Summary A water pressure regulator is a bell-shaped valve on your main line. It turns high street pressure down to a steady, safe level for your pipes and appliances. When it wears out, you’ll hear banging pipes, see pressure swings, or find drips at toilets and the water heater. A water pressure regulator is one… Continue reading What Does a Water Pressure Regulator Do? 6 Signs It May Be Failing
Author: 1-800-Plumber +Air
Why Does My Drain Keep Clogging After I Clear It?
Summary If your drain keeps clogging even after you clear it, the quick fix probably just opened a small gap in the blockage. Sticky buildup on the pipe walls remains, so new debris gets stuck quickly. If several drains slow down at the same time, or the clog returns within weeks, the real issue is… Continue reading Why Does My Drain Keep Clogging After I Clear It?
How Often Should You Change Your Furnace Filter?
Summary Check the filter every month. Change your furnace filter as soon as it looks dirty, and treat three months as the limit for a standard 1-inch filter. Thicker media filters last longer, and a higher MERV number means finer filtering, not a longer life. How often you change your furnace filter depends on what's… Continue reading How Often Should You Change Your Furnace Filter?
The Water Meter Test That Proves You Have a Hidden Leak
Summary The water meter test is simple. Turn off everything that uses water, write down the meter reading, wait two hours without touching a tap, then read it again. If the number moved, water is going somewhere it shouldn’t. The water meter test is the one check that settles the argument. A damp spot or… Continue reading The Water Meter Test That Proves You Have a Hidden Leak
What Is a CSST Gas Pipe, and Does Yours Need Bonding?
A CSST gas line is a flexible stainless steel tube, often covered with a yellow plastic jacket, that delivers natural gas or propane to your appliances. If your home inspector pointed it out, it’s probably because the bonding is missing. TL;DR: CSST is a common, code-approved gas pipe found in many homes built or remodeled… Continue reading What Is a CSST Gas Pipe, and Does Yours Need Bonding?
Commercial Plumbing Problems That Shut Down Businesses
Summary Most commercial plumbing problems that close a business start small, like a slow floor drain or a water heater that can’t keep up. The five that cause the most shutdowns are grease clogs, sewer backups, heater failure, hidden leaks, and backflow issues. Catching one early is the difference between a service call and a… Continue reading Commercial Plumbing Problems That Shut Down Businesses
Boiler vs Furnace: Why Older Homes Have Boilers
A home's heating system often depends on its age. Houses built before 1950 usually have boilers with pipes and radiators. Later, when central air and ductwork became common, builders began using furnaces instead. Have you ever walked into someone’s house and felt the warmth right away? In one home, a cast-iron radiator under the window… Continue reading Boiler vs Furnace: Why Older Homes Have Boilers
Does Your Home Need a Repipe? 5 Signs Your Plumbing System Is Done
The clearest signs you need a repipe are recurring leaks in new locations, rust-colored water, low pressure at every fixture, and original supply lines more than 40 years old. One leak is a repair. A pattern of leaks throughout the house indicates the pipe material itself is failing, and patching it only delays the next… Continue reading Does Your Home Need a Repipe? 5 Signs Your Plumbing System Is Done
Water Softener vs Whole-House Filter: Which Do You Need?
A water softener removes the calcium and magnesium that make water hard and cause scale. A whole-house filter removes contaminants such as chlorine, sediment, and bad taste or odor. If your water is both hard and unpleasant, you need both systems, plumbed in the right order. What a Water Softener Does A softener passes water… Continue reading Water Softener vs Whole-House Filter: Which Do You Need?
AC Running But Not Cooling: Quick Fix or Real Repair?
If your AC is functioning without any problems but isn’t cooling, there are three things to check first: your thermostat settings, whether your air filter is clogged, and whether the breaker on your outdoor unit is tripped. If all of these look good and the air still isn’t cold after 30 minutes, the problem might… Continue reading AC Running But Not Cooling: Quick Fix or Real Repair?