solution

A recently repaired toilet.

The toilet in your home gets used and flushed many times every day. We expect it to always work reliably, but frequent use means that eventually, something may go wrong. Many minor toilet troubles are easy to repair on your own. However, there can be several reasons for the malfunctioning of the toilet. Use these Orange County toilet repair tips to help you figure out the problem with your toilet and get it back in working order again.

Problem #1: Toilet Doesn’t Flush All the Way

Sometimes the toilet will flush, but not completely. You may have to hold the handle down while the toilet flushes, or you may have to flush a second time. This is actually a pretty easy repair. First, take the cover off the toilet tank. Look for the chain that connects the flush handle to the flapper cap. Check the length of the chain; if it’s too long, the chain won’t get lifted up high enough when you flush. You can shorten the chain by adjusting the number of links. It’s a good idea to check the water level in the tank, too. Look for the fill line, which shows you how high the tank should be filled with water. If the water level is too low, you can carefully bend the bulb of the float valve up and see if that prompts the tank to fill. If that doesn’t cause the tank to fill up, then check the rim holes for blockages. The rim holes are little, tiny holes around the underside of the toilet bowl rim. Those holes can get clogged with mineral deposits, preventing water from emptying into the toilet bowl. You can clean them out with a toothpick to remove deposits and get the water flowing properly again.

Problem #2 – Toilet Randomly Flushes

You hear the sound of the toilet flushing, but there is no one using the bathroom. This can be creepy, but it’s probably just a problem with the flapper valve. Over time, the flapper will get worn, which allows water to empty out of the tank and into the toilet. You can fix this easily by replacing the flapper.

Problem #3 – Low Flow Toilet Isn’t Flushing Sufficiently

Low flow toilets use much less water. However, too little water can keep the toilet from flushing properly. If you have that problem, then you may need to reset the fill valve to increase the water level in the tank. The fill line should be marked on the toilet tank, but if yours isn’t marked, then fill to about half of an inch below the top of the overflow tube.

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Problem #4 – Toilet Keeps Running

If you were to remove the lid of a toilet and flush it, you would see all the moving parts of the toilet. If the toilet continues to run rather then shutting off at the end of the flush cycle it is wasting water and needs to be repaired. It is a good idea to change all the repair parts in the toilet to avoid further complications.

When a toilet runs, it’s usually because the flapper valve isn’t closing properly. Look in the tank just to be sure that there isn’t anything in there blocking the valve. You can also clean under the edges of the flapper to remove any mineral deposits that might be causing problems. Finally, make sure that the chain is long enough. A short chain will hold the flapper open.

Problem #5 – Overflow

You know that sense of panic that you experience when you see that the toilet is about to overflow? Keep calm and lift the fill valve. Take the lid off the tank, reach in, and grab the fill valve. Stick something in the tank to prop the fill valve up so that the bowl will stop filling while you get the plunger.

Problem #6 – Wobbly Toilet

If the toilet is loose (you can rock, it from side to side) or you see water seeping from the sides, it is likely that it needs to be reset with a new wax ring.

These are a few of the toilet problems that homeowners often experience. With this guide, you can identify and fix them. If you are still having toilet problems, though, call Scott English Plumbing. We’ll come out to your home and take care of it. Give us a call today for a thorough evaluation of your toilet fixtures.

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