Plumbing Guides From Clog Heroes
Page 3 of 7
Straight answers on the drain, sewer, water heater, well and toilet problems we see in Fredericksburg-area homes.
All Guides, Page 3
Polybutylene Plumbing: How to Spot It, Why It Fails and When to Replace It
Built between the late 1970s and the mid-1990s? Your house may have polybutylene, a flexible plastic supply pipe that breaks down from the inside. Spotting it is the first step in deciding whether to replace it.
PEX Plumbing: Why It Bends Where Copper Can't, Where It's Used and What It Costs
PEX is cross-linked polyethylene tubing. It bends around corners, needs fewer fittings and doesn't rust, which is why it often costs less to install than copper or galvanized steel.
What a Well Pump House Does and How It Keeps Your Pump From Freezing
Inside a pump house sits the equipment that moves water from your well into the house, sheltered from freezing. Five signs say yours needs attention.
PEX A vs PEX B: Flexibility, Freeze Resistance and Cost Compared
PEX A bends around corners and tolerates freezing better. PEX B is stiffer, resists kinks and costs less. The right pick depends on your home.
Four Signs Your Pressure Reducing Valve Is Failing, and What Fixes It
A pressure reducing valve keeps high street pressure from hammering your pipes. When it wears out, you hear it in the pipes, see it at the water heater and feel it at the faucets. Most PRVs last 7 to 12 years.
What Your Main Water Line Does, From the Street to the Faucet, and the Signs It's Failing
Every fixture in the house depends on one pipe. Your main water line carries pressurized water from the city main or a private well, past the shut-off valve and out to each of them.
Galvanized Pipes Rust From the Inside. Four Signs Yours Are Near the End
Most galvanized systems have lasted 40 to 60 years. Once the zinc coating wears through, rust builds up inside where you can't see it, and at some point replacing the pipe makes more sense than chasing leaks.
How to Clear a Bathtub Drain, Starting With the Hair Under the Stopper
Most bathtub clogs are hair and soap scum caught within a few inches of the drain. Start with the stopper, then work through a plunger, a plastic snake and a wet/dry vacuum before anything harsher.
How Long Do Sump Pumps Last? 7 to 10 Years, and Five Signs Yours Is Near the End
Seven to 10 years is the usual life of a sump pump. How often yours runs, how it's built and how it's maintained decide where it lands in that range. A spring and fall check is the time to look for warning signs and replace a worn pump before the next storm.
S Trap vs P Trap: Why Code Moved on From the S Trap and When to Replace Yours
An S trap can siphon its own water seal dry and let sewer gas into the room. A vented P trap keeps the seal. Check which one sits under your sink before deciding whether to switch.
PVC Pipe: Where It Belongs in Your Plumbing, Where It Doesn't and How Long It Lasts
Properly installed PVC drain, waste and vent lines can last 50 to 100 years. Keep PVC away from hot water, though: it softens around 140°F, so hot lines go in CPVC or PEX.
How Long Does a Water Heater Take to Heat Up? Gas 30 to 40 Minutes, Electric 60 to 80
Waiting on hot water? A gas tank heats a full load in about 30 to 40 minutes, an electric tank in 60 to 80, and tankless heats on demand. Four changes can speed up recovery.