Archive for July, 2009

Fix a Leaky Faucet

A leaky faucet is one of the most common plumbing problems and thankfully, one of the easiest to repair. Funny thing is, many people ignore it and leave a dripping faucet untouched, which costs money.

A steady drip from one faucet could waste as much as $20 or more on your water bill. If more than one faucet is dripping, you can figure how much money is literally going down the drain. Don’t forget that waste from a dripping hot water faucet is even more expensive because you’re paying to heat the water as it drips away.

Your water supply is under pressure, so there must be a watertight seal to hold back incoming water when turned off. That seal is created when the washer is pressed against the faucet seat. When the washer or the seat has been compressed too much or worn down, that seal won’t hold. With even the slightest leak water will seep through and create an annoying drip.

In most situations all you have to do is replace the washer or repair the seat. Before starting this job think about what parts you might need, when the hardware store is open and how to turn off the water supply. Many sinks have a shutoff valve either under it or close by. Not all homes are equipped with shutoffs for individual fixtures so in that case you’ll have to find the main shutoff for the house and turn the water off there.

The most common type of faucet is the compression type. Some compression faucets have separate hot and cold handles while others use just one handle. They both operate on the same principle so there’s no real difference in the basic function of compression faucets.

You’ll need a few basic tools and the replacement parts. If you don’t know the exact parts you’re replacing, a good time to start this job is in the morning so you have time to get to the hardware store. One you remove the parts you’ll know what is needed.

Tools:

• A Phillips or flat-head screwdriver (a multi-head screwdriver is great for this kind of thing)
• Slip-joint pliers or adjustable wrench
• Penetrating oil
• Replacement washers

Steps To Fix Your Leaking Faucet

• Turn off the water supply
• Remove faucet handle by unscrewing top or back of the handle
• (Some are hidden by a small cap you pop off or unscrew)
• If needed, use the penetrating oil here to unscrew the handle
• Remove the packing nut with your slip-joint pliers or adjustable wrench, being careful not to scar the metal
• Twist out the stem or spindle. (Turn it in the same direction you would turn on the faucet)
• Remove the screw that holds the washer and replace the screw if damaged
• Replace the washer and
• Be careful not to over tighten the parts or you may damage them

That should solve your leaking faucet problem. If it doesn’t for some reason, call a local plumber for advice. They are usually willing to walk you through a problem when it’s an obviously simple one. Most of these guys are busy with contracts and would feel guilty charging the call out fee for something as simple as a faucet drip.

Save yourself a C note and do it yourself.

Washing Machine Problems

I was browsing through www.plbg.com again and found another gem of a forum thread.  Someone had installed a new washer and then had trouble with the drain.  The owner posted a question complete with pictures, which caused a number of plumbers to try and come up with the answer.

Here is a quote from the home owner that I found particularly interesting.

“First, there is a trap below the pic. There is also venting, I just didn’t know what I was looking for. The venting mechanism I created was a waste of time and money. I built it based on advise from Home Depot.”

I’ve heard this line before, when interviewing local plumbers. There seems to be some misunderstanding about the competence of some employees at large hardware stores. I’ve been told it’s a mistake to take advice from someone working the aisles unless they really are qualified to give that advice.

Here’s the link to that thread if you care to read through it yourself.

http://www.plbg.com/forum/read.php?1,415205

Searching Online for Local Plumbers

An advantage when searching online for local plumbers or any kind of service for that matter is the convenience, and the fact that almost anyone can create a web site. The internet makes it easy for smaller companies to compete online with a half decent looking website. Whereas pre-internet days the biggest and loudest advertising got the most attention. The biggest and most aggressive still rule though, and here’s why.

The thing that differentiates established service companies online from newer ones is the look and feel of a site. Established companies hire professionals for design and function and also to be found. Search engine optimization is a separate service from function and design, so paying for both can become very expensive, keeping the smaller companies out of that level of competition.

If a small company owner knows something about building a website he could do that of course, but it may not look so great, and he may not be found on the first few pages. The drawback to having a poorly designed site is the initial impression a prospect has when searching and comparing. We live in a world of design and an appealing look will win out over an amateurish look almost every time.

Vancouver plumbing companies face the same advertising dilemma with the rise of the internet. Those with the biggest budget and ability to see the trend will dominate local search. If a website is not on the first page, the traffic will be limited to inbound links, news releases and snippets of information on sites like Hub pages, or Squidoo.

The only other way to be found is to buy ad space on websites that specialize in a local market or certain categories. CertifiedLocalPro.com is a website that specializes in Vancouver plumbing contractors. It is industry specific and only accepts contractors who have reached an established level of service. The site theme is Vancouver Plumbers you can trust to do good work at a reasonable price.

Every plumber listed on this site is licensed and bonded, have been established for a few years, work by referral at least some of the time and guarantee their work. Homeowners who hire a plumber through CertifiedLocalPro.com have a certain level of confidence, knowing the contractor has the above qualifications and is here for the long run.