FloodStop valves

In this picture you can see the FloodStop valve we installed at the bottom left corner near this water circuit board. We, also, installed the valve at the water heater. In case of leakage, the valve will shut down automatically.

If you have any concerns for flooding or have experienced water damage before, this FloodStop valve is a must. You can install a valve at the washing machine, icemaker, at the water heater, or any other area of the house or business you think may flood.

FloodStop has a valve that you can install on the main line and has 4 sensors that connect wirelessly and can be placed anywhere in your home.

For more information contact TWH Plumbing or visit getfloodstop.com.

Thermal Expansion

Most homes are now equipped with check valves at the water meter that prevents water going to your house to be fed downstream back into the domestic water supply. This has created a closed loop system on your pluming system. Code now requires the plumber to install an expansion tank as extra safety on closed loop plumbing systems. Not only is it safer for you and your family, it will make your plumbing fixtures and water heater last longer.

Make sure you have a thermal expansion tank installed near your water heater. Thermal expansion helps absorb the pressure rise in a closed loop system. When the water heater temperature rises, the pressure increases. This is called thermal expansion.

A quick way to see if you have thermal expansion, consider opening the faucet in the morning before anyone else has used it. Does the faucet seem to burst water at you at first? This is called thermal expansion.

If you are looking for an alternative to an expansion tank, you can install an expansion valve. When installing an expansion valve there has to be a connection to the hot water supply. The valve has a 1/2" drain and needs to be piped to the exterior.

Mobile home water heaters

Mobile home water heaters are different than standard water heaters. When replacing a water heater in a mobile home, several things are needed to consider.

1. Check the measurements for the space in which the water heater is to be installed
2. Check the ampacity of the circuit breaker
3. Check the wire size of the circuit

A standard water heater provides 4500 watt elements. According to National Electric Code, you need to multiply any circuits ampacity if it can run for more than 3 hours. So, if a 4500W element pulls 17.75 amps, multiply that by 125% and you get 22 amps. Thus you need a minimum 25 A breaker.

If you have a 20 amp breaker and #12 AWG wire size and you don't want to change the circuit you will need to remove the 4500 watt elements and install 3500 watt elements- a simple fix.

The main thing is you want to be safe! Don't make a mistake that could cost you more $ down the road. When in doubt call a professional.

If you live in Greenville/ Simpsonville area, feel free to give me a call at TWH Plumbing & Electric, 864-449-5790, and I can take a look at your water heater situation.

Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches, I just want to say how thankful I am for my customers. I am greatful everyday. Without you it would not be possible. I am thankful for how God has given me and my family a plumbing business in Greenville.

February will mark our 10 year anniversary. As I look back, it has not always been easy. Many times I did not know where the next call was going to come from. It has brought me closer to God. Owning your own business forces you to put your trust in Him.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to work in your homes. May God bless you and your family over the Thanksgiving holiday!

Confessions of a Plumber

Today I went back on a call I completed three days earlier. The initial problem was: toilet not filling into the bowl. I knew that if we replaced the fill valve that would fix the problem. The solution was to do a minor rebuild on the toilet.

A minor rebuild on a toilet includes the fill valve, flapper and toilet supply line. A major rebuild consist of all the above, as well as, replacing the tank to bowl bolts and gasket.

Anyway. Yesterday I came back because the customer called and said it was filling automatically every so often. I saw that water was spilling past the fill valve and onto the float. This was causing the fill valve to come on automatically . So I  replaced the fill valve at no charge.

Well, low and behold, the customer calls back again. Now I'm getting frustrated. He said it was coming on every two minutes. The flapper was not sealing properly. If I would have just looked at it more closely the first time, I would have seen a small defect in the flapper.

Explaining Water Pressure

So many issues arise from high water pressure. Having the right amount of water pressure is key to avoiding leaks on every fixture in the home including the toilet. It is up to the homeowner to regulate his or her  water pressure; it is not the water company's responsibility.

A pressure regulator (sometimes called pressure reducing valve) is used to regulate the incoming water pressure to the home. Water pressure is measured by PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch). Typical pressure regulators will provide a normal operating pressure with a range between 45-80 PSI.

Manufacturers  design and warranty faucets and valves at normal operating pressures. When water pressure is below or higher than normal operating pressure, it puts stress on  the fixture and valves.

Buy a water pressure gauge at your local hardware store. The gauge can be screwed on the hose bibb at the front or back of the house to check the water pressure to your home. Check both front and back to make sure you get the same reading. If one is reading higher than the other, consider the lower water pressure reading. The higher reading would indicate that it is before the pressure regulator. 

Often times when a plumber installs a pressure regulator, he will install it in front of, or downstream, of the front hose bibb. He does this, in thought, to give the homeowner higher water pressure for watering the lawn or washing the car.

If both front and back reads higher than 80 PSI, install a pressure regulator.

The pressure regulator is installed in the crawlspace where the main water line comes into the home. It can, also, be installed in the ground before it goes into the home or by the water meter. Plumbing code requires it to be accessible. So, if it is in the ground a valve box would have been installed.

Some homes do not have a crawlspace. In that case, look for it in the garage by the main water cut off or some other place in the home; probably, near the water heater.

You may already have a pressure regulator installed. It is a good idea to check your water pressure often, especially, when you notice fluctuations, water hammer or strange noises from your water lines or fixtures. Keeping a good eye on your water pressure will be good preventative maintenance for your home.

If you have a pressure regulator installed and the water pressure is under 45 PSI or over 80 PSI, than the regulator is bad and needs to be replaced.

Water pressure regulators do fail from time to time. Average life of a pressure regulator is 5-7 years. Of course, it depends how high the incoming water pressure is.  The pressure regulator is a mechanical valve and contains springs and rubber parts. The springs wear against the pressure. The rubber parts will break down. Eventually, the regulator will fail.

Many times when a plumber (a thoughtful one) will install a pressure regulator with a union provided by the manufacturer. If a union is installed, try to find the name brand and type of regulator you have before you get a replacement to ensure the valve will fit and accept the right threads to the union. 

If you are able to get the same brand, but not the same type or model, odds are the threads will match perfectly. Hopefully, you will have enough play in the pipe to fit any other model. Otherwise, you may need to cut the pipe for the installation.

When installing the valve use Teflon tape to seal the threads. The Teflon will ensure that you do not have any leaks. 

After installing the valve check the water pressure again. The manufacturer will preset the valve a 45 PSI. You can adjust the water pressure higher if you'd like. However, keep in mind the higher the pressure, the more strain you put on your plumbing.

To adjust the water pressure, turn the screw on top of the pressure regulator to the right to adjust the pressure up and turn left to adjust the pressure down.

Tankless Water Heaters

I work for 1-800-Plumber of Greenville, SC, and this is my personal opinion. Tankless water heaters are becoming increasing popular. One of the things most people enjoy about tankless water heaters versus a standard tank type water heater is they never run out of hot water. Many people worry about how much hot water they will have when they have guests over at their home.

One of the major benefits is that they will eventually pay for themselves by the dollar amount you spend. The inital cost is expensive. Consider the fact, you will replace a standard water heater three to four times over the life expectancy of one tankless water heater.