Answers to Your Frequently Asked Plumbing Questions

A water softener helps homeowners prevent much of the damage that hard water causes over time. Because hard water contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, it builds up in pipes, filters, and appliances. Water softeners remove them and deliver a whole host of benefits, from softener skin and cleaner dishes to longer life for your washing machine and other appliances. Ask us about installing or replacing a water softener in your home, and remember that we also service all makes and models of water conditioning systems.

From insulating pipes to keeping cabinet doors open, our experts provide a valuable list of freezing pipe prevention tips to keep your water flowing on even the coldest winter days.

Several factors can cause low water pressure, such as mineral deposits that are clogging older pipes, pinched water lines, or a shut-off valve that’s not working properly. If you have a private well, there may be a problem with your well pump or water supply. Make an appointment with a Seider plumber for water pressure solutions.

Today’s energy-efficient plumbing products are well worth the investment. In fact, energy-saving toilets alone use less than two gallons of water per flush—traditional toilets use six gallons. Call us to discuss what options are best for you or make an appointment for an expert consultation.

Water heaters can make strange percolating noises from the lime and hard water deposits that build up inside them over time. It doesn’t necessarily mean a water heater crisis, but that your system is older and will likely need to be replaced soon.

Keep clog-causing items like hair and food scraps from going down your drains in the first place. Use a strainer in your drains, toss food rather than using a garbage disposal, and install a lint catcher on your washing machine hose. Also remember that liquids that solidify—latex paint, grout, cement, and even grease—can easily plug plumbing. Flushing your pipes periodically also helps prevent clogs: flush a five-gallon bucket of water down your toilets, and flush hot water and dish detergent down your sinks and bath tubs. If you do have a problem, read our blog for tips on unclogging a backed up drain.

Because these products are caustic or oxidizing, they can degrade older metal pipes over time. Chemical drain cleaners can also damage plastic pipes by creating heat that can warp or melt them. Use baking soda and vinegar first, followed by lots of hot water, or call a plumber for stubborn or frequent clogs.

If your toilet runs, it’s likely a flapper or flush valve issue. When jiggling the handle doesn’t seem to do the trick, you may have a bigger problem that requires a plumber’s attention.

A slow leak of three drops per minute can add up to approximately 157 gallons of water wasted every year! Don’t let your water (and money) go down the drain–let a Seider plumbing expert install a new faucet instead of risking even more costly water damage if your DIY project isn’t perfect.