FAQ
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General FAQs
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How do I find the water shut-off valve for the house?
There are several locations possible for the water shut-off valve, that shuts off the water supply to your house. It depends mainly on what kind of foundation you have.
CONCRETE SLAB:
If your house is simply mounted on a concrete slab, with no space under it, the main shut-off valve is usually in a closet nearest to the water meter, OR next to the water heater location.
CRAWL SPACE:
If your house has a crawl space under it, the main shut-off valve is usually in the bedroom closet nearest to the water meter, OR just inside the crawl space opening, OR in the garage.
BASEMENT:
If your house has a basement under it, the main shut-off valve is usually at the foundation wall nearest to the water meter. If the location for your type of foundation isn’t the answer, try some of the other answers above. If you still can’t find it…:
- Search the basement & garage.
- Check the laundry/utility room.
- Check around the water heater.
- Search every closet and crawl space in the house.
- Check around your porch & foundation.
Keep in mind that the shutoff valve may be covered by a panel, hatch or housing.
Additional shut-off valves for sections of your plumbing, or specific appliances, may be found around them. This typically includes the plumbing around the water heater, behind washing machines and dishwashers, under sinks and toilets, behind a panel in the wall on the opposite side of the wall from your tub or other bathroom fixtures (or in the basement directly under them), and near other major plumbing appliances. Remember that many appliances have TWO separate shut-off valves– one for hot water and one for cold water. Don’t wait for an emergency! When everything is OK, take a few minutes to find out where your shut-off valve is. In an emergency, knowing where it is can often enable you to prevent extensive damage to your home and belongings. Also locate the other shut-off valves, for future reference.
For further assistance, give us a call at (316) 799-3212.
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We're limited to using one plumbing fixture at a time because the pressure is too low. How do we fix this?This problem is typically an issue with the water service, or with the pipes in the house. It’s too often assumed that the water pressure is inadequate. Actually, the pressure may be OK, with simply a limit on the volume of water able to pass through the system.
Many homes built before 1975 have galvanized water service lines, and many homes built before 1965 have galvanized piping throughout the house. Galvanized pipe rusts over time. Eventually the pipe fills with rust, choking the flow of water.
Many homes see a major benefit by replacing the water service line, thus allowing them to run multiple fixtures — simultaneously — without the water volume dropping. If you would like to have this done – give us a call. We’ll be happy check your home and give you a quote. -
My water bill this month is high, and my usage hasn’t changed. Is the local water department overcharging me?Typically, this tends to be a leak in the water service line. Homes built before 1975 commonly use galvanized pipe for their service line, which can be vulnerable to breaks. Most of the time, it’s more cost-effective to just install a new water service line, than to hunt for the leak in the old one. If it’s a copper or plastic continuous line, it might be worth the cost to search for the leak — but generally we recommend replacement. We have some simple tests to figure out if there’s a leak in the water service line.
Sometimes, though, the water department may bill you based on a usage average. After they’ve read your meter, the bill reflects the difference between your actual usage and the amount they already billed you.
If you’re unsure, and want help, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you figure it out. -
When we use the plumbing in our house, the downstairs bathroom or bathtub fills with water. What’s going on?Sometimes, a toilet or bathtub fills with water on a lower level – unknown to you. People typically discover this by a smell, or notice something that isn’t draining well. This is a common issue in older homes, especially. It’s generally caused by something clogging the sewer.
We can clear it out with some of the tools in our array of drain-cleaning equipment. However, it’s seldom a permanent fix.
After the immediate issue is addressed, we can run a camera in the lines to discover the precise problem(s), make recommendations, and provide an estimate on a more permanent fix. Most common causes we find are root intrusion and pipe separation in sewer lines. -
I’ve heard bad things about polybutylene (“P.B.”) pipe. How can I tell whether I have it in my home?Polybutylene pipe (also known as “P.B.” or “Poly”) is common in homes built between the early 1980’s and the mid/late 1990’s. Primarily, it was used just for water service lines (the water supply lines entering houses from public water mains). In some cases, though, it was also used for the piping inside homes.
A few years ago, there was a federal class-action lawsuit against plastic fittings used in P.B. piping systems. Because of the lawsuit, P.B. piping is no longer installed in residential or commercial properties.
Flexible Pex plastic piping (white, red or blue) has generally replaced P.B. piping, and has been determined to be safe and reliable.
If you have P.B. piping– whether throughout your home, or only in your water service line –and the fittings are gray plastic, you have reason to be concerned. If the fittings are copper or brass, you may be safe.
To determine if you have P.B. pipe inside your house, the easiest place to look is on the top of your water heater, where the water pipes connect. If you see plastic pipe that looks gray or light blue, then it’s probably P.B. — and it was probably used throughout your house.
If you’re not sure about the P.B. piping situation in your home, and want a professional opinion, give us a call! -
Why isn't my garbage disposal working when we have family or guests over for holiday meals?
Usually when the homeowner hosts a holiday meal or big dinner, (depending on the season), mashed potatoes or watermelon is served. When large quantities potato peels or watermelon rinds are disposed of through the garbage disposal the following may occur.
While the kitchen faucet is on during the disposal process, the garbage literally “floats” on a stream of water while passing through the 2″ kitchen drain to the 4″ main house drain. As soon as the kitchen faucet is turned off, the flowing stream of water passing through the 2″ kitchen drain line stops. Any garbage that was “held in suspension” — floating in the stream of water — immediately settles to the bottom of the 2″ drain line.
As the homeowner continues to intermittently use the garbage disposal, more and more ground-up garbage settles into the 2″ kitchen drain line — which eventually causes a complete stoppage.
SOLUTION (preventive measures):
- Never dispose of potato peels or rinds of any kind into the garbage disposal. Always dispose with household trash, in a trash container.
- When disposing of garbage through the garbage disposal, let the kitchen faucet continue to run for 10 to 15 seconds after the sink basin and disposer are empty. This will allow the stream of water to continue to flow, holding the garbage in “suspension” until it reaches the 4″ main house drain — where bathroom discharge will flush garbage into the sewer main.
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When showering, if a toilet is flushed, I'm either scalded or frozen! What can you do for this?A classic complaint. To overcome this, the government required installation of “pressure-balanced valves” back in the early 90’s. Homes built before then, however, often do not have them. The simplest fix for most homes is replacing the shower valve, or installing a “tempura valve.” Depending on the house layout, we normally recommend replacing shower valves to fix this problem. Typically, we can do this without any tile work. Give us a call, and we’ll gladly discuss the possible solutions with you.
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Are there any good new toilets available that flush really well?Most of the brands have improved greatly from the early days of the low-flow toilets (using only 1.6 gallons per flush). Most major brands that we carry have solved this early problem, with new designs. At the top of the list is Toto, the world’s largest manufacturer of plumbing fixtures. Toto’s global reputation is excellent, and their designs lead the industry. We stock some of their most popular products, and can order many other Toto products (and other leading brands, too) at your request.
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What is a normal lifespan for a water heater?
Water heaters that failed, which we have replaced, have come in a wide variety of ages. Typically, though, the top “professional” brands of gas and electric water heaters seem to last about 8 to 12 years, while the “consumer grade” units typically fail a bit sooner.
Electric water heaters tend to last slightly longer than gas water heaters. Gas-powered “tankless” water heaters, though, are typically promoted as lasting 20-25 years.
A major difference between “professional grade” and “consumer grade” water heaters is in their warranty. Professional brands generally have a full warranty for the scheduled life of the unit, but consumer brands are typically “pro-rated”, covering only a part of the value of the unit (an amount that declines as the unit ages).
For more information on water heaters, their longevity, and their warranties, give us a call. If you would like to have this done – give us a call. We’ll be happy check your home and give you a free quote.
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What's the best choice in water heaters for conserving energy?
Other than your furnace, water heating is often the single largest cause of your home’s gas or electric bill. Improvements here often pay for themselves quickly and reap huge rewards for your small investment.
When it comes to choosing from the various options for water heating, each person’s situation is unique. We are able to install a wide range of top-brand electric water heaters, Rinnai tankless gas water heaters, and instant hot water heaters. What works best for you is determined by reviewing your household and its water use.
- How many people live in your house?
- Do they all need to shower at about the same time?
- Do you have more than one bath?
- Do you have several appliances that use hot water simultaneously?
- How long are the lines from the water heater to an outlet?
- Do you frequently need short, quick supplies of hot water at a sink?
- Is your home all-electric?
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I hate wasting water when I run it for a while before the “hot” water comes out truly hot. Is there an easy fix for this?Every day, people waste massive volumes of water running their showers or faucets waiting for the water to get hot. The most popular solution is the Grundfos Comfort System. The system can sometimes save a single household as much as 16,000 gallons of water per year! It uses a small pump and special fittings, which we install in certain places in your home, to get hot water quickly to your fixtures.
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I have a need to use hot water outside. How can that be done safely?There are several great options available today to supply both hot and cold running water outdoors. Moen, for instance, offers a single-handle hose bibb, which uses both hot and cold water. If you are interested, call us and we’ll help you find a system that meets your needs.
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My kitchen and vanity supply lines occasionally still freeze, even though they're insulated. What can I do?
Cause: Your freezing problem may be a result of the following factors:
- Usually the kitchen and vanity sink cabinets are against the exterior walls of the kitchen and bathroom. In the winter, those walls can conduct cold into the house, especially around the pipes.
- Because the kitchen sink and bathroom vanity cabinet doors are kept closed, the ambient warm temperature of the house cannot offset the cold that is penetrating through the exterior wall …into the “unheated” cabinet space under the sink. The unheated cabinet space can literally dip below 32 degrees, causing the supply lines to freeze.
Solution: During extremely cold days, open the cabinet doors, and allow the heat in the room to counteract the cold that is penetrating through the exterior wall.
If your home has a history of water lines freezing it would be wise to install heat tape and insulate the water lines with pipe insulation. (For help with insulation or heat tape, call Bowers Plumbing, (316) 799-3212.
Another option (if you don’t mind wasting some water) is to allow faucets to drip continuously.
NOTE: A steady drip is just as effective as a running stream of water (because running water will not freeze), and that saves on your water bill.
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Water Treatment
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How safe is Wichita drinking water?
As far as city water is concerned Wichita does a very good job treating its water, ranking in the 18th percentile for safest water to drink. Any municipality though is only treated water to minimum acceptable standards and chemicals such as chlorine are added to the water to kill germs, viruses, and bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, norovirus, and much more. While this is a good thing it also leaves us with chlorine and other byproducts in the water. Municipal water can end up with as much as 2 PPM of chlorine in the water. For reference, Swimming pools are recommended to stay between 1 and 3 PPM. If you don’t want your kids to be drinking pool water then you may also want to second guess your tap water as well. Chlorine is also the reason for the bad taste many people have when drinking tap water.
There are also multiple byproducts from this disinfection in the water that are known carcinogens. A whole house filter will not only treat your drinking water but your bathing, cleaning, and cooking water as well. Why treat your drinking water when you know that your toddler drinks handfuls in the bath as well? A whole-house filtration system will protect your entire house.
The other need for water conditioning is the protection of your plumbing. Are you tired of leaking toilets, dripping faucets, and having to replace your water heater? A water softener can take those problems away. Hardness in the water made up of calcium and other minerals sticks to your piping and fixtures and creates what is known as sediment. This creates pinhole leaks and destroys your appliances and fixtures. A softener will remove the hardness from the water and protect your home plumbing. Along with the protection you will get smooth water that will feel amazing and reduce your cleaning needs. After installing a water softener you may be able to reduce your soap usage up to 70%. Are you tired of finding water spots on your shower walls, curtains, dishes, and appliances? A softener will take these away by removing the hardness that causes them. The cost of appliances alone will pay for the price of the water softener. (Note: A softener will not repair existing damage to the plumbing system. It will just keep further damage from appearing.)
- 18th percentile in the nation for safe drinking water
- Why would it be unsafe then you ask? Municipalities do great at getting the water distributable but it is left to the homeowner for point-of-use filtration.
- Things such as Arsenic, Bromate, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, and many other contaminants can be found in the water.
- The only way to ensure your home's water is safe is to treat it at the entry to the house with your own filter.
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What are the types of drinking water contaminants?
- Sediments – sand, rocks, and other minerals broken up in the water.
- Heavy Metals – manganese, lead, arsenic, chromium and copper
- Chemicals – aluminum, ammonia, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chloramine, chromium, copper, fluoride, bacteria and viruses, lead, nitrates and nitrites, mercury, perchlorate, radium, selenium, silver, and uranium
- Bacteria – Shigella, Escherichia coli, Vibrio, and Salmonella
In general, most consumers have common tap water contaminants that fall into a few simple categories with Sediments, Heavy Metals, Chemicals or VOCs, and Bacteria. While not contaminants, there are also some additives that can affect the taste or smell of your water as well.
One of the ways treatment facilities clean up your water is with Chlorine and Chloramine, two common secondary disinfectants. When too much is in your tap water, carbon filters can bring those levels down quickly. Sediments like rust are also easy to deal with, and something every whole house filter system should take care of.
Heavy metals can occur naturally from erosion but are also a byproduct of industrial waste and old pipes inside and outside of your home. Lead is the most common, but Arsenic, Chromium, Copper, and Cadmium are a few other metals that could be present in your water. If you live near factories or farmland, herbicides and pesticides can leech into the water supply as well.
Bacteria can be difficult to treat, along with viruses and cysts. While it depends on the type of microorganism you’re dealing with, whole house systems with UV filters can deal with things carbon can’t touch. Alternatively, a filter that works wonders on bacteria may not do a great job at dealing with heavy metal or chlorine as that depends on your system as a whole.
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What contaminants do you need to remove?We recommend removing as many harmful contaminants as possible. Let me ask you this? Would you rather be drinking and bathing in dirty contaminated water or smooth clean water that keeps you healthy? Would you rather your water purify you or give you the need to detox?
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What makes up a water filter?
Different filters can be made of different things. In general, filters are made up of:
- Pre Filter – String or other types of filter to get the big stuff out. These filters are usually pretty cheap and designed to keep your expensive filters working hard on the small things without getting clogged by all the larger sediment and sand.
- Carbon Filter – All of our filters will be made of activated carbon designed to remove chlorine, byproducts, and other contaminants in the water.
- Resin and salt – In your softener there will be resin beads that attract the hardness minerals and remove them from the water. The salt chamber leans the resin beads during backwash so they can keep working to full capacity for a long time.
- Ro System has a very thin membrane along with other filters that take everything out of the water. RO systems don’t discriminate on what they take out. They even take out everything that is healthy in the water leaving you with pure water.
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What about hard water?
- Hard water is what clogs your pipes gunks up your appliances, stains your shower walls, causes pinhole leaks in your copper lines, and much more.
- Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon. Over 3 grains is considered slightly hard, while over 7 grains is considered hard water. Wichita city water comes in between 8 and 9 grains hard.
- This means that your water needs softening for the sake of your plumbing system and water-using appliances.
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What to do for water safety?Call us today to schedule a water conditioning estimate (316) 799-3212. You won’t regret it.
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